Paul Smith's College sits on the shore of Lower St. Regis Lake. (Photo provided by Paul Smith's College)

PAUL SMITHS — Three Paul Smith’s College staff members have been promoted to leadership positions as the college creates new research institutes in an effort to drive enrollment, grants and revenue.

Since 1989, the college has run the Adirondack Watershed Institute, a water quality monitoring organization which conducts research into the waters and the aquatic inhabitants of the Adirondacks.

PSC President Dan Kelting told the Enterprise last week that he wants every academic program to be affiliated with an outward-facing institute like the AWI. Kelting was formerly the executive director of the AWI and recently became the college’s president after almost two years as its interim president, succeeding Nicholas Hunt-Bull. College board chair Mark Dzwonczyk said the board dropped the “interim” from Kelting’s title because, under Kelting, the school has “stabilized” after several tumultuous years.

“There’s a lot of movement that’s happening right now,” PSC spokeswoman Sara Delacruz said.

She said the new actions show an “increasing momentum and commitment to greater external engagement.”

The college is in the process of creating three new institutes and potentially a fourth — including a culinary artisans and adventure hospitality institute, a forestry institute and a climate and environmental justice institute. The college has degree tracks for each of these fields and Delacruz said they want to provide more focused centers for each corresponding academic program.

These institutes are expected to provide data and ideas for the Adirondack community, be a center for research into the natural world and position the college as a place to be a part of these efforts, Delacruz said.

To oversee these institutes, PSC also is forming its “Center for Research, Partnerships and Innovation” to be a “hub” for all of the institutes.

The AWI is at the center of the recent promotions.

Zoe Smith, who became the executive director for the Adirondack Watershed Institute after Kelting was appointed as the college president in 2022, has been promoted to vice president of strategic initiatives.

Brendan Wiltse, who had been the AWI’s director of student engagement and water quality director, has been appointed as the new executive director for the AWI. Bill Brosseau, who had been AWI’s stewardship and education director, is now the deputy director of AWI.

Smith has “extensive leadership experience and deep-rooted connections” in the region, according to a news release from the college. Wiltse has nationally recognized expertise in lake management and Brosseau has “exceptional leadership skills,” the news release reads. Wiltse and Brosseau are both alumni of PSC.

“These leadership changes and the creation of the new center represent a significant and bold step forward for Paul Smith’s College,” Kelting said in a statement. “We are excited about the future and confident that Zoe, Brendan and Bill will excel in their new roles.

“Zoe’s leadership and vision make her ideally suited to spearhead our strategic initiatives,” he added. “Her ability to connect with our region and her commitment to our mission will be invaluable as we take bold steps to enhance our programs and impact.”

Classes at Paul Smith’s College started on Monday.

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This is the first of a series of stories on the new developments at Paul Smith’s College.