This year, Farmingdale State College (FSC) expanded its leadership team with three pivotal appointments in its Academic Affairs and Student Affairs divisions. Kenneth Lee, PhD, PE, joined as dean of the Pasternack School of Engineering Technology. Sarah Gross, PhD, was named dean of the Santmann School of Health Sciences, and, most recently, Ronald Jackson, EdD, joined as vice president for student affairs.
“We are a close-knit community and collaborate across campus to prioritize learning, discovery, and well-being, both inside and outside the classroom,” said FSC President Robert S. Prezant, PhD. “These three appointments, all experts in their respective arenas, will help drive our collective values and shared priorities to better serve our remarkable students and help them realize their academic, professional, and personal goals.”
RONALD JACKSON, EdD,
VICE PRESIDENT FOR
STUDENT AFFAIRS
Ronald Jackson, EdD, joined FSC in April 2025 as vice president for student affairs, serving as a member of the President’s Cabinet.
In this new role, Jackson will oversee and advance FSC’s expanding student life initiatives, including the Dean of Students Office, Student Activities, Residence Life, Health and Wellness Center, Disability Services Center, Veterans Services, Title IX, and Campus Mental Health Services, among other student-focused programs.
Jackson brings 25 years of experience, most recently serving as vice president of student affairs and dean of students at Brooklyn College, part of the City University of New York, since June of 2016. He also held dean of students appointments at the Community College of Philadelphia and Marymount Manhattan College.
With a focus on collaboration and building cross-departmental teams to enhance services for students, he is spearheading a reimagined orientation program and an online orientation for students taking classes exclusively remotely. He is also establishing a new holistic approach for addressing student conduct and concerns, utilizing a theoretical framework.
SARAH GROSS, PhD, DEAN,
SANTMANN SCHOOL OF
HEALTH SCIENCES
In August 2024, FSC was proud to appoint Sarah Gross, PhD, as dean of the Santmann School of Health Sciences following her seven-year run as chair of FSC’s Biology Department.
Gross joined FSC in 2006 as an assistant professor of biology and quickly moved into a leadership role as curriculum director of FSC’s Bioscience Program, achieving tenure in 2013 and the rank of full professor in 2022.
Under her leadership as chair, the Biology Department grew to support 75 faculty and staff. Throughout her time at FSC, Gross has been deeply involved in service at all levels, including chairing the Farmingdale Executive Committee from 2022 to 2024 and the College-Wide Curriculum Committee from 2011 to 2015. She received the prestigious State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2017.
In her first year as dean, together with the Nursing Department, Gross submitted an $8.5 million grant application to SUNY to build clinical nursing simulation facilities in Gleeson Hall and is working with Capital Projects to develop additional simulation facilities outside of the scope of the grant. This year, the school launched a new master’s degree program in nursing administration.
KENNETH LEE, PhD, PE, DEAN,
PASTERNACK SCHOOL OF
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
Kenneth Lee, PhD, PE, joined FSC in August 2024 as dean of the Pasternack School of Engineering Technology. Lee is an accomplished administrator who previously served as dean of the Lance College of Mines and Engineering at Montana Technological University and as professor and founding chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Western New England University. He has held academic positions at both the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Rutgers University, and has research experience from Princeton University.
During his tenure as dean, Lee oversaw 10 academic departments and 13 programs, and created the only construction management bachelor’s program in Montana. His focus on student success and retention has led to curriculum enhancements and improved enrollment. He is a registered professional engineer in multiple states and a dedicated ABET program evaluator.
Since joining FSC, Lee has focused on expanding and modernizing existing academic program offerings and developing new industry partnerships. He has also assisted faculty in developing more than $1 million in external funding proposals.
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