SUNY Board of Trustees Approves the Appointment of Dr. Katherine P. Douglas as President of Corning Community College

Binghamton – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today approved the appointment of Dr. Katherine P. Douglas as president of Corning Community College (CCC), as previously approved by the Regional Board of Trustees at the college in February.

Dr. Douglas currently serves as vice president of Academic Affairs at Sussex County Community College in Newton, NJ. Her appointment is effective July 1, 2011.

“Dr. Douglas comes to SUNY with more than 30 years experience in community college teaching and administration,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “Her leadership is certain to serve SUNY, the Corning campus, and the local community well. It is my pleasure to welcome Dr. Douglas to the SUNY family and I thank the Board for confirming her appointment today.”

Board Chairman Carl T. Hayden said: “The Board is pleased to confirm Dr. Douglas’ appointment. We are most confident in her ability to lead the campus and look forward to working with her in the coming years. I would also like to sincerely thank Dr. Floyd F. Amann for a decade of exemplary service to the college, and for his years prior at Jamestown, Finger Lakes, and Monroe Community Colleges within SUNY.”

“I want to thank SUNY Chancellor Zimpher, Chairman Hayden, and members of the SUNY Board of Trustees for their support of my candidacy to serve as the sixth president of Corning Community College,” said Dr. Douglas. “I am humbled and honored to join the SUNY community of educators, scholars, and learners.

“Building upon the leadership and vision of current CCC President Dr. Amann and Thomas E. Blumer, chairman of CCC’s Regional Board of Trustees, our college is positioned well to meet the educational and workforce development needs of our students and region,” Dr. Douglas added. “I look forward to learning the people, programs, and culture at Corning Community College as we create the next chapter in our history."

"On behalf of the Corning Community College Regional Board of Trustees, I would like to extend our appreciation to members of the SUNY Senior Administration and Board of Trustees for endorsing the appointment of Dr. Katherine Douglas," said Chairman Blumer. "We look forward to working with Dr. Douglas in her new capacity."

The CCC Regional Board of Trustees conducted a national search to identify an individual to serve as president The search committee, which included representatives of all major college constituencies as well as stakeholders in the community, recommended three candidates to the Board of Trustees.

Following interviews with all three candidates, the Regional Board appointed Dr. Douglas as CCC president at an annual salary of $160,000. Dr. Douglas will reside in a campus-owned house and a car will also be provided. Her predecessor, Dr. Amann, Ph.D. has served as CCC’s president since May 2001.

About Dr. Katherine P. Douglas

Most recently, since 2008, Dr. Douglas was Vice President of Academic Affairs at Sussex County Community College in New Jersey, which institution serves over 4,000 students. She oversaw an annual budget of more than $15 million and was responsible for the faculty and staff in the academic divisions as well as in the library, learning center, media center, scheduling office, instructional design and two health science programs in collaboration with neighboring county colleges. Among her many other responsibilities, she chaired the development of and was responsible for the implementation of an academic master plan (2009-2014) which was tied to the college strategic plan and facilities master plan.

Previous to that position, Dr. Douglas was Dean of the Division of Social Sciences at Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts from 2005-2008. Some of her responsibilities included maintaining the academic integrity of the social science curricula through the recruitment, evaluation, retention, and development of faculty and she was charged with the development and maintenance of the quality of curriculum and programs of study in collaboration with the division faculty.

From 1978 to 2005, Dr. Douglas was at Greenfield Community College in Massachusetts. Beginning her career as an Associate Professor in Recreation and Leisure Studies, she rose through the ranks of academic leadership serving as Professor and Chair of the Outdoor Leadership Program (1991-1998), and Associate Dean in the Division of Behavioral Sciences (1998-2005).

In addition to her academic positions, Dr. Douglas served as an executive coach and training consultant. She was also a trainer and the founding partner of PlayWorks, which company, assessed, designed, and delivered action-learning programs for therapeutic, educational, and corporate clients.

Dr. Douglas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Leisure Studies and Services/Outdoor Education with a concentration in Sociology; a Masters of Education degree in the Education Policy, Research and Administration Program; and a Doctor of Education with a concentration in Community College Leadership. All her degrees are from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

About Corning Community College

Founded in 1956 by the Corning-Painted Post School District, CCC began modestly in a scattering of old buildings in the city of Corning. Today, it encompasses a 550-acre main campus on Spencer Hill with a complex of eight buildings and an observatory and planetarium. CCC also provides services at a variety of off-campus sites throughout Steuben, Chemung and Schuyler counties.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 467,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses with more than 2.5 million alumni around the globe. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu