Stephanie Pilat has been appointed dean of the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning at the University of Cincinnati. She comes to her new role from the University of Oklahoma, where she has served as the Edith Kinney Gaylord Presidential Professor. Earlier in her tenure with the university, she led the division of architecture. Her research focuses on twentieth-century architectural theory and history, design pedagogy, Cold War American architecture, Italian architecture, and urbanism and social housing.
An alumna of the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Pilat holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in architectural history and theory from the University of Michigan.
Courtney Catledge has been promoted from interim dean to permanent dean of the University of South Carolina Lancaster campus. Prior to her interim appointment, she was director of the campus’ bachelor’s degree in nursing program. Her scholarly research focuses on community and public health concerns impacting rural communities.
Dr. Catledge is a graduate of Clemson University in South Carolina, where she majored in nursing. She holds a master’s degree in community nursing, a second master’s degree in public health administration, and a doctor of nursing practice degree from the University of South Carolina.
Kala Burrell-Craft has been named dean of the College of Education at Grambling State University in Louisiana. With nearly two decades of experience in K-12 and higher education settings, Dr. Burrell-Craft studies identity development, educational equity in urban and rural contexts, anti-racist teacher and leadership preparation, culturally responsive pedagogy, critical literacies, and social justice.
Dr. Burrell-Craft received her bachelor’s degree from Bowie State University in Maryland, a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix, and a doctorate from Louisiana State University.
Marieke Van Puymbroeck has been appointed vice provost and dean of the Graduate School at the University of Tennessee. She comes to her new appointment from Clemson University, where she is a professor in the department of parks, recreation, and tourism management and associate dean of the Graduate School. With academic expertise in recreational therapy, she is currently researching large fall prevention initiatives for rural older adults.
Dr. Van Puymbroeck is a graduate of what is now Longwood University in Virginia, where she majored in therapeutic recreation. She holds a master’s degree in therapeutic recreation and a Ph.D. in rehabilitation science from the University of Florida.
Jean VanderGheynst has been named dean of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Rhode Island. She has been serving as a professor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Earlier, she was dean of the College of Engineering at the university. A biological engineer, she studies next-generation biofuels, bioproducts, agricultural biotechnology, and approaches to address global environmental challenges.
Dr. VanderGheynst received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University in New York. She earned her master’s degree and a Ph.D. in agricultural and biological engineering from Cornell University.
Marty Sexton has been promoted from acting dean to permanent dean of the College of Health, Education, and Human Services at Wright State University in Ohio. A faculty member since 2022, she previously served as the university’s chief nursing officer, academic partnership liaison to Premier Health, director of interprofessional education, and associate dean. Her research centers on interprofessional collaboration in healthcare.
Dr. Sexton holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, a master’s degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing from the Medical College of Ohio, and her Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Toledo in Ohio.
Sarah Jane Rhoads has been named dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Her appointment marks a return to the university, where she previously taught for nearly two decades. Recently she has been serving as professor and chair of the department of community and population health at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. In her academic work, she studies digital health, care quality, education, and maternal health.
Dr. Rhoads received her bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She holds a doctor of nursing practice degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Melissa E. Trego has been appointed vice president and dean of academic affairs for the State University of New York College of Optometry. She most recently served as dean of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. In addition to her role as an administrator and instructor, she served as a clinician at The Eye Institute.
Dr. Trego received her doctor of optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and her Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology from Cardiff University in Wales.