Dr. Bryan Higgins Named Director of International Education

As the new director of international education, Higgins will be responsible for the oversight and coordination of international education in the areas of curriculum, student exchange programs and extracurricular programs promoting international education.

Dr. Robert Golden, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Plattsburgh State, said "Bryan is a highly respected faculty member with considerable expertise in planning and a genuine interest in international studies. I'm looking forward to working with him on international education."

A major responsibility of the director will be continuing development of a new major in international and global studies. The director will also serve as Plattsburgh State's representative to the State University of New York for international education matters.

Higgins will oversee the Study Abroad Program and the Southern Cone and Center for the Study of Canada offices. He will work with the Office for International Student Services to support international students on campus and will serve as an advocate within the community for international education as a priority at Plattsburgh State.

Higgins joined the faculty at Plattsburgh State in 1981. He was promoted to associate professor in 1987 and to full professor in 1992. During his tenure at Plattsburgh State, Higgins has written numerous academic and planning publications and has been awarded more than 40 grants for research projects.

Higgins received his bachelor's and master's degrees as well as his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He also conducted some of his graduate work in psychology at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.

While at Plattsburgh State, Higgins has served on many campus committees including the Strategic Planning Committee, the Planning Council and the Advisory Council for Lifelong Learning. He received a Fulbright Research Award in 1988 and has been a fellow in the Institute for Ethics and Public Life at Plattsburgh State. The courses he has taught include cultural geography, Latin American cities, geography on Montreal and global planning principles to name a few.

Higgins will begin his new role as director of international education on July 1.

-- 30 --