The State University of New York Board of Trustees unanimously elected the new permanent chancellor of the 64-campus system on Tuesday.
Dr. Nancy Zimpher, the current president of University of Cincinnati, was named the 12th chancellor of SUNY. According to a SUNY press release, Zimpher is the first woman to hold the position since the SUNY system started 60 years ago.
“Nancy Zimpher’s considerable skills in managing complex institutions of higher education will enable her to advance the SUNY system to new heights,” said Cornell University President David Skorton in a press release. Skorton is a member of the search committee.
The role of chancellor is the top political position in the SUNY system, helping to shape the system’s direction. According to a press release from the SUNY Student Association, the SA supports the Board of Trustees’ choice for the new chancellor.
“Nancy Zimpher is exactly what we need to once again make SUNY a viable player as far as leadership goes,” Jacob Crawford, trustee and president of the Student Assembly of the state of New York, stated in the press release. “Her presence in Albany will be hard to ignore, and her vision for the SUNY system is one of hope and optimism.”
“Students are thrilled to have someone who is on their side at the helm, and faculty, staff and even alumni should be proud of the quality and potential of their new university chancellor,” he added.
While Zimpher has boosted UC’s enrollment numbers and increased academic standards at the school since she became president in 2003, her popularity at UC depends on which sector of the population you ask.
According to Taylor Dungjen, news editor of The News Record, UC’s independent student newspaper, UC students were not sad to see Zimpher go.
“The administration is happy for her. They see her promotion as an extension of UC’s high standing of academic research,” Dungjen said. “We have talked to a bunch of students and are putting together a word on the street. Those who knew who she was are either indifferent, or are glad to see her go.”
In 2005, Zimpher let UC’s basketball coach Bob Huggins go after he was arrested with a charge of drunk driving in 2004.
“Sports fanatics hate her,” Dungjen said. “While Huggins was there the basketball team was one of the best; after he was fired things weren’t promising for the team. Overall, there is no way to really judge what kind of legacy she will leave here because so many of her projects are either in their infancy or new.”
“Once they start to play out, more people will realize what she was able to do for us as a university,” Dungjen said.
Zimpher is replacing John O’Connor, who was named Interim chancellor in December 2008. O’Connor relieved Interim Chancellor John Clark, who took over the position after John R. Ryan resigned in 2007 to take another post.
She will be the first permanent SUNY chancellor since Ryan.
“I think this is a exciting appointment for SUNY. I look forward to working with Ms. Zimpher on issues that affect our students,” Lois DeFleur, president of Binghamton University, said.
According to the SUNY press release, Zimpher will receive benefits such the use of a state car and driver while on university business in New York state, use of the universities’ apartment in New York City and the Chancellor’s apartment in the South Tower of SUNY Plaza in Albany.