Meet the Staff
Campus Life | Community Service | Leadership Activities
Religious and Spiritual Life | Student Diversity Programs
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 for 9 years in many facets. 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 enjoying time with her 3 daughters
where they can usually be found doing something outdoors!
Michelle Hubbs
Director, Office of Community Service
518-580-5784
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.
Carlos Navarro
Director, Office of Leadership Activities
cnavarro@skidmore.edu
Carlos Navarro (he/him) received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Nevada,
Las Vegas and his Masters of Education in Postsecondary Administration for Student
Affairs from the University of Southern California.
As an undergraduate student, Carlos was involved in a variety of leadership experiences
such as clubs, Greeklife, honor societies, intramurals, and residential life. This passion for leadership
development drove Carlos’ desire to serve as an advisor and administrator in higher
education.
Carlos joins us from Nevada State College (NSC) where he served as a Student Life
Coordinator for 3 years. At NSC, Carlos oversaw and supported the areas of campus
recreation, clubs and organizations, student activities,and student government. Carlos also led and created unique programming such as affinity
socials, an e-sports program, podcast series, Lo-Fi Hip-Hop study lounge, outdoor
adventure series, and more.
Carlos is looking forward to fostering holistic student experiences, developing students’
leadership skills and serving as an ally to students.
Nicki Damiano
Coordinator of Club Sports, Office of Leadership Activities
518-580-8315
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
Schedule a meeting with Kris:https://krisleggiero.youcanbook.me
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
Schedule a meeting with Parker:https://parkerdiggory.youcanbook.me
Parker's work with individual faith communities has ranged from preaching to liturgical dance to social-justice activism. She has also worked in the nonprofit sector on interreligious collaboration for peace and development. Parker's academic work includes graduate study in theology and 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. A Saratoga native, Parker enjoys being 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.
Christopher Barnes
Director, Office of Student Diversity Programs
518-580-5778
Christopher Barnes received his B.S. in Psychology from McPherson College and his M.S. in Education
from California Baptist University. Christopher is currently enrolled in the Doctorate in Leadership for Educational Justice program at the University of the Redlands.
Christopher joins us from the University of Redlands where he served as a Resident Director for the past four years and was also involved in Title IX and Restorative Justice work. Throughout his time at Redlands, Christopher has strengthened and developed his knowledge and ability to assist students through their college journey with an emphasis and passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work.
