Stay Connected with SUNY Empire

ARCHIE CURRY ’76 exhibited his photography in Camera Rochester’s 6th Annual Excellence Show at Image City Photography Gallery.

 

MARY MCFERRAN ’76 had an exhibition titled “Sunny but Cold: Diaries of Farm Women” at the Roxbury Arts Center in upstate New York. 

Back to Top

ANNE MEISENZAHL ’85 published her first book of poetry titled “Enter Here” (Apalachee Press).

 

RABBI DR. JO DAVID ’86 has written three romance novels under her Pinfeather Press imprint, using the pen name Nola Saint James. Two more books are slated to appear in early summer 2026. 

Back to Top

RAIN WORTHINGTON ’91 was featured on WMHT’s “AHA! A House for Arts,” where she displayed and discussed her multimedia art installation at the Hilltown Commons in Rensselaerville, NY.

 

JANE KLOCK ’97 has published “An Unwanted Miracle: Became God's Gift,” a book about her family’s journey advocating for her daughter, who had Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect.

 

HILARI (SPRING) RINEHART ’97 is the owner of Brampton 1860, a boutique inn in Chestertown, MD, and senior vice president of internal audit for Cenlar FSB.

 

SONIA USATCH-KUHN ’97 wrote a song titled “The Bond” that was performed by two dancers and a string quartet at the Cary Community Theater in Cary, NC. 

Back to Top

PAMELA BROWN ’01 presented a talk on the history of the National Grange at the Patterson Library in Westfield, NY.

 

EMAD RAHIM ’02, ’03 wrote an article in Forbes titled “Building a Thought Leadership Brand That Lasts.”

 

GERALD MISHK, JR. ’03, ’05 announced plans to run again for board trustee in the village of Walden, NY. He is also an associate judge in the village court.

 

BETH GIBBONS ’04, general manager of Tanger Outlets in San Marcos, Texas, has joined the board of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

DENISE POWIS ’04 has written a new children’s book titled “Just Be Yourself and No One Else!” (Hawes and Jenkins).

 

JUDITH RAE ’04, ’06 delivered a TEDx talk titled “How Playing in Nature Saved My Life.” She also created “Women Who Surf,” a docuseries about women's relationships with the ocean, which was exhibited by "Kinetic Energy: A Celebration 20 Empire State University of Sport at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach.” (Photo of Judith Rae by Alex Williams)

 

ENNIS SMITH ’04 won the Emerging Writer Contest sponsored by the literary magazine Ploughshares, for his essay “Happy New Year,” which was published in the winter 2025-26 issue.

 

MARGOT STORNELLI ’04 has published her memoir, “The Big Red Suitcase,” (Author Reputation Press).

 

LYNN LUBECKI ’05, an assistant professor at SUNY Empire, was named a Woman of Excellence by the Rochester Business Journal.

 

TRACY GATES ’06, ’10 was named president of UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) Chautauqua, which is based in Jamestown, NY.

 

IVETTE O’SULLIVAN ’07 is a menopause consultant and producer of The Vital Women podcast, where she recently interviewed Judith Rae ’04, ’06.

 

KIMBERLY BACKEY ’08, human resources director at Buffalo Homecare, was named a top 50 women leader in Buffalo, NY, by Women We Admire, a membership organization of women executives.

 

LORI RADCLIFF-WOODS ’08 had an exhibition of her Ukrainian eggs at Cornell University. 

Back to Top

JEFF PIER ’10 was named president and CEO of the Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester.

 

TATIANA X. GALASSO ’11, ’16, a middle school Spanish teacher, was named a teacher of the year by Yonkers Public Schools.

 

ASHLEY ARWOOD ’12 has been named division administrator for the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Johns Hopkins Medical Center.

 

STEVEN RANDELL ’12 was a guest photographer in Camera Rochester’s 6th Annual Excellence Show, which was held at Image City Photography Gallery.

 

MARY JANE PARRY ’15 has been named interim vice president for administrative services at Mohawk Valley Community College for the current academic year through July 11, 2026.

 

JJ FORLENZA ’14 launched a dog daycare center on Staten Island, NY, called Blackdog Doghaus.

 

KATHLEEN DELANO ’15 was promoted to branch manager and banking officer at Ulster Savings Bank’s Burnett Boulevard, Poughkeepsie, location.

 

ANA LISS ’15, executive director of Monroe County’s Department of Planning and Development, was a guest speaker at the 20th annual ReShaping Rochester lecture series. BRIAN BECK ’16 is the author of a new children’s book, “Happy Birthday Meatball, Love Spaghetti.”

 

TANITA ALLEN ’17, ’22 participated in a webinar titled “The Anatomy of a Rare Disease Treatment Decision” and spoke about her experience with Huntington’s disease.

 

JENNIFER GRACE ’17, ’19 was named executive director of the Family Hope Center in Geneva, NY.

 

PAMELA SAY ’17 has co-authored a memoir titled “A Judge’s Fight for Afghan Women’s Rights,” about Marzia Babakarkhail's life and work as a family court judge under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. 

 

MIRABELLA ACCHIONE ’18 was promoted to retail operations specialist at Solvay Bank in Central New York.

 

SHELBY KLENIEWSKI ’18 received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Hudson Valley Community College, where she got her associate degree in dental hygiene.

 

PAMELA ARAYA ’19, ’21 had two paintings in the juried show "Immigrant Song: A Hymn to Immigrants in Our Country" at the Schelfhaudt Gallery, University of Bridgeport, this spring.

 

MORGAN CADY ’19, a Boonville resident and Iraq war veteran, became the command sergeant major of the New York Army National Guard’s 153rd Troop Command Brigade, based in Buffalo, NY. 

Back to Top

PATRICIA KANTZOS ’20, a senior management specialist for the New York City School Construction Authority, co-produced a short film about the building of the Queens Innovation Center in Woodside, NY.

 

JAMES LUNDGREN, PharmD ’20 is in his second year of a specialty program in ambulatory care at AdventHealth in Orlando, FL.

 

PAMELA DORAN ’21, ’23, SUNY Empire’s digital accessibility and multilingual technology coordinator and a current student, presented at a Hispanic Educational Technology Services event, where she earned a “best student presentation” commendation. 

 

JASON JULIANO ’21 is a managing partner and strategic digital and cybersecurity advisor for Digital Bridge Advisors. He also recently acquired two pest control companies in Florida.

 

DAVID M. COMSTOCK ’22 of Buffalo, NY, a vice president at M&T Bank, received an Impact Award from Buffalo Business First.

 

MELANIE CARDONE-LEATHERS ’23, an archivist, was among the presenters at a conference titled “Women and the American Revolution on Long Island.”

 

DAWN DANIELS ’23 was appointed the executive director of the Italian Cultural Center at Casa Belvedere on Staten Island, NY.

 

EMILY KULKUS ’23 has rejoined syracuse. com | The Post-Standard as a life and culture business reporter.

 

LOURDES LAIFER ’23 has co-authored a book titled “A Path to Resilience: Small Steps to an Unshakable You" that blends mindfulness, positive psychology, and Stoicism.

 

DANIEL SHY ’26 of Brooklyn, NY, received this year’s Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence, given to students in the Educational Opportunity Program for academic achievement and perseverance.

 

JONATHAN GALLASHAW ’26 has accepted a position with J.P. Morgan Wealth Management as a VP of Investments and private client advisor. 

Back to Top