Zulaika Rodriguez

Background

About Zulaika Rodriguez

As a higher education strategist and leadership development expert, I specialize in identifying and advancing transformational leaders to guide the future of public education. I am driven by a deep commitment to building inclusive leadership across higher education. My work is fueled by the believe that when leadership development is done equitably and intentionally, it creates a lasting institutional transformation. As Associate Vice Chancellor for Executive Recruitment and Leadership Development for the State University of New York, the largest comprehensive public university system in the country, I oversee the lifecycle of presidential recruitment, onboarding, evaluation, and leadership development. I lead SUNY's portfolio of leadership institutes (HLI, BLI, and AALHP-LI), design and implement cohort-based academies, and serve as a strategic partner to campuses navigation transition and transformation. As a first-generation college graduate and a proud Latina, I carry with me a sense of responsibility to uplift others and to ensure that leadership reflect the communities/students we serve. Experience Highlights- 20+ years of progressively responsible experience within SUNY, demonstrating a track record of results-driven leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and systems thinking- Expertise in strategic planning, talent pipeline development, executive coaching, and policy implementation- Bilingual fluency in Spanish, allowing for culturally responsive engagement across diverse communities- Background in both state government and public higher education, with a focus on operations, training, and institutional effectiveness.