The campus’ first female president has already begun a legacy of her own. Her service to her profession and the campus is well known. She was the driving force behind the creation of the Fredonia Academic Community Engagement Center, which connects student learning and pedagogy with opportunities to serve and impact the Western New York community.

“Dr. Horvath’s proven commitment to improving higher education in Western New York will serve her well in her new role as president,” Chancellor Zimpher said in recommending Dr. Horvath. “She has an impressive legacy of leadership that I am confident she will build upon at the college, and I know she will exceed the expectations of students, faculty, staff and alumni alike.”

For years, Dr. Sherri “Sam” Mason has encouraged people to reduce the plastic they consume.

A chemistry and biochemistry professor and the coordinator of Fredonia’s Environmental Sciences program, she has urged students and community members to avoid products that either contain or are sealed in plastic, and eliminate plastic shopping bags.

From July 11 to 31, Dr. Mason, in collaboration with the 5 Gyres Institute, led the first-ever survey of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes. Together with students and faculty researchers from Fredonia and other Great Lakes-based universities, she collected samples which will be used to formulate an analysis from the team’s findings later this year.

Ruff’s talents were evident at a young age. The only girl opposite three sports-minded younger brothers, she was usually a solo act, entertaining her family and friends (or just herself) at every opportunity. “My brothers would often say, ‘Elizabeth, stop singing for once in your life!’” she laughs.

A native of the Rochester, N.Y., suburb of Brighton, this 2011 Musical Theatre alumna turned heads the moment she stepped on campus.

“Elizabeth is as talented a performer as we have ever had at SUNY Fredonia,” said Department of Theatre and Dance Chair Tom Loughlin, who quickly recognized her ability and cast her in the female lead of The Rocky Horror Show – as a freshman.

All across the U.S., you’ll find them: writers, editors, reporters, bloggers, DJs, anchors, photographers, videographers, news directors, production engineers and sales/marketing professionals. However, none of them left Fredonia with a formal journalism degree. Instead, alumni – English, Communication and Philosophy majors, among others – have used their liberal arts education to succeed in this rewarding field.

The new Journalism program has had instant success, with 50 students comprising that initial cohort. Students cite the variety of on-campus media available for hands-on experience, from the rich histories of The Leader, WNYF-TV and Fredonia Radio Systems, to the new “Raphy Report” news briefs, as resources that are giving them critical skills and networking opportunities outside of the classroom. Lead professor and former Buffalo News reporter Elmer Ploetz is also credited for bringing enthusiasm and expertise to the new program, which is already expanding.

The Fredonia name resonates strongly in the media professions due to the accomplishments of so many proud graduates. In April, some of Western New York’s best returned to share insights with students at the campus’ first annual Society of Professional Journalists conference.

This year, when she was not leading the Leader staff as editor-in-chief, Maggie Oliver was leading her senior class, as president. Her motive for becoming President of the Class of 2012 was to arouse change. In previous years, she believed there had not been enough senior class events, and Oliver wanted to ensure that her fellow classmates got the senior year they deserved. “I just wanted to make sure that the Class of 2012 didn’t have that reputation of not doing a lot of events.”

The Class of 2012 donated two beautiful stained glass windows that were installed in the Cranston Marché lobby this spring. It is the first class in years to pay off its gift in full before Commencement. “Maggie Oliver is, by far, one of the best class presidents with whom I have worked with,” said Patricia Feraldi, ’77, director of Alumni Affairs. “She is a true and dedicated leader.”

Dr. Jack Croxton of the Department of Psychology and Professor Julie Newell of the School of Music received appointments by the State University of New York Board of Trustees to two of SUNY’s highest honors.

Recipients of the 2011-12 SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence include Dr. Adrienne McCormick, recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service; Julie Williams, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service; Dr. Linda Hall, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching; and Diane Bohn, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service.

Graduating students were honored in April by Chancellor Zimpher with the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, and included Zhuojun “Georgie” Fu, the first international recipient of the Lanford Presidential Prize from the Oscar and Esther Lanford Endowment of the Fredonia College Foundation; Steven James Gangloff, Keriann E. Ketcham and Jessica Martorana.

Dr. Cheryl Drout, Dr. Gary Lash and Dr. David Kinkela will be honored this fall during three lecture events. Lash is the annual Kasling Lecturer and Drout will give the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching Lecture. Kinkela is the winner of the Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award. 

As the recipient of the 2012 SUNY Fredonia President’s Award for Excellence in teaching, Dr. Cheryl Drout will present her awards lecture on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 2 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall, with the title, “What is the Sound of One Voice Teaching?”

Dr. Lash will offer the Kasling Lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 4 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall, and the Hagan award will be presented to Dr. Kinkela at the same event. Dr. Lash’s lecture is entitled, “...boring old shale - how simple questions can take one on a submicroscopic to global tectonic journey...”

They read almost like ads in the personals: Students “yearning” for real-life experience to complement their classroom learning. Local organizations “desperately seeking” new ideas to help them grow and improve. The School of Business’ capstone courses have become the proverbial coffee shop where both can meet and start something special.

The School of Business’ capstone courses have become the proverbial coffee shop where both can meet and start something special.

Under the leadership of Dean Russell Boisjoly and Department of Business Administration Chair Mojtaba Seyedian, the School of Business is increasingly committed to service learning and community involvement.