UTICA, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) College Council Chair RoAnn Destito was recently re-elected to the Executive Committee of the Association of Council Members & College Trustees (ACT) of the State University of New York (SUNY), and will serve as their Second Vice President. 

“I’m honored that my peers across the SUNY system have re-elected me to serve on the Committee,” said Destito. “I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow Committee members to advance our systemwide efforts, and advocate for the quality education SUNY’s 64 campuses provide.”

“RoAnn is a tireless champion of SUNY Poly, the SUNY system, and public higher education,” said SUNY Poly President Dr. Winston Soboyejo. “We are incredibly proud of RoAnn’s continued service and appreciate all that the Association does for campuses across the System.” 

ACT is the representative organization for SUNY college council members and trustees. ACT seeks to promote increased council effectiveness, constructive government relations and productive advocacy for public higher education through general meetings, an Annual Conference and business meeting, and other member communications. ACT members serve as advocates for quality public higher education by advising presidents on important campus decisions and encouraging discussion and awareness of higher education issues across the SUNY system.

In addition to her work on the SUNY Poly College Council and SUNY ACT, Destito served the State of New York for over four decades. She was elected to represent the 116th New York State Assembly district in 1992. During her time in the Assembly, she worked to advance and strengthen the state’s procurement practices, opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, and support for military families. Beginning in 2001, she served as chairwoman of the Assembly Standing Committee on Governmental Operations, which provides legislative and budget oversight. In 2011, she was unanimously confirmed by the New York State Senate as commissioner of the Office of General Services, the first woman to serve in that position.

Destito has also served on the Governor’s Strategic Implementation Assessment Team, which reviews progress reports and proposals submitted by New York’s 10 Regional Economic Development Councils, and oversaw implementation of the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act. She also was a member of the Governor’s Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments, Raise the Age Implementation Task Force, State Commission on the Restoration of the Capitol, the New York State Pay Equity Study Panel, the New York State Women’s Suffrage Commission, the Sauquoit Creek Floodplain Restoration project in Oneida County and the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative Multi-Agency Task Force. RoAnn was also appointed to serve the AFRL/RI in their Civic Leader Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Relations from LeMoyne College.