Dr. Nicole Reaves was appointed as the 8th President of SUNY Schenectady County Community College, effective July of 2026. Dr. Reaves brings 30 years of leadership experience in higher education, centered on advancing academic excellence, ensuring access to higher education, partnering to build strong communities, prioritizing a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, and championing the life changing mission of open access institutions such as community colleges. Prior to joining SUNY Schenectady, Dr. Reaves served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Programs Officer at Wake Technical Community College, the largest community college in North Carolina, impacting approximately 64,000 students annually. Previous roles include the Provost at Northern Virginia Community College’s Medical Education Campus; Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at City Colleges of Chicago—Wilbur Wright College; and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services at Westmoreland County Community College. Her experience also includes 12 years of teaching in Allied Health and College and Career Readiness. Dr. Reaves holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University, and a Master of Arts in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from East Carolina University.