The State University of New York Board of Trustees today appointed the following presidents: Dr. Peter O. Nwosu to lead SUNY Oswego, Dr. Tony D. Hawkins for SUNY Broome Community College, Dr. Daniel Dupee, II for Jefferson Community College, and Dr. Lester Sandres Rápalo for Rockland Community College.
“As SUNY moves forward with the four pillars of our vision—student success; research and scholarship; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and economic development and upward mobility for our students—our campus leadership is crucial to fulfilling our promise to transform SUNY into the best public higher education system for our students, faculty, and staff,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. “My congratulations to each of the campuses as we look to welcome each president and prepare for Fall 2023.”
About Dr. Peter O. Nwosu, SUNY Oswego
Dr. Peter O. Nwosu, an American Council on Education fellow and Fulbright scholar, joins SUNY from Herbert H. Lehman College, where he is provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and student success.
Prior to this role, he served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Clark Atlanta University, a historically Black college or university (HBCU) and Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution. Before joining CAU, Dr. Nwosu served as associate vice president for academic programs and accreditation liaison officer at California State University, Fullerton, a Hispanic-serving institution and one of the 23 campuses of the California State University System.
A passionate advocate for access to high-quality education for our nation’s increasingly diverse student body and a systems thinker and strategic planner with a strong belief in the power of collaboration and shared governance, Dr. Nwosu has led strategic initiatives to advance equity-minded student success outcomes, foster institutional effectiveness, and enhance these institutions’ national reputations and visibility as engines of upward mobility and community engagement.
Dr. Nwosu is a graduate of the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education and received his PhD in communication studies from Howard University, his MA in liberal studies from Towson University, and his BA in mass communication and journalism from the Institute of Management and Technology in Enugu, Nigeria. His appointment is effective August 15, 2023.
About Dr. Tony D. Hawkins, SUNY Broome Community College
Dr. Tony D. Hawkins served for eight years as the provost and executive vice president of academic affairs, continuing education, and workforce development at Frederick Community College in Maryland. Prior to this role, he was the college-wide dean of humanities at Montgomery College (MD) with oversight of a division that included course offerings in history, political science, world languages, philosophy, American Sign Language, and women’s and gender studies, along with two learning centers.
He has performed other administrative assignments as a campus dean of art, humanities, and social sciences at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus of Montgomery College and associate dean of English and humanities at Hudson County Community College in Jersey City, NJ. Dr. Hawkins held the faculty rank of associate professor of speech communication and theater at Prince George’s Community College (MD), teaching courses in human communication, radio, television, and film production, and theater.
Dr. Hawkins earned his bachelor’s degree from Towson State University, his master’s from the University of Georgia, his Certificate of Advanced Study from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, and PhD in educational leadership from New York University.
Dr. Hawkins’ appointment is effective on July 1, 2023.
About Dr. Daniel Dupee, II, Jefferson Community College
Dr. Daniel Dupee, II previously served as the administrator-in-charge of Jefferson Community College for exactly one year from June 1, 2022, to June 1, 2023. Dr. Dupee has spent 14 years at JCC. Dr. Dupee’s earlier experience at Jefferson Community College included supervision of human resources, athletics, and institutional research as well as serving as the comptroller. In addition, Dr. Dupee served as the college’s chief diversity officer and as affirmative action officer from 2016-2020. On campus, he is a member of the Faculty Student Association Board of Directors, the Center for Community Studies Advisory Board, and the Jefferson Community College (JCC) Foundation Board of Directors.
Prior to his tenure as executive vice president at Jefferson, Dr. Dupee served as interim vice president for administration and finance for Finger Lakes Community College and executive director of management services, Mexico Academy & Central School College. In addition to his higher education experience, Dr. Dupee served as accounting supervisor and analyst for Carrier Corporation.
He holds a doctorate in education with a concentration in higher education administration and a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership from Le Moyne College, both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Columbia College, and an associate degree from Onondaga Community College.
Dr. Dupee’s appointment is effective immediately.
About Dr. Lester Sandres Rápalo, Rockland Community College (pictured)
Dr. Rápalo is currently the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bronx Community College, City University of New York (CUNY). In his current role, he is responsible for the total college budget and supervises five deans, 20 academic departments, 150 faculty, and 443 adjuncts. Dr. Rápalo also oversees the associate dean for success programs, the associate dean for curriculum matters and academic programs, the director of institutional research, the assistant dean for the First Year Program, the scheduling office, and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology. He also helps lead the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP).
While serving as provost at Union County College in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Dr. Rápalo was awarded a resolution by the Union County Freeholders for promoting education, diversity, and inclusion for hosting the first international Concert for Peace in Elizabeth, New Jersey. During his tenure at Union County College, Dr. Rápalo was named “Ambassador of Education and Culture” by the Desfile Salvadoreño and was recognized by the United Nations Association of El Salvador for the “V Education Forum” held in Elizabeth, New Jersey in collaboration with the Desfile Salvadoreño, which focused on educational opportunities for underserved communities throughout New Jersey.
Dr. Rápalo earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University, and a Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University.
His appointment is effective July 1, 2023.
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