President D'Alleva will post a new blog each Monday, highlighting news and updates from the previous week. Follow President Anne on Instagram and LinkedIn.
From Anne's Desk
Monday, Feb. 2, 2026
Strategic Planning General Input Sessions
I want to thank all of those who participated in the general input sessions for the strategic plan on Monday. We had 236 staff members and 171 faculty who registered for these sessions, which were a great help in gathering crucial feedback as we start to identify key priorities. I applaud all of you for being so invested in Binghamton’s future and for your eagerness to participate. For those not able to participate, there will be additional opportunities to engage, listed on the strategic planning webpage and circulated in Dateline.
MLK Series Fireside Chat
It was an honor for us to welcome Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun as the keynote speaker for this year’s MLK Series Fireside Chat on Jan. 28. I thank Mr. Adamolekun for the wisdom he shared with our audience as one of the most inspiring and innovative leaders in the world of business. The Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion also deserves credit for organizing six separate events around Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including Days of Service that leaned on volunteers from the University to make a difference in the community.
Student-Athlete 4.0 GPA Breakfast
On Thursday morning, I met with 47 student-athletes who had a perfect 4.0 GPA during the fall 2025 semester. That is an incredible 10.4% of all Binghamton student-athletes. Balancing excellence in the classroom with what it takes to be a Division I athlete – practice, travel, and competition – is an outstanding feat. I am glad that we celebrate our 4.0 student-athletes each semester because they deserve to be recognized for the role they play in the campus community.
Meeting with SUNY Oneonta President Cardelle
SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle visited Binghamton on Thursday to take a tour of the Innovative Technologies Complex and learn more about our research efforts. Getting to know the other SUNY presidents has been a wonderful experience for me in learning more about the best system of higher education in the nation. It has also underlined the many possibilities that we have for collaboration between campuses and how it can benefit our students, faculty, and staff, as well as our communities and the regional economy.
Alumni Association Board of Directors
On Friday morning, I met with the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Binghamton is so fortunate to have so many alumni who care so much about the University and are passionate about sharing their expertise and skills with our community. I am excited about the planning we’re doing for the University’s 80th anniversary this fall and we are looking forward to sharing those details with you when we are able. — AD
From Anne's Desk
Monday, Jan. 26, 2026
State of the University
I want to thank everyone for coming to my first State of the University address on Friday, especially the singers from No Strings Attached, who performed a beautiful rendition of our alma mater, “In the Rolling Hills of Binghamton.” I hope it becomes a tradition we return to at this event in the years ahead.
In case you missed it, we will be posting video and a news story from the State of the University. I am deeply excited about Binghamton’s future, especially because we already have the foundational strengths needed to reach even greater heights.
New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research
Binghamton received its largest academic gift when Tom Secunda ’76, MA ’79 committed $30 million toward the creation of the New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research. The University will also receive $25 million in matching funds from Gov. Hochul and the state legislature. The center will be dedicated to advancing AI for the public good through technical innovations that will ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability, and it will build on our considerable strength in AI research. We are in the very early stages of organizing and outlining the center’s mission. Please stay tuned for more details on how the center is going to make Binghamton a leader in responsible AI.
I am thrilled that this gift comes to us from an alumnus who cherished his experience at Binghamton and wants to give back to the next generation of students. Mr. Secunda’s generosity and deep appreciation for the University is evident and I thank him for sharing in our bright vision for Binghamton’s future.
Transition and TRANSFERmation Summit
The Student Transition and Success Office invited me to speak at its Transition and TRANSFERmation Summit on Jan. 19. This was a great way to welcome our transfer students at the start of a new semester, and I hope that they are quickly acclimating to the campus community. As someone who also arrived here recently from another campus, I know that it can be challenging to learn so much about a new place in a short period of time. I applaud our staff in Student Affairs who are constantly thinking of ways to help students succeed and make them feel at home.
Visit with Student Docents at the Museum
I had a wonderful time visiting with the student docent group at the Binghamton University Art Museum on Jan. 22. As an art historian myself, I enjoyed connecting with this group and appreciated their dedication to the museum and their vision for its impact at the university and in the community. They talked about their work hosting school groups, the importance of the museum as a center for civil discourse and dialogue, and its innovative educational mission across disciplines. It was an inspiring conversation! — AD
Launching From Anne's Desk
Monday, Jan. 19, 2026
The feedback I received from the University community while blogging throughout the Listening to Lead Tour has inspired me to continue writing. I plan on posting each Monday, looking back on who I’ve met, what I’ve learned, and what we accomplished. In addition to the blog, I’m looking forward to my first State of the University address on Friday, Jan. 23. I hope to see you there!
Student/Alumni Networking Night
On Monday, Jan. 12, I traveled to New York City for the annual Student/Alumni Networking Night, which brought together 400 students and 175 Binghamton alumni. It was great to see so many people from our community together in one place and I was amazed by how many sectors were represented. We had alumni representing careers in law, health, finance, film, media – and so many more. The event offered a range of expertise for students who are thinking about internships and careers. I also loved hearing that so many of our alumni want to get more involved in working with Binghamton University. The passion of our alumni and how they want to pay it forward for the next generation of students is such a valuable resource. I’m deeply grateful for how much they care about the University.
Student Affairs staff meeting
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, I had the opportunity to visit a Division of Student Affairs staff meeting on the cusp of a new semester. I wanted to reflect on h my findings from the Listening Tour with the entire group (a great dry run for the State of the University address!) and thank them for their feedback and insights over the past few months. When you see the entire Student Affairs team at once, it’s clear that Binghamton is committed to holistic student success. My thanks to the Student Affairs team for their dedication to that mission as they get ready for students to return to campus.
Men’s basketball at Albany
On Thursday, Jan. 15, I traveled to watch our men’s basketball team play at the University at Albany. Chancellor King and many leaders from SUNY System Administration were at the game and it was a wonderful way for us all to catch up. Unfortunately, the Great Danes prevailed but I was proud of the way our team played with passion and determination throughout. I was thrilled to see that Binghamton’s women’s basketball team had defeated Albany earlier in the day, setting a new attendance record in front of 4,671 cheering fans at the Youth Education Game. Go Bearcats! — AD
President Anne D'Alleva is keeping a running diary from her stops on the Listening to Lead Tour. This page will be updated frequently. Follow President Anne on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Concluding the Tour
My final post on the Listening Tour Blog is a thank you note to the many students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners who shared their time and their insights with me. The Listening Tour made 38 stops over 44 days in November and December. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you in person and to get to know Binghamton University better. Your ideas and concerns are going to play a significant role in shaping the strategic planning process, which is currently underway. I will share the major themes from the Listening Tour during the State of the University address at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23 in the Watters Theatre. Hope to see you there!
I’ve also heard your overwhelmingly positive response to the Listening Tour blog. I am going to continue blogging every Monday at From Anne’s Desk. I’ll be keeping you up to date on what’s happening at Binghamton and sharing what I’m hearing from the University community.
Thank you and best wishes for the spring 2026 semester. — AD
Business Affairs
Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025
The professional staff in Business Affairs are very important in establishing relationships across the University. They touch every office and every department at Binghamton in some way and their collaborative nature goes a long way in having established that culture all over campus. I was also very intrigued to hear that their expertise, especially when it comes to working through new state regulations, carries weight across the entire SUNY system. They are regularly called upon for advice and information and I greatly appreciate their roles as leaders for so many partner institutions. Part of our conversation focused on how much the University feels like a home for our students, as well as our faculty and staff. I’m encouraged by some ideas the staff mentioned, including how we could leverage the University’s passion for service into providing support and health care for our elderly neighbors in the community. — AD
Advancement
Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025
Throughout the Listening Tour, I’ve realized just how big a role Advancement is going to play in Binghamton’s future and it was great to finally talk to this group. We have more than 160,000 alumni across the world. They are people who care deeply about Binghamton and credit their success in many ways to the experiences they had at this University. Advancement is our bridge to them and our means of engaging with our graduates in order to support the current generation of Binghamton students. Growing the University’s endowment will go a long way in stabilizing our efforts in research and increasing scholarships and programmatic offerings. To do so, we need to empower and support Advancement in being that bridge. Our conversation touched on many topics, including how to grow school spirit and get everyone in the Binghamton community “singing the same song” about the transformative experiences they had here. — AD
Professional Staff Senate Executive Committee
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025
The Professional Staff Senate is a unique mechanism for shared governance in the SUNY system and I’m glad to have had the opportunity to meet with its Executive Committee. Our professional staff are dedicated to student success in so many ways. That has been a theme throughout the Listening Tour, and it was reinforced in this meeting. The Professional Staff Senate is also working hard to improve the experiences of faculty and staff at the university. There is a commitment to holistic wellness for employees and I’m excited to see the next steps we take in growing that culture. I see the Professional Staff Senate playing key roles in several important projects that are emerging across the University, including expanding restorative practices, training supervisors to be excellent leaders, and in building bridges between staff at the Vestal campus and our spaces in Johnson City and downtown Binghamton. It’s no surprise the University’s staff retention is so strong. People want to make careers here because our staff are so caring, compassionate, and thoughtful about creating a community. — AD
Facilities Management and Real Property Management
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025
One of the most interesting things to me about Binghamton University is how relatively new much of campus is compared to our peer institutions. Binghamton celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026, but the Vestal campus has only existed for 64 years. It’s grown significantly since. As one staff member said at today’s meeting, “We are our own little city. From University Police to food service and the mail, we can take care of ourselves. It’s really impressive.” The University’s updated Facilities Master Plan, which we hope to share with you soon, presents an ambitious vision for how the campus can continue to grow efficiently and intelligently without losing the natural beauty which makes this place so special. I appreciate the forward-thinking nature of the staff in Facilities Management, who told me that their forward-thinking designs for laboratory spaces have been essential in seamlessly adding new technologies years after the original space was built. There are some concerns we need to address, namely power and energy generation, as well as renovating on-campus housing. The thoughtfulness and innovative nature of the people in Facilities Management will guide us well through the next chapter of Binghamton’s history. — AD
Information Technology Services
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025
ITS does an extraordinary amount of important work—often behind the scenes—that shapes how all of us interact with technology on campus every day. Their efforts are essential to our ability to conduct groundbreaking research, teach in innovative ways, support our students, and undertake the business of the university efficiently. This is a creative, resourceful team that is constantly solving new problems and developing innovative solutions to meet the wide-ranging needs of our students, faculty, and staff – one member of the team described it as “scrappy.” I’m especially pleased to see how ITS leadership has served as a catalyst for breaking down silos and building critical professional connections with partners across campus. In addition to its dedicated professional staff, ITS relies heavily on student employees, who bring fresh perspectives and contribute meaningfully to many aspects of the office’s work. The ingenuity of the ITS team has enabled the University to develop numerous programs and applications in-house; at the same time, we discussed the challenges of sustaining these tools as we adapt to new vendors, evolving software, and the changing needs of our community. — AD
Emergency Services
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025
The idea of collaboration has been such a strong theme throughout my Listening Tour and I’m encouraged that it is one of the guiding principles of the many offices on campus that work so hard to keep us all safe. That spirit of working closely with others also applies to the many external agencies the University works with in Binghamton, Johnson City, and Vestal. The Office of Emergency Management is an important part of how we stay ready and prepared, and having this office separate from University Police also allows both offices to focus solely on what they do best. This structure sets Binghamton apart from our peers in higher education. Some of the areas of concern that came up in our conversation included the need for a unified emergency operations center. I’m also glad that our discussion covered how the University could be more welcoming and could better serve members of the community who rarely visit campus today. — AD
Division of Communications and Marketing
Monday, Dec. 15, 2025
My visit with Communications and Marketing helped me to understand all the different ways in which the Division works to shape the public perception of Binghamton University. From promoting the work of our faculty, to marketing, to social media, and to crisis communications, the Division is the essential link between the University and the world outside campus. We talked about some of the challenges of doing this work on a large scale across a complex organization. I’m encouraged by the collaborative nature of the Division’s staff and our shared commitment to creative, consistent, and impactful messaging across all platforms. Two great ideas I will share from this meeting included thinking about investing in more public art on campus and in supporting a speaker series to bring notable and prominent names to Binghamton. Our conversation shifted to the topic of community engagement many times – a trend throughout the Listening Tour – and I’m excited to know that we have so many people interested in improving and strengthening relations with our neighbors in Broome County. — AD
Libraries
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025
I’m glad the Listening to Lead Tour brought me to Bartle Library during finals week because it was good to see so many students hard at work studying for exams. In addition to housing our collections and serving as study spaces, the Libraries are rapidly evolving as a central asset of Binghamton’s research efforts. Faculty and staff from the Libraries talked to me about the increasing importance of transformative/read and publish agreements, which are crucial to our faculty in distributing their work and ultimately in securing external grants. We also talked about how the Libraries can be an innovative and creative hub for the entire University, especially in data science and translating faculty research to wider audiences. I’m happy to hear that the recent renovations to Bartle Library’s third floor have been well-received. It's clear that we need to think about what future changes might look like and how those would support our collections, our community, and our goals in teaching, research, and multidisciplinary collaboration. The Libraries are an important part of creating a sense of belonging for students and are essential to student success; we need to maximize the Libraries’ potential in all dimensions through the strategic planning process. — AD
Employer and Community Engagement Advisory Boards
Monday, Dec. 8, 2025
My terrific meeting this evening with members of the Binghamton Employer Advisory Network and the Center for Civic Engagement’s Community Advisory Board reinforced the values and priorities that have emerged so clearly across the university community throughout the Listening to Lead Tour. When it comes to student employment and career preparation, the Fleishman Career Center continues to be a vital and cherished resource for our students, alumni, and employer partners. We know our students are academically prepared for their careers, and the Fleishman Center does so much to help them build confidence across multiple dimensions of career readiness and life skills. Our conversation highlighted the importance of thinking creatively about expanding internships and other experiential learning opportunities—aligning them with student interests, employer needs, and SUNY’s priorities for high-impact, hands-on education. I was also delighted to learn more about the newly created advisory board for community engagement. We are only beginning to tap the potential for Binghamton University to make a deeper, more intentional impact in our region. Throughout the Tour, students have consistently expressed a sincere desire to give back to the community, and last night’s meeting offered thoughtful perspectives on how volunteer opportunities foster both professional and personal growth. We also explored ways to support volunteerism with funding so that every student has the opportunity to serve, regardless of personal financial circumstances. I look forward to continuing to learn how the University can be an innovative, collaborative, and impactful partner to our community. — AD
Binghamton University Foundation Board of Directors
Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
I want to thank the members of the Foundation Board of Directors for allowing me to hold a Listening Tour session during their online meeting this morning. The members of the Foundation Board have done so much for the University over the years, volunteering their time to guide and support advancing Binghamton in many ways. Our conversation started with a few examples of the Binghamton pride instilled in our alumni and how their experiences as students help them in their careers. They spoke to the intelligence, work ethic, and caring, collaborative mindset of our students, and noted that these qualities carry over into the workplace and set Binghamton graduates apart as exceptional professionals. The emerging effects of artificial intelligence on hiring prospects for young people was mentioned, and the group delivered some creative solutions on how we can best prepare students for a rapidly changing economy. We also discussed the value of a Binghamton education and how to use that to our advantage in recruiting students, and Board members noted the high value of alumni mentorship in creating a sense of belonging, supporting students in their education, and helping them launch their careers. We also explored possibilities for creating new pipelines for students to join prestigious scholarship and graduate fellowship programs. The Board members emphasized the importance of growing the research enterprise and ensuring that, through tech transfer and entrepreneurship, the great discoveries made here at Binghamton impact the world. — AD
Student Affairs Student Staff
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025
My final meeting today included student employees who work in various student-facing roles, including the Fleishman Center, Student Transition and Success, Campus Recreation, and Harpur’s Ferry. I am very impressed by how many services and resources Binghamton students have and how much of that is driven by student workers. Students mentioned how much career services has prepared them for real-world situations, including advice on personal budgeting and financial literacy, as well as how important professional development opportunities like paid internships are crucial to affordability for so many of them. We did talk about their concerns on parking, dining, expanding advising opportunities, and access to healthcare. I left this session thankful that Binghamton students have so many resources and that so many of our kind, caring, and brilliant students are doing so much for the benefit of their classmates. — AD
Fraternity, Sorority, and Off-Campus College Council (OC3) Leaders
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025
After meeting with these impressive student leaders, I was glad to find out that we are all of the same mind in that the identity of Greek life at Binghamton is focused on community, belonging and service. Students shared a common theme that the University’s size is conducive to so much of what they wanted from their college experience. Binghamton is big enough to offer a wide variety of academic programs and support services – including the influence of things like the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which came up multiple times today – and yet it still maintains the feeling of a smaller university where people can build meaningful social connections. Students feel safe here, they find their people here, and they have the freedom to make their own path. As one student said, “When I came and visited, I saw I could make my own experience here. On Admitted Students Day, I met with other students and I started to see how I could make it my own. Binghamton gives people the opportunity to figure out who they are.” — AD
CARE Team, SOC, and CRT
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025
My meeting with members of the Consultation, Advocacy, Referral and Education (CARE) Team, the Students of Concern Committee (SOC), the Critical Response Team (CRT) and others involved in crisis management and mental health led to a wide-ranging discussion with several smart ideas for us to try to tackle in the future. This has become a recurring theme of my tour – that the collaboration and respect between people across offices and divisions makes exceptional work possible here at Binghamton. I’m impressed by how these groups work together across the entire campus, including connecting with Residential Life to decrease the burden of responsibilities on our staff in the dormitories and let them focus more on the student experience. The idea shared by this group of creating a mobile crisis team would build on work that is already done by these offices in connection with law enforcement and healthcare – and would set Binghamton apart as a leader in mental health services in higher education. An exciting idea for a long-term goal that arose in this meeting would be to create a “one-stop shop” for support by centralizing health and counseling services on the Vestal campus. — AD
SUNY Advocacy in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 2 and 3, 2025
While not officially part of the Listening to Lead Tour, I can’t help but share some
details from my trip to Washington, D.C. to meet elected officials and advocate on
behalf of Binghamton University and SUNY. It was truly amazing to see so many SUNY
presidents together with our leaders in Washington and talk about the role SUNY plays
on a national scale. I had the opportunity to meet with House Minority Leader Hakeem
Jeffries ’92, who has been serving his constituents in Brooklyn and the people of
New York for 12 years. Leader Jeffries invited the other members of the “Binghamton
Caucus,” Eugene Vindman ’97 (Virginia’s 7th district) and John Mannion ’90 (New York’s
22nd District), to his office for our meeting and plans were discussed for a potential
future event featuring all three in New York City, hopefully this spring. My other
meetings included a visit with Binghamton’s representative in Congress, Josh Riley,
as well as other members of New York’s Congressional delegation. I am so pleased to
see such strong bipartisan support for SUNY and topics that are vital to higher education,
including Federal Pell Grants, Federal TRIO programs, and grant funding from the National
Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Federal funding for higher
education has always drawn strong bipartisan support and the long tradition of backing
access to education and fostering research development is what enables us to lead
global innovation. — AD
Residential Life Student Staff
Monday, Dec. 1, 2025
The vast number of resources available to Binghamton students continues to amaze me, especially when those initiatives are led by students like those who work in Residential Life. Programs that bring the work of the Fleishman Center into the residence halls, as well as the influence of student social workers, has improved the lives and the skills of our residents in so many ways. As one student said, “Coming from a small island to Binghamton and having that transition into a different lifestyle, my RA at the time made sure the process was seamless. That led me to want to come into Res Life so I can be that resource for someone else.” I also appreciate the many issues around housing that these students raised, all of which we need to consider seriously during strategic planning. Improving student-focused communications and making sure all students are aware of the resources available to them will be a priority. — AD
Residential Life
Monday, Dec. 1, 2025
After my meeting with staff from Residential Life, I’m struck by the unique and special organization of Binghamton’s on-campus housing. We rely heavily on student staffers, who build valuable skills and responsibility through their roles. That structure also creates trust and important peer connections between student staff and residents. Our Learning Communities and our Collegiate Professors bridge the academic and social lives of students in ways that forge lasting and meaningful connections. The traditions in Residence Life, some dating back decades, are vital to the holistic well-being of our students and they develop a sense of school spirit and a sense of belonging. We will have some areas to address in the future, including how we continue to improve our current spaces to meet student needs as well as assessing and balancing the demand for residential options on- and off-campus. — AD
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Monday, Nov. 24, 2025
I was very excited for my meeting at Pharmacy because my former colleague, Philip
Hritcko, dean of the University of Connecticut’s School of Pharmacy, had given me
such a glowing review after he spoke at Binghamton’s White Coat Ceremony in August.
For such a new School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton is doing
incredible work in providing needed care, especially to underserved and rural communities
in our region. That dovetails with community engagement efforts in Decker College
of Nursing and Health Sciences and is a preeminent strength of the University. There
are challenges that we will need to tackle in the years ahead. We need to support
our graduate students and their ability to find clinical placements. Putting resources
behind the research efforts of our faculty is also critically important to developing
new drugs and treatments that make our world a better place. I am optimistic that
the School will continue to build its reputation as a leader in providing for patients
and advancing pharmaceutical science. — AD
The Graduate School
Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
I left my meeting with the Graduate School team thinking about how important this
group is going to be in the future of Binghamton University. They do such great work
today in building bridges between our graduate students, our faculty, departments
and offices across campus, as well as so many external partners. I’m also encouraged
about how the Graduate School is thinking holistically about our graduate students
and their needs outside of their academic work, including childcare and housing. The
student success conversation often focuses on undergraduate students, but at Binghamton
the student success framework is brought to the graduate student experience as well.
The balance of the graduate programs we offer also positions Binghamton well as we
head into a strategic planning process that will allow us to realign and maximize
our goals in graduate education, providing for students and their futures as well
as the wide-reaching research mission of the University. — AD
Division of Academic Affairs
Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
My meeting with Provost Hall, the vice provosts, and senior staff from the Division
of Academic Affairs was highly illuminating and clarified just how many areas their
work touches across campus. Undergraduate education at Binghamton is truly stellar.
That reputation is only increasing because of programs such as First-Year Research
Immersion (FRI), the Source Project, and Binghamton University Projects for New Undergraduate
Researchers (BUPNUR), which give so many undergraduates the ability to do meaningful,
hands-on research. Our leaders in Academic Affairs are going to be instrumental throughout
the strategic planning process and they offered several thoughtful and compelling
approaches to improving in areas such as graduate education. I was also impressed
to hear how much the Division is doing in workforce development, strengthening international
partnerships, and academic interventions for at-risk students, all of which have significantly
improved the student experience. — AD
Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science
Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025
Our engineers in Watson College are some of the most creative people on campus and
I heard so many great ideas from them in today’s meeting. That creativity is essential
in collaboration, which is already driving so much fascinating interdisciplinary work
in the College and will fuel the innovations of the future. I was also so proud to
hear the College’s faculty and staff talk so movingly on how the students they interact
with motivate their own work. The student organizations in the College energize everyone
– including the local children in the community they inspire – and spaces like the
Fabrication Lab foster a sense of belonging and give students a place to gather. I’m
also encouraged to know that the College is continuing to make connections across
the country and around the world, forging partnerships that will enhance its future.
Many thanks to the faculty and staff for the feedback and insights that will inform
a key area of Binghamton’s strategic planning. — AD
Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences
One of the things that makes Binghamton University so unique is the quality and the strength of its relationships with the surrounding communities. Decker College epitomizes that through its direct service to people in need of care, its position in shaping Johnson City’s future, and how it prepares so many students for fulfilling – and needed – careers in healthcare. I was also excited to hear how Decker College plays a role in the University’s holistic commitment to health and wellness for all our students, faculty, and staff. We’re going to tackle some of the challenges and opportunities facing nursing and health sciences education in the strategic planning process, including topics like expanding international education and service experiences for undergraduate students and creating online/hybrid graduate programs. Decker faculty and staff are eager to collaborate on curricula and research across the University’s colleges and schools to give our future healthcare practitioners the tools they need to succeed. Decker College is and will be a leader and a model in health education for New York state and the nation. — AD
Harpur College
Monday, Nov. 17, 2025
So much of what Binghamton University is today is a credit to the bold and innovative
history of Harpur College as a leading public liberal arts college. I’m excited to
see that passion for providing students with a robust and well-rounded education still
thrives in today’s faculty. The concept of interdisciplinarity came up several times
in this meeting, both as a strength of Harpur College and a massive area for new possibilities.
As a former dean of Fine Arts, I'm pleased to see the dedication of Binghamton's faculty
in the arts and their commitment to improving facilities and providing opportunities
for all students to engage meaningfully in the arts as part of their education. I
am also encouraged to see the interest Harpur faculty and staff have in leading new
community engaged service and scholarship that leverages the people of the University
and their talents in making a difference beyond the boundaries of the campus. Harpur
College is in Binghamton University’s DNA and it is the focal point for so much of
what we do. I’m looking forward to working with Harpur College’s faculty and staff
in the future to maintain and expand the College’s reputation as a trailblazer in
public liberal arts education. — AD
Division of Student Affairs Leadership Team
Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
I’ve heard so much about all the ways students are supported at Binghamton outside of the classroom, so it was a pleasure to meet the leadership team behind these initiatives from the Division of Student Affairs. Binghamton is a national leader in delivering holistically for students, from health initiatives to civic engagement, career services, first year experience, and our innovative Residential Life student employee program. As successful as we are in so many different areas, the University can expand and improve on its high-impact practices, especially as we seek to serve first-generation and Pell-eligible students – and I’m happy to hear that the staff working on these projects are eager to make them even better. — AD
Multicultural Student Groups
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025
The students representing so many of our multicultural groups and organizations shared incredible thoughtfulness, sincerity, and their desire to make Binghamton University a better place. Our 90-minute meeting was full of celebrations about how the University has transformed their lives as well as many suggestions they had for how we can improve on their experience. Binghamton’s multicultural organizations offer students a sense of community, a sense of belonging, and a home away from home. However, we do need to work hard to ensure that these groups have the resources and the space they need to continue making a difference in the lives of students. I’m looking forward to meeting with these student leaders again in the future and getting a full sense of what they do at their events. — AD
Graduate Student Organization
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025
Three members of the Graduate Student Organization, representing the College of Community and Public Affairs, Harpur College and Watson College, gave me a tremendous perspective on the opportunities and the challenges facing today’s graduate students. Binghamton’s programs attract people from around the nation and the world who want access to the University’s outstanding faculty, resources, and pathways to meaningful careers. But there are hurdles. Our graduate students have to balance family responsibilities and finding off-campus living arrangements in addition to their studies, research, scholarship, and teaching obligations. I am encouraged to know that the Graduate Student Organization is doing great work in connecting students with each other and sharing resources and ideas. — AD
Division of Research
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025
My meeting with the Division of Research was a wide-ranging and optimistic conversation. Binghamton University has earned a reputation as a national leader in research, from STEM fields to the social sciences, arts, and humanities. Everyone is excited about growing that reputation, expanding and strengthening what we already do, and finding new opportunities to collaborate across disciplines. I was intrigued to hear from so many different people how important the Division is and can be to the local and regional community in both economic and workforce development, creating new pipelines and pathways for research and supporting and sustaining businesses. I’m also heartened to know that faculty and staff in the Division are great teammates. As one attendee said, “People here are outstanding in how they support each other and deliver.” We know that developing a next-level vision for research will be a vital part of our strategic planning process this spring. — AD
Parents Leadership Council
Monday, Nov. 10, 2025
I had a fantastic meeting with the PLC, sharing a bit about my background, what drew me to Binghamton, and inviting parents to talk about why they and their students chose this university. Their responses were truly inspiring. One family, whose student is pursuing unique dual degrees in engineering and theatre, said that “Binghamton led with 'Yes'” — making their decision easier, especially after other universities said it couldn’t be done. One parent shared that their student “Found her people here,” while another described the moment they first set foot on campus as “It felt like home.” Again and again, I heard the word “transformative” used to describe the Binghamton experience. I am proud to know that so many parents trust and rely on the University to provide an experience that includes an outstanding education and the opportunities that lead to a rich and rewarding life and career for their children. — AD
Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Monday, Nov. 10, 2025
My meeting with staff from the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was invigorating and hopeful. It left me encouraged by how hard this team is working to make everyone in the University community feel at home here. We had a productive discussion around the innovative academic and social supports that make a difference for our first-generation and Pell-eligible students. Multicultural organizations for students are popular and successful at Binghamton and I’m excited to hear that. Our conversation also turned toward the idea of how we can replicate that experience for faculty and staff and continue to build a sense of belonging at the University for our employees as well. Furthering Binghamton’s strengths in creating programs and initiatives for comprehensive employee wellness is clearly one of the Division’s top priorities. We also agreed that having multiple cultural and professional resources and support for every individual in the University community is essential in establishing a culture in which people feel comfortable, recognized, and primed to do their best work. — AD
School of Management
Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
When I was leaving the University of Connecticut, my colleagues there said that Binghamton’s School of Management was truly outstanding. After meeting with faculty and staff today, I understand why. I came away impressed by the scope of their work, their ambition, and their commitment to students. The work that the School of Management does in career development and peer mentoring gives our graduates tremendous skills when they enter the workforce. I was also struck by the stories of how many School of Management alumni remain connected and offer their talent and time back to today’s students. We explored some very interesting challenges and opportunities for the School, such as leading the University in AI literacy, the potential for corporate partnerships, and increasing the School’s participation in multidisciplinary research as we work to solve the world’s most pressing issues. — AD
Student Association Executive Board
Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
After meeting with the Student Association Executive Board, I continue to be deeply impressed by Binghamton University’s students, their ambition and commitment to improving the student experience for others. Our student leaders told me that they chose Binghamton for a variety of reasons, including academic excellence, value, and the sense of the community that allows them to follow their interests and make new friends. The students shared some of their favorite traditions, which I found to be an interesting mix of on-campus events and things like Porchfest and LUMA in the city of Binghamton. We also spoke about some of the challenges students face today, particularly the increasing need for mental health support. I’m very much looking forward to working with Student Association leaders on many issues and initiatives in the future. — AD
Athletics
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025
Winning culture. That’s the phrase that stands out to me after my meeting with our student-athletes, coaches and staff members in athletics. It’s clear that Binghamton has so much to be proud of in athletics, with tremendous facilities, outstanding coaches and student-athletes who are equally committed to their sport and their studies. This meeting also made it obvious to me that our people in athletics are committed to higher aspirations and setting a new bar for excellence. We have the building blocks in place to make that happen. I’m also extremely excited about the possibilities for the University community as a whole, because further success in athletics is not only something everyone can enjoy but it also increases the visibility of everything we do at Binghamton. Go Bearcats! — AD
College of Community and Public Affairs
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025
I was thrilled to open the Listening to Lead Tour: Charting the Path Ahead with a meeting with faculty and staff at the College of Community and Public Affairs. CCPA is a truly unique college in its focus on community-engaged teaching, research and action and I am looking forward to expanding the visibility of all the great work CCPA does. We had a thoughtful discussion around balancing competing demands on faculty time, providing pathways for community college students to enter the college, and ensuring support for graduate students and early-career faculty. I was also greatly encouraged by some of the brilliant ideas for potential future projects for CCPA that could help provide mental health support to the University community and our neighbors, improve and protect our environment, and build a mechanism for turning outstanding research into tangible policy outcomes. — AD