Office of the President
Dr. Terri Grates Day, President
Dr. Terri Grates Day began her tenure as the fifth president of Herkimer College on August 18, 2025.
A proud Herkimer College alumna and a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Grates Day has returned home with a wealth of leadership experience. Prior to Herkimer, she served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Volunteer State Community College, overseeing the development of coordinated instructional programs across four campuses. Her portfolio included six academic divisions, curriculum, distance learning, instructional assessment, academic support services, tutoring, dual enrollment and K-12 partnerships, library services, course scheduling, and Perkins grant initiatives.
Before that, Dr. Grates Day served as Vice Provost for Academic Administration at the University of North Texas. She also held the position of Special Assistant to the President for Planning, Information Technology, and Institutional Effectiveness at Southern Utah University. Additionally, she was the Executive Director of Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness at Tarrant County College District. Within the SUNY system, she served as an Instructor and Coordinator of Student Success at Jefferson Community College.
Dr. Grates Day holds an associate degree in Social Sciences from Herkimer County Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from SUNY Institute of Technology (now SUNY Polytechnic Institute), a Master of Arts in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland at College Park, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Higher Education Administration from the University of Dayton.
With her deep understanding of Herkimer’s legacy and an unwavering commitment to student success, Dr. Grates Day is poised to guide the College into its next chapter.
To contact President Grates Day, please call 315.866.0300 x8261 or email: president@herkimer.edu
"It is the honor of my life to return home and serve the college that first opened the doors of possibility for me. As a proud graduate of Herkimer College, I know the transformative impact this institution can have. Herkimer gave me the foundation to dream bigger and work harder, and now I have the unique privilege of serving the community that shaped who I am. Together with our outstanding faculty, staff, and community partners, I look forward to building on the college’s legacy while also preparing boldly for the future." - Terri Grates Day, Ph.D.