ESF President

Effective Nov. 4, 2020, Joanie Mahoney assumed the Office of the Presidency at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Ms. Mahoney is the first woman to lead SUNY ESF.

Ms. Mahoney joined ESF in November 2018 as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she has served on the senior leadership team where she has been instrumental in the Discovery Challenge process, expansion of ESF as an instrumental partner with government to address pressing issues like climate change and intrusion of invasive species in our waterways, and functions as point person on COVID-19 matters and preparedness.

Prior to ESF, Ms. Mahoney served as Onondaga County Executive for 11 years and oversaw all aspects of a county government, which served 460,000 residents. During her tenure as county executive, she earned national recognition for her environmentally friendly stewardship.

Before her elective office, Ms. Mahoney worked as an attorney both in private practice with the Harris Beach law firm and for five years as a criminal prosecutor in the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office.

Ms. Mahoney received her bachelor of science degree from Syracuse University's School of Management and her juris doctor from SU's College of Law. 

• Statement of Policy in Diversity