New Trustees Join SUNY Board ¿ Hayden is Chairman

Albany – The state Senate yesterday confirmed Governor Eliot Spitzer’s nominations of Carl T. Hayden and H. Carl McCall to the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees. Governor Spitzer designated Hayden chairman of the SUNY Board.

 “Last night’s positive actions by the Senate will strengthen SUNY’s Board of Trustees,” said Governor Eliot Spitzer. “Chairman Hayden and Trustee McCall bring collective intellect, experience and depth of character that will dramatically advance SUNY.  The dynamic leadership of these new Board members, combined with the work of the Commission on Higher Education, and a new chancellor, are critical components that will propel SUNY into one of the nation’s premier systems of higher education.”

SUNY Interim Chancellor Dr. John B. Clark said, “This forward-thinking leadership will work to position SUNY as a national leader in providing an accessible, affordable education of the highest caliber and quality. I look forward to working with them and extend a warm welcome and congratulations to Chairman Hayden and Trustee McCall. I would also like to thank Tom Egan for his long and meritorious service to the Board of Trustees.”

Chairman Carl T. Hayden said: “I want to thank Governor Spitzer for his nomination and for naming me chairman of the SUNY Board.  I also want to thank the Senate for confirming my appointment. This is an exciting time to be part of SUNY, the largest comprehensive university system in the country. Our important work has just begun. We will commence the search for a new chancellor and react promptly and decisively to the recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education. We bear the public’s trust to further improve public higher education in New York and to strengthen SUNY’s impact on the state and national economies.”

Trustee H. Carl McCall said: “Serving as a member of the SUNY Board of Trustees is a wonderful opportunity to have a significant, positive impact on the lives of SUNY students, faculty, as well as the larger society and economy of our great state.  I want to thank Governor Spitzer and the Senate for providing me with the chance to serve New York in such an important capacity.”

Chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees, Carl T. Hayden was named Chancellor Emeritus of the New York State Board of Regents in April 2002 after 12 years on the Board. He was originally elected to the Board of Regents in 1990, and was elected Chancellor in 1995.  Hayden also served as chairman of the board of the New York State Health Foundation and he chairs the Chemung County School Readiness Project. From 2003 to 2007, Hayden was a director of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the Campaign for Fiscal Equity.  Hayden is a former president of the Elmira City School District Board of Education. He received his B.A. from Hamilton College and his J.D. from Cornell Law School.

Trustee H. Carl McCall served as comptroller of the State of New York from May 1993 to December 2002. Prior to that, he served three terms as a New York state senator, representing upper Manhattan. He previously served as an ambassador to the United Nations, a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and as commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights.

From 1991 to 1993, McCall served as president of the New York City Board of Education, and presently serves as chairman of the Public Higher Education Conference Board, a coalition of 14 member organizations that support the New York State public higher education system. He also currently serves on the boards of New Plan Realty Corporation, the Ariel Mutual Fund and TYCO International and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and was also educated at the Andover Newton Theological Seminary and the University of Edinburgh.

The SUNY Board of Trustees is charged with oversight of the SUNY system.  The Board is comprised of 17 members, 15 of which are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state Senate, the president of the SUNY Student Assembly, and the president of the SUNY Faculty Senate, who is a non-voting member.

All members of the Board serve on a voluntary basis and do not receive salaries for their services.  Hayden and McCall replace Candace de Russy and Teresa Santiago, whose terms have expired. Hayden succeeds Thomas F. Egan as chairman of the Board Trustees. Egan’s term as a Trustee continues until June 30, 2013.

Governor Spitzer added: “I want to thank Tom Egan for a smooth leadership transition and note that during his tenure as chairman SUNY annual enrollment increased by nearly 50,000 students.”

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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