Fredonia student Burgandi Rakoska is one of 18 students selected to the SUNYCON Fellows Class of 2016. State University of New York Board of Trustees Chairman H. Carl McCall and Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher announced the SUNYCON Fellows Class of 2016 Monday.
The select group of students from throughout the university system will participate in exclusive events during this week’s sixth annual conference, and share what they learn about the theme, "The Forces Shaping the Future of Higher Education," with students and faculty at their home campuses.
“If we had to narrow the forces shaping the future of higher education down to just one, it would be students,” said Chairman McCall. “We are delighted to once again provide exclusive SUNYCON access to student fellows, as their insight and perspective are critical to our discussions. Congratulations to this year’s class.”
“SUNY students have shown us time and again that they deserve a place at the table, and SUNYCON would not be complete without their active participation,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “Each year, the discussions we have with students are among the most valuable to our work. I look forward to exploring this year’s theme with the SUNYCON Fellows Class of 2016.”
The event takes place this Thursday and Friday in New York City. SUNY students were chosen for their interest in innovation in higher education. The rest of this year’s fellows are:
· Hannah Vuozzo, Alfred State
· Tom Mastro, Binghamton University
· Steven Brewer, Cayuga Community College
· Justine Finch-Beringer, Stony Brook University
· Gregory Woody, Stony Brook University
· Stanley De La Cruz, University at Albany
· Jarius Jemmott, University at Albany
· Reynaldo Muniz, University at Albany
· Sarah Petrak, University at Albany
· Samantha Lee, Broome Community College
· Michael Braun, Cortland
· Evan Rufrano, Old Westbury
· Umme Zuhair, Rockland Community College
· Kaylee Mendez, Suffolk Community College
· Audrey Pottinger, Ulster Community College
· Megan Lloyd, Upstate Medical University
· Nicole Pereira, Oneonta
SUNY developed SUNYCON, its Critical Issues in Higher Education conference series, to create a dynamic forum for conversations about the status and future of higher education among society’s stakeholders — scholars, academic leaders, business and industry, and policy makers. As the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, SUNY takes seriously its role in facilitating the idea exploration that empowers colleges and universities to master the social challenges of the 21st century. Since 2011, SUNY has convened the annual conference around a topic of pressing urgency in higher education, drawing hundreds of experts and participants.
