9 December 2021: SUNY Chancellor Malatras Announces Resignation

SUNY Chancellor James Malatras is resigning

Another member of Team Cuomo has been forced to announce their resignation. This time, it's State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor James Malatras, whose abusive behavior toward co-workers were first documented in transcripts of texts released as part of evidence in the state attorney general's sexual harassment probe of Andrew M. Cuomo conduct in office, and toward SUNY employees through an audio recording that was made public within the last several days.

Embattled SUNY Chancellor James Malatras is resigning from his position.

Malatras announced his departure in a letter to SUNY Board of Trustees Chairwoman Merryl Tisch. His last day will be Jan. 14.

The leader of the 64-campus system, who was voted in by the board in August 2020, has faced a barrage of criticism in recent weeks about his behavior toward staff as both a member of ex-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's administration and in posts in the state's education system.

" ... The recent events surrounding me over the past week have become a distraction over the important work that needs to be accomplished as SUNY emerges from COVID-19," Malatras wrote. "I believe deeply in an individual's ability to evolve, change, and grow, but I also believe deeply in SUNY and would never want to be an impediment to its success."

His announcement comes just two days after the Times Union reported on an episode from Malatras' tenure leading the SUNY Rockefeller Institute in which he berated and insulted an employee, calling her "a misery" and "goddamn impossible."

The Board of Trustees released a statement accepting Malatras' resignation. "We want to thank Dr. Jim Malatras for his extraordinary service to the entire SUNY system," they wrote.

His resignation announcement comes less than six days after SUNY's Board of Trustees voted to support him late on Friday, 3 December 2021, with 15 of 16 voting members backing his continuation in the top job at SUNY. Like Malatras, all 15 members of SUNY's board who supported him were appointed to their positions by Andrew M. Cuomo.

We wonder how long those individuals will remain on the board, given their role in Malatras' unusual appointment to the SUNY chancellorship.