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How to Apply?
Nomination Process
Nomination by a Campus President
- Campus Presidents are encouraged to nominate an experienced Chief Academic Officer and other senior leaders who demonstrate strong readiness and potential for a future presidency.
- The nomination must confirm that the candidate has institutional support to participate fully in the Institute.
Self-Nomination
- Qualified Chief Academic Officers or other senior leaders across SUNY may apply through self-nomination.
- Self-nominated applicants should be prepared to demonstrate readiness, leadership experience, and commitment to pursuing a presidency.
All nominees, whether nominated by a president or self-nominated, are reviewed through the same competitive selection process.
Application Process
Given the highly intensive nature of the Institute, participation is limited, and candidates will be selected through a competitive review process. Completed applications must be received by close of business, September 9, 2026, and include the following:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- At least two (2) letters of recommendations, one of which must come from the nominee’s president.
- Brief Statement of Interest outlining the following:
- Describe your leadership experience, including your current role, responsibilities, and scope of decision-making authority, and examples of institutional or system-level impact.
- Provide examples that demonstrate your readiness for presidential leadership, including how you have navigated complex challenges, led through change, built consensus, or made difficult decisions.
- How do your leadership experience, values, and priorities align with the responsibilities of a college or university president, including student success, academic excellence, financial sustainability, shared governance, community engagement, and institutional strategy?
- What leadership strengths would you bring to a presidency, and what areas do you hope to further develop through the Becoming a Future President Institute?
- If selected, how would participation in the Institute strengthen your ability to lead a SUNY institution and contribute to the broader SUNY system?
Applications will be evaluated based on demonstrated leadership experience, executive readiness, and alignment with the responsibilities and priorities of presidential leadership.
