On Monday, the Utica University board of trustees announced its selection of Todd Pfannestiel as the University’s next president. Effective Aug. 1, he will become the university’s 10th president, succeeding Laura Casamento, who will retire on July 31.

It is a change in positions for Pfannestiel, who currently serves as Utica’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Although the board of trustees selected a “hometown” candidate for the position, it did so, according to officials, following a national search for a new leader of the growing institution.

“The Board’s primary goal in this national search was to find a new chief executive with the vision, knowledge, and experience to lead Utica University forward in a manner commensurate with its extraordinary potential as rising center of innovation and excellence in higher education,” said Board of Trustees Chairperson Robert Brvenik, of the Utica College Class of 1977. “I speak for my fellow Trustees when I say that we have succeeded in this quest by securing in Dr. Pfannestiel a leader of the highest caliber – one who is ready and eager to guide this institution to greater heights and meet the challenges of the coming decade.”

Pfannestiel has 25 years of experience in higher education, as a faculty member, school dean, and senior administrator, and during his tenure as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Utica, he has led and collaborated closely with faculty on a variety of initiatives to raise the academic profile of the university and further its mission.

Like Casamento, who helped grow the college during her seven-year presidency, and Todd Hutton, who helped raise the regional and national profile of Utica College during his tenure as president, Pfannestiel impressed the board of trustees with his vision for the university moving forward.

We wish him, and the university community, well in these endeavors. Given the region’s recent growth in a variety of sectors, from higher education to emerging industries to new housing initiatives, it is an exciting time for the Mohawk Valley and its residents, including a new generation who has a wealth of opportunities and hopefully many reasons to choose to stay in the Mohawk Valley.

And, while we look forward to Pfannestiel’s new path at Utica University, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge another local leader in higher education, Randall VanWagoner at Mohawk Valley Community College.

While other area institutions and their leadership may garner more attention, VanWagoner has proven to be a steady, capable and resolute steward for MVCC, not just seeing the college through some financially difficult times but through the educational and social challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. His ability to do so — while remaining steadfast to the college’s mission to make higher education and socio-economic advancement accessible to all — speaks volumes.

We can think of few more staunch advocates for local students than VanWagoner, who engages as easily with students at MVCC as he does with faculty and fellow MVCC administrators. Based on his resume, Pfannestiel shares VanWagoner’s passion for higher education and for student success.

We look forward to seeing both their efforts continue to help provide the vast range of educational experiences available in the Mohawk Valley.