Board of Trustees confirms three deans and a senior administrator; new CFO and associate provost also named
SUFFERN, N.Y. — Rockland Community College (RCC) has opened the 2025–26 academic year under the leadership of its ninth president, Dr. William P. Mullaney, who officially began his tenure in June. As he embarks on his first semester at the helm, Mullaney is advancing a strategic agenda focused on three core priorities: stabilizing the college’s finances, strengthening its workforce, and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.
As part of these priorities, RCC is pleased to announce two key leadership appointments: Jonathan Batista as chief financial officer and Dr. Melanie Rie as associate provost. These appointments underscore Mullaney’s commitment to building a strong, stable leadership team to guide the college forward.
Batista joins RCC with more than 15 years of experience in higher education and nonprofit finance, most recently serving as executive director of finance for auxiliary enterprises at Queens College, CUNY. His career has included roles at the Queens Educational Opportunity Center (SUNY), Rutgers University Medical School, City College of New York and JPMorgan Chase. He earned an MBA in accounting and finance from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business and dual bachelor’s degrees from the University at Buffalo, SUNY.
Rie, a member of the RCC community since 2002, has served as faculty member, Faculty Senate chair and dean of the School of STEM. She holds a Ph.D. and bachelor’s degree in biology from Boston University. In her new role as associate provost, she will lead academic strategy and initiatives designed to enhance student outcomes and further strengthen RCC’s academic excellence.
At its Sept. 29 meeting, the RCC Board of Trustees confirmed several leadership appointments, removing the interim designations of four administrators. Sara Annunziato was appointed dean of the School of Nursing, Health and Wellness; Patricia Maloney-Titland was named dean of the School of Arts, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences; Kristopher Baker was named dean of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); and Christina Merriweather was appointed executive director of student engagement and college life.
“I am deeply honored to serve as the ninth president of Rockland Community College, an institution with a strong legacy of excellence,” said Mullaney. “Stabilizing our finances, workforce and culture is essential to our future. These leadership appointments represent important steps in ensuring RCC remains a place where students, faculty and staff can thrive.”
Rockland Community College has started the academic year on a strong note. This fall, the College saw increases in applications, acceptances, and enrollment. RCC also recently launched free associate degrees for qualified adults through the SUNY Reconnect program, was ranked No. 4 among New York community colleges by WalletHub, and received a fifth consecutive 2025 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Academia magazine. Nursingprocess.org also ranked RCC’s nursing associate degree program second in the state.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Mullaney to Rockland Community College as our ninth president,” said L’Tanya M. Watkins, chair of the RCC Board of Trustees. “His impressive record of achievement, coupled with his commitment to equity and community engagement, positions him well to lead RCC into its next chapter.”