Colin McDonald ’91 (Black Studies)
Colin McDonald is a distinguished human resources executive with over 30 years of experience leading transformative people strategies across the healthcare, hospitality, staffing, and technology sectors. Known for his calm, decisive leadership and forward-thinking approach, Colin currently serves as Chief Human Resources Officer at Cross Country Healthcare, a publicly traded, tech-enabled workforce solutions and advisory firm headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. With over 38 years of industry expertise, the company is a trusted leader in addressing complex labor challenges within the healthcare space.
A champion of organizational excellence, Colin is dedicated to cultivating high-performance cultures where individuals and teams thrive. Throughout his career, he has successfully led large-scale organizational change, workforce transformation, and leadership development initiatives, focusing on sustainable performance and strategic growth.
Before joining Cross Country Healthcare in 2014, Colin held senior HR leadership roles at Carnival Cruise Lines, Tenet Healthcare, RandCol Staffing, and Citrix Systems, where he consistently delivered results in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
Colin holds a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz and a master’s degree from Mercy University in Westchester, NY. Colin is also a Certified Human Resources Professional through the Society for Human Resources Management and is Certified in Industrial and Labor Relations through Cornell University.
He is also deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace. In May 2024, he was named to Staffing Industry Analysts’ DE&I Influencer List, recognizing leaders who champion inclusive workforce practices. The following month, he received the Merit Award for HR Leadership in recognition of his innovative strategies centered on employee well-being, professional development, and organizational impact.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Colin is a dedicated mentor and community leader. He is an active member of the Broward County NAACP and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and frequently partners with leaders across industries to promote best practices in workforce development, change management, and talent optimization.
“I am deeply honored to receive the 2025 Alumni Professional Achievement Award from the State University of New York at New Paltz. This recognition holds special meaning for me—not only as a proud alumnus of SUNY New Paltz and a proud member of the Kappa Mu Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, but also as someone committed to professional excellence and community impact.
Throughout my career, I have strived to lead with purpose, whether through advancing in my career roadmap or through my continued service and leadership within multiple community-based organizations.
To have those efforts recognized by my alma mater is both humbling and inspiring. SUNY New Paltz laid the foundation for my journey, and I carry its values with me in everything I do. This award is a reflection not only of my personal accomplishments but also of the mentors, fraternity brothers, colleagues, and community members who have supported and challenged me along the way. I accept it with gratitude and a renewed commitment to uplift others in the same spirit.”
