Five Women Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions at Major Universities

Stacy Reeder was appointed dean of the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Reeder has served as a faculty member and administrator in the College of Education for the past 16 years. She has led the college as its interim dean since February 2020.

Dr. Reeder earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics from Oklahoma Baptist University. She holds a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Ph.D. in instructional leadership and academic curriculum with a concentration in mathematics education from the University of Oklahoma.

Linda Plank, who has served since last summer as interim dean of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University in Dallas, has been selected to serve as dean on a permanent basis. Before her service as interim dean, Dr. Plank was a clinical associate professor and senior associate dean of academic affairs at the nursing school.

Dr. Plank earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Baylor University. She holds a master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Amy Schweinle has been named dean of the School of Education at the University of South Dakota. A member of the faculty since 2003, she was associate dean of research and graduate studies before being named interim dean in 2019.

Dr. Schweinle earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in experimental psychology, both from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Joanna Grabski will be the next dean for the College of Integrative Science and Arts at Arizona State University. She has been serving as director of the School of Art at Arizona State. She is the author of Art World City: The Creative Economy of Artists and Urban Life in Dakar (Indiana University Press, 2017).

Dr. Grabski holds a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. in art history and African studies, all from Indiana University.

Sonia Altizer has been appointed interim dean of the College of Ecology at the University of Georgia, effective July 1. Dr. Altizer is the Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Ecology and is currently the Odum School’s associate dean for research and operations. From 2012 to 2017, she served as the Odum School’s associate dean of academic affairs.

Professor Altizer is a graduate of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.