President/Chancellors

The SUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor John King have successfully appointed Dr. David Troilo as the new SUNY, College of Optometry President. Dr. Troilo currently serves as the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs at SUNY, College of Optometry. His journey with the College began in 2008 as a professor. With years of experience in eye and vision research at Cornell University and the University of Oxford, and higher education and administration at SUNY Optometry and the New England College of Optometry, Dr. Troilo is excited to lead the College into a new era of excellence in discovery, innovation, and patient care. Dr. Troilo is a Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (FARVO) and the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO). Over the years, Dr. Troilo has written several publications, books, chapters, and proceedings and earned numerous honors and awards. Two awards include the DuPuis-Pellerin Award for Faculty Excellence and the OD1 Teacher of the Year while serving as Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at The New England College of Optometry. Dr. Troilo holds a B.A. in Biology from SUNY, College of Oswego and a M.A. in Biology from The City College of New York. Dr. Troilo earned a Ph.D. in Biology from the City University of New York, as well as a post doctorate degree in Physiology from the University of Oxford and another in Biopsychology from Cornell. Read more.

The Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees has selected Dr. José A. Gómez to serve as the next permanent Superintendent/President of Pasadena City College. Dr. Gómez has served as Interim Superintendent/President of the college since August of 2023. Prior to his appointment at PCC, he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Provost at California State University, Los Angeles. He earned his B.A. in Sociology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and his M.A. in Political Science, Master of Public Administration, and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Southern California. Read more.

The Northeastern Illinois University Board of Trustees has announced the selection of Dr. Katrina E. Bell-Jordan as the University's eighth president effective 8/1/2024. Dr. Bell-Jordan has been serving as Interim President of NEIU since July 2023. Her journey at NEIU began in 1997 when she joined as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre (CMT). She has since held various leadership roles, including serving as CMT Department Chair, Associate Dean in NEIU's College of Arts and Sciences, and Interim Dean. Dr. Bell-Jordan holds a Ph.D. in Rhetorical Studies and Media Studies and M.A. in Rhetorical Studies at the Ohio University School of Interpersonal Communication and a B.S.J. in News Editorial Journalism from the Ohio University E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Read more.

The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) has successfully appointed Dr. Framroze “Fram” M. Virjee as their next President, effective 8/19/2024. Dr. Virjee is president emeritus of California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). He has an extensive history in higher education leadership. Prior to becoming president of CSUF, Dr. Virjee served as executive vice chancellor, general counsel, and secretary to the board of trustees at the California State University System. He reported directly to the CSU Board of Trustees and provided legal counsel and advice on critical topics such as open meeting laws, rules and procedures, compliance requirements, collective bargaining, and more. He also oversaw comprehensive Title IX training and orientation for all presidents and championed a comprehensive review and revamping of the Title IX function at CSU. Before his tenure at CSU, Dr. Virjee was a partner at O’Melveny & Myers, one of the largest and oldest law firms in the United States. Dr. Virjee is a first-generation college student. He received his JD from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (since renamed the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco), and a bachelor of arts degree (summa cum laude) in political science and sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has served on multiple boards, including (but not limited to) the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation, National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), and the Big West athletic conference. In addition, Dr. Virjee and his wife, Julie, are co-founders of Yambi Rwanda, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of Rwandans through the sustained provision of basic human needs and equitable access to quality education through the celebration of Rwanda’s culture and arts. Read more.

The Board of Trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago has successfully appointed Dr. Andres A. Oroz as President of Wilbur Wright College. He will assume the position on July 1, 2024. Dr. Oroz most recently served as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Oregon Coast Community College. Prior positions include Associate Vice President of Student Life at Roxbury Community College and Associate Dean of Academic Services in the School of Education at Loyola University Chicago. He earned his Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies and his M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso and his Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Metropolitan College of New York has successfully appointed Dr. Charles J. Gibbs as its seventh president, effective July 1st. Dr. Gibbs brings a wealth of experience in higher education administration, spanning over 25 years. His previous roles include Vice President for University Affairs and Chief of Staff and President of the Propel Center HBCU Consortium at Clark Atlanta University, Dean and Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Miles College in Alabama and Vice Provost at Howard University from which he holds three degrees (Ed.D., M.Ed. in Education Administration and Policy, and BBA in Marketing) and has been a prominent figure in policy, accreditation, legislation, strategic partnerships and fundraising throughout his career. Most recently, Dr. Gibbs served as the Chief Executive Officer of 100 Black Men of America, Inc., where he oversaw  the organization’s work in mentoring African American youth nationwide. Read more.

Dr. Manuel Martínez has been appointed as the new President of Dominican University New York. Dr. Martínez will start on July 15, 2024. Previously, Dr. Martínez was the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Dean of Faculty at Mercy College of Ohio. 

Dr. Laurence Alexander has been appointed as the new Chancellor of the University of Michigan-Flint. Dr. Alexander will begin his new role on July 1, 2024. For the past 11 years, Dr. Alexander has served as Chancellor and CEO of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Dr. Justin Schwartz has been apointed as the new Chancellor of University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Schwartz will join CU Boulder on July 1. Dr. Schwartz currently is executive vice president and provost at Pennsylvania State University, a post he has held since 2022. 

The Utah System of Higher Education has selected Gregory F. Peterson, Ed.D., as the ninth president of Salt Lake Community College. Dr. Peterson will assume the position on July 1, 2024. Dr. Peterson currently serves as the president of Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona. Throughout his career, he has led key efforts in student learning and success impacting over 100,000 students, including developing transfer partnerships and college promise programs at multiple institutions and launching the first community college Artificial Intelligence program in the nation. Dr. Peterson has worked closely with industry partners and community leaders in strengthening workforce pipelines for students into family-sustaining careers and has served on local, state and national organizations to advance these efforts. He brings experience in student affairs and instructional programs and has worked at urban, suburban and rural community colleges. Dr. Peterson was selected as an Aspen New President Fellow and was recently recognized as the East Valley Man of the Year by Positive Paths. Dr. Peterson holds a doctorate in educational administration with an emphasis in community college leadership from the University of Texas at Austin; a master’s degree in postsecondary, adult and continuing education from Portland State University; and a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University. As a first-generation community college student, Dr. Peterson has a passion and commitment to the community college mission of access and success for all students. Read more.