SUNY NEW PALTZ APPOINTS NEW PROVOST/VP FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

NEW PALTZ — Following a national search at the State University of New York at New Paltz, President Roger Bowen announced today the appointment of David K. Lavallee as provost and vice president for academic affairs. His appointment will begin in the summer of 1999. Lavallee is currently provost and senior vice president at The City College of New York, in Manhattan, a position he has held since 1994.

“SUNY New Paltz is indeed fortunate to have attracted someone of Dr. Lavallee’s calibre,” said President Roger Bowen. “He is a top-flight chemist, an internationalist, and a proven administrator. His experience maneuvering within the challenging CUNY system should serve New Paltz well. Additionally, Dr. Lavallee strongly agrees with New Paltz’s student-centered strategic plan, and will for this reason play a leading role in implementing the plan over the next five years.”

As provost and vice president for academic affairs, Lavallee will serve as the chief academic officer and a senior member of the President’s executive management team. He will be responsible for five instructional divisions, the Sojourner Truth Library, Academic Advising, Continuing and Professional Education, Sponsored Funds and the Honors Program.

Commenting on his appointment, Lavallee said, “I am delighted to join the administrative team at SUNY New Paltz. I look forward to reinforcing and building upon the successful results the dedicated faculty and well-recognized programs have had in attracting and educating a talented and diverse student body. New Paltz exemplifies a true combination of excellence and opportunity as it fulfills its mission to serve the mid-Hudson region and the state. The new strategic plan provides a sound outline for important initiatives that I am anxious to lead as the College’s new chief academic officer.”

Prior to his appointment at City College, Lavallee was the Associate Provost at Hunter College for four and one-half years. Before that, he was a professor at Hunter College and a member of the graduate faculty in chemistry and biochemistry at City University of New York. Since 1980, he has been a research collaborator at Los Alamos and Brookhaven National Laboratories.

From 1972-1978, Lavallee was an assistant professor at Colorado State University. Prior to that he was a visiting faculty member at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Lavallee earned his doctoral and his master’s degrees at The University of Chicago. He holds a bachelor of science degree from St. Bonaventure University.

Lavallee will replace William W. Vasse who will retire in the summer of 1999 after serving 16 years as vice president of academic affairs at SUNY New Paltz.

There were 75 applicants for the position. A committee of 12 faculty and staff members and two students comprised the search committee. Earlier this month, three candidates were brought to the campus for two days each of interviews with faculty, staff and students representing all aspects of the College community.