Women in Leadership: Inspiring Change at Binghamton University

Laura Bronstein, dean, CCPA

Laura Bronstein is a SUNY distinguished professor, founding member of the Binghamton University Department of Social Work, dean of the College of Community and Public Affairs, and founding director of the Couper-Owens Center for Community Schools. Her research revolves around interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration and community schools.

Bronstein has led teams that have been awarded tens of millions of dollars in grant funding, has over 70 peer-reviewed publications and has been an invited keynote for lectures around the globe. She has received far-reaching recognition for her work, including the John A. Hartford Foundation Outstanding Dean in Aging award and Binghamton University’s first Lois B. DeFleur Faculty Prize for “innovative work that crosses boundaries”. She received the Esther W. Couper Memorial Award for “outstanding service and dedication to the children and families of our community.”

In 2023 and 2024, Bronstein was cited among the top 2% of scholars worldwide in her field in the Stanford World Scientist and University Rankings.

Anne D’Alleva, president

Anne D’Alleva is the eighth president of Binghamton University, beginning her duties on Nov. 1, 2025.

In her previous role, D’Alleva was the first woman to serve as provost in the University of Connecticut’s history. As provost, she improved offices, including the Dean of Students, Center for Students with Disabilities and Student Activities, and established a vice provost for student success. D’Alleva also established food pantries on each of UConn’s seven campuses to improve holistic student success, a focus of her time as provost.

D’Alleva is an accomplished academic leader focused on advancing student success. She led multidisciplinary and collaborative initiatives to enhance UConn’s research and programs in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, foster partnerships with the state’s tribal nations, and develop expanded academic offerings at the university’s four regional campuses.

D’Alleva first joined the UConn faculty in 1999 with a joint appointment to Art History and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and served as dean of the School of Fine Arts since 2015. She received her B.A. in Art History from Harvard University. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Art History from Columbia University, along with a graduate certificate in feminist theory.

Shelley Dionne, dean, SOM

Shelley Dionne became dean of the Binghamton University School of Management in 2022. She is also a leadership and organizational science professor, the former director of the Bass Center for Leadership Studies and an NCAA Faculty Athletics representative.

During her tenure, the School of Management has been consistently ranked among the nation’s top 10 public business schools. The school has also gained recognition from the Wall Street Journal, placing among the nation’s best public schools for graduates who earn high-paying salaries in accounting, finance and marketing.

Among Dionne’s research interests are leadership, teams and workforce development, collective dynamics and levels of analysis issues. She has also won the School of Management’s Corning Research Award for outstanding research and the New York state Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Andrea Falcone, dean of Libraries

Andrea Falcone was named dean of the Libraries in July 2023.

Falcone joined Binghamton University after serving four years as dean of the W. Frank Steely Library at Northern Kentucky University. There, she managed a $6.2 million budget and oversaw library facilities, research collections, and services. She led strategic initiatives to advance student success, research support, collections, and educational technology. Falcone also launched a new website, implemented updated workflow and budgeting processes, and established programs including the Undergraduate Library Fellowships for Students of Color and the Textbook Affordability Program.

Falcone holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Mansfield University, a Master of Arts in English language and literature from the University of Toledo and a Master of Library Sciences from Indiana University.

Lisa Gilroy, interim vice president for research

Lisa Gilroy is the interim vice president for research at Binghamton University.

Gilroy holds a bachelor’s degree as well as a Master of Public Administration from Binghamton University. A certified financial research administrator and certified research administrator, she is a member of the Council on Governmental Relations, the National Council of University Research Administrators and the Society for Research Administrators.

She has worked on campus since 1986, starting in the Small Business Development Center. She joined the sponsored programs office in 1988, eventually rising to director and, later, to associate vice president for research and operations manager for the Research Foundation at Binghamton.

Gilroy’s service to the University was recognized with the Council/Foundation Award in 2014 and with the Winifred R. Widmer-Downey Empowerment Award from the Research Foundation in 2019. Gilroy leads the Division of Research, which supports Binghamton University’s success as a premier public, nationally recognized institution and leader in transformational research that benefits society.

Karen Jones, vice president for diversity

Originally from White Plains, in 2020, Karen A. Jones became Binghamton University’s first vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. She previously served as chief diversity officer at SUNY Buffalo State College and has held leadership roles in diversity, equity, and access at Virginia Tech, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, St. John Fisher College, Global Crossing, and SUNY Brockport.

Jones has extensive experience in ADA compliance, reasonable accommodations, Affirmative Action, conflict resolution, mediation services, including Title IX, and collaboration with learning, organizational, and leadership development programs.

During her six years at Binghamton, she has contributed to the expansion of the division by creating new roles that address the diverse needs of the campus community. She has also played a key role in setting the strategic direction for campus diversity initiatives, including the recruitment of a diverse faculty, staff, and students, and fostering an environment where all members of the community feel welcome

.

Jones has a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Buffalo, an MS Ed from the State University of New York at Brockport, and a bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Celia Klin, dean, Harpur College

Celia M. Klin was appointed the dean of Harpur College of Arts and Sciences in 2021.

A cognitive psychologist specializing in psycholinguistics, Klin joined the Harpur College faculty in 1994 and, in addition to her role as a teacher and a scholar, she has served through the years as an undergraduate director, department chair and senior associate dean before being appointed as acting dean in 2020.

During her time at Harpur, the College has experienced tremendous growth and innovation, with increases in faculty and student numbers, research funding, and interdisciplinary programs and institutes. Under her tenure, Harpur has established a number of new degree programs as well as created the School of the Arts, which brings together programs in art and design, art history, music, theater and cinema, with additional contributions from the creative writing program, the Binghamton University Art Museum and the Anderson Center of the Performing Arts.

Klin is the recipient of both the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.

JoAnn Navaro, vice president, Division of Operations

JoAnn Navarro holds an M.B.A. from Binghamton University’s School of Management and a B.S. in Leadership and Organization Studies. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education.

Navarro currently serves as Vice President of Operations at Binghamton University, where she provides strategic vision, leadership, and operational direction for a broad portfolio that includes Facilities Management, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, the University Center for Training and Development, New York State University Police, the Office of Emergency Management, Environmental Health and Safety, and Real Property Management. In this role, she oversees critical campus infrastructure and services that support the University’s mission of academic excellence, safety, and community engagement.

Navarro is an active leader currently serving on the boards of UHS Hospitals, Inc., Good Shepherd Communities, and the SUNY Business Officers Association. Her past board service includes the Southern Tier High Technology Incubator, the SUNY Physical Plant Administrators Association, and the Crime Victims Assistance Center of Binghamton.