St. Thomas Aquinas College is proud to share that President Kenneth Daly has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC), further strengthening the College’s commitment to advancing education, economic growth, workforce development, and innovation throughout the region.
“I appreciate the opportunity to officially join the HVEDC Board of Directors to help contribute to the growth and vitality of our region,” said Daly. “Education is a powerful engine for change — together, we can open doors for students, spark innovation for entrepreneurs, and build thriving communities for the future.”
Daly, who became the ninth president of St. Thomas Aquinas College on July 1, 2020, has led the institution through a period of visionary growth and innovation. Under his leadership, the College launched a new School of STEM and an Astronomy Center, embedded undergraduate experiential learning throughout the curriculum, and modernized its MBA program to include concentrations in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, and healthcare. The College has expanded its physical footprint by 30% and now hosts the region’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) on campus, offering critical resources to entrepreneurs and small business owners.
“We are honored to welcome Ken Daly to the HVEDC Board of Directors,” said Mike Oates, President and CEO of HVEDC. “Ken is a transformational leader whose commitment to education, innovation, and workforce readiness perfectly aligns with HVEDC’s mission. His depth of experience across both the private and academic sectors will bring tremendous insight and value to our strategic efforts throughout the Hudson Valley.”
Daly’s appointment to the HVEDC Board builds upon his distinguished 30-year career in the clean energy sector, where he served as President of National Grid New York. His academic credentials include a BA in English from St. Francis College, an MBA in Finance from St. John’s University, an MS in Human Resource Management from NYU, and completion of the Harvard Advanced Management Program.
A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Daly has also served on boards including the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC), and has lectured at Harvard, MIT, NYU, and internationally in the UK, Italy, and Canada.