President’s Desk

President Deborah F. Stanley

With the arrival of spring in Oswego, Mother Nature spruces up her appearance as more people head outside to enjoy the warmer air and her splendor. It is almost as if she is inviting us to feel “at home” again after a long winter.

In this issue, we explore the idea of “home” through Nancy Fire Breslau ’83, the creative director of Design Works International, a lifestyle design company in New York City (story on page 24). She helps companies cultivate designs for all kinds of products to make our homes more comfortable and to suit our individual tastes while keeping up with emerging industry trends. She shares her passion for design with millions of consumers as design director for HGTV HOME, and she traces her open-mindedness and collaborative nature to her education at Oswego. She recalls the supportive culture of the Tyler Hall students and faculty who helped her identify and hone her strengths as an artist.

So many alumni have had similar experiences within the walls of Tyler Hall— pulling all-nighters to finish a project or assignment, collaborating with peers and bonding over constructive critiques. In the fall, we celebrated the renovation of many key spaces, including Waterman Theatre, Tyler Art Gallery and the lobby, within our fine arts home during the weeklong celebration, Tyler Hall Take 2 Debut (story on page 28). The Phase 2 renovations of Tyler begin this summer, including the exterior of the building. You can hear some of the firsthand accounts in our Tyler Tales project, alumni.oswego.edu/magazine, or submit your own tale at oswego.edu/tylertales. Emeritus Professor John Mincher also talks about his role in the development of the first Waterman Theatre in our Faculty Hall of Fame on page 50.

One of the greatest pleasures of my presidency is hearing stories like Nancy’s and other alumni about the transformative impact a SUNY Oswego education has had on their lives. I am honored to share these stories and use them as inspiration in my new role as chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, an organization of nearly 420 public institutions of higher education that is committed to the idea that a better informed, creative and productive citizenry benefits society.

This organization provides a forum for sharing best practices, supporting member institutions, creating professional development opportunities, developing public policy and coordinating advocacy efforts. Learn more about this important organization in a Q&A on page 22. In a few short weeks, I look forward to welcoming members of AASCU to my home campus, the site of an AASCU spring meeting. I take pride in showcasing the facilities and beauty of our lakeside campus, and I hope that our guests feel their visit gives them a sense of who we are as a college.

I also invite you back to your Oswego home—maybe for Reunion 2017, June 8-11. Check out our fresh looks and updated styles, and rediscover the familiar parts of campus that make you feel at home again.

Welcome home!

Deborah F. Stanley

President

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