Spring 2020
alum NEWS
#SUNYSchenectadyProud
ON THE COVER: Students taking their classes from home during Virtual Spring 2020. Clockwise from top left are: Jessica Beauchemin, Nutrition, Christian Corker, Liberal Arts, Nikkita Rodriguez, Culinary Arts, Manny Hubbard, Music Audio Technology, Hannah Daignault, Nutrition, TeAna Taylor, Human Services
alumNEWS
SUNY Schenectady Board of Trustees Ann Fleming Brown, Chair Renee Bradley, Secretary Damonni Farley Raymond R. Gillen Gary E. Hughes Michael Karl Margaret (Peggy) King, Ed.D. Tina Chericoni Versaci, Esq. Hannah Daignault, Student Trustee SUNY Schenectady President Steady H. Moono, Ed.D.
SUNY Schenectady Foundation Board of Directors Jamison R. Flora, Chair Kenneth R. Countermine ’93, Treasurer Steady H. Moono, Ed.D., College President, Secretary Richard G. Kotlow, Immediate Past Chair Lynn Manning, Chair-elect Ann Fleming Brown Kevin R. Buhrmaster Vera Dordick ’04 Martin S. Finn, Esq. Peter L. Gregory Dr. Margaret King, Emeritus Ceil Mack Kathleen McLean Victor L. Mazzotti, Esq. Donald Rohr, Ph.D. Michael A. Tobin, II Tina Chericoni Versaci, Esq. Reneé Walrath Barbara Bishop Ward Ryan Watroba Dr. Leslyn E. Williamson Susan M. Zongrone ’85 Terry Phillips, Board Member Emeritus Yono Purnomo, CEC, CFBE, Board Member Emeritus Stacy McIlduff, CFRE, Vice President of Development and External Affairs SUNY Schenectady Public Relations/Publications Specialist II Heather Meaney SUNY Schenectady Development Staff Stacy McIlduff, CFRE, Vice President of Development and External Affairs Arlene Moran Executive Secretary I alumNews is published by the SUNY Schenectady Development Office. The Editor welcomes your comments. Please contact the Development Office at (518) 381-1324.
2
Dear Alumni and Friends, There is nothing familiar about the situation in which we find ourselves. Though we may have fallen into new routines at home, balancing family and work, they are vastly different from the ones we enjoyed just a couple of months ago. The ways in which we access necessities like food, the new concept of social distancing, the financial volatility, the sorrow from lives lost, and the turmoil that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought are uncharted challenges. But it is at a time like this that those things that are familiar and have been constants in our lives take on new meaning: the faces of our family and friends on our devices, the view of an emerging spring outside our kitchen windows, our favorite books and music, and community institutions, like SUNY Schenectady, that remain symbols of strength and resilience. We are so proud of our alumni who are changing the world; working to address the public health crisis on the “front lines” in areas like healthcare, information technology, and criminal justice. You have paved the way for future alumni and you set an important example of the power that your education gave you, and the positive impact that it enabled you to have on your family, and your community. Please continue to keep our students in your thoughts as they find their way in a new world. As a community college, we are accustomed to responding to community needs and pivoting quickly, which positioned us well when we needed to move to virtual instruction on March 30. As we made this delicate transition, we realized that one of the most important things we needed to do for our students was to provide them with a sense of familiarity and stability in the midst of a difficult and ever-changing situation. We needed to remind them of our commitment to empowering them every day to reach their academic goals, and let them know that although we aren’t together on campus, we are always here for them. This support for our students has taken many forms. Our faculty have worked tirelessly to reshape their courses for virtual instruction, while also providing encouragement to students as they adapt to learning remotely. Music professors haven’t skipped a beat, offering their lessons in real-time through Zoom. Science and Culinary Arts professors have gone the extra mile, creating videos to guide their students through labs. Professors are answering questions from students during virtual classes, delivering live lectures, all the while serving as a consistent presence in their lives.
Crucial support measures have been put in place to ensure the persistence of our students. Advisors, staff, mentors, and success coaches are available to students through video chats, phone calls, and emails. Laptops were loaned out to students without computer access at home. Recognizing the emotional and psychological toll this is taking, we are offering counseling sessions as well as stress reduction strategies, referrals to off-campus agencies, and wellness tips. And, our Food Pantry has remained open, providing much needed food and personal hygiene items. Despite the unprecedented change and the overwhelming challenges we now face, SUNY Schenectady remains open and accessible for current students, prospective students, their families, and our community. Our focus is still on delivering quality education and fulfilling our mission, and we will not waver. Thank you for staying connected to your alma mater, and for being committed to a brighter future for our students. Steady H. Moono, Ed.D. President
ALUMNI AND STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Essential Healthcare Workers Share Their Stories Every day healthcare workers across the country report for work amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. We asked some alumni and students to share what motivated them to join the healthcare field. Lisa Savona ’95 (Human Services), Ellis School of Nursing (2013), Registered Nurse (RN) at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital in Schenectady Why did you decide to become a nurse? “I had a calling to do this. I worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) when I was younger. I love the field. I love taking care of people and making them feel comfortable.” What area do you work in now? “I work on the traumatic brain injury unit at Sunnyview; that’s my home, but I do float around to other units like neuro and cardio pulmonary.” What has been your experience with COVID-19? “I have only worked with one COVID-positive patient at the very beginning of this. We now have a dedicated unit which I don’t work on. As more information is coming out about this illness, people are less scared of it on the nursing side. When you think about it, we deal with illness and transmittable illnesses every day. We know what we’re doing. We know how to protect ourselves and other people. It’s about the patients. It’s always been about the patients. A lot of people are working in the nitty gritty of it. You won’t find a nurse who’s doing that who is not there for the patients.” Bharat Tillack, Nutrition major, Pharmacy Technician in Schenectady, plans to transfer to pursue his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing to become an RN or General Nurse Practitioner Why are you drawn to Nursing as your future profession? “My mom was sick when I was in high school in Guyana. We went to the hospital and the doctor on call was with another patient so the nurse practitioner helped save her…It was
from then on that I felt very motivated that nursing was something I wanted to do because a nurse is the first person to see a patient and they can influence their lives. Nursing is a rewarding career and working with people on the path to better health is one of my biggest goals - to help people feel better. Whenever I interact with people if I can help them in a positive way, it means a lot to me…Nursing is my dream.”
Ron Dayter ’10 (Health Studies), Ellis School of Nursing (2011), RN, Nurse Administrator II at the Capital District Psychiatric Center in Albany
How has it been going to work every day during the pandemic?
What was your motivation to become an RN?
“It has been kind of scary, but we wear masks and gloves all day. Actually, it’s a break from being home all the time, so I’m not staying home and stressing over the pandemic. Going to work connecting with people keeps me going since I am a people person.''
“My mother was terminally ill for two years and being her health care proxy, I was taking care of her. I would go to work and sleep overnight in the hospital. One night, my mom had a bad night, and the nurses comforted her and made her feel better. I remember saying the next day, ‘I want to do that, I want to be a nurse’ and my mother said, ‘You can do it.’ She passed away in May 2009 and…I enrolled immediately into the Health Studies program that Fall semester to take my prerequisites before Nursing school.”
Janae Falu, Nutrition major, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at Baptist Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Scotia, planning to transfer on for her bachelor’s degree in Nursing What was your inspiration behind choosing healthcare as a career? “I have been in healthcare since 2011 when I started working as a CNA. I was going to Orange County Community College studying Accounting and had to write a paper comparing majors. I compared Accounting to Nursing and when I got the paper back, my professor said ‘it seems like you have more passion for Nursing than Accounting.’ So that’s when I started looking into LPN programs.” What are your duties as an LPN? “I administer medication, take vitals, communicate any issues the residents are experiencing to the doctor, follow doctor orders, observe the residents…help with mobility.” What do you like about the field? “I enjoy helping my residents to the best of my ability. Whatever they need, I’m there for them. I can do what they can’t do for themselves and what their families can’t do for them. It’s like a family to me."
What keeps you motivated on a daily basis? “Managing a psych center is all about problem solving…We’re doing triage, working with a mobile crisis team, we have patients on constant observation, involving medical treatment as well as psychiatric - I like that. Working with a team (doctors, nurses, patients, residents on call) for the best outcome of the patient is all the motivation I need.” How has COVID-19 affected your work? It really impacted us hugely in the beginning. Now it’s a routine…We had to ask questions at the door, have a new area to screen people coming in, and create beds and a unit for those who might need to quarantine. I teach people how to put on and take off P.P.E. And right away we needed to calm fears and team build; remind employees about how blessed we are that we are essential and we can help others and go to work and have some socialization on a daily basis when a lot of Americans are not having that opportunity.”
3
STUDENT ACCESS AND SUCCESS Teaching Labs and Lessons From Home When the College transitioned to virtual online learning on March 30, students and professors alike began to navigate how all of the topics that would normally be covered in hands-on labs and lessons would be covered virtually. With a lot of ingenuity, technological savvy, and determination, they have made it work.
watches her students perform their lesson music in WebEx meetings. Dr. Hosmer can easily demonstrate a passage the student is working on and the student can then perform it. Dynamics, phrasing, hand position, and breathing can all be discussed and improved. In her Music Fundamentals class, students join WebEx meetings at their regular class times and she annotates the workbook during the live lecture.
In Chef Michael Stamets's Classical Cuisine II Lab, he has Ordinarily, his students Dr. Richard Simons, watching Associate Professor videos to in the Division of learn about the food and culture of a region Math, Science, and more about the ingredients that are Technology and staples of the region. He is also doing live demonstrations from his home kitchen of Health, would have his Anatomy and dishes like Bucatini all’Amatriciana. The pasta Physiology (A&P) dish from the Le Marche region was used as a students observe sign of togetherness after an earthquake hit skeletons and muscle models, perform the region in 2016. dissections, and generate their own EMG (electromyography) on Iworx, recording For her oboe lessons, Professor Karen muscle activity. Ecology students learn how Hosmer of the School of Music, listens and
to use soil meters and pH meters. He has modified all of that for virtual learning. For example, Dr. Simons recently created a video on the bike path along the Mohawk River to guide his Ecology students through sampling techniques before they examine a 5 x. 5 meter study plot near their homes to determine what type of organisms are present. Students in the Performance Concentration class taught by Assistant Professor Mark Evans use Zoom to connect with him. Students set their laptop or phone in such a way that he can see their hands at the keyboard, making sure that good hand position and finger techniques are being used. Students also send in video recordings of their performance or post them on a private YouTube page, and through a Zoom performance class they are able to hear one another play and offer comments.
Helping Our Community Like so many other institutions and organizations, the College had to cancel events on campus in the wake of the pandemic. We donated perishable items that were set aside for spring banquets and events, as well as items from the SUNY Schenectady Convenience Store, to the Salvation Army of Schenectady and YWCA of NorthEastern NY.
Dr. Steady Moono, President of SUNY Schenectady, prepares food to be donated.
4
Dr. David Brough, Dean of the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism, delivers food to the City Mission of Schenectady on March 25. With him is Deacon Gary Riggi, Director of Engagement for the Mission.
The College donated 300 surgical masks, 40 Tyvek suits, and 100 boxes of gloves to Ellis Medicine in Schenectady, personal protection equipment (P.P.E.) left-over from the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts, and Tourism and science laboratories. Pictured are Marcy Steiner, Vice President/Executive Director, The Foundation for Ellis Medicine; Dr. Steady H. Moono, President, SUNY Schenectady; and Anthony Schwartz, Director of Facilities, SUNY Schenectady.
STUDENT ACCESS AND SUCCESS Construction Continues On Learning Commons
Above, left: Envision Architects' rendering of the upper level of the Learning Commons. Above, right: Work continues on the new Learning Commons in this photo from March 10. Work resumed in early April on the College’s new Learning Commons, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced construction to halt for for a short time during March and early April. The Learning Commons is one of the largest capital projects in the College’s history, which will completely rebuild and reprogram two floors in the Begley Building. This exciting addition to campus will occupy approximately 30,000 square feet of space to enhance support services and expand academic resources for students through academic resources for students including: labs for math, writing and accounting; a tutoring center; the center for excellence in teaching; study rooms; student collaborative spaces; a career center; IT support; a reading area; café; and library stacks. Funding for the $10.1 million renovation project is provided by Schenectady County, through one of the largest single financial commitments the County has ever made, as well as donors to the College’s Foundation, and the State of New York.
Expansion Into Downtown Schenectady On Horizon Pictured celebrating a new collaboration between the College and the Mill Artisan District during a special event at Frog Alley Brewing in February 2020 are: JT Pollard, Developer and Architect; Dr. Steady Moono, College President; Vanessa Traver, Instructor in the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism; Honorable Angelo Santabarbara, New York State Assembly; Dr. David Brough, Dean of the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism; and Ray Gillen, Chairman, Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority. The College continues to move ahead with plans to create a culinary classroom and lab space for chocolate, pastry, and baking instruction in downtown Schenectady after signing a lease over the winter to occupy almost 3,000 square feet of space at the Mill Artisan District, a block away from campus. Students in the Culinary Arts program will be able to take classes to make chocolate from scratch, part of the “bean to bar” craft chocolate movement.
Workforce Development Opportunities In these uncertain times, the ability to reframe your career has never been more important. SUNY Schenectady’s Office of Workforce Development & Community Education is here to help. We offer programs to get you back to work quickly in the areas of Healthcare, Emergency Medical Technician, Advanced Manufacturing, Craft Beverage, IT Software Coding, and Culinary, for example. We are also able to connect you with funding resources to cover the cost of training so that you can get back to work without incurring debt, depending on eligibility. This office also offers a variety of STEM summer youth programming starting in July. For more information, please visit our website or call 518-595-1101, Ext 3. The COVID-19 crisis has reminded us all of the importance of a strong Healthcare Workforce. We offer a variety of healthcare training opportunities. Through the Healthcare Profession Opportunity Grants program, we are able to provide low- or no-cost training opportunities in a variety of work settings including hospitals, assisted living facilities, long-term care centers, rehabilitation facilities, and patient homes. We are here to help. For more information please refer to our website or call 518-621-4007.
5
STUDENT ACCESS AND SUCCESS Albany Business Owners Inspired to Assist Food Pantry College and I knew that often times students are non-traditional, and they are trying to turn their lives around in many ways, and the thought of them having to worry about food…it just was appalling. It struck me so deeply to my core, I wanted to do something about it.” So, she and Gus, who have owned High Voltage Electric Service, Inc., in Albany for the past 30 years, made a donation to the Pantry. This year, they pledged even more support by donating $50,000 to start an endowed fund for the Pantry, meaning that their generosity will go on in perpetuity.
Magda Mininberg with her sons Benjamin and Mark and her husband Gus on the Union College campus in June 2018 during Mark's graduation from Union.
Of particular interest to Magda, in addition to the Pantry providing food and toiletries, is the expansion of offerings of feminine hygiene products. “Hopefully with additional funds, the Pantry can expand even more to meet more needs,” she said. “Being a woman and dealing with many issues, you don’t need lack of feminine hygiene products to be one of them.”
She enjoys coming to campus and watching how the Pantry continues Last year Magda Mininberg and her husband Gus were watching the to expand, while exchanging ideas for its further expansion with Robyn evening news when one of the stories made such an impact on her that King, Counselor IV who oversees the Pantry, and Stacy McIlduff, Vice she had to act. President of Development and External Affairs. “I’m very proud and I’m also very humbled,” Magda shared. “We hope there actually comes “We were watching Channel 13 during dinnertime back in a day when you don’t need the Food Pantry anymore, but right now I’m February 2019 and they had a story about SUNY Schenectady’s Food hoping I’m helping. It’s very much in my Catholic tradition that charity Pantry because there had just started to be talk and more coverage begins at home. And SUNY Schenectady is home and an important about food insecurity for college students,” Magda explained. “I knew part of the Capital Region.” people from SUNY Schenectady and Hudson Valley Community
Calling all alumni. We want to hear from you. Why did you choose SUNY Schenectady? How did your experience shape your journey? Share your story and tag SUNY Schenectady. #MySUNYSchenectadyStory #SUNYSchenectadyProud
6
A LEGACY OF LEARNING A Keystone Society Profile: Dr. Joshua Schwartz
Dr. Joshua Schwartz (third from left) with students Jahmier Anderson, Alanna Carmello, Jayden Martin, Taylor Krawczyk, and TeAna Taylor. At key times in his life, Dr. Joshua Schwartz has had people express their belief in him and what he can accomplish, forever changing his path. There was the professor from Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) who was a customer of his when he worked in retail and suggested he enroll as a student at MCCC, which he did in 2009 at the age of 26. Then, a few years later, there was Dr. Karen Stout, then President of MCCC, who asked him to become her executive assistant while he was still a student at the college. (He took the job a month after graduating with his degree in Liberal Arts.) “She saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself at that time,” Dr. Schwartz said from his home in Pennsylvania. “One person believed in me and changed my thought and view of myself.”
In addition to his role as Director of Product Partnerships for TargetX, a higher education software company, Dr. Schwartz is an Adjunct Faculty Member for SUNY Schenectady, teaching online Ethics and Business Communication courses. He doesn’t hesitate to pick up the phone and talk to his students. “Sometimes all I have to do is sit there and listen,” he explained. “It’s never me giving the solution; it’s letting them feel empowered, and figuring out what we can do to make them succeed in this class.”
Dr. Schwartz began his affiliation with SUNY Schenectady in 2015, serving as Policy and Compliance Consultant for a year under Dr. Steady Moono, whom he worked closely with at MCCC when Dr. Moono was Vice President of West Campus. Even after returning home to Pennsylvania, he felt strongly about the work that SUNY Now, through a significant gift to SUNY Schenectady faculty and staff were doing Schenectady as a Keystone Society Member to improve the lives of students, a fondness and as top donor to the Foundation’s recent that has continued over time. “I love the Promise of Our Common Future capital commitment that everyone has to student campaign, Dr. Schwartz hopes to demonstrate success, especially right now with everything that same belief in SUNY Schenectady students going on; the way the College has handled the in the future. “I see the struggles students are pandemic has been impressive…with faculty going through and it’s great knowing that I and staff supporting the students, it has only have the ability to give scholarships as a legacy strengthened that I made the right decision.” to my life and that I can guarantee that five or six students achieve their dreams,” he said.
Keystone Society Members Benita C. Allaire Anonymous (5) Dr. Stephen K. Astmann Helen H. Begley* Vladia C. Boniewski '71, SCCC Emeritus Professor Grayce Susan Burian, SCCC Emeritus Charles W. Carl, Jr.* Karin Carreau Professor Peter Cousins, SCCC Emeritus* Professor Mary Jane Dike, SCCC Emeritus Margaret A. Evans '81 Karen* and Walter Grattidge Al and Anita* Haugen Karen Brown Johnson* Dr. Margaret (Peggy) King, SCCC Emeritus Professor Jessica K. Malheiros, SCCC Emeritus, Founding Faculty Member* Ellie Moore ’86 Thomas Nelson, SCCC Emeritus, and Ann Henderson Anne and Terry Phillips Thomas L. and Barbara M. Rider Janet P. Robbins, SCCC Emeritus Gretchen and Lewis Rubenstein Donald F. Schenk '74* Dr. Joshua S. Schwartz Phyllis E. Gordon Stanton Esther Swanker* Martha Szuminskyj* Marcia E. Vinick* *In Memoriam To include the SUNY Schenectady Foundation in your will, please ask your attorney to include the following language: I give __________ (specific amount or property, percentage, or residue) to the tax-exempt SUNY Schenectady Foundation, located in Schenectady, N.Y., for the purpose of supporting its educational programs and students. (Tax ID 23-7194187) For more information about leaving a legacy by joining the Keystone Society, please contact (518) 381-1322.
7
ALUMNI CONNECTIONS Class Notes 70s Gary Oakley ’71, Criminal Justice, retired from Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) in 2015. Jay Murphy ’79, Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Science, Distinguished Alumnus, was recently appointed General Manager of the 18U Irish National Baseball Team, also assuming the role of Team Manager for the European Baseball Championship in Summer 2021. Murphy’s coaching career started at SUNY Schenectady in Fall 1981.
80s Dr. William H. O’Brien ’80, Human Services, has been a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, since 1990. Dr. O’Brien was selected to be the 2019-2020 Fulbright Scholar Distinguished Chair of Social Sciences to China, Visiting Professor at Duke-Kunshan University, and Visiting Professor to East China Normal University in Shanghai. He is currently conducting research on psychological reactions to COVID-19 in mainland China and the United States; using mindfulness-based approaches to reduce infection among healthcare workers; and East-West Mindfulness approaches to managing distress. He is pictured at the Leshan Giant Buddha in Sichuan Province, China. Dr. Andrew S. Berry ’87, Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Science, has been elected to the Board of the World Federation for Mental Health as the Regional Vice President of North America. He was also elected to the National Academies of Practice as a Distinguished Practitioner and Fellow. Dr. Berry is a psychologist and psychoanalyst, practicing in Clifton Park. He is a subject matter expert, specializing in PTSD and other mental health needs of veterans and first responders. He has published on this topic and lectured across the country at analytic Institutes, and national and international conferences. After SUNY Schenectady, he earned his B.A. from the University at Albany (1989), his A.L.M. from Harvard University Extension School (1992), and his first doctorate (Ph.D.) from Union Institute & University (1998). He also completed a second master’s degree (M.A.) (2005) and a second doctorate (Psy.D.) (2007) from The School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute. Dr. Berry is boardcertified twice, in Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP.) He also completed a four-year certificate in the Division I Psychoanalytic Training Program from the William Allison White Institute in New York City (2012). He is a Fellow of the American Board of Clinical
8
Psychology and a Fellow of the American Board of Counseling Psychology. Dr. Berry has taught psychology classes at the College for about 10 years. He is a volunteer firefighter and EMT with Niskayuna District 2, as well as a proud Freemason. He is married and has two children.
90s Nick Mancini ’94, Performing Arts: Music, is a vibraphonist, marimbist, composer, and educator. After SUNY Schenectady, he earned his bachelor’s degree with honors from The Crane School of Music and went on to earn his master’s degree in Jazz Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Mancini is a seasoned musician who has performed and recorded with the likes of Arturo Sandoval, Peter Erskine, Poncho Sanchez, Solange, Kenny Werner, Amos Lee, and Kamasi Washington. He has traveled the world performing at notable venues, including the Apollo Theater, Birdland, The Blue Whale, ACE Theater, Doo Bop Jazz Club (Finland), and Bimhuis (Amsterdam Netherlands). Festival performances include the Angel City Jazz Festival (L.A.), Nortelje Jazz Festival (Sweden), Alandia Jazz Festival (Scandinavia), and the Jeppis Jazz Festival (Finland). He is an endorsing artist for Majestic vibes, Innovative Percussion mallets, and Pearl MalletStation. Ryan Mathews ’99, Mathematics and Science, holds a B.S. in Chemistry and Ph.D. in Bioinorganic/ Analytical Chemistry both from the University at Buffalo. After earning his Ph.D. at the age of 28, Ryan Mathews during a visit to he attended the Patagonia in Argentina, November 2019. University of Utah for a postdoctoral fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry before doing a second postdoctoral program in cancer research for Moores Cancer Center at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). Dr. Mathews is now a Technical Instructor for Metrohm USA, a company that specializes in analytical instruments for chemical analysis in laboratories across all industries. He is responsible for training incoming service engineers on installation, customer training, repairs, and instrument troubleshooting across all products, and travels to customer sites to give onsite training for laboratory instrumentation. He lives in San Diego, Calif., with his wife Erika who is also a scientist.
Alumnus Appears on Forged in Fire
00s Laura Primiano ’00, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Distinguished Alumna, was named 2019 Outstanding General Manager of the Year by the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association (NYSHTA). Primiano is the General Manager of The Landing Hotel in Schenectady and serves as a member of the Schenectady County Community College Foundation Board of Directors. Mark Anthony Conway ’03, Culinary Arts, is the Food Service Director for Meridian Senior Living, a company with more than 800 properties worldwide. Conway manages Food and Dining services for three properties in South Burlington, Vt. He credits his amazing team of professionals with rising to the challenge to find safe and delicious ways to serve their residents during the pandemic. Jaime Ortiz ’05, Culinary Arts, purchased 677 Prime in Albany (which he helped open in 2005) in 2017. He opened Prime Burger in Troy in 2019. His new Mexican restaurant, Toro Cantina on Wolf Road in Albany, opened in March 2020 and currently offers a delicious menu for to go orders and delivery. He has an 18-month-old baby boy named Aden. Isaiah Short-Lee ’07, ’08, Business Administration and Paralegal, is the Chief Executive Officer at Capital Region Millwork Installations, a company which he founded in 2016. It is now the largest commercial millwork installation outfit in the Capital Region with a full-time staff of 16 local carpenters and administrators. He moved back to the area in 2015 to marry his college sweetheart, Michelle Rivera ’08, Paralegal, whom he met in SUNY Schenectady’s Business and Law Club. He and Rivera have two baby boys and live on a farm in Warnerville. David Kosineski ’18, Hotel and Restaurant Management, celebrated the grand opening of his new True Juice Café in February 2020. The cafe is located on the first floor of the NYBizLab business accelerator on lower State Street in Schenectady, serving coffee, teas, smoothies, acai bowls, baked goods, soups and, of course, the best raw cold-pressed juice.
To submit a Class Note, please visit our website at sunysccc.edu/Alumni-Give/Alumni. We’d love to hear from you! alumNews Online: Would you prefer that we send you the next issue electronically? Please e-mail your name, class year and e-mail address to alumni@sunysccc.edu and we’ll add you to our e-mail list.
Dan Lucynski’s talent as a bladesmith gained a national audience in March when he competed on an episode of Forged in Fire on the History channel. Dan’s episode premiered on March 11 as part of the popular series now in its seventh season, where bladesmiths attempt to recreate some of history’s most iconic edged weapons. During the show, Dan was given the challenge of creating a bowie knife. Dan is a 2005 graduate of the College with a degree in Business Administration and is the owner of Dark Angel Cutlery in Queensbury, N.Y. He has been working as a professional bladesmith for four years. “It has always been a hobby, collecting knives and being an enthusiast,” Dan said. “The show inspired me to go hard at it.” Dan has inspired others as well, having battled profound health challenges, all while staying positive and focused. “It was a great experience and a blessing to be a part of such an amazing show that my family and I watch every Wednesday,” Dan said. “Being an 18-year Leukemia survivor, it was through great adversity that I was able to pursue this dream to bladesmith and be able to share it on national television.” Dan now plans to pursue the niche of specialty and historical knives as part of his business. He and his wife Andrea have three children: Jacob, age 18, Brianna, age 17, and Jude, age 11.
9
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS Hotel Manager Maps Out Plan for Future county,” she explained. “We were confident because last year we finished one of our best years since opening as a hotel in July 2017.” But only a couple of weeks later, everything changed when the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to shut their doors and people to stay home. The closure came on the heels of Laura and her staff just beginning to host special events in the casino’s event center. Laura’s focus has now shifted to keeping morale up among her employees, staying on top of the news in the hotel industry, and developing special packages for guests when the hotel reopens. “We’re not stopping; we’re always forward thinking,” she said. “My employees are attending webinars with me, even those happening in Europe. We want to know what’s going on internationally. We all have to learn from each other.” Laura Primiano ’00 after being named the 2019 Outstanding General Manager of the Year by the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association (NYSHTA). She is shown with Carney McGuire, Director of Sales, Rivers Casino and Resort, and Mark Dorr, President, NYSHTA. In early March, Laura Primiano ’00 was gearing up for a strong season at the Landing Hotel, connected to Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, where she has been the General Manager since 2018, responsible for overseeing 165 rooms and 65 employees. “We were beginning to prepare for track season, events at the casino, concerts at SPAC, and keeping our finger on the pulse of what was going on in our
She sees connecting with local businesses to offer “staycations” for guests as one of the keys to successfully getting things started again when the times comes. She also has plans to offer special discounts for those in health care and other essential workers who have continued helping others and going to work every day. “We will have a Hero’s Rate, where they will get a discounted rate to stay with us as our way of saying ‘thank you’ for everything they did.” Laura Primiano graduated with her degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She lives in Niskayuna with her two sons, Lukas, age 8, and Tyler, age 6.
Alumna Follows Her Passion for Computer Science Adebola Elefontuyi ’03 has never been satisfied with just reading what appeared on her computer monitor. For her, what was going on behind the monitor was far more compelling.
Adebola Elefontuyi ’03 during the Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Royal Gala in November 2019.
“Growing up in Africa, I was always fascinated by the computer,” she explained. “I went to college in Africa and worked in the early 90s at International Business Machines, mostly selling computers and photo copying machines, and we used computers for sales and customers contacts. I was always interested in what was behind the operating system.” But her passion for computer science wouldn’t formally take shape until more than a decade later.
After living in Lagos, Nigeria, Adebola and her husband were granted visas to come to the United States in 1999 settling in the Capital Region. She had already earned an associate’s degree in Secretarial Administration and Accounting from Siltina Secretarial Institute, in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa, and she wanted to return to college
10
in the United States. She thought nursing was the route she would take, but her husband encouraged her to pursue the field she had always really wanted to explore. “My husband said, ‘You love computers, why don’t you do computer science?’ ” The next fall, Adebola enrolled in the Computer Science degree program at SUNY Schenectady. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and M.B.A. from the University at Albany. After working with KeyBank and the Office of the New York State Comptroller, Adebola is now an Information Technology Specialist and Data/Business Analyst with the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS). She works to ensure all daily database applications and computer programs are working together. For example, she was part of the team that worked to replace the NYS Central Accounting System with the NYS Statewide Financial System used for travelling expenses of all state employees and contractors, procurement, and contract payments. “You just have to see the whole picture,” she said. “You always have to keep learning.” Adebola Elefontuyi lives in Niskayuna with her husband and their three children.
NEWS Commencement On Hold Due to COVID-19 Like schools and colleges across the country, SUNY Schenectady decided to postpone the May 2020 Commencement due to the uncertain status of the pandemic, and the need to keep the extended campus community safe. College officials announced that graduates will have the chance to participate in an on-campus Commencement ceremony later this year (date to be determined). Graduating students will still receive their degrees and certificates as scheduled, regardless of when the in-person Commencement ceremony takes place.
Spotlight On Students: Perspectives on Virtual Spring 2020 SUNY Schenectady, like K-12 schools and colleges across the country, moved to virtual instruction in March as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. We asked several students to share how they are adapting to virtual instruction, how they are staying connected to others, and how they are taking this time to work on other projects. Nikkita Rodriguez Culinary Arts major “It's my final semester. Losing my job (as a Garde Manger chef when the restaurant closed down), taking online classes, taking care of a household and homeschooling two children four years apart is a challenge… Having amazing teachers who are always understanding and ready to help makes it easier. Blackboard collaborative is so helpful because it helps us keep in touch in a time where we have to practice social distancing. I miss seeing all my classmates’ faces and I miss just miss walking the halls. This is not only a challenge for us students, this is a challenging time for professors as well and they are great so far. You can say, we are learning together and moving forward together. No student left behind!”
Manny Hubbard Music Audio Technology major “It was a big surprise to shift to virtual learning, but I have been able to manage. I have had more time to write lyrics and music, draw, read books I’ve wanted to read, and build things I’ve wanted to build, including a box drum I never finished. I’ve been working on my music business (my band) online and through social media to gain a following.”
TeAna Taylor Human Services major “During these uncertain times, I’m learning that support from family, friends, students, and faculty I have met at SUNY Schenectady is crucial to my overall wellbeing, as well as my academic success. I am relying heavily on online communications, mostly video chat, to maintain bonds and continue to be an outstanding student while practicing social distancing. I appreciate the effort
professors are putting forth to be sure each student has necessary tools to remain engaged as we shift to virtual instruction. I feel prepared to prosper and grow as a professional this semester despite the circumstances COVID-19 has presented.”
Jessica Beauchemin Nutrition major “The shift to virtual instruction hasn’t been an easy transition for me. During the class video chat, I get taps on the shoulder, ‘I’m hungry when’s lunch?’ or ‘Mom, he’s annoying me!’ One kid has music blaring through headphones and the other is facetiming her friend. It’s not just me though, I’ve heard babies crying and seen little kids running around (coming from other students' video feeds in the online classes). How can anyone focus? To pass the time I have been painting, tearing down wallpaper, and spring cleaning the house. I still go into work three days a week to make sure everyone has food to make it through the storm." Jessica is shown above with her children, Riley, age 12, and Tristan Salerno, age 11.
11
mmunity College opened its doors to the FOUNDATION take the next steps in their education.
Scholarship Created To Honor Memory of Longtime Faculty Member ng students through education, The Professor/Chef Rocco Verrigni Scholarship has been created by donations received in memory of Professor Rocco Verrigni, e next 50 with your gift to our 50th who passed away on Feb. 17, 2020. Way for Future Royals. Rocky started his tenure at SUNY Schenectady in
ify the campus and become a serene space ommemorative brick pathway. Bricks staff, and retirees serve as a reminder of the
ady Journey
ls will help to ease financial burdens that duation, and personal growth. Contributions es, emergency loans that help alleviate Rocco Verrigni with students and Chef Michael Stamets before vingProfessor The Dream. Support for Paving The he and the group traveled to Italy. challenges and put them on the path to
Paving The Way For Future Royals
September 1981. He served for 36 years at the College, rising from Instructor to full Professor. He received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2003 and 2004. While at SUNY Schenectady, he and fellow educator Prescott Brown developed the longstanding student intern program for the Kentucky Derby, which continues to this day. In addition, Rocky participated in several short work experiences around the world, helping with the establishment of the first global community college in Thailand, and spent six months in Italy on a teaching sabbatical resulting in the establishment of a 17-day student internship program, enabling SUNY Schenectady students to travel and learn about Italian food and culture firsthand. During his career, Rocky taught more than 2,800 students. He delivered the keynote address at SUNY Schenectady’s 2018 Commencement ceremony.
Save the Date
PRESENTS
d
r on
There is still time to buy your brick for our new commemorative pathway bricks the names of alumni, Learnfeaturing more or buyengraved a bringwith at sunysccc.edu/50years. friends, faculty, staff, and retirees. Your support will help fund scholarships that cover the cost of books and fees, emergency loans, and Food Pantry supplies. Order your commemorative brick and be part of SUNY Schenectady history!
12
November 10, 2020 SUNY Schenectady campus Join Honorary Chairs Jamison and Sarah Flora for an evening of stellar food, jazz, and art presented by students. It’s sure to be a spectacular evening highlighting the College’s academic programs, a silent auction, and more than 300 friends and supporters!