POTSDAM – Anthony G. Collins, President of Clarkson University since 2003, will step down as the university’s 16th President at the end of the 2022 academic year.
A member of the Clarkson Faculty since 1982, Mr. Collins has driven economic development in the north of the country and throughout New York State and is a national higher education attorney.
In a letter to the college trustees emailed Friday evening, Mr. Collins was commended for his vision of a Clarkson education and for “initiatives that have essentially been implemented in nearly two decades.”
“It was an honor for the curators to lead Clarkson University as President, motivated by the dedication and dedication of our faculty, staff and inspiring students,” said Collins in the letter. “In addition to the campus components, the communities around our many campuses have partnered with us to move Clarkson forward.
“Clarkson has a unique character who draws that support,” he added. “I am grateful to our federal, state and regional representatives as well as our donors, often alumni, who have provided the necessary resources for the development of this great university.”
Clarkson’s Potsdam Hill Campus has expanded both physically and academically, the letter reads, while the downtown campus has been repurposed to encourage interdisciplinary entrepreneurship. Outside of Potsdam, Clarkson has expanded geographically in recent years, with new graduate and professional programs accessible on the capital region campus in Schenectady and at the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries at Dennings Point.
The contributions Mr. Collins has made to Clarkson University over the years have been exceptional and will prove lasting, said Thomas L. Kassouf, chairman of the board of trustees.
“He has exceeded the broadest level of success and has left the institution in far better shape than he assumed the role of president. In addition to improving many of the metrics that are normally taken into account when assessing institutional success, Tony’s leadership role in the challenges of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 has been excellent, “Kassouf said in a prepared statement.
“We are extremely grateful for his long service as President,” he added, “and for the supportive and engaging student environment that Tony and Karen Collins have always fostered and which reinforces one of Clarkson’s greatest strengths – the direct personal connection between Students, faculty and administration. “
Mr. Collins, a native of Australia, earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Monash University. He then worked for Australian Consolidated Industries and the Utah Development Company before earning his Masters and PhD degrees from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.
After receiving his PhD in 1982, he began his career at Clarkson, where he rose from Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering to Full Professor, Department Chair, Dean, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost. During this time he received awards for outstanding teaching, research and consulting as well as international teaching activities and wrote more than 90 publications.
He currently chairs the Association of Independent Technological Universities, is retired chairman of the New York Commission for Independent Colleges and Universities, sits on the board of the Business Council of New York State, is president of Seaway Private Equity Corporation, and was previously on the advisory board of Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation nominated. He has also served on a number of New York State advisory task forces and was co-chair of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council.
A selection committee co-chaired by the Trustees Georgia Keresty, board secretary; and Sanjeev Kulkarni, Chairman of the Academic Mission Committee; is formed to find a successor. There will be curators, lecturers, staff, students and alumni.
The search committee will provide details of full committee membership and the process of finding the 17th Clarkson President as he becomes available.
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