President Tony Collins: My Personal Welcome to You

Combined Ingenuity. That's Genius. That's Clarkson.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our Web site. We are quite proud of our achievements as a University, but even more proud of what our students accomplish on campus and as alumni after graduation. I encourage you to hear more about these experiences at Clarkson and how we span new boundaries every day by clicking on the video below. (new Flash Player 8 required - 01:55)

About Me

How long have you been at Clarkson?
Twenty-four years. I started here in 1982 as an assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Later I served as professor, department chair, dean, vice president for Academic Affairs, and provost. I began serving as Clarkson's 16th president in 2003.

Where did you get that cool accent?
I was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia.

What did you study in college?
I earned an undergraduate civil engineering degree from Monash University (Australia), and then master's and doctoral degrees from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.

What is your focus as President?
I have focused on the theme "Evolution to Excellence" to guide my presidency. In Clarkson's ongoing pursuit of excellence, we are elevating the University's academic reputation, strengthening our financial resources, and increasing the engagement of alumni.

What's the most important thing about a Clarkson education?
We span boundaries across many different academic fields. This interdisciplinary approach in teaching, research and coursework has helped lead to development of project-based team learning that has earned Clarkson national recognition. Our graduates are ready from day one to jump into a position and demonstrate to an employer their ability to be productive.

What is you favorite thing about living in Potsdam, New York?
The atmosphere of a small town filled with college students. My wife, Karen, and I raised our four children here and we have truly enjoyed the lifestyle Potsdam offers. We try to be as connected with our students as possible. It's just great to be around them and be excited by what they do. I can't imagine a better environment.

What does "Defy Convention" mean to you?
For me "Defy Convention" expresses the disproportionate impact Clarkson graduates and its faculty, staff and students have had on the world in their professional and personal pursuits. This statement lies at the heart of the unique educational environment that has existed at Clarkson since its earliest beginnings and serves today as a challenge for us to continue to develop innovative programs that span boundaries across traditional academic disciplines and areas of knowledge.