SUNY Sullivan will formally inaugurate Dr. David Potash as its eighth president on Thursday, October 23, at 1 p.m. The ceremony will take place in the Seelig Theatre on the college’s main campus, 112 College Road, Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. Doors open at noon.
The inauguration will bring together students, faculty, alumni, elected officials, community leaders, and delegates from academic institutions across New York State. The event will celebrate SUNY Sullivan’s longstanding mission to educate, inspire, and empower students and the community. SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr., will attend and President Potash will speak to the college’s future and its vital role in Sullivan County. A reception with light refreshments will follow.
“I am honored to be a member of the SUNY Sullivan family,” said President Potash. “This college has a legacy of academic quality, service and commitment to student success. I am extraordinarily grateful to be at SUNY Sullivan and leading a collaborative effort to build on that foundation. Working together, we are doing some wonderful things for our students and community.”
“The Board of Trustees is delighted to celebrate the investiture of our Eighth President, Dr. Potash,” said SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees Chair, Nancy Hackett. “Over the past year, President Potash has worked with staff and faculty to move the college forward. His experience, attention to detail, transparency, and, most importantly, his personable approach embrace our community college and the work ahead. We look forward to our future with President David Potash.”
President Potash joined SUNY Sullivan in the summer of 2024. A historian and accomplished educational leader, he previously served as president of Wilbur Wright College in Chicago for more than a decade. During his tenure, Wright College achieved significant gains in student retention and completion, expanded apprenticeships, transfer pathways, and partnerships.
His leadership earned national recognition for Wright College, including the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification (2024), the Seal of Excelencia in Education (2021) for service to Hispanic Students, and the Padron Award for Civic Leadership (2020). Potash championed inclusion and access, strengthening student supports and community engagement and service.
At SUNY Sullivan, Potash’s expertise in strategic leadership, fundraising, and national advocacy for community colleges is expected to advance the institution’s role as a catalyst for workforce development and a hub of innovation in the Catskills region and beyond.
Guests are asked to wear business attire. RSVPs are requested and can be made at: sunysullivan.edu/presidential-inauguration-david-potash.
About SUNY Sullivan: SUNY Sullivan is the leader of innovative higher education and a catalyst for workforce development throughout the Sullivan Catskills and beyond. Our diverse community cultivates personal growth and professional advancement, preparing students for success in a sustainable and interconnected world. A forward-looking, top-tier community college in New York, SUNY Sullivan offers dozens of degree programs, certificates, and microcredentials for learners at all levels of their educational goals. We value critical inquiry and creativity while supporting our students in a culture of inclusion and respect. sunysullivan.edu