Campus Champion

Hailey Ruoff ’98, associate director for design help, launched her career at SUNY Cortland working for Classroom Media Services just prior to graduating. For 25 years, she’s guided students and staff through the university’s technical resources and academic support systems. Along the way she earned a master’s from SUNY Albany and received a Professional Service Award for Institutional Service. Following a two-year process and dozens of campuswide emails from Hailey pointing the way, the university launched Brightspace at last week’s start of Summer Session. “All 64 SUNY campuses are migrating to Brightspace,” Hailey said. “Don’t feel alone, we’re all in this together!”

Find training opportunities, resources and updates on the Brightspace faculty information page. 

As a new SUNY Cortland graduate, Nia Vega ’23 sets a high bar for what she hopes to achieve working with underrepresented populations in the fields of either education or social work.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” said Vega, who earned her degree on May 13 in sociology with a concentration in criminology and a minor in computer applications. Her first name is pronounced “Nee-ah.”

A former campus leader in many different equity and social justice initiatives at Cortland, the New York City native recently became one of only 46 honorees from campuses across the SUNY system to earn a 2023 Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence.

The fourth SUNY Cortland student to be honored in the award’s four years of existence within SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Vega attended and was recognized at an April 17 ceremony in Albany, N.Y.

New York State Senator Cordell Cleare and Assembly member Edward Gibbs, who represent Vega’s Harlem neighborhood, had endorsed Vega for this award.

The McConney Award is named in honor of the late co-architect of the EOP. A graduate of the University at Albany, McConney was a former assistant dean for special programs at SUNY and a champion for addressing inequities faced by underrepresented populations.

“From the start, Nia has been one of our most involved, active and high performing students,” said Cortland EOP Director Lewis Rosengarten. “She made sure to visit campus to interview with me prior to her acceptance and has never looked back.

“Always taking advantage of our services and support, Nia then emerged as a student who helps others recognize and utilize their resources.”

In spring 2022, for her accomplishments to that point, Vega was one of only 171 college students in the country to earn a prestigious 2022-23 Newman Civic Fellowship. The award was from Campus Compact, a national coalition of more than 1,000 colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. As a Newman Civic Fellow, she took part in the yearlong program, which provides training and resources to future leaders.

Vega has earned SUNY Cortland EOP Academic Achievement awards and was inducted into Chi Alpha Epsilon, the national honor society for the Educational Opportunity Program,  which requires at least a 3.0 overall GPA for two semesters in a row.

Having benefited from SUNY Cortland’s EOP, Vega would like nothing better than to see the students she helps today become tomorrow’s movers and shakers. At SUNY Cortland, she mentored new students as a senior counselor taking part in the EOP Summer Institute program for three summers.

Describing that work as “exemplary,” Rosengarten said, “I can think of no student more deserving of this honor.”

“Nia is one of the first to volunteer to help out with any EOP event,” added Cortland EOP Academic Counselor Judy Stoddard M ’10. “She takes her commitments seriously and is a great role model for students who are interested in getting involved on campus.”

Vega blends her social advocacy work with her academics. She conducted social justice research with two sociology professors, Elizabeth Bittel and Kent Johnson. She and three other research interns conducted in-person interviews with students of color that comprised a sociological study about race and racism at SUNY Cortland. Her research aimed to help educators understand perceptions of race and racism on the campus and in the greater Cortland community.

Vega also served in civic engagement internships with the SUNY Cortland Cupboard, a student food pantry, and for the Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Counties.

Her campus social justice endeavors have ranged from organizing informative discussions and assemblies to supporting peaceful demonstrations. Vega has served as an effective advocate for the victims and survivors of sexual assault and was 2021-22 president of SAFER, Students Active For Ending Rape.

Vega’s other leadership roles were as president of the campus club Men of Value and Excellence (M.O.V.E.), which depended on in-person interactions and struggled to remain in existence during the COVID-19 pandemic. M.O.V.E., which has expanded to work with all men on the campus to foster a culture of wellness and leadership, with Vega’s support hosted its major conference, the annual Men of Color Leadership Summit, in 2022. She was also president of the campus’ only Latino dance team Ritmo Latino.

Vega was employed by Recreational Sports as a supervisor for intramural and sport club programs. She has also served her former high school as a Bridge to College Coach through the College Bound Initiative.

The EOP, now more than 50 years old, serves more than 10,000 students a year on SUNY campuses. It supports a diverse student body, and many participants are first in their family to go to college. In many cases, EOP scholars outperform their peers, with 68 percent of EOP students completing a bachelor’s degree within six years. Since the program’s inception, more than 80,000 EOP students have earned SUNY degrees, participate in the workforce and contribute to the social and economic well-being of their communities.

The SUNY Cortland Alumni Association will award its most prestigious annual honors during Alumni Reunion 2023. Six graduates will receive the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award and one will receive the Distinguished Educator Award during a Reunion 2023 ceremony on July 15. 

The association also will recognize two Rising Star alumni, two Outstanding Alumni Volunteers and an Honorary Red Dragon Alum. 

More information and registration details for Reunion 2023 are available at RedDragonNetwork.org. 

The 2023 award recipients are: 

• Abraham Lincoln DeMond 1889, Distinguished Alum. (posthumously) DeMond was the first African American graduate of the institution now known as SUNY Cortland. He went on to become an early voice for Black equality in the United States. 
• Bertram Edelstein ’74, Distinguished Alum. An organizational psychologist, Edelstein has used his expertise to help thousands of leaders from major companies and organizations around the world. Those skills have also been invaluable for children in need and military veterans. 
• Robert Bookman ’76, Distinguished Alum. Bookman has spent a 43-year legal career representing small businesses, entrepreneurs and others who needed a voice. Today he represents the New York Hospitality Alliance — one of the largest trade associations for restaurants and bars in the country. Due to a scheduling conflict, he will be presented her award at Alumni Reunion 2024.
• Rear Admiral John “Jack” C. Scorby ’81, United States Navy (Ret.), Distinguished Alum. During 35 years in the military, Scorby never stopped seeking new challenges, and distinguished himself through leadership, integrity and dedication.
• John W. Tillotson ’91, Distinguished Alum. Tillotson, associate professor of STEM Education and chair of the Department of Science Teaching in the College of Arts & Sciences at Syracuse University, has spent his career preparing the next generation of science educators.
• Daniel Martuscello III ’96, Distinguished Alum. As the top-ranking state prison official in New York, Martuscello is responsible for operating 44 prisons, a $3.2 billion budget and 62,000 inmates and parolees.
• Michael Braun ’17, Rising Star. Since January, Braun has been the chief strategy officer and vice president at Kasirer LLC, a government lobbying and community relations firm serving New York City and New York state.
• Natalie Yoder ’21, Rising Star. As the Fitzgerald Hall director since August 2022, Yoder melds her university scholarship with international experiences to shape future Red Dragon leaders. Due to a scheduling conflict, she will be presented her award at Alumni Reunion 2024.
  
• Tracy McPherson Hudson ’89, M ’93, Ed.D., Distinguished Educator. Before joining her alma mater in 2021 as a SUNY Diversity Fellow, the assistant professor of physical education had already made her mark in New York state schools.
• Evelyn Neuberger Sammons ’71, C.A.S. ’91, Outstanding Volunteer. Sammons of Homer, N.Y., is being honored as a tireless volunteer on behalf of SUNY Cortland and in the surrounding community.
• Robert “Bob” Russell ’78, C.A.S. ’91, Outstanding Volunteer. At countless alumni and university events including Admissions Office open houses, Russell of Homer, N.Y., demonstrates just what being a Red Dragon means.
• Peter C. Perkins, Honorary Alum. SUNY Cortland is thriving as a welcoming and supportive place both for students and alumni, thanks to the leadership of the university’s vice president for institutional advancement. 

DISTINGUISHED ALUM

Abraham Lincoln DeMond 1889

Abraham Lincoln DeMond is one of Cortland’s most historic graduates. In an era when segregation and prejudicial policies were common through much of the United States, he found a home at SUNY Cortland’s predecessor — the Cortland Normal School — to become its first African American alum. He went on to be an educator, an activist pastor and inspiration to others across the country. 

The son of Guam DeMond, a former slave, and his wife, Phoebe, DeMond was born in Seneca, N.Y. He graduated from Cortland Normal School in 1889, moved south and then became a teacher. Later, he continued his studies at Howard University Seminary in Washington, D.C. 

DeMond became a politically active pastor, delivering an influential address on African American rights from the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, on Jan. 1, 1900. The oration was called The Negro Element in American Life. In it, Abraham emphasized that African Americans were fully deserving of all the rights of citizens. DeMond saw the need to speak out and push back against racist currents seeking to sweep away the progress that had been made in his lifetime. 

This speech was later published by the Emancipation Proclamation Association. The Dexter Avenue Baptist Church — from which the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. started the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s — is now a National Historic Monument.  

In 2019, SUNY Cortland’s chapter of the W.E.B. Du Bois Honor Society was named for DeMond. This year, on Feb. 1, 2023, the inaugural Abraham Lincoln DeMond 1889 Day was held, kicking off SUNY Cortland’s celebration of Black History Month. This annual event in DeMond’s name will be a platform to honor his and other groundbreaking graduates who have overcome adversity, enshrining his important legacy to the university and the United States. 

He was nominated by Tim Southerton ’78 on behalf of the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association’s 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.  

“The DEI Committee feels that it is time for his Alma Mater to honor this man and his accomplishments,” Southerton said. 

Bertram Edelstein ’74

Organizational psychologist Bertram Edelstein ’74 has used his expertise to help thousands of leaders from major companies and organizations around the world. Those skills have also been invaluable for children in need, military veterans and SUNY Cortland. 

For more than three decades, he has served as president for The Edelstein Group, an international consulting firm that he founded. Using Edelstein’s extensive knowledge of psychological methods and management practices, the company created a new executive development model and has helped implement this model for clients including Fortune 500 corporations and government organizations. More than 3,000 executives from over 50 companies have completed this program.  

Prior to that, Edelstein served as a management assistant for the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration at the Argonne National Laboratory, and a consultant for Kaiser Permanente medical group, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit healthcare plans.  

Edelstein earned a master’s degree in administration from Michigan State University in 1976 and a Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology in 1982.  

He also selflessly gives his time as a board member of the Pro Kids Foundation, helping under-served San Diego youth, and is an executive coach for The Honor Foundation, a career transition institute in partnership with the Navy SEAL Foundation. 

In tribute to his father and other veterans, Edelstein lobbied for the passage of the Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act, a federal law signed in 2022 by President Joe Biden to honor troops who conducted deceptive operations in the European Theater during World War II. 

At SUNY Cortland, Edelstein graduated cum laude and was a Presidential Scholar. He was also station manager for WCSU, the campus radio station, building much of the foundation of what would eventually become WSUC-FM.  

Involved in student government while an undergraduate, he’s remained committed to the university, hosting regional alumni events and setting up an endowment for the ongoing support of SUNY Cortland social science students. 

“He is generous with his time and genuinely tries to help people be their best self,” said Francis P. Lynch, director of Learning and Development at Crinetics Pharmaceuticals. “The word mensch is overused, but in Dr. Edelstein’s case, it is an understatement.” 

Robert Bookman ’76

Robert Bookman ’76 has, throughout his ongoing 43-year career in law, been a relentless advocate for those too often unheard or left behind. 

“Robert has been a steadfast advocate who fights to give voice to those who often have little voice of their own,” said nominator Kevin N. Keegan ’76, a Cortland College Foundation board member. 

It started in Florida, where he supported farm workers and poor rural families through a poverty law program. During that time, he successfully sued a local housing authority for maintaining racially separate waiting lists. Then, in his native New York City, he protected citizens from predatory businesses as counsel at the Department of Consumer Affairs. 

After joining a private practice as a partner, he represented small businesses and entrepreneurs, including the historic Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. He then served as counsel and co-founder to the New York Nightlife Association and currently as counsel to its successor organization, the New York Hospitality Alliance — one of the largest trade associations for restaurants and bars in the country. 

This expertise in nightlife and hospitality legal issues has led to appointments to key New York City advisory panels and for Bookman to be a trusted, valued media source quoted in the likes of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, WABC-TV, Forbes Magazine and Restaurant Business Online. 

In his private life, Bookman is generous, volunteering to provide meals to the homeless, financially supporting hospice and battered women’s shelters and assists the Sierra Club as a lifetime member. 

His time as a SUNY Cortland student has been just as noteworthy. He was elected vice president of the Student Government Association and led efforts to create the university's first Jewish Studies courses and the first student-run teacher/course evaluations. As an alum, he’s been on the board of directors of the Cortland College Foundation and chair of its Governance of the Executive Committee. He created an annual scholarship to support a student government leader who has been a steadfast advocate for aiding the university’s neediest students. 

Rear Admiral John “Jack” C. Scorby ’81, United States Navy (Ret.)

During 35 years in the military, Rear Admiral John (Jack) C. Scorby ’81, United States Navy (Ret.) never stopped seeking new challenges. He put himself in a position to make tough decisions, distinguishing himself through leadership, integrity and dedication.  

After his time at SUNY Cortland, Scorby earned a master’s degree from Naval Postgraduate School, then graduated with distinction from the College of Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. During his military service, he was honored twice by Congress on the Congressional Record. 

From his time as a young lieutenant commander in Brunswick, Maine, responsible for 250 pilots and support personnel, to eventually handling the operations of Naval installations around the world, Scorby’s ability placed him among the best of America’s flag officers during both combat and peacetime operations. 

Working toward a more efficient and climate-friendly military, Scorby established initiatives to conserve energy, creating a “Culture of Energy Conservation” through an active Regional Energy Council. The secretary of the Navy and the chief of Naval Operations have praised his work as “visionary” and “innovative.” 

For Scorby, it’s the teamwork among  those he works with, military and civilian alike, he’s most proud of. For proof, just look to the Fleet and Family Support Program he helped create. The program works with local community partners to achieve a 50 percent hiring rate for military spouses and transitioning veterans. To this day, he mentors individuals seeking officer commissions and is happy to give advice to active-duty service members. 

Retirement doesn’t always mean taking it easy. Scorby and his wife, Chris, have brought their work ethic to their home city of Jacksonville, Florida, where he’s secretary of the Orange Park Rotary Club; vice chairman of the Orange Park Hospital board of Trustees; volunteer for the Clay County Education Foundation; and member of the “200 Club of Jacksonville,” which assists families and loved ones of first responders who die in the line of duty. 

John W. Tillotson ’91

If a person can be measured by the lives they’ve helped, then the legacy of John W. Tillotson ’91 is larger than most.  

Throughout his career, Tillotson has profoundly impacted the professional development of a vast group of students, including pre-service science teachers, undergraduate science majors and science education doctoral students. 

He joined the Syracuse University faculty in 1996. From 2001-06 he was executive director for the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, the leading international science education research organization in the world. In 2006, Tillotson was selected as National Science Educator of the Year by his peers at the Association for Science Teacher Education. In 2012, he was elected as president of that organization, serving on the board of directors for three years. 

Over the course of his career, Tillotson has successfully applied for more than $6 million in education research grant funding. This includes $2.5 million toward examining the influence of pre-service program experiences on science teacher development. He’s also won grants for programs that provide scholarships to future secondary science teachers who commit to working in high-needs public schools, and that support undergraduate STEM majors from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds. 

Recently he’s directed the SUSTAIN Project at Syracuse University — a research and professional development program that serves underrepresented students from low-income family backgrounds who have high aptitude in STEM. The program has a 93% first-year retention rate and an average 4-year graduation rate in a STEM major of over 80%. 

Just as important, Tillotson has never forsaken service to his community. For the past 35 years, he’s been an active volunteer firefighter and EMT in Marathon, N.Y., and Harford, N.Y., serving as EMS chief or deputy chief in Marathon for two decades. 

Daniel Martuscello III ’96

Daniel Martuscello III ’96 takes on challenges with an energy and vision that’s enabled him rise to the top of his profession. 

As the acting commissioner for New York state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), Martuscello leads the agency responsible for the safe and humane confinement of people convicted of a felony, as well as being responsible fo every individual released from prison under parole supervision.  

He has a direct hand in managing a $3.2 billion budget used to operate 44 prisons with approximately 31,000 incarcerated individuals, a roughly equal number of parolees and 27,000 employees. 

Martuscello is also at the forefront of the DOCCS’s newest projects, guiding them with thoroughness and attention to detail. They include: 

• Working with the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, he helped establish a methadone maintenance program that included multiple correctional facilities, as well as expanding a similar existing program for pregnant women. 
• Negotiating with private companies to provide computer tablets to incarcerated individuals free of charge. This technology has given them greater ability to communicate with loved ones and is an invaluable source of education, with access to more than 30,000 books. 
• Supervising COVID-era changes at correctional facility manufacturing operations in the successful production of hand sanitizer, masks and protective gowns. Through his efforts, the spread of COVID-19 was reduced and lives were saved. 

“Time and time again, Dan has taken on huge new projects and initiatives and carefully orchestrated their design, implementation and successful completion,” said nominator Darren Ayotte ’94, acting deputy commissioner for Administrative Services at DOCCS. “Several of these projects have had enormous ramifications not only for DOCCS but for all of New York state.” 

Martuscello also finds the time to establish and nurture relationships with the advocacy organizations, unions, other agencies and members of government that his agency interacts with. This extra attention helps ensure a smooth, efficient process that enhances the lives under his care. 

RISING STAR

Michael Braun ’17

In 2022, Michael Braun ’17 ranked 51 on City & State’s Queens Power 100 list, one of its youngest honorees. 

Since 2019 when he joined the prominent lobbyist firm Kasirer, he has achieved three promotions in as many years. In only his second year there, Braun helped grow the firm’s year-over-year revenues by $1.3 million, an increase of 10%. He leads government and community relations on behalf of a variety of challenging client projects, including Stony Brook University, which is bidding to build and operate a historic climate center on Governor’s Island. Braun also supervises the political fundraising and analysis unit of the firm, ensuring that its government relations strategies align with the changing dynamic of New York City’s politics. 

“Since the beginning of my work with Mike Braun, I was certain that his educational experience groomed him into the rising star that he is today in his career,” said nominator Jennifer Blum, senior vice president of operations and administration at Kasirer.  

Braun noted, “My character, morals and ethics are what they are because of the amazing people at that campus, and I couldn’t have been more thankful of that opportunity.” 

A political science major at SUNY Cortland, Braun was heavily involved throughout his entire undergraduate experience with the Student Government Association, serving as president his senior year. 

Upon graduation in 2017, he enrolled at the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy to earn a master’s in public administration (MPA).  

While there, Braun was elected by students across New York state to serve first as chief financial officer and then as the president of the State University of New York’s Student Assembly, which advocates for the 1.4 million students across the SUNY system. He also represented students on the 2018-19 Board of Trustees of the State University of New York. 

Braun’s long list of civic involvements includes starting a local organization called Astoria Young Professionals (AYP), which hosts social and civic events for the community’s young professionals’ network. 

Natalie Yoder ’21

A passion for diversity, equity and inclusion has led Natalie Yoder ’21 to pursue opportunities that better the communities around her. 

“Natalie has taken her diverse lived experiences and is now using them to benefit SUNY Cortland directly,” said nominator Cyrenius Fitzjohn ’19, the former assistant chief diversity and inclusion officer at SUNY Cortland. 

As a biracial student, Yoder found it difficult to find her place as a young person leaving home for the first time, especially among people who came from different backgrounds and circumstances. 

“I ultimately found my own purpose through building community for my residents by creating a positive living and learning environment,” said Yoder, a 2020-21 Outstanding Student Leader Award honoree.  

Yoder, who graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and minor in international studies, worked as a resident assistant in Bishop and Randall halls for five semesters, was a fitness supervisor, instructor and lifeguard at the Student Life Center and worked catering events for Cortland Auxiliary Services. She also facilitated a Re-Thinking Abilities workshop and advised the Student Activities Office. 

While studying abroad in Mangalore, India, Yoder researched the children of Devadasis — religious prostitutes — and how this impacted them mentally and physically throughout their life as well as their long-term skills and relationships. Her research results were published in the St. Aloysius College Journal.  

She also volunteered in 2016 and 2017 in Tanzania and Bali to participate in work to promote cultural diversity and ecosystem restoration; to volunteer to restore coral reefs and classrooms and to provide HIV education; and to teach English in a classroom setting. 

Upon graduation, Yoder interned in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) with the executive director of the Aspire African Communities/Meesh Lo Foundation to facilitate construction of a new school for students with cognitive impairments.  

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 

Tracy McPherson Hudson ’89, M ’93, Ed.D.

Appointed at SUNY Cortland as a SUNY Diversity Fellow in 2021, Tracy McPherson Hudson ’89, M ’93, Ed.D. believes in the power of treating all students as “able, valuable and responsible.” 

“Teaching has the power to provide students with tools that help them navigate in this ever-changing world,” Hudson said. 

She previously was employed for almost 20 years on Long Island in secondary schools as a physical education teacher, health educator and school principal, winning many awards. 

“The (SUNY Cortland) students clearly resonated with her knowledge, and I could tell appreciated the insider information she shared about crosstown rivals and highlights of specific regions,” said Timothy Davis, associate professor of physical education. 

Hudson’s nominators, SUNY Cortland professors Ibipo Johnston-Anumonwo in the Geography Department and Mechthild Nagel in the Philosophy Department, alluded to her outstanding record of accomplishments, impact, peer acknowledgements, community service and contributions in diversity and inclusion within and outside of SUNY Cortland. 

At the university’s three-day 2021 Summer Diversity Institute, for example, she took an active role in the dialogues and presentations. Departments’ faculty search committees tap her knowledge to help them hire with greater inclusiveness. Her expanded outreach to students of color is also evident in her role as interim advisor to the Cortland Chapter of NAACP. 

“We have also witnessed such compassionate pedagogy in her innovative contributions to the university’s Sophia’s Garden,” noted Johnston-Anumonwo, in reference to a project to educate young children using philosophical ideas.  

After earning her bachelor’s degree in physical education, Hudson remained to receive her master’s degree in health education. 

After Cortland, Hudson earned two additional master’s degrees and holds an Ed.D. in accountability and leadership from St. John’s University in New York. A certified trainer in racial healing, her research has focused on creating a culture of care for Black students.

OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER

Evelyn Neuberger Sammons ’71, C.A.S. ’91

Whether it’s helping someone in their moment of need, pitching in to beautify her environs or leading a local nonprofit organization’s push to improve local community life, Evelyn Neuberger Sammons ’71, C.A.S ’89 is everyone’s go-to person. 

“If one of the girls in her class needed clothing, a gym suit or even a shower, she would provide for them,” said the anonymous nominator of Sammons, a retired physical educator who served at both Homer (N.Y.) Junior High School and Homer Senior High School. “If they needed to talk to someone about a problem, she would be that person. She was always there for her students.” 

At the senior high school, Sammons became athletic director and then vice principal, and served on the Section III Athletics Executive Committee for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.  

“When girls at the high school wanted to start a girls lacrosse team, Evelyn again stepped up” and coached for two years, the nominator said. 

Sammons has served on the Cortland Chapter of the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association and its committee for the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House. That role finds her eagerly pitching in for spring and fall cleanup, house decorating for the holidays or assisting with events. She also volunteers at Alumni Reunion Weekend, New Student Orientation and Senior Send Off. 

In the community, Sammons served two terms with the Hospice Foundation of Cortland County, including as board president during the merger with Hospice of Tompkins County.  

Sammons transports former military service members in Disabled Veterans of Cortland. Other favorite local causes are Aid to Victims of Violence, the New York Senior Games when held in Cortland County and Cortland YWCA. 

“I feel it is our duty to assist and volunteer to help others in any way we are capable of,” Sammons said. “We should all strive to be kind and caring in all our dealings with others.” 

Robert “Bob” Russell ’78, C.A.S. ’91

There’s a familiar face greeting alumni arriving at Reunion Weekend, Cortaca and other SUNY Cortland events: Robert “Bob” Russell ’78, C.A.S. ’91. 

“Many hands make light work,” the retired educator said.  

As a member of the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association Board of Directors, Russell has served on committees including the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and contributed many hours of service to the association and SUNY Cortland.  

He has volunteered his know-how to fixing up the interior or gardens at the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House. Russell has opened his own home in Homer, N.Y., to host Alumni Reunion weekend gatherings. 

Russell reliably comes through when alumni are asked to demonstrate their Red Dragon pride with prospective students and their parents, said nominator Betsy Cook Cheetham ’80, longtime assistant to the director of admissions.  

“Bob Russell has volunteered at several Open Houses as ‘Blaze’s escort’ or as someone who greeted and talked with families at the dining hall,” Cheetham said. “His contributions are very much appreciated, and he has enjoyed helping his alma mater.” 

A former secondary social studies major, after he graduated Russell earned a master’s degree in special education from Binghamton University and a C.A.S. from SUNY Cortland. He has served as a special education teacher, administrator and consultant at public schools and regional residential facilities for at-risk youth. As an education supervisor, he set up a summer school program that helped incarcerated students earn academic credits needed to return to public schools. 

Recently, Russell was voted president of the Cortland Public Education Foundation, which raises money to offer grants to Cortland City School District teachers. 

“To be honest, I volunteer because I have the time and like to help out when there is a need,” he said. “I also enjoy working alongside my fellow volunteers.” 

HONORARY ALUM

Peter C. Perkins

When he retires this summer, Peter C. Perkins, SUNY Cortland’s vice president for institutional advancement since 2015, will leave behind an indelible, positive mark on the university and its alumni.  

Daniel Walker ’06, current president of the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, listed only the most recent reasons for awarding Perkins this rare recognition. Perkins has stood out for his tireless advocacy on the association’s behalf, notably in achieving a commitment by the Cortland College Foundation to provide increased support annually to further its engagement efforts. He’s strengthened collaborations between the foundation and association boards. 

“In collaboration with the executive director and board of directors, Perkins has worked tirelessly to explore options for a financially stable business operation plan at the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House,” Walker said. “He’s freely giving of his time to always strengthen alumni connections to support the university mission.”  

Erin Boylan, executive director of alumni engagement, described an alumni dinner at the Parks Alumni House where Perkins was alerted to leaky pipe.  

“In a full suit, Peter assessed the situation and guided staff on the clamp we needed to purchase,” Boylan said. “He returned upstairs, cultivating alumni. Between dinner and dessert, he installed the clamp and then returned to the event. The alumni never knew. I think it is a great example of his professionalism and his willingness to always go above and beyond.” 

During that time, Perkins also shepherded the university’s fundraising initiatives and guided efforts in alumni engagement, government affairs, communications and marketing.  

He saw through from start to finish the university’s recent successful Campaign for Cortland — All-In: Building on Success, which raised more than $30 million for numerous institutional priorities while fostering an environment of “friend-raising” among Cortland’s more than 80,000 alumni, campus community and other supporters.  

Perkins’ distinguished career in higher education also included experiences in teaching, administrative leadership, continuing education, corporate training and outreach, and academic affairs.  

He previously served as assistant vice president for development and executive director of the Foundation at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (formerly SUNY Institute of Technology) for 11 years and for several years as interim dean of Empire State College in Syracuse.  

Perkins has a B.S. in business administration and an M.B.A. in production/operations management from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. 

The Cortland County Community of Color (C4) network will hold Cortland County’s third annual Juneteenth Celebration marking the end of slavery in America on Saturday, June 17.

C4 — a collaborative initiative between SUNY Cortland and Tompkins Cortland Community College  — will host the official recognition of Black American emancipation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Courthouse Park on Church Street in downtown Cortland.

"Juneteenth became a national holiday in 2021, but Black Americans have celebrated Juneteenth from day one,” said Lorraine Lopez-Janove, SUNY Cortland’s chief diversity and inclusion officer. “C4 made the decision to open it up and bring awareness of Juneteenth to the Cortland community, explain why we celebrate it, and have lots of fun in the process.”

The event is free and open to the public. The Juneteenth Celebration will feature speakers, food, music, lawn games and giveaways.

The presidents of both SUNY Cortland and TC3  — Erik J. Bitterbaum and Amy Kremenek, respectively — will offer remarks.

Keynote speaker for the event will be Tracy McPherson Hudson ’89, M ’93, Ed.D., an assistant professor of physical education who joined SUNY Cortland in 2021 as a SUNY Diversity Fellow.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in physical education, Hudson remained to receive her master’s degree in health education. Hudson has two additional master’s degrees and holds an Ed.D. in accountability and leadership from St. John’s University in New York. A certified trainer in racial healing, her research has focused on creating a culture of care for Black students. She previously was employed for almost 20 years on Long Island in secondary schools as an award-winning physical education teacher, health educator and school principal.

Although most area college students are gone, in the two prior celebrations faculty, staff and community members of diverse backgrounds gathered and enjoyed the festivities, Lopez-Janove noted.

“I went before the Cortland City Council about getting Juneteenth as a line item in next year’s budget and told them that I have two goals,” she said. “One is to educate them on Juneteenth if they’re not already. The other one is we want the city council members to join us, to bring about this event that’s benefiting the community.”

Juneteenth, the day of freedom for once enslaved African Americans, is celebrated on the 19th of June instead of Sept. 22, the calendar day when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. The reason is because June 19, 1865 — two years later — was the day the Union Army marched into Galveston, Texas, and enforced the late President Lincoln’s emancipation. Since then, celebrations in Galveston have been among the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the world.

“On June 19th, we reflect on and celebrate the freedom and independence of African Americans in America and around the world,” said Lopez-Janove.

“This day is celebrated nationwide as a day of hope, remembrance and motivation,” she said.

SUNY Cortland Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rich Coyne ’07 connected C4 with the event’s newest sponsor, the Cortland Community Foundation.

Lopez-Janove said C4 offers special thanks to the foundation, the City of Cortland, the Cortland Police Department for their continued support to make it happen this year.

With Commencement 2023 recently behind us, we’d like members of the SUNY Cortland community to turn their attention to the amazing accomplishments of those students after they leave campus to join the world.  

There are now more than 88,000 people with Cortland degrees, so there’s a lot going on. And one of the best ways to catch up with them is by reading Columns, SUNY Cortland’s biannual alumni magazine. The latest edition is now available online, and all alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends are encouraged to take a look. 

Cortland graduates everywhere work for a better world and the Spring 2023 Columns gives a sample. From reimagining education to supporting local news coverage to helping people with mobility disabilities, Red Dragons are improving people’s lives.  

Among the stories you’ll find: 

Bringing it back home 

Kevin Younis ’94, a top New York state economic development official, brokered an historic, $100 billion business deal to build a semiconductor plant the size of 40 football fields in the Central New York region where he grew up. Directly employing 9,000 people, Micron’s new facility represents the largest private investment in New York state and will change the economic landscape of the region. 

From pain to purpose 

In the decade since Mary Joy Greene Sherlach ’78 was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Bill Sherlach ’80 has helped lead a national movement against gun violence, winning historic cases against the nation’s largest gun maker and conspiracist influencer Alex Jones.  

Fighting news inequality 

Jin Ding M ’13, an immigrant from China who knows first-hand the importance of giving people a public voice, is strengthening America’s ability to uncover important stories about marginalized groups.  

Preserving paradise 

Tom Olivo ’79 lives retirement with a mission, working to preserve Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, a remote jungle with a unique ecosystem recognized by National Geographic as the most biologically intense place on the planet.  

Cortland’s “Ted Lasso” 

Former NFL coach Paul Alexander ’82 is now leading a professional American football team in Europe. 

Today, anthropologist Suad Joseph ’66, Ph.D., an international leader of the study of the role of women in the Middle East, continues to break ground as a researcher, speaker and educator in the field.

She remembers and respects how — as a Cortland girl in a large Lebanese immigrant family — teachers and college professors helped her embark on that lifetime of academic and career success.

“We were in a small town,” said Joseph, a current distinguished research professor of anthropology and women and gender studies at the University of California, Davis. “We were children of hard-working parents and stood out.”

Her father, Samuel Joseph, worked in the Wickwire factory while her mother, Rose Joseph, worked in the Crescent Corset Company. Both parents, in this family of seven children, valued education in the Lebanese tradition but could not afford to send any of them to college.

However, different Cortland schoolteachers took an interest in the Joseph offspring, giving them extra assignments and attention outside of class and raising enough money in the community to send the two oldest brothers to Union College, with a third brother joining later. All worked their way through college.

The more sheltered Joseph daughters enrolled at SUNY Cortland.

“At every step of the way, I had teachers who made me feel like I could do something special,” Joseph said. “I was just very lucky. The same thing happened in college and graduate school.”

In those days, undergraduate research wasn’t available at SUNY Cortland. However, one history professor asked students to write a research paper on any related topic they wanted.

“Most of the students went to the library, but I decided to do interviews of the Lebanese people in the Cortland community, the older Lebanese community,” Joseph said.

“He sent the paper to the New York State Folklore Quarterly and it was published. I first became published as a sophomore at SUNY Cortland. The Cortland Democrat republished it. It was the first research study of the Lebanese community in Cortland. That was pure research, but I wasn’t mentored, it was a class paper.”

Joseph, a 1994 SUNY Cortland Alumni Association Distinguished Alumna and a 2012 SUNY Cortland Academic Hall of Fame inductee, graduated from SUNY Cortland magna cum laude in secondary social studies.

She went on to earn her doctorate in anthropology at Columbia University. A faculty member at U.C. Davis since 1976, she is the founder and founding director of the institution’s Middle East/South Asia Studies Program, established in 2004. For her teaching and research, the university presented its highest teaching honor to her, the U.C. Davis Prize, in 2014.

“That meant a lot to me,” she said.

“I’m very proud of founding the program because now these heritage students have a home, a place where they are recognized for their culture and history.”

Joseph also received the California University system’s 2012 Chancellor’s Achievement Award for Diversity and Community. In addition, she has earned lifetime achievement awards from the Association for Middle East Women’s Studies, the Middle East Section of the American Anthropological Association, the Arab-American Studies Association, all three of which she founded or co-founded; and the Middle East Association of North America, of which she was elected president in 2010. She also founded the University of California Davis Arab Region Consortium (UCDAR), a partnership of six universities from Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine and United Arab Emirates. She is the author of more than a dozen published books and more than 100 academic articles.

In gratitude to SUNY Cortland for the education and experiences she received, Joseph recently donated $100,000 to establish an endowment to annually support a $4,000 stipend for one student as a Summer Fellow through the university’s Undergraduate Research Council. The award is reserved for undergraduates majoring in sociology, anthropology, philosophy, or history; or minoring in women’s, gender and sexuality studies.

“The more we can train students in how to do research, the more we will have a citizenry that has the capacity for critical thinking,” Joseph said.

The Dr. Suad Joseph ’66 Undergraduate Research Summer Fellowship also honors her parents, Rose and Samuel Joseph.

“They were two of the most brilliant people I have ever known in my life,” Joseph said.

SUNY Cortland will host an educational listening event to help answer Central New Yorkers’ questions about project funding through the state’s $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.

The event, featuring experts from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Facilities Corporation, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and others, will run from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, in the Corey Union Function Room. It is free and will give members of the public and potential funding applicants in the region an opportunity to learn more about the Bond Act and the eligibility guidelines being developed to identify potential projects.

The Central New York stop at Cortland is one of 10 tour events announced last week by Governor Kathy Hochul. Officials will provide a presentation on the Bond Act, its commitment to provide at least 35 percent of the funding benefits to disadvantaged communities, the significant jobs it can help create, and other topics. Attendees can then visit tables where experts can help answer individual questions.

To attend the free session, simply register online at www.ny.gov/BondAct.

Overwhelmingly approved by voters last fall, the Bond Act prioritizes investments in environmental justice, climate change mitigation, shoreline restoration, flood resilience, water quality, open space conservation, recreational resources and green jobs.

“The Environmental Bond Act is a tremendous opportunity for New York to continue its role as a leader on fighting climate change and improving our communities,” SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum said. “I think it’s fitting that this meeting is happening on our campus because SUNY Cortland is committed to being one of the greenest campuses in the nation.

“We are the Red Dragons, but we’re proud to be green.”

Some examples of SUNY Cortland’s commitment to a sustainable future:

• Cortland was the first SUNY campus to use 100 percent renewable energy for our electricity needs.
• We were the first in SUNY to build a residence hall to LEED platinum standards.
• We were the first to achieve a gold rating in sustainability assessment from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
• We offer academic programs including conservation biology and outdoor recreation that produce graduates who will go on to work in green careers.
• The Sierra Club’s magazine has ranked Cortland among the top 100 colleges and universities in the nation for sustainability for six consecutive years.

More information on SUNY Cortland’s environmental efforts is available through the Sustainability Office website.

Maurice Kearney has been named the men's basketball head coach at SUNY Cortland, according to Director of Athletics Mike Urtz. Kearney replaces Tom Spanbauer, who retired from the position this past spring after 28 years at the helm. 

Kearney is a former Cortland men's basketball player and coaching staff member. In his four-season playing career at Cortland from 2010-14, Kearney played in 82 games, 51 as a starter, and served as a team captain during his sophomore and senior seasons. He was an assistant coach under Spanbauer for four years from 2014-18, followed by four years as the program's associate head coach from 2018-22.  

During the 2022-23 season, Kearney was a men's basketball assistant coach at New York University, where he helped the Violets earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Division III playoffs. 

"I am truly honored to be selected as the next head men's basketball coach at SUNY Cortland," Kearney said. "I'd like to thank Director of Athletics Mike Urtz, the search committee, and the entire department for giving me this opportunity. As an alum, I have so much love and passion for this institution as my experiences here have shaped me to be who I am today. 

"I look forward to continue developing an atmosphere of excellence both on and off the court and helping these individuals grow into the best versions of themselves. My family and I cannot wait to get back to Central New York and are extremely grateful for the opportunity to rejoin the Cortland community. Once a Red Dragon, always a Red Dragon." 

Kearney assisted in all facets of the program while coaching at Cortland, including recruiting, on-court instruction, scouting, budgeting and compliance. After being promoted to associate head coach, Kearney took on the role of recruiting coordinator and became heavily involved in player development and fundraising. Among the players he recruited was two-time All-American and SUNYAC Player of the Year and Cortland's career scoring and rebounding leader Austin Grunder. 

During Kearney's Cortland coaching career, the Red Dragons averaged more than 17 wins per season, including a 21-8 campaign in 2015-16 that featured a SUNYAC title and advancement to the NCAA second round. As a player, Kearney was a member of the 2012-13 squad that went 24-5, won a SUNYAC crown and advanced to the NCAA second round, as well as the 2011-12 team that finished 22-7 and won an ECAC Upstate New York title. 

Kearney also worked as an admissions advisor at Cortland from 2015-20 and was promoted to senior admissions advisor at the start of 2020. Within the admissions office, he reviewed and processed freshman applications in a database of 12,000 applicants and followed the school's criteria to make admissions decisions. As a senior admissions advisor, he also served as a liaison to the athletics department, led the Educational Opportunity Program, assisted with the marketing and communications of the office and managed more than 100 partnerships with secondary schools and community organizations in the region.

A native of Uniondale, N.Y., Kearney received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Cortland in May 2015 and a master's degree in health education in 2019. He played three seasons of basketball and football at Uniondale High School. 

Kearney and his wife, Lindsey - a former Cortland women's basketball player and assistant coach - have a son, MJ, who was born in April 2023. 

"We're excited to have Mo and Lindsey back with Cortland Athletics and the Cortland community as a whole," said Urtz. "I look forward to working with Mo, but more importantly, I'm excited to see him leading our men's basketball program moving forward. He has a very bright future, and I'm glad it will be happening right here for the Cortland Red Dragons."

Twenty-two staff members recently developed a greater understanding for diversity, inclusion and social justice issues and how to use inclusive practices in the classroom, workplace and society at large at SUNY Cortland’s Summer Institute for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice.

Sponsored by the Institutional Equity and Inclusion Office, the 12 faculty members and 10 professional staff attended the institute for three days from May 31 to June 2 in Moffett Center.

Guest speaker was Lydia X. Z. Brown, an autistic disability rights activist, writer, attorney and public speaker and presented on the topic of ableism. Brown founded and leads the Fund for Community Reparations for Autistic People of Color’s Interdependence, Survival, and Empowerment, in partnership with the Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network.

Institute facilitators included: Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Lorraine Lopez-Janove; Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Diversity Faculty Fellow Tracy Hudson, and; Philosophy and Africana Studies Professor Mechthild Nagel.

“Thank you for the rich dialogue,” wrote one participant. “Thank you for providing a safe space for perspective and learning to take place and for modeling and incorporating various teaching strategies.”

“When a group of professional staff and faculty members come together to increase and strengthen their awareness and knowledge of racial equity and social justice with the intent to apply the learnings in their classrooms with students and in offices with their colleagues, our campus becomes that place of belonging where we all succeed,” said Lopez-Janove.

The Summer Institute for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion began in 1995 when four faculty members received faculty development training for multiculturalism, now called diversity, at Williams College in Massachusetts. Diversity facilitator training has continued ever since for our faculty and administrators and the institute continues to be an important and very personalized training program for SUNY Cortland.

Dear campus community,

June is Pride Month, an opportunity for us to celebrate and support members of the LGBTQ+ community. This month was chosen for Pride to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York City, which began on June 28, 1969 and were a response to police raids of gay and lesbian bars in Greenwich Village. 

In many ways, our nation has become far more open and accepting of the LGBTQ+ community in the years since. It’s also clear to me that there is much work yet to be done in creating an equitable, safe and respectful environment for all people.

SUNY’s annual SPECTRUM conference, which seeks to prevent sexual and interpersonal violence against people from underserved sexual and gender minorities, has posted a full playlist of videos from its 2022 event to YouTube. I hope that you may find some of the topics enlightening, helpful and in spirit with Pride Month.

Students, faculty and staff may also be interested in the following events this month:

• Downtown Ithaca is hosting an Ithaca Pride week from June 9 to June 16.
• CNY Pride will host a festival and parade at the Inner Harbor in Syracuse on Saturday, June 10.
• The New York City Pride March begins at noon on Sunday, June 25.

All the best,

Erik J. Bitterbaum

President

Each year with the assistance of SUNY Cortland’s President’s Cabinet and the Student Government Association, the Cortland Auxiliary Services (CAS) Board of Directors allocates funds to support a wide range of projects that enhance the life of the SUNY Cortland community.

For the 2023-24 year, $102,060 has been awarded to grant recipients.