After seven years of dedicated service to the deans of the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), executive assistant Kathleen Kenny will retire at the end of the Spring 2025 semester. Stepping into that role is Amy Prieto, who started on January 13, 2025. Over the next four months, Kenny will work closely with Prieto to ensure a smooth transition.

The executive assistant is critical to the effective functioning of the Dean's Office. The position serves as the Dean's liaison with key stakeholders at all levels of the University community, as well as with alumni, parents, community leaders and others outside the University.

About Kathleen Kenny

Kathleen Kenny retires this spring after working for A&S and Syracuse University in various capacities over the past 25 years. As executive assistant since 2017, she ensured the smooth operation of the Dean’s Office during the transitions between Dean Emerita Karin Ruhlandt, former Interim Dean Lois Agnew (now the University’s Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost), and current Dean Behzad Mortazavi, who began his tenure in July 2023. Before becoming the executive assistant to the dean, she served as an administrative assistant for A&S’ Office of Advancement (2016-2017), an office supervisor for A&S’ Office of Admissions (2012-2016), and also held administrative roles in A&S’ Office of Student Records, A&S’ Office of Student Services and the sociology department in the Maxwell School.

In her retirement, she looks forward to traveling with her husband and spending more time with her daughter in Charlotte, North Carolina. Additionally, she aims to finish her sociology degree, which she has been pursuing while working at the University.

About Amy Prieto

Amy Prieto comes to A&S with 20 years of higher education experience, working for the last 11 years as the executive assistant to the president at NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. NASPA is a network of more than 15,000 professionals, faculty and students dedicated to student success in higher education. As the executive assistant to the president, she handled scheduling, coordinated travel arrangements, provided assistance with correspondence and major projects, and served as the staff liaison to the NASPA Board of Directors.

Prior to working at NASPA, Prieto was the intake coordinator for the Phillips Graduate Institute Counseling Center in Chatsworth, California, and a residence director at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Prieto received a master’s degree in counseling from Western Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism from the University of New Hampshire.

Prieto resides in Fayetteville with her two dogs. In her free time, she is involved in community theatre around Central New York and serves as vice president at CNY Playhouse in Syracuse.

A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi says, “I am grateful for Kathleen’s dedication, professionalism and commitment to the College. As we bid Kathleen a fond farewell and wish her a wonderful, well-deserved retirement, we are equally excited to welcome Amy and look forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly make.”