2026 Keynote Speakers Bios
John B. King, Jr., Ed.D., J.D., Chancellor - State University of New York
Chancellor King is the 15th Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the U.S. As Chancellor, King and the SUNY Board of Trustees have established four pillars to guide SUNY's progress: student success; research and scholarship; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and economic development and upward mobility.
Under Chancellor King's leadership, SUNY has seen its largest operating aid increase in five decades, including double-digit percentage increases for every state-operated campus, the first two back-to-back operating aid increases for community colleges in decades, and dedicated recurring annual funding for expanding mental health services, services for students with disabilities, paid internships and research, as well as addressing food insecurity.
Under Chancellor King, SUNY has experienced back-to-back enrollment gains in every sector for the first time in 15 years. As part of the Chancellor's commitment to student success, SUNY launched ASAP and ACE – the nation's leading, evidence-based retention and completion initiatives – at 25 campuses and is in the process of scaling them to reach 10,000 students within the next two years. Chancellor King has also championed a System-wide Civics and Service Agenda, which includes the launch of the Empire State Service Corps to provide paid community service opportunities to hundreds of SUNY students each year.
In research and scholarship, Chancellor King is committed to achieving Governor Hochul's charge to double research expenditures. Under Chancellor King's leadership, SUNY is at the forefront of cutting-edge research that fuels economic growth, drives social impact, and enhances human well-being. SUNY researchers are leading the way in areas including artificial intelligence, renewable energy, quantum computing, semiconductor development, and biotechnology and health care. SUNY is implementing the Governor's Empire AI research center for the public good, which is hosted at the University at Buffalo and includes SUNY's four University Centers as well as leading private universities.
SUNY's enabling statute requires that the university "provide educational services of the highest quality with the broadest possible access." To advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, Chancellor King has championed expanded access for students from low-income backgrounds, veterans, AmeriCorps alumni, first-generation college students, and students from communities with high levels of adversity. The Chancellor ensured the successful implementation of SUNY's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion General Education requirement, and relaunched PRODiG+ as a postdoctoral fellowship for faculty from all backgrounds who are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Chancellor King has ensured that SUNY stands firmly against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hatred and bigotry – including by requiring Title VI training for all faculty, staff, and student organization leaders.
To ensure economic development and upward mobility for the students SUNY services, Chancellor King has established the ambitious goal that every undergraduate student will complete an internship or other experiential learning opportunity before they earn their degree. To advance that goal, the Chancellor has overseen the launch of the Chancellor's Summer Research Excellence Fund, the NYS FAFSA Completion Corps, the Climate Corps, and the Veterans' Enrollment and Support Internship Program. In addition, Chancellor King is leading implementation of Governor Hochul's SUNY Reconnect initiative, which provides free community college tuition, fees, books, and supplies for adults ages 25-55 who don't already have a college degree and pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field. Chancellor King has been at the forefront of promoting this transformational opportunity and ensuring SUNY is ready to help empower eligible New Yorkers to enter the workforce in high-demand careers.
Before being appointed SUNY Chancellor, King served in President Barack Obama's cabinet as the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education. Upon tapping him to lead the U.S. Department of Education, President Obama called Chancellor King "an exceptionally talented educator," citing his commitment to "preparing every child for success," and his lifelong dedication to public education as a teacher, principal, and leader of schools and school systems. Following his service as U.S. Secretary of Education, King was President and CEO of The Education Trust, a national civil rights nonprofit, and served as Professor of the Practice at the University of Maryland College Park.
Before joining President Obama's cabinet, Chancellor King served as New York State Education Department (SED) Commissioner and was the first African American and first Puerto Rican to lead in that role. As SED Commissioner, King oversaw all elementary and secondary schools, as well as public, independent, and proprietary colleges and universities, professional licensure, libraries, museums, and numerous other educational institutions.
Chancellor King holds a Bachelor of Arts in government from Harvard University, a J.D. from Yale Law School, as well as both a Master of Arts in the teaching of social studies and a doctorate in education from Teachers College at Columbia University.
Louis Henry Mitchell, Creative Art Director at Sesame Street
As Creative Director of Character Design, Louis Henry Mitchell directs and oversees most aspects of character art for Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street. From designing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons and floats to directing Sesame Street Muppet photo shoots, Mitchell has been at Sesame Workshop full-time since 2020. Before that, Mitchell freelanced for the organization beginning in 1992. Mitchell designed the character Julia, the first Sesame Street character on the autism spectrum. Julia was first designed exclusively as an illustrated character for an autism outreach book and then Mitchell expanded his design and art-directed the Jim Henson Company in building the actual Muppet, and her family, for the show. He continues to be the exclusive Sesame Street Muppet designer, along with his other duties as creative director of character design. Most recently, Mitchell designed the two new African- American Muppets, Wesley and his Muppet father, Elijah, for Sesame Workshop’s Racial Justice initiative and Ji-Young for the “Coming Together” initiative against anti-Asian violence.Before his successful ongoing work for Sesame Workshop, Mitchell began his artistic career at 17 years old, working for Neal Adams, one of the top comic book and sequential artists in the world at that time. Mitchell continued his career through illustrating children’s books, designing characters and toys, as well as teaching and lecturing internationally. Mitchell is also an active member of the Board of Trustees at The Norman Rockwell Museum. Among the skills he uses to accomplish his work are drawing, painting, and sculpting. In addition, he creates and art directs in traditional and digital media.
Mitchell attended The School of Visual Arts and The Art Students League and resides in Rego Park, Queens.
Scott Rosenkran, Head of AI Growth at EverTrue
Scott Rosenkrans is the Head of AI Growth at EverTrue. He helps nonprofits apply AI and analytics to strengthen donor engagement and drive mission impact. With nearly a decade of experience designing predictive and generative AI products for the nonprofit sector, Scott specializes in translating complex technology into strategy, training, and services that deepen—not replace—human relationships. He’s a Certified AI Governance Professional (AIGP), co-host of the Fundraising.AI Podcast, and co-author of Nonprofit AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Implementing Artificial Intelligence for Social Good.
Tom Capek, SVP & Chief Engineer, Corning, Inc.
Capek is responsible for leading Corning's Manufacturing Technology & Engineering organization and leading the engineering function globally for the company.
Capek holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from SUNY Oneonta and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.. Upon graduating from RPI in 1986, Capek joined Corning as a design engineer and focused most of his career on Corning’s flat-glass manufacturing processes. Shortly after, he and his family relocated to Harrodsburg, KY, to support Corning’s first joint development program with Samsung Corning Precision. He returned to Corning, N.Y., in 2003 to support Corning’s global display technologies business as the division engineering manager. In 2014, he was appointed vice president and chief engineer for Corning’s Manufacturing Technology and Engineering group and continues to support it today in his current role.
In May 2025, he received an Honorary Doctor of Science from SUNY Oneonta in recognition of his groundbreaking work in engineering, dedication to educational access, and exceptional service to SUNY and society. He serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at Clarkson University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and he works closely with many engineering schools to assure a strong pipeline of engineering talent for Corning.
Outside of work, Capek and his family give back to their community through various commitments. The Capek family is a leading sponsor for the local chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a free book-gifting program for any child under the age of 5 who lives in Chemung or Steuben counties. Capek is also an active member of Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, an organization that represents engineers of all disciplines. Additionally, he supports various engineering schools and sits on multiple advisory boards to help foster a strong collaboration between academia and industry, educating students on next-generation technologies and real-world applications.
2026 President's Panel Bios
Michael Brophy, Ph.D., President, Hudson Valley Community College
Dr. Michael Brophy serves as the president of Hudson Valley Community College. Hudson Valley is the largest community college in upstate New York, serving more than 10,000 students at sites in Rensselaer, Albany, and Saratoga counties. The college partners with industry and community partners to serve the workforce development needs of the Capital Region. Hudson Valley recently began construction on the Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC), a 125,000 square foot facility that will serve as a center for instruction, community outreach and research.Dr. Brophy’s career began in the Capital Region. After graduating from Greenville High School, he earned degrees and gained enrollment management experience at The College of Saint Rose before being promoted to enrollment leadership appointments at Russell Sage College. His career includes deep experience in two-year college environments, including leadership appointments as Director of Admissions at Sage Junior College of Albany, Dean of Enrollment at SUNY College of Technology at Canton, and a Campus Executive Officer within the University of Wisconsin two-year college system. His two-year enrollment consulting experiences include advising the Indiana, Kentucky and Louisiana community and technical college systems.
Dr. Brophy’s service as a college president spans twenty years, including presidencies in Buffalo (Hilbert College), Los Angeles (Marymount California University), and Chicago (Benedictine University). Highlights of his tenure at these institutions include doubling enrollment at Marymount, raising Benedictine’s Standard & Poor’s credit rating, and increasing enrollment at Hilbert by 30% by adding new degree programs, establishing an online division, and expanding its NCAA Division III athletic programs. Under Dr. Brophy’s leadership, Hilbert’s longstanding mission of access has extended into the Buffalo Public Schools with its Higher Educational Opportunity, Dual Enrollment, Say Yes Apprenticeship, and Liberty Partnership programs.
A Fulbright recipient, Dr. Brophy has taught English, Film, Cuban Arts and Culture, Higher Education, Leadership, and Freshman Seminar classes with teaching appointments at Long Island University, the University of Wisconsin Colleges, Marymount California University, Russell Sage College, and Benedictine University. His films have been screened in Europe, Cuba, and the United States, and his Cuban medical research work led to his appointment as a regional faculty associate at UW-Milwaukee’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
Dr. Brophy earned a BA in music and an MA in English from The College of Saint Rose, an MFA in writing from Long Island University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a musician, he has accompanied gospel choirs and performed with students and faculty in classical, pop, and jazz settings.
Dr. Brophy and his spouse, Tara, have three grown children and two grandchildren.
Havidán Rodríguez, President, University at Albany
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez is the 20th president of the University at Albany, one of the nation’s most diverse R1 universities. He was the first Hispanic president of a SUNY four-year institution when he took office in September 2017. Under Dr. Rodríguez’s leadership, UAlbany has launched a campus-wide artificial intelligence initiative, opened two state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, and become the first R1 institution in the northeast to earn the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to Latina and Latino student success. In 2023, he led the return of the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering to UAlbany, where it merged with an existing college to form the new College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering, solidifying UAlbany as an essential partner in semiconductor and nanoscale research and contributing to Albany’s selection in 2024 as the site of a federal CHIPS & Science Act-funded National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC).
During Dr. Rodríguez’s tenure, UAlbany has extended the reach and impact of its globally significant research while also becoming a national leader for educational equity and social mobility. Also, during his tenure, UAlbany became one of the first 10 institutions in the nation to sign the Okanagan Charter, establishing itself as a Health-Promoting University.
Dr. Rodríguez has over 30 years of experience as a leader in higher education. He serves in leadership roles on numerous professional organizations, including the boards of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), Excelencia in Education, Campus Compact, and the America East Conference. He also serves as Commissioner for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and is a member of the Presidents and Chancellors Council on Public Impact Research established by the Pew Charitable Trusts. In 2022, Dr. Rodríguez was appointed to President Biden’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics. Led by Dr. Rodríguez, the Commission successfully advocated for the creation of a President’s Board of Advisors on Hispanic-Serving Institutions, which was established via Executive Order on July 17, 2024.
Dr. Rodríguez is actively involved in Capital Region economic development efforts, serving as co-chair of the New York State Capital Region Council for Economic Development (CREDC).
Dr. Rodríguez was also the Executive Director of SUNY’s Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) from 2020 to 2022.
Before coming to UAlbany, Dr. Rodríguez served as the founding provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) after having served as president, ad interim, and provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Texas – Pan American (UTPA). Prior to UTPA, Dr. Rodríguez served in various leadership roles at the University of Delaware, including deputy provost, vice provost for academic affairs and international programs, and director of the Disaster Research Center (DRC), the oldest and one of the leading social science disaster research centers in the world. He also served as director of the Minority Affairs Program at the American Sociological Association and held several administrative positions while on the faculty at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (UPRM) for over a decade.
Dr. Rodríguez has earned numerous recognitions and awards throughout his career, including the 2024 Humanitarian Spirit Award from the American Red Cross-Eastern New York, Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by City & State New York, 2021; Man of the Year by the New York League of Puerto Rican Women (2018); Inspiring Leaders in STEM Award by INSIGHT into Diversity (2017); Top Latino Leader by the Council for Latino Workplace Equity, National Diversity Council (2017); Cesar Estrada Chavez Award by the American Association of Access, Equity, and Diversity (2016); and the Alfredo G. de los Santos, Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award by the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (2015). He is regularly listed among top Latino leaders, top Higher Education leaders, and top Upstate New York leaders in statewide and regional publications.
A respected social scientist and scholar in the area of disaster response and resiliency, Dr. Rodríguez has received extensive funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Ford Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the UPRM Sea Grant Program, and the State University of New York (SUNY), among others, for research projects focusing on the social science aspects of disasters; the differential impacts of COVID-19 in New York State; and for projects aimed at providing hands-on research training and mentoring to undergraduate and graduate students and faculty. He currently serves as the principal investigator for two grants, the NSF ADVANCE Adaptation: Project SAGES: Striving to Achieve Gender Equity in STEM, and the NIH-funded Endowment for Community-based Health Disparities Research and Training. He also served as PI for the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program: Training the Next Generation of Disaster Researchers; and for the NSF ADVANCE Adaptation and Institutional Transformation grant aimed at increasing the representation, participation, and leadership of women faculty in STEM fields. He was one of the project leadersfor the AASCU Frontier Set Project focusing on student success, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In addition to Dr. Rodríguez’s numerous journal articles and book chapters in the areas of disasters as well as Latinos/as in the United States, his publications include Addressing the Differential Impacts of Covid-19 In New York State: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Health and Inequality (co-edited with Holtgrave, Warner, Pardo, and Bennett Gayle, 2023); Severe Weather Warnings: An Interdisciplinary Approach (with Donner, Brotzge, and Diaz, 2022); Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico: Disaster, Vulnerability & Resiliency (co-edited with Mora and Dávila, 2021); the Handbook of Disaster Research 2nd Edition (co-edited with Donner and Trainor, 2018); Population, Migration, and Socioeconomic Outcomes among Island and Mainland Puerto Ricans: La Crisis Boricua (with Mora and Dávila, 2017); and Latinas/os in the United States: Changing the Face of América (with Saénz and Menjívar, 2008), among others. Dr. Rodríguez has also led and participated in many field research projects, including trips to Honduras following Hurricane Mitch; India and Sri Lanka following the Indian Ocean Tsunami; the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina; and Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. He was accepted into the Fulbright Specialist program in 2024.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Rodríguez earned a B.S. in psychology from the University of Maryland, an M.A. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a PhD in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Born in Puerto Rico and raised on the island and the U.S. mainland, Dr. Rodríguez is fully fluent in English and Spanish.
Marion A. Terenzio, Ph.D., President, SUNY Cobleskill
Dr. Marion Terenzio is the President of the SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill. She holds a Ph.D. in Community Psychology from Michigan State University, and two master’s degrees in Community Psychology and Music Therapy. Her bachelor’s degree is in Music from Vassar College.
President Terenzio enjoys national attention for her shared governance model in creating thriving campus communities and stimulating higher education as an economic driver. She led downtown revitalization efforts and consulted with national organizations such as the College Board, The Institute for Higher Education Policy, the National Intelligence Council and the United Nations.
Her dedication to serving community well-being and advocacy rights spans a diverse array of community and societal initiatives. Her most recent work includes her service as the co-chair of the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council, and a gubernatorial appointment to the NYS Blue Ribbon Panel on Agriculture Education Department. Her previous service includes membership on the Rural Health EMS Task Force, and the NYS Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures. She also served as co-chair for two of SUNY-wide projects, The Task Force on Empowering Students with Disabilities, and the Cannabis Task Force.
Dr. Terenzio’s impact on enhancing rural community enrichment includes her work with the National Governor’s Association on Rural Resurgence, sharing the work of the Institute for Rural Vitality; which she established in 2017. The Institute received the National Innovation in Economic Development Award from the American Association of Colleges and Universities in 2019. Her most recent project was as a Fulbright Scholar focusing on Agricultural Education. As a Scholar, Dr. Terenzio traveled to France in 2023 to learn more about developing collaboratives across SUNY that will serve to elevate agriculture education programs in New York and create a robust international curriculum at SUNY Cobleskill.
Dr. Terenzio has also been recognized for her leadership efforts including the New York State ACE Women’s Network Catalyst Award in 2019 for her work with women leaders, the Jay Kappraff Award in Excellence in Science and the Arts from NJIT in 2022, the Leadership Excellence Award for Advancing Inclusivity in Higher Education in 2023 from The ARC Lexington, the Women of Excellence Award for Management from the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce in 2024 and the woman of Distinction award from the NYS Senate in 2024. Dr. Terenzio was also named in the Top 100 trailblazers in education in NYS for three years in a row. Recently, she was named one of five women changemakers in Schoharie County.
Lisa Vollendorf, Ph.D., President, Empire State University
Dr. Lisa Vollendorf is the sixth president of Empire State University. With 30 years of experience as an educator, scholar, and university leader, she is deeply committed to expanding access to public higher education for learners of all ages and backgrounds.Vollendorf joined SUNY Empire in July 2022. She quickly established the university as one of the state’s fastest-growing public institutions by embracing its longstanding leadership in affordable, flexible, and high-quality online education.
Double-digit enrollment growth in recent years bears out this success, with SUNY Empire defying national trends and demographic challenges. SUNY Empire now serves over 17,500 learners, ages 12-89, in all 50 states and in 50 countries around the world.
Vollendorf oversaw the institution’s transition from a college to a university in 2023 and initiated a university-wide effort to align its strategic priorities and mission under a unified strategic plan, Elevate ‘28. She also led the creation of new workforce-aligned programs and expanded partnerships with unions, corporations, and state agencies to help them recruit, retain, and upskill their workforces.
Vollendorf has established Cabinet-level roles for new offices in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as Human Resources and Information Technology. She has led SUNY Empire into its strongest fiscal position in years, reducing the university’s physical footprint as nearly all instruction moved online and reinvesting operating dollars into student success initiatives.
Under Vollendorf’s leadership, SUNY Empire expanded its Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports, and is designated as the only autism supportive institution of higher education in New York. She led the formation of a dedicated Veteran and Military Resource Center, with SUNY Empire serving more military-affiliated students than any other public institution in the state.
Of particular pride to Vollendorf, a former Spanish professor, the university launched SUNY’s first Spanish-language online degree program in Fall 2025 to meet the educational needs of Spanish-speaking learners around the world.
Before SUNY Empire, Vollendorf served as interim provost at the University of Northern Colorado. She worked for 16 years in the California State University (CSU) system as a faculty member, department chair, academic senate chair, dean, and provost at three different CSU campuses.
She has held faculty appointments at five public universities in Ohio, Michigan, and California.
Vollendorf’s research focuses on the cultural history of women in Iberia and Latin America during the early modern period (1500-1700). An established scholar with grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Newberry Library, the Huntington Library, and the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, she has published two monographs, six edited books, and 35 chapters and articles.
She earned a B.A. in English and Spanish at Colorado State University. After studying abroad in Costa Rica, she pursued a Ph.D. in Romance Languages at the University of Pennsylvania.
Vollendorf and her husband live in Saratoga Springs. She is an active member of the community, where she serves on the boards of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and the Saratoga Springs City Center. She was recognized as a “Woman of Excellence” by the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce in 2025 and has twice been named to City & State’s list of Higher Education Trailblazers in New York.
Vollendorf is an avid hiker, backpacker, and traveler who is always looking forward to the next adventure.