Buffalo, NY—Canisius University announces the appointment of Lawrence T. Potter Jr., PhD, as its new vice president for academic affairs, effective November 11. Potter was selected to lead the university’s academic vision and strategic initiatives following an extensive nationwide search.
“Dr. Potter brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of academic leadership to Canisius University,” says President Steve K. Stoute. “His innovative approach to education and commitment to student success align perfectly with our mission, and I am confident that under his guidance, Canisius will continue to develop and expand its academic programs and partnerships to create new educational pathways for students.”
As vice president for academic affairs, Potter will play a pivotal role in advancing the university's research agenda and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. His oversight will extend to all aspects of the university’s academic programs, including curriculum development, faculty affairs, and strategic academic initiatives. His leadership will ensure the highest standards of academic excellence and foster an environment of innovation and inclusive scholarship.
“I am truly honored to become a part of the Canisius University community and am deeply excited about the opportunities that lie ahead," says Potter. "The institution boasts a rich tradition of academic excellence and a steadfast commitment to educating the whole person. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to further enhance this foundation and cultivate even greater intellectual growth. This will equip students to emerge as dynamic leaders capable of addressing complex challenges through a holistic and humanistic approach."
Potter joins Canisius from the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), where he served as the chief academic officer and provost since 2019. In this capacity, he provided academic vision and leadership for the exclusively public, historically Black urban land-grant university. UDC offers more than 80 degree programs at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels and serves nearly 4,000 degree-seeking students with a faculty and staff of over 400. Potter led six academic colleges and workforce development, university libraries, research and graduate education, and the Center for Teaching and Learning. In addition to academic and strategic planning efforts, he oversaw the academic program review process accreditation, academic partnerships, and managed a $69 million budget for academic affairs.
Under his leadership, the university established eight seamless pathway programs from associate degree to baccalaureate degree programs and similarly secured $20 million in funding to support priority academic pathways in nursing, STEM/information technology/cybersecurity, and teacher education and preparation. Potter also facilitated the implementation of two new doctoral programs in urban leadership and entrepreneurship, and engineering and computer science. He established the Office of University Research and Sponsored Programs, which, in just four years, saw a 142 percent increase in research awards and grants, from $19 million to $46 million. Potter also initiated corporate partnerships with Amazon, which enabled employees of the corporate giant to enroll in associate- and bachelor-level programs at UDC to increase their educational attainment and degree completion.
As a result of these achievements and others, UDC grew its reputation and rankings. According to U.S. News & World Report, UDC was ranked No. 17 among all historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and No. 14 among public HBCUs in 2022-2023—the highest ranking in its history. AffordableSchools.net ranked UDC among the Best Affordable Business Schools in the nation, No. 1 among the Best Affordable Bachelor’s Degree Programs in the District of Columbia, and No. 1 among the Best Mechanical Engineering Degree Programs in the nation during the same period.
Potter earned a PhD and MA in English (literature and criticism) from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a BA in English, religion, and philosophy from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, AL. He also holds certifications from several executive management programs, including the American Council on Education’s Fellows Program, Oxford University’s Public Policy Round Table, and IBM’s Executive Management Program.
Potter is an accomplished author with several publications and works in progress. His manuscript titled "To Be Young, Gifted and Black: Higher Education Diversity Challenges and Racial Backlash in 21st Century" is currently under review, as is "African American Males, and Yearning: Respect, Responsibility, and Reciprocity in the Novels of Three Contemporary Writers." Potter is also preparing to publish "Harlem's Forgotten Genius: The Life and Literary World of Wallace Henry Thurman." His previous works include "Still Invisible, Still Voiceless: Or, Still Too Taboo," "Bum Rush the Page: A Def Poetry Jam," and "Brother to Brother: Collected Writings by Black Gay Men," all of which are featured in the Encyclopedia of African American Literature.
Canisius University is a private, Catholic, Jesuit university in Buffalo, New York. Founded in 1870, it is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States and the premier private university in Western New York. Through its seven schools and colleges, Canisius offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and programs, 65 master's programs, and a variety of professional degrees.
