(ALBANY, NY – June 9, 2020) SUNY Empire State College today announced President Jim Malatras ranked 15 on the City & State Albany Power Top 100, which recognizes the most influential leaders in advocacy, business, and government. Each year, City & State produces a series of lists acknowledging influencers in education, real estate, non-profit and philanthropic leaders, and law.

Malatras has served as SUNY Empire’s fifth president since July 2019. Since joining SUNY Empire, he has established the first-of-its-kind statewide Empire Opportunity Program, implemented the Latin Honors system, and led the charge to introduce a mascot for the first time in SUNY Empire’s 49-year history. He also created a diversity and inclusion task force, established a partnership with the New York State Department of Labor to develop the Empire State Career Connector, and quickly authorized a COVID-19 Relief Fund for students affected by the pandemic.

In less than a year, President Malatras has forged more than 30 articulation agreements with community colleges, corporations, state government agencies, and community-focused organizations to increase access to higher education, while helping prepare students for the future and addressing workforce gaps today.

Malatras has also served as an advisor on New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s COVID-19 task force and was recently appointed chair of the state’s new Reimagine Education Advisory Council. He is also a member of the American Council on Education (ACE) National Task Force on Transfer of Credit and co-chair of the New York State Complete Count Commission.

About SUNY Empire State College

SUNY Empire State College educates students at any stage of life with a personalized learning experience delivered online, in person, or a blend of both. Since 1971, SUNY Empire has empowered students to earn an accredited degree around the demands of a busy lifestyle to advance their personal and professional goals. With world-class faculty, more than 1,300 dedicated mentors to help students tailor their degree programs, and cutting-edge distance learning technology, SUNY Empire delivers a trusted and flexible online college experience grounded in more than 30 New York state locations and seven international sites where students can learn and collaborate in person. The college’s nearly 50 years as a leader in awarding credit for prior learning and life experience helps students earn a degree faster and at lower cost. To learn more, visit www.esc.edu and follow @SUNYEmpire.