SUNY Chancellor to Recommend William F. Howard as Vice Chancellor and General Counsel

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today announced that she will recommend to the SUNY Board of Trustees that William F. Howard be appointed as SUNY Vice Chancellor and General Counsel. Mr. Howard was previously the Chief Counsel at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. 

Chancellor Zimpher will make this recommendation at the next meeting of the Board, scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. Subject to approval by the Board, Mr. Howard’s appointment would be effective March 1, 2011.

“Mr. Howard is a highly qualified individual, with more than 23 years of experience as a university counsel and many more as an attorney,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “Mr. Howard has the support of the search committee and I am confident that the Board will support his appointment on Tuesday.”

Appointed by the Board of Trustees and reporting to the Board and the Chancellor through the Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel is the legal adviser to the University.  The Vice Chancellor and General Counsel provides legal advice and opinions for the Board of Trustees and officers of the University on matters concerning University affairs.  When requested by the Board of Trustees or Executive Staff, the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel shall conduct negotiations and prepare legal documents for the University, and represent the University in legal actions.

After an extensive national search process, Mr. Howard’s candidacy was supported by the Search Committee, which included representation from across the System, and the senior leadership at SUNY System Administration.

Mr. Howard was previously the Chief Counsel at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, and Associate Vice Chancellor and Deputy General Counsel.  He has also served as Deputy General Counsel as well as Interim Vice President and General Counsel at the George Washington University.    

Additionally, Mr. Howard served as Assistant Attorney General for the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, served as Law Clerk for the United States Court of Appeals in Baltimore, Maryland, and was employed as an Associate in the Corporate Department in a large private Law firm. 

Mr. Howard received his B.A degree in Economics from Michigan State University, and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. 

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 467,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses with more than 2.5 million alumni around the globe. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu 

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