Robert S. Prezant named the 10th president of Farmingdale State College
Robert S. Prezant, provost at Southern Connecticut State University, will become the 10th president of Farmingdale State College. Credit: Southern Connecticut State University
Robert S. Prezant, a provost and vice president at Southern Connecticut State University and a graduate of Adelphi University, was named the 10th president of Farmingdale State College by State University of New York officials Wednesday.
Prezant, 72, serves now as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southern Connecticut in New Haven and has had a long tenure in higher education administration. As a biologist and administrator, he has been the lead or colead in generating more than $20 million in external funding to support research and academic programs, SUNY officials said.
He takes over for John Nader, president since 2016, who had announced his retirement. Prezant will start Aug. 14 at an annual salary of $315,000.
The SUNY board of trustees approved his appointment Wednesday.
Prezant thanked the board after his appointment Wednesday, noting he was a first-generation college student — much like many in Farmingdale’s student body.
“Farmingdale is a gem with an outstanding location surrounded by other educational institutions, diverse communities and … potential corporate partners all within a stone's throw of New York City. And of course, it’s part of a strong SUNY system.”
King said Wednesday that Prezant has a track record of building partnerships in his previous posts "so he's coming with real expertise on working with employers to design strong academic programs to pursue real workforce development not only for undergraduates, but for current employees who want to strengthen their skills.
"He also has a great track record working on issues of diversity and inclusion," SUNY Chancellor John King said, adding that Prezant has been involved in projects to diversify STEM students and faculty at Southern Connecticut. "He is well prepared to lead Farmingdale as an institution that has tremendous diversity and the potential to serve students in a very inclusive way."
Prezant holds a doctorate in marine biology from the University of Delaware, a master's in biology (marine science) from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Adelphi University.
“I look forward to returning to Long Island to lead this esteemed campus and collaborating with everyone in the campus community as we discover and unlock the opportunities ahead,” he said in a statement Wednesday.
He previously served as dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Montclair State University, dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Queens College, City University of New York, and chair of the biology department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Prezant was selected as president after a “thorough and exhaustive search,” Farmingdale State College Council chair Patricia Hill Williams said.
Nader said that Prezant "understands the college and is clearly well positioned to build on Farmingdale’s many achievements. I have no doubt that he will cultivate our growing partnerships with both businesses and philanthropies while advocating for our students and faculty."
The college, with about 9,500 students, had doubled its endowment during Nader's tenure to about $15 million. The school also entered into an agreement with Estée Lauder for a research laboratory at the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park on campus while he was president.
Joie Tyrrell is a Long Island native and covers education for Newsday, where she has worked since 1998.