Board of Trustees
Mission And Vision
The following statements provided the roadmap and guidebook the organization uses to develop its strategic thinking. These statements indicate where the college is going and helps to prioritize SUNY Erie's strategy options. They also tell college officials what to bring along on the journey and provide benchmarks for determining progress.
Mission
SUNY Erie meets the needs of a diverse student body and contributes to regional economic
vitality by providing high-quality, flexible, affordable and accessible educational
programs committed to student success.
Vision
SUNY Erie will serve as an innovative learning resource by striving for universal access to lifelong learning, catalyzing economic and cultural development, and supporting a diverse and mobile student body.
SUNY Erie Excels
The College's Strategic Plan consists of five major pillars: Access, Completion, Engagement,
Operations and Success. Each pillar consists of focus areas that contain goals and
initiatives. Each initiative is part of a five-year timeline for the full implementation
of Excels. Learn more about Excels.
Board Of Trustees
The 10-member Board of Trustees of SUNY Erie is comprised of four members appointed by the governor, five members appointed by the Erie County Executive and approved by the Erie County Legislature, and a voting student trustee elected by the student body of the three campuses. The board's responsibilities include approving the annual budget, setting policies and requirements, responding to community needs, approving personnel appointments, and guiding the college in setting and achieving its Mission and goals.
2022-23 Meeting Schedule
All meetings will be held at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
View the Board of Trustees Meeting Documents.
September 29, 2022
October 27, 2022
November 17, 2022
December 15, 2022
January 26, 2023
February 16, 2023
March 30, 2023
April 27, 2023
Special Meeting: May 8th at 12:30 pm on North Campus
May 25, 2023
June 29, 2023
August 17, 2023
BOT Subcommittee Meeting Dates
Board Members








2023 Presidential Search
Committee Members
Name | Title | Organization |
Jeff Stone, Co-Chair | Chair | SUNY Erie Board of Trustees |
Melodie Baker, Co-Chair | Vice Chair | SUNY Erie Board of Trustees |
The Hon. Carrie Phillips | Secretary | SUNY Erie Board of Trustees |
Len Lenihan | Past Chair | SUNY Erie Board of Trustees |
Marcell Soares Pinheiro | Student Trustee | SUNY Erie Board of Trustees |
Tim Callan |
Deputy Comptroller | Erie County |
Trina Burress | President & CEO | The United Way of Buffalo and Erie County |
David O’Rourke, Ph.D. |
District Superintendent & CEO | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES |
Darren Brown-Hall, Ed.D. | Superintendent of Schools |
Williamsville Central School District |
Benjamin Swanekamp |
Chief of Staff |
Erie County Executive’s Office |
Mark Gaulin |
Chair President & CEO |
Erie Community College Foundation Board of Trustees Personal Computers, Inc. (PCI) |
Casimiro Rodriguez | Founder | Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY |
Theron Howard | Vice President | M & T Bank |
TBA | Representative | West Herr Automotive |
William Reuter | Special Adviser, Former Interim President | SUNY Erie Community College |
Andy Sako | FFECC (Faculty Union) President | SUNY Erie Community College |
Amy Yoder | Dean of Students, Designee of AAECC (Administrators Staff Union) President | SUNY Erie Community College |
Cyndi Dyll | CSEA (Classified Staff Union) President | SUNY Erie Community College |
Colleen Quinn | Chair | SUNY Erie College Senate |
April Baskin (or Designee) | Majority Leader | Erie County Legislature |
Frank Todaro | Designee of Minority Leader Mills | Erie County Legislature |
Search Firm
Fred Moore | Senior Executive Search Consultant |
AGB Search |
Dr. Kim Bobby |
Principal |
AGB Search |
SUNY Advisees
Johanna Duncan-Poitier | Senior Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges | SUNY |
Jennifer Miller |
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Community College Support, Executive Director |
SUNY |
Zulaika Rodriguez | Assistant Vice Chancellor for Presidential Recruitment, Evaluation, and Development | SUNY |
Support Staff
Kellie LaPiana |
Assistant to the Board of Trustees | SUNY Erie Community College |
Bob Germony |
Network Operator Specialist -ECC II | SUNY Erie Community College |
The Office of Marketing & Communications | SUNY Erie Community College |