Author Archive for Associate Editor
Aimee Sapp Appointed the Ninth President of Meredith College in North Carolina
“I am inspired by Meredith College’s commitment to women’s education, academic excellence, and a diverse and inclusive community,” said Dr. Sapp. “I am eager to contribute my skills and experience in higher education leadership toward Meredith’s continued growth and success.”
Study Finds Significant Increase in Women’s Representation on Boards of U.S. Private Companies
The study found that women held 17 percent of board seats in 2023, up from just 7 percent in 2019. Additionally, the percentage of companies without any women has decreased significantly from 60 percent in 2019 to 32 percent in 2023.
Marcheta P. Evans Named First Black Woman President of St. Catherine University in Minnesota
Dr. Evan’s appointment as president of St. Catherine University is the second time she has been named the first African American president of a higher education institution. She previously served as the first woman and first Black president of Bloomfield College in New Jersey.
In Memoriam: Bertha Maxwell-Roddey, 1930-2024
In 1970, Dr. Maxwell-Roddey became the second African-American to be hired as a full-time faculty member at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. One year later, she became the founding director of the university’s Africana studies department.
Georgetown University Launches Women, Peace, and Security Conflict Tracker
The Women, Peace, and Security Conflict Tracker aims to address global armed conflict, protect women from violence, and include women in conflict resolution efforts.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Honors Leesha Simons for Excellence in Clinical Teaching
Leesha Simons is the assistant director of simulation and lab skills at Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences, where she has taught for the past two years. She previously served as a clinical educator at St. Marks Hospital in Utah.
In Memoriam: Ramona Edelin, 1945-2024
Dr. Edelin founded the first African American studies program at Northeastern University in 1972. She is credited for helping to introduce the term “African American” into American vernacular.
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.
Three Women Appointed Department Chairs in the Florida Atlantic University College of Business
The new Florida Atlantic University department chairs are Hong Yuan for the department of marketing, Anita Pennathur for the department of finance, and Ethlyn Williams for the department of management programs.
In Memoriam: Lorna Peterson, 1939-2024
For 19 years, Dr. Peterson served as executive director of Five Colleges, Incorporated, a collaborative consortium comprised of Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Smita Bhatia Lauded by American Cancer Society for Contributions to Cancer Prevention
The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Cancer Society have recognized Smita Bhatia, professor of pediatric oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, for her contributions to cancer prevention and survivorship.
Columbia Professor Anne Bogart Awarded for Lifetime Achievement in Non-Profit Theatre Production
Anne Bogart, professor of theatre at Columbia University and co-artistic director of the SITI Company in New York City, has been honored for her over five decades of contributions to non-profit theatre.
Women Scholars Who Have Been Named to Dean Positions
The deans are Heather Bush at the University of Kentucky, Susan Rowan at the University of Illinois Chicago, Patricia Sanchez Abril at the University of Miami, Marcilynn Burke at Tulane University, LaVonda Reed at the University of Baltimore, Jenna Shim at the University of Wyoming, Kalea Benner at Indiana University, Sheila Yeh at the University of Northern Colorado, Tracy Linderholm at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Franita Tolson at the University of Southern California, and Carol Dawnson-Rose at the University of California, San Francisco.
National Academy of Sciences Honors Jennifer Trueblood for Experimental Psychology Research Contributions
Jennifer Trueblood, a psychological and brain sciences professor at Indiana University, has been honored for her work in developing mathematical models of cognitive processing to better understand how humans make decisions.
Thirteen Women Appointed to Higher Education Administrative Positions
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.
Texas A&M Professor Jennifer Griffith Recognized for Excellence in Undergraduate Education
“Witnessing undergraduate students realize their passion and love for the field of public health has been and continues to be the most rewarding aspect of my career,” said Dr. Griffith, a professor in the department of health policy and management in the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University.
Five Women Scholars Appointed to Endowed Professorships
The endowed professor appointments are Rachel Fearns at Boston University, Ada Ferrer at Princeton University, Nora Peterson at the University of Nebraska, Helen Caines at Yale University, and Sarah Light at the University of Pennsylvania.
In Memoriam: Lena Prewitt, 1931-2024
In 1970, Dr. Prewitt joined the faculty at the University of Alabama as its first-ever Black woman professor. She served the university as an associate professor of business for over two decades prior to taking on academic and administrative leadership positions with Stillman College.
Study Finds Women Lawyers More Reluctant Than Male Peers to Use Artificial Intelligence Tools
A research team from the University of California Berkeley has found that although women lawyers have a greater initial reluctance to AI tools than male lawyers, once they are introduced to AI programs, both genders report an increase in productivity.
Patricia Lynott Appointed President of Rockford University in Illinois
After serving as interim president since December 2022, Dr. Patricia Lynott has been officially appointed as the ninteenth president of Rockford University in Illinois. She previously served as provost of Southern New Hampshire University.
Report Finds Increase in Deaths From Excessive Alcohol Among American Women
From 2016 to 2021, deaths that were at least partially contributed to alcohol use in the United States increased by 29 percent. American women’s alcohol-related deaths during this time increased by 35 percent.
Amelia Parnell Named President of National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
Dr. Parnell has been with the organization since 2015, serving as vice president for research and policy. Prior to her current role, she was director of research initiatives and director of national survey research for the Association of Institutional Research.
Cornell University Provides An Update on the Progress and Lingering Disparities of Women Faculty in STEM
Despite the popular theory that women are disadvantaged in STEM fields compared to their male peers, the research team from Cornell University found women STEM faculty have achieved gender parity with their male peers in many areas of academia.
Tabitha Miller Appointed President of Martin Community College in North Carolina
Martin Community College has named Tabitha Miller as its next president. Dr. Miller has served as the school’s chief academic officer for the past five years.
In Memoriam: Gloria Jackson, 1931-2024
Dr. Gloria Jackson had a career in higher education that spanned five decades. From 1982 to 1984, she served as president of St. Philip’s College in Texas, a historically Black community college within the Alamo Colleges District.
Shawna Patterson-Stephens Honored for Contributions to Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education
The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators honored Central Michigan University vice president Shawna Patterson-Stephens for her career-long contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion.
Colorado Mountain College President Carrie Besnette Hauser Announces Resignation
“Serving as president and CEO of Colorado Mountain College has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Helping individuals from all backgrounds pursue their dreams while contributing to the economic vitality of our region and state has been incredibly fulfilling,” said Dr. Hauser.
In Memoriam: Shani Mott, 1976-2024
Dr. Mott was a lecturer in the department of history and Center for Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins University where she worked for the past 16 years. Her academic studies focused on racial language in American popular culture.
Paola Ehrmantraut Honored for Establishing a Master’s Degree Program in Diversity Leadership
CBIZ, a national financial and insurance services company, has honored Paola Ehrmantraut with a 2024 Women Transforming Business Award for establishing the master of arts in diversity leadership program at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.
In Memoriam: Elaine Crovitz, 1936-2024
Dr. Crovitz was an associate professor of psychology at Duke University for over two decades. She also taught psychology courses at North Carolina Central University and saw patients at the Duke University Medical Center.
Columbia University Professor Nabila El-Bassel Receives Research Award From the National Institutes of Health
“I’m honored to accept the NIH HEAL Initiative Director’s Research Award,” said Dr. El-Bassel. “I knew early in my research career that I wanted to direct my studies toward addressing society’s most pressing social and health problems.”
New Faculty Positions for Three Women Scholars
The new faculty appointments are Nidhi Pashine at Syracuse University, Jacqueline Brooks at Tuskegee University, and Kang Xia at Virginia Tech.
Princeton University’s Effie Rentzou Honored by French Government for Contributions to French Literature and Art
The French government has bestowed Effie Rentzou with the title of Chevalier in l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques for her contributions to French education, culture, and art.
Seven Women Appointed to Administrative Posts at Universities
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.
Ruby Mendenhall Named Poet Laureate for the City of Urbana, Illinois
Dr. Mendenhall currently serves as the Kathryn Lee Baynes Dallenbach Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she teaches sociology, African American studies, and urban and regional planning.
