Prior to his current consulting practice, Ian Rosenblum served as Delegated Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Education Department in the Biden Administration. Rosenblum came to the U.S. Education Department after five years as the Founding Executive Director of The Education Trust – New York, the New York State affiliate of national education civil rights non-profit The Education Trust, which works to close equity gaps from preschool to college.
At the Education Trust, Rosenblum led campaigns to improve college access, affordability, and completion, including a first-of-its-kind data tool tracking FAFSA completion and highlighting high schools serving low-income students with exemplary FAFSA completion rates. Previously, Rosenblum served as Deputy Secretary for Education & Economic Opportunity and Director of Policy Coordination in the New York State Governor's Office, where he coordinated efforts to improve alignment between community colleges and workforce needs and to connect education and labor data systems. Rosenblum also served as Secretary of Policy & Planning and Senior Policy Manager & Special Assistant for Strategic Communications for Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.
Rosenblum holds both a BA in Urban Studies and a Master of Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania.
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.
Anne Bink joined SUNY as Senior Vice Chancellor for Operations and Management and Chief Operating Officer in January 2026, and is responsible for providing strategic, systemwide leadership for enterprise operations across the SUNY System Administration and our 64 colleges and universities.
Anne joined SUNY after a distinguished record of public service at both the state and federal levels – serving in senior roles at the NYS Division of the Budget, the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, FEMA, and Innovative Emergency Management.
Anne is known for her leadership of large and often complex efforts, which makes her well suited to serve as a member of our leadership team. She is also a SUNY alum with three degrees from the State University of New York at Albany, so this is a homecoming as we welcome Anne back to SUNY.
Senior Vice Chancellor for Health and Hospital Affairs, Valerie Grey works with campus and health sciences leaders to establish, lead, and support the strategic direction and operations of SUNY's four Academic Health Centers, the College of Optometry, and the Long Island State Veterans' Home. She provides system-wide strategic oversight, guidance, and advocacy for SUNY's academic health and health professions portfolio.
Ms. Grey drives initiatives to strengthen academic medicine, enhance student mental health and wellness, support and expand the healthcare workforce, and ensure coordinated, effective operations across SUNY's health-related campuses. She plays a key leadership role in aligning SUNY's health and hospital strategy with statewide healthcare priorities and public health needs, while advising senior leadership on academic medical center and hospital-related policy and operational matters.
Ms. Grey brings more than 30 years of experience across public policy, healthcare operations, and health technology. Most recently, she served as Chief Executive Officer of the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC), where she led the development and execution of the Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY) Strategic Plan to expand data sources, improve quality of care, and reduce administrative burden.
Previously, she was Executive Vice President for Policy at the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) and held senior leadership roles in New York State government, including in the Governor's Office, the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Education Department, the New York State Comptroller's Office, and the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee. She also led New York government affairs and compliance for AmeriChoice, part of UnitedHealth Group. Ms. Grey holds a master's degree in economics from the University at Albany, SUNY.
Robert M. Haelen is the Senior Vice Chancellor for Capital Facilities and General Manager of the State University Construction Fund ("SUCF"), which he has held since January 2011 and has over 30 years of experience with SUNY.
As Senior Vice Chancellor for Capital Facilities, Mr. Haelen oversees the Office for Capital Facilities which includes setting policy and guidelines related to design and construction services, real property transactions, capital planning, energy management, as well as the oversight of the residence halls and community college capital programs.
The SUCF manages the planning, design, construction, and funding of capital projects within SUNY's multi-billion dollar educational and hospital facilities capital programs. In his role as General Manager of the SUCF, Mr. Haelen reports to SUCF's Board of Trustees and is responsible for policy implementation, capital budget development and implementation, and oversight of numerous professionals that administer SUNY's capital projects.
Mr. Haelen started his career in public accounting. In 1987 he began work at the State University of New York in the Controller's Office. He joined the SUCF in 1989 and has held various positions at SUCF and SUNY simultaneously, working up to his current position.
During his tenure at SUCF and SUNY, Mr. Haelen also served as SUNY's Interim Chief Financial Officer for over a year and was responsible for financial operations and policy setting for SUNY's 64 campuses with a combined revenue of over $13 billion.
Mr. Haelen graduated with a B.A. 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 formerly practiced as a Certified Public Accountant.
As Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Julie Hartley-Moore oversees academic programs, planning, and assessment and university academic initiatives to support the highest quality teaching and to ensure student access to educational opportunities. Her portfolio includes leadership for the Office of Global Affairs, International Student and Scholar Services, and education abroad and for SUNY's Digital Innovation and Academic Services, online educational initiatives, and the Office of Library and Information Services.
Dr. Hartley-Moore previously served as Associate Commissioner and Chief Academic Officer for the Utah System of Higher Education, a campus director at Utah State University, and a Dean at Elgin Community College. She is an accomplished educator and researcher, having mentored over 150 student theses and has published on topics ranging from cultural tourism and sustainable development to higher education leadership and policy.
Dr. Hartley-Moore earned her PhD in Applied Anthropology and Education from Columbia University, a Master of Arts in American Studies from Utah State University, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and French from Brigham Young University.
Donna Linderman is the Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success for the State University of New York.
In this role, Senior Vice Chancellor Linderman is leading SUNY's systemwide investment through the SUNY Transformation Fund, which is supporting many campus initiatives including the replication of the evidence-based ASAP|ACE degree completion model, upward mobility initiatives, multi-campus transfer partnerships, operational efficiency and essential student supports.
As Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success at SUNY, Donna's portfolio includes Enrollment Management and Financial Aid, University Life and Opportunity Programs, Transfer and Articulation, the Transformation Fund, Higher Education in Prison, and the Center for Professional Development.
SVC Linderman is also co-leading the SUNY Transfer Task Force which was established to bring together experts from across the SUNY System to be assured that transfer opportunities - particularly vertical transfer between associate and baccalaureate programs - are more fully realized.
Donna previously served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the City University of New York (CUNY). Where she led the design and implementation of nation-leading student success initiatives. Linderman was a principal architect of the design and scaling of the CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) model, which has been shown in rigorous, randomized, controlled trial evaluations to double community college completion rates and has been successfully replicated at campuses in New York and other states. Linderman also led the development and execution of CUNY Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE), ASAP at four-year institutions, along with CUNY Start, a nationally recognized initiative to help first-year students with academic gaps successfully enter and succeed in college, and has led successful CUNY system-wide initiatives to improve completion by strengthening academic momentum, reform developmental education, improve educational and employment outcomes for student fathers, and more.
Linderman began her academic career as an Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College and holds a BFA in Drama from the University of Southern California, an MFA in Theatre from Brooklyn College, and an EdD in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University.
Kapil Longani is the Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel for the State University of New York.
Kapil has had a distinguished career in public service, which he attributes to his immigrant parents who instilled in him a strong belief in the power of government to improve lives. His deep commitment to justice, fairness, and equity has taken him around the globe, from implementing South Africa's post-Apartheid Constitution, to serving as the minority staff's lead investigator for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the U.S. House of Representatives’ most high profile and significant investigations, including the Flint water crisis, to serving 8.6 million New Yorkers as Chief Counsel to the Mayor of New York City.
In addition to serving as the solutions czar and top lawyer to the Mayor of New York City, Kapil has worked as Senior Counsel to Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings. Prior to his work in Congress, Kapil served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, where he prosecuted cases involving sexual assault, homicide, robbery, narcotics, and illegal firearms. He previously worked as a litigator in New York City at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Roger L. Gregory of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Honorable Judge Richard Smoak of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Kapil has also taught as an adjunct professor of law at Brooklyn Law School, and served as a Policing Project Fellow at NYU Law School.
Kapil holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and legal degrees from the University of Florida, Yale, and Oxford University.
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.
Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik joined SUNY System Administration in December of 2020 as provost-in-charge and in May of 2022 was appointed by the Board of Trustees as Senior Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development. Prior to System Administration, Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik worked at SUNY Polytechnic Institute where she was a professor and interim vice president of research and graduate studies. She will continue her faculty appointment within the nanoscale engineering college.
In the past 17 years, Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik has secured over $12 million in research funding on federal, state, and industry levels, such as the National Science Foundation, Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, Army Research Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, and the NY State research and technology agencies (NYSTAR), among others.
She has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal papers, serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Electronic Materials, and is actively advising five PhD students, having graduated 10 PhD students previously, and supervised multiple master students and postdoctoral fellows. Her research is centered on physics and technology of photonic and electronic devices for lighting, power conversion, and sensing. Dr. Sandvik was appointed the first "Presidential Fellow" with the Research Foundation for SUNY in 2013, SUNY "Provost Fellow" in 2012, and was awarded "NY Governor's 2005 Woman of Excellence" for her professional accomplishment and contribution to the community. She received her Bachelor of Science in physics from Tehran University, and a PhD in solid state physics from the University of Missouri. Prior to joining SUNY Poly, Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik held a postdoctoral fellowship in materials science and engineering and was a research associate in electrical and computer engineering, both at Northwestern University.
Kyle Adams serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Creating Strategy in the Office of Press and Communications at SUNY System Administration. In this role, he helps promote the excellent, affordable higher education offered at each of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities.
Kyle has been working for the SUNY System since 2016, first in communications and marketing roles at various campuses and institutions, including SUNY's colleges of technology, the system's leading online institution, and the Rockefeller Institute of Government. He has been serving as the marketing lead at SUNY System Administration since 2020, where he oversees System-level marketing including brand and enrollment campaigns, social media, web, multimedia, and creative development.
Kyle proudly served in the United States Peace Corps in Ukraine from 2009 to 2012. He earned bachelor's degrees in journalism and anthropology from Syracuse University.
Francisco Miguel Araiza is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Policy Implementation. As part of the Chancellor’s office, he works cross-functionally with teams to ensure that SUNY’s four priority pillars: (1) Student Success; (2) Research and Scholarship; (3) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and (4) Economic Development and Upward Mobility are prioritized across all initiatives.
Before joining SUNY, Francisco spent a decade leveraging research and data for more inclusive, just, and equitable public policies in different roles and capacities. He was most recently the deputy executive director of Next100, a startup think tank for a new generation of policy leaders, where he helped build and manage a team of individuals who were driving policy change in issue areas they were either directly impacted by, or proximate to. Francisco also worked at The Education Trust–New York (Ed Trust–NY), where he led the research and policy team on educational equity issues from early childhood to college completion, while supporting the organization’s internal and external strategic planning. Prior to Ed Trust–NY, he was at the Citizens’ Committee for Children, where he was a data and policy associate and provided research support for the organization’s policy agenda across a range of child well-being issue areas. Francisco’s passion for public policy stems from his first-hand experience of social policy inequities as a low-income and undocumented youth.
Nisha joins SUNY System Administration as Executive Director of the Impact Foundation.
Nisha comes to SUNY with a wealth of expertise and a proven track record in fundraising, investing, and data analysis. Most recently, Nisha was the Managing Director at Old Capital City, which was founded in 2006, as an alternative investment capital placement agency. She was personally responsible for raising $700M+ of investment capital and was a key team member in growing the business, which has raised $10B across its platform. Additionally, Nisha was a venture capitalist for Mellon Ventures, as well as an allocator/hedge fund seeder at Larch Lane Advisors. She started her career at Booz-Allen & Hamilton, a strategy consultancy and worked in product management at Sagent Technology in Silicon Valley.
Nisha has a long history of serving her community. She currently sits on the School of Visual Arts in New York City Board of Advisors and has previously served as Board Chair of the North Star Fund, a New York-focused 45-year-old social justice community foundation. She has volunteered and raised funds for Warrior Angels Rescue, aiding women and their families escaping from Afghanistan after the Taliban offensive of August 2021, and she co-founded Drop In Coalition, a non-profit aimed at teaching underserved girls surfing and STEM curriculum.
Nisha earned a Bachelor’s degree in Earth & Planetary Sciences from Harvard College and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Lisa Castillo Richmond, Ph.D. is an entrepreneurial higher education leader committed to collaborative approaches to addressing longstanding barriers to student success in colleges, universities, and higher education systems. Over the past two decades, she has built and led nonprofit education organizations, statewide policy and advocacy coalitions, student success initiatives with colleges and universities, and programming for higher education leaders and practitioners.
Working within the Office of Student Success, Lisa currently serves as Senior Associate Vice Chancellor & Chief Deputy for Student Success. In this role, she supports people and programming in a number of areas designed to increase enrollment, persistence, and completion for students across all 64 SUNY campuses. Prior to her SUNY appointment, she served as the Executive Director of the Partnership for College Completion, an organization she helped launch in 2016 to advance racial and socioeconomic equity in Illinois higher education. Previously, she led Graduate NYC, a collaborative partnership between the City University of NY and the NYC Department of Education. Earlier in her career she led programming at non-profit education organizations, including as the Vice President of Programs for both the national "I Have A Dream" Foundation and Junior Achievement of New York.
Dr. Castillo Richmond is a proud first-generation college graduate of Marquette University and holds an M.A. in Education & Social Policy from New York University. She earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education at Loyola University Chicago, where her research focused on the equity leadership of college and university presidents and their cabinet teams.
Bess Chiu Chief Deputy General Counsel & Chief of Staff Bess is a committed and experienced public interest lawyer. In her role at SUNY, she serves 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 have led to historic changes, including the significant expansion of the office. Bess was recently recognized in City & State's Power of Diversity: Asian 100 list and was also recently appointed to the steering committee for the new Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Leadership Institute at SUNY. Prior to joining SUNY, she was an Executive Agency Counsel at the New York City Police Department. 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 on the most critical matters confronting the city, including the City's historic legal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bess is a proud graduate of Wellesley College and Cardozo Law School.
Valerie Dent was appointed Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges at the State University of New York (SUNY) System Administration in July 2025. In this role, she is responsible for advancing SUNY policies and initiatives in support of the 30 community colleges across the system, working to strengthen access, equity, and student success.
Valerie brings extensive leadership experience within SUNY, having previously served as Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Deputy for Student Success, Interim Chief Diversity Officer, and Deputy Chief Operating Officer. She also has a distinguished record of public service in New York State government, serving from 2013 to 2020 as First Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights.
She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where she earned a degree in economics, and Columbia University School of Law, where she received her J.D.
Jamie serves as Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Policy Implementation & Access Initiatives. Previously she served as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Policy for SUNY. Before coming to SUNY, Jamie served as the Associate Commissioner for Child Care Policy for the Office of Children and Family Services and served as the Assistant Secretary for Education in the New York State Office of the Governor. In these roles, Jamie was proud to provide policy advice and implementation on initiatives such as the SUNY transformation plan, college application fee waivers for high poverty schools, the prohibition on transcript withholding, advanced course access, and child care scholarships for essential workers. Jamie began her career in state service as a budget examiner for the New York State Division of Budget and previously served as a public-school teacher. Jamie graduated with a bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Rochester and holds a M.P.A. with a concentration in Social Policy from Cornell University.
Gary Ginsburg serves as Chief Communications Officer at the State University of New York (SUNY). In this role, he oversees the Office of Communications and works to help promote and amplify the high-quality education and affordable excellence that students have access to at each of SUNY's 64 campuses.
Prior to joining SUNY, Gary served as the Deputy Director of Communications for the New York State Attorney General's office (OAG). In this role, Gary led media relations and message development and managed the Communications Office staff. Before joining OAG in 2022, he served as the Director of Senate Services and Senate Majority Conference Deputy Communications Director. Throughout his public service career, Gary has been a communications officer and voice for top leaders in New York State including positions within the Executive Chamber for two governors, and the New York State Assembly Speaker's Office.
Gary earned his bachelor's degree from Norwich University, Military College of Vermont, where he also earned his master's degree in public administration. Gary resides in the Capital Region with his wife and two children.
Aaron Gladd is currently the Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Advisor for Operations and Management at the State University of New York. Prior to that, he was Chief of Staff at SUNY System Administration and held leadership roles as the Chief of Staff at SUNY Empire State University, as the New York State Director of the Northeast Charter Schools Network, as the Deputy Director of Policy in the Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo, as a Legislative Director in the office of former New York State Senator Tom Libous, and as a Congressional Assistant for former Congressman Michael McNulty.
A United States Army combat veteran, Gladd served as a Platoon Leader in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He holds a bachelor's degree in Public Law from the University at Albany, a master's degree in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and a Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies from Harvard University.
Dr. Bart Grachan is the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management for the State University of New York, overseeing Enrollment Services, the Application Services Center, Financial Aid Services, Recruitment, Events, and Recruitment Technologies, and the NYC Welcome Center.
Prior to his role with SUNY System Administration, Dr. Grachan served as the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at Rockland Community College. Over his career, he has worked in and overseen enrollment management and student affairs across the spectrum, at public, private, highly selective and open enrollment institutions, from recruitment and admissions, through advisement and student life, all the way to commencement.
Dr. Grachan earned his doctorate in Higher Education Administration from New York University, a Master of Arts in History and a Master of Science in Teaching Secondary Social Studies from Iona College, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University in history and English literature.
Cheryl Hamilton has been appointed Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life, Opportunity Programs, & Student Advocate. This senior position is designed to elevate and lead the Chancellor's more student-centric priorities for his administration. As student advocate, Hamilton will oversee: Student-Centric Initiatives, Disability Services, Veterans and Military Affairs, Child Care Services, Substance Abuse Services, Chancellor's Student Excellence Awards, and the Student Assembly—the student elective governance body. She is also the liaison with campus professional groups, including Chief Student Affairs officers, Counseling Services, Residence Life, Greek Life, Athletics, Student Conduct, and College Union and Campus Activities Professionals. She will also continue to oversee SUNY's Educational Opportunity Program.
Adam Haney joined the State University of New York Office of General Counsel in early 2016. He is currently responsible for overseeing all legal matters for the SUNY Campuses at Empire State, Plattsburgh, and Purchase College. Prior to joining SUNY, Adam was an Associate Attorney at Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP where he specialized in commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Adam received his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University at Buffalo School of Law in 2012 where he served as an Executive Publication Editor for the Buffalo Law Review. He graduated from New York University with a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration in 2006 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with high distinction, cum laude, from the University at Buffalo in 2004. He is admitted to practice law in the State of New York, the State of New Jersey, the U.S. District Courts for the Western, Southern, and Eastern Districts of New York and the District of New Jersey, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Western District of New York and the District of New Jersey.
Juliana currently serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Policy Implementation and Deputy Chief of Staff to SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. In this role, she leads the implementation of priority initiatives that advance SUNY's mission, overseeing high-impact projects, system-wide communications across SUNY's 64 campuses, and aligning SUNY's priorities with statewide goals. Previously at SUNY, she served as Director of Local Government & Legislative Affairs strengthening campus partnerships on workforce and community initiatives.
Juliana plays a key role in managing the Empire State Service Corps, a program that provides paid opportunities for students to engage in meaningful community service across New York State through placements in public, nonprofit, and community partners. In addition, she supports SUNY's partnership with the University of Puerto Rico to broaden student exchange programs in the areas of research and workforce development and to expand applied learning opportunities for SUNY and Puerto Rican students.
Before joining SUNY, Juliana spent more than a decade in the New York State Senate, serving in senior communications and policy roles in cultural affairs, environmental conservation, and education. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Marist College and a Bachelor of Arts from The College of Saint Rose. She is an alumna of the Yale School of Management Executive Education's Women's Leadership Program.
Robert Megna is president of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. He previously served as senior vice chancellor and chief operating officer of SUNY System Administration. In that role, he oversaw the operations of the chief information officer, the State University of New York (SUNY) Plaza business functions, capital facilities, campus energy management, and the Charter School Institute. He joined SUNY System Administration from Stony Brook University, where he served as senior vice president for finance and administration. Prior to joining Stony Brook, he served as executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Canal Corporation.
Megna served as budget director for the New York State Division of the Budget (DOB), during which time the state achieved its highest financial rating in 40 years from three major credit rating agencies and passed four on-time budgets for the first time since the 1970s. He also chaired multiple governmental boards, including the Financial Restructuring Board, the New York Racing Association, and the Public Authorities Control Board. Megna has also served as commissioner for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, director of the revenue and economics unit at DOB, assistant commissioner of the office of tax policy at the Virginia Department of Taxation, director of tax studies at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and deputy director of fiscal studies on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.
Megna earned an MS in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science at the University of London and received both his BA in Economics and MPA from Fordham University.
Cara Palumbo Schrantz joined the State University of New York Office of General Counsel in 2016 as Assistant Counsel and Special Liaison to the Office of Government Relations, later becoming Associate Counsel. In this position, she provides legal support to the SUNY Colleges at Oneonta and New Paltz, as well as legislative and other legal assistance to the SUNY System Administration Office of Government Relations. Prior to joining SUNY, Cara was an Assistant Counsel to the Governor in the New York State Office of Counsel to the Governor, where she concentrated on K-12 education and higher education issues. She also previously worked as a law clerk to Judge Lawrence E. Kahn, Northern District of New York, and as a Senior Legislative Budget Analyst in the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee, concentrating on education budget issues. Cara received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and received a Bachelor of Science in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University, College of Human Ecology. She is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the State of Massachusetts (inactive).
Julie Petti serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources at the State University of New York (SUNY). With over three decades of experience at SUNY, including twenty-five years dedicated to Human Resources, Julie brings a wealth of expertise to her role. She provides strategic leadership to all sixty-four campuses as well as senior leadership at System Administration. Her portfolio encompasses oversight of University-wide Human Resources, University-wide Benefits, Classification and Compensation, System Administration Human Resources, and Inclusive Leadership and Organizational Development. Her effective management style and customer-centered approach have earned recognition from both the SUNY Human Resources Association and the State University Business Officers for her exceptional service to the SUNY community.
Julie earned a Bachelor's of Business Administration degree from Siena College.
As Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs, Dr. Jessica Robin leads the Office of Global Affairs and its international activities and initiatives. Her portfolio includes oversight for international dual degree programs, education abroad, global partnerships, international engagements, international student and scholar services, and global risk management.
Dr. Robin previously served as the Head of the International Office for the National Science Foundation (NSF) where she led major efforts to strengthen global research collaborations and represent the federal government in diplomatic science and technology engagements. Prior to her time at the NSF, Dr. Robin worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center developing international research and education initiatives for schools around the world and worked in research and extension support at Cornell University.
Dr. Robin earned her PhD in Geographical Sciences from the University of Maryland at College Park, a Master of Science in Soil Science and a Master of Professional Studies in International Agriculture both from Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and a Bachelor of Science degrees from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Josh Sager is the Chief Financial Officer at SUNY System Administration. In this role, Josh reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and oversees University-wide budget issues, financial and policy initiatives, serves as the liaison to the Finance and Administration Committee of the SUNY Board of Trustees as well as several other areas of focus. In this role, Josh interacts directly with campus business officers, as well as staff from the New York State Division of the Budget (DOB), legislature, and other State / Federal agencies on a variety of financial issues.
Prior to joining SUNY, over a 13-year period, Josh held analytical and leadership positions within the Higher Education Unit at the New York State Division of the Budget (DOB) where he became an expert on public higher education. Josh's first foray into the SUNY family was with the State University Construction Fund where he served as both the Assistant Director and Director of Finance. Josh also has served as the University-wide Budget Director and Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business for SUNY.
Josh is an alumnus of the Rockefeller College at the University at Albany where he received undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as an Associate's Degree from Columbia-Greene Community College.
Will Schwartz serves as Vice Chancellor for Government Relations at the State University of New York (SUNY). In this role he oversees the Office of State Relations and the Office of Federal Relations. Will and his team are responsible for liaising with all levels of government in New York State and in Washington, D.C, for the formulation and advancement of SUNY’s state and federal legislative programs, strategies, and policy issue development.
Prior to joining SUNY, Will oversaw government and community relations for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) as Deputy Chief, Government and Community Relations. He joined the MTA in 2019 as Director of State Legislative Affairs. At the MTA he worked to build strong relationships with governmental and community stakeholders, helped to navigate the transit agency through the COVID-19 pandemic, secured numerous legislative achievements for the agency, and worked to secure significant investments to the MTA’s operating and capital budgets. He came to the MTA having served as Legislative Director to Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz for nearly nine years.
Will is a proud SUNY alumnus, having earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Buffalo State University. He earned his master’s degree in public administration from Marist College. He resides in East Greenbush, NY with his wife Amy, and children Matthew and Hailey.
Carter H. Strickland, Jr. has over 30 years of experience in the environmental field across a variety of approaches from strategic planning and implementation to regulatory counseling and litigation. He is currently the Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Director of Climate Action at The State University of New York, which spans 64 campuses, including three teaching hospitals, and educates 1.3 million students.
Previously, Strickland served as Mid-Atlantic Regional Vice President and New York State Director for the Trust for Public Land, where his team worked with communities to protect land, create parks and greenways, build green infrastructure, and to pass the Bond Act and other funding for natural climate solutions. He was Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, where he oversaw the largest municipally owned water utility in the country, developed the country's largest green infrastructure program, launched a pilot to process food waste at the utility's anaerobic digesters, led the response to Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy, and developed resiliency, water efficiency, clear air, solid waste, and sustainability strategies, policies, and capital programs. Strickland teaches a graduate seminar on environmental infrastructure for sustainable cities at Columbia University and NYU, has been an advisor for Closed Loop Partner’s organics recycling business, and served as a board member of the Land Trust Alliance (New York), Billion Oyster Project, Natural Areas Conservancy, and Regional Plan Association. Earlier in his career, he served as a senior sustainability policy advisor to NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a litigator and professor at the Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic, and a prosecutor with the Office of the New York Attorney General Environmental Protection Bureau.
Strickland is an avid hiker, skier, climber, and paddler through New York State and more far-flung destinations whenever he can. He is a resident of Brooklyn, where he lives with his wife and raised his two children.
Jay Urwitz is the Senior Deputy General Counsel for Special Projects for the State University of New York. In that capacity, he assists the Chancellor on issues involving the academic quality, financial and administrative efficiency, and legal and regulatory issues of the SUNY System.
Early in his career, Jay was the Legislative Assistant for Domestic Policy for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. He was a partner at the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr for 30 years, where he represented universities, educational businesses and educational consulting and research organizations. He then served as Deputy General Counsel for Postsecondary Education during the Obama Administration, where he worked with Chancellor King, when the Chancellor was the US Secretary of Education. Between leaving the Department and joining SUNY, Mr. Urwitz was a Senior Fellow at the American Council on Education.
Jay has been on the Board of Teachers College, Columbia University since 2005, and on the Board of the Institute for Citizens and Scholars (formerly the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation) since 2008. He has written for publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CNN, The Daily News, Newsday, Education Week, and Inside Higher Ed.
Mr. Urwitz is a proud graduate of Harpur College at Binghamton University, and received his Master of Public Policy and law degrees from Harvard, where he was Senior Editor of The Harvard Law Review. He clerked for a judge on the US Court of Appeals.
In 2024, Chris White was named SUNY's first Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Upward Mobility. In his role, he is responsible for providing strategic vision and leadership in creating and implementing workforce development initiatives, solidifying external partnerships, and ensuring seamless coordination across the SUNY System. Chris has a background in workforce development, communications, and public policy, serving most recently as Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development at the New York State Department of Labor. There, he oversaw 100 career centers and a team of 1,100 employees. His career has included several statewide outreach and education campaigns, including New York State's $15 minimum wage, closing the gender wage gap, subminimum wage, and workplace sexual harassment prevention. Chris has a background in journalism and digital media, having worked in strategic marketing and communications.
