SUNY Board of Trustees Approves the Appointment of Dr. Kimberly R. Cline as Acting President of Empire State College

Albany -- The State University of New York Board of Trustees today approved the appointment of Dr. Kimberly R. Cline as acting president of Empire State College, effective June 13, 2007. Dr. Cline currently serves as vice chancellor and chief financial officer of SUNY and will retain her position while she serves as acting president.

“I commend the Board of Trustees for naming Dr. Cline acting president of Empire State College. Dr. Cline will be a strong and effective leader for the College, which now enrolls more than 17,000 students and offers more than 300 degree programs,” said Chancellor Ryan.  “The students, faculty and staff of Empire State College are in very capable hands. As acting president of Empire State College, Dr. Cline will build on her outstanding record of success at the SUNY Maritime College, here at System Administration, at Seton Hall and at Hofstra Universities.”

“I am very pleased that Dr. Cline has become the acting president of Empire State College.  Dr. Cline has shown strong leadership abilities as chief financial officer of the State University of New York and as an administrator at the Maritime College.  We expect her to excel as the acting president of Empire State College,” said Board Chairman Thomas F. Egan.

“At this time, we would also like to thank Dr. Joseph Moore for his tremendous leadership of the campus.  Empire State is a far stronger institution thanks to Joe Moore.” Chairman Egan added. “Record-setting enrollment, national leadership in distance education, expansion of the campus facilities, strengthened academic offerings and greatly improved philanthropy are among his many accomplishments.  We wish Joe and his wife Beth, the very best.”

“I am extremely grateful to the Board of Trustees for this vote of confidence and to Chancellor Ryan for forwarding my name to the Board for consideration,” said Vice Chancellor Cline.  “I look forward to joining the administrative team at Empire State with the goal of continuing the very positive momentum of the college established by the wonderful students, talented faculty, outstanding staff and strong leadership of President Joseph Moore.”

Dr. Cline will not be a candidate in the presidential search and will serve as acting president until such time as a permanent president is named and assumes office.

Dr. Cline has served as vice chancellor and chief financial officer of the State University of New York since January 24, 2006, and acted in this capacity since May 24, 2005.   She is responsible for SUNY's $10 billion all-funds budget, and her areas of oversight span finance administration, information technology, hospitals, enrollment management, collective bargaining and human resources.

She has worked with the chancellor on budget development and advocacy, resulting in two of the best SUNY budgets in the past two decades.  Dr. Cline successfully negotiated to increase SUNY's base budget to fund collective bargaining, energy and fringe benefits.

From 1999-2005, Dr. Cline served the State University of New York Maritime College as vice president, chief operating officer and chief of staff and headed a transition team that served to provide increased enrollment and fiscal stability.  Prior to her SUNY service, she was vice president for finance and administration at Seton Hall University, and also served as university attorney and assistant vice president for business affairs/treasurer at Hofstra University.

Dr. Cline earned a B.S. in industrial relations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1980.  She subsequently earned a Master in Business Administration, a Juris Doctor degree and a Doctorate of Educational Administration at Hofstra University.

Founded in 1971, Empire State College is one of SUNY’s 13 colleges of arts and sciences, accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. ESC is uniquely designed to serve adults pursing associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The college offers degrees onsite at 35 locations in New York State and abroad, as well as entirely online.

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 417,500 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses. 

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