The State University of New York (SUNY) has selected John B. King, Jr., the former New York education commissioner and U.S. education secretary, to be its 15th chancellor. Established in 1948, SUNY is the largest public university system in the country, with 64 campuses, a total enrollment of more than 370,000 students and over three million alumni.
King was chosen by a unanimous vote of SUNY’s Board of Trustees following a search that began in March of this year. He will succeed interim SUNY chancellor Deborah Stanley who has been serving as SUNY’s interim chancellor since Jim Malatras resigned a year ago, following criticism over his connections to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The search was managed by Isaacson, Miller. King is scheduled to begin as chancellor on January 17, 2023.
“As we work to continue to transform SUNY to meet the needs of the next generation of students and New York’s economy, we need a leader who understands how to balance striving for both excellence and equity. John King has a proven record of doing both,” said SUNY Chairman Dr. Merryl H. Tisch in the university’s announcement.
“We are thrilled to welcome John back to New York and are confident that he is perfectly positioned and prepared to tackle the challenges that face our system in the years ahead,” added SUNY Vice Chairman Cesar Perales.
For his part, King said, “I am humbled and honored to accept the position of chancellor and to advance Governor Kathy Hochul’s vision to make SUNY the best statewide system of public higher education in our nation. Public education quite literally saved my life when I lost both of my parents at a young age, and I have dedicated my professional career ever since to ensuring that every student has access to the academic opportunities that they need and deserve. I look forward to working with all members of our campus communities, lawmakers, and stakeholders to bring SUNY to new heights and maximize its potential.”
His selection was hailed by New York officials. “John King is an extremely smart, capable, steady, strong and fair educator. He’s just what SUNY needs.” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.
“As a proud graduate of SUNY Binghamton, I can personally attest to the power of our state’s public universities and was honored to join the search Committee for the next Chancellor,” said U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries. “As a child of New York, product of our public schools and educator and public servant, John King has the vision, intellect, experience and expertise needed to lead the system into the future. While serving as Secretary of Education, we had the chance to partner to expand college affordability, increase financial aid as well as invest in student success and completion. I know he will carry this work forward in his new work and congratulate John on his appointment.”
In 2016, King was appointed the U.S. Secretary of Education by President Barack Obama. Prior to that, he had been the commissioner of education for the state of New York from 2011-2106, where he oversaw the state’s elementary and secondary schools, public, independent and proprietary colleges and universities, libraries, museums, and numerous other educational institutions.
King began his education career as a high school teacher in San Juan Puerto Rico and Boston, Massachusetts. He also served as a managing director of Uncommon Schools, a non-profit that operated several high-performing urban public schools in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. King started Boston’s highly regarded Roxbury Prep charter school in 1999.
King was named the president of The Education Trust in 2017. In 2022, he sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Maryland, but he finished sixth in a race, ultimately won by Wes Moore.
Dr. King earned a BA in Government from Harvard University, an MA in the teaching of social studies from Columbia University’s Teachers College, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and a Doctor of Education degree in educational administrative practice from Columbia University’s Teachers College.
