Chancellor Zimpher to Strengthen SUNY's Global Strategy - Recommends Mitch Leventhal as Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today announced she is recommending to the SUNY Board of Trustees that Mitch Leventhal be appointed vice chancellor for global affairs.

Subject to approval by the SUNY Board, Leventhal’s appointment will be effective September 15, 2009.

Leventhal will be responsible for developing and coordinating the University’s system-wide global academic strategy and operations, as well as representing SUNY’s global interests at a center to be developed in Manhattan. 

“If the SUNY system is to be the model for the world, then we must strengthen our efforts in international education,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “Mitch Leventhal is the right person to enhance coordination of our international efforts and to break ground in developing new initiatives, and I look forward to presenting him to the SUNY Board.”

In partnership with the SUNY Provost, campus presidents and campus international academic affairs officers, Leventhal will enhance current SUNY system-wide programs and develop new ones in order to boost collaboration and international partnerships.

During Chancellor Zimpher’s recently-concluded tour of all 64 campuses, the subject of strengthening SUNY’s role international education was a frequent topic of discussion.

“I am very grateful to Chancellor Zimpher for her confidence,” said Leventhal. 

“SUNY does an outstanding job in many aspects of international education, and it has the potential to do so much more. I look forward to meeting with the SUNY Board of Trustees and discussing strategies for advancing SUNY throughout the world.”

Leventhal is known for leveraging university capabilities to create new global opportunities for students and faculty members. These efforts also extend the capabilities of international companies.

“American business is very challenged by today's economy,” said Leventhal, “The extent to which SUNY can bring solutions to the table that impact job creation and trade in the near-term, the more relevant we are to the future of New York state.”

Previously, Leventhal served as vice provost for international affairs at the University of Cincinnati, with responsibilities for global strategy, institutional collaboration, international recruitment, and curricular internationalization. Reporting units included UC International Planning, UC International Programs and UC International Services.

Leventhal has extensive international experience across many industry verticals, including shipping, chemicals, finance, insurance, information technology, technology transfer and education. He is widely recognized as a leader in international student recruitment strategy, enterprise-wide data systems, consortium-based initiatives, and public-private partnerships.

Leventhal was founder and president of the Microstate Corporation, adjunct assistant professor of Information Management Systems at The George Washington University, founding CEO of the Intellectual Property Technology Exchange, co-founder vice president for Strategic Initiatives and managing director, of Planet Payment, Inc., and more. Prior to his last position at the University of Cincinnati, he headed North American operations for IDP, a firm owned by Australian universities.

He is Chairman and President of the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC), and sits on numerous other commissions and boards.

Leventhal earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin American Politics and a master’s in Comparative and Developmental policies from the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his Ph.D. in the International Political Economy of Education from the University of Chicago.

With this appointment, Leventhal would be designated a tenured member of the faculty of the State University of New York.

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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Dr. Leventhal's work was the subject of a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education (Subscription).Dr. Leventhal will earn a state salary of $180,000 and will receive a monthly housing allowance of $4,500.