Eastern Kentucky University has selected Dr. Mercy Cannon as their next dean of the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences. Dr. Cannon will begin her new role on July 1, 2022. Dr. Cannon is currently a professor of English and chair of the Department of Languages and Literature at Austin Peay State University (APSU). She has served at APSU since 2007 after earning her doctorate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and serving as writing director at Stephen F. Austin State University. Dr. Cannon served for six years as associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters at APSU, in addition to time served as the chair of the Department of Languages and Literature. Read more here.
Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin has selected Dr. Daisy Halvorson as the next Vice President for Finance and Administration. Dr. Halvorson was most recently VPFA at Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN and an MBA from the University of South Dakota. Read more here.
Columbus State University has appointed Dr. Wanda Ebright as the new Dean of the College of the Arts. Dr. Ebright is currently serving as Associate Dean, Director of Graduate Studies, and Art Education Coordinator for the College of Visual & Performing Arts at Winthrop University, South Carolina. Previously, she held academic appointments at Johnson C. Smith University (North Carolina), Coker College (South Carolina) and Kansas State University. Dr. Ebright has choreographed and taught master classes across the southeast and is the former president of the South Carolina Dance Association. She holds a BA from Memphis State University (University of Memphis), a MFA in dance performance and choreography from Florida State University and Ph.D. in dance from Texas Woman’s University. Read more here.
Rutgers University Douglass Residential College has appointed Ms. Elia Desruisseaux, J.D. as Associate Dean for Advancement. Ms. Desruisseaux is a senior philanthropy leader with over 25 years’ of advancement experience. She most recently served as Vice President for Development for the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group Foundation. Her prior experience includes leadership advancement positions at Project Hope, Cancer Institute of New Jersey Foundation, Lenox Hill Hospital (NYC), and Columbia University Medical Center. She began her career as an attorney in private practice with Proskauer Rose LLP and Bond, Schoeneck & King. Ms. Desruisseaux holds a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law and a BA in English from Indiana University, Bloomington.
Morningside University has appointed Dr. Albert Mosley as the 13th president of the University. Dr. Mosley, who currently serves as the senior vice president and chief mission integration officer for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, will start his presidency in June 2022. Prior to that, Dr. Mosley served as executive vice president and COO at Bethune-Cookman University responsible for the overall direction and coordination of five university divisions. Dr. Mosley earned his Ed.D at the University of Georgia in higher education administration and his D.D. (Doctor of Divinity) from Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary. Read more here.
Blackburn College has named Dr. Margaret Lawler as Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She joins Blackburn most recently from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she served as an equal employment opportunity (EEO) Investigator. Dr. Lawler earned her Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Administration at Western Illinois University, her Master of Science in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Central Missouri, and her Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership at Ferris State University. She began her duties for Blackburn on October 25, 2021. Read more here.
Mr. Jerald "Jerry" Paul is the newly appointed 15th President of Maine Maritime Academy (MMA). Mr. Paul presently is President of Capital Access. Previously, Mr. Paul served as Principal Deputy Administrator of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. He is a 1989 graduate MMA. After MMA, he earned a Postbaccalaureate Degree in Nuclear Engineering with High Honors, and a Juris Doctor of Law, Cum Laude. MMA looks forward to his arrival on campus in Spring of 2022. Read more here.
The University of Central Florida has appointed Ms. Youndy C. Cook, J.D. as its new Vice President and General Counsel. She will assume her new role on December 10, 2021 Ms. Cook has served as interim Vice President and General counsel at UCF since December 2020 and joined UCF’s Office of the General Counsel in April 2002. Prior to joining UCF, Ms. Cook practiced labor and employment litigation at law firms in Tampa, Florida. She is active in the National Association of College and University Attorneys and is certified by the Florida Bar as an education law specialist. Ms. Cook received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Vanderbilt University, and her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law. Read more here.