Kelly, Acosta Named to SUNY Plattsburgh College Council

"I welcome Heidi and Angel to membership on the council, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to assist the college in achieving the unprecedented success it is enjoying as one of SUNY's leading comprehensive colleges," said Donald Garrant, SUNY Plattsburgh alumnus and chair of the College Council.

Members of the council serve a seven-year term and are charged with providing governance, offering their expertise and judgment as a resource to the college and representing their campus and the State University of New York in their communities. As members of the SUNY Plattsburgh College Council, they are valuable participants in the nation's largest state university system.

Kelly looks forward to contributing to the college and the university system.

"As a graduate of the state university system," said Kelly, "I understand the important role it plays in providing a first-rate, affordable education to its students, while preparing them to succeed in a vastly different world from when I graduated. As an educator from rural Essex County, I am concerned about higher education, specifically issues such as college preparation and retention. I am excited for the opportunity to share this perspective as a member of the SUNY Plattsburgh College Council."

Prior to serving as principal at Minerva, Kelly held various teaching positions, including those in elementary school, middle school English, and remedial reading, writing and math. Active in her community, she serves on the Minerva Parks and Recreation Committee, the Parent Teacher Student Organization, and the Minerva Service Organization. Kelly is also affiliated with the School Administrators Association of New York State, College for Every Student and the New York State Middle School Association.

Kelly holds a bachelor's in education from SUNY Oneonta and a master's degree in reading from the College of St. Rose. In addition, she is a graduate of the Leadership Academy Educational Administration Program at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Her husband, Joseph Kelly, is a vice president and regional manager for Glens Falls National Bank. They have four children, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Alice and Samuel.

Kelly replaces John Johnson, the CEO of Alice Hyde Hospital in Malone, who served as a council member since June 2001. Johnson's many contributions will be missed, according to Garrant.

"John has been one of our leading members and had a great attendance record even though he had to travel almost 50 miles from campus to attend our meetings and special events," said Garrant. "In addition, he served in an outstanding manner as chair of the council's Student Affairs and Institutional Advancement committees. I, for one, will miss his advice and support."

Acosta, an anthropology student from the New York City area, who holds a 3.9 grade point average, has committed himself to work on the issues of diversity and social justice. Over the past two years, he has presented at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity and has worked to develop diversity programs on campus. He has joined forces with college administrators and students to establish a Student Diversity Committee which has run programs like "Islamophobia," "Examining Sexploitation," "Religious Fundamentalism," and others. He has also served as director of diversity in the college's Student Assembly.

"As for the College Council," said Acosta, "it is really a pleasure to be part of it and take the responsibility of representing the voice of around 6,000 students in an organization that does so much for the college."

Acosta takes the place of Kimberly Garrison, of Palatine Bridge, NY, former president of the Student Association.