2027-2028 MSCHE Reaccreditation

Self-Study Steering Committee

The Self-Study Steering Committee will guide SUNY Empire’s 2027-2028 accreditation review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). This committee will be responsible for coordinating the self-study process and ensuring that the Self-Study Report reflects the institution's strengths and areas for improvement.

The steering committee co-chairs are Rashmi Prasad, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Tom Mackey, Ph.D., Professor of Arts and Media in the College of Arts and Science.

Supporting the steering committee and the broader self-study effort are Eileen McDonnell, the University’s Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO); Andre Foisy, Director of Assessment and Program Review; and Stephanie Thomas, Project Manager. Together, they provide accreditation, assessment, and project management expertise to support coordination and successful completion of the self-study process.

In addition to the steering committee co-chairs, the steering committee is composed of the co-chairs of the seven working groups, below.

Working Groups in the Self-Study Process

We formed working groups to ensure a thorough and inclusive self-study. These groups are organized around the MSCHE’s seven standards. Each group plays a critical role in evaluating specific aspects of the institution, providing evidence, and recommending improvements to strengthen SUNY Empire.

The working groups and their primary focus areas are as follows:

Standard I: Mission and Goals 

Evaluate how well SUNY Empire's mission and goals align with MSCHE standards and support continuous improvement. 

• Members:
  • Eric Strattman, Academic Affairs (Co-chair Standard I)
  • Gina Torino, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Co-chair Standard I)
  • Deb Liberatore LeBlanc, Office of the President
  • Janice Dannebaum, BA ’24, Alumna
  • Jennifer Nettleton, Digital Learning, Innovation & Strategy
  • Kelly Lambert, College of Education
  • Maureen Kravec, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Nazik Roufaiel, College of Business

Standard II: Ethics and Integrity 

Review policies and procedures that promote ethical behavior and integrity across the institution. 

• Members:  
  • Daniel Greer, Academic Affairs (Co-chair Standard II)
  • Noor Syed, College of Education (Co-chair Standard II)
  • Audeliz Matías, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Cynthia Cummings, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Jenna Albertine, Student Accounts
  • Jim Nicosia, Human Resources
  • Julianna Klein, Communications
  • Melissa Zgliczynski, Accessibility Services

Standard III: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience 

Assess academic programs and how well they support student learning and success. 

• Members:
  • Christine Paige, Digital Learning, Innovation & Strategy (Co-chair Standard III)
  • Lisa D'Adamo-Weinstein, College of Arts and Sciences (Co-chair Standard III)
  • Allison Moreland, Digital Learning, Innovation & Strategy
  • Anita DeCianni Brown, Student Success
  • Debra Kram-Fernandez, College of Health and Human Services
  • Diane Shichtman, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Kristina Brousseau, Decision Support
  • Lila Rajabion, Computer Science & Technology and Graduate Studies
  • Njoki Mwarumba, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Standard IV: Support of the Student Experience

Examine student services and co-curricular activities that contribute to the overall student experience. 

• Members: 
  • Dana Brown, Student Success (Co-chair Standard IV)
  • Lynn Lubecki, College of Education (Co-chair Standard IV)
  • Ade Byron, ODEI
  • Ali Ait Si Mhamed, College of Education
  • Ashley Mason, Student Success
  • Heather Horowitz, College of Education
  • Kim Stote, College of Health and Human Services
  • Megan Riedl, Student, Educational Leadership and Change
  • Roopa Kunapuram, ITS

Standard V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment 

Ensure that SUNY Empire measures and improves student learning outcomes through effective assessment practices.

• Members:
  • Andre Foisy, Decision Support (Co-chair Standard V)
  • Betul Lus, College of Business (Co-chair Standard V)
  • Alena Rodick, Digital Learning, Innovation & Strategy
  • Dan Fogarty, OEMM
  • Jessica McCaffery, Registrar's Office
  • Nicola Allain, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Sarah Valentine, College of Health and Human Services
  • Sophia Mavrogiannis, Student Success

Standard VI: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement 

Evaluate the effectiveness of institutional planning and resource allocation to ensure sustainability and institutional growth. 

• Members: 
  • Eileen McDonnell, Decision Support (Co-chair Standard VI)
  • Melissa Wells, CTL (Co-chair Standard VI)
  • Amanda Mickel, Academic Affairs
  • Cherelle Hall, OEMM
  • Kate Thies, Human Resources
  • Eric Grignon, ITS
  • Jim Stoner, Finance
  • Pamela Enser, Registrar's Office

Standard VII: Governance, Leadership, and Administration

Review the institution's governance structures to ensure they are transparent, effective, and aligned with MSCHE's expectations. 

• Members:
  • Kate Dorsey, Decision Support (Co-chair Standard VII)
  • Mary Mawn, College of Arts and Sciences (Co-chair Standard VII)
  • Anjeanette Emeka, Student Success
  • John Lawless, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences 
  • Jonathan St. Clair, Administration and Finance
  • Kali Zahn, ITS
  • Sylwia Starnawska, College of Business
  • Taia Younis, Student Success

To read PDF documents, you will need Adobe Reader. If it is not installed on your computer, download it for free from Adobe.