Harrigan Named Senior Vice President and Academic Dean

Simpson College President Sue Stuebner has named CoryAnne Harrigan, Ph.D., to serve as the College’s senior vice president for Academic Affairs and academic dean, effective June 1, 2026. Harrigan has served in an interim leadership role with Simpson since August 2024.

Harrigan’s appointment follows a highly affirming 360-review of her interim performance, which featured comprehensive assessments by the president and her Cabinet, Simpson College trustees, faculty leadership and students. Additionally, more than 50 Simpson community members completed a quantitative survey.

“Every constituency involved voiced strong support of Cory’s performance as interim and her readiness to step into the official role,” said President Stuebner. “There is strong agreement about her collaborative leadership skills, as well as her proven ability to make difficult decisions and act promptly in advancing key initiatives. We are very fortunate to have Cory’s many talents and the deep commitment she brings to advancing the mission of Simpson College.”

For Harrigan, the opportunity to continue serving Simpson is a treasured privilege.

“I’ve been fortunate to call Simpson my professional home for the last 25 years, and I look forward to serving in this new capacity,” said Harrigan. “I’m thankful to President Stuebner and the faculty for placing their trust in me. Academics is the heart of the student experience, and I’m humbled to be in a position where I can promote Simpson’s educational excellence on campus and beyond.”

Harrigan joined Simpson’s faculty in Fall 2001 and has held a variety of leadership positions since that time, including as associate dean of Curriculum and Assessment. She has previously served as chair of the English department, interim director of the Simpson Writing Center and co-director of general education (with Biology Professor Amy Doling, Ph.D.).

In the classroom, Harrigan has taught courses on British and western literature with a special focus on authors such as Chaucer, Sidney, Spenser, and Shakespeare. Her outstanding teaching and service at Simpson has yielded several honors, including the Exemplary Teaching Award (2016), Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award (2014) and the Faculty Leadership Award (2011).