Richard Gigliotti Named Dean of Arts and Humanities at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
 
Richard Gigliotti has been selected as the new Dean of Arts and Humanities at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He will join the University in July.

Gigliotti will oversee arts and humanities programs leading to 11 bachelor’s and five master’s degrees and will lead the combining of the departments of music, visual arts, and theatre and communications into a new School of Visual and Performing Arts.
 
Gigliotti is currently Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Prior to joining that institution in 2000, Gigliotti was at the University of Akron where he served as a professor for 28 years and at various times as a department chair and as the assistant to the university president.

A&M-Corpus Christi President Dr. Robert R. Furgason called Gigliotti’s acceptance a boon for the University.

“Richard brings years of expertise and a forward-looking thrust that will fit in wonderfully with the University’s momentum and growth. He also comes at an opportune time with the imminent launching of our new School of Visual and Performing Arts.”
 
Provost Sandra Harper added: “We are highly pleased that Dr. Gigliotti will be joining us at the Island University. As a scholar, he has been published extensively, received many research grants and contracts, consulted to academic and non-academic organizations, and made many scholarly presentations. He will be a welcome addition to our leadership team as the University moves forward. I look forward to the University’s capitalizing on Dr. Gigliotti’s love for the academic enterprise and the considerable administrative expertise that he brings to the position.”

"Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is a school on the move, a place with vision and energy,” said Gigliotti. “I am very excited over the prospect of working with the faculty, staff, and administration to help the university continue developing as a major resource for the largerSouth Texasregion."

Gigliotti received a B.A. from St. John Fisher College and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. At Akron he was the 1992 recipient of the university’s “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award. As a social psychologist, his research focuses on human learning and adaptation to social contexts, particularly in educational settings.

At Montclair State University, he was instrumental in securing $6.5 million in endowed funds for an academic chair and an institute. He has also been leading his college as the university makes the transition from a Comprehensive to a Research 1 institution.
 
Gigliotti is married to Carol Chafel Gigliotti, a retired professor from The University of Akron.