A Trio of Women Selected for Provost Appointments at Universities

Jennifer Jacobs Henderson has been named provost and senior vice president at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

Dr. Henderson comes to her new role from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where she serves as vice provost and professor of communication. A Trinity faculty member for over two decades, she teaches courses in media law and ethics. She has held several roles throughout her long tenure, including chair of the department of communication and associate vice president for academic affairs and student success.

Dr. Henderson is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising, public relations, and English. She holds a master’s degree and doctorate in communication from the University of Washington.

Nicole Sampson has been promoted from interim provost to permanent provost and chief academic officer at the University of Rochester in New York.

Prior to her interim appointment in August 2024, Dr. Sampson served as the Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Dean of the university’s School of Arts & Sciences. Earlier, she was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University in New York, where she taught for three decades. As a chemical biologist, she focuses her research on the molecular intricacies of mammalian fertilization, methods for precision synthesis of polymers, and finding new treatments for tuberculosis and cholera.

Dr. Samson earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, and her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.

Michelle L. Mayo has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Most recently, Dr. Mayo served as associate provost for student success and dean of undergraduate studies at California State University, Monterey Bay. She has an extensive background in higher education leadership, including service as associate provost for academic programs and undergraduate research at North Carolina Central University and associate provost for academic affairs and dean of graduate and professional studies at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. Mayo is a two-time graduate of Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, where she received her bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in education. She holds a Ph.D. in education policy and leadership studies from Indiana University.