By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart

Faculty and staff made their way to the Baldwin Gym on the morning of Thursday, January 25, 2024 to share breakfast and information in preparation for the Spring 2024 semester. The Spring 2024 Faculty Staff Assembly marked Dr. Hawkins’ second FSA as President of SUNY Broome. The program featured a new format of divisional presentations, followed by a student support staff panel discussion. 

Dr. Penny Kelly, Vice President for Academic Affairs, introduced a series of video clips interspersed throughout the assembly, which included the traditional “Year in Review” montage, a sampling of SUNY Broome’s newest program spotlight commercials, and interviews from the “This Is Who We Are” campaign. 

Dr. Kelly then welcomed SUNY Broome’s newest employees and congratulated the many current employees who have transitioned to new professional roles on campus. New hires and employees with new roles include: SUNY Broome Celebrates New Hires and Employees with New Roles (Spring 2024)

President Hawkins opened his second FSA address by sharing a bit about his personal “This Is Who I Am” story through photos from his family vacation taken over the break. He then reminded his colleagues that SUNY Broome is still an organization in the midst of transition. After spending the fall semester listening and learning, President Hawkins’ objective for the spring is to take the steps to gain confidence in the organization and its leadership. He humbly thanked the faculty and staff for their openness and honesty throughout the fall and for sharing their thoughts on the College’s strengths and areas for improvement. 

“I see a bright future ahead for SUNY Broome because we are building on strength. The strength and excellence of our academic programs, our solid history within the community, and our outstanding faculty/staff, students, and alumni. But it’s going to take each and every one of us working together as a team to do what we can to make ourselves even stronger.” Hawkins said. 

Through his 100 days of listening exercise, President Hawkins consistently heard comments on the themes of: 

  • Purpose
  • Student Access
  • Student Success
  • Organizational Structure and Culture
  • Community Connection

President Hawkins’ encouraged all in attendance to review his Report of the First One Hundred Days of Leadership. 

Dr. Hawkins then prepped the campus community for what was to come, which included a Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, an Employee Satisfaction Survey, and a Strategic Plan (2024-2027). 

“I heard your voices very clearly, and I am in a much better position to lead this organization thanks to the time that I spent listening in the fall,” Hawkins said. “I promise that we will make the transition of leadership necessary for SUNY Broome to serve the next generation of students moving forward, but change will occur over time. You can be confident that this period of listening and learning will continue.” 

Divisional speakers included:

  • Dr. Kim McLain – Associate Vice President and Dean of Health Sciences & Institutional Effectiveness (26:09 – 32:19)
  • Dr. Stephanie M. Malmberg – Associate Dean for Distance Learning, Professional Development, and Student Success (33:10 – 40:10)
  • Melissa Martin – Counselor/Chairperson of Counseling Services (41:05 – 52:00)
  • Larry Allen – Budget and Institutional Effectiveness Officer/FLAC Academic Coordinator (52:16-1:02:09) 

The highlight of the assembly was the “Supporting Student Success” panel discussion facilitated by Laura Hodel, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources and Student Finance. Staff from student support offices from across campus shared their thoughts on their mission moments, areas of strength, and opportunities for improvement. 

Members of the panel included: 

  • Lorie Brewer – Staff Assistant, Dean of Students
  • Kelly Clark – Secretary, Academic Advising
  • Amy Englehart – Executive Assistant, SUNY Broome Foundation
  • Marty Guzzi – Registrar, Registrar’s Office
  • Heidi Melzer – Senior Staff Assistant, Finance Office
  • Kalis Nunes, Jr. – Assistant Director, Student Village
  • Beth Richards – Assistant Dean for Academic Services, Academic Advising, Career, Transfer, and Bachelor Partnership, Learning Assistance Department
  • Gian Roma – Professor/Chairperson of Business Programs, Business Department
  • Donna Ward-Stevenson – Student Records Specialist, Financial Aid