DR. JACK THOMAS has been named the 11th president of Western Illinois University. He is currently the school's provost and academic vice president. Thomas holds a bachelor's from Alabama A&M University, a master's from Virginia State University and a doctorate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

DR. FASHAAD CRAWFORD has been named assistant vice president for strategic planning, diversity assessment, and research management at Kent State University (Ohio). He had previously served as faculty at the University of Louisville. Crawford holds a bachelor's from South Carolina State University and a master's and doctorate from Louisville.

DR. ALECIA A. DECOUDREAUX has been named president of Mills College (Calif.). She is currently a senior executive at Eli Lilly and Company. DeCoudreaux earned a bachelor's from Wellesley College and a doctor of laws degree from Indiana University.

EVELYNN ELLIS has been named vice president for institutional diversity and equity at Dartmouth College (N.H.). She was previously director of equal opportunity and affirmative action at the school. Ellis earned a bachelor's from Concordia College and a master's from Pennsylvania State University.

CLAIRE GROVE has been appointed assistant dean for administration at Stetson University College of Law (Fla.). She had recently served as assistant dean for graduate studies at Indiana University- Indianapolis. Grove holds a bachelor's from lU-Bloomington and a graduate certificate and law degree from IU-Indianapolis.

North Carolina Central University has appointed DR. CHANTA A. HAYWOOD associate vice chancellor for research and dean of graduate studies. She was most recently dean of graduate studies at Florida A&M University. Haywood holds a bachelor's from FAMU and master's and a doctorate from the University of California, San Diego.

DR. JANET H. SOUTHERLAND has been named dean of the School of Dentistry at Meharry Medical College (Tenn.). She served most recently as chairperson of the University of North Carolina's department of hospital dentistry. Southerland holds two bachelor's, a master's, a doctorate and a dental degree from UNC.

DR. PATRICIA TELLES-IRVIN has been appointed vice president for student affairs at Northwestern University (111.). She currently serves in the same capacity at the University of Florida. Telleslrvin earned a bachelor's from Duke University and a doctorate from Boston University.

DR. SHEILA WRIGHT has been appointed director of Minnesota's Office of Higher Education. Wright is currently dean of the School of Education at Hamline University. She earned a bachelor's from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a master's horn Rhode Island School of Design and a doctorate from North Carolina State University.