Biography of Robert A. Bonfiglio

Since 1999, Robert A. Bonfiglio has served as Vice President for Student and Campus Life at the State University of New York at Geneseo.  Previously, he served as Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students at Cabrini College (PA), and has held student affairs positions at the College of New Rochelle (NY) and LaSalle University (PA).

Bonfiglio holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Stonehill College (MA), where he was selected to Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society.  He earned a master of arts in student personnel administration; a master of arts in philosophy; and a doctorate in history and education all from Columbia University.  The topic of Bonfiglio's doctoral thesis was "A History of Public Relations Work in Higher Education."

During his time at Geneseo, Bonfiglio has developed the College's award winning civic engagement programs; initiated changes that resulted in national accreditation of the College's health services; established the first public bus service in Geneseo; and led the founding of the New York Campus Compact.

Bonfiglio has been directly responsible for program initiatives that have resulted in 28 national, regional, and state awards in numerous areas, including career development; leadership development; residence life; and student civic engagement.

At the state level, Bonfiglio served as the Chair of the New York Campus Compact Advisory Committee for its first five years, and President of the SUNY Council of Chief Student Affairs Officers, and was the 2005 recipient of the College Student Personnel Association of New York State Distinguished Service to Higher Education Award.  For helping to found the New York Campus Compact, Bonfiglio was the recipient of the New York Campus Compact Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2005.

Nationally, he has been recognized with the Council for the Advancement of Standards Ted K. Miller Achievement of Excellence Award in 2010.  Bonfiglio serves as a member of the American College Personnel Association Books and Media Board and the Board of Contributors of About Campus magazine, in which he has published eight articles.  His About Campus article "Doing Less" on residence hall programming, was included in the 2004 edition of the ASHE Reader on College Student Affairs Administration.

A member of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Dr. Bonfiglio was honored by ACPA with the 11th Excellence in Practice Award (2013).