New Dean Appointments for Ten Women Scholars

Debra Jackson has been appointed dean of the Graduate School at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. She has been on the faculty at California State University, Bakersfield for two decades, serving as associate vice president for academic affairs, dean of academic programs, and professor of philosophy.

Dr. Jackson is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University where she majored in philosophy. She holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Purdue University.

Cassie Boyd has been named interim dean of the College of Health Sciences at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. She first joined the university in 2021 as an assistant professor of pharmacology. During her three-year tenure, she has served as director of student affairs, assistant dean of students, and assistant dean of the College of Health Sciences.

Dr. Boyd received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and her doctor of pharmacy degree from Auburn University in Alabama.

Tricia Seifert has been selected to serve as the permanent dean of the Montana State University College of Education, Health, and Human Development after holding the position on an interim basis for the past two years. She has been a professor with the university for the past 10 years, holding various leadership positions including program leader in adult and higher education, interim director of the Science Math Resource Center, and head of the department of education.

Dr. Seifert is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University where she double-majored in sociology and political science. She holds a master’s degree in college student services administration from Oregon State University and a Ph.D. in counseling, rehabilitation, and student development from the University of Iowa.

Subhashini Ganapathy has been named dean of the College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She currently serves as chair of the university’s department of biomedical, industrial, and human factors engineering and chair of the Intel Initiative.

Dr. Ganapathy received her bachelor’s degree in instrumental and control engineering from Madras University in India. She holds a master’s degree in human factors and industrial engineering and a Ph.D. in complex systems from Wright State University.

Carolyn Gentle-Genitty has been named the inaugural dean of the Butler University Founder’s College, a two-year program for historically underrepresented students. Currently, she serves as the assistant vice president for university academic policy and professor of social work at Indiana University.

Dr. Gentle-Genitty received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in social work from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. She earned her Ph.D. in social work from Indiana University.

Rae Ette Newman has been appointed dean of the College of Education at Eastern Oregon University after serving as interim dean for nearly two years. Prior to her interim appointment, she held numerous leadership roles with the university including department chair in the College of Education and director of accreditation.

Dr. Newman is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where she double-majored in special education and elementary education. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in special education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Anne Hogan has been named dean of the College of Performing Arts at Chapman University in Orange, California. She most recently served as the inaugural dean of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Ithaca College in New York. She has held similar leadership roles with the University of Memphis, the Royal Academy of Dance in London, and London Metropolitan University.

Dr. Hogan is a graduate of Harvard University where she majored in English literature. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in English literature from Brown University.

Gaylene Armstrong has been appointed dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. For the past eight years, she has served as a distinguished professor and director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. She is also co-director of the Nebraska Collaborative for Violence Intervention and Prevention.

Dr. Armstrong is an honors graduate of the University of Manitoba in Canada where she majored in psychology. She received her master’s degree and Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Maryland.

Jennifer Mueller-Phillips has been selected as the permanent dean of the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business at Auburn University after serving as interim dean for the past seven months. She has been with the university since 2000, serving in a number of faculty and administrative roles including professor of accounting, director of the School of Accountancy, and associate dean for academic affairs.

Dr. Mueller-Phillips completed her undergraduate education at Jacksonville State University in Alabama where she majored in accounting. She holds a master’s degree and doctorate in accounting from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Melissa Bledsoe, interim dean of the William H. Darr College of Agriculture at Missouri State University, has been selected to serve as the college’s permanent dean. She has been faculty member with the university’s agriculture program for over a decade.

Dr. Bledsoe received her bachelor’s degree in horticulture and master’s degree in plant science from Missouri State University. She earned a Ph.D. in plant, insect, and microbial sciences from the University of Missouri.