Five Women Appointed to Administrative Roles in Academia

Almesha Campbell has been named vice president of research and economic development at Jackson State University in Mississippi. She previously served as the university’s assistant vice president and director of technology transfer and commercialization. Outside of her role with Jackson State, she serves as the first African American chair of the Association of University Technology Managers.

Dr. Campbell is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she double-majored in liberal studies and marketing. She holds a master’s degree in mass communication and a doctorate in public policy from Jackson State University.

Davina Desnoes has been named senior assistant vice president for budget, planning, and analysis at the University of Central Florida. Her background includes more than two decades of experience in higher education administration. Most recently, she served as the senior positions planning advisor at Cornell University.

Desnoes received her bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and her master’s degree in higher education administration from the University at Buffalo in New York.

Heather L. Meier has been named vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer at Widener University in Pennsylvania. She has over 15 years of financial experience in higher education, including roles with Gwynedd Mercy University, Montgomery County Community College, La Salle University, Jefferson University, and Villanova University.

Meier is a graduate of McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in business administration and economics with a minor in accounting. She earned her MBA from Villanova University.

Sonia Spinks has been appointed director of strategic campus partnerships at the University of Arkansas. She previously spent 16 years with Walmart and Sam’s Club’s corporate office, most recently serving as senior director of merchandising operations.

Spinks holds a bachelor’s degree in computer systems engineering from the University of Arkansas and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Kansas.

Sally Oakes Edman has been selected to serve as interim director of counseling services at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She comes to her new role from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, where she served as director of counseling services. She has extensive experience as a clinical psychologist, specializing in martial and family counseling, psychological assessment, and supervision.

Dr. Edman is an alumna of Luther College, where she majored in psychology. She holds a master’s degree in psychology and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Notre Dame.