15. Kimberly Cline

As the tenth president—and the first woman—in Long Island University’s history, Kimberly Cline has strived to make this institution of higher learning one of the shining lights on the Island. She’s overseen its strongest operating results since it began more than 90 years ago, earning high ratings from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, and putting the campus on the cultural map by offering a position to former Long Island Congressman Steve Israel. As distinguished writer-in-residence and chairman of the new Global Institute, he hosted Gen. Colin Powell at its inaugural event at LIU Post’s Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. Since 1949, LIU has been presenting the internationally acclaimed George Polk Awards, one of the most coveted journalistic honors the Fourth Estate can achieve, and a real credit to LIU’s dedication to free expression. At LIU, Cline has to oversee many moving parts simultaneously, with its facilities in Brooklyn and Brookville educating more than 20,000 students and offering 500 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. Under her leadership, the university has remained focused on providing a high-quality education at an affordable price, keeping tuition rate increases at 2 percent or less through 2020. Forbes’ Investor’s Guide to College Admissions recognized LIU as one of 10 “hot colleges in the making” in 2016, crediting Cline’s “innovative management.” She continues to inspire her students to reach higher and dream bigger.