Harvey is Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Buffalo, the State University of New York (UB). He took this position in 2006 after 23 years at Lehigh University, where he served as a faculty member in Chemical Engineering and in several administrative roles. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at Cornell, Stenger completed his PhD at MIT in Chemical Engineering in the area of synthetic fuels. He began his career at Lehigh in 1984, being promoted to associate professor with tenure in 1988 and then to full professor in 1991. From 1991 to 1993 he served as co-department chair of Chemical Engineering and from 1991 to 1993, he served as the director of the Environmental Studies Center. In May of 1993, he was appointed Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, and in October 1993, after the sudden death of the incumbent dean, became the interim dean for the College of Engineering and Applied Science. In May of 1994, after a national search, Harvey was appointed Dean of the college. He served in that role until July of 1999 when he returned to the faculty until accepting his current position at UB.
While dean at Lehigh some of his key initiatives included: a $27.5M naming gift for the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science; launching the Integrated Product Development Program; redesigning the freshman engineering experience; creating and growing the undergraduate co-op program; and designing and leading the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance with Carnegie Mellon University and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
His current responsibilities at UB include: enrollment of 2400 undergraduates and 1100 graduate students; six academic departments and eight ABET accredited programs; 150 FTE faculty members; 280 FTE staff members in four different bargaining units; 2007-08 research expenditures of $62M; a 24 member Advisory Board; coordinating leader for three of UB’s eight areas of research strategic strengths; school level management of career services, enrollment management, research, external affairs, development, and student advising, as well as distance, international, and non-credit engineering programs.
During his initial three years at UB some of his initiatives and accomplishments include: launching the Biomedical Engineering Department and programs in partnership with the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; growing the number of engineering faculty by 12%; conducting a $100M School of Engineering campaign including the construction of a 130,000 sq.ft building; hiring two members of the National Academy of Engineering and 4 NSF Career awardees; increasing the average first year SAT score by 47 points; leading legislative projects to retain and increase state funding; improving US News and World Report graduate ranking; enhancing diversity with programs funded by NSF to increase student and faculty representation; expanding international programs; implementing continuous improvement approaches to school operations; and redesigning the freshman year.
Harvey grew up in Central New York and is glad to return to the familiar terrain of upstate. His wife Catherine is a fourth grade teacher in the Buffalo schools. They have two daughters: Elisabeth is seeking a job as an actor after graduating from Northeastern, and Hannah will graduate from the University Rochester in 2011. |
![Stenger](Stenger.jpg)
At the time of our 35th reunion, Harvey serves as President of Binghamton University, the State University of New York, having been inaugurated in January 2012. In 2011 he served as interim-Provost at the University at Buffalo, after 5 years as dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at UB. He and Cathy live in Binghamton, with their two dogs and one cat, and are close enough to Ithaca to visit for day trips and evening events.
At the time of our 40th reunion, Harvey is still serving as President of
Binghamton University. Their biggest project at present, is the startup
of a new school of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, at a newly
acquired 15-acre Health Sciences Campus in neighboring Johnson
City. |