Ten Women Selected for Dean Positions at Colleges and Universities

Kelly Collins Woodford has been appointed dean of the College of Business and Professional Studies at the Mississippi University for Women. She has nearly three decades of higher education experience, most recently serving as the assistant dean for student affairs at the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia.

Woodford is a graduate of Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, where she majored in political science with a minor in business administration. She holds a juris doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.

Phyllis MacGilvray has been promoted to dean of the School of Medicine Greenville at the University of South Carolina. She most recently served the medical school as the senior associate dean for academic affairs. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles with Eastern Virginia Medical School, Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Dr. MacGilvrary received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Clemson University in South Carolina and her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Myra Bozeman has been selected to serve as interim dean of liberal arts, communication, and social sciences at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. She brings nearly three decades of experience to her new role, previously serving in several academic positions such as instructor of communications and assistant dean.

Bozeman holds a bachelor’s degree in social and industrial communication from Wright State University in Ohio and a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University.

Joan S. Tilghman has been promoted from interim dean to permanent dean of the College of Health Professions at Coppin State University in Baltimore. She has held several leadership positions with the university including program chair, associate dean, and founder of the university’s doctor of nursing practice degree program.

Dr. Tilghman holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing science from North Carolina A&T State University. Sh earned a master’s degree in nursing from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and a Ph.D. in transcultural nursing from the University of Miami.

Angela Upchurch has been selected to serve as acting dean of the Simmons Law School at Southern Illinois University. She has been with the law school for the past decade, currently serving as a full professor of law and associate dean for academic affairs and curriculum development. She previously served as a professor of law at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

Professor Upchuch holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science and a juris doctorate from Loyola University Chicago.

Regan Crotty has been named dean of undergraduate students at Princeton University. She has previously served the university as the residential college director of student life and director of gender equity and Title IX administration. She has also practiced law with the Morgan Lewis firm and Dechert LLP.

Crotty is an undergraduate alumna of Princeton University. She received her juris doctorate from the University of Chicago.

Omolola Eniola-Adefeso has been named dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. She comes to her new role from the University of Michigan, where she served as the Vennema Endowed Professor, a University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, and associate dean for graduate and professional education for the College of Engineering. She has taught chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, and macromolecular science at the university for nearly two decades.

Dr. Eniola-Adefeso received her bachelor’s degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in chemical and biomolecular engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

Vicki Daniel has been appointed dean of employment experiences at Bethel College in Newton, Kansas. She brings nearly 30 years of experience in academic and administrative positions to her new role. Most recently, she served as the director of assessment, accreditation, and institutional research at Hesston College in Kansas.

Dr. Daniel holds a master’s degree in physical therapy and a doctor of physical therapy degree from Des Moines University in Iowa. She received an MBA from Georgia Southern University.

Kimberly Watson has been appointed dean of faculty and vice president of academic affairs at Mercy College of Ohio. She has been with Mercy Health for more than three decades, most recently serving as dean of the division of health sciences and director of the master of health administration degree program.

Dr. Watson received her bachelor’s degree in medical records administration and doctorate in leadership studies and higher education administration from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She holds an MBA from Tiffin University in Ohio.

Christine M. Remley has been named the inaugural dean of the School of Educational Innovation at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. She comes to her new position from the University of North Texas at Dallas, where she has served as dean of the School of Education for the past two years. She previously held several academic roles in liberal arts and education at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Remley holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. She earned a master’s degree in education at Villanova University in Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in instructional systems design from Pennsylvania State University.