Cuomo appoints new chair, vice chair of SUNY board of trustees

ALBANY, N.Y. — A woman who once served as chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents is now the chair of the State University of New York (SUNY) board of trustees.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced the appointment of Merryl Tisch, who’s been serving as vice chair of the SUNY board since March 2018. Tisch replaces H. Carl McCall, who announced his retirement from the SUNY board back in April.

Cuomo also appointed Cesar Perales, who has served as New York’s Secretary of State, the board’s vice chair. Perales was appointed a member of the SUNY board of trustees on June 21.

About Tisch

Prior to her appointment as vice chair of the SUNY board, Tisch was a member of the board of regents for 20 years and held the position of vice chancellor from 2007 to 2009. As chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, Tisch was responsible for setting the state’s education policy and overseeing both public and private education throughout New York. She has years of experience in the fields of education, community service, and philanthropy, including her work as a first-grade teacher at New York City’s Ramaz School and the B’nai Jeshurun School.

About Perales

Perales was appointed a member of the SUNY Board of Trustees on June 21. Prior to his appointment as SUNY trustee, Perales served as New York State’s Secretary of State, where he was a leader in the state’s economic development, community revitalization and anti-poverty efforts. At the request of Cuomo, he also established the New York Office for New Americans and the Empire State Fellows Program.

Perales grew up in New York City and earned a bachelor’s degree from City College and a law degree from Fordham Law School, Cuomo’s office said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com