Chancellor King and SUNY Board of Trustees Announce Appointment of Christopher White as Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development and Upward Mobility
November 12, 2024
New York, NY – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today appointed Christopher W. White as SUNY's first-ever Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Upward Mobility, a key position established to advance one of SUNY's four priority pillars (student success; research and scholarship; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and economic development and upward mobility). White has extensive experience in workforce development, communications, and public policy, serving most recently as Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development at the New York State Department of Labor. He will join SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr.'s cabinet, and his appointment is effective December 12, 2024.
In this role, White is responsible for providing strategic vision and leadership in creating and implementing workforce development initiatives, solidifying external partnerships, and ensuring seamless coordination across SUNY System Administration and its 64 colleges and universities. White will also have primary responsibility for implementing SUNY's goal of ensuring that all undergraduate students complete an internship or other high-quality experiential learning opportunity before earning their degree.
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "In the nearly two years since Chancellor King took office, he has taken bold action with his team to secure upward mobility for our students including adult learners. With the appointment of Chris White, the connections to the job market in our state will only grow stronger and benefit more New Yorkers."
SUNY Chancellor King said, "SUNY is New York State's engine of economic opportunity and upward mobility. It has been a privilege to get to know and work with Chris during his tenure at the New York State Department of Labor, and we are excited to have him join the SUNY team."
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Chancellor King and the SUNY Board of Trustees could not have selected a better candidate for this new role. I have worked closely with Chris for years and can say unequivocally that he has the exact right skill set, drive, and passion to move this work forward in an impactful way. I'm thrilled that SUNY students across New York will have the benefit of his strategic expertise and knowledge."
White said, "During my time at the NYS Department of Labor, we have expanded partnerships, data collection and technology, and our career center system is now serving more than one million New Yorkers each year. I look forward to expanding job opportunities with Chancellor King and campus leaders for the hundreds of thousands of students who come to SUNY for a higher education each year – from traditional-age college students to adult learners. My thanks to Chancellor King, Chairman Merryl Tisch, and the entire Board of Trustees on this appointment."
About Chris White
White joins SUNY after serving as Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development for the New York State Department of Labor. At NYSDOL he has led significant initiatives, including modernizing workforce development systems and launching a statewide Virtual Career Center solution. He oversaw 95 career centers and a team of 1,000 employees.
Throughout his career, White has been involved in several major 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. His work has focused on creating accessible pathways to career development, especially for individuals facing barriers to employment such as the long-term unemployed, veterans, and those with disabilities.
In addition to his service at the NYS Department of Labor, White has a diverse background in marketing and media, having worked in strategic marketing and communications. He has developed extensive networks across industry, education, and government. White earned his bachelor of arts in journalism from Ithaca College.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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