Leadership Development Programs Team

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 (AANHPILI). 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.

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.

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.

Tamara Frazier serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Upward Mobility and Executive Director of the Black Leadership Institute at the State University of New York (SUNY).

In her role, she provides thoughtful and deliberate counsel and oversight to New York State’s Educational Opportunity Centers and ATTAIN Digital Literacy labs, aimed at uplifting New York’s under-served populations. She also manages the Black Leadership Institute (BLI), one of SUNY’s four system-wide leadership programs, which cultivates pathways to advancement for emerging leaders across all campuses of the largest public higher education system in the United States.

Prior to joining SUNY in 2022, Tamara served in successively progressive roles as Associate Counsel, Senior Counsel and Assistant Deputy Counsel for the New York State Senate Democratic Conference, providing legal, programmatic and budgetary analysis on various human services issues including public assistance benefits, family law, domestic violence, juvenile justice and childcare. She provided strategic and deft counsel, negotiating aspects of the annual New York State budget, numerous pieces of legislation and chapter amendments on behalf of the New York State Senate.

In addition, she gained valuable policy and advocacy skills at the Empire Justice Center, a civil legal services law firm where she served as Manager for Policy and Government Relations; and as Program Coordinator and Chief of Staff for a division within the City of Buffalo government, focused on community development efforts.

With over 20 years of experience, she is regarded as a valued thought partner and strategist, using her varied skills set in legislative affairs, policy development and program management to produce institutional effectiveness. Her foundation is grounded by a deep passion for inclusive excellence, mentorship and professional development, and providing opportunities for upward mobility for others.

A proud native of Buffalo, New York, Tamara earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Loyola College in Maryland (now known as Loyola University Maryland), and her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) and Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P.) from SUNY Buffalo School of Law and School of Architecture and Planning. A participant of the 2016 Center for American Progress Leadership Institute cohort and graduate of Leadership Buffalo’s Rising Leaders program, she is admitted to practice in New York State.

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. 

Lauren P. Rodriguez is the Director of Resources for Students with Disabilities in the Office of University Life at the State University of New York. With over 15 years of experience, she leads initiatives and supports for students with disabilities across the SUNY System and guides the 64 campuses in adopting best practices to mitigate barriers to access for disabled students in all institutional programs, services, and activities. She also assists in developing programs and policies to support equity for students with disabilities. Dr. Rodriguez is the Director of the Universal Design for Learning Project at SUNY, co-founded the SUNY Accessibility Advocates & Allies Faculty Fellowship Program, serves as a Co-Chair of the SUNY Electronic Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Committee, and collaborates on many other accessibility initiatives.

Dr. Rodriguez completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University at Buffalo and earned a Psy.D. in School Psychology from Alfred University. She is a school psychologist and licensed psychologist in New York, as well as a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) through IAAP. Dr. Rodriguez has been honored for exemplary leadership in public service and the advancement of disability equity, receiving The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence (2020) and the New York State Empire Star Public Service Award (2019).