Archive for 2017
Two Young Scholars Aiming to Boost Gender Diversity in the Soil Sciences
Angelia Seyfferth, an assistant professor in the department of plant and soil sciences at the University of Delaware, and Samantha Ying, an assistant professor of soil biogeochemistry at the University of California, Riverside, thought 21 women were going to attend a networking event at a recent convention. Nearly 100 showed up.
AutoNation Cure Bowl in Orlando Raises More Than $3.3 Million for Breast Cancer Research
Almost $1 million of the money raised will support the research of Annette Khaled, a professor of biomedical sciences in the College of Medicine at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Dr. Khaled’s research has discovered a peptide that has shown promise in halting breast cancer cells from metastasizing.
In Memoriam: Leslie Rosenberg Wolfe, 1943-2017
Leslie R. Wolfe was the long-time director of the Center for Women Policy Studies in Washington, D.C. She is perhaps best known for her 1989 report that exposed gender bias in the SAT college entrance examination that allegedly caused women to score lower on the test than men.
Grants or Gifts Relating to Women in Higher Education
Here is this week’s news of grants and gifts that may be of particular interest to women in higher education.
The Only Woman of Color to Lead One of the Nation’s 30 Highest-Ranked Law Schools
L. Song Richardson was named dean of the School of Law at the University of California, Irvine. Professor Richardson has served as interim dean since July and previously was senior associate dean for academic affairs. She joined the faculty at the law school in 2014.
Paola Arlotta Awarded the George Ledlie Prize by Harvard University
The George Ledlie Prize was established in 1927 and is awarded to a scholar who “has by research, discovery or otherwise made the most valuable contribution to science, or in any way for the benefit of mankind.” Dr. Arlotta was honored for her work studying the embryonic brain in health and disease.
New Assignments for Five Women Faculty Members at State Universities
The five women faculty members taking on new duties are Kim Needy at the University of Arkansas, Juliane Wallace at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Katie Kahl at the University of Massachusetts, Mi-Ai Parrish at Arizona State University, and Amy P. Murtha at the University of California, San Francisco.
MIT Scholar Wins the Science Award Electrochemistry in Germany
Jennifer L.M. Rupp is Thomas Lord Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and an assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was honored for her work on energy storage systems.
A Half Dozen Women Who Have Been Selected for New Administrative Posts in Higher Education
The appointees are Tami B. Simmons at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, Sara Thorndike at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Ann Penn at North Carolina Central University, Sherryta Freeman at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tracy Wahl at Arizona State and Darrice Griffin at the University of Georgia.
Three Women Appointed to Positions as Deans at Colleges and Universities
The new deans are Emma Morton-Eggleston at West Virginia University, Cara D. Appel-Simbaugh at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Suzanne Keen at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.
Merodie Hancock Selected to Be the Fourth President of Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey
Since 2013, Dr. Hancock has served as president of Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, New York, a campus of the State University of New York System. Earlier, Dr. Hancock was the vice president of the Global Campus of Central Michigan University.
University of Nebraska Research Examines How Intoxication Affects How Men Look at Women
A new study led by Abigail R. Riemer, a graduate student in social psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, finds that as the level of intoxication increases, men spend less time looking at the faces of women and more time examining other parts of their bodies.
A Watershed Moment for Women at U.S. Medical Schools
In 2017, there were 10,810 women who matriculated at U.S. medical schools, compared to 10,516 men. This is the first time in history that more women have entered U.S. medical schools than men.
Tufts University Scholar Finds International Aid Workers Are Subjected to Sexual Harassment and Assault
A new study led by Dyan Mazurana finds that many women who work for nonprofit humanitarian agencies are subjected to sexual harassment and assault. The report finds that the women are often victimized by colleagues or security personnel assigned to insure their safety.
The Next President of Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Lori Sundberg will become the fifth president of the community college on August 1. Dr. Sundberg currently serves as president of Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois. She became president of the college in 2010 after serving as vice president for academic services and vice president for administrative services.
Why Is the Persistence Rate for Women in Philosophy So Low?
Heather Demarest, a new assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder, is the lead author of a study that finds that the participation rate of women in philosophy was affected by students feeling dissimilar to professional philosophers, perhaps even their instructors.
Eden King to Lead the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Eden King is an associate professor of psychology at Rice University in Houston, Texas. She is a senior associate editor of the Journal of Management and associate editor of the Journal of Business and Psychology.
In Memoriam: Susan Tammy Jones, 1945-2017
Susan T. Jones was associate vice president for university advancement at the University of Miami. A graduate of the university, she served as a fundraiser there for more than 20 years.
Online Articles of Interest to WIAReport Readers
Each week, Women in Academia Report will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.
Recent Books of Interest to Women Scholars
Women in Academia Report regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. Here are the latest selections.
High-Ranking Colleges That Disclosed Gender Data on Their Early Decision Students
Many of the nation’s most selective colleges and universities recently released data on their early decision or early action applicant pools and acceptance decisions. Some of these schools included data on the gender of the students accepted early.
Harvard University Releases New Report on Title IX Policies and Programs
In the 2016–2017 academic year, Harvard’s Title IX officials provided more than 100 audience-tailored, in-person training sessions to community members and provided customized online training to more than 10,000 students and employees.
Sweet Briar College Provides Details on Its New Core Curriculum
Sweet Briar College, the liberal arts educational institution for women in Virginia, has announced its new core curriculum which is focused on women’s leadership. The new core curriculum was designed to meet student demands for academic interests and career training.
Three Women Stepping Down From High-Ranking Posts at Leading Universities
Lauren Benton, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Vanderbilt University, Jackie O’Neil, University Marshall at Harvard University, and Anne Massey dean of the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are leaving their posts.
Grants or Gifts Relating to Women in Higher Education
Here is this week’s news of grants and gifts that may be of particular interest to women in higher education.
Princeton University’s Christy Wampole Honored by the Modern Language Association
Christy Wampole, associate professor in the department of French and Italian at Princeton University in New Jersey, received the Modern Language Association Prize for a First Book.
A Trio of Women Scholars Appointed to Dean Positions
Sarah A. Rajala has been appointed to a second five-year term as dean of engineering at Iowa State University. Meg Nowak was named dean of students at Framingham State University in Massachusetts and Heather White was appointed dean of students and associate vice president for student affairs at the University of Florida.
Oberlin College Scholar Wins Book Award From the Biblical Archaeology Society
Cynthia Chapman, the Adelia A.F. Johnston and Harry Thomas Frank Professor of Religion at Oberlin College in Ohio, received the Best Book Relating to the Hebrew Bible Award from the Biblical Archaeology Society.
New Duties for Six Women Faculty Members at State Universities
Here is this week’s listing of women faculty members from colleges and universities throughout the United States who have been appointed to new positions or have been assigned new duties.
Five Women in Higher Education Honored With Notable Awards
The honorees are Mariana Federica Wolfner of Cornell University, Leslie Jill Patterson of Texas Tech University, Jessica R. Kramer of the University of Utah, Shideh Dashti of the University of Colorado, and Mary Ann Klassen of Swarthmore College.
Three Women Scholars Appointed to New Administrative Posts at Major Universities
Gretchen Crosby Sims was appointed executive director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago. Lori Stettler was appointed vice chancellor for student affairs at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and Rae Gould was named tribal liaison at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Study Finds a Huge Gender Gap in Speakers Invited to Give Talks at High-Ranking Universities
A new study led by researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas, found that during the 2013-14 academic year male professors gave more than twice as many talks as women at events sponsored by academic departments at the nation’s 50 highest-ranked universities.
Sandra Haynes Appointed Chancellor of the Tri-Cities Campus of Washington State University
Sandra Haynes has been serving as deputy provost for academic and student affairs at Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado. Earlier in her career, Dr Haynes served for 13 years as dean of the College of Professional Studies at Metropolitan State University. She will begin her new job on March 1.
Enrollments in Higher Education Are Down But the Gender Gap Has Widened
According to a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, in 2017, enrollments of women in U.S. higher education were down 0.7 percent from a year ago. Male enrollments were down by 1.5 percent, more than double the rate for women.
Law Professor Appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court
Melissa Hart, a tenured professor and the director of the Bryon R. White Center for Constitutional Law at the University of Colorado, was appointed by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper to serve on the Colorado Supreme Court. Professor Hart will continue to teach at the law school while sitting on the Court.
