Empire State College Council Membership
New York State Public Service Commissioner and chairman of the council, John Maggiore, has served in various roles in the New York State Executive Chamber since 2011, most recently as senior advisor to Governor Cuomo. Prior to that, he served as Governor Cuomo's director of policy; chief of staff to Lt. Governor Robert Duffy; and the governor’s director of regional affairs. During Mr. Maggiore’s time as policy director, the Cuomo administration articulated the Clean Energy Standard, launched the electric-vehicle rebate program, implemented the NY Sun program, promulgated the offshore wind master plan, and announced large-scale renewable projects and nation-leading clean energy policy initiatives. Earlier in his career, Mr. Maggiore served as chief of staff for a leading member of the Assembly Energy Committee for eight years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Connecticut College, a master’s degree in political science and government from Rutgers University, and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University.
Albert T. Culler is the student representative to the College Council. With more than 30 years of experience in public-transportation organizations, Albert is currently assistant chief officer of operations with the Staten Island Railway, NYC Transit. His civic, community, and college activities include leadership posts with the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, the college's Black Male Initiative, and the SUNY Empire Student Government Association. He is also active in the North Star Movement of New York City and the NAACP – Co-op City branch. Additionally, he serves the college as a member of the SUNY Empire State College Presidential Search Committee. In January of 2021, Albert earned his associate degree with SUNY Empire and is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in public affairs with the college.
Arlene González-Sánchez served as commissioner of the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services from March 2011 to November 2021. Prior to that, she was commissioner of the Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, and Developmental Disabilities Services, on Long Island. González-Sánchez holds a Master of Social Work in Administration/Community Organization from Hunter College School of Social Work; and a Master of Science in Cell Biology/Cytogenetics and a Bachelor of Science in Biology, both from Fordham University. González-Sánchez also held a faculty appointment at Cornell University Medical College as an associate research scientist.
Donna Luh is the owner of Luh Consulting Services, which offers advising on government relations, community affairs, marketing, public relations, housing, aviation and transportation. A resident of Depew, she is the former vice chair of the New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors, the project coordinator of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, and coordinator of the $186 million Greater Buffalo International Airport Improvement Program. She holds both a bachelor’s degrees in Science and a Master of Science in Education Administration from Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y.
Sheila Poole is acting commissioner of the state Office of Children and Family Services. She joined the agency in 2007 as associate commissioner in the Division of Child Welfare and Community Services, before being promoted to executive deputy commissioner. Poole began her career in the nonprofit mental health sector, creating community-based housing and rehabilitative services for individuals transitioning from state institutional settings. She holds both master’s and undergraduate degrees in psychology, from Russell Sage College and Siena College, respectively.
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon previously served as president of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and was the founding co-president of SAG-AFTRA, a 165,000-member union for the entertainment industry. After stepping down from that position in late 2013, she consulted for the AFL-CIO as special liaison for Common Sense Economics. She also taught in the Cornell/CUNY Labor Relations Certificate program. A graduate of the Cornell Industrial and Labor Relations School’s New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute, she holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wyoming.
Patricia E. Salkin is provost of the Graduate and Professional Division and former dean of Touro Law Center at Touro College. She is the former associate dean, professor of law and director of the Government Law Center of Albany Law School. In addition to land use law, her scholarship also focuses on government ethics. She is an appointed member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council and chair of the State Bar's Standing Committee on Attorneys in Public Service. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany and earned her Juris Doctor from Albany Law School.
Empire State College alumnus Mark Schroeder ’82 became commissioner of New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles in January 2019. Previously, he served as the elected comptroller of the city of Buffalo, from January 2012 until his appointment to DMV, and also previously was a member of both the Erie County Legislature and New York State Assembly. Prior to his years of public service, he spent 25 years in the private sector, including as vice president of two large corporations, after earning his B.S. in Historical Studies at SUNY Empire State College.