Leadership

About Dr. Lorrie A. Clemo

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Dr. Lorrie A. Clemo has dedicated her life to leadership and service through education. Since becoming D’Youville University’s first lay president in 2017, she has led the institution through a transformative period marked by bold innovation, strategic growth, and a deep commitment to community impact.

Under Dr. Clemo’s leadership, D’Youville achieved university status and launched the Health Professions Hub—an award-winning facility that offers clinical placements, simulation training, and community-based health services. She also established the Doctoral Studies and Research Center, which fosters research, scholarship, and entrepreneurial activity across disciplines, and most notably, recently launched the College of Medicine, the first medical school in Buffalo in nearly 200 years. 
 
Dr. Clemo’s presidency has been defined by her focus on educational excellence, student-centered support, and equitable access. D’Youville has gained national recognition for its success in social mobility, first-generation student outcomes, and interprofessional education. Her forward-thinking leadership includes pioneering a 32-hour workweek for staff, investing in mental health and wellness services, and launching accelerated and online programs such as the 5-year PharmD and Family Nurse Practitioner.

Her career began as faculty and grew through two decades at SUNY Oswego, where she was a professor of public administration and policy, and later served as Provost and Vice President. She participated in the American Council on Education (ACE) Fellowship, preparing her for a presidency defined by strategy, compassion, and impact.

In addition to her role at D’Youville, Dr. Clemo serves on the boards of Kaleida Health, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York.

A proud wife, mother, and grandmother, Dr. Clemo holds a PhD and MA in Public Administration and Policy from Binghamton University and a bachelor’s degree from Le Moyne College.