After one year of service as interim president, Debbie Ricker has been officially appointed as the twelfth president of Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. The college enrolls about 1,200 undergraduate and nearly 900 graduate students, according to the most recent federal data. Women represent 64 percent of the undergraduate student population.
Prior to her interim appointment, Dr. Ricker had been serving as Hood College’s provost and vice president of academic affairs for eight years. During this time, she oversaw the development of several new undergraduate programs and a graduate program in cybersecurity. Her leadership was instrumental in establishing the college’s Office of Student Success, which led to record-breaking first-year retention and graduation rates.
Before joining the Hood College administration in 2016, Dr. Ricker spent two decades on the faculty at York College. She held several academic and administrative roles throughout her long tenure, including associate dean of academic affairs, dean of academic services, and chair of the department of biological sciences. As a scholar, she has conducted extensive research on higher education and curriculum development, as well as biological research on invitro fertilization rates, sperm motility, and embryo development.
“I am truly honored to have been selected to serve as Hood College’s president,” said Dr. Ricker. “At this pivotal moment in the history of the college and, more broadly, for higher education, adaptability, agility, and forward-thinking will be essential.”
Dr. Ricker received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Mars Hill University in North Carolina, a master’s degree in biological science from East Tennessee State University, and a Ph.D. in reproductive biology from Johns Hopkins University.