SUNY Potsdam Establishes Center for Applied Learning, Thanks to Generous Gift

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From left, Richard Dorf, Joy (MacDonald) Dorf ’58 and SUNY Potsdam President Kristin G. Esterberg.

POTSDAM, NY (06/30/2015)(readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam is now home to the first Center for Applied Learning within the State University of New York system, thanks to the generous and visionary support of Joy (MacDonald) Dorf '58 and her husband, Richard Dorf, a 1955 Clarkson University graduate.

The College has created its first endowed position and established the new Center for Applied Learning, to ensure that every student has the opportunity to complete one or more high-impact learning experiences during their studies. The Dorfs have made this possible through the creation of a $1 million endowment and the gift of start-up funding for the new center.

"It is our hope that before each SUNY Potsdam graduate crosses the stage at Commencement, they will have had the opportunity to engage in one or more intensive educational experiences that connect classroom studies with hands-on practice," the Dorfs said. "As the College prepares to enter its third century, we are proud to support future generations of Potsdam students."

The center will bring the offices of experiential education, international education and student research together under one umbrella, offering internships, study abroad, service learning and research opportunities to all students. The center is overseen by the new Dorf Endowed Director for Applied Learning, Jenica Rogers, who also directs the College Libraries. This is the first-ever endowed position to be established at the College.

"SUNY Potsdam is grateful for the extraordinary support that we have received from Joy and Dick Dorf. Their vision of making applied learning central to the SUNY Potsdam student experience has the potential to be nothing short of transformative for our campus, our community and most important, for our graduates," President Kristin G. Esterberg said.

The Dorfs' gift allows the College to take the lead within SUNY on applied learning. Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher has called for every SUNY graduate to have access to applied learning opportunities, while this year Governor Andrew Cuomo also urged SUNY to provide experiential learning programming for all students as well.

The Center for Applied Learning will be advised by a think tank including faculty from across the disciplines, which will help to develop a unique approach to applied learning that fits the College's liberal arts and sciences curriculum. A new "Yes Fund" will seed innovative and experimental ideas for building capacity for applied learning.

"As the College approaches its bicentennial year, we hope to build a future in which every student can identify their path, explore their creativity, develop resilience, test problem-solving skills, craft marketable ideas and leave SUNY Potsdam equipped to address real-world challenges," Rogers said.

In addition to their support for SUNY Potsdam, the Dorfs have also provided generous support to Richard's alma mater, Clarkson University, where they have also endowed a faculty position.

For more information about giving back to SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/giving.

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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