SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  

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Empire State University is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Connors, president and CEO at Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) to its University Council. The appointment was made by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul. 

Connors has a distinguished career spanning nearly five decades in real estate, economic development, and community and government relations. In August 2023, Connors was appointed president and CEO of the SEDC. His career highlights include a decade of leadership at GlobalFoundries’ Office of Government Relations and his tenure as town and county supervisor for Stillwater. There, he co-authored legislation that established the Luther Forest Technology Campus, now home to GlobalFoundries Fab 8. Connors also authored the only municipal tax revenue sharing agreement in New York state.  

“I am honored to join SUNY Empire’s University Council and look forward to collaborating with its dedicated group of leaders,” said Connors. “I believe strongly in the power of education to create opportunities and drive economic growth, and I am excited to learn from and contribute to SUNY Empire’s ability to do both.” 

“We are thrilled to welcome Greg Connors to our University Council,” said SUNY Empire President Lisa Vollendorf. “His leadership and extensive expertise in government and economic development will be incredibly valuable as we work to strengthen the workforce and communities across the state by providing affordable, flexible, and high-quality education to learners of all ages.” 

Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 

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On Tuesday, September 9, 100 Empire State University alumni, students, employees, and guests attended the Rochester Red Wings vs. Buffalo Bison baseball game. The Rochester Red Wings beat the Buffalo Bison 5-4 at Innovative Stadium in Rochester, NY. A picnic preceded the game, which also featured Pride Night and Bark in the Park. 

This event is the first in a series of regional, in-person events intended to bring the Empire State University community together. The next event will take place in the Capital Region this winter.  

Check out the photos from the event. 

ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  

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SUNY Empire will collaborate with Ithaka S+R, Buffalo State University and SUNY Fredonia on Textbook Affordability Effort 

Empire State University, in collaboration with Ithaka S+R, Buffalo State University, and SUNY Fredonia, received a grant from ECMC Foundation to advance course material affordability across SUNY campuses. 

The project will include an in-depth analysis of existing course material programs, with an end goal of piloting several affordable course material models within the SUNY system and evaluating their effectiveness. The programs are intended to be used as models for other colleges and universities in the U.S.  

Shannon Pritting, executive director for the Office of Graduate Studies and Scholarly Supports, will lead the project on behalf of SUNY Empire. Pritting has already contributed to the university’s Textbook Affordability Initiative, which – since its inception in 2023 – has reduced textbook costs at the university by $5 million. 

“We’re excited to receive this support from ECMC Foundation and work with Ithaka S+R to find ways to systematically reduce textbook costs, which is a major barrier to access in higher education,” Pritting said. “At SUNY Empire, we’ve developed and implemented innovative ways to reduce textbook costs for our students, and we are thankful for ECMC Foundation’s support to investigate how to scale affordability efforts at a national level.”  

Both ECMC Foundation and Ithaka S+R share Empire State University’s mission to make higher education accessible to more students. ECMC Foundation has a North Star goal to eliminate gaps in postsecondary completion by 2040 so that underserved learners have greater opportunity for social and economic mobility. Ithaka S+R aims to increase access to quality college education and improve student outcomes. 

“Beyond making college more affordable, low- and no-cost course materials can help address institutional goals beyond affordability, such as advancing inclusivity, access, and instructional innovation,” said Mark McBride, Director for Libraries, Scholarly Communications, and Museums at Ithaka S+R. “This grant will give us the opportunity to document how course affordability programs are working in practice and understand the supports they need to thrive. This research will help us pilot and scale new initiatives in the SUNY system and beyond.”  

“We’re thrilled to support Empire State University and its partners in this important work to advance course material affordability,” said Amal Karim, Program Officer at ECMC Foundation. “Affordable course materials are more than a cost-saving measure—they’re a gateway to access and student success. By piloting and evaluating innovative models, this project reflects our commitment to removing barriers and creating pathways for underserved learners to thrive in higher education.” 

Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 

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Note: Since this article was published, enrollment numbers were adjusted to a 12% increase in new student enrollment and 9% increase in overall student enrollment due to Fall Term 2 students being enrolled in October 2025.

With the fall 2025 semester underway, Empire State University begins this term with another year of enrollment increases. New student enrollment has increased by 7.2%, and overall student enrollment has gone up by 7.4%.  

Amidst a challenging higher education landscape of enrollment declines, SUNY Empire is well-positioned to meet student needs and provide accessible, flexible, and high-quality education. The university currently serves 17,500 students and has over 120 degree programs. 

This year, Empire State University expanded its course offerings, adding three new bachelor’s programs and three new master’s programs for the fall semester to meet the needs of current and future students. The university also granted 434 eligible students associate degrees as part of its associate degree granting program. 

“Our enrollment growth this year is a result of the university’s commitment to access and innovation,” said Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing Andrea Hennessy. “By continuing to expand our online academic programs and strengthening workforce partnerships, we’ve been able to meet students where they are and provide flexible pathways to success. Coupled with targeted marketing campaigns that tell our story in authentic ways, these efforts have allowed us to reach more learners and support their educational goals. This growth reflects not only the strength of our programs but also the dedication of our faculty and staff to student success.” 

Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain

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As a photographer, Mark Maio ’92 had always been drawn to the imagery of industrial cities that dotted the northern parts of the U.S. And as a child who grew up in an ethnic neighborhood within such a city, he loved the stories that emerged from these urban enclaves.

So when he signed up for an Empire State University class called “Ethnic Neighborhoods in Northern Industrial Cities,” Maio was immediately captivated, especially when his professor asked him to use his camera to tell the story of what he saw.

“The visuals of these industrial cities really appealed to me,” says Maio, who lives in Alpharetta, GA with his wife. “And the stories appealed to me because they were my story.”  

The 16-week course turned into a 16-year project that will be featured in an exhibit this fall at the Burchfield Penny Art Center in Buffalo NY, titled “Against the Grain.” The exhibit opens October 10, 2025, runs through April 26, 2026, and coincides with the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal. A book by the same name will be published by Fall Line Press in October 2025.

Maio’s stark black-and-white images focus on “scoopers,” men of Irish descent who emptied the ships that transported grain to Buffalo, NY. The Buffalo ports were the gateway to the East Coast, where the Erie Canal intersected with the Great Lakes and the world’s first steam-powered grain elevator was constructed. The grains were eventually shipped to New York City and the rest of the world, where they were used to make bread, beer, and other staples.

“As I photographed the Old First Ward neighborhood, I learned about the Irish who lived there and unloaded the grain arriving from across the Great Lakes,” Maio says.  “The grain was then either shipped on the Erie Canal or stored in the grain elevators built along the Buffalo River. These were the descendants of the same Irish who had dug the canal. And their stories were a lot like the ones my family lived.”

Helping Others

Maio grew up in an ethnic Italian neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His grandparents came to the U.S. from Sicily in 1910. One grandfather had been a coal miner, the other a garbage man. “We were lower income and blue collar,” he says.  “While I grew up with friends from all different ethnic backgrounds, everything around my parents’ childhood was in Italian, the newspaper, the grocery store, and the banks. Visiting my grandparents every weekend left a lasting impression on where I came from, and I eventually wanted to tell my story through this project.”

Maio began doing photography in high school when he developed his first print and saw the magic in the process. He also found inspiration in “Life” magazine, where images by W. Eugene Smith and Margaret Bourke-White showed him the power of photography to tell stories.

“Growing up in the 60s, many of us had this change-the-world feeling, and I wanted to do something to help people with my photography,” Maio says.  

After getting an associate degree in applied sciences in photography from the Milwaukee Area Technical College, Maio began doing ophthalmic photography, taking images of the interior and exterior of the eye to help doctors diagnose and treat diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and corneal diseases. “I thought what better way for a photographer to help other people than to use photography to help them with their eyesight,” he says.

Although he didn’t have more advanced degrees, Maio joined the faculty at Emory University and was an adjunct at Rochester Institute of Technology.  At the University at Buffalo, he was awarded the rank of clinical assistant professor in the medical school, even instituting a BS degree in ophthalmic photography that was discontinued when he left.

His own academic career, however, was at a standstill. “RIT had a BS in medical photography, but I couldn’t afford to quit my job to work on a degree,” he says.

He found the solution at SUNY Empire, where he was able to model his degree after the RIT program. Going to SUNY Empire, he says, changed the course of his life, as he began working on the project that became “Against the Grain.”

Maio graduated in 1992 with a B.S. in biomedical photography, becoming the first in his family to go to college. Later, he went to UB, where he got a master’s in the humanities and an MFA in photography.

Eyes on America

Unlike his peers who traveled to Europe and were interested in doing celebrity, fashion, or war photography, Maio wanted to capture the stories of America and devoted his time to documenting what he saw in the U.S. “I’ve been to all 50 states and traveled mostly on back roads,” he says. “I needed to know America, my America before learning about other countries.”

At the same time, Maio continued to thrive in the field of ophthalmic photography. In 1999, he developed the first high-resolution digital imaging system in ophthalmology. What had previously been captured on film could now be seen digitally, which sped up the diagnostic process.

Maio also became one of 12 people chosen to serve on Adobe’s Biomedical Imaging Advisory Group. The group worked with Adobe to develop Photoshop Extended, the first version of this software program to contain medical, technical and scientific digital imaging tools.

While ophthalmic photography may seem radically different from fine art photography, Maio says they are quite similar.  “The creative process in both fields is actually the same,” he says. “It’s just the expression that’s different.”

With the opening of his exhibition at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, Maio’s fine art photography is hitting a new high. Though he has exhibited in other galleries and museums and has photographs in the permanent collection of the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, this new show marks the first time the grain photographs will be in a major exhibition and accompanied by a book.

“Photography is not a hobby,” he says. “It’s my life, both in ophthalmic photography and the fine arts.”

Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  

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Have you ever needed a minute where your child is safely occupied so you can finish a task? Soon, SUNY Empire student parents will have this option – in the form of a virtual video library of SUNY Empire community members reading children’s books.  

“Our average age student is in their 30s, and probably has one or two children. We want to make sure that we’re letting them know we understand where they are,” said Director of Student Engagement Josh Boardman. “We know they’re busy people, that they may have full-time jobs as well as another full-time job of being a parent.” 

Creating community is at the heart of this initiative, which was born out of the newly-formed Student Parent Collective affinity group created by Director of Student Support Qu’ran Bell ‘21, ‘22. Bell, a two-time alumna, lived the student parent experience and knows firsthand the challenges and joys it brings. She references her friendship with alumna and Empire State Opportunity Program Asia Moore while both were in school, and how it carried her through to the finish line. 

“The key for me getting through my time here was meeting like-minded people,” Bell said. “I always say Asia Moore became one of my best friends, because we were both moms going through the same thing together. I’m hoping someone comes from this getting that same experience of knowing ‘this school supports me as a parent, and I met a lot of people going through the same thing I’m going through.’” 

With support from the Offices of Student Engagement and Support, as well as faculty, staff, and alumni across the university, the story reading initiative was launched with several other events for a month-long student parent celebration. 

“The number one goal is growing community,” said Bell. “Every student here is always looking for community, no matter what background they come from. This is also something students have asked for – we’ve always gotten the feedback that parents are looking for support. This is [us] answering the call, and trying to meet them where they’re at.” 

So far, community members across the university have offered to read on camera for this project, including Empire State University President Lisa Vollendorf. Some books will be read in English, and some in Spanish, to support bilingualism.  

“It’s a nice opportunity for students to bring their children into what they’re doing,” said Adrienne Sader, assistant director of student engagement. “I think for some people, by allowing programming where kids can be a part of it, it gives them a glimpse into what mom or dad is doing, and [allows them to] be a part of that in some small way.” 

Other community members, like Liv Thygesen, disability specialist, are putting their own twist on the reading videos. Thygesen plans to film a cooking video with her children to share with other parents. 

“Cooking with your kids is a great time to connect with them,” Thygesen said. “To learn what interests them, teach them valuable life skills and give them that one-on-one time they love.  Don’t let the chaos intimidate you. You’re doing something priceless, and messes can always be cleaned.” 

Another event under the umbrella of Student Parent Month aims to connect parents at area children’s museums across New York state for a day of play and community. 

“We thought it would be nice to have a space out in the community where our students and their families can meet up and not only enjoy the museum as something free for them to do, but also meet other parents in their area who are going to school,” Sader said. “I feel like the sky’s the limit if we can connect people locally where they are.” 

“I’m hoping that they’ll come out of this knowing what a supportive environment for parents and caregivers Empire is,” Bell said. “Maybe they’ll meet other fellow parents they can build community with.” 

Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY—August 28, 2025) Melissa Aponte’s goal as Empire State University’s first dean of students is to help students find their home and their people. 

“I want them to feel that they belong, that this is the space for them,” Aponte said. “Whether it’s learning a new skill, growing in leadership, or connecting deeper in their career, I want them to find their place, or at least have an opportunity to try something new or explore something they have never tried before.” 

Having been a first-generation student herself, Aponte resonates with Empire State University’s goal to make higher education accessible to all.  

“The fact that there’s so much recognition and acknowledgment of prior work experience or experience in the military, I think that’s really valuable – and so important to students that they’re not [viewed as] empty slates,” she said. 

Aponte has worked with students at a variety of institutions, such as Borough of Manhattan Community College, Iona University, and Rochester Institute of Technology. She mentioned that she is excited to come into a brand new role at SUNY Empire and make it her own, bringing her wealth of experiences with her.  

“I’m hoping that through listening to and learning what the students need and want and understanding the needs of the university, I’ll be able to bring my unique take on that to fill in the needs of the university and the student population,” she said.  

She remarked that SUNY Empire’s student population and online format will be different from her past experiences in higher education. 

“I’m excited to work with the student population at SUNY Empire,” she said. “I am so drawn to working with the non-traditional student population, and I’m also eager for the challenge to work with a predominantly remote online population.” 

Aponte’s experience in expanding student engagement opportunities, connecting with community partners, and building relationships are all things she wants to carry into her role at SUNY Empire. Particularly, she said, “enhancing student leadership potential” through clubs, organizations, and student government. 

“Having student support services and engagement opportunities is important because it helps students navigate,” she said. “I always felt like my role in all the things I’ve done is to help connect students.” 

Two of Aponte’s focus areas will be within the Health and Wellness and Career Services realms. While she has experience guiding both, she is excited to grow them and explore how they interact in an online university environment. She noted successful initiatives already in the works, and how she hopes to help Career Services further expand internship opportunities for students.  

“I feel humbled by the opportunity to be able to serve the students of Empire State University,” Aponte said. “I am here to serve the strategic goals of the institution, and I deeply believe in serving the needs of who I’m supporting.” 

Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 

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Empire State University has announced a new partnership with Sophia Learning, an online, on-demand, self-paced learning platform. The partnership will provide Sophia Learning students with an easy transfer pathway into Empire State University’s 120+ high-quality, flexible, affordable associate, bachelor’s, and certificate programs, as well as its wraparound student support services. 

Sophia Learning is an online learning platform that allows students at any stage of their higher education journey to begin their education or finish their college-level gen ed courses. Empire State University joins the ranks of over 80 colleges and universities who partner with Sophia Learning.  

This new collaboration with Sophia Learning will allow students to continue taking courses online through a new and flexible option that helps them reach their academic goals. Students will also be eligible for an application fee waiver and a one-time $100 Better Together Scholarship. 

“This partnership with Sophia Learning will allow students to seamlessly continue their education at SUNY Empire,” said Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing Daniel Fogarty. “By recognizing their prior learning and offering flexible, affordable, and fully online degree pathways, we’re making it easier for students with busy lives to stay on track and achieve their academic and career goals.” 

“We are honored to welcome Empire State University students to Sophia’s network,” said Shawna Thayer, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Sophia Learning. “This collaboration reflects our continued commitment to ensuring all students have access to flexible pathways to education that can make degree attainment affordable and manageable no matter their schedule.” 

For more information on this partnership, visit https://sunyempire.sophia.org/. 

Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 

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Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now! 

What led you to teach the subject you’re teaching?  

During my last year as an undergraduate and the following three years of employment, I had two mentors who encouraged me to go to graduate school in economics. One was a faculty member that I worked with at Evergreen State College and the other was my supervisor in jobs at Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services. Both had Ph.D.s in economics and came at economic issues with a focus on equity over efficiency. They were instrumental in getting me to take this step into academics. 

What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire?  

There are a number of wonderful aspects of SUNY Empire, but my favorite, by far, is working with our students! I admire their motivation and determination to earn their degree. And my favorite part of working with our students is assisting those who chose to pursue Credit for Prior Learning through this process. This work validates the academic learning that these individuals have acquired, sometimes over many years or even decades. Seeing the confidence that this process can instill in students validates my own work. 

What’s one moment in your career you’re especially proud of?  

That would have to be receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. 

What’s one thing about you that people might not know about?  

In the summer after my first year in college, I hitchhiked from Portland, OR to Prince Rupert, BC – a little under 1,200 miles – then took a ferry to Ketchikan, AK, in the hopes of working on a salmon fishing boat. Unfortunately, the salmon fishing season closed very early that year and the only jobs available were in logging camps. After surviving for about a week on Dungeness crabs and passing a physical, I got on a seaplane and spent the next two months as a choker setter at the logging camp in Cape Pole, AK. 

What are you most excited about for this upcoming semester?  

I’m both excited and a bit nervous about teaching ECON 3055, Healthcare Economics, as a fully online course for the first time. I just developed this course over the summer and  changed much of the structure and assignments in the course. 

Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 

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Awardees of the Empire State University Foundation’s Special Project Fund were announced today. This marks the second year of the Special Project Fund, which offers flexible, quickly available funding for creative and entrepreneurial projects in support of the university’s strategic plan.  

“The Special Project Fund reflects the partnership between the Office of Advancement and the Empire State University Foundation Board,” said Vice President for Advancement Veronica Fitzgerald. “Together, we’re thrilled to be able to support the work of SUNY Empire’s faculty and staff through innovative projects that this year focused on our strategic plan priority of organizational effectiveness.” 

Eight proposals totaling $72,396 in funding were approved. Read more about the projects below. 

Project: Unite Series: Strengthening Support for Veteran and Military Families 

This professional development initiative will help faculty and staff support military-aligned students and their families, enhancing academic, operational, and cultural support. 

Project lead: Desiree Drindak, director of Veteran and Military Resource Center 

Project: SUNY Empire Apprenticeship Accelerator 

This initiative will help design and launch registered apprenticeship pathways in technology, health professions, and education, building internal systems, workflows, and scalable tools to optimize SUNY Empire’s responsiveness to workforce needs. 

Project lead: Daniel Fogarty, assistant vice president of Enrollment Management and Marketing 

Project: Designing AI Assistants for Self-Service Data Analytics and Assessment 

This project will explore the deployment of AI assistants to provide customized self-service data and assessment solutions for the university community, with the end goal of creating a more data-informed culture.  

Project lead: Eileen McDonnell, executive director of institutional effectiveness and planning 

Project: Human Resources Chatbot 

The HR chatbot will create a more efficient workflow within Human Resources by providing up to date HR information at any time and adapting to the changing needs of an online workforce.  

Project lead: Rebecca Monaghan, assistant to the vice president of human resources 

Project: Planning Your Education, OER Revision 

This project will use funds to make changes to the existing OER course resource, with the goal of increasing use of credit for prior learning and making content fully accessible.  

Project leads: Susan Oaks, professor, and Marie Pennucci, lecturer 

Project: Case Studies Across the Curriculum 

This project will improve the way case studies are used in the curriculum, allowing the university to subscribe to the peer-reviewed collection of case studies through Sage and implement this resource into courses. 

Project leads: Alena Rodick, director of learning design and solutions, and Shannon Pritting, executive director for the Office of Graduate Studies and Scholarly Supports 

Project: Expanding Affordability Through Strategic Partnerships via Adopt2Open 

Project funds will allow SUNY Empire’s library to join the Adopt2Open program and partner with Sylla to develop a program to convert textbooks to an open access model, expanding the university’s textbook affordability initiative

Project leads: Jennifer Collins, open educational resources and scholarly communications librarian, and Shannon Pritting, executive director for the Office of Graduate Studies and Scholarly Supports 

Project: Centering Neurodivergent Voices: Improving Higher Education Practices Through Universal Design 

This project, a collaboration between CAARES and SUNY New Paltz’s Disability Resource Center, will include a revision of the mandatory employee training on universal design and strategies to support neurodiverse students. It will also allow CAARES to extend training across the SUNY system. 

Project leads: Noor Syed, associate professor and director of the Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports (CAARES), and Lauren Allen, assistant professor and assistant director of CAARES