‘Completing the Circle’ Dr. Terri Grates Day ’94 Returns Home to Lead Herkimer College
Dr. Terri Grates Day ’94 looks back on her time at SUNY Polytechnic Institute with gratitude and clarity. A sociology major, she says she never felt like a number on campus. Faculty encouraged her to think deeply about career possibilities at a time when upstate New York faced a harsh recession. That encouragement, combined with her pivotal Capstone Project, a community needs assessment for the City of Utica’s Head Start program, sparked her passion for research and her lifelong commitment to education and service.
After graduating in 1994, Terri spent 15 years moving across the globe, including a post in Stuttgart, Germany, where she became Director of School-Age Services for the U.S. Army. Returning stateside, she worked with adult learners, taught GED courses in several different settings, and supported parenting teens through education programs. At Jefferson Community College, she launched student success and retention initiatives that helped shape her expertise in higher education.
Her career expanded into institutional research and effectiveness, with leadership roles at the University of Texas at Arlington and the Tarrant County College District. At Southern Utah University, she played a critical role in restoring a struggling institution to good standing, becoming the first female CIO at a public institution in the state, a milestone that underscored her ability to lead in complex environments. Later, she served as Vice Provost for Academic Administration at the University of North Texas and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Volunteer State Community College in Tennessee, overseeing faculty, tenure and promotion, academic accreditation, course scheduling, and dual enrollment.
Earlier this summer, Terri returned home to Herkimer County to become President of Herkimer College, where her collegiate journey began in the early 90s. “My father always said, ‘You’re going to be president of Harvard on the Hill,’” she recalls with a smile. “And in the end, he got the last ‘I told you so.’”
Guided by her philosophy of respect and meaningfulness, she is focused on creating a culture where students, faculty, and staff find purpose in their work. For Terri, leadership is about listening, connecting, and helping others find meaning in their roles. She believes that people thrive when they are doing work that matters to them, and she has carried this principle throughout her career.
“I want people to do what provides meaning to them, because then they want to do it,” she says. This approach not only empowers individuals but also strengthens institutions by fostering environments where respect and purpose drive progress.
Her return to the Mohawk Valley is more than a professional milestone—it’s a personal homecoming. Surrounded by familiar names and a community she has long admired, she sees her presidency at Herkimer College as a chance to give back to the region that helped shape her. “Coming back here feels like completing the circle,” she says. “It’s about investing in the same community that invested in me.”
As both a SUNY Poly and Herkimer College alumna, Terri sees a natural synergy between her two alma maters. The close partnership between the institutions, including multiple articulation agreements that create clear transfer pathways, helps students save money, stay local, and seamlessly continue their education. “It’s a perfect fit,” she notes. “Herkimer lays the groundwork, and SUNY Poly builds on it. Together, we’re strengthening opportunities for students in our region and keeping talent in upstate New York.”
Terri credits SUNY Poly with giving her the foundation to succeed in these leadership roles. “Sociology taught me how to reframe challenges and to know it’s all going to be okay,” she says. “And one technical writing course at SUNY Poly has served me more than anything else in my career. People tell me I’m succinct, and I owe that to SUNY.”
Though she was a commuter student, she values the mentorship and experiences that shaped her. To her, staying connected to her alma mater is vital. “It’s living proof that it works,” she explains. “When alumni stay engaged, we show the next generation what’s possible.”
Her advice to students is simple but powerful: embrace resilience and seize opportunities. “Keep walking through the doors that open for you,” she says. “Every step builds on the last, and before you know it, you’ll find yourself where you’re meant to be.”
