President Wheeler’s Oct. 2024 Report to Faculty

October 1, 2024 gallaghk@newpaltz.edu

Dear Colleagues:

As we move forward in the Fall 2024 semester, I hope you remain enthusiastic and resilient in the work you are doing to support our dual pillars of academic excellence and success and value to the SUNY New Paltz community locally, across our state and beyond. Here are highlights relating to our 2024-25 priorities (fiscal sustainability, campus climate and culture and strategic planning).

New Paltz Rises in U.S. News Rankings
SUNY New Paltz moved up to No. 6 on the list of the best public universities in the Northeast and placed on lists for best value, social mobility and best colleges for veterans in the 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges Rankings.

Among all public and private colleges in the Northeast, New Paltz ranked No. 19, up from No. 24 last year. While some question the value of these rankings and their methodology, they do demonstrate external recognition that SUNY New Paltz continues to be recognized for academic excellence and innovation in a smaller package.

The University’s strong showing on this year’s lists includes placement at No. 16 in Top Performers on Social Mobility and No. 56 in Best Value Schools. These recognitions are especially important at a public university like New Paltz, where the educational mission is rooted in helping students and families advance up the socioeconomic ladder.

New Paltz also landed at No. 7 among Northeast institutions on the Best Colleges for Veterans list, a testament to the University’s burgeoning reputation as a leader in serving military-affiliated students and families since the establishment of an Office of Veteran & Military Services on campus a decade ago.

Individual programs earned accolades from U.S. News as well: New Paltz appeared on lists for the Best Undergraduate Business Programs, Best Undergraduate Psychology Programs, Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs and Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs.

As VP for Enrollment Management Stella Turk noted in our rankings announcement: “New Paltz continues to earn honors for our student-centered programming and as a leader in educational trends. Innovation and academic excellence continue to be the hallmark of a New Paltz education. With our small-college appeal and breadth of offerings for our students in an ideal location, New Paltz will continue to be the choice university for Northeast students and beyond.”

Strategic Planning Kickoff
The University has successfully hired CampusWorks to support the campus community in developing our strategic plan during the 2024-25 academic year. The following individuals have agreed to serve as the Strategic Planning Coordinating Leadership Team/Tri-Chairs: Shala Mills, Associate Provost for Academic Planning & Learning Innovation and Dean of Graduate, Professional & Interdisciplinary Studies, John Reina, Assistant Vice President for Informational Technology Services and Chief Information Officer, and Shelly Wright, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Communication. Laurel M. Garrick Duhaney will also support the planning process, given her role and experience with planning and assessment. Please save the date for a Strategic Planning Kick-Off event on Wednesday, Oct. 9. There will be an in-person and virtual option to participate. Watch for more details in the coming days about the kickoff event and an open call for ways to serve during the year-long process.

Celebrating Our Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) Initiative
SUNY New Paltz students, campus leaders and state and local officials gathered on Sept. 25 to highlight the benefits and expansion of the Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) Program on campus. ACE is a transformative four-year model that has been widely demonstrated to increase college student completion rates and narrow opportunity gaps among Pell-eligible students through wraparound resources such as funding for textbooks, groceries, and transportation and comprehensive advising and career development activities. New Paltz is one of 25 SUNY campuses that opted into the SUNY ASAP|ACE Program. Already, 185 students have joined the program since it launched on our campus in spring 2024. The ACE program fits in so well with the two pillars of our mission: the academic success of our students and being a critical value to the state of New York. Thanks to Vice President Stella Turk and Program Director Vanessa Netzley for building this program that helps move our students along the pathway to academic completion and into careers and opportunities post-graduation. We are grateful to the Legislature and Governor Hochul for their financial support of this program.

Enrollment Management
The Division of Enrollment Management is preparing for Fall Open House scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2. Open House is on track to be a sizable event with sign-ups up by 75% as compared to last fall. As a key introduction to our University, we will turn prospects into applicants by showcasing our excellence in academic programs, student services, student activities and our spectacular campus. In fall 2023, 70% of prospects became applicants to New Paltz, 37% applied immediately following Fall Open House. Our presence and engagement at these events make a difference. I hope to see you there.

The Enrollment Planning Working Group has been reviewing the results of the fall 2024 admissions cycle. The preliminary enrollment numbers are good. The registration numbers tell a positive story.

First year students – up 3%
Continuing undergraduate students – up 2%
First-time graduate students – up 15%
Continuing graduate students – up 7%
Veteran and Military-affiliated student cohort is up 14%
SMP students – up 6%
EOP up 1%

Enrollment numbers will not be finalized until after the enrollment census period sometime in October.

Admission applications for spring 2025 transfer students are being reviewed. We hope to yield 250 new transfers for the spring. Sign-ups for winter orientation and registration will start on Nov. 1. For more information about new student onboarding, go to my.newpaltz.edu > Faculty Services > Advising Menu > Onboarding Information.

The Office of Admission is preparing for a very busy season. SUNY free application weeks are Oct. 21-Nov. 3. During the past two years, these weeks bring New Paltz 4,000-5,000 additional applications. In addition, New Paltz has been chosen to be one of nine selective and unique SUNY campuses participating in the Top 10% Promise Program. SUNY will directly admit, with no application, 10% of students from select schools who meet the academic preparedness criteria. The goal of this program is to expand college access to New York State’s top performing students and to keep top talent in the state.

The Office of Student Accounts and Records & Registration report that there has been substantial improvement in the numbers of students confirming their enrollment and gaining course access at the start of the semester. On the first day of classes, 570 students had not confirmed enrollment. This marks the lowest number as compared to all the previous fall semesters. This positive change is attributed to process and communication improvements made by Records & Registration, the Office of Student Accounts and continued faculty assistance by directing students to the appropriate resources. As a result, only 41 students were deregistered from classes.

Many thanks to all the faculty who completed the Enrollment Census survey by the deadline. As you are already aware, all faculty are required to complete the survey. Incorrect reporting can have serious financial impacts on our students and a compliance impact on the University. As of this writing, 89% have completed and submitted the survey. This number will surely increase by the time the survey closes.

The New Paltz Office of Veteran & Military Services received funding from a SUNY Office Veteran & Military Affairs for a paid student intern to support the success of our students. This internship is designed to increase enrollment and student engagement. Dereck Mendez, a computer science major, enrolled in the ROTC program will assist with enrollment, outreach and making connections for our military-affiliated students as the new intern.

The Scholars’ Mentorship Program received a generation donation for their ice cream social from Stewarts Shops Corporation. Stewarts has pledged to provide the ingredients and ice cream for “make your own” sundaes on Oct. 23. Many thanks to Daija Russell, Assistant Director of the Scholars’ Mentorship Program, for taking the initiative to make this happen for our students.

The Center for Student Success is offering a four-session coaching series for students. This program will help students manage their time, improve study skills, prepare for exams and develop other important skills. Students who complete the series will receive a $200 textbook stipend. Please refer students to receive this important support and help improve persistence.

New Paltz Joining SUNY Prison Education Program
New Paltz is planning a Prison Education Program at Green Haven Correctional Facility as part of SUNY’s new Prison Education Programming initiative. The campus is working on its application under the direction of Shala Mills, Associate Provost for Academic Planning & Learning Innovation and Dean of Graduate, Professional & Interdisciplinary Studies, to deliver a 2+2 program at Green Haven Correctional facility with SUNY Columbia Greene Community College (CGCC). CGCC already delivers their A.A.S. in individual studies to students at Green Haven. New Paltz hopes to launch a B.S. in sociology there in Fall 2025. If you are interested in learning more or contributing coursework toward the program, please attend the information session hosted by the SUNY Office of Higher Education in Prison on Monday, Oct. 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. More details will be shared soon.

Visiting Senior Fellow and new Executive Director Join Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz
The Center welcomes Kymyona Burk, Ed.D., a widely recognized educational leader and senior policy fellow at the Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd), as Visiting Senior Fellow and Rose Else-Mitchell as the Center’s Executive Director.

Burk will help lead strategic planning and implementation for the Center’s ongoing expansion as a professional learning support resource for PreK-12 educators across the United States. She will also help establish new connections and expand the Center’s network of experts and leaders in literacy policy and practice. You can learn more about Burk here, however, I wish to highlight her proven success as the State Literacy Director (K-12) from 2013-2019 with the Mississippi Department of Education, where improvements in educational and literacy outcomes for students during this time period have come to be known as the “Mississippi Miracle.”

Else-Mitchell’s new role at New Paltz builds on a career of more than 25 years as a mission-driven education executive, including most recently as president of Education Solutions at Scholastic. Else-Mitchell brings expertise in delivering high-quality literacy programs, strategic thinking and professional learning and product development, business-to-business marketing and sales, and learning science to this leadership role.

The Science of Reading Center is founded on the belief that literacy is a human right. Helping more children learn to read has positive effects that ripple across our society, from individual health and employment outcomes to economic growth and productivity at the community and national levels. I am thrilled for New Paltz to deepen its involvement in this important work in collaboration with two committed and nationally recognized education leaders in Kymyona Burk and Rose Else-Mitchell.

The Center houses the Science of Reading Fundamentals microcredential, where more than 9,000 people have enrolled in the first year. The Center was made possible by a $6.37 million private donation from the Ibis Group, the largest philanthropic gift in University history.

Counseling, IDMH Offerings and Bias Reporting During Challenging Times
With global unrest, a presidential election, the approaching one-year anniversary of the Israeli-Hamas conflict and the Jewish High Holy Days (Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 10-11), I wish to make faculty and staff aware of resources available to our students, faculty and staff who may be experiencing academic, emotional or other stressors during this time or experience discrimination. Let me remind everyone that discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, will not be tolerated on our campus or in our community. We will always condemn and take appropriate action against individuals who engage in acts of hatred, bigotry, racism, intolerance and violence. There is no place for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or hate of any kind on our campus.

Psychological First Aid and Crisis Intervention for Faculty and Staff
During this session, faculty and staff will develop an understanding of how incidents of extreme stress impact students and learn skills and strategies for supporting students (and colleagues) in the aftermath of difficult events. Sponsored by the Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH). To learn more, click here.

In-person session: Wednesday Oct. 2, 1 – 3 p.m.
Virtual session: Thursday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. – 12 noon.

From the Psychological Counseling Center, Let’s Talk Drop-In Sessions is a reoccurring event each Wednesday that provides drop-in access for students to brief, one-on-one, informal conversations with licensed Psychological Counseling Center (PCC) clinicians at campus sites outside of the PCC offices. No appointment is necessary; students are seen on a first-come, first served basis. Learn more here.

Available resources for students include our Psychological Counseling Center (845-257-2920) and the OASIS peer-crisis hotline (845-257-4945).

Resources for employees include the Employee Assistance Program (845 257-2886).

Allegations of harassment and discrimination should be reported through our Bias Response Reporting process.

Campus Climate
SUNY System Administration has offered guidance in this area to all SUNY campuses in a detailed fact sheet on campus climate that was shared with New Paltz students, faculty and staff following my State of the University Address on Aug. 23 and again on Thursday, Sept. 26. This includes the requirement that every SUNY faculty and staff member complete Title VI training by Sept. 30, 2024. As of the deadline, 87% or 1,180 employees completed the required training. An additional in-person session was offered today.

For many months, the leadership team has worked collaboratively with campus and SUNY partners to review and upgrade communication about our shared rights and responsibilities related to freedom of expression and free speech on a public university campus and our Title VI responsibilities. Our goal has been to make it easier for members of our community to find and understand clearly defined resources and policies that relate to freedom of expression, free speech, political activity and bias reporting at SUNY New Paltz.

SUNY’s support includes recommendations for how we (and all other SUNY campuses) can use clearer and more consistent language in key policy areas. Campus leadership has now adapted and ratified SUNY’s recommended language into the framework of existing policies here at New Paltz. They cover four topic areas:

The new language does not reflect substantive changes or new regulations – New Paltz has long had policies in place related to these four topics – but rather aims to add clarity for stakeholders and provide greater consistency throughout the SUNY system.

Additionally, these policies were reviewed by academic leaders (vice presidents and deans), and I have asked the vice presidents and deans to provide additional leadership on these topics within their units and to field questions.

These updates have been published to our Free Speech Policies & Resources webpage, which was redesigned this summer to better serve as a single, accessible resource for clear and transparent information.

I thank all students, faculty, staff and campus visitors who take time to review these important policies. Your active participation is vital to our shared effort to promote inclusive civil discourse at SUNY New Paltz in a way that respects the rights of all members of the community.

There are events throughout the year that help build community on our shared commitment to a healthy campus climate, culture and community, consistent with our institutional values. Below are some examples.

Civil Conversations
As part of our ongoing campaign to encourage and support civic discourse on campus, I wish to highlight and commend that this semester, the Honors Program and the Student Association are partnering to bring together the campus community, including students, faculty, and staff, to participate in student-driven civil conversations. The goal is to invite members of our community to sit together, listen, and engage in respectful disagreement. A team of students is generating programming to address polarized communication as we face a contentious election season, global challenges, and campus unrest across the country. The first civil conversation took place in September and functioned as a pilot. The student planning team seeks wider participation for two sessions in October and one session in November following the election. All sessions will be held in the Honors Center. The next civil conversation will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The focus for this session will be on the importance of defining terms as a starting point for engaging in nuanced conversations. This session builds on points that were raised during the pilot conversation. Additional civil conversations will be held on Monday, Oct. 21, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For additional information, reach out to Emily Clayton at claytone1@newpaltz.edu or Pat Sullivan at sullivap@newpaltz.edu.

Provost’s Fund for a Stronger New Paltz
I encourage you to avail yourselves of this resource from the provost to support collaborative projects that enhance the culture and climate on our campus and beyond. Thanks to those who have already submitted creative proposals. To apply or to volunteer to review applications, please visit here.

Sound Your Truth
The fourth Sound Your Truth event will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. on the newly renovated Sojourner Truth Courtyard. This evening of creative sharing and listening is designed by students to amplify underrepresented voices in our campus community. Please see the Eddy website for details and history of Sound Your Truth, which is co-sponsored by many groups and organizations on campus. This year’s theme is Sound Your Truth: Unmuted: Where Creativity Speaks Louder Than Silence.

Professional Development Opportunity/The Manager’s Toolkit
The Manager’s Toolkit is a six-month cohort program designed to support management skill development for new and experienced managers across all levels of the SUNY New Paltz campus community. The program is open to both faculty and staff. The nomination process has been announced in The Digest. Deadline to be considered is Oct. 14. The program starts in late October.

The cohort will be capped at 10 participants with the aim of including diverse representation from across the campus community. The program objectives are to cultivate adaptive management capacity, build a community of support, and provide tools and techniques that align with management best practices. The program includes group sessions as well as one-on-one coaching for participants. Please encourage those with an interest in expanding their management skills to apply.

Campus Climate Survey
As part of a SUNY-wide initiative, we have contracted with Viewfinder® Campus Climate Surveys to administer a SUNY DEI Campus Climate Survey for students and employees from Oct. 21 through Nov. 22. The survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. No personal identifying information will be collected from you. Employees who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing for one of five SUNY New Paltz sweatshirts. Emails will come directly from Viewfinder® Campus Climate Surveys inviting you to participate in the survey. Only with robust participation can we maximize the opportunity to learn and reflect as a community. Please watch for the emails later this month.

Finance and Administration
Fiscal Sustainability: Our shared responsibility to attain a balanced budget by fiscal year 2027-28

Last year we informed the campus community that the University’s fiscal health was in jeopardy and that we had to present a plan to the SUNY Chancellor’s Office that demonstrated our ability to close the budget gap in five years. Working closely with all division leaders, we created a plan to increase revenues related to enrollments along with other revenue-generating activities, while reducing expenditures to meet the goal. The fiscal sustainability plan relies heavily on:

Enrollment (Revenue generation)

The Division of Enrollment Management created a multi-year strategic enrollment plan (SEM plan). The SEM plan includes plans to increase both undergraduate and graduate enrollments.

New Students
The Office of Admission is pulling out all the stops to reach a wider audience of students and encourage them to realize that SUNY New Paltz is an excellent place for them to learn and grow.

New Programs
In partnership with Enrollment Management, the Division of Academic Affairs is creating and launching new programs to attract new populations of students.

Marketing
The success of the SEM plan relies heavily on “getting the word out” to potential students in targeted and efficient ways. The Office of Communication & Marketing has been honing their messaging strategy to ensure we reach potential students early and often.

Retaining returning students
In addition to bringing in new students, we must also ensure the success of the students who are already here. While SUNY New Paltz has enjoyed higher-than-average retention rates for decades, ensuring student success has become increasingly difficult. In the 2023-24 budget, the campus received nearly $1M to invest in student success initiatives, such as mental health support, student internships and food insecurity. The Division of Student Affairs is aggressively rolling out this funding to supplement their programming to keep students happy and healthy while they continue their New Paltz journey. The SUNY New Paltz Foundation continues to raise critical funding to support students financially to ensure that money is not a barrier to their success at New Paltz. Student services such as Student Financial Services, Student Accounts, Records and Registration and Academic Advising provide excellent support to our students as they help them navigate the complex world of higher education.

Expenditure monitoring (and reductions where possible)

Personnel
Salary expense is the largest portion of the campus operating budget. Continuous review of position description and required tasks is an integral part of managing personnel costs. The Office of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion is always available to help departments ensure they have the right scope and salary level for all budgeted lines. The Office of Payroll monitors time records and personnel activity to be sure that paychecks are accurate and timely.

Supplies and Equipment
As members of the SUNY New Paltz community, we all share the responsibility to protect state resources. Whether we are an account signatory or not, our diligence in safeguarding the supplies, equipment and tools used in our daily work activities helps ensure the best use of our fiscal resources.

Sustainability: Utilities and Infrastructure
New Paltz has come a long way in our efforts to make our campus a leader in the SUNY system when it comes to sustainability. Facilities Operations, Design and Construction and the Office of Sustainability continue to chart a path forward to meet the state’s aggressive goals outlined in Executive Order 88. They continually build, renovate and maintain campus buildings with the goal of making them more energy efficient and green.

Controls
As a part of the annual budget process, each department is asked to do an assessment of its needs and request the funds necessary to meet those needs. The goal of the budget process is to distribute campus resources in a manner most consistent with the University’s mission, strategic plan and goals.

Business Affairs, Internal Controls & Procurement will work with each department throughout the year to ensure that resources and expenditures are occurring in general conformity with the budget plan. It is imperative that only authorized personnel be given the ability to spend or encumber account funds.

The fiscal year 2024-25 annual budget load process is now complete. Account managers may now view account allocations (budgets) in BI. All budget holders are encouraged to routinely monitor departmental expenses in the SUNY Business Intelligence (BI) reporting system. Monitoring budgets closely will allow departments to see if they are overspending or if there is an error that needs to be corrected.

It is the responsibility of departmental account managers to carefully monitor all expenditures and not exceed their available allocation. The Division of Administration and Finance will increase its monitoring of account spending relative to allocation, and account managers will be contacted if there are deficits or spending trends that require attention. These communications will include a cc: to the next-level supervisor. If deficits or other concerns remain unresolved, spending from the account will not be allowed to continue, and the VP will be contacted to assist with a plan for resolution. Right-sizing our budget is not an easy task. It will take years to achieve the goal of a balanced budget and it will take effort from each and every one of us.

Parent & Family Weekend
Our annual Parent & Family Weekend is approaching, and the Center for Student Engagement team is preparing to welcome the families of many students on Oct. 5-6. If you are in the area and want to engage with our families, please feel free to join us at informal coffee hour where I am fortunate enough to meet many families myself.

Voter Engagement Week
Our Center for Student Engagement team is hosting Voter Engagement Week from Oct. 7-11. There will be several programs for students to learn about how to request a mail in ballot, a mock poll site experience for first-time voters and a Voter Education Pep Rally in partnership with the Ulster County Board of Elections. This is important work leading up to a presidential election, so please inform your students as to the many Voter Education and pre-election activities occurring on campus. SUNY New Paltz hopes to build on the impressive level of engagement in the 2020 election when “New Paltz was the only SUNY institution to earn a Gold Seal from ALL IN, which is reserved for colleges that achieved a student voter participation rate of at least 70% in the 2020 presidential election.”

Internship Support
The Career Resource Center (CRC) has had a strong start with their internship support for high-impact internships in the non-profit, service, and education sectors. At the start of the Fall 2024 semester, the Career Resource Center has distributed $76,000 to students completing unpaid or low-paid internships and applied learning experiences through the Hudson Valley and New York City Metro area. Our students are representing SUNY New Paltz, thanks to this internship support, at incredible locations such as the United Nations, Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, CIANA (Center for the Advancement and Integration for New Americans). Local sites include Historic Huguenot Street, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and Mental Health America of Dutchess County. Internships are still available, so please contact the CRC at careers@newpaltz.edu for more information.

Alumni Relations
In early September, the Office of Development & Alumni Relations welcomed Janet Rossbach as Director of Alumni Relations to the team. Janet comes to SUNY New Paltz with nearly 25 years of experience stewarding alumni offices and engaging alumni with campus life. Please contact her at rossbacj@newpaltz.edu to schedule an introductory meeting.

On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Office of Alumni Relations looks forward to participating in Parents and Family Weekend, recognizing those incoming students whose parents/family members are SUNY New Paltz alumni. The Generations Pinning Ceremony will also feature remarks by Alumna Miriam Ward ’15, producer on MSNBC’s “The Chris Hayes Show.”

Reunion Weekend 2024 is just a few weeks away! We look forward to seeing everyone at one of our 30+ events happening across campus from Thursday, Oct. 17 – Sunday, Oct. 20. Please go to SUNY New Paltz | Reunion 2024 to check out the schedule. Of particular note, we will be honoring five SUNY New Paltz colleagues at our Heritage Awards Ceremony:

Friend of the Alumni Association Award: Dr. Nancy Campos, Director of the AMP & CSTEP Community (AC^2) Program
Distinguished Alumni Service Award: Niza Cardona ’04g, Director of Student Accounts
Heritage Award: Dr. Devon C. Duhaney, Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning and Acting Associate Dean at the School of Education
Heritage Award: Dr. Laurel M. Garrick Duhaney, Associate Provost for Strategic Planning and Assessment
Heritage Award: Maureen Lohan-Bremer ’86 ‘92g, Director of Student Financial Services

For questions or to participate in any of these events, please email alumni@newpaltz.edu. All are welcome!

Development
Building on the division’s record-setting success in FY24—having raised over $11.3M in private philanthropic support for campus last year—the team has already raised $3.1M this year toward the year’s $7M goal. As always, all of the money raised goes to the SUNY New Paltz Foundation in support of scholarships and programs across campus.

The monies raised since last year will count toward Beyond the Ridge—The Campaign for SUNY New Paltz, our new comprehensive campaign, of which we are in silent phase now. At the start of the semester, the Campaign leadership was announced, and in September, a number of distinguished alumni, faculty-staff, and friends of the University joined them by agreeing to serve on the new Campaign Cabinet. Joining Campaign Co-Chairs Eli B. Basch, Fitzarnaz Drummond ’06, Myra R. Kressner ’76, and Ira Schreck ’74, and Honorary Co-Chairs Everton H. Henriques ’78 ’83g ’22 HON & Jeannie Irvine ’78, Robert Kyncl ’95 ’23 HON & Luz E. Kyncl ’96, Hernan Rincon ’76, and Tamah Wiegand, as members of the Campaign Cabinet, are:

Fahad A. Ahmed ’06
Philip M. Berkowitz ’75
James DeStefano
Barbara J. Esmark ’84
Dr. Gary M. King ’80 ’10 HON
Jeffrey G. Korn ’76
Keisha Parker ’00
Elizabeth S. Perez ’98
Dr. Patricia A. Sullivan

Further details about Beyond the Ridge will be shared with campus as they become available and leading up to a formal Campaign launch anticipated in the next year or more.

Additionally, the Development team continues to travel and meet with alumni and friends, individuals across the country who continue to give back to New Paltz. Beyond visits from these folks to campus, recent travel beyond campus and the NYC metro area has included events and small gatherings in Atlanta, DC, and St. Augustine, with future visits this semester planned to Boston and the Carolinas. If you are planning travel and would like to host an alumni gathering or meet with a donor, please contact development@newpaltz.edu.

Community Engagement
Through a partnership with the City of Kingston and the SUNY New Paltz Foundation, Sojourner Truth: First Step to Freedom was unveiled to the public at Kingston City Hall on September 28, 2024 where it will remain until August 2025. Sculptor Trina Greene’s bronze statue depicts Sojourner Truth in 1826 as she walked to freedom carrying her daughter, Sophia. The statue captures Truth’s escape from enslavement and the beginning of her heroic journey to advocate for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery. After the initial installation in Kingston, Ulster County will host the statue, where it will be integral to 2025 Sojourner Truth Day celebrations. It will then be installed at the Newburgh Free Library. After its tour, the statue will be permanently installed on the SUNY New Paltz campus.

The 10th Women’s Leadership Summit welcomed 50 successful alumnae and women thought leaders to campus on Sept. 25, with about 150 students in attendance. Attorney and mediation specialist Damali Peterman, author of the acclaimed new book Negotiating While Black: Be Who You Are to Get What You Want, and founder and CEO of two successful, award-winning companies —Breakthrough ADR and Damali Law—keynoted the event.

All are welcome to join this fall’s Distinguished Speaker Series lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. to hear from Dr. Gary M. King ’80, ’10 HON, Weatherhead University Professor at Harvard University and Director of the Institute for Quantitative Social Science. His lecture is titled “How American Politics Ensures Electoral Accountability in Congress.” Tickets may be reserved here.

I’ll be happy to take your questions about any of these items or any other topics at the Faculty Senate Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Darrell P. Wheeler
President