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
518-580-8212
mariel@skidmore.edu
I received my B.A. in Sociology from Shippensburg University and my Master's Degree
in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago. While I currently serve as Associate
Dean of Student Affairs, Campus Life & Engagement, since joining the Skidmore community
in 2005, I've served as director of Student Diversity Programs for eight years and
Title IX Deputy Coordinator for nearly six years and worked in Residential Life for
two years. I’ve also taught courses about oppression in the U.S., a Peer Mentor seminar,
and a First-Year Seminar Course about the history of diversity at Skidmore and within
higher education. I currently serve on the Bias Response Group (chair), the Committee on Intercultural and Global Understanding (co-chair from 2012-2015), and I also chaired the Advisory Council on Sexual and
Gender-Based Misconduct for five years. My 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.
I’m also deeply invested in and have researched student movements, protests, and demonstrations
related to diversity, social justice, and inclusion at Skidmore. My dog, Jude, works
as a therapy dog and can be found in the Wellness Center (3rd Floor Case Center) on campus each week.
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Mary Ann Toia
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
Administrative Assistant; Office of Campus Life & Engagement
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
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.
Tory Atkins
Assistant Director; Office of Leadership Activities
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
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
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
518-580-8340
kdiggory@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
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
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.
