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New York City, NY -- The State University of New York Board of Trustees voted today to name Dr. Terence L. Finley as the eighth president of Corning Community College. Dr. Finley -- who is also a SUNY alumnus -- currently serves as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Harris-Stowe State University. His appointment will take effect on January 2, 2026.  

Corning Community College has been led by Administrator in Charge Kim L. Frock since June 2, 2025, following former President William P. Mullaney’s appointment as the ninth president of Rockland Community College.  

“I am confident that Dr. Finley’s dedication to student success, retention, and completion, demonstrated through his work at Harris-Stowe State University, will further catapult Corning Community College forward as a regional and statewide leader,” SUNY Chancellor King said. “I want to thank Administrator in Charge Kim L. Frock for her service leading Corning Community College during this leadership transition and for her dedication to the local community served by this essential institution of higher learning.” 

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “We are pleased to welcome incoming President Finley, and we are confident Corning Community College will continue to flourish under his leadership. Dr. Finley’s extensive higher education experience will empower him to lead Corning Community College, and its students, into a bright future. We thank Administrator in Charge Kim L. Frock for her leadership during this transition period.” 

Dr. Terence Finley said, “I have dedicated the last 15 years to higher education, championing the principles of access, adequacy, and equity for underserved, underrepresented, under-resourced, and in some cases underprepared student populations. My deep commitment to educational excellence is underscored by my unwavering belief in the transformative power of education to drive societal change, elevate communities, and create long-term impact through student success. I want to thank the SUNY Board of Trustees, Chancellor King, and the SUNY Corning Regional Board of Trustees for this opportunity.”  

Chairman of the Corning Community College Regional Board of Trustees Michael J. Wayne said, “We are excited to welcome Dr. Terence Finley back home to upstate New York, as the 8th President of SUNY Corning Community College. His experience as a SUNY (Brockport) graduate and a native of upstate makes him uniquely qualified to manage the opportunities and challenges of our college. His focus on student success and advocacy of non-traditional students will surely enhance the successes we've experienced, at Corning, through the SUNY Reconnect program. We are thankful to our dedicated Presidential search committee for their comprehensive work to bring us to this successful appointment!”   

Vice Chair of the Corning Community College Regional Board of Trustees Judy McKinney Cherry said, “The selection of a new campus president is about more than leadership. It’s about passion, vision, and a steadfast commitment to student success, which is why I am delighted to welcome incoming President Finley: an experienced professional who is dedicated to advancing higher education, excellence, and equity. I am excited to see Corning Community College continue to thrive under Dr. Finley’s leadership.” 

About Dr. Terence L. Finley 
Dr. Terence L. Finley is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Finley’s nearly 25 years of leadership experience ranges across the corporate and higher education sectors, including leadership roles at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, and executive roles at Fortune 500 companies including Intel and NVIDIA. As vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Harris-Stowe University, Dr. Finley’s work led to the elimination of institutional debt, an increase in the University’s endowment value, and the largest state funding increase in over a decade.  

At Harris-Stowe State University, Dr. Finley focused on strategic financial management as well as student success, retention, and completion through the expansion of financial aid programs for students, decreasing their financial burden and increasing retention rates, and revenue diversification strategies including grants and partnerships with external organizations to supplement institutional resources. Dr. Finley also championed offering students at Harris-Stowe State University six tuition-free credit hours each summer and increased the number of scholarships and institutional grants for students.  

Prior to his service at Harris-Stowe State University, Dr. Finley served as the Assistant Vice President for Business Services and Interim Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Enterprises at Prairie View A&M University, part of the Texas A&M University System. During his time at Prairie View A&M University, Dr. Finley successfully created the leadership development initiative LeadershipPVAMU, an annual faculty and staff leadership development program designed to cultivate emerging leaders and strengthen succession planning, which he later replicated at Harris-Stowe State University as LeadershipHSSU. 

Dr. Finley earned his Ph.D. in educational leadership with an emphasis in higher education from Prairie View A&M University, a Master of Business Administration in marketing and logistics from Pennsylvania State University, and a Bachelor of Science with concentrations in marketing and economics from SUNY Brockport.