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

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.