(l to r) Scott Dalrymple, John Anderson, President Denise A. Battles, Kathleen Rose, Daniel Barwick.
Four Geneseo alumni who are current or former presidents of higher education institutions participated in a breakfast panel discussion, “From SUNY Geneseo Student to College President,” during Homecoming & Family Weekend, a two-day event that drew more than 700 parents, alumni, and friends to the campus and community on September 20–21.
Moderated by Geneseo President Denise A. Battles, the panelists discussed their career journeys and shared advice with parents and students. The visiting presidents included John Anderson ’79, president emeritus of Millersville University of Pennsylvania in Millersville, PA; Daniel Barwick ’90, former president of Independence Community College in Independence, KS; Scott Dalrymple ’87, president of Columbia College in Columbia, MO; and Kathleen Rose ’79, president of Gavilan College in Gilroy, CA. Founding President Emeritus Roy McTarnaghan ’54 of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL, was unable to participate in person but shared his comments via videotape.
New to this year’s Homecoming & Family Weekend was the first alumni and family Shabbat service with more than 30 families in attendance. The College also hosted its second annual Legacy Pinning Ceremony celebrating alumni who are family members of current Geneseo students. Among the 20 family participants was Sara Eckl ’23, who attended the ceremony with her aunt Angela Lukas ’00 and whose legacy connection dates back more than 100 years: her great-great-grandmother Elva Miller graduated from the Geneseo Normal School in 1916.
Among the many planned activities, traditional Homecoming & Family Weekend events included the Geneseo Chicken Wing Festival, sightseeing trips to Letchworth State Park, and mini-college sessions.