Deborah Dianne Ricker (born October 1, 1965) is an American reproductive biologist and academic administrator serving as the interim president of

Hood College Hood College is a private college in Frederick, Maryland. In fall 2018, Hood enrolled 2,052 students (1,092 undergraduate students; 960 graduate students). Thirty-eight percent of students are either members of under-represented racial or ethni ...

since 2024. Her research has focused on reproductive biology, particularly studying

sperm motility Sperm motility describes the ability of sperm to move properly through the female reproductive tract (internal fertilization) or through water ( external fertilization) to reach the egg. Sperm motility can also be thought of as the ''quality'', wh ...

, fertilization processes, and the role of

nitric oxide synthase Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) are a family of enzymes catalyzing the production of nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine. NO is an important cellular signaling molecule. It helps modulate vascular tone, insulin secretion, airway tone, and peristal ...

male reproductive system The male reproductive system consists of a number of sex organs that play a role in the process of human reproduction. These organs are located on the outside of the body, and within the pelvic cavity, pelvis. The main male sex organs are the hu ...

Early life and education

Ricker was born on October 1, 1965, in

Asheville, North Carolina Asheville ( ) is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. Located at the confluence of the French Broad River, French Broad and Swannanoa River, Swannanoa rivers, it is the county seat of Buncombe County. It is the most populou ...

. She pursued an undergraduate degree in biology at

Mars Hill College Mars Hill University is a Private university, private Christian Liberal arts education, liberal arts university in Mars Hill, North Carolina, United States. The university offers 35 undergraduate majors and includes a school of nursing and grad ...

, graduating cum laude with a B.S. in 1987. Ricker then earned a M.S. in biological science from

East Tennessee State University East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is a public research university in Johnson City, Tennessee. It was historically part of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee under the Tennessee Board of Regents, but since 2016, ...

in 1989. During her graduate schooling, she served as a graduate

teaching assistant A teaching assistant (TA) or education assistant (EA) is an individual who assists a professor or teacher with instructional responsibilities. TAs include ''graduate teaching assistants'' (GTAs), who are graduate students; ''undergraduate teach ...

and

laboratory technician A laboratory technician or (informally) lab tech is a person who works in a laboratory performing analytical or experimental procedures, maintaining laboratory equipment. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first use of the term labo ...

in the department of

obstetrics and gynecology Obstetrics and gynaecology (also spelled as obstetrics and gynecology; abbreviated as Obst and Gynae, O&G, OB-GYN and OB/GYN) is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics (covering pregnancy, childbirth, and t ...

at East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine from 1987 to 1989. Early in her research, she studied reproductive biology topics, including the effects of

platelet-activating factor Platelet-activating factor, also known as PAF, PAF-acether or AGEPC (acetyl-glyceryl-ether-phosphorylcholine), is a potent phospholipid activator and mediator of many leukocyte functions, platelet aggregation and degranulation, inflammation, and an ...

s on

and fertilization processes across various species. Her research on reproductive biology and sperm physiology was further shaped by mentors such as Donald S. Coffey. Ricker continued her studies at

Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is the public health graduate school of Johns Hopkins University, a private research university primarily based in Baltimore, Maryland. It was founded as the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene a ...

, completing her Ph.D. in

reproductive biology Reproductive biology includes both sexual and asexual reproduction. Reproductive biology includes a wide number of fields: * Reproductive systems * Endocrinology * Sexual development (Puberty) * Sexual maturity * Reproduction * Fertility H ...

in 1995. During her doctoral studies, Ricker's primary advisor was Thomas S. K. Chang, who encouraged her development as a scientist and educator and offered her guidance in balancing academic and personal pursuits. Ricker began her doctoral research under an

National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It was founded in 1887 and is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Service ...

(NIH) training grant. Her work there included studies on epididymal protein changes following sympathetic

denervation Denervation is any loss of nerve supply regardless of the cause. If the nerves lost to denervation are part of neural communication to an organ system or for a specific tissue function, alterations to or compromise of physiological functioning ca ...

and the role of

s. She collaborated with colleagues Barry and Barbara Zirkin,

Arthur Burnett Arthur is a masculine given name of uncertain etymology. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. A common spelling variant used in many Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur. In Spanish and Ital ...

, and Evelyn Barrack, who contributed to her training and research in the division of reproductive biology and the department of

urology Urology (from Ancient Greek, Greek wikt:οὖρον, οὖρον ''ouron'' "urine" and ''wiktionary:-logia, -logia'' "study of"), also known as genitourinary surgery, is the branch of medicine that focuses on surgical and medical diseases of t ...

. Ricker completed training at the Institute for Educational Management at the

Harvard Graduate School of Education The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is the education school of Harvard University, a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1920, it was the first school to grant the EdD degree and the first ...

Career

Ricker's academic career began at

York College of Pennsylvania York College of Pennsylvania is a private college in Spring Garden Township, Pennsylvania, near the city of York. It offers more than 70 baccalaureate majors in professional programs, the sciences, and humanities to 3,500 full-time undergraduate ...

, where she joined as an assistant professor in the biological sciences in 1995. She advanced through academic ranks to associate professor with tenure and later to professor of biological science. Her early research focused on reproductive biology, specifically the autonomic innervation of the male reproductive tract and its effects on fertility, with her work published in journals such as ''Journal of Andrology, Biology of Reproduction'', and ''

Fertility and Sterility ''Fertility and Sterility'' is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal published by Elsevier on behalf of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. It was established in 1950 and is an official journal of several societies (American Society f ...

''. She received several research grants from the

Pennsylvania Academy of Science The Pennsylvania Academy of Science was founded and organized on April 18, 1924, and is an independent non-profit organization that strives "to embrace all disciplines of science and help ensure the scholarly and ethical pursuit of all scientific ...

to support her studies and undergraduate research initiatives. At York College, Ricker held administrative roles, including chair of the department of biological sciences from 2002 to 2008. She expanded the biology curriculum and developed a new ecological sciences center, promoting undergraduate research through events like Student Scholars Week. Ricker authored strategic plans and led initiatives for a new general education curriculum, "Generation Next," implemented in 2015. In 2010, Ricker became dean of academic services at York College, overseeing

academic advising Academic advising is, according to NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising, "a series of intentional interactions with a curriculum, a pedagogy, and a set of student learning outcomes. Academic advising synthesizes and contextualizes st ...

, career services,

study abroad International students or exchange students, also known as foreign students, are students who undertake all or part of their secondary or tertiary education in a country other than their own. In 2022, there were over 6.9 million international ...

, and

experiential learning Experiential learning (ExL) is the process of learning through experience, and is more narrowly defined as "learning through reflection on doing". Hands-on learning can be a form of experiential learning, but does not necessarily involve students ...

programs. In this role, she developed first-year and at-risk student support programs, including the summer academic enrichment program, "Bridge to Results." Her retention-focused initiatives helped improve first-year student retention rates. Her research on reproductive biology, combined with her administrative experience, guided her work in supporting academic quality and program structure at York College. In July 2016, Ricker joined

as provost and vice president of academic affairs, where she managed the college's 17 academic departments and partnered with faculty on initiatives related to student success, institutional research, and community engagement. Her work at Hood College includes developing new programs in

public health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the de ...

cybersecurity Computer security (also cybersecurity, digital security, or information technology (IT) security) is a subdiscipline within the field of information security. It consists of the protection of computer software, systems and networks from thr ...

, and finance and advancing student success and experiential learning initiatives. In 2019, she was one of four finalist to be provost of

Elon University Elon University is a private university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1889 as Elon College, the university is organized into six schools, most of which offer bachelor's degrees and several of which offer master's degrees or ...

. In 2024, Ricker was appointed interim president following the departure of Hood's previous president,

Andrea Chapdelaine Andrea E. Chapdelaine is an American academic administrator and social psychologist serving as the 12th President of Connecticut College. She was formerly the 11th President of Hood College 2015 to 2024. Life Chapdelaine is from Chicopee, Massa ...

. She began this role on July 1, 2024, overseeing the institution's strategic goals during the leadership transition.

Personal life

Ricker resides in

Jefferson, Maryland Jefferson is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2020 census the town had a population of 2,235 (which includes the widespread area of the town's zip code, not Je ...

, with her partner, Christopher, and their 3 dogs. She enjoys

quilting Quilting is the process of joining a minimum of three layers of textile, fabric together either through stitching manually using a Sewing needle, needle and yarn, thread, or mechanically with a sewing machine or specialised longarm quilting ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricker, Debbie Living people 1965 births People from Asheville, North Carolina Mars Hill University alumni East Tennessee State University alumni Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health alumni York College of Pennsylvania faculty Hood College faculty American women biologists 21st-century American women scientists 21st-century American biologists American developmental biologists American women academic administrators Women heads of universities and colleges Heads of universities and colleges in the United States Biologists from North Carolina Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni