UAlbany Announces Appointments
Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy alumna Sandra Starke, M.P.A.’85, has joined the University at Albany as vice provost and associate vice president for Enrollment Management. In the newly created position, Starke is responsible for “providing overall direction for undergraduate enrollment including planning, strategy, recruitment, admissions, and financial aid,” noted Provost James R. Stellar. She also coordinates with the dean of Graduate Education and the dean and vice provost for International Education and Global Strategy.
Satyendra (Satyen) Kumar has been appointed associate vice president for Research. Previously, at Kent State University, Kumar served as associate vice president of Research and professor of physics. He was also program director for the Condensed Matter Physics and Biomaterials programs in the Division of Materials Research of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The Honors College welcomed its new dean, Hui-Ching Chang, in August. Chang comes to UAlbany from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she held the position of associate dean for Academic Affairs for the Honors College. At the University at Albany, Chang will also serve as a tenured full professor in the Department of Communication.
Longtime UAlbany faculty member Hany A. Shawky, professor of finance and economics and associate dean of the School of Business, began serving as the school’s interim dean July 1. The recipient of three Dean’s Awards for research, Shawky has taught and conducted research at the University since 1978. He founded the Center for Institutional Investment Management (CIIM), serving as its director from 2002-07.
Associate Professor of Marketing Suraj Commuri was appointed in May to serve as associate dean for Undergraduate Research within the Office of Undergraduate Education. Nominated for excellence in teaching awards at both the undergraduate and graduate levels since his arrival at UAlbany in 2007, Commuri is also affiliated with the Department of Informatics.