SUNY Ulster News Blog

SUNY Ulster Names Alumnus Ryan Snair as Athletic Director

November 26, 2024 by Dina Pearlman

November 22, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster is pleased to announce the hiring of Ryan Snair as Athletic Director. Ryan brings 20 years of administration and coaching experience to the position.

Ryan returned to Ulster early in 2024 as baseball coach, having spent the previous 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.

“We are pleased to have SUNY Ulster alumnus and former student-athlete Ryan Snair named as our Athletic Director as he brings his leadership and experience to assist in positioning SUNY Ulster Athletics as we continue our momentum supporting our student-athletes,” stated President Alison Buckley, Ed.D.

“I am happy and honored to be hired as the new Athletic Director at SUNY Ulster. I’m excited to lead the department and help get great coaches hired so we can field competitive teams in all our sports.”

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The SUNY Ulster Music Department Presents the 2024 Fall Concert Series December 3 and 5, 2024

November 21, 2024 by Dina Pearlman

November 21, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will host its second and third concerts of our annual fall concert series beginning Tuesday, December 3, with the College/Community Band performance. On Thursday, December 5 the College Chorus, African Music Ensemble, and Best Performances of the Convocation Series will perform.

SUNY Ulster’s ensemble members consist of SUNY Ulster students, faculty, and staff members, area high school students, community members, and area music educators. Both concerts will be held in Quimby Theater in Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge Campus beginning at 7:30 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the public. Donations are greatly appreciated.

The December 3 College/Community Band concert is co-directed by Victor Izzo and Carla Newsome and will include, but not limited to, the musical selections Be Thou My Vision, Eagle Squadron, Sailing with Whales, and On That Night All Was Silent, conducted by guest conductor Megan Champlain.

The Fall 2024 Concert Series concludes on December 5 with a concert featuring the College Chorus, directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt. Selections will include Hallelujah, Amen, Scarborough Fair, Deep River, and Waltz of the Flowers. The African Music Ensemble, directed by Paul Chambers will be performing traditional works from Ghana and Guinea. The evening concludes with the best performances of the semester chosen from the Music Department’s “Wednesdays@1:00” Live Music Convocation Series.

For more information, contact Janet Gehres at gehresj@sunyulster.edu.

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SUNY Ulster Holds Instant Admissions Week December 2-6

November 18, 2024 by Dina Pearlman

A Quick and Easy Way to Go From Application to Accepted & Enrolled on the Spot

November 18, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster is holding an Instant Admissions Week from December 2 through December 6 from 10 am to 4 pm to provide the community with a convenient way to complete all the admissions steps needed for enrollment in just one day. For anyone interested in attending SUNY Ulster in Spring 2025 or next Fall 2025, this is a good opportunity to benefit from the hands-on experience of admissions representatives and others who can answer questions.

Attendees 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 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 annually to entering, continuing, and transferring students.

Reservations for an Instant Admissions appointment are preferred but not required. Visit https://delivr.com/2sydc to register.

For more information, contact the Enrollment & Success Center at esc@sunyulster.edu or 845-687-5022.

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SUNY Ulster Fine Art/Visual Art Students Exhibition at Stone Ridge Library Beginning November 4

November 4, 2024 by Dina Pearlman

November 4, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster Fine Art/Visual Art students will showcase artwork from Drawing & Composition, 2-Dimensional Design, Advanced Studio, Printmaking, Watercolor, Photography, Intro to Design Foundation, and Painting from November 4 to December 30, 2024 at the Stone Ridge Library on Main St. in Stone Ridge. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, November 9 from 1 – 3 p.m.

The Fine Art/Visual Art program at SUNY Ulster is a two-year, foundation-based program that prepares students for transfer to complete their four-year degrees at some of the top art schools or to begin their careers.

The students participating in the exhibition are Jon Adair, Dakota Balding, German Barrera, Juneau Beaupre, Lily Bednarz,, Anthony Boughton, Angel Brown, Elizabeth Buley, Bryce Casamento, Lyla Casamento, Lily Comerford, Tessa Delisio, Fiona DiBella, Clara Dietrich, Maya Farhat, Gina Garofolo, Liam Griffin, Shelby Hoffstatter, Mackenzie Mason, Cat Morgiewicz, Hailey Murphy, Skylar Naughton, Hunter Nelson, Gabriella Sorbara, Soledad Salazar, Zara Scanlan, Kaley Slader, Maggie Stone, and David Santillo.

For more information contact Chris Seubert at seubertc@sunyulster.edu.

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Dr. Chuck Ver Straeten lecture: Earth’s Oldest Known Fossil Forests, Catskill Mountains, November 12

November 1, 2024 by Dina Pearlman

press release image of Dr. Chuck Ver Straeten with fossils

SUNY Ulster Presents Dr. Chuck Ver Straeten as the Fall 2024 John Burroughs Natural Science Lecturer on Tuesday, November 12 at 7 p.m.

October 29, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will host a lecture on Earth’s Oldest Known Fossil Forests, Catskill Mountains by Dr. Chuck Ver Straeten on Tuesday, November 12 at 7 p.m. in Burroughs Hall 120 on the Stone Ridge campus.

Dr. Ver Straeten, the Curator of Sedimentary Rocks for the New York State Museum will talk about the 2018 discovery of the world’s oldest known fossil forest in Cairo, at the base of an abandoned quarry. The discovery of this 385-million-year-old forest is helping scientists understand the transition of Earth to a forested planet.

Involved with the Cairo, NY fossil forest research team, Dr. Ver Straeten focuses on Devonian Period sedimentation and stratigraphy, which includes sea-level history, mountain building, and the preservation of volcanic ash layers in shallow seas and lakes through time.

The John Burroughs Natural Science Lecture Series is named in honor of renowned local naturalist John Burroughs (1837-1921) and is sponsored by the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Department. The Series seeks to periodically bring speakers to the SUNY Ulster campus to offer free lectures to the academic community and the general public on topics of interest in the natural sciences.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, email Steve Schimmrich at schimmrs@sunyulster.edu.

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New York Times Editors’ Choice Author Akil Kumarasamy Selected as Reuner Writer Series Guest at SUNY Ulster on November 12

October 28, 2024 by Dina Pearlman

October 28, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster presents author Akil Kumarasamy as the Fall 2024 Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Writer Series author on Tuesday, November 12 at 10:15 am in the College Lounge, Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge campus. The author will read from her works and participate in a Questions & Answer session moderated by Elia Stuhr, Assistant Professor of English at SUNY Ulster.

Akil Kumarasamy is the author of the collection Half Gods, and most recently, the author of the debut novel Meet Us By The Roaring Sea, which was shortlisted for the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize and Lambda Literary Award, and selected a s New York times Editors’ Choice.

Her work has appeared in Harper’s Magazine, The Atlantic, American Short Fiction, BOMB, among others. She has received fellowships from the University of East Anglia, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Yaddo, Callie’s Berlin, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. She is an assistant professor in the Rutgers University-Newark MFA program and a 2024-25 fellow at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute.

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. For more information, email Kari Mack at mackk@sunyulster.edu.

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SUNY Ulster Invites the Community to Attend November & December Info Sessions

October 24, 2024 by Dina Pearlman

October 24, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster invites all community members who are interested in earning a college degree or career training to attend one or more of our November & December Info Sessions.

These Info Sessions are a great way to learn about the many programs being offered at the college, learn about financial aid and scholarships, tour the campus, and meet faculty and staff. Upcoming events include:

General Admissions Info Sessions: Wednesday, November 6 & Wednesday, December 4 at 4 p.m.
Veterinary Technology: Tuesday, November 12 at 4 p.m.

Discover SUNY Ulster Days are presented by both faculty and admissions representatives. Each one runs from 4-6 p.m.

Criminal Justice & Human Services: Thursday, November 7
Computer Science & Network Administration: Tuesday, November 12
Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing: Wednesday, November 13
Math & Sciences: Thursday, November 14
Environmental Studies & Biology: Wednesday, November 20

Campus Tour Tuesdays: Scheduled on select Tuesdays at 3 p.m.

All info sessions require attendees to sign up. For more information or if you have questions, please email the Enrollment & Success Center or call (845) 687-5022.

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President Alison Buckley, Ed.D. of SUNY Ulster Chosen for the Aspen Institute’s Presidents Fellowship

October 22, 2024 by Dina Pearlman

One of 25 Community College Leaders Selected for a Fellowship Focused on Improving Access, Completion, and Post-Grad Success for Students

October 22, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – Today, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) announced that Alison Buckley, Ed.D., President at SUNY Ulster, is one of 25 innovative leaders selected from across the country to participate in the second cohort of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. The fellows will engage in a unique year-long professional development experience that will help them refine and enact a reform agenda to help more of their students succeed both during and after college.

“Community colleges educate millions of diverse students every year who are relying on them to deliver the education and credentials they need for a fulfilling life and career,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “I am delighted that these 25 accomplished presidents have committed to strengthening their institutions’ strategies to ensure that more students achieve those aims. “

Through the year-long program, fellows will work with highly accomplished community college presidents, Aspen leaders, and each other to analyze their college’s outcomes and develop concrete plans inspired by field-leading practices. They will engage in a curriculum that will include exemplars from the field, data reports on available good jobs and student outcomes in completion and transfer, and qualitative reports about how well their current practices are aligned to what research reveals has led other colleges to high and equitable levels of student success.

This second cohort of Aspen Presidents Fellows reflects our country’s diverse talent: 52 percent are women and 44 percent are people of color. They join a network of 375 fellowship alumni, 176 of whom are community college presidents today. Aspen connects and supports this growing network of community college reform leaders with opportunities for targeted professional development, research briefings, and convenings at national conferences.

“I am honored to represent SUNY Ulster as I work with 25 community college Presidents across the United States in the ASPEN Institute’s Presidents Fellowship Program this year,” said SUNY Ulster President, Alison Buckley, Ed.D. “During my career, I have championed the imperative agenda to ensure that every community college student has the resources needed to be successful. Participating in ASPEN’s program will support SUNY Ulster’s commitment to college completion and the long-term economic success of our graduates. Community college graduates are more likely to be fully employed in jobs with a family-sustaining wage. SUNY Ulster is well-positioned to continue as a key driver of economic mobility as we educate the individual and elevate the community.”

“The SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees congratulates President Alison Buckley on her appointment to the ASPEN Presidents Fellowship and applaud her steadfast commitment to student success, completion, and economic mobility. We know Dr. Buckley’s participation in this program will benefit our students and reverberate throughout our entire academic community, positively impacting individuals accessing higher education at SUNY Ulster,” added SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees Chair, Deborah Briggs.

The Presidents Fellowship is made possible with philanthropic support from JPMorgan Chase through the firm’s New Skills at Work initiative, which aims to prepare young people for the future of work and meet the growing demand for skilled workers, and JPMorgan Chase’s $30 billion commitment to advancing racial equity and driving an inclusive economy.

Bios and photos of the Aspen Presidents Fellows are available on the Aspen Institute Website .

For more information, contact Jenn Zell and Kristin O’Keefe

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SUNY Ulster is a two-year college of the State University of New York. Offering more than 60 programs that prepare students for professional excellence, SUNY Ulster is known for its commitment to academic rigor, student support, and an engaging community. Ulster students graduate prepared to thrive whether transferring to a four-year institution or entering the workforce.

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to strengthen higher education leadership and practice to improve student outcomes—with the ultimate goal of advancing economic mobility and developing talent for the good of all people and society as a whole. For more information on our latest findings, research, and news, visit our website, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners. For more information, visit The Aspen Institute.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $3.7 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average,

JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of customers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Visit the JPMorgan Chase & Co. website for more information.

The SUNY Ulster Music Department Presents the Fall 2024 Showcase Concert

October 1, 2024 by Dina Pearlman

press release with photo of concert and conductor

October 1, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will host its first concert of our annual fall concert series on Wednesday, October 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the Quimby Theater in Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge Campus. The concert will feature the College Chorus, African Music Ensemble, and the College/Community Band. The concert is free and open to the public. Donations are greatly appreciated.

The Showcase Concert is a concert of appetizers, offering a few musical selections by each of our SUNY Ulster music ensembles. The College Chorus is directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt. The ensemble is made up of primarily SUNY Ulster students with a handful of members of the community, staff, and faculty. Enjoy performances of the Star-Spangled Banner, Scarborough Fair, and Festival Sanctus.

The SUNY Ulster African Music Ensemble, directed by Paul Chambers and made up of students along with community, staff, and faculty members will perform Dibon, Kakilambe, and Yamama.

The evening will conclude with the SUNY Ulster College/Community Band with co-directors Victor Izzo and Carla Newsome. This ensemble is made up of SUNY Ulster and SUNY New Paltz college students, community members, advanced high school and middle school students, and music educators from across the Hudson Valley. Enjoy a performance of Festivo, with guest conductor, John Ortner and In Storm and Sunshine, with guest conductor Samuel Newsome. Loch Lomond and Selections from the musical Chicago will round out the evening’s showcase concert.

For more information, contact Janet Gehres at gehresj@sunyulster.edu.

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Learn to Ride a Motorcycle for Free at SUNY Ulster on October 5

September 17, 2024 by Dina Pearlman

September 17, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster invites all community members who are interested in learning to ride a motorcycle to sign up for our free RIDE DAY on October 5th from 2-5 pm. The instruction includes motorcycles, scooters, and 3-wheeled vehicles.

Registration for this free class is on a first-come, first served basis. For those interested but unable to attend, the Motorcycling 101 course is offered at a 50% discount using the code FUN24. The offer lasts through December 1, 2024.

Participants in the free course must:

Bring a valid driver’s license
Wear proper riding gear including over-the ankle boots, long pants, long sleeved shirt, a DOT-approved helmet, and gloves. Helmets and gloves will be provided at the class, if needed.

Registration is necessary. For questions, call (718) 599-1079 x2 or email info@ridemss.com.

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