Colby College, the highly selective liberal arts educational institution in Waterville, Maine, has announced the promotion of 12 faculty members to the rank of full professor. Four of the promotions went to women.

Switzer, a two-time alumna of Syracuse University, made history in 1967 when she became the first woman to officially register for and run in the Boston Marathon. A successful broadcast journalist, Switzer has been instrumental in advancing the sport of women's running over the past several decades.

Nadya Mason of the University of Chicago and Alison Mackey of Georgetown University are taking on vice presidential roles at their institutions. Colleen Galambos and Fayron Epps were appointed to associate dean posts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Georgie State University, respectively. Ngozi Okidegbe was promoted to full professor at the Boston University.

Professor Nance recently completed her second tenure as dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law. She was first appointed dean in 2006, making her the first woman and first person of color to lead the law school.

The new deans are Elena Irwin at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Rachel Carpenter at the University of Evansville, Jennifer Wade-Berg at California State University, Long Beach, Mandy Haag at Vincennes University, Christa Payne at Tulane University, and Brandi Renée Avila at Fullerton College.

Dr. May-Newman of San Diego State University has been recognized by the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs for her career-long contributions to the field of cardiovascular biomechanics and the understanding of heart-support technologies.

Here is this week’s roundup of women 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@WIAReport.com

Beth G. Adelman of the University at Buffalo and Jessica de Perio Wittman of the University of Connecticut were honored for their co-edited volume on academic law libraries. Roger Williams University's Nicole Paccione Dyszlewski, Diana J. Hassel, and Monica Teixeira de Sousa were awarded for their co-authored book on how systemic racism has shaped American law.

The appointments are Ana Pombo at Johns Hopkins University, Alicia Drais-Parrillo at Pennsylvania State University, Tracey Stuller at the College of Southern Maryland, Tara M. Randis at the University of South Florida, and Jennifer Choy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

On July 1, Dr. Barnard officially became the first woman president of Jessup University in Rocklin, California. She most recently served as provost and senior vice president at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.

During the 2025–2026 academic year, women represented 47.5 percent of head coaches of women's sports across 94 colleges and universities in NCAA Division I conferences — a decline of 0.2 percent from the prior academic year and the first decrease in the last 13 years.

Effective August 1, Dr. Pratt will lead Penn State's campuses in Hazelton, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre. She comes to her new role from Virginia Tech, where she most recently served as vice president for strategic affairs.