A Bold Prescription for Higher Education

News Staff| November 3, 2025

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

More News

Creating an Award-Winning Startup

Student entrepreneurs Nigel Oommen and Johnathan Wheeler created their award-winning classroom learning tool Edvana to make education more effective, engaging, and personalized.

Portrait of Milan Toma

Not All AI is Built to Diagnose

A new study by researchers at the College of Osteopathic Medicine reveals how general-use AI platforms make serious mistakes when it comes to analyzing medical results.

Portraits of Oscar Cruz and Pavan Kanakkassery

My Co-op Gig: Engineering Together

For their co-op, friends and electrical and computer engineering classmates Pavan Kanakkassery and Oscar Cruz traveled to Texas twice to electrify a 16-wheeler industrial rig.

Woman's profile with digital images

New York Tech Celebrates Women’s History Month 2026

Celebrate women and their many accomplishments during Women’s History Month. The university will host a series of events throughout March.

Portrait of Alisha Karim

My Co-op Gig: Alisha Karim

Alisha Karim describes her co-op at Northwell Health as a perfect fit, renewing her excitement for a future career in tech.

Portrait of Michael Izady

Understanding Sanctuary Cities

Teaching Assistant Professor Michael Izady, Ph.D., led a Dean’s Digital Café conversation about sanctuary cities.