Cuomo appoints three to Binghamton University Council

BINGHAMTON — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has appointed Dennis McCabe, Patricia Cummings, and Linda Biemer to serve on the Binghamton University Council, replacing three members whose terms have expired.

McCabe replaces Nathaalie Maxwell Carey and will serve until June 30, 2018. Cummings replaces John Spring and will serve until June 30, 2019. Biemer replaces Brian Prew and will serve until June 30, 2017. The new members will begin their terms immediately.

McCabe earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and his juris doctorate from St. Mary’s University Law School in San Antonio, Texas. A past partner with the Binghamton law firm Levene, Gouldin & Thompson, LLP, he retired in December 2011, after serving for 27 years with the New York State Attorney General’s office, the last 17 of which he served as the assistant attorney general in charge of the Binghamton Regional Office. A member of the New York State Bar Association and the Broome County Bar Association, McCabe has served on the Broome County Board of Elections. He also was formerly deputy mayor, then mayor of Johnson City.

A partner at the Binghamton law firm Leonard & Cummings, LLP, Cummings was board certified in nuclear medicine, radiology, and diagnostic medical sonography technology and worked in that field before returning to school to become an attorney. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ottawa University and her juris doctorate from Syracuse University Law School. Cummings was recently appointed chair of the New York State, Third Department, Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commissions, after serving as a member since 2007. She was also appointed in 2011 to the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council by Gov. Cuomo and serves on its executive committee.

Biemer, dean of the former School of Education and Human Development at Binghamton University from 1988 to 1999, and professor emerita, has also taught at SUNY Cortland, Hartwick College, and Cortland City Schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Elmira College, her master’s degree in education from SUNY Cortland, and her doctorate in social sciences and history from the Maxwell School of Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Biemer has been an International Review of Teacher Education Reviewer since 2005, served in several roles with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), on the SUNY Provost’s Advisory Council for Teacher Education, the New York State Professional Practices and Standards Board, and as president of the NY American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

The Binghamton University Council is comprised of 10 unpaid members — nine appointed by the governor and the 10th, a student, selected by his or her peers. The council supervises certain university operations, including reviewing budget requests, making regulations for student conduct, supervising student housing and safety, naming buildings and grounds, and reviewing plans for improvement of the faculty, staff, and physical plant. 

Contact Carbonaro at mcarbonaro@cnybj.com