Vanessa Rosa was appointed faculty director of the newly launched Climate Justice Lab in the Miller Worley Center for the Environment at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Dr. Rosa is an associate professor of Latinx studies and co-chair of the department of critical race and political economy at the college. Her research centers on the reproduction of race and racism in cities and housing policy, as well as community organizing in the context of structural inequality.
Dr. Rosa holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Ottawa, a master’s degree from the University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. from York University in Canada.
Joan DerHovsepian has been named professor in the practice for viola at Rice University in Houston for the 2026-2027 academic year. DerHovsepian, principal viola of the Houston Symphony, has taught as an instructor of orchestral repertoire at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music for over 20 years. Before her promotion to principal viola in 2023, she was the Houston Symphony’s associate principal for 13 seasons.
Professor DerHovsepian is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in New York.
Pamela Vayda is department head and director for the master of physician assistant studies program at Mississippi State University-Meridian. She first joined the university’s graduate physician assistant studies program as an assistant teaching professor in 2024 and was soon promoted to assistant program director of curriculum, assessment, and accreditation. Earlier in her career, she was a kinesiology instructor at MSU-Meridian and a faculty member at Meridian Community College.
Dr. Vayda received bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and psychology from William Carey College (now University) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She holds a master’s degree in biology from Mississippi State University, a master of physician assistant studies degree from MSU-Meridian, and a doctor of medical science degree from Butler University in Indianapolis.
M. Diane Burton was appointed senior associate dean for research, outreach, and external relations for Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, where she holds the Joseph R. Rich ’80 Professor of Human Resource Studies. Dr. Burton also serves as director of the university’s Institute for Compensation Studies. As an organizational sociologist, she studies innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as how management systems affect firms and individuals.
Dr. Burton earned her Ph.D. in sociology from Stanford University in California.
Laura W. Perna has been promoted to senior vice provost for faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Perna, the GSE Centennial Presidential Professor of Education in the Graduate School of Education, has served as Penn’s vice provost for faculty since 2020. She is also the co-founder of the university’s Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy. Her scholarly expertise centers on college access, affordability, and success, especially for low-income, first-generation, and non-traditional students.
Dr. Perna received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a Ph.D. in education and a master of public policy degree from the University of Michigan.
Jennifer Glover Konfrst was appointed associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She first joined the university’s faculty in 2013 and was promoted to full professor in 2025. Professor Konfrst is founder of Drake’s strategic political communication major. Before coming to Drake, she worked in public relations for two decades, including strategic leadership roles with Iowa Public Television.
Professor Konfrst earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication and her master’s degree in public administration from Drake University.