Karen R. Hitchcock, Ph.D.

Karen R. Hitchcock, Ph.D.

A respected administrator, research scientist and educator, Dr. Karen R. Hitchcock’s distinguished career spans decades. Currently a special advisor at Park Strategies, she most recently served as Principal and Vice Chancellor of Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.

Prior to that, after first serving as vice president for academic affairs and interim president, she was appointed in 1996 as the 16th – and first female – president of the University at Albany. Serving until 2004, she was committed to fostering academic, business and government partnerships in order to enhance the quality of education and foster economic development. She was the founding co-chair of the Business-Higher Education Roundtable, an alliance of 14 area academic institutions and businesses that worked to support the region’s economic growth and quality of life.

Dr. Hitchcock has served on the boards of numerous civic and educational organizations in the Capital Region, including WMHT, Albany Pro Musica, and The Doane Stuart School. She also served as chair of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce and Center for Economic Growth. A longtime WAMC contributor, she co-hosted National Public Radio’s “Best of our Knowledge” for many years. In recognition of her achievements and service, she has received numerous professional, educational and civic awards.

An academic career that began at Tufts University, she has published extensively in her research field of cell and developmental biology, received numerous grants, served on review panels and advisory committees, and led various academic organizations.

Dr. Hitchcock received her B.S. in Biology from St. Lawrence University and her Ph.D. from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. In 2004, Dr. Hitchcock was granted honorary doctoral degrees from Albany Medical College and her alma mater, St. Lawrence University. She resides in Rexford, New York.