Columbia-Greene Community College kicks off 2026-2027 academic year; introduces new campus leaders

President Walsh names new members of senior leadership team at Columbia-Greene

HUDSON, N.Y. (Aug. 26, 2026) – Columbia-Greene Community College welcomed students, faculty, and staff back to campus this week, along with introducing new members of the college’s senior leadership team.

The start of this academic year, which coincides with the college’s sixtieth anniversary (to be celebrated in December of this year), caps the first full year for Dr. Victoria L. Walsh as president. Under President Walsh’s leadership, the college has made significant improvements on its financial condition, streamlined academic programs to reflect the demands of the workforce, increased aid from both Columbia and Greene counties as well as New York State, enhanced partnerships with fellow SUNY institutions, and increased community engagement.

The first week of the academic year includes the annual State of the College address (delivered by President Walsh), faculty meetings, staff benefits overviews, student orientation, and the first classes of the semester.

In remarks at the State of the College address, President Walsh remarked, “This is a time to observe and remember the college’s tremendous history in these counties, and to be reinspired for the work we have to do now. At the start of this academic year, and in our sixtieth year, I am asking each of you to reflect on what you will do through your role to better deliver for our students and advance the mission of the college forward.”

Recently, the college announced the introduction of two new academic programs in Education and Health Sciences – made possible through the consolidation of 16 programs.

President Walsh also named appointments to the senior leadership team:

• Christian Salisbury as Chief Financial Officer. Salisbury, a graduate of Empire State University (B.A., Accounting) and Fitchburg State University (M.B.A.) most recently served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Budget and Business at SUNY System Administration. While at SUNY System Administration, Salisbury also served as Interim CFO for Rockland Community College and Interim Vice President of Administrative Services for Corning Community College.
• Rachel Mead as Executive Dean of Teaching & Learning and Chief Academic Officer. Mead, a graduate of Marist College (B.A., Political Science), City College of New York (M.A., Creative Writing), and New York University (Ed.D., Higher Education/Higher Education Administration, comes to Columbia-Greene from Rockland Community College, where she served as Dean for Career and Workforce Innovation. Prior to Rockland Community College, Mead spent 15 years at Dutchess Community College, rising to have become Associate Dean for Instruction and Learning.
• Rachael Chubb as Chief Operating Officer, in addition to her existing role as Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness. Chubb, a graduate of Jefferson Community College (A.A., Humanities and Social Sciences), SUNY Potsdam (B.A., Sociology), and Syracuse University (M.S.W.; M.A., Sociology; D.Ph., Sociology), was a member of the faculty at Jefferson Community College and Columbia College (in Fort Drum, N.Y.)

“I’m proud to have Christian and Rachel join us here at Columbia-Greene, bringing their expertise to our campus, and to have promoted Rachael as our chief operating officer,” said Walsh. “We continue to attract top-tier talent to guide our institution for both sustainability and growth moving forward.”

For more information about Columbia-Greene Community College and its academic programs, please visit columbiagreene.edu.

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About Columbia-Greene Community College: A campus of the State University of New York (SUNY), is a comprehensive, two-year institution offering a variety of transfer and career programs leading to the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in Occupational Studies degrees, as well as micro credentials, one-year certificate programs, and specialized courses geared toward community interest. columbiagreene.edu