Dr. John B. Clark Named SUNY Interim Chancellor

Albany - The State University of New York Board of Trustees today appointed Dr. John B. Clark interim chancellor of the State University of New York.   Interim Chancellor Clark succeeds Chancellor John R. Ryan, who is stepping down June 1 to become president and CEO of the Center for Creative Leadership.

 

“John Clark’s outstanding leadership experience during transitional periods at four campuses will enable him to continue move the State University of New York forward,” said State University Board Chairman Thomas F. Egan.  “We expect Dr. Clark to build upon and enhance all facets of the University, including record-setting enrollment and minority enrollment, philanthropy, sponsored research and academic excellence.”

 

“On behalf of the entire State University of New York, I would like to thank John R. Ryan for his five years of exceptional and distinguished service to the State University of New York,” Chairman Egan continued.  “His leadership and service as president of the Maritime College, as interim president of the University at Albany, and as chancellor, have won him the deep respect and sincere affection of students, faculty, staff and the larger State University community.  We wish John and his wife, Diane, our very best and will long remember and greatly appreciate their time with us.”

 

“Becoming the interim chancellor of the State University of New York is the highest professional honor in my lifetime.  The responsibility of leading the 417,000 students and 80,000 faculty and staff is truly humbling,” said Interim Chancellor Clark.  “I am extremely grateful to the Board of Trustees for providing me with this wonderful opportunity, and I look forward to working with the students, faculty and staff as we continue to build on the positive record of accomplishments at SUNY.”

 

Dr. Clark joined the State University as interim president of SUNY Plattsburgh May 20, 2003 and was later named interim president of SUNY Brockport June 22, 2004.  On Sept. 20, 2005 Clark began a position as acting vice chancellor of enrollment and university life at SUNY System Administration.

 

He served SUNY in this capacity until February, 2006 when he was named interim president at the College of Optometry.  Most recently, Dr. Clark was the interim president of the State University College of Technology at Alfred.

 

Dr. Clark begins serving on June 1, 2007 and continues his service through Dec. 31, 2007, or until such time as the Board of Trustees concludes a national search for permanent chancellor.  Dr. Clark is not and will not be a candidate in the search for a permanent chancellor.  Dr. Clark’s salary will be $340,000 per year.  He will have the use of a car, driver, the chancellor’s residence in Albany and the use of an apartment in New York City.

 

Dr. Clark succeeds Chancellor John R. Ryan, who is widely respected and appreciated by faculty, students and the Legislature for his strong, authentic leadership and advocacy for higher education during the last two years. For example, in consecutive years, Chancellor Ryan successfully advocated for the best SUNY budgets in decades.

 

Along with a very talented group of campus presidents, the chancellor successfully secured tens of millions of dollars to hire more than 400 new full-time faculty to support record-setting student enrollment.

 

In addition, thanks to the chancellor’s budget advocacy efforts to secure more than $12 million during the past two years, New York’s Empire Innovation program will enable SUNY campuses to hire full-time research faculty in clusters of key disciplines. Research in key disciplines will lead to the scientific breakthroughs and discoveries, business creation, job growth and economic development.

 

Chancellor Ryan also led the way in securing millions of dollars in funding that will enable SUNY to enroll hundreds of students in health care, engineering and information technology programs deemed to be in high demand by communities and businesses throughout New York State, and hire additional full- and part-time faculty to instruct these students.

 

 

National Search for a Permanent Chancellor

 

It is anticipated that a search for a permanent chancellor will get underway as soon as possible and follow the model used to attract current Chancellor John R. Ryan.

 

In July of 2005, the Board held a series of meetings during a two-day period, in order to become better informed about the search process.  At that time, the board heard presentations and participated in panel discussions by outside experts and key campus constituencies. Question and answer sessions followed each presentation and panel discussion.

The next day, the search committee was formed and given the important responsibility of attracting the strongest possible pool of candidates to lead the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the nation and to develop a short list of finalists, from which the Board would select the next permanent chancellor of SUNY.

 

Again this year, the search committee is expected to be comprised of representatives from the greater SUNY community, such as members of the SUNY Board, faculty, students and alumni.  It is anticipated the search committee will also retain the services of a national search firm to assist in this most important undertaking.

 

 

Additional Background on Dr. John B. Clark

 

During his time at Alfred, Optometry, Plattsburgh, and also at Brockport, Clark forged strong relations between the college and the greater community. In a Feb. 27, 2004 editorial, the Plattsburgh Press Republican wrote, "We will all miss John Clark. It took him less than a year to become an unforgettable and much loved figure in the North Country, and we will envy whoever winds up in his company."

 

A lifelong student, Dr. Clark holds five degrees.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in history, cum laude, from Providence College in 1972. Thereafter, he received a Master of Public Administration from John Jay College, CUNY, in 1977; a Master of Arts in Economics from Fordham University in 1980; a Master of Arts in Philosophy from New York University in 1984; and a Doctor of Education degree from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2001.

 

Prior to joining SUNY, Dr. Clark had a 17-year Wall Street career in public finance and municipal bond research, specializing in health and higher education. In this capacity, he successfully completed financing for hospitals, nursing homes, out-patient clinics, life care centers and multi-hospital systems as well as colleges and universities in New York City and nationally.

 

Dr. Clark has had wide-ranging experience as a board member with various not-for-profit organizations providing educational, healthcare, and housing services. His board responsibilities included fundraising, staff oversight, financial management, strategic planning and program development.

 

Dr. Clark served on the Board of St. Pius V High School for young women in the South Bronx and was a member of the Business Advisory Council of the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College in Manhattan.

 

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. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu                               

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