Skidmore College Retirees

Interview with Ruth Copans

Ruth Copans joined the Scribner library staff in 1991, serving as the Humanities Librarian and overseer of Special Collections. During the library’s first renovation, Ruth was named the Library Director, and she oversaw the completion of that…

Interview with Lisa Aronson

Lisa Aronson joined Skidmore’s Art History faculty in 1986. In this interview she traces her academic journey to Skidmore and reflects on the influences that led her to specialize in the study if African textiles. While at Skidmore, Aronson…

Interview with Tim Brown

Tim Brown joined the Skidmore faculty in 1979 as Athletic Director and Chair of the Physical Education and Dance Department, with a mandate to develop an intramural and intercollegiate athletic program and to attract men to the College which had…

Interview with Carolyn Anderson

Carolyn Anderson came to Skidmore in 1981 after teaching at Emma Willard and working with arts and theater groups in the Capital Region. She taught courses in theater history and acting and served as department chair. A central focus of her…

Interview with Tom Denny

Tom Denny grew up in Pittsburgh and received his graduate degree at the Eastman School of Music. He arrived at Skidmore in 1982 and spent his entire career in the Music Department, serving as department chair for a number of years. He experienced…

Interview with Sandy Welter

Sandra Welter began at Skidmore in 1968 as a teacher in the University Without Walls (UWW) program at the Washington County Correctional Facility. She later became a full-time advisor for that program and finally its Director until the program…

Interview with Sue Van Hook

A member of the Biology Department faculty from 1992 to 2010, Sue Van Hook was a senior teaching associate specializing in botany and mycology. She was a leader in campus sustainability projects and in the stewardship of Skidmore’s North Woods. In…

Interview with Patricia Rubio

Patricia Rubio began her career at Skidmore in 1983 after graduating from Valparaiso University in Chile and, after arrival at Skidmore, her PhD at the University of Alberta in Canada. She filled many roles at Skidmore - coordinator of the…

Interview with John Cunningham

John Cunningham grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. In this interview he discusses how he combined his interest in physical chemistry and math with the art influence that surrounded him since childhood. After receiving a BA and MFA from Yale, he…

Interview with Larry Ries

Larry Ries came to Skidmore in 1979 after teaching and working in the administration for 9 years at SUNY-Albany. His initial job was as an advisor in the University Without Walls prison program at Great Meadows Correctional Facility. He later became…

Interview with Terry Diggory

After earning his D. Phil. at Oxford, Terry Diggory was born outside began teaching at Skidmore in the Fall of 1977, offering courses in poetry and the Classical World. He participated programs at the College, broadly including the Classical Studies…

Interview with Karl Broekhuizen

Karl Broekhuizen came to Skidmore in 1981 as Vice President of Business Affairs and remained in that position until 2005. In this interview he describes his path to Skidmore, including his education and experiences as a financial officer at other…

Interview with Kathy Carter

Kathy Carter joined Skidmore’s Human Resources team in 1986 where her primary responsibilities included administering the college’s benefits programs and managing its labor relations. In this interview she describes transitioning from a corporate to…

Interview with Dave Marcell

David Marcell, came to Skidmore as Director of the American Studies program in 1964 and became the College’s Provost in 1977. In this interview he describes early initiatives in interdisciplinary teaching and learning at the College, including…

Interview with Robert (Bob) Mahoney

Robert P. Mahoney was a professor of biology at Skidmore from 1964 to 1994, with interests centering on microbiology, electron microscopy, and bioethics. He also was instrumental starting Skidmore’s tradition of support for the Red Cross, launching…

Interview with Louise B. Wise

Louise Beinetti Wise, a 1940 Skidmore graduate, served as president of the then-College Government Association while a student and was active in the Alumni Association after earning a degree in theater. She joined the Admissions staff in 1970,…

Interview with Isabelle Williams

Isabelle Williams arrived at Skidmore in 1972 and contributed to every corner of the campus over the next twenty-one years. Educator, pianist, administrator. Dr. Williams consistently demonstrated her deep dedication to the life of the mind and the…

Interview with Bill Fox

Bill Fox was a member of Skidmore’s sociology faculty from 1976 to 2011. During his 35 years of service to the College, he was a valued teacher in his discipline and much appreciated mentor to many junior colleagues. He chaired the Sociology,…

Interview with Susan Kress

Susan Kress joined Skidmore’s English faculty in 1975 and retired in 2013.  During her years at Skidmore she served as chair of the English Department, chair of 3 major college committees, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Acting President…

Interview with Susan Zappen

Susan Zappen came to Skidmore in 1995 as a head of Scribner Library technical services. She was named Associate College Librarian for Collections in 2001. Susan was active in the greater library community; she was president of ENY/ACRL, and named…

Interview with Joanna Zangrando

During her years at the College (1976-2007), Joanna Zangrando was a central figure in Skidmore’s American Studies Department and a leading voice for incorporating interdisciplinarity and the study of diverse perspectives into the College curriculum.…

Interview with Chris McGill Joseph

Chris McGill-Joseph joined the Skidmore workforce in 1987.  She has been a Skidmore wife, UWW student, Administrative Assistant, Skidmore parent, and Special Projects Manager, and she has long had a radio show on Sunday mornings on WSPN. In this…

In Memoriam: Anne Palamountain

Anne Palamountain, wife of Skidmore’s fourth President, Joseph Palamountain, was a vital presence at the College during his 22-year presidency (1965-1986)and beyond. In this interview,she reflects on some her first impressions of Saratoga Springs,…

In Memoriam of David H. Porter

A video remembrance of President emeritus David H. Porter (1935-2016) that is part of the College's video collection.

Interview with John Anzalone

Since September  1985, John Anzalone has been a professor of French at Skidmore College. An interdisciplinary scholar, Anzalone has taught in language, film, and the art of translation. He was centrally involved with Skidmore’s study abroad programs…

Interview with Robert Foulke

Robert Foulke was a member of Skidmore’s English department from 1970-1992 and served as department chair for ten of those years. In this interview, he discusses department leadership, changes in the English curriculum, developing a winter term class…

Interview with Lynne Gelber

Lynne Gelber, was at the college from 1966-2002 as a faculty and later chair of the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department (now World Languages and Literatures). In this interview she discusses establishing the first Skidmore-run study abroad…

Interview with Tom Davis

Tom Davis, was Sidmore’s Chaplain from 1966-1996. In this interview he discusses his role in responding to student needs created by broad sociopolitical changes in the U.S., including religion, abortion rights, and alcohol education. In addition, he…

Interview with Vasantha Narasimhan

Vasantha Narasimhan joined the Skidmore faculty in 1980 to offer courses in organic and biochemical chemistry.  She introduced the importance of hands-on undergraduate research and began Skidmore students’ participation in the regional American…

Interview with Ralph Ciancio

Ralph Ciancio was a member of Skidmore’s English faculty 1965-2000 and served as department chair, in addition to his service on numerous important all-college committees. In this interview he talks about challenges and changes in the English…

Interview with Eric Weller

Eric Weller joined the Philosophy Faculty at Skidmore in 1963. He became Dean of the Faculty in 1975, a post that he retained until 1990. Despite Weller’s substantial administrative responsibilities, teaching philosophy remained a…

Interview with Jill Sweet

Jill Sweet intended to be a dancer, but her work with native Americans to learn about their dance turned into an interest in cultural anthropology which she studied at the University of New New Mexico before coming to Skidmore in 1981.  In this…

Interview with Eleanor Samworth

Eleanor Samworth came to Skidmore in 1964.  During her tenure she experienced the move to the new campus, growth in student enrollments, inception of coeducation in 1970, expansion of Liberal Studies, and computer use as central to many disciplines. …

Interview with Mimi Ciancio

Mimi Ciancio, held a variety of positions at Skidmore College. She started out as an active faculty wife in 1965, worked briefly in the Admissions Office, then was hired to teach in the English department. She later became one of the creators of…

Interview with Bob Desieno

Bob DiSieno, was a faculty member and Chair of the Mathematics and Computer Science department from 1983-2006. In this interview, he discusses expanding the use of computing across campus, forming the Science Planning Group to strengthen the role of…

Interview with Susan J. Bender

Susan Bender, was a faculty member in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work from 1982-2010 and also served as Associate Dean of the Faculty from 1998-2002. In this interview she covers her academic background in archeology; being…

Interview with David Porter

David Porter, President of the college from 1987-1999, saw the college through many landmark moments. In this interview he talks about his background in Classics and Music; learning on the job; the recruitment of a more diverse student body;…

Interview with Anne Palamountain

Anne Palamountain, wife of Skidmore’s fourth President, Joseph Palamountain, was a vital presence at the College during his 22-year presidency (1965-1986) and beyond. In this interview, she reflects on some her first impressions of Saratoga Springs,…

Interview with Don McCormack

Don McCormack, held a variety of roles at Skidmore from 1970-2005 (Faculty in the Government Department, Director of the University Without Walls program, Dean of Special Programs). In this interview he talks about the spirit of campus in the 1970’s…

Interview with Ann Henderson

Ann Henderson, Registrar at Skidmore College and Director of Institutional Research, was an integral part of Skidmore from 1990-2010. In this interview, she talks about the technological changes that occurred across campus including her initiative to…

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