New Dean Positions for Four Women in Academia

Jeannie Leavitt was recently named dean of the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s campus in Prescott, Arizona. She comes to her new role following a 31-year career with the U.S. Air Force, where she was the service’s first woman fighter pilot and the first woman to command an Air Force combat fighter wing. Most recently, she was chief of safety for the Air Force and Space Force.

Leavitt earned her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and her master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University in California. She also holds graduate degrees from Auburn University, Air University, and the National War College.

Cheree Daniels has been named interim dean of the College of Transdisciplinary Studies at Texas Southern University. Prior to her new appointment, Dr. Daniels was executive director of the university’s Center for Online Learning and Instructional Technology. She also currently serves as the campus lead for the Gates Foundation Complete College Accelerator program, as well as the AAC&U Institute on AI Pedagogy and Curriculum team.

Dr. Daniels holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in counselor education from Florida A&M University. She earned her Ph.D. in higher education management from Hampton University in Virginia.

Britt Hudson has been appointed dean of students at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Indiana. She first joined the university in 2019 and most recently served as interim dean of students and assistant dean of students. Before joining the Purdue University Northwest community, Hudson held several leadership roles in residence life at the University of Northern Iowa.

Hudson received her bachelor’s degree in information systems from the University of Indianapolis and her master’s degree in student affairs and higher education from Indiana State University.

Poonam Arora has been named dean of the Undergraduate School at Babson College in Massachusetts.. She currently serves as a professor of management and the associate dean of faculty affairs and strategic initiatives at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. Earier in her career, she was the Capalbo Professor of Business Administration and chair of the department of management and marketing at Manhattan College.

Dr. Arora earned her bachelor’s degree in business economics from John Cabot University in Rome, Italy. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University in New York City.

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