Martin Mbugua to depart Skidmore, Diane O'Connor to serve as interim VP

Dear Skidmore Community, 

I write to share the news that Martin Mbugua, Skidmore's inaugural vice president for communications and marketing, has accepted the position of associate vice chancellor for external relations at New York University-Abu Dhabi, a portal campus of New York University in the United Arab Emirates. Martin's last day at Skidmore will be March 12. 

Martin is leaving Skidmore with a communications and marketing team that is functioning extremely well and working effectively and efficiently, especially in this time of great challenges.   

Since Martin joined Skidmore more than three years ago, the division has been transformed into an agile and collaborative team whose expertise and creativity provides strong strategic support to other divisions, offices and academic departments. Last spring, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the abrupt suspension of normal operations, he led the team in developing and swiftly implementing novel online alternatives to support the work of our Admissions team at a crucial time. That work now extends to a strong digital marketing strategy that will make a huge difference in our enrollment and fundraising work for years to come. 

Under Martin's leadership, the team has established more robust and timely internal and external communications, launched new communications tools, strengthened our crisis communications and issues management capacity, enhanced the quality of Skidmore's website and publications, including Scope magazine, bolstered proactive media outreach efforts, nurtured stronger partnerships with key organizations in Saratoga Springs and the region, and developed a more vibrant and visible Skidmore Shop as the College's visual brand showcase. 

Martin's team has become an indispensable partner to the president’s office and the president's cabinet as we continue to plan for and address the challenges brought by the pandemic, the quest for racial justice, and various hurdles facing the higher education industry as a whole.  

Martin offered this message for the Skidmore community: "It’s an honor to serve this college with great colleagues and lead one of the finest communications and marketing teams in higher education. This was a difficult decision for me, especially because I am very excited about President Conner's vision, leadership and drive, which have reinvigorated the team and made recent months one of the most gratifying periods of my professional career."

A national search to fill this role will begin in the late summer, after the formation of a representative committee. In the meantime, I have appointed Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Diane O'Connor as interim vice president, effective March 12 until the next vice president is named and takes office. 

Diane oversees strategic communications and the team's collaboration with campus partners. She joined Skidmore in 2016 with more than 20 years' experience in communications, public relations, marketing and journalism. A former journalist, Diane served as assignment editor, field producer and writer at NBC News in Boston and Fox News in Albany, N.Y. She began her career at CBS Television in New York City, where she contributed to the production of the "CBS Evening News," "CBS This Morning" and "48 Hours," and worked closely with reporters and anchors, including Dan Rather. 

I am grateful to Martin for his excellent contributions to Skidmore College, and to Diane for assuming this role of leadership and continuity. Please join me in thanking our colleagues for their service.  

Sincerely, 
Marc C. Conner
President