The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States. SUNY New Paltz is one of 64 SUNY campuses and one of the system's 13 University Colleges. University Colleges are leaders in undergraduate instruction and provide bachelor's and master's degrees in liberal arts and sciences and professional disciplines. Student success is the primary focus as evidenced by faculty and staff interactions through honors programs, independent study opportunities, research and study abroad.
SUNY Leadership
Senior Staff
John B. King, Jr., Chancellor
Ian Rosenblum - Senior Vice Chancellor for Policy Implementation & Chief of Staff
Melur K. "Ram" Ramasubramanian - Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost
Beth Berlin - Senior Vice Chancellor for Operations & Management and Chief Operating Officer
Valerie Grey - Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Health & Hospital Affairs
Robert M. Haelen - Senior Vice Chancellor for Capital Facilities; General Manager of the State University Construction Fund
Julie Hartley-Moore - Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Donna Linderman - Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success
Kapil Longani - Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs & General Counsel
Ricardo Nazario-Colón - Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer
F. Shadi Sandvik - Senior Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation & Economic Development
Francisco Miguel Araiza - Associate Vice Chancellor for Policy Implementation
Nisha Atre - Executive Director, SUNY Impact Foundation
Bess Chiu - Chief Deputy General Counsel & Chief of Staff
Valerie Dent - Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges
Jamie Frank - Associate Vice Chancellor for Policy Implementation
Gary Ginsburg - Chief Communications Officer
Aaron Gladd - Chief Strategy Officer & Senior Advisor for Operations and Management
Bart Grachan - Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management
Cheryl Hamilton - Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life, Opportunity Programs, & Student Advocate
Adam Haney - Deputy General Counsel
Juliana Hernandez-Commisso - Assistant Vice Chancellor for Policy Implementation and Deputy Chief of Staff
Robert Megna - President, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Cara Palumbo Schrantz - Deputy General Counsel
Julie Petti - Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources
Josh Sager - Chief Financial Officer
Will Schwartz - Vice Chancellor for Government Relations
Carter Strickland - Chief Sustainability Officer & Executive Director of Climate Action
Jay Urwitz - Senior Deputy General Counsel - Special Projects
Chris White - Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development and Upward Mobility
Board of Trustees
Merryl H. Tisch, Ed.D., Chair (New York City)
Cesar Perales, J.D., Vice Chair (Brooklyn)
Joseph Belluck, J.D. (New York City)
Courtney Eagles Burke, M.P.A. (Albany)
Eric Corngold, J.D. (Brooklyn)
Marcos Crespo, B.S. (Bronx)
Robert Duffy, M.A. (Rochester)
James Haddon, M.B.A. (New York City)
James Katz, J.D. (Brooklyn)
Eunice A. Lewin, Ed.M. (Buffalo)
Stanley S. Litow, B.A. (New York City)
Luco O. Rallis, President, SUNY Student Assembly (SUNY Stony Brook)
Bruce Simon, Ph.D., President, University Faculty Senate (SUNY Fredonia)
Edward Spiro, J.D. (New York City)
Cary Staller, J.D. (Old Field)
Candice Vacin, M.S. (Batavia)
Camille Joseph Varlack, J.D. (Brooklyn)
New Paltz Leadership
College Council
SUNY College Councils are established, described and governed by the provisions of Article 8, Section 356 of the New York State Education Law. Each state-operated campus has such a Council. Each Council consists of 10 members, nine appointed by the Governor, and one elected by and from the students on the campus. The Governor designates one member as Chair. Council members appointed by the Governor serve for a term of seven years. Councils also shall invite a representative of the faculty and a representative of the alumni to attend regular meetings of the Council. Consistent with the statutory responsibilities of such bodies, they shall develop and foster strong relationships between their institutions and local communities and promote campus and University interests.
Eli Basch, Interim Chairperson (Kingston)
Renee Padmore-Baccus '91, Alumni Representative
Neil Bettez (New Paltz)
Ronald Law ’74 (Bronx)
Kamlesh Baral '26, Student Association President
Julie L. Noble (Kingston)
Reynolds J. Scott-Childress, Faculty Representative
Abe Uchitelle '10 (Kingston)
Eleanor Venables (New Paltz)
Retired Members
Kenneth J. Abt, Previous Chairperson (Middletown)
Bythema B. Bagley ’83 (New Paltz)
Administrative Officers
Darrell P. Wheeler, President
Scott Cline, Vice President for Operations
Michele Halstead, Vice President, Administration & Finance
Kathleen Lieblich, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
Erica Marks, Vice President, Development & Alumni Relations; Executive Director, SUNY New Paltz Foundation
William T. McClure, Provost & Vice President, Academic Affairs
Tanhena Pacheco Dunn, Vice President, Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion; Chief Diversity Officer
Stella Turk, Vice President for Enrollment Management
Shelly Wright, Vice President for Communication
Academic Leaders
Kristin Backhaus, Dean, School of Business
Susan M. Frey, Dean, Sojourner Truth Library
Nancy E. Johnson, Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Jennifer Mokren, Dean, School of Fine & Performing Arts
Thomas Nolen, Interim Dean, School of Science & Engineering
Rene S. Parmar, Dean, School of Education
