Alumni Archives - Page 3 of 5 - SUNY Ulster News Blog

This week’s #MadeitMonday goes out to Jess Robie

February 13, 2023 by Kate Olivera

Nursing Major

Jess Robie was a Nursing student here at SUNY Ulster before her graduation in 2016. Initially, her attendance at SUNY Ulster was planted in its convenient location, being only two miles away from her home but she soon came to realize the plethora of other advantages to attending SUNY Ulster. According to Robie SUNY Ulster “seemed like a convenient and affordable way for [her] to switch careers”.

Since graduating Robie has worked as a respiratory nurse for Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley and a Chronic Care Manager at Medical Associates of the Hudson Valley, as well as a nurse practitioner at smaller-scale practices. Robie still honors her original goal of being a primary care provider that is versed in both traditional and alternative medicine and is excited to embark on a new journey at Drs. Engel and Lindgren Family Medicine as a general practitioner.

Reflecting on her time at SUNY Ulster Robie remembers being “hunkered down somewhere with friends studying used NCLEX style questions to practice”. Robie also distinctly remembers a few of her professors at SUNY Ulster listing Nancy Decker, Don Terpening, Lisa Schulti, and Ellen Tangeny as her favorites. According to Robie “the nursing faculty have been huge advocates and supporters ” of hers. Many of her classmates have now become co-workers. Of all her nursing education she believes SUNY Ulster “was both the most rigorous and intense” claiming it was “top-notch”. Not only did Robie graduate and get offered a job at the base salary of $50k a year, but she was also able to graduate with zero debt before moving on to achieving her master’s degree in nursing.

Hats off to you Jess Robie, and enjoy the next chapter of your career!

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

January 13, 2023January 9, 2023 by Kate Olivera

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!

January 26, 2023January 9, 2023 by Kate Olivera

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.

This week’s #MadeitMonday goes out to Latoya O’Gere!

December 12, 2022December 12, 2022 by Kate Olivera

Nursing Major

Latoya O’Gere grew up in Jamaica and moved to the United States just before college. Having been a Licensed Practical Nurse before enrolling in SUNY Ulster’s Registered Nursing Program, Latoya always knew she wanted to be a nurse.

“Attending Ulster was the start of my amazing nursing career” -Latoya.

After her graduation in 2008 Latoya moved to Brooklyn where she worked as a registered professional nurse / Medical surgical nurse at Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center.

While deciding where to attend college Latoya heard SUNY Ulster had “an outstanding nursing program“, she explains “the education that I received at SUNY Ulster also shaped my confidence and ability to stay true to who I am as an immigrant from Jamaica”.

Although she has graduated and moved on from SUNY Ulster her legacy continued when her brother and cousin attended and graduated from SUNY Ulster as well. Nowadays you can find Latoya at UnitedHealth Group as a Nurse Executive “providing subject matter expertise specific to nursing operations, clinical variation, and performance improvement for healthcare systems across the United States”.

Latoya fondly looks back on SUNY Ulster fourteen years later saying, “My memory of SUNY Ulster is filled with a love and passion for nursing.”. Although Latoya has not had time to be actively involved in SUNY Ulster events, she welcomes the opportunity and “would love to speak at an event at Ulster to help inspire and motivate students to continue their education”.

SUNY Ulster Alumni Add Innovative New Classes to Art Department Curriculum

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022 by Dina Pearlman

Alumni Arts students pose by their artwork and instruments

June 23, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Curatorial Studies and Music of the World are two new classes being introduced at SUNY Ulster for fall 2022. Taught by arts department alumni Allison Constant ‘09 and Paul Chambers ‘11, both courses provide an introduction to their topics with hands-on experience.

Curatorial Studies address all aspects of curating a contemporary art exhibition using the College’s Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery as the classroom. Local artists together with students will research, discuss, reflect, and analyze information and works of art. Students will participate in artist studio visits, image collection and management, exhibition planning and layout, promotion and social media, and the organization of an exhibiting arts lecture and educational programming for students and community members. Students will also visit local galleries, museums, and art events and engage with the local art community. The culmination of this class will be an exhibition in the Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery.

Allison Constant graduated from SUNY Ulster with an Associate’s degree in Fine Arts/Visual Arts in 2009 and continued her studies at SUNY New Paltz where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in both Painting and Drawing and Photography. She is the owner and founder of ARTBAR Gallery in Kingston where she has curated over 100 exhibitions. Allison loves the challenge of creating exhibits that are visually thoughtful with the viewers’ perspective in mind and is excited to share her skills and experiences as a curator and gallerist in the upcoming Curatorial Studies class.

Music of the World is an introduction to the concepts of ethnomusicology. It encompasses a range of musical styles from nonwestern regions of the world including Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East. An emphasis is placed on learning to perform and listen to various genres that will lead to an understanding of how music reflects influences from culture and society. Traditional instruments will be incorporated into the class as students learn to understand the cultural significance of music and how geography and historical events contribute to musical development.

Paul Chambers graduated from SUNY Ulster in 2011 with an Associate’s degree in Music. He then attained his Bachelor’s degree in music education and Master’s degree in percussion performance from SUNY Fredonia. In addition to his role as an adjunct instructor at SUNY Ulster, he is ensemble director of the championship-winning Arlington High School Marching Band and Winter Percussion Ensemble. He is in demand as a performer throughout the Hudson Valley in a variety of professional orchestras, musical theater organizations, and jazz ensembles, including principal positions with the Woodstock Symphony Orchestra and Woodstock Playhouse.

Other performance highlights include being selected as a member of the International Marimba Orchestra for the 2021 Percussive Arts Society International Convention. He won a position in the inaugural World Percussion Group of 2016, which is an ensemble, conceived to give wide-reaching exposure and experience to the most promising up-and-coming percussionists around the world. He is an avid performer, researcher, and clinician of traditional African music. He studied abroad in Ghana on three separate occasions and, in 2016, was awarded a Fulbright grant to document and study traditional music in South Africa. The resulting research is published in the academic journal, African Music.

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SUNY Ulster Alumni Art Exhibition- Calling All Alumni!

July 29, 2021 by SUNYUlster

All SUNY Ulster alumni are invited to submit work to be included in the 2021 Alumni Exhibition! The Exhibition will run from October 1st – November 14th, 2021. Alumni can submit up to three pieces for consideration. All artwork must be original, and all media are acceptable.

Eligibility:

Open to all SUNY Ulster alumni- not just Art Majors! Works must have been completed after graduation, preferably within the last three years. Artwork may be 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, video-based, or installation/site-specific.

Entry to this exhibition implies agreement on the part of the sender to the conditions set forth in this prospectus. The deadline to submit is August 27th, 2021.

Media/Specifications:

All work accepted for the show must be ready to hang, self-supporting on a pedestal or the floor, prepared for viewing on a monitor, or ready for display in another specified manner.
Three-dimensional or installation work may include up to 2 additional detail images. Artists submitting video artwork must submit a five-minute clip of the video for review. Potential final acceptance of video work will be determined after viewing the full video.

Submission Format:

● All works must be submitted in .jpg format.
● Submissions will be accepted online only; any submitted work that differs from the digital entry guidelines below may be disqualified.
● All image files must be named exactly as follows: Lastname_Firstname_Titleofwork.jpg
● Important: The names of your image files must not contain spaces or special characters ( – / . # etc). Underscores _ are fine.
● Files must be 72 dpi and no more than 600 pixels on its’ largest side.
● Email files to: Gallery@sunyulster.edu Please include “Alumni Exhibition” in your subject line.

Acceptance of Work:

Alumni whose work is selected for the exhibition will be notified by September 3rd, 2021.

Selected artists are requested to provide a current artist statement to accompany exhibited artwork addressing where you are in your career. Additionally, selected artists are requested to provide information for promotion (3 images, contact information, website, and social media contact).

Accepted work may be delivered in person or shipped postage paid by the artist in appropriate packaging for artwork that is reusable upon return shipment.

Presentation:

Wall-mounted work: Not to exceed 5’ in height or width and 60 lbs.
Installations: May not alter the character of gallery walls, ceiling, or floor.
Pedestals will be provided for 3-D work.
All works must be ready to install. 2-D work must be framed under plexiglass or glass (with exception of works on canvas) and wired with the necessary hanging device attached. Unframed works should be shipped with the appropriate hanging equipment and installation instructions.
The juror or Program Coordinator may withhold works that are misrepresented by digital submission or that are not adequately prepared for display.

Delivery/shipment of accepted work:

● Delivery, shipment, and return of artwork are at the expense and responsibility of the artist.
● Accepted work may be delivered in person or shipped postage paid by the artist in appropriate packaging for artwork that is reusable upon return shipment.
● Deliver all accepted works to:
○ SUNY Ulster Community College
℅ Muroff-Kotler Gallery
491 Cottekill Rd, Stone Ridge, NY 12484
● Hand-delivered work should be delivered directly to the Muroff-Kotler Gallery. Delivery times are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m.- 6 p.m.
● Shipped artwork will be returned in the packing that it arrives in and must contain information (prepaid shipping label, etc.) for return.
● All packages must include a pre-paid return address label (if the return address label is not included, the address on the original submission form will be used to return the work.)
● If inappropriate shipping materials are used, damaged work will not be covered by the gallery.
● C.O.D. deliveries will not be accepted.
● Please: No Packing Popcorn

●Pick up/Return of Artwork will be from November 15th – 27th, 2021.

Contact Information: Gallery@sunyulster.edu Please include “Alumni Exhibition” in your subject line.

Meet the Juror

Joan Ffolliott began her formal artistic training at the University of Washington in sculpture and printmaking. She went on to earn her MFA at the Rhode Island School of Design and was the recipient of a Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant.

Joan has exhibited her work in numerous shows around the country and she is included in many private collections. In addition to teaching at RISD, Sonoma State University, and Wheaton College, she is currently a member of the faculty at SUNY Ulster Community College, the Woodstock School of Art, and the owner of Ffolliott Design. She lives and works in Malden-on-Hudson, New York.

SUNY Ulster to Induct Six New Members into Alumni Hall of Fame

September 23, 2020 by SUNYUlster

Collage of members of the Alumni Hall of Fame

SUNY Ulster will host a Virtual Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to recognize six distinguished alumni for their educational and professional success and their community and public service on Thursday, September 24.

Sponsored by the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc., the lecture can be viewed from any location with internet access at 5:30 p.m. through SUNY Ulster’s YouTube Channel and through a Facebook Watch Party.

The new inductees are Dr. Lynn May Brown, ’75, of Fanwood, N.J., Scott Davis, PE, ’91, of Stone Ridge, John A. DeGasperis, Esq., ’16, of Kingston, Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq., ’98, of Kingston, The Honorable Kenneth L. Ronk, Jr., ’06, of Wallkill, and Ambassador Beatrice Wilkinson Welters, ’72, of McLean, VA.

Dr. Lynn May Brown received her Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts: Math and Science from SUNY Ulster in 1975. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Organic Chemistry from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of California. Lynn is currently a Director of Regulatory Affairs of Biologics at Merck & Co., where she is responsible for development programs in oncology, rheumatology, and diabetes therapeutic areas. Prior to her current position at Merck & Co., Dr. Brown held director positions at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Schering-Plough, Inc., and Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Scott A. Davis, a graduate of Onteora High School, received his Associate in Science in Engineering Science from SUNY Ulster in 1991. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Founder of Peak Engineering, a civil/structural engineering firm in Stone Ridge, Mr. Davis has more than 25 years of experience in Structural Design and Analysis, and Civil Engineering. He is active in the Eastern New York Chapter of the Association for Bridge Construction and Design (ABCD), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and serves on the Ulster Community College Foundation Board of Directors.

John A. DeGasperis, a graduate of Kingston High School, received his Associate in Science: Individual Studies from SUNY Ulster. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Albany and his Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School. He currently practices personal injury and medical malpractice law at Basch & Keegan LLP, in Kingston, NY. Before joining Basch & Keegan, Mr. DeGasperis worked as a law clerk at the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and served as a judicial intern in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York. Mr. DeGasperis is a member and treasurer of the Ulster County Bar Association with service as past president, a member of the New York State Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers Academy, the Knights of Columbus and the Ulster Community College Foundation Board of Directors.

Robert R. Jacobsen, a graduate of John A. Coleman High School, received his Associate in Science in Business Administration from SUNY Ulster in 1998. He 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 is admitted to practice law in the states of New York and Connecticut and has been a practicing attorney in the Hudson Valley for the past 15 years. Currently, Robert is a sole practitioner in his office, Robert R. Jacobsen Attorney at Law, specializing in real estate law. Robert also is a New York State licensed title insurance agent and owns The Title Service Company, which is an agent for a leading top national title underwriter Westcor Land Title Insurance Company, providing title insurance services throughout the Hudson Valley. A resident of Kingston, Mr. Jacobsen serves as a Board of Director on the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc.

Kenneth J. Ronk, Jr. earned an Associate in Arts Degree in Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Sciences in 2006 and was elected to the Ulster County Legislature while attending classes at SUNY New Paltz where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 2007. Ken was one of the youngest Ulster County Legislators ever elected when he was sworn into office in 2008 and was elected Majority Leader in 2012. In 2016, Ken was elected as the youngest Chairman of the County Legislature where he spearheaded projects like the Restorative Justice and Community Empowerment Center and advanced local laws to expand and protect human rights at a local level. He continues his legislative leadership duties today as Legislative Minority Leader. His early career was in a family owned business, WCC Tank Technology, where he gained first-hand insights about the struggles of sustaining a small business in the Hudson Valley. He is currently the Director of Downstate Regional Services for New York State Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay. He serves as a volunteer with the Wallkill Ambulance Corps and the Wallkill Fire Department.

Beatrice Wilkinson Welters, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago from May 2010 through November 2012, received an Associate in Arts Degree in Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Sciences from SUNY Ulster in 1972. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts from Manhattanville College, and Master of Arts from the City University of New York. She also received an Honorary Doctorate from Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina in 2009. Mrs. Welters serves as the Founder and Co-Chair of the AnBryce Foundation, a foundation she established with her husband Anthony Welters (LAW ’77), Esq. in 1995 as a way to provide opportunities to underprivileged children. She established Camp Dogwood Summer Academy in 1996. In 1998, the mission of the foundation was further advanced through the creation of the AnBryce Scholars Program at NYU Law School. In 2004, the Welters founded a second organization to serve underserved youth, the Vincent Wilkinson Foundation. She serves on the board of the Brookings Institution and is a member of the Board of Visitors of Colin Powell’s School for Civic and Global Leadership and City College. She and her husband are recipients of the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service in recognition of their long-standing commitment to philanthropy. Mrs. Welters serves on the Perlmutter Cancer Center Board at NYU Langone Medical Center.

For information on the virtual ceremony, contact the President’s Office at (845) 687-5049.

September 23, 2020 – Stone Ridge

Circle K International at SUNY Ulster

February 26, 2020February 24, 2020 by SUNYUlster

We have a new club here at SUNY Ulster, Circle K International.

It started with Key Club.

Key Club is a Kiwanis sponsored program for high schools throughout the world. Each chapter partners with a local Kiwanis Club member.

Through service and volunteering students learn leadership skills, build character, and gain hands on knowledge of what personal and social responsibilities are thereby making a positive impact on their community.

However, fear not…If you missed out on Key Club…there is Circle K International!

Circle K International, also known as CKI, began in 1936 as a Kiwanis Club service project. This provided opportunities, to qualifying young men, to acquire a college education through scholarships and/or employment assistance. Soon after it began, the group began to incorporate community service as a part of their activities. Consequently, this is when colleges began to show more interest in participating.

Today, there are more than 11,000 collegiate members, at over 500 campuses throughout the world and is now open to everyone. CKI SUNY Ulster has 11 active members including president, Shaye Witkus, Vice President, Muhammad Shabbir, Secretary, Elyssa DeWitt, and Treasurer, Stephanie Sensini. It is a student-led club chartered by Kingston Kiwanis Club member and SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Bill Spearman.

Key Players

Mr. Spearman is a 1969 graduate of SUNY Ulster and original participant in Circle K club here at SUNY Ulster. In its heyday, the club held dances, car washes, arranged basketball games between faculty and students, and other forms of fun! They also participated in fundraising and service projects throughout the community. Sadly, the SUNY Ulster Chapter faded away in the early 1970’s.

Now, through the hard work, dedication, and advisement of Meg Sheeley, Coordinator of Campus Life, and Bill Spearman, Circle K International has a Chapter here at SUNY Ulster! It took two long years of paperwork and recruitment but they did it. Meetings began in the Fall of 2019 and the Charter was officially approved on February 13, 2020.

Benefits

CKI SUNY Ulster is intended to broaden student opportunities through personal contact with business and professional leaders throughout their communities. This helps in developing leadership skills, civic responsibility, and fellowship. CKI Treasurer, Stephanie Sensini, seemed very excited to talk about volunteer opportunities, working with others, and her desire to study abroad after graduation. One of the many benefits of CKI is its geographical outreach. The organization is worldwide. Because of her participation in Circle K Stephanie is making connections that can help her achieve her goals for her future.

Local Connections

CKI SUNY Ulster is currently working with Ten Broeck Commons in Lake Katrine. They provide companionship to residents. In addition they also host games and activities as well. They participate in community events like the Rosendale Pickle Fest and the upcoming Kiwanis Kingston Classic. However, the club is still in its early stages. They are branching out into the community to find more service opportunities.

Circle K International meets every Monday at 10:45am in the Dining Hall. Please come and be a part of their fresh start here at SUNY Ulster. If you have any questions Meg Sheeley, sheeleym@sunyulster.edu, is always ready to help you get answers!

Over 50 Years of Nursing at SUNY Ulster

February 12, 2020February 5, 2020 by SUNYUlster

Group photo of nursing students on Campus

Nursing Awards Announcement:

In the Spring of 2018, the SUNY Ulster Nursing Department became the recipients of the PNA Honorary Recognition Award. This award recognizes an agency which has rendered distinguished services or valuable contributions to the nursing profession. This award came as the nursing program celebrated its 50th anniversary of service to the Ulster County community.

Celebrating 50 Years of Service:

Since its inception in 1968, the SUNY Ulster Nursing Program has proven itself time and time again as a leader in the healthcare industry of the Hudson Valley. The SUNY Ulster Nursing Program has had over 1,900 graduates- many of these graduates have gone on to win awards and be nationally recognized. Jess Robie Class of 2016 won the Future Nurse Leader Award 2017, Dana Wright class of 2015 represented the WMC/Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley on the Today Show in May 2018, and Donna Becker class of 2014 received the Registered Nurse of the Year Award at Golden Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in May 2018.

Our History:

The prestigious 50 year history of the SUNY Ulster Nursing Program is one that is filled with the highest standards of academia, ethical standards, and professionalism. The commitment to student success in the Nursing Program began in 1968 under Head Professor Mrs. Florence Irwin (pictured below) and her original staff made up of Miss. Elizabeth Dunn and Miss Joan Cassavant.

From the get-go, the Nursing Program has boasted itself as innovative and forward- thinking in its approaches to the healthcare field. In its earliest pubic recruitment efforts, the program made it known it was “-open to Men or Women, Married or Single, with High School or GED Degrees.” By the Fall of 1968, SUNY Ulster proudly announced in a newspaper headline that “50 Students Enrolled in the UCCC Nursing Program.” This first class was made up of 48 women and 2 men; 24 of those students were the first class to graduate from the program in 1971.

The photo below is of the 2019 graduating class, which was made up of 34 students and had a pass rate of 97.05% for the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination), which means 33 of the 34 students passed on their first try!

From the start, students in the SUNY Ulster Nursing Program have been exposed to and taught about all the different elements that go into making a healthcare facility reach its appropriate standards. Below is a photograph of students from the 1970’s practicing skills such as bed making and other “practical chores”.

Students since 1968 have been gaining experience during clinical settings. Here, a nursing student is exposed to patients of all different ages: infants, children, adults, and the elderly.

SUNY Ulster nurses have always been given the opportunity to practice the skills that make them exceptional: working hands-on with medical equipment, working one-on-one with patients, and working collaboratively at the nursing station.

The SUNY Ulster Nursing Program continues to prepare its students for the workplace, by instilling in them the skills needed to provide safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care to those in the Hudson Valley community.

The opportunities continue to grow for our nursing students!

During the 2019 Spring semester, there was a collaborative project with the Nursing program of Durban University of Technology of South Africa. It was an opportunity for our nursing students (present and alumni) to travel to South Africa to meet with their collaborating partners and observe their teammates in clinical settings.

SUNY Ulsters graduates that decide to continue with their education can now look to our recently forged partnership with Empire State College. This partnership is making it easier for Registered Nurses (R.N.) to secure their Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in the Hudson Valley. It is designed to support students during their transition from an associate’s degree or diploma to a baccalaureate degree, in both an online and on-site format.

Ready, Set, Fashion! Calista’s Journey to Entrepreneurship

June 28, 2019 by Roycroft Michaela

A green sewing machine works on a blue cloth with a spool of red thread sitting next to a pair of scissors

Coauthored by Calista E.

Calista Allen, SUNY Ulster Class of 2018

Another person has started here, to go far in the community with her newly learned skills. Calista chose SUNY Ulster over a well-known private college and says it was “it was one of the best decisions I have ever made” as she knew she wanted to be an involved part of a small business and remain local.

Calista has been designing and sewing for about ten years now. She credits her grandmother for teaching her garment creation basics before her time in college. Saying that her grandmother has been one of her biggest supporters and inspirations.

Most recently, she has turned her long time love of sewing and designing into a blossoming career. Thanks to the real world experience gained from her time in the fashion design program.

SUNY Ulster, Here to Help.

The fashion curriculum at SUNY Ulster has provided continuous opportunities that have shaped Calista’s life, livelihood, and career. The professors on campus encouraged and emboldened Calista to explore her talents and perfect her skills. She enhanced her design methods, portfolio building and interview skills to graduate at her highest potential as a result. Along with the well planned curriculum, the program offered Calista many internship opportunities that were vital to learn the industry first hand. Therefore she interned with brands you might know like: the Robert Tonner Doll Company, Eleven Six Knitwear, and Karina Dresses.

A sewing mannequin stands with a tape measure wrapped around it's top

Calista was proud to say that this school guided and molded her into a networking queen! To clarify she recalls one of the most impactful parts of her educational journey; that SUNY Ulster “provided endless opportunities to meet new people and interact with other local businesses and entrepreneurs in the fashion industry.”

A woman stands in a white dress with leather sleeve and belt accents — The Robin Dress ( made of chiffon with leather details).

After completing her internship with Karina Dresses, the company offered her a full time position. They realized the vigor and passion she had started to hone in on and wanted her skills to stay at their business. Calista has been working there for almost three years as the Social Media Manager and Junior Design Assistant for the brand located in Uptown Kingston. She continues gaining skill and experience while starting ventures of her own in the world of fashion.

Her design aesthetic is athletically inclined clothing with an elegant flair; a mix of sporty and sophistication. In her own words “I enjoy playing with style lines and geometric shapes to create a unique style.” She has used that as a base for a children’s clothing line, entirely of her own making, coming soon.

What’s Next for Calista?

Blue/White Gingham Dress
Cali Bee Kids Spring Line

Calista was happy to express how grateful she is for the fashion program at SUNY Ulster. The way it offered various tools and resources to kickstart her passion, and build strong relationships that continue to support and guide her future to this day. In addition, this driven young entrepreneur has started her own Spring kid’s clothing line. It’s called Cali Bee Kids and is set to launch this August! To check it out for yourself click here: http://bit.ly/CaliBeeKids

When asked what her best memory of her experience here was, she responded: “I don’t have a specific favorite part of earning my degree at SUNY Ulster, because I loved everything!”