SUNY Orange Associate Professor of Mathematics and Shared Governance President Liz Carris has been selected to serve as a SUNY Academic Momentum Fellow, a prestigious faculty and staff leadership program designed to advance student success and retention across the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Systemwide, 24 fellows were selected, including 12 from state-operated campuses and 12 from community colleges, to support academic momentum campus planning teams in implementing approved action plans beginning in spring 2026 for up to 12 months. Fellows are assigned to work with campuses based on their areas of expertise and specific campus needs.

The SUNY Academic Momentum Campaign, launched systemwide by Chancellor John B. King Jr., aims to accelerate students’ progress toward degree completion through evidence-based strategies such as degree mapping, proactive advisement, and timely interventions. The multi-year initiative seeks to increase retention and completion rates for all undergraduate students, while eliminating equity gaps for historically underrepresented and Pell-eligible students.

“I’m honored to be selected and to represent SUNY Orange. We’ve been doing meaningful, collaborative work to support student success and I’m excited to contribute to a SUNY-wide conversation about what really works,” Carris shared.

Over more than a decade at the College, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership in both instruction and student support. As part of a five-member faculty team, she played a key role in redesigning the developmental mathematics sequence, streamlining multiple course tracks into pathways that allow students to complete gateway math courses in their first year. This collaborative effort has improved outcomes for students from underrepresented backgrounds and has positioned SUNY Orange as a finalist for the 2026 Bellwether Awards for innovation in instructional programs.

Carris also co-led the implementation and refinement of Orange Connect, the College’s early alert system, helping faculty and advisors proactively guide students toward timely degree completion. In her role as Shared Governance President, she has facilitated inclusive, evidence-based decision-making across curriculum, policy, and strategic planning initiatives.

“Liz brings the perfect combination of curriculum expertise, governance leadership, and student-centered focus to this fellowship,” said Dr. Erika Hackman, SUNY Orange provost and vice president for academic affairs and student services. “Her work has already made measurable differences for our students, and she will now help campuses across SUNY accelerate academic momentum for all learners.”

This fellowship will position Carris to collaborate with colleagues across the SUNY system to expand high-impact strategies in course design, advising, and student success. The work will help strengthen SUNY’s commitment to ensuring students build meaningful academic momentum from their first semester through graduation.

“I have had the privilege of working with innovative, forward-thinking colleagues who challenge what is possible for students,” Carris said. “The opportunity to collaborate across SUNY to develop new strategies that help more students reach their goals is incredibly meaningful to me.”

Through this fellowship, Carris will help shape systemwide efforts that are transforming how students experience college and strengthening pathways to completion for learners across New York State.