Faculty and Staff Receive Honors at Convocation

Faculty and staff honorees at the 2026 Opening Convocation (SUNY Geneseo/Mat Johnson)

Geneseo’s Opening Convocation for faculty and staff on August 21 celebrated the following 2026 award recipients:

Paul Schacht, professor of English and director of the Center for Digital Learning in the Office of the Provost, received SUNY Geneseo’s Faculty Career Achievement Award. The award acknowledges the highest levels of achievement by faculty members.

In some four decades of SUNY service, Schacht’s many accomplishments and recognitions include two SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence, one for teaching and another for faculty service; 15 publications; and more than two dozen academic presentations. His service record at Geneseo includes terms as department chair, senate chair, and interim provost, as well as influential participation on the Strategic Planning Group, the Budget Priorities Committee, and the steering committee of the Middle States Self-Study.

Seven other Geneseo employees received Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence, SUNY-level honors conferred to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. 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.

Mackenzie Gerringer, who served as associate professor of biology until her recent move to another institution to be closer to family, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities. During her time at Geneseo, she built a record of publications, external funding, and scientific discovery in deep-sea biology, with students involved throughout the process.

Andrea Klein, director of campus scheduling and event management in the Office of Scheduling, Events and Conference Services, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. For nearly 20 years, she has scheduled and coordinated every event held on campus, across 15 buildings and in partnership with every academic and administrative department and 150 student organizations.

Don Kot, coordinator of musical theatre in the Department for the Performing Arts since 2014, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Kot has helped develop a curriculum spanning acting, musicianship, audition technique, and production, pairing professional standards with individual coaching so students can develop their own artistic identity.

Gillian Paku, associate professor of English and creative writing, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.Paku has led campus work on digital accessibility and trained faculty and students to create accessible content. Through course design, community-engaged learning partnerships, her work with ArcGLOW and the LIVES program, and her advocacy for disability studies, she has opened opportunities for students and built a culture of belonging.

Ava Pascalar, supervising janitor in Facilities Services, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service. Through her genuine care for students and colleagues, and her initiatives such as the beloved pet wall in Onondaga Hall, Pascalar creates meaningful connections that help students feel part of the Geneseo community.

George Reuter, a lecturer of mathematics, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Reuter teaches across the curriculum, from introductory calculus to advanced proof-based mathematics. He uses inquiry-based learning, collaborative problem solving, flipped instruction, and individual feedback in his classrooms to help students work through complex material.

Daniel Ross, head of access services at Milne Library, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship.Rosskeeps the user at the center of his work, overseeing resource sharing, facilities support, and staff supervision, along with more than 50 student employees.

Two professors also earned SUNY distinguished ranks: professor of English and creative writing Robert Doggett received the rank of Distinguished Service Professor, and Aaron Steinhauer, professor of physics and astronomy, the rank of Distinguished Teaching Professor.