Three Women Announce Their Retirements From High-Level University Posts

Barbara O’Keefe, dean of the School of Communication at Northwestern University, has announced she will step down from her position in 2020. Dr. O’Keefe became the sixth dean of the School of Speech in 2000. Under her leadership, the school was renamed to the School of Communication, its curriculum was transformed, and many new programs of study were established. Dr. O’Keefe also serves as a professor of communication studies and as an Annenberg University Professor.

Dr. O’Keefe holds a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. in speech communication from the University of Illinois.

Mary G. Boland, dean of the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, announced that she will retire in summer 2020. She has served as dean for 14 years, the longest tenure as dean in the nursing school’s history. Prior to joining the University of Hawai’i, Boland served as associate dean and the François-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Nursing at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now the Rutgers University College of Nursing).

Dr. Boland is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. She earned a master’s degree at Seton Hall University in New Jersey and a doctorate in public health from Columbia University in New York City.

Lori A. Lewis, vice chancellor for advancement at Western Carolina University, recently retired from her post. She had held this position since 2016. Before coming to WCU, Lewis held advancement and development positions at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, Marietta College in Ohio, Virginia Tech, and Ohio University.

Lewis holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree both in special education from Ohio University.