Five Women Selected for Dean Positions at Universities

Stephanie Woods has been named dean of the College of Nursing at Texas Woman’s University. Her appointment marks a return to TWU, where she previously served as associate dean of the Dallas campus’ School of Nursing. She most recently served as professor and dean of the Hunt School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in El Paso.

Dr. Woods is an undergraduate alumna of Texas Woman’s University. She holds a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Texas.

Felisa Higgins has been appointed associate vice provost and dean of the John Martinson Honors College at Purdue University in Indiana. In addition to her leadership appointment, she will teach as a professor of practice of industrial engineering in the Mitch Daniels School of Business. She comes to her new role from Pennsylvania State University, where she served as the Donan Professor of Business and associate dean of undergraduate education in the Smeal College of Business.

Dr. Higgins holds three degrees in industrial engineering: a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University, a master’s degree from Florida State University, and a Ph.D. from Purdue University.

Alexis Abramson has been appointed dean of the Columbia Climate School. She comes to Columbia University from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where she has been serving as dean of the Thayer School of Engineering. Earlier in her career, she was the Milton and Tamar Maltz Professor of Energy Innovation at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Dr. Abramson received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Tufts University in Massachusetts. She holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Jianwei Niu has been promoted from interim dean to permanent dean of the University College at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Prior to her interim appointment, she was associate dean of the college for four years. She is a professor of computer science and has served on the university’s faculty for nearly two decades.

Dr. Niu earned her Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.

LaReesa Wolfenbarger has been appointed dean of the College of Sciences and Art at Michigan Technological University. She comes to her new role from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she previously served as associate dean of natural sciences and research and as chair of the biology department. Earlier in her career, she worked for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Dr. Wolfenbarger is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where she majored in biology. She holds a Ph.D. in neurobiology and behavior from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.