Four Receive 2016 Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence

Albany, NY – In support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s initiatives driving world-class public higher education in New York State, SUNY Polytechnic Institute today announced that four members of its faculty and staff have received Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence from the State University of New York for 2016. Through these awards, SUNY publicly proclaims its pride in the accomplishment and personal dedication of its instructional faculty and professional staff across its campuses.

SUNY Poly’s 2016 Chancellor’s Award recipients are:

• Florence Jones,Office Assistant for the Health and Wellness Center Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service

• Andre Melendez,Associate Head of the Nanobioscience Constellation, Professor of Nanobioscience Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities

• Carlie Phipps,Associate Professor of Biology Chancellor’s Award Excellence in Faculty Service

• Stephen Stewart,Instructional Support Technician Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service

“The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the many faculty across our university system who have gone above and beyond as they educate, mentor, and conduct research alongside our students, as well as the staff whose service to SUNY is of the highest caliber,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “It is an honor to recognize the excellent work of Florence, Andre, Carlie and Stephen as SUNY Poly celebrates commencement. Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients."

“SUNY Poly is honored to once again have several members of its faculty and staff recognized with Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. These four worthy awardees exemplify our institution’s commitment to the highest academic standards,” said Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, President and CEO of SUNY Poly. “We extend our congratulations and thanks to our recipients, whose passion and dedication help make SUNY Poly an amazing place to work and learn.”

“We are extremely proud of SUNY Poly’s world class faculty and staff and these award recipients truly embody the spirit of innovation and dedication to scholarship that lie at the heart of our institution,” said Dr. Robert Geer, Senior Vice President and COO of SUNY Polytechnic Institute. “They are leaders within our institution and we are honored to have them as part of the SUNY Poly family.”

Florence Jones joined SUNY Poly in 2008 as a Keyboard Specialist and currently serves as Office Assistant for the Health and Wellness Center. This May, she celebrates 30 years of employment with New York State.

Andre Melendez earned his B.S. in Marine Science & Biology at the University of Tampa, which was followed by a M.S. in Biomedical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  He then transitioned to the State University of New York at Albany where he received a Ph. D. in molecular biology.  In 2011, he joined SUNY Poly as empire innovation professor & associate head of the nanobioscience constellation.

Carlie Phipps joined SUNY Poly in 2001 from the University of Kansas and is currently an associate professor of biology.  While at SUNY Poly, she has served as the biology and chemistry area coordinator, the co-chair of the mathematics and sciences department, and the chair of the Faculty Assembly.  She has also worked at the statewide level with the SUNY University Faculty Senate.

Stephen Stewart started at SUNY Poly in 2001 as a Research Support Technician.  He holds a B.S. in Management from Endicott College and his technical background includes Technical Training Specialist, Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates; Leading Quality Assurance Supervisor, Naval Submarine Support Facility New London, CT; Quality Assurance Supervisor for Submarine Squadron 10, New London, CT; and Nuclear Reactor Operator, United States Navy.

The Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence acknowledge consistently superior professional achievement and encourage the continued pursuit of excellence, while underscoring SUNY’s commitment to sustaining intellectual vibrancy, advancing the boundaries of knowledge, providing the highest quality of instruction, and serving the public good.  Jones and Phipps will be presented with their awards at SUNY Poly’s Utica Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m.  Melendez and Stewart with receive their awards at SUNY Poly’s Albany Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 14 at 1:30 p.m.

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SUNY Polytechnic Institute.SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem, formed from the merger of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SUNY Institute of Technology. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, technology, professional studies, and the arts and sciences at its Utica/Rome campus. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts more than $20 billion in high-tech investments, over 300 corporate partners, and maintains a statewide footprint. The 1.3 million-square-foot Albany NanoTech megaplex is home to more than 3,500 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, faculty, and staff, in addition to Tech Valley High School. The Utica/Rome campus offers a unique high-tech learning environment, providing academic programs in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, with degrees and course offerings in natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. Thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. SUNY Poly operates the Smart Cities Technology Innovation Center (SCiTI) at Kiernan Plaza in Albany, the Solar Energy Development Center in Halfmoon, CNSE’s Central New York Hub for Emerging Nano Industries in Syracuse, the Photovoltaic Manufacturing and Technology Development Facility in Rochester, and the Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center (STC) in Canandaigua. SUNY Poly founded and manages the Computer Chip Commercialization Center (Quad-C) on its Utica campus and also manages the $500 million New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium, with nodes in Albany and Rochester, as well as the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend, Buffalo Information Technologies Innovation and Commercialization Hub, and Buffalo Medical Innovation and Commercialization Hub. For information visit www.sunycnse.com and www.sunypoly.edu.

Contact: Jerry Gretzinger, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Public Relations (518) 956-7359 | jgretzinger@sunycnse.com