Gibbs, Keen join LI economic council
Farmingdale State College president W. Hubert Keen and Doon Gibbs, the interim director of Brookhaven National Laboratory, are the newest members of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. Credit: Newsday, 2012 / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
A laboratory director and college president have been appointed to the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council.
Doon Gibbs, interim director of Brookhaven National Laboratory and W. Hubert Keen, president of Farmingdale State College, participated in council deliberations as members for the first time Tuesday afternoon.
Gibbs has led the lab since January; a search is under way for a permanent director. Gibbs, a physicist, came to Brookhaven in 1983 and has led several of its divisions over the years.
Keen was tapped as Farmingdale State’s president six years ago after serving as its chief academic officer. The biologist has worked for SUNY’s central administration, SUNY Old Westbury and CUNY York College. He began his teaching career at SUNY Cortland.
Keen is no stranger to the 25-member council. He has helped to lead its workforce and education working group for the past two years.
The new council members succeed the Rev. Calvin Butts III, president of SUNY Old Westbury, and Samuel Aronson, former head of the Brookhaven lab.
The council is one of 10 established by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in 2011 to develop five-year strategies for job creation and help to identify projects worthy of state aid.
