President's Report Masthead
September 30, 2016

New chair for the Student Affairs Administration Department

The Department of Student Affairs Administration in the College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA) welcomed new chair and professor Deborah Taub this fall. She comes from the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG), where she served as professor of higher education for 10 years.

“We are very excited to welcome Deb Taub to the department and to the leadership team of our college,” said Laura Bronstein, dean of the College of Community and Public Affairs. “She is an experienced and passionate researcher who is dedicated to integrating cutting-edge theories in student affairs into her teaching. Her vision of engaging the graduate students with more opportunities at the University and professionally will serve the college and the campus well.”

Taub earned a PhD in college student personnel administration and a master’s degree in college student personnel from University of Maryland College Park, and majored in English as an undergraduate at Oberlin College. She succeeds Professor Mary Ann Swain, who served as interim chair and will stay on as a faculty member in the department.

“Binghamton University is the third university that I’ve worked for as a faculty member,” said Taub, who started her career as an associate professor at Purdue University. “I stayed at Purdue for 10 years and at UNCG for 10 years; there is a definite pattern in my career that I like working at the same university for a long time.”

Taub is interested in student development theory, graduate student professional preparation, mental health of today’s college students, suicide prevention and LGBTQ issues. She is engaged in several projects, including multi-year studies with a UNCG colleague on the effectiveness of gender-neutral housing programs. She is also doing data collection to investigate the motivations and professional pathways of higher education professionals who are Native American.

Taub’s early goals for the department, which houses the master of science in student affairs administration (MSAA) program, is improving the process for matching incoming graduate students with on-campus assistantships. She also wants to embed more professional skills and competencies into the curriculum.

“I really enjoy working with people who are entering the profession and helping them find their way,” said Taub, who is teaching the program’s introductory course this fall. “I also like to involve graduate students in my research so they can gain experience, contribute to the process and, ultimately, see if it’s something they are interested in pursuing as a career.

“The incoming class is the largest cohort in the program’s history. I know the University wants to grow the program even more, which I interpret in terms of size and reputation,” said Taub.
The department is also engaged in a search for a new faculty member.

“People across this campus have been very responsive and helpful in exploring ways that our department can partner with other University departments and offices,” said Taub.

The Association of College and University Housing Officers - International recognized Taub and her body of work with a 2016 Writing and Publication award. She is the author or co-author of more than 25 publications, and co-edited two sourcebooks in the Jossey-Bass New Directions for Student Services: Assisting Bereaved College Students and Preventing College Student Suicide. She, along with colleagues at UNCG and Georgia Southern University, edited the 2016 special issue of The Journal of College and University Student Housing.

Taub said she eventually wants to integrate an international component to the MSAA program.

“Short-term study-abroad opportunities are becoming more and more popular in higher education programs,” she said. “An international experience will contribute to making prospective students choose Binghamton, and help our graduates serve as more culturally competent and open-minded professionals.”