New Administrative Appointments for Thirteen Women in Higher Education

Phenicia McCullough has been appointed vice president of human resources, diversity, and inclusion at California State University, Fullerton. She has nearly three decades of higher education experience with the California State University system.

McCullough holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in human resources development from the University of Texas at Tyler.

Katie Sabo has been named the associate director for global engagement in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. She has been with the university’s Office of Study Abroad since 2016, overseeing the Fulbright College’s study abroad portfolio, mentoring students, and supervising the office’s operations.

Sabo holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in French from the University of Arkansas.

Michelle Kirkham has been appointed director of development at Culver-Stockton College in Missouri. She comes to her new role from Quincy University in Illinois, where she spent the past three years coordinating the university’s fundraising efforts.

Kirkham received her bachelor’s degree from Culver-Stockton College, where she majored in business administration.

Tamara Jenkins Wade has been appointed chief human resource officer and director of the Office of Human Resources at Columbus State University in Georgia. She has held the position in the interim for the past three years. She has served in several different human resources roles within the university since 2008 including assistant director and talent acquisition manager.

Wade is a graduate of Hawai’i Pacific University, where she majored in business administration with a concentration in human resource management. She holds a master’s degree in human resource development from Clemson University in South Carolina.

Kristin Haag has been promoted to vice president for financial affairs and treasurer at Utica University in New York. She has been with the university for the past 12 years, most recently serving as the assistant vice president for financial planning and analysis.

Haag holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh.

Irina Ellison has been named associate dean for academic affairs and global programs in the College of Health Professions at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. She has over 20 years of experience in science education for both undergraduate and graduate health professions students.

Dr. Ellison holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Vassar College in New York and a Ph.D. in pathology from New York Medical College.

Monique “Mo” Brown has been named deputy chief of operations for the Johns Hopkins University Police Department in Baltimore, Maryland. She has spent the past 24 years with the Baltimore Police Department, most recently as deputy commissioner of the patrol and community policing bureau.

Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in management and criminal justice from Strayer University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Baltimore.

Sarah Pearson has been selected to serve as interim vice president for advancement at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She brings over four decades of fundraising experience to her new role. Most recently, she was the vice president for college advancement at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

Pearson received her bachelor’s degree from Bates College and her master of fine arts degree from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Meria Carstarphen has been named director of the National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities in the School of Education and Urban Studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore. She has over two decades of professional experience, most recently serving as a senior scientist with Gallup.

Dr. Carstarphen holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from Tulane University in New Orleans and a master of education degree from Auburn University in Alabama. She holds a second master of education degree and a doctorate in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University.

Karen Shedrick has been named chief of staff and executive assistant to the president at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. She has been a staff member in the university’s Office of the President since 1988. Over her long tenure, she has provided administrative, hospitality, and organizational support to 13 university presidents.

Shedrick holds a bachelor’s degree in secretarial science and a master’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in business education from Alcorn State University.

Deepa Pawate has been promoted to chief audit officer at Emory University and Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia. For nearly two decades, she has held several positions with the university including associate chief audit officer and assistant vice president for university and research audit.

Pawate holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and an executive MBA from Emory University.

Saeromi Kim has been named director of counseling services at the California Institute of Technology. She comes to her new role after 13 years at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she most recently served as the assistant clinical director of counseling and psychological services. Earlier in her career, she held counseling roles with Wellesley College in Massachuetts, Rhode Island College, and Connecticut College.

Dr. Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brown University in Rhode Island and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Clark University in Massachusetts.

Kathryn Rodenmeyer has been named senior communications manager in the Office of Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State University. She has more than 20 years of public relations experience, most recently serving as director of communications for the Community Health Center Association of Mississippi.

Rodenmeyer holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.