I chose to dedicate my professional life
to community college education because of my
absolute conviction that every citizen in every
community—regardless of socio-economic,
cultural, ethnic, or academic background—should
have access to higher education. As a first-generation
college student, I am acutely aware of the power
of learning to transform a life. Community colleges
with their core mission of access to high quality,
affordable educational programs and services
are in the business of transforming lives through
learning.
Dr.
Debbie L. Sydow, the 7th president of Onondaga
Community College, has served as a community
college educator and administrator for nearly
20 years. Throughout her career, she has worked
in support of high quality educational programs
and comprehensive support services for students
seeking transfer, job training, or basic skills
education. In her various administrative roles
as president, vice president, dean, and, previously,
as a faculty member, she has actively worked
with all college stakeholders to ensure curricular
quality and program alignment with community
need.
As
president of Onondaga Community College, which
is one of the 64 institutions comprising the
State University of New York (SUNY), Dr. Sydow
serves more than 10,000 students on a 216-acre
main campus located four miles from downtown
Syracuse. Onondaga Community College, founded
in 1961, offers more than 50 programs of study
and has firmly established itself as student-centered,
learning-focused, community-oriented institution
of higher education in Central New York. Working
collaboratively with faculty, the Onondaga Community
College Board of Trustees, SUNY administration,
and community leaders, Dr. Sydow has guided
record enrollment growth at Onondaga Community
College, as well as significant increases in
grants and gifts, expanded access through distance
education and flexible program offerings, and
enhanced campus-community relations. Dr. Sydow
brings to the college proven leadership in areas
of critical importance at this stage of the
college’s evolution, including workforce
development, strategic planning and professional
development.
Dr.
Sydow began her career at Southwest Virginia
Community College in 1988 as an English faculty
member where, as a result of scholarly achievement,
she was awarded the Faculty-Scholar Award. In
1993, she became Dean of the Humanities and
Social Sciences Division at the same college,
initiating successful programs in faculty development,
outcomes assessment, and distance education.
Dr. Sydow served as lead researcher and writer
for the Virginia Community College System’s
award winning professional development program.
Just prior to assuming the presidency at Onondaga
Community College, Sydow served as Vice President
of Academic and Student Services at Mountain
Empire Community College in Virginia where she
secured more than $5 million for information/instructional
technology, developed a model distance education
program, implemented a comprehensive student
success (retention) plan, and managed steady
enrollment growth.
A
native of Virginia, Sydow earned a Bachelor
of Arts degree in English from the University
of Virginia’s College at Wise, a Master
of Arts degree in English from Marquette University,
and a Ph.D. in English from Indiana University
of Pennsylvania. She completed post-graduate
work in community college administration at
Virginia Tech.
Sydow
and her husband, Harry, have one daughter, Mandy
Allen.
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