SUNY Trustees honor Tripathi’s presidency

The SUNY Board of Trustees at its meeting earlier this week honored UB President Satish K. Tripathi for his 22 years of leadership of New York’s flagship, including his role as provost before being appointed UB’s 15th president in 2011.

It was a celebratory occasion as trustees thanked Tripathi for all he has done for UB and the SUNY system. The board also passed a resolution recognizing Tripathi as President Emeritus and University Professor, The State University of New York..

Tripathi, who attended the meeting in Albany in person, said “It has been a privilege of a lifetime to serve SUNY as president of UB.”

“Satish, your tenure at the University at Buffalo has truly been transformational. For more than 20 years at UB…you have elevated the university’s academic excellence, expanded its global reputation, strengthened its research enterprise and deepened UB’s commitment to the Buffalo community and all of New York State,” SUNY Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Cesar Perales said.

“What stands out just as much as the milestones, the growth, the new facilities, the historic philanthropy, the research achievements,” Perales added, “is the way you have led with humility, integrity, vision, and an unwavering belief in the power of public higher education. You have opened doors for generations of students and scholars. You have left UB and SUNY stronger than you have found them.”

Eunice A. Lewin, who was appointed to the SUNY Board of Trustees in 2010, noted that Tripathi was her first appointment. “You have accomplished so many extraordinary things,” Lewin said, adding, “and you were not shy about waving the UB flag. And for that, I will always be grateful.”

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said he’s most admired three leadership qualities in particular that Tripathi has displayed: team building, respect and partnerships.

“Satish has done an excellent job building a team at UB. He is an excellent leader, but he has also made it a point to identify deans and faculty members to lead on the campus,” King said. “And he’s invested in their leadership and supported their growth.”

King added that many of his colleagues in higher education have described Tripathi as a trusted mentor and someone from whom they have sought advice and guidance.

Third, King said, “Satish has had a mindset at UB that UB is strengthened through partnerships across the SUNY system and across New York State.”

That is best evidenced by UB’s standing as a member of the state’s Empire AI consortium and the home of an artificial intelligence computing center.

“It’s not just a resource for UB. It’s a resource for our other university centers, a resource for other research institutions across the state, and that reflects Satish’s view that public higher education has a responsibility to build, to lead economic development and to lead the pursuit of knowledge,” King said.

Tripathi thanked King and the SUNY Board of Trustees for their support over the years.

“Over the past 15 years, the University at Buffalo has strengthened its standing as one of the nation’s premier public research universities, fostering academic excellence, driving discovery and contributing to the health, vitality and prosperity of Western New York and New York State and communities around the world,” Tripathi said.

“What makes these accomplishments especially meaningful is that they have been the result of a collective effort,” he added. “I’ve been so fortunate to help advance UB’s mission alongside extraordinary faculty, talented students, dedicated staff, engaged alumni and valued partners, all united by a shared sense of purpose.”

Tripathi came to the meeting prepared: He asked his staff to calculate the approximate number of diplomas awarded to UB students during his tenure as presidency. It’s a staggering 140,000.

“Throughout my presidency, what has made me most optimistic about the future has been witnessing the transformative power of UB’s research and education to change lives and strengthen communities,” he said.