East Northport Resident Retires From Farmingdale State College After 40 years

George LaRosa, one of the longest serving administrators in SUNY and respected statewide for his financial acumen, announced his retirement today from Farmingdale State College. This follows a 40-year career at the campus where he is Senior Vice President and CFO. He has been with SUNY for a total of 43 years.

LaRosa, of East Northport, began his career in academia in January, 1974 at SUNY Old Westbury and joined Farmingdale—then a two-year institution known as SUNY Farmingdale - three years later. He quickly advanced to held multiple leadership positions at Farmingdale including Officer-in-Charge of the campus in 2006 during a Presidential search. He has served under four Presidents—Dr. Frank Cipriani, Dr. Jonathan Gilbralter, Dr. Hubert Keen, and current President Dr. John Nader.

“I take great pride to have been associated with so many talented, professional and dedicated staff over my forty-year career,” LaRosa said. “I leave at a time where I am confident that the enormous growth and productivity will continue. I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve and to be a part of the positive change Farmingdale State College has experienced during my tenure. I will always remember Farmingdale as a major part of my professional and personal life.”

LaRosa is an eyewitness to the transformation of the campus from an agricultural institute to a four-year institution and SUNY’s largest college of technology. Farmingdale’s undergraduate enrollment of nearly 9,300 students is the second-largest among four-year colleges on Long Island behind only Stony Brook University. Over the past few years alone, LaRosa’s division has overseen a $200 million construction and renovation project that has included the Campus Center, the School of Business building, the Nold Hall Athletic Complex, the Library, Hale Hall, Lupton Hall, and the re-design of the roadways.

His oversight includes all financial responsibilities and operational departments of the College – accounting, budget, athletics, financial aid/student accounts, human resources, information technology, internal control, payroll, physical plant, purchasing, use of facilities, all contractual, legal and insurance matters of the college, and University Police (which has contributed to the nationally-recognized safety of the campus). He also oversees the business and financial affairs of all non-state campus organizations including the Auxiliary Services Corporation, the Children’s Center and the Small Business Development Center.

“George’s contributions to Farmingdale have been enormous,” President Nader said. “George deservedly commands unrivaled influence and respect among his colleagues and peers. The College has grown and prospered largely as a result of his knowledge, skills and commitment. I will personally miss his wisdom, guidance and counsel.”

LaRosa is also currently the Chair of the Board of the Broad Hollow Science Park, and serves as the Operations Manager for the College’s Research Foundation. He is also an honorary board member of the Farmingdale College Foundation. He also holds academic rank as Professor within the School of Business, having taught accounting courses for more than ten years.

He has served as a member of SUBOA (the State University Business Officers Association) for 37 years. He has been a recipient of many awards, three of the most notable are the Institute of Management Accountants’ Financial Executive of the Year Award in 1998, the State University of New York Business Officer of the Year Award in 2012 and as a Long Island Business News Outstanding CFO of the Year in 2013.