Rockhurst Welcomes Maligo as New Dean of Arts and Sciences

Starting July 1, Pedro Maligo, Ph.D., will bring a career of experience in the classroom and as an academic administrator to his new position at the dean of Rockhurst University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

As dean, Maligo will be responsible for a range of academic departments that include the humanities, the sciences and mathematics.

Born in Rio de Janeiro and raised in various cities throughout Brazil, Maligo earned a Ph.D. in Portuguese from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990 and both a Master of Arts and bachelor’s degree from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro. He has published one book, Land of Metaphorical Desires: The Representation of Amazonia in Brazilian Literature, as well as a number of academic journal articles. Maligo said he was educated in the Jesuit tradition in high school and at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, where he earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees.

“Rockhurst is really coming home,” he said. “The values, the attitude and the treatment of students is very familiar to me.”

Currently, Maligo is chair of the department of modern and classical languages at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia, where he has served since 2009. From 2006 to 2009, Maligo was the chair of the department of foreign languages at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. His academic research focused on the ways that culture and languages are taught, using an interdisciplinary and community-based approach.

“Rockhurst University is excited to welcome Dr. Maligo. He is a proven leader who brings with him not only distinguished academic credentials, but a passion for collaborative thinking and community engagement that will lead to innovative programming,” said Doug Dunham, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs at Rockhurst.

Maligo’s selection is the result of an extensive nationwide search, led by an internal search committee chaired by Laura Salem, Ph.D., associate professor of biology. Maligo will replace Renee Michael, Ph.D., professor of psychology, who served as interim dean. Michael will resume both teaching and her responsibilities as director of Rockhurst University’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.