Vice President of Student Affairs Bill Laundry to Step Down in January

After more than four decades at the college, William D. “Bill” Laundry, SUNY Plattsburgh’s vice president of student affairs, announced his plans to retire, effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Laundry said the conventional wisdom — that you will know when the time for retirement comes — applies to him.

“To me, it seems that the time is very right for me to retire,” Laundry said. “We just received a wonderful Middle States (accreditation) review. We are not in the middle of a budget crisis. We have excellent leadership. The Student Affairs division is strong in terms of leadership. It’s the perfect time to go.”

“I think the initial news is somewhat of a shock to many people because it is difficult to imagine this place without Bill in that role,” said Bryan Hartman, associate vice president for student affairs and director of residence life. “The leadership and stability he has provided us in that division has truly been a blessing.”

“Bill will be missed by students, staff and faculty alike,” SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling said. “In fact, his warmth and his dedication to the campus have made him something of an icon among our alumni.

“Although Bill will no longer be vice president of student affairs, I fully expect that we will still see him on campus quite a bit,” Ettling added.

For his part, Laundry said that he will miss working with the faculty and staff and interacting with the students, “but I don’t have to miss it all.” He plans to stay in Plattsburgh and volunteer at the college, helping with both Student Affairs and Alumni Affairs. He’s also looking forward to reading more books, doing a little traveling, spending more time at Silver Lake and catching events at both the college and in the community.

Meanwhile, Laundry hopes the college will continue on its current trajectory.

“It seems to me that we are constantly looking for ways to improve for the benefit of the students. We’ve had a good last 10 years, and my hope is that we will continue to move forward.”

Interim Vice President Announced

Hartman has been selected to fill Laundry’s shoes on an interim basis. A 1988 graduate of the college, he started working at the college as a staff assistant in Campus Life in 1993. He became director of residence life in 2005 and the associate vice president for student affairs in 2011.

“Bryan is an excellent choice to take the helm of the division,” Laundry said.

Ettling agreed.

“We know that our division of Student Affairs will be in good hands under Bryan, with his years of experience in the field.”

“I am humbled and honored that Dr. Ettling and others feel that I can take the interim role while a search is being conducted,” Hartman said. “It certainly is — for anyone — a challenge to try to follow Bill in all that he has done and will continue to do for this campus.”

About Bill Laundry

Laundry came to the college as housing director in 1969. Since then, he has served as director of residence life, director of campus life, dean of students, associate vice president for student affairs and, most recently, vice president for student affairs.

He is involved in many college-wide committees and serves as adviser to the Student Association Finance Board and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society for students, faculty, staff and administrators. He also serves on the Plattsburgh Campus-Community Partnership and has since its inception.

In addition, he is active in the community and serves as secretary of the AuSable Forks High School Alumni Association and is on the board of directors for the UFirst Federal Credit Union. He is also a member of the Hawkeye Conservationists; vice president of the Clinton County Historical Association; a member of the Plattsburgh Memorial Chapel Board of Directors; and a marriage officer for the City of Plattsburgh.

In 2005, Laundry was the seventh person in the college’s history to be honored as an honorary alumnus, and, in October 2006, the Student Association suite in the Angell College Center was named after him.

Retirement Festivities

Institutional Advancement is forming a committee to plan a going-away tribute to Laundry. Details will be announced at a later date.