Albany Watch

The State University of New York appointed C. Peter Magrath as interim president of Binghamton University and Donald Christian as interim president of SUNY New Paltz today. Presidential searches are underway at both schools, SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher told trustees.

Magrath, takes office Thursday, will receive an annual salary of $355,000. Binghamton will lease a residence for Magrath, and he will be required to live there during his tenure. He will receive a car from the university vehicle pool, according to SUNY.

Magrath, a graduate of Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire, has been senior presidential adviser for the College Board since 2006. He also served as interim president at West Virginia University between 2008 and 2009. Magrath served as president of Binghamton University from 1972 to 1974. He was president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges from 1992 through 2005 (now called the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities). Prior to that, he was president of the University of Missouri System and University of Minnesota and interim chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“With vast presidential experience across the nation and in Binghamton, Dr. Magrath is an ideal fit to lead this superb academic institution during a period of transition and growth,” Zimpher said in a statement

Magrath said he’s glad to be returning to where his presidential career started. “Binghamton University faces worthy challenges in serving New York, its region, our nation and the world. Challenges and universities go together in my experience, and this exciting university will build on its many excellent programs that serve our main mission of economic and social development,” he said in a statement.

Christian has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at New Paltz since August 2009. His appointment is effective Thursday and will continue for a year or until SUNY appoints a successor, at which time he would return to the provost position. He will receive and annual salary of $200,000.

“Donald’s success in public higher education in New York and the Midwest will benefit the students, faculty, and greater SUNY New Paltz community during the transition to a new permanent president,” Carl Hayden of Elmira, head of the Board of Trustees, said in a statement.

“We are well positioned for the future, and I am committed to sustaining the best of the trajectory we have been on – emphasizing high academic quality and standards, continuing to improve our physical facilities, and giving our students the best education we can to prepare them for bright futures,” Christian said.

Christian’s previous experience includes serving as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for five years. Before that, he was associate dean for the biological sciences and professor at the University of Montana  from 1997 to 2004 and chairman, director of graduate studies and professor of biology at the University of Minnesota-Duluth from 1978 to 1997. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at Michigan State University.

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