People news: SUNY Poly names new director of university marketing and communications

MARCY, N.Y. — Sara Furlong has joined SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) as its new director of university marketing and communications.

She brings more than 15 years of experience in higher education, ad agency, consulting, and industry settings to the role, the university announced.

Prior to joining SUNY Poly, Furlong spent more than six years working in advancement communication and marketing roles at Colgate University, most recently serving as senior associate director of annual giving. While at Colgate, she developed strategies and managed multi-channel marketing campaigns, supporting the university’s advancement division.

Before her time at Colgate, Furlong served as the content-marketing manager of Microdrones. She also founded an independent consulting practice, partnering with several marketing firms and companies, in addition to working on education projects for Herkimer County Community College, Munson, Pratt-Munson, and Trident University.

Furlong holds a master’s degree in political science from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in history from Utica University.

SUNY Poly offers graduate and undergraduate degrees through its colleges of arts and sciences, business, engineering, and health sciences.