City and State’s Higher Education Power 100 List Honors President

By Danica Fisher ’05, April 28, 2021
Collado recognized 26th of the 100 most powerful people in NY higher education.

President Shirley M. Collado has been selected as one of the 100 most powerful people in New York’s higher education community. City and State New York magazine’s Higher Education Power 100 list placed Collado in the 26th spot. This list honors the most influential people in academia statewide, including leaders of several colleges, universities and professional schools.

“It’s a true honor to be named among some of the state’s most innovative higher education thought leaders,” said Collado. “I am proud to represent Ithaca College in this space. For me, this distinction shines a light on the talent, drive, and ingenuity of our IC community as a whole.” 

Collado began her presidential career at Ithaca College in 2017, not only becoming the first person of color to lead the college, but she also became the first Dominican American to be named president of a four-year college in the United States. The Higher Education Power 100 highlights several of Collado’s initiatives, such as the creation of the President’s Seed Grant Initiative and the President’s Fellows Program.

Collado is nationally recognized for designing and implementing innovative approaches to higher education that expand student access and success, and has extensive experience overseeing complex not-for-profit organizations in both the private and public sectors of higher education. She is a national thought leader on developing successful cross-sector collaborations, building the capacity of equity, inclusion, and full participation in organizations, and strengthening the pathway to the professoriate and leadership roles in higher education.

“I am proud to represent Ithaca College in this space. For me, this distinction shines a light on the talent, drive, and ingenuity of our IC community as a whole.” 

President Shirley M. Collado

Additionally, under President Collado’s direction, the Ithaca College community launched a strategic planning process, Ithaca Forever, in the 2018-19 academic year, focused on creating a foundational blueprint for the future of the college that ensures a transformative student experience within a diverse, inclusive and equitable learning community.

Prior to joining Ithaca College, President Collado served as executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer at Rutgers University–Newark. In this critical role, she led the implementation of key elements of the university’s strategic plan. Before her appointment at Rutgers-Newark, President Collado served at Middlebury College as vice president for student affairs and dean of the college, and associate professor of psychology. She oversaw and supported a dynamic student body and academic community while managing numerous departments and offices.

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