Nicole Reaves has been named the eighth president of Schenectady County Community College within the State University of New York System. On July 15, she will become the college’s first woman president.
Schenectady County Community College enrolls nearly 3,500 students, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans represent 13 percent of the student body.
With over 30 years of higher education experience, Dr. Reaves has been serving as executive vice president and chief programs officer at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, North Carolina. Previously, she was provost of Northern Virginia Community College’s Medical Education Campus. Dr. Reaves has also held senior administrative roles with Wilbur Wright College in Chicago and Westmoreland County Community College in Pennsylvania.
“The dedication of SUNY Schenectady to student access and success and to serving all students resonates deeply with my work and experience,” said Dr. Reaves. “I am truly honored to serve as the next president of SUNY Schenectady and look forward to working alongside this remarkable college community to advance its mission and build upon its legacy of transforming lives and elevating communities locally, regionally, statewide, and globally.”
Dr. Reaves earned her bachelor’s degree in public health and her master’s degree in education from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration from North Carolina State University.

