Sydow to leave OCC for college in Virginia

SYRACUSE — Onondaga Community College (OCC) President Debbie Sydow will leave the school in July to become president of Richard Bland College in Virginia.

Richard Bland is the only public junior college in Virginia and the only branch campus of the College of William and Mary. Sydow is a native of Virginia and joined OCC in 2000 after working in the Virginia Community College system.

“Having faithfully served as Onondaga’s president for 12 years, and at a time when the college is very well positioned for continued success, the time is right for a change,” Sydow said in a news release. “I am honored to assume the presidency of William and Mary’s two-year branch campus, Richard Bland College, in Petersburg, Va. The opportunity to assist RBC in establishing and navigating its roadmap for future success has tremendous appeal.”

Sydow said she and her husband were also looking forward to spending more time with family in Virginia.

OCC plans to name an interim president and conduct a national search for Sydow’s successor.

“For more than a decade, Debbie Sydow has guided Onondaga Community College through a tremendous period of growth and transformation,” OCC Board of Trustees Chairwoman Margaret “Meg” O’Connell said. “When she arrived, Onondaga was experiencing stagnating enrollment and limited public and private investment. She has reinvigorated the campus into a proud community of nearly 13,000 learners, and Central New York’s leaders and citizens share this immense pride in our ‘community’s college.’ ”

Contact Tampone at ktampone@cnybj.com