For Immediate Release — Tuesday, October 18, 2005

SUNY Geneseo Vice President Robert Bonfiglio Earns Distinguished Service Award

GENESEO, N.Y. — In recognition of the role he has played in the founding of the New York Campus Compact, State University of New York at Geneseo Vice President for Student and Campus Life Robert Bonfiglio received the College Student Personnel Association's (CSPA) Distinguished Service to Higher Education Award. The award was presented during the CSPA's annual conference at the Clarion Riverside Hotel on Sept. 27, in Rochester.

The New York Campus Compact is an association of college and university presidents and their campuses committed to promoting active citizenship as an aim of higher education.

"Without Bob Bonfiglio's leadership, there would be no New York Campus Compact today," said SUNY Geneseo President Christopher C. Dahl. "Soon after he arrived at Geneseo, he realized that there was no Campus Compact in New York. He began immediately to work with the National Campus Compact leaders, as well as with Mark Gearan, president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges and former director of the Peace Corps, to begin this process."

Dahl, a founding co-chair of the executive committee of the New York Campus Compact, noted that on two separate occasions Bonfiglio served as acting executive director for the compact and served as chair of its advisory board.

"I cannot think of another senior student affairs officer who understands better the connections between the academic experience and the personal, civic development of our students," Dahl added. "He is a remarkable vice president because his practice emanates from a belief that a liberal education is the best foundation for a rich and productive life. The quality of Bob's intellectual, ethical and moral leadership is second to none. I am thankful for it every day."

In the nomination materials for the award, Pam Heintz, director of the Mary Ann Shaw Public Service Center at Syracuse University and current chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the New York Campus Compact, added: "Perhaps the most important aspect of Bob's leadership is his absolute respect for each individual. He values others' opinions, actually listens to what they say, recognizes their work, and shows his appreciation in ways that are sincere and kind. He is tireless in his commitment and has a really wonderful sense of adventure and humor about him. Bob quietly mentored all of us, sharing his wisdom and experience in the most respectful ways. Because of Bob, we were able to accomplish great things. And along the way we discovered that we were part of one of the most rewarding and effective groups with which we had ever worked."

For more on the New York Campus Compact, see http://www.nycc.cornell.edu/

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