Maria P. Conzatti took office on May 3, 2022, as the first female and alumna to assume executive leadership of Nassau Community College, State University of New York, the state’s largest single-campus community college, established in 1959 and situated on 225 acres on historic Mitchell Field naval complex in Nassau County.
NCC offers more than 80 programs that lead to associate degrees, certificates, and workforce development credentials and serves more than 17,000 students, with 85 clubs and organizations for student involvement and 26 intercollegiate sports teams, the Lions, as a source of great pride and tradition on Long Island.
In her inaugural year, Conzatti has guided NCC to a position of strength and vitality, with enrollment increases, new majors, and corporate and school partnerships.
A strong believer in student-centered concepts, Conzatti’s work has accelerated NCC’s mission to transform lives and to provide all learners with high-quality, affordable, and equitable educational opportunities.
She has partnered with Citibank to unite representatives from local organizations and Citi Community Investing and Development team members to discuss current and emerging community needs and trends.
Reinforcing Nassau’s commitment to supporting the promotion of economic growth, local development, and a vibrantly diverse culture of respect, Conzatti has been overseeing the launch of technology-rich and academic programs in cybersecurity, healthcare data analytics, community mental health worker, medical assistant, chemical technology, English, and online paralegal studies, as well as of an innovative Minority/Women Business Enterprise) Center for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and $90 million in construction and renovations.
She is also spearheading a $5.4 million SUNY grant, a portion of which will transform a dated building into a thriving vocational center, training students for careers as HVAC technicians, welders, and electricians—the first of its kind at the College.
Addressing the demand for a skilled healthcare workforce, the College has teamed up with Northwell Health’s Earn and Learn program to educate the next generation of medical assistants. In Spring 2023, NCC and its sister campus, SUNY Empire State University, graduated its first class of registered nurses with a combined associate’s and bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Expanding equal access to consequential educational opportunities, NCC is also collaborating with the Viscardi Center to launch Long Island’s only inclusive higher education pilot program to empower students with intellectual or developmental disabilities to identify personal goals related to adult learning and competitive employment.
This pilot is the first step towards applying to the U.S. Department of Education to award a “meaningful credential” that certifies participants’ independent living and career readiness.
To ensure a community college education is accessible, NCC’s tuition has remained affordable, and more than $1.5 million in private and corporate donations is helping provide additional scholarships, food, and metro cards to students.
More than $14 million in grants for pre-college preparation, new laboratories, and other academic initiatives have been awarded during Conzatti’s nascent tenure.
Formerly vice president of academic student services at NCC, she has served as an adjunct professor for more than 30 years and has been named one of the Herald Premier Business Women of LI, Schneps Media Power Women, Hispanic Brotherhood Scholarship Honoree 2023, and Long Island Business News’ Top 50 Women in Business and 60 Most Powerful Influencers on Long Island.
She earned an associate of science from NCC, a bachelor of business administration degree and an MBA from Adelphi University, and an Ed.D. in Instructional leadership from St. John’s University.
What advice would you give to other business leaders?
“Stay the course and never let anybody convince you that you cannot fulfill your hopes and dreams. Make it a point to interact with those people who encourage you to go beyond established parameters. Confront each and every obstacle with determination and vigor.”
