Mohawk Valley Times

Marion Terenzio, Ph.D., is a distinguished educational professional who has made significant contributions to the growth of the State University of New York (SUNY) system and the regional economy.

Currently serving as the President of the SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill, Dr. Terenzio holds a Ph.D. in Community Psychology from Michigan State University, two Master’s degrees in Community Psychology and Music Therapy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Vassar College.

Dr. Terenzio's innovative shared governance model for creating thriving campus communities and leveraging higher education as an economic driver has garnered national attention. She has led downtown revitalization efforts and consulted with prominent organizations such as the College Board, The Institute for Higher Education Policy, the National Intelligence Council, and the United Nations.

Presently, she is the Co-Chair of the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council and serves on the NYS Department of Health Rural EMS Task Force. Her collaboration with the National Governor’s Association initiative on Rural Resurgence has seen her work gain national recognition. She was instrumental in establishing the Institute for Rural Vitality, which was honored with an innovation in economic development award from the American Association of Colleges and Universities in 2019.

A staunch advocate for students' rights, Dr. Terenzio currently serves on the NYS Blue Ribbon Commission on K-12 reform and co-chairs SUNY’s Empowering Students with Disability Task Force. In recognition of her efforts towards women leaders, she received the New York State ACE Women’s Network Catalyst Award in 2019 and was honored with the Jay Kappraff Award in Excellence in Science and Arts from NJIT in 2022.

In 2023, Dr. Terenzio was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award in Agricultural Education by the U.S. Department of State and Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Her project took her to France, where she focused on initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural education programs in New York and developing a comprehensive international curriculum at SUNY Cobleskill.

In 2024, the Women’s Business Council of the Capital Region Chamber selected Dr. Terenzio as a recipient of the Women of Excellence award for her professional achievements and contributions to the community.