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For years, Mike Haynie helped shape Syracuse University from behind the scenes. Now, as the school’s next chancellor, he will take on its top leadership role — inheriting a campus grappling with questions about governance, affordability, athletics and its place in a shifting higher education landscape.

Haynie is SU’s first internally-selected chancellor since 1971 — currently serving as vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and the executive dean at SU’s Whitman School of Management.

The chancellor-elect first came to the university in 2006 as a Whitman professor and moved into the administration alongside Chancellor Kent Syverud.

While some on campus say they are hesitant about Haynie’s tenure, others, including local officials, expressed confidence in the future chancellor’s leadership.

Avery Magee | Photo Editor

Members of SU’s Student Government Association pose for a photo with the chancellor-elect Tuesday.

Undergraduates hope Haynie can bring ‘clarity’ to decision-making

Many undergraduate students said they hope Haynie’s familiarity with SU translates into visible campus changes, including improved resource distribution, affordability and housing.

Gillian Arend, a chemistry major in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she hopes Haynie pays attention to schools outside of the university’s more widely recognized programs.

“I just hope he doesn’t just focus on Newhouse or Whitman, because I’m in Arts and Sciences and we have funding … but Newhouse has a lot of it, and I would like to see it more evened out,” Arend said.

For other students, the announcement raises questions about how SU communicates about national issues that affect campus.

Olivia Ruggiero, a senior psychology and neuroscience major, said she wants university leaders to be clearer about changes related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, including the closure and renaming of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to the Office of People and Culture.

“They’ve kind of tiptoed around certain topics, like DEI,” Ruggiero said. “(There’s) ambiguity surrounding our relationship with the federal government. I think hearing some more clear-cut opinions from people in higher positions here … would give some students a lot more clarity.”

Some undergraduates said they hope Haynie will be “more present” on campus than Syverud was during his tenure.

Hannah Murphy, a senior, said she only interacted with the former chancellor once during her time at Syracuse.

“Making those connections and having a rapport with the people … would be a nice change to see,” she said.

Another SU student, Falk College freshman Cole Thomas, said he hopes the university appoints a strong athletics director following John Wildhack’s retirement last month, adding that students and fans want change. As someone interested in working in sports, Thomas added good athletics also benefits the students pursuing careers in the industry.

Affordability and students’ quality of life were other common concerns among students.

Olivia Stockmeyer, a senior television, radio and film major, said she hopes SU becomes more financially accessible.

“(I’m) definitely hoping that they can make Syracuse a little bit more affordable and just a little bit more approachable for future students down the line, as it’s getting more and more expensive,” she said.

International student Emiliano Franco, who’s studying computer science, also emphasized the importance of maintaining a welcoming campus culture

“As an international student, I really liked staying here at Syracuse University, so I kind of want that to stay the same for upcoming international students,” Franco said.

Avery Magee | Photo Editor

SGA President German Nolivos introduces Haynie at the event celebrating his appointment Tuesday.

Student government groups call for Haynie’s continued collaboration

Leaders within the Student Government Association and the now-deregistered Graduate Student Organization said Haynie’s long history at SU could help him understand campus communities.

SGA President German Nolivos said he looks forward to working with the chancellor-elect, given his previous commitment to students, but added the association will “hold him accountable” when needed.

Graduate Student Organization President Roger Rosena, a Ph.D. student, said that even though Haynie’s past experience may make it harder for him to come up with “fresh” ideas for the university, he believes it will be helpful to have someone in power who is familiar with SU.

“To have (someone) who knows … about SU not on a facts and figures level, but has a deep and intimate relationship, his life is already integrated with the life of the university, is really important,” Rosena said.

Rosena’s comments come amid ongoing tensions between graduate students and the administration, particularly over funding, working conditions in recent years and official recognition of its governing body.

In a resolution posted Tuesday, SGA pledged to work with the incoming administration while emphasizing the importance of including student voices in university decision-making.

“(SGA) commits to holding this administration to a high standard, offering recognition where it is earned, raising concern where it is warranted, and never losing sight of the students whose futures depend on the quality and leadership of this university,” the statement reads.

Rosena called for Haynie to provide more support for graduate students and recognize their voices. Similarly, SGA’s resolution called for Haynie’s commitment to shared governance, which the association referred to as “not a formality but a foundation.”

Avery Magee | Photo Editor

Several members of SU administration and faculty attend Haynie’s appointment ceremony Tuesday.

Faculty and staff point to Haynie’s involvement at SU

Because of his decades-long resume at SU — which includes establishing the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families and the Center for the Creator Economy — several campus and local leaders told The D.O. they are confident in Haynie’s leadership.

Mark Lodato, dean of the Newhouse School of Public Communications, and David M. Van Slyke, dean of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, congratulated Haynie in statements. Both thanked the incoming chancellor for collaborations he previously established with their respective schools — Lodato mentioning the Center for the Creator Economy and Van Slyke academic partnerships between Maxwell and the IVMF.

Ray Toenniessen, the IVMF’s deputy executive director and University Senate member, said Haynie’s work with private companies, government organizations, political leaders and philanthropic groups gives him a “wealth of experience” that will benefit the university. Toenniessen, who has worked under Haynie since 2010 before the IVMF was founded, said he feels proud to see him take on the role.

“When you work for somebody like Mike, you realize pretty quickly that he leads with vision, and he leads with a lot of confidence, and he leads with a lot of heart,” Toenniessen said. “He’s also not afraid to roll up his sleeves and dig in alongside everybody doing the work.”

Margaret Susan Thompson, a history and political science professor and senator, said Haynie’s relationship with Syverud could shape expectations for the new administration. Thompson said she hopes Haynie will increase “explicit faculty involvement” with university decisions.

“His closeness to Chancellor Syverud is both a strength and weakness,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the Chancellor Search Committee didn’t have the representation she hoped for, with not every college having faculty represented. Thompson also said she wonders “how seriously” the university considered external candidates.

Still, Thompson said she looks forward to working with Haynie and appreciates his previous accomplishments with the university.

RSO leaders cautiously rally behind Haynie

Leaders of several registered student organizations said they hope Haynie prioritizes transparency, student engagement and support for campus communities.

Alexander Johnson, president of the SU’s College Republicans and a veteran, said Haynie’s background with the IVMF stands out to him. He hopes the administration encourages bipartisan dialogue while addressing quality-of-life concerns like rising costs, he said.

“Haynie is an amazing example of somebody that continues to serve after his own personal service … it’s a great honor to see somebody that continues that legacy of service forward,” he said. “Tuition is not getting cheaper, and people, I think, maybe see a disconnect between the constant increase in costs and the resources that are being provided.”

Jurgen Baeza Bernal, president of College Democrats at SU and secretary of the Student Veteran Organization, has also had positive interactions with Haynie through the university’s veteran community, he said.

“I’ve met him multiple times during my time at SU, and each time I’ve come away with the sense that he genuinely cares about students and wants both them and the university to succeed,” Baeza Bernal said in a statement to The D.O.

Some students also said they want the university to expand resources for student groups.

Jesús Tiburcio Zane, president of Latine Undergraduates Creating History in America, said he hopes Haynie recommits to supporting diversity on campus.

“We want to see a clear commitment to supporting students from historically marginalized backgrounds. And I feel like that’s something where we kind of saw Chancellor Syverud lose focus,” Tiburcio Zane said.

Pride Union’s vice president, Landon Nance, also acknowledged that many cultural organizations have faced challenges under the current presidential administration. Though Nance said her RSO, an organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ visibility, has been “very fortunate” when compared to other universities.

Nance wasn’t familiar with Haynie prior to his appointment, but after reading an SU News article about him, she said it was “exciting” to see the details about his partner, Kevin.

“It was an exciting kind of piece of information. It seems fairly private. I couldn’t find much in other research I was doing about his personal life,” Nance said. “But I guess (the article) signing off with that was exciting for me to hear.”

Local, state leaders say Haynie will take SU to ‘new heights’

Elected officials and neighboring academic institutions gave their support.

SUNY ESF President Joanie Mahoney, Onondaga County College President Warren M. Hilton and Le Moyne College President Linda M. LeMura congratulated Haynie in written statements published Tuesday.

“All of us at ESF applaud this appointment and look forward to continuing our strong partnership with SU’s faculty, staff and students under Chancellor Haynie’s leadership,” Mahoney wrote.

LeMura, an SU alum, wrote that she has worked closely with Haynie for 15 years, including in work related to economic development in central New York and workforce development ahead of Micron Technology’s impending arrival in Clay.

Several political leaders have also publicly commented on Haynie’s new role.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, an alum, said Haynie’s long history with the university positions him well to lead the institution and take it to “new heights.” John Mannion, the U.S. representative for New York’s 22nd Congressional District, told syracuse.com he thinks Haynie is a “great choice” to lead SU.

Haynie will officially assume his role on July 1, succeeding Syverud, who led the university for over a decade. During his speech Tuesday, Haynie said he will meet with students, faculty and community leaders to outline his priorities in the coming months.

Nolivos said Haynie is slated to speak to students at the SGA’s March 30 meeting.

Published on March 5, 2026 at 3:01 am
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