Therese McCarty, professor of economics, has been named interim dean of faculty and vice president for academic affairs effective July 1.
McCarty, a member of the Union faculty since 1987, succeeds Christina Sorum, who passed away on May 16. Her appointment was announced by Union President Roger Hull, who is stepping down June 30, and Interim President Elect James Underwood, who begins July 1.
“Therese is a well-published scholar and superior teacher who has served in a number of important faculty leadership positions at the College,” Hull and Underwood said in their announcement. “As chair and member of the Economics Department, she has played a key role in strengthening an already strong department. Recently, as a member of the Minerva Council and the Beuth House Council, she has brought energy and ingenuity to a venture that is key to the College's future success. We have the greatest confidence in Therese's abilities and the depth of her commitment to the College, the same depth of commitment that Christie Sorum brought to the role.”
“I thank my colleague Jim Underwood for this opportunity to work with Union's excellent faculty, staff, and students,” McCarty said. “I look forward to building on the work of Roger Hull and Christie Sorum. Their innovations — such as the Minerva Houses and Converging Technologies — have made Union an increasingly exciting place to teach and study.”
McCarty is a well-regarded professor with a range of teaching experience in economics courses including “Income Tax in Theory and Practice.” As part of that course, McCarty coordinated students' participation in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at the College's Kenney Community Center.
An active scholar who has authored a number of articles in well-respected journals, she specializes in state and local public finance and education finance.
She has an extensive record of College service including department and division chair; chair of the Faculty Executive Committee, the faculty governance body; and membership on the Minerva Council, which oversees the Minerva Houses, a College-wide initiative that blends the residential, intellectual and social spheres.
McCarty holds an A.B. degree from Bryn Mawr College and A.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan.
She lives in Niskayuna with her husband, Johnny Willis, and their daughter, Helen.