Retiring president says academics, policies have improved
KINGSTON, N.Y. » Nearing the end of his nearly 12year stint as SUNY New Paltz president, Donald P. Christian reflected on his tenure Friday, Dec. 10, at Wiltwyck Golf Club, where he served as the guest speaker at the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s holiday breakfast.
“By many, many measures, we have improved our academic quality and the array of offerings for our students,” he said. “That’s what we do, and we are proud of that.”
Christian announced last May his intention to retire at the end of June 2022. He was appointed as SUNY New Paltz’s eighth president in June 2011 after serving as its interim president since 2010. He previously was the college’s provost and vice president for academic affairs.
The college is Ulster County’s largest employer, and Christian said many changes have affected the lives of employees and students.
“We think we have improved a lot of policies that make life better for students and employees,” he said. “The campus facilities, the physical environment, have improved dramatically. It’s much more welcoming, brighter, cleaner, more functional.”
And Christian thinks the changes will bode well in the future for the campus and the county as he has worked hard during the last dozen years to make life better there.
“Presidential jobs are always challenging, he said. “You can never get everything done that you want to get done. And there’s always more than could be done, but I have been able to work with all the people I have been able to work with to accomplish what we have accomplished and engage with students as I have. It’s been very rewarding.”