Dr. Kristine D. Duffy appointed next president of SUNY Adirondack

APRIL 16, 2013

QUEENSBURY — Dr. Kristine D. Duffy, current Vice President of Enrollment Management/Student Development at SUNY’s Onondaga Community College, will become the next president of SUNY Adirondack. The State University of New York Board of Trustees approved the appointment earlier today.  Dr. Duffy will assume the position July 1.

“Dr. Duffy’s extensive background and leadership experience in the ever-increasing important field of enrollment management are in direct alignment with our vision for SUNY Adirondack as it transforms to a residential campus this fall,” said Mark Bulmer, chair of the college’s Board of Trustees.  “Additionally, as we continue to strengthen our relationship with SUNY and its ‘Systemness’ initiative, we see Dr. Duffy as being an excellent advocate not only for SUNY Adirondack but also the entire SUNY system.”

Dr. Duffy was the only finalist from within the SUNY system. SUNY Adirondack’s Board of Trustees cited her experience and expertise within SUNY as being a key component to the college’s growing relationship with the system, a step it began three years ago with the adoption of the SUNY Adirondack identity.

“Dr. Duffy comes to SUNY Adirondack with outstanding qualifications and accomplishments as well as hands-on experience and knowledge of SUNY, having served at our community colleges in Cayuga and Onondaga,” said SUNY Chancellor Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher. “We are looking forward to her continued leadership at SUNY Adirondack and are highly confident that she will serve the campus’ student, faculty, and staff with distinction.”

Dr. Duffy will arrive at SUNY Adirondack with significant experience in New York State higher education. Prior to her current position, she served as Vice President of Enrollment Services at Onondaga Community College and Dean of Enrollment Management at SUNY’s Cayuga Community College. Dr. Duffy also has experience working in the Capital Region, having served as Director of Admission at Sage Junior College of Albany and as a Guidance Counselor at Colonie Central High School.  She holds an Ed.D. in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College, where her dissertation focused around the study of community college student retention. She also earned a M.S. in Guidance and Counseling from Russell Sage College and a B.S. in Business Administration from SUNY Brockport.

“It is an honor to be selected to lead SUNY Adirondack. The college is well positioned to strengthen its partnerships with local educators, business leaders, and SUNY to provide high quality and innovative programs and services in support of student success,” Dr Duffy said. “I look forward to working together with the college’s Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, as well as the local community, to advance SUNY Adirondack as a premiere college of choice.”

A nationwide search earlier this year attracted 35 applicants. In February the college’s search team interviewed an initial group of seven applicants, followed by a group of three finalists last month. SUNY Adirondack’s Board of Trustees voted on March 28 to recommend Dr. Duffy for the position. She interviewed with Dr. Zimpher, who then forwarded the recommendation to the SUNY Board of Trustees for final approval.

Dr. Duffy will succeed Dr. Ronald C. Heacock, who has spent the past six years as the college’s president. “Dr. Heacock deserves a significant amount of credit for leading SUNY Adirondack through an unprecedented level of growth, including the new Wilton Center, a new Culinary Arts facility, and most recently the efforts to add Student Housing to the Queensbury campus, ” Bulmer said. Effective July 1, Dr. Heacock will transition to a special consulting role for the college, followed by a formal retirement at the end of December.

SUNY Adirondack annually enrolls approximately 4,000 students at locations in Queensbury, Wilton, and Online. The college’s Continuing Education division also provides non-credit and workforce development training to businesses and individuals throughout the northern Capital Region. It is one of 64 campuses that make up the State University of New York, the largest higher education system in the nation.

Media Contact:
Mark Bulmer
Chair, SUNY Adirondack Board of Trustees
cbulmer@nycap.rr.com
518-745-8287