Four Women Appointed to Dean Positions at Universities

Emily Swain has been named dean of Middle College at Fairmont State University in West Virginia. Middle College is an on-campus, dual-degree program for high school youth in foster care to receive their high school diploma and associate’s degree. She has previously held several positions with the university, including special assistant in the Office of Academic Affairs and director of the Fairmount State Alumni Association.

Swain received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fairmont State University and her master’s degree in higher education administration from West Virginia University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from Southern Arkansas University.

LaVie Leasure has been appointed acting associate provost of undergraduate education and dean of the university college at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. Throughout her nearly two-decades-long tenure with the university, she has held several leadership roles including associate dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, Business, and Education, department chair for interdisciplinary studies, and distance learning coordinator for the department of liberal studies.

Dr. Leasure holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Bennett College in North Carolina, a master’s degree in English and Afro-American literature from North Carolina A&T State University, and a Ph.D. in literary criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Meghan Olinger has been named dean of student support and advocacy at McNeese State University in Louisiana. She most recently served as the director of the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Olinger received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in education from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Jen Schneider has been selected to serve as interim dean of the College of Innovation and Design at Boise State University in Idaho. She has held several leadership roles throughout her tenure with the university, including associate dean of the College of Innovation and Design, director of the digitial innovation and design degree program, and associate dean in the School of Public Service.

Dr. Schneider holds a bachelor’s degree in French from the College of Idaho, as well as a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in cultural studies from Claremont Graduate University in California.