University of Richmond announces new Westhampton College dean

Mia Reinoso Genoni, who has served as the John B. Madden Dean of Berkeley College, director of Undergraduate Housing and lecturer in History of Art and Humanities at Yale University, will become the next dean of Westhampton College and associate dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1.

Genoni began her tenure as dean of Berkeley College at Yale in 2010. In this role she has been the primary academic and student life advisor for more than 460 students each year, working closely with students, faculty and colleagues across the campus. As dean she has also contributed her expertise to numerous campus-wide academic and student affairs initiatives and events.

Genoni will be returning to UR’s campus, which is where she began her career teaching in the Department of Art and Art History from 2005 to 2007. She then served as visiting assistant professor at the College of Visual and Performing Arts at the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania before joining Yale as the Mellon Special Collections Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow from 2008 to 2010, during which time she created a series of interrelated exhibitions around the campus. At Yale she teaches and advises students in History of Art and Humanities, as well as teaches veterans through The Warrior-Scholar Project, helping prepare them to begin or return to college.

“It is such a joy to return to the University of Richmond as the dean of Westhampton College,” said Genoni. “During my time teaching at Richmond, I found my students and colleagues to be incredibly talented, dedicated and passionate, and I could not be happier to have the opportunity to come back and serve our community as dean.”

Genoni received her Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in History of Art and Archaeology from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, and her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, with a joint concentration in Fine Arts (History of Art and Architecture) and English and American Literature and Language. 

She has received notable awards and fellowships for her scholarship and teaching, including being named Alpha Chi Omega Professor of the Semester at Richmond in 2007. Her scholarly interests include ways in which we build and structure society; the creation of joyful and welcoming communities and spaces; communication and representation of the self, especially in relation to genders, ethnicities, sexualities, and beyond; inclusion and the celebration of difference; and examinations of power and personal identity. She has numerous published articles and is a sought-after presenter at universities, conferences and community venues.

“Dr. Genoni brings a great deal of experience to the position, and her enthusiasm is contagious,” said Steve Bisese, vice president for Student Development. “We’re certain she’ll provide valuable leadership to the community of Westhampton College, which has long distinguished the University of Richmond.”

Westhampton College is part of University of Richmond’s coordinate college system focusing on undergraduate women. The College’s core goal is fostering and maintaining young women as scholars and leaders.

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