New Administrative Posts for Nine Women in Higher Education

Leslie Chang was appointed assistant commissioner of student-athlete programming for the Big West Conference, an athletic conference with 11 members headquartered in Irvine, California. She is the former student-athlete development coordinator and athletic academic advisor at Florida Atlantic University.

Chang is a graduate of California State University, Northridge, where she majored in communications and had minors in marketing and women’s studies. She holds a master’s degree in sports management from Mississippi State University.

Kelsi Schagunn is the new assistant director for study abroad in the Center for International Education at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. She had been serving as communications program director for the Center for Global Health at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Schagunn is a graduate of the University of Montana, where she majored in anthropology. She holds a master’s degree in international affairs from American University in Washington, D.C.

Minh-An Pence was appointed director of human resources for the Division of Information Technology at Virginia Tech. Most recently, she served as an outreach and engagement recruiting specialist for the Division of Human Resources at Virginia Tech. From 2019-21, she served as human resources manager for the Division of Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities.

Pence is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she majored in industrial engineering.

Kori Harris is the new Title IX coordinator at Hampton University in Virginia. Before joining the staff at the university last July,  Harris was a victim advocate in the Office of the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Harris received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Hampton University. She holds a master’s degree in law and criminal justice from Regent University in Virginia Beach.

Susannah Wesley-Ahlschwede is the inaugural chief marketing officer at Florida State University. Most recently, she was vice president for corporate communication at Akili Interactive Labs in Boston. Earlier, she held corporate marketing positions with American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, Shell, Porsche, and Nissan.

Wesley-Ahlschwede is a graduate of Florida State University, where she majored in communication and media studies.

Donna Linderman was appointed senior vice chancellor for student success for the State University of New York System. She previously served as associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the City University of New York. Earlier, she was an assistant professor at CUNY’s Brooklyn College.

Linderman earned a bachelor’s degree in drama from the University of Southern California and a master of fine arts degree in theatre from Brooklyn College. She is on track to earn a doctorate in higher education administration at Northeastern University

Kimberly Woods was promoted to manager of alumni affairs at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. She joined the staff at the college in 2014 and has served as an administrative assistant for the Office of Alumni Development/Public Relations and most recently as gifts coordinator.

Woods is a graduate of Rust College, where she majored in communication and broadcast journalism. She holds an MBA from Strayer University.

Leslie Brunelli is the new executive vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Washington State University. She was senior vice chancellor and treasurer at the University of Denver in Colorado. Earlier, Brunelli served as vice president for finance and chief financial officer for the University of South Carolina System.

Brunelli earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and an MBA from the University of South Carolina.

Annya Lott was appointed associate vice chancellor for development for the University of California, Riverside. She most recently was senior director of philanthropy for Pitzer College in Claremont, California.

Lott received a bachelor’s degree in English from Spelman College in Atlanta. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Boston University.