From leading travel seminars to Ireland (ask him about Irish literature – but only if you have time) to cheering on the Thoroughbreds from the bleachers or catching up with students over lunch in D-Hall, President Conner takes everyday moments as opportunities to connect.
Marc C. Conner became the eighth president of Skidmore College on July 1, 2020.
An innovative leader of interdisciplinary academic programs, a longtime advocate of diverse and inclusive communities and the principles of freedom of speech and expression, and a widely published professor of English, Conner joined Skidmore College following 24 years at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, where he had most recently served as provost and chief academic officer.
As president, Conner has been dedicated to fostering democratic citizenship and academic freedom. In service of those goals, he convened a Speech and Expression on College Campuses Symposium in 2023 and joined the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness initiative in 2024. He currently serves on the boards of trustees for both Project Pericles and the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities.
Conner has also led collaborative and ambitious campuswide efforts to update Skidmore’s Strategic Plan and Campus Master Plan; oversaw the construction of the McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center; introduced the College’s Racial Justice Initiative; and steered the College through the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conner has published extensively on modern American, African American, and Irish literature. His dozens of essays and eight books on literature include “The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison,” which The New York Times Book Review named a notable book of 2020. He has also produced three lecture series for The Great Courses on Shakespeare and on Irish Literature. His fondest teaching experience has been taking students to Ireland for an intensive study-abroad program, an experience he repeated at Skidmore in the spring of 2024 and in 2026.
President Conner continues to teach and engage in public scholarship. His lecture series with The Great Courses includes:
Barbara Reyes-Conner is an experienced professional in the field of special education and working with individuals with intellectual disabilities. She holds a degree in sociology from Western Washington University, with a minor in psychology, and has worked in multiple public schools and community organizations.
Barbara serves on the boards of directors of the Saratoga Regional YMCA and AIM Services Inc., a local agency dedicated to supporting individuals with diverse abilities. Barbara also participated as a member of Leadership Saratoga’s Class of 2023.
She is an avid supporter of fitness and athletics, having taught mixed martial arts classes at her local YMCA for many years and having played softball in college.
The Office of the President seeks to recognize – and invest in – the people who shape our campus community.
President’s Awards for Leadership and Service
These annual awards honor Skidmore community members who exemplify pride, excellence, and service. Nominations are accepted year-round and reviewed each spring.
Presidential Discretionary Fund
Established in 1981 with the generous support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and private donors to Skidmore College, the fund supports initiatives, projects, and ideas that align with the College’s Strategic Plan and offer opportunities to advance the College, its faculty, staff, and students through innovation and creativity. Proposals are welcomed throughout the year, typically through the appropriate vice president. Inquiries may be directed to Joshua Woodfork, vice president for strategic planning and institutional diversity.
Office of the President
Skidmore College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866