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

UAlbany President Havidan Rodriguez

By  Amy Geduldig  

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 15, 2026) — University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez has been named chair of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Rodríguez joined the commission in 2020 and has served on the Executive Committee since 2022, most recently as vice chair.  

MSCHE conducts accreditation and pre-accreditation activities for more than 500 institutions throughout the U.S. and globally. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the commission evaluates institutions, including UAlbany, to determine whether they meet its standards for educational quality and institutional effectiveness.

“I am honored to be named incoming chair of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and I look forward to serving alongside Vice Chair Jonathan Peri and our fellow commissioners. The commission’s work is vital to higher education. Together, we ensure that institutions are serving their students and communities well, operate sustainably and are committed to academic excellence and innovation. I am grateful to Middle States’ President Heather Perfetti, the entire commission staff and all our commissioners for their deep commitment to excellence in higher education,” Rodríguez said.

The commission’s accreditation process combines institutional self-study with peer review to evaluate whether colleges and universities meet the commission’s standards. The process also gives institutions an opportunity to assess their performance, identify areas for improvement and strengthen their academic and institutional practices.

“Each year, we see tremendous interest from professionals who want to serve our commission, and this year was no exception,” said Commission President Perfetti. “Our commissioners are instrumental in supporting our commitment to being ‘future forward,’ keeping us responsive and forward-thinking on the evolving needs of our higher education community for the institutions and students we serve.”