Day: January 9, 2023

This week’s #MadeitMonday goes out to Dina Peone!

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Dina peone looking at camera

Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Sciences and Creative Writing: Dina Peone ‘13

Since graduating with an Associate degree in Liberal Arts in 2013 Dina Peone has gone on to share her writing talents with others! Currently a lecturer at the University of Chicago,  Peone has committed herself to helping others with their writing by designing and teaching unique nonfiction writing courses.

Six years before Peone enrolled at SUNY Ulster, she sustained a severe burn injury that nearly took her life and ability to write. During her time at SUNY Ulster, she recovered some of the confidence she would need to continue pursuing her goals. “SUNY Ulster is where I discovered a structured, community-supported environment in which I could safely begin writing about the fire.”   She adds that the College allowed her to “recognize that the fire had not destroyed [her] potential”. 

With unwavering spirit, Peone continued striving for excellence. After completing her degree at SUNY Ulster Dina Peone was accepted to her top school, Sarah Lawrence where she attained a Bachelor’s degree, and swears SUNY Ulster played a pivotal role in that success, “SUNY Ulster’s consistent recognition of my efforts is one reason I got accepted by seven out of eight four-year colleges”. Once enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College, Peone’s love for writing continued to flourish and enabled her to be a co-founder of a literary journal titled Cliffhanger, where she served as editor-in-chief.  

Dina went on to earn her MFA in nonfiction at the prestigious University of Iowa (’18) and then joined the Iowa faculty as a Visiting Assistant Professor and taught the Nonfiction Writing Program’s first-ever online course.

Today, Peone is teaching her own thesis workshop as well as being a thesis adviser to undergraduate students at U. Chi. Reflecting on her trials and tribulations Peone was ecstatic to share the passion SUNY Ulster had ignited in her and the tremendous gratitude she had for the college. “To my great delight, I am continuously learning what I am capable of. I now fully believe that, at any given time, I am capable of achieving far more than I can imagine.” – Dina Peone

 

This week’s #MadeitMonday goes out to Jonathan Rhea!

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Jonathon Rhea looking at the view from a tower

Environmental Control/ Hazardous Waste Management: Jonathan Rhea ‘93

Jonathan Rhea is an Environmental Control / Hazardous Waste Management student who graduated in 1993 and continued his education at SUNY Plattsburgh where he completed his Baccalaureate Degree in Environmental Science. During his time at SUNY Ulster Rhea discovered his creative side in Ellen Robbins Creative Writing Class, and remembers her as a “wonderful kind person” who “showed genuine enthusiasm for things [he] created.”

After graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh, Rhea became an Asbestos Inspector and an Environmental Assessor in Poughkeepsie, NY. After working in the environmental field for some time, Rhea felt he was “acquiring responsibilities for computer systems” and was “unhappy with the profiteering nature” of the field. 

Rhea then “made the jump to IT” taking on a job as Network Support Specialist at Colleges and “never looked back”. More than twenty years later, Rhea still works for the same company, now called Ellucian here at SUNY Ulster. Over the course of his career here he has held multiple positions including Chief Information Officer for 15 years. 

Rhea explains that SUNY Ulster has “been a central part of [his] life for the past three decades!” and believes that “As an alum and a long-time employee, SUNY Ulster has provided [him] with every opportunity that [he has] had the good fortune to take advantage of”.

Not only did Rhea graduate from SUNY Ulster but his son,  Jonathan Rhea Jr, graduated from SUNY Ulster’s Computer Science program in May of 2021. Rhea would recommend SUNY Ulster to others because “the SUNY Ulster experience is fantastic preparation for embarking on new chapters of one’s life.” and because “this college has everything to do with who I am and how far I’ve come”. 

We are all proud to have Jonathan Rhea on our team here at SUNY Ulster as Director for the Office of Information Technology. And, we thank him for helping to ensure that our faculty, staff, and students have the best technology possible delivered.