Disgraced State University of New York Chancellor Gets $450,000 Paid Leave Package

Former State University of New York Chancellor James Malatras will make a cool $450,000 for a one year paid “study leave” after being pressured into resigning his position for allegedly smearing one of Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment accusers, according to an investigation by the New York Post.

Even though he was pressured by lawmakers, faculty, and even New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Malatras will still be employed as a tenured faculty member at SUNY Empire College after his leave, where he will make a $186,660 annual salary.

Malatras started as a policy advisor and Director of State Operations to former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, advising him through the early stages of the Covid pandemic around the time that Cuomo instituted policy that returned Covid-positive patients to nursing homes.

Then, in August of 2020, Malatras was appointed to serve as Chancellor of the SUNY system, where he made a salary of $359,630, according to data from OpenTheBooks.com compiled via the NY freedom of information law.

Malatras was pressured to resign over his lack of professional conduct, which came out during the investigation into Cuomo’s sexual assault allegations. The SUNY University Faculty Senate said in a statement that, “Not only did he not push back against the toxic work environment that we now know characterized that administration, he also contributed to its polarized, ‘take no prisoners’ culture.”

Malatras reportedly told a female subordinate “You have a f—king bad attitude on everything, lady,” as well as texted a fellow Cuomo aide “Malatras to Boylan: Go f–k yourself.” Lindsey Boylan was one of the 11 women that accused Cuomo of sexual assault. He also said about Boylan “Let’s release some of her cray [crazy] emails!”

Unprofessional and disparaging comments about female subordinates and sexual assault survivors should be met with contempt and disgust. Instead, the government has rewarded Malatras with almost a half million dollar paid leave, and secure employment.

The #WasteOfTheDay is presented by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com.