Olympia Ross Duhart has been promoted from interim dean to permanent dean of the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. During her 20-year tenure with the college, Duhart has served as associate dean for academic affairs and strategic initiatives, associate dean for faculty development, and director of the legal research and writing program. Before joining the Nova Southeastern faculty, she worked as a litigation associate with Ruden McClosky and volunteered with the Florida Innocence Project.
Duhart received her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in communications from the University of Miami and her juris doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.
Shelia Babendir is dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Phoenix. A faculty member with the university for nearly two decades, Dr. Babendir has served as interim dean since June 2025. Earlier in her tenure, she served as associate dean of counseling programs and clinical director of the master’s degree program in counseling.
Dr. Babendir holds a master’s degree in counseling education and counseling psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a doctorate in counseling psychology from Argosy University.
Anika Spratley Burtin, an associate professor of education, was named interim dean of the newly launched School of Education and Learning Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia. Prior to her new leadership role, she was acting associate dean of academic affairs for the university’s College of Arts and Sciences. She has also served as chair of the division of education, health, and social work.
Dr. Burtin earned her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Ayşe Şahin has been named dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at the Daytona Beach campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. With over two decades of higher education experience, Dr. Şahin has held leadership roles with Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio; DePaul University in Chicago; North Dakota State University; and Colorado State University. Since 2022, she has served as dean of Wright State’s College of Science and Mathematics.
Dr. Şahin is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, where she majored in mathematics. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Maryland.
Hope Bibens has been promoted from associate dean to dean of Cowles Library at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. An associate professor of librarianship, Bibens previously served as director of university archives and special collections. As a scholar, she focuses on accessibility of archival spaces and collections, teaching with primary sources, and the management of born digital congressional collections. In addition to her academic roles, Bibens is the university’s faculty athletics representative.
Bibens received her bachelor’s degree in history from Monmouth College in Illinois. She earned a master’s degree in American history and a master of library science degree from Indiana University.
Kami Silk was appointed dean of the Graduate College at the University of Delaware, where she serves as the Edward F. and Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg Professor of Communication and chair of the department of communication. Prior to joining the university in 2018, Dr. Sik was senior associate dean of research for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University. Earlier in her tenure, she was associate dean of graduate programs.
Silk earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania and her doctorate from the University of Georgia.