All Entries in the "News" Category
A Change in Leadership at William Woods University
Romaine Seguin is stepping in as acting president of William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, following the resignation of current president Jeremy Moreland. Seguin has served as chair of the university’s board of trustees since 2019.
Higher Learning Commission Drops Alverno College’s “Financial Distress” Designation
Five months after Alverno College declared a financial state of emergency, the women’s college has officially dropped its “financial distress” designation thanks to millions of dollars in donations and grants.
Tina Smith to Lead Academic Affairs at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark
Dr. Smith brings experience in public school education, higher education, and both public and private sectors to her new role as vice chancellor of academic affairs and workforce advancement at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark.
Brooke Barnett Named the Sixteenth President of Rollins College
Currently, Dr. Barnett serves as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. She first joined the university in 2019 as a professor of communication and dean of the College of Communication. She will become president of Rollins College in July.
Soyica Diggs Colbert Selected to Lead Academic Affairs at Georgetown University
A Georgetown faculty member for more than a decade, Dr. Colbert has been serving as the inaugural vice president for interdisciplinary studies and the Idol Family Professor in the department of Black studies and the department of performing arts.
Sarah Feldner Named Acting Provost at Marquette University
Dr. Feldner has been a faculty member with Marquette University in Milwaukee for over two decades. A full professor of communication, she has served as dean of the Diederich College of Communication for the past four years.
Kristi Mindrup Appointed the Thirteenth President of Western Illinois University
A Western Illinois University administrator for nearly three decades, Dr. Mindrup has served as interim president since April. Her official appointment makes her the university’s first-ever woman president.
Shelly Blunt Appointed Provost of the University of Southern Indiana
After over a year of service as interim provost, Dr. Blunt has been officially appointed provost at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville. A scholar of organic chemistry, she has been a faculty member with the university since 1999.
Rotesha Harris Appointed President of Knoxville College in Tennessee
“I am committed to ensuring that Knoxville College continues to be a beacon of opportunity and excellence. Together, we will strengthen our foundation and work diligently to regain accreditation, ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come,” said Dr. Harris.
Sarah Parker Appointed President of Washington State College of Ohio
Dr. Parker’s background in higher education spans two decades. She served as Washington College of Ohio’s vice president of academic affairs for six years and was academic dean at Hocking College in Ohio.
University of Colorado Boulder to Pay $4.5 Million Settlement to Hundreds of Women Faculty
Nearly 400 women faculty members at the University of Colorado Boulder will receive a combined $4.5 million in attorney fees and backpay due to a recently settled gender equity lawsuit. Some of these women will receive as much as $50,000 in missed wages.
Jill Williams to Lead the Moore County Campus of Amarillo College
“I am excited to come on board and collaborate with Moore County and surrounding communities and help them connect with us at Amarillo College to create even more opportunities for student success in this community,” said Williams.
Spelman College President Helene Gayle Officially Steps Down After Personal Leave of Absence
Spelman College President Helene Gayle has officially resigned after taking a personal leave of absence in October. Interim President Roz Brewer will continue to serve in her role while the women’s college searches for its next leader.
The Higher Education of the Five Women Selected to Head Cabinet-Level Departments
President-elect Donald Trump has recently nominated five women to lead federal departments. Linda McMahon, Kristi Noem, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer hold bachelor’s degrees. Pam Bondi and Brooke Rollins hold juris doctorates.
Newly Discovered Mineral Named for Virginia Tech Professor Nancy Ross
A newly discovered mineral has been named Nancyrossite, in honor of Dr. Nancy Ross’ impact in the field of geoscience. She has taught at Virginia Tech for over two decades.
Monica Lounsbery Named Provost at Wichita State University in Kansas
Monica Lounsbery’s career in higher education spans over two decades. She has held academic and administrative roles with California State University, Long Beach and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Jennifer Schlueter to Lead Ohio State University’s Marion Campus
Jennifer Schlueter previously spent nine years as a professor of theatre at Ohio State University’s main campus. She currently served as vice provost for academic affairs at The New School in New York City.
Lisa Krissoff Boehm Appointed Provost of Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan
A scholar of American urban history, Dr. Boehm has previously held academic leadership roles at Bridgewater State University, Manhattanville College, and Worcester State University. She will begin her new position with Saginaw Valley State University in January.
University of Southern California President Carol Folt Announces She Will Step Down Next Summer
Prior to taking on her current role in 2019, Dr. Folt served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from July 2013 to January 2019. Her career in higher education began as a professor at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, where she served as a faculty member in biological sciences.
Four Women Receive the Barry Prize for Distinguished Intellectual Achievement
This prestigious annual prize honors those whose work has made outstanding contributions to humanity’s knowledge, appreciation, and cultivation of the good, the true, and the beautiful. It is presented by the American Academy of Sciences and Letters. Four of the 10 winners this year are women.
Kate Shaw Appointed Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education
“It is a tremendous honor to support this first-of-its-kind Board here in Pennsylvania, and I look forward to working alongside the experienced leaders on the Board to strengthen postsecondary education and expand its capacity to serve the needs of the Commonwealth and its residents,” said Dr. Shaw.
Wendy Waugh to Lead Peru State College in Nebraska
With over three decades of higher education experience, Wendy Waugh has been serving as vice president of academic affairs at Peru State College. She will become the college’s interim president on December 2.
Two Women College Presidents Receive Contract Extensions
Valerie Smith, president of Swarthmore College, and Kathleen Harring, president of Muhlenberg College, have both received contract extensions through June 2027 and June 2028, respectively.
Leslie Rodriguez-McClellon Named Seventeenth President of Arkansas Baptist College
Prior to her new role, Dr. Rodriguez-McClellon was the vice president of community relations and governmental affairs at Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh. She has a robust background in higher education, including service as the first African American president of Rochester Community and Technical College in Minnesota.
Graduate Business Schools Have Experienced an Increase in Women Applicants
The share of women who have applied to graduate business programs has experienced a small increase. Over the past 10 years, women have consistently represented about 40 percent of all graduate business program applicants. In 2024, this increased to 42 percent. Roughly 55 percent of business graduate programs reported growth in women applicants.
Report Reveals New Data on Sexual Assault and Misconduct in Higher Education
According to a new report from Westat, nearly 19 percent of women and 21 percent of genderqueer students experienced some form of nonconsensual sexual misconduct in 2024. This is a decrease from 2019.
Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy Named President of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
“I’m honored to take on this new role at AACTE, an organization with such a rich tradition of leadership, advocacy, and innovation,” Dr. Holcomb-McCoy said. She will assume her new role in January after eight years as dean of School of Education at American University in Washington. D.C.
Wendy Hensel Named President of the University of Hawai’i System
“There is one thing that stands out as I have gone through this process and spoken to literally hundreds of people, and that is how important the University of Hawaiʻi is to the state and the people of Hawaiʻi, especially the faculty, staff and administrators who are so committed to its mission,” said President Hensel.
Student-Run Yale Women’s Center Directed to “Maintain Broad Neutrality” in Operations
For over 50 years, the student-run Yale Women’s Center has provided students with feminist programming and resources. According to Yale Women’s Center board members, “Neutrality would contradict our purpose and compromise our daily functions.”
Eva Nodine Selected to Oversee Operations for Purdue Global
Purdue Global, Purdue’s online university, has selected Eva Nodine to serve as COO and CFO. A member of the Purdue staff for over a decade, she currently serves as vice president and deputy chief financial officer for Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Barbara Jung Named First Woman Dean of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
Effective January 2025, Barbara Jung will become the first woman dean of the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. She currently serves as the first woman chair of the department of internal medicine at the University of Washington.
Jenna Burton Elected President of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Board of Regents
Currently, Jenna Burton serves as an associate professor of veterinary oncology at Colorado State University and an oncologist with the Flint Animal Cancer Center.
Michelle Putnam Selected as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal Innovation in Aging
Michelle Putnam’s new appointment is not the first time she has served as a journal’s chief editor. From 2014 to 2020, she was editor-in-chief of the Journal of Gerontological Social Work.
Two Women Who Lead High-Ranking Liberal Arts Colleges Have Received Contract Extensions
Amy Marcus-Newhall, president of Scripps College in California, has received a contract extension through June 2028. Anne Harris, president of Grinnell College in Iowa, has received an extension through June 2030.
Jill McCluskey Selected to Lead the International Association of Agricultural Economists
Dr. McCluskey currently serves as the first woman director of the School of Economics at Washington State University. She will serve as the second-ever woman president of the International Association of Agricultural Economists when she assumes her new role in 2027.
