"My Geneseo Moment"

This page contains the "My Geneseo Moment" stories from alums and students relating one of their significant experiences at Geneseo. These mementos were included in our Student Retention / WIG Update memos.

Flossie Stephens

Florence “Flossie” Stephens ’05, acting director of Geneseo’s Access Opportunity Programs, majored in History with an adolescent education certification. She earned her master’s in adult education from Buffalo State College, and worked previously at Alfred State College.

"In January of my sophomore year, my father suffered a catastrophic stroke and had to enter an assisted care facility for the remainder of his life. His illness had a huge impact on the financial situation of my family since my mother worked only part-time. I wasn’t sure I would be financially able to continue my studies at Geneseo and I was going home frequently to help my mother apply for financial assistance for my father’s care. It was the Geneseo faculty and staff who helped me to pull through and complete my degree. My professors, especially professor Joe Cope, were very understanding if I had to miss a class to go home. The staff in the Admissions Office where I worked was great about letting me sit with them and talk things through despite my many tears. They also helped to connect me with the Financial Aid office who worked with me and my mother to provide more aid due to our change in circumstances. The Geneseo community really came together to help and support me at a time when I felt financially and emotionally fragile. Without the support of the faculty and staff during this time, it is likely I would not have completed my degree here. This moment, as difficult as it was, built the desire in me to always serve students in need. I want to help and support students the way I felt helped and supported by Geneseo."

Kathleen Rose

Dr. Kathleen Rose ’79 earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Elementary Education from SUNY Geneseo, and a Master of Education in Counseling and Guidance and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Arizona. In June, 2016, she was named president of Gavilan College in Gilroy, California. Originally from Canandaigua, N.Y., Kathleen returned to Geneseo during Homecoming and Family Weekend in September 2019 as one of four Geneseo alumni now holding college presidencies.

"Dr. Ron Herzman was one of my English faculty members at Geneseo, and I was thrilled he made the time to come see me at the alumni event in September. I took my first course with Dr. Herzman in Chaucer as a sophomore. I was a farm girl and had no idea what I was doing taking that class, but he made old English and the storytelling very significant in the life of a 20-year old. I went on to take a couple of sections of Shakespeare from him. I learned how to write and express myself and read literature in a deeper way.  I have a quote in my office from Thich Nhat Hanh – 'Understanding is the fruit of looking deeply' – and I attribute that idea to my time with Dr. Herzman. It wasn’t until I took courses like those with Ron that I understood the depth of the great authors of literature – that I could think deeply. And once you understand that, it really changes one’s life.”

Patti Hamilton-Rodgers

Patty Hamilton-Rodgers ’85 (B.A., Communication) has devoted her entire career to higher education, with various stops in multiple states before returning to her alma mater in 2001. After serving in alumni relations, she joined the Office of the Provost in 2011 and currently serves as Sponsored Research Associate and GREAT Day coordinator. She also is the advisor for Geneseo Colleges Against Cancer.

“I started out as an undeclared major and dabbled in several along the way. Yet, I wasn’t satisfied. I remember the late Dr. John Hoey, associate professor emeritus of English, telling me: ‘It’s as important to know what you don’t want to do as what you do want to do.’ I’ve never forgotten his advice, which I’ve shared with many Geneseo students over the past 18 years. And they often pause and go ‘hmmm’ – just like I did. I chose to major in communication the end of my sophomore year, but most of my formative education occurred outside of the classroom. I worked in the college reservations and activities office 20 hours a week with Tom Matthews, and was on the activities commission and also chaired the Limelight Series my senior year. That’s really what gave my life direction in terms of my career and passion.”

Tim Chichester

Biology major and three-sport student-athlete Tim Chichester ’10 earned his Bachelor of Science while competing all four years  in cross country, and indoor and outdoor track. A driven runner, Tim was the second American to cross the finish line in the 2012 Boston Marathon (placing 11th). In 2016, he qualified for – and ran – in the Olympics trials. He set the course record in winning the Wineglass Marathon in Corning in 2017, and won the 2018 Buffalo Marathon to again qualify for the Olympics trials in Atlanta next February. He currently teaches science at Arkport Central School and coaches cross country at Mt. Morris High School.

“One of the biggest deciding factors in attending Geneseo was Coach Mike Woods, better known by his runners as ‘Woodsie.’ I first met him as a sophomore at Mt. Morris, humbled that he came to watch me run at a small school dual meet. As my coach, Woodsie taught me many things about being a distance runner, but his most important lessons translated to life. He taught me to believe in myself completely, whether I was running on the track or taking an organic chemistry exam. Woodsie was all about the slogan ‘Believe’ – in yourself, your teammates, your coach. I can’t imagine my Geneseo experience without Coach Woods; he is – and continues to be – an inspiration and model. Being part of a sports team at Geneseo was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Michael Saffran

Michael Saffran ’85 (B.A., communication) gained four years of valuable work experience as DJ, newscaster, news director, program director, and ultimately, summer co-station manager at WGSU-FM that prepared him for a career in radio, journalism and public relations. After compiling a “laundry list of station call letters” over 20 years – spanning country music to Top 40 to oldies formats – Mike joined the news and public relations office at RIT, where he also taught public relations writing. Since 2012, he has served as a lecturer in communication and faculty director for WGSU-FM at Geneseo, which operates as part of the Communication Department. He still keeps a hand in radio as “Mike St. John” on weekends at WARM 101.3-FM in Rochester.  

“There were many great leaders at WGSU when I was here. Dr. Freiberger was our advisor, but when I think of the faculty, I – and many radio station alumni from the 60s, 70s, and 80s – think of Dr. Bill Berry, Dr. Bob Greene, and Dr. Ron Shaw – who, collectively, essentially founded the station. I took a few courses with Dr. Shaw, and one of the things I remember most is the notion that the spectrum belongs to the public: It’s a privilege to use the public airwaves. I can say unquestionably that over the course of my 30-plus years post-Geneseo, that point has been a focus of mine – and still is now. Many times when I’m advising students on their roles at the station, I’ll spin around in my chair, point to the tower and antenna, and remind them that WGSU is not a club. With the privilege of having an FCC license comes the obligation of serving the public interest – and the wider community beyond the campus. That’s why WGSU exists; it’s what Dr. Shaw taught us.”

Derrick A. Gyamfi

Derrick A. Gyamfi ’18 earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting with honors. He holds a Master of Science in IT Auditing & Cybersecurity from Temple University. A first-generation student from the Bronx, Derrick chose Geneseo sight unseen because “it was the best SUNY” – stepping on campus for the first time as a freshman. After serving as a Risk Assurance intern with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a big four accounting firm, he joined the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas as Director of Business Intelligence and Innovation. He was recruited by his previous employer from Geneseo, former Campus Auxiliary Services Director Mark Scott, now CEO of the Academy.

“I was very involved on campus and developed a lot of meaningful relationships. Community at Geneseo was not just a buzz word. I was a Career Mentor in the Career Design Center, an EMT with Geneseo First Response, co-founder of the African Student Association, and an active volunteer for the School of Business. I also interned with Mark Scott at CAS on several strategic initiatives and special projects during my junior year. My background did not allow my parents to see the value of college, but Mark and the entire CAS family became a support system for me, especially when my family was going through hard times. They gave me the extra boost that allowed me to graduate.”

Amy Baldwin Berry

Amy Baldwin Berry ’86 LCSW-R majored in psychology but also completed requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree in voice. She was a member of Geneseo’s esteemed Chamber Singers all four years under the direction of Dr. Robert “Doc” Isgro. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University at Buffalo, and has worked in the community outpatient mental health field for 23 years, including nine in private practice. She currently serves as Utilization Coordinator within the Quality Department for Rochester Regional Health.

“There are so many wonderful professors at Geneseo but getting into the Chamber Singers absolutely made my experience. I learned so much from “Doc” Isgro; he opened my world to a lot of other music that I hadn’t experienced. He always had a great mixture of kindness and discipline, and I appreciate the many high standards of musical quality that Doc expected from us all. My time in the Chamber Singers – practicing, performing, and touring in 1984 in Poland at the height of the Solidarity Movement – nurtured my love of music as well as the richness of maintaining quality in any kind of effort in life. I’ve been really blessed with the circle of lifelong friends I have who were also Chamber singers.”

Keith Walters

Keith Walters ’11 majored in business administration after transferring from Monroe Community College through its 2+2 program. The campus community knows him best for the compelling and memorable photos – many award-winning – that he captures and creates through his passion for visual communications. As Director of Multimedia, Keith oversees the College’s photography and videography needs, and contributes to social media initiatives that help tell Geneseo’s story.

"I remember being assigned as a student photographer to cover the Athletics Hall of Fame dinner in the fall of 2010. One alumna gave remarks after receiving her award, and I became very emotional. Hearing the impact Geneseo had on her made me realize the impact it had on me as I looked ahead to my own graduation. I was fortunate a position opened up, and I was hired. Geneseo has given me everything – my job, my education – I even met my wife here. When I’m at commencement, I always think about the graduates who have to sing the alma mater, and it didn’t mean anything to me at the time, but the last line now gets to me. 'With our life’s work, we’ll repay.' That really speaks to me."

Howard Blumenthal

Howard Blumenthal ’74 majored in English with a minor in journalism and education. He served as editor-in-chief of The Lamron, head of programming for WGSU (student radio station), and the first series producer for GSTV (student TV station), which he helped launch. Today, he’s best known as the creator and producer of “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?” – the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning PBS series about geography and world cultures. Blumenthal is also the founder of Kids on Earth, an organization that promotes global citizenship, and he serves as a Visiting Scholar at The Annenberg School for Communication at The University of Pennsylvania.

 “After my first year, I was unhappy with my major in speech communications and started to look at other colleges but none seemed suitable. So my first visit was to Joan Schumacher, dean of the College. She suggested English so that I’d graduate having read important books. I tried, but it wasn’t working. I went back, and Joan said, ‘We have a path that we don’t usually tell many students about; it’s called an independent study. You choose what you want to learn – but you have to find someone willing to work with you.’ I found Jim Garvey, an English professor whose interest was in American Literature. We developed a plan, and I read all the works by Arthur Miller, John Steinbeck, Jack Kerouac…. I became curious to read other writers. I then spent two semesters writing a book on rock music, also an independent study. I gained the confidence that I could take on a big subject and learn about it on my own schedule with my own determination. I could decide how deep and how wide I wanted to go. The gift from Joan and Jim not only made all the difference at Geneseo, but for my entire career.”

Corey Wilkinson

Student Association President Corey Wilkinson ’19 is majoring in physics with a mathematics minor. He has been a summer research assistant in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, working under the supervision of Distinguished Teaching Professor Dr. Stephen Padalino in the fields of high energy density physics and inertial confinement fusion. Through his involvement, Corey attended two national conferences.

“I have been fortunate to interact with many amazing faculty, staff, and administrators through my various roles on campus. After my first semester taking Analytical Physics I with Dr. Padalino, he encouraged me to look into summer research opportunities – and I was able to join his research group doing neutron time-of-flight experiments on the 1.7MV Pelletron Accelerator. That led to two consecutive summer research assistantships where I had hands-on experience developing and completing my own experiments. I was even able to attend two national conferences of the American Physical Society’s Division of Plasma Physics and present my research to experts in the field. My work with Dr. Padalino has reassured my interest in pursuing physics and has provided me with the skills and experience I need to do just that.”

Pema Sherpa

Pema Sherpa ’19, majoring in neuroscience with a concentration in pre-med studies, spent last semester interning in Nepal, as the Eddie Lee ’76 First Generation Ambassador administered through the Center for Integrative Learning (CIL). She shadowed pediatric surgeons at Kathmandu Model and Grande International Hospitals, using her ambassadorship grant money to help provide eye care health services to more than 700 children in a rural area.

 “I received an incredible amount of support from my peers and faculty at Geneseo while applying for the Ambassadorship program. Dr. Michael Mills, director of National Fellowships and Scholarships, encouraged me to apply when I had self-doubts about whether I would receive it – and he has been constantly supportive. Being separated from my parents at nine months old limited the impactful number of role models and also deprived me of parental guidance and support throughout my childhood. Dr. Mills has truly become a mentor, role model, influencer, and ultimately, a reliable support system – the person my younger self needed. Had I not received his help, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to change the lives of so many children and families, or even thought about initiating a project that has shaped my career path.”

Paul Grassi

Paul Grassi ’96, partner and senior vice president of cybersecurity at Easy Dynamics Corporation, majored in business administration with a minor in computer science. In his junior year, then School of Business Assistant Dean and Internship Coordinator Roseann Mayo encouraged him to apply for a Preferred Care scholarship, which offered paid tuition, an internship, and summer employment. That experience proved advantageous during an on-campus interview with a vice president and Geneseo alumnus with a global management consulting firm – which ultimately hired him.

 

“Many people impacted me at Geneseo. Getting that scholarship, beyond the financial benefit, put me into a real workplace environment for two years, with all the experiences that come with it. I was able to walk into interviews and interact as a peer with the interviewer … and talk about true business application because of the investment Preferred Care made in me. That all came from Ms. Mayo and the amazing thing she did for me, plus a Geneseo alum traveling from D.C. to snowy Geneseo to hire students. That materially shaped who I am today.”

Nick Warner

Assistant Professor of Geological Sciences Nick Warner is also a proud Geneseo alumnus, Class of 2000. He currently serves as geology theme leader on NASA’s Insight mission team which is directing the Mars robotic lander scheduled to touch down on Nov. 26.

 “I was a geology major, but what I’ve always wanted to do is study the planets. It wasn’t until my time at Geneseo that I really solidified that as a career option. Dick Young, now professor emeritus in the Department of Geological Sciences, actually introduced me to this concept of planetary geology – the study of rocks, materials, and surfaces on other worlds. In his classes, he showed us amazing images of the moon, Mars, and Apollo era stuff – and even talked about his research using some of the Apollo era data. It was during that time in his classes that I started to gain an appreciation for geology’s role in exploring our solar system. I’ve really made that my career path since then, working on multiple Mars missions and teaching many of the same classes that Young taught me all those years ago here. Being in his classes was one of the most impactful moments of my entire career.”

Kelsey Roberts

Kelsey Roberts ’21 (theatre and communication), wrote the following reflection that was shared by Visiting Assistant Professor of Communication Lee Pierce. It has been edited for brevity.

“I have enjoyed many things about Geneseo since arriving here; the small class sizes, personal attention, low cost of living, and study abroad opportunities are all excellent. However, I have also been disappointed …and culturally, the campus feels a little flat, especially when I think about what it would be like to go to school in D.C. where many of my friends are. I was struggling to decide whether to transfer in the fall of 2017. At the time, I was enrolled in Dr. Lee Pierce’s Public Speaking class. Dr. Pierce wasn’t my advisor, but I really felt comfortable expressing my concerns, knowing I would get a sympathetic ear. Those conversations helped me realize that while Geneseo isn’t everything I could ever want or need, it doesn’t have to be. It has the things that I most need right now, like being able to chat with a professor about a major life event. I still often look out a window wishing to see the bustle of a big city, but rest easier knowing that I am well-supported by professors as I build the foundation to live the biggest, busiest, most worthwhile life I can imagine once I graduate.”

Justin Geddes

The following excerpt has been edited for brevity from Presidential Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa member Justen Geddes’ letter in support of Distinguished Teaching Professor of Mathematics Olympia Nicodemi, who was awarded the Drs. Carol and Michael Harter Endowment for Faculty Mentoring Award at the 2018 Opening Convocation. Justen graduated summa cum laude in May 2018 and received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. He is now pursuing a Ph.D. in applied mathematics at North Carolina State University.  

“I was able to accomplish a lot at Geneseo, and none of those accolades would have been possible without Dr. Olympia Nicodemi. The biggest impact she had on my life came in my second year, when I had decided to drop out of college. I told Dr. Nicodemi before I went to Erwin to fill out the paperwork. She closed her office door, and we talked for over an hour. That single hour that she took out of her busy schedule is, without a doubt, the reason I earned those accolades, and why I will be attending graduate school. I can’t thank her enough.”