All Entries in the "News" Category
American-Born Layli Maparyan Appointed President of the University of Liberia
Dr. Maparyan, a distinguished academic and prolific scholar, had been serving as the executive director of the Wellesley Centers for Women and a professor of African Studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
Rachel Davis Mersey Is the New Provost at the University of Texas at Austin
Before being named interim provost last August, Professor Mersey was the dean of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas. Earlier, she was a professor and the associate dean for research in the Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
The New Leader of Marietta College in Ohio
Kathleen Poorman Dougherty was appointed Interim president of Marietta College in Ohio. Since July 1, 2023, she has served as provost and dean of the faculty at the college. She was the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Alma College in Michigan from 2018 to 2022.
Ursuline College in Ohio Agrees to Become the Third Campus of Gannon University
Ursuline College, a women’s oriented educational institution in Pepper Pike, Ohio, has agreed to become the Ursuline College Campus of Gannon University. Both institutions have ties to the Catholic Church. The Ursuline College Campus of Gannon University will have distinct academic programs and maintain its own athletics teams.
Director of the Barnard Center for Research on Women Resigns in Protest
In a letter to the campus community, Professor Nadasen said, “I look forward to a time when campus reopens, when we can freely discuss ideas, when the administration stands up for critical academic inquiry and debate, and when students are able to freely express ideas, whether or not we agree with those ideas.”
Shannon Byers to Lead the College Foundation, a Nonprofit That Assists North Carolina Students
The nonprofit corporation serving North Carolina students and families since 1955, administers education loan programs and several major grant and scholarship programs funded by the State of North Carolina for students attending North Carolina colleges and universities.
Monique Guillory Named Ninth President of Dillard University
Dr. Guillory has served as Dillard University’s interim president for the past seven months. Her background includes over three decades of higher education administration experience.
Mary Sortino to Lead Graduate Studies at Fairmont State University
Dr. Sortino comes to her new role after nearly a decade with Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania, where she most recently served as dean of the School of Business and Education.
Over Half of First-Time Graduate Students in 2023 Were Women
In the fall 2023 semester, women represented over half of first-time graduate students at the master’s degree and certificate level (58.2 percent) and the doctoral level (56.5 percent).Women also earned the majority of all graduate certificates, master’s degrees, and doctorates awarded by U.S. institutions during the 2022-2023 academic year.
A Change in Leadership at William Woods University
Romaine Seguin is stepping in as acting president of William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, following the resignation of current president Jeremy Moreland. Seguin has served as chair of the university’s board of trustees since 2019.
Higher Learning Commission Drops Alverno College’s “Financial Distress” Designation
Five months after Alverno College declared a financial state of emergency, the women’s college has officially dropped its “financial distress” designation thanks to millions of dollars in donations and grants.
Tina Smith to Lead Academic Affairs at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark
Dr. Smith brings experience in public school education, higher education, and both public and private sectors to her new role as vice chancellor of academic affairs and workforce advancement at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark.
Brooke Barnett Named the Sixteenth President of Rollins College
Currently, Dr. Barnett serves as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. She first joined the university in 2019 as a professor of communication and dean of the College of Communication. She will become president of Rollins College in July.
Soyica Diggs Colbert Selected to Lead Academic Affairs at Georgetown University
A Georgetown faculty member for more than a decade, Dr. Colbert has been serving as the inaugural vice president for interdisciplinary studies and the Idol Family Professor in the department of Black studies and the department of performing arts.
Sarah Feldner Named Acting Provost at Marquette University
Dr. Feldner has been a faculty member with Marquette University in Milwaukee for over two decades. A full professor of communication, she has served as dean of the Diederich College of Communication for the past four years.
Kristi Mindrup Appointed the Thirteenth President of Western Illinois University
A Western Illinois University administrator for nearly three decades, Dr. Mindrup has served as interim president since April. Her official appointment makes her the university’s first-ever woman president.
Shelly Blunt Appointed Provost of the University of Southern Indiana
After over a year of service as interim provost, Dr. Blunt has been officially appointed provost at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville. A scholar of organic chemistry, she has been a faculty member with the university since 1999.
Rotesha Harris Appointed President of Knoxville College in Tennessee
“I am committed to ensuring that Knoxville College continues to be a beacon of opportunity and excellence. Together, we will strengthen our foundation and work diligently to regain accreditation, ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come,” said Dr. Harris.
Sarah Parker Appointed President of Washington State College of Ohio
Dr. Parker’s background in higher education spans two decades. She served as Washington College of Ohio’s vice president of academic affairs for six years and was academic dean at Hocking College in Ohio.
University of Colorado Boulder to Pay $4.5 Million Settlement to Hundreds of Women Faculty
Nearly 400 women faculty members at the University of Colorado Boulder will receive a combined $4.5 million in attorney fees and backpay due to a recently settled gender equity lawsuit. Some of these women will receive as much as $50,000 in missed wages.
Jill Williams to Lead the Moore County Campus of Amarillo College
“I am excited to come on board and collaborate with Moore County and surrounding communities and help them connect with us at Amarillo College to create even more opportunities for student success in this community,” said Williams.
Spelman College President Helene Gayle Officially Steps Down After Personal Leave of Absence
Spelman College President Helene Gayle has officially resigned after taking a personal leave of absence in October. Interim President Roz Brewer will continue to serve in her role while the women’s college searches for its next leader.
The Higher Education of the Five Women Selected to Head Cabinet-Level Departments
President-elect Donald Trump has recently nominated five women to lead federal departments. Linda McMahon, Kristi Noem, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer hold bachelor’s degrees. Pam Bondi and Brooke Rollins hold juris doctorates.
Newly Discovered Mineral Named for Virginia Tech Professor Nancy Ross
A newly discovered mineral has been named Nancyrossite, in honor of Dr. Nancy Ross’ impact in the field of geoscience. She has taught at Virginia Tech for over two decades.
Monica Lounsbery Named Provost at Wichita State University in Kansas
Monica Lounsbery’s career in higher education spans over two decades. She has held academic and administrative roles with California State University, Long Beach and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Jennifer Schlueter to Lead Ohio State University’s Marion Campus
Jennifer Schlueter previously spent nine years as a professor of theatre at Ohio State University’s main campus. She currently served as vice provost for academic affairs at The New School in New York City.
Lisa Krissoff Boehm Appointed Provost of Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan
A scholar of American urban history, Dr. Boehm has previously held academic leadership roles at Bridgewater State University, Manhattanville College, and Worcester State University. She will begin her new position with Saginaw Valley State University in January.
University of Southern California President Carol Folt Announces She Will Step Down Next Summer
Prior to taking on her current role in 2019, Dr. Folt served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from July 2013 to January 2019. Her career in higher education began as a professor at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, where she served as a faculty member in biological sciences.
Four Women Receive the Barry Prize for Distinguished Intellectual Achievement
This prestigious annual prize honors those whose work has made outstanding contributions to humanity’s knowledge, appreciation, and cultivation of the good, the true, and the beautiful. It is presented by the American Academy of Sciences and Letters. Four of the 10 winners this year are women.
Kate Shaw Appointed Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education
“It is a tremendous honor to support this first-of-its-kind Board here in Pennsylvania, and I look forward to working alongside the experienced leaders on the Board to strengthen postsecondary education and expand its capacity to serve the needs of the Commonwealth and its residents,” said Dr. Shaw.
Wendy Waugh to Lead Peru State College in Nebraska
With over three decades of higher education experience, Wendy Waugh has been serving as vice president of academic affairs at Peru State College. She will become the college’s interim president on December 2.
Two Women College Presidents Receive Contract Extensions
Valerie Smith, president of Swarthmore College, and Kathleen Harring, president of Muhlenberg College, have both received contract extensions through June 2027 and June 2028, respectively.
Leslie Rodriguez-McClellon Named Seventeenth President of Arkansas Baptist College
Prior to her new role, Dr. Rodriguez-McClellon was the vice president of community relations and governmental affairs at Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh. She has a robust background in higher education, including service as the first African American president of Rochester Community and Technical College in Minnesota.
Graduate Business Schools Have Experienced an Increase in Women Applicants
The share of women who have applied to graduate business programs has experienced a small increase. Over the past 10 years, women have consistently represented about 40 percent of all graduate business program applicants. In 2024, this increased to 42 percent. Roughly 55 percent of business graduate programs reported growth in women applicants.
Report Reveals New Data on Sexual Assault and Misconduct in Higher Education
According to a new report from Westat, nearly 19 percent of women and 21 percent of genderqueer students experienced some form of nonconsensual sexual misconduct in 2024. This is a decrease from 2019.
