Dr. Thomas has over two decades of experience in higher education leadership, including her current role as president of HERS, a professional development organization for women and gender-diverse leadership in higher education.
Although women are the majority of undergradaute students (55 percent), they are underrepresented among NCAA varsity student-athletes (43 percent). Women are also less than half of all coaches for women's collegiate athletic teams.
After the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion, there was a significant decline in applications to medical residency programs in states that enacted new abortion restrictions compared to states that did not.
A graduate of SUNY Oswego and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Shank served as general counsel for Washington and Lee University in Virginia for 22 years.
The women appointed to new academic roles are Angela Wilson at Texas A&M University, Michelle Heck at Virginia Tech, Fenaba R. Addo at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Abby Storrs at Southern State Community College in Ohio.
The three faculty members at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill awarded the inaugural Joan Heckler Gillings Endowed Professorship are Jess Edwards, Leah Frerichs and Anna Kahkoska.
Dr. Champagne served as dean of the Duke University School of Nursing from 1991 to 2004. During her tenure, she reintroduced an accelerated bachelor's degree program in nursing, established a Ph.D. program in nursing, and championed online education.
Dr. Isenberg was one of Princeton University's leadings scholars on urban studies. She taught as a professor of history and served as co-founder of the Princeton-Mellon Initiative in Architecture, Urbanism, and the Humanities.
“Jacksonville University is a remarkable institution and our strength lies in its students, faculty, and staff — all united by a shared drive to shape the future," said Dr. Sutherland. "Together, we’ll build on our strong foundation, advance our strategic goals, and ensure every student experiences the life-changing education that defines JU.”
“Women are expected to have to behave in a pliant way, so for female leaders, we found it’s more difficult for them to engage in instruction, to set expectations and to tell others what they need to do because of these stereotypes,” said Dr. Joanna Lin of the University of Georgia. “If we don’t fix this, there will be fewer women leaders and less effective workplaces.”
"For nearly 50 years, the Center has been a beacon; a vital space for intellectual inquiry and connection for academic scholars and educators," said Dr. Kelley. "At a time when supporting the humanities means more than ever, I am proud to have the opportunity to lead a space committed to fostering transformative scholarship, intellectual community, and broad public engagement."
