SUNY Board Approves the Appointment of Dr. Karin Hilgersom as President of Sullivan County Community College

Albany – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today approved the appointment of Dr. Karin Hilgersom as President of Sullivan County Community College, as previously made by the SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees. Hilgersom currently serves as vice president for instruction at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, Oregon.

“Dr. Hilgersom comes to SUNY with years of community college experience and a genuine appreciation of the important role that community colleges nationally have in shaping today’s 21^st century economy,” said Board Chairman H. Carl McCall. “We are extremely pleased that she has agreed to be the next president of SUNY Sullivan and highly confident that her leadership will serve the campus, local, and state communities with distinction.”

“As a member of the leadership teams at two Oregon community colleges and with many years of experience within higher education nationally, Dr. Hilgersom is certain to enhance our own leadership team at SUNY, and I commend both the SUNY and SUNY Sullivan Boards for securing her appointment,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “I look forward to working with Dr. Hilgersom as our community colleges continue to drive workforce development and job training throughout New York, and as SUNY Sullivan continues to provide outstanding opportunity for students in Sullivan County and across the globe.”

“I am honored to accept this appointment and thank Chancellor Zimpher, the Board of Trustees, and the members of the search committee for placing their trust in me,” said Hilgersom. “New York has a national reputation for community college excellence, which is something I will build on as I assume the role of president at SUNY Sullivan. I am delighted to be coming to beautiful Sullivan County from Oregon and getting to know and partner with the students, faculty, and business and community leaders in the region. We will stay true to our core mission of training the state’s future workforce and preparing students for the 21st Century global economy while always keeping an eye toward making New York stronger and more prosperous for us all.”  

Nick Speranza, Chairman of SUNY Sullivan's Board of Trustees, said "The Board of Trustees has clearly recognized that this selection of a new President is extremely important to our strategic plan to move SUNY Sullivan to the visionary level we would like to achieve. We take great pride in bringing this accomplished educator and institutional leader to SUNY Sullivan. Dr. Hilgersom brings a stellar record of achievement in all facets of college leadership to the position and is committed to building on our reputation as a leader in progressive community college education."

As SUNY Sullivan president effective February 18, 2013, Hilgersom will earn a salary of $141,000.

About Dr. Karin Hilgersom

Dr. Karin Hilgersom currently serves as vice president for instruction at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, Oregon, a position she has held since 2010. Previously, Hilgersom served as executive vice president of instruction at Walla Walla Community College in Washington since 2007. Prior, she was dean of arts and sciences at Spokane Community College, from 2002-07, teaching for 16 years prior to becoming dean and having held various positions within higher education since 1993.

Dr. Hilgersom holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from California State University, a master’s degree in rhetoric and communication from the University of Oregon, and a doctorate in educational policy and management from the University of Oregon.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating approximately 468,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs, and nearly 2 million in workforce and professional development programs, on 64 campuses. There are nearly 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu.