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NYCCT Holds Successful 71st Annual Conference, Focusing on the Future of Community Colleges
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – September 24, 2025 – The New York Community College Trustees (NYCCT) successfully convened its 71st Annual Conference from September 10-12, 2025, at the Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs. The three-day conference brought together 80 trustees, presidents, faculty, and key stakeholders from both CUNY and SUNY community colleges across New York State to engage in dialogue centered around "Diverse Paths to Exploring, Understanding, and Building Future Solutions."
Conference Highlights:
Keynote Speaker: Daniel J. Phelan, M.B.A., Ph.D., President/CEO of Jackson College and author of The Community College Board 2.0: Covenant Governance (2021), presented the opening keynote, followed by a conversation with Rose Mercier, Partner at the Governance Coach, facilitated by Anne Fenton, Interim Secretary of the CUNY Board of Trustees.
Educational Sessions: A variety of concurrent sessions featured subject matter experts from Trane, COMP Alliance, Ellucian, and TIAA covering critical areas including employee compensation and retention, governance best practices, workforce development strategies, and risk management for community colleges.
Distinguished CUNY Guests: The conference welcomed Sandra Wilkins, Vice Chair of the CUNY Board of Trustees; Michael Arvanites, CUNY Trustee; Alicia Alvera, Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost; Anne Fenton, Interim Secretary to the Board; and Kenneth Grace, CUNY Chief of Staff to the Vice Chancellor of Government Affairs.
Distinguished SUNY Guests: SUNY leadership included Dr. Merryl Tisch, Chair of SUNY Board of Trustees; Robert Duffy, Community College Chair for the SUNY Board of Trustees; Valerie Dent, Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges; and Will Schwartz, Vice Chancellor for Government Relations. Chancellor John King, addressed the group on Friday.
Building AI Agility Session: Todd McLees, Founder of HumanSkills.AI, presented strategies to leverage artificial intelligence for enhancing human capabilities and advancing institutional objectives, followed by a panel discussion featuring Mohawk Valley Community College President Randall Van Wagoner and Karen Korotzer, CEO of The Arc, Oneida-Lewis.
Deborah Briggs, SUNY Ulster Board Chair and ACCT Public Policy Committee Member, remarked on the conference's success, stating, "The NYCCT conference offered many benefits to participants, serving as a unique platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, share ideas, and collaborate on innovative solutions. The fireside chats, in particular, enriched the experience by providing an informal dialogue with experts, allowing participants to gain valuable perspectives and engage in open discussions. This interactive format fosters a deeper understanding of current trends and challenges, making the conference not just a learning experience but a chance to build lasting relationships within the community."
NYCCT Awards Reception & Banquet: The annual event was held Friday, September 12 at the Saratoga Casino Hotel. The following trustees and community members were recognized at the banquet:
- Anne Bushnell Memorial Award for Special Achievement: Frederick A. Watson (Orange County Community College)
- Community College Innovation Award: College - Community - Connection (C3) Program (Mohawk Valley Community College)
- Distinguished Alumni Award for Civic Contribution: Kelly Tobin (Tompkins Cortland Community College)
- Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Contribution:
- Angelica Perez-Delgado (Monroe Community College)
- Virginia Taylor, Ph.D. (SUNY Niagara)
- Edward J. Pawenski Business/Industry Partnership Award:
- Cayuga Medical Center (Tompkins Cortland Community College)
- Liberty Pumps (Genesee Community College)
- Friend of Community College Award: Linda Bruno (Tompkins Cortland Community College)
- Marvin A. Rapp Award for Distinguished Trustee Service:
- Renee Bradley, M.A. (SUNY Schenectady County Community College)
- Kevin Clark (SUNY Niagara)
- Robert E. Judge (SUNY Adirondack)
- Dale R. Rehkopf II (Monroe Community College)
- Donald M. Mawhinney Jr., Trustee Leadership Award:
- Geoffrey "Geoff" Astles (Finger Lakes Community College)
- Michael Francis Dupree (Dutchess Community College)
- Raymond Gillen (SUNY Schenectady County Community College)
- David Mathis (Mohawk Valley Community College)
- NYCCT Chair’s Award
- Stephen J. Acquario, Executive Director for NYS Association of Counties
NYCCT Trustee Institute: On September 10, 2025, the NYCCT Trustee Institute provided comprehensive training covering the responsibilities of community college trustees, shared governance principles, community college funding mechanisms, and featured a discussion with Shoshanah Bewlay, Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government, about Open Meetings Law compliance.
The conference reinforced NYCCT's commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation within New York's community college system while addressing the evolving challenges and opportunities facing higher education.
Sponsors: The NYCCT extends its gratitude to its co-sponsors: Cengage, Ellucian, TIAA, Trane, COMP Alliance, and Ingerman Smith LLP.
About NYCCT: The New York Community College Trustees (NYCCT) is an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the success of community colleges throughout New York State. NYCCT serves trustees from both CUNY and SUNY community college systems, providing professional development, advocacy, and networking opportunities to strengthen community college governance and advance student success.
Media Contact: Wendy Waters, Chair Elect, New York Community College Trustees, wwaters@rnymedia.com (315) 225-2707