POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (August 5, 2019) – Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. (HVEDC) announced the addition of Michael T. Walsh, President and CEO of the Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries, as well as Executive Director of the institute’s Engineering Management program, to its Advisory Board.
President, Beacon Institute
Executive Director, Engineering & Management
The Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries is the Hudson Valley campus of Clarkson University. Located at Denning’s Point in Beacon, N.Y., the campus serves as a research institute focused on healthy water solutions, and provides educational services including K-12, public and family and professional graduate programs. The Beacon Institute aims to ignite citizen science, user-inspired R&D and education through collaboration and creative innovation to inspire sustainable solutions for estuary and freshwater ecosystems throughout the Hudson Valley and across New York State.
The institute’s many public and family programs include: Clarkson University’s Water Ecology Center located at Denning’s Point State Park; WOW! for Kids, a nature education program that brings participants face to face with live animals; an interactive learning space called Sensor Place that promotes science literacy and environmental awareness; annual park cleanup events; naturalist “walk and talks” led by regional experts; and more. Its Engineering Management and Data Analytics academic programs are both masters track programs offered in Beacon, NY.
In his current role with the Beacon Institute, Walsh oversees daily operations and execution of all institute activities. He assists its board in determining the Institute’s values and mission as well as its short- and long-term goals, while monitoring and evaluating its relevance to the community, its effectiveness and its results. He informs the board of internal and external factors that affect the Institute’s strategic initiatives. He is Executive Director of the cohort-based Engineering Management professional education program, which furthers Clarkson’s long-standing tradition of developing advanced engineering, manufacturing and technological skills.
Walsh has worked for Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y. in various capacities since 2009. He previously served the university as its Director of Business Development & Academic Programs for three years, from 2012 until 2015, during which time he developed strategic partnerships that helped develop innovative, value-added academic programs and learning initiatives, while also identifying and addressing workforce development initiatives. He was also Director of Graduate Enrollment & Student Affairs for the university’s School of Business, following a stint as Assistant/Associate Director of Graduate Business Programs. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership, administration and policy from Fordham University in New York, N.Y., and earned both his master’s degree in business administration and bachelor’s degree in science and finance from Clarkson University.
“Mike is an active and engaged leader with the distinguished Beacon Institute, whose strong commitment to the Hudson Valley is apparent in everything he does,” said Mike Oates, President and CEO of HVEDC. “He supports responsible, sustainable growth in our region – environmentally and professionally – advocating for, and educating people on, responsible stewardship of the River and helping train the next generation of our region’s burgeoning skilled workforce. He will be a valued advisor to our organization and those we support.”
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC):
HVEDC is the leading economic development agency for the seven-county region of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. The public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC helped start the organizational, branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley, Hudson Valley 3D Printing and the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. To learn more, call 845-220-2244 or visit hvedc.com.
