Dr. John B. King Jr. is the 15th Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation's largest comprehensive public higher education system, serving 64 campuses and hundreds of thousands of students across New York State. Since becoming Chancellor in 2023, he has led a bold vision to strengthen student success, expand research and innovation, and position SUNY as a key driver of New York's economic growth and workforce development.

Under Chancellor King's leadership, SUNY has achieved three consecutive years of enrollment growth across every sector of the university system—the first time this has occurred in more than a decade. He has championed initiatives that improve student retention and graduation rates, expand paid internships and experiential learning opportunities, strengthen mental health resources, and increase access to higher education for students from all backgrounds. He has also prioritized research and partnerships in strategic fields including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, renewable energy, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing.

Prior to joining SUNY, Chancellor King served as the 10th United States Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama, where he led national efforts to improve educational opportunity, affordability, and student success from early childhood through higher education. Earlier, he served as New York State Education Commissioner, becoming the first African American and the first Puerto Rican to hold that position. He later served as President and CEO of The Education Trust, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing educational equity.

Chancellor King began his career as a high school social studies teacher and co-founded Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, which became part of the nationally recognized Uncommon Schools network. His lifelong commitment to public education has been guided by a belief that education creates opportunity and transforms lives.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard University, a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, and both a Master of Arts in the Teaching of Social Studies and a Doctor of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Throughout his distinguished career, Chancellor King has remained dedicated to expanding educational excellence, fostering innovation, and preparing students to succeed in a rapidly evolving global economy.