HERKIMER, N.Y. — Herkimer County Community College has named Terri Grates Day as the 5th president of the college upon recommendation from the college’s board of trustees.

Grates Day, who will begin her tenure at a date to be determined, is a 1st-generation college graduate and Herkimer College alumna. She most recently served as VP for academic affairs at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee, a role she has held since 2022. In the role, she provided leadership in the development of comprehensive and coordinated instructional programs across four campuses, promoting student retention and success. Grates Day has guided, supervised, and supported six academic divisions, curriculum development, distance learning, instructional assessment, academic support, tutoring, dual enrollment and K-12 partnerships, course scheduling, library services, and Perkins grant initiatives.

“Dr. Terri Grates Day is a fantastic SUNY success story, and she is returning to her hometown to be named our college president,” Board Chairman Daniel Reardon said in announcing the appointment. “We have found someone with both a distinguished career and vast experience along with a vested interest in our community’s success. Herkimer County stands on the cusp of exciting economic development, and Dr. Grates Day will not only be a leader at the college but also within our business community.”

Prior to her role at Volunteer State Community College, Grates Day served as vice provost for academic administration at University of North Texas, special assistant to the president for planning, information technology, and institutional effectiveness at Southern Utah University, and executive director of institutional research, planning, and effectiveness at Tarrant County College District. She also has experience within the State University of New York (SUNY) system as an instructor and coordinator of student success at Jefferson Community College.

Grates Day holds an associate degree in social sciences from Herkimer College, a bachelor’s degree in sociology from SUNY Polytechnic Institute, a master’s degree in counseling and personnel services from the University of Maryland at College Park, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership, higher education administration from the University of Dayton.

Herkimer College offers certificate and associate-degree programs in art, business, communication arts, criminal justice and law, education, health care and service, liberal arts and sciences, and STEM to a student body of about 2,500.