President’s Newsletter

Friday, September 26, 2025

Dear Colleagues:

It was good to see so many of you at Dave Comden’s Celebration of Life on Sunday. Dave was someone about whom no one had a bad word to say, and he will be very much missed.

We have just published our Annual Report, which goes to SUNY Trustees and SUNY leadership, and I wanted to share an online version with you. It includes a number of facts and figures, as well as Brockport success stories and our annual financial recap. I hope you enjoy perusing it. If you would like a physical copy, please reach out to Julie Pruss at jpruss@brockport.edu who will arrange for you to receive one.

This week I met with the Senate presidents, as well as with the chair of the Senate EDI Committee, Dr. Carl Davila. I also attended the Senate meeting, and we had our first UUP Labor Management meeting of the academic year, where we discussed a number of issues from telecommuting to promotions. On Tuesday, I enjoyed meeting with the new faculty and discussing their thoughts about working at Brockport. It’s clear we have some work to do to ensure that their physical working environments are as good as they can be, but I was heartened to hear that they did feel that we are a community invested in their success, and that we are striving to be a great university at which to work.

I had one-to-ones with three Cabinet members, and our regular cabinet meeting, at which we reviewed positions and discussed the federal landscape for higher education. I also attended a Citizens and Scholars Presidents’ meeting and two meetings for Rochester Rotary.

This week, I was able to set aside some time to get up-to-date with the annual compliance training schedule, completing training for anti-harassment, anti-hazing, ethics and Title VI. If you have not already done so, please check out the training you are required to complete through BizLibrary and the dates by which these training sessions are due.

I was able to stop by the Summer Undergraduate Research Program showcase yesterday afternoon and was, as always, impressed with the breadth and depth of the undergraduate research that takes place on our campus. Thank you to all of the faculty who make it possible. Last night we had our Homecoming Volunteer reception for our volunteer boards. Today was filled with the joint Alumni Association and Brockport Foundation board meetings, followed by the Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony and Dinner. We honored six distinguished alumni for their post-graduation accomplishments and inducted six former student-athletes into the Hall of Fame. It was a great night! 

Tomorrow, Homecoming and Family Weekend will be in full swing, with a parade, alumni sporting events, a football game, a soccer game, receptions and the BSG-sponsored Homecoming Festival, as well as a comedian and fireworks to end the night. I hope you can join in the festivities!