Release

Haugaard Named to Head Honors College

Contact: Catherine Herman (518) 437-4980

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 5, 2006) -- Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Susan Herbst today announced that Jeffrey J. Haugaard will become the first leader of the new University at Albany Honors College. Haugaard was chosen after a national search, led by Associate Professor of Women's Studies Vivien Ng, and will begin his duties as assistant vice provost on August 1, 2006.

Haugaard is currently an associate professor of human development at Cornell University, where he also served as associate chair as well as director of undergraduate studies. During his 16 years at Cornell he received a variety of university awards for teaching excellence, including the College of Human Ecology Distinguished Teaching Award, the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council Recognition for Teaching Excellence Award, and the Merrill Presidential Scholar Award. He was named a Weiss Presidential Fellow, the most prestigious award for teaching at Cornell.

Haugaard began his career as a counselor and houseparent at a boarding school before joining higher education in 1990. He is a distinguished researcher in the areas of child abuse, adoption, and family psychology, and is author of numerous research articles in these areas. Since 1998, he has served on National Institute of Health's Panel on Developing a Research Agenda for Defining Child Maltreatment, and is a member of the Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and politics from the University of California at Santa Cruz, a master's degree in marriage, family and child therapy from Santa Clara University, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia.

"Dr. Haugaard has the academic history, fluency in the classroom, and deep sense of social responsibility that are critical in taking the Honors College from its founding stages to an institution of legitimate academic achievement," said University at Albany President Kermit L. Hall. "We are pleased he has agreed to serve, and sincerely welcome him to the University."

"Creating an Honors College provides a tremendous opportunity for the students and faculty of the University at Albany, and I am pleased and honored to be chosen as the person to lead this effort," Haugaard said. "Over the past month, I have been consistently impressed with the dedication that the administration, faculty, and students have toward the Honors College and with the overall energy that is directed toward top-quality undergraduate education at UAlbany.  I am eagerly anticipating my arrival in Albany and the chance to continue the creation of the Honors College."

Herbst noted that Haugaard will set the course for the Honors College: "We sought a visionary leader with great dedication to excellence in undergraduate education, who has the talent to launch the Honors College during the first critical years of its history. Dr. Haugaard is a leading scholar as well as a superb educator, and we are fortunate that he is willing to assume the vital role as our first director. My thanks to Dr. Ng and the Honors Search Committee for their excellent work in locating and recruiting Professor Haugaard to Albany."

The Honors College at the University at Albany is a vibrant community of scholars, where students and faculty work together in a challenging environment to stimulate the highest levels of academic achievement. Students can experience a dynamic range of courses that comprise the University's 54 majors. Building upon the long-standing success of the Presidential Scholars Program, the Honors College offers enhanced honors courses, vigorous academic advising and co-curricular options such as honors housing. All honors students complete a year-long original research or creative project during their senior year.

For more information on the Honors College at the University at Albany, please visit the Honors College website.

Photo of Dr. Haugaard available at: https://www.albany.edu/news/newsphotos/Haugaard,-Jeff_print.jpg