Celia Klin named dean of Harpur College
Provost Donald Nieman has announced that Celia Klin, interim dean in Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, has been appointed dean, effective July 1, 2021.
“I have worked closely with Celia as a chair, senior associate dean, and, during an incredibly challenging year, as interim dean,” Nieman said. “Her commitment to Harpur College; understanding of its programs, faculty and culture; wisdom; judgment; and leadership skills will serve her and the college well in the coming years.”
“Harpur College is our largest and most diverse college and is critical to our success in reaching the ambitious goals established by our Road Map to Premier strategic plan,” President Harvey Stenger noted. “I have enjoyed working with Celia while she was associate dean and interim deanand I know from those experiences that she will be a great leader for Harpur. She has all the skills necessary to be a great dean, and I know Harpur will continue to thrive under her leadership.”
A committee of 15 faculty, staff, students and alumni, led by Dean of Libraries Curtis Kendrick, guided the search process and received feedback from over 100 members of the campus community who participated in meetings with the finalists.
“I thank Curtis, the members of his committee and my assistant Vicki Griffin for leading the search process. I’m also pleased that so many members of the campus community participated in the process and provided such detailed, thoughtful feedback,” Nieman said.
After earning her PhD in cognitive psychology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Klin joined the Binghamton University faculty in 1994 as an assistant professor of psychology and rose through ranks to become full professor. She has served her department as co-director of undergraduate studies, associate chair, and, from 2009-12, as chair. She served as associate dean for academic affairs in Harpur College since 2013, and was named senior associate dean in 2017 and interim dean in 2020.
“Harpur is a college that I know deeply as a faculty member — as teacher, mentor and researcher — as well as through a number of leadership positions — including department chair, associate dean and interim dean. It is also a college that I love,” said Klin. “Harpur College represents the best of the liberal arts, with a commitment both to providing a transformative education and excellence in research and creative activity. I look forward to continuing to work with Harpur’s talented students, staff, faculty as well as our generous alumni. Over the next few years, we will work toward healing some of the wounds of the pandemic and to creating new academic programs and opportunities for students and faculty.”