A Bold Prescription for Higher Education

When Jerry Balentine, D.O., assumed the presidency of New York Tech on July 1, he stepped into a role he never envisioned for himself as a young physician in the Bronx.

Trained as an emergency medicine specialist, Balentine planned for a career treating patients, training residents, and thriving in the unpredictable world of the emergency department.

Now, as the university’s fifth president, Balentine is drawing on his background in emergency medicine, health system administration, and academic leadership to guide New York Tech through one of higher education’s most challenging eras.

This article originally appeared in the fall 2025/winter 2026 issue of New York Institute of Technology Magazine.

By Renée Gearhart Levy