AANHPILI Steering Committee

Zulaika Rodriguez-Awoliyi serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Executive Recruitment and Leadership Development at the State University of New York (SUNY) where she leads the system’s presidential and senior executive recruitment and leadership development strategy across the nation’s largest public higher education system. With more than 20 years of experience in system-level administration, Zulaika is widely recognized for her expertise in identifying, supporting, and advancing transformational leaders.

Her portfolio spans the full executive leadership cycle, including presidential and senior executive searches, onboarding and transition planning, leadership development, performance evaluation, and succession planning. In this role, Zulaika serves as a trusted strategic advisor to the Chancellor, Boards of Trustees, campus presidents, and search committees, guiding high-stakes decision making and ensuring search and evaluation processes reflect SUNYs mission, values, and long-term strategic priorities.

Zulaika also provides leadership for SUNYs system-wide leadership development ecosystem, overseeing the Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI), Black Leadership Institute (BLI), Disability Support Leadership Institute (DSLI), and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Leadership Institute (AANHPI-LI). Through these programs, she has helped cultivate robust leadership pipelines and expand pathways to advancement for emerging leaders across SUNYs 64 campuses.  

Since joining SUNY System Administration in 2004, Zulaika has served under multiple Chancellors, Provosts, and Boards of Trustees in a variety of leadership roles, including Director of Operations and Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff. This breadth of experience has given her a deep institutional knowledge of SUNYs governance, policy environment, and operational complexity, as well as a reputation for discretion, sound judgement, and steady leadership in moments of transition. 

A proud first-generation college graduate, Zulaika was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of Saint Rose and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University at Albany. Her personal and professional journey continues to inform her commitment to public higher education as a powerful engine for opportunity, mobility, and community impact.   

Known for her exceptional organizational skills, integrity, and human-centered systems thinking, Zulaika brings a strategic yet relational approach to executive leadership work. Her contributions have helped shape SUNYs leadership infrastructure and advance a cohesive, equity-driven approach to developing and identifying the next generation of public higher education leaders.  Beyond SUNY, Zulaika serves as a board member of 518Elevated, a College Access and Success organization serving Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, NY, where she supports efforts to connect local students with mentorship, resources, and pathways to higher education and long-term success.

Dr. Grant is the Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at SUNY, System Administration. She has a combined of over 18+ years of experience working in higher education and non-profit organizations. She has served in DEI leadership roles for over a decade and her work has been regionally and nationally recognized. Prior to joining SUNY, Dr. Grant served as the Director of Staff Learning at Year Up, a national non-profit organization with a mission to close the opportunity divide for young adults in the U.S., where she oversaw org-wide onboarding program for new employees and managers.

Dr. Grant is the recipient of the 2017 Mission Integration Award in Diversity and Inclusion from the Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASACCU), she also received an Academic Excellence Award in 2022 for her doctoral work at Northeastern University as well as the 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Business Award issued by the Albany Business Review. Dr. Grant has presented her work at both regional and national conferences including the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE), Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges & Universities (ASACCU) and the College Student Personnel Association of New York State (CSPA-NY). Additionally, Dr. Grant is a trained facilitator for the Intergroup Relations (IGR) program and the co-founding faculty for the IGR course at Siena College, NY. She has committed majority of her professional career in higher education and is committed to create sustainable change by being a scholar-practitioner. Her doctoral research focused on creating a sense of belonging for BIPOC students at predominantly white institutions.
 
Dr. Grant received a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University, a master's degree in Education from The College of Saint Rose, and a Bachelor's degree in Communications and Sociology from SUNY Buffalo '05. 

Ailayia serves as the Assistant Director for Presidential Searches and Leadership Initiatives at State University of New York (SUNY), where she collaborates with search firms and senior leadership to identify, recruit, and secure top presidential candidates for SUNY’s 64 campuses and other Board-appointed roles.

In addition to supporting executive searches, Ailayia works closely with SUNY Leadership Institutes. The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Institute (AANHPILI), the Black Leadership Institute (BLI), the Disability Support Leadership Institute (DSLI), and the Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) — programs designed to empower emerging and established leaders across the nation’s largest public higher education system in the United States through professional development, collaboration, and mentorship.

In her previous role as Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer, she provided strategic administrative and operational support at the highest level—managing complex calendars, coordinating cross-functional projects, and serving as a trusted liaison between the COO’s office and internal and external stakeholders. She ensured priorities stayed on track, information flowed smoothly, and day-to-day operations aligned with executive goals and system-wide initiatives.

Ailayia holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from St. John Fisher University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from Le Moyne College. Ailayia is known for her hard work, leadership, and operational process. She is deeply committed to supporting SUNY's mission of inclusive excellence, integrity, and institutional effectiveness across New York State.

Reginald Celestin serves as the Program Manager and Special Assistant for Executive Recruitment and Leadership Development at the State University of New York (SUNY) where through project management, database building, and website maintenance, he provides essential operational and logistical support for numerous high-impact initiatives such as coordinating presidential and executive search processes, supporting evaluations efforts for state-operated campus presidents, and assisting the Office of the Chancellor as needed.

Alongside supporting executive searches, Reginald works closely with senior leadership to oversee the development of the SUNY Leadership Institutes; The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Institute (AANHPILI), the Black Leadership Institute (BLI), the Disability Support Leadership Institute (DSLI), and the Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI). These programs are designed to develop and empower emerging leaders across the SUNY System’s 64 campuses, the nation’s largest public higher education system in the United States, through professional development, mentorship and expanded pathways to advancement.

Reginald also collaborates with other committees within SUNY such as the Association of Council Members and College Trustees (ACT), an organization that supports the governance, the promotion of higher education, and the quality of SUNY’s institutions; the SUNY Internship Program, an initiative that provides professional development, networking and paid learning opportunities for SUNY students; the Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, the highest honor bestowed upon a student by the University, that acknowledges students for outstanding achievements that have demonstrated the integration of SUNY excellence into many different aspects of their lives; and the Norman R. McConney, Jr. Awards for EOP Excellence, that honors students who have demonstrated extraordinary perseverance, resilience, and commitment to personal and academic growth.

Reginald began his career at SUNY System Administration in 2022 as a Graduate Student Assistant and was promoted to Program Coordinator in 2024, the same year he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University at Albany. A proud first-generation college graduate, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from SUNY Old Westbury.

Born and raised in Long Island, NY, Reginald is known for his hard work, creative portfolio, and process-oriented mindset. His critical and strategic contributions that serve to showcase his deep commitment to supporting SUNY's mission of inclusive excellence, integrity, and institutional effectiveness across New York State.

Bess is Chief Deputy General Counsel and Chief of Staff to the General Counsel at SUNY, where she provides legal advice to the Chancellor, the Board of Trustees, and SUNY Presidents on the most critical issues facing the SUNY campuses across New York. She is a key advisor on major policies and initiatives, including SUNY's response to the Supreme Court's decision on race conscious admissions and ensuring that campuses use every legal tool at their disposal to provide faculty/students with a discrimination free environment. Bess's creativity, leadership, strategic input, and operational oversight on all administrative and management initiatives within the Office of General Counsel has led to historic changes, including the significant expansion of the office.

From 2014 to 2021, Bess served at the NYC Mayor's Office where she advised the mayor and senior policymakers in City Hall and across City government, playing an indispensable role in the City's response to the 2019 measles outbreak and serving as a key member of the City's critical response team during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bess led on some of the Administration's equity-focused policies, including the salary history ban and the creation of the Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprises; and served as a member of the City's Safe Reopening Task Force, Chair of the Franchise and Concession Review Committee, and as an Equal Employment Opportunity Officer for the Mayor's Office. In addition, she has prosecuted child abuse and neglect cases for the NYC Administration for Children's Services and served as an executive agency counsel for the NYPD.

A lifelong New Yorker devoted to public service, Bess has used her platform to promote equity-based policies, and elevate issues of particular importance to the Asian community. After a spike in anti-Asian hate crimes, she convened elected officials and hundreds of leaders across New York City's government to discuss how to combat the proliferation of anti-Asian hate crimes.

Bess recently joined the New York State Bar Association as a panelist at the Annual Meeting's Constance Baker Motley Symposium where she discussed practical strategies for being a culturally effective lawyer.

Bess is a proud graduate of Wellesley College and Cardozo Law School.

Dr. Dewan currently serves as president of Upstate Medical University. He is a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. He is former chair of the department and has also served as director of Undergraduate Education and director of Residency Training. He was interim dean of the College of Medicine.

Throughout his career, which began at Upstate Medical in 1979 as an assistant professor of psychiatry, he has written 35 books and book chapters and 75 papers, and given hundreds of presentations on topics that range from brain imaging and economics of mental health care to psychotherapy and medical education. His work has been funded by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Dr. Dewan has an active clinical practice and is listed in The Best Doctors in America. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and has received the Scientific Achievement Award from the Indo-American Psychiatrists Association, the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the 2010 George Tarjan Award from the American Psychiatric Association, and designated an "Exemplary Chair" by SUNY in 2011.

He holds a doctor of medicine from University of Bombay (currently Mumbai University). Dr. Dewan conducted his residency at University Hospital, SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse.

Carol H. Kim, PhD, was named provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs in August 2019. As UAlbany's chief academic officer, she oversees all of the University's academic units and programs, and her responsibilities include creating transformative learning experiences for students, recruiting and supporting a diverse community of full-time and part-time faculty, and providing strategic leadership as UAlbany's second highest-ranking officer.

Dr. Kim's signature initiatives have encouraged collaborations across the academic enterprise. She introduced UAlbany Showcase, a campus-wide exhibition of students' work and ideas, and she is one of the driving forces behind AI Plus, Healthy Aging, Social and Health Equity, and AI and Mental Health — large-scale academic initiatives that have sparked interdisciplinary alliances and unified resources across the University.

Previously, Dr. Kim served at the seven-campus University of Maine System and the University of Maine, where she held multiple leadership roles, including associate vice chancellor for academic innovation and partnerships, dean of the Graduate School, vice president for research, and director of the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering.

A molecular virologist and professor of microbiology, Dr. Kim pioneered the use of the zebrafish model for innate immune response to infectious diseases. Her research has been supported by numerous federal and state funding agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and NASA. She holds a degree from Wellesley College in philosophy and biological chemistry and a doctoral degree in microbiology from Cornell University.

Melur K. "Ram" Ramasubramanian currently holds the position of Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost; and serves as the President of the SUNY Research Foundation. In this capacity, his focus revolves around collaborating with various stakeholders within SUNY including campus presidents, provosts, vice presidents for research and economic development, deans, faculty, students, and leadership within the SUNY System and Research Foundation.

As the leader of SUNY's academic enterprise, Ramasubramanian's main goal is to drive the implementation of innovative programs, initiatives, policies, and infrastructure. These initiatives strongly support SUNY's academic mission and research objectives, aligning with the Chancellor's strategy of excellence, accessibility, and affordability across all SUNY academic programs.

Before joining SUNY System Administration, Ramasubramanian served as the Vice President for Research at the University of Virginia starting in 2017. His career trajectory includes pivotal roles such as the program director for the Engineering Research Centers program and the lead program director for the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program at the National Science Foundation (2009-2012) at the National Science Foundation.

His extensive professional journey features significant contributions including holding the position of D.W. Reynolds Distinguished Professor and department chair of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University. During his tenure at Clemson, he also held a joint faculty appointment as a professor of bioengineering.  Prior to this, he contributed as a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University and held research roles at the James River Corporation (now Georgia-Pacific) and Syracuse University.

Ramasubramanian's research interests span a wide interdisciplinary spectrum encompassing engineering, biology, physical sciences, and medicine. His work delves into diverse areas such as mechanics of manufacturing processes, constitutive models for short fiber composites, bio-manufacturing and tissue engineering, scalable microfluidics, biomimetics, mechatronics, and biomedical devices. His contributions to the field have been extensively published in engineering and biomedical journals, and he has notably served as an associate editor for IEEE Access - The Multidisciplinary Open Access Journal. He continues his research pursuits in tissue engineering, actively advising a PhD student at the University of Virginia.

He received his BSME from the National Institute of Technology, India; MS from Miami University, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Syracuse University. He is a fellow of ASME, TAPPI, AIMBE, and a senior member of IEEE.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Ramasubramanian cherishes time spent with his family engaging in high altitude mountain climbing, hiking, skiing, and various outdoor activities. Additionally, he and his family share a passion for global travel experiences.

Internationally recognized as an accomplished researcher and transformative higher education leader, Dr. Satish Tripathi was appointed the 15th president of the University at Buffalo in 2011. He was one of the principal creators of the UB 2020 long-range academic plan that led the university to achieve significant growth in research and scholarly activity and enhance both the diversity and academic profile of UB's undergraduate and graduate students.

Tripathi joined the University at Buffalo in 2004, serving as UB's provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. As provost, he led the recruitment of many prominent faculty to the university and oversaw a significant increase in the number of faculty hired to develop and enhance strengths in strategic disciplinary areas. Consequently, the university achieved substantial increases in research expenditures and federally awarded research grants, putting UB in league with the top national research universities in the United States. Tripathi led several efforts to enrich the educational experiences of UB undergraduate students by introducing programs designed to provide them with more opportunities to engage in learning and research with UB's top faculty. He also oversaw the development of innovative "living-learning environments" constructed as part of "Building UB," the university's comprehensive physical plan.

Today, Tripathi's vision focuses on positioning UB among the top 25 public research universities in the nation. This goal will further the university's mission to achieve greater societal impact by enhancing scholarly productivity and growing UB's research portfolio; providing students with innovative, research-grounded educational experiences; building upon a university-wide culture of equity and inclusion; and deepening the university's engagement in the region by strengthening partnerships.

In 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul designated UB a flagship institution of the State University of New York system. This designation recognizes UB's reputation as a premier public research university, its leadership in public higher education, and its commitment to bring the benefits of its research, clinical care and education to the region, state, nation and world—all accomplishments that Tripathi advanced, and continues to elevate, as UB experiences a remarkable era of progress and innovation.