Kristin Backhaus
Dean, School of Business, and Director of Economic Development & Community Engagement
Dean of the School of Business
Director of Economic Development & Community Engagement
Kristin Backhaus has served as dean of the School of Business since April 2015, after serving as interim dean from 2014-2015.
Backhaus has held positions of increasing responsibility since joining the University in 1986. During her tenure at SUNY New Paltz she has served as Professor of Management, Assistant Dean for Assessment, Assistant Director of Human Resources, Affirmative Action Officer and Assistant to the Dean of Education.
In 2024, she was appointed as the University's first-ever Director of Economic Development & Community Engagement. In this new role, Backhaus manages a portfolio focused on planning and leading strategic engagement with public and private partnerships, in ultimate service of expanding the University’s contributions to economic development, innovation, social impact and workforce development in our local and regional communities.
Backhaus has been recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the School of Business Distinguished Service Award and the New Paltz Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching Award.
She has published research in the areas of employer branding, cognitive/learning styles, and person-organization fit, and has served as president of the Eastern Academy of Management, and co-editor of current empirical research for the Organization Management Journal.
She holds a doctorate in educational administration and policy studies from the University at Albany, a master of education degree in student personnel administration from the University of Vermont, and a bachelor’s degree in literature and rhetoric from Binghamton University.
