President Harvey Stenger announces appointment of next provost for Binghamton University
Donald Hall will assume his provost duties in July
Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger is pleased to announce that Donald Hall has been appointed executive vice president for academic affairs and provost after a nationwide search. He will begin his new role July 1, 2022.
Hall joins Binghamton from the University of Rochester, where he serves as the Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Dean of Faculty of Arts, Sciences and Engineering (AS&E). He succeeds Donald Nieman, who is stepping down after 10 years and returning to a professor role in Harpur College.
As the executive dean of AS&E, a role Hall has held since 2018, he provides academic, administrative and financial leadership for the largest academic unit on campus, with seven deans and three directors reporting to him, as well as responsibility for 370+ tenure-track faculty, 700+ staff, 5,600 undergraduate students and 1,200 graduate students.
Before joining the University of Rochester, Hall was the Herbert and Ann Siegel Dean of the Arts and Sciences and professor of English at Lehigh University for seven years, overseeing 18 departments, 15 interdisciplinary programs and nine centers and institutes. Among his other positions, he was the Jackson Distinguished Professor of English at West Virginia University from 2004 to 2011, and also served as professor and department chair at West Virginia University and California State University, Northridge (CSUN).
His 30 years of public and private higher education experience includes diversification and internationalization efforts at multiple universities and active roles in creating and expanding multi-disciplinary, cross-college initiatives in areas including gender studies, sustainable development, community health and data sciences.
Hall’s self-proclaimed passion for internationalization started in high school and later led him to the Peace Corps, three Fulbright awards and teaching appointments worldwide. “My life was changed forever because of the experience of being outside of my cultural comfort zone,” said Hall. “I want all students to have the opportunity for similarly life-expanding (and career skills expanding) cross-cultural training.”
“I greatly appreciate the work done by the search committee, led by Vice President Karen Jones and Professor Barry Jones, to find exceptional candidates among a large, national pool of applicants. The committee’s work enabled the campus community and me to select Donald as our next provost,” said Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger. “Donald’s experience and leadership positions at renowned institutions are strengths that made him the clear choice. I look forward to working with him to continue our growth and progress as a premier public university.”
As chief academic officer, Hall will collaborate with other vice presidents and deans to build on the University’s strong foundation and to help articulate a vision for Binghamton’s academic future. He will provide intellectual leadership and support for the University’s faculty; support and strengthen the culture of genuine collaboration among faculty, administrative leadership and staff in the various parts of the University; and be a visible and inspiring presence to students.
He will also be responsible for curriculum, instruction and assessment; recruitment and admission initiatives; international student and scholar initiatives; the libraries; the Binghamton University Art Museum; the budgetary process; and, ultimately, students’ success.
“I am truly excited about joining the leadership team of Binghamton University,” Hall said. “Don Nieman has done incredible work over the past decade, and I look forward to partnering with President Stenger as Binghamton University continues its stellar upward trajectory. When visiting campus, I was deeply impressed with everyone’s commitment to students, research and the surrounding community. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I am honored to have been chosen as your next provost.”