Academic, business, and civic leaders joined members of the NYIT community on April 12 to celebrate the official installation of Henry C. “Hank” Foley as president of New York Institute of Technology.
Foley became NYIT’s fourth president on June 1, 2017, following a national search. During the first months of his presidency, he has focused on the interrelated priority areas of university identity/focus, resource management, and outreach. He has led a thorough analysis of NYIT’s diverse assets to ensure they are synergistic and support the university’s mission; encouraged leadership to set strategies that build excitement and passion for NYIT’s future; and prioritized building and sustaining the university’s financial resources, enrollment, relationships, and stature.
“The Board of Trustees is excited about working with you to help achieve your vision of transforming NYIT into one of the best private institutions of higher education in the New York area,” said Kevin D. Silva, chairman of NYIT’s Board of Trustees.
Foley and his wife, Karin, live in Plandome.
“The goal I have set forth during my presidency is for NYIT to be among the highest ranked institutions of higher education in the New York metropolitan area,” \ Foley said during his installation ceremony remarks. “I want us to be the school of choice for students who wish to pursue professional careers, especially in health care, life and molecular sciences, engineering, computer and data science, architecture, and business, and we are making progress to that end.”
This week, NYIT has hosted a series of events commemorating the inauguration, primarily focused on scholarly research, technology, and community service.
Before joining NYIT, Foley served as interim chancellor of the University of Missouri-Columbia since November 2015. In that role, he represented MU in the Association of American Universities and the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities and directed MU’s research mission. Further, he was responsible for the quality and effectiveness of all programs and dedicating university resources necessary for research, education, and service activities. He was a tenured professor of chemistry at University of Missouri-Columbia and a professor of chemical and biochemical engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Foley joined the UM System in 2013 as executive vice president for academic affairs, tasked with growing its academic and research expertise. Previously, he was vice president for research and dean of the graduate school at The Pennsylvania State University. He also held faculty appointments at Penn State and the University of Delaware.
Foley earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Providence College, a master’s degree in chemistry from Purdue University, and doctorate in physical and inorganic chemistry from Penn State. He holds 16 patents for his research, has written more than 150 articles and a textbook, and has mentored nearly 50 undergraduate and graduate thesis students. He has been recognized as a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Academy of Inventors. In 2015, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by Providence College and in 2017 earned the Distinguished Science Alumni Award from Purdue University.
A recording of the installation ceremony is available here.
