Siena College announced the appointment of Dr. Margaret E. Madden as Vice President for Academic Affairs today. With a distinguished career in higher education that spans more than three decades as a faculty member and administrator at private and public colleges and universities, Dr. Madden succeeds Dr. Linda Richardson, who will retire in August after 12 years as Siena’s top academic administrator.
Since 2002, Dr. Madden has served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Potsdam, overseeing approximately 260 full-time faculty, 4,400 full-time students and an academic affairs budget of more than $30 million.
With a focus on strengthening academic programs and promoting student success, Dr. Madden completed SUNY Potsdam’s first-ever Academic Master Plan. She led an initiative to secure a $1.6 million Title III grant to support undergraduate research and helped secure a half-million dollar donation for an endowed fund to support undergraduate students working with faculty on research; oversaw the development and approval of several new interdisciplinary major programs, an expansion of online courses, and review and revisions of every academic and teacher certification program on campus; facilitated a highly successful Middle States accreditation visit that resulted in 26 commendations; and led development of the SUNY Institute for Arts, Sciences and Technology, a joint venture with SUNY Canton. She was also a tenured Professor of Psychology.
“It is truly a pleasure to welcome Dr. Margaret Madden to Siena College, where she brings impeccable credentials and a recognized record of success to the important role of Vice President for Academic Affairs,” said Br. Ed Coughlin, O.F.M., Ph.D., President of Siena College. “Her innovative approach to delivering high-quality education, combined with her demonstrated leadership skills, administrative talents and collaborative work philosophy, makes her an outstanding choice to lead Siena’s academic programs and initiatives.”
Reporting directly to the President, Dr. Madden will be responsible for implementing policies regarding faculty, curriculum, and academic programs. She will serve as the college’s chief academic officer and as a member of the President’s Cabinet. Her role includes principal leadership for planning, budgeting, outcomes and assessment for all academic programs.
“It is both an honor and a privilege to take on this vital role at Siena College, which has a rich tradition of academic excellence, is blessed with top-notch faculty, and is well-regarded for providing unwavering support to its students,” said Dr. Madden. “I look forward to working closely with the administration and faculty to build on a strong and successful legacy, and most importantly, to help ensure that Siena continues to prepare highly educated and skilled students to be model citizens and members of the 21st century workforce.”
Prior to joining SUNY Potsdam, from 1999 to 2002, Dr. Madden served as Dean of Academic Affairs at Long Island University’s (LIU) Southampton College, and as University Dean for Learning and Technology at LIU. Previously, she held roles as Acting and Associate Dean of the Faculty at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI from 1993 to 1999. She began her career in higher education in 1982 at Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, NH, where she was a Professor of Psychology and Assistant to the Academic Vice President.
A social psychologist specializing in gender issues, Dr. Madden has authored more than 40 articles, publications, and chapters, and has been a frequent presenter at numerous academic conferences and workshops. She was elected a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and is a former chair of its Board of Educational Affairs, and has served as President of the Society for the Psychology of Women, where she received the Sue Rosenberg Zalk Award for Distinguished Service.
Dr. Madden received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and her master’s and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
