STONE RIDGE – Dr. Alison Buckley was formally installed Thursday in a ceremony as the seventh president of SUNY Ulster as the community college celebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding this year.
SUNY Chancellor Dr. John King welcomed Buckley to her new role as an educational leader in Ulster County.
“This an auspicious and joyous occasion to celebrate a university that underpins this community and a new president who is to lift it to even greater heights,” King said.
Buckley shared her views of how community colleges can nurture residents to reach goals for themselves and enhance the communities where they live and work.
“I see the characteristics critical for our success at SUNY Ulster. The close ties to the community, a culture of workforce collaborations deep within our DNA, academic excellence at a reasonable price.”
Buckley said there are two main goals in community college education: “A pathway to a university and a pathway to a career. From the offset, community colleges were also heavily influenced by the progressive educational philosophy of John Dewey. Dewey believed that formal education was a means to prepare for continual learning and continual engagement with one’s community. In short: The goal to educate everyone – everywhere.”
Buckley assumed her presidency in July of last year.
