Dr. Laura Anker, distinguished service professor emerita of SUNY Old Westbury, was among the 13 leaders from across New York State named to create groundbreaking policy for the state while selecting the leadership personnel for the newly announced New York State Institute for Immigrant Integration Research & Policy.
The Institute, which received funding in the fiscal year 2023 State Budget, will be housed at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, the State University of New York's public policy think tank, and will focus on helping immigrants transition to community life, further education, and the workforce.
"New York is built on the hard work and determination of generations of immigrants, and this Institute will work to improve the lives of those who are trying to build better lives for themselves and their families," Governor Hochul said. "By clearing the boundaries for new New Yorkers, we can help to better integrate them into the New York community and access the New York Dream."
As a member of the Institute's Advisory Board, Dr. Anker joins a broadly based group of accomplished leaders who bring an array of experiences and relationships, as well as a shared commitment to immigration integration to the Institute's work. The Advisory Board will provide the Institute with guidance and recommendations with respect to research, programming, fundraising opportunities, and community events.
"I look forward to taking part in this important work with Governor Hochul and her team,.” said Dr. Anker of her appointment. “The amazing immigrant success stories I've experienced with students at SUNY Old Westbury illustrate the contributions they can make across our state and nation when they have access to education and the tools to create the lives they want for themselves and their families."
Appointed to the SUNY Old Westbury faculty in 1978, Dr. Anker retired this summer after 44 years of service to the institution. Across her experience on campus, Dr. Anker was recognized for her commitment to ensuring access to higher education for students from underrepresented and immigrant backgrounds for expanding experiential learning pedagogy for all students.
Winner of the 2019 Outstanding Leader in Higher Education Award from the National Society for Experiential Education, Dr. Anker served as the longtime director of the College’s Office of First Year Experience and the College’s award-winning Community Action, Learning and Leadership program. Since its inception in 2007, the CALL program, in partnership with 60 local community civic-minded partner organizations, provided over 250,000 hours of community engagement opportunities to more than 4,000 students.
Dr. Anker received a B.S. from Brandeis University, a M.S. from Brown University and a Ph.D. from Stony Brook University. She received the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Service in 2006 and the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1989. She has written numerous papers in addition to two books, "Women of Courage: Jewish and Italian Immigrant Women in New York" and "First-Year Reader: The Ethics of Engagement: Educating Leaders for a Just World."
Now living in Stone Ridge, New York, Dr. Anker was a long-time resident of East Hampton, New York, serving on various boards and committees including the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center in East Hampton, the East Hampton Group for Good Government, Long Island Wins, and All for the East End-Long Island Community Foundation.
The launch of the Institute follows Governor Hochul's mission to protect immigrants, including those who are undocumented, who were forced to leave their homelands. In October 2021, the Governor signed legislation (S.343-A/A.3412-A) classifying certain threats to report a person's immigration status as extortion or coercion under New York law. She opened up educational and housing opportunities to assist evacuees from Afghanistan and Ukraine.