SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum, Ph.D., is the second longest-serving president in the State University of New York system, having arrived at Cortland in 2003 and guiding a transformation of campus that has expanded the university’s relevance in the community, the region and the world.
As president, he has guided more than $400 million in new construction and renovation on campus, including a state-of-the-art science complex, the creation of New York’s “greenest” residence hall and the most unique and comprehensive recreation facility in the 64-campus SUNY system.
President Bitterbaum’s commitment to diversity is reflected by the growth of students from underrepresented groups from roughly 4% of the student population when he arrived to roughly 25% in 2024. He has deepened SUNY Cortland’s role in the region through the creation of the Downtown Business Partnership, the Institute for Civic Engagement and the SUNY Cortland Entrepreneurship Center. Under his guidance, service-learning and volunteerism became a core component of the SUNY Cortland educational experience, with students providing more than 200,000 hours of service to the community each year.
Leader of the largest teacher education program in SUNY and one of the most respected programs in the nation, President Bitterbaum is a former commissioner of the national Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation (CAEP), with the university earning reaccreditation from CAEP and Middle States under his guidance. A charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, he has overseen changes to SUNY Cortland’s infrastructure, practices, curriculum and culture that have helped make it one of the most environmentally sustainable colleges in the U.S., according to annual ratings by The Sierra Club and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Throughout his tenure, the university’s powerhouse Division III athletic program has consistently ranked among the best in the nation. He previously served on the NCAA Division III President’s Council and, from 2009 to 2014, the university partnered with the NFL’s New York Jets, which held five summer training camps on campus. Those camps provided valuable internships for students and boosted the regional economy by an estimated $24 million.
President Bitterbaum has presided over the two largest capital campaigns in SUNY Cortland’s history, raising more than $57 million collectively. His guidance has helped the university remain strong financially and maintain high-quality enrollment.
A biologist who specializes in ornithology, Bitterbaum is a fixture at campus events, recognized by students, employees and alumni for his tireless support of SUNY Cortland.