CANTON -- Douglas M. Scheidt, Ph.D., has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at SUNY Canton.

"Dr. Scheidt's background in program development and assessment will be crucial as we continue to grow our college and expand our offerings," SUNY Canton President Dr. Zvi Szafran said. "He has a record of encouraging academic growth and supporting faculty. I think he will be a very good fit for SUNY Canton."

Scheidt will be leaving his position as the founding dean of the School of Education and Human Services at The College at Brockport and will begin his new career with SUNY Canton in mid July.

As dean, Scheidt led the proposal of 16 new programs, program revisions and changes in instruction to meet the strategic goals of Brockport. He is experienced with the duties and scope of his new position and previously served as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. He also held the positions of assistant and associate professor with his previous college.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to team with Dr. Szafran, campus leadership, faculty, staff and students to advance the mission of SUNY Canton," Sheidt said. "More personally, my entire family is looking forward to joining the Canton community, on and off campus.

The college's newest vice president already has plans for development within the student population. He said he plans to continue the college's emphasis on retention, graduation and placement rates. "Focusing on future students, I look forward to continued enrollment growth and programmatic innovation," he added.

Scheidt is a New York State Licensed Psychologist who received his doctorate of Counseling Psychology from the University at Buffalo in 1991. He earned his bachelor's in Psychology from Colgate University in 1986. Additionally, he completed the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Institute for Management and Leadership in Education.

The responsibilities of a provost vary at colleges. At SUNY Canton, the provost oversees the academic deans and faculty members, and is the senior-most academic administrator other than the president.

Karen M. Spellacy most recently held the provost position on an interim basis. She will be reassuming her duties as a professor of economics.