Eight Women Who Are Taking on New Administrative Duties in Higher Education

Melanie Lechtenberg is the new vice president for enrollment management at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. She was dean of records, registrar, and financial aid at John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois. Earlier, she was dean of enrollment at the community college.

Lechtenberg is a graduate of Quincy University in Illinois, receiving a bachelor’s degree and an MBA.

Danielle Huff was appointed executive director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis. A former middle school principal, Dr. Huff has served students, staff, and families for over 14 years in administration, coaching, and instructional roles.

Dr. Huff is a graduate of the University of Missouri, where she majored in biology. She holds two master’s degrees in education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a doctorate in education policy and organizational leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Lynn Staples was promoted to vice president for institutional advancement at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She has held the title of interim vice president since June 1 after serving as executive director of development.

Staples is a graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She earned an MBA at Cedar Crest College.

Sharron Taylor Burnett is the new chief financial officer and vice president for finance and operation at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. She previously served as vice president for fiscal and administrative affairs at Langston University in Oklahoma as well as assistant vice president for administration and finance at Meharry Medical College in Nashville.

Dr. Burnett is a native of Tennessee and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Lane College. She also holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Memphis.

Amanda Herman was appointed interim director of the Museum for Contemporary Art at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She joined the museum in 2018 as interim education curator. Previously, Herman worked for more than a decade in San Francisco as an arts educator for foster youth and as a multi-media artist.

Herman is a graduate of the University of New Mexico and holds a master of fine arts degree in social practice from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco.

Pamela Baldwin was promoted to associate vice chancellor for student success and enrollment management at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina. She was the associate dean of academic partnerships. Earlier, Dr. Baldwin served as the head of school/superintendent for Global Scholars Academy in Durham, North Carolina.

Dr. Baldwin received a bachelor’s degree in biology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She holds a master’s degree in administration and supervision and a doctoral degree in education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Rebecca Oliver was named assistant dean of undergraduate academics at the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi. Oliver comes to the University of Mississippi after serving 13 years as director of the honors college at Arkansas State University.

Originally from St. Louis, Oliver holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northeast Missouri State University and a master’s degree in counseling/higher education administration from Truman State University.

Tory Verkamp was appointed vice chancellor for university advancement at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She has been serving in the role on an interim basis. Verkamp joined the university in 2014 as a senior development officer and was promoted to executive director of development in 2015 and assistant vice chancellor of university advancement in 2017.

Verkamp holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish and a master of public affairs degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.