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Alfred University President

June 29, 2023

Dear Alfred University Campus Community,

Welcome to this inaugural issue of the e-newsletter, "From Z to AU." We will publish this a few times each year with highlights of campus activity and news about alumni and friends of our University.

Over the past several weeks, we were pleased to celebrate our Class of 2023 earning their Alfred University degrees. Their commitment to education and to pursuing lives of great purpose are commendable. Their joy also was palpable—especially on account of finally being able to enjoy the full benefits of an Alfred University education this academic year and after navigating the challenges associated with COVID in prior years.

In August, we will welcome one of our largest main campus classes, now totaling 516 deposits for new undergraduate students – more than 25 percent larger than the entering classes that we have welcomed during the past three years. This milestone is a testament to our University’s commitment to collaboration and innovation, as so many of you helped recruit the members of the incoming class through events on campus as well as in different off-campus locations.

If you’re on campus, you have no doubt seen the buzz of activity in terms of some significant renovations to our residence halls, educational spaces, common areas, athletic facilities, and dining areas. These will all be completed by the time our students move in and start their classes. As always, philanthropic support is playing an integral role in making the improvements possible. We are deeply grateful for that support.

Also, during this summer many of us will be involved in different strategic planning retreats that will give us new guidance and energy to achieve still more good results in support of helping our students realize their purpose. We are on an exciting path to seize new opportunities in education, service, and research as well as greater visibility in New York State and across the globe for our positive impacts.

We are expanding our University footprint, while maintaining what is distinctly special about Alfred University. We are seeing the benefits of promoting our core value of Inclusivity and our commitment to enhancing our University’s two key points of distinction: Intersections across our wide ranging curricular and co-curricular offerings, and Mentoring/Student Engagement.

Please accept my gratitude for all that you have done to advance our University’s mission. The successes of the 2022-2023 year would not have been possible without your involvement and support.

Lastly, this note is to ask you to consider helping in four specific ways: 

  1. Let Jonathan Kent, our vice president for Enrollment Management (kentj@alfred.edu) know if you are connected with relevant high school key influencers (counselors, teachers, coaches) who could help us keep our enrollment momentum going.
  2. Tell Jessica Doner, director of the Career Development Center (doner@alfred.edu) if you are aware of hiring opportunities for our present students or graduates.
  3. Provide Alfred Fund support that allows us to focus on the greatest needs when it comes to enhancing the Student Experience at our University.
  4. Establish a need-based scholarship through our Saxon Circle that will be matched by our University dollar-for-dollar for a promising student, thereby promoting inclusivity on our campus and paying it forward to the next generation of Alfredians.

 

Happy Summer and Fiat Lux!

Mark

 

 

 

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Alfred University announces new appointments for Gabrielle Gaustad '04 and David Gottfried

Beth Ann Dobie, provost and chief operating officer at Alfred University, announces two new administrative appointments. Effective July 1, Gabrielle Gaustad ’04, dean of the Inamori School of Engineering and vice president for Statutory Affairs, has been named Associate Provost for Research, while David Gottfried, deputy director of the Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology (CACT) has been appointed Government Relations Representative.

 
 
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Alfred University awarded $4.64 million federal grant to fund Mental Health Demonstration Project

Alfred University has been awarded a $4.64 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund a program in the University’s Counseling and School Psychology Program, which aims to increase the supply of quality mental health professionals to rural schools.

 
 
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Alfred University Equine Business Management degree takes off with NYS approval

The New York State Education Department this week granted its approval of Alfred University’s new major in Equine Business Management, offered through the University’s College of Business. Mark Lewis, Dean of the College of Business, said he is “very enthusiastic” about students whom the Business College will serve through the new program. 

 
 
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Op-ed by President Mark Zupan published in Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

An op-ed written by Alfred University President Mark Zupan, which was published recently in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, discusses how the economic success of a country depends on the ability of its citizens to pursue innovation and trade on their own behalf.

 
 
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Dr. Robert Johnson '68 delivers keynote address as Alfred University celebrates 187th Commencement

Alfred University alumnus Dr. Robert L. Johnson delivered Saturday’s keynote address at the University’s 187th Commencement. He told graduates that while their time at Alfred has instilled in them goals and prepared them for success, they will face challenges that will come from serendipitous turns in their life’s journey.

 
 
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New York State announces $2.5 million funding for Alfred University Center for Glass Innovation

New York State has announced plans to provide $2.5 million in new funding to support a collaboration with Alfred University aimed at expanding glass recycling markets throughout the state. The funding has been added to the $1.7 million the state previously awarded to Alfred University’s Center for Glass Innovation in 2021 supporting the Center’s ongoing work on glass production, recycling, and reuse projects.

 
 
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SUNY Chancellor John King visits Alfred University as part of 64-campus tour

State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. visited Alfred University on Wednesday, April 26, as part of his tour of the SUNY system. King took office on Jan. 9 and later that month began visiting SUNY’s 64 institutions. The campus tours will wrap up in early May.

 
 
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