Maureen Winney has more than 30 years of experience in alumni and development, 25 with SUNY Empire State College. She is the recipient of the James and Elizabeth Hall Award for Innovation, and a 2009 inductee into the SUNYCUAD (SUNY’s Council for University Advancement) Hall of Fame.

She says SUNY Empire alumni commonly become donors to the college because of the positive experience thay had as a student, often at a pivotal time in their lives.

"They came to this college at a time where they were working full time, or their children were growing up," she says. "This was a second chance for many of them, and for some of them, it was the very first opportunity for anyone in their whole family to go to school. They want future students to have the same experience and the same benefit that they had."

Alumni can stay involved in many ways, Winney explains. In addition to any monetary donations, alumni can volunteer to meet or speak with current or prospective students, attend alumni events put on by the college, and share their SUNY Empire story on social media.

Learn more at the Alumni and Student Relations website.