The Peru Gazette

The Clinton Community College Board of Trustees has named Ken Knelly as administrator in charge, succeeding John Kowal as president. Knelly, currently chief of staff at SUNY Plattsburgh and Special Adviser to SUNY for the Clinton Community College Transition, has been leading the work of planning for a new location by the college’s fall 2025 semester. His appointment is effective Thursday, May 23.

The board on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Kowal, who was named president in March 2022. Kowal joined the college in 2018 as vice president for academic affairs. He served as administrator in charge from late 2021 to his appointment after the departure of former President Ray DiPasquale.

Clinton Community College Board Chair David Favro said, “Ken is the right person at the right time for this role. He has led us to the point of an identified location and through other key steps. The job of getting Clinton Community College healthy and completing the work of locating on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus is emerging as a single leadership task, and he is up for the role. We also thank John for his efforts on behalf of the college and wish him the best in the next stage of his career.” 

Site Determined for New Location

After thoroughly evaluating potential sites, including Algonquin, Banks and Adirondack Halls, SUNY has approved plans to move forward for a new Clinton Community College location at Redcay Hall on Beekman Street and an adjacent house at 133 Court Street. This choice allows Clinton to maintain its distinct identity while providing SUNY Plattsburgh opportunities to reallocate significant resources and repurpose existing facilities.

The decision enables SUNY Plattsburgh to retain and strategically reallocate substantial funds and priorities in a timely manner. Algonquin could be repurposed into an admissions-focused area adjacent to housing, residence halls, dining centers, and parking. Additionally, the removal of Adirondack and Banks Halls, unoccupied former residence halls, will create new greenspace areas and reimagine the west end of campus in a generational change.

The consolidation of all of Clinton into a single, edge-campus location will streamline activities while requiring only limited lab use and minimal upgrades. The adjacent 133 Court Street house is also included in the planned transition, which would involve Clinton moving in by the summer of 2025.

About Ken Knelly

Knelly began his career at SUNY Plattsburgh in 2014, leading an integrated university marketing and communications team. He moved to the Office of the President in 2017, adding administrative responsibilities and later as chief of staff under President Alexander Enyed. He has served as Special Advisor to SUNY for the Clinton Community College Transition since February 2024. He earned an A.A. in Business from Essex Community College in Rossville, Md., a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and an M.A. in Public Policy from West Virginia University.

At SUNY Plattsburgh, he led the university’s external relations, served as a member of the president’s leadership team and co-chaired the university’s self-study committee for its reaffirmation of accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 2020-2022.

Knelly’s past experience includes more than a dozen years as a print journalist, including as a reporter, editor, and newsroom leader. Locally, he is the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh and led a grassroots effort to bring high school girls’ lacrosse to Clinton County. He is a native of Baltimore, Md.