Our History and Name

The Levin Institute was established by the State of New York, under the auspices of the State University of New York. It is named for Neil D. Levin, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who perished in the attack upon the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The Institute is a division of the SUNY Office of Global Affairs.

A native New Yorker and a product of New York schools, Mr. Levin was a leader in business, banking, and insurance at the state, national and international levels. Through his leadership of the Port Authority, he served at the focal point of international commerce, not only as landlord of the World Trade Center complex, but as operator of New York's major airports, port facilities, bridges and tunnels.

Prior to his appointment as Executive Director of the Port Authority, Mr. Levin served as Superintendent of Banks and Superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department.

During his broad career in the private sector, at Goldman Sachs, and in public service, he served as chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, a director of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac), and a member of the Freddie Mac Advisory Committee.