Christian Wilwohl to leave SUNY New Paltz after serving as director of study abroad since 2012

Dr. Christian Wilwohl, who has served as the SUNY New Paltz director of study abroad since 2012, has been appointed as dean of Global Education and senior international officer at Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island, effective July 1.

“Christian has provided exemplary leadership over the past eight years including a commitment to providing life-changing educational opportunities for students,” said Executive Director of International Programs Beth Vargas. “This was especially evident in the past few months as Christian and the Study Abroad staff responded to the challenges of the worldwide pandemic and supported New Paltz students returning to the United States. We wish him the best and look forward to his continuing contributions to international education.”

During his time at SUNY New Paltz, Christian has made many significant contributions to campus comprehensive internationalization initiatives and he has worked closely with New Paltz faculty to develop new study abroad programs.

Wilwohl played a key role in the collaboration between the Center for International Programs (CIP) and the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) that lead to the College being awarded the prestigious Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education in 2015. Administered by the Institute for International Education, the scholarship recognizes innovative programs in higher education that make study abroad accessible to a broader student population.

Most recently, Wilwohl ably coordinated campus efforts to facilitate the repatriation of the many New Paltz students studying abroad at the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Wilwohl has represented the Center for International Programs on the Faculty Senate, the Applied Learning Committee and with the Scholar’s Mentorship Program (SMP). He has served as a member of the steering committee of the SUNY Council on International Education and represented education abroad professionals on the New York -New Jersey regional team of NAFSA: The Association of International Educators.

In 2017, Wilwohl earned his doctorate in International Education from the University of Minnesota. He has proven adept at modifying study abroad best practices to apply to the New Paltz reality. His efforts have contributed to New Paltz’s reputation as leader in international education among SUNY campuses and as a model for public comprehensive universities.