02/24/2026
SUNY Cortland will award honorary degrees to a pair of alumni who have excelled as leaders in sport-related positions at the university’s 2026 Commencement.
Greg Sankey ’87, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and Stacey Bohne Hengsterman ’93, president and chief executive officer of Special Olympics New York, each will be awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters at undergraduate ceremonies taking place Saturday, May 16.
Both honorees are widely respected in their fields and hold bachelor’s degrees from SUNY Cortland. Sankey, a former physical education major, has earned a reputation as a visionary in college athletics for guiding the NCAA’s most successful Division I conference. Hengsterman, who majored in English language and literature, stands out as a trusted advocate for people with disabilities, directing one of the largest and most prominent Special Olympics organizations in the world.
“Greg Sankey and Stacey Hengsterman offer extraordinary examples of SUNY Cortland alumni who have shined in positions of leadership,” said President Erik J. Bitterbaum. “Both are innovators recognized for their bright minds, consistently striving to improve the lives of others throughout their careers.
“Their professional accomplishments also reflect SUNY Cortland’s excellence in educating well-rounded student-athletes and promoting inclusivity for all people. For our newest graduates, their success provides evidence of the wonderful possibilities that lie ahead.”
Hengsterman will deliver remarks at the university’s Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony A at 9:30 a.m. while Sankey will speak at Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony B at 2:30 p.m. More information on both honorary degree recipients is provided below.
Greg Sankey ’87
A native of nearby Auburn, N.Y., Sankey is widely considered one of the most influential voices in college sports. The SEC has prospered under Sankey’s leadership, collecting 65 national championships during his tenure as commissioner since 2015.
During recent trips to Cortland for executive-in-residence visits, Sankey credited former physical education faculty members with helping to develop problem-solving skills. He opted for a career in college athletics administration instead of K-12 teaching and coaching, but he has continued to share knowledge and experience with SUNY Cortland sport management classes, leaders from the university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the wider campus community in recent years.
Sankey’s 39-year career featured a meteoric rise because of his talent and work ethic. After graduating from SUNY Cortland in 1987, he was named director of intramural sports at Utica College. By 1996, he was tapped as the leader of the Southland Conference, making him at 31 the youngest commissioner in Division I athletics.
He transitioned to an associate commissioner’s role with the SEC in 2002. For more than a decade as its commissioner, Sankey’s guidance has grown and strengthened the conference’s visibility and reputation — introducing a historic broadcast rights deal in 2020 and expanding conference membership from 14 to 16 institutions, including some of the most respected universities in the nation.
Nationally, Sankey has helped navigate turbulent and changing times for Division I institutions, from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to the questions surrounding name, image and likeness benefits for student-athletes. In 2021, he was named co-chair of the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee, a group tasked with leading efforts to reimagine the future of college sports. He also has served on several of the NCAA’s most important committees addressing academic performance and governance.
Known for his intellect and penchant for learning, Sankey is a longtime advocate for preparing student-athletes for their lives outside of competition, adding student leadership positions in the SEC Office as well as programs to explore career possibilities in various fields.
Stacey Hengsterman ’93
Hengsterman has proven to be a champion for people with disabilities and a trusted higher education leader throughout a robust and diverse career in public service. As the president and CEO of Special Olympics New York since 2018, she represents one of the largest statewide Special Olympics chapters in the country and the world.
Hengsterman has shaped a bold vision to make New York the most inclusive state in the country. Special Olympics New York serves more than 48,000 athletes, including children, teens and adults with intellectual disabilities, through year-round competition in more than 20 sports and partnerships with nearly 400 schools competing in Unified Sports. All programs and services are offered at no cost to athletes or their families, so the organization is entrusted to raise critical funds and awareness.
Under Hengsterman’s guidance, Special Olympics New York has earned the highest rankings from both Charity Navigator and Candid. Among Hengsterman’s notable personal recognitions, she was named to the 2021 Upstate Power 100 list by City & State and she was one of 30 recipients to receive the 2020 City & State Above and Beyond Award, which recognizes women leaders in New York who have made notable contributions to society.
Hengsterman, who grew up in Rochester, N.Y., and now resides in Clifton Park, N.Y., is no stranger to the State University of New York system. Prior to her current role, she held various senior leadership positions with SUNY System Administration, serving as assistant vice chancellor for government relations from 2000 to 2015 before rising to the system’s chief of staff. For nearly two decades, she helped inform state higher education policy as a top advisor to the SUNY chancellor, the Board of Trustees and the leadership at its 64 public campuses.
In 2024, Hengsterman was recognized by the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association with its Distinguished Alumni Award, an honor presented to influential graduates who have excelled in their careers since their graduation.