Nonprofit hires EX-SUNY leader

Jim Malatras named chief strategy officer at group dedicated to social empowerment

ALBANY — Former State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras has taken unpaid leave from a faculty position at SUNY Empire to work for The Fedcap Group, an international nonprofit focused on improving social and economic mobility around the world.

The tenured SUNY professor — whose stint at the helm of the 64-campus SUNY network lasted less than two years — was named chief strategy officer and senior vice president for education for the organization in January, Malatras confirmed.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Malatras said Fedcap’s mission aligns with his longtime interest in educational empowerment and that he plans to explore the role for at least a year.

“In all of my career, when I talk about the power of education, when I talk about lifting people out of poverty, I really mean it . ... I love to provide opportunities for people to get educated,” Malatras said. “This organization that I’m working with right now is doing it on a big scale. And that’s exciting, because it’s a way to help more people and I’m really jazzed about it.”

Malatras, who stepped down from the SUNY chancellor role Jan. 15, 2022, is wrapping up a one-year study leave, for which he was paid $450,000. If he chooses to remain in the nonprofit sector, he would forgo a lifetime faculty role at the university, which was part of his generous severance package.

The ex-chancellor resigned after complaints about his workplace demeanor came to light. An acolyte of former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, Malatras was already facing scrutiny for being part of the governor’s administration as it was engulfed in scandal.

Malatras, who holds a doctorate degree in political science, was tapped for the SUNY leadership role during the height of Cuomo’s popularity.

He had spent the bulk of his two-decade career in state politics and continued to advise the governor after he transitioned to academia in 2017, when he accepted a leadership position at SUNY’S Rockefeller Institute think tank.

In the early days of the pandemic, Malatras played a starring role in Cuomo’s daily COVID -19 briefings, which raised his profile and lined him up for the chancellor job.

At Cuomo’s behest, the Board of Trustees agreed to forgo a nationwide search for the next SUNY chancellor, and selected Malatras to be its leader despite his thin academic resume and a documented history of complaints about his management style at SUNY. At the time, faculty and students objected to the decision.

On Wednesday, Malatras expressed concern that other members of the media reporting on his professional movements have not sought his comment.

“Before this becomes a conspiracy theory, (taking a year off

to explore other opportunities) is not atypical from what a faculty member does,” he said.

“I’m really happy about what I am trying out. I loved being part of the SUNY faculty. Like many faculty members who take leaves to explore and pursue what they are passionate about, that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Christine Mcmahon, president and CEO of The Fedcap Group, said the organization is thrilled to welcome Malatras to the leadership team.

“Jim brings decades of public policy and education leadership and shares our deep commitment to improving the educational and career pathways for people in underserved communities who are so often left behind by the current system,” she said in a statement. “His expertise will be invaluable to drive improvement and growth across the entire portfolio of service, job training, health and education programs.”

Founded in 1935, The Fedcap Group “develops scalable, innovative and potentially disruptive solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs,” according to a company statement.

In his new job, Malatras will provide consulting work for various Fedcap partners across the country, from early childhood education programming run in New York and Texas, to a clean energy training center in Boston — among many other programs, a spokesperson said.

SUNY did not immediately respond to a request for comment.