Public U Leaders Spotlight: Michael Christakis

Your Name: Michael N. Christakis, Ph.D.
Your Title: Vice President for Student Affairs
Your Institution: University at Albany
Year You Started Your Current Role: 2015
APLU Council or Commission Chaired: Council on Student Affairs (CSA)

What’s the most exciting work your APLU Council or Commission is currently undertaking?
APLU’s Council on Student Affairs is engaged in several exciting projects that help inform our work in student affairs on our campuses. CSA’s Circle Series – a think-tank-style research exercise – is finalizing CSA’s first “paper” on the intersection of student affairs and student success work on our campuses. We hope to share the paper with colleagues across various APLU Councils and Commissions. At this summer’s CSA Summer Forum, we’ll host our first HBCU CSA pre-conference convening. Through this inaugural pre-conference experience, we hope to support senior student affairs colleagues at HBCUs.

What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing individuals in your role on campus?
Student Affairs continues to both champion and advance the critically important work associated with supporting student mental health and wellbeing on our campuses. While not new, the scale of the challenges associated with supporting student mental health, specifically, have only grown since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges are further exacerbated for students from historically minoritized and marginalized communities, for whom we must continue to be strong advocates and champions. 

What are the most important and valuable partnerships on campus for individuals in your role?
My partnerships with our Provost and colleagues in Academic Affairs – Deans, department chairs, faculty – continue to be among the most important. Supporting student success is our number one priority, and seamlessly providing support to students so they persist and complete is paramount.

Describe your university in three words.
Innovative. Impactful. Transformative.

What makes your university great?
Our students! They’re hard-working, passionate and make a difference – on campus, and in their communities. They teach me something new every day, and I love their energy!

What experience best prepared your current role?
I started my career in Student Affairs as a Residence Hall Director; there is no better training that prepares you for the uncertain path ahead – bar none!

What is your favorite TV show?
I’m a big Ted Lasso fan. Great lessons in life and leadership!

What was the last thing you cooked or baked?
I make a killer lasagna. Cheesy, meaty goodness.

If you could have dinner with three celebrities, who would they be and why?
I’m a political junkie – Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. That’d be cool.