New Board Chair, Officers Appointed

SUNY Erie Community College Appoints New Board Chair, Officers

Posted: October 9, 2020
Article by: Paula Sandy

SUNY Erie Community College (SUNY Erie) has announced the appointment of Ms. Danise C. Wilson, MPH, as Chairperson of its Board of Trustees through 2022. Wilson, who joined the SUNY Erie board in 2015, succeeds Leonard Lenihan, who has served as Chairman since 2018.

"It is an honor to accept the Chairperson's role for the Board of Trustees at SUNY Erie," said Wilson. "I am incredibly grateful to outgoing Chairman Lenihan for his stewardship on behalf of our students and I look forward to working with the entire Board and the College's Administration as we continue to expand our services to provide a positive impact on current and future students."

A proud resident of Buffalo's East Side, Wilson is the Executive Director of the Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center; a position she has held since October 2016. She was a 2017 recipient of the Buffalo Business First 40 Under 40 award and was one of two Western New York residents listed on The Business Journals' Influencers: Rising Stars 2018 list. 

SUNY Erie Interim President William Reuter noted that Wilson's passion for student success will serve the College well in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. "This is a significant moment in the history of our institution, and I know I speak for the entire SUNY Erie community in saying that we are excited for what the future holds under Danise's leadership," Reuter said. "We look forward to her strategic vision and channeling her passion for advancing student success at SUNY Erie." 

Wilson, who was appointed to the SUNY Erie Board by County Executive Mark Poloncarz, has been a member of the Curriculum, Student Success and Diversity Committee at SUNY Erie since 2018 and currently serves in the role of co-chair. She also served as the Chair of the Board's Financial Health Committee from 2016-2017. She recently co-founded the Hamilton-Wilson Student Support Fund whose aim is to promote diversity and representation within the public health and social work professions.

Wilson holds a Bachelor's in Business Management and Administration from Daemen College and Master's of Public Health from the University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions.

Trustees Jeffrey Stone and Kathleen Masiello were also elected to serve as vice chairperson and secretary, respectively, through 2022.