In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Alison Buckley, President of SUNY Ulster, to explore community college leadership, student-centred design, and what it truly takes to help students not just access college—but finish.
Ben and Alison discuss what makes SUNY Ulster distinctive from its unique role serving both rural communities and the city of Kingston, New York, to its deep-rooted connection with local residents who view the college as a life-changing institution. Alison shares how accessibility, visibility, and listening to students directly shape her day-to-day presidency, from open-door conversations to addressing food insecurity in real time.
A powerful thread throughout the conversation centers on student success by design, not luck. Alison reflects on a former student whose journey was altered through timely intervention, financial support, and consistent human connection and how that experience shaped her belief that institutions must intentionally build systems that surround every student with support.
This episode is a thoughtful and grounded exploration of leadership rooted in empathy, community, and the belief that higher education works best when students are truly seen, supported, and believed in.
