Faculty Promotions Announced in SUNY Canton's School of Business and Liberal Arts

Several faculty members have been promoted in SUNY Canton’s School of Business and Liberal Arts.

"We have incredible faculty members at SUNY Canton, and it is always a pleasure to see them advance in their careers," said School of Business and Liberal Arts Dean Kenneth Rhee. “Their commitment and dedication to student learning and success continue to elevate our programs and inspire our students.”

Phillip James, Ph.D., was promoted to associate professor. His area of specialization is Accounting, and he teaches Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, and Cost Accounting, among other classes. James earned his Master of Science in Accounting from the University of the West Indies and his doctorate in Accounting from the University of Technology, Jamaica. He is regarded as one of the college’s top researchers and has done extensive research in corporate governance, resulting in several peer-reviewed journal publications and book chapters. He is an active member of the community and currently serves on the board of directors of the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Guild. Despite his busy teaching and research schedule, he spends several hours with his son, who is a varsity athlete, at his various school sports events.

Karen M. St. Hilaire was promoted to senior lecturer. She has taught several courses, including Professional Ethics, Management Communications, Human Resources and Small Business Development. St. Hilaire began teaching as an adjunct at SUNY Canton after retiring as administrator of St. Lawrence County in 2015. While serving as county administrator, she also taught as an adjunct professor at SUNY Potsdam and in the MBA program at Clarkson University, where she received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. St. Hilaire has been able to bring “real world” experience to her students from her vast experience in both business and government. She is currently developing new courses in entrepreneurship.

Christina Leshko, Ph.D., was promoted to senior lecturer. Leshko originally hails from New Jersey, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rutgers University. After she caught the social science research bug, she went on to earn her Master of Arts in Sociology from Michigan State University. She completed her doctorate in Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands while teaching full-time at SUNY Canton. Her research focuses on the relationship between social identity, sense of belonging, and leadership practices. She is currently the co-organizer of the college’s American Association of University Women chapter, promoting gender equity and empowerment. Dr. Leshko spends her downtime outdoors with her family and having dance parties with her 4-year-old son.