Presidential search process
The SUNY Adirondack Board of Trustees begins the process by nominating three trustees to serve on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.
This Advisory Committee is responsible for forming the Presidential Search Committee, tasked with overseeing the search for the new president.
The Search Committee consists of members from the SUNY Adirondack Board of Trustees and elected representatives from campus and external constituencies including:
- Three members of the SUNY Adirondack Board of Trustees
- A faculty representative
- An administrative staff representative
- A support staff representative
- A student representative
- A SUNY Adirondack Foundation representative
- Two union representatives (Educational Support Personnel and Faculty Association)
- Two county supervisors
- Two non-voting SUNY Chancellor's Liaisons
The Search Committee is responsible for vetting and recommending up to three finalists to the Board of Trustees. The Board then selects one finalist to recommend to the SUNY Chancellor and the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Search Committee selection process
The Presidential Search Advisory Committee appoints members to the Search Committee. The chair of the Advisory Committee typically serves as the chair of the Search Committee. Recommendations for Search Committee members are solicited from campus governance and community groups.
Learn more about the Search Committee members.
How the search is conducted
As recommended by SUNY leadership, a search firm is engaged to assist with the process. Following an RFP process, SUNY Adirondack selected RH Perry & Associates to facilitate the search. RH Perry has extensive experience in executive recruitment for higher education, particularly within the SUNY system. The firm’s guiding objective is to develop a full understanding of each institution it serves and to identify and seek out professionals whose skill sets, values, and personal characteristics most closely match the needs and values of the institution. The firm works closely with the Search Committee and SUNY Liaisons (Jennifer Miller, assistant vice chancellor for Community Colleges, and Zulaika Rodriguez, associate vice chancellor for Executive Recruitment) to develop the job description, qualifications and a campus prospectus.
RH Perry advertises the position and conducts national outreach to attract a diverse pool of candidates. The Search Committee reviews applications, selects 10 to 12 semi-finalists for virtual interviews, and then narrows the group to five finalists. These finalists will be invited to campus for town hall sessions with the college community and for interviews with the Search Committee and the Board of Trustees.
Background checks and references are conducted for all finalists.
Final approval process
The Search Committee presents four to five finalists to the Board of Trustees for its review and selection of a final candidate. The Board chair forwards the finalist’s name to the SUNY chancellor, who, along with senior leaders and a subgroup of the SUNY Board of Trustees, interviews the candidate. The chancellor then presents the finalist to the full SUNY Board of Trustees for final approval.
Search length
The search process usually takes about a year, beginning with the formation of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee in June 2024. The new president is expected to assume office July 1, 2025.
Your feedback
The Search Committee and RH Perry & Associates welcome your thoughts and nominations. You can share your views or ask questions by contacting George Santiago at gsantiago@rhperry.com or Joanne Bashford at joannebashford@rhperry.com or Jim Nolan, chair of the Search Committee, at jnolan@siena.edu.
To submit nominations or applications, visit RH Perry's secure website.