Karen R. Hitchcock

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Karen R. Hitchcock PhD is Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. She took over from Queen's seventeenth principal, William C. Leggett on July 1, 2004.

A highly distinguished scholar and academic leader, Dr. Hitchcock received her B.S. in biology from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York and her Ph. D. in anatomy from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry. As a Postdoctoral Fellow, she did work in pulmonary cell biology at The Webb-Waring Institute for Medical Research at the University of Colorado Medical Centre. Dr. Hitchcock's accomplishments include engaging faculty in a major strategic planning process; establishing a new budget process and creating a faculty-based, campus-wide Resources and Priorities Committee to advise on resource allocation. She also worked in collaboration with faculty on a major expansion of academic programs, including graduate degree programs; reversed a 12-year decline in faculty size through budget reallocation; and undertook major targeted investments in faculty recruitment, research support services and infrastructure. Sponsored research has increased some 47 percent over the last six years to $126 million at the University at Albany.

Over her career, Dr. Hitchcock has fostered partnerships with both government and the private sector in areas of institutional strength, partnerships which, at the University at Albany, have garnered some $1 billion of new investment in facilities and infrastructure, and 1.7 million square feet of new space for research and teaching programs, including a new campus devoted to biotechnology and related business incubation as well as the first School of Nanosciences and Nanoengineering in the world.

Other achievements have involved developing a campus-wide technology plan, including bringing on-line a major new science library; and developing, in consultation with faculty, a strategic initiative for expanding international programs, curriculum offerings and student and faculty exchanges. Dr. Hitchcock is also an experienced fundraiser, supporting growth in development and alumni programs during her tenure as President.

Dr. Hitchcock was appointed President of the University at Albany in 1996 after serving as interim president and also as Vice President of Academic Affairs from 1991 to 1995. Before arriving at the University at Albany in 1991, she served as Vice Chancellor for Research, Dean of the Graduate College, professor of anatomy and cell biology, and professor of biological sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago. From 1985 to1987, she was Associate Dean for Basic Sciences, Research and Graduate Studies, School of Medicine, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. Dr. Hitchcock spent a significant part of her career at Boston's Tufts University and served as the George A. Bates professor of histology and Chair of the Department of Anatomy and Cellular Biology in the Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and the Sackler Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Hitchcock has published extensively in her field of cell and developmental biology and been the recipient of many grants from the National Institutes of Health. She has served on numerous NIH study sections, review panels and advisory committees including the National Advisory Research Resources Council and received many awards. These include the prestigious National Science Foundation Professorship for Women in Science and Engineering (1983-84) and the Marketer of Excellence Award from the New York Capital Region Chapter of the American Marketing Association (2002). In 2004, she was inducted into the Capital Region Business Hall of Fame and won a Woman in the Media Award from the Women's Press Club of New York State. She recently received honorary doctoral degrees from the Albany Medical College and her alma mater, St. Lawrence University. She has also served as president of her professional society, The American Association of Anatomists and completed two terms as a member of the National Board of Medical Examiners.

[edit] Allegations of Corruption

On February 25th, 2005, the New York Times reported that Dr. Hitchcock had faced a state ethics inquiry about allegations that she had offered to grant a construction contract to a developer, in exchange for an endowed university professorship once she had left the presidency.

However, it is alleged that once the scandal became known to Dr. Hitchcock, she departed SUNY Albany as soon as possible in order to avoid liability. The New York Ethics Commission was unable to take action against her after she had ceased being a state employee.

The Senate Committee responsible for the appointment of Dr. Hitchcock reported after the incident was made public at Queen's University that they were made aware of the allegations by Dr. Hitchcock prior to their decision. The Senate Committee launched an investigation into the manner and found the allegations groundless.

Dr. Hitchcock has recently hired a legal team and approached the Governor of the State of New York asking for the case to be reopened and investigated so as to clear her name. Queen's University has also hired legal assistance in the case.