Commencement Address Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa Nancy L. Zimpher, Ph.D. NANCY L. ZIMPHER is chancellor of The State Universiry of New York, the nation's largest comprehensive system ofpublic higher education. In Chancellor Zimpherk eight years at the heim of SUNY, she has developed and led a diverse set ofinitiatives that transformed the vast institution from a loose constellation oF64 campuses into a focused, cohesive whole. Through the disciplined cultivation of the universiry's "systemness" under Zimpher's vision and leadership, SUNY implemented groundbreaking new policies that expand college access and affordability, improve completion, promote diversiry ensure equiry and support world-class reaching. research, and innovarion. Prior to SUNY, she served as president of the Universiry of Cincinnati, chancellor of the University of \Tisconsin-Milwaukee, and executive dean of the Professional Colleges and dean of the College of Education at The Ohio State University. Throughout a career that began in a one-room schoolhouse, Chancellor Zimpher has formed a paradigmshifting vision that rises to meet the expansive responsibilities of public higher education in the 21st century. To that end she is co-founder and current chair of StriveTogether, a narional nerwork of innovarive partnerships that holistically address challenges across rhe educarion pipeline. Concurrent with her role as SUNY chancellor, she served as chair of the National Association of System Heads from 2014-17 , the Board of the Governors of the New York Academy of Sciences from 2011-16, and CEOs for Cities kom 2012-13, and led the national Coalition of Urban Serving Universities From 2005-l l. Chancellor Zimpher holds a bachelort degree in English education and speech, a matrer\ degree in English literature, and a Ph.D. in teacher education and higher education administration, all from The Ohio State university. She has authored or co-authored numerous books, monographs, and academic journal articles on teacher education, urban education, academic leadership, and universiry-communiry engagement. \ifith each institution and initiative she leads, Chancellor Zimpher challenges her colleagues and partners to aspire to the "Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals" that might seem out of reach. Her major initiatives demonstrate her uncanny abiliry to transcend traditional boundaries between town and gown; public, private, and nonprofit sectors; and across all levels oF educarion sysrems-garnering transformative results that change universities and communities for the better. Undergirding all of Chancellor Zimphers work is her unwavering commitment to improving education access and qualiry so that all Americans have the chance to meet their potential. At the end of June, Chancellor Zimpher will step down from her position as SUNYk chancellor to focus her professional efforts entirely on creating policy that revolutionizes teacher education and builds seamless education pipelines in underserved communities.
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