Five Win SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence
May 7, 2018
It has become an annual event, and this year is no exception: SUNY has once again conferred its Chancellor’s Award for Excellence on members of the FSC community. Those honored: Dr. Jonathan Lehrer, Dr. Fran Cherkis, Professor Orla Smyth-LoPiccolo, Adjunct Assistant Professor David Guarino, and Secretary 2 Marybeth Liegmann.
The FSC Selection Committee, and Dr. Richard Vogel, dean of the School of Business, had these comments about the award winners:
| Dr. Jonathan Lehrer, Associate Professor and Chair, Urban Horticulture and Design Excellence in Teaching Dr. Lehrer has more than adequately demonstrated that he is a serious and committed teacher who genuinely cares for his students, wants them to learn and is able to convey information in a very effective manner. He has taught numerous courses at a level that challenges his students while also making the course material enjoyable and manageable. This is not easy to do as a professor who teaches fast paced and detailed courses. The best professors are those able to convey an abundant amount of material that is very detailed in a manner that the students can grasp and be engaged in, and Dr. Lehrer manages to accomplish this in an effortless manner. |
 Dr. Jonathan Lehrer |
| Dr. Fran Cherkis, Professor of Nursing Excellence in Faculty Service Dr. Cherkis has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the students, the nursing department, the College, and the local community. Although she has excelled in all three areas of teaching, scholarship and service, she has particularly established excellence in the area of service. Dr. Cherkis has received the honor of being recognized as a 2016 Nurse of Excellence awardee for compassion, devotion and dedication of humanistic ideals exemplified as a registered professional nurse. In addition, she received the Cherokee Inspired Comfort Award which acknowledges her dedication to the profession. |
 Dr. Fran Cherkis |
| Professor Orla Smyth-LoPiccolo, Associate Professor, Architecture and Construction Management, Excellence in Teaching Professor LoPiccolo has proven herself to be an outstanding teacher and member of the campus community. By virtue of her professional experience, continuing growth in remaining current with industry standards, and her exceptionally caring nature, she has notably distinguished herself with a timeless commitment to the success of students and the Architecture and Construction Management baccalaureate programs. While Professor LoPiccolo gets outstanding marks in her commitment to the College through the long hours she dedicates to committees, curriculum development, advisement, mentoring, and recent service as chair, it is in her teaching performance where she shines the most. |
 Professor Orla Smyth-LoPiccolo |
| David Guarino, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Visual Communications, Excellence in Adjunct Teaching Professor Guarino is an award-winning photographer with numerous images published both nationally and overseas. For over 25 years he has been the owner and operator of Image Nation Photography, one of Long Island’s largest and most successful advertising photography studios. Professor Donna Proper, chair of the Department of Visual Communications, had this to say about his accomplishments in the classroom: “In the classroom he is innovative, enthusiastic, and has the ability to inspire and transform his students to achieve excellence – even those that aren’t art majors. As one student stated, ‘he will make you love photography.'” |
 Adjunct Professor David Guarino |
| Mary-Beth Liegmann, Secretary 2, School of Business, Excellence in Classified Service From the day she started, Mrs. Liegmann brought a new level of professionalism and organization to the dean’s office. She is a valued and integral member of the dean’s staff. Her professional attitude and work ethic help to maintain and keep the office functioning smoothly, efficiently, and effectively. As the primary point of contact with the visitors and callers to the School of Business, she presents a knowledgeable and friendly image to the public – always ready to assist with the highest level of customer service. |
 Mary-Beth Liegmann |
The Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence are conferred to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. These programs underscore SUNY’s commitment to sustaining intellectual vibrancy, advancing the boundaries of knowledge, providing the highest quality of instruction, and serving the public good. Through these awards, SUNY publicly proclaims its pride in the accomplishment and personal dedication of its instructional faculty, librarians and professional staff across its campuses.
