On Friday, March 20th, 2026, Professor Dandridge disclosed to his students that his contract would not be renewed, meaning he would no longer be teaching at the institution by the end of the Spring 2026 semester. While no official reason was provided, there are circulating claims that the decision may have been influenced due to not having an Ph.D. and/or there aren’t enough students with a Black Studies Major or Minors.

SUNY New Paltz has a faculty of 344 full time and 323 part time, 372 of the faculty population hold Ph.D or terminal degree. This means that approximately 44% of the faculty at SUNY New Paltz do not hold a Ph.D. or terminal degree, highlighting that a significant portion of instructors contribute to the institution without this credential. 

In addition, the Black Studies department is deeply embedded across the curriculum, with many of its courses fulfilling requirements in diverse fields including, but not limited to, sociology, Latin Caribbean Studies, psychology, biology, and general education programs.A department with this kind of reach demands instructors who bring both expertise and passion to the classroom. Professor Dandridge is precisely that kind of educator, and his absence would be felt far beyond the Black Studies department alone.

Anthony Dandridge joined the faculty at SUNY New Paltz for the 2018-2019 academic year. As of early 2024, he is a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Black Studies with over 20 years of total experience teaching college-level courses on Race, Racism, and Contemplative Practices. To add on, Professor Dandridge is not just a faculty member, he is a cornerstone of this institution. He is a founding member of the Black Lives Matter at School Collective at SUNY New Paltz, a Co-Chair of the SUNY Black Faculty and Staff Collective, and a New Paltz Faculty Sustainability Fellow. He has dedicated himself to building and uplifting the Black Studies department, creating a space where students feel seen, heard, and educated in their own history. Losing him isn't just losing a professor, it's losing a pillar of our community.

State University of New York at New Paltz must renew Professor Dandridge's position. His work is irreplaceable and his impact undeniable. He is a professor who makes his students critically think and reflect on the world around them. SUNY New Paltz deserves to keep a professor who is unafraid to speak on pressing issues and stand up for what is right.