Simpson came to Old Dominion University with more than 15 years' administrative experience. She's held her current position at Worcester Polytechnic Institute since 2005, and served as associate provost for research and graduate education at Boston University from 1999 to 2005. She also has more than four years' experience as a program officer with the National Science Foundation, overseeing a $7 million budget.

As a faculty member, Simpson served as professor and chair of the earth sciences department at Boston University, associate professor at Oklahoma State University and Brown University. An expert in structural geology and tectonics, she has authored more than 50 refereed publications and more than 80 professional conference papers. Simpson's honors include a Best Paper Award from the Geological Society of America (GSA), selection as a member of the AURA U.S. National Solar Observatory oversight panel, and election as a fellow and councilor of the GSA. She received a bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Wales, a master's in geology from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, and a doctorate in structural geology from ETH Zurich in Switzerland.