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FLCC Presidents

Explore the rich history of our college through the leadership of its past presidents.

Dr. Robert K. Nye

Dr. Robert K. Nye Dr. Robert K. Nye Dr. Robert K. Nye was appointed the fifth president of Finger Lakes Community College on May, 4 2016. The FLCC Board of Trustees selected Dr. Nye to succeed retiring President Dr. Barbara Risser. He previously served as deputy provost of the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.

Dr. Nye's research and teaching interests include public budgeting and finance, strategic leadership and organizational theory and behavior. At Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, he oversaw the faculty and curriculum and was responsible for implementing new programs. In addition to his academic experience, Dr. Nye served in the U.S. Army for 30 years, starting with a commission as a second lieutenant of infantry.

Dr. Nye's teaching and administrative experience began with teaching ROTC from 1992 to 95 as an assistant professor of military science at Cornell University. In 2007, upon completion of his doctoral studies at the University of Kansas, he joined the faculty at the Army War College where he taught courses in strategic thinking, strategic leadership, military resourcing and budgeting, and negotiations.

In 2009, Dr. Nye was selected as the deputy dean, and in 2012, the deputy provost at the Army War College. Upon retirement as a colonel in 2013, he assumed his past position at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.

Dr. Barbara Risser

Dr. Barbara Risser Dr. Barbara Risser Dr. Barbara G. Risser was appointed president of FLCC on June 22, 2007. Prior to her appointment, Risser served as the Vice President of Student and Academic Services at Onondaga Community College. She also served at Onondaga Community College as the Associate Vice President for Arts and Sciences (2001- 2004), Professor of English/Reading (1995-2001), Associate Professor of English (1989-1994), and Assistant Professor of English/Reading (1981-1988).

Dr. Risser earned her Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania; her Master of Science in Reading Education from Syracuse University; and her Bachelor of Arts in English Education from Hartwick College. During her 20 years as a faculty member at Onondaga Community College, Risser has served as the chair of the Faculty Executive Committee, the chair of three Labor-Management Committees, co-chair of the College Negotiation Team as well as chair or co-chair of several other committees. Throughout Risser’s career, she has given more than 50 presentations at state-wide and national professional conferences. Topics have included: college learning strategies, student success, assessment of basic skills programs, supplemental instruction, teaching/learning styles, developmental reading, and leading change on-campus. She is the author of Reading Across the Curriculum and Invest in Yourself. Risser has been honored with several awards and distinctions, including the Onondaga Community College Trustees Award, the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. She is also an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges.

Dr. Daniel Hayes

Dr. Daniel Hayes Dr. Daniel Hayes Dr. Daniel T. Hayes was appointed president of Finger Lakes Community College in July, 1992. Previous to his appointment, Dr. Hayes served as Executive Vice President at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois from 1988-1992. He also held the position of Vice President for Educational Services from 1983-1988. He held a variety of positions ranging from instructor to Dean at John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois, and he also taught at the University of Missouri, University of Vermont, Emporia State University, Washington High School and South Suburban College.

Dr. Hayes earned his Ph.D. from University of Missouri-Columbia in Speech Communication with a collateral field in Higher Education; his Masters of Arts in Speech Communication from Emporia State University; and his Bachelors of of Science in Education in Speech and English from Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia. While he was President of Finger Lakes Community College, the institution has experienced a steady and significant increase in enrollment. In addition, library facilities were upgraded and added. The college has developed a strategic planning process that is used annually as part of the budget process, and has developed a facilities master plan.

Dr. Charles J. Meder

Dr. Charles J. Meder Dr. Charles J. Meder Dr. Charles J. Meder was president of FLCC for 20 years (acting president from August 1971 to June 1972; president from June 1972 to July 1992). Prior to his permanent appointment as president, Meder served as dean of the college. During his tenure, enrollment grew from fewer than 1,300 students to nearly 4,000, budgets increased from $1 million to more than $16 million, the number of college employees increased from 20 to more than 300, and two extension centers were initiated.

A native of Rochester, Meder earned a doctorate in social science from Syracuse University and a master's degree from Lehigh University. His undergraduate degree was earned at SUNY Brockport. Early in his career, he taught at Aquinas Institute, spent four years in the Rochester City School System, and was a member of the faculty of St. John Fisher College for six years. Meder was instrumental in the development of the Lincoln Hill campus, moving classroom facilities from downtown Canandaigua storefronts to the present modern complex. He also facilitated the development of the Finger Lakes Performing Art Center on the FLCC Lincoln Hill campus. Dr. Meder was responsible for the College's initial accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the National League for Nursing.

Dr. Roy I. Satre

Dr. Roy I. Satre Dr. Roy I. Satre Dr. Roy I. Satre was the first president of Finger Lakes Community College, which was called Community College of the Finger Lakes (CCFL) at the time. He was hired by the college in early 1967 and his appointment was approved by the Board of Trustees in April, effective June 15, 1967.

A native of Rockford, Illinois, Dr. Satre graduated from Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois with a BA in 1948. He received a Masters and PhD degrees from Syracuse University, and completed additional graduate work at Cornell, Arizona State, and Alfred. Prior to coming to CCFL, he was a biology professor at SUNY Geneseo and the Dean of Niagara Community College. Dr. Satre's inauguration on September 9, 1968, was marked by student protests motivated by the presence of guest speaker Lt. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, Director of Selective Service. After three years of tension due to complications with the establishment of the new community college, Dr. Satre resigned, effective August 3, 1971. He was thereupon hired as the Dean of the School of Applied Science and Center for Community College Faculty Development at Rochester Institute of Technology.