(SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – April 14, 2017) Dennis Greanleaf, senior offset printing machine operator in the college’s print shop for the last 28 years, has been recognized eith the Empire State College Foundation Award for Excellence in Support Services at the All College Conference in Saratoga Springs, N.Y

His colleagues across the college lauded him for consummate professionalism, helpfulness, courtesy and good humor, saying that Greenleaf would ensure that last-minute projects are turned around promptly. The college’s internal print shop is responsible for all the college’s printing needs, as well as working with outside vendors. It prints posters, banners, magazines, brochures, fliers, business cards and other materials.

“I’m just doing my job,” said Greenleaf. “That being said, I am both shocked and proud to get this award. I take my job seriously, but try to have fun at the same time. I’d like to thank all those involved in me receiving this award. I will try to live up to it in the future.”

“I congratulate Dennis Greenleaf for winning the foundation Award for Excellence in Support Services,” said Merodie A. Hancock, president of the college. “The large number of candidates, the rigorous selection process and the high standards and accomplishments recipients must achieve, is very impressive. These are people who best represent aspirations of the college community. They have contributed their talents, passions and often their entire careers, to their colleagues, to higher education and adult learning and, most importantly, to the overall success of the college and its students. Dennis is an outstanding member of our staff and is an inspiration to all of us.”

“There isn’t a single location, center or office at the college that has not benefited from Dennis’s work ethic, dedication and expertise,” said director of publications Kirk Starczewski. “He has been an integral part of the expansion of the print shop and its transition to the blending of offset press and color copier/digital printing. He performs daily, well above and beyond his job title, taking on extra tasks and duties.”

He added that Greenleaf has taken additional training and has contributed to finding ways to streamline the production process. He was instrumental in the college’s conversion from paper forms to online, and has saved the college funds by finding more technologically efficient ways to conduct business.

About the Excellence in Support Services Award

Criteria for the Excellence in Support Services include superb performance in fulfilling the duties in the job description, demonstrated flexibility and adaptability to institutional needs and excellence in the areas of leadership, decision making and problem solving. Additional criteria may include initiation of ideas or development of proposals for improving effectiveness in his position.

About SUNY Empire State College

Empire State College, the nontraditional, open college of the SUNY system yearly, educates nearly 19,000 students worldwide at eight international sites, more than 30  locations across the state of New York, online, as well as face to face and through a blend of both, at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels.

The average age of an undergraduate student at the college is 35 and graduate students’ average age is 40.

Most Empire State College students are working adults. Many are raising families and meeting civic commitments in the communities where they live, while studying part time.

In addition to awarding credit for prior college-level learning, the college pairs each undergraduate student with a faculty mentor who supports that student throughout his or her college career.

Working with their mentors, students design an individual degree program and engage in guided independent study and coursework on site, online or through a combination of both, which provides the flexibility for students to choose where, when and how to learn.

Students have the opportunity to enroll five times during the year.

The college’s 78,000 alumni are active in their communities as entrepreneurs, politicians, business professionals, artists, nonprofit agency employees, teachers, veterans and active military, union members and more.

The college was first established in 1971 by the SUNY Board of Trustees with the encouragement of the late Ernest L. Boyer, chancellor of the SUNY system from 1970 to 1977. Boyer also served as United States commissioner of education during the administration of President Jimmy Carter and then as president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

More information about the college is available at www.esc.edu

 

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Media contact: David Henahan, director of communications, SUNY Empire State College

David.Henahan@esc.edu

518-587-2100, ext. 2918

518-321-7038, cell