Dear Campus Community:
Kaustav Misra, Ph.D., will become the next Dean of the School of Business at SUNY New Paltz effective July 1, 2026, after a competitive national search.
Misra joins the New Paltz community after serving more than three years as dean at SUNY Fredonia’s School of Business, where he oversaw student and academic affairs, personnel administration, financial planning and accreditation activities, among other responsibilities, for a school of three undergraduate departments and one graduate degree program, while also directing Fredonia’s Center for Innovation & Economic Development.
“I am honored to join SUNY New Paltz as the incoming Dean of the School of Business,” Misra said. “The University’s historic campus, strategic Hudson Valley location, outstanding student body, and dedicated faculty create a strong foundation for continued excellence. I look forward to building on this momentum by advancing innovative programs, aligning with regional workforce development needs, strengthening partnerships, and further elevating student success and community impact.”
Misra’s career in higher education demonstrates a commitment to entrepreneurship and a facility for strategic, long-term planning. After earning his Ph.D. in applied economics from Mississippi State University, Misra served for nearly a decade at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, then nearly four years as associate dean of the School of Business at Central Connecticut State University, before his appointment as dean at SUNY Fredonia in 2023.
Misra's leadership at Fredonia led to the creation of signature initiatives like the Best in Business Awards, Women Entrepreneurship Day, the International Business Analytics Conference, the Analytics Career Fair, the School of Business Discovery Day, a Shark Tank-style Business Pitch Competition for high school students, and a Literacy Day Workshop for middle and high school educators that engaged approximately 350 teachers and administrators.
He also expanded Fredonia’s portfolio with several new academic programs, including the MBA in Accounting Online and the +2 Online Completion Program in Sports Management, while advancing new bachelor's degrees in Alternative Energy Management, Healthcare Administration, and Data Analytics: Financial Economics.
Over his years as an administrator, Misra has refined a data-informed approach to planning, assessment and educational innovation. He has led two strategic planning processes and contributed to three others; supported faculty colleagues in expanding multi-modal teaching (in-person, online and hybrid) to serve more students; developed and implemented effective faculty retention strategies for an ever-more-competitive higher education landscape; and supported three successful Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) reaccreditation processes.
In addition to his time at Mississippi State University, Misra earned master’s degrees in in economics and agricultural economics from the University of Kentucky, and master’s degrees in marketing and business administration from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya I West Bengal, India, where he began his career in industry prior to moving into academia.
Misra will take the place of outgoing School of Business Dean Kristin Backhaus, who has served in that role since 2015. Backhaus will remain at SUNY New Paltz as a teaching faculty member and as director of economic development & community engagement, supporting strategic public and private partnerships in service of the University’s objectives related to social impact, innovation and workforce development in local and regional communities.
Please join me in welcoming Kaustav Misra to the SUNY New Paltz community.
Sincerely,
William McClure
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
