Presidential Biography

“I’m excited to build upon Hood’s success and continue to champion the outstanding accomplishments of our faculty, staff and students while advancing our mission and strategic goals.”

The leadership of Hood College, whether it be the Board of Trustees, Board of Associates or senior leadership team, shares the president’s commitment to our students and their success.

Debbie Ricker, Ph.D., became Hood College’s president on April 1, 2025, after serving as interim president since July 1, 2024.

Biography

Debbie Ricker, Ph.D., began as Hood College’s provost and vice president of academic affairs on July 1, 2016, following a long career at York College of Pennsylvania, having served as a faculty member and department chair for the biological sciences department, associate dean of academic affairs and the founding dean of the Division of Academic Services.

A champion of Hood’s core values of Hope, Opportunity, Obligation and Democracy, Ricker spearheaded the development of new undergraduate programs in public health, sustainability studies, art therapy and finance. Ricker was also instrumental in launching Hood’s highly successful graduate cybersecurity program. She oversaw all student retention efforts, including the formation of Hood’s Office of Student Success, which helps students of all class levels achieve their academic goals via mentorship, tutoring and advising. Ricker’s efforts resulted in record-setting first-year retention and graduation rates. Ricker also led Hood’s High Impact Practice Task Force, which aimed to ensure that every Hood student has at least one experiential learning opportunity before graduating.

Ricker earned a Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University, a master’s degree in biology from East Tennessee State University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Mars Hill University. Ricker also attended the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University, as well as the Council of Independent Colleges Executive Leadership Academy.