Anastasia Urtz has been appointed as the eighth president of SUNY Adirondack, a community college within the State University of New York system. The school enrolls about 2,700 students, 55 percent of whom are women. Urtz is slated to assume her presidency this summer.
With an extensive background in higher education leadership, President Urtz currently serves as provost and senior vice president of academic and student affairs at Onondaga Community College – another institution within the SUNY system. Her career with Onondaga began in 2010 as a vice president, overseeing several administrative offices and departments. She assumed her current position in 2021 after two years of service as interim provost.
Prior to joining the Onondaga administration, President Urtz served two years as executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Onondaga County. Earlier, she spent nearly 14 years with Syracuse University. While there, she held various leadership roles in both judicial affairs and student relations, ultimately serving as associate vice president and dean of students. She was practicing attorney before transitioning her career to academia.
“SUNY Adirondack is a welcoming and supportive academic community that prepares students for in-demand careers and engagement in civic life,” said Urtz. “As a parent of a college junior, I know first-hand how important it is for students to find an academic path that helps them build the lives and livelihoods they imagine for themselves. I am honored to lead this important institution during a time of change in higher education and look forward to collaborating with campus and community leaders to expand educational opportunities for local residents.”
President-elect Urtz is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., where she majored in political science. She holds a juris doctorate from the University of Michigan.