Nassau Community College Welcomes Paul Pereira to Board of Trustees

Garden City, NY — Nassau Community College is proud to announce the appointment of Paul Pereira to the College’s Board of Trustees, bringing with him more than three decades of experience in education, public service, community leadership, and civic engagement.

A longtime resident and current Mayor of the Village of Mineola, Pereira has dedicated his life to serving the communities of Nassau County through education, municipal leadership, and charitable involvement. Born in Veiros, Portugal, Pereira immigrated to the United States with his family in 1977 and has called Mineola home for more than 45 years.

Pereira is a graduate of Mineola High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Adelphi University, followed by a Master’s degree in History from Queens College. He also holds a certification in school administration from The College of St. Rose.

He began his career in education in 1993 as a member of the Mineola School District’s Social Studies Department, where he has served students for more than 31 years. In addition to teaching, Pereira built one of the region’s most successful boys varsity soccer programs, becoming the winningest soccer coach in Mineola High School history. Throughout his career, he has advised numerous student clubs and organizations, coordinated international student exchange programs, and remained deeply involved in school leadership initiatives and alumni engagement.

Beyond the classroom, Pereira has long been recognized for his commitment to charitable and civic organizations. He has been an active member of the Long Island Portuguese Lions Club for 26 years and was awarded the organization’s highest honor, the Melvin Jones Fellowship, in 2016. In 2018, he received the “Order of Merit” medal from the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo Sousa, in recognition of his service to the community and his promotion of Portuguese language and culture in the United States.
Pereira first joined public office in 2008 when he was elected Village Trustee in Mineola. After multiple re-elections and serving as Deputy Mayor beginning in 2011, he was elected Mayor in 2022. Under his leadership, Mineola has become a recognized model for transit-oriented development and smart growth, earning a $4.5 million New York Forward grant in 2024 and becoming the first Long Island community designated as “pro-housing” by New York State.

Pereira and his wife Diana are proud parents of three children:  Andrew, Sofia, and Ana.

About Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College (NCC), a campus of the State University of New York (SUNY), provides a comprehensive public college experience designed to prepare students to start, and continue, their successful journeys through higher education. Serving more than 17,000 full-time and part-time students annually, NCC offers 70 degree and certificate programs. Through on-campus and online offerings, the College educates local and international students and boasts more than 164,000 alumni. Situated on 225 acres in Garden City, Long Island, NCC is located in historic Nassau County, one of the most desirable locations to live in the United States and an epicenter for business and careers. Since 1959, the College has earned a nationwide reputation for academic excellence, affordability, and ease of transferability to four-year schools. 

Media Contact:  Brett Spielberg | brett.spielberg@ncc.edu | (516) 572.9634