SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher to Recommend Robert Haelen as Vice Chancellor for Capital Facilities

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today announced she will be recommending to the SUNY Board of Trustees that Robert Haelen be appointed Vice Chancellor for Capital Facilities.

Subject to approval by the Board, Mr. Haelen's appointment will be effective January 11, 2011. Mr. Haelen, currently deputy general manager of the SUNY Construction Fund, will serve as acting vice chancellor until that time.

“Bob Haelen has been an invaluable resource to SUNY and the Construction Fund for many years,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “His enthusiasm for his work and his vast experience dealing with significant facilities issues will become all the more relevant as he takes on a new role during these difficult economic times. I look forward to working with Bob and thank the Board for considering his appointment.”

As vice chancellor for capital facilities, Mr. Haelen will oversee the Office of Capital Facilities, which includes capital planning, environmental health and safety, energy management and residence halls, and hospital and community college capital programs.

Mr. Haelen will also serve as general manager of the SUNY Construction Fund, as per their Board’s appointment at a meeting held December 14, 2010. As general manager, Mr. Haelen will be responsible for implementation of Board of Trustees policy, capital budget development and implementation, and leading Construction Fund professionals in the planning, design, construction and funding of SUNY’s capital projects.

An employee of the Construction Fund since 1989, Mr. Haelen began as an accountant and subsequently became assistant manager of fiscal affairs.  In 1997, he became director of capital program management and in 1999 was appointed treasurer, an officer of the Construction Fund.  In March 2003 he was appointed acting assistant general manager of program and finance, and assumed that role permanently in March 2005.  In March 2009, Mr. Haelen was appointed deputy general manager of the Construction Fund.

Mr. Haelen graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from New York University in 1981 and received his M.S in Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany in 1984.  He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Haelen will earn a salary of $210,000 per year. The Construction Fund will reimburse SUNY fifty percent of his salary.

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 465,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses with over 2.4 million alumni around the globe. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu 

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