Covadonga “Cova” Lamar Prieto, Associate Professor in the Department of Hispanic Studies, will serve as Interim Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs, effective August 1, 2022.

She is the Director of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program at UCR.She specializes in Sociolinguistics of the Spanish in the United States and directs the Spanish of California Lab (SOCALab) at UCR, in which a group of graduate and undergraduate students explore Californio and Contemporary California Spanish with an approach that intersects traditional philology with digital humanities. Her book “El español de California en el XIX (Iberoamericana)” examines the sociolinguistic situation of Spanish in nineteenth-century California. Cova previously served as a CHASS faculty Equity Advisor to provide leadership in matters of equity, diversity, and inclusion. 

Jeff Girod will serve as Assistant Dean of Marketing and Communications, effective July 1, 2022.

Beginning in 2018, Jeff has served as the Director of CHASS Marketing and Communications and has worked at UCR in similar roles since 2008. He is a UCR alumnus (MFA, Palm Desert Low-Residency Program, ’10) with more than 25 years of marketing, communications, and publishing experience. Prior to UCR, Jeff worked at news outlets including The Press-Enterprise, Los Angeles Times, and KPCC, and has been honored by the Los Angeles Press Club, Toastmasters International, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. 

In his new role, Jeff will help elevate CHASS signature events including Highlander Day, the State of the College, and Commencement, and will continue to amplify our marketing, communications, advocacy, and storytelling efforts.

Leigh Gleason will serve as Interim Executive Director for UCR ARTS, effective July 1, 2022.

Dr. Gleason has served as the Director of Collections for the California Museum of Photography since 2008. She oversees a diverse collection of photographic archives, fine art and historical photographs and negatives, a large camera and technology collection, and a research library. Gleason holds a bachelor's degree in photography, a master's in the history of art, a MLIS in archival studies, and a Ph.D. in visual history. Gleason has written and curated extensively on photographic topics, including stereoscopy, color photography, and early photography in Riverside.

In the coming months, Leigh shall guide UCR ARTS as it carries out high-visibility academic exhibitions and engaging community-centered programming. Together, we also deepen conversations with the Mellon Foundation, which has expressed a keen interest in extending the scope of the much-acclaimed Pachappa Camp exhibition of 2021-22. 

All three of these leaders will bolster their respective talented and dedicated teams. Please join me in congratulating Cova, Jeff, and Leigh on their new roles.