Three Universities Appoint Women Provosts

Samara L. Firebaugh has been selected to serve as academic dean and provost at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. She has been serving as the associate provost for academic affairs. Dr. Firebaugh joined the Naval Academy’s faculty in 2001 as an assistant professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering.

Dr. Firebaugh is a graduate of Princeton University in New Jersey, where she majored in electrical engineering. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Georita M. Frierson was selected to be the next provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. She will take office on June 1. Dr. Frierson most recently served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. Earlier, she served as interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education at D’Youville University in Buffalo, New York.

Dr. Frierson holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hampton University in Virginia. She earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Ohio State University.

Vini Nathan has been named as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Auburn University in Alabama. She has served as the interim provost and vice president of academic affairs since March 2022. She previously served as dean of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction and as a tenured professor of architecture at the university.

Dr. Nathan is a graduate of Anna University in India. She holds a master’s degree in interior design from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Michigan.