Presidential Placement - RH Perry

SUNY Adirondack names Anastasia L. Urtz as Their 8th President

Albany, NY – The State University of New York Board of Trustees voted today to name Anastasia L. Urtz, J.D. as the eighth president to lead SUNY Adirondack. Urtz will assume the presidency this summer following the retirement of current SUNY Adirondack President Kristine D. Duffy. Urtz currently serves as Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Onondaga Community College.

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Selecting a new campus president is not just about leadership; it’s about vision, experience, and a deep commitment to student success. With over a decade of dedicated service at Onondaga Community College and a distinguished career in higher education, Provost Urtz possesses the expertise, passion, and strategic insight necessary to maintain SUNY Adirondack’s momentum and we wish her absolute success as she embarks on this exciting new endeavor.”

“I am confident that Anastasia Urtz’s vision and dedication to student success, demonstrated through her experience as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at OCC, will solidify SUNY Adirondack’s position as a vital force in education, workforce development, and upward mobility in the Capital Region and North Country,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “I would also like to express my utmost appreciation to President Duffy for her unwavering dedication to increasing opportunities for students at SUNY Adirondack. Under her leadership, SUNY Adirondack has seen an increase in graduation rates, diversity, and closing achievement gaps.”

Chair of SUNY Adirondack Board of Trustees Amie Gonzales said, “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, our campus, and the community, we are thrilled to welcome Anastasia Urtz to SUNY Adirondack. Her dedication to student success, institutional growth, and community engagement makes her the right leader at the right time for SUNY Adirondack.”

Anastasia L. Urtz, J.D. said, “SUNY Adirondack is a welcoming and supportive academic community that prepares students for in-demand careers and engagement in civic life. As a parent of a college junior, I know first-hand how important it is for students to find an academic path that helps them build the lives and livelihoods they imagine for themselves. I am honored to lead this important institution during a time of change in higher education and look forward to collaborating with campus and community leaders to expand educational opportunities for local residents.”

About Anastasia L. Urtz, J.D.

Anastasia L. Urtz, J.D., serves as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Onondaga Community College. Provost Urtz’s experience in higher education spans public, private, research, land grant, and community colleges, including leadership roles in academic and student affairs, business and legal affairs, cooperative extension, strategic planning, and fundraising. As Provost at OCC, Urtz has led implementation of integrated student supports and worked with faculty to establish more than 20 new programs in healthcare, science and technology, business, and the liberal arts over her tenure in this role. In addition, Provost Urtz has collaborated to strengthen the high school to college pipeline, engage adult learners, expand civic engagement, and foster student success. These efforts have led to enrollment gains (+14% since fall 2023) and contributed to Micron Technology, Inc. naming Onondaga Community College as its community college partner in preparing technicians for a projected $100 billion investment in semiconductor technology in Central and Upstate New York.

Prior to her service at Onondaga Community College, Provost Urtz served as Executive Director (Chief Executive Officer) of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Onondaga County and held several positions at Syracuse University.

She was a 2017-2018 Fellow of the American Council on Education (ACE) and in 2022 was one of 30 women chosen nationwide by the ACE Women’s Network for its inaugural “Moving the Needle” mentorship program. Provost Urtz grew up in a dairy farming family in Central New York, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from The American University in Washington, D.C., and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She has a record of public service focused on rural community development, sustainability, the well-being of children and families, education, social justice, and the arts, including her current role as Vice President of CNY Arts, a regional arts council serving six counties.

About SUNY Adirondack

SUNY Adirondack is a community college with a growing campus that is part of the nation’s largest university, the State University of New York. With locations in Queensbury, Glens Falls and Wilton, SUNY Adirondack offers courses in person and online; on-campus housing at the Queensbury campus; and serves students via credit and continuing education programs. Learn more at sunyacc.edu.

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.

Briar Cliff University names Dr. Matthew Draud as President

Briar Cliff University’s Board of Trustees announced Dr. Matthew J. Draud as the University’s 13th President. He will relocate to the Siouxland area from Abilene, Texas, where he most recently served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at McMurry University. He will begin his presidential responsibilities on July 1, 2024.

Briar Cliff University launched a nationwide presidential search in January 2024. Four finalists, including Draud, were invited to campus to interview with the Presidential Search Committee, which consisted of Briar Cliff faculty, staff, students, and board members.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Matthew Draud as the 13th president of Briar Cliff University,” said Board Chair Steve Stouffer. “His extensive experience in academic leadership and his commitment to innovation make him the ideal choice to guide Briar Cliff into a promising future. We look forward to welcoming him to the Briar Cliff and Siouxland community.”

A distinguished academic leader with over 20 years of administrative experience in higher education, Draud began his career as a full-time faculty member at Long Island University in 1997, achieving tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2003 and becoming Chair of the biology department, a position he held for 10 years. Promoted to Professor in 2009, Draud has published extensively in animal behavior and ecology. In 2013, he became a tenured Professor and Department Head at Armstrong State University, supervising a large faculty and student body. He later served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Siena Heights University and, in 2020, became Vice President for Academic Affairs at McMurry University. He has overseen significant growth and innovation, established new academic programs, and played a key role in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. He has also been instrumental in securing substantial gifts to support student success.

Draud received a Doctor of Philosophy from Lehigh University, a Master of Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and a Bachelor of Arts from Thomas More University, all within the Department of Biology. He has been involved in leadership development with the Future Presidents Intensive Educational Advisory Board, engaged in service, and has been published in several articles and a book.

“I am deeply honored to become the 13th president of Briar Cliff University,” said Draud. “I am inspired by the faculty, staff, and leadership team’s dedication to Briar Cliff’s mission and their passion for serving our students. I look forward to collaborating with this exceptional community to innovate and create a strong and resilient university as we approach our centennial celebration in 2030.”

Interim President Steven Freeman, a 1969 Briar Cliff alumnus, Board Chair Emeritus, and retired business professional, will remain at Briar Cliff University and continue to serve as a presidential advisor to Draud to ensure a smooth and supportive transition.

Niagara Community College names Dr. Lloyd Holmes as President

SUNY Niagara’s eighth president has been hired.

Lloyd A. Holmes, currently the president of De Anza College in Cupertino, California, will succeed William Murabito as the school’s new president as of July 1. The SUNY Board of Trustees approved the pick at its monthly meeting on Tuesday.

Murabito, who served as the school’s interim president from 2017-19 and as the full-time president since then, previously announced plans to retire at the end of June.

The 19-member Presidential Search Committee a nationwide search over the past year for his replacement, with the Sanborn campus hosting the four finalists for a March open forum.

Holmes beat out Jason Adsit, a special consultant to the Mount Saint Mary College Board of Trustees, Andrew Bowne, who held leadership positions at several midwest community colleges, and Rai Kathuria, the provost and senior vice president of Academic and Student Affairs for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system.

“Dr. Lloyd A. Holmes is a strong leader with a proven track record of removing barriers to student success and an unwavering commitment to prioritizing academic excellence,” the action for Holmes appointment reads.

Holmes’ starting salary will be $225,000, the amount Murabito started within his first full-time three-year contract back in 2019.

Holmes grew up in Mississippi where he earned an associate degree from Itawamba Community College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi, both in accounting. He went on to get a master’s degree in higher education and student personnel services and a Ph.D. in educational leadership, both from the University of Mississippi.

Prior to joining De Anza, Holmes had worked as vice president of student services at Monroe Community College in Rochester for six years. He served as chief diversity officer there for two years, mentored other colleges for student success, and served on a task force on student hunger.

He also worked as an administrator at North Shore Community College in Massachusetts, Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina, and the University of Mississippi.

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