Associate Vice President for Student Affairs announces retirement

Linda Eaton, associate vice president for Student Affairs at SUNY New Paltz, has announced her intention to retire at the end of June 2020. Eaton joined SUNY New Paltz as Associate Dean of Students in 1994 and served as Dean of Students from 1997 until 2014, when she was promoted to her current role at the College.

“I am both extraordinarily pleased for her and sad that we are losing her institutional knowledge, content expertise, exceptional judgment and passion for students and higher education,” said Stephanie Blaisdell, vice president for student affairs. “Her leadership in Student Affairs over the past 25 years is a remarkable legacy.”

As Associate Vice President, Eaton oversees Residence Life, Student Development, Student Activities and Union Services, the Career Resource Center, the Campus Media Center, the Dean of Students, the Disability Resource Center, and administrative support for the Student Association.

She spearheaded several major college initiatives including the Emerging Leaders Program, Co-Curricular Transcript, Living Learning Communities as well as the Student Affairs transfer student programs.  In addition, Eaton leads the division’s assessment strategy; co-authored the five-year, $625,000 Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) grant; co-authored the Performance Improvement Fund (PIF) grant “Stepping Into Diversity;” and created and led the division’s Belongingness initiative.

During her tenure, Eaton served as the Title IX Coordinator and Affirmative Action Officer, and served on the Strategic Planning and Assessment Committee, the Administrative Assessment Committee and volunteered as a Commencement marshal for the last 25 years.

Moreover, Eaton has been active in the community serving as a member and an officer in the Junior League of Kingston and as a board member for the Senate House in Kingston.  She has also served on the New Paltz Clean Sweep Committee and the Taste of New Paltz Committee.