SUNY Plattsburgh Names Dr. Colin Read New SBE Dean

Read is coming to Plattsburgh from Central Connecticut State in New Britain where he has been the dean of the School of Business since 2003. Prior to that, he was an associate dean at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.

"I'm very pleased that Dr. Read has accepted our invitation to come to Plattsburgh as the new SBE dean," said SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling. "Dr. Read has an impressive resume and will be an excellent leader for our vibrant School of Business and Economics. I'd like to thank the members of the search committee for their hard and thoughtful work throughout the search process."

Read said that he is looking forward to his new role in leading the School of Business and Economics.

"I am excited about the prospects of joining the SBE at SUNY Plattsburgh," said Read. "The School recognizes its contribution to teaching the region's sons and daughters and the important role it plays in the economic future of Plattsburgh and Northern New York State. New links between the College and the region are truly partnerships with the School standing to benefit by bringing real life business experiences into the classroom as the faculty and staff in turn take their insights and knowledge into the business community. I believe our size and composition will allow us to develop some programs of true distinction that are valued and appreciated by the community. I am very much looking forward to helping make that happen."

As dean, Read will work with the faculty to develop and maintain a shared vision of the School's future and provide leadership in curriculum and program development. His role will also include maintaining and strengthening ties with the North Country business community and to play an active role in advancement and development efforts. He will encourage and assist faculty commitment to teaching, research and service. The dean reports to the provost and has significant campus and community responsibilities beyond academic areas.

"Dr. Read comes to SUNY Plattsburgh with considerable experience in the field of business and economics," said Dr. Robert Golden, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "He will play an important role as the School of Business and Economics develops its curriculum at the graduate level, expands its outreach internationally and builds closer ties with the local community."

SBE has approximately 30 full-time faculty members and contains five academic departments: accounting; economics and finance; management and international business; marketing and entrepreneurship; and hotel, restaurant and tourism management. These programs enroll nearly 1,000 undergraduate students on an annual basis.

The School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) and has a strong international focus and commitment to regional economic development. The Technical Assistance Center-SUNY and the Small Business Development Center are associated with the business school, which is also responsible for coordinating the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program.

Read has been a teacher, researcher and administrator in higher education for more than 20 years. He began his teaching career while a research student at the London School of Economics. He continued as a research associate at the Harvard Institute for International Development and Harvard MIT Joint Center for Housing Studies as he completed his Ph.D. in Economics from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada.

He also taught at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. before beginning his 15-year tenure at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks (UAF). Upon retiring as professor emeritus from UAF, Read joined the business school at Central Connecticut State University as its dean to prepare for AACSB accreditation.

Read holds a master of accountancy degree in taxation from the University of Tulsa, a master of business administration from the University of Alaska, a juris doctorate degree from the School of Law at the University of Connecticut and master's and doctorate degrees in economics from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. His earned his undergraduate degree in physics and economics from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia.   

His administrative roles have included dean, associate dean, special assistant to the president, faculty president and graduate program director. He has a strong record of research and has authored numerous papers that have appeared in scholarly journals. Recent research topics have included tax policy and market competitiveness, economics and the environment and remedies in patent law.

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