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

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.”