News & Events

Schenectady County Community College Welcomes New Faculty and Staff

SCCC welcomes the following new faculty and staff members:

Celeste Abbadessa has been hired as the Coordinator of the Annual Fund and Business Gifts in the Office of Planning and Development. She joins SCCC after serving as the Development Coordinator for the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless in Albany. She holds an A.A. in Liberal Arts from Broome Community College, a B.A. in Political Science from the University at Albany and is currently a graduate student at the Nelson A. Rockefeller School of Public Administration.

Thomas Alicandro has received a temporary appointment as Instructor in the Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Department for the Fall 2006 semester, filling in for Professor Rocco Verrigni who is on sabbatical in Italy. Tom has been an Adjunct Faculty Member since 2002. He has served as Banquet Manager at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga, Executive Chef of the Crooked Lake House in Averill Park, Head Chef at La Serre Restaurant in Albany and Chef for Governor George Pataki. He holds a B.A. in History from the University at Albany.

Ivan Brainard was hired as a Cleaner in the Maintenance Department in February. Prior to joining SCCC, Ivan worked at the Schenectady County Public Library in the Maintenance Department and at Fortitech, a local vitamin manufacturer. He has a background in general construction and remodeling.

Cassandra Carter joins SCCC as a participant in the Internship Program for the Development of Minority Faculty. She has work experience as a Childcare Worker with responsibilities for young women ages 13 to 18, as a Substitute Teacher and as a Resident Assistant at the University at Albany. Cassandra holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Sociology from the University at Albany.

Shirlee Dufort has been hired as Coordinator of Evening and Alternative Programs in the Continuing Education Division. She is a familiar face on campus, having served as Interim Coordinator twice. Shirlee has an A.A. in Humanities and Social Sciences from SCCC, and B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from the University at Albany where she is currently completing her Ph.D. in English, focusing on the role of community in student retention and engagement.

Anthony Giles comes to SCCC as a participant in the Internship Program for the Development of Minority Faculty. He has had teaching experience at Roane State Community College in Tennessee and at the Conservatorio de Musica de Oviedo. He has had experience in symphony orchestras in areas including Key West, Fla., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Knoxville, Tenn., and with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, the Michigan State University Symphonic Band, the Tommy Dorsey Big Band and the Mel Lewis Big Band. He earned a Bachelor's of Music with Honors from Michigan State University and Master's of Music from The Juilliard School in New York City.

Deborah Harris was hired as an Account Clerk in the Administrative Division. Deborah has served as an Engineering Technician at the New York State Department of Health and at the New York State Department of Transportation. She holds an A.S. in Engineering Science from SUNY Delhi and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University at Albany.

Christopher Henry was hired as the Manager of the College Store. He has experience in retail as the Assistant Manager of the Carl Company, Regional Technical Specialist at Things Remembered, and as General Manager at S & K Men's Clothing and Marshall's Department Store. Christopher holds an A.A.S. in Hotel Management from SCCC.

Tina Kiernan was hired in April as a Part-Time Reference Librarian in the Begley Library. Prior to joining SCCC Tina was a Computer Programmer and Business Analyst in Hauppauge, Long Island, for Avnet, Inc., an electronics distribution company. Tina holds a B.S. in Computer Science and M.B.A. in Business Computers from Hofstra University. She also holds an M.S. in Library and Information Science from C.W. Post, Long Island University.

Terrell Leigh joined SCCC in April as a Cleaner in the Maintenance Department. Prior to joining SCCC Terrell was a Mail Clerk and Inventory Clerk for the New York State Assembly.

Dr. Yijie Li has joined SCCC as an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics, Science and Technology Department. He is a Senior Materials Scientist in the Materials Technology program at SuperPower, Inc. Prior to SuperPower, Dr. Li had experiences which included work on nano-scale thin film deposition. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the Chinese Academy of the Sciences.

Gary Perkins has served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the College since Spring 2005. He was hired in a grant-supported position as an Assistant Professor teaching Criminal Justice in the Business and Law Department. Gary was a member of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant. He holds an A.A.S. in Criminal Justice from Hudson Valley Community College, a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Russell Sage College and an M.S. in Public Administration from Marist College.

Dr. Jodi Reeves has been hired as an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics, Science and Technology Department. She is a Senior Materials Scientist and Quality Control Manager for Characterization at SuperPower, Inc. Jodi holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Materials Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has published more than 20 refereed papers on high temperature superconductors.

Amanda Rickard was hired as Assistant for Online Learning in the Instructional Technology Center.Prior to joining SCCC, Amanda was a Multimedia Specialist and Instructional Designer for the SLN. She holds a B.A. in Broadcasting and Mass Communication from SUNY Oswego and an M.S. in New Media from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University.

Heather Shalhoub was hired in March as a Part-Time Web Services/Reference Librarian in the Begley Library. In addition to working at SCCC, Heather is an Adjunct Reference Librarian at Fulton Montgomery Community College. She has also served as an Electronic Reference Assistant at the New York State Library. Heather holds an A.A. with Honors in General Studies from Fulton Montgomery Community College, a B.A. with Honors in Art from the University at Albany, and an M.S. in Information Science with a concentration in Libraries from the University at Albany.

Debbie Ubriaco was hired in April as a Part-Time Reference Librarian. She previously was a Library Media Specialist at Bloomfield Elementary School, Newark Middle School and for the Berkshire Unified School District. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from SUNY Geneseo and an Master's in Library Science from the University at Albany.

Christine Volans was recently hired as a Part-Time Information Processing Specialist I in the Instructional Technology Center, Begley Library.

Schenectady County Community College Board of Trustees Elects Officers

The Schenectady County Community College Board of Trustees elected officers during a regular meeting recently. The following trustees were elected into office: Robert E. Ruggeri-Chair; Michael W. Karl-Vice Chair; J. Richard Phillippe-Secretary; and Alexander T. LaRocco-Treasurer.

Ruggeri, of Niskayuna, was appointed to the Board in 1999 by the Schenectady County Legislature. He serves as Chair of the Education and Personnel Committee and as a Member of the Finance and Facilities Committee. He has also served the College as a Member of the Community Services and Paralegal Advisory Committees. He is Managing Counsel for the State University of New York, where he has served since 1994. Prior to that, he practiced law with Rogers & Wells and taught at Georgetown University?s Law School. He is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

Karl, of Schenectady, has been on the Board since 1997 when he was appointed by Governor George Pataki. He serves as Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee and as a Member of the Education and Personnel Committee. He has also served on the College?s Business Advisory Committee. He is President of Management Protection International, in Albany, which specializes in insurance coverage for directors and officers of public, private and not-for-profit companies, and Executive Vice President of First Niagara Risk Management.

Phillippe, of Schenectady, has been on the Board since 2000 when he was appointed by Governor George Pataki. He serves as Chair of the Community Relations and Student Affairs Committee and as a Member of the Finance and Facilities Committee. He also serves as a Member of the Foundation Board of Directors and on the Criminal Justice and Music Advisory Committees. He is Branch Director of RBC Dain Rausher, a stock brokerage firm in Schenectady.

LaRocco, of Scotia, has been on the Board since 1996. He was appointed by the Schenectady County Legislature. He serves as Vice Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee and as a member of the Foundation Board of Directors and Athletics, Fire Protection Technology and SUNY College and Career Counseling Center Advisory Committees. He is a retired High School Guidance Counselor.

The SCCC Board of Trustees is comprised of 10 members with four appointed by the Governor, five by the County Legislature and one SCCC student trustee, elected by the student body. Terms are for a seven-year period, with the exception of the Student Trustee whose term lasts for one year. Terms run from July 1 to June 30. Officers serve a one-year term beginning in July. The Board is the policy-making body of the College.

Schenectady County Community College Celebrates Culinary Arts Addition Kickoff

Approximately 200 students, faculty, staff and supporters of Schenectady County Community College gathered today during the College’s Culinary Arts Addition Kickoff from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Van Curler Room, Elston Hall.

SCCC President Gabe Basil began the event, thanking the College’s supporters. "Today we celebrate the beginning of a very important project for the College, as we expand one of our signature programs. We thank all of you for your continued support and encourage you to watch us grow over this coming year," Basil said.

Architect Karl Griffith, AIA, President of Cataldo, Waters and Griffith, P.C., then unveiled renderings of the addition to the Culinary Arts area in Elston Hall on the Washington Avenue campus. The addition includes: two new labs, a dedicated kitchen for the Casola Dining Room, a seminar room where classes will be held and discussion will take place following banquets, and a new dining room. Currently SCCC has seven culinary arts labs.

Robert E. Ruggeri, Chair of the SCCC Board of Trustees, had this to say, "The Culinary Arts program attracts students, and employers, from far and wide. But now it is time for us to, as Emeril would say, ‘kick it up a notch.’ This magnificent renovation and expansion, and the facilities that will be housed here, will enable our faculty, staff and students to continue to do great things."

Several civic and governmental leaders were in attendance to lend their continued support to the expansion project.

Assemblyman Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) congratulated the faculty in the College’s Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Department. "You have planted many a dream and allowed people to begin their walk along a career path," he said. He addressed members of the College community by saying, "You embrace the nomenclature of community in the most meaningful way."

Assemblyman James Tedisco, Minority Leader (R-C-Schenectady), reflected on his days taking writing classes at SCCC while a student at nearby Union College and said he was looking forward to returning to the College when the expansion is completed. "We couldn’t be more proud of this development. I’m looking forward to my first meal here (after construction is finished)," he said.

Vincent M. DiCerbo ‘74, Deputy Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature and a Member of the SCCC Board of Trustees, began taking classes at the College in 1972, when the entire campus consisted of Elston Hall, the former Van Curler Hotel. "Back then people knew about the academic reputation of SCCC and it’s only grown from there," he said.

Construction on the $6.2 million addition began in April 2006 and SCCC officials expect it to be completed for the start of the Fall 2007 semester. The expansion project is funded equally by Schenectady County and New York State. The College felt it necessary to create more space for Culinary Arts courses based on considerable growth in the program since its inception in 1980.

"Our Department thanks the sponsors for placing faith in our ability to educate students to fulfill the overwhelming job demand in Schenectady County, the Capital District and all over the world," said Toby Strianese, Professor and Chair of the Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Department at SCCC.

Stefanie Plass, a Hotel and Restaurant Management A.A.S. degree major, served hors d’oeuvres to guests during the event as a student in Instructor Thomas Alicandro’s Banquet Management Operations class. "Obviously it (the expansion) shows that the program is very popular and it’s great for the College," she said.

SCCC Announces Fall 2006 Events

Monday, Sept. 11, 2006
Guest Lecturer Chef Jeffrey Henderson presents Building Dreams Through a Transformed Life: From Cocaine to Foie Gras, 6 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. Chef Henderson transformed his life from a drug dealer to an award-winning chef at five star restaurants. Free.
Sponsored by the Student Government Association.

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006
Musicians of Ma’alwyck Concert Preview with Guest Artist Pianist Mark Evans, SCCC Adjunct Faculty Member, 11:30 a.m., Begley Building, Room 160. Free.

Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006
Double Reed Day, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Begley Building, Music Wing. This event includes: reed making/bassoon basics workshops; a Faculty Recital; Master Classes with Fred Cohen (oboe) and Doug Quint (bassoon); a Careers in Music Therapy workshop open to any Capital Region music student; and a Double Reed Recital at 5 p.m., which is free and open to the public. Registration fee for Double Reed Day is $15. Call (518) 381-1231 to register.

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006
Empire Jazz Orchestra Fall Performance celebrating the EJO’s 15th season, 8 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. Tickets: $15-general public and $6-students. Call (518) 381-1231 for tickets. This project is made possible in part through Community Art$ Grants, a program funded through the state and local partnership program of the New York State Council on the Arts and The Arts Center of the Capital Region and through the Schenectady County Initiative Program.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006
Hispanic Heritage Month Event, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Elston Hall, Lally Mohawk Room. Free.
Sponsored by the Black and Latino Student Alliance and Multicultural Affairs.

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006
Musicians of Ma’alwyck Concert Preview, 11:30 a.m., Begley Building, Room 160. Free.

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006
Community and Cultural Events Committee presents Guest Speaker James Howard Kunstler, local author of The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of the Oil Age, Climate Change and Other Converging Catastrophes of the 21st Century (2005) and The Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America’s Manmade Landscape (1993), 7 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. An urban planning advocate, journalist and novelist, Mr. Kunstler has written articles for Rolling Stone, The New York Times and Atlantic Monthly and writes, “A land full of places that are not worth caring about will soon be a nation and a way of life that is not worth defending. The future will require us to build better places, or the future will belong to other people in other societies.” Tickets: $5-general public; free for SCCC students, faculty and staff with a valid I.D. card. Tickets on sale Monday, Sept. 11, 2006, in the SCCC College Store, 377-1606. Mr. Kunstler’s books will be sold in the College Store with a book signing following his discussion.

Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006
Community and Cultural Events Committee presents Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Ellen Goodman, 7 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. Her discussion is titled Politics Is (Too) Personal, Media Is (Too) Polarized and Television News Is An Oxymoron. A stylish writer with a humanizing touch on any issue, public or personal, Ms. Goodman is one of the nation’s leading writers. Her commentary appears in more than 450 newspapers, making her one of the two most syndicated columnists in the United States. Tickets: $5-general public; free for SCCC students, faculty and staff with a valid I.D. card. Tickets on sale Monday, Sept. 11, 2006, in the SCCC College Store, 377-1606. Ms. Goodman’s books will be sold in the College Store with a book signing following her discussion.

Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006
Capital Region Wind Ensemble Concert, 3 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. Tickets: $8-general public; $6-students. Call (518) 381-1231 for tickets.

Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006
Native American Heritage Event, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Stockade Building, Room 102. Free.
Sponsored by Multicultural Affairs.

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006
Leadership Training Series: An Afternoon with Ellen, Enhancing Relationships For A More Fabulous You, with former ABC Radio host and relationship expert Ellen Gootblatt, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Elston Hall, Activity Forum. Free.

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006
SCCC Players Fall Production, 8 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. Tickets: $5-general public; $3-seniors and students at other institutions; free for SCCC community.

Friday, Nov. 17, 2006
SCCC Players Fall Production, 2:15 and 8 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. Tickets: $5-general public; $3-seniors and students at other institutions; free for SCCC community.

Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006
SCCC Players Fall Production, 8 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. Tickets: $5-general public; $3-seniors and students at other institutions; free for SCCC community.

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006
SCCC Guitar Ensemble Concert, 7:30 p.m., Elston Hall, Lally Mohawk Room. Free.

Monday, Dec. 4, 2006
SCCC Chorus & Vocal Chamber Ensemble Concert, 7:30 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. Free.

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006
SCCC Jazz Ensemble & Percussion Ensemble Concert, 7:30 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. Free.

Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006
Holiday Craft Fair, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Elston Hall, Van Curler and Lally Mohawk Rooms. Free.
Sponsored by Multicultural Affairs.

Monday, Dec. 11, 2006
SCCC Woodwind Chamber Ensembles Concert, 7:30 p.m., Lally Mohawk Room. Free.

Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006
Musicians of Ma’alwyck Concert Preview, 11:30 a.m., Begley Building, Room 160. Free.

Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006
African Market Place, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Elston Hall, Student Center. Free.
Sponsored by the Black and Latino Student Alliance and Multicultural Affairs.

Kwanzaa Celebration, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Elston Hall, Van Curler Room. Free.
Co-Sponsored by the Black and Latino Student Alliance and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Friday, Dec. 15, 2006
SCCC Wind Ensemble Concert, 7:30 p.m., Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium. Free.