New Administrative Appointments for Fifteen Women in Higher Education

Tracy Ostrem has been appointed vice president for university advancement at the University of Nevada, Reno. With over three decades of fundraising experience, she most recently led university advancement at the University of Washington. She also serves as principal of the Ostrem Leadership Group, a consultation service that helps universities and nonprofits with immediate and long-term fundraising needs.

Ostrem is a graduate of Washington State University.

Heather Cato has been named assistant director for Title IX compliance and deputy Title IX coordinator at the University of Arkansas. She previously coached soccer at the collegiate level, and has experience as a Title IX coordinator and senior woman administrator in higher education. Earlier in her career, she was a criminal investigator for the state of Missouri.

Cato received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, her master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and her master of education degree from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

Kim Gourneau has been appointed registrar of North Dakota State University. She comes to her new position from Minnesota State University Mankato, where she served as director of registration and academic records. She previously served as registrar at Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College in Minnesota.

Gourneau received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota and her MBA from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Natasha McClendon has been named director of the Center for Excellence for Black Women in STEM at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to her new role, she was a senior research associate for the United Negro College Fund’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute. She has served as a consultant for educational policy issues at the district, state, and federal levels.

Dr. McClendon received her master’s degree in sociology from American University in Washington, D.C., and her Ph.D. in educational policy from Georgia State University.

Breanna Hubbard has been appointed conflict of interest director for the Office of the Vice President for Research at Colorado State University. She brings over a decade of higher education experience to her new role, most recently overseeing conflict of interest and industry contracting for the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Hubbard holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and teaching and a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Angela Catena has been named Title IX coordinator for the Office of Equity and Accessibility at Virginia Tech. Previously, she was the Title IX coordinator for the University of New Mexico. Earlier, she was a clinical assistant professor at Arizona State University.

Dr. Catena is a graduate of Carthage College in Wisconsin where she double-majored in psychology and biology. She holds a master’s degree in community counseling from Argosy University Chicago and a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from the University of New Mexico.

Jamesia Harrison has been appointed senior director of marketing and communications at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. She has over a decade of experience in public relations, strategic planning, and community engagement. Her new role will focus on amplifying Shaw’s brand and building community partnerships.

Harrison earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from North Carolina A&T State University. She holds a master’s degree in integrated marketing from Walden University.

Elizabeth Fanelli has been named Title IX coordinator for Fordham University in New York. For the past eight years, she has served as the equity and compliance investigator and deputy Title IX coordinator at Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Fanelli is a graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where she majored in psychology. She holds a juris doctorate from Suffolk University in Boston.

Luz Danela Randolph has been appointed chief of staff and assistant to the president for strategic initiatives at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida. She most recently served as senior vice president and executive director at City Year Baton Rouge. Previously, she held leadership roles with Louisiana State University, St. Petersburg College Foundation, and the University of South Florida Foundation.

Dr. Randolph received her bachelor’s degree in interpersonal and organizational communication and her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of South Florida. She holds a doctorate in higher education leadership and administration from Nova Southeastern University.

Joyelle Harris has been named director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. She comes to Georgia State from the Georgia Institute of Technology where she was director of undergraduate transformative learning initiatives. Earlier, she was a senior engineer at Intel and a technical consultant at Exponent.

Dr. Harris holds an MBA from Georgia Tech and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Princeton University.

Kacey Strickland has been promoted to assistant vice president and executive director for research administration at Mississippi State University. An administrator with the university for more than two decades, she most recently served as executive director of the Office of Sponsored Projects, as well as the Office of Research Compliance and Security.

Strickland is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she majored in genetics. She holds a master’s degree in science education from the University of Texas.

Carly DiFulvio Allen has been named managing director of Syracuse University’s theatre, Syracuse Stage. Currently, she serves as the associate general manager at Disney Theatrical Group for worldwide productions of “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Earlier, she was the company manager for Roundabout Theatre Company at the Todd Haimes Theatre in New York City.

DiFulvio Allen is a graduate of Ithaca College in New York, where she majored in theatre arts management.

Kristin St. Hilaire has been selected to serve as interim director of athletics and physical education at Utica University in New York. She previously served as the university’s assistant athletic director and has coached the women’s lacrosse team for nearly two decades.

St. Hilaire earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her master’s degree from Utica University.

Allison Saras has been named director of development for the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Pennsylvania State University. She comes to Penn State from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where she was a senior major gift officer and philanthropic specialist. Her experience in higher education includes development positions with the University of Pittsburgh and Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia.

Dr. Saras is an alumna of Penn State, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science. She holds a master’s degree in public administration with a focus on nonprofit management from Villanova University and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pittsburgh.

Candace Jones has been appointed vice president of administrative and business services at Long Beach Community College in California. She has been an administrator at Pasadena City College since 2018, most recently serving as assistant superintendent and vice president of business and administrative services. She previously held staff positions with the University of California and Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Jones holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in history from Pepperdine University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate at Saint Mary’s College of California.