The board of trustees of Green River College in Auburn, Washington, recently fired President Suzanne Johnson following a major financial deficit that led to widespread budget cuts, according to a report from KUOW.
Dr. Johnson assumed the presidency of Green River College on July 1, 2017. Like many other higher education institutions, Green River College experienced many financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Years later, members of the community college’s faculty said President Johnson did not do enough to address those struggles.
According to Green River’s faculty union president Dave Norberg, hiring and other expenditures continued until the college’s deficit peaked at $14.2 million in 2025. At that time, Dr. Johnson called for 5 percent cuts in every division of the college for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. She also instituted a hiring freeze.
“Growing the college and expanding the budget, despite the fact that we had a budget deficit that went unspoken and unacknowledged, to me is just incomprehensible and indefensible,” Norberg told KUOW. “We should have been having hard conversations three, four years ago about sustainability and managing our budget. Instead, it was just radio silence.”
Prior to taking the helm of Green River College, Dr. Johnson was vice president for academic affairs at Suffolk County Community College in New York. Earlier, she was dean of Dowling College in Oakdale, New York. A graduate of Ithaca College, Dr. Johnson holds a master’s degree in psychology and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Stony Brook University, a campus of the State University of New York System.
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Gloria Jean Wade-Gayles, longtime professor and scholar of African American women’s literature, passed away in January at the age of 88.
A professor of English and women’s studies, Dr. Wade-Gayles was founding director of the Spelman Independent Scholars Oral History Project and led RESONANCE, a choral performance group. During her career, she had a stint as a DuBois Fellow at Harvard University and held Eminent Scholar Chairs at both Spelman College and Dillard University in New Orleans. Dr. Wade-Gayles was the author of several books, including 
Nina Kushner, associate professor of history, has been appointed the Jacob and Frances I. Hiatt Professor of History. Dr. Kushner, joined the faculty in 2005 and is co-chair of the department of history. She is a specialist in early modern and eighteenth-century European social and cultural history, with an emphasis on France, women, gender, and the history of sexuality. Dr. Kushner is the author of 
Shelly Tenenbaum, longtime professor of sociology, is the inaugural holder of the Betty J. Singer ’71 Professorship in Jewish Studies. Professor Tenenbaum’s research focuses on ethnic enterprise, mutual aid, gender, education, and identity and intersects the broad areas of sociology of American Jews and historical sociology. She is the author of 
Terrasa Ulm, associate professor in the Becker School of Design & Technology, has been named the inaugural holder of the E.C.A. and Mary Becker Professorship. Ulm has been an emergent media artist, game developer, and professor of interactive media for over 15 years. Ulm is a graduate of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Ulm went on to earn a master of fine arts degree from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a master’s degree in interactive media at the Parsons School of Design at The New School.
Allison Shorten is the inaugural senior associate dean of professional development and faculty affairs for the School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has served as chair of the school’s department of acute, chronic, and continuing care, executive director of the school’s Women and Children Health Initiative, and director of UAB’s Office of Interprofessional Curriculum.
Jonli Tunstall has been named associate vice provost of student diversity at the University of California, Los Angeles and director of the UCLA Academic Advancement Program. She previously served as the program’s director of pre-college and summer programs. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Dr. Tunstall teaches courses in the School of Education, the department of African American studies, and the department of ethnomusicology.
Nancy Deringer was promoted from interim associate dean to permanent associate dean for student success and academic programming in the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University. Currently holding the rank of associate professor, Dr. Deringer previously served as state director of the Washington 4-H Youth Development Program. Earlier in her career, she spent 10 years as an tenured faculty member with the University of Idaho.
Rachel M. Stanley has been appointed physician-in-chief of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and chair of the department of pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She comes to her new role from Columbus, Ohio, where she is division chief of emergency medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and a professor of pediatrics in the College of Medicine at Ohio State University. Earlier in her career, she founded the pediatric emergency medicine fellowship program at the University of Michigan.
Maxine Burkett is the founding faculty director of the newly established Center for Just Environmental Futures at Stanford University in California. She currently serves as the Emerson Collective Professor of Climate, Environment, and Society in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. Throughout roles in the White House, the U.S. State Department, and academia, Professor Burkett has focused on the relationship between environmental change and inequity, its impact on communities, and how law and policy can help build a better world for all.
Elena Karahanna has been named a Regents’ Professor at the University of Georgia. The title is the university’s highest professorial honor. Dr. Karahanna currently serves as a distinguished research professor and the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Distinguished Chair in Business Administration. One of the most cited information systems scholars in the world, she studies how individuals and organizations engage with digital technology.
Nadine Kabengi was appointed associate vice president of research strategic initiatives at Georgia State University. A faculty member since 2012, she is a full professor of geosciences and associate dean of the Graduate School. She also holds a joint faculty appointment in the department of chemistry. Her research interests include environmental mineralogy and surface chemistry.
Melanie Leuty is director of the School of Psychology in the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi. She first joined the university’s faculty in 2010. For the past three years, she has directed the Center for Faculty Development. Her research expertise includes career choice and development, career interventions, and vocational assessment.
Zena Herrera is a new assistant professor of meat science and muscle biology in the department of animal science and the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Arkansas. She previously worked in research and development with Tyson Foods, where she investigated methods to improve a wide range of meat products. In her new role, she plans to examine how management decisions, diet, genetics, and stress interact to influence meat quality.
Karolin Luger, a distinguished professor of biochemistry and the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Endowed Chair of Biochemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been awarded the 2026 Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science. The annual award honors immigrants who are leading advancements in biomedical research in the United States.
Shelia Babendir is dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Phoenix. A faculty member with the university for nearly two decades, Dr. Babendir has served as interim dean since June 2025. Earlier in her tenure, she served as associate dean of counseling programs and clinical director of the master’s degree program in counseling.
Anika Spratley Burtin, an associate professor of education, was named interim dean of the newly launched School of Education and Learning Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia. Prior to her new leadership role, she was acting associate dean of academic affairs for the university’s College of Arts and Sciences. She has also served as chair of the division of education, health, and social work.
Ayşe Şahin has been named dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at the Daytona Beach campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. With over two decades of higher education experience, Dr. Şahin has held leadership roles with Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio; DePaul University in Chicago; North Dakota State University; and Colorado State University. Since 2022, she has served as dean of Wright State’s College of Science and Mathematics.
Hope Bibens has been promoted from associate dean to dean of Cowles Library at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. An associate professor of librarianship, Bibens previously served as director of university archives and special collections. As a scholar, she focuses on accessibility of archival spaces and collections, teaching with primary sources, and the management of born digital congressional collections. In addition to her academic roles, Bibens is the university’s faculty athletics representative.
Kami Silk was appointed dean of the Graduate College at the University of Delaware, where she serves as the Edward F. and Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg Professor of Communication and chair of the department of communication. Prior to joining the university in 2018, Dr. Sik was senior associate dean of research for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University. Earlier in her tenure, she was associate dean of graduate programs.
Mikala Egeblad, the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Tumor Microenvironment at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, received the 2025 Ernst W. Bertner Memorial Award from the Bertner Foundation in honor of her outstanding research into how tumor microenvironments impact cancer progression.
Raushanah N. Butler is the new senior director of alumni engagement at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. Most recently, Butler was director of alumni engagement at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. Earlier, she was associate director of alumni and constituent engagement at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.
L. Rebecca Hann is vice president for budget and planning at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She has held the role on an interim basis since June 2025. Prior to her interim appointment, Dr. Hann was associate dean for administration and finance at the university’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Before joining Cornell, she was associate director of budget and planning at Syracuse University in New York.
Malikah Pitts Harvey was appointed vice president for student success at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas. Her background includes over two decades of higher education experience, including extensive leadership in career development and student services. Prior to her new role, Dr. Pitts Harvey was associate vice president of student affairs at Texas Lutheran University.
Cassandra Hawkins has been named the director of the McNair HBCU Scholars Programs at Jackson State University in Mississippi. The McNair HBCU Scholars Program also serves scholars enrolled at Alcorn State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College, and Tougaloo College.
Michaelia Black is vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio. She has an extensive background in higher education, including experience as an educator and a financial administrator. Most recently, Dr. Black was an assistant professor of accounting at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. Earlier, she was director of institutional risk and compliance at Lee.
Karla Miller is the director of career development services at Alabama A&M University. She began her career with the university in 2014 as assistant director of career development services. More recently, she served as director of residential life and housing. Additionally, Miller serves on the Student Affairs Leadership Team, contributing to long-range planning and student success strategies.
Emmilee Mitchell has been selected to serve as interim associate vice president for financial planning at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. A Mercer staff member for more than two decades, Mitchell has served as director of student financial planning operations and compliance since 2014. Earlier, she held various roles in human resources, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office, the Registrar’s Office, and the Academic Resource Centers.
Alison Weaver has been named director of The Grey Art Museum at New York University. Since 2015, she has served as the founding Suzanne Deal Booth Executive Director of the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Earlier, Weaver was director of affiliates for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Laine Norton is senior vice president for development and alumni affairs at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. She comes to her new role from Ithaca College, where she was vice president for advancement. Earlier in her career, Norton was assistant dean for advancement at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She has also worked for the University of Nebraska Foundation.
Sheleah D. Reed has been named university transformation officer for Prairie View A&M University in Texas. With over two decades of experience, Reed most recently served as the national director of K-12 engagement and partnerships at PBK Architects. Previously, she was chief of staff and chief communications officer for Aldine Independent School District in Texas.
The Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) recently renamed its highest research award after Mary Lynn Boscardin, professor and program coordinator of special education leadership and administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Lesa Hoffman has been appointed the Eugene T. Moore Distinguished Professor in the College of Education at Clemson University in South Carolina. She was a professor in the psychological and quantitative foundations department at the University of Iowa. An interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Hoffman examines links between psychology and education by using statistical models to understand data relating to human behavior.
Aiyin Chen was named the Fred P. and Joan Thompson Family Endowed Professor at Oregon Health & Science University. An associate professor of ophthalmology, Dr. Chen currently serves as head of glaucoma service at the university’s Casey Eye Institute. Her current research focuses on how optical coherence tomography and machine learning can advance glaucoma diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment.
Carmen Alvarez is the Afaf I. Meleis Director of the Center for Global Women’s Health at the University of Pennsylvania. She has also been named the inaugural associate dean for global engagement for Penn Nursing. As both a nurse practitioner and nurse-midwife, Dr. Alvarez focuses her work on designing interventions for those disproportionately affected by trauma—specifically immigrant Latina women navigating the long-term mental and physical health impacts of adverse childhood experiences and intimate partner violence.
Danielle E. Luciano was named the Health Net, Inc. Chair in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, where she serves as a professor and chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology. A physician-researcher, Dr. Luciano has made significant contributions to minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and endometriosis research. She currently co-leads EndoRISE, a state-supported initiative to improve research, patient outcomes, and education for endometriosis.
Barbara Aronstein Black, dean emerita of Columbia Law School, passed away on January 20. She was 92 years old.
The American Diabetes Association recently announced the appointments of its 2026 elected officers, including two women professors who will serve in president-elect positions. They will serve in this capacity for a one-year term before assuming their presidential roles in 2027.
Jennifer Green has been named president-elect of medicine and science. Dr. Green is a professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, metabolism, and nutrition at Duke University and a faculty member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute. Previously, she spent 14 years as chief of the endocrinology section at the Durham VA Medical Center. Her clinical and research interests focus on strategies to predict, prevent, and treat diabetes mellitus and its complications. She also studies kidney complications and cardiovascular outcomes.
Elizabeth Beverly has been named president-elect of health care and education. Dr. Beverley currently serves as the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Ralph S. Licklider, D.O. Endowed Professor in Behavioral Diabetes at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. She also co-directs the Southeastern Ohio Regional Quality Improvement Hub and the Diabetes Institute Summer Interprofessional Research Experience, an apprentice-based program to educate and engage undergraduates in diabetes research. In her research, Dr. Beverly studies the psychological aspects of diabetes, rural health disparities, and health care professional education.
Lise Youngblade has been appointed interim provost and executive vice president at Colorado State University.
Annice Yarber-Allen has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Albany State University in Georgia. She will assume her new role as the university’s chief academic officer on March 2.
Kristi L. Kiick, Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Delaware, passed away on January 2. She was 58 years old.
The Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States recently announced the selection of 16 Churchill Scholars in science, math, and engineering for the 2026-27 academic year. The Churchill Scholarship is for one year of master’s study at Churchill College of the University of Cambridge in England. The award covers full tuition, a competitive stipend, travel costs, and the chance to apply for a $4,000 special research grant.
Kate Carline is a senior at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. 
Jennifer Lauren Hamad is a graduate of Stanford University, where she majored in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. At the University of Cambridge, she will pursue a master’s degree in biological science (pathology) and then hopes to enter an MD/Ph.D. program.
Christine Li is a senior at Columbia University, majoring in computer science. Li has organized the annual Columbia Undergraduate Computer and Data Science Research Fair and has also performed with the Columbia Ballet Collaborative. At Cambridge, Li plans to pursue a master’s degree in advanced computer science. She ultimately plans to earn a Ph.D. in quantum computing.
Arianna McCarty is a senior studying chemical and biological engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. Most recently, McCarty joined the Burdick Lab, where she engineers heart tissues to model focal cardiac fibrosis, a type of cardiac scarring that occurs after heart attacks.
Carolyn Nguyen is a senior at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is studying molecular and cell biology and business administration. She conducts research applying CRISPR technology to modulate gene expression with the goal of advancing targeted epigenetic editing tools.
Saskia Solotko is a senior at Tufts University in Massachusetts, where she is majoring in mathematics and has been on the rowing team. She was 
Katie Spivakovsky is a senior at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she is majoring in biological engineering and artificial intelligence with minors in mathematics and biology. Her research focuses on applying reinforcement learning techniques and physics-based constraints to computationally model the evolution of visual systems and neural circuitry.
Katherine Tung is a 2025 graduate of Harvard University. She is a past winner of the Alice T. Schafer Prize for Excellence in Mathematics. While an undergraduate, she taught abstract algebra to high school students from underprivileged and underrepresented groups and served in a leadership role for Harvard’s Gender Inclusivity in Mathematics group.
Utah Valley University President Astrid S. Tuminez has announced she will step down from her role on May 1, following more than seven years of service.
Each week, Women in Academia Report will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. The links presented direct the reader to articles from many different points of view that deal with issues of women in higher education. The articles selected do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board of WIAReport.
Laura Valdiviezo, professor of education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, passed away on December 17. She was 56 years old.
The National Academy of Education has elected 19 distinguished education scholars and leaders to its membership, recognizing their significant contributions to education research and policy.
Peggy Carr is the former commissioner of the National Center for Educational Statistics. Prior to NCES, Dr. Carr served as the chief statistician for the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from North Carolina Central University, with a concentration in statistics. Dr. Carr earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Tabbye M. Chavous is the executive director of the American Educational Research Association. She is a professor of education and psychology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. An academic and administrative leader at the university for more than 25 years, she served as vice provost for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. Earlier in her tenure, she was co-director of the Center for the Study of Black Youth in Context at the university. Dr. Chavous holds a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. in community psychology from the University of Virginia.
Patricia Edwards is a professor in the department of teacher education at Michigan State University. Dr. Edwards is nationally and internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work on parent involvement, family–school–community partnerships, multicultural literacy, early literacy, and family and intergenerational literacy — particularly among historically marginalized, low-income, and minoritized children and families. She is the author or editor of several books including 
Adrianna Kezar is the Dean’s Professor of Leadership and the Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education at the University of Southern California. She also serves as director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the university. Professor Kezar is an expert on change leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion, faculty, STEM reform, collaboration, and governance in higher education. She joined the faculty at USC in 2003 after serving on the faculty at the University of Maryland and George Washington University. Dr. Kezar is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where she majored in art history. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Michigan.
Stacey J. Lee is the Vilas Research Professor and Frederick Erickson WARF Professor in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on the role of education in the incorporation of immigrants into the United States. She is the author of several books including 
Judit Moschkovich is a Distinguished Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before coming to UCSC in 1999, Dr. Moschkovich was a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley and a researcher at the Institute for Research on Learning in Palo Alto, California. She is the editor of the book 
Carla O’Connor is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in the Marsal Family School of Education at the University of Michigan. She also serves as the director of University of Michigan Wolverine Pathways, a free year-round program that partners with the families, schools, and communities of Detroit, Ypsilanti, and Southfield to support academic success, college admission, and career exploration. Professor O’Connor is co-editor of the book 
Cecilia Rios-Aguilar is a professor of education and department chair in the School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. She also serves as associate dean of equity, diversity, and inclusion. She is past director of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA. She is co-editor of 
Katharine O. Strunk is the George and Diane Weiss Professor of Education and Dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Prior to joining the faculty at Penn in 2023, Dr. Strunk was the Clifford E. Erickson Distinguished Chair in Education and a professor of education policy at Michigan State University. From 2009 to 2017 she served on the faculty of the University of Southern California. Dr. Strunk also served as president of the Association for Education Finance and Policy. A graduate of Princeton University, where she majored in public policy, Dr. Strunk holds a master’s degree in economics and a Ph.D. in education administration and policy analysis from Stanford University.
Nicole Patton Terry is the Olive & Manuel Bordas Professor in the School of Teacher Education and director of the Florida Center for Reading Research at Florida State University. Dr. Terry’s research, innovation, and engagement activities concern young learners who are vulnerable to experiencing difficulty with language and literacy achievement in school. She currently serves as president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading. Dr. Terry earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University’s School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a specialization in learning disabilities.
Beth Warren is the Sylvia Earl Professor and director of the Earl Center for Learning & Innovation at Boston University. She is also a professor in the department of language and literacy education. Dr. Warren and her colleagues investigate questions at the intersection of culture, language, race, learning and teaching across STEM, humanities, and arts disciplines. Professor Warren is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where she majored in French language and literature. She holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in human development and reading from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.
Lacy Knutson is the Lucas P. Wintrode Assistant Professor of Special Education-Autism Studies. She is the founding member and first elected president of the South Dakota Association for Behavior Analysis. Dr. Knutson is a graduate of South Dakota State University, where she majored in psychology. She went on to earn a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. After six years in the clinical field, she returned to school to further her education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, receiving her doctoral degree in applied behavior analysis.
Erin Miller is the Gail M. Gullickson Endowed Assistant Professor in the department of allied and population health. She is the interim director of the Community Practice Innovation Center. A member of the faculty since 2020, Dr. Miller’s research interests include access to care, substance use disorder services (prevention, treatment and recovery), practice-based research, implementation science, rural health, and leadership. Dr. Miller holds an MBA and a pharmacy doctorate from North Dakota State University.
Karen Sanguinet holds the 
Erica Summerfield is the Karen D. Stuck Endowed Assistant Professor of Agricultural Communication. She joined the faculty in 2024. Her research focuses on the use of agricultural communication to solve complex issues in rural communities with a focus on design, agricultural literacy, and safety and health. Dr. Summerfield holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural leadership and a master’s degree in agricultural communication from Oklahoma State University. She earned a Ph.D. in agricultural communication, education, and leadership from Ohio State University.
Rachel Willand-Charnley is the Bill and Nancy Wadsworth Research Faculty Scholar and Associate Professor. She is an interdisciplinary applied organic chemist and chemical biologist specializing in organic chemistry, glycobiology, and cancer immunology. Dr. Williams-Charnley is a graduate of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where she majored in biology. She holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University.
Monica J. Posey, president of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College in Ohio, has announced her retirement effective August 31.
Cynthia Leifer is director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She currently teaches as a full professor of microbiology and immunology in Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Earlier in her tenure with the university, she was director of graduate studies for the field of biomedical and biological sciences at the veterinary college.
Terri Poe has been named the inaugural chief nursing executive for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System. In this role, she will oversee nursing operations across all UAB Medicine entities. A faculty member since 2009, Dr. Poe has served in several prior leadership roles, including director of emergency services and assistant dean of nursing clinical practice and partnerships for the School of Nursing.
Laurie Leshin has joined the Arizona State University faculty as the University Professor for Space Futures. She most recently served as the Bren Professor of Geochemistry and Planetary Science at the California Institute of Technology and director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. From 2014 to 2022, Dr. Leshin served as the first woman president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.
Molly Schotzko recently began a three-year term as the faculty athletics representative at Washington State University. An assistant professor in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, she previously served as the university’s executive director of marketing. Her work focuses on crafting unique brand experiences while fostering inclusivity and belonging.
Karen Bales was named director of the California National Primate Research Center at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Bales has been affiliated with the center since she joined the university’s faculty in 2004. Earlier in her tenure, she was the head of the center’s neuroscience and behavior unit. In her lab, Dr. Bales studies the physiology, neurobiology, and development of social bonding, particularly in monogamous species.
Grete Pedersen is the principal conductor of Yale Schola Cantorum and professor in the practice of conducting at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and Yale School of Music. She comes to Yale from the Norwegian Academy of Music, where she spent over three decades on the conducting faculty. In 2025, she concluded a 35-year tenure as artistic director of the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, one of Europe’s leading ensembles.
Molly Crockett, professor of psychology and the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University, is one of two recipients of this year’s Troland Research Award from the National Academy of Sciences. The award provides $75,000 each to two early-career researchers in honor of their achievements and empirical research in experimental psychology.
Kimberly “Kim” Petersen has been promoted from interim dean to permanent dean of the Lloyd International Honors College at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prior to her interim appointment, Dr. Petersen was faculty director of the university’s Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creativity. She has been a faculty member with UNC Greensboro’s department of chemistry since 2011 and achieved the rank of full professor in 2024.
Julia Bear was named interim dean of the College of Business at Stony Brook University of the State University of New York System. A full professor of organizational behavior, Dr. Bear has been serving as the college’s associate dean for research. Her scholarship centers on the intersection of gender and negotiation and the dynamics underlying gender gaps in organization. She is the co-author of 
Christina Spears Brown has been appointed dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She comes to her new role from the University of Kentucky, where she currently serves as a professor of developmental psychology and associate dean of student engagement and success in the College of Arts and Sciences. As a scholar, Dr. Brown has conducted extensive research on children’s and adolescents’ understanding of discrimination, stereotypes, and social identity. She is the author of several books including 
Camilla Benbow, the Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, is the co-recipient of the Dunnette Prize from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. She shares the award with her colleague David Lubinski, the Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Psychology and Human Development.
Tiffany Hinton was promoted to vice president for student success, well-being, and belonging at Hollins University, a liberal arts educational institution for women in Roanoke, Virginia. Dr. Hinton has served in this role on an interim basis since July 2025. Before her interim appointment, she was the university’s associate vice president and chief Title IX officer. Earlier, she held leadership positions with Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, Virginia Commonwealth University, and North Carolina Central University.
LaVon Gray is assistant to the president for information technology and operations at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina. With over 25 years of leadership experience, Gray has a background in administration, finance, operations, higher education, and information technology. Previously, she was a project director for enrollment management at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.
Morgan Dudley has been named executive director for operations at Mississippi State University-Meridian. In this role, she will oversee all non-academic functions at the Meridian campus, including facility operations, marketing and communications, and community engagement. Dudley will also continue to serve in her current role as director of the Mississippi State University Riley Center.
Tarryn Harris has joined the University of Arkansas System’s Clinton School Impact Center staff as a research associate. She has worked as a graduate assistant at the center for the past year. Her current research centers on public health prevention and management strategies, workforce development needs assessments, and community-level interventions for families impacted by the opioid crisis.
Vicki Sell is the new senior director of alumni relations at the University of Idaho and executive director of the University of Idaho Alumni Association. Prior to her new role, Sell was senior director of human resources for Albertsons Companies, Inc. Earlier, she was director of human resources and employee relations at St. Luke’s Regional Health Systems.
Leandra Godoy, associate professor of pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, has been named the A. James & Alice B. Clark Distinguished Professor of Early Childhood Intervention and Advocacy at Children’s National Hospital. Dr Godoy is a clinical psychologist who specializes in early childhood mental health. She currently serves as co-director of the Early Childhood Behavioral Health Program, as well as the Community Mental Health Collaboration, Outreach, Research, and Equity team at Children’s National Hospital.
Beth Johnson was named the James and Alvina Balog Faculty Fellow of Science at Pennsylvania State University. A Penn State faculty member since 2016, she currently serves as an associate teaching professor, director for academics for the bachelor of science/MBA program, and director of the integrative science major in the Eberly College of Science. Dr. Johnson’s new fellowship will support her work in preparing students for careers at the intersection of science and business. Before joining the Penn State faculty, she taught at Juniata College in Pennsylvania.
Deborah Jackson-Dennison has been named the next president of Diné College in Tsaile, Arizona. Her presidency will begin on March 2.
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore has selected Lainie Rutkow to serve as interim provost, following the departure of current provost Ray Jayawardhana, recently appointed president of the California Institute of Technology. Dr. Rutkow will assume her new responsibilities in mid-February.