Chancellor's Awards for Excellence and Distinguished Faculty and Librarian Ranks

The Chancellor's Awards for Excellence and Distinguished Faculty and Librarian Ranks confer recognition for consistently superior faculty/staff achievement and encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence within SUNY. The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recognizes outstanding students who have integrated academic excellence with other aspects of their lives.

Award Recipients

Distinguished Faculty Ranks

Distinguished Teaching Professorships

1975 Dr. Kent Lawson, Physics
1978 Dr. Philo Wilson, Earth Sciences
1986 Dr. John Kotz, Chemistry
1989 Dr. P. Jay Fleisher, Earth Sciences
1994 Dr. Arthur Palmer, Earth Sciences
1997 Dr. Harry Pence, Chemistry
1998 Dr. John Relethford, Anthropology
1999 Dr. Douglas Shrader, Philosophy
2000 Dr. Patrick Meanor, English
2001 Dr. Ashok Malhotra, Philosophy
2002 Dr. Lawrence Guzy, Psychology
2006 Dr. Peter Di Nardo, Psychology
2009 Dr. James Ebert, Earth Sciences
2018 Dr. Daniel Payne, English
2023 Dr. George Hovis, English
2026 Dr. Gustavo Arango, World Languages and Literatures and Dr. Brian Haley, Anthropology

Distinguished Service Professorships

1995 Dr. F. Daniel Larkin, History
2002 Dr. Willard Harman, Biology
2006 Dr. Gretchen Sorin, Cooperstown Graduate Program
2007 Dr. Janet Nepkie, Music
2020 Dr. Jennifer Bueche, Human Ecology

Chancellor's Awards for Excellence

Excellence in Adjunct Teaching

2013 Ms. Cynthia Klink, Anthropology and Ms. Carol Exley, Education

Excellence in Classified Service

2009 Ms. Betty Winchester, Secretary I, Communication and Media
2010 Mr. Dale Couse, Chief Janitor, Maintenance - Custodial
2011 Ms. Donna Baker, Secretary I, Creative Media Services
2013 Kay Gale, Secretary I, Music
2014 Mr. Charles Joe Weaver, Supervising Painter, Maintenance - Trades
2015 Ms. Sharon Paoletti, Agency Program Aide, Office of the Budget
2016 Jean Yaro, Secretary I, Elementary Education and Reading
2017 Steven Eichler, Electrician, Maintenance - Trades
2018 Debra Schwartz, Office Assistant 2, Maintenance - Custodial
2019 Keith Byam, Locksmith, Maintenance - Trades
2020 Rodney Gale, Carpenter, Maintenance - Trades
2023 Lynda Craft, Janitor, Maintenance - Custodial
2024 Kathy Hewlett, Office Assistant, Hunt Union
2025 Jeremy Sawyer, Maintenance
2026 Donna Toombs, Administrative Assistant, Morris Conference Center

Excellence in Faculty Service

2004 Mr. Francis O’Mara, Communication and Media
2005 Dr. Achim Koeddermann, Philosophy
2012 Dr. Jerome Blechman, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
2013 Dr. William Simons, History
2014 Dr. Michael Koch, Philosophy
2015 Dr. Theresa Russo, Human Ecology
2016 Dr. John Schaumloffel, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2019 Dr. Robert Compton, Africana and Latino Studies and Political Science
2022 Dr. William R. Wilkerson, Political Science
2026 Dr. Andrew Bottomley, Communication and Media

Excellence in Librarianship

1981 Mrs. Martha Chambers, Head of Special Collections
1989 Miss Christine Bulson, Head of Reference
1999 Miss Kathryn Franco, Librarian
2001 Ms. Elaine Downing, Librarian
2006 Dr. Mary Lynn Bensen, Reference and Instruction Librarian
2008 Ms. Nancy Cannon, Reference and Instruction Librarian
2019 Ms. Michelle Hendley, Reference and Instruction Librarian
2023 Sarah Rhodes, Senior Assistant Librarian

Excellence in Professional Service

1978 Mr. David Brenner, Associate Dean and College Registrar
1996 Dr. Steven Perry, Director of Career Development and Academic Advisement and Mr. Roger B. Sullivan, Director of Admissions
2001 Ms. Carol Blazina, Assistant to the President
2003 Ms. Eileen McClafferty, Director of Academic Advisement and Orientation
2004 Ms. Tracey Ranieri, Associate Athletic Director
2007 Ms. Karen Brown, Director of Admissions
2008 Mr. Thomas Rathbone, Associate Vice President for Facilities
2010 Dr. Mark Rice, Director of Counseling
2011 Ms. Lynda Bassette, Director of Special Programs
2012 Dr. Barton Ingersoll, University Police Chief
2013 Dr. Joanne Curran, Associate Dean of Division of Education and Ms. Kathy Meeker, Director of Grants and Development Office
2014 Dr. Jeanne Miller, Associate Vice President for Student Life and Ms. Elizabeth Tirado, Director of Business Services
2015 Ms. Maureen Artale, College Registrar and Mr. James Greenberg, Director of the Teaching/Learning/Technology Center
2016 Ms. Ellen Blaisdell, Director of Gift Planning and Ms. Monica Grau, Director of New Student Services
2017 Ms. Denise Straut, Director of Sponsored Programs
2018 Ms. Susan Clemons, Controller and Ms. Rebecca Harrington, Health Educator
2019 Ms. Lesley Bidwell, Director of IT Networking and Telecommunications
2021 Chilton Reynolds, Teaching, Learning and Technology Center and William Harcleroad, Student Life and Leadership
2022 Rebecca O'Donnell, College Accountant
2023 Phil Bidwell, Facilities, and Mark English, IT Services
2024 Pathy Leiva, Access and Opportunity Programs, and Diana Moseman, Faculty Center for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship
2025 Deb McClenon, Information Technology Services, and Katherine Nelligan, Mail, Receiving, & Supply

Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities

2002 Dr. Gretchen Sorin, Cooperstown Graduate Program
2003 Mr. Carleton Clay, Music
2005 Dr. Robert Barstow, Music
2007 Dr. Orlando Legname, Music
2012 Dr. Joseph Pignato, Music
2013 Dr. Susan Bernardin, Women and Gender Studies and English
2014 Dr. Brian Haley, Anthropology
2016 Dr. Gregory Fulkerson, Sociology
2017 Dr. Toke Knudsen, Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics
2018 Dr. Brian Lowe, Sociology
2019 Dr. Izabella Lokshina, Management, Marketing and Information Systems
2020 Dr. Tracy Betsinger, Anthropology
2023 Dr. Marius Munteanu, Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics
2024 Dr. Alanna Rudzik, Anthropology
2025 Dr. Sheena Mason, English
2026 Dr. Kristen Blinne, Communication and Media

Excellence in Teaching

1973 Dr. Kent Lawson, Physics, Mr. James Mullen, Art and Mr. Charles Woolever, Geography
1974 Dr. Nelson DuBois, Educational Psychology, Dr. Joan Iversen, History, Dr. Raymond Rainville, Psychology, Mr. Albert Read, Physics and Dr. Edward Tribe, Education
1975 Dr. Willard Harman, Biology, Dr. Charlotte Mendez, English and Dr. H. Laverne Thomas, Mathematics
1976 Dr. P. Jay Fleisher, Earth Science
1977 Dr. Krishan Chopra, Economics and Business, Dr. Billy Leimkuhler, Education and Dr. Philo Wilson, Earth Science
1978 Dr. Hoyt Jackson, Political Science and Dr. Robert Phillips, Biology
1979 Dr. Bruce Dayton, Biology, Dr. John Kotz, Chemistry and Dr. Arthur Palmer, Earth Science
1980 Dr. Thomas Gergel, Geography and Dr. Patricia Gourlay, English
1981 Dr. Urmil Chopra, Economics and Business and Dr. Robert Simmonds, Earth Science
1983 Dr. Robert Porter, Education
1985 Dr. Stephen Berman, Earth Science
1986 Dr. William Pietraface, Biology
1987 Dr. Harry Pence, Chemistry
1989 Dr. Laura Bukovsan, Biology and Dr. Lorraine Platka-Bird, Home Economics
1990 Dr. Joseph Tausta, Chemistry
1991 Dr. Jerome Blechman, Earth Sciences and Dr. Douglas Shrader, Philosophy
1992 Dr. Loraine Tyler, Home Economics
1993 Dr. James Ebert, Earth Sciences, Dr. Lawrence Guzy, Psychology and Dr. James Preston, Anthropology
1994 Dr. Ashok Malhotra, Philosophy, Ms. Yolanda Sharpe, Art and Mr. Norman Wesley, English
1995 Dr. Peter DiNardo, Psychology and Dr. John Relethford, Anthropology
1996 Dr. Patrick Meanor, English and Dr. Jeanne Simonelli, Anthropology
1997 Dr. Douglas Fielder, Physics and Astronomy and Dr. Paul Scheele, Political Science
1999 Dr. Michael Lynch, Political Science
2000 Dr. Craig Bielert, Psychology
2001 Ms. Nancy Callahan, Art, Dr. Arthur Dauria, Communication and Media and Dr. June Edwards, Education
2002 Dr. William Simons, History
2003 Mr. Paul Jensen, Communication and Media
2004 Dr. Tracy Allen, Geography and Dr. Richard Lee, English
2005 Dr. Gwen Crane, English
2006 Dr. Cynthia Falk, Cooperstown Graduate Program, Dr. Julie Freeman, History and Dr. Paul Lilly, English
2007 Dr. David Manes, Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics
2008 Dr. Stephen Walsh, Management, Marketing and Information Systems, Dr. Donna Vogler, Biology and Dr. William Ashbaugh, History
2009 Dr. Renee Walker, Anthropology and Dr. Brian Beitzel, Educational Psychology and Counseling
2010 Dr. Cynthia Lassonde, Elementary Education and Reading
2011 Dr. Devin Castendyk, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
2012 Dr. Daniel Payne, English
2013 Dr. William Walker, Cooperstown Graduate Program and Dr. Nathan Gonyea, Educational Psychology, Counseling and Special Education
2014 Dr. Leslie Hasbargen, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Dr. Charlene Christie, Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies and Dr. William Vining, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2015 Dr. Charles Ragozzine, Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Dr. Todd Ellis, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Dr. Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Secondary Education and Educational Technology
2016 Dr. Thomas Beal, History, Dr. Karen Joest, Human Ecology and Dr. Joshua Palmatier, Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics
2017 Dr. Sean Robinson, Biology and Dr. George Hovis, English
2018 Dr. Keith Jones, Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Dr. April Harper, History and Dr. Sallie Han, Anthropology
2019 Dr. Amie Doughty, English, Dr. Gina Keel, Political Science and Dr. Florian Reyda, Biology
2020 Dr. Laura Munteanu, Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistic and Dr. Philip Sirianni, Economics, Finance and Accounting
2021 Dr. Melissa Godek, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
2022 Dr. Simona Giura, Business, Dr. Sarah Portway, Human Ecology, and Dr. Sasha R. Ramlal, Elementary Education and Reading
2023 Dr. Maria Cristina Montoya, Foreign Languages + Literatures, and Dr. Mine Ozer, Business
2024 Dr. Jeffrey Heilveil, Biology, Dr. Kpoti Kitissou, Economics, and Dr. Wilson Lin, Business
2025 Dr. Elizabeth Bastiaans, Biology
2026 Dr. Christine Storrie, Economics

Student Excellence

1998 Glenn Barbeisch, Joy Blakeslee and Cindy Mae Harper
1999 Kristin Connelly and Mark Mucci
2000 Elizabeth Koenig, Erin McCulley and Michael Oakes
2001 David Fyfe, Craig Scott, Mitchell Waters and Lut Wong
2002 Nathaniel Berliner
2003 Ann Cheney, Richard Dworak, Sandra Finn, Christy Frembes, Sandra Knutti, Elayne Mosher, Tim Naples, Lizbeth Oppenheimer, Brooke Ranes, Alison Sturm, Tristen Weaver and Denora Williams
2004 Kelly Adams, Kelly Covert, Brian Foster, Alina Graham and Jeremy Wyckoff
2005 Erick Adame, Neville Campbell, Sarah Courtney, Stephanie Gross and Luke Kitchen
2006 Jessica Grabedian, Aubrynn Nealis, Teresa Tartaglione, Alexander Vito and Aimee Wolons
2007 Stefanie DeMonaco, Jason Gardner, Anna Legname, Kyra McTighe, Michael Reale and Christopher Rooney
2008 Veronica Acevedo, Kathryn Burkhardt, Elizabeth Cousineau, Jennifer Fernandez, Jennifer Foster and Matthew Harrington
2009 Carleigh Bettiol, Amanda Carmichael, Sarah Cascone and Dennis Dorf
2010 Claire Albertson, Julie Dewey, Kelly Wasilewski and Wilkin Cabrers
2011 Ayesha Qamar, Kristin Santiago, Nickeema Cox and Zisham Qamar Wariach
2012 Michelle Linder, Alyson Marmet, Jared Reynolds and Curtis Walker
2013 Emily Hunter and Dylan Nealis
2014 Mifuyo Otsuka, Ashley Chufa Ly, Raymond Boss and Kaylee Hurzog
2015 Marvin Rodriguez, Colton Cox and John Anthony Barnas
2016 Samuel Afriyie, Melissa Haig and Kevin Sutton
2017 Daniela Gutierrez, Spriha Sanjay, Rachel Shine and Jillian Young
2018 Kayla Belush, Daniel Prince, Jonelle Reyes and Anthony Vecere
2019 James Bethel, Madeline Frank, Rosario Rodriguez and Karly Schuhart
2020 Alexa Amalbert, Daniel Loos, Katherine Martinez-Munoz and Timothy Nolan
2021 Arene Daziah Holston
2022 Gabrielle Cecere, Alexa Laska, Teresa Lopez-Long and Alyssa Carbone
2023 Jamie Crique, Melissa Rose Garrecht and Robert Lang
2024 Dasia Harrigan, Olivia Schuler and Graham Wooden
2025 Aaron Paul, Emily Petramale, and Fernando Trejo
2026 Isabella Harnett, Rudy Hess, and Ellie (Elisabeth) Vogl

Chancellor’s Awards & Distinguished Ranks