Dr. John S. Nader
President
Dr. John S. Nader became President of Farmingdale State College in July 2016.
Since his arrival he has worked with civic, business and institutional leaders to enhance the profile of Farmingdale State College as a vibrant campus vital to the future of Long Island.
Dr. Nader has focused on raising the profile of the College, building partnerships with private industries and community colleges, advancing applied learning opportunities, expanding support for student scholarships, improving student services, and enhancing buildings and grounds.
Farmingdale now enrolls nearly 10,000 students and sustains one of the highest levels of enrollment in the SUNY system. The student body is among the most diverse in the region and across the State University system and recently FSC was recognized with the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award.
Due to its strong enrollment growth, the College will receive funding for over $250 million in campus construction and renovation projects. These include a complete rehabilitation of historic Roosevelt Hall and the conversion of Laffin Hall into a campus Welcome Center.
Recently, Dr. Nader was instrumental in securing the strategic alliance and lease agreement between the Estee Lauder Companies and the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park that will lead to 30 new jobs and provide funding for the College’s newly created Honors program. Since 2021 the College has secured three of the largest gifts in its history and enjoyed a significant growth in its endowment. Through his efforts, in June of 2021, the College renamed a student activity building in honor of Delores Quintyne, an iconic civil rights figure on Long Island.
In November 2022 the College received $70M in funding for a new building to house its Center for Computer Science and Information Technology Systems. The project is the culmination of several years of advocacy.
In recent years, Farmingdale State College earned recognition from the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges, was designated as a Tree USA campus by the Arbor Day Foundation, and attained Carnegie Community Engagement Classification.
He is currently co-chair of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council and previously served as co-chair of its Workforce and Education Committee. He serves on the executive committee of the Skyline Athletic Conference and was a member of the NCAA President’s Advisory Group. He was recently selected as board chair of the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park.
As Mayor of Oneonta, NY from 2005-2009, he led the revitalization of a long-dormant downtown property and the creation of a veterans’ memorial walkway. As a county legislator and community action leader he helped establish a homeless shelter. Dr. Nader received a BA in Politics from Ithaca College and an MA and a PhD in Economics from the New School for Social Research.
