News
May 23, 2017Six Faculty and Staff Members Receive 2017 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence
Six faculty and staff members from Hudson Valley Community College were named recipients of the prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence for 2017. Instituted in 1972 by the State University of New York, the Chancellor’s Award recognizes exceptional contributions to the university by dedicated professionals. Recipients must show a markedly strong dedication to their work or scholarship. Since its inception, more than 160 faculty and staff members from Hudson Valley Community College have received the Chancellor’s Award.
Alice M. Busman of Troy, a program assistant for the college’s Fine Arts, Theatre Arts and Digital Media Department, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service. Busman serves as the main office contact for a department that offers four degree and certificate programs and serves more than 300 students.
Melissa M. Coon of Niskayuna, the associate director of admissions, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. Coon has been in this role at the college since 2004, and she is responsible for the supervision of staff and the oversight of student recruitment activities for the office. She also oversees the college’s annual Open House which attracts more than 1,000 prospective students each fall.
Ian M. LaChance of Albany, the assistant registrar, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. LaChance was named assistant registrar in 2007 and has oversight for the certification of Veterans’ Administration educational benefits as well as several other areas within the Registrar’s Office, including supervision of staff and managing the Registration Information Center and WIReD, a Web-based system which gives students access to records and the registration process.
David E. Scott, Jr. of Albany, the associate registrar, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. Scott has served as the associate registrar since 2004. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of student record keeping and registration, the conferral of degrees and certificates and assisting with institutional compliance.
Tara A. Fracalossi of Valatie, an assistant professor in the Fine Arts, Theatre Arts and Digital Media Department, received the 2017 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Fracalossi began teaching as an adjunct instructor at the college in 2001 and became a full-time instructor in 2007. In addition to her teaching duties, she is the director of the college’s Teaching Gallery. Fracalossi is a renowned artist herself, and was named Albany Center Gallery’s 2016 Mona Ruth Brickman Memorial Artist of the Year.
Joseph M. Stenard of Albany, an assistant professor in the History, Philosophy and Social Sciences Department, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Stenard has been a faculty member at the college since 2008 and primarily teaches courses related to macroeconomics and microeconomics. Outside the classroom, he has been actively involved in the creation and mentoring of several student organizations, including the Investment Club. He is also a strong proponent of service learning at the college, which allows students to earn credit for “real world” volunteer experiences that relate to their curriculum.
