The State University of New York Board of Trustees has appointed Harvey G. Stenger Jr. as the seventh president of Binghamton University, effective Jan. 1, 2012.
Since April 2011, Stenger has been the interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Buffalo, and his appointment to president followed the recommendation of Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher.
An Auburn, N.Y. native, Stenger earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University in 1979 and his doctorate in the same discipline from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983.
He was a professor at Lehigh University's College of Engineering and Applied Science, and served as dean there for six years. He also served terms as co-chair of the department of chemical engineering and director of the environmental studies center.
While serving as dean of Lehigh, the college launched an award-winning integrated product development program and expanded cooperative education programs. Stenger also oversaw the founding of the Pennsylvania Technology Alliance, which promotes economic and technology development. He has conducted research on hydrogen production, selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides, catalytic destruction of chlorinated hydrocarbons, mercury reaction pathways and fuel cell modeling and optimization.
Stenger began work in the administration at University of Buffalo in 2006 as dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Under his leadership, the program has significantly improved student quality and program rankings at the undergraduate and graduate levels. During his time as dean, the engineering faculty has also increased in size and quality, and the school has recruited two members of the National Academy of Engineering.
Stenger has also been the leader of the engineering school's ongoing $100 million capital campaign. So far, the campaign has generated support for the construction of a new 130,000-square-foot hall on campus. He also launched UB's new biomedical engineering program in partnership with UB's dean of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Stenger has also helped enhance the school's faculty and student diversity and expanded its international programs in India, France and Turkey.
In addition to being a member of the boards of the Buffalo-Area Engineering Awareness for Minorities and the UB Foundation, Stenger has been honored as a distinguished alumnus of Cornell University and received multiple teaching awards at Lehigh, including ones celebrating excellence in teaching and unusual promise of professional achievement. He has also been recognized at UB for his achievements in teaching, mentoring and public and professional service.
"Dr. Stenger is an excellent choice as president for Binghamton and I look forward to working with him in that role," said Carol Long, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Geneseo. "He is a calm and insightful leader who will provide strong vision for the institution and will contribute to the improvement of the SUNY system."υ