Regents pick Tisch as new chancellor

On Board Online • Albany Update • March 16, 2009

By Marc Humbert
Senor Writer

The state Board of Regents on Monday unanimously elected member Merryl Tisch to replace Robert Bennett as chancellor of the education policy-setting body.

Tisch of New York City will become the first female chancellor of the Regents when she replaces Bennett on April 1. Bennett is resigning as chancellor, but plans to remain on the board, representing western New York.

Tisch has been a member of the Board of Regents since 1996 and has served as its vice chancellor since April 2007.

The board, at its March 16 meeting, also chose Regent Milton Cofield of Rochester to replace Tisch as vice chancellor.

In a short address to the Regents before her election as its 36th chancellor, Tisch pledged to press for continued improvements to early childhood education and student achievement. She said the mission of the board should be to “promote change and encourage innovation.”

Tisch also indicated a desire to work collegially with school districts. “We have to focus our efforts on strengthening school districts rather than on struggling schools; working with districts to strengthen their capacity to improve their own schools,” she said.

NYSSBA Executive Director Timothy Kremer, who attended the meeting, said, “We congratulate Regent Tisch and we look forward to working with her in her new role as chancellor.”

Tisch is a former first-grade teacher and is married to James Tisch. The Tisch family, active in philanthropy, has interests in numerous businesses, including Loews Corp. and the New York Giants football team.