Dennis Craig

Dennis Craig joined Purchase in 2006 as the vice president for admissions and associate provost for enrollment, a newly created position.  

In 2011, his duties expanded to include supervision of a college-wide integrated marketing effort. The resulting plan precipitated two major projects—implementation of a comprehensive wayfinding system and the complete overhaul of the college’s website. Another result was the expansion of the former Office of Publications into the Office of Communications and Creative Services, now under his purview.  

Following the creation of a new position, dean of student success, in 2014, the Advising Center, EOP/MAP, and the Career Development Center began reporting to Craig to better align their efforts with the Office of Admissions.

An organizational restructuring in 2017 saw the merging of three major offices: Student Affairs, Admissions, and Enrollment Services. Craig now oversees all nonacademic student engagement, to manage the whole student lifecycle from initial inquiry to commencement.

In 2018, upon the announcement that longtime Purchase College President Thomas J. Schwarz planned on stepping down, Craig was appointed Officer in Charge by SUNY’s Chancellor, Kristina M. Johnson. As Officer in Charge, Craig assumed all responsibilities of the college president.

Craig served as interim president at Purchase for the 2019–2020 academic year. From October 2020 through August 2021 SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras appointed Craig as the Acting President for SUNY Oneonta. After SUNY Oneonta’s presidential search concluded successfully with the appointment of Dr. Alberto Jose Cardelle, Craig returned to Purchase College in September 2021.

He brought a range of experience to Purchase in admissions, student affairs, and executive management. Prior to his arrival, Craig served as university director of admissions at Montclair State University for five years, where he implemented an enrollment marketing and recruitment plan that resulted in a 27% increase in applications. He helped establish Montclair’s reputation as the second largest and fastest growing university in New Jersey. 

He also served as director of admissions at the Culinary Institute of America, where he directed all aspects of pre-enrollment programs and events for prospective students, and managed a staff of 31 who were responsible for national recruitment, enrollment marketing, new student orientation, telemarketing, and database management. 

At Pace University’s World Trade Institute, he was senior director of administration and operations. He managed the nonacademic functions that comprised Pace’s continuing education division, the advising center for the Evening School of World Trade, and the Institute’s Conference Center, including its seminar enrollment, registration, and marketing. 

 At NYU’s College of Dentistry, he was the associate dean of enrollment services in the Office of Student Affairs and Academic Support Services. In addition to admissions and foreign credential evaluation, his responsibilities included oversight and development of specialty orientation programs.

He was also director of admissions and financial aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Craig holds a BS in business and economics from Plattsburgh State University and an MA in history from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He attended Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education where he earned a certificate from their Institute for Management and Leadership in Higher Education.