The New York Institute of Technology announced last Friday the hiring of Henry C. “Hank” Foley, interim chancellor of the University of Missouri-Columbia, as NYIT’s fourth president. Foley will begin on June 1.
“The board believes that Hank is the ideal choice to guide NYIT into the future,” said Kevin Silva, the chairman of NYIT’s Board of Trustees. “His impressive background in strategic planning, economic development and advanced research collaborations, program development, and enhanced funding exemplifies the leadership skills and qualities we sought.”
The selection of Foley, 61, follows a seven-month national search for the successor to Edward Guiliano, who announced in September that he would step down after serving 16 years as NYIT’s president, NYIT said in a statement.
“I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter of my career, to leading NYIT and building on its success and reputation in higher education. I’m thrilled to be at the helm and to work with the board, faculty, staff, students and alumni to make NYIT even more recognized for its excellent value and outstanding outcomes, both inside and outside the classroom,” Foley said.
As the interim chancellor of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Foley has overseen the $2.1 billion enterprise since November 2015, the NYIT statement said.
Foley joined the University of Missouri System in 2013 as executive vice president for academic affairs, tasked with growing its academic and research expertise. He is a tenured professor of chemistry at the University of Missouri and a professor of chemical and biochemical engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, the NYIT statement said.
NYIT has three New York campuses: one in Old Westbury, one in Central Islip and one in Manhattan.
Under Guiliano’s direction, the university has expanded beyond New York, developing accredited satellite campuses in Jonesboro, Arkansas; Vancouver, Canada; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and several cities in China. He is also credited with leading the university’s first ever long-term strategic plan, NYIT 2030.
According to Newsday, the university plans to build its first on-campus housing in Old Westbury, which will host a 700-bed facility. Residential students there now mostly live on the nearby campus of SUNY Old Westbury, under NYIT’s arrangement with that school, Newsday said.
NYIT hired the firm Witt/Kieffer to assist with a search for Guiliano’s replacement, which has also involved members of the faculty and Board of Trustees.
Rahmat Shoureshi, the NYIT provost and vice president of academic affairs, took over as the school’s interim president in January as the college sought a successor to Guiliano.
