Former NFL Player Ron Carpenter to Open New SUNY Potsdam Speaker Series Next Week

Related Media

Former NFL defensive back Ron Carpenter will open SUNY Potsdam’s new “Always Earned, Never Given” Series, sponsored by the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

POTSDAM, NY (11/09/2016)(readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam is proud to welcome former National Football League defensive back Ron Carpenter to campus next week, as the Super Bowl-winning player opens the College's new "Always Earned, Never Given" Series, sponsored by the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

"We are excited to welcome Ron Carpenter as our inaugural speaker for the new 'Always Earned, Never Given' Series. With his distinguished background as a professional athlete, football coach and community leader, Carpenter will offer our students invaluable insights on his path to success," said SUNY Potsdam Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Bernadette Tiapo.

The "Always Earned, Never Given" Series was founded at SUNY Potsdam thanks in part to generous donor support, in recognition of the importance of exposing students to diverse guest speakers and role models.

Carpenter's keynote address will be offered at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, in the Barrington Student Union Multi-Purpose Room. Two student groups, Okuma Taiko and the Bear Witness Step Team, will also perform during the event. There will be a question and answer session with the audience, followed by a reception for all in attendance.

This event is free, and the public is invited to attend.

During his visit, Carpenter will also speak to invited groups from across campus, including leaders of student clubs and organizations, student athletes and young men of color.

Carpenter will be joined next week by his wife and sister-in-law, who will lead a special discussion with young women of color, also as part of the new guest speaker series. His wife, Tamara Carpenter, is a senior executive at Angie's List, and her sister, Dr. Velmailia Matthews-Smith, is a hematologist-oncologist at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

About the guest speaker:

Ron Carpenter began his football career as an undergraduate at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he was a three-time first-time All-Mid-American Conference Player and served as captain in his senior season. He went on to play for four NFL teams, including the Minnesota Vikings (1993), the Cincinnati Bengals (1993-94), the New York Jets (1995-96) and the St. Louis Rams (1998-99). Carpenter also was an All-World League player for the Amsterdam Admirals and spent seasons with the New York City Hawks of the Arena Football League (1998), the Los Angeles Extreme of the XFL, and the Nashville Katz and Georgia Force of the Arena League. He owns a Super Bowl ring from the 1999 Rams and an XFL Championship ring from the 2000 L.A. Extreme. Following his athletic career, Carpenter took up coaching, having coached for the Tennessee Titans, the Georgia Force, Central State University, Indiana University, Miami University and the University of Central Arkansas.

SUNY Potsdam is dedicated to embracing the diversity of its community members. The College's Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion encompasses an array of programs, including the Center for Diversity, the Diversity and Inclusion in Action Coalition, the Office of Native American Affairs, CSTEP, NCSTEP, Title IX and Affirmative Action. The Center for Diversity exists to assist all students in their educational and personal transition and development at SUNY Potsdam, with an emphasis placed on students of color and students from diverse backgrounds. To learn more, please visit www.potsdam.edu/diversity.

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. As the College marks its bicentennial in 2016, SUNY Potsdam is celebrating a 200-year legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 4,100 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and leadership in the arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently completed Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which raised $33.5 million for scholarships and programs.

###