Seven Women in New Administrative Roles at Colleges and Universities

Lisa Dhar was promoted to associate vice president for innovation at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Since 2016, she has been the director of new business ventures for engineering. Prior to joining Northwestern in 2016, Dr. Dhar held various leadership roles in the Office of Technology Management at the University of Illinois.

Dr. Dhar earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Emily Pogue was appointed director of annual fund leadership gifts at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. She was the director of global programs for the U.S. Grains Council in Washington, D.C.

Pogue earned a bachelor’s degree in globalization studies from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. She holds a master’s degree in religion in contemporary society from King’s College London.

Jade Packer is the new director of community initiatives for the Nasher Museum at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Packer comes to the museum from the education and innovation department at the Public Broadcasting System of North Carolina.

Packer earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She holds a master’s degree in instructional technology from North Carolina A&T State University.

Kim Frisch has been named the vice president for enrollment management at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She was dean of admissions and financial aid at Regis University in Denver.

Frisch is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she majored in journalism and communication. She earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Regis University.

Richelle D. Payne was appointed vice president for strategic communications and marketing at Hampton University in Virginia. She previously served as partner and senior director of brand management for Ascendant Group, a branding and book marketing agency in Philadelphia.

Payne earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Hampton University. She holds a master’s degree in corporate communication from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Nancy Trainer has been named associate vice president for facilities and campus planning at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She has been serving as university architect and associate vice president for facilities at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Trainer holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a master of architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Frances Keene has been named vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech. She has served in the position on an interim basis since July 2022. She joined the staff at the university in 2002 and was assistant vice president and chief of staff to the vice president for student affairs from 2020 to 2022.

Dr. Keene earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. She holds a master’s degree in counselor education from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in higher education from Virginia Tech.