Biography
Clarkson University President Anthony G. Collins is a regional and national advocate for higher education - industrial partnerships that couple research discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise for commercialization and economic development. With a focus on advancing sustainable energy solutions and environmental technology innovation, he serves as the president of the Seaway Private Equity Corporation that invests in new technology companies based in St. Lawrence County, New York and on the board for (TSEC) The Solar Energy Consortium which mobilizes related resources in New York state.
He is also the vice chair of New York’s Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities and the chair of the national Association of Independent Technological Universities’ Public Relations Committee. President Collins serves on the boards of the Business Council of New York State, the Central New York Metropolitan Development Authority, the Essential New York Initiative, the New York Indoor Environmental Quality Center, and the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environment and Energy Systems, and on the board of advisors of Sriya Innovations, Inc.
Dr. Collins was among the primary architects of the Vision of a Clarkson Education that has guided evolution of the curriculum since 1995. As president, he now leads Clarkson’s Evolution to Excellence, a comprehensive strategic plan elevating the University’s academic reputation, strengthening its financial resources, and increasing the lifetime engagement of alumni.
Growing up outside Melbourne, Australia, Dr. Collins earned an undergraduate civil engineering degree from Monash University, and then master’s and doctoral degrees from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Prior to his doctoral studies, he worked for both Australian Consolidated Industries and Utah Development Company. After receiving his Ph.D. in 1982, Dr. Collins launched his career at Clarkson, in Potsdam, N.Y., as an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. Subsequently rising to the rank of professor, he also assumed increasing levels of administrative responsibility, including department chair, dean, vice president for academic affairs, and provost. He was elected the 16th president of Clarkson University in 2003. He has received awards for outstanding teaching, research and advising, lectured globally and is the author of more than 90 professional publications.
In addition to connecting with Clarkson alumni across the globe, Dr. Collins; his wife, Karen; and their four children are active in the Potsdam community and have provided volunteer service to numerous community groups and youth sports programs.
He is also the vice chair of New York’s Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities and the chair of the national Association of Independent Technological Universities’ Public Relations Committee. President Collins serves on the boards of the Business Council of New York State, the Central New York Metropolitan Development Authority, the Essential New York Initiative, the New York Indoor Environmental Quality Center, and the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environment and Energy Systems, and on the board of advisors of Sriya Innovations, Inc.
Dr. Collins was among the primary architects of the Vision of a Clarkson Education that has guided evolution of the curriculum since 1995. As president, he now leads Clarkson’s Evolution to Excellence, a comprehensive strategic plan elevating the University’s academic reputation, strengthening its financial resources, and increasing the lifetime engagement of alumni.
Growing up outside Melbourne, Australia, Dr. Collins earned an undergraduate civil engineering degree from Monash University, and then master’s and doctoral degrees from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Prior to his doctoral studies, he worked for both Australian Consolidated Industries and Utah Development Company. After receiving his Ph.D. in 1982, Dr. Collins launched his career at Clarkson, in Potsdam, N.Y., as an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. Subsequently rising to the rank of professor, he also assumed increasing levels of administrative responsibility, including department chair, dean, vice president for academic affairs, and provost. He was elected the 16th president of Clarkson University in 2003. He has received awards for outstanding teaching, research and advising, lectured globally and is the author of more than 90 professional publications.
In addition to connecting with Clarkson alumni across the globe, Dr. Collins; his wife, Karen; and their four children are active in the Potsdam community and have provided volunteer service to numerous community groups and youth sports programs.