President’s Newsletter

Friday, October 31, 2025

Dear Colleagues:

Senate met this week and included updates from Admissions regarding our transfer population, as well as a discussion of pilot projects to assist Brockport in achieving the goals SUNY has set for us in relation to undergraduate retention, 4- and 6-year graduation rates, completion of 30 credits in an undergraduate student’s first year and other metrics.

I had regular 1-2-1s with three cabinet members, a meeting with Erick Hart, our Athletic Director, in preparation for next week’s Empire 8 Conference Presidents meeting, and a meeting with Tim Durfee, our Emergency Manager, to discuss our latest Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, which I had reviewed earlier in the week.

Perhaps my favorite event this week was the REOC Community Leaders’ Breakfast. Around 150 people from the community came to hear more about the REOC’s successes. Speakers included two REOC alumni who have made a difference to their families and communities, all because of the “combination of hope and opportunity,” as Mayor Malik Evans so eloquently said, that the REOC offers. I am grateful to Dr. Roosevelt Mareus for his leadership of the REOC and to the many people who attended, including Mayor Evans, County Executive Adam Bello, several legislators and leaders of local non-profits.

I met with the Full Professors Forum this week to discuss a variety of issues, ranging from the current national climate to the physical condition of individual classrooms. We also discussed their roles and responsibilities as senior academic leaders and how to build a relationship with the incoming president.

The main focus of Cabinet’s meeting was to review BASC’s strategic plan. We made recommendations and offered feedback. I am so grateful for BASC’s partnership in relation to fostering student success and supporting the strategic initiatives of the university. Cabinet also discussed the January leadership summit and campus climate, and members shared divisional and office updates.

I spent time talking with donors this week, inviting them to attend our upcoming campaign launch, which is scheduled for November 21. In addition, I participated in a video shoot for the launch event.

I had some desk time this week, writing remarks for upcoming events, reviewing APT documents, and starting a Google course that was recommended by SUNY regarding Artificial Intelligence. I also gave blood at Seymour Union! It was great to see so many students, faculty and staff doing the same.

External meetings this week included a Rotary Board meeting and a United Way meeting. I also spent one evening this week reaching out to Rotary members about an upcoming event.

In terms of student events, I attended Dance Strasser, which is always an amazing event, and plan to attend our Volleyball Senior Day today and our football game on Saturday, as well as take part in a plaque unveiling. Our women’s and men’s soccer teams will also be playing at home on Saturday, as the number 1 and number 2 seeds respectively in the Empire 8 Tournament. Their games are at 1pm (men’s soccer) and 4pm (women’s soccer). Perhaps I’ll see you there!