Five Women Who Have Been Selected to Serve as Deans

Azita Emani has been named as the eleventh dean of the Yale School of Nursing. Since 2013, she has been dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Washington. Earlier, she was a professor and dean of the College of Nursing at Seattle University.

Dr.  Emani holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing, a master’s degree in international health care, a nursing education degree and a doctorate in medical sciences, all from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.

Mary W. Stewart is the inaugural dean for the recently announced master of science in nursing degree program at the Meridian campus of Mississippi State University. It is the first graduate entry-level nursing licensure program in the state. Dr. Stewart was a tenured professor and director of the Ph.D. program in nursing science at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s School of Nursing in Jackson. She previously served as interim dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and dean of the Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Dr. Stewart is a graduate of Mississippi College. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in nursing science from the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Mary Werner was appointed dean of academic affairs at Madisonville Community College in Kentucky. She has been a member of the college’s faculty since 1996. Along with her full-time experience in the classroom, Dr. Werner was the department chair for the humanities. She also served on the college’s board of directors as the faculty representative.

Dr. Werner earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in writing from Illinois State University. She holds a Ph.D. in English from Northern Illinois University.

Natasha Hutson has been appointed dean of University College at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. Previously, she has served the university as chief of staff, assistant vice president for student development, and dean of students.

Dr. Hutson received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Florida State University and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Valdosta State University in Georgia.

Leah Cohn was named interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri. A specialist in small animal internal medicine, Dr. Cohn has been on the faculty for 28 years. She previously served as interim associate dean for academic and student affairs at the College of Veterinary Medicine and associate chair for the department of veterinary medicine and surgery.

Dr. Cohn is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where she majored in animal science. She earned a doctor of veterinary medicine degree at the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology and immunology from North Carolina State University.