Alfred University will open its 191st year focused on helping students realize their purpose. At the opening breakfast for faculty and staff on Tuesday, Aug. 18, in Ade Hall, faculty and staff heard updates on how the university will succeed in that mission.
“Our mission is helping students realize their purpose while emphasizing our three core strengths: belonging, intersections and mentorship,” said Mark Zupan, Alfred University president.
Zupan noted that student research opportunities continue to aid in the university’s mission. The Summer Engineering Research Institute, open to all students regardless of academic disciplines, provides unique intersectional opportunities while also emphasizing mentorship through work with graduate students and faculty research advisors. This summer, nearly 60 students were on campus participating in the institute, which culminated in a poster session where students showcased their work.
“We’re very grateful for the research grants out faculty have received to support this important program,” Zupan commented.
The university contracted with Sodexo to provide dining services beginning this academic year. Pauline Knutson, general manager for dining services, introduced some new features of the dining program. They include new dining options at Ade Hall (first and second floor) and Powell Campus Center (second and third floors). Food can be ordered exclusively using the Grubhub app. New concepts aimed at enhancing athletic performance—foods high in healthy proteins and vegetables—are being offered.
“We’re really excited to bring fresh new uplifting dining services to Alfred,” Knutson said.
Kim Harvey, vice president for Student Experience, reintroduced Saxon Fridays, a program aimed at emphasizing school spirit and strengthening relationships between students and faculty/staff. Saxon Fridays kicks off Aug. 28, and encourages the campus community to wear purple and gold. In addition, faculty and staff are provided a free meal at Ade Hall, where they can introduce themselves to students and share a meal with them.
Zupan noted that two major construction projects aimed at enhancing the student experience and driving increases in enrollment are nearing completion. The Cohen National Casting Center Foundry is expected to be finished in November, while the Saxon Hill Sports Complex should be completed by October.
The university broke ground on the new foundry—supported buy a $6 million gift from Michele Cohen, Alfred University trustee, and her husband, Martin, which helped leverage more than $8 million in SUNY Construction Fund monies—in 2025. The facility, located in the university’s renovated former central heating plant, will create new intersectional opportunities for art and engineering students. The foundry—which creates the potential for new degree programs combining art and engineering, such as digital fabrication design and engineering—is expected to significantly benefit Alfred University’s student recruitment and retention efforts.
Saxon Hill, a $30 million athletics and recreation facility atop Jericho Hill in the town of Alfred, will provide added extracurricular and co-curricular opportunities to students. Ground was broken on the project in the spring of 2024 and once finished, will provide new training and competition facilities for field hockey, women’s and men’s rugby, baseball, and track and field. The project is expected to increase undergraduate student enrollment by 170 and strengthen student retention efforts. A significant portion of the cost is supported by philanthropy.
Two members of the faculty were recognized this week by the State University of New York with SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence, Zupan noted. At a ceremony Monday, Aug. 17, in Albany, S.K. Sundaram, Imamori Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, was honored with a Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Professorship. Angus Powers, professor of glass, was presented the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching Professorship.
Zupan noted that the university’s next five-year Strategic Plan, which will run through fiscal year 2031, is near completion. He thanked Beth Ann Dobie, provost and chief operating officer, for her efforts leading the development of the plan, which will be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval in October. He also recognized Erin Schurr, associate athletic director, for serving as interim director of Athletics. Adam Hertz has been appointed director of Athletics and Recreation and begins his duties Sept. 14.
Mark Lewis, retired dean of the College of Business, was recognized for his service as interim vice president for Business and Finance and CFO. Zupan thanked Lewis for his service to the university and welcomed the new College of Business dean, Todd Harrison.
