Six Women Scholars Who Have Been Appointed Deans at Major Universities

Jennifer Tour Chayes has been named the inaugural associate provost for the Division of Data Science and information and dean of the School of Information at the University of California, Berkeley. She currently serves as a technical fellow and managing director of Microsoft Research New England and Microsoft Research New York City. She has been with Microsoft Research since 1997.

Dr. Chayes is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where she majored in biology and physics. She holds a Ph.D. in mathematical physics from Princeton University.

Celia R. Hooper has been named interim dean of the School of Health Sciences at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. She is a dean emerita of the School of Health Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has been a clinical speech-language pathologist and gerontologist since 1974.

Dr. Hooper is a graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she majored in classics and communication studies. She holds a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Ph.D. in speech and hearing sciences from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Maryam Alavi has been reappointed to a five-year term as dean of the Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In addition to serving as dean, she also serves as the Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Chair of IT Management. She is an expert in digital innovations and strategic business IT applications.

Dr. Alavi is a graduate of the University at Buffalo of the State University of New York System, where she majored in math and computer science. She holds a master’s degree in computer information systems and a Ph.D. in information systems both from Ohio State University.

Amy Waer has been named interim dean of the College of Medicine at Texas A&M University. She has served as executive dean for education and academic programs at the college since 2018. Her research and clinical interests focus on surgery, surgical education, breast surgery, and breast cancer prevention and early detection.

Dr. Waer holds a bachelor’s degree and a medical doctorate both from the University of Arizona.

Elizabeth Dinkins has been named dean of the Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. She has been serving in the role on an interim basis since 2017. Previously, she served as Bellarmine’s associate dean of education and chair of the doctoral program in education and social change. She has been with the university since 2012.

Dr. Dinkins is a graduate of the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where she majored in liberal arts. She holds a master’s degree in education from Vanderbilt University in Nashville and a doctorate in English education from the University of Virginia.

Janice Pope has been named interim dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. She is a professor and chair of the department of communication. She has been a faculty member at the university since 1995.

Dr. Pope holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations, a master’s degree in journalism, and a Ph.D. in mass communications all from the University of Alabama.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

Latest News

Jennifer Glowienka Named the First Woman President of Carroll College in Montana

“I have dedicated my professional career to this remarkable institution, which prepares ethical leaders who engage the world with purpose and hope,” said Dr. Glowienka. “I look forward to strengthening and expanding the ways Carroll fulfills its mission, serving learners across all stages of their educational journey.”

Susan Stuebner Elevated to President of Simpson College in Iowa

Dr. Stuebner has led Simpson College on an interim basis since July 28. She has nearly 30 years of professional experience, including service as president of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire.

Shari Veil Appointed Provost at North Dakota State University

“It is a privilege to work with people who care so deeply about students, discovery, and the future of North Dakota,” said Dr. Veil. “With its strong academic profile and land-grant mission, NDSU is well positioned for meaningful impact, and I look forward to partnering with my fellow Bison to advance that work.”

Mary Ann Villarreal to Lead California State University, Dominguez Hills

“As one of the most diverse campuses in the CSU system, Dominguez Hills is a vital anchor institution for the community it serves,” said Dr. Villarreal. “A beacon of inclusivity, it inspires hope – both for the community and for higher education in California.”

Penny Elkins Named the First Woman President of Mercer University

A member of the Mercer University community for over 25 years, Dr. Elkins is slated to become the institution's first woman president on January 1. She has been serving as Mercer's interim provost.

Assistant Professor Tenure Track Position — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiovascular Institute

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seek candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the tenure track.

Assistant Professor of Political Science, Quantitative Methods

The Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Quantitative Methods. This position will begin on or after July 1, 2026.

Tenure Track Position in Macro-Organizational Behavior and Organizational Theory

The University of Pittsburgh School of Business seeks to fill a full-time, tenure-track assistant or associate professor position in the Organizations and Entrepreneurship Area, starting as early as Fall 2026. 

Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice and John Carter Brown Library Joint Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University and the John Carter Brown Library invite applications for a postdoctoral research associate position focused on any area/theme of historical scholarship around racial slavery, and/ or Indigenous dispossession and slavery.

Teaching Faculty Position in Information Systems and Technology Management (ISTM)

The University of Pittsburgh School of Business invites applications for a full-time, appointment-stream faculty position at the Clinical Assistant Professor level in our Information Systems and Technology Management area starting Fall 2026.