Oswego Alumni Association Award Recipients Named

The Oswego Alumni Association (OAA) will honor seven notable alumni with a 2020 Alumni Award for their exceptional contributions and accomplishments. The awards program recognizes individuals for their contributions but also elevates that individual as a model for students and other alumni, who total more than 87,000 worldwide.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award—the association’s most prestigious award—recognizes those who have achieved national or international recognition in their field. This year’s recipients are:

Dr. Frederick Bieber ’72, of Jamaica Plain, Mass., graduated from SUNY Oswego in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology. He also holds a Master of Science degree in genetics from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. in human genetics from the University of Virginia. He serves as a medical geneticist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and as an associate professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School. He lectures on genetics, pathology and forensics and is a director in the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, serving patients in the Partners Healthcare System. Frederick has taught courses continuously at the Harvard Extension School for over three decades and his research focuses on the forensic aspects of DNA-based human identification, leading to service as an expert in state, federal, and military and criminal investigations.As a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, he served on active duty at the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory. Frederick served on the World Trade Center Kinship and Data Analysis Panel, working with the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the DNA-based identification of the victims of the Sept. 11th attack on the World Trade Center, and as a member of the Hurricane Victim DNA Identification Expert Group, assisting the Louisiana State Police in the identification of victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He is an appointed member of the National DNA Databank of Canada Advisory Committee and the DNA Subcommittee of the New York State Forensic Commission, and he served as a member of numerous state and federal forensic advisory boards, including the FBI DNA Advisory Board and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Virginia Department of Public Safety. He served as senior advisor in forensic science to the Executive Officer of Public Safety in Massachusetts, and to the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Services and Public Protection. In 2014, Frederick was appointed to the first-ever U.S. National Commission on Forensic Science.

Tamar Greene ’09, of Rochester, N.Y., graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music performance and computer information science. He also holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance and literature from Eastman School of Music. Tamar is an equity actor currently playing the role of George Washington in the Broadway production of Hamilton.As a first-generation American, born of British and Jamaican parents, Tamar was taught early on that diligence, discipline and versatility are vital traits for everyone to have. In 2018, Tamar was on tour with the First National Tour and North American premiere of Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spellbinding sequel to Phantom of the Opera. He has also performed as Crab Man in Porgy and Bess at Spoleto Festival USA, internationally recognized as America’s premier performing arts festival. Before that, Tamar worked with the Tony Award-winning Broadway creative team as the Quartet Leader in the inaugural cast of After Midnight on the Norwegian Escape. He has performed alongside stars Vanessa Williams and Norm Lewis, among many others, as Charlie in the NY Philharmonic Orchestra’s production of Show Boat at Lincoln Center, that was broadcast on PBS. Tamar also performed the role of Fisherman with the Broadway First National Tour of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival.Tamar is also an accomplished voice and piano teacher. He leads a robust studio and frequently presents masterclasses and guest lectures at high schools, universities and major corporations around the country.

Honoring alumni who have demonstrated a lifetime of both professional and civic leadership, the Lifetime Award of Merit will be presented to:

Barry Gliner ’84, of Syosset, N.Y., graduated from SUNY Oswego in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies. He serves as the director of Post Production at Discovery Inc., the leader in global entertainment that satisfies curiosity, entertains and inspires viewers with high-quality content through global brands, led by Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV and Animal Planet. Barry is responsible for facility management, media management, post-production talent recruitment, team building, non-linear editing for broadcast and digital platforms, network creative teams support, graphic design, producing, writing and creative development.Barry has won numerous media industry awards, including Emmys for national news and documentary, New York Film and Television Award, national and international Monitor Awards, Telly Awards and the Discovery Communications John Hendricks Award, among others.Barry has served on SUNY Oswego’s School of Communication, Media and the Arts Advisory Board since 2016. A long-time alumni volunteer, Barry is very enthusiastic about Oswego and is an active participant in Oswego’s Alumni-in-Residence program, providing mentoring advice to current students.

Recognizing alumni who have had a significant impact on the college, OAA and/or SUNY Oswego students, the Alumni Impact Award will be given to:

Jerry Esposito ’70, of Plantation, Fla., graduated from SUNY Oswego in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education, biology. He also holds a Master of Science degree from Nova Southeastern College. He is a retired high school and college teacher of biological sciences and a former high school baseball coach. Jerry received the NFL Teacher of the Year Award in 2002 for the month of December after being nominated by Miami Dolphins place-kicker Olindo Mare, whom Jerry taught while he was a student at Cooper City (Fla.) High School.Jerry has a longstanding connection with his alma mater. He served on the Oswego Alumni Association Board of Directors for nearly a decade. Jerry is a leader of the Beta Tau Epsilon efforts to reconnect lost brothers and is a dedicated long-term alumni volunteer. He has been involved with numerous Reunion Planning Committees and has hosted and attended alumni and Beta events. Jerry is also a current mentor in the Alumni Sharing Knowledge program at SUNY Oswego.In 2015, Jerry led the establishment of the Beta Tau Epsilon Scholarship at SUNY Oswego. Jerry recruited and inspired his brothers to donate to the Beta Tau Epsilon fraternity, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the now disbanded fraternity. The scholarship enables the Beta name to live in perpetuity on campus and also highlights the positive impact Greek Life can have on a student’s experience at SUNY Oswego as well as the positive influence Greek Life can have on the college itself.

Bob Garrett ’83, of Allendale, N.J., graduated from SUNY Oswego in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia University and holds a CPA license in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. He serves as the New York Office Managing Partner at KPMG LLP, a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. He is responsible for overseeing the delivery of high-quality client service, driving cross-functional quality growth efforts, attracting and retaining key resources and representing KPMG in the New York marketplace and community. He has over 25 years of client service experience within the financial services industry and has served many of KPMG’s largest financial services.Bob has served on the Oswego College Foundation Board of Directors since 2012 and serves as the chair of the Audit and Finance Committee and a member of the Development Committee. He has many current and past leadership positions as a David Rockefeller Fellow and with the British American Business, American Ireland Fund, The Cardinal’s Committee for Charity Association for a Better New York, and Rand Center for Corporate Ethics and Government.Bob has been active with the Oswego Alumni Association by hosting numerous Oswego alumni events and hosting an office visit as part of the annual NYC Career Connections event that brings together alumni and current SUNY Oswego students. In 2016, Bob received the WACE award, an award that he was nominated for by SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley. He was also inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society in 2016.Bob established the Bob Garrett ’83 Endowed Accounting/Business Scholarship at SUNY Oswego. The scholarship is offered to support a first-generation college student committed to the field of accounting or business who displays academic merit and has demonstrated community service.

Receiving the Community Service Award for outstanding achievement in service to others is:

Linda Townsend ’74, of Auburn, N.Y., graduated from SUNY Oswego in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and public justice. She also holds a Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University College of Law and two associate degrees in liberal arts and humanities and criminal justice from Cayuga Community College. Linda is a teacher in the Port Byron (N.Y.) Central School District, the newspaper in education coordinator for the D. L. West High School, an adjunct instructor for the criminal justice program at Cayuga Community College and a summer school instructor at Cayuga Onondaga BOCES.Throughout her career, Linda has cultivated the development of leadership skills of her students and fellow community members. She has inspired decades of middle and high school grade students in Port Byron, correctional facility inmates in Cayuga County, Oswego County high school and SUNY Oswego students as an articulate and passionate teacher of history, political science, psychology and the law. She has dedicated her life to public service, leading her students by her personal examples of kindness and generosity of spirit.Linda has won numerous awards and honors, including the Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award, Patrick DeVoe Courage Award, Auburn Education Foundation Alumni Hall of Distinction Award, WCNY Women Who Make A Difference Award, Auburn/Cayuga Community College Distinguished Alumni Award and many others.Linda has fostered connections between community youth and military and elected officials. In 2017, she petitioned for the traveling Wall That Heals, a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and was successful in securing the mobile education center to her school in Port Byron. She has also been an active member of Wreaths Across America and Hometown Heroes Celebration, and as a former Cayuga County Legislator and former member of the Auburn/Cayuga Community College Alumni Association Board of Directors.

The GOLD Award is presented to Graduates Of the Last Decade (GOLD) alumni who achieved career success and demonstrated significant volunteer service to their communities and/or the Oswego Alumni Association Inc. or the college. This award will be presented to:

Quindell Williams ’11, of Syracuse, N.Y., graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcasting and mass communication. He also holds an associate degree from Onondaga Community College. He is a remotely piloted aircraft systems teacher in the Syracuse City School District and an adjunct instructor at Mohawk Valley Community College. Quindell teaches high school students industry standards in relation to drone technology and is also a Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 certified drone pilot.Prior to a career in teaching, Quindell served as a photojournalist and drone pilot for CNY Central in Syracuse. He won two Emmy Awards and covered a variety of major events, including NCAA basketball tournaments, visits by President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump, lake effect snowstorms and events at SUNY Oswego. During his time at CNY Central, Quindell launched the first certified drone pilot program for Syracuse viewing area broadcast news.Quindell has remained engaged with SUNY Oswego. He is a mentor for current students on campus through the Alumni-In-Residence program and served as a member of the GOLD Leadership Council.