Dr. Thom Hanford is a senior administrator and student advocate whose career spans over two decades within the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive public university system. As Assistant Vice Chancellor for Transfer and Articulation, Dr. Hanford leads SUNY’s strategic efforts to reform and modernize transfer policy, ensuring that students can navigate their educational journeys with clarity, equity, and efficiency.

A graduate of SUNY institutions at each level, Dr. Hanford earned his doctorate in Sociology. His sociological training underpins a career-long commitment to understanding and dismantling structural barriers that impede student success. He applies this lens to the complex dynamics of transfer, advocating for reforms that recognize the diverse pathways students take and the systemic challenges they face.

Dr. Hanford has played a central role in launching and leading the SUNY Transfer Task Force, a comprehensive initiative charged with reimagining transfer across the system. Under his leadership, SUNY has introduced a suite of reforms aimed at maximizing credit applicability and acceptance, reducing excess credits and time to degree; improving transparency; enhancing technological infrastructure; and establishing nation-leading system-wide partnerships.

These efforts are guided by the 2024 Transfer Task Force Recommendations Report, which outlined a bold, data-informed strategy for improving transfer outcomes and elevating SUNY’s national leadership in student mobility.

Dr. Hanford’s career and causes are deeply rooted in the values of public higher education. He is a proponent of New York State’s commitment to providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to all residents. His leadership reflects a belief that transfer is not merely a logistical challenge but a matter of educational justice; one that demands thoughtful policy, inclusive practice, and sustained institutional collaboration.

In addition to his administrative leadership, Dr. Hanford continues to contribute to national conversations on transfer reform through his involvement with organizations such as AACRAO, NASH, Transfer Nation and Complete College America and through presentations at statewide and national policy and professional conferences.

In addition to his professional work, Thom is an active advocate for causes that hold personal significance. He supports a range of mental‑health initiatives and organizations, including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Take This, and regularly participates in community events that promote well‑being and social impact. His involvement has included everything from the Breakthrough T1D Walk (formerly the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes) to volunteer efforts with the Regional Food Bank, reflecting his ongoing commitment to strengthening the communities around him.