Ms. Amanda Dobbins has been appointed as the Business Officer in the College of Arts & Sciences at Baylor University. She will begin at Baylor on April 24th. With 20 years of experience as a financial administrator and accountant, Dobbins comes to Baylor from the University of Alabama College of Education where she served as director of financial affairs from 2019-2023, as manager of fiscal and administrative affairs for the University of Alabama School of Social Work from 2015-2019, and as an accountant from 2012-2015. She served as an accountant for law firms and an industrial firm in Alabama between 2003 and 2012. Ms. Dobbins graduated cum laude with a BS in Accounting from the Mississippi University for Women.
Marshall University has appointed Dr. Maria Gindhart as the new Dean of the College of Arts & Media. She will begin on July 1st, 2023. Dr. Gindhart comes to Marshall after 11 years at Georgia State University, where she served for 4 years as the Associate Director for the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design and for the last 7 years as the Associate Dean for the College of Arts. She received an A.B. in Art History and French from Bowdoin College and an A.M. and Ph.D. in History of Art from the University of Pennsylvania. Read more here.
Marshall University has appointed Dr. Rob Quicke as the new Director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. He will begin on July 1st, 2023. Dr. Quicke comes to Marshall after 15 years at William Paterson University of New Jersey, where he held a number of roles, including General Manager of WPSC Brave New Radio, Professor of Communication, and, most recently, Chair of Communication. He received a B.A. and M.A. in English Language & Literature from Oxford University, and a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Regent University. Read more here.
Ms. Dafna Kapshud has been appointed as the new Director of Development for the College of Health and Social Sciences at San Francisco State University. She will begin her role on April 17, 2023. Ms. Kapshud has a long history in marketing and communications. She served as the Marketing & Communications Manager at the San Mateo Community Colleges Foundation from 2017-2022, raising significant funds to benefit students even throughout the pandemic, and transitioned to Development Manager in 2022. Ms. Kapshud received a bachelor's degree in international studies from Johns Hopkins University, an MFA in arts administration from Florida State University, and a Juris Doctor from University of Florida.
Northern Illinois University has appointed Dr. Kelly Fiala as its new Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. She will begin on June 16th, 2023. Dr. Fiala comes to NIU after 12 years at Salisbury University, where she held a number of roles, including her most recent role as Founding Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. She received a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences (Western Michigan University), an M.S. in Sports Studies (Bemidji State University), and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (University of Connecticut). Read more here.
Ms. Jerchel Anderson has been appointed as the Business Officer in the Louise Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University. She began work at LHSON on March 20, 2023. Ms. Anderson is a financial professional with over 20 years of experience as a financial administrator and accountant. Prior to joining Baylor, Ms. Anderson served as the Financial Business Officer at the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University (TX), as Research Administration Manager for the Center for Vital Longevity at the University of Texas and as Business Officer and Director of Finance & Personnel at the University of California-Los Angeles. Ms. Anderson earned her MBA and BA from California State University. Read more here.
The Florida Institute of Technology has named Dr. John Nicklow as its next President. Dr. Nicklow will join Florida Tech on July 1, 2023. Dr. Nicklow currently serves as President of the University of New Orleans. He joined UNO in 2015 in the role of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs before being named President in 2016. Prior to his eight years at the University of New Orleans, he served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Southern Illinois University, as well as earlier administrative appointments including chief enrollment officer and leadership positions in the College of Engineering and Department of Civil Engineering. His research focuses on STEM education and environmental and water resources systems. He is a registered professional engineer, a certified professional hydrologist, a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a diplomate of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers. Dr. Nicklow earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from Bucknell University (PA) and Ph.D. in civil engineering from Arizona State University. He is a recent recipient of the NCAA Champion of Diversity Award. Read more here.
Dr. Lisa M. Victoravich has been appointed as Dean of the College of Business and Economics at the University of Idaho. She will begin her role on June 26, 2023. Dr. Victoravich comes from Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver where she has been Associate Dean for Faculty and Research since 2020. In her time there, she has provided leadership to 110 full-time faculty regarding teaching excellence, research productivity, and business community engagement. Dr. Victoravich holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration from Florida State University.
Dr. Judy Alston has been appointed as the new chair of Miami University’s Department of Educational Leadership. Before coming to Miami, Dr. Alston served as Chair of the Department of Leadership Studies at Ashland University and most recently as Director of their Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies. Dr. Alston earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Winthrop College, a Master of Education in both Secondary Education and Educational Administration at the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration at Pennsylvania State University. Read more here.