Savita Sharma is the new assistant dean for finance and business operations for the Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University. Since 2020, Sharma has served as assistant dean for finance, operations, and information technology for the university’s Graduate School. Earlier in her career, she was chief of staff to the vice president for finance at Virginia Tech.
Sharma holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in accounting from Texas A&M University.
Angie Abbott has been promoted to associate dean and director of Purdue Extension. She has held the role on an interim basis for the past two years. Dr. Abbott began her career with Purdue University as director and extension specialist for the nutrition education program. She was named assistant dean for Purdue Extension in 2017.
Dr. Abbott received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
Ashley Conner was named vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida. She first joined the university’s athletics administration team in July 2023 as the associate athletic director for student services and senior woman administrator. Earlier, she was the university’s executive director of student success and retention.
Conner holds a bachelor of social work degree from North Carolina Central University and a master’s degree in sport administration from Delaware State University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Alabama A&M University.
Farah Kashlan has been appointed vice president for institutional advancement and alumni relations at the American University of Cairo in Egypt. For the past 12 years, Kashlan has served as director of development for the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Before Georgia Tech, she held advancement and development roles for Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia.
Kashlan earned her bachelor’s degree from Agnes Scott College and her master’s degree in public policy from Georgia Tech.
Erin Wiggins Gilliam has been named vice provost for student academic progression at Albany State University in Georgia. With over two decades of experience in higher education, Dr. Gilliam has held several key administrative positions with Kentucky State University, including associate provost for academic affairs, assistant vice president for student success, dean of graduate studies, and dean of the Honors College.
Dr Gilliam is an alumna of Kentucky State University. She earned her Ph.D. in American history from the University of Kentucky.
Amanda James is vice president for enrollment management and marketing at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Prior to her new role, she was the university’s associate vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions. Before joining the Winthrop administration in 2017, she was director of educational partnerships for Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California.
Dr. James is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where she majored in communications. She holds a master of accountancy degree from National University, an MBA from the University of Dallas, and a doctor of business administration degree from the University of Phoenix.