Anthony G. Collins Named President Emeritus & Professor Emeritus at Clarkson University
The Clarkson University Board of Trustees has honored Anthony G. “Tony” Collins as president emeritus upon his retirement this past year. He was also named professor emeritus for his 40 years of exemplary service to the University. Formal recognition took place at the University Commencement exercises this past week.
The citation read at commencement by Thomas L. Kassouf ‘74, Chair of the Board of Trustees said:
In recognition of Anthony G. Collins as President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Civil & Environmental Engineering. For his more than forty years of exemplary service to Clarkson University, including nineteen years as the University's longest-serving president; for his advocacy of regional and national partnerships between higher education and industry, widely focusing on advancing sustainable energy solutions and environmental technology innovation; and for his leadership in expanding the Hill Campus both physically and academically, and in bringing an interdisciplinary focus to teaching, research and learning, we proudly honor Anthony G. Collins during the Spring Commencement weekend of May, two-thousand and twenty-four.
Clarkson’s 16th president, Collins was the University’s longest-serving president (2003-22). He was a regional and national advocate for partnerships between higher education and industry, focusing on advancing sustainable energy solutions and environmental technology innovation.
Collins served on various national and New York state boards and councils, including the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the North Country Regional Economic Development Council, the Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the task force dedicated to reopening education in New York after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Growing up outside Melbourne, Australia, Collins earned his undergraduate civil engineering degree from Monash University, and master’s and doctoral degrees from Lehigh University. Before his doctoral studies, he worked for Australian Consolidated Industries and Utah Development Company.
After receiving his PhD in 1982, Collins launched his career at Clarkson as an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. He subsequently assumed increasing levels of administrative responsibility, including department chair, dean, vice president for academic affairs, and provost, before being appointed president in 2003. He fully retired from the University at the end of the last academic year.
Collins and his wife, Karen, were active in the Potsdam community and volunteered with numerous organizations and youth programs.
