Lee Ligon

Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Science for Academic Affairs

Lee Ligon is the Associate Dean of the School of Science for Academic Affairs. She oversees all aspects of the undergraduate academic experience in the School of Science, including curriculum, advising, pedagogy, and assessment. She is also Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, with teaching responsibilities including the core curriculum for graduate students in biology. A trained neuroscientist and cell biologist, her published research has focused on the cellular microtubule cytoskeleton, cell-cell adhesion, and cancer cell biology. She has a long-standing interest in effective science communication and public outreach and served as the co-chair of the American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB) Public Information Committee 2017-2022. She is also strongly committed to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She served as a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2015-16, working on inclusive development for LGBTQI people. Currently, she is the co-chair of the RPI LGBTQ+ Task Force, and served as the co-chair of the ASCB LGBTQ+ Task Force/Committee from 2017-19. She was also recently appointed the coordinator of the RPI School of Science Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives.  She is currently particularly focused on issues of inclusive pedagogy and equitable student success.