James J. Malatras (born 1977)[1] is an American government official and university administrator who was the Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) system from August 2020 until his resignation in January 2022.
Jim Malatras | |
|---|---|
 Malatras in 2021 | |
| 14th Chancellor of the State University of New York | |
| In office August 31, 2020 – January 14, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Kristina M. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Deborah F. Stanley (interim) |
| 5th President of Empire State College | |
| In office July 15, 2019 – August 30, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Merodie A. Hancock Mitchell Nesler (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Beth Berlin (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1977 or 1978 (age 46–47) Westwood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University at Albany (BA, MA, PhD) |
| Institutions | University at Albany, SUNY Rockefeller Institute of Government State University of New York |
| Website | Official website |
| Academic background | |
| Thesis | A tale of two movements: Collective legal consciousness: Producing and employing the law (2008) |
| Doctoral advisor | Scott Barclay |
| Other advisors | Sally Friedman |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | University at Albany, SUNY Rockefeller Institute of Government State University of New York |
Malatras received his Ph.D from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy and subsequently worked as a policy advisor in the Governor Andrew Cuomo administration until his appointment as chancellor of SUNY. On December 9. 2021, Jim Malatras released his statement for resignation as SUNY's Chancellor effective January 14, 2022. In 2017, Malatras was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.[2]
Early life and education
editMalatras was born in Westwood, New Jersey and grew up in the Lower Hudson Valley region of New York. Graduating from the Ellenville Central School District.[3][4] He studied at the University at Albany, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in political science. He then worked as a staff member for Assemblymember Richard L. Brodsky from 2000 to 2007.[5] During that time, he earned a Ph.D. from Albany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy.[6][7]
State government and SUNY
editIn 2007, he became a policy advisor for then-Attorney General of New York Andrew Cuomo. Following Cuomo's election as Governor of New York, Malatras was executive director of the New NY Education Reform Commission from 2012 to 2014. In July 2013, he became Vice Chancellor for Policy and Chief of Staff under then-SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher, remaining in that role until August 2014. After leaving SUNY System Administration, he rejoined the Cuomo administration as director of state operations,[4] serving until his appointment in 2017 as President of the Rockefeller Institute of Government, a SUNY-affiliated think tank.[8]
In spring 2019, SUNY's board of trustees appointed Malatras as president of Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, New York. While president, he remained at the Rockefeller Institute as chair of the board of advisors. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, Governor Cuomo appointed Malatras to chair the Reimagine Education Advisory Council, which consisted of education leaders from across the state.[9]
Appointment as SUNY chancellor
editOn August 21, 2020, SUNY's board of trustees voted to name Malatras as the 14th chancellor of SUNY, effective August 31.[10][11] He succeeded Kristina M. Johnson, who left to become President of the Ohio State University.[12][13] and Cary Staller, both of whom disagreed with the lack of a national search.[11] The two nonvoting members of the board, University Faculty Senate president Gwen Kay and Faculty Council of Community Colleges president Christy Fogal, announced in a joint statement that their respective organizations will vote on a motion of no confidence in the politically-appointed trustees who had voted in favor of the appointment.[14]
SUNY Chancellor (2020-2022)
editOn June 17, 2021, Malatras approved pay raises for State University of New York Upstate Medical University nurses commending their resiliency during the Covid-19 pandemic. The increase is slated to be between $2,000 and $3,500 more per year in a deal negotiated between the university and union ultimately approved by Malatras.[15]
After less than two years into the job, Malatras announced in December 2021 that he would resign amid furor over inappropriate private texts to friends, as well as comments he had made about a female colleague in 2019.[16][17] On December 20, 2021, Deborah F. Stanley was appointed the Chancellor on interim basis.[18]
References
edit- ^ Spector, Joseph. "Jim Malatras named SUNY chancellor". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ Incorporated, Prime. "National Academy of Public Administration". National Academy of Public Administration. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
- ^ Gormley, Michael (2020-08-30). "Cuomo aide picked to run SUNY draws criticism and optimism". Newsday. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
- ^ a b Seiler, Casey (2014-12-30). "For Malatras, a second tour of duty". Times Union. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
- ^ Mahoney, Bill (8 April 2020). "Richard Brodsky, the Legislature's brashest champion". Politico PRO. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ Karlin, Rick (2019-05-08). "Longtime Cuomo aide James Malatras to head Empire State College". Times Union. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ Malatras, James J. (2008). A tale of two movements: Collective legal consciousness: Producing and employing the law (Ph.D. thesis). State University of New York at Albany. OCLC 690899801. ProQuest 304384304.
- ^ Seiler, Casey; February 13, senior news editor on; PM, 2017 at 7:04 (2017-02-14). "Call him Dr. Malatras: Former state ops director lands at Rockefeller Institute". Capitol Confidential. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
{{cite web}}:|first2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Members of the Reimagine Education Advisory Council". Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. 2020-05-08. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ Liapis, Holly (August 21, 2020). "SUNY Board of Trustees Appoints Dr. Jim Malatras as the 14th Chancellor; Becomes First SUNY Graduate to Lead SUNY". SUNY (Press release). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ a b Hogan, Bernadette; Hicks, Nolan (2020-08-21). "Gov. Cuomo's right-hand man Jim Malatras appointed SUNY chancellor". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ "Kristina M. Johnson approved as next University President". The Lantern. 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ "SUNY Student Assembly on Twitter: "The Student Assembly's response to the new Chancellor Appointment."". Twitter. 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ McKinley, Edward (2020-08-21). "Malatras named SUNY chancellor as faculty votes no confidence in board". Times Union. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ "SUNY Chancellor approves pay raises for Upstate nurses, making hospital more competitive with St. Joe's and Crouse". 17 June 2021.
- ^ Whitford, Emma (December 10, 2021). "SUNY chancellor Jim Malatras resigns amid criticism". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ^ Mulder, James T. (9 December 2021). "SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras resigns amid furor over inappropriate texts, comments". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ^ "State University of New York Board of Trustees Appoints Deborah F. Stanley as Interim Chancellor". sites.newpaltz.edu/news. 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2021-12-21.