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 

Scott Rosenkran, Head of AI Growth at EverTrue

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.

Anne D’Alleva, Ph.D., President, Binghamton University

Anne D’Alleva was selected as the next president of Binghamton University in a vote by the State University of New York Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. D’Alleva was the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Connecticut and began her duties on Nov. 1, 2025.
 
D’Alleva is an accomplished academic leader who has focused on advancing student success and has engaged in multidisciplinary and collaborative efforts to expand UConn’s work in AI and quantum technologies, partner with the state’s tribal nations, and expand academic offerings at the university’s four regional campuses. D’Alleva has led UConn’s academic enterprise, including strategic planning, budgetary management, faculty development, and curriculum innovation across the university’s 14 schools and colleges. She has led transformative initiatives that support student success, faculty excellence, and institutional impact.
 
The first woman to serve as provost in UConn’s history, D’Alleva had previously served as dean of the School of Fine Arts since 2015 and first joined the UConn faculty as a joint appointment to Art History and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies in 1999. She received her B.A. in Art History from Harvard University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Art History from Columbia University with a graduate certificate in feminist theory.
 
Holistic student success has been one of D’Alleva’s priorities at Connecticut. She established a vice provost for student success to enhance this work and reorganized cultural centers and offices, such as the Dean of Students, the Center for Students with Disabilities, and Student Activities, to better connect these initiatives with academics. Additionally, D’Alleva established a partnership with a food share program to establish food pantries on all seven UConn campuses.
 
During her time as the dean of the School of Fine Arts, D’Alleva led a five-fold increase in research funding and founded the Krenicki Arts and Engineering Institute, which strives to offer classes in areas such as entertainment engineering and industrial design and allows for new pathways of creativity and breakthroughs in research and scholarship. Additionally, she created a research cluster in arts and human rights and established a School of Fine Arts Advisory Board and a Recent Alumni Council to better connect faculty and students with graduates.
 
Prior to her arrival at UConn, D’Alleva completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Australian National University and through the Getty Foundation. She received additional research funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the College Art Association. Her books Fundamentals of Art History (3rd ed., 2021) and Methods and Theories of Art History (3rd ed., 2021) have been published in multiple languages worldwide.
 
D’Alleva has been actively engaged with organizations, including the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the National Association of College and University Business Offices, the College Art Association of America, and programs such as academic leadership development through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
 

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