Eleven Universities Announce the Appointment of Women to Dean Positions

Lepaine Sharp-McHenry has been named dean of the College of Natural, Behavioral, and Health Sciences at Simmons University in Boston. She currently serves as dean of the College of Nursing at Oklahoma Baptist University.

Dr. Sharp-McHenry holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Arkansas, a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in nursing practice and executive leadership from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.

Jennifer D. Greer has been named dean of the College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky. Currently, Dr. Greer serves as a tenured professor and associate provost at the University of Alabama.

Dr. Greer is a graduate of the University of Missouri where she earned two bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D. in mass communication/media studies from the University of Florida.

Sian Mooney has been named dean of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. She currently serves as the associate dean for interdisciplinary programs and initiatives in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, and as a professor in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University.

Dr. Mooney is an honors graduate of the University College of Wales-Aberystwyth where she majored in agricultural economics. She holds a master’s degree in agricultural economics and farm management from the University of Manitoba in Canada and a Ph.D. in agricultural and resource economics from Oregon State University.

Bonnie Rush has been named dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. She is a professor of equine internal medicine and has been serving as the college’s interim dean since 2017.

Dr. Rush holds a master’s degree and doctor of veterinary medicine degree both from Ohio State University.

Elizabeth Skomp has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. She currently serves as a professor of Russian and as the associate dean for faculty development and inclusion at the University of the South in Tennessee.

Dr. Stomp is a graduate of Indiana University. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of London.

Kimberly Lawless has been named dean of the College of Education at Pennsylvania State University. She currently serves as associate dean for research in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Lawless is a graduate of Boston College where she majored in psychology. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. both in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut.

Andra Basu has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. She most recently served as dean of humanities and social sciences at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Basu is a graduate of Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. She holds a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in social personality psychology from the City University of New York.

Coleen Pugh has been named dean of the Graduate School and associate vice president for research and technology transfer at Wichita State University in Kansas. She currently serves as a professor of polymer science at the University of Akron in Ohio.

Dr. Pugh is graduate of the University of California, Davis where she earned a bachelor’s degree in textile science and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in macromolecular science from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Adrea Lawrence has been named dean of the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education at the University of Montana. She has been serving as interim dean at the college for the past 17 months.

Dr. Lawrence holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies and a master’s degree in secondary social studies instruction and curriculum both from the University of Colorado. She holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from Indiana University.

Deborah Rifenbary has been named interim dean of the College of Education at the University of New Mexico. She has been a faculty member at the university since 1990, most recently serving as associate dean for academic affairs and faculty development.

Dr. Rifenbary is a graduate of Rosemont College in Pennsylvania, where she majored in English. She holds a master’s degree in the art of teaching in English from Fairleigh-Dickinson University in New Jersey, a master of education degree in counseling and human development from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and an educational doctorate in counseling from the University of Virginia.

Zoe Woodell Locklear has been named interim dean of the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She recently retired from the university in 2017. She was provost and a professor of teaching special and birth-kindergarten education.

Dr. Locklear is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She holds a master’s degree and doctorate in special education both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.