Stories of opportunities rising
We believe every individual can make a difference if given the opportunity. Geneseo’s vision recognizes the power of a liberal arts education to create connections and solve problems.
The Philanthropists Next Door: Eddie ’76 and Kim Lee
Eddie Lee '76 and his wife, Kim Binaghi Lee, have a long history of generosity to SUNY Geneseo, but they see their financial support as just one facet of their deep engagement with the College and surrounding community. "Kim and I have the unique and privileged role...
Supporting the Home That Shaped Them
For Sean Hayden '09 and Colleen Byrne Hayden '08, supporting SUNY Geneseo is an opportunity to pay it forward for an institution that still feels like home to them. "When my mom brought me on college tours, she said, 'This is a great school. Let's go see what you...
A World of Good, Inspired by Geneseo
Sarah Early ’93 is as comfortable navigating the complexities of the human mind as she is trekking through the wilds of Zambia on safari. Her career and passions for travel and giving back—shaped by her experiences at SUNY Geneseo—inspire her to make a positive...
Jane Ryan ’74: Paving the Way for Pre-Law Students
Back for her 50th Reunion last June, Jane Aschenbrenner Ryan ’74 and I chatted over coffee on Main Street. She beamed with delight being back amongst friends 50 years later. Our conversation ranged from her Western New York roots to her successful career in law and...
The Enduring Legacy of Dr. Rita K. Gollin
The late Dr. Rita K. Gollin’s legacy at SUNY Geneseo is as multifaceted as her career. Gollin, who passed away in 2022, was a literary scholar and professor when few women were faculty members in higher education. She was one of the nation’s leading scholars on the...
A Passion For Music, Shared
Ask Dave Turner ’72 about a memorable moment from his undergraduate experience at Geneseo, and he’ll tell you about the time a fellow chamber singer came to his rescue during a wardrobe malfunction. "We were at a statewide choral festival, and I discovered a...
David Klein ’85: Enhancing the Public Honors College Experience
Nearly a decade ago, after years of notable success as an executive but finding himself distanced from his alma mater, David Klein '85 was drawn back into Geneseo's orbit. A fraternity brother who served on the Geneseo Foundation Board invited him back to campus for a...
A Commitment to Lifelong Service
In a world filled with choices, Nadine Kadell Sapirman ’90 and Louis Sapirman ’91 remind us that the simple choice of helping others can have profound impact. At Geneseo, Nadine served as a resident assistant and later as a residence hall director and housing manager...
Dr. Goeckel Gifts the Experience Model EU
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Model UN at Geneseo experienced significant growth in members who won awards at conferences at the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Yale, and more. When SUNY Brockport began a Model European Union (EU) Organization and enlisted...
A Strategy of Philanthropy — Diane Wolcott ’75
Diane Wolcott '75, whose passion for teaching blossomed into a distinguished career in education, credits much of her success to SUNY Geneseo. Wolcott earned degrees in BS Ed, MS Ed., and reading from Geneseo, which equipped her for diverse roles from classroom...
The Chemistry of Giving Back: Gerald Rhodes ’74
After Gerald Rhodes ’74, H ’18 received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Geneseo, he entered the doctoral program in chemistry at Indiana University. While meeting his new classmates at a mixer for students in the program before the academic year started, Rhodes...
Robert Muller ’83 Continues a Tradition of Generosity
For Robert Muller ’83, the tradition of generosity he learned as a Geneseo student has translated into a career of service, and a commitment to help Geneseo students for generations to come with a gift through his estate. “I was privileged to study under the...
Global Horizons: How Jordan Daniel’s ’11 International Passion Led to Legacy Gifts
Jordan Daniel first traveled internationally in high school when his Aunt Jacqueline invited him to Italy. She was a professor, and Daniel accompanied her study-abroad students. Then came Spain, Morocco, and South Africa before Daniel started at SUNY Geneseo. “I was...
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Kwame Taylor-Hayford’s ’05 Journey and Vision for Diversity in Advertising
Respected global marketing expert, creative executive, and entrepreneur Kwame Taylor-Hayford ’05 is interested in helping young people of color interested in an advertising career to realize their aspirations. In 2020, Taylor-Hayford endowed the Saturday Morning...
Harmonizing Passion and Philanthropy: David Turner ’72
To some, a degree in geography may not seem the conventional path to a career in private equity, but David Turner ’72 strongly believes it was the right path for him. “The social science background that I gained in geography, urban planning, political science,...
From Geneseo to Global Impact: Amy S. Tolbert ’85
As a Geneseo communication major, Amy S. Tolbert '85 found her place at WGSU and GSTV. She had started her studies to produce in television but left with a different goal. "It was a very foundational place for me to discover my vision," says Tolbert, "and what I...
Ken Rende ’86: Giving Back Through Scholarships and Service to Geneseo’s Next Generation
First-year student Tiranke Diakite ’27 is getting help earning her finance degree from a thankful alum. She is the first recipient of the Rende Family Scholarship, which provides an annual scholarship to a School of Business student. It is one of two endowments Ken...
Leadership Experience Positioned Her for Success
What Thea Fuschino Dalfino ’99 gained from the experience of volunteering for Geneseo First Response (GFR) when she was a student is what motivates her to support the organization financially. “It gives the students an opportunity to be in leadership positions and to...
Si Se Puede: It Can Be Done
Joanna Santos-Smith ’14, MS ’15 and Miguel Baique ’14 have a lot in common. They both hail from the Richmond Hill section of Queens, N.Y., attended SUNY Geneseo through the Access Opportunity Program (AOP), earned doctoral degrees from the University of Rochester, and...
Doing the Right Thing: A Passion for Education
During a mathematics class he took during his freshman year at Geneseo, Tim Richter ’67 noticed a young woman seated in the front row who always had her hand raised and seemed to know all the answers. “I always shook my head, thinking ‘That person knows all the...
A Legacy of Hard Work Fosters Future Success
If there's one thing that people remember about the late Joseph Czop '75 it is that he had a tremendous work ethic. "No matter what, when working at the jobs he had, he was probably the last one there every day because he wanted to make sure all his t's were crossed...
Cherished Connections: Embracing Geneseo through the Years
Perhaps the only thing that exceeds John Gleason’s generous support for SUNY Geneseo is his enthusiasm and affection for his alma mater, which were ignited by the Clark Foundation Scholarship that enabled him to attend the college. “Without that scholarship I couldn’t...
The Geneseo Dream: Moving Humanity Forward
Nate Yohannes ’07 believes in his North Star—principles that guide him forward to help those who are underrepresented or less privileged gain access to impactful opportunities. Technology affects almost everything we do, and Nate believes in its power for the greater...
Finding Common Ground in Living-Learning Communities
Our residence halls help students connect and grow both socially and academically through three types of Living-Learning Communities (LLCs): Inquiry & Discovery, Exploratory and Cohort.
Exploring the Depths of the Ocean from the Geneseo Hillside
Assistant professor of biology Mackenzie Gerringer is immersed in discovering how deep-sea creatures survive and thrive in harsh environments. She has every intention of finding the answers alongside her Geneseo students.
Paving the Pathway: Propelling Bold Futures
When he was 20 years old, Frank Csapo left Hungary in search of his American dream. Today, he’s helped more than 180 Geneseo students find theirs.
Lifelong Teaching, Enduring Generosity
While Ronald Herzman, Distinguished Teaching Professor of English Emeritus, retired from SUNY Geneseo in 2018 after serving on the faculty for nearly half a century it does not mean he is no longer teaching. “I came to the college in 1969, and I’m still teaching even...
Paying It Forward
For Ted Ackroyd ’67, the primary factors for attending SUNY Geneseo were familiarity, the College’s academic reputation, proximity, and affordability. “First of all, my sister is a graduate of Geneseo, so I knew she got a good education there. It was affordable,...
A Lasting Legacy of Dedication
Myrtle A. Merritt’s 70-plus years of service to the College, including 30 years as a faculty member from 1952 to 1982, will not likely be forgotten or erased. Since retiring, the distinguished service professor of health, physical education, and recreation emerita has...
Nurturing Dreams and Cultivating Strong Futures
If you ask associate professor emeritus James Somerville why he and his wife, Arleen, have endowed scholarships at SUNY Geneseo, he will likely quote a line from the musical film "Hello Dolly." "Money is like manure," said James Somerville. "It's not worth a thing...
It’s our responsibility to ensure that our future generations not only persevere but prosper. With your support, we will elevate access to a Geneseo education, create experiences that prepare our students for a rewarding career, and demonstrate the impact our graduates make on the world.