About the Interim Junior Dean

Tom Riddell is interim dean of the junior class. He is professor emeritus of economics and American studies and previously served as the dean of the first-year class and the associate dean of the college. On occasion, he has returned to the class deans office as an acting or interim dean of every class except the seniors.

Dean Riddell was a co-author of a popular, alternative introductory textbook, Economics: A Tool for Critically Understanding Society, which was published in nine editions over a 30-year time period. The economics of military spending was an early focus of his research and writing, and his teaching at Smith included an American Studies senior seminar focused on The Great Depression. Tom Riddell was also instrumental in the creation, direction and teaching of the IDP 102 Thinking Through Race course. More recently, he frequently taught a First-Year Seminar on The Evolution and Transformation of the Northampton State Hospital. Student involvement in this course led to the creation of A Walking Tour of Hospital Hill at Village Hill, Smith’s neighbor above the playing fields.

Dean Riddell earned his B.A. in Economics at Swarthmore College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics at American University.