Community Leader and Educator Marie C. Regan '77 to Address 2015 SUNY Potsdam Master's Graduates

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Potsdam Town Supervisor Marie C. Regan ’77 will address master’s graduates from the Class of 2015 at her alma mater next week.

POTSDAM, NY (05/07/2015)(readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam will welcome a respected and accomplished alumna to the stage as the keynote speaker for the 2015 Master's Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 16.

Potsdam Town Supervisor Marie C. Regan '77, who is also a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emerita, will address master's graduates from the Class of 2015 at her alma mater next week.

Regan has dedicated her life to education and civic engagement. A native of Massena, N.Y., she attended the University at Albany, where she earned her bachelor's degree in American and British literature in 1957, with minors in speech and drama. She later went on to receive her Master of Arts degree in English from SUNY Potsdam in 1977. Regan also has a permanent secondary-level English certification and taught at Massena Central High School.

Regan was a member of the faculty at SUNY Canton for more than 25 years, where she was a professor of English and the humanities and taught numerous writing and literature courses. During her time at Canton, she served as the chair of the Department of English and Humanities, was a faculty senator and was a member of the SUNY Faculty Senate Executive Committee.

SUNY Canton presented her with its Distinguished Faculty Award in 1996, and went on to name its 2007 Honors Convocation in her honor. Regan was also recognized for her achievements by being named a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in 2007, the title that she retired with. Following her service as a faculty member, she was appointed to the SUNY Canton College Council by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2013.

In 1997, Regan was elected to the Potsdam Town Council. Just a year later, she was appointed the deputy supervisor. In 2004, she was elected town supervisor, and has since been reelected twice to that position. She served as the chair of the bicentennial celebrations for the Town of Potsdam, which marked the 200th anniversary of its founding in 2006. As supervisor, Regan oversees legislation, staffing and finances for the municipality, including for the offices of the clerk and the Town Court. Under her leadership, the municipality completed construction of a new Town Hall in 2013, and renovated its previous downtown hall into a new facility that will serve both the Village and Town of Potsdam.

Regan's community service extends beyond local government as well. She was a founding board member and has served as a teacher and administrator for Stimulating Opportunities After Retirement (SOAR), which is offers peer learning opportunities to North Country seniors. She has also served as the president of the St. Lawrence County chapter of the American Association of University Women. Regan serves as a liaison to the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council. In recognition of her years of leadership and service, she was honored with the 2013 Silas Wright Award by the St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee.

Along with her husband Robert, she has five children and 11 grandchildren.

During Commencement weekend, SUNY Potsdam will recognize the more than 1,100 students have who either completed their degree or were eligible to graduate between December 2014 and December 2015.

The 2015 Master's Commencement Ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music. 120 graduate students are expected to cross the stage and receive their hood at the ceremony.

To learn more about Commencement at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/commencement.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $32 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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