Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher is a Partner in the Education Practice of RIDGE-LANE LP.
Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher served as the 12th Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY). With nearly 463,000 students and 64 colleges and universities, SUNY is the nation’s largest comprehensive system of higher education.
Through her strategic plan for the university, The Power of SUNY, Chancellor Zimpher leads a diverse set of successful initiatives in several key areas, including research and innovation, energy, health care, global affairs, and the education pipeline. She has been a vocal advocate for groundbreaking legislative reforms that ensure SUNY can provide broad access to high-quality higher education in an environment of declining state support, while maximizing the system’s impact as an engine of economic revitalization in every region of the state.
Chancellor Zimpher’s led SUNY is many innovative, system-enhancing initiatives; including shared services, dramatic expansion of online learning opportunities and cooperative education, and new partnerships with K-12 professionals, focused on preparing students and communities to thrive in the 21st century.
Dr. Zimpher served as president of the University of Cincinnati, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and executive dean of the Professional Colleges and dean of the College of Education at The Ohio State University. She has authored or co-authored numerous books, monographs, and academic journal articles on teacher education, urban education, academic leadership, and school/university partnerships.
She currently serves as chair of the Board of Governors of the New York Academy of Sciences and the National Association of System Heads. Dr. Zimpher was chair of CEO’s for Cities, and led the national Coalition of Urban Serving Universities. As co-founder of StriveTogether, Dr. Zimpher has been instrumental in creating a national network of innovative systemic partnerships that holistically address challenges across the education pipeline.
Dr. Zimpher holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education, a master’s degree in English Literature, and a Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Higher Education Administration, all from The Ohio State University.
