Thomas L. Kassouf Elected Chair of Clarkson University Board of Trustees
Potsdam, NY (12/10/2019) — Thomas L. Kassouf, Clarkson class of 1974, has been elected to serve as the chair of the Clarkson University Board of Trustees as of October 26, 2019.
Kassouf retired earlier in 2019 as Senior Vice President of Snap-on Inc. and President of Snap-on Tools Group, a leading global innovator, manufacturer, and marketer of tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information and systems solutions for professional users performing critical tasks.
He is the twenty-third board leader since Clarkson was founded in 1896 and the eighth alumnus to lead the Board. Kassouf has been a University trustee since 2014; and served as board vice chair since 2018.
He received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Clarkson in 1974, and was commissioned that year as a 2LT from Clarkson's Army ROTC program.
Prior to Snap-on Tools, he held other senior roles at Snap-on Incorporated; Wabash National Corporation; Kohler Company; Pratt & Whitney; and Carrier Corporation.
He has been active in a variety of affinity groups within the Alumni Association, an advisor to the department of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering, and a member of the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering Leadership Council prior to serving on the Board. In July 2019, the Alumni Association presented him with its prestigious Golden Knight Award, which recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves through service to Clarkson and for outstanding career achievements that bring distinction to themselves and to Clarkson.
Previously from Syracuse, N.Y., he resides in Port Washington, Wisc., and summers in Wellesley Island, New York with his wife Lynn "Soko" Kassouf '76.
As a private, national research university, Clarkson is a leader in technological education and sustainable economic development through teaching, scholarship, research and innovation. We ignite personal connections across academic fields and industries to create the entrepreneurial mindset, knowledge and intellectual curiosity needed to innovate world-relevant solutions and cultivate the leaders of tomorrow. With its main campus located in Potsdam, N.Y., and additional graduate program and research facilities in the New York Capital Region, Beacon, N.Y., and New York City, Clarkson educates 4,300 students across 95 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, the arts, education, sciences and health professions. Our alumni earn salaries that are among the top 2.5% in the nation and realize accelerated career growth. One in five already leads as a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company.
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