Seven Women Taking on New Administrative Roles at Colleges and Universities

Yolanda T. Robinson has been named director of counseling services at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. Her background includes over 15 years of experience in the mental health field, working with children, adolescents, and adults with various mental health and developmental challenges.

Robinson is an alumna of Alcorn State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in economics.

Belinda Burke has been named chief financial officer and vice president for administration at Sweet Briar College, a women’s liberal arts educational institution in Virginia. She has been serving in the same role at William Peace University in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also has served as chief financial officer of Warren Wilson College in North Carolina and Wesley College in Delaware.

Burke received her bachelor’s degree in finance from Virginia Tech.

Robin Griffin-Kitzerow has been has been promoted to chief of the University of Central Florida Police Department. With over three decades of experience in law enforcement, she has served as the university’s deputy chief of police since 2022. Prior to UCF, she was deputy chief at the Florida Atlantic University Police Department.

Dr. Griffin-Kitzerow received a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and a master’s degree in psychology and mental health counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She holds a second master’s degree in public administration from Barry University in Florida and a doctorate in forensic psychology from Walden University.

Heather Johns has been appointed vice president for communications and marketing at Smith College, a liberal arts educational institution for women in Northampton, Massachusetts. She comes to her new role from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, where she has served as vice president for marketing and communications since 2020.

Johns holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania.

Lisa Stoffer has been named associate vice president for foundation relations and sponsored research at Mount Holyoke College, a liberal arts educational institution for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. For the past three years, she has been director of the Office of Grants and Sponsored Research at Smith College. Earlier, she held a similar role at Amherst College.

A graduate of Haverford College in Pennsylvania, Stoffer holds a master’s degree in Russian and East European studies from the University of Michigan.

Janel Forde has been appointed senior vice chancellor for operations at the University of Colorado Boulder. She most recently served as chief operating officer for the Denver mayor’s office. Earlier in her career, she was a partner in the Chicago office of Boston Consulting Group.

Forde received her bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Amy Orders has been appointed associate vice president for public safety at Virginia Tech. Her background includes more than 20 years of experience in safety programming in higher education. Most recently, she served as assistant vice chancellor for emergency preparedness and environmental health at North Carolina State University.

Dr. Orders received a bachelor’s degree in radiologic science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in radiologic science from Midwestern State University in Texas. She earned a second master’s degree in health occupations education and a doctorate in educational leadership, policy, and human development from North Carolina State 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 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.

Associate Professor – Critical Adult Education and Community Engagement

The Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position with a specialization in critical adult education and community-engaged research and pedagogy.