October 29, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY- SUNY Ulster proudly announces that Deborah Briggs, Chair of the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees, has been elected to the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Board of Directors as a Northeast Regional Director. Her three-year term was confirmed at the 56th Annual ACCT Leadership Congress, Reimagining Community College: Innovation for a Changing World, held in New Orleans, LA.
ACCT is a nonprofit educational organization representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees serving on over 500 community, technical, and junior college governing boards across the United States and beyond. Its 26-member Board of Directors is elected by member boards to represent the voice of community college governance nationwide.
Briggs has served on the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees since 2018, and as Board Chair since 2022, leading the College’s Presidential Search Committee in 2022. She has previously served with distinction on ACCTs 2024 Finance and Audit Committee and, for 2025, is serving on ACCTs Public Policy and Advocacy Committee.
“Chair Briggs brings a powerful, place-based perspective to the national stage,” said Alison Buckley, Ed.D., President of SUNY Ulster. “She understands firsthand the transformative power of community colleges and is committed to expanding opportunity, advancing equity, and driving student success and institutional innovation—especially for those too often left out of the conversation. Our institution has benefited greatly from her engagement with trustees across the country, and we are proud to see her continue advancing ACCT’s mission as a member of its Board of Directors.”
“The SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees affirms that ACCT will benefit from Chair Briggs’ active and passionate advocacy,” said Tim Sweeney, Vice Chair of the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees. “She has been a steadfast voice for the community college sector, and we know she will continue to represent our students and institutions with distinction.”
Reflecting on her appointment, Briggs said, “I believe the strength of America’s community colleges lies in their diversity. As a first-generation graduate and trustee, I am committed to ensuring that all colleges—and the students they serve—are fully represented, supported, and empowered through national policy, advocacy, and leadership. Representing SUNY Ulster and our Board of Trustees on the ACCT Board of Directors is an honor and privilege.”
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