Eight Women Selected for Dean Positions at Colleges and Universities

Sharon Bentley has been named dean of the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of California, Berkeley. She will assume her new role in February 2025. Currently, she serves as a professor of optometry, deputy dean of the faculty of health, and director of the Centre for Vision and Eye Research at Queensland University of Technology in Australia.

Dr. Bentley holds a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and Ph.D. in optometry from the University of Melbourne in Australia. She holds a second master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University.

Shannon Smith has been appointed dean of the School of Nursing at Florida A&M University. She comes to her new role from Claflin University in South Carolina, where she has served as associate dean of nursing for the past eight years. In this role, she established the university’s master’s degree program in nursing.

Dr. Smith received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina. She holds a doctor of nursing practice degree and a Ph.D. in nursing science from the University of South Carolina.

Astrid Sheil has been named dean of the School of Management at Simmons University in Massachusetts. She has served as dean of the School of Business at Shenandoah University in Virginia for the past five years. Before beginning a career in higher education, she served as president of Sheil & Associations, a strategic communication, public relations, and project management consulting service.

Dr. Sheil is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She received her master’s degree and doctorate in organizational communication from the University of Tennessee.

Michelle Alexander has been promoted from interim dean to permanent dean of the public safety, allied health, and human services division at Virginia Peninsula Community College. She has served as a faculty member with the school in health, physical education, and wellness for nearly 15 years.

Alexander holds a bachelor’s degree in health science from James Madison University and a master’s degree in public health from the University of South Carolina.

W. Brooke Elliott has been named dean of the Gies College of Business and the Josef and Margot Lakonishok Professor in Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has been a faculty member with the university for more than two decades, currently serving as executive associate dean of academic programs. She was the first woman to serve as head of the university’s department of accountancy.

Dr. Elliott received her bachelor’s degree in accounting and MBA in accounting from Indiana University. She holds a doctorate in accounting from the University of Washington.

Ani Kokobobo has been appointed dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She has been with the University of Kansas since 2011, most recently serving as a professor and chair of the department of Slavic, German, and Eurasian studies.

Dr. Kokobobo holds a bachelor’s degree in Russian studies and classical studies from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in Russian literature from Columbia University.

Xenia Markowitt has been named vice president of student life and dean of students at Whittier College in California. She has an extensive background in higher education having previously held academic and administrative positions with the University of Redlands, The New School, Bennington College, Marlboro College, New York University Abu Dhabi, and Dartmouth College.

Markowitt holds a bachelor’s degree in film and television production and a master’s degree in Latin American and Caribbean studies from New York University.

Kathy Salisbury has been selected to serve as interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She has been a faculty member with the university for four decades, most recently serving as associate dean for academic affairs. She serves as a professor of small animal surgery and currently holds the title of 150th Anniversary Professor.

Dr. Salisbury holds a master’s degree from Purdue University and a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Michigan State University.