Campus Life

By Ashley Brown, LCSW-R

Crisis Counselor at SUNY Ulster

April 7, 2022

For everyone on campus, we are approaching the finish line of the semester. Some are also approaching the culmination of their time at SUNY Ulster, graduating and are venturing further into their “start here, go far” journey.

If we think about marathons, the message tends to be to pace ourselves. Don’t rush, find balance, take water and snack breaks to keep ourselves going and maintain stamina. The same can apply to the course of the semester. The final stretch often requires us to pace ourselves leading up to it to support our highest potential. Here are some tips that many have found helpful to support success and overall wellness:

Routines: plan to go to sleep and wake up at the same times everyday. Be mindful of how much caffeine you are drinking and avoid this and sugar later in the day so you can rest.

Eat well: instead of captain crunch for breakfast, consider something more sustaining such as eggs, oatmeal (being mindful of sugars) keep snacks handy for your day that support brain health and energy (nuts, berries, bananas, yogurt, leafy greens).

Hydrate: water, water, water. Many experts believe that anything other than water is not hydrating. Water is like the WD40 for our skin, muscles, joints etc

Take breaks: stand up, stretch, take a walk, look outside your window, give your eyes and being a break from the computer. Even if you don’t have a lot of time, take a walk to your mailbox, around your house, if you are on campus…walk to the furthest restroom or go talk with someone face to face rather than sending an email. The change of perspective for both body and mind can really make a positive difference.

For any questions or other tips, please feel free to contact me at brownas@sunyulster.edu. Better yet, come on by to my office in Van 128. As always, consult with your doctors about what plans and food best suit you.

SUNY Ulster faculty and staff are here to support you to “start here and go far.” Best of luck on finals and all of your endeavors!

SUNY Ulster Hosts Veterans Day Tribute on Thursday, November 10, 2022

November 7, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will honor veterans on Thursday, November 10 at 10 a.m. in Clinton Hall on the Stone Ridge campus. Hosted by SUNY Ulster’s Student Government and the SUNY Ulster Military Affiliated Club, the event will include speakers, student reflections, and musical performances. This event is free and open to the public.

SUNY Ulster President, Dr. Alison Buckley will provide remarks. Manny Torres, Director of Military-Affiliated students and a student from the SUNY Ulster Student Government will speak. Students will share reflections and thoughts.

In addition, America (My Country Tis of Thee) will be performed by SUNY Ulster students, Hannah Irwin, Penelope Rose, Mark LaBorde, and Daniel Palladino. Danny Boy will be performed by Mark LaBorde.

SUNY Ulster has, for over a decade, been designated as a Top Military-Friendly School and has earned a Gold designation for the College’s commitment to veterans and veteran dependents. Manny Torres, Director of Military-Affiliated students states, “SUNY Ulster veteran students and their dependents benefit from a broad array of College-wide support as they work toward a degree including a Battle Buddy Center on campus which provides a quiet place for veterans and veteran family students to connect and work, and a Military Affiliated Community (MAC) Club.”

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New York Times Bestselling Author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah to Read at SUNY Ulster Stone Ridge Campus Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series

October 25, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Join us on Tuesday, November 8 at 1:15 p.m. in the Quimby Theater for the Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series event with author, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah.

A discussion and interview will be moderated by Dr. Ivan Godfrey, Associate Professor in the Criminal Justice & Human Services department. Adjei-Brenyah will read from some of his works, and participate in a Q&A session with the audience. A book signing will follow and books will be available for sale.

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is the New York Times-bestselling author of Friday Black (Mariner Books, 2018). His debut novel, Chain-Gang All-Stars, is forthcoming in 2023 with Penguin Random House.

Adjei-Brenyah’s books are described by award-winning author, George Saunders as “a wonder: strange, crazed, urgent and funny, yet classical.” And, BuzzFeed writes,

“Reading Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is like being shaken awake. Adjei-Brenyah skewers the ways we brush past racism and injustice, making the absurdity of the rhetoric around both impossible to ignore.” 

Adjei-Brenyah was selected by Colson Whitehead as one of the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35” honorees, the winner of the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award, and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Award for Best First Book and the Aspen Words Literary Prize. His work has appeared or is forthcoming from numerous publications, including the New York Times Book Review, Esquire, Literary Hub, the Paris Review, Guernica, and Longreads.

The SUNY Ulster Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series is a special program sponsored by The Ulster Community College Foundation, begun in 1998, that brings renowned writers to campus every fall. This is a truly unique opportunity for SUNY Ulster students and community members to hear award winning authors read from their work.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Register Now.

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An interactive first responder training system that uses virtual reality to simulate situations in which students can practice de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques was just launched at SUNY Ulster. 

The simulator allows students to experience real-life police and mental health situations, making them better prepared for their careers. The equipment is programmed for a wide variety of conditions in which students can gain experience in de-escalating potentially violent situations, crisis and mental illness interventions, communication-building, emergency operations, suicidal persons, ambushes, and more. 

As the country and our region are calling on more thoughtful police and mental health practices, this simulator will provide much-needed practice for students, giving them experience even before beginning their careers.

The Criminal Justice fund in Memory of William J. and Elizabeth R. Weishaupt, Sr. was founded in March of 2022 at Ulster Community College Foundation. The Weishaupts placed great emphasis on education and believed in the availability of higher education to our local community. The Weishaupt’s four sons chose to go into public service in law enforcement on both local and federal levels so the desire to use the funds towards excellence in Police Academy training was of interest to them. 

The virtual reality simulator is installed and newly in use at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster on Mary’s St. with the goal it provides life-altering positive outcomes for our students and community members by elevating the public perception of and confidence in our law enforcement and mental health professionals.

ALISON BUCKLEY, ED.D. NAMED SUNY ULSTER PRESIDENT

The SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees has named Alison Buckley, Ed.D. as the College’s seventh president, according to Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alan Lomita.  The announcement follows confirmation by the State University of New York Board of Trustees at its monthly meeting held today.  Buckley will assume the helm of the 59 year-old college after Dr. Alan P. Roberts retires at the end of July after seven years as president. During Roberts’ tenure, he established the President’s Challenge Scholarship program with the College’s Foundation, and due to the many contributions of faculty and staff, SUNY Ulster was named the #1 Community College in New York State for two consecutive years in a row (2020 and 2021) by BestColleges.com.

Buckley is currently Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at Connecticut State Community Colleges in New Britain, CT. In this role, she is responsible for establishing the strategic enrollment management direction for the state’s community colleges and also leads the reform efforts for student affairs to ensure all community college students, regardless of location, have the support and resources needed to be successful.  She previously served as Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services at Howard Community College in Columbia, MD. During her tenure, Howard was consistently recognized for best practices in the field of enrollment management and had the strongest enrollment among Maryland’s community colleges.

Dr. Buckley earned a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership Studies from Northeastern University in Boston, MA; a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park in College Park, MD; a Master of Philosophy in Women’s Studies from the University of Dublin, Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland; a Master of Arts in History and a postgraduate certificate in museum studies from the University of Delaware in Newark, DE; and a Bachelor of Arts in Classics and History from Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA.

Chair of the Presidential Search Committee and SUNY Ulster Vice Chair, Deborah Briggs says, “Dr. Buckley brings a focus on student success and a track record in enrollment management, with over 20 years of experience in both college and university settings in executive leadership, enrollment management, marketing, recruitment, and program and budget management, which is vital as we enter the next chapter of SUNY Ulster’s commitment to serving students and the community.”

“Dr. Buckley’s expertise comes at a critically important time in the landscape of community colleges, which are rapidly evolving due to the unprecedented challenges as a result of COVID-19 abound with many opportunities to offer new and traditional programs that provide career, transfer, and economic development opportunities to the region,” said Chairman of the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees, Alan Lomita.

“Dr. Buckley has incredible leadership qualities and an unwavering belief in the importance of community colleges and how they can propel students to further educational opportunities and successful careers,” said Interim Chancellor Stanley. “We trust Dr. Buckley will apply her knowledge and aptitude to her presidency and strive to push equity and inclusion efforts in all decision-making at SUNY Ulster. Many thanks to SUNY Ulster’s Board of Trustees and the search committee for bringing forth such a stellar candidate and to President Alan Roberts for his dedicated service to the SUNY Ulster community since 2015.”

Incoming President Dr. Buckley said, “Community colleges are well-positioned to set students on a trajectory for higher education, and to pursue their goals and that is why I am excited to join SUNY Ulster as their next president. I share the goals of the SUNY Ulster community to provide a safe and welcoming academic experience and will focus on ensuring students enroll and stay on track to get their college education. I look forward to working with the campus’s faculty and staff to create educational opportunities for our students and will look to mitigate any barriers in their path. My thanks to the SUNY Board of Trustees, Chancellor Stanley, and the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees for this opportunity.”

Lomita said the selection of Buckley concluded a six-month search process conducted by a search committee comprised of the college’s students, staff, faculty, community leaders, and board members, through the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), led by Julie Golder, J.D., Vice President of Search Services. The committee recommended four finalists who visited the college in April through a series of in-person and virtual sessions.  The college’s board of Trustees considered feedback from these sessions when making the final selection, Lomita said.

“On behalf of the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees, I commend the College community for their participation in the presidential forums.  All feedback was reviewed and greatly valued as part of the process,” Lomita said.  Deborah Briggs, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee and Vice Chair of the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees, said, “The search committee did an outstanding job of understanding the level of leadership the college needs and selecting appropriate candidates to consider further.  They set high standards, asked insightful questions, and worked collaboratively to enrich the process.  I’m very grateful for everyone’s time, dedication, and commitment to SUNY Ulster.”

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April 26, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Students from the Fine Art/Visual Art and Fashion Design programs of SUNY Ulster exhibit their work in the Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery and College Lounge. The opening reception is on May 6 from 4 to 7 pm. Attendees can come at 4 pm to celebrate with the Fine Art students in the Gallery and then take a short walk down the hall to see the Fashion Design work in the College Lounge at 5 pm.

Fine Art students participating in this exhibit include Meleah Danner, Samuel Goldberg, Angela Mayer, Margaret Priest, Francis Sargenti, Gregory Renner, Colin Secore, Olivia Schmidt, Megan Sorbellini, Darryl Underwood, Lorelei Siegel, and Kylie Williams.  They will be exhibiting work in a variety of media.

The Fashion Design exhibit will showcase the work of first and second-year students. This exhibition is the final presentation of second-year students whose garments will be worn on live models and mannequins. Their portfolios of apparel illustrations and computer-aided design will also be on display. Work from first-year students will include blouse and skirt outfits. Second-year students include M.E. Baker, Cali Kircher, Sierra Madison, and Ariel Pazer. First-year students include Brooke-Lynn Caso, Sarah Connolly, Mikyla Hough, Vera Hrab, Sophie McCarthy, Stephanie McClure, Janyia McNabb, Monserrat Medina, Deja Squire, and Anna Thomas.

The Fine Arts/Visual Arts and Fashion Design programs are two-year foundation programs that prepare students for both transfer to a four-year college as a junior or entry into the job market. While at SUNY Ulster, students will have the opportunity to connect with area artists and art organizations through internships, an active Fine Arts Club, community exhibition opportunities, and the College’s thriving teaching gallery.

Graduates of SUNY Ulster’s art programs have consistently transferred to some of the best art colleges in the nation including Pratt Institute, SVA, SUNY New Paltz, Fashion Institute of Technology, Savannah College of Art & Design, Otis School of Design, and Marist College.

For more information on this exhibit or art programs at SUNY Ulster, contact Chris Seubert at seubertc@sunyulster.edu or Kristin Flynn at flynnk@sunyulster.edu.

COVID screeners will be on-site to conduct a brief health screening and issue wristbands for all visitors.  Additionally, SUNY Ulster has moved to a masks-optional policy for all vaccinated employees, staff, and visitors. Visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination at check-in. Those without proof of vaccination will be required to wear a mask while indoors.  Face masks are still encouraged to be worn in any setting where social distancing of three feet cannot be maintained.  SUNY Ulster fully supports all members of our community who wish to continue wearing masks to protect themselves, dependents at home, or for various reasons.

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