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<p>The State University of New York Board of Trustees<a href="https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/08-2020/8-21-20/"> announced</a> the appointment of Dr. Jim Malatras as the 14th chancellor of SUNY, the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States. Dr. Malatras brings his decades of experience solving complex fiscal, operational, and societal issues at the highest levels of government and academia. Dr. Malatras, the first SUNY graduate to become chancellor, has emphasized to the Board of Trustees his determination to immediately confront the serious issues spurred by the COVID crisis while continuing and strengthening the SUNY commitment to affordability and increased access for the state's most underrepresented populations. In these turbulent times, Dr. Malatras will take up the task of restoring enrollment levels while building on SUNY's world-class and nationally ranked reputation.</p>
<p>"Higher education is facing a critical moment in our history amplified by a pandemic that has nearly paralyzed our nation, and now, more than ever, we need a visionary leader and one with deep financial and operational expertise to face our challenges head on and that is exactly what we have with Dr. Malatras," said <strong>SUNY Chairman Dr. Merryl H. Tisch and SUNY Vice Chairman Cesar Perales</strong>. "With his proven experience, deep connection with our campuses as a SUNY graduate, and a strong relationship with Governor Cuomo and the Legislature, Dr. Malatras is ready and well positioned to tackle a wide range of issues impacting our campuses now, while implementing a vision of affordability, accessibility for all, and expanding SUNY's prominence as a world-renowned institution. We are fortunate to have been able to select him amongst the strong talent and leadership across SUNY and have no doubt he will deliver results."</p>
<p>Amid serious fiscal challenges and during an unprecedented worldwide health crisis and deep racial justice and societal issues, today's appointment avoids a costly and lengthy search process. The Board of Trustees clear direction was to appoint a leader who could hit the ground running and help address these issues in a timely way.</p>
<p>"It is an incredible honor to lead the largest comprehensive system of public higher education as the next chancellor of the State University of New York," said <strong>SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras</strong>. "I am a proud product of the SUNY system, having earned my undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees from SUNY institutions. I believe in the power of public education to unlock the doors of opportunity and will work tirelessly to make it accessible to all who seek it. Job one is our students who drive and inspire everything we do. I look forward to working with the brightest and most dedicated educators in the country to meet the challenges of this moment, and beyond, for our students as a collaborative, imaginative, and unified SUNY system."</p>
<p>The appointment marks the return of Dr. Malatras to SUNY System Administration. As Vice Chancellor and Chief of staff, he was chief operating officer and a senior advisor to Chancellor Emeritus Nancy L Zimpher during her tenure as SUNY rebounded from the 2008-2009 financial crisis. He helped oversee a cost-reduction strategy to return $100 million in administrative costs toward academic programming and student services.</p>
<p>"As the State University of New York's 14th Chancellor, Dr. Jim Malatras will create a powerful vision that will bolster our mission of academic excellence, educational access, and inclusivity," said <strong>Monroe Community College Interim President Dr. Katherine Douglas</strong>. "He is a student-focused, responsive leader whose past partnerships have helped hundreds of MCC graduates seamlessly transfer and earn advanced degrees within the SUNY system, especially at Empire State College where he previously served as president. We look forward to welcoming him to MCC in the future and learning more about ways we can help achieve his vision for an even more collaborative and unified SUNY system."</p>
<p>Dr. Malatras joins system administration from SUNY Empire State College where as president, he headed SUNY's lead campus in innovative individualized learning with an emphasis on distance learning while expanding access to students across the state through pioneering partnerships with SUNY community colleges, the private sector, and labor. Dr. Malatras also directed the college's efforts to be more inclusive, which led to the establishment of The Center for Autism Inclusivity, The Shirley Chisholm Center for Equity Studies, and the creation of the Empire Opportunity Program, the first-of-its-kind statewide program offering financial aid and specialized academic support for students from historically underserved backgrounds.</p>
<p>While serving as SUNY Empire State College President, Dr. Malatras has also led New York State's new Reimagine Education Advisory Council to assist K-12 schools and colleges adopt technological and other innovations to reopen safely in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. SUNY campuses are currently reopening with in-person and remote classes resuming this month.</p>
<p>Dr. Malatras has asked the Board of Trustees for a 25 percent pay cut and will receive a salary $450,000 and a $60,000 housing allowance. He has asked that the additional $170,000 be directed every year to the SUNY Educational Opportunity Program for underrepresented students and PRODiG program to increase faculty diversity across SUNY campuses. Dr. Malatras appointment as chancellor is effective August 31, 2020.</p>
<p>The full media release is available <a href="https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/08-2020/8-21-20/">online</a>.</p>

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MCC Daily Tribune

SUNY Board Appoints Dr. Jim Malatras as 14th Chancellor; Becomes First Graduate to Lead SUNY

The State University of New York announced the following news on Friday, August 21, 2020.

The State University of New York Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr. Jim Malatras as the 14th chancellor of SUNY, the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States. Dr. Malatras brings his decades of experience solving complex fiscal, operational, and societal issues at the highest levels of government and academia. Dr. Malatras, the first SUNY graduate to become chancellor, has emphasized to the Board of Trustees his determination to immediately confront the serious issues spurred by the COVID crisis while continuing and strengthening the SUNY commitment to affordability and increased access for the state's most underrepresented populations. In these turbulent times, Dr. Malatras will take up the task of restoring enrollment levels while building on SUNY's world-class and nationally ranked reputation.

"Higher education is facing a critical moment in our history amplified by a pandemic that has nearly paralyzed our nation, and now, more than ever, we need a visionary leader and one with deep financial and operational expertise to face our challenges head on and that is exactly what we have with Dr. Malatras," said SUNY Chairman Dr. Merryl H. Tisch and SUNY Vice Chairman Cesar Perales. "With his proven experience, deep connection with our campuses as a SUNY graduate, and a strong relationship with Governor Cuomo and the Legislature, Dr. Malatras is ready and well positioned to tackle a wide range of issues impacting our campuses now, while implementing a vision of affordability, accessibility for all, and expanding SUNY's prominence as a world-renowned institution. We are fortunate to have been able to select him amongst the strong talent and leadership across SUNY and have no doubt he will deliver results."

Amid serious fiscal challenges and during an unprecedented worldwide health crisis and deep racial justice and societal issues, today's appointment avoids a costly and lengthy search process. The Board of Trustees clear direction was to appoint a leader who could hit the ground running and help address these issues in a timely way.

"It is an incredible honor to lead the largest comprehensive system of public higher education as the next chancellor of the State University of New York," said SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras. "I am a proud product of the SUNY system, having earned my undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees from SUNY institutions. I believe in the power of public education to unlock the doors of opportunity and will work tirelessly to make it accessible to all who seek it. Job one is our students who drive and inspire everything we do. I look forward to working with the brightest and most dedicated educators in the country to meet the challenges of this moment, and beyond, for our students as a collaborative, imaginative, and unified SUNY system."

The appointment marks the return of Dr. Malatras to SUNY System Administration. As Vice Chancellor and Chief of staff, he was chief operating officer and a senior advisor to Chancellor Emeritus Nancy L Zimpher during her tenure as SUNY rebounded from the 2008-2009 financial crisis. He helped oversee a cost-reduction strategy to return $100 million in administrative costs toward academic programming and student services.

"As the State University of New York's 14th Chancellor, Dr. Jim Malatras will create a powerful vision that will bolster our mission of academic excellence, educational access, and inclusivity," said Monroe Community College Interim President Dr. Katherine Douglas. "He is a student-focused, responsive leader whose past partnerships have helped hundreds of MCC graduates seamlessly transfer and earn advanced degrees within the SUNY system, especially at Empire State College where he previously served as president. We look forward to welcoming him to MCC in the future and learning more about ways we can help achieve his vision for an even more collaborative and unified SUNY system."

Dr. Malatras joins system administration from SUNY Empire State College where as president, he headed SUNY's lead campus in innovative individualized learning with an emphasis on distance learning while expanding access to students across the state through pioneering partnerships with SUNY community colleges, the private sector, and labor. Dr. Malatras also directed the college's efforts to be more inclusive, which led to the establishment of The Center for Autism Inclusivity, The Shirley Chisholm Center for Equity Studies, and the creation of the Empire Opportunity Program, the first-of-its-kind statewide program offering financial aid and specialized academic support for students from historically underserved backgrounds.

While serving as SUNY Empire State College President, Dr. Malatras has also led New York State's new Reimagine Education Advisory Council to assist K-12 schools and colleges adopt technological and other innovations to reopen safely in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. SUNY campuses are currently reopening with in-person and remote classes resuming this month.

Dr. Malatras has asked the Board of Trustees for a 25 percent pay cut and will receive a salary $450,000 and a $60,000 housing allowance. He has asked that the additional $170,000 be directed every year to the SUNY Educational Opportunity Program for underrepresented students and PRODiG program to increase faculty diversity across SUNY campuses. Dr. Malatras appointment as chancellor is effective August 31, 2020.

The full media release is available online.

Rosanna Yule
Government and Community Relations
08/24/2020