Presidential Search

November 19, 2024

Dear Clarkson University Community,

When we kicked off our Presidential Search in mid-October, we mentioned that we would provide periodic updates on the process.  To date, the response has been strong and very supportive of the search process. 

Our search committee has received over 30 applications.  At this time, several of the applications have been reviewed by the full search committee and we have invited some of the candidates to the interview process.

We remain confident in our selection process and thank the trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumni representatives who are working tirelessly as members of the search committee.

Again, if you know someone who possesses the qualities and characteristics provided in our Presidential Search Document, please ask them to submit their application package.  Thus far in the process, our alumni and others have provided over 20 nominations but since we are running a confidential search it's most important that you reach out to your nominee directly and request them to submit their application package.  That package is the only way we can consider them in our process.

We plan to provide our next update early in the new year to share our progress and next steps in the process.

Thank you for your continued interest in the selection of the 19th President of Clarkson University. If you have any questions or information helpful to our search, please reach out to us at presidentialsearch@clarkson.edu.
 

Sincerely,

Nancy D. Reyda ’81
Chair of the Board of Trustees    

John S. Mengucci ‘84                                                                                            
Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees     
Chair, Presidential Search Committee 

Dear Clarkson Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and Friends, 

The Clarkson University Board of Trustees has officially launched the search for the institution’s 19th president since our founding in 1896. Our next leader will be a pivotal force in shaping the future of Clarkson, and we want to engage you in the search process. Informed by the strategic priorities for Clarkson and the current state of higher education across the country, we have created the imperatives the new president will be responsible to lead: 

• Implement and drive our core STEM mission to deliver on our commitment to our students.
• Judiciously steward and grow Clarkson's resource base to ensure financial sustainability.
• Bolster enrollment and retention with a clear articulation of Clarkson's value proposition.
• Shape a culture of leadership empowerment, inclusive collaboration, and continuous learning. 

We also strongly believe in the qualities and characteristics our next president should possess including:

• A deep commitment to Clarkson's legacy, STEM Mission, and core values.
• Successful experience as a compelling leader.
• A natural ability to shape culture and create an inclusive environment.
• Demonstrated experience shaping visionary strategy with a bias for action.
• Demonstrated financial management experience.
• Demonstrated development and advancement experience.
• Demonstrated experience building and sustaining external relationships.
• Unquestioned integrity, trustworthiness, judgment, and ethics. 

We have included the imperatives and the qualities and characteristics of the new President in a Presidential Search Document that can be found on this website. Inside that document, you will see that we are sharing with candidates a remarkable summary of the transformative power of the 'Clarkson Experience'—where hands-on learning and doing, STEM excellence, and a deeply supportive and highly personalized environment shapes future leaders; and the incredible accolades that each of you have been a part of building and sustaining for our University. 

A Presidential Search Committee has been formed under Trustee John Mengucci ‘84’s leadership, with members charged to ensure broad stakeholder representation as well uphold the Board of Trustees’ fiduciary responsibility to hire the President and govern the University. From the committee membership shared below, you will see the diverse industry experience and expertise of our alumni, and our current employees and students who are committed to diligently representing the greater campus and higher education community. 

• Doug Bohl P’23, Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Clarkson University
• Simoon L. Cannon ’97, Board of Trustees member, Founder & President of Melanina
• Lauretta M. Chrys ’98, Board of Trustees member, Executive Vice President and COO of Citizens Bank (Ret.)
• Miles R. Compani ’23, MS/PhD student in Engineering Science, Clarkson University
• Peter J. Devlin ’80, Board of Trustees member, President & CEO of Fish & Richardson (Ret.)
• David K. Heacock ’83, Board of Trustees member Acting Clarkson President Senior VP of Texas Instruments (Ret.)
• Jeff Ives, Vice President for Financial Affairs, Clarkson University
• Lisa M. Jeffers ’03, President of the Alumni Association Regulatory Affairs Senior Manager, Emergent BioSolutions
• Sanjeev R. Kulkarni ’84, Board of Trustees member, Professor of Electrical Engineering & Past Dean of the Faculty, Princeton University
• Meilin Z. Lamanna ’26, Bachelor of Science student in Electrical Engineering with Power Concentration, Cross Country Athlete
• John S. Mengucci ‘84, Vice Chair of Board of Trustees, President & CEO, CACI International
• Kelsey M. Pearson, Dean of Students, Clarkson University
• Nancy D. Reyda ’81, Chair of Board of Trustees, Managing Director & COO of Global Operations and Technology, Bank of NY Mellon (Ret.)
• Devon Shipp, Professor of Chemistry & Director of the Center for Advanced Materials Processing, Clarkson University
• Jean E. Spence ’79, Board of Trustees member, Executive Vice President of Mondelez International (Ret.) 

We intend to issue an external press release and post the position on The Chronicle of Higher Education website and other such professional career search websites. We are asking all of you to consider how you can deploy your personal and professional networks to promote this job opportunity and to encourage qualified individuals to apply. Although we intend to complete the search process no later than March 30, 2025, the timeline is not fixed because we will evaluate candidates as they emerge on individual paths and we will close the search at any time when the Board, on advice from the Search Committee, believes we have found the next President of the University and have approved the appointment. We intend to maintain utmost confidentiality throughout the process. 

For members of the faculty and administration we will update you on a regular basis via this website and through a number of engagement sessions being planned.  For the alumni, friends and the greater Clarkson community, we will update you on a regular basis via this website. We encourage you to share questions regarding the search or this communication – as well as nominations and applications -- to presidentialsearch@clarkson.edu. Thank you for your support of this important process.

Nancy D. Reyda ’81
Chair of the Board of Trustees    

John S. Mengucci ‘84                                                                                            
Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees                                                                                    
Chair, Presidential Search Committee

In collaboration with faculty, staff, students, alumni and the Board, the next president will harness and drive our core STEM mission in new and exciting ways to attract and retain students who value the unique Clarkson Experience and the rewards it brings. Clarkson's STEM education is a method of hands-on teaching where students learn to apply academic content in engineering, applied sciences, health sciences and business by creatively solving real world problems through innovative, design-based "learning and doing." To enhance the academic distinction and national reputation of the University, the president will champion the holistic view of Clarkson’s practical STEM education and our students’ “learning and doing" experience across all schools within Clarkson, preparing them for ever-changing workforce requirements. The president will also continue to advance Clarkson’s agenda as a nationally ranked research institution by empowering research and scholarship activity across the University, thus promoting Clarkson’s distinct experiences of learning and discovery for all students. Finally, the president will respond to the opportunities and challenges in higher educaion by building on Clarkson’s existing strengths to evolve in new directions and continue to deliver on Clarkson's STEM mission in engineering, applied sciences, health sciences and business while remaining faithful to Clarkson's institutional legacy and core values.

The president is charged with managing financial resources effectively and efficiently and providing leadership in the face of competing financial priorities and a challenging market. The president must ensure that Clarkson is sufficiently resourced into the future, ensuring both near-term and long-term fiscal health and sustainability. The president will possess a growth mindset and a proven fundraising track record. The president will secure and strengthen current and future sources of revenue, match donor interests with strategic goals, lead major fundraising efforts, and cultivate a culture of philanthropy within the Clarkson community to grow both annual giving and the endowment. The president will also work with external constituents at the local, state, and federal levels to generate the resources required to achieve the University’s goals. A comprehensive capital campaign is on the horizon, and the president will collaborate with the Board to begin that process and link it to the strategic vision for Clarkson’s future.

Clarkson delivers a high-quality education with a highly personalized experience that results in an excellent return on investment for our students and their families. The president will leverage the University community — Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni, and the Board — to broadly champion this distinctive value proposition to solidify Clarkson’s brand recognition as a premier STEM institution and drive enrollment growth across the University including the Schools of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Health and Life Sciences, and Business. The president will enhance the external reputation of the University and embrace the fact that enrollment management is a cornerstone of ensuring Clarkson’s financial health and sustainability and will be a central consideration as the president establishes the institution’s strategic and operational priorities.
 

Clarkson runs lean and prides itself on a humble and strong work ethic shared by faculty, staff, and senior leaders, consistent with our motto, “A workman that needeth not to be ashamed”. The president will attract and retain top talent that can lead change and will empower the leadership capabilities of the Cabinet, faculty, staff and the entire Clarkson community. The president will intentionally shape the broader institutional culture, inspiring employee values and morale, empowering leadership, expecting collaboration, and ensuring that the Clarkson community maintains a spirit of humility and continuous learning both inside and outside of the classroom. The President will create a sense of belonging for all students, faculty, and staff regardless of background, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. The president will establish a compelling strategic direction, lead with clear communication, and empower with strong delegation and performance accountability. The president will have a natural ability to lead the hearts and minds of the Clarkson University community as well as purposefully develop future leaders through leadership training/development opportunities.

Clarkson is ranked as a Top-Tier National University by U.S. News & World Report, America’s Best Colleges.

Clarkson in Top 150 Best Colleges and Top 40 Best Salaries in Wall Street Journal.

Clarkson has produced 45 Goldwater Scholars since program began in 1989, including a 22 consecutive year record of Goldwater winners.

Clarkson boasts 18 Fulbright Scholar awardees in the last decade.

The Brookings Institute named Clarkson one of the top 10 universities in the nation for enhancing graduates’ salaries; a Clarkson degree increased expected salaries by 42%.

Clarkson alumni salaries rank in the top 2% of salaries in the United States, according to PayScale College Salary Report.

Clarkson is recognized as one of 25 universities with the highest paid graduates in the Money & Career Cheat Sheet.

Clarkson is ranked by The Princeton Review as a Best Value College.

Clarkson is rated among the Top 40 Best Value Schools in U.S. News & World Report, America’s Best Colleges.

Clarkson is recognized as one of the Best Colleges for Veterans in U.S. News & World Report, America’s Best Colleges.

Clarkson is ranked in the top 50 for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs by The Princeton Review.

New York Times rankings put Clarkson in top 10 in the U.S. for STEM institutions with high academic profile, best earnings, economic mobility, safety, and vibrant recreation.

The alumni community is 46,000+ strong and resides in 87 countries around the world. Clarkson’s global reach extends even further through the activities within its schools and its ROTC command, as well as through more than 50 international university exchange partners.

Founded in 1896 to honor Thomas S. Clarkson, a pioneering entrepreneur and humanitarian, Clarkson today is a private, national research university in upstate New York known for giving students a great return on their investment through our core STEM mission. Across our close-knit University community, we ignite connections across disciplines, innovate real-world solutions, and empower our students to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Clarkson is the institution of choice for more than 4,000+ enterprising, high-ability undergraduate and graduate learners and doers pursuing world-relevant degrees in 75+ rigorous academic programs of study designed to ignite leadership and future-focus. University outreach through executive education, industry-relevant credentials and K-12 STEM initiatives impact an additional 3,000+ students every year.

With our core mission in STEM, Clarkson faculty are on the leading edge of research with international relevance and have a critical mass of talent in signature research areas that include healthy world solutions, advanced materials development, data and complex systems analytics-enabled discovery, and next-generation healthcare technologies.

Across the institution, all employees and students develop close mentoring relationships and make lifelong connections that guide personal and career success. Through highly personalized advising, all students pursue an academic program and co-curricular experience that ignites their personal purpose and passion.

Clarkson produces remarkably effective engineers, scientists, health professionals, and business leaders who easily engage in what’s next. Clarkson does this by creating an exceptionally demanding, boundary-spanning experience in an entrepreneurial community known for its core values, technology-intensive resources, and appreciation for stewarding their global habitats, like the Adirondack Park just beyond the University’s doorstep, which is full of research and recreation opportunities alike.

With the Golden Knight as the University mascot, students quickly integrate academics and research with their social lives through 200+ campus clubs, fraternities and sororities, D-I and D-III sports, project competition teams and community service initiatives. This all-in education results in graduates who earn salaries that are among the top 2% in the nation and who realize accelerated career growth. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, senior executive, or owner of a company.

Clarkson understands that new technologies, emerging fields and expanding career opportunities require new approaches to learning. That is why Clarkson students are grounded in the fundamentals that employers value but also learn how to successfully manage the unique challenges of today’s complex, STEM-driven world with the Clarkson Common Experience integrating arts, technology, and culture into classroom objectives.

Through forward-thinking integration of innovation resources across the Clarkson community, Clarkson Ignite is the University’s call to action to collide disciplines, spark intellectual curiosity, and take on real-world industry and marketplace challenges. In this framework, students, as well as faculty, sharpen their entrepreneurial mindset, skill sets, and experiences and transfer them to future careers and research innovations in the rapidly evolving economy.

The main campus is in Potsdam, New York, with additional graduate programs and administrative satellites in New York’s Capital Region. Industry-relevant graduate programs are also offered online. Clarkson’s global reach extends further through the
activities within its schools and ROTC command; more than 50 international university exchange partners; and over 380 active partners in industry, government agencies, chambers of commerce, research organizations, and more.

Relationships with our extensive and engaged network of 46,000+ alumni across 87 countries worldwide allow our students access to superb internships and professional opportunities.

Locations
Main campus in Potsdam, New York, and hubs for graduate programs and research in New York’s Capital Region and with partners across the Northeast. Certificate programs, executive education, industry-relevant workforce credentials and graduate courses are also taught online.

Main Campus
640 wooded acres in Potsdam, New York, adjacent to the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park

Acting President & Trustee
David K. Heacock ’83, July 2024 –

Programs of Study
75+ undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs in engineering, business, sciences and health professions

Degrees Granted
Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Professional Studies, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Physical Therapy

Enrollment
4,000+ undergraduates and graduate students from 42 states and 61 countries

Education Outreach
3,000+ students annually through executive education, industry-relevant credentials and K-12 STEM programs

Undergraduate Admission Profile
50% in the top 10% of high school graduating class

Study Abroad
50+ study abroad partner universities in 24 countries

Endowment
>$200 million

Faculty & Staff
~750

Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1

International Students
518 total international students from 62 countries; 188 new international students

Athletics
Division I ice hockey (men’s and women’s); 18 Division III sports; 38 intramural sports

Fraternities & Sororities
11 national, one local

Extracurricular
200+ clubs and professional societies; numerous competitive design teams; collaboration hubs to ideate and start new ventures; and industry-relevant credentials

Consistent with the Clarkson founders’ vision to always seek out the real needs of the American people, University faculty and staff prepare students to lead with confidence across academic disciplines, industries, and cultures. From research to commercial innovation elevated by our core STEM mission, Clarkson demands solution-oriented thinking, challenging the status quo and leveraging the combined ingenuity of interdisciplinary teams to create real impact, relevant innovations, and enduring value in the world.

Under the direction of a Dean’s Council, Clarkson’s major academic units are the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health and Life Sciences, the David D. Reh School of Business, and the Graduate School. Through The Clarkson School, we offer a unique academy for high school-aged students who begin college early. Additional units include the Honors Program, the Institute for a Sustainable Environment, the Institute for STEM Education, and other Signature Programs, which support key interdisciplinary research areas, educational programs, and public outreach. Sponsored Research Services oversees a $20+ million portfolio of contracts.

In today’s economy, companies must move faster than ever. Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences faculty and grads are in high demand as the engineers and scientists who can conceive, design, manufacture, and rapidly bring to market the products and solutions that address today’s toughest challenges and most exciting business opportunities.

At Clarkson, we recognize that engineering and applied sciences are major drivers of economic and societal change. We also recognize that engineers and scientists
don’t work in isolation. That is why our education goes well beyond the technical strengths of our engineering and applied science bachelor’s degree programs. Representing 67% of all student enrollment (1,538 undergraduates and 397 graduate students), the Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has 149 faculty and staff in the departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics.

Faculty and students also participate in the interdisciplinary Engineering and Management, Software Engineering, and undergraduate interdisciplinary minors.

STEM Learning is a Team Sport

Motivated by the University’s largest targeted financial commitment from technological entrepreneurs Ken ’71 and Grace Solinsky, “Let’s Go Tech” takes on a new meaning as the University joins forces to invest $80 million to advance Clarkson engineering and STEM at large.

“In order for innovation to flourish, you have to create an environment where people feel empowered, where they can express ideas and have the freedom to move fast.”
Innovator and Entrepreneur Ken Solinsky ’71
Founder of Insight Technology, Envision Technology and Onpoint Systems

Producing highly successful engineers has been a Clarkson hallmark for more than 125 years. Students gain the fundamental knowledge and hands-on experience they need to start their STEM careers along with the work ethic, grit, and drive that propels their lifelong success.

• Named among Top 10 Best Colleges for Producing Engineers by Industry Week
• Ranked Among the Best Global Universities for Engineering, U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges
• One of the Top 10 Engineering Colleges in the U.S., USA Today
• Clarkson named One of the Top 25 STEM Colleges, Forbes
• Among the Best Colleges for Engineering in America, Niche

Learn more about STEM Learning as a Team Sport

SPEED: The Ultimate Way to ‘Learn and Do’

Clarkson offers many ways to put learning into practice. One of the most fun and exhilarating is our Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design (SPEED) program. Every year, hundreds of Clarkson students — from all majors — join one of 13 SPEED teams to put their skills to the test. From concept to completion, teams dream, design, and build projects ranging from a concrete canoe to a human-powered vehicle. And they do it all on a deadline, racing to compete against other colleges and universities, both regionally and nationally.

Clarkson SPEED Teams include:

• Baja SAE
• Chem-E Car
• Concrete Canoe
• Construction Management
• Design, Build, Fly
• Formula SAE
• Formula SAE Electric
• Human-Powered Vehicle
• Rocketry Club
• SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge
• Steel Bridge
• Timber Bridge
• Underwater Robotics 

America’s Corporate Partner University™

Clarkson has partnered with some of the nation’s most prominent industry players. This list grows exponentially alongside our expanding geographic footprint and creates a remarkable professional network.

Internships bring classroom learning into the workplace. Clarkson students are highly sought after for paid intern positions at:

• New York Power Authority
• IBM
• Amphenol Aerospace
• Trane
• Estée Lauder
• Atlantic Testing
• Ensign-Bickford Aerospace and Defense Company
• Inficon
• Google
• National Grid

Co-ops provide valuable work experience through paid, full-time employment over the course of a semester. Students have worked for the following example organizations:

• 3M
• Lockheed Martin
• General Dynamics
• U.S. Department of Defense
• GlobalFoundries
• Tesla
• Regeneron
• Pharmaceuticals
• ExxonMobil
• L’Oréal
• Procter & Gamble

Clarkson is a national leader in preparing highly trained healthcare professionals to meet rural and distance-challenged healthcare environments through a growing portfolio of programs that advance careers, access, innovation, and ethics.

The Lewis School currently consists of graduate-level programs in occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, and physical therapy and partners with the Reh School of Business on innovative master’s programs in healthcare analytics and healthcare management. For undergraduate programs, the Lewis School offers degrees in healthcare, psychology, and biology and has specialized advising tracks for students who want to pursue advanced degrees in specialized medical fields, dental, veterinarian, chiropractic, optometry, pharmacy, or public health, as well as seek direct entry into Clarkson’s graduate programs.

The Lewis School comprises 68 faculty and staff, 32 students per program cohort and approximately 332 students. The Lewis School also offers Emergency Medical Services (EMS) education and training and a Paramedic program.

STEM Serves Communities

With a commitment to the greater regional community, the Lewis School of Health and Life Sciences has developed many of its programs with a special emphasis on rural health and providing healthcare in distance-challenged environments. Physically located in downtown Potsdam, its hands-on teaching laboratories, simulation labs, and offices are just a short distance from the University’s main campus and in close proximity to the regional hospital and its offices.

Students gain hands-on experience by:

• Working with individuals who sustain farming or industrial injuries.
• Serving highly competitive athletes who use Lake Placid’s Olympic facilities less than 90 minutes from our campus.
• Providing services on the territories of the nearby St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.
• Embracing unique military experiences with Fort Drum, home of the 10th Mountain Division for the U.S. Army, which has nearly 15,000 military service members and about 3,700 civilian personnel on base.

We are a national leader in preparing highly trained healthcare professionals. Accolades include:

• Among the Best Health Professions Schools, College Factual
• Among the Best Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy Programs in the Country, U.S. News & World Report, Best Graduate Schools

Learn More about the Lewis School

The Reh School of Business combines scholarly research and teaching to create and advance knowledge at the intersection of business, STEM, and society. With 43 faculty and staff supporting 398 undergraduates and 218 graduate students, the Reh School focuses on areas that span traditional boundaries: global supply chain management; innovation and entrepreneurship; financial information and analysis; business analytics; and healthcare management. The engineering and management program, which is among a limited number of programs in the world that enjoys dual accreditation by both engineering and business agencies, is also administered from the Reh School with close alignment to the Coulter School.

All Reh students start their own businesses as first-year students, engage in an international experience, and develop expertise in traditional business disciplines — accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management, operations, and data analytics — and then clearly see how they fit together.

STEM Means Business

At Clarkson, STEM catalyzes innovation and learning across all disciplines. And at the Reh School, STEM means more than just a designation of programs. Clarkson’s business programs are designed with the same STEM mindset as the corporate partners who recruit Clarkson students for industry-relevant careers that deliver an unparalleled ROI. Now, more than ever, this academic focus encapsulates the dynamic synergy between STEM and the business world.

Clarkson students engage in an innovative curriculum that bridges the gap between technical expertise and strategic business acumen. The intersection of these disciplines propels graduates toward future careers that meld technology and business. From high-tech manufacturing and data analytics to artificial intelligence and sustainability, Clarkson cultivates a mindset where STEM isn’t just a field of study but a powerful tool for shaping the future of business. Simply put: At Clarkson, STEM means business.

• Among the Best Undergraduate Business Programs, U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges
• One of the Best Online MBA Programs in the Nation, U.S. News & World Report
• One of the Top 25 in Supply Chain Management/Logistics Programs in the Nation, U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges
• Top 25 Engineering and Management Program in the Country, GreatBusinessSchools.org

Learn more about STEM means business

Clarkson’s Signature Programs are a consortium of impactful campus-wide initiatives centered on hands-on learning, research, and the student experience.

The Honors Program takes the undergraduate experience to an entirely new level. Clarkson is well-known for its hands-on, problem-based curriculum and the Honors Program provides even more opportunities to conduct original research or independent projects in its innovative summer research program and intensive capstones.

The Clarkson School is a selective early-college program for talented and motivated high school students who enroll as first-year university students at Clarkson. Taking the same courses as undergraduates and accessing all support services, clubs, and activities, “Schoolies” live in a special living-learning community that provides additional support for personal growth, academic achievement, and professional development.

Clarkson’s Institute for STEM Education conducts formal and informal educational outreach from K-12 through graduate students, pedagogical research, and the scholarship of teaching and learning, as well as through the recruitment and retention — and persistence — of STEM students.

Clarkson’s Institute for a Sustainable Environment (ISE) drives campus-wide environmental education, sustainability efforts, and collaborative research initiatives. The Institute also supports Clarkson’s significant resources focused on managing pollution and measuring contaminant concentrations. This includes the Center for Air and Aquatic Resources Engineering and Sciences (CAARES), which brings together expertise focused on environmental sampling and analysis, receptor modeling, analytical chemistry, atmospheric deposition, and the application of experimental and computational fluid dynamics to pollution problems.

Clarkson Ignite is an office dedicated to innovation, collaboration and supporting hands- on work in the Dorf Makerspace, the Makers’ Loft, and the Cube. Ignite facilitates and supports the Annual President’s Challenge, in which the University
President chooses a real-world issue or opportunity and challenges the Clarkson community to create something to address it. Think. Make. Ignite.

Faculty and staff in the Department of Arts, Culture, and Technology play an integral role in each student’s leadership development, recognizing how these fields intersect with STEM to power society’s collective advancements. Many department members also underpin the Clarkson Common Experience curriculum which covers contemporary and global Issues; cultures and society; imaginative arts; science, technology, and society; economics and organizations; and individual and group behavior.

Several academic research centers further leverage the University’s scholarly strengths. The Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP), a New York State Center for Advanced Technology, contains state-of-the-art research laboratories that enable faculty to pursue cutting-edge research and are accessible to undergraduate and graduate students for collaborative projects. Known as a global leader in chemical mechanical planarization innovation, Clarkson has been a major player in New York’s investments to attract the semiconductor industry.

The Center for Rehabilitation Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST) serves to integrate biomedical engineering and science with assistive and adaptive technologies and physical therapy to improve lives affected by disease or injury.

Clarkson University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) co-lead the New York State Center of Excellence (CoE) in Healthy Water Solutions to deliver synergistic problem-solving on the wide range of water issues impacting the Empire State.

As a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center, the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) serves its affiliates in the areas of biometric identification and credibility assessment technology through an interdisciplinary group of faculty, researchers, and students.

The Clarkson Center for Complex Systems Science (C3S2) identifies and builds understanding of causality in large-scale systems, as well as the hierarchical interactions, patterns, and scaling of system components across a variety of fields, such
as brain science, insect swarming, social science, and fluid dynamics.

ROTC
Clarkson is the home for Air Force and Army ROTC cadets. Students from St. Lawrence University, SUNY Potsdam, and SUNY Canton can also participate through Clarkson’s network.

Retention
Clarkson’s first-to-second-year retention rate is 85.4%, which is well above the norm for New York state. In addition, Clarkson’s graduation rate is 77.8% for students who completed their bachelor’s within six years, 72.8% for those in five years, and 64.2% for those in four years. Some adjustments to this figure are made for The Clarkson School, our early-college academy, where some students complete their junior and/or senior years of high school taking college courses and where not all students expect to remain at Clarkson for all four years.

At the heart of educating each student are our fundamental goals, vision and values that differentiate Clarkson graduates around the globe — first as students, then as young professionals in a highly competitive marketplace, and ultimately as CEOs, company owners and leaders with proven career and life success, along with remarkable mobility.

Clarkson Return on Investment

Class of 2023 four-year degree graduates report starting salaries upward of $100,000 with an average early career salary of $82,900.

100% of students complete an internship, capstone project, co-op, or research experience.

19,000+ jobs posted in Clarkson’s Career Center portal.

Median salary for alumni with 10+ years’ experience is $161,500.

98% of students have a career in their chosen field within six months of graduation.

4,300+ internship and co-op opportunities.

400+ companies come to Clarkson each semester, all vying to hire our students for
internships, co-ops, and full-time positions.

20% of the Class of 2023 went on to graduate school or enlisted in the military.

Accreditation

Clarkson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

The undergraduate programs in aerospace, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, engineering and management, environmental, mechanical, and software engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Students who have completed at least three years toward a bachelor’s degree in engineering are eligible to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination toward licensure as professional engineers.

The entry-level doctor of physical therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The Accreditation Review Committee (ARC-PA) on Education for the Physician Assistant has granted continuing Accreditation to the physician assistant studies program. The occupational therapy program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

The David D. Reh School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), an internationally recognized accrediting agency for graduate and undergraduate programs in business administration. The undergraduate engineering and management program in the Reh School of Business is also accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

In addition, the University and its curricula are approved by the New York State Board of Regents. All Clarkson degree programs are approved by the New York State Division of Veterans Affairs for the training of veterans and other eligible persons.

Annual Operating Budget: $106 million
Endowment Market Value: >$200 million
Long-Term Debt: $75 million
Bond Ratings (Moody’s): Baa1

As a tuition-dependent University, Clarkson relies on its donors and corporate partners to fund current needs and to ensure the continued growth and long-term financial viability of the institution. In the last decade, Clarkson has raised over $230 million
from over 60,000 donors. More than $50 million went directly to scholarship support and $180 million for capital projects including major additions to the Cheel Campus Center and Arena, Innovation Hub, and future renovations of the STEM Integrated Complex.

Clarkson will kick off a new Capital Campaign in the near future, spurred by the Solinsky Engineering Leadership Challenge, bolstering the efforts of our robust development programs that include:

• The Clarkson Fund Annual Giving Program that provides merit- and need-based scholarships in which 96% of students receive financial aid — 3,615 donors in FY24
• Faculty and Staff Campaign
• Reunion Giving
• Share Clarkson Direct Scholarship Endowments
• Athletic and Student Clubs Giving Days — over $300,000 raised from 3,500 donors in FY24
• Leadership Giving
• Planned Giving and Endowments through the Annie Clarkson Society — 600 members
• Student Phonathon connects students with alumni donors

Ken ’71 & Grace Solinsky Engineering Leadership Challenge Is the Largest Philanthropic Commitment in Clarkson University History

A $32 Million Financial Commitment to Engineering That Challenges Others to Step Forward

Ken and Grace Solinsky have made the largest single targeted financial commitment in Clarkson University’s history through the Ken & Grace Solinsky Engineering Leadership Challenge, a landmark $32 million financial commitment to advance engineering education at Clarkson University.

The Solinskys’ generous financial commitment positions Clarkson to lead the nation in preparing engineering graduates for global challenges and elevating advanced manufacturing, which is central to the engineering profession and critical to the health and security of the American economy. Key components of the agreement are a set of mutually agreed goals. These include a systematic way of credentialing students in fundamental skills that cannot be taught within existing, constrained curricula; and a renewed emphasis on advanced manufacturing technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, product design, and project management.

As part of their continuing engagement with the University, the Solinskys are challenging the University and other stakeholders to match their investment by supporting a portfolio of programs to advance the reputation of the institution, the technical and business acumen and entrepreneurial mindset of our students, and the expansion of our facilities to support state-of-the-art engineering education and advanced manufacturing solutions.

The transformative gift from Ken and Grace Solinsky reinvigorates Clarkson’s commitment to meet industry demands in the way that Clarkson educates and prepares graduates for the workforce, and it further recognizes the national need to educate students to enhance U.S. capabilities in a highly competitive world.

Legacy Builders

Each of the University’s named schools is a testament to the power of philanthropy and the enduring commitment of Clarkson’s community to foster a future of excellence, innovation, and leadership.

The support and vision of donors have been instrumental in building and sustaining these schools, ensuring that Clarkson remains at the forefront of cutting- edge research, state-of-the-art facilities, and transformative learning experiences.

“By ensuring resources in the health sciences for expanded educational offerings and practical research at the University, we can leverage Clarkson’s location and leadership in the North Country to continue producing health professionals whose education spans all boundaries.” 
– Earl R. Lewis

In 2019, through a transformational gift from Earl R. ’66 and Barbara D. Lewis, Clarkson established the Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health and Life Sciences for its growing portfolio of programs, assuring the highest quality education for students to advance careers, research, and innovation with an emphasis on meeting rural and distance-challenged healthcare needs.

While business interests take them all over the world, the Lewises regularly come home to Barbara’s family farm in Fort Covington and functions at Clarkson. Their acute desire to increase quality healthcare to the region began when a beloved family member was given a short life expectancy following a diagnosis of heart failure and sent home to live her final days. Through diligent advocacy and intervention from their son, a cardiologist in Boston, they found a solution to prolong her life, and she went on to enjoy her life in the North Country for many more years.

This experience became the impetus for the couple and their family to engage in Clarkson’s health sciences programs and raised their awareness of rural healthcare challenges.

In 2017, Clarkson celebrated the dedication of the David D. Reh School of Business. David D. Reh ’62, H’17 was a successful business leader and entrepreneur who had a transformative impact on the University through his vision, leadership, and generous financial support. His wife, Sue Reh, honors her late husband through her continuous support of Clarkson students and the Reh School.

In 2002, Clarkson announced that the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation had made a $30 million philanthropic gift to the University to support the ongoing excellence in its engineering and science programs. The gift honors the late Wallace H. Coulter, a past trustee and research partner of the University, and reinforces a theme he embraced: “Technology Serving Humanity.”

The Clarkson Golden Knights compete in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports — at the NCAA Division I level in men’s and women’s hockey in the highly competitive Eastern College Athletic Conference (Brown, Clarkson, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Quinnipiac, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Union and Yale) and at the NCAA Division III/USCSA level in 18 other sports. Based on our historical presence as an ice hockey powerhouse, Clarkson is one of only a few institutions in the country allowed by the NCAA to let students compete in both levels of play. The Golden Knights women’s ice hockey team has won three D-I national championships in the last nine years. The men’s team has had a storied legacy in the sport since 1919. Led by a pep band that is the envy of our competitors, both teams enjoy a great fan following in Cheel Arena at home games — and on road trips, they often feel a sense of home-ice advantage because of the number of students and alumni that turn out for away games.

In keeping with our winter climate during the academic year, the Alpine and Nordic ski teams have also enjoyed much recent success. Other sports offered include baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, softball and volleyball. Our volleyball team has been to the NCAAs 11 out of the past 15 years and reached the Elite 8 in five of those years. Of our 450 student-athletes, 400 compete at the Division III level, with over 75% of those teams advancing to post-season play. The high level at which our students compete is consistent with their dedication to their studies. The overall student-athlete GPA is 3.4 — significantly above that of the general student population.

All students are encouraged to participate in robust intramural leagues and recreational activities, and most facilities and fitness classes are available to faculty and staff as well. Clarkson’s main location in Potsdam provides students with a wide array of outdoor sporting opportunities, including individual and team challenges. The ROTC program’s challenge course and the Munter Trails also intertwine with community recreation systems.

Clarkson’s main campus is located in Potsdam, New York, on the historic 640 acre wooded homestead of the Clarkson family in the foothills of the Adirondacks. With roughly 15,000+ year-round residents, the Village of Potsdam presents the classic college experience intertwined with adventure, innovation, and entrepreneurship. While the Adirondacks are in our backyard, our campus brings the exploration and exhilaration close to you through three miles of trails for biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing through the woods and past wetlands. As we’re located on the banks of the Raquette River, we have our own canoeing launch point for exploring on the water. Potsdam is also home to various shopping and dining experiences and an active downtown corridor. As another major employer and location for Clarkson internships and cooperative education experiences, Canton-Potsdam Hospital (CPH), an affiliate of Rochester Regional Health, is a 94-bed facility with core programs in emergency medicine, acute care, hospitalist medicine, and critical care supplemented by outpatient health services throughout the region.

With three other universities in the immediate region (SUNY Potsdam, St. Lawrence University, and SUNY Canton), Potsdam is truly “a college town.” Through the Associated Colleges of St. Lawrence County network, students can cross-register for classes at these same institutions. The Village of Potsdam was the 2019 recipient of a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Grant from New York state. Its tree-lined streets and historic red sandstone buildings contain an array of modern stores and restaurants. Clarkson and SUNY Potsdam are within walking distance of one another. Among the Village’s outstanding cultural features is The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, which offers extraordinary vocal and instrumental performances and concerts by world-class musicians.

Just an hour and a half from Clarkson is Lake Placid, a year-round resort town with all kinds of entertainment, shopping, dining, and recreation. This famed Olympic site in the Adirondack mountains offers not only a spectacular setting and world-class sporting events, but also a variety of unique experiences like wheeled bobsled rides, views from atop a former Olympic ski jump and a wheelchair- accessible elevator to the summit of Whiteface Mountain. Having hosted the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid is renowned for winter sports. Clarkson took a major role in the region’s preparations to host the International Children’s Games in 2019 and as a hockey venue for the 2023 Winter World University Games.

As the home mountain for Clarkson’s ski teams, the downhill skiing at nearby Whiteface Mountain is unrivaled in the East. There is regular round-trip transportation to Whiteface, as well as family-friendly skiing hills at Titus Mountain just outside Malone, New York, plus numerous groomed cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails near campus.

The international Olympic flavor permeates the whole region. Olympic year-round training sites include not only the towering ski jump, but also the luge, speed skating, biathlon, and bobsled facilities. Recreational opportunities abound throughout the year, ranging from golf, tennis, horseback riding, hiking, white water rafting, biking, and sailing amid mountain splendor. Hiking trails abound; many faculty, staff, and students become “46ers” after climbing all 46 peaks in the region. Caves that are hidden throughout the Adirondacks wait to be explored. The numerous lakes and rivers of the North Country offer kayaking, fishing, and other rafting action, as well as scuba diving and boat tours to see the shipwrecks and old forts from the War of 1812 in several waterways.

Two of Canada’s major cities are within a two-hour drive of the University. French speaking Montreal, famed for the multicultural cuisine of its ethnically diverse restaurants and the glitter of its nightlife, is one of North America’s most cosmopolitan and sophisticated cities. The city’s urban environment offers unique francophone experiences, including the charms of “Old Montreal” with echoes of 400 years of history. Destinations include the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Place des Arts, and Montreal Canadiens hockey games, as well as performances in the arts and entertainment fields.

Ottawa, Canada’s capital, offers world-class cultural attractions, including the National Arts Centre, National Gallery of Canada, Museum of Civilization, Canada Science and Technology Museum, Canadian Museum of Nature and Parliament Hill, and A-list musical and stage performances. It is also home to the Ottawa Senators. A favorite local tradition shared by Clarkson students is skating on the famous Rideau Canal, which runs for miles through the city.

Capital Region Campus

Clarkson’s Capital Region Campus was established in 2016 when the University acquired Union Graduate College. This satellite expanded opportunities for graduate and professional programs and serves as a hub for the University’s graduate admissions and recruiting, as well as several offices. Centrally located to many of Clarkson’s corporate partners for research, graduate education, talent development, and alumni networking, the campus also affords convenient transportation via train, air, and automobile interstates. The Capital Region Campus is less than 15 minutes from the state capital in Albany and less than three hours from New York City, Syracuse, and Boston.

The University’s ties to New York state run deep. As a British citizen representing the crown, Matthew Clarkson came to America in 1685, and, in 1691, he assumed the duties of secretary of the Colony of New York as granted to him by King William III. While the Clarkson family had considerable means, they exemplified the new American work ethic and started a legacy that all the sons would learn a trade. Subsequent generations of Clarkson family members living in the colonies went on to favor American independence. Following the Revolutionary War, the Clarksons acquired a large tract of land in Potsdam in 1804 and were among the early European settlers in this part of New York.

Thomas S. Clarkson and his brother, Levinus, ran the family’s farm, where the main Clarkson campus is now located, until Levinus’ death. Thomas S. Clarkson also engaged in other business endeavors in Potsdam and the North Country region, including developing the first local electrical power plants, post-Civil War housing for the poor, the first sewer system in the area (keeping residents protected from the typhoid fever epidemic), and operating large sandstone quarries on the Raquette River. In addition to the many structures on campus, such as Old Main, Woodstock Lodge, and numerous fireplaces and entryways, some of the best examples of the distinctive red sandstone from this quarry can be seen in the accent stone over the windows of the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. This sandstone was also the primary building material for the Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, New York.

With a penchant for education, Thomas S. Clarkson and a cousin founded the Potsdam Public Library and Reading Room, teaching local workers how to read and offering tuition-free night school to teach mechanical drawing. It is said that Thomas S. Clarkson gave away work, not charity, and many projects for the public good were financed in this way, giving people means, dignity, and practical skills to carry them into the future.

In August 1894, Thomas S. Clarkson was killed in an accident in his sandstone quarry, just upriver from Potsdam. When a worker was in danger of being crushed by a large derrick pump, Clarkson pushed him out of the way, risking his own life. Clarkson was crushed against a wall by the swinging pump, sustaining severe internal injuries. While a doctor from Montreal was summoned to aid him, he died five days later.

After his death, Clarkson’s three sisters — Elizabeth, Frederica, and Lavinia — and niece, Annie, decided to create a school to memorialize this beloved entrepreneur, humanitarian, and community member whom obituaries referenced as “everyone’s friend.” The school was founded in 1896 and called the Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial School of Technology before later becoming the Clarkson College of Technology in 1912 (due to the creation of the State University of New York and registration of all colleges), and then Clarkson University in 1984. The motto in Clarkson’s seal, “A Workman That Needeth Not to be Ashamed,” is taken from Thomas S. Clarkson’s favorite biblical verse in the Book of 2 Timothy. And the University’s historic “Green and Gold” school colors match the native Goldenrod blooms in fall, which was his favorite flower.

Members of the Clarkson family and descendants of the founders continue to be connected to supporting the University’s mission and its legacy of serving the American people.