Nassau Community College Inaugurates New President

Nassau Community College officially installed a new leader Friday, inaugurating Donald P. Astrab, Ph.D., as its fifth president in 50 years.

In front of a packed house at the George B. Costigan Physical Education Complex, Astrab was honored in a ceremony that included the SUNY chancellor, Nancy Zimpher, and Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.

He brings over 25 years experience in higher education and industry to Nassau Community College, both at the community college and university levels. Before assuming the presidency, Astrab served as vice president of academic affairs and chief learning officer at Brevard Community College in Florida, which teaches more than 30,000 students.

While a host of people heaped praise on Astrab, it was his words after Zimpher officially instated him that grabbed the crowd. He told everyone that the college will "face enormous challenges over the next few years," but that if the school comes together, there is nothing Nassau will not do.

Astrab emphasized the importance of improving the technology of the school, from the construction of new buildings to upgrading computers throughout the campus.

He also said that while the college "is 50 years old," it is also "50 years young" and that he is ready to start "the first year of the next 50."

The chair of the Academic Senate at Nassau, professor Kimberley Reiser, said the school was "fortunate to have someone to serve the students and the community."

Zimpher also shared her thoughts on what Astrab brings to Nassau, and it was a quote by Astrab himself that helped solidify Astrab as the man for the position. Recalling when the SUNY schools were announcing their new education campaign at SUNY Old Westbury, Zimpher said that Astrab took the stage to speak.

He told the crowd: "The power of SUNY is standing here. I owe everything in my life to my education in New York."

After the ceremony, Astrab said he's "felt like a part of this (Nassau) community since I started [last year]."

He also called on everyone around him to come together, saying that in order to continue advancing the education at Nassau, "we have to look together, look from all sides."

While Astrab received much praise from school faculty, Student Government Association president Lorenzo Simpson also took the stage, saying that Astrab had a "cool and collected demeanor" to him that made it easy to connect.

At the reception afterwards, Simpson continued his thought, saying that Astrab was "very student-oriented, open minded and friendly."

Astrab noted his excitement to continue working, saying how much he loved the community already. "This community loves the college," Astrab said, "and this college loves its community."

Dr. Astrab earned both a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry and an M.P.H. in environmental-occupational health management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a B.A. in chemistry and biology at SUNY Oswego.