Presidential Search
Progress Report
(Progress Report #2)
DATE: April 20, 2022
TO: SUNY Ulster
FROM: Deborah Briggs, Presidential Search Committee Chair; and Alan Lomita, Board of Trustees Chair, SUNY Ulster
RE: Announcement of Presidential Finalists
The SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that we have selected four (4) finalists for the presidency of SUNY Ulster. We would like to thank the entire College community for your continued interest and support in the process to identify our next President. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each member of the Presidential Search Committee for their exceptional insight, work, and effort.
The SUNY Ulster presidential finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Alison Buckley, Ed.D., is Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at Connecticut State Community Colleges in Hartford, CT. She previously served as Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services at Howard Community College in Columbia, MD. Dr. Buckley earned a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership Studies from Northeastern University in Boston, MA; a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park in College Park, MD; a Master of Philosophy in Women’s Studies from the University of Dublin, Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland; a Master of Arts in History from the University of Delaware in Newark, DE; and a Bachelor of Arts in Classics and History from Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA.
Joel Frater, Ed.D., is Dean of Student Services at Rochester Regional Health System in Rochester, NY. He previously served as Executive Dean of the Downtown Campus of Monroe Community College, SUNY in Rochester, NY. Dr. Frater earned a Doctor of Education in Sport and Recreation Administration and a Master of Education in Therapeutic Recreation from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA; and a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in Cheyney, PA.
Matthew Reed, Ph.D., is Vice President for Academic Affairs at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ. He previously served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, MA. Dr. Reed earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ; and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Williams College in Williamstown, MA.
Jennifer Zellet, Ph.D., is Vice President of Instruction at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, CA. She previously served as Dean of Business, Behavioral and Social Sciences at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, CA. Dr. Zellet earned a Doctor of Philosophy in English and Master of Letters in Scottish and Irish Studies from the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland; and a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies from Cascade College in Portland, OR.
Public forums
Public forums will take place the week of April 25 and each candidate will participate in two 1-hour forum(s). We invite and encourage everyone to participate in the open forums. Forums will be made accessible to all faculty, administrators, staff, students, and the general public. No RSVP is needed. Each finalist will participate in one virtual forum and one in-person forum.
There will be a brief introduction of each candidate, followed by a question-and-answer session. All who participate in the candidate forums will be asked to provide feedback to the Board of Trustees via an online survey at the conclusion of each forum. Completed forms will be given to the Board of Trustees for their review. Surveys will close the day following each candidate’s forum at 9:00 a.m.
Please email questions you would like us to ask the final candidates to Vanessa Shea (sheav@sunyulster.edu), SUNY Ulster Presidential Search Liaison, by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Thursday, April 21.
Open Forum Schedule:
Monday, April 25, 2022
Dr. Matthew Reed:
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Virtual Forum on Zoom
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: In-Person Forum: Vanderlyn Hall, Quimby Theater
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Dr. Joel Frater:
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Virtual Forum on Zoom
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: In-Person Forum: Vanderlyn Hall, Quimby Theater
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Dr. Alison Buckley:
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Virtual Forum on Zoom
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: In-Person Forum: Vanderlyn Hall, Quimby Theater
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Dr. Jennifer Zellet:
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Virtual Forum on Zoom
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: In-Person Forum: Vanderlyn Hall, Quimby Theater
We are looking forward to a successful completion of the presidential search process. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to our ACCT Search Consultant: Julie Golder, J.D., Vice President of Search Services, ACCT, jgolder@acct.org or (202) 775-4466.
(Progress Report #1)
DATE: January 18, 2022
TO: SUNY Ulster
FROM: Deborah Briggs - Presidential Search Committee Chair
Alan Lomita - SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees Chair
RE: President Search Announcement & Invitation to Attend Open Forums (Progress Report #1)
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that we have begun the search to identify the next President of SUNY Ulster.
The Board is committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive, and transparent national search that will attract a strong and diverse pool of candidates from throughout New York and the nation. The Board has selected the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) to assist us with the Presidential search process. ACCT’s assistance will include providing support with the development of the Presidential Profile, recruiting highly competitive candidates, and working extensively with the Board. ACCT has conducted over 750 community college searches and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our process. ACCT’s mission is to strengthen community college governance through education and advocacy. Julie Golder, J.D., Vice President of Search Services, will serve as our ACCT Search Consultant, and will assist the Board and College community throughout this important process.
Open Forums - Presidential Profile Development
An important step in the search process is the development of a Presidential Profile. On Wednesday, January 26 we will host two (2) Open Forums. The purpose of these sessions is to listen to your input, which will assist with the development of the Presidential Profile. The entire SUNY Ulster community is invited and encouraged to participate in a wide-ranging discussion about the qualities, characteristics, and qualifications we are seeking in our next President, and the opportunities and challenges facing SUNY Ulster in the years to come. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the presidential search process. The sessions will be facilitated by Julie Golder, J.D., Vice President of Search Services.
We want to invite and encourage everyone to attend one of the important 1-hour Open Forums:
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Noon – 1:00pm
Quimby Theater - Stone Ridge Campus
or virtually via Zoom https://sunyulster.zoom.us/j/88190912154
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Quimby Theater - Stone Ridge Campus
or virtually via Zoom https://sunyulster.zoom.us/j/87355862695
Please share with those who may have a concerted interest in SUNY Ulster and wish to attend. No RSVP is needed.
In addition to the virtual public forums, we have developed a short electronic survey that we hope you will complete. Your anonymous responses to the survey will also be used to inform the development of the draft Presidential Profile.
Please submit your survey feedback by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2022.
The Presidential Search Committee
The Presidential Search Committee will review the confidential applications, interview semifinalist candidates, and identify the final candidates to be submitted to the full Board of Trustees for consideration. The Search Committee is comprised of the following members:
Deborah Briggs - Presidential Search Committee Chair, SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees Vice Chair
Goretti Benca - Assistant Professor/English, Foreign Language & Philosophy
Jamie Capuano - Vice President for Administrative Services
Cameron Drake - Student Representative
Doug Furman - Professor/STEM
Vicky St. John Gilligan - SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees Secretary
Dr. Ivan Godfrey - Associate Professor/Criminal Justice & Human Services
Marla Gruner - Assistant Librarian
Mike Hein - Community Leader, Former Ulster County Executive
Christopher Kelly - Deputy Ulster County Executive
Michelle Keuning - Program Assistant/STEM
Dr. Mindy Kole - Associate Professor/Business & Professional Studies
Alan Lomita - SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees Chair
Darlene Pfeiffer - Ulster Community College Foundation Board of Directors Member
Ken Ronk - Ulster County Legislator, Distinguished Alumnus
Debra Silverman - Assistant Professor/Social Sciences, History & Education
Laurel Sweeney - Ulster Community College Foundation Board of Directors Chair
Candice Van Dyke - Chief Diversity Officer
Johanna Duncan-Poitier - Sr. Vice Chancellor, SUNY Office of Community Colleges – SUNY Liaison Vanessa Shea - Secretary of Presidential Search Committee
Final Candidates
The Board will interview the final candidates and all final candidates will participate in open forums at SUNY Ulster. We anticipate the open forums taking place the week of April 25, 2022, and we will provide the dates, times, and location once they are confirmed. Everyone throughout the College and community will be invited to attend the open forums. Feedback forms will be provided to all attendees, and the completed forms will be collected at the end of each forum and given to the Board for review as part of their deliberation process.
Recruitment
Our recruitment efforts will involve an open and thorough national search, seeking qualified candidates from all regions of the country. ACCT specializes in one-to-one recruitment of community college leaders. Additionally, to assist with this process, advertisements will be placed in the Chronicle of Higher Education and other major publications and websites.
Presidential Search Webpage
The SUNY Ulster presidential website will be launched in the coming weeks. It will include information on all aspects of the search, both for the College community and candidates, and will include key information including the timeline, regular progress reports, information on how to apply, etc.
We will continue to keep you updated on this important process. If you have any questions
or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to our ACCT Search Consultant:
Julie Golder, J.D., Vice President of Search Services, ACCT, jgolder@acct.org, or 202-775-4466 (office)
