SUNY Poly appoints chief diversity officer

MARCY, N.Y. — SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) announced it has appointed Mark Montgomery as its chief diversity officer.

Montgomery currently serves as dean of the School of Public and Human Services at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC).

At SUNY Poly, he will work to “deploy strategic and sustained approaches to further advance a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the institution’s students, faculty, and staff,” the university said.

Montgomery is scheduled to join SUNY Poly July 1, in advance of the class of 2024’s orientation.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Montgomery to SUNY Polytechnic Institute. He brings true depth of knowledge in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, student success, and retention, and we are looking forward to his leadership and efforts to further enhance our culture so that everyone, no matter their background, feels safe, valued, uplifted, and welcome on our campuses,” Grace Wang, interim president of SUNY Poly, said in a statement.

A “D” student

A native of the Oneida County hamlet of Bridgewater, Montgomery says he “isn’t shy” about sharing how he graduated a “D” student from Mt. Markham Senior High School and ranked 112th of 126 students in his class. Montgomery faced financial, health, and speech difficulties.

Poised to overcome his obstacles after graduating from high school, he earned his associate degree in human services from MVCC, where he received awards for academic excellence.

In 2000, he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Poly. Montgomery continued his education at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, where he earned a master’s degree in education with a focus in academic motivation, specifically related to inmates. Montgomery received his Ph.D. in education in February 2014, focusing on how systemic influences impact student motivation and performance.

In 2015, Montgomery began providing workshops in elementary schools and high schools to train teachers, administrators, and others to motivate students across cultural lines. He was nominated for the SUNY Chancellor’s Award in 2009 for excellence in service, and in 2015 received the Outstanding Community Service Award from Mohawk Valley Frontiers.