Dr. Jay Stein Named Provost

"We are incredibly pleased that Jay has agreed to serve as our next provost," said SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling. "He brings a wealth of talent not only in his field of study but most importantly as a leader in academia. In our meetings with Jay, he left a positive impression on our campus, and we are excited to begin working with him."

In accepting the position, Stein praised the college's commitment to students. "I am heartened by Plattsburgh's commitment to being a student-centered college where high-quality teaching is valued and prized," he said.

Stein looks forward to this new chapter and challenge, "In my visits to Plattsburgh, I have met many outstanding faculty, staff and students. Indeed, my major reason for accepting the position is the quality of the people in the community and the opportunity to work with President John Ettling," he said. "I think we can be a very effective team in enhancing the quality of an already first-rate college."

The provost is responsible for the management of the entire academic enterprise, working closely with the president, the deans and other leaders on the faculty. Stein will also sit on the President's Cabinet as vice president of academic affairs.

Stein has had a distinguished tenure at the University of Florida, first as a professor and chair in the College of Architecture's Department of Urban and Regional Planning. He later became the dean of that college. Most recently, he served as founding director for the Center for Health and the Built Environment, College of Design, Construction and Planning.

No stranger to SUNY, Stein served as interim dean for the School of Architecture and Planning at SUNY Buffalo prior to his work at the University of Florida. At Buffalo he also served as professor and chair of the Department of Planning and Design. In addition, he received his bachelor's degree in political science from SUNY Binghamton.

"I look forward to returning to New York where I have strong roots both in the state and the SUNY system," Stein said. "This will be my third time in the SUNY system - first as an undergraduate student at SUNY Binghamton, later as a faculty member and administrator at SUNY Buffalo, and now as provost at Plattsburgh. I view my appointment at Plattsburgh as an opportunity to give back to a system and community that helped me get started in my own life and that provided such a deep undergraduate experience."

Stein earned his master's degree in political science from York University and his doctorate in urban and regional planning from the University of Michigan.

President Ettling also praised the hard work of the provost search committee. "We owe a debt of gratitude to the committee, especially Dr. Thomas Moran for serving as chair and to Dr. David Mowry and Dr. Kathy Lavoie for helping coordinate the final details of the process."

"It is my understanding that Bob Golden has been a great provost for SUNY Plattsburgh - they are big shoes to fill," Stein said. "I hope to be worthy of the task and look forward to working with Bob in the transition."

Stein looks forward to immersing himself in the challenges and opportunities currently in front of the college but already has some ideas and initiatives he would like to explore with the community.

"My academic discipline of urban and regional planning is an inherently interdisciplinary field, and I have always enjoyed being involved in educational experiences that span the traditional boundaries of our disciplines. As provost, I would hope to encourage more interdisciplinary collaboration at Plattsburgh," he said.

"I have also been very involved in green, sustainability issues at Florida. I know that Plattsburgh has a rich tradition in environmental studies, and, as provost, I would encourage a stronger focus on sustainability in the curriculum, the campus and our community."