Meet the Staff
Campus Life | Community Service | Leadership Activities
Religious and Spiritual Life | Student Diversity Programs
Mariel L. Martin
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
Office of Campus Life & Engagement
Case Center 311A
518-580-8212
mariel@skidmore.edu
Mariel received her B.A. in Sociology from Shippensburg University and her Master's
Degree in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago. She is excited to embark
on her thirteenth year at Skidmore as the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Campus
Life & Engagement. Throughout her tenure at Skidmore Mariel served as director of
Student Diversity Programs for eight years and Title IX Deputy Coordinator for nearly
six years. Mariel has also worked in Residential Life and taught courses about oppression
in the U.S. and a First-Year Seminar Course about the history of diversity at Skidmore
and within higher education. Mariel also served on the Bias Response Group, co-chaired the Committee on Intercultural and Global Understanding, and chaired the Advisory Council on Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct. Her research and academic background focus on educational experiences of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth and motherhood, role negotiation and kinship
formation in lesbian-parented families. Most recently, Mariel's interests include
student development and building a vibrant, inclusive campus community.
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Mary Ann Toia
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
Administrative Assistant; Office of Campus Life & Engagement
Case Center 311
518-580-8338
mtoia@skidmore.edu
Mary Ann earned a B.S. degree in communications from the State University of NY College
at Oneonta. She joined the Office of Campus Life in 2011 and is currently the Pre-Orientation
Coordinator managing all programs both on and off campus for First Year Students.
Mary Ann also created a program S.O.L.E (Sophomore Outdoor Leadership Experience)
which launched in August 2012. Prior to coming back to work at Skidmore she worked
at The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs where her children attended for their early
childhood. Mary Ann was a flight attendant and was able to travel the world extensively
after college. She has a passion for outdoor education and believes in the effectiveness
of experiential learning. She spent 18 months raising a guide dog who is now successfully
guiding in Ohio (pictured). When she is not busy at work she is home with her 3 daughters
where they can usually be found doing something outdoors!
Michelle Hubbs
Director; Office of Community Service
Case Center 200
518-580-5784
mhubbs@skidmore.edu
Michelle received her B.A. in American Studies from Grinnell College and has completed post-graduate work at SUNY Albany and SUNY Plattsburgh in the field of Higher Education Management and Administration. She has been at Skidmore since 2001. Michelle worked at The Doane Stuart School in Albany, New York, as Director of Administrative services, and as a Membership and Marketing Director at the Glens Falls Family YMCA before coming to Skidmore.
Robin Adams
Director; Office of Leadership Activities
Case Center 309
518-580-5777
radams@skidmore.edu
Robin received his B.A. in English literature from Skidmore College in 2000. After a brief stint at Abbeville Press in Manhattan, he returned to Saratoga Springs and Skidmore College where he has worked since 2004. As an advisor to many of Skidmore's clubs and organizations he helps ensure that their events run smoothly while also advising elected members of the Student Government Association.
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Tory Atkins
Assistant Director; Office of Leadership Activities
Case Center 312
518-580-5778
tatkins@skidmore.edu
Tory joined the Skidmore Campus Life and Engagement Team in October 2015. She received
a B.S. in History and Political Science from Lesley University and a M.S. in College
Student Development and Counseling at Northeastern University. During her time in
grad school she had the chance to work in student programming at many institutions
including Northeastern, Tufts University, Berklee College of Music, and Occidental
College. She is excited to take everything she’s learned and put it into action at
Skidmore! Prior to grad school, Tory completed 3 years of national service with AmeriCorps
as a VISTA with Massachusetts Campus Compact. In her spare time, Tory can be found
trying to see as many concerts as possible, binge watching her favorite TV shows &
movies, or taking road trips. She can’t wait to get to know Skidmore students and
become a part of the Skidmore community!
Nicki Damiano
Coordinator of Club Sports; Office of Leadership Activities
Case Center 312
518-580-8315
ndamiano@skidmore.edu
Nicki received her B.A. in History Education from SUNY Cortland in 2007 and her M.S. in Ethnic Geography in 2009 from Binghamton University. Nicki first served as Assistant Swimming Coach for Skidmore from 2009-2011 and returned in August of 2015 in the same position. Nicki also teaches Beginning Swimming and Swim for Fitness for the Physical Activity Department on campus. During her four years away from Skidmore, Nicki served as the Head Swimming & Diving Coach/Aquatics Director for SUNY Cobleskill where her athletes broke over 50 schools records and won their conference championship during the 2015 season. Nicki is looking forward to creating a positive environment for all Club Sports and eager to work with the Club officers and students.
Kris Leggiero
SGA Accountant; Office of Leadership Activities
Case Center 310
518-580-5776
kleggier@skidmore.edu
Kris received her Associates Degree in Accounting from Nassau Community College on Long Island, where she grew up. Kris joined the Skidmore staff in 2001 as the financial advisor to the Student Government Association as well as all student clubs and organizations. Kris provides oversight of the student activity fee allocations and expenditures, financial policies and procedures, as well as leadership training on budgeting and finance. Kris is the primary advisor to the SGA VP of Financial Affairs as well as the advisor to the Budget and Finance Committee.
Parker Diggory
Director; Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
Case Center 203
518-580-8340
pdiggory@skidmore.edu
Parker is currently a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at Emory University where she
also received her M.Div. from the Candler School of Theology. She holds a B.A. from
Middlebury College where she studied Religion and Theater. Her research interests
include the intersections of religious texts and practice and the impact of archaeology
and history on biblical interpretation. Her work with individual faith communities
has ranged from preaching to liturgical dance to social justice activism. She has
also worked in the non-profit sector on inter-religious collaboration for peace and
development. A Saratoga native, Parker is happy to back in the Skidmore community
and close to Adirondack hiking and cross-country skiing.
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Martina Zobel
Coordinator; Jewish Student Life and Interfaith Programming
Case Center 202
518-580-5679
Martina has been exploring Jewish practice for decades. After rebelling from a strict traditional upbringing in the UK in her youth, living secularly in Israel in the early '80s, and moving to the U.S. as a young mother, she fully embraced Judaism as a guiding principle for a richly spiritual and intellectually stimulating life. Martina is a keen student of Mussar, and she consistently strives as a Jewish educator to embody the balance between formal and experiential learning opportunities. She is passionate about exploring life's journey and making a difference, whether she is teaching Hebrew in the classroom, leading comparative religion workshops or leading a meditative hike. As part of the ORSL, Martina supports the Skidmore community to connect spiritually, culturally and/or intellectually in a way that serves each person's unique journey and collaborates with faculty and staff to deepen cross-cultural connections and appreciation.
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Jennifer Schmid-Fareed
Program Coordinator Skidmore Mindfulness; Office of Spiritual & Religious Life
Case Center 201
518-580-8401
jschmidf@skidmore.edu
Jennifer is a yoga and meditation teacher who spent ten years studying and working at Ananda Ashram, a Yoga Retreat and Spiritual Educational Center in Monroe, New York. At the ashram she immersed herself in the practices and principles of Yoga as a scientific and spiritual path, the study of the Sanskrit language, and the ancient Scriptures of India. She also coordinated many of the ashram’s Retreat Center events and taught classes. Jennifer holds a B.S. from the University at Buffalo where she studied Psychology and Communications. As a teacher, she has a deep passion to create healing space. Using the natural expression of movement supported by the breath, she strives to create a balanced practice focused on inner awareness and mindfulness and loves weaving sound healing into her offerings. The ancient path of yoga continues to inspire Jennifer and transform her life, and she’s very excited to have joined the Skidmore community.
Latisha Barnett
Director; Office of Student Diversity
Case Center 206
518-580-5763
lbarnett@skidmore.edu
Latisha received her B.A. In Sociology from the State University of New York at Fredonia
and her M.S. Ed. from The College of Saint Rose with a focus on College Student Services
Administration. She previously worked at The College of Saint Rose for 12 years where
she served as the Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs for 2 years and then
as the Director of Student Life for 10 years. She also has experience teaching as
an adjunct professor for the core course, Social and Cultural Foundations, in the
College Student Services Administration Master's program at Saint Rose. Latisha has
also worked in non-profit as a Service Coordinator advocating for the needs of individuals
with disabilities.
Candace Hairston
Associate Director; Office of Student Diversity
Case Center 207A
518-580-8213
chairsto@skidmore.edu
Candace Hairston earned a B.A. in Communication from the State University of New York at Geneseo and an M.Ed. from Loyola
University Chicago. Candace became passionate about higher education and social justice while attending SUNY Geneseo. Candace is dedicated to building an inclusive and equitable Skidmore College. Prior to her appointment at Skidmore College, Candace interned at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom for 6 months. In her free time, Candace loves to chat about all things Beyoncé, curl up with a good book and travel. Make sure you stop in and say hello!
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