GCC Faculty, Staff Honored with SUNY Chancellor's Award

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GCC SUNY Chancellor's Award winners, from left to right: Elise Banfield, Maureen Leupold, Mary Jo Dumuhosky, Cheryl Young, Meredith Altman, Joanna Barefoot and Connie Boyd

BATAVIA, NY (08/28/2012)(readMedia)-- Outstanding contributions to their profession, the campus and the community-at-large have earned seven members of the Genesee Community College team the State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor's Award for Excellence. The award is given in recognition of consistently superior professional achievement and encouraging the ongoing pursuit of excellence.

The following faculty and staff members earned the 2012 award and were honored at a reception at the Batavia Campus on August 23, 2012:

SUNY Chancellor Award for Excellence in Teaching

Elise Banfield, psychology instructor – Elise, a Rochester resident, joined GCC in 2005 and has worked with a variety of students with very different learning styles. She has a learner-centered approach in which she is able to accommodate differences and provide students with a positive educational experience. Students frequently comment that Elise helped them stretch their thinking and explore new points of view. Recently, Elise eagerly accepted the role of lead advisor to GCC's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.

Connie Boyd, director of human services programs – Connie has been providing leadership and direction to the human services program as director since 2006. She utilizes a variety of teaching techniques and mediums to help students apply learning to real life scenarios and is always willing to take on additional duties that benefit the entire college. She serves on numerous search committees, the GCC Foundation Scholarship Committee, the Sabbatical Review Committee, and United Way. The Batavia resident also shares her talents and enthusiasm with the YWCA, BOCES, and the local Volunteers for Animals.

Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities

Maureen Leupold, biology professor – As an integral part of the GCC science division since 1990, Maureen established a solid record of scholarship and creative productivity in addition to her teaching responsibilities. Maureen has successfully developed more than 100 lab exercises and authored a lab manual that is now published and used in all sections of the course at Genesee. Additionally, the Churchville resident was instrumental in developing a new agriculture course that takes students on numerous site visits to Western New York dairy farms, orchards, and numerous agricultural locations to learn first-hand about agriculture, and inspiring students to adopt a greater understanding of the world around them.

Award for Excellence in Faculty Service

Meredith Altman, math professor - Since 1987, Meredith has been a full-time member of GCC's math faculty, inspiring students for 25 years. She recently took the lead in developing the Math Redesign plan, working through logistics for implementation, preparing materials, and training and supporting faculty in the new Hawkes program, which utilizes a unique approach to foster mastery learning in mathematics. Meredith is a devoted mentor to new math faculty and adjuncts and generously donates her time and talents to others. Meredith resides in Churchville.

Award for Excellence in Professional Service

Mary Jo Dumuhosky, academic advisor - Mary Jo, who lives in Batavia, is another veteran GCC employee with 26 years of service as an academic advisor. The breadth and depth of her knowledge and experience have led her to fill the role of mentor to many new advisors. She guides approximately 75 faculty advisors and trains them in various processes and procedures. She is also a key troubleshooter with advisement issues for staff and the administration, and serves on numerous committees such as GUSTO! (Genesee Unites to Support Team Opportunities) and the Academic Senate.

Joanna Barefoot, technical specialist for student activities – Since 2004, Joanna has inspired and enabled hundreds of students to reach beyond their immediate goals to become active and contributing members of GCC's college life. As a creative thinker, she is keenly aware of how to develop educational extracurricular activities that will broaden student knowledge and skills and she works diligently to foster an appreciation for diversity on campus. Each semester, Joanna helps develop and organize dozens of activities and related materials that promote awareness, understanding and global citizenship. She makes her home in Caledonia.

Award for Excellence in Classified Service

Cheryl Young, math/science secretary - Cheryl has served the college in a number of secretarial positions since 1981 including grant programs, admissions, nursing, and currently in the math/science division. As a conscientious and hardworking professional, she has helped faculty, administration and students with innumerable special requests. The college's Annual Fashion Show is one of the more notable events that she supports. In addition, she has supported Phi Theta Kappa and served as the secretary to the Academic Senate. Cheryl resides in Batavia.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

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Editor's Note: Photo of GCC SUNY Chancellor's Award winners, from left to right: Elise Banfield, Maureen Leupold, Mary Jo Dumuhosky, Cheryl Young, Meredith Altman, Joanna Barefoot and Connie Boyd. http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/chancellors_winners_2012.jpg