Campus Champion

Barbara Barton, associate professor of health, volunteered for a job in which there was no blueprint. The clinical nurse with a master’s degree in public health and a Ph.D. in health studies established a system to help SUNY Cortland report its COVID-19 cases. Seven days a week since March, she compiles and reports this data, easing the load on Student Health Services. And she's still coordinating student field placements, connecting with her graduate and undergraduate classes, processing research on student food insecurity and reaching out as a weekend community health volunteer nurse. “If I can offer my skills, this is not a time to sit back.”  

AnnaMaria Cirrincione, director of Multicultural Life and Diversity at SUNY Cortland, on Dec. 3 was among 11 SUNY faculty and administrators named as a 2021 Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) Fellow by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“AnnaMaria has been asked to share her considerable expertise across the university, directed not only toward student issues but also helping to educate our faculty and staff and to improve the campus climate overall,” said SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum.

“She has done so — lecturing in the classroom, leading faculty and staff workshops and participating in campus-wide discussions focused on the difficult issues of race, ethnicity, equity and social justice in American society.”

Launched in 2018, the institute offers fellowships to Hispanic and Latinx faculty and staff in leadership positions throughout the system. To date, 32 up-and-coming SUNY leaders have completed their training and graduated as HLI Fellows. The goal of the institute is to help these high achievers continue to build skills and advance their careers, ensuring that SUNY’s diversity is reflected in college leadership as well as in the student body.

Over the next six months, Cirrincione will attend seminars on leadership with other SUNY academics and administrators that will offer insights on how these two sides of campus work together. As an HLI Fellow, she will participate in individualized mentoring, assessment and development programs.

 “The Hispanic Leadership Institute provides rigorous training and support for our emerging leaders within the Hispanic and LatinX community that resembles some of the best executive leadership programs for chief executives,” said SUNY Chancellor James Malatras. “And as it grows it is creating opportunities for more of our faculty and staff.”

“I recognize that in order to impact the change I want, I have to push myself out of my comfort zone and be willing to take on leadership roles outside of the institution I work at,” Cirrincione said. “I know that being an HLI fellow will give me the opportunity to do that.”

Cirrincione joined the university more than five years ago as assistant director of the university’s Multicultural Life and Diversity Office (MLDO). She was promoted to direct the office in early 2017, having first served as interim director during the prior 11 months.

This past spring, in addition to her director role, Cirrincione was tapped by President Bitterbaum to serve as the university’s interim chief diversity officer. She accepted the appointment just as the campus adopted remote learning in reaction to the COVID-19 viral outbreak and as across the country communities of color protested the glaring social inequalities that the pandemic as well as shocking acts of police brutality across the country had brought to light. 

“She was able to fulfill both very well under the most trying of circumstances,” said C. Gregory Sharer, Cirrincione’s supervisor and vice president for student affairs. “In her relatively short time at SUNY Cortland, she has consistently proven herself to be a leader in the Division of Student Affairs and across the campus. She has demonstrated the vision, initiative and ability to become an outstanding senior student affairs officer.”

Cirrincione often is called upon to conduct workshops, facilitate discussions, teach classes and generally offer her expertise to faculty, staff and students. She demonstrates patience, compassion and skill while navigating challenging conversations.

“She has the unique ability to address complex and demanding issues without provoking defensive reactions,” Bitterbaum said. “At the same time, she does not back away from her positions or the key points she needs to make.”

“She is highly regarded for her ability to address topics with great care while not shying away from difficult discussions,” Sharer agreed.

The institute serves as a resource for Hispanic and LatinX leaders in higher education, both in New York state and across the country.

“The Hispanic Leadership Institute provides rigorous training and support for our emerging leaders within the Hispanic and LatinX community that resembles some of the best executive leadership programs for chief executives,” said SUNY Chancellor James Malatras. “And as it grows it is creating opportunities for more of our faculty and staff.”

Cirrincione first found out about the HLI Fellows Program through colleagues who had been a part of it and encouraged her to apply.

“Hearing about their experiences got me very excited for this opportunity to grow my network, assess my leadership profile and continue my professional growth,” Cirrincione said. “I have worked very hard to know my silo well and build relationships throughout campus to help further the work of diversity, equity and inclusion, always putting what is best for our student body first. The reward for the work that I do is knowing how it supports our students and campus community.”

Cirrincione is only the second SUNY Cortland employee to be so honored. L. Sebastian Purcell, SUNY Cortland associate professor of philosophy and co-coordinator of the university’s Latino and Latin American Studies program, was one of 14 leaders from the 64-campus SUNY system named in early 2019.

Before joining SUNY Cortland, Cirrincione worked as a graduate assistant at Syracuse University for almost two years as a graduate assistant in the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Office while pursuing her master’s degree full-time.

Cirrincione earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Utica College and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Syracuse University.

She also filled the role of practicum student in Syracuse University’s Off-Campus and Commuter Services Office and Hamilton College’s Days-Massolo Cultural Education Center.

Before that, she spent three years working at Utica College, first as an assistant director in the Admissions Office and then as a counselor in the Office of Opportunity Programs.

Following a search, SUNY Cortland has appointed Laura Davies, an associate professor of English who directs the university’s Writing Programs, as the new chief of staff in the President’s Office, effective Jan. 1.

An integral member of the President’s Office and the executive leadership team (President’s Cabinet) for the university, the chief of staff reports directly to the president and serves as a key advisor on planning, decision-making and problem resolution.

The chief of staff is one of five members of President Erik J. Bitterbaum’s cabinet and advances the president’s leadership agenda through coordinated planning with the senior management team, collaborative working relationships at all levels of the campus and oversight of various assignments and special projects.

“Laura brings a variety of rich experiences to the chief of staff position, with her work as a faculty member and administrator centered on issues of access and inclusivity,” said SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum.

“Throughout her career she has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting students, empowering faculty, and fostering collaborative problem-solving,” Bitterbaum said.

As chief of staff, Davies' goal is to help the university more fully realize its mission as an institute of public higher education.

“As a scholar, teacher and administrator, my work has centered on the heart of the university mission: its students," Davies said. "I am committed to continuing this work through collaborating with the university’s faculty, staff, administration and students to build programs and initiatives that will ensure access for all, especially for those who have historically been marginalized in higher education.” 

Davies replaces Virginia Levine, the university’s longtime chief of staff and vice president for policy and accreditation, who died on March 29.

Patricia Francis, a former SUNY Cortland Psychology Department faculty member who also served from 1997 to 2004 as Cortland’s executive assistant to the president, returned to her former institution in early April to fulfill the chief of staff role on an interim basis.

Davies has directed the university’s Writing Programs since she joined the institution in 2014 as an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate professor in 2017.

She received her B.A. in history and English with integral honors from Le Moyne College in 2004; her M.S.T. in English from the University of New Hampshire in 2005; and her Ph.D. in composition and cultural rhetoric from Syracuse University in 2012.

“I greatly look forward to the perspectives that Laura will bring to her new position and to the President’s Cabinet,” Bitterbaum said.

After much discussion with his cabinet and others, President Erik J. Bitterbaum recently reconstituted the membership of the existing President’s Council, which advises campus leadership on critical campus issues.

Over the years SUNY Cortland increased the membership of the group several times in order to ensure that offices feel represented. An unfortunate side effect was that the body grew so large that meetings turned into reporting sessions with almost no opportunity for discussion, questions or making decisions. 

More important, the President’s Cabinet recently received compelling feedback from individuals across campus that SUNY Cortland required more diverse voices at the highest levels of decision-making.

The university’s President’s Council now consists of the following members: 

• President
• Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs
• Vice President, Finance and Management
• Vice President, Institutional Advancement
• Vice President Student Affairs
• Assistant Vice President, Enrollment Management
• Associate Provost, Academic Affairs
• Associate Provost, Information Resources
• Associate Vice President, Facilities Management
• Associate Vice President, Human Resources
• Associate Vice President, Institutional Advancement
• Associate Vice President, Student Affairs
• Chief of Staff
• Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
• Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
• Dean, School of Education
• Dean, School of Professional Studies
• Director of Communications

Although this listing represents the formal composition of the new President’s Council, the group will regularly invite other members of the campus community to speak on specific topics and contribute to the meeting deliberations. Additionally, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to offer agenda items for council meetings.

“I realize that this decision represents a major change in the university’s leadership structure, but I believe it is the right thing to do for us moving forward,” Bitterbaum said. “In my view, this reconfiguration will create a concentrated deliberative body that brings multiple perspectives from across all campus constituencies.

 “Further, this group will have the ability to influence and enact policies that reflect those constituencies as well as our institutional mission. Finally, it is my hope that this change will lead us toward informed decision-making that is inclusive and value-based.”

For some college students, an 8:30 a.m. class on a Tuesday morning can be dreadful.

But for students in a SUNY Cortland biomechanics lab taught by Cabel McCandless ’19, that wasn’t the case.

“Nothing kicked off class better than listening to ‘All Star’ by Smash Mouth before learning about biomechanics,” said Liz Spenser, a junior physical education major from Somers, N.Y.

McCandless, a Lindenhurst, N.Y. native and SUNY Cortland graduate, earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 2019. Now in his second year of graduate school in pursuit of an M.S. in exercise science, McCandless taught the lab portion of biomechanics, a required class for physical education majors at the university.

COVID-19 has forced faculty, staff and students to change from in person classes, to hybrid, to fully remote. While juggling his own studies, athletic career and keeping in compliance with COVID-19 rules for his in person classes, including a 55-minute in person limit and social distancing protocols, lecturer McCandless kept students engaged and made learning fun amid a pandemic.

Rich Samuels, a senior physical education major from Wallkill, N.Y. took McCandless’ class in the spring semester of 2020.

“Although Cabel was in charge of the lab portion of class, he was also always available to aid students in studying the lecture material,” Samuels said. “His help was always straight forward and simple. There was hardly any confusion.”

Students took note of McCandless’ genuine hope for their success in his class. Expressed through his extensive availability via office hours in person, over Webex, through email and even text message, McCandless was easily reachable for all his students. Additionally, students appreciated McCandless’ attempt to liven up the class by playing music, writing a question of the day on the whiteboard that would constantly spark laughter and conversation and updating everyone on how the Philadelphia Eagles did that particular weekend.

“I didn’t want to add to any other stressors [my students] had going on in their lives,” McCandless said. “Things are so hectic and crazy, so if I could make class as streamline and smooth as possible, where they were still getting the information they needed and were still learning biomechanics, even if they had fun doing it, it definitely was my goal.”

Ideally, labs are better taught in the classroom, but when forced to move remote, McCandless and biomechanics professor Jeffrey Bauer rearranged each lab to accommodate students who did not have access to the necessary computer programs to complete labs. Dartfish, an important computer application for the class, can be costly and requires specific software to use. McCandless and Bauer’s effort to move away from the program gave students peace of mind that they would not fail the lab due to their inability to access Dartfish from home.

Mindful of the unprecedented times his students were facing, McCandless set out to ease his student’s worries. Whether it was offering extra credit in the form of stacking quarters and trying to swipe away the bottom quarter without the tower toppling over or creating study guides for his exams, McCandless created a safe and comfortable environment for his students to learn.

“Cabel is an effective teacher because he is so young and relatable,” said Cat Zamroz, a senior physical education major from Levittown, N.Y. “He truly understands what it is like to be a student taking his class because he was in our shoes a very short time ago.”

McCandless’ ability to relate to and care for his students allowed him to transcend every bump in the road these past two semesters have thrown at the Cortland community.

“For our first remote assignment, he asked us to send him an email telling him how we were holding up,” Zamroz said. “Every email after that was always very encouraging and always told us to contact him if we ever needed to talk about anything whether it was related to biomechanics, running, or just life in general.”

McCandless approached his students in the fall in a similar fashion.

“[The fall] semester especially, there [were] a million other things going on,” McCandless said. “Yeah, school is important, but at the end of the day, you have to make sure that you’re doing OK.”

On top of being an adjunct lecturer, McCandless is also a student-athlete. He has earned Cortland’s Red Letter Award for cross country, given for outstanding athletic skills, team leadership, personal development as a player, or for any combination of reasons, three times in four years.

Additionally, McCandless has been named to the 2019 USTFCCA Cross Country All-Academic Team, earned All-Region honors at the NCAA Div. III cross country regional in 2019, earned second team All-SUNYAC in indoor track for the distance medley relay in 2018 and has consistently been one of Cortland’s top runners since his freshman year in 2016.

Ryan Behre, a senior physical education major from Flemington, N.J., has run alongside McCandless on Cortland’s men’s cross country and track and field teams for the past four years. He just so happened to have McCandless as his lab lecturer too.

“His leadership qualities on the team are definitely replicated in the classroom,” Behre said. “Cabel made me feel included from day one and I feel like he makes all of his students feel safe and comfortable in the classroom.”

McCandless is applying to Temple University’s graduate program for cardiovascular physiology. He hopes to earn a Ph.D. and continue a career in academics and teach at the college level.

Prepared by Communications Office writing intern Shannon Imbornoni

SUNY Cortland students have the opportunity to earn up to five credits over the break, through Winter Session courses.

All classes are being offered online. Winter Session I begins Tuesday, Dec. 22, and runs until Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. Winter Session II starts on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021 and ends on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

If students didn’t get the chance to register for Winter Session courses during Spring Semester registration, there is still time to do so.

“Winter Session courses provide an opportunity for students to catch up, get ahead and most importantly stay on track for graduation,” said Darci Contri, director of Extended Learning. “It is a great opportunity for students to enroll and focus on one course over the two- or four-week terms.”

Visit the “Register (Drop & Add Courses)” tab in myRedDragon to sign up for Winter Session. Registration via myRedDragon closes at noon on Friday, Dec. 18 for Session I and at noon on Monday, Dec. 28 for Session II. Once myRedDragon registration closes, signing up for classes is still possible through the first day of each term via the alternate registration process.

The public course schedule shows courses offered this winter. Additional information on Winter Session is available online.

There are more than 80 courses available and more than 950 students have already enrolled in winter coursework.

“Over 30 courses fulfill general education or writing intensive requirements,” Contri said. “Several departments offer courses that fulfill major requirements or elective credits within in the major.”

Some of the unique courses on the Winter Session roster include a study of the films of Spike Lee, a cross-cultural examination of sex crimes, the chemistry of fermentation, tiny writing and more.

View the full schedule of courses online.

Coursework completed at SUNY Cortland in Winter Session counts toward the student cumulative GPA, Contri said.

“Students have even completed the last course for their degree in Winter,” she said.

For more questions about Winter Session, contact the Extended Learning Office at 607-753-5643.

Prepared by Communications Office writing intern Christina Cargulia

When SUNY Cortland students log in to MyRedDragon later this week they will receive a visual reminder of their community’s diversity and inclusiveness.

At the request of the Student Government Association (SGA), artwork from the university’s Beloved Community Diversity Narratives Project will appear on the student sign-in page.

All 25 of the project’s posters will rotate through the page. Each image depicts a member of the SUNY Cortland community and highlights both their individuality and the character traits that make them an important part of the university family.

The posters, put on display in Moffett Center and the Student Life Center earlier this fall, are the creation of visiting artist Adam Mastoon of Adam Mastoon Transmedia. In the spring, Mastoon and his team interviewed and photographed the 25 people who volunteered for the project.

The result is a series of artistic visuals designed to bring the university closer together in celebration of their many differences as well as their common humanity.

Dear students,

I wanted to send a note of encouragement and some helpful reminders as you approach the final weeks of the semester. Even though many of you have returned home and are enjoying time with your families, please remember to stay dedicated to the final class assignments outlined in your syllabi, whether they are projects, papers or final exams.

Remember, too, that campus is not closed. Faculty and staff are here to support you remotely. I encourage you to make use of the following resources: 

• The Learning Center: Take advantage of professional or peer tutoring services as well as late-night online help through Nightowl. 

• The Writing Center: Schedule an appointment for assistance with any stage of the writing process. 

• Log in to Starfish: Look for communication from your instructors or connect with campus support through the Starfish page on myRedDragon. 

• Check in with your professors: If you have questions about a specific class or a final assignment, contact your professor as soon as possible through email. If necessary, set up a time to meet on Webex or through another platform. 

• Take time to relax: Schedule breaks for your mental and emotional health. Take walks and exercise outside during the day. Join an online event hosted by one of our student clubs. And don't forget to follow @cortlandpaws on Instagram for pet photos during finals week.

Your resilience this semester has been extraordinary. Two more weeks of dedication to your studies will earn you a well-deserved winter break. Please continue to take care of yourself and please be smart for the safety of your loved ones. 

All the best,

Erik J. Bitterbaum 

President

SUNY Cortland will welcome prospective students and their families to campus on a limited scale during the winter break.

Tours will be led by representatives from the Admissions Office or the Athletics Department and they will take place mostly outside, passing through the first floor of Moffett Center, the lobby of the Student Life Center and athletic facilities in Park Center and the Stadium Complex.

Safety measures from fall semester tours will continue:

• Guests must complete a COVID-19 self-screening prior to their visit.
• Staff members and visitors are required to wear a face covering on campus, including outdoors, while maintaining proper physical distancing.
• Tour group sizes will not exceed six people, including staff members.

Small group tours will take place through Wednesday, Jan. 27, followed by a pause from Jan. 28 to Feb. 11 in order to monitor the results of early semester COVID-19 testing. The university’s Admissions Office offered small group tours during the fall semester before in-person activities were paused on campus.

An email to SUNY Cortland employees from Mark Yacavone ’94, assistant vice president for enrollment management, emphasized safety.

“The pandemic continues to change the way that we work, including how our future Red Dragons will see campus before making their college decision,” Yacavone wrote. “Please know that we will host prospective students during the winter break in ways that are informative, effective and safe.”

The Human Resources Office has announced that amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, the university will still be recognizing our classified staff and Research Foundation employees who have met milestone years of service with SUNY Cortland. The 2020 Annual Service Awards Ceremony will not be held this year but recognition will still be given in the following ways:

• The milestone award
• A certificate for “years of service”
• Recognition in the Bulletin publication

As plans for the 2021 ceremony are being made, they will look to recognize these recipients in person at that time as well. Please take the time to congratulate our awardees, and thank them for their dedication and commitment to SUNY Cortland.

2020 Service Awards Awardees

40 YEARS

*Julie LaPlant, Kinesiology Department

35 YEARS

Betsy Kulis, Migrant Education Tutorial Services (Research Foundation)

30 YEARS

*Judah Currie, Maintenance

Mary Murphy, University Police Department

Michael Zhe, Motor Pool

25 YEARS

Dawn Bulmer, Payroll Office

20 YEARS

Connal Carr, Maintenance

*Bradley Holl, Mail Services/Central Warehouse

Nancy Kuklis, Admissions Office

Kathy McCracken, Custodial Services

Richard Metcalf, Maintenance

Phillip Miller, Service Group

Kerry Mincher, Student Affairs

Anthony Petrella, Custodial Services

Russell Scott, Duplicating Center

Nadia Snell, Student Accounts Office

Joanna Tobias, Administrative Computing

*Debra Whitney, Library  

15 YEARS

Karen Diescher, Child Care Center (Research Foundation)

Nancy Hartford, Custodial Services

Greg McCartney, Maintenance

Jeremiah Rawson, Maintenance

Michelle Ryan, Custodial Services

Julie Simser, Geography and Philosophy

Marthajane Warren, Student Health Services

Anna Wilcox, Foundations and Social Advocacy

10 YEARS

Marilyn Jones, Advisement and Transition

Stacy Alexander, University Police Department

Christopher Austen, University Police Department

Elizabeth Mokos, Custodial Services

Lisa Walker, Campus Technology Services

Ann Lang, Library

Heidi Johnson, Admissions Office

*Retired in 2020

SUNY Cortland Auxiliary Services (SCAS) is now accepting Program Grant applications for the 2021-22 academic year.

Applications are submitted online and must be sent by midnight on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. Applicants are asked to read the grant guidelines carefully before submitting an application.

Each year the SCAS Board of Directors allocates funds to support grants for a wide range of purposes and projects that enhance the life of the SUNY Cortland community.

Although SCAS is willing to consider a wide range of ideas, it seeks to avoid duplicating other funding sources or funding projects more properly supported by state funds. Therefore, applicants should first seek funding from primary funding sources.

SCAS grant funds may not be used for salaries, honoraria, travel normally funded by the College's budget, or scholarships for SUNY Cortland faculty, staff or students. Funds may not be used to purchase computers, related hardware or software. All purchases will be processed in accordance to SCAS’s financial and related GAAP policies.  In general, Program Grant funds may not be used exclusively for food for SUNY Cortland students, faculty or staff. Funding for food may be considered if the food is deemed integral to the success of the program or event. All food shall be provided by SCAS. Other grant guidelines are described in the application package and online.

For more information or assistance, contact Judy Standish at 607-753-4325 or judy.standish@cortland.edu.