SUNY Board of Trustees Announces Presidential Appointment for SUNY Sullivan

SUNY Board of Trustees Announces Presidential Appointment for SUNY Sullivan

Loch Sheldrake, NY – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today appointed Dr. David Potash as president of SUNY Sullivan. Dr. Potash’s appointment is effective on or before July 1, 2024.

The SUNY Board of Trustees stated, "Congratulations to the SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees for conducting a thorough, comprehensive search for the college's next president. Dr. Potash's accomplishments are many, and we know his experience will empower him to lead the expansion of the campus's academic programs, student resources, and workforce development partnerships. His leadership will greatly benefit SUNY Sullivan's campus community."

“The SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees have chosen a president that throughout his career has demonstrated a focus on rigorous academics, service to an increasingly diverse student population, and keen attention to wraparound services to ensure student success,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. “I look forward to working with Dr. Potash during his tenure as we continue to build on the fantastic offerings at SUNY Sullivan.”

SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees Chair Nancy Hackett said, “The board of trustees are so pleased to welcome David Potash to the SUNY Sullivan community. Dr. Potash brings the extensive experience in leadership and guidance that will position our college to continue to flourish. We are encouraged by Dr. Potash’s track record of increased student success and community engagement.“

Dr. Potash said, “I am very excited to join SUNY Sullivan, a growing institution with a crucial mission. Throughout the search process, I have been deeply impressed with everyone's deep commitment to student success.”

SUNY Sullivan has been led by Officer in Charge Casey Crabill since July 25, 2023.

Chancellor King said, “Dr. Casey Crabill was beloved at Onondaga Community College and came to SUNY Sullivan with an excellent reputation, which she only burnished through her efforts at Sullivan. We truly appreciate Casey coming out of retirement and leading the campus during the search for SUNY Sullivan’s eighth president.”

About Dr. David Potash

Dr. David Potash joined Wilbur Wright College as president in 2013, bringing extensive higher education administrative experience to the independently accredited Chicago community college. As president, Dr. Potash guided the 85-year-old Wright to significant increases in student success, new programs and certificates; sustained efforts at equity, community service, civic engagement, career, workforce, and apprenticeships; served the community’s growing Hispanic population; and led the creation of a Center of Excellence in Engineering and Computer Science. Wright College received Campus Compact’s Eduardo J. Padrón Award for Institutional Transformation in 2020 and the prestigious Seal from Excelencia in Education in 2021.

Prior to this role, he served as the Chief Academic Officer at Curry College, a four-year institution in Massachusetts, where Potash strengthened faculty development, advanced learning outcomes assessment, and enhanced Curry’s long-standing commitment to pedagogy and serving diverse learners.

He also worked for 10 years in the City University of New York system, where Potash was associate provost and assistant vice president for academic affairs at Hunter College and associate provost at Baruch College. At both institutions he had responsibilities for accreditation, curricula and program development, enrollment, and facilitating student success.

Dr. Potash holds a bachelor of arts from Rice University where he majored in English and philosophy, a master’s of art in history from New York University, and a doctorate in history from Cambridge University. He has taught composition and US history courses. Dr. Potash serves on several advisory boards and is a frequent speaker at conferences and other events.

About The State University of New York

The State University of New York, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu.