Dr. DeeDee M. Bennett Gayle has been named the recipient of the Dr. Hazel Dukes Fellowship, an honor recognizing individuals who demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and justice in New York State. The announcement was made by Governor Kathy Hochul, who highlighted the legacy of Dr. Hazel Dukes as a leader in civil rights and public education.
“Dr. Hazel Dukes was a tireless force in the fight for civil rights and equality in New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “She is dearly missed, and I am honored to pay tribute to her legacy through the recognition of this year’s fellow and ensure Dr. Dukes’ vital work continues to inspire New Yorkers for generations to come.”
The fellowship is awarded to alumni of SUNY Leadership Institutes who reflect the values and dedication that marked Dr. Dukes’ career. Dr. Dukes served as President of the NAACP New York State Conference, held positions on the NAACP National Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and was previously a member of the SUNY Board of Trustees.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. stated, “Dr. Dukes was a driving force for equality and human rights, working tirelessly for generations of New Yorkers to have opportunities for upward mobility. I congratulate Dr. Bennett Gayle on this well-earned recognition, and I look forward to seeing how her work continues to uphold Dr. Dukes’ life and legacy of leadership and service.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees added, “SUNY is honored to join Governor Hochul and celebrate Dr. Dukes, who dedicated every waking moment so each generation would have a path to pursue their dreams. We are pleased to recognize Dr. Bennett Gayle for her hard work and commitment to uplifting Dr. Dukes’ legacy of civil rights and equality for all New Yorkers.”
As part of events surrounding the 55th annual legislative conference organized by the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators, SUNY also named Dr. Leonardo Falcón as the next Director in Residence for its Leadership Institutes.
Dr. Bennett Gayle is an Associate Professor at SUNY Albany’s College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity (CEHC), where she leads research focused on advanced technologies in emergency management with attention toward vulnerable populations such as older adults, people with disabilities, and racial or ethnic minorities. Her work includes studies funded by agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Department of Homeland Security.
Her research uses both qualitative interviews and quantitative survey analysis to address disaster preparedness challenges in areas affected by tornadoes, hurricanes, infectious diseases, wildfires, flooding, among others.
SUNY’s Leadership Institutes offer programs designed for faculty or administrative professionals pursuing leadership roles within higher education institutions across its system—open to those with at least one year at any SUNY institution plus three years’ experience in higher education administration.
The State University of New York (SUNY) operates 64 colleges and universities across New York State with over 1.7 million students enrolled annually in credit-bearing courses or continuing education programs https://www.suny.edu/about/. It manages four academic health centers among other specialized schools including medical, dental, law schools as well as research facilities such as a US Department of Energy National Laboratory.
Research activity across SUNY campuses represents nearly a quarter of all academic research conducted statewide with expenditures reaching about $1.5 billion during fiscal year 2025 https://www.suny.edu/research/. More than three million alumni worldwide have graduated from SUNY institutions.