SUNY Board Appoints Presidents at SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton
April 3, 2014
Albany – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today installed new leadership at its Potsdam and Canton campuses, appointing Dr. Kristin Esterberg as president of SUNY Potsdam and Dr. Zvi Szafran as president of SUNY Canton.
Dr. Esterberg is currently the provost and academic vice president at Salem State University in Massachusetts. Dr. Szafran is currently the vice president for academic affairs at Southern Polytechnic State University in Georgia.
“With new presidents at SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton, the students, faculty, and staff at both campuses will have excellent leadership in place as they continue their impeccable service to New York’s North Country communities,” said SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall. “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Dr. Hefner and Dr. Hoffman for their interim leadership, and the presidential search committees at both campuses for bringing us this highly promising next generation.”
“This is an exciting and proud day for all of SUNY and New York State,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “Not only do Dr. Esterberg and Dr. Szafran each bring unique experience and an impressive history of leadership to SUNY; their appointments also pave the way for continued system-wide efficiency to be achieved through shared services. I look forward to working with Dr. Esterberg and Dr. Szafran, and commend the Board for recognizing their talent.”
Dr. Esterberg said, "SUNY Potsdam creates a rich and vibrant cultural life in the North Country, serving not only its students but the entire region. I am honored to be joining this talented community of students, faculty, and staff, and leading SUNY Potsdam into its bicentennial year and beyond."
Dr. Szafran said, “I’m very excited about SUNY Canton’s future. Their career-driven, hands-on mission is critical to America’s and New York’s growth, and they have an excellent strategic plan. I look forward to helping them achieve the success they deserve.”
About Dr. Kristin Esterberg
Dr. Esterberg is currently the provost and academic vice president at Salem State University. Previously, she served as the deputy provost, associate provost, chair of the Department of Sociology, and associate professor of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Dr. Esterberg received her Ph.D. and M.A. from the Cornell University in Sociology and her B.A. also in Philosophy and Political Science from Boston University.
Dr. Esterberg’s appointment is effective on or about July 1, at an annual salary of $215,000.
About Dr. Zvi Szafran
Dr. Szafran is currently the vice president for academic affairs and professor of chemistry at Southern Polytechnic State University in the University System of Georgia, a position he has held since 2005. From 1998-2005, he served as the vice president for academic affairs at New England College in New Hampshire. Previously, he held several positions at Merrimack College in Massachusetts, including dean of science and engineering, chairman of the chemistry department, assistant to the dean of arts and sciences, and professor. Dr. Szafran earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree, also in chemistry, from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Dr. Szafran’s appointment is effective on or about July 1, at an annual salary of $195,000.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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