Dr. Héctor Rodríguez has been appointed as the next Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Onondaga Community College.
He comes to OCC from Hudson Valley Community College, where he has served with distinction as Associate Dean, Dean, and most recently as Executive Dean for STEM and Institutional Effectiveness. Prior to his administrative leadership, he was a professor, department head, and dean of engineering. Besides his higher education experience, Dr. Rodríguez built a successful career in the private sector as an engineer with Raytheon, General Electric, Infotech Aerospace Services, and Pratt & Whitney.
Dr. Rodríguez serves as a Commissioner for the ABET Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission and as a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
He earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, and an MBA from the University of New Orleans. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York.
“I am honored to join Onondaga Community College and excited to work with faculty, staff, students, and community partners to advance the college’s mission. OCC is uniquely positioned to support student success and strengthen the region’s workforce, and I look forward to contributing to its continued momentum," said Dr. Rodríguez.
"During my time with Dr. Héctor Rodríguez, it was clear that he is deeply committed to helping students succeed and approaches his work with collegiality and respect for faculty and staff. I am confident he will be a strong partner in advancing our mission and supporting our campus community," said OCC President Dr. Warren Hilton.
"My sincere gratitude to Dr. Agatha Awuah for serving in the Interim Provost position. Her leadership continues to assist our institution in supporting faculty, staff, and students," said Dr. Hilton.
"I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this important search process, especially our Search Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Eunice Williams and Sarah Gaffney; Dr. Reginald Braggs; Elaina Dooley; Quanira Irby; Julie Hart; Lisa Hoff; Alicia Oberlender; Olin Stratton; James Taylor; and Dr. Larry Weiskirch. I am also grateful to the faculty, staff, and students who participated in campus conversations with Dr. Rodriguez and the other candidates. The input from the campus community regarding our Provost candidates was helpful in selecting Dr. Rodríguez," said Dr. Hilton.
Dr. Rodríguez is a native of Puerto Rico, and will begin his work at OCC June 1.
