Seven Women Scholars at Colleges and Universities Who Are Embarking on New Roles

Shari Whicker is the new assistant dean for faculty development at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke. In addition, Whicker will continue leading the Teaching Excellence Academy for Collaborative Healthcare at the medical school and serves as associate professor of pediatrics and interprofessionalism. She joined the staff at the medical school in 2014.

Dr. Whicker is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She earned a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in adult learning from North Carolina State University.

Suzanne Weekes, professor of mathematical sciences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, has been named interim associate dean of undergraduate studies at the university. She also serves as is a co-founder and co-director of the nationwide Preparation for Industrial Careers in Mathematical Sciences.

Professor Weekes is a graduate of Indiana University, where she majored in mathematics. She holds a master’s degree in applied mathematics and a Ph.D. in mathematics and scientific computing from the University of Michigan.

Kyla Ross was named assistant vice provost for advocacy and conflict resolution at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The position is a full-time faculty appointment. Dr. Ross has been serving as director of graduate training and senior academic professional in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech. Before coming to Georgia Tech, she served for nearly a decade as a senior academic professional in the department of biology at Georgia State University.

Dr. Ross also holds a bachelor’s degree in biological and agricultural engineering from Louisiana State University. She earned a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Georgia Tech.

Tracy L. Jackson was appointed director of the physician assistant program at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York. She currently serves as a member of the Governance and Ethics Board of the Physician Assistants Educators Association and as an assistant professor in the physician assistant program at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. From 2017 to 2018, she served as president of the New York State Society of Physician Assistants.

Jackson earned a bachelor’s degree in health science from Lehman College of the City University of New York. She holds a master’s degree in health science from the Lehman College School of Graduate Studies and is a doctoral candidate in educational leadership administration at the Fordham University Graduate School of Education.

In January, Sara Hooshangi will join Virginia Tech as the founding program director for the master of engineering degree in computer science, the first new degree program at the new Innovation Campus of the university in Alexandria. Since 2010, Dr. Hooshangi has served as a faculty member in the College of Professional Studies at George Washington University.

Dr. Hooshangi is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. She earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at Princeton University in New Jersey.

Vicki McCracken has been named associate dean and director of Washington State University Extension. Dr. McCracken is a professor in the university’s School of Economic Sciences and chair of the department of apparel, merchandising, design, and textiles.

Dr. McCracken is a graduate of Indiana University, where she majored in economics and home economics. She earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Susan Martinis has been named vice chancellor for research and innovation at the University of Illinois. She has served in the post on an interim basis for the past two years. Dr. Martinis joined the faculty at the university in 2005 as an associate professor of biochemistry and later became department head.

Dr. Martinis is a graduate of Washington State University. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.