Nine Women Taking on New Administrative Roles at Colleges and Universities

Myrna Hernández was named chief of staff and vice president of administration at Grinnell College in Iowa. She was vice president of student affairs and dean of students at the College of Wooster in Ohio. Earlier, she served in a multitude of roles at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, including dean of students.

Hernández holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from Indiana University.

Arlitha Williams-Harmon was appointed senior vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer at Jackson State University in Mississippi. Since 2012, she has served as vice president of finance and administrative services for the Kern Community College District in Bakersfield, California.

Dr. Willliams-Harmon holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Southern California. She earned a master of public administration degree from California State University and a Ph.D. in community college leadership from Mississippi State University.

Susan Wallis is the new assistant director for faculty engagement, strategic initiatives, and assessment for the University of Nebraska-Omaha Service Learning Academy. She has served as a family specialist, therapist, and hospital-based social worker and instructor at Creighton University in Omaha.

Wallis holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from San Joe State University in California. She earned a master of social work degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Penn’lope Davis is the new associate vice president for human resources at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. She was the chief human resources officer for the Department of Social Services for the State of Connecticut. She has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut.

Davis is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she majored in management. She earned an MBA at the University of Hartford.

Jayna Bertholf was appointed vice president for business and finance at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. Since 2016, she has been an assistant professor of accounting and finance at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas.

Bertholf is a graduate of Kansas State University, where she majored in accounting and business management. She holds a master’s degree in business education from Emporia State University in Kansas.

Sharmila Udyavar was named associate director of global education in the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was director of international programs at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina.

Dr. Udyavar is a graduate of the University of Mumbai in India, where she majored in nutrition and dietetics. She holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from Fayetteville State University

Carold Boyer-Yancy is the new executive director of student accounts at Delaware State University. She was the bursar at Virginia Wesleyan University in Norfolk. Earlier, she held administrative posts at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Boyer-Yancy has an associate’s degree in accounting from Pierce College in Philadelphia and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Saint Joseph’s University.

Leah Reuber was appointed director of residential life at Kenyon College in Ohio. She was the associate director of residence life at Grinnell College in Iowa for more than five years.

Reuber is a graduate of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she earned degrees in journalism, philosophy, and gender studies. She also earned a master’s degree in student affairs from the University of Northern Iowa.

Anna Henderson Ogburn is the new director of alumni relations and donor engagement at Mississippi University for Women. For the past 13 years, she has served as a K-12 and correctional school administrator in the roles of principal and assistant principal, and as a consultant for the Tennessee Department of Education. Prior to her career in education, she worked in business and industry in the fields of healthcare administration, marketing, hospitality, and sales.

Dr. Ogburn is an alumna of the Mississippi University for Women. She holds a master’s degree in education from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, and a doctorate in education from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.