John Ryan unexpectedly resigned as SUNY chancellor, announcing on March 7 that he’d be leaving at the end of May. Ryan will become the president and CEO of the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, N.C.

“With the team of outstanding campus presidents, highly skilled administrators and staff at the system and campus levels, a strong faculty that will become truly exceptional with the hundreds of new scholars now being hired and the largest student enrollment in our history, SUNY is advancing toward the threshold of greatness,” Ryan said in a statement.

“Working with Chancellor Ryan was a pleasure, and together we did good things for SUNY,” noted UUP President William Scheuerman, who said he was disappointed to learn of Ryan’s departure.

Scheuerman praised Ryan as being an advocate for SUNY who sought funding increases for SUNY and, in particular, sought more full-time faculty the last two years.

“He was a breath of fresh air — he was a political independent,” Scheuerman said. “He knew how to play both political parties, and he was committed to making SUNY a great state university.”

Ryan has served as chancellor since June 1, 2005, first in an interim capacity. He was permanently named to the leadership post Dec. 19, 2005.

It will be up to the SUNY Board of Trustees to select Ryan’s successor. Scheuerman hopes they choose someone like Ryan.

“SUNY needs a leader who has the best interests of the University at heart, who’s willing to advocate on its behalf to continue making SUNY a great public university,” Scheuerman said. “We look forward to working with such an individual.”       

— Donald Feldstein