Administration | Clarkson University

President Marc Christensen

President Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D. P.E.

The Clarkson University Board of Trustees appointed Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D. P.E. to serve as the 17th President of Clarkson University, effective July 1, 2022.

President Christensen's passion for innovative teaching, collaborative multidisciplinary research, proven entrepreneurship, successful fundraising and community outreach are in excellent alignment with Clarkson's active community of faculty, staff, students and alumni.

A well-regarded leader in photonics research and technology development, he most recently served as the dean of the Lyle School of Engineering at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas.

Goodarz Ahmadi, Interim Provost

Dr. Goodarz Ahmadi was appointed Interim Provost in June of 2022. The Clarkson Distinguished Professor and Robert H. Hill Professor of Mechanical Engineering joined the Clarkson faculty in 1982. Since then he has become known throughout the Clarkson community for his devotion to students, teaching, and research. He has previously held positions including Vice Provost for Research, Dean of Engineering, and Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Kelly O. Chezum, M.B.A. '04, Vice President for Marketing & External Relations

Dr. Kelly O. Chezum leads Clarkson’s comprehensive integrated marketing, communications, government and external partnership initiatives and has stewarded the University’s long-range planning activities since 2003. She is also Assistant Secretary of the Board of Trustees, serving as the professional staff liaison to the corporate officers and members of the Board’s Executive Committee.

Brian T. Grant '93, Vice President for Student Affairs

After serving roles of increasing responsibility with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Clarkson, Brian T. Grant now serves as Vice President for Student Affairs. He is charged with engaging the entire Clarkson community to optimize the synergies between areas and continue to move student engagement toward best in class. He has a great breadth of experience in admissions, student engagement, financial management and service excellence.

Amy McGaheran, Chief Human Resources Officer/Deputy Inclusion Officer

Clarkson University Chief Human Resources & Deputy Chief Inclusion Officer Amy McGaheran

Amy McGaheran, Chief Human Resources Officer/Deputy Inclusion Officer, began her career at Clarkson University in December 2010. In May of 2018, McGaheran became Interim Chief Human Resources & Employee Inclusion Officer, with a focus on cultivating the University's recruitment, employee engagement and inclusion efforts. In February 2019, she moved into the role on a permanent basis.

Ken Kline, Chief Financial Officer

Ken Kline joined Clarkson in 2022 as Chief Financial Officer. Kline is well versed in the intricacies of the higher education financial environment as well as the national marketplace for colleges and universities. In this position, he also takes on the responsibilities as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. Prior to Clarkson, Kline held positions of increasing responsibility at other higher education institutions including Boise State University, Northern Kentucky University and Cornell University. Ken holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Xavier University and two Master's Degrees; an M.A from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Cornell University.

Matthew E. Draper, Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations

Matthew Draper is Clarkson's Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations

Matthew E. Draper, Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations, returned to Clarkson in October 2010 to launch the Shipley Center for Innovation after spending 8 years at W.W. Grainger, the world's largest industrial distributor. In August 2016, Draper became Director of Corporate Engagement at Clarkson University with a focus on cultivating relationships with key industry partners for recruitment, research, and philanthropy. Draper became Interim Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations in March 2018 and moved into the role full time in July 2019.

Susan E. Powers '83, Director of the Institute for a Sustainable Environment

Dr. Susan Powers, director of the Institute for a Sustainable Environment

Susan E. Powers, PhD, PE is the Director of the Institute for a Sustainable Environment and is the Spence Professor in Sustainable Environmental Systems. She was appointed as the Director in 2017 (and interim director in 2015). She previously filled the role of Associate Director of ISE for Sustainability and continues to lead the campuses sustainability initiatives. As the hub for all sustainability and environmental activities in academic and campus operations, ISE and Dr. Powers work with leaders from facilities, finance, marketing, research, inclusion and other campus offices to assure that we truly integrate sustainability in everything we do on our campuses. She also continues to teach classes related to Industrial Ecology, Climate Change and design of sustainable systems. Her research work takes a systems perspective to assess the impact of energy systems on the environment.

Scott Smalling, Director of Athletics

Clarkson University Director of Athletics Scott Smalling

A long-time member of the Clarkson University Athletic Department, Scott Smalling was promoted to the role of Athletic Director on July 1, 2019. He will oversee the Golden Knights' 22 sports offerings. Smalling started as interim Director of Walker Arena for the 1982-83 hockey season. He came back in 1987 and was the Director at both Walker Arena and Cheel Arena until 1996. Smalling left Clarkson for a period of time but returned in 2002 as Director of Cheel, was named Assistant Athletic Director in 2005 and then Associate Athletic Director in 2008. He has served the University overseeing Clarkson's Division I men's and women's hockey programs.

Joshua A. Fiske '03, MS '04, Chief Information Officer

Clarkson Chief Information Officer Josh Fiske leads the Office of Information Technology

Joshua Fiske has served as the Chief Information Officer at Clarkson University since 2013. In this role, he oversees the Office of Information Technology as well as sets IT direction and coordinates infrastructure and service delivery across the University. Josh excels at solving challenging problems using appropriate technology.

Jennifer L. Ball, Ph.D., Chief Inclusion Officer

Dr. Ball is the University’s Chief Inclusion Officer. She holds a joint appointment as an associate professor of history and social documentation in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department. She has been involved in diversity, equity and inclusion work for the past twenty five years and holds board positions with the Association for Title IX Coordinators and the Difficult Dialog National Resource Center. Dr. Ball is a Co-PI on Clarkson’s NSF ADVANCE STEM-LEAF grant, as well as the program director for Value U., a peer-led bystander social intervention group and the advisor for the Gender and Sexuality Alliance. She has a BA from Saint Vincent College and a MA & PhD from Purdue University.

Alexander Cohen, Chair of the Faculty Senate

Alexander Cohen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and currently serves as the Chair of the Faculty Senate. He holds a BA in political science from New York University and a MA and PhD in political science from the UNiversity of Iowa. In addition to his duties on the senate, he also serves as the Associate Director of Faculty Support. He primarily teaches courses on American government, with an emphasis on gaming and active learning. His published research includes work on pedagogy, intersections between the weather and public opinion, assessments of student learning, Shakespeare, and zombies.