Reunion registration now open: College to honor Amber Greene ’03, Onika Jervis ’93 ’05g, and Emeritus Professor William B. Rhoads
SUNY New Paltz alumni will be welcomed back to campus for Alumni Weekend and Reunion, with a variety of activities planned for Oct. 2-4, 2015.
As part of the festivities, the College will present its Heritage and Alumni Awards on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., honoring Amber Greene ’03 (Public Relations), Onika Jervis ’93 ’05g (Biology, Educational Administration), and Emeritus Professor Dr. William B. Rhoads (Art History) during the All-Class Heritage Luncheon.
Both Jervis and Rhoads will be presented with the College’s Heritage Awards, which recognize alumni, faculty and staff whose devotion to the ideals of the College serve as extraordinary examples to the entire New Paltz community. The Distinguished Alumni Service Award, to be presented to Greene, recognizes alumni volunteers who have made exceptional contributions in support of the activities of the SUNY New Paltz Alumni Association.
Greene, policy director in the Office of Public Advocate in New York City, is the SUNY New Paltz Alumni Association outstanding alumni volunteer for 2014-15 for her services as co-chair of the First World alumni-volunteer steering committee, guiding the work of dozens of volunteers to stage a multi-event, weekend-long reunion. She was a featured panelist during the College’s inaugural Women’s Summit and also supported other alumni and campus events during the year.
Jervis, this year’s alumni Heritage recipient, has been a consistent volunteer with the College for over 20 years. She has served as an instrumental chair and organizer of the First World alumni-reunion steering committee on multiple occasions. An active donor focused on cultivating First World participation in the life of the College, Jervis served many years on the Liberal Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, including as chair, and is a member of the Alumni Advisory Council representing the SUNY New Paltz Alumni Association. She has been an active fundraiser for SUNY New Paltz, most recently working to create awareness of the Dr. Margaret Wade-Lewis Memorial Scholarship Endowment. She is employed as associate director of graduate placement and university summer programs at Xavier University in New Orleans, La.
Rhoads, professor emeritus of art history, is this year’s faculty Heritage recipient. He taught from 1970 to 2005, with a focus on American art and architecture. He is the author of “Ulster County, New York: The Architectural History and Guide” (2011), and his knowledge of local architectural history makes him a favorite tour guide for Alumni Weekend & Reunion and Parent & Family Weekend. A loyal supporter of the College for years, he has served on the board of the Friends of the Sojourner Truth Library, delivered The Friends’ Second Annual Dennis O’Keefe Memorial Lecture in 2008, and continues to work with the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art as a gallery speaker and panel moderator. Rhoads also was chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Advisory Board, working to facilitate alumni engagement and to support students and faculty. He earned a bachelor’s degree, M.F.A., and Ph.D. in architectural history at Princeton University.
Registration is now open for the All-Class Heritage Luncheon and the Lantern Ceremony & All-Anniversaries Dinner, the two main events of the weekend held on Saturday, as well as other activities. Reunion offerings also include an Early Arrival Reception, EOP Reception, planetarium show, a college radio station tour, Campus tours, “The Philadelphia Story” theatre production, Dorsky Museum exhibitions, academic activities and Sunday breakfast and hiking at Mohonk Preserve.
Visit the Alumni Weekend & Reunion website (www.newpaltz.edu/alumni/reunion) for the complete schedule and registration information.