Vice President News from Ian Harper
I hope everyone is well and getting accustomed to the clocks having moved back an hour! Yes, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it is less than 7 weeks until the Holiday Season! There has been a lot going on, both on and off campus, and you can read about a few of them in this month’s Newsletter.
Reminder: If you haven’t yet done so, please take the time to complete the Campus Climate Survey.
You will recall I shared some of the high level results from the Great Colleges To Work for Survey at our Divisional meetings in September. To continue this dialogue, Tammy Gouger is organizing some sessions in a town hall setting or via Teams to provide more details on the survey results, along with next steps and action plans based on those survey results. I encourage you to attend one of the sessions.
November 21 will be the official launch of “Igniting Excellence: The Campaign for SUNY Brockport.” This campaign is the boldest initiative in our history — one that will expand scholarships, strengthen academic programs, and empower generations of Golden Eagles. This exciting campaign will endeavor to raise a significant amount of funding that will fuel the next chapter of SUNY Brockport’s excellence. Be on the lookout for more information and updates through the balance of the year and into next.
I was very fortunate to attend the Community Leaders Breakfast held at REOC Downtown and hosted by Dr. Roosevelt Mareus. This annual event is an opportunity to showcase the amazing work that Roosevelt and his team do to support students and the local community. It was a very humbling and uplifting morning, and I would encourage you to check out the great work that the REOC does.
As part of a recent President’s Cabinet meeting, we met with representatives from the State University Construction Fund (SUCF), where we reviewed the University’s 5-year Capital Plan and discussed the current challenges we are facing from funding shortfalls. We took the opportunity to strongly advocate for continued support, especially for the Tuttle renovation work, and for additional funds to support the initiatives we would like to do on campus.
Take care and thank you for all that you do.
University News
The Rochester Business Journal announced that 23 organizations have been selected as 2025 Elevating Women honorees. The Elevating Women Awards honor companies and organizations that have demonstrated tangible efforts and documented results in supporting and empowering women in New York. Honorees were judged on documented hiring and promoting of women; leaderships positions held by women; advocacy for the cause of women internally and externally; and efforts to cultivate the next generation of women professionals. The winners were selected by the Rochester Business Journal leadership team.
On September 30, SUNY Brockport was honored by the Rochester Business Journal with the Elevating Women Award! Our University attendees were (L to R): Summer Reiner, Denise Copelton, Tammy Gouger, Heidi Macpherson, Sara Kelly, and Monica Brasted.
Departmental News
Brockport Auxiliary Services Corporation (BASC)
BASC Dining Services has partnered with the Intercultural Center, SULA, and the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion on the upcoming menu for Native American Heritage at Harrison and Brockway Express Dining Halls during lunch on Wednesday, November 5. Stop by for Staff Saver Wednesdays and check out featured items including: Wohanpi Soup with Gabubu Bread, Simple Corn Cakes, Maple-Sage Roasted Vegetables, and Pumpkin Pie. Recipes are being adapted from Chef Sean Sherman and the Nizhónígo Iiná (meaning Beautiful Life in Navajo language) recipe book.
Both dining halls will also host their Friendsgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 20. This annual event is a favorite among students and features all of the traditional Thanksgiving fare. Join us at Harrison or Brockway Express Dining Halls for this delicious dinner!
You asked, Dining Delivered! Last year, we heard from many folks that they missed the Community Luncheons that our Catering Department hosted years ago. In response, Garnishes hosted a Halloween-themed Community Luncheon at Brockway Hall on Friday, October 31. If you missed this event, stay tuned for future Community Luncheons this spring!
Finance & Management / Procurement and Payment Services (F&m / PPS)
The PPS Team put together a large training session for all Administrative Assistants on campus. The training included basic procurement, contracts, P-Card, property control, expenditure guidelines, and travel. It was attended by over 60 people and very well received. Kudos to Julie Letourneau, Chris Walterick, Tara Custara, Emily Willard, Meagan Oas, Amy Freemen, Britney Carey, Megan Radder, and Pam Powell for all of their hard work in preparing this training.
Human Resources (HR)
In September, the Human Resources Team hosted our first “Welcome Wednesday Event!” This was to welcome new hires to campus and to answer any questions they may have thus far. We had a great turnout and are looking forward to the next event in November.
Employees in the Spotlight!
New Employees
- Facilities Maintenance and Operations welcomes four new employees: Elizabeth Edgar, Janitor; Tawny Martin, Cleaner; Shelby Van Alystne, Facility Operations Assistant 1; and Ryan Pierce, Highway Equipment Operator.
Please join us in welcoming all of our new folks to SUNY Brockport!
Mystery Photo
24 Hour Chance to Win a Gift Card!
This photo was recently taken somewhere on campus.
If you would like to submit a guess, you must be an A&F Division Employee and send an email to lausmith@brockport.edu *within 24 hours* of this newsletter distribution with “Mystery Photo” in the subject line and the name of the person pictured and their exact location (building & floor) in the body of the email. All correct guesses will be entered into a drawing for a $15 Amazon Gift Card.
Last month’s image was of our VP, Ian Harper, in the yellow “Hand” chair on the Second floor of Dailey Hall – which stumped EVERYONE except Matthew Jock of Facilities HVAC, the lone guesser, which won him a $15 Amazon Gift Card! Congrats, Matthew!
BizLibrary suggested course of the month
How to Be a Better Teammate (7 minutes long; rated 4.5 / 5 stars) – This video lesson is intended to help you build the skills to become a more effective part of a team. From this lesson, you’ll learn interpersonal elements that you can focus on to foster trust and strong dynamics on your team. From character to commitment, there’s a lot to keep in mind! Plus, you’ll learn about personal ways you can become a better teammate through a focus on both internal and external self-awareness.
November Birthdays
- Michael Baird
- Paige Beers
- Katherine Bertram
- Jackie Carey
- Stephen Cook
- Dan Dippel
- Jeremy Dobson
- James Dunn
- Natalie Farr
- Debbie Fisher
- Tyler Garrison
- Tamara Gouger
- Nicholas Leone
- Alicia McGuire
- Mary Ontiveros
- Steven Osborne
- Tyler Passamonte
- Zachary Price
- Corey Prince
- Lucas Pritchard
- Malia Rodriguez
- Jennifer Senter
- Steven Sheffield
- Jason Sigler
- Jonathan Somora
- Rodolfo Stolfa
- Channon Stratton
- Deborah Vivian
- Adam Zapata
November Work Anniversaries & Years of Service
- Vernon VanSkiver, 43
- Jeffrey List, 29
- William McGorray, 29
- Kevin Manners, 27
- Jeff Maier, 18
- Daniel Quinn, 14
- Marla Strassner, 14
- Michael Rush, 11
- Julie Caswell, 9
- William Gergely, 9
- Shawn Maher, 8
- James Onley, 8
- Jessica Voisey, 8
- Kevin Anderson, 6
- Kayla Arno, 6
- Isaiah Jenks, 6
- Adrian Harris, 3
- George Piccolo, 3
- Rhonda Revier, 3
- Paige Beers, 2
- Kevin Rogers, 2
- Aidan Ehnot, 1
- Ezgi Erdogan, 1
- Kayla Pagano, 1
- Lucas Pritchard, 1
- Robert Warner, 1
Events Coming Up:
Nov 7 (4:00-5:30 p.m.) – First Friday in the Alumni House
Nov 7 (6:45 p.m.) – Reliant Federal Credit Union Scoreboard Ribbon Cutting in the Wegmans Ice Arena
Nov 21 (2:30-4:00 p.m.) – Pete Guelli ’90, COO of the Buffalo Bills and the Sabres, will be on campus in the FBW Building’s McCue Auditorium
Dec 4 (1-2 p.m.) – Budget Town Hall in Edwards 103
Dec 5 (4:00-5:30 p.m.) – First Friday in the Alumni House
Dec 5 (4-7 p.m.) – CSEA Holiday Happy Hour & Recognition Awards at Bill Gray’s Tap Room – Must RSVP by 11/26 via CSEA Holiday Happy Hour / Events Calendar: SUNY Brockport
Dec 9 (3:30-5:30 p.m.) – Campus-wide Holiday Party in Cooper Hall’s New York Room
Every Friday! – Green & Gold Fridays – everyone is encouraged to wear their SUNY Brockport gear / colors!
Check out our inclusive SUNY Brockport Events Calendar
Webpage Links for Reference:
Leadership Newsletters (see 5th topic down)
Vice President for Administration & Finance (A&F)
Brockport Auxiliary Services Corporation (BASC)
Brockport Information Technology Services (BITS)
Facilities Maintenance & Operations (FMO)
Facilities Planning & Construction (FPC)
- Budgeting Office
- Procurement & Payment Services (PPS)
- Scholarship, Research, & Sponsored Programs (SRSP)
- Office of Student Accounts & Accounting (OSAA)
Human Resources & Payroll (HR)
If you have news you’d like included in a future issue, please email to Laurie A. Smith (lausmith@brockport.edu).