Dr. Lisa Vollendorf is the sixth president of Empire State University, part of the State University of New York (SUNY). With 30 years of experience as an educator, scholar, and university leader, she is deeply committed to expanding access to public higher education for learners of all ages and backgrounds.

Vollendorf joined SUNY Empire in July 2022. She quickly established the university as one of the state’s fastest-growing public institutions by embracing its longstanding leadership in high-quality online education.

Double-digit enrollment growth in recent years bears out this success with SUNY Empire seeing record enrollment in Fall 2024, reversing pre-pandemic declines and defying national trends. SUNY Empire now serves 17,000 learners, ages 15-88, in over 125 affordable and flexible academic programs.

Vollendorf oversaw the institution’s transition from a college to a university in 2023 and initiated a university-wide effort to align its strategic priorities and mission under a unified strategic plan, Elevate ‘28. She also led the creation of new workforce-driven programs and expanded partnerships with unions, corporations, and state agencies to help them recruit, retain, and upskill their workforces.

Under Vollendorf’s leadership, SUNY Empire was designated as the only autism supportive institution of higher education in New York and serves more military-affiliated students than any other public institution in the state.

She earned a Ph.D. in Romance Languages at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in English and Spanish at Colorado State University.