SUNY New Paltz appoints Chris Brown ’85 as new director of alumni relations

The College is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Brown ’85 (Business Administration) as director of alumni relations at SUNY New Paltz, effective April 15, 2021, after a competitive national search.

As director of alumni relations, Brown will strategically engage the College’s 65,000 alumni network that spans the United States and abroad. He will oversee securing commitments from alumni to provide professional expertise and volunteer service to the campus and its students; plan and implement a comprehensive program of activities that establishes and maintains relationships with alumni and the College; and provide tangible benefits to alumni and current students. Brown will also oversee the Alumni Council, plan class reunions, and implement special events to recognize outstanding alumni.

“Chris brings to his work a love of SUNY New Paltz and a proven track record for excellence,” said Erica Marks, vice president for development and alumni relations, and executive director for the SUNY New Paltz Foundation. “His deep understanding of how to foster and grow alumni involvement, as well as faculty and staff engagement, in an institution and his ability to advance and motivate a staff make him an excellent fit for this position.”

Brown is a proud SUNY New Paltz alumnus who brings nearly two decades of experience in development and alumni relations to this position. He served for more than 12 years at Martin Luther School, a parochial, co-education middle and high school in Maspeth, New York, where his most recent title was director of development & alumni relations. Prior to that position, Brown was director of development at St. John’s Lutheran School in College Point, New York.

He has extensive experience in relationship building, donor engagement, prospect research, data management, market segmentation and event planning. He also brings insights from his 14 years of experience in corporate banking management, having previously held positions at Pershing in Jersey City, New Jersey, the Prudential Insurance Company of America in Newark, New Jersey, and the Chase Manhattan Corporation in New York, New York.

Brown is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, the African American Development Officers Network, and the Queens General Assembly in Queens, New York. He is a board member for the Center of Urban Education Ministries and a former board member for Lutheran Social Services of New York.

“I’m excited about returning to SUNY New Paltz,” said Brown. “This position provides me with the opportunity to give back to a place that gave so much to me.”

Brown succeeds Shana Circe ’02 (Art Education) ’08g (Visual Arts), who served in this role since 2016. Circe stepped down as Director of Alumni Relations in spring 2021.