Five Women Professors Taking on New Roles in Academia

Jenny Thigpen has been named vice chancellor for academic affairs at Washington State University Global Campus. She has been a faculty member with the university’s department of history since 2008. Her academic interests center on nineteenth-century United States history, particularly women and gender history, the western United States, and colonialism.

Dr. Thigpen holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine.

Shameka Shelby has been named deputy chief of staff and associate vice president for inclusive excellence at Florida Southern College. A faculty member with the college for over a decade, she serves as the Dr. John A. Leighty Endowed Chair in Chemistry and chair of the department of chemistry, biochemistry, and physics. Earlier in her tenure, she was associate director of the honors program.

Dr. Shelby received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana and her Ph.D. in biological chemistry from the University of Michigan.

Gabriela C. Weaver has been appointed assistant vice president for academic affairs and research at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has been a professor of chemistry with the university for more than 10 years. For the past four years, she has served as assistant dean for student success in the College of Natural Sciences.

Dr. Weaver holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in chemical physics from the University of Colorado.

Stephanie Witt has been granted the title of distinguished professor at Boise State University. She has held several leadership roles over the course of 35-year tenure with the university, including department chair, director of the master’s degree program in public administration, director of the Public Policy Center, interim associate dean, and associate vice president.

Dr. Whitt holds a Ph.D. in political science from Washington State University.

Kendra Hall-Kenyon has been named associate vice president for faculty relations at Brigham Young University in Utah. She has been a faculty member with the university since 2002. For the past two years, she has served as dean of the David O. McKay School of Education.

Dr. Hall-Kenyon is an alumna of Brigham Young University, where she majored in family science. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in human development from Columbia University.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

Latest News

Jennifer Glowienka Named the First Woman President of Carroll College in Montana

“I have dedicated my professional career to this remarkable institution, which prepares ethical leaders who engage the world with purpose and hope,” said Dr. Glowienka. “I look forward to strengthening and expanding the ways Carroll fulfills its mission, serving learners across all stages of their educational journey.”

Susan Stuebner Elevated to President of Simpson College in Iowa

Dr. Stuebner has led Simpson College on an interim basis since July 28. She has nearly 30 years of professional experience, including service as president of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire.

Shari Veil Appointed Provost at North Dakota State University

“It is a privilege to work with people who care so deeply about students, discovery, and the future of North Dakota,” said Dr. Veil. “With its strong academic profile and land-grant mission, NDSU is well positioned for meaningful impact, and I look forward to partnering with my fellow Bison to advance that work.”

Mary Ann Villarreal to Lead California State University, Dominguez Hills

“As one of the most diverse campuses in the CSU system, Dominguez Hills is a vital anchor institution for the community it serves,” said Dr. Villarreal. “A beacon of inclusivity, it inspires hope – both for the community and for higher education in California.”

Penny Elkins Named the First Woman President of Mercer University

A member of the Mercer University community for over 25 years, Dr. Elkins is slated to become the institution's first woman president on January 1. She has been serving as Mercer's interim provost.

Assistant Professor Tenure Track Position — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiovascular Institute

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seek candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the tenure track.

Assistant Professor of Political Science, Quantitative Methods

The Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Quantitative Methods. This position will begin on or after July 1, 2026.

Tenure Track Position in Macro-Organizational Behavior and Organizational Theory

The University of Pittsburgh School of Business seeks to fill a full-time, tenure-track assistant or associate professor position in the Organizations and Entrepreneurship Area, starting as early as Fall 2026. 

Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice and John Carter Brown Library Joint Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University and the John Carter Brown Library invite applications for a postdoctoral research associate position focused on any area/theme of historical scholarship around racial slavery, and/ or Indigenous dispossession and slavery.

Teaching Faculty Position in Information Systems and Technology Management (ISTM)

The University of Pittsburgh School of Business invites applications for a full-time, appointment-stream faculty position at the Clinical Assistant Professor level in our Information Systems and Technology Management area starting Fall 2026.