Three Women Appointed Deans at Universities

Jeannine Dingus-Eason has been named dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Rider University in New Jersey. Most recently, she served as dean of the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development at Rhode Island College. She has conducted extensive research on advancing educational access for Black and Latino students and recently published a new book, A Thousand Worries: Black Women Mothering Autistic Sons (State University of New York Press, 2024).

Dr. Dingus-Eason is a graduate of the University of Rochester, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English and master’s degree in secondary English education. She holds a doctorate from the University of Washington.

Penny Bishop has been appointed dean of the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development at Boston University. She most recently served as dean of the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Maine, where she taught in the School of Teaching and Learning. Previously, she held faculty and leadership roles with the University of Vermont.

Dr. Bishop is a graduate of Norwich University in Vermont, where she majored in English. She holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Vermont.

Vanessa Lopez-Littleton has been named dean of the School of Nursing & Health Studies at the University of Washington Bothell. She most recently served as interim dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services at California State University, Monterey Bay. With nearly three decades of higher education experience, she researches the social, economic, and political factors that lead to health inequities.

Dr. Lopez-Littleton holds a bachelor of nursing degree from Northwestern State University, a master of public administration degree from Louisiana State University, and a doctorate from the University of Central Florida.