The Paul Smith’s College Board of Trustees, has announced that Dr. Jon Calvert Strauss became the eleventh president of the college on July 15, 2020.
Strauss will serve in an interim capacity to provide executive leadership and advance the college’s strategic plan while the institution embarks on a comprehensive search process to replace outgoing president Dr. Cathy S. Dove. The appointment of Dr. Strauss was approved unanimously by the Board.
In addition to serving as president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Harvey Mudd College, and Manhattanville College, Strauss served as Vice President at the University of Pennsylvania, and Senior Vice President at the University of Southern California. His long career includes membership on the National Science Board, where he was Chair of Polar Research; CFO of HHMI, then the nation’s largest private philanthropy; and work on the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.
Outgoing President Dove, who joined Paul Smith’s in September 2014, announced her retirement in March 2020. Highlights of her tenure include the introduction of a master’s degree program, expanded undergraduate offerings, and the expansion of athletics including esports, women’s ice hockey and the rollout of a world-class program for student athletes with ties to US Biathlon and USA Nordic.
She also oversaw college affordability efforts highlighted by tuition scholarship programs with North Country Community College and SUNY Adirondack, as well as a “graduation guarantee” initiative for future Paul Smith’s enrollees.
Dove is the first woman to have held the office of president at PSC. She is expected to be available during the transition as an advisor to President Strauss.
Strauss joins PSC as the college approaches a mid-August start for the Fall 2020 semester.
Strauss holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering (University of Wisconsin), M.S. in Physics (University of Pittsburgh), and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (Carnegie Institute of Technology). Jon, his wife Jean, a noted author and filmmaker and former national champion double-sculler, and their dog Bear will relocate from East Brookfield, MA.
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