Inauguration Highlights
April 3, 2017
President Nader
Hundreds of faculty, staff and students, as well as SUNY board chairman H. Carl McCall and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, turned out last Friday for the inauguration of Farmingdale’s ninth president, Dr. John S, Nader. It was a festive occasion – even Ram-bo was there – that ended with Dr. Nader high-fiving students on his way out of Nold Hall.
Dr. Candace Vancko, former president at SUNY Delhi, ribbed Dr. Nader with the some light-hearted remarks. So did Comptroller DiNapoli in his remarks, in which he praised Dr. Nader for his work as a leader within SUNY. The Long Island Brass Guild provided the music. The event concluded with prayers for unity by representatives of Christianity, Judiasm, Islam and Hinduism, and was followed by a campus lunch reception.
But the event belonged to Dr. Nader, who reflected on both FSC’s glorious history and its bright future.
On why he entered academia
I entered academia as a result of faculty members who encouraged, engaged and challenged me in ways that I had never previously experienced. Not a day goes by without my recalling at least one of those faculty members, or reflecting on something he or she prompted to me read. They taught me the value of open inquiry and of thinking, arguing and studying. Like our Farmingdale faculty and staff, my academic role models thoroughly integrated service, teaching and scholarship.
On the importance of public higher education
Public colleges and universities are often under appreciated, undervalued and, in some states, even under attack. This is happening at a time when the importance of colleges and universities has never been greater and when many of these institutions are literally transforming the lives of and increasingly diverse array of students. We should be proud of that.
On the role of higher education
Colleges should be simultaneously the servant of the broader society. To expect one without the other is, to paraphrase Frederick Douglas, to want the rain without the thunder or lightening. The role of a college or university is decidedly NOT to make anyone of us more comfortable in our perspectives or beliefs. To the contrary. As my father would say: if you want comfort, go back to bed.
On Farmingdale State College
I arrived here at a remarkable time. We are attracting more and better prepared students than ever before, our reputation is ever improving and our profile on Long Island continues to increase. We have rigorously pursued our place as a center of applied learning, and tried to match our will with our wallet. We continue to add programs that will be central to the lives of our students and to the economy and civic life of Long Island.
