Cathy Dove named president of Paul Smith’s College

Cathy Dove
Dove

Cathy Dove, vice president of Cornell Tech in New York City, has been named the 10th president of Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks. The first female president of Paul Smith’s, she will begin her new position Sept. 1.

As vice president of Cornell Tech since 2012, Dove has been responsible for all administrative, operational, outreach, capital planning and construction functions for the campus currently under construction on Roosevelt Island and at its temporary location in Manhattan.

“The entire Cornell community joins me in congratulating Cathy on this well-deserved appointment,” said Provost Kent Fuchs. “For over 25 years, and in many capacities, Cathy has made numerous contributions to Cornell – none more significant than her critical role in helping to land and launch our Cornell Tech campus. She will be greatly missed.”

“In Cathy, Paul Smith’s College has found an exceptional leader,” Cornell President David J. Skorton said. “Her talents are a perfect fit for Paul Smith’s, whose mission combines experiential and traditional learning with a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. I wish her and her new campus community continued success.”

“While I am excited and honored to lead Paul Smith’s College, leaving Cornell is bittersweet,” said Dove. “Having been a part of this great institution for many years, I am thankful for the opportunities Cornell has given me. I will be forever grateful and proud to have contributed to the vision that has brought Cornell Tech to life.”

Paul Smith’s College, founded in 1946, is a private four-year college located on 14,200 acres in the heart of the Adirondacks. It is known for hands-on degree programs in such fields as forestry, culinary arts and environmental studies.

At Cornell Tech, Dove led the project team that won a global competition to create a graduate applied sciences campus in New York City. In two years, during which more than 50 faculty and staff were hired, she helped create a new campus that has gained broad public support and spearheaded its launch.

Dove worked closely with a variety of stakeholders and developed and implemented engagement programs with the New York City community, including STEM education in K-12 schools. She also led Cornell Tech’s branding, marketing and public relations efforts, and negotiated complex agreements with the school’s international partner, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

“Cathy has been a key partner in the leadership of Cornell Tech since the initial conception of the new campus,” said Dan Huttenlocher, vice provost and founding dean of the tech campus. “While it is sad to see her leaving Cornell, I know she will bring the same high degree of excellence and commitment to this new role that we have all come to depend on here.”

Dove has been an administrator at Cornell since 1989. Prior to her position at Cornell Tech, she served as associate dean in the College of Engineering, associate dean for MBA programs and administration at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, and as director of financial management services for the senior vice president and chief financial officer. Dove has led several institutional initiatives, including the Budget Model Task Force.

Dove has a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania (2004), an MBA from Cornell (1984) and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University (1979).

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John Carberry