University System of New Hampshire Announces 橙子视频app President Will Serve in Joint Role as Interim President of Keene State College


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University System of New Hampshire Announces 橙子视频app President Will Serve in Joint Role as Interim President of Keene State College


CONCORD, N.H. (October 16, 2025) The University System of New Hampshire (USNH) Board of Trustees voted last night to support 橙子视频app President (PSU) Donald L. Birx, Ph.D., as interim president of Keene State College (KSC). Birx will serve as president of both institutions through June 30, 2026 and has designated Provost Kirsti Sandy and Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration, Nathalie Houder, responsible for day-to-day operations at KSC.

KSC鈥檚 outgoing president, Melinda Treadwell, Ph.D., will be the next president of SUNY Geneseo, a public liberal arts college

PSU President Donald Birx
The University System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees voted last night to support 橙子视频app President Donald L. Birx, Ph.D., as interim president of Keene State College. Birx will serve as president of both institutions through June 30, 2026.

in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Since July 2015, President Birx has shepherded the PSU community through pivotal events and has led the transformation of academic programming through the cluster model of experiential learning that integrates students with business and community partners. Birx is a trusted, higher education expert for policy makers and business partners across New Hampshire.  

鈥淭he intentional and sustained efforts of Presidents Birx and Treadwell to prioritize the student experience at both campuses by sharing resources and strengths allows for continuity and a natural progression of interim leadership鈥 said Catherine Provencher, USNH Chancellor. 鈥淭his close working relationship makes President Birx the right person to lead both institutions through these challenging times.鈥

"KSC and PSU have been collaborating at all levels for quite a while, and this transition gives us a chance to see how we can be even more successful by working closely together,鈥 said Birx. 鈥淚 can never replace President Treadwell, who is a dear friend, an inspiring leader, and someone I admire greatly. At KSC, she was everywhere and beloved by all. What I can do is help continue the great work already underway, building on the leadership team鈥檚 efforts, the dedication of faculty and staff, and the strong foundation that she helped create.鈥

鈥淭hese are challenging times for higher education, and our path will not always be easy,鈥 Birx continued. 鈥淲e have overcome much, and I am confident that, by working together with the Keene community, we can continue to move toward President Treadwell鈥檚 vision for KSC in strong partnership with PSU and the Plymouth community. We鈥檙e in this together.鈥

Treadwell was appointed interim president of Keene State in 2017, president in 2019 and held various teaching and leadership roles for more than 20 years at the college prior to becoming president. She is the institution鈥檚 first alumna president.

KSC President Melinda Treadwell
KSC's outgoing president, Melinda Treadwell, Ph.D., will be the next president of SUNY Geneseo, a public liberal arts college in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

鈥淚t has been the privilege of my career to date to have served my alma mater, Keene State College, for nearly 25 years,鈥 Treadwell said. 鈥淜eene State is an incredible community deeply committed to student success and to creating leaders who will contribute to their communities in countless ways.  I extend my heartfelt thanks to my colleagues at the campus, to our inspiring business partners in the region, to the University System of New Hampshire, and its Board of Trustees. I am confident that President Don Birx will continue to champion the value of public higher education in both Keene and Plymouth in his new leadership post, and I thank him for his enduring commitment.鈥

Birx brings extensive higher education leadership experience to this new PSU-KSC joint-presidency role. Prior to joining PSU, Birx served as chancellor of Pennsylvania State University, Behrend College; as vice chancellor and vice president for research for the University of Houston System; and as interim vice provost/president for research and professor of physics at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. 

Birx holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in engineering physics from the University of California, Berkeley; a master鈥檚 degree in physics and an MBA in finance, both from Miami University; and a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Dayton. He was named to New Hampshire Business Review鈥檚 鈥2025 New Hampshire 200鈥 and recognized earlier this spring for his leadership and his impact on the state.

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The University System of New Hampshire enrolls 25,000 students and consists of three public institutions: Keene State College, 橙子视频app, and the University of New Hampshire. USNH strives to ensure the availability of high quality, affordable and accessible higher educational opportunities throughout New Hampshire and attracts, equips, and retains critical members of the state workforce. A 28-member Board of Trustees is responsible for overseeing the University System.

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