Meet Farmingdale State College’s Newest President

Dr. John S. Nader officially became the ninth president of Farmingdale State College on Friday when he pledged to lead the 8,700-student campus to new areas of achievement and distinction.

The State University of New York Board of Trustees made the decision to appoint Nader to the position in March.

“Farmingdale is indisputably a jewel in the State University of New York system,” Nader said in a press release. “With robust enrollment, highly qualified students, exemplary academic programs with outstanding outcomes, and new construction, we are poised to make even more progress and elevate our importance to the region’s students, businesses, and communities. It is imperative that Long Islanders learn more about our college’s success in preparing students who can help the region thrive.”

As president, Nader looks to implement the college’s first Master’s degree program, enhance the research program and allow an environment for education to flourish.

He will embark upon a 100-day Listening Tour to engage the campus, state and federal legislators, industry and community leaders, donors, and alumni in conversations about improving Farmingdale as a whole.

Nader recently served as Provost at SUNY Delhi since 2009, where he directly supervised all academic programs, the library and learning center, career and business services, grants and sponsored programs and partnerships with the community colleges and local high schools. He also served as president of the SUNY Chief Academic Officers organization from 2012-2013.

A few facts about Nader:

• He was the Mayor of the City of Oneonta from 2006-2010.
• He served 12 years as an Otsego County legislator and as chair of the Opportunities for Otsego Board, where he worked to establish a homeless shelter.
• He’s an avid sports fan. His family actually owned a minor league baseball team long affiliated with the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers.
• He and his family live in Oneonta. One of his three children has graduated from a SUNY college, one attends a SUNY college, and the third is in high school.
• He received a BA in Politics from Ithaca College and an MA and a PhD in Economics from the New School for Social Research.

A few comments about the new appointment from Farmingdale staff:

SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall:

“As provost at SUNY Delhi and a former mayor, the Board has every confidence that Dr. Nader can step seamlessly into the leadership role at Farmingdale State College and continue the campus’ world-class service to its students, faculty, and staff.”

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher:

“Dr. Nader has been an instrumental member of the SUNY Delhi leadership team for several years, helping to make the college a national leader in online education and ensure the implementation of its performance improvement plan. He is going to make an excellent president for Farmingdale State College. We are deeply grateful to President Keen for his outstanding leadership over the last nine years and commend him on a widely successful 40-year career in higher education in New York State.”

Patricia Hill Williams, chair of Farmingdale’s College Council and chair of the Presidential Search Committee:

“I commend Chancellor Zimpher for her swift action in selecting Dr. John Nader to serve as Farmingdale State College’s ninth president. His familiarity with SUNY and the college of technology sector will serve to ensure a smooth leadership transition and continue the College’s remarkable success in meeting its goals.”

Image via Farmingdale State College