Farmingdale State College (FSC) alumnus Clyde Vanel, ’97, knows how to masterfully navigate a variety of situations.
From the ins and outs of the judicial system as a skilled intellectual property attorney, serving as an honorable member of the New York State Legislature, and owning and operating multiple businesses, to piloting an emergency aircraft landing, Vanel has done it all and then some.
Vanel grew up in Cambria Heights, Queens. The third oldest of 10 children, he was “navigating the politics of a big family” from a young age and often had to assist his parents, who had emigrated from Haiti and did not speak English.
“I was kind of like their lawyer as a kid,” he said. “But they believed in education and hard work. And they instilled some of the most basic principles of respect, hard work, and education. They told me, ‘The doors in this country will unlock. You can go almost anywhere.’ My upbringing really helped shape who I became.”
Vanel went on to earn an associate of applied science degree in aerospace technology and a Bachelor of Science in aviation administration from FSC. He also served for two years as the Student Government Association president—his first introduction to lobbying at New York State’s capitol.
“My experience as student body president at Farmingdale, oh my gosh, that changed my life,” he said. “It took me on a new trajectory. It actually got me interested in becoming an attorney. It gave me so much experience with politics, with law, with business, with operating a budget.
“It was invaluable now that I think about it. Invaluable. It helped advance me, years beyond my age. It was such a great experience,” he added.
A New York State assemblymember since 2016, Vanel has sponsored numerous landmark bills, such as legislation to create a robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) commission; license high-risk AI systems; and create a cryptocurrency and blockchain study task force.
“I am glad to call Assemblymember Vanel a great friend,” said New York State Assemblymember Kimberly Jean-Pierre. “He is a leader in his community and here in the legislature. In the emerging age of AI, Assemblymember Vanel has been the champion of multiple pieces of legislation around the issue. Many of my colleagues look to him when they have any questions around technology, including myself.”
“You’re always successful when you’re serving people,” Vanel said. “That’s when you know that you’ve done well and you’re doing your job well— when you’re making a difference in people’s lives.”
A seasoned recreational pilot, Vanel made headlines early last year for a successful emergency landing on a beach in Shoreham, New York, when his Beechcraft’s single engine lost power.
“I was trained in this emergency situation,” he said. “I was over the water, and it just happened to be low tide. There was enough beach that was exposed for me to put the plane down on. If it hadn’t been low tide at that time, I don’t know if I would have survived.”
Vanel continues to make an impact. In 2014, he founded the New York Metro chapter of the Black Pilots of America, Inc. (NYMBPA), a non-profit that works to increase diversity and opportunities for underserved communities in the field of aviation. In November 2023, he announced the Clyde Vanel, ’97 Flight Fee Scholarship, which will go to support every student in FSC’s Professional Pilot Program.
Vanel said he is grateful to be able to give back to an institution that gave so much to him.
“Farmingdale has been seminal in who I am,” he said. “I mean, just talking about this makes me realize how important Farmingdale was for me. At Farmingdale it’s about instruction, and learning, and training—for people. And it’s not about instructional training for training’s sake, it’s about building people for the world. Preparing them to go do good things in the world.
“I want to continue to seek growth and learn,” he added. “And I want to continue to help people and make a difference.”
