SUNY Potsdam Names Dr. Robert L. Badger an Honorary Alumnus

SUNY Potsdam Geology Professor Emeritus is Given Honorary Lifetime Membership in SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association

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From left, SUNY Potsdam President Kristin Esterberg, honorary alumnus Dr. Robert Badger and Alumni Association President Amy Kellogg ’99.

POTSDAM, NY (07/23/2015)(readMedia)-- The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently honored Dr. Robert L. Badger with Honorary Lifetime Membership.

Honorary Lifetime Membership is presented to non-alums who have made exceptional contributions to the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association and/or the College.

Badger was recognized for his contributions to the College and the North Country, as an educator, researcher and mentor.

For nearly three decades, Dr. Robert L. Badger dedicated himself to SUNY Potsdam, positively affecting the lives of thousands of students, through his teaching, mentoring, research and proactive involvement in a variety of campus and community activities.

Badger joined the faculty of the geology department in 1989, served as department chair from 2000 to 2014, and recently retired in June 2015. He is academically renowned and has been the recipient of more than 40 fellowships, awards and grants, has authored, co-authored or edited more than 50 publications, and has been a highly sought-after guest lecturer. Also active within the campus community, Badger helped to develop a retention proposal for the College, and served as a member of the Teaching and Learning Committee, the Environmental Studies/Environmental Science Committee and as co-chair of Dr. Kristin Esterberg's Presidential Inauguration Committee.

Passionate about the surrounding community, Badger has led more than 20 field research and student service learning projects, all of which have had a lasting impact on the North Country. He also served as the president of the New York State Geological Association in 2004 and 2005, and brought their annual meetings to Potsdam to showcase our students and the campus.

In recognition of his scholarly and teaching excellence, Badger received the 2007 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Academic Service. In 2009, he was named a Fellow by the Geological Society of America, and also received the Campus Fundraising Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of his ongoing fundraising efforts for the College's Take the Lead Campaign, to which he and his wife, Carolyn, are personal donors. In 2010, he received the Award of Merit from the Vermont Historical Society.

Perhaps most significant, though, was his selflessness as a professor. Badger inspired countless students both in and out of the classroom, pushing them to excel in their passions. He was deeply invested in each student's education, ensuring that they had the best experience possible while at Potsdam, so that they could succeed both academically and in their personal lives.

For more information about the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.

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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