Dr. Michael Laliberte Appointed SUNY Delhi President

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Dr. Michael R. Laliberte, SUNY Delhi's 10th President

DELHI, NY (03/25/2016)(readMedia)-- Dr. Michael R. Laliberte, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM), was named SUNY Delhi president by the State University Board of Trustees today, March 24.

Dr. Laliberte will become Delhi's 10th chief executive on July 21. He will succeed Dr. Candace Vancko, who has served as SUNY Delhi president since August 1999. "It is an honor and a privilege to be named SUNY Delhi president," said Dr. Laliberte. "My goal is to build upon the legacy established by Dr. Vancko and to develop a strong and compelling vision that guides SUNY Delhi's future."

"Dr. Laliberte's extensive background in higher education makes him an excellent fit for SUNY Delhi," said Nancy Deming, chair of the College Council and Presidential Search Committee. "His experience in enrollment management, retention, community engagement and diversity initiatives complements the college's strategic priorities."

Those parallels are among the reasons that led Dr. Laliberte to pursue the opportunity to become SUNY Delhi president. "SUNY Delhi has the reputation of being a close-knit community that works together to support student success, and I look forward to building on that tradition," said Dr. Laliberte "I feel very fortunate to be joining a community with such a strong, experienced senior management team and an exceptional and dedicated faculty and staff. Together, we will continue to provide an outstanding educational experience for students."

His selection as Delhi's chief executive follows a national search by the College Council with assistance from RPA Inc., an executive search and consulting firm. The College Council, a 10-member board appointed by the governor, serves as an advisory group on general college matters, oversees policies directly related to students and has the responsibility of leading the campus-based presidential search process.

More than 120 applications and nominations were received for the position. An 18-member search committee, which included representatives from the faculty, staff, students and other campus constituencies, conducted the search process in accordance with the SUNY Guidelines for Presidential Searches. Candidates were interviewed by SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher who recommended Dr. Laliberte's appointment to the Board of Trustees. "Dr. Laliberte is precisely the right leader to follow in Candace Vancko's footsteps to build upon the excellent quality of a SUNY Delhi education and continue cultivating the college's partnerships throughout the Southern Tier," said Chancellor Zimpher.

Dr. Laliberte will bring more than 20 years of higher education experience and 10 years as a senior administrator to his new role as Delhi's chief executive. Under his leadership, UWM has increased enrollment, improved retention rates, created living-learning communities, established a Military and Veterans Resource Center, expanded civic engagement, and secured grants and private gifts to improve facilities and services for students. He was instrumental in the creation of a community partnership between UWM, Milwaukee Public Schools and Milwaukee Area Technical College that focuses on programs to raise high school graduation rates, grow the high school to post-secondary pipeline and strengthen college preparation programs.

At UWM, Dr. Laliberte has served as the Chancellor's Cabinet representative to the Budget Planning Task Force and the University Strategic Planning Core Team. He also participated in the Chancellor's Campus Organization and Effectiveness Team and co-chairs the campus-wide Strategic Enrollment Management Committee.

From 2006-2010, Dr. Laliberte held a similar post as Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Boise State University. Prior to that, he spent seven years at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, earning promotions from Director of Student Judicial Affairs to Associate Dean of Students to Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Dr. Laliberte began his career in higher education administration in 1996 as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Judicial Affairs at Springfield College.

His professional affiliations include: American Council on Education, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, American College Personnel Association and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

Dr. Laliberte holds a bachelor's degree in Human Development, Counseling and Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island, a master's degree in College Student Development and Counseling from Northeastern University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership in Higher Education from Johnson and Wales University. He also holds an advanced certificate in fund raising management from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Joining Dr. Laliberte will be his husband, Tom Pauken, and their 15-year-old son, Paul.

SUNY Delhi is a member of the State University of New York, the largest comprehensive university system in the U.S. Delhi's seamless approach to education includes over 60 academic programs leading to baccalaureate degrees in specialized program areas, including Nursing, Hospitality Management, Business and Professional Golf Management, Golf and Sports Turf Management, Information Technology Management, Architectural Design and Building, Construction Technology and Management, Business and Technology Management and Criminal Justice. In addition, SUNY Delhi offers a Master of Science in Nursing Education. For more information about SUNY Delhi, visit www.delhi.edu.