Dr. Mary Bonderoff Named 11th President of SUNY Delhi

The SUNY Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Mary Bonderoff, acting president at SUNY Delhi, as the president of SUNY Delhi. Dr. Bonderoff will be SUNY Delhi's eleventh president since its founding in 1913. Her official start date is Wednesday, July 26, 2024.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, "Since 2022, Dr. Bonderoff has served SUNY Delhi exceptionally by increasing enrollment and developing significant partnerships between SUNY Delhi and local partners to ensure the success of Delhi's students."

Dr. Bonderoff said, "It is truly a privilege to serve as the next president of SUNY Delhi. I have spent my entire career as an advocate for student success by creating caring, inclusive, and equitable communities. The past two years are a testament of the work we have done building a strong commitment to our students and community. SUNY Delhi provides tremendous opportunities for students through our strong academic programs and co-curricular experiences. I look forward to strengthening SUNY Delhi's position as a premier technology institution."

Upon her arrival at SUNY Delhi, Dr. Bonderoff charged members of her leadership team and campus stakeholders to develop a strategic enrollment management plan. In 2023/2024, SUNY Delhi enrolled the largest incoming class since 2017. It is anticipated that 2025/2026 enrollment will surpass the prior years' growth. A critical component of the increases reflects key investments to expand capacity in high-demand academic programs, which historically has significant waitlists, particularly in the applied technology programs. Dr. Bonderoff is deeply committed to continuing to build on efforts for incremental growth. She has worked tirelessly to receive support from the SUNY Construction Fund and industry partners to upgrade and maximize space. Additional investments and global partnerships were made to expand opportunities for international students.

Dr. Bonderoff inherited an approximately 6.5 million-dollar structural deficit and began to address it right away. She intentionally collaborated with shared governance bodies to develop a multifaceted plan. This fiscal stability plan has received significant praise from SUNY Administration and peer institutions for its thoughtful approach. Since her arrival at SUNY Delhi, the college has saved 2 million dollars. The college is on track to close the structural deficit by 2027/2028. During this time, SUNY Delhi has received historic investment from the state, increased grant dollars, and gained significant donations to strengthen its fiscal position. This work has been instrumental in maintaining compliance for the college's accreditation.

SUNY Delhi College Council Chair Jack Schoonmaker said, "On behalf of the SUNY Delhi College Council, I would like to thank the Presidential Search Committee, especially Chair Wayne Oliver, for their many hours and their thorough and extensive deliberations. In her two years at Delhi, working diligently with Faculty, Staff and Students, Mary met challenges head on; strategically addressing significant budget deficits, increasing enrollment to the highest levels since 2017, and as importantly, improving the overall positivity of the campus. The College Council looks forward to working with Dr. Bonderoff as she continues her important work and moves forward as the President of SUNY Delhi."

About Dr. Mary Bonderoff
Dr. Bonderoff began her career at SUNY in 1989 at the Oneonta campus, serving in roles with increasing responsibility, including Director of the Center for Multicultural Experiences, Director for Student Diversity, and then as Director of Diversity Education and Community Outreach. She went to SUNY Morrisville to serve as Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator, and later as Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer. Since 2022, Dr. Bonderoff has led SUNY Delhi in an interim capacity.

With 35 years of experience as an advocate, educator, and administrator, Dr. Bonderoff has a student-centered leadership approach. At Delhi, she has built a strong culture of shared governance, increased enrollment, and cultivated relationships with industry and alumni to bolster student success.

Dr. Bonderoff holds bachelor's and master's degrees from SUNY Oneonta and a doctorate from Northeastern University (MA). She is married with three grown sons and a granddaughter.

About SUNY Delhi
SUNY Delhi's hands-on approach to teaching and learning includes over 60 academic programs in specialized areas, including applied technologies, nursing, hospitality, veterinary sciences, applied sciences, business, and liberal arts and sciences. Enrolling over 3,000 students, SUNY Delhi is a member of the State University of New York.