Honor Van Nest’s Retirement

Senate Resolution No. 1955 BY: Senator LAVALLE COMMENDING Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. upon the occasion of her retirement after 38 years of distinguished service to the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the significant milestones in the distinguished careers of esteemed residents of this noble Empire State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. upon the occasion of her retirement after 38 years of illustrious service to the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities on Wednesday, March 15, 2017; and WHEREAS, A graduate of The College of Saint Rose with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, and The Albany Law School of Union University, Juris Doctor, Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. has distinguished herself in numerous regards at the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities; and WHEREAS, Elizabeth Van Nest began her distinguished career starting on the administrative side of the association's operations, quickly advancing to Assistant to the Vice President for Governmental Relations; upon graduation from law school in 1983, she moved to the position of Legislative Counsel; and WHEREAS, Two years later, Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. became the Chief Legal Officer of the Commission as General Counsel before moving to the esteemed position of Vice President for Legal Affairs, in addition to having served since 1994 as the Executive Director of the Organization of Independent College and University Trustees, the Council of Governing Boards; and WHEREAS, Throughout her many years of service, Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. represented the interests of independent colleges and universities before the courts and the National Labor Relations Board Amicus Curiae in matters involving state action, employer liability, graduate assistants, tax exemption, affirmative action and the public trust doctrine, diligently, persuasively and effectively applying her talents and abilities to take into account the breadth, depth, diversity, and uniqueness of independent colleges and universities and the students they serve; and WHEREAS, Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. also engaged in efforts to preserve and improve Direct Institutional Aid, the Tuition Assistance Program, and the higher education opportunity programs, including HEOP, STEP and C-STEP, shepherding the Liberty Partnership Program to enactment; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. crafted and drafted economic development initiatives, guided New York's deliberations in enacting the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA), and kept a watchful eye as New York State enacted and amended the Non-Profit Revitalization Act of 2013; and WHEREAS, To ensure the best education for New York State's youth, Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. fought tirelessly for campus safety, teacher education and certification, program approval, quality assurance, accountability, and numerous other proposals affecting independent higher education; and WHEREAS, As the longest tenured employee to date, Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. has spent more than two-thirds of her life in service to the more than 100 independent colleges and universities in New York State; and WHEREAS, For the past 38 years, Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. rendered faithful, conscientious and valuable service to the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, earning the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues; and WHEREAS, In her capacity as Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. served with loyalty, honor and distinction, and was governed by a keen sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems in her official acts; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq. upon the occasion of her retirement after 38 years of distinguished service to the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Elizabeth Van Nest, Esq.