M E M O R A N D U M

							June 15, 2011

To:		Members of the Board of Trustees

From:		Nancy L. Zimpher, Chancellor

Subject:	Appointment of Dr. Donald P. Christian as President at the State University of New York at New Paltz

	I recommend that the Board of Trustees adopt the following resolution:

Resolved that the appointment of Dr. Donald P. Christian as President of  the State University of  New York at New Paltz, at a State salary of $225,000 effective June 16, 2011, be and hereby is, approved.  Dr. Christian will reside in a campus owned house and be provided the use of a campus owned car.

Background

      I am pleased to recommend your approval of the appointment of Dr. Donald P. Christian as President of the State University of New York College at New Paltz effective June 16, 2011.  Dr. Christian has been serving as interim president since July 1, 2010, when Steven Poskanzer who had been serving as president since October, 2001 stepped down to assume the presidency of Carleton College.  
      
      After conducting a national search that attracted strong candidates, Dr. Christian was the overwhelming choice of the SUNY New Paltz Presidential Search Committee and Council.
      
	Dr. Christian will be provided College owned housing and will also have use of a campus-owned vehicle during the term of his presidency.

      Before assuming his position as Interim President, Dr. Christian was a highly respected member of the SUNY New Paltz community, serving, since 2009, as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor in the Department of Biology.  As Provost and Vice President, Christian served as the college’s chief academic officer, was a member of the President’s executive management team, and assumed the responsibilities of chief executive in the President’s absence.
      Prior to his arrival at New Paltz, Dr. Christian was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for five years.  As Dean, Christian led efforts at campus, state, and national levels to advance understanding of the value of a liberal education in a knowledge-driven 21st century society; strengthened student-faculty research programs; and supported projects to enhance equity and diversity on the campus.  Previously (1997-2004), he served as associate dean for the Biological Sciences at the University of Montana where he was also professor. Christian held many positions at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (1978-1997), including chair and professor in the Biology Department and director of graduate studies in the Biology Graduate Program. After completing his Ph. D. at Michigan State University in 1977, he worked there for one year as an instructor in the Department of Zoology and curator of mammals at the college’s museum.

	Dr. Christian received his bachelor of science with high honors in wildlife biology (1971), his masters from the department of zoology (1973), and ultimately his doctorate in zoology (1977) from Michigan State University.  He is the recipient of numerous awards, honors, research grants and contracts, and has published widely in various journals.

	A copy of Dr. Christian’s resume is attached.


Attachment



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Board Resolution		June 15, 2011