Pamela Thomas has been named the new director of the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center at Iowa State.

She will start her new duties Jan. 1. “Negotiations haven’t been completed, but we expect her to start her position at the first of the year,” said Faye Whitaker, assistant provost.

The director of the center provides advocacy, referral services and programming for the ISU community.

“[Thomas] will be in charge of on-going programs and developing new ones,” Whitaker said. “She will also help with Women’s Week and Women’s History Month.”

Kathleen MacKay, dean of students, said Thomas is excited about coming to ISU because of the university’s reputation and because she is originally from Iowa.

Thomas currently is the assistant dean of students and director of multicultural affairs at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

Previously, she was coordinator of multicultural student support and an adjunct faculty member at Central College in Pella, executive director of Des Moines’ OSACS Women’s Center, financial manager of Urban Dreams in Des Moines and a workshop facilitator for the community career planning center for women at Drake University.

Thomas received a bachelor’s degree in history from Central College in 1976 and a master’s in public administration from Drake University in 1990.

She was interviewed by a search committee made up of students, faculty and staff, MacKay said.

“She was well received by the people who interviewed her and from the open forums and presentations she gave,” Whitaker said. “She had strong experience in student affairs in two other institutions and we saw experience and ability in her.”

Thomas will take over for the former director of the Women’s Center, Celia Naylor-Ojurongbe, who moved to Albuquerque, N.M., in July to complete her doctoral dissertation in history.

Lisa Enloe is serving as interim director.