Rensselaer County Legislature Appoints Wayne Pratt to College Board of Trustees

September 19, 2016

The Rensselaer County Legislature appointed Wayne Pratt to the Hudson Valley Community College Board of Trustees at its August 9 meeting. The new member succeeds Don Fane, who stepped down from the board due to increased work commitments. Pratt will serve the remainder of Fane's term, which expires in 2019.

Pratt is a respected local business and civic leader. He and his family own and operate the Rensselaer-based Walter S. Pratt & Sons, Inc., a heavy equipment rental company that operates throughout the Northeast. 

Throughout his career, Pratt has held leadership positions with numerous education and civic organizations. He served on the board of directors of the Southern Rensselaer County Boys and Girls Club for decades. Pratt also chaired the budget advisory committee for the East Greenbush Central School District for more than a decade and was a longtime member of the Capital District Transportation Authority board of directors.

"Wayne has given so much time and energy to his community throughout the years, and he really understands the mission and goals of our institution," said President Drew Matonak. "We are proud to have him lend his expertise to the college's Board of Trustees." 

A Rensselaer native, Pratt graduated from the former St. John's Academy, and served in the New York State National Guard. 

The college's 10-member Board of Trustees is appointed by the Governor, who names four members, and the Rensselaer County Legislature, which names five members to serve seven-year terms. One member is elected by the student body for a one-year term.

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Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs in four schools: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Science; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and an Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, it has an enrollment of nearly 12,000 students, and is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. Hudson Valley has more than 75,000 alumni.