April 4, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster celebrates the start of spring with two annual cultural events.
The Elizabeth Gross Lecture Series, sponsored by the Ulster Garden Club, presents Growing with Nature: Native Plants & Ecological Horticulture. This Lecture will take place on April 16 at 2 p.m. in the College Lounge, Vanderlyn Hall. The talk will explore ecologically conscious horticulture concepts, assumptions, and challenges.
Uli Lorimer is the Director of Horticulture for Native Plant Trust. He oversees the facilities and operations at Garden in the Woods and Nasami Farm in Western Massachusetts. He brings 20 years of experience working with native plants in public gardens with previous positions at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Wave Hill Garden, and the U.S. National Arboretum.
The Elizabeth Gross Lecture Series is made possible by a bequest from long-standing Ulster Garden Club member Elizabeth Gross. The Ulster Garden Club was founded in 1914 and is dedicated to community improvement through horticulture and conservation.
The Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series brings renowned writers to campus and is a unique opportunity for SUNY Ulster students and community members to hear award-winning authors read from their work.
Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum is an annual event that brings well-known and award-winning poets to SUNY Ulster for intimate question-and-answer sessions.
These events are sponsored by the Ulster Community College Foundation and are free and open to the public. No registration is required.
SUNY Ulster Holds Spring Open House and Accepted Students Day 2024 on Saturday, April 27
April 2, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will hold its 2024 Spring Open House and Accepted Students Day on the Stone Ridge campus on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prospective and accepted students, and their families are encouraged to attend this informative, fun event.
All attendees will learn about SUNY Ulster’s academic programs, student services, campus life, athletics and more. All will have the opportunity to attend a College Services Fair, an Academic Program Showcase presented by SUNY Ulster faculty, as well as take a Campus Tour guided by Student Admissions Ambassadors.
Prospective students will also receive guidance from our Enrollment & Success Center Team and other Student Services professionals through the Admissions process, an overview of SUNY Ulster scholarships, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and other important foundational resources to ensure student success.
In addition to the above activities, accepted students beginning their studies in the Fall 2024 semester will also attend special sessions designed to help students prepare and transition to college. They will also have the opportunity to schedule appointments with an advisor for a later date.
Reservations are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome for this event. Those who reserve their spot in advance will receive an individualized schedule for the day’s planned activities tailored to their interests and educational goals. A light continental breakfast will be available upon check-in and all guests will receive a discount on SUNY Ulster Spirit Wear in the Senators Store.
SUNY Ulster Earns “Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution” Status
with 17% of Student Body Now Hispanic
March 21, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster took a significant step forward in its commitment to serve all Ulster County residents by achieving the designation of “Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution” (HSI) by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. It is an exciting milestone demonstrating our progress in providing affordable and flexible educational opportunities for our Hispanic neighbors.
SUNY Ulster has been identified as an “emerging” Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) based on the percentage of its student population who identify as Hispanic. A college is identified as emerging if Hispanic students comprise more than 14 percent of the student population and the institution has the potential to reach the full HSI threshold of 25 percent within the next few years.
Out of the 270 colleges and universities in New York State, there are only 28 Emerging HSIs even though the Hispanic population is the second-largest racial and ethnic group in the state. Closer to home, Ulster County is comprised of nearly 11% or 19.4 K Hispanic residents.
“As an institution, we have worked hard to expand our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. Our recognition as an emerging HSI is important and brings with it more resources to advance this work as we serve our community with affordable access to higher education,” says Alison Buckley, Ed.D., President of SUNY Ulster.
Chief Diversity Officer, Candice Van Dyke adds “The designation of Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution is an opportunity for us to better our efforts, to grow our resources, and to serve our students. This is an exciting title that bears the weight of the important work we have ahead of us.”
As an Emerging HSI, SUNY Ulster’s Hispanic students now have access to benefits, including scholarships, paid internships, and leadership development programs. Once SUNY Ulster attains full HSI status, the benefits increase.
“SUNY Ulster has been steadfast in their commitment to serve their students and community by providing invaluable opportunities to access higher education,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “HACU looks forward to supporting the efforts of SUNY Ulster to serve their community as they move forward on the path towards becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution.”
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) was established in 1986 with a founding membership of eighteen institutions. Today, HACU represents more than 500 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain, and U.S. school districts. HACU is the only national educational association that represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).
SUNY Ulster Hosts Annual “Future Voices” Art Exhibit Showcasing Local High School Talent
March 25, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – Ulster County high school students will be showcased in an exhibit of their artwork with “Future Voices 2024: High School Art from Ulster County,” opening April 5 and running through April 19, at the Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery on the Stone Ridge campus. The opening reception is on Friday April 5, from 4 – 6:00 p.m.
This annual exhibition features artwork from high school students throughout Ulster County. Participating schools include Saugerties, Onteora, Rondout Valley, Kingston, Ulster BOCES, New Paltz, Ellenville, Marlboro, Highland, Wallkill, and Woodstock Day School. The show will include a wide variety of media including painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, sculpture, digital media, and more.
The Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. is offering prizes to the artists with the three best pieces in the show. There will be one $100 best-in-show award and two honorable mentions, worth $50 each.
The exhibition is being curated by Allison Constant, owner and founder of Art Bar in Kingston. Ms. Constant is a SUNY Ulster fine art program alumna. In addition to her work at Art Bar, she has curated exhibits for the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum and Woodstock Jewish Congregation. She has also exhibited her own work at The Farber Center in New York City, Samuel Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz, and The Shirt Factory in Kingston, among others.
The Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed on college holidays and weekends. The show and opening reception are free and open to the public. For more information please contact Gallery@sunyulster.edu or call 845-687-5113.
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Artwork credit:
Anna Weber
11th Grade
Pieces of Self
Rondout High School
A Quick and Easy Way to Go From Application to Accepted & Enrolled
on the Spot
March 18, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster’s Instant Admissions Week is scheduled from March 25 through March 28 from 10 am to 4 pm. For anyone interested in attending SUNY Ulster in Fall 2024, this is a quick and easy way to complete the admissions process in one day.
Those interested in attending should bring their official, sealed high school transcript, original GED certificate or original IHIP Letter of Substantial Equivalency, and any official college transcript (if applicable). Participants will be guided through the entire process by admissions counselors. Financial aid reps will also be on hand to answer questions and assist with the financial aid process.
SUNY Ulster offers students over 60 academic programs that lead to either transfer to a four-year college or entry into the job market. To best help students afford college, the Ulster
Community College Foundation awards $1 million in scholarships each year to entering, continuing, and transferring students.
SUNY Ulster Presents Paths to Success Alumni Panel: A Path to a Career in Healthcare March 20 & 21, 2024 at 10 AM
March 13, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster invites the community to join SUNY Ulster students, President’s Challenge Scholarship high school students, faculty, and staff to the third Paths to Success Alumni Panel entitled, A Path to a Career in Healthcare, taking place on Wednesday, March 20th and Thursday, March 21st in the Quimby Theater on the Stone Ridge campus at 10 am.
Paths to Success is an opportunity for alumni who have succeeded in different career fields to return to campus to discuss their journeys as well as answer questions and offer guidance to current students about pursuing similar paths, starting at SUNY Ulster. A Path to a Career in Healthcare will feature SUNY Ulster alumni Dr. Linda Mundy, Dr. Lisa Schulte, and Dr. Kol Zarember. There will be a moderated Q&A from 10 to 10:45 and then breakout sessions with the speakers from 10:45 to 11:30.
Dr. Linda Mundy is an advocate for health, wellness, and education. As an internist, infectious diseases physician, and epidemiologist, she has been a care provider, medical educator, clinical researcher, pharmaceutical executive, mentor, and patient advocate.
Dr. Lisa Schulte is a retired Associate Professor of the School of Nursing at SUNY Empire State College and a former Associate Professor of Nursing with SUNY Ulster’s Nursing program. She brings a wealth of experience in teaching and clinical expertise spanning 27 years, specializing in surgical services and gastroenterology nursing. In addition, she was a staunch advocate for diversity in the nursing profession and was committed to global engagement through the SUNY Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program.
Dr. Kol Zarember is the Scientific Operations Manager for NIAID’s Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, a 300+ team united to advance diagnosis, epidemiology, and treatment of immune and inflammatory diseases. Prior, he worked as a staff scientist at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a component of the National Institutes of Health.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
Register by 4:00pm 3/19 for March 20th REGISTER NOW!
Register by 4:00pm 3/21 for March 21st REGISTER NOW!
For any questions, please contact Heather Eckardt, Alumni Specialist at eckardth@sunyulster.edu.
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Linda Mundy, Dr. Kol Zarember, and Dr. Lisa Schulte,
Governor Kathy Hochul Appoints Bryant “Drew” Andrews and Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq., to the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees
March 12, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – Gov. Kathy Hochul has appointed Bryant “Drew” Andrews, of Kingston, and Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq., of Kingston, to the College’s Board of Trustees.
As the co-founder of the Kingston, NY-based Center for Creative Education (CCE), Drew Andrews originated the Artistic Director role in 1999 and has been serving as the Executive Director of the non-profit organization, whose mission is to enrich the social and cultural awareness of children, youth, and the community through arts, wellness, and education since 2016. A dynamic community leader, Drew has an unbridled passion for the arts and has dedicated his life to working and mentoring in the community through arts education and wellness. Bringing over 30 years of Human Services experience working with youth and advocating for the welfare of children and young adults, Drew joined the Board of Directors for the Ulster Community College Foundation in March 2020, serving through 2021.
A true philomath, Drew has enhanced his degrees in human services and youth counseling with professional development at Stanford and Harvard Universities.
He founded Energy Dance Company, winning national and international awards and recognition for over 25 years and DXF®, a high-energy community-based fitness program. Mr. Andrews was appointed as the Common Council member, Ward 7 Alderman, for the City of Kingston and also sits on the board of UPAC/Bardavon Theater. Drew was recognized by the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc., as an honoree at the annual Gala, Community Impact In Motion, for his contributions as a dynamic individual leading his organization, building centers of opportunity for our community through philanthropy, public service, community engagement, and the arts.
Drew has shared, “At CCE, we envision every child having access to affordable, equitable, inclusive, and innovative programs, where students are mentored from early childhood through high school and beyond, building a legacy of confidence, integrity, intelligence, and creativity, developing their own voice and propelling them into the future leaders of tomorrow. I am eager to bring this focus and energy to my role as a Trustee at SUNY Ulster.”
SUNY Ulster alumnus Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq., specializes in Real Estate Law with an office in Kingston, New York. He represents clients throughout the Hudson Valley, primarily with the purchase and sale of residential and commercial real estate. Along with individual and corporate clients, Robert represents various local and national lenders in the mortgage closing process. He is also a licensed New York State Title Insurance Agent and is the owner and president of the Title Service Company, which is a registered agent with nationally known underwriter Westcor Land Title Insurance Company. He is admitted to practice law in both the states of New York and Connecticut.
A graduate of John A. Coleman High School, he received his Associate in Science in Business Administration from SUNY Ulster in 1998 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the State University of New York at New Paltz, and his Juris Doctor from
Western New England University School of Law.
Mr. Jacobsen and his wife Carly, were recipients of the 2019 SUNY Ulster Distinguished Alumni Award! Robert has been serving on the City of Kingston Planning Board for the past 13 years and is a member of the New York State and Ulster County Bar Associations. He has served as a member of the Ulster Community College Foundation Board of Directors since 2019 and is a 2020 SUNY Ulster Alumni Hall of Fame inductee.
Mr. Jacobsen believes in the value of a community college education, “…SUNY Ulster is just the best financial decision one can make at the beginning of their lives. I have seen too many students and parents go into debt for college, and I strongly believe this debt is just crushing people before they can even get a start in life. Financial freedom in life is very important to allow people to continue to grow and take risks to better themselves either personally, financially, or creatively in both their personal and professional lives. It gives you the freedom to live and do what you want in life. I am honored to serve as a Trustee at SUNY Ulster.”
SUNY Ulster President, Alison Buckley, Ed.D., stated, “We are fortunate to have the support from Governor Kathy Hochul, Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado, and Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger in endorsing our newest Trustee appointments to serve our SUNY Ulster students and community of learners. Governor Hochuls’ advocacy and support of our Trustees to serve as community stewards to hold the commitment of ensuring access to affordable higher education has been paramount.”
SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees Chair, Deborah Briggs shared, “The SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees looks forward to working with Trustees Andrews and Jacobsen as we focus on the future of SUNY Ulster in our Ulster County community as we serve the needs of our residents.”
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Photo: Bryant “Drew” AndrewsRobert R. Jacobsen, Esq.
February 26, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster is pleased to announce the hiring of Coach Ryan Snair as Baseball Coach. Ryan brings 20 years of coaching experience to Ulster, having spent the last 14 years at SUNY Sullivan as Coordinator of Field House Operations & Equipment and then Head Men’s Baseball Coach.
Ryan graduated from SUNY Ulster in 1996. A pitcher for Ulster’s baseball team while studying here, he was awarded 1st Team All-Region and 1st Team All-American Honors. He then attended Hofstra University on a full athletic scholarship and St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He then returned to SUNY Ulster, where he started his coaching career as Assistant Men’s Baseball Coach. While at SUNY Ulster, Snair coached the team to the College World Series in 2004.
“Ryan’s coaching experience and ability are significant, and we are excited about the future of our baseball team with him at the helm,” said SUNY Ulster President, Alison Buckley, Ed. D. “His record, both at SUNY Ulster and SUNY Sullivan is exceptional, and we look forward to his leadership.”
“I am happy and honored to return to SUNY Ulster as Baseball Coach and am excited about the opportunity to foster the growth of the student-athletes here both on the field and in their academic pursuits,” stated Ryan Snair.
SUNY Ulster Introduces From Farms to Incubators a Presentation
on Women Driving the AgTech Boom by Award-Winning Journalist Amy Wu
February 22, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster is excited to welcome Amy Wu, award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and the founder of From Farms to Incubators. This multimedia platform tells the stories of women founders in AgTech. This event takes place on March 7, 2024, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the College Lounge, Vanderlyn Hall of the Stone Ridge Campus, and is free and open to the public.
The presentation includes a documentary screened at SXSW and information from a newly published book of nearly 30 portraits of women entrepreneurs in the fast-growing sector of AgTech, each of whom presents inspirational solutions to the many growing issues affecting our food production.
Ms. Wu will discuss how women are driving the current AgTech boom and why the initiative is crucial to the future of farming and climate change. While sharing more about the evolution of From Farms to Incubators, Ms. Wu will discuss how she overcame skepticism, outdated traditions, and adversity to achieve her calling as a journalist and entrepreneur.
The talk follows with a film screening and book reading/signing. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. For more information, contact Jennifer Guiher at guiherj@sunyulster.edu.
Visiting Artist James E. Ransome Exhibition at the SUNY Ulster Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery February 23 – March 8
February 21, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – The SUNY Ulster Visiting Artist Series brings the work of local artist James E. Ransome to the Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery on the Stone Ridge campus from February 23 to March 8. An opening reception will be held on Friday, February 23, from 4 – 6 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
The exhibit, A View from My Window, is a retrospective spanning Ransome’s 34-year career as an acclaimed illustrator of more than 70 notable and award-winning children’s books. With mediums ranging from oils, acrylics, watercolors, and collages, his work has taken on many forms, from books and posters to paintings and murals.
James E. Ransome earned his BFA from Pratt Institute and a Master’s from Lesley University in Massachusetts. He has been honored with the 2023 Children’s Literature Legacy Award by the American Library Association, the Coretta Scott King Award, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, ALA Notables, a Jane Addams Award, and NAACP Image Award.
James E. Ransome’s journey in art began in the rural South, devoid of direct exposure to art galleries or museums, yet fueled by a deep-seated passion for storytelling and illustration. His career is a testament to the power of perseverance and talent.
The Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery at SUNY Ulster serves as a center for creative activity at the College and within the community. It also functions as an environment for teaching, performing, and exhibiting.
