Neil J. Kelleher is New Chairman of College Board of Trustees

September 25, 2015

Neil J. Kelleher of Lansingburgh, a retired employee and alumnus of Hudson Valley Community College and former chairman of the Rensselaer County Legislature, was elected chairman of the college's Board of Trustees at the board's annual meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

"With decades of career service to the college and his lengthy legislative experience, I am confident that Neil Kelleher will lead the Board of Trustees with a strong vision and a willingness to make this great institution even greater," said President Drew Matonak. "I am pleased that Neil has taken on this leadership role, and I look forward to working with him."

Kelleher replaces The Honorable Conrad H. Lang Jr., a retired Rensselaer County Surrogate Court Judge, who has served as chairman since 2011. Lang did not seek re-election, but will remain on the board.

"I would like to sincerely thank Judge Lang for his leadership at the helm of the board over the past four years," said President Matonak. "His hard work and dedication carries on the Lang family tradition of service to Hudson Valley Community College."

"Serving on the same board as Judge Lang is an immense honor in itself. To be succeeding him as chair is amazing and truly humbling," said Neil Kelleher. "As a graduate of Hudson Valley, I fully understand the many opportunities provided by the college. I am one success story among thousands."

The Lang Technical Building on the Hudson Valley Community College campus is named for Conrad H. Lang Sr., the outgoing chairman's father. The elder Lang was an original member of the college's Board of Trustees from 1953 to 1976 and served as chairman from 1973 to 1976.

Re-elected to the position of vice chairman was Joseph A. Kapp, who has served on the board since 2003.

Kelleher retired from Hudson Valley in 2010 after 23 years as a physical plant supervisor and special assistant to the president for capital projects. He was a member of the Rensselaer County Legislature from 1990 to 2010, serving the last 14 years as its chair. In his role as a legislator, he worked with the college on capital projects, budgets and master plans. He was first appointed to the college's Board of Trustees in 2011.

The ten-member board of trustees is the governing body of the college, overseeing administrative and academic matters. Kelleher's appointment to the board in 2011 was made by the county legislature, which appoints five members of the board; four other members are appointed by the governor of New York; and a current student, elected annually by the student body.

A 1991 graduate of Hudson Valley Community College, Kelleher received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000 for his many civic and charitable accomplishments.