Daniel DeMarte

After a long search process, Jamestown Community College named Daniel DeMarte its next president. The State University of New York board of trustees announced the appointment Thursday.

DeMarte’s appointment followed a May 22 recommendation made by JCC’s board of trustees.

“Jamestown Community College has a longstanding history of building partnerships designed to meet the educational enrichment and economic development needs in Western New York,” DeMarte said in a brief statement to the SUNY board of trustees. “I look forward to serving as the next president of JCC — the highest honor of my career — in building on that rich history with the JCC faculty, staff, students and trustees, along with the chancellor and her leadership team.”

DeMarte succeeds Cory Duckworth, who participated in his final Board of Trustees regular meeting May 22. Following that meeting, the college was prepared to move forward over the summer months without a president as the process was in the hands of SUNY. The trustees appointed Michael Martello, vice president of administration service, as administrator in charge for safe keeping while the president’s position remained vacant.

DeMarte currently serves as the executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Tidewater Community College in Virginia and is a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving from 1985-89.

DeMarte also served as vice provost for student and learning development at Macomb Community College and served as vice president for learning at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. DeMarte originally began his career in the SUNY system at Genesee Community College.

DeMarte helped institute the Z degree, the very first textbook-free degree and helped create an open educational resources (OER) policy development tool while serving as a Fellow at the Center for Open Leadership in Cape Town, South Africa.

“Dr. DeMarte is well-qualified to assume the role of Jamestown Community College’s president given his vast experience in academic policy and strategic initiatives, as well as his focus in working with faculty and staff to develop open educational resource tools,” said Kristina M. Johnson, SUNY chancellor. “Dr. DeMarte has a clear understanding of the college’s values, mission and strengths. On behalf of SUNY System, I congratulate Dr. DeMarte on his appointment.”

Demarte is a native of Western New York having graduated from Archbishop Walsh High School in Olean. Later, he earned doctorate in higher education administration with a specialization in community colleges from North Carolina State University and earned his master’s in student personnel administration from Buffalo State College. Prior to those certifications, DeMarte earned his bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Buffalo and an associate’s degree at Alfred State College.

“As someone who is well versed in the needs of community colleges, Dr. DeMarte can continue to lead Jamestown Community College to higher levels of academic excellence,” said H. Carl McCall, SUNY chairman. “He has a keen sense of how we may diversify how we teach the next generation of students. I look forward to working with him, and am pleased to welcome him back to the SUNY family.”

DeMarte’s appointment will be effective July 30.