RH Perry & Associates Assists SUNY Adirondack with President Search
April 9, 2025 – RH Perry & Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Anastasia L. Urtz as the eighth president to lead SUNY Adirondack. Senior consultants George Santiago and Joanne Bashford led the assignment. The State University of New York board of trustees recently voted for Ms. Urtz appointment. She will assume the presidency this summer following the retirement of current SUNY Adirondack president Kristine D. Duffy. “Selecting a new campus president is not just about leadership; it’s about vision, experience, and a deep commitment to student success,” the SUNY board of trustees said. “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 Onondaga Community College, 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 John 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.”
“On behalf of the board of trustees, our campus, and the community, we are thrilled to welcome Anastasia Urtz to SUNY Adirondack,” said Amie Gonzales, chair of SUNY Adirondack 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.”
Ms. Urtz serves as provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs at Onondaga Community College. Her 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, Ms. 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. Ms. Urtz formerly served as executive director (chief executive officer) of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Onondaga County and held several positions at Syracuse University.
“SUNY Adirondack is a welcoming and supportive academic community that prepares students for in-demand careers and engagement in civic life,” said Ms. Urtz. “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.”
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SUNY Adirondack is a public community college in Queensbury, NY. It serves residents in Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga counties in New York State with over 30 academic programs of study. It was founded in 1961 as Adirondack Community College.
Serving the Academic Sector
Established in 1974, RH Perry & Associates offers strong credentials and experience in academic executive search, having completed well over 1,000 searches in its history. Serving both two-year and four-year institutions, the firm’s higher education practice consists of senior-level executives with a well-balanced mix of college and university presidential and senior administrative experience and executive search expertise. Headquartered in Ashville, NC, RH Perry’s consultants maintain offices in Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
Mr. Santiago has dedicated his professional career of more than 30 years to educational leadership in higher education. Most recently, he was president and chief executive officer of TCI College of Technology. Prior to his tenure there, he was president and CEO of Briarcliffe College.
Ms. Bashford’s 25 years of experience working for community colleges includes serving as the president of Miami Dade College’s InterAmerican Campus, a diverse campus of 19,000 students located in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. She also served as associate vice president for developmental education and student success at Broward College, associate provost for institutional effectiveness at Miami Dade College and held other positions in institutional research and college testing and evaluation.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
