Erik Bitterbaum, president of West Virginia University at Parkersburg, will become the new president at State University of New York College at Cortland.
The SUNY Board of Trustees approved Bitterbaums appointment at its Tuesday (April 29) meeting in Garden City, N.Y. He will assume the presidency in July and succeeds Judson Taylor, who is retiring.
Bitterbaum has been president of WVU Parkersburg and a regional vice president of WVU since July 2000.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at WVU Parkersburg, and it has been an honor to serve the college and our wonderful community,”Bitterbaum said.”This is an extraordinary institution, and I have been fortunate to play a small role in shaping it.”
During Bitterbaums tenure at WVU Parkersburg, gifts to the colleges foundation tripled from 2000 to 2001. A campus globalization was initiated with the college hosting its first Fulbright scholar-in-residence and participating in a faculty exchange with a Bulgarian university. Bitterbaum developed cooperative partnerships with local hospitals to impact the regions nursing shortage and with other colleges to deliver additional baccalaureate offerings to the Mid-Ohio Valley.
“Erik Bitterbaum has offered thoughtful and progressive leadership to the campus of WVU at Parkersburg,”noted WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr.”His hard work has brought a new level of private support and global awareness on campus.
“Dr. Bitterbaum leaves the area with his campus in good financial condition and with a sense of strategic direction,”Hardesty added.”While we are sorry to see him leave, the University community wishes him well and thanks him for a job well done.”
A native of New York, Bitterbaum is returning to an area he is extremely familiar with.”This is a unique opportunity for me and my family in upstate New York,”he noted.
Bitterbaum came to WVU Parkersburg from Missouri Southern State College, where he served six years as vice president for academic affairs and professor of biology. He was vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college at Methodist College from 1990-94.
He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology from Occidental College and his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Florida. He and wife, Ellen, have two children, Anna and David.
Cortland is one of 13 four-year colleges in the SUNY system. Approximately 7,500 students attend the central New York institution, which offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts and a variety of professional fields.