Fourteen Women Taking on New Administrative Roles at Colleges and Universities

Dolly Martinez has been named the chancellor’s chief of staff and associate vice chancellor for the Executive Office at the City University of New York. She was deputy to the president and assistant vice president for college affairs at Hostos Community College in The Bronx, New York.

Martinez is a graduate of Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she majored in urban studies and Spanish, with minors in French and Hispanic civilization. She holds a master’s degree in urban affairs and health administration from Hunter College in New York City.

Felecia McCree Moulton was appointed executive director of advancement services with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She was director of advancement services and prospect management at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois.

Moulton is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, where she majored in chemistry.

Robbin Davis has been named director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Oklahoma State University. She most recently served as director of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid, Oklahoma.

Davis is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where she majored in apparel design. She holds a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership from Oklahoma City University.

Loretta Shields is the new assistant vice president of human resources at the New College of Florida in Sarasota. Shields is the former executive director of benefits, wellness, and compliance at Kent State University in Ohio.

Shields received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ashland University in Ohio. She earned a master’s degree in human resources management from Troy University in Alabama.

Colleen Penhall has been named associate vice chancellor for university communications and chief communications officer at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She most recently served as a vice president for Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

Penhall is a graduate of Elon University in North Carolina, where she majored in journalism and broadcast communications.

LaTonya Nixon as its new vice president of student services at Beaufort County Community College in Washington, North Carolina. Dr. Nixon was dean of student services at Roanoke-Chowan Community College in Ahoskie, North Carolina.

Dr. Nixon holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Longwood University in Virginia and a master’s degree in community and clinical psychology from Norfolk State University in Virginia. She earned an education doctorate through Walden University.

Liz Kinsley was promoted to director of undergraduate admission and associate vice president of student outreach at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. For the past four years, she has served as director of communication in the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Dr. Kinsley is a graduate of Yale University, where she majored in English and music. She holds a master’s degree in interdisciplinary humanities from New York University and a Ph.D. in rhetoric and public culture from Northwestern University.

Sarah Beth (Gillis) Davis has been named assistant athletics director for external business operations at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. She has been serving as a staff accountant in Bellarmine’s business affairs office since 2013.

Davis is a graduate of Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky.

Melissa Farmer Richards has been named vice president for communications and marketing at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. She currently serves as vice president for communications and enrollment at Sweet Briar College in Virginia.

Richards is a graduate of the University of Virginia. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Tech.

Nkenge Friday has been named assistant vice chancellor for strategic initiatives in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She most recently served as associate dean of students and director of diversity and inclusion at Marietta College in Ohio.

Dr. Friday is a graduate of Tougaloo College in Mississippi. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University.

Sherry Buss has been named director of administration in the College of Health at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She was the administrative director for the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs in Lehigh’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Buss is a graduate of Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she double-majored in communication and sociology.

Linda K. (Elle) Morgan has been named vice president and general counsel at Springfield College in Massachusetts. She most recently worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts providing expertise in the areas of employment law adjudication and related statutory interpretation.

Morgan is a graduate of the University of Maryland where she majored in business administration. She holds a juris doctorate from Western New England University School of Law.

Terry Gawlik has been named director of athletics at the University of Idaho. She most recently served as senior associate athletic director at the University of Wisconsin.

Gawlik is a graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where she majored in physical education and English. She holds a master’s degree in physical education and educational administration from Texas State University.

Julie E. DeGraw has been named vice president for student affairs at Valparaiso University in Indiana. She most recently served as vice president of student life and dean of students at Bluffton University in Ohio.

Dr. DeGraw is a graduate of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She holds a master’s degree from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.