KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The University System of New Hampshire has appointed Plymouth State University President Donald L. Birx to also serve as interim president of Keene State College, following the departure of longtime KSC leader Melinda Treadwell.

The USNH Board of Trustees voted Wednesday night to support Birx’s dual appointment, which extends through June 30, 2026. Birx will continue to lead Plymouth State while overseeing Keene State, where Provost Kirsti Sandy and Executive Vice President Nathalie Houder will handle day-to-day operations.

Treadwell, a 1990 Keene State alumna and the first graduate to serve as its president, announced last month that she would step down in October to become president of the State University of New York at Geneseo. Her new role begins Oct. 27.

USNH Chancellor Catherine Provencher said Birx’s appointment builds on the close partnership already in place between Keene State and Plymouth State. “The intentional and sustained efforts of Presidents Birx and Treadwell to prioritize the student experience at both campuses by sharing resources and strengths allows for continuity and a natural progression of interim leadership,” Provencher said in a news release.

Birx, who has led Plymouth State since 2015, said he plans to continue the collaborative work both institutions have cultivated in recent years. “KSC and PSU have been collaborating at all levels for quite a while, and this transition gives us a chance to see how we can be even more successful by working closely together,” he said in the release, adding that he deeply respects Treadwell’s leadership and legacy at Keene State.

Treadwell served nearly 25 years at Keene State, including roles as professor, dean, provost, and interim president before being officially named president in 2019. During her tenure, she guided the college through the COVID-19 pandemic, stabilized enrollment, and strengthened community and business partnerships across the Monadnock Region.

“It has been the privilege of my career to serve my alma mater,” Treadwell said in a statement. “Keene State is an incredible community deeply committed to student success. I am confident that President Don Birx will continue to champion the value of public higher education in both Keene and Plymouth.”

Before joining Plymouth State, Birx held leadership positions at Pennsylvania State University’s Behrend College, the University of Houston System, and New Mexico State University. He holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley; Miami University; and the University of Dayton. Earlier this year, New Hampshire Business Review named him to its “2025 New Hampshire 200” list recognizing the state’s most influential leaders.

Provencher said the leadership transition ensures Keene State’s continued stability and momentum as Treadwell begins her next chapter. “President Birx is the right person to guide Keene State through this period of change,” she said.