New Women Deans at Five Universities

Kelly M. Smith was named interim dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Kentucky. She is an associate professor of pharmacy practice and science and associate dean of academic and student affairs. Dr. Smith is the first woman to serve as dean in the 145-year history of the College of Pharmacy.

Dr. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree and a pharmacy doctorate from the University of Georgia.

Donna Rapaccioli is the new dean of the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University in New York. She has been serving as dean of the undergraduate business school but will not lead the combined graduate and undergraduate business school.

Dr. Rapaccioli is a graduate of Fordham University. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in accounting from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

Joyce Alexander was appointed dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University. She has served as executive associate dean of the School of Education at Indiana University. She will assume her new duties on June 1.

Dr. Alexander has been on the faculty at Indiana University since 1992 and was chair of the department of counseling and educational psychology from 2005 to 2011. She is a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth and holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Georgia.

Gwendolyn Mahon is the new dean of the School of Health-Related Professions at Rutgers University in New Jersey. She was the school’s associate dean for administration.

A native of Iceland, Dr. Mahon is a graduate of the University of British Columbia. She holds a master’s degree from the Terry Fox Laboratories of the British Columbia Cancer Agency and a Ph.D. in molecular oncology from Rutgers University.

Joanna Masingila was named dean of the School of Education at Syracuse University in New York. She joined the faculty at the university in 1992 and has served as interim dean since February 2014. She is a professor of mathematics and mathematics education at the university.

Dr. Masingila is a graduate of Goshen College in Indiana. She holds a master’s degree in mathematics education from Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis and a doctorate in mathematics education from Indiana University in Bloomington.