Boyd Replacing Aaronson as Dean
Jonathan Monfiletto
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: News
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"I'm a homebody," said the professor who is completing his 32nd year at UC. "I like to spend most of my time at home." He explained that he actually lives in Conklin, N.Y., about two hours from Utica, and he stays in Utica during the week and goes home on the weekends.
The time he spends away from his family during the week makes him just enjoy being at home on the weekends. When not teaching, he likes to spend time with his wife and their five children and two grandchildren. He also likes to watch classic movies and read about history, and he has a passionate interest in astronomy. He has a powerful telescope with a camera on it, with which he hopes to be able to take pictures of the sky.
Boyd was recently elected to serve a one-year term as Dean of Arts and Sciences, a position he calls an "intern position." As the college prepares to undergo a reorganization process, all division deans are serving their last year. Boyd said that a reorganization plan was presented to the faculty, but finalized plans have not been completed.
Boyd has been associate professor of chemistry at UC since 1991, although he joined the faculty in 1975 as a clinical chemist in the medical technology department. When that department was terminated due to a lack of enrollment, he moved to the chemistry department and has been there ever since. In 1997, he left the college for a short time to earn his Ph.D. and returned in the fall of 1999 after completing the degree.
Before coming to UC, Boyd taught for a year at Xavier University in New Orleans, La., in 1974, and previously he was a medical technologist at Millard Fillmore Hospital and a medical technician at Erie County Laboratories, both located in his native Buffalo.
He earned an Associate's degree in medical technology from Erie Community College in 1970 and a Bachelor's degree in the same discipline from SUNY Buffalo in 1972. He completed his Master's degree at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in 1974 and began his teaching career. He received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from SUNY Binghamton in 2000.
Boyd replaces Dr. Lawrence Aaronson, who is stepping down after serving a seven-year tenure as dean. Aaronson said that he is stepping down in order to return to the classroom and teach students, something he says he has a true passion for.
"I love teaching, and the way this position is changing, it would be more difficult for me to teach even one course a semester," said the biology professor in an e-mail. "I will miss working with the other deans and administrators, but I get the greatest satisfaction when I'm teaching."
"He's done an absolutely wonderful job for arts and sciences," Boyd said of his colleague, adding that he will enjoy Aaronson's wisdom and advice as he performs his year of being in charge of the division. "I just hope I do a good job for the college and the division."
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