Jeffrey Putman, EdD
Vice President
Academic and Student Affairs
Dr. Putman serves as the Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs for all five of the SUNY Downstate schools and colleges. In his role as the Chief Student Affairs Officer, he provides overall coordination of services for students. He also serves as the deputy Chief Academic Officer. In addition, Dr. Putman also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Putman previously served as Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students (2013鈥�2017) and as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (2006鈥�2013) at SUNY Downstate. Prior to coming to Downstate, Dr. Putman served from 1996鈥�2006 in multiple Student Affairs roles at , including as Interim Dean of Students and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs & Ombudsperson.
Dr. Putman is the recipient of the Pillar of the Student Affairs Profession Award from the (2020), the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean from of (2019), the Outstanding Contribution to the Student Personnel Profession Award from the (2017), the Mid-Level Student Affairs Professional Award from of (2007), and the Chancellor鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Professional Service (2001). In 2025, he received the President鈥檚 Award for Distinguished Alumni from , and a Special Recognition from the SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Class of 2025. In 2023, Dr. Putman received the inaugural Resiliency Award for Leadership from SUNY Downstate. Other accolades include the from in 2021 and was induction into by the SUNY Downstate Eta Chapter in March 2022 and into the in May 2023.
Dr. Putman earned his Doctor of Education in Higher & Postsecondary Education from in 2011. He also holds a Master of Education and Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from . He was inducted into the Kappa Chapter at in December 1998.
In addition to his role at Downstate, Dr. Putman serves in leadership roles as Past Regional Director and Regional Historian for , after having served a two year term (2023-2025) as a Regional Director and member of the Board of Directors for . He has served as a member of the NASPA Region II Advisory Board since 1997. Dr. Putman also serves as Past-President of the SUNY Council of Senior Student Affairs Officers (served as President from 2019鈥�2021); as President Emeritus of the (having served two different terms as President); as Co-Chair of the Alumni Engagement Committee of the ; and as Doctoral Campus Liaison and member of the Executive Committee of the SUNY Chief Academic Officers Association. From 2015-2017, Dr. Putman served as the 26th leader and first elected President of the , .
Prior to his work in Student Affairs, Dr. Putman served as a Legislative Aide for the and interned with 鈥� and with the promotions & news departments of , New York City. In 2013, Dr. Putman was appointed an Official City of New York () Instagram Photo Ambassador by the after winning the 2013 #LoveNYC Photo Contest sponsored by the Mayor鈥檚 Office of Media & Entertainment and in 2014 was appointed a #SeeYourCity Social Media Ambassador by , the City of New York's official marketing, tourism and partnership organization.
You can follow the Division of Student Affairs on and . You can also follow Dr. Putman on X at .