SUNY Broome Alumni return to campus to share knowledge and opportunities
In 2024, alumni from various careers returned to their alma mater to share their expertise and speak to students about the challenges and opportunities in their fields. We are grateful that these Hornets are investing in the next generation.
Soojung Lee
In the fall of 2024, Chef Soojung Lee (CULI ’21), the owner and operator of Seoulful Foods LLC, returned to the Culinary and Events Center to train students in preparing Korean cuisine.
SUNY Broome Instructor and Chef Victoria Tompkins reported, “Lee worked with students to re-create her own family’s classic recipes. This included dishes like bulgogi, japchae (glass noodles), and rice cakes. She shared insights into working with Korean ingredients, emphasizing the importance of balancing flavors with gochujang (a fermented chili paste) and sesame oil.”
Soojung and Seoulful Foods can usually be found every Saturday on Front Street at the Broome County Regional Farmers Market.
Dr. Brandon Williams
Dr. Brandon Williams (LAAA) delivered a professional development presentation to College faculty and staff on Oct. 23, 2024. Dr. Williams, a former Department Chair at Community College of Aurora, is currently a SUNY Broome Adjunct Instructor and S.A.G.E. Leader of Evaluation Operations at Western Governors University.
He began by noting that, as a student from a rural area, he didn’t feel fully prepared for College. Yet, he found Broome to be the perfect launching point for his future education and career. Pointing at his title (A.A.- Ph.D) on the introduction slide of his presentation, he noted that he always tries to include his associate degree in his title so community college students can also reflect on their path and future educational journey. As a first-generation college student, he wants students to know that they will find an excellent education at a community college — no matter their challenges or starting point.
His presentation explored Eve Tuck’s “Suspending Damage,” an open letter published in the Harvard Educational Review. An Indigenous scholar and professor, Tuck, suggests that scholars’ well-intentioned narratives about marginalized groups and inequality can create a narrowed view of these groups that deprives them of their autonomy, resiliency, and agency. Eve Tuck believes this focus can lead individuals in these cultures to think of themselves as “broken.” While acknowledging the need to address systemic racism and inequality in college courses, Williams encouraged faculty and staff to also find additional avenues to celebrate resiliency in those groups, find narratives of empowerment, and create a culturally responsive curriculum. 
Kevin Flower
PFC Kevin Flower (CJPO ’02) of the Ocean City, MD (OCMD) Police Department spent a full day on campus speaking to various classes and groups. He spoke to our students about seasonal Public Safety Aide and full-time police officer positions with the OCMD Police Department. He elaborated on his own journey from our SUNY Broome Criminal Justice program to becoming a police officer with the OCMD Police Department, as well as the job requirements and specifications.
Chelci Allis, Ben Cabot II & Ken Kidder III
On Nov. 13, 2024, three alumni gathered in the AT Building for a STEM Alumni Meet & Greet after the STEM Career Expo (which introduced students to different career possibilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). They discussed where their SUNY Broome degree took them and brought awareness about various STEM careers and ventures to students.
Alumni attendees included Chelci Allis (CT ’14), Ben Cabot II (CT ’73), and Ken Kidder III (ES ’83).
Chelci Allis began her career working for the Department of Transportation (DOT). She suggested to students that this may be a good place to start a career since the DOT provides free training, experience, and certification to their employees. She currently works at NYSEG.
Ben Cabot is currently self-employed with his company, Cabot Visual Articulation. His career has included roles at Southern Tier Iron Works, the NYS Division of Emergency Services, and FEMA, among other opportunities. He is heavily involved in many community organizations and heads to campus annually to participate as a judge in the Southern Tier Scholastic Science Fair.
Ken Kidder III retired from Lockheed Martin after a long career with the aerospace and defense contractor. He is heavily involved in the community and serves on various Board of Directors. At SUNY Broome, he is a board member of the SUNY Broome Foundation and the Broome Community College Housing Development Corporation.
STEM Career Navigator Tora Anson encouraged these alumni to attend. Anson is focused on resourcing STEM students with experts and guides for conversations, podcasts, presentations, and mentoring. If you’d like to connect with these efforts, check out the STEM Alumni Survey.
While not an alumna, we’d also like to thank Kerry Gallagher, SUNY Broome’s Director of Marketing, Communications & Public Information and an Adjunct Instructor, for giving presentations for the Business Club and a College marketing class.
Are you an alumni interested in sharing your knowledge and expertise with SUNY Broome students? Contact Senior Director of Development & Alumni Relations Lisa Schappert at schappertl@sunybroome.edu or fill out an Alumni Information Update form.
Tags: Alumni
