Awards & Honorary Degrees
Distinguished Service Award
Since 1966, the University Council has recognized a person or persons who have directly or indirectly played a key role in advancing SUNY Plattsburgh. This award, given at the pleasure of the University Council, was originally conceived by former President Dr. George W. Angell.
Awardees have included:
- The Honorable Ronald B. Stafford, New York State Senator, 43rd District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Higher Education
- The Honorable Daniel P. Moynihan, U.S. Senator
- Admiral Grace M. Hopper, Ret., United States Naval Reserve, pioneer in the field of scientific computing; teacher; engineer; researcher and author
- Roger W. Tubby, former White House Press Secretary under the late President Harry S. Truman.
Individuals have been recognized for their:
- Contribution to the university community or state.
- Demonstration of leadership ability in the service of others.
Nominations. If you would like to nominate someone for this prestigious award, please email provost-office@
The University Council considers selection of nominees periodically for presentation at the spring and/or winter commencement ceremonies.
Past Recipients
- 2020–Present
2022
- Dr. Mohamed Gaber, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting
- Linda Bourgeois, CEO and president of UFirst Federal Credit Union.
- 2010–2019
2018
- Dr. E. Thomas Moran ’69 G’73, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Retired), SUNY Plattsburgh.
2017
- Hon. Janet Duprey, New York State Assemblywoman (Retired), 115th Assembly District.
2016
- Ms. Cerise Oberman, SUNY Distinguished Librarian Emeritus and Dean of Library and Information Services
(Retired), SUNY Plattsburgh.
- Dr. Laurence Soroka, Associate Professor Emeritus of Expeditionary Studies, SUNY Plattsburgh.
2015
- Dr. Joseph Burke, President Emeritus, SUNY Plattsburgh; Provost Emeritus, State University of New York.
- Ms. Joan Burke, Chair, Alice T. Miner Museum Board of Directors.
2014
- Dr. Patricia Higgins, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of Anthropology; Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, SUNY Plattsburgh.
2013
- Ms. Cheryl M. Hogle ’68 G’72, Associate Dean of Students (Retired), SUNY Plattsburgh.
- Mr. William D. Laundry, Vice President for Student Affairs (Retired), SUNY Plattsburgh.
2011
- Dr. David Mowry, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus of Philosophy; Director, Honors Program, SUNY Plattsburgh.
- Ms. Kathy MaGaw ’72, Senior Vice President for Compliance and Risk Management (Retired), Chase Manhattan Bank.
- Dr. Richard Semmler ’68, Distinguished Alumni Award (1996); College Professor; Cardinal Sports Hall of Fame member; Philanthropist.
2010
- Mr. Edward R. Brohel, Director (Retired), Plattsburgh State Art Museum.
- 2000–2009
2009
- Dr. Celine Racine Paquette ’60, Trustee Emerita, The State University of New York.
- Mr. Roderic G. Giltz, Chair, Northern Insuring Agency.
2008
- Dr. Robert Golden, Provost/Vice President Emeritus for Academic Affairs, SUNY Plattsburgh.
2007
- Mr. Trent Trahan ’70, President, Plattsburgh College Foundation (2003–2006); President/CEO of PrimeLink, Champlain Telephone Company.
- Dr. Douglas Skopp, Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus of History, SUNY Plattsburgh.
2006
- Mr. Arnold A. Amell ’53, SUNY Plattsburgh College Council – Member (1989–2011 ); Member, Educator (Retired), Plattsburgh Alumni Association Board of Directors.
2005
- Mr. C. Thomas “Chip” Cummings ’56, Teacher/Assistant Superintendent for Business, Patchogue-Medford School District (Retired), Plattsburgh Alumni Association Board of Directors — Member.
2004
- Dr. John B. Clark, President, SUNY Plattsburgh (2003-2004).
- Robert Garrow ’52 G’59, SUNY Plattsburgh College Council — Member (1986–2004); Charter member, Cardinal Sports Hall of Fame; Public School Educator and Administrator; County Legislator.
2003
- Mr. John C. Egan, Sr., CEO and president of the Renaissance Corp.; past CEO, Albany County Airport; past commissioner, NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Office of General Services; past executive director, NYS Dormitory Authority.
2001
- Dr. J. Richard Beach, SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography and Past Director of the Center for the Study of Canada, SUNY Plattsburgh.
2000
- Dr. John “Jack” Myers, Professor Emeritus of History, SUNY Plattsburgh.
- 1990–1999
1999
- Mr. Donald Garrant, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, SUNY Plattsburgh.
1998
- Harry E. Mowry, Vice President, Harris Communications (Retired.)
1997
- Mr. Robert T. Booth, Esq., Attorney at Law.
1994
- Mr. Clyde A. Lewis, Esq., Attorney at Law.
- Mr. Gordie Little, News Director, WIRY Radio.
1993
- Dr. Charles and Ms. Nancy Warren, President (Emeritus) and First Lady, SUNY Plattsburgh
- 1980–1989
1989
- Mr. Curtis E. Shipman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Keeseville National Bank
- Hon. Madeleine M. Kunin, Governor of Vermont
1987
- Admiral Grace M. Hopper, United States Naval Reserve (Retired); pioneer in the field of scientific computing; teacher; engineer; researcher and author.
- Mr. and Mrs. George J. Winkel, Leading Benefactors of SUNY Plattsburgh. Mr. Winkel was a retired business executive; Mrs. Winkel, an internationally renowned sculptor.
1985
- Hon. Geraldine Ferraro, Former Congresswoman, Ninth Congressional District of New York.
- Ms. Sally Kent Gorton, Generous Benefactor to the College’s Art Gallery.
1983
- Rev. Daniel T. Keefe, Former Pastor, John XXIII College-Community Parish.
1982
- Mr. Roger W. Tubby, Former White House Press Secretary under the late President Harry S. Truman.
1980
- Ms. Judith L. Duken, Trustee, The State University of New York, and Former Chairperson, Plattsburgh College Council.
- 1970–1979
1979
- Hon. Daniel P. Moynihan, U.S. Senator from New York.
1978
- Dr. Clifton R. Wharton, Jr., Chancellor, The State University of New York.
1977
- Hon. Warren W. Anderson, Senate Majority Leader, New York State Senate.
- Hon. Stanley Steingut, Speaker, New York State Assembly, 41st District.
1975
- Mr. Willard C. Flynt, Dean of Students/Vice President for Student Affairs (Retired), SUNY Plattsburgh.
- E. Glenn Giltz, President, Plattsburgh College Foundation.
- Dr. Hans E. Hirsch, Professor Emeritus of History, SUNY Plattsburgh.
1974
- Dr. George W. Angell, President (Emeritus), SUNY Plattsburgh.
- Ernest L. Boyer, Chancellor, State University of New York.
- Hon. Ronald B. Stafford, New York State Senator, 43rd District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Higher Education.
1972
- Dr. Herman Cooper, Executive Dean for Teacher Education (Emeritus), SUNY Plattsburgh.
- Mr. Fred P. Merrihew, President, Plattsburgh College Foundation.
1971
- Hon. James A. Fitzpatrick, Chairman, New York State Power Authority.
1970
- Dr. Earl Harlan, Professor of English, SUNY Plattsburgh.
- 1966–1969
1969
- Dr. Edward E. Redcay, Dean and Acting President (Retired), SUNY Plattsburgh.
1967
- Dr. Kenneth Burbridge, Canadian Minister of External Affairs.
- Mr. William Withall and the William H. Miner Foundation 1968.
- Hon. Emmett J. Roach, Former Chairman, College Council, SUNY Plattsburgh.
- Mr. John Scali, Foreign News Correspondent, American Broadcasting Co.
1966
- Dr. Samuel D. Proctor, Deputy Director, Office of Economic Opportunity, Washington, DC
- Mr. James N. Rosenberg, Internationally famous Jurist and Artist.
Honorary Degrees
The purposes of honorary degrees awarded by the State University of New York are to:
- Recognize excellence in the fields the degrees authorized at SUNY campuses as well as business, philanthropy, public affairs, and public service, which exemplify SUNY’s mission;
- Honor meritorious and outstanding service to SUNY, the State of New York, the United States, or to humanity at large; and,
- Recognize those whose lives and significant achievements serve as examples of SUNY’s aspirations for its diverse student body;
- Elevate SUNY in the eyes of the world by honoring individuals who are widely known and highly regarded for achievements in their respective fields of endeavor.
- Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipients
Past Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipients Name Degree Year Awarded Neville Strumpf ’69 Doctor of Science 2022 Glenn Suddaby ’80 Doctor of Laws 2021 Koon Yan (Chris) Pak ’74 Doctor of Science 2019 Hassan A. Tetteh ’94 Doctor of Science 2019 Jean-Jacques Duval Doctor of Fine Arts 2017 Michael K. Hawes
Kerry Diamond
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Fine Arts
2016
2016
Leigh J. ’94, G’96 Gibson (Gibson Brothers) Doctor of Fine Arts 2015 Eric I. ’93 Gibson (Gibson Brothers) Doctor of Fine Arts 2015 Noriko Hasegawa Doctor of Fine Arts 2014 George Hearn Doctor of Fine Arts 2011 Raphael Angel Suarez Jr. Doctor of Humane Letters 2011 William E. McKibben Doctor of Humane Letters 2007 Ronald B. Stafford Doctor of Laws 2006 John A. Grant III Doctor of Science 2006 David H. Levy Doctor of Science 2005 Nancy Koningisor Kress Doctor of Humane Letters 2004 Jon Isherwood Doctor of Fine Arts 2003 Raghida Dergham Doctor of Letters 2003 Juan Pablo Illanes Doctor of Humane Letters 2002 Raymond Chretien Doctor of Laws 2002 Cornel West Doctor of Humane Letters 1999 Liliane Stewart Doctor of Humane Letters 1999 Nathan Farb Doctor of Fine Arts 1999 Russell E. Banks Doctor of Humane Letters 1999 Brower Hatcher Doctor of Fine Arts 1997 Calvin Trillin Doctor of Humane Letters 1996 Thomas Sobol Doctor of Humane Letters 1996 Randall Robinson Doctor of Humane Letters 1996 Reginald Wilson Doctor of Humane Letters 1995 Regina Shoolman Slatkin Doctor of Fine Arts 1995 Samuel D. Proctor Doctor of Humane Letters 1994 John L. Howarth Doctor of Science 1994 Elizabeth W. Fernea Doctor of Letters 1994 Milton C. Cummings Doctor of Letters 1994 John William Nason Doctor of Humane Letters 1992 Roger Tubby (Posthumously) Doctor of Humane Letters 1991 Robert O. Stripling (Posthumously) Doctor of Humane Letters 1991 Caroline Herzenberg Doctor of Science 1991 Anne LaBastille Doctor of Science 1990 (Hon.) Madeleine M. Kunin Doctor of Humane Letters 1990 Diane Ravitch Doctor of Human Letters 1988 Rockwell Blake Doctor of Music 1988 Jose Antonio Alonso Doctor of Humane Letters 1988 Gordon Hisaski Sato Doctor of Science 1987 Lise Bissonnette Doctor of Humane Letters 1986 Nina Winkel Doctor of Fine Arts 1985 Toshio Murashige Doctor of Science 1984 Eugene P. Wigner Doctor of Science 1982 Kenneth D. Taylor Doctor of Humane Letters 1981 - Invitation to Nominate a Person for an Honorary Doctorate Degree
Do you know of a distinguished individual whose achievements and/or contributions to society on the state, national or international levels justify them for an honorary doctorate degree from the State University of New York? If so, the Honorary Degree Committee at SUNY Plattsburgh is soliciting nominations for the honorary doctorate degree, which is the highest form of recognition offered by SUNY to persons of exceptional distinction.
The Honorary Degree Committee is accepting nominations. To submit a name, please provide at minimum a one-page convincing statement regarding the relevance and/or appropriateness of the nominee. Please include a justification why SUNY Plattsburgh should recommend the individual for an honorary doctorate degree. Detailed curriculum vitae, Who’s Who entries, reviews or articles about the nominee's work, and/or list of major awards should also be submitted if possible.
All nominations submitted are reviewed by the college’s Honorary Degree Committee. If a nomination is deemed appropriate, the nominator may be asked to assist the committee in completing the justification for recommendation. The president will review the committee's recommendations prior to submitting the nominees to the chancellor. The university-wide Committee on Honorary Degrees reviews all nominations submitted to the chancellor and then make a recommendation to the chancellor and SUNY Board of Trustees.
In making a nomination of an individual for an honorary degree, please consider the following:
- Nominees must be distinguished, and the person's achievements must be both relevant and appropriate.
- Nominees who have made extraordinary contributions to the campus can be considered, but must have made significant contributions beyond the institution and the local region.
- Service to the State University of New York is not sufficient justification alone for an honorary degree.
Except under unique and unusual circumstances, honorary degrees shall not be awarded to:
- Members of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York, the College Councils at the state-operated campus, the Board of Trustees of the State University college of Environmental Science and Forestry, and the Board of Trustees of the community colleges, during their terms of service to the university;
- Members of the teaching or administrative staff, or any other employee in the university system while employed by the university;
- Current holders of New York elective public office or active candidates for elective public office; and,
- Individuals who have already received an honorary degree from the State University of New York.
Please submit your nominations to:
Ken Knelly
Chief of Staff
Office of the President
Email: [email protected]Mailing Address:
SUNY Plattsburgh
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901