Dr. William P. Mullaney, President
Dr. William P. Mullaney became the ninth president of Rockland Community College (RCC) in June 2025, bringing with him a proven track record of advancing student success, access, and workforce innovation within the SUNY system. At RCC, Dr. Mullaney is focused on building strategic partnerships, expanding high-impact academic programs, and strengthening the College’s role as an engine for regional opportunity and economic growth.
Prior to joining RCC, Dr. Mullaney served as the seventh president of SUNY Corning Community College (CCC) from 2019 to 2025. Under his leadership, CCC experienced its first enrollment growth in over a decade and reached a milestone three-year graduation rate of 40%, the highest among all SUNY community colleges at the time. He also helped launch in-demand programs in fields such as Mechatronics, Automotive Technology, Battery Technology, and Digital Design. A champion for equity and access, Dr. Mullaney oversaw the introduction of CCC’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Corning Prison Education Program (CPEP), and co-developed the SUNY-wide PRODiG+ initiative to recruit and retain diverse faculty across New York’s community colleges.
Dr. Mullaney is deeply committed to community engagement. He has served on multiple local boards and, in 2024, was invited to the White House for a roundtable with fellow community college presidents and senior members of the Biden administration. That same year, he was named a Presidential Fellow by the Aspen Institute in recognition of his leadership in higher education.
Outside of work, Dr. Mullaney enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and training for triathlons. He and his wife Marianne are proud parents of three children: Nathan, Katie, and Julianna.
Jonathan Batista, Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Batista brings over 15 years of leadership experience in finance, accounting, and operations across higher education and nonprofit sectors. Prior to joining SUNY Rockland, he served as Executive Director of Finance for the Auxiliary Enterprises at Queens College (CUNY), where he oversaw all financial operations for four 501(c)(3) organizations. In this role, he led a multidisciplinary team of accountants, building managers, payroll specialists, and budget analysts, and successfully negotiated union contracts on behalf of the College. He also directed and managed annual external audits, ensuring regulatory compliance and timely completion of IRS Form 990 filings.
Mr. Batista previously served as Director of Business Affairs of the Queens Educational Opportunity Center (SUNY), where he managed comprehensive financial operations, including budgeting, procurement, payroll, and facilities oversight. His earlier experience includes key fiscal leadership roles at Rutgers University Medical School, City College of New York, and JPMorgan Chase, where he developed deep expertise in internal controls, credit risk analysis, grant administration, and multi-source budgeting.
A strategic and forward-thinking finance executive, Mr. Batista has led the development and implementation of AI-powered workflow tools to automate budget forecasting, streamline accounts payable, and modernize nonprofit financial operations. He is known for strengthening internal controls, improving data accuracy, and enhancing transparency in financial reporting.
Mr. Batista holds an MBA from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business with dual concentrations in Accounting & Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelors of Arts from the University at Buffalo (SUNY).
Dr. Tinny Cheung, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Dr. Tinny Cheung is an accomplished higher education professional with a profound commitment to advancing student success. She holds an EdD in Educational Leadership from Rowan University and is a dynamic leader with over 15 years of experience in higher education.
As the Assistant Dean of Student Success at Union College of Union County, New Jersey (UCNJ), a Hispanic and minority-serving institution, she oversaw their one-stop student service centers on multiple campuses, along with advising, career, and transfer services. UCNJ has consecutively ranked in the top 150 U.S. community colleges by the Aspen Institute, beginning in 2021, and achieving a top 25 position in 2023. The recognition is partly credited to the success of institutional graduation initiatives Dr. Cheung led, including Operation Graduation and Project Achievement. She has achieved remarkable milestones, tripling the graduation rate within five years and quintupling rates for African American male students in first-time, full-time cohorts.
Beyond administration, Dr. Cheung brings a wealth of teaching experience, having served for over 15 years as an adjunct professor at both two-year and four-year institutions, covering courses in health, psychology, and social sciences. Her dedication extends to industry volunteer work, contributing as a Middle States Commission on Higher Education peer evaluator, NASPA annual conference program reviewer, and peer reviewer for the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education.
Known for her enthusiasm, team-oriented leadership, and unwavering commitment to a student-centered environment, Dr. Cheung leads with an equity-minded philosophy. She lives in New Jersey with her wife and cat. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and playing the board game Catan.
Belinda Kodgis, Interim Executive Director of Human Resources
Dr. Karen Lewis, Executive Director of Development
Dr. Karen Lewis brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in higher education and institutional advancement to her role as Executive Director of Development at the Rockland Community College Foundation. She is responsible for leading all fundraising efforts and operational strategies aligned with the Foundation’s mission and the Board of Directors. Her work includes the development and implementation of comprehensive fundraising plans, cultivating donor relationships, and ensuring both financial sustainability and regulatory compliance.
Before joining RCC, Dr. Lewis was the principal of a consulting firm that served nonprofit organizations in the fields of education, arts, culture, and social justice. An acknowledged innovator in nonprofit development, she also held the position of Director of Development at JCC MetroWest in West Orange, New Jersey, where she oversaw charitable giving programs and annual campaign initiatives.
A significant portion of Dr. Lewis’s career was spent at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she held several leadership roles, including Associate Vice President for University Advancement. In this role, she led talented teams in the areas of alumni relations and university advancement, where she collaborated closely with senior leadership. As the Executive Director of the university’s landmark “One University Many Dreams” campaign, a $75 million fundraising initiative that mobilized thousands of alumni and volunteers. Dr. Lewis was responsible for the most extensive campaign in the University’s history.
In 2021, she was part of the creative leadership team that successfully raised $1 million for student scholarships during the university’s first Virtual Charter Day after the pandemic. Fairleigh Dickinson University has celebrated its annual Charter Day fundraiser since 1990.
In addition to her administrative work, Dr. Lewis is a passionate educator and mentor. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Fairleigh Dickinson University and Passaic Community College.
Dr. Lewis holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Capella University. She also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with a specialization in English as a Second Language from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a Master of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
Melissa L. Roy, JD, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion / Chief Diversity Officer
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Melissa L. Roy, JD is the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer at SUNY Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. In that capacity, she works to ensure that the College’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is reflected in all its policies, work, and practices. She previously served in various roles at the College where she was the Equal Employment Opportunity officer, the Title IX coordinator, and the Middle States accreditation liaison officer.
Prior to joining Rockland Community College, Ms. Roy practiced corporate and securities law at the law firms of Hogan Lovells (previously Hogan & Hartson LLP) in both its Washington, DC and New York offices; Eversheds Sutherland (previously Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan) in its Washington, DC office; and Goodwin (previously Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP) in its Boston, Massachusetts office.
Ms. Roy is active in the local community. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Valley Cottage Library and the Mount Moor Cemetery Association. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Westchester Alumnae Chapter, and the American Association of University Women, Rockland Chapter, and a Lifetime Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Nyack Branch. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the African American Historical Society of Rockland (2009-2018), the Board of Directors of the Rockland Negro Scholarship Fund, Inc. (2001-2014), and the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, Founders Affiliate ~ Tri-County NY Region (2010-2013).
Ms. Roy earned a Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law and Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University. She holds a certification in Collective Bargaining from Cornell University’s ILR School. She was selected as a member of the Leadership Rockland Class of 2007 and Rockland County’s Forty under 40 in 2005.
Dr. Victoria Ukachukwu, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Victoria Ukachukwu is a distinguished research scientist and educator with over 20 years of experience as a seasoned academic leader in higher education. Holding a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Dr. Ukachukwu has a wealth of experience developed from her various roles as a research scholar, chemistry faculty member, and academic administrator. A published author of an organic chemistry book and several scientific research papers, she brings a depth of technical expertise in her new role as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Rockland Community College.
Dr. Ukachukwu joins Rockland Community College from her previous position as Dean and Provost of the Plainfield Campus at Union College, in New Jersey, where she adeptly oversaw all campus operations and provided visionary leadership for faculty and staff in teaching, curriculum development, technology, and assessment. She developed innovative partnerships with community and local organizations and provided leadership for social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the community.