Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Feb. 10 that Fredonia President Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Horvath will serve as the academic co-chair of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council (WNYREDC).
President Horvath, who has been a member of the WNYREDC since 2015, will lead the Regional Council in collaboration with Council Co-Chair Jeff Belt, president of SolEpoxy Inc. She replaces State University of New York at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi, who served on the council since 2011, effective immediately.
“Western New York has made incredible progress since the inception of the Regional Economic Development Council and today I am proud to appoint and welcome Dr. Horvath to serve as co-chair of the regional REDC,” said Governor Cuomo. “I would also like to thank Dr. Tripathi, who has gone above and beyond in his five years leading the REDC, for his tremendous leadership and dedication to the council.”
"The REDC has been an innovative force since it began, with business leaders, elected officials, and higher education leaders working together to advance our region. I look forward to assisting in this leadership role, as the REDC continues our commitment to economic growth in Buffalo and in communities across Western New York," said President Horvath.
President Horvath became the 13th President of Fredonia on July 1, 2012. She was the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Fredonia for seven years, overseeing academic programs, Rockefeller Arts Center, Reed Library, information technology, graduate studies and research, Extended Learning, and a range of academic support services. President Horvath, who also holds rank as a Professor of English, previously worked at Kent State University where she was a recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award and was Dean of Academic and Student Services for the Kent State University (Ohio) Regional Campuses, and Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning. She served on the America Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Provosts Steering Committee, a national initiative for re-imagining undergraduate education in the United States.
“While I am sad to see Dr. Tripathi, who has led the council admirably since its inception and ushered the council through many great achievements, leave the council, I am pleased that Dr. Horvath has been named co-chair,” said Mr. Belt. “Having served on the council, Ginny is familiar with the council and its strategic plan and brings an ambitious agenda to the role as a forefront leader in education in Western New York. I look forward to this new partnership as the council investment, creates jobs and leverages the private sector in our five-county region.”
Originally from Amherst, N.Y., President Horvath is a graduate of the Buffalo Seminary and now serves on its Board of Trustees. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Lake Erie Regional Health System of New York. She earned a B.A. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Kent State University.
In the first six rounds of the Regional Council initiative, the Western New York region has been awarded $418.4 million in state support for 551 projects across the region. The Western New York region’s 2011 strategic plan, “A Strategy for Prosperity,” leverages the region’s strategic advantages in key industry sectors including advanced manufacturing, agriculture, bi-national logistics, energy, health and life sciences, higher education, professional services and tourism. The plan focuses on economic enablers that promote smart growth, prepare the workforce and foster a culture of entrepreneurship.
To learn more about the WNYREDC, visit http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov.
About the Regional Economic Development Councils
The Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative is a key component of Governor Cuomo's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, Governor Cuomo established 10 Regional Councils to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources.
After six rounds of the REDC process, more than $4.6 billion has been awarded to more than 5,200 job creation and community development projects consistent with each region's strategic plan, projecting to create and retain more than 210,000 jobs. For more information on the Regional Councils, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.
