Three Women Scholars Appointed to Dean Positions

Paula Song has been named dean of the College of Public Health at Ohio State University. Her new appointment marks a return to the university, where she began her academic career as an assistant professor of health services and management. For the past five years, she has served as the Richard M. Bracken Chair in the department of health administration at Virginia Commonwealth University. Previously, she was director of residential master’s programs in the department of health policy and management at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Song is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in biological basis and behavior. She holds a master’s degree in health services administration, a second master’s degree in applied economics, and a Ph.D. in health services organization and policy from the University of Michigan.

Lisa Powell has been named vice president for academic affairs, dean of the college, and chief sustainability officer at Sweet Briar College, a women’s liberal arts institution in Virginia. A faculty member with the college since 2020, she currently serves as STEM division head, director of the Center for Human and Environment Sustainability, and associate professor of environmental science and agriculture. Her research focuses on human-environment relationships, particularly in the contexts of food systems, policy, land use, and education.

Dr. Powell holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Harvard University and a master’s degree in mathematics from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She received a master’s degree and Ph.D. in American studies and sustainability from the University of Texas at Austin.

Nicola Mason has been appointed dean of the Ernst & Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University in Kentucky. She comes to her new role from Eastern Kentucky University, where she currently serves as assistant dean of the College of Education & Applied Human Sciences. Earlier in her tenure, she served as chair of the department of teaching, learning, and educational leadership.

Originally from Cape Town, Dr. Mason received her bachelor of music degree from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. She holds a master of music degree from Morehead State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky.