Wade S. Norwood

Wade Norwood was elected by a joint session of the Legislature to the Board of Regents in 2009 and was re-elected for a fourth term as of April 1, 2024.

Mr. Norwood is the Chief Strategy Officer for Common Ground Health (formerly the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency).   Common Ground Health is a not-for-profit community health planning agency that promotes public health in the Finger Lakes region through research, advocacy and community engagement.  

With the support of community leaders, health care providers, consumers, insurers and government, Common Ground Health has a strong record of service aimed toward ensuring accessible, affordable and high quality healthcare for the entire population of the region.

Mr. Norwood provides the strategic leadership that integrates Common Ground Health’s clinical, public health, prevention and health promotion programs; improves the agency’s processes and programs; and builds partnerships with other regional organizations.  

He also supports the agency’s on-going community and consumer engagement structures, like its African American and Latino Health Coalitions, through which regional health planning informs, and is informed by, multi-stakeholder collaboration. 

While serving in this capacity, Mr. Norwood has continued his thirty year record of community service that includes past membership on the Rochester City Council, the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority (commonly known as the City of Buffalo’s Control Board) and the state’s Committee on Open Government.  

Currently, Mr. Norwood serves as an at-large member of New York State’s Board of Regents, which presides over both the New York State Education Department and the University of the State of New York, the nation's most comprehensive and unified educational system.  The Regents are responsible for all elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions, libraries, museums, public broadcasting, records and archives, the licensed professions, and vocational and educational services for individuals with disabilities. Mr. Norwood co-chairs the Board’s Standing Committee on Professions Practice and is a member of the Health Care Work Group.