SUNY Board of Trustees Appoints Dr. Dennis K. Ponton as Interim President at Buffalo State College

Fort Schuyler – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Dennis K. Ponton as interim president of Buffalo State College. His appointment as interim president is effective Aug. 1, 2009, and will continue until the Board names a permanent college president.

“With more than 30 years of distinguished service to Buffalo State College, Dennis Ponton is the right person to lead the campus as interim president,” said SUNY Board Chairman Carl T. Hayden.  “I congratulate Dennis on his new appointment and I am confident his leadership of the campus will be most successful.

“I would also like to express deep appreciation to Dr. Muriel Howard, who has been an outstanding campus president, an innovative educator, and a tireless advocate for public higher education who enjoys a superb national reputation.  She will be greatly missed and we wish her well in her new assignment as the president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.”

“Dr. Ponton has been admirably serving Buffalo State College as its provost for the past six years and throughout his career he has been promoted to academic and administrative positions of increasing responsibility and complexity,” said SUNY Chancellor-elect Nancy L. Zimpher.  “Today the Board of Trustees has entrusted him with overall leadership of the campus and I am confident Dennis, working together with the students, faculty and staff, will continue the positive momentum of the college.”

“I am honored by the recommendation from the College Council and appreciate the support of the SUNY Board of Trustees,” Ponton said.  “I look forward to continuing the positive outcome and momentum established by Dr. Howard’s leadership.”

About Dennis K. Ponton

Currently, Dr. Ponton is provost and vice president for academic affairs at the college and he anticipates consulting with the campus to select an interim provost. Dr. Ponton arrived at Buffalo State College in 1977 to assume the position of chair and associate professor of Nutrition and Food Science.  Over the past 32 years, he has held a number of academic administrative positions, including Associate Vice President, Budget and Planning, Academic Affairs; and Interim Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Education. Currently, in addition to his position as Provost, Dr. Ponton’s responsibilities include operations manager, Buffalo State College Research Foundation; Accreditation Liaison Officer to Middle State Commission on Higher Education; and convener, Buffalo-Niagara Council of Chief Academic Officers.

As interim president, Dr. Ponton’s will receive a salary of $220,000 as well as a transition allowance of $500 per month.

Dr. Muriel Howard, president since 1996, has announced she will be stepping down on July 31, 2009, to assume the presidency of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, DC.

Dr. Ponton is provost and vice president for academic affairs at the College.

About Buffalo State College
Established in 1871, Buffalo State is the Buffalo's oldest public institution of higher learning in the City of Buffalo. The College has a long history and commitment to education.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating nearly 440,000 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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