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Donna Lisker to leave Duke for Smith College

Donna Lisker, associate vice provost for undergraduate education, will be leaving to become the dean of the college at Smith College in Northhampton, Mass.

Her term officially begins in July, and she will succeed Maureen Mahoney. Lisker was attracted to the role because the all-women’s private college focuses on shaping undergraduate women into global leaders such as Gloria Steinem, Julia Child and Sylvia Plath—all Smith alumni.

Lisker declined to comment on becoming dean of college at Smith.

“Smith enrolls 2,500 undergraduate women, and their major mission is to shape those women into global leaders,” Lisker wrote in an email obtained by The Chronicle Sunday. “As someone said to me, Smith is like the Baldwin Scholars on steroids.”

Lisker is the founder and co-director of Baldwin Scholars—a program established in 2004 to help undergraduate women become “engaged, confident and connected leaders.”

“We've had a fantastic first 10 years and I can't wait to see what the next 10 brings,” she wrote. “I will be watching with pride and joy from Smith.”

Although, she will miss being a part of the day-to-day aspects of the program, Lisker noted that she will still be involved with the Baldwin women and encourage them to take greater ownership of the program.

“Change is always hard, but I hope you will be happy for me and will take even a little more responsibility for the Baldwin Scholars,” Lisker wrote.

Before stepping into her current role in 2012, Lisker served as the associate vice provost for global strategy and programs. Beginning in November 2013, Lisker took on the responsibilities of Nora Bynum, vice provost for Duke Kunshan University and China initiatives, while Bynum took a personal leave of absence until February.

“It's a huge career move and one I found I could not turn down when offered,” Lisker wrote.


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