Headshot of Dr. Erika Hackman, SUNY Orange Provost

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – SUNY Orange Provost Dr. Erika Hackman is among 10 senior administrative leaders from across the 64-campus State University of New York (SUNY) system named to the inaugural cohort of the SUNY LEADS Becoming a Future President Institute.

Hackman, nominated for the institute by SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young, is a respected academic administrator and leading academic voice within SUNY. Earlier this year, she received national acclaim by earning the American Association of Community College’s 2026 “Rising Star Executive” award.

The cohort kicked off its participation in the institute last week with a two-day gathering in Albany. The institute will run through October 2027 and is designed to prepare accomplished higher education leaders who aspire to a college or university presidency. Through a blend of in-person and virtual sessions, conversations with experienced leaders, and opportunities for reflection and application, the 10 participants will deepen their understanding of the presidency, strengthen leadership readiness, and build meaningful connections with colleagues across SUNY.

“I’m grateful to Dr. Young for considering me worthy of nomination for the Becoming a Future President Institute, but more so for entrusting me with the role of provost at a critical time in the life of the College,” Hackman said. “Community colleges truly transform lives. At SUNY Orange, we serve and support students so they can reach their goals and achieve their dreams. I’m committed to using my time at the institute to build relationships with my colleagues, gain knowledge from their experiences, and bring new perspectives to our work at SUNY Orange for the benefit of our students, faculty, staff and administration.”

Hackman, one of only three community college leaders among the 10 selected participants, is joined in this inaugural cohort by Dr. Michael Christakis, vice president for student affairs and enrollment, University at Albany; Dr. Carrie Cokely, vice president for academic affairs, Alfred State College; Dr. Gabrielle Gaustad, associate provost for research and vice president for statutory affairs, Alfred University; Dr. Maher Ghalayini, vice president of academic affairs, SUNY Niagara; Dr. Tracy Johnson, vice president for student affairs, SUNY Oneonta; Dr. Diana Jones-Sukhram, dean of the School of Education, SUNY Old Westbury; Dr. Todd Lidh, provost and vice president for academic affairs, SUNY Maritime College; Dr. Anne McClellan, provost and vice president of academic affairs, SUNY Cortland; and Dr. Laura Ortiz, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, Finger Lakes Community College.

“Erika has demonstrated remarkable leadership at home on our campuses, throughout SUNY and through professional memberships nationally,” Young said. “She connects easily with colleagues, has an unshakable commitment to the mission of community colleges, and executes her role every day with purpose, passion, empathy and vision. She has proven her readiness to step into a presidential role, and I believe her colleagues at the institute will gain as much from her as she will from them.”

Now in her 11^th year at SUNY Orange, Hackman joined the College’s leadership team as vice president for academic affairs in 2016. In 2023 she was elevated to the role of provost, retaining her academic affairs oversight and title while adding responsibilities as vice president for student services.

Hackman directs the College’s academic affairs division—as the College offers 38 degree and certificate programs to a student body of more than 4,000 full- and part-time students—and also oversees SUNY Orange’s libraries, academic support services, Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa, and Center for Teaching and Learning. Additionally, she provides executive leadership for the student services division, including Admissions, Academic Advising, Accessibility Services, Career Services, Financial Aid, the Registrar’s Office, Wellness Center, Center for Student Involvement, Student Services Central, Testing Center, and opportunity programs for students including TRiO, EOP, CSTEP, and ASAP. Over the past year, she has managed the College’s implementation of the SUNY Reconnect program offering tuition-free community college education in high-demand fields to eligible New York State residents ages 25 to 55.

Hackman currently serves as co-chair of the State University of New York (SUNY) Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Advisory Committee, is a member of the New York State Community Colleges Leadership Academy Advisory Board. From 2023 through 2025, she was chair of the New York Association of Chief Academic Officers. She was recently appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Student Agency and Student Success, Learning Pathways and Wellbeing (2026-2029).

Her memberships and affiliations include: past president, National Council of Instructional Administrators (affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges), from 2021-present; commissioner, AACC Commission on Structured Pathways from 2022-25; and trustee, Vision Hudson Valley from 2021-present.