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Director Beck Krefting

Rebecca Krefting, who goes by Beck, is Professor of American Studies and affiliate faculty to Gender Studies, Black Studies, Intergroup Relations, and Media and Film Studies. Her research specializations are feminist comedy studies; studies of visual and popular culture; histories and historiographies of stand-up comedy; preppers and post-apocalyptic cultural texts; and pedagogical studies. Her work is transdisciplinary, and likewise, she has taught in many disciplines, including Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, American Studies, African American Studies, and Media Studies. Her monograph titled: (Johns Hopkins UP, 2014) charts the history and economy of charged humor or humor aimed at social justice. She has published dozens of chapters in edited collections and journal articles, and presented that research nationally and internationally. She has been a long-time avid consumer of all things pedagogically related—as a student, practitioner, and scholar. She was recognized for excellence in teaching at the University of Maryland, College Park, when the Center for Teaching Excellence named her a Graduate Teaching Fellow (2009-10). She received the Ralph A. Ciancio Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2020. She was Vice-President (2020-2022) and President of the American Humor Studies Association, where she helped develop programming for graduate students and junior scholars publishing in the field of humor/comedy studies. She is continuing that work as a co-founder and current Co-President/Co-Executive Director of the  

Email Beck: rkreftin@skidmore.edu

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Nora Graubard 

Nora came to Â鶹ŮÀÉ in 2023 after a decade working as an administrative support professional in New York City. Her professional life in the City began in the historic Manhattan apartment complex, Waterside Plaza, and culminated at another NYC institution the Fund for the City of New York. At the Fund, Nora was able to join in creating and maintaining infrastructural support for social service agencies and community organizations in her home city. She anticipates that providing administrative support for the Center for Leadership, Teaching and Learning will be a fulfilling way to participate in her new community here at Skidmore.

Email Nora: noragraubard@skidmore.edu

Jordan Guzman

Jordan Guzman (Class of 2027) is intending to major in computer science and is from New York City. He is excited to be collaborating with professors and students on the ethics and uses of AI in the classroom. Jordan enjoys classes that involve working with others and are engaging. During his free time, he likes to go to the gym, play basketball, and watch movies.