Scott A. Gordon

Gordon is a native of Malone, New York, and was a first-generation college student. He received his bachelor's degree in biology from the State University of New York at Cortland and earned a master's degree and doctorate in botany and mycology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.{{cite thesis |last=Gordon |first=Scott Allen |date=1990 |title=Mating systems in Marasmius |type=M.S. |publisher=University of Tennessee |oclc=23172644 |url=https://utk.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01UTN_KNOXVILLE/13vcoh0/alma999471650102311 |access-date= June 10, 2020}}{{cite thesis |last=Gordon |first=Scott Allen |date=1994 |title=Infraspecific variation within three species of Marasmius (Tricholomataceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycotina) |type=PhD |publisher=University of Tennessee |oclc=32219287 |url=https://utk.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01UTN_KNOXVILLE/13vcoh0/alma999811610102311 |access-date= June 10, 2020}} He also holds certifications in educational management and leadership from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.{{fact|date=June 2022}}

Gordon was affiliated with the University of Southern Indiana (USI) for 22 years (1994 to 2016) and served as dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education from 2005 to 2016. In addition, he served for 10 years as the faculty athletics representative, was named an NCAA faculty athletic representative fellow, and was vice president and treasurer of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, which includes 14 NCAA Division II institutions.{{fact|date=June 2022}}

At USI, Gordon piloted a technology commercialization academy that allowed engineering and business students to develop ideas and business strategies around the commercialization of intellectual property.{{Cite web|title=USI spearheads Technology Commercialization Academy - University of Southern Indiana|url=https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2012/06/usi-spearheads-technology-commercialization-academy|website=www.usi.edu|access-date=2020-05-12}}

As Eastern Washington University (EWU){{Cite web|title=EWU hires Gordon for provost position|url=https://www.cheneyfreepress.com/story/2016/02/25/news/ewu-hires-gordon-for-provost-position/17866.html|last=Press|first=Cheney Free|website=Cheney Free Press|access-date=2020-05-12}} provost and vice president for academic affairs from 2016 to 2019, Gordon continued his work to provide students with real-world experience in finding useful applications for existing technologies.{{Cite web|title=EWU launches new tech commercialization academy > Spokane Journal of Business|url=https://www.spokanejournal.com/local-news/ewu-launches-new-tech-commercialization-academy/|website=www.spokanejournal.com|access-date=2020-05-12}} He developed partnerships with community colleges, business and industry, as well as government entities – work that was highlighted by a unique partnership of multiple businesses in The Catalyst, a 140,000-square-foot facility in downtown Spokane.{{Cite web|title=EWU plans major expansion into Spokane's University District|url=http://www.spokaneudistrict.org/news/682/ewu-plans-major-expansion-into-spokanes-university-district|website=The University District|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}} He encouraged development of a new degree program based on course materials developed by Microsoft to produce graduates with data analytics experience in order to meet the fluctuating needs of 21st-century employers.{{Cite web|title=Impatient with universities' slow pace of change, employers go around them|url=https://hechingerreport.org/impatient-universities-slow-pace-change-employers-go-around/|last=Marcus|first=Jon|date=2017-12-18|website=The Hechinger Report|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12}}{{Cite web|title=How Eastern Washington University Spins Up New Programs in Record Time|url=https://www.helixeducation.com/resources/enrollment-growth-university/microsoft-new-program-eastern-washington-university-dr-scott-gordon/|last=Drawdy|first=Ryan|date=2018-01-22|website=Helix Education|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12}}

As EWU's chief academic officer, Gordon was charged with overseeing more than 500 faculty members in six academic colleges, with responsibility for academic policy and planning, distance education, international programs and institutional research. Gordon wanted to reorganize Academic Affairs, but left with the plan unfinished. Reorganization was not completed until two years after he left EWU.{{Cite web|title=Reorganization of EWU's Colleges Detailed|url=https://inside.ewu.edu/news/featured/reorganization-of-ewus-colleges-detailed/|website=Inside EWU| date=20 January 2021 |language=en-US|access-date=2021-09-08}}

At Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) he was named sole finalist for the position of president on July 23, 2019, and unanimously confirmed by the SFA Board of Regents on August 17, 2019.{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=KTRE Digital Media|title=Dr. Scott Gordon confirmed as ninth SFA president|url=https://www.ksla.com/2019/08/18/dr-scott-gordon-confirmed-ninth-sfa-president/|access-date=2022-05-07|website=ksla.com|language=en}} The search for SFA's president was led by the Dallas-based firm R. William Funk & Associates."SFA Regents Hire Presidential Search Firm." https://www.sfasu.edu/10269.asp At SFA, Gordon established a budget prioritization process and developed new tuition models to lower the cost of attendance.{{Cite web|title=SFA talks about college's COVID-19 preparations|url=https://www.ktre.com/2020/03/13/webxtra-sfa-talks-about-colleges-covid-preparations/|last=McCollum|first=Donna|website=KTRE|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12}}

On September 9, 2021, the SFA Faculty Senate voted no confidence in Gordon, citing initiatives with no results, breaches of shared governance, and troublesome personal behavior cited as "bullying and unreasonably impatient behavior both in public and in private."{{cite web |title=KETK-TV News |url=https://www.ketk.com/news/sfa-faculty-senate-votes-no-confidence-in-president-gordon-asks-regents-revoke-contract/ |website=KETK-TV News |date=12 September 2021 |access-date=16 September 2021}} Every Academic Dean and Academic Department Head joined the Faculty Senate in their concerns and support of the "no confidence" vote.{{Cite web|title=SFA president responds to Faculty Senate calls for revocation of contract, says 'we have to work together'|url=https://www.kltv.com/2021/09/09/sfa-faculty-senate-calls-board-regents-revoke-pres-scott-gordons-contract/|last=Frazier|first=Stephanie|website=KLTV|language=en-US|access-date=2021-09-08}}{{Cite web|title=SFA talks about college's COVID-19 preparations|url=https://www.dailysentinel.com/social_media/article_5bea5650-c51b-51b3-a968-e14cf85662be.html|website=Daily Sentinel|language=en-US|access-date=2021-09-08}}

On April 10, 2022, at a meeting of the SFA Board of Regents, SFA announced that the university and President Gordon mutually agreed to end his tenure after faculty objected to his pay raise.{{cite news |last1=Greenberg |first1=Susan H. |title=President Departs After Faculty Objects to His Pay Raise |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2022/04/12/president-departs-after-faculty-objects-his-pay-raise |access-date=7 May 2022 |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=April 12, 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Sentinel|first=JOSH EDWARDS/The Nacogdoches Daily|title=Gordon out as SFA president|url=https://lufkindailynews.com/news/community/article_09e61964-b936-11ec-88d4-9f2ac4123654.html|access-date=2022-05-07|website=The Lufkin Daily News|language=en}} The Board of Regents appointed Steve Westbrook as interim president to replace him.{{Cite web|title= SFA: President Scott Gordon and university mutually agree to end his tenure|url=https://www.ketk.com/news/local-news/sfa-president-scott-gordon-and-university-mutually-agree-to-end-his-tenure/ |last=Sowels|first=Sage|date=2021-04-10|website=KETK-TV News | access-date=2022-04-10}} Gordon was paid $809,124.46 in severance plus up to $30,000 in moving expenses, eligible reimbursable expenses, as well as vacation days.{{cite web | url=https://www.dailysentinel.com/social_media/article_d7e20b1a-1b49-5b1d-b3bf-798ff142b9b3.html | title=Documents: SFA's Gordon gets $800K in severance pay }} Forty-five people signed confidentiality agreements constraining them from speaking about this deal including the Regents, deans, and accountants, which came to light two months later.McGee, Kate. "Stephen F. Austin State University President Scott Gordon Steps Down Months After a Salary Bump Angered the Campus Community," The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 11, 2022. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/04/11/stephen-f-austin-president/{{cite news |last1=Knox |first1=Liam |title=President Who Resigned Receives $800,000 in Severance Pay |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2022/06/17/president-who-resigned-receives-800000-severance-pay|access-date=2022-06-17 |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=2022-06-17 |language=en}} The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel reported: "Gordon gets 'approved talking points' in future job recommendations. Regents are not allowed to give an honest assessment."Editorial: "A Pall of Secrecy Surrounds SFA's Deal With Gordon," June 18–19, 2022, The Daily Sentinel Opinion Section, Page 6B, Retrieved June 19, 2022. https://www.dailysentinel.com/opinion/article_2862835b-6bf6-582f-9334-503e8e0e107e.html

In 2022, Gordon was named Executive Director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Franklin County, New York.https://franklin.cce.cornell.edu/staff/scott-gordonhttps://www.mymalonetelegram.com/top_stories/franklin-county-legislators-meet-new-director-of-cornell-cooperative-extension/article_42d3ebee-56c2-584e-92ce-9e61aa4ededd.html

{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gordon, Scott A.}}

Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American botanists

Category:21st-century American botanists

Category:State University of New York at Cortland alumni

Category:University of Tennessee alumni

Category:University of Indianapolis faculty

Category:Stephen F. Austin State University faculty