Alumni, Faculty Awards to Be Given Saturday During Homecoming Weekend

October 16, 2012

The SUNY Plattsburgh Alumni Association has named Michael and Selviana “Selvi” Bates, a husband and wife from the Class of 2002, recipients of the 2012 Off to a Good Start Award, and long-time accounting professor, Dr. Mohamed Gaber, recipient of the 2012 Faculty/Staff Impact Award.

The Off to a Good Start Award is presented within the first 10 years after graduation to an alumnus or alumna who is off to a good start in his or her career, who demonstrates a sense of responsibility within the community and who continues to have a relationship with SUNY Plattsburgh.

Dr. Dexter Criss, director of the SUNY Plattsburgh Gospel Choir, nominated both Michael and Selvi for the award because of their commitment to the Gospel Choir, as members while on campus and as supporters after graduation. The couple sponsored the choir’s spring 2010 tour and continues to support the Gospel Choir Endowment through the Plattsburgh College Foundation.

Michael is vice president, international government affairs, with Citi. He works closely with Citi’s Global Government Affairs staff and chief county officers, managing Citi’s relationships with relevant financial regulatory bodies and U.S. and foreign government officials in more than 100 countries around the world. In addition, he attends briefings with congressional staffers on the merits of legislation impacting international markets.

Selvi is a paralegal specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice. She expects to graduate with a J.D. from the Charlotte School of Law, Charlotte, N.C., in 2016.

The Faculty/Staff Impact Award is presented to a faculty of staff member — current or retired — who has or had a major and lasting positive impact on the life of alumni.

Gaber, chair of accounting in the School of Business and Economics, has a long history of mentoring accounting and business students, bringing them to financial institutions in Manhattan and Boston every year to network with business alumni and company executives. He has an extensive database of former students, keeping in touch with them throughout the years to help upcoming students and new graduates meet successful alumni in the field. Student comments such as `“By far one of my favorite teachers at SUNY Plattsburgh,” and “Super teacher, willing to give you 100 percent and will go out of his way to help you in whatever problems in accounting or your personal life (you may have)” abound on faculty surveys and websites.

The Alumni Association Board is also appreciative of the time that Gaber invests in Alumni Association regional events, said Director of Alumni Relations Joanne Nelson. Gaber will personally call alumni, inviting them to attend, in addition to bringing students to such gatherings.

The awards will be given during Homecoming Weekend at a continental breakfast Saturday, Oct. 20, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Cardinal Lounge, Angell College Center.