Chancellor Zimpher to Recommend Dr. Kenneth K. Saunders as Acting President of Nassau Community College

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today announced that she will recommend that the SUNY Board of Trustees approve the appointment of Dr. Kenneth K. Saunders as acting president of Nassau Community College, as recently made by the Nassau County Community College Board of Trustees. Dr. Kenneth K. Saunders has served as officer-in-charge at NCC since July 30 of this year.

“As officer-in-charge of the campus for the past five months and a member of its leadership team since 1999, Dr. Saunders has developed the knowledge and experience needed to lead Nassau Community College with distinction,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “I am highly confident in his abilities and pleased to recommend that his leadership continue until a permanent NCC president is appointed.”

“Nassau Community College has for decades provided the Long Island community with a college education of the highest quality, and I would be honored to stay on as acting president while the Boards of Trustees at the college and SUNY continue their search for permanent leadership,” said Saunders. “I thank Chancellor Zimpher for her support and look forward to continuing to serve NCC’s outstanding students, faculty, and staff.”

If approved by the Board at its Wednesday meeting, Dr. Saunders’ will earn a salary of $225,000. His appointment would be effective immediately and last for one year, or until a permanent president is appointed, whichever event occurs first. A national search is underway.

About Dr. Kenneth K. Saunders

Dr. Saunders brings to NCC more than 28 years of experience (15 within SUNY) as a senior higher education administrator at several highly regarded educational institutions, including the State University of New York at Old Westbury, the University of Michigan-Flint, Howard University and Illinois State University. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of NCC. Prior, he was for 12 years the College's Vice President for Academic Student Services.

Dr. Saunders, a resident of Freeport, earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Management and Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from Howard University. In addition, he attended the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University.

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.

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