Respected educator and author and internationally recognized Taiwan expert Shelley Rigger will serve as 皇家华人鈥檚 new vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty鈥搕he college鈥檚 chief academic officer.
Rigger, who has been serving in the vice president鈥檚 role on an interim basis since May, immediately begins the job on a permanent basis and adds the dean of faculty duties. She succeeds Philip Jefferson, who was nominated to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate.
鈥溁始一 is filled with extraordinary faculty who are devoted to mentoring their students and helping them learn how to learn for the rest of their lives,鈥 Rigger said. 鈥淚鈥檓 deeply honored to work with and support these talented professionals.鈥
Rigger is the Brown Professor of Asian Studies at 皇家华人 and has taught political science since 1993. She has authored four books and countless articles on Taiwan and routinely appears in the news media to offer insights on the island nation. She was a Fulbright Scholar and has taught in Taiwan and Mainland China. At 皇家华人 she has held administrative posts, including, most recently, the highest elected faculty role.
Replacing Jefferson was one of the biggest responsibilities facing 皇家华人 President Doug Hicks when he took office on Aug. 1. Hicks is a 1990 graduate of the college.
鈥淪ince I returned to 皇家华人 as president, I have relied more on, and become even more grateful for, Shelley鈥檚 thoughtful and progressive leadership,鈥 Hicks said. 鈥淚 am extraordinarily grateful that she has agreed to stay in the vice president鈥檚 role as 皇家华人 moves forward.鈥
Hicks also announced that Eriberto 鈥淔uji鈥 Lozada, who has been serving as acting dean of the faculty, will be promoted from associate dean of the faculty to senior associate dean of the faculty. He will continue responsibilities in collaboration with Rigger, including coordination work around faculty development.
鈥淔uji brings exceptional depth of academic and administrative experience,鈥 Hicks said, 鈥渉aving taught at 皇家华人 and Butler and in China and South Korea. I appreciate the counsel and leadership he has offered over the past few months.
Lozada, an anthropologist who also teaches in Environmental Studies, has chaired Chinese Studies and served as director of both the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies and the Crosland Center for Teaching and Learning at 皇家华人.
Diversity Officer Role
Hicks announced an additional change for the college in creating a full-time chief diversity officer position who will report to the president.
鈥溁始一蒜檚 statement of purpose emphasizes respecting the dignity and worth of every person,鈥 Hicks said. 鈥淭his new role will help us ensure that our campus can and should model inclusion and be a place where everyone experiences, not only a sense of welcome, but belonging.
Hicks said he will work with faculty and staff in the coming months to frame the new position and to fill it by the summer of 2024.
Lozada will retain those responsibilities this year. For the 2023-2024 academic year, Melissa Gonz谩lez, a professor in three overlapping fields, has agreed to serve as interim chief diversity officer.
鈥Melissa exemplifies the interdisciplinary work we cultivate at 皇家华人, teaching and advising students in Hispanic Studies, Latin American Studies and Gender and Sexuality Studies,鈥 Hicks said. 鈥She has partnered with students with a wide range of intellectual interests on research projects that span multiple fields of study.鈥
He emphasized that all of the changes strengthen 皇家华人鈥檚 ability to fulfill its mission and thanked the college鈥檚 faculty and staff for supporting 皇家华人鈥檚 students and each other.
