SUNY New Paltz announces 2024 Heritage and Alumni Award winners
Each year, SUNY New Paltz presents awards during the annual Alumni Reunion to recognize dedicated alumni and faculty.
This fall, honorees will receive their awards at the Heritage and Alumni Awards Ceremony & Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. The dinner is part of the Alumni Reunion schedule of events. Follow this link to learn more.
Read below for more information on the awardees this year.
Heritage Awards – These awards recognize alumni, faculty/staff individuals and couples whose devotion to the ideals of the University serves as an extraordinary example to the entire New Paltz community.
Maureen Lohan-Bremer ’86 ’92g (Photography, Educational Administration) started her career at SUNY New Paltz in financial aid as a work-study student and gained experience in various aspects of the profession before being appointed director to her current role as director of student financial services.
She strongly advocates for students who need resources and support to achieve their goals, with roles as a volunteer with the Scholars’ Mentorship Program and on a statewide committee providing scholarships to students in need.
Bremer also collaborates with colleagues to offer financial literacy opportunities to empower students in navigating financial matters confidently.
Associate Provost for Strategic Planning & Assessment Laurel M. Garrick Duhaney began her SUNY New Paltz academic career nearly 30 years ago. Since then, she has held several administrative appointments with increasing responsibilities before serving in her current role..
Most recently, Garrick Duhaney has served as project manager of New Paltz’s Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential, which aims to improve childhood literacy levels through science-based pedagogical practices.
In addition to her administrative work, Garrick Duhaney has been instrumental in work funded by the U.S. Department of Education and has given numerous regional, national, and international scholarly presentations. She’s served on editorial boards as a reviewer for several scholarly journals and book publications, along with having a body of scholarly work herself.
Acting Associate Dean of Teaching & Learning and Associate Professor Devon C. Duhaney began his career at the University nearly 25 years ago, and he has demonstrated an extraordinary record of dedication to student success.
As a mentor to students, he is known for being approachable, thanks to his willingness to provide guidance and support, both academically and personally. Duhaney’s mentorship extends beyond his courses, as he encourages students to pursue opportunities to further their academic and career goals.
Alumni Professional Achievement Award – This award recognizes alumni who have achieved distinction in a chosen profession or outstanding lifetime achievement.
Dr. Kelly A. Cassano ’86 (Communication Studies) serves as the chief executive officer of the Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice and senior vice president of ambulatory operations for Mount Sinai Health System.
Dr. Cassano also holds the dean for clinical affairs and associate professor position at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her oversight includes ambulatory care delivery, quality, safety and business development. She is board-certified in internal medicine and remains active in her clinical practice.
Christine DeBiase ’90 (Communication Studies) is executive vice president, chief legal officer, and general counsel of Allstate’s Law & Regulation team and serves on its Operating, Risk and Return Committees.
Along with extensive insurance and regulatory experience, DeBiase has a reputation as a champion for advancing equity and creating opportunities for people to share diverse perspectives.
Michael Allen ’98 (Black Studies) is the chief executive officer for Therapeutic Connections, LLC, a licensed Outpatient Mental Health Clinic in Howard County, Maryland. It provides psychiatric assessments, medication management, individual and family therapy, and psychiatric rehabilitation to children, teens, and adults throughout Maryland.
Allen is also the author of “The Strength from Within: Windows to My Soul,” a memoir, and “Windows to Your Soul: An Interactive Workbook,” which provides readers with a template to create their own memoir based on defining moments in their lives.
Yolanda Mims-Johnson ’90 (Psychology) is a healthcare professional and veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard.
Her 25-year nursing career began during her military service and includes diverse clinical skills and experience in medical, surgical, oncology, critical care, emergency, trauma nursing, wound care and case management. She is currently a nurse practitioner in the outpatient pulmonary specialty clinic at the Veterans Health Administration in Wappingers Falls, New York.
Distinguished Alumni Service Award – This award recognizes alumni volunteers who have made exceptional contributions in support of the activities of the SUNY New Paltz Alumni Association.
Virginia Apuzzo ’63 (Adolescence Education: Social Studies) has dedicated her life to serving the LGBTQ+, civil rights, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Most recently, Apuzzo founded and served as president and board member of the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center, Inc. in Kingston, New York. She has received numerous awards for her service from organizations such as the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Hetrick-Martin Institute.
Niza Cardona ’04g (Humanistic-Multicultural Education), director of student accounts, joined the University in 1998 as a financial aid advisor and was quickly promoted to the position of Bursar, overseeing funds. At the University, Cardona is known for prioritizing empathy and respect for others in her daily work.
Friends of the Alumni Association Award – This award recognizes individuals (non-alumni) who have made exceptional contributions in the engagement of alumni in the life of the University.
Nancy Campos is the director of the AMP & CSTEP Community AC ² Program in the School of Science & Engineering at SUNY New Paltz. Since her arrival as director of AC ² seven years ago, she has worked to grow the program by creating lasting partnerships across SUNY New Paltz and beyond to provide students with the academic and career guidance and support they deserve. The program has grown to serve over 125 students each year and continues to see alumni participation increase over the years.
Additionally, Campos extends her STEM education advocacy with roles on several on-campus, regional, and statewide committees and organizations.