May 2, 2013
Susan Law Dake to Address Graduates of the College’s Northeast Center
The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 8, at The Egg, Empire State Plaza, Albany.
Susan Law Dake
(ALBANY, N.Y. – May 2, 2013) The Northeast New York Center of SUNY Empire State College today announced that Susan Dake, president of the Stewart’s Foundation, will deliver the commencement address for the center’s 2013 graduation.
The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 8, at The Egg, Empire State Plaza, Albany.
Last year, Stewart’s Foundation renewed its commitment to the college and pledged $60,000 for scholarships to be distributed during the subsequent three years. The Empire State College Foundation matches this gift, which provides $40,000 annually to SUNY community college graduates in Stewart’s Shops' service area.
About Susan Law Dake
As president of the Stewart’s Foundation, Dake oversees the allocation of funds to hundreds of nonprofit organizations in communities in which Stewart’s Shops are located.
In addition, she serves on the nonprofit boards of St. Peter’s Health Partners, Siena College, The Saratoga Foundation, The Arnold Cogswell Fund of the Community Foundation and the Philly and Charlie Dake Foundation and has raised funds for the YMCA of Saratoga, Skidmore College, the Community Hospice, Saratoga Hospital, St. Peter’s Hospital, Emma Willard School, the National Museum of Dance, Home Made Theater and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Previously, Dake was responsible for communications and public affairs for Stewart’s Shops, an employee- and family-owned convenience store chain, based in Saratoga Springs and founded in 1945.
She began her professional career as a teacher. Dake first served as an assistant for the Katrina Trask Nursery School and then taught at Greenfield Elementary School and other schools within the Saratoga Springs City School District.
Dake earned a master’s in reading from the State University of New York at Albany and a B.S. in theater from Skidmore College. Dake resides in Saratoga Springs with her husband Bill; together they have six children and 12 grandchildren.
About SUNY Empire State College
SUNY Empire State College was established in 1971 to offer adult learners the opportunity to earn associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the State University of New York.
In addition to awarding credit for prior college-level learning, the college pairs each student with a faculty mentor who supports that student throughout his or her college career. Students engage in guided independent study and course work onsite, online or a combination of both, which provides the flexibility for students to learn at the time, place and pace they choose.
The college serves more than 20,000 students worldwide at more than 35 locations in the state of New York and online. Its 66,000 alumni are active in their communities as entrepreneurs, politicians, business professionals, artists, nonprofit agency employees, teachers, veterans and active military, union members and more. More information about the college is available here.
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Graduation contact: Pat Pillsworth
518-783-6203, ext. 5965
Media contact: David Henahan, director of communications
518-587-2100, ext. 2918
518-321-7038 (after hours and on weekends)