Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness

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When Alex Yin completed his master’s in electrical and computer engineering, he landed a job at a financial and energy software company. But after working there for about a year, “I realized that my passion wasn’t in it,” the New Hampshire native says.  

So he went back to school, earning a master’s in statistics and a doctorate in higher education. Now, after years of working at institutions including North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the University of Vermont, Yin tackles his next professional challenge: serving as Empire State University’s inaugural vice president for student success and institutional effectiveness. 

Yin says SUNY Empire’s commitment to access drew him to the job, which he began in late July.  

“We really should not be gatekeeping education, especially if we want to live in a strong democratic country. I believe to have a strong democracy one needs an educated populace. Thus, making sure we make higher education accessible is important to me,” he says. “Learning is freedom.” 

As part of his new role, Yin is responsible for incorporating data analytics into the implementation of the university’s strategic plan, assessment, accreditation, and student success initiatives. The position plays to his strengths, which include “taking apart and understanding metrics.”  

“I’ve always loved numbers,” he says, noting his lifelong interest in math. “I think part of it is the sense of organization.” 

One metric Yin says he’ll be tracking is credential completions. He’s also interested in what students do with their credentials, which will help him better understand how the university is filling workforce needs and contributing to civic engagement. For Yin, gathering this intel is about storytelling—and demonstrating the value of an Empire degree. 

“We need to make sure we do that because people need to see that they’re investing in their future and it pays off,” he says.

A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both

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Empire State University alumna Tayrin Tapia ‘20 is the founder of Latinas Evolving, LLC. It began at a former corporate job where Tapia constantly felt sidelined, working hard to make her ideas heard to no avail. The business professional channeled that frustration into creating a welcoming space where people can thrive—one that now includes a magazine publication featuring Latinas and Latinos and whose readership spans eight states.

Puerto Rico-born Tapia was raised in New York City and later moved to Buffalo, where she currently resides. She graduated from SUNY Empire in 2020 with an associate degree in business administration, management, and economics, finding her turning point in 2022 when she founded the Buffalo-based for-profit organization Latinas Evolving. Four years later, it has expanded from a single panel discussion into biannual bilingual magazine issues, community events, and even a $25,000 grant-funded rebrand.

Tapia mentions starting the organization “at a point in my life when I felt very unheard and unseen. Every idea that I was giving, any new thing I was trying, it was all shut down.” It made her think back to a previous role at the Belle Center, where she focused on workforce development—in recruiting and in her field, there never seemed to be enough bilingual, culturally representative professionals. Looking back further to 2017, Tapia had started the Buffalo chapter of the nonprofit “Lean in Latinas,” naming it something similar to her current organization. When Latinas Evolving came along, she began to see that the idea for it had been forming all along.

Her time at Empire provided a sturdy foundation for Tapia, who was working full-time and raising two sons as she completed her degree. For the alumna, “the flexibility, the ability to still do my day job,” made all the difference. She recalls an observation made by one of her professors that single mothers show the most hunger to finish their degrees. This resonated with Tapia. “I found that extremely powerful,” she says, seeing now how this ties into the mission of Latinas Evolving.

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, Tapia’s job at the Belle Center was affected by layoffs. By that September, Tapia had filled a director of operations opening in a Spanish-speaking department at Capital Management Services. In November of 2023, she transitioned to a chief compliance officer role at another organization, and as of June 2025, Tapia has been a business support manager in corporate sustainability at HSBC. “It’s extremely aligned with who I am as a person,” she comments about her current work. Parallel to her corporate career arc, Tapia successfully built an organization—she didn’t have to give up one for the other.

In October of 2022, Tapia hosted a panel called “Latinas of Power and Influence” with a turnout of 80 attendees. The traction snowballed into other projects, including a social media campaign that highlighted local Latina entrepreneurs through magazine cover edits. People began asking Tapia, “Is this really a magazine? Because if it is, where can we get it?” Running with this feedback, she began publishing LE Magazine annually, then biannually. The most recent iteration of the publication is like a cassette tape: one side for Latinas—flip the magazine, and readers get another side dedicated to Latinos. Looking ahead, she hopes to launch issues of LE Magazine quarterly.

The reality of what a powerful community Tapia built hit her hard when she applied for a Springboard NY and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. grant one morning at 6 a.m.—half on a whim, half out of instinct. She was thrilled when Latinas Evolving was awarded $25,000 that funded the organization’s website, rebrand, and expanded programming. It was a game changer.

Many lives have been impacted by Tapia’s work at Latinas Evolving. Among them is Rebeca Fong-Reynolds, who had struggled to find a space that felt welcoming to her as someone with both Latino and Asian heritage. Fong-Reynolds attended an event series that spotlights local Latino-owned businesses called “Cafecito Tempranito con Tayrin,” which opened the door to exposure for her small business, Ernie’s Pop Shop.

The “why” of Tapia’s efforts becomes evident through a statistic that shocked her when she first heard it, even as she felt its truth. Tapia quotes the American Express 2020 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report: “Latina-owned businesses are one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. economy, outpacing overall women-owned businesses growth.” Despite this growth, “we are still underrepresented—not as visible or acknowledged,” she says. It is the feeling that isolated her before founding Latinas Evolving, when being heard or valued at work was a struggle.

Through Latinas Evolving, Tapia has reached across the state of New York and beyond to connect Latinas seeking community in the business world. She hopes to continue creating opportunities to uplift these business leaders and foster community.

Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy

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A few weeks into his role as Empire State University’s new provost, Matthew Liao-Troth is rereading the faculty handbook and meeting with Senate leadership to “figure out all things Empire.”  Although he is still learning about the institution, he is resolved to implement his leadership philosophy—one that leads by leaning into the culture at SUNY Empire.

Originally from California, Liao-Troth grew up with a mother who taught and an economist father, which he jokingly mentions shaped his background knowledge of the field, though eventually becoming a business professor “wasn’t the original plan.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in American Studies, and his first job out of college was with the Boy Scouts of America, where he focused on community organizing.

“I noticed the professional staff were having challenges managing the volunteers,” says Liao-Troth, explaining that the experience was eye-opening. He began to understand the importance of effective management within an organization. Liao-Troth says, “It spurred me to want to become a teacher of managers.” He went back to school soon after to pursue a master’s degree in business administration with a focus on management.

After obtaining his master’s and doctorate degrees, Liao-Troth became a business professor. His philosophy centered on teaching empathy, communication, team-building, and shared goals as crucial management skills. At the same time, he served as faculty senate president and was mentored by the then-president at Western Washington University. Through this mentorship, Liao-Troth realized “I have this skillset, and I could be managing higher education as well.”

From there, his career progressed as he stepped into a department chair position, followed by a role as college dean at a different institution that had a liberal arts mission. After, he accepted an interim provost opening. “It was a good job for me because I’m an academic. [I went to] business school, but my undergrad was in the liberal arts, so I’m cross-disciplinary,” shares Liao-Troth.

By Liao-Troth’s count, joining Empire marks the fourth time he’s served as chief academic officer at a higher education institution. “I very firmly belong at and believe in access institutions,” he says, underscoring his excitement to step into this role. “It’s a combination of mission, opportunity, and people to work with that brought me to Empire State University,” Liao-Troth comments.

Though he is still getting settled, Liao-Troth’s leadership approach is clearly defined. He highlights the uniting power of shared goals and values in culture-based leadership styles. “Everyone knows what our values are, and we know based on our values what the appropriate response to each situation is,” he says. The central question to Liao-Troth’s approach is one that resonates with the Empire community: “What is in the best interest of our students?”

Currently, the new provost finds himself in a listening and discovery phase as he surveys students, staff, faculty, cabinet, university senate, and SUNY. Keeping the strategic plan—Elevate ’28—in mind, Liao-Troth is assessing possible modifications that will facilitate meeting university goals. “What we thought things would look like three years ago is different [than what they look like now],” he explains. The question for Liao-Troth becomes: “How do we adjust that to make sure we’re honoring the spirit of what we’re trying to accomplish?”

For the new provost, connecting with members of the university community is instrumental to achieving institutional alignment. To them, he says: “I want to meet you. I want to hear your story. I want to understand what your passions are and how it all fits together, so that we’re building one Empire from all the people who are part of it.”

ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 

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Empire State University’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) has announced a new skill-building series slated to kick off this fall. Titled “Emotional Intelligence for Constructive Conflict,” the multi-part civil discourse program examines the role emotions play in conflict resolution.  

“This topic came out of a training we did with our peer mediation student organization, which George Lopez and I co-advised. Something that kept coming up is this idea of emotions, the role emotions play in conflict, and how bad we are at talking about emotions,” says ODEI Assistant Director Ade Byron. “We don’t want to talk about emotions in the workplace, but they are inherently a part of conflict. So how do we explore emotions in a way that allows us to identify them and move us forward in conflict instead of holding us back in the moment and stuck in that conflict?” 

Set to launch in four monthly installments on September 22, the program will be led by Byron and Lopez, SUNY Empire’s assistant director of student leadership and civic engagement. The pair will lead participants through hour-long sessions, each centered around a specific subject. In one session, for instance, attendees will explore how emotions influence behavior and work on techniques for managing and expressing emotional reactions during difficult conversations. 

The sessions will feature 20 minutes of learning, 20 minutes of skills practice, and 20 minutes of discussion. They are open to all faculty, staff, and students.  

“We encourage everyone to come. It’s something that’s really helpful in the university—in any place where you’re exploring different ideas and different opinions,” Byron says. “The goal really is to help us learn from and engage with each other in a way that fosters a sense of belonging in the community and allows us to grow [together].” 

Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 

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Empire State University has named two faculty members as the recipients of its annual Scholars Across the University award. Assistant Professors Yanqing Sun and Lisa Unangst were selected for the 2026-2027 academic year. They will present their work to the university community starting this fall. 

About the Scholars: 

Yanqing Sun 

A member of the Department of Psychology and Human Development in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yanqing Sun will be presenting two studies. The first examines how high school students understand research, “demonstrating metaphor analysis as a useful lens.”  

“By studying the metaphors students use to describe research, we can gain insight into how their thinking about research develops,” the educator explains.  

The second study, which focuses on students’ literary practices and teachers’ role in cross-classroom collaboration, “shows that young students can work across multiple sources, forms, [and] spaces of knowledge for productive knowledge building across communities,” Sun says. 

“I’m excited not only to share my research, but also to learn from colleagues across the university and hear their perspectives,” Sun continues. “I hope these presentations will create opportunities for meaningful conversations and new ideas, and that I can bring what I learn from these conversations back into my research, teaching, and mentoring.” 

Lisa Unangst 

A faculty member in the College of Education, Lisa Unangst will be presenting on three interrelated topics: college pathways for displaced learners in New York, leveraging prior learning assessment for displaced learners globally, and how nursing education programs in New York reflect displaced learners.  

“My scholarship focuses on the intersection(s) of migration, diversity, and higher education internationalization. This applied research considers education across the lifespan as emancipatory for individuals and communities,” she says. “It also points to opportunities to leverage policies and practices already in place to support displaced learners, with displacement in the U.S. being at the highest level in decades.” 

By sharing this work, “I hope that folks will have the opportunity to reflect on how education and migration have clear relevance for other fields including public policy, sociology, social work, and so forth,” Unangst adds.  

Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 

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When Matthew Berge ’21, ’23, ’24 represents Empire State University at conferences, he always makes sure to dress the part. His garb of choice? An orange tie and a royal blue “Empire” suit, as he calls it, complete with his alumni pin fastened to the lapel.  

“I always feel a sense of pride when representing SUNY Empire at these conferences,” says Berge, a three-time alumnus and current graduate student. 

Berge’s next opportunity to display his school spirit comes this November, when he presents a paper at the annual meeting of the Northeastern Political Science Association (NPSA). It will be the third time the Bay Shore, NY resident has had a paper accepted by the yearly event, which draws hundreds of attendees.  

This fall, Berge—a self-described “lifelong learner” who holds master’s degrees in social and public policy and public administration—is presenting on the rise of neoliberalism in higher education since the 1970s and its correlation to increasing education costs over the last 50 years. Now enrolled in SUNY Empire’s Master of Arts in Higher Education program, Berge says the topic merges his past and present academic work.  

“I felt I had a good topic to present on that ties my policy studies to my current studies in higher education,” he says of his drive to be a presenter.  

Also motivational? The encouragement of his faculty mentors and advisors, says Berge, who won the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence in 2022. 

“I aspire to pursue doctoral studies eventually and was taught that it is important to build my CV through academic conferences and publications continually,” he explains.  

While at SUNY Empire, Berge has taken this advice to heart, expanding his resume with appearances at various events beyond the NPSA meeting. Among others, these include the SUNY Graduate Research Conference, the SUNY Digital Learning Conference, and the 17th Conference on Higher Education Reform (held at the University of Glasgow). The latter proved particularly impactful for the graduate student, who—in addition to confidence in his presenting abilities—gained from the symposium new insight into his scholarly interests. 

“It was my experience in Scotland, meeting educators from across the globe, that sparked the desire to shift toward education policy, eventually leading me to pursue my current studies in higher education,” he says.  

How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy

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Approximately 70% of adults in the United States do not have an up-to-date estate plan—the process is often confusing, and people may not know where to begin. With that in mind, Empire State University’s partnership with online estate-planning platform FreeWill is designed to simplify the process and empower alumni and colleagues to plan ahead.

National Make-A-Will Month takes place each year in August. “It serves as an annual reminder about the importance of estate planning—having a plan for the things that happen beyond your lifetime,” explains Toby Tobrocke, director of development at SUNY Empire.

The university’s Office for Advancement—the hub for all things alumni, donors, and home of the Empire State University Foundation’s operations—is doing their part to help Empire constituents feel empowered to make such plans through a partnership with FreeWill. Alumni and university employees can access the platform for free and create a legal will in about 20 minutes.

“We found that this tool takes people through the estate planning process in a logical and accessible way,” explains Tobrocke. “More than 1500 alumni have already created their estate plan via SUNY Empire’s FreeWill portal,” he adds.

Creating a legal will can help make things less confusing for family members and loved ones when someone passes—instead of turning to guesswork, the way you want possessions, assets, and matters such as guardianship handled are clearly outlined. “Make a Will Month highlights the importance of having a plan in place and encourages people to actually get the paperwork completed,” says Tobrocke.

When creating their legal will, alumni and colleagues can also choose to support the university through planned giving, though it is completely optional. If constituents choose to leave a legacy gift to SUNY Empire, we most often see those funds directed to students support or undesignated to allow the university to allocate funds where they will best support its students and programs.

For alumna and single mother of five Sandra DuBois, earning her degree at Empire was life-changing, which is why she set up a bequest to create the Sandra Bauhan Dubois ’78 Scholarship and support single parents. This is one of many examples of how planned giving increases support and accessibility at SUNY Empire.

Tobrocke addresses a common misconception about planned giving—it is not one-size-fits-all, and not only for the wealthy. “Everyone needs a plan and we see gifts of all sizes directed to Empire through people’s estate. At the end of the day, it’s the power of the collective that has a massive impact on the university community,” he says. Though Make-A-Will Month serves as a reminder that there’s no time like the present to plan for the future, the resources offered by the university are available on an ongoing basis.

Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month

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This August, we celebrate National Civility Month by speaking with leaders of the Student Government Association (SGA) about what leadership and civic engagement look like at Empire State University. We invite you to read the Q&A below and engage in the conversation on our community discussion board.

Joshua Gale-Wilson is the president of the Student Government Association at Empire State University, a social science student, University Council representative, and aspiring attorney. As a first-generation graduate, Black gay man, and committed servant-leader, he is passionate about using advocacy, education, and civic engagement to create meaningful opportunities for students whose voices are too often overlooked.

Joshua Baker is the treasurer of the Empire State University Student Government Association.

How has serving in student government changed your understanding of leadership?

Gale-Wilson: Serving in student government has taught me that leadership is not simply about holding a title; it is about listening, remaining accountable, and having the courage to advocate even when the conversations are difficult. True leadership means meeting students where they are, turning their concerns into action, and being willing to do the work when recognition is absent.

Baker: Serving in SGA taught me that leadership means constantly checking my own assumptions against the people I’m representing. Empire serves such a broad population—students working full-time, raising families, coming back to school after years away—that no single perspective can speak for everyone, and part of my job is making space for that range of experience in every decision.

What motivates you to serve your campus community?

Gale-Wilson: I am motivated by the belief that every student deserves to feel seen, heard, supported, and represented, regardless of their background or educational journey. Empire State University has given me opportunities to grow academically and personally, and serving my campus community is my way of ensuring that other students have access to those same opportunities, and even greater ones.

Baker: Empire gave me a real path to finish my master’s while working full-time and raising four kids, and that kind of access isn’t something I take for granted. Serving in SGA is my way of paying that forward, making sure the processes and support are in place for students juggling just as much as I was.

What does civic engagement look like beyond voting?

Gale-Wilson: Civic engagement extends far beyond the ballot box; it is showing up consistently, educating yourself and others, attending public meetings, volunteering, organizing, advocating, and holding institutions accountable to the communities they serve. It is the everyday decision to use your voice, time, skills, and influence to improve the lives of others and help build a more just and equitable society.

Baker: For me, civic engagement beyond voting looks like showing up to the meetings that don’t get much attention—budget hearings, joining committees, PTA nights, the places where decisions actually get made. It’s staying involved between elections, not just around them, and using whatever skills you have—mine happen to be financial—to hold institutions accountable.

What commitment would you encourage every member of our campus community to make that would strengthen both our culture of civility and our civic engagement over the next year?

Gale-Wilson: I would encourage every member of our campus community to commit to listening with the intent to understand, especially when we disagree. When we lead with respect, remain open to different perspectives, and consistently turn conversation into meaningful action, we create a stronger culture of civility while empowering more people to participate in shaping our university community.

Baker: I’d encourage everyone to actually read the materials before they weigh in, whether that’s a budget proposal, a policy change, or a meeting agenda. Half of civility is just doing the homework so disagreements are grounded in facts instead of assumptions, and that alone would go a long way toward stronger, more respectful engagement.

Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education

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The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein, Ph.D., as Empire State University’s inaugural director of general education.

In this new faculty leadership role, Lisa will help advance the continued development, alignment, assessment, and review of the university’s general education program. Working collaboratively with faculty governance, academic leadership, and the Office of Assessment and Program Review, she will support a coherent, outcomes-focused general education framework that strengthens student success across undergraduate programs.

Lisa brings more than 30 years of higher education experience, including more than 18 years at SUNY Empire in professional, management confidential, and faculty roles. Most recently, she served for three years as coordinator of the interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary studies program and as the 2025–2026 Susan H. Turben Chair in Mentoring. She will continue to serve as a visiting associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Arts and Media.

Throughout her career at SUNY Empire, Lisa has held numerous academic leadership positions, including director of academic support and dean of academic and instructional services, and has contributed extensively to university governance, curriculum, assessment, and accreditation efforts. She currently serves as co-chair for Middle States Standard III: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience and is an active member of several university curriculum and general education committees.

Lisa holds a B.A. in English and general literature from Binghamton University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in language education from Indiana University. She is also a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service and the James William and Mary Elizabeth Hall Award for Innovation.

Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost

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Matthew Liao-Troth, Ph.D., has been appointed Empire State University’s next provost and vice president for academic affairs. He most recently served as vice president for academic affairs at St. Petersburg College, where he led academic operations, expanded high-demand academic programs, and supported student and faculty success. He previously served as senior vice president and provost at Hawaii Pacific University, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Georgia College & State University, and as a dean and faculty member at several institutions over the last 20 years.   

As Empire’s next chief academic officer, Liao-Troth will lead the academic core of teaching and learning at the institution in alignment with its mission of access and opportunity. He will provide strategic leadership for the Office of Academic Affairs, partnering with faculty, staff, and university leaders to drive student success, advance academic quality, strengthen accreditation and assessment efforts, and align academic priorities with the goals of Elevate ’28 to ensure our programs continue to meet the needs of learners across New York and beyond.    

“I am confident his experience, vision, and collaborative leadership will help guide the next chapter of our university’s evolution and success,” said President Lisa Vollendorf.