Nazely Kurkjian (she/her/hers) is joining SUNY Potsdam's executive leadership team as the chief of staff in the Office of the President. Prior to her appointment at SUNY Potsdam, Nazely championed student diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at SUNY System Administration. She was the first employee at System Administration to focus full-time on disability, diversity and nontraditional student services, and was SUNY's first EIT Accessibility Officer.
“Nazely is an astute practitioner and an emerging thought-leader who understands a wide range of issues that confronts today’s students,” said Officer-in-Charge Dr. John L. Graham. “She is adaptable and has excellent cross-cultural competency. She can work effectively across multiple generations of students, faculty and staff, while helping to drive our Four Point Enrollment Strategy. Nazely will also assume an integral role on President’s Council and other leadership committees and working groups to develop and implement a comprehensive executive action agenda.”
Throughout her tenure in the Office of Student Affairs and University Life, Nazely was the principal liaison for the campus disability services professionals, LGBTQ+ practitioners, residence life and housing administrators, the career services organization, campus activities, and the Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) accessibility officers. She served as the primary advisor to the SUNY Student Assembly. Notably, she staffed the SUNY Board of Trustees' Student Life Committee and advanced several major policies.
Her expertise was instrumental in advancing SUNY's initiatives for strengthening accessibility for individuals with disabilities, gender inclusivity, food insecurity and student mental health support. Nazely also worked exceptionally well with faculty and staff across the System to build sustainable communities of practice designed to assist systemwide retention efforts, degree completion and social mobility.
Nazely represented SUNY at national, state level and system-wide committees and outreach activities to enhance accessibility and inclusion for critical populations at postsecondary institutions. She collaborated with colleagues at CUNY and independent colleges to secure additional funding to support college students with disabilities. Prominently, Nazely led the system-wide EIT Accessibility policy development and implementation. This comprehensive achievement demonstrates her strong ability to convene key stakeholders, articulate legal issues, propose technical solutions, and effectively navigate dynamic administrations.
Earlier in her career, Nazely was the adaptive technology specialist in the Services for Students with Disabilities Office at Binghamton University. She earned an associate degree at Hudson Valley Community College, and received her bachelor's degree in philosophy with an emphasis in religious studies from Binghamton University. She has a master’s degree in student affairs administration from Binghamton University, and a post-graduate certificate in project management from Cornell University.