New Dean Appointments for Six Women in Higher Education

Bárbara Brizuela has been named dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University in Massachusetts. She has served as interim dean since July. Currently, she serves as a professor of education and dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She has been a faculty member with the university for over two decades, holding positions such as chair of the department of education, director of the STEM education program, academic dean, and associate dean for diversity and inclusion in arts and sciences.

Dr. Brizuela holds two undergraduate degrees from Universidad de Belgrano in Argentia, a master’s degree in general studies in education from Tufts University, and a doctorate in education from Harvard University.

Debra L. Haggins has been named the inaugural dean of the School of Religion at Hampton University in Virginia. She is the first woman to serve as chaplain and pastor of Memorial Church at the university. She previously served as assistant to the university chaplain and faculty advisor to the Student Christian Association.

Dr. Haggins holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, a master’s degree in secondary school administration from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, a master of divinity degree in theology from Virginia Union University, a Ph.D. in higher education leadership from Hampton University, and a doctor of ministry degree in biblical interpretation and proclamation from Emory University in Atlanta.

Diane Foster has been named vice president for academic programs and dean of the Woods Hold Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts. She comes to her new role from the University of New Hampshire, where she has served as dean of the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering for the past five years. Earlier in her tenure, she served as director of the university’s Center for Ocean Engineering. She previously held executive roles with the United States Coastal Research Program and the Network for Engineering with Nature.

Dr. Foster holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Maine, and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Oregon State University.

Hannah Brenner Johnson has been appointed dean of the Simmons Law School at Southern Illinois University. Since 2016, she has served as a professor of law and vice dean for academic affairs at the California Western School of Law in San Diego. She has taught and conducted research at several law schools across the country, including service as the first executive director of the Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas. She is the co-author of Shortlisted: Women in the Shadows of the Supreme Court (NYU Press, 2020).

Professor Brenner Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in American studies and her juris doctorate from the University of Iowa.

Sara Schwerdtfeger has been named dean of the Emporia State University Teachers College in Kansas. She has over two decades of experience in education. Most recently, she served as the college’s associate dean. Earlier in her career, she taught at several elementary schools in Emporia.

Dr. Schwerdtfeger is an alumna of Emporia State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree. She holds a Ph.D. from Kansas State University.

Amy Fleischer has been appointed dean of the College of Engineering at Boise State University in Idaho. For the past six years, she has served as dean of engineering at California Polytechnic State University. She previously spent nearly two decades on the faculty at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where she was chair of the mechanical engineering department and director of the National Science Foundation Research Center for Energy-Smart Electronic Systems.

Dr. Fleischer received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Villanova University. She earned her doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Related Articles

Latest News

Data Shows High Attrition Rates for Women in STEM Degree Programs

For women who began their four-year college career in a STEM discipline, 14 percent dropped out of college and 32 percent switched to a non-STEM major before earning their degree.

Monique Guillory Named Ninth President of Dillard University

Dr. Guillory has served as Dillard University's interim president for the past seven months. Her background includes over three decades of higher education administration experience.

Lynne Coy-Organ Is the First Woman President of Husson University

Lynne Coy-Organ has been named the first woman president of Husson University in Maine. She has served as the university's provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for the past 15 years.

Donna Hedgepath Will Be the First Woman President of Wayland Baptist University

Current provost of Campbellsville University in Kentucky, Donna Hedgepath, has been named president of Wayland Baptist University in Texas, making her the first woman to be selected for the position.

Three Women Scholars Appointed to Provost Positions

The new provosts are Elizabeth Dumont at the University of California, Merced, Marguerite Giguette at Xavier University in New Orleans, and Margaret Brown Marsden at Midwestern State University in Texas.

MOSDOH – Dean of the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health

The dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer for MOSDOH, leading a mission-driven dental school known for innovation, community partnerships, and service to the underserved.

Vice President for Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer

The successful candidate will have a strong financial and administrative background and demonstrated ability to excel in a fast-paced, dynamic and complex community college that values integrity, excellence, empowerment, inclusiveness, collaboration and stewardship.

Instructional Professor in Law, Letters, and Society (Open Rank)

The Social Sciences Collegiate Division at the University of Chicago is now accepting applications for a full-time Instructional Professor who will teach in the program in Law, Letters, and Society.

Instructor, Economics

The Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics at the University of Chicago invites applications for tenure-track faculty positions in Economics at the Instructor position level to begin in the 2025-26 academic year and is renewable for up to three years.

Vice Chancellor for Student Success

The Vice Chancellor for Student Success will be a strategic, student-centered, data-informed, systems thinker who thrives in a fast paced, high-achieving environment.