Q+A with President Steiper

Purchase College welcomed Michael E. Steiper, PhD, as its seventh president in August.

Proof Mag: What most appealed to you about becoming President of Purchase College?

MS: Where do I start? I have long admired the excellence of Purchase’s programs across the arts and the liberal arts and sciences, and the way they come together here with real synergy. Now that I am on campus and immersed in this vibrant community, I am even more impressed by the way we serve our mission as part of SUNY, by providing access to these programs at an incredible value. It is evident that the faculty and staff live this mission every day as they serve Purchase’s dynamic and creative students. Of course, there is also our incredible alumni community, the “Proof of Purchase,” who demonstrate the transformative power of a Purchase degree every day. I also feel personally connected to Purchase through my own professional background as an anthropologist and leader in public higher education, as well as my personal interests in the arts. Purchase’s mission of access and excellence, and its impact in the arts and the liberal arts, and sciences is truly special, and this is why I am thrilled to serve as its President.

PM: As you learn more about Purchase and its programs, history, students, alumni, and overall footprint in the world, what has surprised and impressed you most?

MS: What has surprised me most is that each day I am still learning new and impressive things about Purchase. I am amazed by our students. Their talent and energy pervade campus, and each day I learn more about how they aspire to change the world. Getting to know our alumni has shown me just how far a Purchase education will take you. Our alumni are shaping their fields at the highest level and serving as powerful ambassadors for Purchase. The campus itself continues to amaze me, from its natural beauty to our performance spaces to the Neuberger Museum and beyond. The more I see, the more I am convinced that Purchase is a truly special gem.

PM: And how do you see yourself engaging with alumni?

MS: For me, it’s all about engaging with alums to continue building and elevating the Purchase alumni community. I am looking forward to getting out there to meet alumni
at gatherings, performances, screenings, and other events. If you send me an invitation, I’ll do my best to attend! I’ve also been connecting with alumni on social media, and I encourage everyone to get involved in these virtual spaces. Just as importantly, I want to extend a personal invitation for alumni to return to campus: come meet today’s students and experience today’s campus energy, from the Durst Lecture Series and Neuberger Museum exhibits to performances at the PAC, as well as student symposia, showcases, and concerts. It will be my pleasure to host you! My goal is to build and deepen our connections, and celebrate and elevate the accomplishments of our alumni community.

PM: If you weren’t in higher education, what would you be doing?

MS: Great question! I often think about the metaphorical “road not taken,” and how serendipity might have led me somewhere else, perhaps wholly unexpected. But wherever I landed, I would hope that my talents would be put to good use.

PM: What do you see as the biggest challenges—and opportunities—the college faces in the next few years?

MS: The challenges facing Purchase are the same ones confronting many colleges right now: growing skepticism about the value of higher education and decreasing enrollments. I believe these challenges create a major opportunity for us, because Purchase has such a unique and vibrant culture where everyone has a place, academically and socially. We provide both access and excellence across the performing and creative arts and the liberal arts and sciences, all at an incredible value as a public institution. Where else do you have opera singers rooming with computer scientists? Or dancers and philosophers debating the latest films? By telling our story more effectively, we can show how we prepare students not only for exciting careers across so many fields, but also for lives of impact and meaning. At the same time, we have an opportunity to deepen our ties with Westchester through internships and partnerships, so that more people experience our campus and the extraordinary talent and energy of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

PM: How do you prefer engaging with students on campus?

MS: I value engaging directly with people across campus—faculty, staff, visitors, and especially students. Every day I make it a point to walk around, strike up conversations, and drop in to events, performances, games, and so on. I’ve even met a few alumni this way. This has been a joyful part of my work and it is what a vibrant campus like Purchase is all about: people connecting with people. As an anthropologist, I’m naturally curious. I’m always eager to listen and learn, to get to know people, and to understand what’s working well and where we can do better. Most of all, I want to learn from our community about their successes, aspirations, and concerns, so that we can work together to make Purchase even stronger.

PM: Tell us something interesting about yourself that we won’t learn from your professional bio.

MS: After playing bass guitar off and on since high school, I started playing regularly during the pandemic. That led me to join a cover band and get more involved in music. At Purchase I’m surrounded by incredible musicians. Of course, this is more than a little intimidating, but I’m also excited about the chance to occasionally sit in with students around campus.

PM: Do you have any pets? If yes, please share details—and provide photos. (Purchase people love animals.)

MS: Yes, we have a family dog named Nova. She is a very sweet five-year-old Golden Retriever. I’ve brought her to campus a few times and she’s been having a great time meeting students, when she isn’t napping under my desk. I’ll say that Nova has really boosted my Instagram feed, too. We’ve been calling her the “First Dog” of Purchase and at this point, many students know her name and look forward to seeing her.