Dear Members of the SUNY Oswego Community–
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kate Pechenkina as SUNY Oswego’s next Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective July 15, 2026.
Following a national search that drew an exceptionally strong pool of candidates, Dr. Pechenkina emerged as a highly accomplished academic leader whose experience, vision, and commitment to student success closely align with SUNY Oswego’s mission and aspirations. She joins us from Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY), where she serves as Dean of Faculty for the School of Social Sciences and as Professor of Anthropology. She also served as Founding and Acting Dean of the Queens College School of Business, helping to guide its creation, strategic planning, curriculum development, and advancement.
As Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Pechenkina will serve as SUNY Oswego’s chief academic officer, providing leadership across our academic programs, faculty affairs, student success initiatives, strategic planning, accreditation, and the continued advancement of academic excellence across the university.
Throughout her career, Dr. Pechenkina has demonstrated a remarkable ability to lead complex academic organizations while fostering collaboration, innovation, and accountability. At Queens College, she has overseen multiple academic departments and interdisciplinary programs, managed substantial budgets, supported faculty recruitment and development, strengthened career-readiness initiatives, led curricular modernization, expanded academic offerings, and advanced student success through innovative partnerships and programs.
Her leadership has been marked by a commitment to shared governance, evidence-based decision-making, and the creation of environments where faculty, staff, and students can thrive. She has championed interdisciplinary collaboration, expanded opportunities for experiential learning, secured significant external funding, supported faculty scholarship, and helped develop programs that align academic excellence with workforce and community needs.
Dr. Pechenkina is also an accomplished scholar whose interdisciplinary research integrates perspectives from anthropology, biology, chemistry, and the social sciences to advance understanding of human health and societal change. Her academic career reflects a deep appreciation for the transformative power of higher education and the critical role public universities play in expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and preparing students to address complex challenges. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Russia’s Moscow State University and her doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Missouri–Columbia.
During the search process, Dr. Pechenkina expressed strong enthusiasm for SUNY Oswego’s distinctive academic strengths, our commitment to student-centered learning, and the opportunities offered by Vision 4040. She recognizes SUNY Oswego’s vital role in the educational, economic, and civic life of Central New York and shares our commitment to ensuring that the opportunities created by the region’s unprecedented growth translate into meaningful educational and workforce outcomes for our students and communities.
As we continue to advance Vision 4040, strengthen enrollment, enhance student success, expand research and scholarship, support faculty excellence, and deepen community partnerships, I am confident that Dr. Pechenkina’s leadership will position SUNY Oswego for continued growth and impact.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the Provost Search Committee for their dedication, professionalism, and thoughtful work throughout this process. Their commitment to engaging the campus community, conducting a thorough and inclusive search, and identifying outstanding candidates was instrumental to this effort’s success.
I am especially grateful to Evelyn Benavides, professor and chair of the Department of Sociology, who served as committee chair and provided exceptional leadership throughout the search. I also wish to thank committee members Gwen Kay (History), James MacKenzie (Biological Sciences), Jacqueline Wallace (Career Services), Jed Locquiao (Curriculum and Instruction), Jessica Harris (Health Promotion and Wellness), Michele Thornton (Marketing and Management), and Krystal Kennel (Theatre) for their service and commitment to SUNY Oswego. I am equally appreciative of Murat Yaşar, deputy to the president for Strategy, Planning, and Special Projects, who served as my designee and offered valuable guidance and support throughout the process.
I also wish to express my deepest appreciation to Kristen Eichhorn for her outstanding service as Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. While continuing her responsibilities as Dean of Graduate Studies and Interim Dean of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Eichhorn stepped into this leadership role with remarkable dedication, energy, and professionalism. During her tenure, she provided steady leadership, thoughtful counsel, and an unwavering commitment to our students, faculty, and staff. Her collaborative approach, innovative thinking, and deep understanding of SUNY Oswego helped ensure continued progress on our academic priorities throughout this important transition. Our university has benefited greatly from her service, and I am personally grateful for her willingness to lead during this pivotal period.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Pechenkina to the SUNY Oswego community. I know she is eager to meet and work alongside our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners as we continue to build an even stronger future for our university.
Remain well,
Peter O. Nwosu, Ph.D.
President