The State University of New York’s Maritime College has ended a more than six-month search for a new school president, announcing Tuesday the appointment of retired Coast Guard Captain, Dr. Michael A. Alfultis.
Dr. Alfultis’ appointment was confirmed yesterday by the SUNY Board of Trustees during a meeting in Buffalo, NY. He will begin his Maritime presidential duties on Monday, July 14.
Alfultis, who currently holds the director and chief administrative officer position of the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus, has more than 20 years of undergraduate teaching experience and 13 years of progressive academic administrative responsibility at both military and civilian institutions of higher education. His background includes service as an operations officer and navigator on a U.S. Coast Guard cutter; maritime safety and security; Coast Guard Academy faculty member and academic department chair; and senior administrator at a flagship university.
As the chief administrative officer of the UConn’s marine and maritime campus at Avery Point since 2010, Alfultis oversees undergraduate and graduate programs offered by four schools within the University of Connecticut: the Department of Marine Sciences and associated Marine Sciences and Technology Center; Connecticut Sea Grant, the Northeast Underwater Research Technology and Education Center; the UConn Technology Incubator Program; and Project Oceanology, a marine education and outreach nonprofit.
“Dr. Alfultis has more than 20 years of leadership, teaching, and mentoring experience from a distinguished Coast Guard career and several military and civilian institutions of higher education,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “He is ideally suited to lead the students, faculty, and staff at SUNY Maritime College. I look forward to working with him.”
The appointment of Alfultis concludes the school’s six-month, nationwide search for a new president.
Wendi Carpenter, a retired Navy rear Admiral, stepped down from the position in September 2013. Carpenter was the first woman ever to hold the position at Maritime College.
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