From the President

President Deborah F. Stanley Since mid-March, we have witnessed the incredible resiliency of the human spirit, rising in triumph over trauma, even as the nation has marked a terrifying and sorrowful milestone of loss due to COVID-19. Our students had the tenacity and resilience necessary to continue their path forward and our faculty and staff led with tremendous resourcefulness and great compassion in implementing an unprecedented and rapid change to remote teaching and learning.

And you—our alumni and donors—have supported the college Student Emergency Fund to provide our students with immediate aid to meet the unanticipated expenses and needs that arose. Many of you also transitioned your in-person classroom presentations and mentoring of students into virtual connections via Zoom calls and digital media. It is through your absolutely amazing understanding and your unwavering support for our students that I am certain we will continue to adapt and, as a community, move Oswego Forward with resiliency and purpose.

More recently, we have come together amidst civil unrest and protesting that is taking place in cities around the globe with renewed vigor to channel our pain and outrage into anti-racist action and other forms of positive change. In these trying times, we have called on individuals to take action for the collective good—and in our work to end inequity and the chasms of racism and injustice that divide and defeat us. And many of you have answered the call with resilience and heartwarming support, for which I express my deep gratitude.

Generously, on June 13, members of the Oswego College Foundation Board of Directors, led by Digital Hyve founder and CEO Jeff Knauss ’07, stepped forward to offer financial support and assistance so that we could to create a Black Lives Matter mural in front of Sheldon Hall to show our solidarity with a student demonstration on June 14, celebrating Black Liberation Day. Their support, and that of the many alumni who volunteered to paint the mural, shows how our college rallies to stand up for every member of our community and to help all members feel like their voice is important and heard.

And so we move forward with the digital publication of this magazine, which was hours away from printing in March when we made the difficult decision to pause production. The dramatically altered spring semester of 2020 has successfully drawn to a close and ended with traditional rituals and a sense of promise for the future; seniors have virtually celebrated Torchlight and Graduation, and the warmer weather lifts our spirits as we work to slowly emerge and re-start our communities.

We hope you find inspiration and hope in the stories of our amazing alumni—who are certified “100% Oswego green” through their actions and success. They are a sampling of what it means to be green—Laker green. I encourage you to share your stories online using #TogetherOz.

I wish you a thoroughly enjoyable and productive summer. Please stay safe and take care.

Warm regards,

Deborah F. Stanley
President

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