Led by a new endowed chair, the University of Lousiville's Mary Byron Center for will serve as interdisciplinary entity for research, education, and policy regarding intimate partner violence prevention.

The Social and Affective Neuroscience Society has announced the inaugural class of SANS Fellows. The society is recognizing scholars who have made exceptional contributions to the field. The new fellows are Chelsea Helion of Temple University, Kristen Lindquist of Ohio State University, and Abigail Marsh of Georgetown University.

Dr. Rooney was president of Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, for nearly three decades. She arrived on the Dean campus in 1995, shortly after its transition from a junior college into a four-year educational institution.

The appointments are Chanita Hughes-Halbert at the University of Southern California, Tanzeem Choudhury at Cornell University, Kathryn Kloepper at Mercer University, Amanda Geidel at Concordia University Nebraska, Rita Ryan at Marshall University, and Dora Malech at Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Simmons has served as president of Smith College, Brown University, and Prairie View A&M University. When she was appointed president of Brown, she became the African American woman to lead an Ivy League school.

The new deans are Emily Metzgar at Pennsylvania State University, Betsy Becker at the University of South Dakota, Samantha Penney at Hampton University in Virginia, and Kate Klepper at Babson College in Massachusetts.

Dr. Park, dean of the Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, is known for her research on sustainable energy and materials conversion pathways with an emphasis on integrated carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies.

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.

Emilie Connolly, of Brandeis University in Massachusetts, and Beth Lew-Williams, of Princeton University in New Jersey, are this year's recipients of the 2026 Bancroft Prize from Columbia University. The annual award honors authors of distinguished works in American history and diplomacy.

The women who have been appointed to endowed positions are Rachna Shroff at the University of Arizona, Heather Johnson at the University of Montana, Analena Bruce at the University of New Hampshire, Judy Staley at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and Katelyn Kotlarek at the University of Wyoming.

The National Institutes of Health's series of grant cancellations in 2025 disproportionately impacted women scientists compared to their male peers. Although women lost less money overall, they had more active resources unspent at the time of cancellation, leading to a great portion of unrealized scientific output, particularly among women in early-career positions.

With over 25 years of experience in higher education, business, and public service, Dr. Kollmann has been serving as chancellor of the New Mexico State University Global Campus. She is slated to become the next president of Vermont State University in July.