Meet Christopher White, the SUNY Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Upward Mobility!

In 2024, Chris White was named SUNY's first Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Upward Mobility. In his role, he is responsible for providing strategic vision and leadership in creating and implementing workforce development initiatives, solidifying external partnerships, and ensuring seamless coordination across the SUNY System. Chris has a background in workforce development, communications, and public policy, serving most recently as Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development at the New York State Department of Labor. There, he oversaw 100 career centers and a team of 1,100 employees. His career has included several statewide outreach and education campaigns, including New York State's $15 minimum wage, closing the gender wage gap, subminimum wage, and workplace sexual harassment prevention. Chris has a background in journalism and digital media, having worked in strategic marketing and communications. – SUNY Senior Staff Bio

How do you envision the relationship between students enrolled within SUNY and the Small Business Development Centers across New York evolving in the coming years?
"We are so lucky to have the SBDCs are part of our broader SUNY network. Given the meteoric rise of interest in entrepreneurship since the COVID Pandemic, now more than ever, we need to ensure that upcoming business owners are set up for success. That means having access to regional peer networks, funding opportunities and the most up-to-date information possible – all things our SBDCs provide. We are so honored to have such an incredible network of experienced business advisors right here within our SUNY system.

I see continued integration between SBDCs and our campuses, modeled on relationships like what we see at SUNY Brockport in Rochester. The experience for students should be seamless, where they can learn in the classroom from top-notch faculty, build social capital and hone skills through internships and work-based learning opportunities all while building a business shaped by regional experts at their SBDC."

In what ways do you integrate your statewide workforce development priorities with the work of the Small Business Development Centers?
“The Office of Workforce Development and Upward Mobility at SUNY has been a great opportunity to pull together programs that had been successful in their own right – our SBDCs, Educational Opportunity Centers, registered apprenticeship programs, microcredentials and initiatives to scale work-based learning – and show the power of alignment and strategy.

For too long, the SBDCs have been the best-kept secret. By better aligning, we can really streamline the experience and ensure someone who’s a student in one of our microcredential programs for entrepreneurship, for example, knows they have SBDC resources on a campus near them. Or the student who is learning entry-level nursing skills but has a cousin who is struggling to write a business plan can leverage our system. On and on.
I aim to eliminate the 'if you know, you know' mentality of all things higher ed. and in a system like SUNY, we have solutions for every person looking to learn."

What recent successes in SUNY’s workforce development efforts are you most proud of, and what challenges do you see as the next major opportunities for growth?
 “The economy and the politics that impact it will always be a factor, but our efforts are needed now more than ever, and that’s going to be the case going forward.

Lately, we’ve found tremendous success in scaling work-based learning opportunities. We now have several regional internship coordinators who are working in partnership with campuses to source paid internship opportunities within their regions. Combine that with four internship intermediary partners -- including the Binghamton Small Business Development Center, a local workforce development board and two manufacturing associations – we have a real powerhouse of partners who are helping to scale opportunities for our students. What we’re doing is working to alleviate some of the work for on-campus teams who are remarkable in their own right and at the same time eliminating geographic barriers to help students find opportunities for work-based learning (not to mention future employment) in other parts of the state."

How do you see SBDC initiatives, such as InnovateHER, contributing to broader community and regional impact?
“Year after year, statewide workforce development surveys listening to thousands of employers have shown one thing above all else to work when it comes to finding talented workers and that’s networking. The more we get together and provide equitable access to those networks, the better off we are. That includes making spaces to grow connections and for students to step out of their comfort zone in a supportive and uplifting environment. I have been to two InnovateHER events and each left me so inspired. When you bring together business leaders and future entrepreneurs in an environment focused on building connections and growing our regional economy, great things happen!"

Ready to turn your ideas into action? Whether you're launching a business, exploring entrepreneurship, or looking to grow an existing venture, your local New York SBDC is here to help. Connect with an advisor and discover the resources available through the SUNY network. Schedule an appointment today: https://nysbdc.ecenterdirect.com/signup?centerid=22