Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs steps down

Don Nieman will end his 10-year span serving as the provost for academic affairs

8/30/21 by Riccardo Monico

Photo provided by Binghamton University

Donald Nieman, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, will step down following the spring 2022 semester.

During his 10-year tenure as provost, Nieman oversaw the creation of a new school and played an important role in Binghamton University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, among influencing and directing many of the other changes taken by the University. In a July 20 Dateline Addition, BU President Harvey Stenger wrote about Nieman’s work at BU.

“As provost, he has led several critical academic projects, from the establishment of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, to implementing a new strategy to hiring faculty, to supporting research by establishing the six Transdisciplinary Areas of Excellence (TAEs) to the all-important growth in our graduate enrollment,” Stenger said. “His leadership and vision as provost will be missed by the entire community and me.”

Nieman also served as the dean of Harpur College from 2008 to 2012 before being appointed provost. As dean, Nieman assisted in the creation of the first-year writing program and launched the Harpur Fellows Program, which allows students to conduct their own community service projects using funds provided by the University. In addition, Nieman also aided the creation of the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities.

According to the Dateline Addition, Nieman will be on leave for the 2022-2023 academic year and return to BU as a member of the history department faculty in the fall 2023 semester.

In the Dateline Addition, Nieman reflected on his time at BU, and expressed appreciation for the experiences he has had so far.

“I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to serve as provost and to work with a talented, dedicated, caring group of vice presidents, vice provosts, deans, faculty, staff, students and alumni and an inspiring, creative and energetic president,” Nieman said. “As a campus we have accomplished so much, and I feel privileged to have been part of such a special period in the history of a university that never ceases to amaze me. The best part, though, has been the people, the relationships and the chance to learn new things on an almost daily basis.”