Who is collegiate professor Al Vos?

When you ask any Binghamton student what their favorite part about being a Bearcat is, you’re guaranteed to hear phrases like “living in Dickinson,” “my suite in Mountainview” or “Hinman Hysteria.” Binghamton University’s six distinct residential communities are organized under the collegiate structure, originating from Oxford University in the 13th century. Each residential community has its own student government, atmosphere, bespoke learning communities and perhaps most importantly, its own collegiate professor at the helm.

Associate Professor of English Al Vos has spent 20 years as the collegiate professor of Hinman College, a short stint compared to his whopping 50 years at Binghamton University. A revered figure in the community, Vos’ face is one of the first new Hinman residents see when they move in — and one they continue to see since Hinman’s Smith Hall has a giant cutout of his head in the window of its RA office.

Surrounded by handmade gifts of appreciation, ranging from a custom “Hinman” license plate to a Hinman embroidered throw pillow, the appreciation “Hinmanites” have for their beloved collegiate professor is palpable when anyone walks into his Hinman office.

“The genius of Binghamton University is its residential college system,” said Vos. “The collegiate professor job is very loosely defined. My favorite verb about my role is nurture. I’m a developer. A developer of students, a mentor, a role model, a supportive force, but I also go around talking Shakespeare every day, too.”

All collegiate professors teach classes as well as fulfill their roles within Residential Life, making a seat in Vos’ Shakespeare class a hot ticket. His office is as much a home for discussions on Hamlet and King Lear as it is for curious Hinman students.

“My heart is here. I’m surrounded by many testimonies of how I’ve made Hinman my home, my place. I meet both English majors and Hinman students here. This is a very welcoming place,” Vos said. “When students come into my office they don’t have to talk about Shakespeare — they can start by talking about the weather and go from there. Most of the time my conversations aren’t intellectual or academic. Most of the time they’re personal; I’m really trying to get to know the person and not just the books they’re reading or the test they’re taking.”

Collegiate professors like Vos are essential to making Binghamton’s residential communities feel like a second home to students and they often go above and beyond to support residents and cultivate the unique spirit that belongs to each residential community.

In addition to his collegiate professor role, Vos leads Hinman’s Public Service Learning Community (PSLC), an opt-in program that organizes community service trips and encourages students to explore volunteer opportunities.

“Part of my role is to be a culture creator, as each residential community has its own culture — its own spirit. I lead the PSLC in order to create a larger culture within Hinman of service, of friendliness, of togetherness,” Vos said. “The PSLC is a catalyst for the larger culture we try to create. We try to create a certain identity for Hinman that is shaped around certain values that are good for all.”

Vos emphasizes the importance of making sure first-year students are cared for when they move into Hinman or take his courses.

“I like to teach first-year students, because they’re in the process of their own journey — a new life — and I can have a role in helping them in their journey,” he said. “Nothing makes me happier than watching a first-year student come to Binghamton — shy, anxious and uncertain — and then in the course of time, watching them blossom to become a president of their hall, a member of the HCC Eboard or an RA. I keep a mental note of all the students I’ve had their first year who’ve gone on to greatness here in Hinman. I’m very attuned to the way students grow into their roles and find their place.”

In his half-century at Binghamton University, Vos has embodied everything the collegiate professor program is meant to accomplish.

“In my 50th year, I still come to work happily every day. I still feel really happy when I sit in this chair in this room. The work is never the same, I never know who’s going to walk into that door. It’s endlessly stimulating and rewarding,” he said.