SUNY Adirondack appoints new president

QUEENSBURY, New York (March 11, 2025) — SUNY Adirondack is proud to announce Anastasia L. Urtz, J.D., has been named the college’s next president, to succeed Kristine D. Duffy, Ed.D., who will retire in July.

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

Urtz is a native of New York state with more than 30 years of leadership experience in higher education. She is currently provost and senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs at Onondaga Community College, where she has served since 2010 in additional roles, including vice president of College-Affiliated Enterprises & Asset Management and vice president for Administration and Compliance and Student Success Initiatives Lead.

Urtz was raised in a dairy farming family and was previously executive director and CEO of Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Onondaga County. She also held multiple roles in Student Affairs at Syracuse University.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from The American University in Washington, D.C., and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.

“SUNY Adirondack is a welcoming and supportive academic community that prepares students for in-demand careers and engagement in civic life,” said Urtz, who will begin at SUNY Adirondack in July. “As a parent of a college junior, I know firsthand 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.”

Urtz was selected after a national search that attracted nearly 60 candidates. She and three other finalists visited campus for a series of interviews. The selection committee chose two candidates for approval by SUNY Chancellor John B. King, then the SUNY Adirondack Board of Trustees made its selection.

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 more than 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,” King said. “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.”

Urtz was appointed by the SUNY Board of Trustees at a ceremony earlier today.