By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart

With the Spring 2025 semester just around the corner, the campus community gathered in the Baldwin Gym on Thursday, January 23, 2025 for the bi-annual Faculty Staff Assembly. After the traditional campus-wide breakfast, the program debuted a new format, which featured a student speaker, presidential address, keynote presentation, and student panel.  

Kieran Hallett sharing the importance of kindness. Photo Credit: Ashley Kemak

Following the FSA’s overarching theme of “kindness,” Dr. Hawkins invited Criminal Justice A.A.S. student Kieran Hallett to open the assembly with his thoughts on the power of random acts of kindness. Hallett first developed his speech for his public speaking class with Professor Kathleen McKenna and later presented it at the College’s Toastmasters chapter meeting. 

After extending warm wishes for a successful semester, SUNY Broome’s 8th President, Dr. Tony D. Hawkins, welcomed the College’s newest, full-time employees and publicly congratulated existing employees on their new roles within the campus community. SUNY Broome Celebrates New Hires and Employees with New Roles (Spring 2025) | The Buzz

Dr. Hawkins then kicked off his presidential address by unveiling the College’s newest “Be Your Best at Broome” video, which featured a selection of students and faculty. 

The presidential address detailed several opportunities geared to propel the College’s growth, including rejoining the Achieving the Dream (ATD) network, undergoing extensive renovations and design changes to the Decker Health Science Building and Old Science Building, and preparing for the potential influx of non-traditional students through Governor Hochul’s historic investment in community colleges. President Hawkins encouraged all in attendance to welcome these opportunities with a growth mindset. 

“I humbly ask that we, as a campus community, resist the temptation to object to improvements and innovation and default to the “we’ve always done it this way” adage. Instead, let us embrace each opportunity under the constant motivation to give the next generation of SUNY Broome students a quality and accessible education,” shared Dr. Hawkins. “As we move forward, let’s do so with enthusiasm, creativity, and a shared commitment to our mission. Together, we will continue to make this college a place where opportunity thrives, innovation flourishes, and kindness remains at the core of who we are.”

Jon Rice, Director of Research Advisory Services at the Education Advisory Board (EAB), presented the keynote address. Photo Credit: Ashley Kemak

After recapping the charges of each “Broome Employee Satisfaction Team (BEST),” President Hawkins introduced the keynote speaker, Jon Rice, Director of Research Advisory Services at the Education Advisory Board (EAB).

Rice’s presentation, “Understanding & Supporting Gen Z (and Gen P),” provided a comprehensive overview of the Gen Z student population, describing their strengths, as well as highlighting areas for additional support. According to EAB’s extensive research, this pragmatic, skeptical, yet progressive generation of students is cost-conscious, digitally proficient, and in search of a transparent and authentic educational experience. Significantly impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Rice urged the group to accept that academic gaps from the pandemic-interrupted K-12  years will continue to impact students for years to come. 

“Gen Z students will be with us for the next decade,” explained Rice. “They are our past, present, and future.”

Rice’s presentation is available to review here: Understanding & Supporting Gen Z (and Gen P) Insights on Attributes of Our Next Generation of Students

Dr. Stephanie Malmberg facilitated a panel of Gen Z students. Photo Credit: Ashley Kemak

The FSA closed with a panel discussion comprised of Gen Z students who addressed many of the points discussed by Rice in his keynote. 

Student panelists and facilitators included: 

  • Dr. Scott Kane – Associate Vice President & Dean of Students 
  • Dr. Stephanie Malmberg – Dean for Distance Learning, Professional Development, and Student Success 
  • Rania Adam – Engineering Science A.S  
  • Antuan Darden – Liberal Arts: Individual Studies A.S.  
  • Kavida Devaul -Nursing Evening Weekend A.A.S.
  • Kieran Hallett – Criminal Justice A.A.S.
  • Chayse McRae – Chemical Dependency Counseling: A.A.S. and Human Services: A.S.
  • Nick Ragonese –  Criminal Justice A.A.S. 
  • Jori Tate – Engineering Science A.S  
  • Sophie Wagner – Dental Hygiene A.A.S.

Click the link below to watch the Spring 2025 Faculty Staff Assembly in its entirety.