Niagara University has appointed Dr. Robert G. Kane Jr. dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, effective Nov. 16.
Dr. Kane has served as interim dean since June 2025, following nine years as the college’s associate dean. He joined Niagara’s faculty in 2003.
“The College of Arts and Sciences is at the heart of the Niagara University experience, providing students with opportunities to grow intellectually, personally, and spiritually,” said the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University. “Dr. Kane has devoted more than two decades to this university and has demonstrated a deep commitment to our students, faculty, and mission. I am grateful for his leadership and look forward to the college’s continued growth under his direction.”
Dr. Kane joined Niagara as an assistant professor in the Department of History and advanced through the faculty ranks to become a full professor. He also served as chair of the History Department before becoming associate dean and, subsequently, interim dean.
A historian of U.S.-Japan relations, Dr. Kane’s research examines how ideas about race, democracy, and national security shaped diplomacy between the two nations in the early 20th century. His work draws on both American and Japanese sources.
Throughout his tenure, Dr. Kane has also played an active role in university governance and shared leadership. His service includes officer positions with the Niagara University Lay Teachers Association (NULTA), co-chair of the Contract Enterprise Group and the Promotion and Tenure Committee, and chair of the General Education Committee. He has also served on the Academic Senate’s Executive Committee, the Research Council, the Enterprise Risk Management group, and the Tuition Exchange Committee.
Dr. Kane earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Williams College, a master’s degree in Asian studies from Cornell University, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in history from the University of Pennsylvania.
The College of Arts and Sciences is Niagara University’s oldest and largest undergraduate college, offering 38 undergraduate majors and 50 minors across the arts, humanities, and sciences. The college emphasizes intellectual, personal, and spiritual growth through a combination of classroom instruction, interdisciplinary study, experiential learning, and opportunities for undergraduate research.
For more information about Niagara University’s College of Arts and Sciences, visit niagara.edu/colleges/college-of-arts-and-sciences.
