Mary C. Pearl

Mary Corliss Pearl (born July 5, 1950) is a scientist, environmentalist, and educator and is the current Dean of William E. Macaulay Honors College. She was appointed by Chancellor Milliken in August 2016. Formerly, Dr. Pearl served as the first dean and administrative vice president of Stony Brook University Southampton. She is a founding member of the Higher Education Group of the Rainforest Alliance, New York City, 1988. Trustee Gomez Foundation, 1985-2000. Founder Calvin Hill Daycare Center, New Haven, 1970. Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Board member of the Institute for Ecological Research (Brazil), Ecohealth Society, Society for Conservation Biology (board governor 1990-1993), International Union for Conservation of Nature (primate specialist group species survival commission), International Women's Forum, and the Belizean Grove. Before coming to Macaulay Honors College, she was CEO of The Garrison Institute, a research and retreat center.

Pearl received her bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1972. She continued her education at Yale University receiving her Master of Philosophy in 1976 and Doctor of Philosophy in 1982. She later received an honorary Doctor of Science degree at Marist College in 2006.

From the years 1984-1993, Pearl was Director for Asia and Pacific and Administrator for Conservation Programs at the Wildlife Conservation Society, where she was responsible for the international research program in Asia and the Pacific and ran the international research grants program. In 1994, she was named President of Wildlife Trust/Ecohealth Alliance and maintained this title for 15 years until February 2009. As President, Pearl was chief executive of an international wildlife conservation and ecosystem health research institute. During this time Mary C. Pearl served on the faculty of the New York Times Institute for Environmental Journalists, where she lectured to mid-career journalists on the most recent advances in understanding of the health effects of environmental change.

In March 2009, she became the Administrative Vice President and Dean at SUNY Stony Brook Southampton, an innovative college based at the former LIU Southampton College campus under the aegis of Stony Brook University, characterized by a talented, energized and interdisciplinary faculty, highly motivated students, and a set of majors and research programs focused on the grand challenge of sustainability. She left this position in July 2010 when she moved on to become the Chief Executive Officer of Garrison Institute. In 2011, Mary Pearl taught at the School of Visual Arts in the Masters Program for Design for Social Innovation.

In May 2012, Pearl joined the William E. Macaulay Honors College team. While holding a position as Chief Academic Officer and Associate Dean at the Macaulay Honors College, Pearl also held an appointment as Professor of Biology at Brooklyn College and Senior Research Scientist at Columbia University, based at the Center for Environment Economy and Society. In March 2014, Pearl transitioned to provost within Macaulay Honors College. In February 2016, Dr. Ann Kirschner, was promoted to provost and Dr. Pearl took on the role of Interim Dean for the college. In September 2016, Chancellor James B. Milliken named Dr. Mary Corliss Pearl Dean of CUNY's Macaulay Honors College.