Online Extras – Oswego Alumni Magazine

New Scholarship Honors Lake Admissions Director

Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:26:41 +0000

Daniel Griffin ’92 M’00

New Scholarship Honors Late Admissions Director

Dan Griffin ’92 M’00 could have easily skipped out on attending college. Living on a North Country farm as the youngest of 10 in a family led by a single mother, no one would have been disappointed if he hadn’t — well, no one, except Dan.

A humble hard-worker, he was a first-generation student, only one of two in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree and the only one to earn a graduate degree.

Not only did he attend SUNY Oswego for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees, he also spent his entire professional career at his alma mater, helping to recruit generations of future Lakers to study along the shores of his beloved Lake Ontario campus. In 2016, he was diagnosed with advanced stage cancer but remained in his position as director of admissions at SUNY Oswego (albeit on medical leave since 2020) until his passing in July 2022.

“He loved this place so much,” said his wife, Sharon Griffin M’22, who is a graduate admissions counselor at SUNY Oswego. Even in his final days, he was dreaming and talking about helping students at the college, she said.

He died on July 30, 2022, at the age of 51. He is survived by Sharon, and their three daughters, Hannah M’23, Natalie ’22 and Allison; his mother, Anne; siblings, Dennis, Donny, Darrin, Dean, Diane Latimer, Deena Claffey, and Darlene Nelson.

Now, his family, friends and coworkers are pooling their resources to establish the Daniel B. Griffin ’92 M’00 Memorial Scholarship to help his legacy live on at the institution he cared so much about. When fully endowed, the scholarship will support a graduate student in Oswego’s master’s in higher education leadership program.

Sharon had discussed her desire to establish a scholarship with Dan, and they decided that supporting a student who wanted to pursue a career in higher education made the most sense, especially since there are not as many funding sources available for graduate students.

“I hope that the recipients get to know a little bit about Dan and the type of person he was and use that knowledge to move forward on their own pathway and be able to assist others in pursuing higher education,” Sharon said.

His college roommate and close friend, Dan Sheehan ’92 and his wife, Kimberly Baker Sheehan ’92, were among the first people to support the scholarship established in memory of Dan.

“When we were undergrads, graduate degree programs related to ‘Higher Education Administration’ were few and far between,” said Dan Sheehan, who met Dan during their first day on campus and worked with Dan in admissions as student tour guides, although, unlike Dan, he pursued a career in the pharmaceutical industry after graduation.

“To know that SUNY Oswego has instituted an accredited program meaningfully geared toward producing student-centric professionals ready to serve the unique needs of evolving colleges and universities? Quite simply – it’s synonymous with Dan’s legacy,” Sheehan said. “We need motivated, inspiring, others-centered leaders willing to pour into and nurture the developing leaders of tomorrow. I’m beyond excited to contemplate the impact this scholarship will have, as Dan’s legacy is carried forward by worthy award recipients who will strive to inspire others in their own unique ways.”

Dozens of students who worked with Dan and his team in admissions have gone on to pursue careers in higher education, including his daughters: Hannah, who assists with recruitment as a Graduate Ambassador in Oswego’s Graduate Studies Office; Natalie, who was a tour guide and worked as a student worker in the admissions office; and Allison, who is a tour guide at LeMoyne College. Many of these individuals consider Dan to have been a mentor and personal friend.

“I knew Dan for 23 years,” said Katie Maxwell ’97 M’02, retreat and event coordinator at the Wisdom House in Litchfield, Conn. “16 of those years were spent working together in Admissions at Oswego. We had a very close relationship. He was my supervisor, and my right-hand man when it came to running Open House events. We weren’t just colleagues, we were friends.”

She sent a homemade card to Dan every week from his diagnosis to his death–hundreds of cards over the 5 1/2 years he lived with cancer, Sharon said. Maxwell was also one of the first people to support the scholarship.

“It’s very important to me that his name lives on, his legacy lives on,” Maxwell said. “He was so giving, and in this way he’ll continue to give to others. Since Oswego was his second home, this is a beautiful way to honor him … He was respected by everyone: colleagues, students, prospective students and their parents, school counselors, the list goes on. He would have been a perfect instructor for this new major. He practically wrote the book!”

Upon learning of his passing, SUNY Oswego Officer in Charge Mary C. Toale shared a message to the campus community, who admired and respected him.

“Our campus has lost a much-loved member of our community; Dan’s warmth, kindness, witty humor and Oswego pride touched so many,” she said. “An Oswego alumnus with a 1992 bachelor’s degree in English and a 2000 master’s degree in education, Griffin was a member of the Admissions team since his time as a student. In 2018, Dan earned a high honor from SUNY –- the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service –- where he was aptly recognized for his nearly three-decade career at SUNY Oswego.”

Dan made many positive contributions to SUNY Oswego, including securing record-breaking applications, enrolling more than 2,200 freshmen and transfers, and attracting the most diverse freshman class of Oswego students ever in 2017. He was instrumental in coordinating and growing the college’s scholarship program for first-year students, organizing a College Night at SUNY Oswego, expanding open houses and accepted-student days, creating an admissions counselor-in-residence program in New York City and Long Island, boosting recruitment efforts in such cities as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., developing the Start Now program, and working closely with the Office of International Education and Programs to increase the numbers of international students.

Even more impressive than his professional accomplishments was the impact he made through his personal interactions with family, friends and coworkers. His sharp wit brought laughter and joy into the workplace, and he regularly went above and beyond to assist others, especially prospective students in their life journeys.

For example, in 2020, the Bernstein family (Brad ’89 and Liz Bernstein, their daughter, Sara Bernstein ’18 M’19, and son, Matthew Bernstein ’24) created the Dan Griffin ’92 M’00 Second Chance Scholarship because of the impression he made on them. His interactions with the family throughout the admissions process had such a positive impact that they decided to name the scholarship after him. The family said that Dan saw the potential in, and believed in young people and their abilities to improve and make the most of opportunities afforded them.

“Dan was floored when he heard that this scholarship was named in his honor,” Sharon said. “That was really unexpected and very moving for him.”

Another time Dan helped a student who was in crisis mode after he and his father showed up with a U-Haul to move into a residence hall on campus in the fall. The problem was that student hadn’t been accepted into SUNY Oswego. He hadn’t even finished his application to the college, but the student was too afraid to tell his father. Dan talked with the student and offered to help him talk with his father, which they did together. He also scrambled to help the student enroll in a community college, where he was able to take the U-Haul and move into a residence hall there for the fall semester.

Sharon continues to hear stories about the impact her husband had on so many people, many of whom are part of the Laker family.

“Everyone knew Dan,” she said, recalling how after she began working at Oswego five years ago, a custodial staff member in Culkin Hall asked her why she had a photo of Dan on her desk. “I feel very proud to be Dan’s wife. He made so many connections not only with people in his office in Sheldon but with colleagues across campus and with students and their families.”

Those who knew him, knew him.

“He was such a unique human being, most known for his humor and wit, but deeply passionate about seeing the good in others,” Sheehan said. “He showed genuine appreciation to everyone…and I mean everyone. His uncanny ability to combine his unique giftings with the highest level of emotional intelligence quickly won people over.”

“Dan had a true gift to connect with people, to make them laugh,” Maxwell said. “I can’t tell you how honored I am to have known Dan. He was a gift to the entire Oswego community.”

Gifts can be made in Dan’s memory to the Daniel B. Griffin ’92 M’00 Memorial Scholarship fund online, by mail to the Oswego College Foundation, University Development, 215 Sheldon Hall, Oswego, NY 13126, or by telephone at 315-312-3003.

Gifts can also be made to the Dan Griffin ’92 M’00 Second Chance Scholarship.

SUNY Oswego Welcomes One of its Largest Incoming Classes

Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:26:41 +0000

SUNY Oswego Welcomes One of its Largest Incoming Classes

SUNY Oswego officially welcomed one of its biggest incoming classes ever – and the second largest in the past two decades – with more than 2,400 new students enrolling for the fall 2022 semester. According to figures as of Aug. 30, 2022, 1,489 first-year students, 548 transfer students and 390 graduate students proudly joined the SUNY Oswego community.

In addition, nearly four in ten incoming students identified themselves as culturally diverse. While the majority (91 percent) of new students came to Oswego from around New York state, incoming students also joined the Laker family from 13 countries and 22 states plus the District of Columbia.

The success followed the college’s “all-in” approach the past year that encompassed the collective expansive efforts of faculty, staff, alumni and current students – all of whom were instrumental in supporting SUNY Oswego’s admissions, enrollment and marketing efforts.

“Welcoming this year’s amazing new class of Lakers is possible though the collective efforts of our campus community,” said SUNY Oswego Officer in Charge Mary C. Toale. “A talented, diverse and engaged student body makes for a vibrant and active campus community. We are grateful for the numerous members of the Oswego family who stepped up, stepped in and stepped forward, in partnership with the admissions team, to contribute to this year’s success. We look forward to getting to know our new students and building upon our successes for future classes.”

This year, new students participated in a week-long Laker Launch, which included a new Whiteout Welcome, Rec the Night, Paint the Road Green and Gold, national comedians, Lakerfest and Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony, with a plug for the Top 10 Things to Do Before Graduating created by members of the Oswego Alumni Association Board of Directors.

This team effort even earned a national spotlight in May through an Inside Higher Ed story.

83rd Annual Fall Technology Conference Brings Educators Together

Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:26:40 +0000

83rd Annual Fall Technology Conference Brings Educators Together

More than 400 technology education alumni and educators and over 100 students learned new skills and grew their professional networks during the 83rd Annual Fall Conference, sponsored by the Technology Department in the School of Education.

Rich Bush ’92 M’97, department and conference chair, said he enjoyed reconnecting with former students and colleagues, especially when he learned that their children have also chosen to attend SUNY Oswego’s technology education program to continue the tradition–a phenomenon he encounters regularly.

Assistant Professor of Technology Karin Dykeman ’91 M’99 CAS’19 echoed Bush’s sentiments.

“This event is the highlight of the year for me (and many others) because it’s like a reunion for those of us in tech ed,” she said. “As friends and colleagues, we look forward to seeing and reconnecting with each other for professional and personal edification; it’s an opportunity to see, talk to, and learn from each other. We have so many incredibly innovative and talented teachers; the new things they bring to share each year are incredible. As the preeminent technology and engineering education program in the state, we have a tremendous number of alumni who return for the conference as well as folks from other institutions who come to take advantage of all our presenters and vendors have to offer.”

The conference also involved an additional 112 SUNY Oswego students who were among the presenters, organizers, workers and attendees, Bush said.

Among those students were electrical and computer engineering students Yahya Ndiaye ’22 and Diego Ibanez ’23 who presented, “MagRetract: The Autonomous Cleaning Robot,” their senior capstone project. The pair are building a robot that could autonomously or manually clean construction sites of any metal debris to reduce the number of worksite injuries. They described their process, challenges they’ve encountered and how they expected to complete the project by their Dec. 2 semester deadline. (See related story. ADD LINK)

For Senegal native Ndiaye, who graduated in December and has a job lined up with Freeport-Mcmoran, a mining company, in Arizona, the Tech Conference offered him another opportunity to learn and grow.

“On multiple occasions throughout this project, every time we move one step, we went two steps backward,” Ndiaye said. “However, we never gave up on a problem before leaving the lab. We always tried to understand what the problem was so that when we came the next day we would know exactly how to go around fixing it. It is very fulfilling to be able to explain what the problem was and how we overcame it using the knowledge taught to us in our classes and through the experiences we have had through the years.”

Their presentation was one of more than 50 different workshops and presentations available over the course of the two-day conference. Some workshops provided hands-on projects for educators to bring back to their classrooms, such as programming an LED light show to music, doing a woodworking hand tool project, building a 1947 Ford Rat Rod in a wood shop, creating a ukulele or building a droid. Others were aimed at helping educators advance their field through curriculum development, continuing education for teachers, recruiting students into STEM majors and diversifying the field.

But there was also plenty of time for informal interactions and networking.

“We had a blockbuster banquet dinner with over 245 people in attendance,” Bush said of the Thursday night event. “This was the largest number of people attending in the seven years that we’ve been hosting it at the Lake Ontario Event Center.”

Don’t miss out on next year’s conference. Save the dates: the 84th Annual Fall Conference is set for Oct. 26-27, 2023.

Ten Oswego Students, Employees Earn SUNY Chancellor’s Awards

Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:26:40 +0000

Ten Oswego Students, Employees Earn SUNY Chancellor’s Awards

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management Scott Furlong (at left)
and Officer in Charge Mary C. Toale (at right) pose with student winners, (from left) Remmington
Johnson ’22, Caydee Blankenship ’22, Matthew Lynne ’22, Jayvana Perez ’22 and Helena Buttons ’22.

Five students and five SUNY Oswego employees earned Chancellor’s Awards, the highest award for excellence given by the SUNY system.

Remmington Johnson ’22 won a special Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence – Military Service: Air Force, the only such award in the state system. Chancellor’s Awards also recognized the outstanding accomplishments of Caydee Blankenship ’22, Helena Buttons ’22, Matthew Lynne ’22 and Jayvana Perez ’22.

A creative writing major from Watertown, N.Y., Johnson earned three military awards while serving in Afghanistan for leadership, courage and forecasting ability. His service earned the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal – First Oak Leaf Cluster. Returning to the U.S., Johnson reflected deeply on his service and chose to write about his experiences and what he has learned. He graduated summa cum laude, earned the Dean’s Writing Award for Creative Writing and Rosalie Battles Creative Non-fiction Award, and was runner-up for the Alix Madigan-Yorkin Short Script Award. He has published several pieces in the Great Lake Review.

A double major in finance and economics from Antwerp, N.Y., with a perfect 4.0 GPA, Blankenship excelled in academics and analytical skills. Currently working with Northwestern Mutual as a financial representative and as a team analyst for the CFA Institute, she was senior analyst for the SUNY Oswego Investment Club and a financial analyst intern with the Carta Group. Blankenship earned an invitation to present her research at the New York State Economics Association Conference, and has received the Richard Hyse Outstanding Economics Student Award, among other honors. Also a member of Women in Business, Blankenship has been inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Epsilon honor societies.

A double major in communication and social interaction and in English from Churchville, N.Y., Buttons has shone brightly in dedication to others. Most notably, they coordinate Students Helping Oz Peers (SHOP), the college’s student-volunteer-run food and clothing pantry helping campus members in need. A Merit Scholar, Buttons interned in the President’s Office/Chief of Staff, including serving on the State Employees Federated Appeal committee. They also helped other students during internships with Career Services and the Dean of Student offices. Buttons was vice president of Lambda Pi Eta communication honor society and was a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, Queer and Trans Outreach Center, and Her Campus Online Magazine. They were also selected as one of two Oswego Alumni Association’s 2022 Outstanding Senior Award recipients.

Meteorology major Lynne, from Jamesville, N.Y., excelled in academics, research and forecasting. A top student in synoptic meteorology classes, he interned with and conducted ongoing research related to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center’s Winter Storm Outlook. He also conducted research on lake-effect lightning and lake-effect snow. A Presidential Scholar, he was a student forecast leader for the Lake-Effect Storm Prediction and Research Center, and presented research at the Great Lakes Atmospheric Science Symposium, where he was a leading organizer. He also was a member of the College Honors Program, vice president of the Meteorology Club and a member of the SUNY Oswego Jazz Ensemble.

Perez, a double major in criminal justice and in communication and social interaction from Ozone Park, provided an exemplary level of leadership and commitment to furthering diversity and understanding. Perez was a key organizer of the ALANA (African, Latino, Asian and Native American) Leadership Conference multiple times. Her many involvements included serving as president of the Latino Student Union, spearheading an increase in programming, particularly during Hispanic Heritage Month. She interned with the Dean of Students and Title IX office. Her overall excellence and effort resulted in the Presidential Scholarship, Hubert B. Smith Diversity Scholarship, Jean M. Grant Student Peer Health Educator Memorial Award and Eugenio Maria De Hostos Scholarship, among other awards.

The students were recognized on campus during Honors Convocation on April 8, with a statewide ceremony on April 26 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley, the former longtime SUNY Oswego president, presided over the occasion honoring 180 students total with the Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence (CASE).

“Now more than ever, it is time to celebrate the accomplishments of our students who have helped one another get through this global pandemic and focus on getting the most out of their college education, and this year’s CASE winners are at the top of the class,” Stanley said. “It is my great honor to celebrate the fortitude, leadership, and achievements of this year’s winners, and I applaud their hard work and desire to do more for their campuses and fellow students. I, for one, can’t wait to see what they do next.”

Faculty and Staff Awards

The following SUNY Oswego faculty and staff members received their awards in front of their peers during the university’s opening breakfast in August 2022.

Mary Craw, an office assistant in SUNY Oswego’s Office of Residence Life and Housing, earned the 2022 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service, recognizing four decades of service consistently putting students first.

Three dedicated SUNY Oswego staff members have earned the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. The 2022 award winners are Lisa Evaneski, Title IX coordinator; Joshua McKeown, associate provost for international education and programs; and Sean Moriarty, chief technology officer.

Mary Tone Rodgers, the Marcia Belmar Willock Endowed Professor of Finance, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in recognition of her impactful and successful time inside and outside SUNY Oswego’s classrooms.

EXCELLENCE IN CLASSIFIED SERVICE

Mary Craw

Craw, an office assistant in SUNY Oswego’s Office of Residence Life and Housing, earned the 2022 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service, recognizing four decades of service consistently putting students first.

“While her job responsibilities include daily housing assignment management and student billing, she regularly goes above and beyond through her work with students, parents, staff and other campus offices,” wrote nominator Sara Rebeor, who supervises Craw as associate director for Residence Life and Housing. “Mary consistently works beyond her job duties to ensure students have a positive living experience.”

Craw has spent 37 of her 40 years at SUNY Oswego working in this office, but every day brings a positive attitude that helps students and co-workers.

“Mary’s daily tasks are many, but her greatest gift is her ability to impact others in a positive way,” Rebeor wrote. “She always puts students first, working to support them in their struggles. Mary’s ability to listen and her lighthearted warm approach provides a safe space for students to ask questions and express their fears and frustrations. Mary’s dedication to her students coupled with her knowledge of housing and campus policies and procedures and her positive honest approach are often recognized by staff.”

Craw also helps students and the college adapt as needs change, including as a key contributor to changing the student housing selection process from paper-based to online, as well as the implementation of gender-inclusive options.

She also provides leadership through training and support to staff at all levels related to functions such as housing assignments, billing and operational policies and procedures.

“You will often find staff in Mary’s office asking questions to help them in their work,” Rebeor noted.

Rebeor also praised Craw’s dedication to the campus and community through support of events, fundraisers, awareness walks, information fairs and much more. Craw is, Rebeor added, very connected to the campus community.

“Mary is known across campus for her candid and energetic interactions with students, parents, faculty, staff and coaches,” Rebeor wrote.

EXCELLENCE IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Lisa Evaneski

Evaneski is widely viewed as one of the most proactive and productive professionals in this field in the nation as well as in SUNY, nominees noted. Her 2022 recognition as a Diamond Honoree by the American College Personnel Association shows she is among the best in the fields that serve students. This major lifetime achievement reflects Evaneski’s more than 30 years in higher education, continuously taking on bigger challenges and opportunities to make a difference.

Her passion, purpose and excellence in serving students, victims and those needing assistance in many ways is where Evaneski really shines, nominators wrote. Evaneski joined SUNY Oswego in 2008 and began serving as Title IX coordinator in 2015.

Mary Toale, SUNY Oswego’s current officer-in-charge, previously supervised Evaneski while deputy director to the president and wrote a support letter in that role praising Evaneski’s superlative skills in supporting students.

“Because of Lisa’s exhaustive efforts to engage and educate, our campus community is aware of our policies, practices and resources in regard to sexual and interpersonal violence,” Toale wrote. “Lisa’s expertise and insight are highly sought after on and off campus. She is seen beyond campus as a leader in her field and has represented SUNY Oswego in local, regional and national conversations about Title IX.”

In addition to leading campuswide compliance with Title IX regulations, Evaneski helped create the SUNY Title IX Coordinators Association and serves as past president. She has presented and consulted at the national and regional level on Clery regulations, Title IX, the Violence Against Women Act, higher education compliance, inclusion, social justice and other topics.

“Lisa is readily available and accessible to those in need of her expertise virtually 24 hours a day,” wrote Anneke McEvoy, associate director of the James A. Triandiflou ‘88 Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Transformative Practice. “She has developed a range of educational workshops and programs for students, faculty and staff on topics ranging from dating violence to stalking to affirmative consent.”

Evaneski spearheads awareness efforts including the popular annual Yards for Yeardley campus walk/run, One Love workshops and It’s on Oz events supporting the It’s on US national pledge to end sexual violence. She was among the first to join SUNY’s Got Your Back initiative to create backpacks full of supplies for victims of domestic violence. Evaneski also has developed an exemplary program for students workers that led to former interns entering the student affairs field.

“I have attended several trainings and conferences with Lisa, and when she enters the room, it’s like one of the Beatles just walked in,” wrote Jennifer Knapp, interim dean of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts.

“Students know her, faculty and staff know her, alumni know her, SUNY Title IX professionals certainly know her, and that is all due to her tireless work to make our campuses and communities the most inclusive, safe and informed as possible,” Knapp added. “I have seen first-hand the care she takes with the people she works with, both victims and those accused, and I know she is the reason many of our students are able to persist and successfully finish their degrees.”

When the pandemic hit, Evaneski moved quickly in developing resources and using technology to ensure trainings and investigations could continue effectively.

“Lisa Evaneski works to give our campus the tools to be a more informed and accountable community, to take care of ourselves and each other, and to go out into the world as agents for positive change,” Toale wrote. “Her characteristics represent all that is good in our community.”

Evaneski earned her master of education in college student development and counseling from Northeastern University and a bachelor of science in education from Wheelock College.

EXCELLENCE IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Joshua McKeown

McKeown’s nomination noted that Oswego’s reputation in SUNY and beyond, the number and diversity of students who engage in education abroad, and the expansion of education abroad under his leadership reflect his excellence and commitment to continuing improvement.

Scott Furlong, provost and vice president for academic affairs and enrollment management, wrote that McKeown “has lifted SUNY Oswego’s status in regards to our efforts within international education and programs to the point that SUNY Oswego is seen as a leader within SUNY, where colleagues throughout SUNY, including SUNY Administration, seek him out for advice and help.”

In leading the Office of International Education and Programs (OIEP), McKeown redesigned the education abroad diversity, equity and inclusion strategy to engage new faculty in underserved disciplines, develop sustained student mentoring and outreach programs, develop new and expanded scholarship and funding opportunities, and recruit a talented and diverse office staff resulting in increased underrepresented student participation in education abroad (now 1 in 4 total participants).

Under his leadership, education abroad expanded to become a SUNY leader with over 100 study-abroad and exchange programs in more than 30 countries, which often enroll more than 400 students annually.

Nominators pointed to the variety of programs and the success of faculty-led courses that deeply embedded educational experiences into offerings. These include education and sustainability in Benin; the geopolitics of energy in Turkey; transitions from authoritarianism in Qatar, South Korea and Myanmar; theatre in Buenos Aires; storytelling in Abu Dhabi and Ghana; World War I in Vienna; fermentation in Germany, Ireland and Scotland; and how to build a sensor to measure air quality in London, among other topics.

Awards recognizing the innovations and accomplishments of McKeown and his OIEP team include the 2019 Excellence in Diversity Abroad award recognizing the rate of underrepresented minority students who study abroad from Oswego, the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange International Partnership Award (2018), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Award for Excellence and Innovation in International Education (2017) and the Heiskell Award Honorable Mention from the Institute for International Education in 2016 for the “I, Too, Am Study Abroad” program.

McKeown, who came to Oswego in 2001, won a Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators program and serves on the national-level Fulbright Award committee.

But among these accomplishments, colleagues praised McKeown’s emphasis on making students’ experiences educational, meaningful and –- most of all –- safe.

A scholar of education abroad, McKeown’s books include “The First Time Effect: The Impact of Study Abroad on College Student Intellectual Development,” which has been cited almost 300 times and is based on a broad range of data he collected and analyzed, and a 2021 co-edited volume “Global Higher Education During COVID-19: Policy, Society and Technology.”

“His commitment to educational excellence is no more evident than in his tireless work to ensure global learning is inclusive and accessible for all students,” wrote Andrew Gordon, CEO and founder of Diversity Abroad. “Josh McKeown’s contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion in international education are well known and have been recognized with the highest awards in our profession.”

Gordon added that McKeown “has built permanent structures and instilled a thorough culture of respect and inclusion in his division that creates space and opportunities for talented and diverse team members to thrive and for students to achieve their goals and dreams,” noting especially the peer-engaging Study Abroad Mentors and Diversity Mentor Program.

McKeown earned his Ph.D. in higher post-secondary education and bachelor of arts in international relations from Syracuse University, and a master of business administration from Clarkson University.

EXCELLENCE IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Sean Moriarty

Moriarty received praise for his outstanding leadership in technology development to support the college’s instructional mission since joining Oswego in 2013 as chief technology officer (CTO). In leading Campus Technology Services (CTS), he has deployed software solutions for all areas of the college, ensuring the reliability and security of campus networks, supporting effective instructional technologies and advancing digital accessibility – while prioritizing the end-users of technology in all areas of college operations.

“The position of Chief Technology Officer is extremely critical for a university and takes on many roles serving faculty, students and staff,” Furlong wrote. “Having a critical understanding of the diverse needs of these users cannot be understated, and Sean has such a grasp and works equally well with stakeholders from all areas . . . Sean engages with the needs of the campus and its personnel and works diligently to find effective and efficient solutions.”

CTO is a position that involves managing technology but with a deft and inclusive human touch, wrote Rebecca Mushtare, associate dean of graduate studies, who also is an art faculty member and former accessibility fellow.

“Sean’s primary role as a leader and as an administrator is to take the time to listen, bring the right people to the table to work together on solutions, and then be at the ready to find and advocate for the resources necessary to make this work happen,” Mushtare noted.

“Sean has a superb understanding of the role that technology plays in supporting all aspects of the college mission, and he has been very effective in nurturing a shared sense of this mission throughout the CTS organization,” wrote John Kane, who directs the college’s Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and is long-time member of the Campus Technology Advisory Board and economics faculty member.

Furlong also noted that Moriarty has elevated Oswego’s status in planning and technological infrastructure to the point that colleagues throughout SUNY, including SUNY’s administration, seek his advice and help.

Moriarty served as vice-chair and chair of the SUNY Council of Chief Information Officers from 2016 to 2020, and for numerous other SUNY and national Educause committees. In 2020, Morirarty was recognized with the SUNY Council of CIOs Collaboration Award.

Nominators also praised Moriarty’s work in leading the charge on web accessibility to meet both the requirements and the honest responsibility of ensuring that technology supports all audiences in a fair way.

“Not interested in just meeting the requirements, he also worked to create a Faculty Accessibility Fellows program that would begin the process of developing faculty in this space and creating champions for the entire campus,” Furlong wrote. “Now in its third year, the Fellows program has been very successful in sharing information regarding the accessibility of the web and other electronic materials. This was particularly important as the entire campus had to engage in more online teaching due to the pandemic.”

During the pandemic, and most notably with the quick pivot to remote instruction in March 2020, Moriarty succeeded in demonstrating institutional flexibility and developing creative, innovative solutions in short periods of time. To prioritize students and educational needs, he worked with CTS staff to offer just-in-time professional development with workshops on educational technology for recording, video conferencing and handling electronic documents and assignments. Moriarty also worked to find hardware and technological solutions for students who suddenly had to maintain their college coursework from home.

Moriarty earned a master of business administration, bachelor of commerce and bachelor of science in math and computer science, all from the University of Windsor.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

Mary Tone Rodgers

For Mary Tone Rodgers, winning the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching culminates an impactful and successful time inside and outside SUNY Oswego’s classrooms.

Rodgers came to SUNY Oswego in 2012 as the college’s first-ever endowed faculty member, the Marcia Belmar Willock ’50 Endowed Professor of Finance. In the decade since, she has used more than 30 years of experience on Wall Street as well as her intelligence, personal skills and student-first approach remarkably, nominators noted.

“An accomplished educator, Dr. Rodgers is adept at teaching a broad range of financial topics to diverse audiences and in a range of modes,” wrote nominator Richard Skolnik, who hired her while dean of the School of Business and continues to teach in that school. In addition to teaching core courses, Rodgers developed new classes to meet student needs –- with shining student reviews and tangible outcomes throughout, he added.

“She introduces students to financial information resources through projects that require utilization of the college’s Bloomberg terminal,” Skolnik wrote. “In the ‘Commercial Credit’ seminar, she wrote a case study that was accepted for publication by a peer-reviewed journal. The case was enhanced by inviting alumni with commercial loan experience to participate in the case discussion.”

Rodgers has published research in financial market crises in prestigious journals including the Journal of Economic History, Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, Research in Economic History and Review of Financial Economics, also acting as guest co-editor of a special issue in that publication. Rodgers has included students in data analysis for her research.

Additionally, she was appointed the Chandler Research Fellow in Business History at Harvard Business School, and as a select participant in a Federal Reserve workshop on financial crises.

‘Dedication to Students’

“Her consummate dedication to students through service, engagement and experiential learning is evidenced with student and alumni outcomes and support,” wrote Irene Scruton, assistant dean of the School of Business and director of the college’s master of business administration (MBA) programs –- where Rodgers is a popular teacher.

“Using her Merrill Lynch career experience, she offers our students a significant understanding of working professional responsibilities balanced with the academic rigors of the course,” Scruton noted. “Mary is gifted in providing students with content relevancy for immediate application to students’ work environments.”

“Mary’s dedication to students includes taking extra steps for them on the job market,” economics professor Ranjit Dighe wrote. “Many of the top financial firms tend to hire almost exclusively from Ivy League and other elite schools, and Mary works her connections at Merrill (and perhaps other firms) to help our students who are well qualified but otherwise might not get an interview.”

Rodgers showcases “an extraordinary commitment to student learning outside of the classroom,” Skolnik wrote. “She is the faculty advisor of the Student Investment Club, which manages a portfolio of over $600,000 and is organized similarly to a professionally managed fund. … Experience gained in the investment club has enabled students to secure competitive positions in the financial industry.”

Rodgers –- who also earned the SUNY Oswego President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement and an Open SUNY Award for Online Teaching Excellence –- has advised and prepared student teams who have placed well in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge.

Inspiration and Mentor

Ruth Perez ’15, who since has worked in the finance industry including as a vice president at JPMorgan Chase in New York City, spoke of Rodgers’ value as an inspiration and role model.

“As a young woman in college, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in finance but lacked the confidence to believe that I could do so,” Perez wrote, noting that Rodgers’ classes served as daily inspiration. “I distinctly remember the first time I met Professor Rodgers, and I was struck by her gravitas, confidence and warm nature; I knew that I wanted her not only as a professor but also as a mentor. Seeing how she carried herself and the career she had built gave me confidence that I could aspire to the same.”

When Dillon Nimako ’19 scored an interview with Goldman Sachs while a student, Rodgers “was willing to help with everything I asked for, and all I didn’t ask for help on, but certainly needed it.”

“This included interview advice, a full-scale technical review, and even a mock interview based on her experiences on Wall Street,” Nimako, now an investment analyst with Barings, recalled. “Although she was busy teaching classes, conducting research, and providing mentorship to the other 1,000+ students in the business school, she made it as if I was her sole priority; completely dedicated to my success in this particular endeavor.”

“Through multiple classes as a professor, as an advocate and presenter for the Dress for Success event that my collegiate club hosted, and as the faculty advisor to my CFA Institute Research Challenge team, Dr. Rodgers has consistently provided the guidance and motivation for me to find my purpose and the joys in learning something new every day,” wrote Mark Prezioso ’17, who is now senior pricing analyst with Constellation Brands.

“Dr. Rodgers opened the door for me to work on projects such as a $4 billion acquisition, managing and reporting on a complex wine and spirits operational budget, and in my new role, I’ll be formulating pricing strategies in international markets and providing pricing support for new product development,” Prezioso wrote, adding that Rodgers’ “spirit of continuous improvement and growth” continues to inspire tackling new challenges and opportunities.

The award comes as Rodgers transitions to teaching part time for SUNY Oswego’s MBA program while starting work on a new book for Cambridge University Press.

Rodgers earned her Ph.D. in finance from Pace University, an MBA in finance from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s in education from Carelton College.

SUNY Recognizes Two Oswego Professors with Distinguished Faculty Rank

Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:26:40 +0000

SUNY Recognizes Two Oswego Professors with Distinguished Faculty Rank

Sarfraz Mian of the Management and Marketing Department and Ampalavanar Nanthakumar of the Mathematics Department have earned the Distinguished Faculty Rank, which constitutes a promotion to the State University’s highest academic rank and is conferred solely by the State University Board of Trustees.

The appointment indicates that both professors have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to excellence, intellectual vibrancy, high standards of instruction and contributions to public service.

Sarfraz Mian

World-spanning achievements in research, publications and academics have earned Sarfraz Mian of SUNY Oswego’s Management and Marketing Department the rank of SUNY Distinguished Professor.

A typical submission for a distinguished rank in the SUNY system –- the top level of honor for talented faculty –- will feature a nomination letter from one colleague with plenty of supporting letters. In an unusual step, Mian’s nomination letter was signed by 32 faculty members of Oswego’s School of Business, underscoring the esteem in which his colleagues, as well as researchers and teachers around the world, hold Mian and his work.

“Dr. Mian has earned a worldwide reputation in the area of business incubation and entrepreneurship,” his nominators wrote. “Dr. Mian has published four scholarly books, multiple chapters in scholarly books, and over 50 peer reviewed journal articles. He also has presented his research work at numerous international conferences. He has research collaborations with scholars all over the world.”

Mian, who has a fifth book in the works, is exceptional in terms of influence as well as output. “Research published in the Journal of Business Research and Journal of Technology Transfer has identified Professor Mian’s work as the most cited and most influential among international scholars in the area of business incubation,” his nominators wrote. They also noted Mian has more than 4,000 citations for his work, according to Google Scholar.

Joining the SUNY Oswego family in 1992, Mian has chaired the Management and Marketing Department since 2010, where he supervises more than 25 faculty members and department staff. He previously earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities in 2012.

Mian’s expertise has led to invitations to serve guest-editor and/or co-guest editor for special issues of journals seven times, including for peer-reviewed journals Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Technology Transfer, Technovation, Small Business Economics and the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management. He also served as associate editor for the Journal of Small Business Management.

Mian has been invited to serve as keynote speaker at conferences in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as for the British Academy of Management. He also has been invited by various schools to help them set up their entrepreneurship programs, and held elected offices for the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences and the Academy of Management. Mian also was appointment by the Global Entrepreneur Monitor as the project chair for an internationally funded annual assessment of that nation’s entrepreneurial activity.

International Leadership

“Dr. Mian’s international reputation results in many graduate students from other universities seeking his assistance as a mentor for their thesis. His guidance has enabled young researchers to become accomplished scholars,” noted Richard Skolnik, a former longtime dean of Oswego’s School of Business.

“Dr. Mian is an inspiration with respect to leadership, work ethic and impact,” wrote Barry Friedman, a professor of marketing and management in Oswego. “He richly deserved and earned worldwide scholarly recognition in the business incubator and accelerator field.”

Friedman also noted that Mian spearheaded the addition of a new and very popular minor in entrepreneurship –- with more than 100 students in it already –- and teaches courses on the subject at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

“His impact extends beyond our students into the international community, as he conducted executive entrepreneurial workshops in Pakistan and Germany,” Friedman added.

Fellow marketing and management faculty member David McLain noted Mian’s key leadership role in bringing world-class scholars to an entrepreneurship symposium on Oswego’s campus. “That leadership has put Oswego on the map for entrepreneurship research, helped foster a minor program of study in entrepreneurship, and encouraged academic quality at Oswego,” McLain wrote.

Developing Entrepreneurs

Ashraf Attia, another marketing and management faculty member, noted Mian’s key role in leading both the entrepreneurship minor development and additional interest in the field at Oswego. “In addition, Dr. Mian has been leading and is actively involved in continuously improving the capstone management courses in the graduate and undergraduate programs and has designed and pioneered several new entrepreneurship courses,” Attia wrote.

One of the world’s foremost experts in entrepreneurship, Henry Etzkowitz, founding president of the International Triple Helix Association and a former senior researcher for Stanford University, praised Mian as “an outstanding scholar with the highest worldwide impact in his chosen field of business incubation and acceleration” and “most deserving and outstandingly qualified for recognition due to the significance and global impact of his entrepreneurship university related scholarly work, specifically in the area of business incubation and acceleration.”

Mian also received supporting letters from colleagues from around the U.S. and from such international institutions as the University of São Paulo in Brazil, Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan, Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the University of Ottawa, the University of Cagliari in Italy, the Institute of Business Administration Karachi in Pakistan, Linköping University in Sweden and the National University of Mexico.

He earned his Ph.D. in management and organizations from the George Washington University School of Business, where he also earned a master of business administration. In addition, Mian holds a master of science in industrial engineering and management science and a bachelor’s/master’s science degrees in chemical engineering/energy engineering from University of the Punjab in Pakistan.

Ampalavanar Nanthakumar

Outstanding work inside the classroom and supporting student research have earned Ampalavanar Nanthakumar of SUNY Oswego’s Mathematics Department the rank of SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor.

Nominator Fehmi Damkaci, professor and chair of the Chemistry Department, described Nanthakumar as “a well-rounded and continuously improving teacher and scholar who is also impacting the college and community in large with his activities.”

Joining the Oswego family in 2001, Nanthakumar has taught 14 different courses from introductory to advanced, developed two online courses and consistently receives very high student evaluations and satisfaction ratings.

He also supported more than 60 students with scholarly and creative activities –- often involving them in his publications and presentations –- while staying involved in several teaching and education-related community and college service activities.

Nanthakumar previously received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2020. He received the SUNY Oswego President’s Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity in 2018.

Mathematics can be a challenging subject, but Nanthakumar routinely receives very high marks in evaluations, Damkaci said, with students using such descriptions as: “Dr. Nanthakumar is very passionate about the subject matter,” “He cares about his students and always offers great help at office hours” and “He clearly understands the material, but more importantly helps us to comprehend it.”

“The examples he gives in these classes depend on his audience since mathematics is required for students in different majors,” Damcaki noted. “This made it easier for his students to understand the subject matter as summed up by a comment from one of his students, which mentions that Dr. Nanthakumar relates material to real-world application.”

Active Scholar

Nanthakumar is an active scholar in publications and presentations, working with top international statistics experts and his own students. “He published about 42 peer-reviewed articles and five proceedings,” Damkaci wrote. “Of these, 22 articles and three proceedings were published since his appointment at Oswego. He also presented research at 14 international conferences and 12 national and regional conferences. Most importantly, he co-published three articles with his students in refereed journals.”

Calling Nanthakumar “a distinguished teacher and scholar who is a significant resource for students in the Department of Mathematics, particularly those studying statistics,” Kristin Croyle, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, noted his “very positive” teaching evaluations, “with students commenting about how much he works with them to ensure that they understand the material, and that he consistently works to integrate examples from different fields in order to capture the attention of students of many interests.”

“His mentees speak highly of him and their careers and advancement have greatly benefitted from working with him,” said Isabelle Bichindaritz, an associate professor of computer science and director of the college’s biomedical and health informatics graduate programs. “His research, in particular with students, clearly benefits society and the community, for example by studying data science and statistical analysis and their applications in business, forensics, astrophysics and business.”

Bichindaritz further emphasized that “the kindness and spirit of service of Dr. Nanthakumar are exemplary,” as he has provided support on grant proposals for the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Health.

Committed to Students

Student letters supporting Nanthakumar consistently emphasized his teaching skills and how much he cares outside of the classroom.

“Dr. Nanthakumar creates an environment where students want to show up to class and are eager to learn,” said Olivia Peel ’20.

“He is not only a professor, but also a mentor, a coach and committed to all students and their success,” Peel noted. “I feel lucky to have had a mentor who not only pointed me in the direction to be successful but walked with me every step of the way to make sure I got there. He is dedicated to the students of SUNY Oswego, the mathematics department, the university and our community.”

Nanthakumar “truly goes above and beyond for his students to make sure they succeed after college,” wrote Caydee Blankenship ’22, a Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence winner, who described him as approachable, caring and always willing to help.

“Even though it is not a part of the course material, he makes the time to teach us how to use software, such as SAS, because he knows employers will look for this skill when hiring employees,” Blankenship added. “This shows that he wants us to succeed in life and not just in his course.”

Nanthakumar has additionally served students by leading creation of an applied statistics minor and advising students in the applied mathematical economics major.

As president of the Sigma Xi Oswego Chapter –- an international science organization where he was named a 2020 fellow –- Nanthakumer led the organization of a Science Day event for high school students, some of whom enrolled in SUNY Oswego.

Nanthakumar also has chaired the college’s Institute for Global Engagement’s Cultural Committee, which successfully implemented three “Country of the Year” programs, and its International Students and Visiting Scholars Committee, creating the Conversation Partner program, where international students are paired with U.S. students to improve language skills.

He coordinates Pre-University Science Poster Competitions organized by the Toronto-based Technological Advances in Science, Medicine and Engineering organization serving high school students mainly in North America. He also serves as an academic council member of the Athens Institute for Education and Research Conferences in Greece, organizing and reviewing submitted papers.

Nanthakumar received letters of support from faculty and colleagues around the U.S. as well as the University of Manitoba, University of Stirling in the United Kingdom, University of Balamand in Lebanon and University of Jaffna in Sri Lanka.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in math/statistics from the University of Jaffna in Sri Lanka, a master’s in statistics from Bowling Green State University and a Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Kentucky.

Animated Torchlight Dinner, Ceremony Kicks Off May 2022 Commencement Weekend

Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:26:40 +0000

Animated Torchlight Dinner, Ceremony Kicks Off May 2022 Commencement Weekend

After two years of revised Commencement Weekend activities to address pandemic-related health and safety concerns, the SUNY Oswego Commencement Eve Torchlight Dinner and Ceremony returned on May 13, 2022, to its normal, lively cadence as the university community celebrated with an eager group of graduates and their family and friends.

2022 Outstanding Senior Award recipients:
Yadira “Yadi” Aranda Burgos ’22 and Helena
Buttons ’22.

The dinner program, led by co-emcees Rachel Dimitroff ’22 and Michael Jean ’22, included the recognition of two graduates who were selected as the 2022 Outstanding Senior Award recipients: Yadira “Yadi” Aranda Burgos ’22 and Helena Buttons ’22.

During the dinner, SUNY Oswego Officer In Charge Mary C. Toale thanked the nearly 200 graduates, parents, families, faculty and staff who contributed toward the Class of 2022 Senior Gift. Together, they raised a total of more than $6,200 for The Fund for Oswego to benefit future students.

Following dinner, Dr. Toale introduced the keynote speaker, Trudy Perkins ’93, the acting chief of staff and communications director for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and then member of the Oswego Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Trudy Perkins ’93

Perkins discussed her career path from business administration major to news producer to deputy chief of staff and communications director for the late Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, as well as meeting people such as new U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Following dinner, the university community gathered in a tent outside the Marano Campus Center for the Senior Sing, featuring musical selections by the State Singers and the Oswego State Jazz Ensemble, and then the Torchlight Ceremony, one of the university’s oldest and most revered traditions, began.

Liam Gotimer ’22 welcomed guests, provided a brief explanation and history of the Torchlight Ceremony, recognized the staff who provided the music and lighting and Torchbearer Brittany Bennett ’21 M’22, and then turned the microphone over to Perkins, who introduced Dr. Toale.

Gabriele Candela ’22

Following Dr. Toale’s remarks, the State Singers then performed “Carry the Light” before Student Speaker Gabriele Candela ’22 took to the podium, amid loud and lengthy cheers from her classmates.

She looked back at their four years on campus and how their education was interrupted by the pandemic, but quickly shifted her focus.

“I want to reflect on the way that our class bounced back,” Candela said. “Left with this responsibility to pick up where we left off, with no older members of clubs and organizations to lead us or students to look up to, it was on us to be the example and role models for our younger peers … we persevered and brought life back to our campus. We restored traditions, made new ones along the way and did it all with a new appreciation for our Laker family and Oswego campus.”

The annual ceremony finished with the reading of the Message of the Torch and the passing of the flame from the Torch of Learning from the platform party to the faculty and alumni within the Inner Circle, who represented decades of Laker graduates from 1966 to three representatives from the Class of 2022—Caleb Davies ’22, Kamal Morales ’22 and Elizabeth Myers ’22—to the remaining 2022 graduates and their families, as the alma mater was sung.

University Celebrates May 2022 Commencement, Awards Honorary Degree to Alumna

Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:26:39 +0000

University Celebrates May 2022 Commencement, Awards Honorary Degree to Alumna

Achievers shared expertise from such areas as leadership, innovation, research and development, finance and charitable accomplishments in addressing SUNY Oswego’s graduating Class of 2022 at three May Commencement ceremonies held on campus on May 14, 2022.

Jason T. Serrano ’97

The following shared some words of wisdom as keynote speakers: Jason T. Serrano ’97, chief executive officer and president of New York Mortgage Trust Inc., during the School of Business ceremony; Susannah Melchior Schaefer ’90, president and chief executive officer for Smile Train, during the School of Communication, Media and the Arts and the School of Education joint ceremony; and Joseph Lauko, executive vice president/chief operating officer for SRC Inc. and chair of SRC International Inc., during the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony.

Check out a video with highlights from Commencement 2022.

Susannah Melchior Schaefer ’90 (center) with Officer In Charge Mary C. Toale (left) and Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement Mary Gibbons Canale ’81

Schaefer, who earned a bachelor’s in communications with a concentration in public relations, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the State University of New York. She was recognized for her visionary leadership of the world’s largest cleft organization, Smile Train, as well as for her personal passion for protecting the world’s most vulnerable.

“Every bit as important as the things I learned in the classroom were the traits I gained from my Oswego experience and my degree in communications,” she said. “Oswego taught me how to think and how to work hard; how to trust my own judgment and to believe in myself; and, more critically—how to communicate.”

She noted the supreme importance of communication was also one of the most critical lessons she learned from her beloved mentor, Smile Train’s late founder, Charles B. Wang: “Charles would say that you can … have the best idea in the world, but if you can’t communicate your ideas well, your brilliance, your drive, your unique self will not shine through and set YOU apart from the rest. And he’s absolutely right. Putting in the work to be effective, thoughtful and compassionate in your interactions with others is crucial. Approaching people with an open mind and open ears—listening!—will be key to your success throughout your professional and personal lives.”

You can watch all three ceremonies in their entirety on SUNYOswegoVideo YouTube channel, using direct links:

Generations of SAVAC Members Celebrate 50th Reunion

Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:25:50 +0000

Generations of SAVAC Members Celebrate 50th Reunion

Current and former members of the Student Association Volunteer Ambulance Corporation (SAVAC), SUNY Oswego’s volunteer EMS service, gathered on Oct. 9 for the organization’s 50th reunion. Members from all eras of SAVAC ’s history were present to honor the corporation and reminisce about their time being a part of it.

The celebration opened with remarks by Charles Flood ’72 M’81, SAVAC’s first chief. Flood regaled past and present members with stories of the organization’s history, ranging from its beginnings as the United States’ first 100-percent, student-run volunteer ambulance corporation, to how current students are still carrying on its legacy by honoring the notion that its ambulance was dedicated to be “Of, by and for the students of Oswego.”

“I’m not sure that anybody can top [our legacy],” Flood said. “I don’t think that there’s another service inside the United States that can actually claim what we’ve claimed.”

In response to Flood’s legacy speech, current SAVAC members announced they received over 150 signatures from prospective volunteers at this semester’s involvement fair. Flood and the other returning members were elated to hear this, as it is believed to be the most interest the corporation has ever received at such an event.

“You’re building your next legacy,” Flood said to the current volunteers.

Flood served alongside Ed Balaban ’73 on a panel to discuss SAVAC and its impact on its members and the community.

“Almost every one of us has found themselves in a key leadership position and key decision-making position [since being a part of SAVAC],” Balaban said. “It’s made an impact on the community, in the region, the state and ultimately, our nation.”

In addition to Flood and Balaban, members from each decade of the corporation’s existence were encouraged to share their own stories about SAVAC and how it has affected their lives. From members’ subsequent career paths to the connections and friendships they gained, the universal consensus was that their experiences were immensely educational, and that they developed a deep sense of family from participating in the organization.

Following the discussion, attendees reconvened at the SAVAC base to tour its facilities and take a trip down memory lane. Afterward, members joined together for dinner at the Oswego Country Club.

Reflecting on his experiences with the organization and planning its reunion, current SAVAC President Tristan Caruana ’24 said it was an enlightening experience to be among members of different eras, including the founders themselves.

“These are people from all the way in the beginning in [1971] to current members in 2022,” Caruana said. “That’s 50 years worth of knowledge and history.”

Caruana also acknowledged the experience as a humbling one, saying he was honored to be among so many volunteers of SAVAC ’s past.

“Throughout all of the conversations we had, it makes me realize how much SAVAC really means [to its members],” Caruana said. “It’s really amazing.”

~Ethan Stinson ’22

36th Annual ALANA Conference Features ‘Joyful Noise’ Theme

Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:25:50 +0000

36th Annual ALANA Conference Features ‘Joyful Noise’ Theme

ALANA student organizers with Newton Paul ’97 M’99 (center)

The 36th annual ALANA Student Leadership Conference at SUNY Oswego featured events from Sept. 21-26, themed around “Joyful Noise.”

“To me, ‘Joyful Noise’ means spreading love and positivity by making some noise,” said Latino Student Union (LSU) student representative Mathews Frank ’24. “We are not going to be quiet when it comes to spreading positivity; we have to be loud and we have to be proud. We must show people who we are and make sure that our voices are heard.”

Among the weeklong events was a presentation by Newton Paul ’97, who curated an exhibition, “Cuban Revolutionary Graphics Print Art Program,” in the Modern Languages Suite in the Marano Campus Center. The works of art, created between 1949 to 1968 (before, during and following the Cuban Revolution), were a means to share cultural, political, social, spiritual and artistic perspectives both domestically and internationally. The exhibition examined various printmaking techniques by members of the Asociacion de Gradadores de Cuba.

Paul discussed the importance of art and curating a collection, and explained the role that art has played in his own life. He provided tips on how to develop an eye for art, how to navigate art sales and auctions, how to negotiate with artists or their brokers, and the benefits of having invested in a personal collection of artwork.

Other events included Day of Play on the International Day of Peace; Ghanaian Drumming Group; participation in the City of Oswego’s Pride Festival; 12th ALANA Unity Peace Walk from Oswego City Hall to campus followed by a keynote address by Quindell Williams ’11; and Oswego Reading Initiative author A.S. King’s presentation about her shared reading novel, Dig.

Building on a Rich History
The ALANA conference was formed in 1986 and has been an annual tradition on the SUNY Oswego campus ever since. SUNY Oswego’s ALANA conference was founded by students who were determined to facilitate meaningful collaboration between Asian, Latino, African and Native American populations with the goal of exploring and celebrating the multifaceted aspects of culture, diversity and heritage. Those students, whose focus was on unifying all members of our campus community, understood the importance of being leaders who worked together to build and foster an atmosphere of mutual respect within a diverse and inclusive multicultural learning environment.

The ALANA conference was initiated by Tyrone Holmes M’89, then assistant director of Hewitt Union, and Howard Gordon ’74 M’78, now retired executive assistant to the president, along with the multicultural student organizations that are represented by ALANA: African, Latino, Asian and Native American. The conference continued under the influence of the now late Roosevelt Muhammad, assistant dean of students for the Department of Campus Life and director of the LEAD Center, until Campus Life moved from Hewitt Union into the Marano Campus Center and Student Involvement opened in The Point.

The tradition continues today under the guidance of the ALANA Planning Committee that is made up of student leaders, faculty and staff and guided by the Department of Student Engagement and Leadership.

In a statement by Officer in Charge Mary C. Toale, she shared the following message with the campus community: “Let us be united in this year’s conference sessions that promote filling the world with joy. As we embark on the 2022-23 year, let’s work together to keep a vital institutional priority – Inclusive Community – in the forefront of our hearts and minds. SUNY Oswego is a caring learning community; we must always strive for greater understanding and mutual respect for one another.”

ALANA Conference Meaning
The ALANA conference allows students, faculty and staff to reflect on the values of equity and diversity. SUNY Oswego is considered a predominantly white institution (PWI) — as according to SUNY Oswego’s 2020-2021 annual report, 30 percent of total student body and 38 percent of the fall 2020 entering class (including international students) self-identified as Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander or multi-ethnic.

“A conference like this is so important to have at our PWI because many do not know anything outside of white institutions, or the predominant whiteness in an institution,” said Nathalie Wijerathna ’24, student representative for the Asian Student Association (ASA). “This is a way for us to show students and faculty what is beyond that realm and immerse them in the experience.”

The ALANA conference is important toward creating a sense of belonging for students of color, Frank added.

“They see that the school is predominantly a PWI and it makes them feel uncomfortable,” Frank said. “Something like the ALANA conference is what breaks the discomfort that students have. They see that we are trying, and we are doing something big which makes them change their opinions on what they think about the school.”

Joyful Offerings
With the ALANA conference theme being “Joyful Noise,” there were many events planned to show the joy in the world instead of focusing on the suffering that many in the communities involved in SUNY Oswego’s multicultural student organizations regularly face.

“I think Joyful Noise can represent the sounds you hear when you are close to your roots,” Wijerathna said. “ASA and ASO just did a program about being close to our roots, and some of the discussion was about different cultural greetings. I believe hearing someone say hello to you in your native and/or ethnic language is beautiful and a joyful noise to me. It brings you closer to your roots no matter where you are. That’s how I view joyful noise.”

All events were free for students, faculty, staff and members of the public to attend.

Chemistry Alumni Share Advice with Students over Lunch

Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 20:25:50 +0000

Chemistry Alumni Share Advice with Students over Lunch

These chemistry alumni returned to campus as part of the ASK (Alumni Sharing Knowledge) program: (from left) Francesco Papa ’19, Sam VanDee ’98, Jessica Blodgett ’16 M’15, Dr. Colleen Alexander ’09, Steve Maier ’84 M ’87 and Devin Busch ’15.

Knowledge is of no value until you put it into practice. The value of knowledge peaks when alumni decide to come back and share what they know with current students.

Approximately 60 SUNY Oswego students and professors gathered together last spring in the Shineman Center for a chemistry alumni panel discussion.

The school welcomed back alumni:

Steve Maier ’84 M’89, principal scientist at Bausch & Lomb;
Sam VanDee ’98, senior forensic chemist at Onondaga County Center for Forensic Science;
Colleen Alexander ’09, senior manager at global regulatory strategy and delivery at Baxter;
Jessica Blodgett Vaughn ’13 M’15, investigation specialist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals;
Devin Busch ’15, quality control analyst at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; and
Francesco Papa ’19, sales consultant representing DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction.

During an hour-long discussion, the five alumni, who were seated at a table at the front of the room so the audience could have a clear view of who was speaking, shared advice and inspired current chemistry students. Complimentary pizza and water were provided for both the students as well as the alumni to enjoy during the panel.

Students currently enrolled in chemistry classes submitted questions prior to the start of the panel to be answered. A question would be presented and the five took turns speaking on it and echoing each other’s sentiments. The conversation was facilitated by chemistry department advisement coordinator, Kristin McNeill Gublo ’96 M’99.

Urging students to stay true to themselves and their aspirations was a common theme that existed within the answers given by the alumni. VanDee expressed the importance of making sure you are doing things that you enjoy.

“If you’re doing something that you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” VanDee said.

Vaughn took his comments a step further by saying,

“Be patient,” Vaughn said. “You’re not going to be perfect. You’re still new at this. Make yourself well-rounded because there is more to your life than just your job.”

Having hobbies and extracurricular activities that they enjoy outside of their job helps them maintain a level head in what can be a very challenging field of work.

The alumni continued to provide life advice and tips for the students throughout the conversation.

Papa shared his tough journey, which included selling paint immediately after college to experiences of assisting in operating rooms during surgeries. He told the audience to always remember the importance of having an off switch, and trying to maintain balance between worklife and personal time.

“You gotta take time to turn it off at the end of the day to recharge,” he said.

~Brian Aldeus ’22