Five SUNY Empire State College students and six faculty and staff recently received 2018 SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence, system-level honors that mark the highest levels of leadership, engagement, professionalism and success.

“Our faculty and staff educate, inspire and support our students to pursue their passions; they are the driving force on campus,” said SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. “Those we honor today are leading this effort through their commitment to their craft and their dedication to our students. I am proud to celebrate and honor this year’s SUNY Empire State College recipients.”

“It is a tremendous point of pride for the entire college community when our students, faculty and staff are recognized at this level for their leadership, professionalism and academic excellence,” said SUNY Empire Officer in Charge Mitchell Nesler. “It is an honor to offer my congratulations to all of this year’s recipients, whose accomplishments will continue to be celebrated by the college throughout commencement season.”

The following faculty and staff will receive their respective awards at the commencement ceremonies listed below:

• Director of Academic Support Seana Logsdon, of Batavia, will receive the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service at the Rochester commencement Thursday, May 31.
• Director of Prior Learning Thomas McElroy ’96, of Rochester, will receive the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service at the Syracuse commencement June 1.
• Interim Director of Academic Review David Puskas, of Rochester, will receive the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service at the Rochester commencement May 31.
• Associate Professor of Undergraduate Studies Rhianna Rogers, of Buffalo, will receive the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at the Buffalo commencement June 2.
• School for Graduate Studies Professor Margaret J. (Peggy) Tally, of Maplewood, N.J., will receive the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at the Manhattan commencement June 7.
• Secretary Debra Schubert, of Ballston Spa, will receive the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service at the Albany commencement June 3.

The following students recently received their awards from Chancellor Johnson at a ceremony in Albany:

• Christopher Bowman of Brooklyn.
• Justice Favor of Queens.
• Jacqueline Hannon of Baldwinsville.
• Nandar W. Kerr of Brooklyn.
• Nechelle Stolzenberg of Brooklyn; Manhattan commencement speaker.

SUNY Empire will hold eight regional commencement ceremonies at locations throughout New York, beginning May 31 in Rochester, and another four internationally. Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation, will have his honorary degree conferred and will keynote the Albany ceremony June 3. All ceremonies will include a student speaker and be webcast live.

About SUNY Empire State College

SUNY Empire State College educates nearly 18,000 students online, at 34 locations throughout New York state and at eight international sites. The SUNY Empire experience is unique where, together with one of the college’s more than 1,300 faculty mentors, each student designs his or her own customized pathway to a college degree that accommodates his or her schedule and awards credit for prior college-level learning. SUNY Empire awards more than 3,000 degrees annually and 94 percent of graduates stay in New York state. Today, more than 81,000 SUNY Empire alumni are entrepreneurs, veteran and active members of the military, professional athletes, teachers, medical professionals and leaders in their field as well as their communities. To learn more, visit www.esc.edu and follow the college on social media @SUNYEmpire.