Dr. Winston Soboyejo, who began his tenure as SUNY Poly’s seventh president in October 2023, was celebrated during an inauguration ceremony earlier today, in front of SUNY Leadership, local and elected officials, the campus community, as well as friends, family and past colleagues. 

During his address, Dr. Soboyejo reflected on his journey, from growing up in Nigeria and England, his time in academia, all leading up to his taking the helm of New York State’s Premier Public Polytechnic.

“As we gather together at the heart of the Mohawk Valley, I am grateful for the opportunity to build on the solid foundation that has been laid by a great group of people that saw the need to prepare our workforce through a collaboration with government, industry, civil society and academia in the Mohawk Valley,” he said. “I am also excited about the vision of building the next Silicon Valley … or should I say Silicon Carbide Valley … right here on our campus with [over 400] acres of land and two major semi-conductor companies [Semikron Danfoss and Wolfspeed] that are already transforming our State.”

Dr. Soboyejo also mentioned the support SUNY Poly has received from the State and our elected officials, which included a $44 million investment in equipment and infrastructure for Robotics, Advanced Manufacturing and Healthcare Research, Innovation and Workforce Development, announced by Governor Kathy Hochul last November.

“I look forward to working with many of you that are here today to celebrate with us – as we begin this next stage of our development,” he said. “I am grateful to all of our political and industrial leaders, Chancellor King and the SUNY Board of Trustees, College Council Chair RoAnn Destito and Members of our College Council, the SUNY Poly Foundation Board, and our dear faculty, staff, students and Alumni for all that you have done, and continue to do, to support the mission of SUNY Poly.”

In honor of this celebratory occasion, a Presidential Impact Fund has been launched, which will support student success, advance research and discovery opportunities, and ignite transformative initiatives at SUNY Poly.