The Year In Review: 2020

“Into the Woods” was named best college musical in BroadwayWorld regionals. The College’s fall 2018 production of Sondheim’s legendary take on classic fairy tales was directed by Catherine Doherty, assistant professor of theatre arts, and featured a cast and crew made up almost entirely of New Paltz students.

At New Paltz, the transition to LED lighting has been underway for many years. All external lights on campus use LEDs, and eight buildings had already been upgraded prior to this round of installations. With the addition of new lighting systems in eight more campus buildings, approximately one third of our total interior square footage is lit by LEDs.

SUNY New Paltz welcomed teachers, business leaders and start-up coaches to campus on Friday, Jan. 10, for a day of networking and conversation focused on improving entrepreneurship education and engagement in the Hudson Valley.

Roger W. Bowen, who served as SUNY New Paltz president from 1996-2001, was awarded an Institute for International Education Centennial Medal in recognition of his support of international education and exchange.

The New York State Department of Health and Ulster County Department of Health issued a “do not drink” advisory following reports of “an unusual odor” coming from the village’s drinking supply. 

Dr. Gerald Benjamin, associate vice president for regional engagement and director of the Benjamin Center for Public Policy Initiatives at SUNY New Paltz, announced his intention to enter a phased retirement after a distinguished, 50-plus year career at the College.

kt Tobin, associate director and affiliated lecturer in the Department of Sociology, succeeded Dr. Gerald Benjamin, long-time associate vice president of regional engagement and director of the Benjamin Center, who entered phased retirement.

SUNY New Paltz continued its rapid rise into the upper echelon of colleges and universities serving veterans, dependents and active military students.

The Department of Communication welcomed family, friends, students, faculty colleagues and community members to the Honors Center on Feb. 20 for a Celebration of the Life of Anne Goding, retired lecturer of communication, who passed away in 2019.

More than 1,700 mental health professionals were trained to identify and address signs of trauma from natural disasters in classrooms across Puerto Rico.

A truly grassroots undertaking led by the men’s basketball players included matching, black “Take the Pledge” shirts with a halftime performance by The Shades Step Team and Culture Shock dance troupe.

New partnership allowed for qualified international applicants to the Culinary Institute of America to enroll in the Haggerty English Language Program, which has provided intensive language instruction in the Hudson Valley for more than 40 years.

On Feb. 25, students and community members had the opportunity to meet award-winning photojournalist Matt Moyer, the 2020 James H. Ottaway Sr. Visiting Professor of Journalism, at a Q & A hosted by Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Lyman.

Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. ’06 HON and James H. Ottaway Jr. ’18 HON came to campus on March 4, to address some of the most significant challenges faced by reporters and readers in modern journalism.

Professor Mary K. Holland appeared on WAMC’s nationally syndicated radio program “The Academic Minute” to share research about the evolving relationship between fiction and reality in the 21st century.

At one of our final in-person gatherings of the year, the College’s seventh annual Celebration of Faculty Authors recognized the hard work and determination required to bring a book to publication.

On March 11, Governor Cuomo announced that all SUNY and CUNY campuses would shift to fully remote learning for the remainder of the spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Office of Communication & Marketing created a Daily Digest e-newsletter to reduce the volume of messages and make it easier for students, faculty and staff to find and absorb important information during an unprecedented time.

IDMH shared expertise with faculty and staff during a comprehensive training on Psychological First Aid and Stress Management focused on the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hudson Valley Additive Manufacturing Center partnered with the local community to create 3D printed face shields that were desperately needed by healthcare workers and those on the front lines of the pandemic.

Gifts to the Student Crisis Fund helped meet immediate student needs during the pandemic, such as expenses for traveling home, food or healthcare.

SUNY New Paltz created new and innovative ways of keeping the campus community informed of the ongoing response to COVID-19, including comprehensive FAQs and other various websites and digital content related to the pandemic.

Jeffrey D. Gant, director of undergraduate admissions at Montclair State University in New Jersey, will assume role as vice president for enrollment management on Jan. 1, 2021.

Michael Patterson, formerly the director of student activities and union services, was selected as the new assistant vice president for student affairs, effective Jan. 1, 2021. He brings 18 years of Student Affairs experience in his new role at the College.

Majessa Pedrozo ’19 (Communication Disorders) achieved incredible things during her time at SUNY New Paltz, but she says one of the most important was finding ways to come out of her shell.

Megan Vaughn ’20 (Early Childhood & Childhood Education: Mathematics) first began thinking about following a career in teaching while working at an after-school program.

As school districts throughout the Hudson Valley adjusted to a new normal of remote learning, students from the School of Education stepped up to ensure that learning continued for the region.

SUNY New Paltz released its latest economic impact study. The College remained the top employer in Ulster County and generated $380.5 million in direct and indirect economic activity in the Hudson Valley.

Motivated by her own struggle with chronic health conditions and a series of healthcare exchanges due to COVID-19 – including panicked flagged screening and a negative result – Art Lecturer Rena Leinberger set out to make a difference.

When the local community reached out in need, Sodexo responded quickly and donated both food and the appropriate packaging to safely share it.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Raj Pandya, director of the John R. Kirk Planetarium and lecturer of physics & astronomy, hosted public viewings at the planetarium on the first and third Thursday of each month. With those shows cancelled until further notice, Pandya encouraged community members to exchange the Planetarium’s digital simulations of the sky with the real thing at various virtual events throughout the year.

SUNY New Paltz received Tree Campus USA designation, a prestigious, third-party recognition of the work of students, faculty and Facilities Maintenance & Operations staff to plant, protect and learn from the diverse array of trees on our campus.

In an effort to lift spirits and utilize a variety of talents and professions, the Office of Development & Alumni Relations scheduled a calendar of Alumni Virtual Programming that relied on alumni experts in various fields and professions. 

The College shared the complete, pre-recorded virtual Commencement online for families and friends of the New Paltz graduates who were separated by the pandemic and social distancing measures.

Undergraduate Commencement featured greetings to the graduating class from Ed Carroll ’85 (Communication & Media), the chief operating officer of AMC Networks and one of the most distinguished and engaged alumni in the College’s history.

The 26^th annual Student Research Symposium continued in an online format this year with a series of pre-recorded presentations by student scholars.

The Chancellor’s Awards were presented to employees who demonstrated exceptional teaching, scholarship and service to the campus community.

The College was host to 270 international students from 32 countries, including many who lived on campus, when the 2020 spring semester began.

School of Business Lecturer Chris Napolitano ’05 (Management) ’08g (Business Administration) helped his students find the positives in a unique semester by emphasizing how proficiency with tools such as WebEx and Zoom can put them ahead of other job applicants after graduation.

Radio DJs’ signatures preserved a 20-year history of WFNP, the College’s student-run radio station.

The 2020 thesis work of the School of Fine & Performing Arts’ MFA programs found a home online, cementing the importance of showcasing graduate students’ creative research in the absence of a physical exhibition.

Student research participation is one of several high-impact educational practices known to produce especially deep and meaningful learning – a principle that led to the creation of an endowment to support student research.

Questionable Authorities, SUNY New Paltz’s favorite all-faculty rock band, created a music video in honor of the 2020 graduates, performing a cover of Billy Idol’s “Dancing with Myself,” and including well wishes for future graduates as well as solo dance montages. (Photo from a performance in 2017)

Terry Gipson, lecturer in the Department of Communication, discussed a new approach to learning on WAMC’s nationally syndicated radio program “The Academic Minute."

Gwen Havranek, director of business operations in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, announced her decision to retire on June 30, after a career spanning nearly four decades at SUNY New Paltz.

Martha Tait-Watkins, immigration information coordinator at the Center for International Programs, retired in May after a 20-year career in a variety of roles across campus.

BFA students in the Graphic Design program showcased their senior projects on Instagram with a series of 31 posts on the @npzdesign account featuring thesis work with a wide range of focuses.

President Christian and the President's Cabinet acknowledges the nationwide movement for social justice and reaffirms the College's commitment to equity, inclusion and social justice for students as we strive to become an actively anti-racist institution of higher education.

The Student Association and campus leadership invited students and other members of the campus community to a town hall conversation on race to allow the campus community to share their thoughts, experiences and concerns with campus leaders.

A short narrative by Charles Dumas ’75 (Political Science), a lifetime political activist, professor Emeritus at Penn State University, and Democratic Party nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012 was shared in response to the killing of George Floyd.

Significant national moments for systemic inclusion were recognized during this historic week, including two Supreme Court decisions and New York State’s recognition of Juneteenth.

SUNY New Paltz appointed René Antrop-González of Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as dean of the School of Education beginning on June 15, 2020.

Motivated by the pandemic, Taylor Faith Krigsman ’15 (Early Childhood Education: English) crafted an inspiring children’s book that aims to help readers comprehend the transformations they see in the world around them due to COVID-19.

The AC² (AMP & CSTEP Community) Program, which supports underrepresented students working toward careers in STEM fields, provided an example of the campus community’s perseverance.

The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art asked Hudson Valley artists and makers how they were being creative during a time of uncertainty, isolation and social distancing - they had a remarkable response.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for New Paltz students to experience an in-person recital this year, the Class of 2020 was undeterred, with many performers publishing virtual recitals on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

The College worked closely with the regional community on active drug and alcohol prevention measures during the pandemic, a time when added stress and uncertainty can create additional struggle for those living with a substance abuse disorder.

The College's fall re-opening plan prioritized the health and safety of the campus community while providing high-quality learning experiences for students.

The Engineering Innovation Hub, completed in 2019 earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council. It was made possible by a $10 million NYSUNY2020 grant, awarded by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2014 as part of an expansive, statewide effort to support academic programs that translate directly into economic development in New York State. 

The Center for Student Engagement opened on July 1, 2020. It strives to create inclusive and innovative opportunities for students to build connections and create community through meaningful involvement, personal development, and co-curricular learning.

The new SMP office was unveiled and includes a large lounge and reception area, a meeting center outfitted with state-of-the-art digital displays for interactive learning, a student computer center, dedicated offices for the program director and coordinator, new furniture and more.

“Dismantling Racism: University Policing and Campus Climate” was the second in a series of dialogues with the campus community on race, inclusion and equity.

The Department of Theatre Arts replaced its traditional model of full-scale stage productions with a series of smaller staged readings this fall, allowing students and faculty to gather and perform while safely adhering to social distancing practices.

The College shared the news of the death of Marcuse “Cusie” Pfeifer, a key figure in the recognition of photography as a fine art, founding member and art exhibition director of the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center in Kingston, New York, and a generous supporter and friend of the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art.

Six exceptional Classified Staff members received the Presidential Recognition Award for their distinguished service to the campus community.

The total student population for fall 2020 was nearly identical to where it had been in previous academic years.

President Christian delivered his first-ever virtual State of the College Address on Aug. 21, setting the stage for a fall semester unlike any in the College’s history.

The Town, Village and College announce joint measures to Protect New Paltz during the pandemic through a series of initiatives, education campaigns and cooperative enforcement measures.

President Christian urged the campus community to remain vigilant in the face of COVID-19.

New Paltz was the first campus Jim Malatras visited as incoming SUNY chancellor where he announced an inspiring grant program.

UPD outlined its commitment to a campus culture that is free of racism and discrimination of any kind.

“Dismantling Racism: Alumni Perspectives,” the third in a series of dialogues with the SUNY New Paltz community invited campus leaders to answer questions, to listen and to learn from the College’s alumni.

Interim Provost Lyman accepts continuation of this key leadership role on our campus.

New colleagues and campus leaders were welcomed at a virtual orientation.

Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation Stuart Robinson left the College to take a position as assistant vice president and director of athletics, intramurals and recreation at New York University.

The Student Psychological Resilience Project provides students with the training and skills needed to cope with stress related to the pandemic and multiple other challenges through a peer advocacy model.

Michael Vargas, professor of history, narrated a brief history of pandemics for WAMC’s nationally syndicated radio program “The Academic Minute.”

The Offices of the Provost, Graduate & Extended Learning, and Instructional Technology announced the fall 2020 Peer Instructional Design Mentor Teachers, who piloted this new program to provide peer support for faculty in online and hybrid education.

Four students were awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad, a highly competitive, federally funded prize awarded by the Institute of International Education to undergraduates for academic studies and internships abroad.

Mandatory pool testing for COVID-19 began on Sept. 24 through a partnership with SUNY Upstate Medical University.

A recurring party patrol of campus leaders took to the streets to provide free masks and hand sanitizer to students. During the first few weeks of the semester, the Patrols met with dozens of students – the vast majority of whom were already following necessary public health regulations.

New Paltz was named the No. 9 public university in the North region, and earned recognition on lists including Best Value Schools, Best Colleges for Veterans, Top Performers on Social Mobility and Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.

Taking its title from a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar, “We Wear the Mask” featured a collection of artwork related to the presentation and perception of race, selected by Hudson Valley artist Jean-Marc Superville Sovak.

The publication of “Suffrage and Its Limits: The New York Story" comes following the 100^th anniversary in August of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. It was also released as issues surrounding equal access to voting in the November presidential election generated controversy.

College rated as one of the 400 best colleges and universities in the United States by Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education.

New online video series from students and faculty showcases diverse forms of music making taking place on campus and in the broader New Paltz community.

The College congratulated Maria Cathcart, administrative assistant 1 in the Center for Student Engagement, who was named a 2020 recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service.

After more than two decades as a dedicated leader in the University Police Department, Lieutenant Johnny Coxum celebrated his retirement with friends and colleagues. Coxum, a graduate of SUNY Ulster Police Academy who joined the department in 1998 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2010, held one of the most distinguished records in New Paltz UPD history and has been uniquely connected with students, faculty, staff and alumni throughout the campus community.

The American Psychological Association (APA), the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States, welcomed two New Paltz faculty to presidential terms this academic year: Jonathan D. Raskin Ph.D., chair of the department of psychology, and Amy Nitza, Ph.D., director of The Institute for Disaster Mental Health. 

Nancy Kassop, professor of political science and a nationally recognized expert in constitutional law and the U.S. presidency, delivered a lecture titled “Looking Forward, Looking Backward: A Nation’s Expectations after Government Fails.”

The College welcomed back alumni for a weekend of virtual events during its annual celebration, focusing on social media and video to help tell the New Paltz story.

Athletic trainers fulfill critical contact tracing roles for the College. Contact tracers serve as an important connecting hub between students and officials at the Ulster County Department of Health, who were tasked with reporting COVID-19 data to state and federal agencies.

The College announced the rollout of a Bias Response Reporting and Support Initiative, formalizing avenues for all members of the community to report experiences of bias or racism, seek support to understand appropriate redress, and receive support for their continued growth and success at the College.

The College announced recipients of the 2020 Heritage and Alumni Awards. The awards are presented to those whose devotion to the ideals of the College serve as extraordinary examples to the entire New Paltz community.

During the 2020 virtual Hudson Valley Future Summit at SUNY New Paltz, local leaders shared the strategies their organizations apply to produce successful results while committing to a culture that fosters a more inclusive, diverse and respectful working environment.

Shana Circe ’02 (Art Education) ’08g (Visual Arts Education) announced her intention to step down. She will focus on the skills she obtained as a student at SUNY New Paltz and return to a career in visual arts and education.

The College won a “Best of Category” and five Judges Citation honors in the 2020 SUNY Council for University Advancement (SUNYCUAD) Awards for Excellence, which recognize the best of the best in creative communications, events, photography, writing, advertising and design from across the state university system.

Aaron Nelson, assistant professor of art, discussed the ability to make changes to the design of protective face shields on the fly while continuing production as an example of the flexibility and speed in development that additive manufacturing can offer during the pandemic.

The Catskill Mountains-based exhibition of a current Master of Fine Arts candidate and a recent MFA alumna was the subject of an article in Hyperallergic, one of the world’s leading contemporary art publications, with more than one million monthly web visitors.

From interns, operations staff, volunteers, photographers and videographers the Woodstock Film Festival, along with its sister organization, The Hudson Valley Film Commission, relied on New Paltz students and alumni to work in their offices and on location at the annual Festival.

More than 500 photos of more than 300 species have been uploaded to the Biodiversity of SUNY New Paltz account.

The Institute for Disaster Mental Health is more in demand than ever these days, helping governments, individuals and organizations deal with some of the world’s most difficult dilemmas – helping provide strength to pick up the pieces when things fall apart.

Chronogram Magazine highlighted how the New Paltz community pulled together in the pandemic.

The College scheduled additional COVID-19 testing dates from Nov. 16 – 20, in order to comply with the SUNY-wide requirement that students at all 64 campuses must test negative for COVID-19 before they leave for Thanksgiving break.

SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras met on campus with students, campus administrators and local leaders during the final days of the SUNY system’s mandatory end-of-fall COVID-19 testing. 

The College provided an update on the progress made together this fall as a campus community on several relevant initiatives related to our June 30 pledge to become an actively anti-racist and more inclusive institution.

Student leaders who worked long hours in residence halls (while juggling classes and other obligations) were thanked for providing peer students with support, comfort, safety and joy under incredibly difficult circumstances for our on-campus community.

The College received high marks on both the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges and Sierra Magazine’s Cool Schools rankings this fall. Each list serves as a resource for prospective students, families and academic professionals who are passionate about eco-friendly practices at the institutions where they study, live and work.

A faculty-initiated program was designed to support faculty developing learning opportunities for students around social justice, inequality and related topics.

The School of Business paid virtual tribute to past, present and future leaders of the Hudson Valley business community at the 20th annual Hall of Fame ceremony. 

Princeton University’s Rodney D. Priestley presented “Building a Better Future by Supporting Academic Innovation and Entrepreneurship.”

Faculty leaders host an open forum, “The 2016 Election in Historical Perspective,” to allow students to ask questions, share thoughts and process political events.

The College shared a fall 2020 testing recap and thank you for the campus community's support through the semester. More than 10,700 COVID-19 tests were administered on campus during the fall 2020 semester.

An educator and restorative justice thought leader in New York City, Camille Jacobs ’91 (Communications Media) brought her skills and perspectives to the ongoing anti-racism conversation at SUNY New Paltz.

The Department of Music's interdisciplinary Listen Forward video series is home to a new collaboration with the Department of Black Studies: A performance by Voices of Unity Gospel Choir, a performance collective with deep roots at the College. The course moved online for fall 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but students and faculty found ways to work in harmony.

Distinguished Teaching Professor of English Jan Zlotnik Schmidt announced her decision to retire on Dec. 30, after a career spanning nearly four decades at SUNY New Paltz. “Professors like Jan do not come around often and cannot be produced at will. As evidenced by the influence she has had on my life thus far–as well as many other students’ lives–I see Jan as a gift to our intellectual and creative communities.”

Mathew Swerdloff, adjunct professor in the School of Education, was selected as a 2021 Fulbright Specialist. Specialists represent a wide range of professional and academic disciplines and are competitively selected to join the Fulbright Specialist Roster based on their ability to make a significant contribution to projects overseas.

The Benjamin Center for Public Policy Research and the Department of Black Studies welcomed Christopher J. Clark, associate professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to deliver the annual Gary King Visiting Lecture in Applied Social Research.

The 2020-2021 Without Limits series grappled with the challenges and changes afforded by the pandemic.

Questionable Authorities (the all-faculty rock band) produced a thank you video for students for making in-person classes possible in Fall 2020.

President Donald P. Christian issues a thank-you letter to the New Paltz community for helping us achieve a safe and successful in-person learning experience for our students and their families.

SUNY New Paltz earned a top 50 nationwide ranking for helping students climb the socioeconomic ladder.

Vice President for Enrollment Management L. David Eaton and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Linda Eaton celebrated their retirement on Dec. 18, 2020, with a socially-distant parade. Many faculty, staff and former colleagues braved cold and ice to bid farewell to the two, congratulating them for their 65 years of combined service to SUNY New Paltz.