SUNY Poly names new chief of staff

MARCY, N.Y. — Wayne Westervelt has joined SUNY Polytechnic Institute as the new chief of staff and VP for external relations.

Westervelt brings more than 25 years of experience in communications, media management, strategic marketing, and public/community/governmental relations to the role. He most recently served as chief communication officer at SUNY Oswego since 2016.

Prior to that, Westervelt was director of communications and media at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. From 2004-2015, he served as VP for marketing and communications for Cazenovia College. He held similar roles at the Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board, Dairylea Cooperative, Inc., and Unity Mutual Life Insurance Company.

At SUNY Poly, Westervelt will serve as the liaison between the president’s office and the SUNY Chancellor’s office, governance bodies, and the campus community. He is responsible for creating, refining, and enhancing strategies to create overarching policy, communication, and strategy for government, industry, and community interactions and partnerships.

His position also has the authority to assist in determining, creating, and affecting policy for SUNY Poly. Westervelt will provide leadership to the strategic-planning process, oversee the implementation of new programmatic and strategic initiatives, and other duties as assigned by the president.

“I look forward to working closely with Wayne, whose experience and skillset will be an invaluable asset for SUNY Poly, especially in strengthening and further establishing relationships with local, statewide, and industry partners,” SUNY Poly Officer-in-Charge Andrew Russell said in a release. “His strong background and track record in building key partnerships will help advance SUNY Poly’s management and external-relations efforts.”

Westervelt holds a bachelor’s degree in English/communications from Le Moyne College and a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.