Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students
Nine Empire State University students have been awarded the Dean’s Medal. Presented annually, the honor recognizes outstanding undergraduate and graduate students demonstrating academic excellence and a positive influence on their communities or professions.
Read on to learn more about this year’s honorees, who—in their own words—share what they found most rewarding about their experience at SUNY Empire.
Meet the Honorees:
Mary Barr, College of Education
Hometown: Westhampton Beach, NY
“I enjoyed making connections during my SUNY Empire education. I have experience teaching English literature and writing classes to college students and English as a second language to students in South Korea, so I was fascinated to learn how my previous knowledge related to the new information I was learning in my classes. I also valued the connections I made with people in the program. I liked sharing insights with my coworkers who are also in the special education Master of Arts in teaching program. I appreciated the mentoring relationships I built with teachers at my workplace when I interviewed them for class assignments. Synchronous Microsoft Teams classes enabled me to engage in thought-provoking discussions with my professors and colleagues. Building connections between my previous knowledge and new knowledge and with my professors and fellow students was rewarding.”
Gena Bartlett, College of Business
Hometown: Granby, NY
“One of the most rewarding parts of my experience at Empire State University has been the opportunity to strengthen my decision-making skills and develop a deeper understanding of identifying important trends through data and analysis. This growth has allowed me to better recognize patterns that not only contribute to business development and operational improvement but also support community safety and public well-being.”
Nathalie Joseph, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
“The most rewarding parts of my experience at SUNY Empire were the flexibility and the applied behavior analysis professors, especially Drs. Allen and Syed. I wouldn’t have graduated without their support. They truly embody the program’s emphasis on compassion.”
Kristyn Logan, College of Arts and Sciences
Hometown: Albany, NY
“The most rewarding part of my SUNY Empire experience has been proving to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. I never really considered myself a good student before, but through my time at SUNY Empire, I have grown and started to see myself differently. Now I do consider myself a good student. I think one of the most rewarding parts of pursuing an education is realizing that you can grow, change, and surprise yourself along the way. I have been able to work full-time, be a full-time student, and continue pursuing a dream I have had for as long as I can remember: becoming an art teacher.”
Richard Pangborn, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Hometown: Washington, DC
“The most rewarding part of my experience at SUNY Empire was overcoming the edict that I had ‘unfinished business’ with my education. I was not suited for K-12 instruction and was not ready for college at 18. After serving in the Army I did go to college for a couple of semesters before 9/11 happened. I soon left college and became a federal law enforcement officer. Now after 25 years I am finally able to check this off from my list.”
John Reynolds, College of Business
Hometown: Mount Sinai, NY
“The most rewarding part of my SUNY Empire experience was the ability to continue working full-time while attending a university that helped me progress, not only in my knowledge, but in my career. SUNY Empire provided an education that I could directly apply to my professional life, and I found that my career continued to thrive while I had the opportunity to learn from some truly great professors and classmates along the way. Obtaining my MBA was a goal I set for myself, and SUNY Empire not only helped me achieve that goal but provided me with the opportunity to go one step further and also graduate with a certificate in project management. I am leaving SUNY Empire with new perspectives, a stronger business sense, a broadened community of experts, and a deeper understanding of management and leadership that will help me continue making my personal and professional career goals a reality.”
Tara Rice, College of Health and Human Services
Hometown: Farmington, New York
“The most rewarding part of my time at SUNY Empire has been the opportunity to study subjects that have always deeply interested me, but felt out of reach as someone who hadn’t attended college directly out of high school and who is now middle-aged. Specifically, I absolutely loved my classes in biology, gender studies, and psychology. What a wonderful opportunity SUNY Empire provided for me.”
Patricia Schneider, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Hometown: Rochester, NY
“One of the most rewarding parts of my SUNY Empire experience was having a supportive environment and philosophy that supports older learners. I am in my late fifties, and Empire gave me a place to go that suited my need for work-life balance and interactions with others in the same place in life. I had instructors and fellow students I related to and who related to me. I felt supported and that being in college could fit in my life, meaning it wasn’t too late for me to go for the degree I have wanted since dropping out of college in my third semester, just out of high school.”
Note: Amanda Wilck, not pictured above, also received a Dean’s Medal.