UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez Named Vice Chair of Middle States Commission on Higher Education

By Amy Geduldig

ALBANY, N. Y. (Feb. 5, 2026) — University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez has been named vice chair of the board for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the association conducts accreditation and pre-accreditation activities for more than 500 institutions.  

Rodríguez, whose term as vice chair began this year, joined the commission in 2020 and has served on the board since 2022.  MSCHE is the accrediting agency for colleges and universities in the Middle States region — including Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — and is responsible for determining whether institutions, including UAlbany, meet rigorous educational standards.

“The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has an essential role to play in ensuring that students are being well-served by their colleges and universities and I am proud to lead work toward that goal as vice chair of the commission’s board. Together with my fellow commissioners, including Chair Susan Looney, President Heather Perfetti and the Commission staff, and our member colleges and universities, we are working to ensure every college student receives a high-quality education and that colleges and universities continue to operate sustainably and offer academic excellence as they innovate and adapt to change,” Rodriguez said.

The commission’s accreditation process requires a significant commitment from institutions to ensure accountability. Reflecting the evolving higher education environment, institutions are required to conduct self-appraisals, identifying opportunities for improvement and innovation through peer review, academic rigor and achievement.  

“Our commission continues to reflect those who value and believe in the power of accreditation,” Perfetti said. “We continue to see nearly 90 annually expressing interest in becoming Commissioners because of the way we center students and demonstrate a commitment to rigor and quality for our higher education community.”