NYIT Names New Dean of College of Arts and Sciences

James L. Simon, Ph.D., has been named dean of NYIT College of Arts and Sciences. He joins NYIT from Fairfield University, where he spent nearly 20 years in positions of increasing responsibility in its College of Arts and Sciences, most recently as interim dean.

His position represents a key leadership role at NYIT; the College of Arts and Sciences offers 28 undergraduate and five graduate degree programs in departments including Behavioral Sciences, Communication Arts, Fine Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Life Sciences. Faculty members are dedicated to inspiring and producing groundbreaking creative work and scientific innovation in the digital era, and cultivating student involvement in academic research and pre-professional activities. Their approach is designed to provide students with key skills they need for academic pursuit and career success. 

A world-class journalist and advocate for the environment, Simon brings to NYIT a wealth of professional experience. Prior to pursuing his academic focus, he served as assistant secretary of the environment in the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and dealt with issues ranging from open space and water conservation to hazardous waste management and recycling. Simon also was director of public relations for the Massachusetts Hospital Association and served as a bureau chief, reporter, and editor with the Associated Press, the world’s largest news organization, for whom he wrote more than 4,000 stories.

"Jim Simon distinguished himself in our extensive search for a new dean through his extraordinary accomplishments across a broad spectrum of highly relevant fields,” said NYIT President Edward Guiliano, Ph.D. “His professional experience and record of success in administration, academic planning, faculty development, and assessment complements the breadth and depth of our institutional leadership, and will be a valuable asset to NYIT’s short- and long-term strategic plans.”

Simon commented, "I have spent much of my career—academic and professional—working on programs to better prepare students for life after graduation. My work in advising and mentoring, classroom-to-career efforts, and expanding internships and other forms of applied learning is very consistent with the career orientation that NYIT emphasizes. I look forward to building on those efforts.” 

In his new role, Simon will serve more than 1,900 NYIT undergraduate and graduate students worldwide. He will focus on strongly promoting research and scholarly activities among students and faculty members, creating active learning environments inside and outside the classroom, and encouraging lifelong learning. In addition to overseeing programs at NYIT’s New York campuses, Simon will supervise academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences at NYIT’s campus in Nanjing, China, and with partner institutions around the world.

“Jim’s proven expertise in supporting faculty research, developing innovative programs, and creating partnerships among and between schools aligns perfectly with our commitment to promote cross-disciplinary activities and initiatives among faculty and students in our seven schools and colleges,”  noted Rahmat Shoureshi, Ph.D., NYIT provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Simon earned a B.A. from Rutgers University and was a fellow at the university’s Eagleton Institute of Politics. He earned a master’s degree from the Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication and a Ph.D. from the School of Public Affairs, both at Arizona State University, Tempe.