Ripon College Announces Transition of Vice President and Dean of Faculty John Sisko

RIPON, Wis. — Today, Ripon College announced that Dr. John Sisko, Vice President and Dean of the Faculty, will transition from an administrative capacity to a faculty position. Beginning July 1, 2026, Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Matzke will be promoted to Vice President and Dean of Faculty.

Dean Sisko joined Ripon College in 2020, bringing with him a wealth of academic leadership experience. Immediately before his arrival at Ripon, he served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Cato School of Education at Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina where he built a record of rigorous scholarship and a deep commitment to undergraduate education. An accomplished teacher and scholar, his research focuses on Ancient Greek ethics and Presocratic physics.

Dean Sisko has left a lasting imprint on the College’s academic landscape. Under his leadership, Ripon College launched a master’s program in Exercise Science and introduced an undergraduate engineering program, significantly expanding student opportunities. He has promoted Ripon College’s general education Catalyst Curriculum, assisted in overseeing the renovation and expansion of the Franzen Science Center, and codified Ripon’s Summer Opportunities for Advanced Research (SOAR), cementing a culture of faculty-student scholarly engagement that will endure well beyond his time here.

“Dr. Sisko’s contributions to Ripon College are woven into the fabric of our academic programs,” said President Victoria N. Folse. “His vision, integrity, and dedication have strengthened this institution in lasting ways. We are deeply grateful for everything he has brought to our community.”

Matzke, who has served on the Ripon College faculty since 2003, is currently the Ralph Hale Ruppert and Lenore M. Ruppert Distinguished Professor in American History, Principles, and Traditions and the Ripon College Accreditation Liaison Officer. An award-winning history professor, she teaches courses on World War I, public history, world history, the Cold War, and 20th-century Europe.

Professor Matzke has served in a variety of faculty leadership roles at Ripon, including interim vice president prior to Dean Sisko’s appointment, associate dean of academic affairs, chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee and Faculty Development Committee, co-director of the Center for Politics and the People, and associate dean for faculty development, where she has coordinated programming for faculty, managed assessment, and worked on the Catalyst Task Force and the HLC leadership team.

She received her master’s and Ph.D. in history from Cornell University and her undergraduate degree in history and English from the University of Nebraska.

“I am pleased to announce Dr. Becky Matzke as our next Vice President and Dean of Faculty. Her years of tireless service to this institution, combined with her forward-thinking approach to teaching and innovation in the classroom, make her exceptionally well-suited for this role,” said President Folse. “I am confident that her passion for both faculty and students will continue to elevate the academic experience for our entire college community. Ripon College will experience a seamless transition in academic affairs leadership.”