Special Advisor to the President Mary Caroline Powers

Mary Caroline Powers joined Empire State College in February 2000 as the assistant to the president, also assuming the duties of the college’s Affirmative Action Office, Ethics Officer and Government Relations Officer. She also became the liaison to the College Council.

In 2008, she was named Vice President for Communications and Government Relations. Overseeing the development and execution of print publications, web communication, and work on state and federal legislative advocacy.

She retired in 2018, but was asked to return to oversee the search process for the college’s fifth president. Upon his selection by the SUNY Chancellor, President Jim Malatras asked Powers to stay on in the role of special advisor.

Powers holds a master’s degree in communications from the University at Albany, with additional graduate credits from several institutions including Fordham University and the University of Madrid, and a bachelor’s degree in English and education from Daeman College (nee Rosary Hill College).

Before joining the college, she was a newspaper, magazine and book editor and writer, and a reporter and anchorwoman on Capital District region television stations.