OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – February 5, 2025) The Office of Academic Affairs and Office of Information Technology Services announce the launch of the Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative, a project that aims to fulfill student needs at Empire State University. Students face many challenges when navigating online learning, among them, the need for reliable devices that are compatible with programs they use to engage with coursework.

Many Empire State University students lack access to a working computer from which they can carry out their remote, online coursework. Instead, they utilize mobile devices, which are often less straightforward to navigate online learning with.

To address this need, the Office of Academic Affairs and Information Technology Services launched an initiative offers Chromebook laptops to eligible students at a discounted rate of $100, increasing accessibility to online learning devices that will equip students for academic success.

Qualifications include being a newly matriculated student for the Spring 2025 term with enrollment at one of the following schools: School for Undergraduate Studies, School for Graduate Studies, School of Nursing & Allied Health, or the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies. If a student has gone through a level change, or newly matriculated after a period of inactivity, they may also qualify. At this time, the initiative will only serve qualifying students in the United States.

Empire State University students who are eligible for the Chromebook Pilot Program will receive an email from the Office of Academic Affairs detailing how to proceed, including a link to purchase their discounted Chromebook. This offer is only valid through the end of an eligible student’s first term. As such, the Office of Academic Affairs encourages online learners to consider this option carefully, since Chromebooks purchased under this initiative cannot be refunded or returned. Students can find more information at the Chromebook Pilot Program FAQ page.

To enhance the program’s effects for participating students, the Chromebook Pilot Initiative has been designed with the support of Empire State University’s Information Technology Services. Notably, the office’s IT specialists have found a way to install software that is essential to many programs of study at Empire State University, despite it usually being incompatible with Chromebook laptops.

“We would love student participation, and anticipate student feedback,” says Marty Gang, Chief Information Officer and Vice President for Integrated Technologies. While the program is designed to aid Empire State University’s students, part of its success hinges on participation. The university is hoping to receive feedback from participants that will help further tailor the program to students’ needs.

Seana Logsdon, associate provost for Student Success, commented, “We are constantly seeking ways to ensure students’ potential isn’t limited by their financial situation. When we remove barriers to access, we open doors to achievement.”

Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – January 29, 2025) This week, Veronica Fitzgerald accepted the role of vice president for advancement and executive director for the Empire State University foundation. Fitzgerald has served as interim vice president for advancement since September of 2024 and is now settling into the role long-term.

A seasoned communications and advancement professional, Fitzgerald has proven to be successful in fundraising and management–her areas of expertise. Before her service to Empire State University, she worked as vice president for Institutional Advancement at The College of Saint Rose. Her previous experience also crosses over into holistic care and medicine, with prior roles as chief development officer at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, as well as vice president for Development at the Albany Medical Center Foundation. She held several other advancement roles at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Growing up, Fitzgerald was an avid reader and recalls constantly having her head angled into a book. This is an interest that continued growing through time, with English being a subject she excelled at in school. Later on, during her college years, she completed a liberal arts degree at Dutchess Community College, where her father was a professor. “It gave me exposure to an excellent variety of subjects… they were fascinating courses because they were so interdisciplinary,” she shares.

Following her associate degree, she pursued a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Plattsburgh, where she majored in communication arts. She jokingly adds that at this point, she was able to overcome her dread of public speaking, which has been a helpful skill throughout her career. Moving to the Capital Region, Fitzgerald pursued her master’s degree in English at the University at Albany—a program that allowed her to indulge her lifelong love of literature and hone her writing skills.

Fitzgerald remarks that she was initially drawn to working in higher education through the gratification of contributing, in large ways or small, to an overall academic enterprise. Her journey has been entwined with the SUNY system, as is the case for many of her family members. That connection is what inspires her to give back to this community—which she endeavors to do through her service at Empire State University.

“I believe so strongly in higher education as a way to improve lives, from the point of career preparedness, of course, but also [in] that it results in a more educated citizenry. But access to higher education is not equal across the board. As a nation, we still have a long way to go, but I am proud to be working at Empire because we are leading the charge in a very important way,” Fitzgerald comments.

Working in advancement is often met with the misconception that it only focuses on fundraising, however, Fitzgerald challenges this viewpoint: “Money is the rocket fuel for achieving our mission.” In her role as Vice President for Advancement at Empire State University, she aims to make such a compelling case for support that donors feel they are equally as involved in achieving the university’s mission as the people who are dedicated to it every single day. In short, it’s about showing them the meaning behind their contributions: how donor funds directly impact the lives of students.

Closely following the university’s strategic plan, and building upon the well-rounded foundation that already exists at Empire State University, Fitzgerald hopes to elevate advancement initiatives this year. One of the ways this will be achieved is through the intentional use of technology, which will continue to grow and engage the network of support that fuels progress towards Empire State University’s mission and goals.

“The success of Empire State University brings benefits that extend far beyond that of each individual graduate,” Fitzgerald notes.

When asked for two key words that characterize her approach to this role, Fitzgerald replied, “Collaboration and creativity.” She recounts a memory: on a rainy day walk to a meeting across campus with a past work colleague, the wind kicked up and turned both of their umbrellas inside out. After struggling in the rain to pull it back into its original shape, she decided to turn around and direct the umbrella into the pounding wind. It popped back into place, and years later, serves as a reminder that “a change in perspective can sometimes offer the best way to solve a problem.”

One thing you might not know about Fitzgerald is that she enjoys exploring secondhand shops while on vacation: “I can always find the most interesting, quality items to remind me of the place I’m visiting,” she comments, highlighting an impressive collection of scarves she has collected throughout the years.

1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion

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(MANHATTAN, NY – January 23, 2025) Since Allwyn Avalos started working at Empire State University eight months ago, he has noticed a rising demand among its student body for bilingual staff members that can assist them in their native language. Allwyn’s role as Bilingual Call Center Representative at 1Stop has focused on filling this niche—one he is happy to be part of and advocate for.  

“I want to make sure that we are not thinking of a student as a number, but as a person—that we know their name, and even their background,” said Avalos. 

Avalos is Manhattan-born—and raised—with Guatemalan parents and relatives hailing from Spain. At a young age, he was starkly aware of his bilingual existence through his mother’s efforts to preserve cultural ties to Guatemala through telenovelas, church outings, music, community, and conversation in Spanish. He reflects on being a young boy and feeling resistance towards his bilingualism at school, from both peers and educators, as he was often the only Hispanic or Spanish-speaking student. He shares that he was held back a grade in school due to his accented voice and lisp, as well as the challenges that come with navigating two languages. 

This led to the experience that most underscored his dual language use in early life: speech therapy. Through it, he overcame his speech impediment. Avalos laughs, “I would be there for a while and my mom would tell them, ‘Hey, practice English but also sprinkle in some Spanish.’ She would always advocate for Spanish.”  

By way of various experiences within Spanish-speaking communities in his Manhattan upbringing, such as attending church, Avalos also learned about the diversity of dialects that exist under the umbrella of the Spanish language and complexify the bilingual identity. He goes on to recount being a college student later in life and developing a keen interest for theology courses: “I would walk into a random class I wasn’t even registered for just to help me learn about different kinds of Spanish through religion.” 

The anecdote is representative of what Avalos centers in his approach to bilingual student support at 1Stop: a commitment to meeting students where they are and furthering their sense of belonging at Empire State University through language. Informed by the challenges he faced in monolingual educational environments, he seeks to ease students’ transitions to higher education by honoring their dialectical and linguistic needs, which undoubtedly will culturally enrich the community at Empire State University at large. 

This is an ambition Avalos has witnessed on a university-wide level, even among staff unrelated to the Spanish BBA: “They are not only excited but are taking the initiative to ask questions and think in the long term.” In reflecting on the positive changes that have taken place as Empire State University prepares to receive its first class of Spanish-speaking BBA students, he shares, “I’ve seen a desire to protect them, to help them feel safe,” as they pursue academic development and personal growth. He feels this is representative of how staff and faculty are thinking through the process of setting incoming Spanish BBA students up for success, which is by centering care, understanding, and equitability as they move through the program of study. 

Avalos’s hope looking ahead is that the Empire State University community continues to hear and fittingly respond to its student body’s needs, as was the case with the creation of the Spanish BBA and recruitment of bilingual professionals across departments to fulfill a growing demand. Similarly, he looks forward to the furthering of bilingual support for students coming from a range of Hispanic backgrounds, as well as employees having the chance to welcome Hispanic students and interact with them. Finally, Avalos speaks to the importance of linguistic diversity: “When you learn a different language, you also learn how to be hospitable to others, which goes a long way.” 

Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — January 14, 2025) In the fall, Stephanie Santos-Nieves joined Empire State University as an administrative assistant for the Office of Alumni Engagement. Her lifelong affinity for helping others was what led her to her current position—characterized by her positive and helpful disposition in prior roles, she feels happy and fulfilled by her ability to support the Empire State University community.

A Puerto Rico native, Santos-Nieves’ move to New York was a byproduct of the damage caused by Hurricane Maria in September of 2017. She recalls several days without electricity leading to company shutdowns, after which she began seeking other opportunities and found herself unexpectedly living in New York. While the move brought her closer to family members residing in New York state, she found herself questioning if she could adapt to the harsher climate or the strangeness of being away from home. Six years later, she is content with the stability her move to New York state has brought about, and still relishes in having family close by.

It is remarkable how early Santos-Nieves remembers experiencing the welcoming and accepting nature of Empire State University. She recalls feeling at ease even during her interview process prior to being hired. “I felt seen as a person,” she shares, noting that she was even asked what she likes to do for fun, which caught her off guard. Coincidentally, she had brought her scooter—one of her favorite pastimes, which she disclosed—and later received directions to the park from her (now) supervisor.

“Even when I started working here, Spanish already had a big presence on campus,” she notes, reminiscing on how pleasantly surprised she was to find out that President Lisa Vollendorf is a Spanish-speaker. The feeling of acceptance at Empire State University that took root that day still accompanies her now, extending to her identity as a Spanish speaker being valued and embraced. Though Santos-Nieves’s role at the Office of Alumni Engagement does not require bilingualism, it is a skill that she has found highly beneficial in carrying out her duties at Empire State University and fostering community among students, colleagues, and beyond.

Santos-Nieves has long been bilingual, with her first introduction to English taking place in kindergarten, as it does for many Puerto Rican children. “You never think you’ll ever actually need it,” she shares, referring to her unexpected move to New York state following the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. “But my family has always encouraged its youngest members to take up another language,” Santos-Nieves adds gratefully. Music, television, and everyday conversation have always been gateways into furthering her English-speaking skills, becoming accustomed to diverse accents, and learning about new cultural contexts. She feels that these tools are immersive and encourages prospective language learners to engage with the media and people of the language they aspire to learn.

Moving ahead, Santos-Nieves hopes that Empire State University’s Spanish BBA program grows, “and that we can finally share what we are working on with the world.” She notes that Spanish is the second most spoken language in the U.S. according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 report, making it exciting to be at the vanguard of Spanish language programs in New York state public higher education institutions. She urges prospective Spanish BBA students to believe in themselves, as they are just as capable in English-speaking settings as they have been in Spanish-speaking environments. Her final piece of advice is to take opportunities to engage with the English language, even while in the Spanish BBA: “If you learn or improve upon something every day, that’s a day well spent.”

SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024

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Image of Spanish Language Programs Director Silvia Mejía standing at the front of a classroom and reading from her printed manuscript pages. Her hair is short, she wears wire frame glasses, and is dressed in all black.

(MANHATTAN, NY — NOVEMBER 22, 2024) On Thursday, Nov 14, the CUNY International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference (IMCWC) hosted Silvia Mejía, Empire State University’s director of Spanish Language Programs, as one of their 2024 panelists. Mejía is an Ecuadorian nonfiction writer, professor of Spanish, and former journalist spanning Ecuador, France, and the United States. Her manuscript-in-progress, “Violencias, grandes y pequeñas” (which translates to: “Violences Big and Small”), is a collection of autobiographical stories. It examines sociopolitical hardship in 1980s Ecuador through childhood scenes underscored by violence, resilience, and revelation.  

The IMCWC, hosted by City University of New York (CUNY), invites creative writers from across the globe to uplift diverse experiences across cultures and promote intercultural exchanges in the global literary community. Each year, qualified panelists are selected based on literary recognition such as existing and upcoming publications or accomplishments in their areas of focus. The cohort of writers are grouped thematically, providing varying perspectives on a shared topic. The panel Mejía formed part of was titled “The Home and the World.” 

“Conferences like this are important because they showcase writers coming from different literary cultures and languages, who are writing in those languages while living in the U.S. This conference encompasses literary expressions in English as well as many other languages, which reflects the reality of living and writing in the U.S.,” Mejía commented. 

Mejía’s reading of “Cambio de piel” (in English, “Turn of Skin”), one of the essays in her collection, was complemented by two co-panelists: Peruvian writer and poet Rocío Uchofen, and Puerto Rican poet Elidio La Torre Lagares, both of whom have published work and been awarded literary recognitions. Like her peers, Mejía also holds literary accolades, including her recently published literary essay “Salamandra” (Literal Magazine, June 2023), and nonfiction story, “Vacaciones de sexto grado” (Antología Volumen III, FILNYC, 2023). Prior to becoming the Director of Spanish Language Programs at SUNY Empire, she was a professor of Spanish, Latin American Literature, and Film at The College of Saint Rose.  

She shares, “I’ve been a professor for over two decades, and I’ve always found in this profession a way to nourish my creative impulse to write. My current role as director of Spanish Language Programs at SUNY Empire yields yet another intersection between my professional and personal literary selves: as someone who writes in Spanish in the U.S., I am proud to form part of an institution expanding access to higher education through the development of academic programs taught completely in Spanish.” 

Mejía’s written work houses large sociopolitical questions in the intimate, domestic spaces in which she first encountered them—the implications of which run deeply through her personal life and her nation’s history. Through examinations of her own lived experience, she fleshes out the parallels between “The Home and the World” in hopes that her openness and vulnerability will help foster a culture of authentic human connection. While she continues readying “Violencias, grandes y pequeñas” for publication, Mejía is sure to bring the same sincerity and care to her work on Spanish Language Programs at Empire State University.