Tag: University of Massachusetts Amherst

Six Women Selected for Endowed Faculty Appointments

The women who have been selected for endowed faculty positions are Xiumin Martin at Washington University, Suzanne Bart at Purdue University, Vida Praitis at Grinnell College, Erica Edwards at Yale University, Christian Cipriano at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Padma Gulur at Washington University.

In Memoriam: Lorraine D. Lavallee, 1931-2026

Dr. Lavallee taught in the department of mathematics and statistics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for nearly four decades.

The Council of Administrators of Special Education’s Highest Award Honors Mary Lynn Boscardin

The highest research award presented by the Council of Administrators of Special Education has been renamed in honor of Mary Lynn Boscardin, professor and program coordinator of special education leadership and administration at the University of Massachuetts Amherst.

In Memoriam: Kristi L. Kiick, 1967-2026

Dr. Kiick taught materials science and engineering at the University of Delaware for 23 years. During her tenure, she had stints as deputy dean of the College of Engineering and chair of the department of biomedical engineering.

In Memoriam: Laura Valdiviezo, 1969-2025

Dr. Valdiviezo was a professor of education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A scholar of educational ethnography, she served as chair of the department of teacher education and curriculum studies and as director of the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies.

In Memoriam: Awotunde Judyie Ella Al-Bilali

Professor Al-Bilal was the first Black woman to earn the rank of full professor in the department of theater at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she was also affiliated with the Honors Program and the W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies.

Seven Women Administrators Appointed to New Roles in Higher Education

Here is this week’s roundup of Black Americans who have been appointed to new administrative positions at colleges and universities throughout the United States. If you have news for our appointments section, please email the information to contact@jbhe.com.

Three Women Scholars Who Teach in the U.S. Have Been Named Fellows of the World’s Oldest Scientific Academy

Paola Arlotta of Harvard University, Jayati Ghosh of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Miriam Merad of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai are among the 46 scholars who have been named 2025 Fellows of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Rome.

New Administrative Appointments for Eight Women in Academia

The appointments are Tamara Josserand at North Carolina A&T State University, Willa Smith at Stony Brook University, Anette Saxe at the University of Nevada-Reno, Linda Chavers at Holyoke Community College, Beth Dowling at Dartmouth College, Kristine Brown at Bucknell University, Janet Hadar at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Paula Murphy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Seven Women Who Have Been Selected for Endowed Faculty Appointments

The appointments are Yiyun Li at Princeton University, Verity Harte of Yale University, Pavithra Prabhakar at the University of New Mexico, Sarah Bilston at Trinity College in Connecticut, Linda Tropp at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Christina Ramos at Washington University in St. Louis, and Terry Kind at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Anna Nagurney Honored for Pioneering Career in Operations Research and Management Science

Dr. Nagurney, a longtime professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was recently honored by INFORMS, an international organization for operations research and analytics professionals. She was recognized for her pioneering career in supply chain and transportation networks, her leadership in advancing other women in her field, and her commitmefornt to applying her research for societal benefit.

Westminster University President Bethami Dobkin Announces Retirement

“It has been an immense privilege to serve as Westminster University’s nineteenth president,” said Dr. Dobkin. “Working together with faculty, students, staff, alumni, and our generous community has been the honor of a lifetime.