Lee Skinner, Associate Professor of Spanish, and Ronald Riggio, Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology, have been named Associate Deans of the Faculty, effective July 1, 2013. Professor Skinner will focus on the development and implementation of the College’s curriculum. Professor Riggio will direct the College’s faculty and research development efforts.
Professor Skinner received her Ph.D. in 1996 from Emory University, and her B.A. in 1991 from Brown University. She is the author of History Lessons: Refiguring the Nineteenth-Century Historical Novel in Spanish America (2006), and of numerous articles and reviews dealing with Latin American literature and culture; she is also a frequent participant in scholarly conferences and serves on the editorial boards of many journals in her field. Recognized with awards for excellence in teaching, Professor Skinner taught at the University of Kansas before coming to CMC in 2008. Her role as Fulbright Program Advisor is but one of the many areas in which she has contributed to CMC. She replaces Professor Nick Warner, who after two years as Associate Dean will become Interim Dean of the Faculty.
Professor Riggio received his Ph.D. in Social/Personality Psychology from the University of California at Riverside in 1981, and his B.S. in Psychology from Santa Clara University in 1977. After teaching at California State University at Fullerton, Professor Riggio came to CMC in 1996, where he has played a major role in fostering leadership studies. Professor Riggio is the author, co-author, or editor of more than a dozen books and more than 100 articles. In addition to being a prolific scholar and popular teacher, Professor Riggio has served as Chair of the Psychology Department and as Director of the Kravis Leadership Institute, in which capacity he has organized numerous scholarly conferences and other events held at the College. He replaces Professor Hilary Appel, who will be going on a well-deserved sabbatical after serving as Associate Dean the past three years.
According to the incoming Interim Dean, Nick Warner, “Both Ron and Lee are hard-working, effective, and passionate in their commitment to CMC. I am delighted to have them join the Dean’s office, and I look forward to working with them on behalf of the great faculty of this great college.”