Alfred State College President to Lead New Technology, Math and Science for SUNY [Press Release]

For Immediate Release: June 14, 2006

Albany – SUNY Chancellor John R. Ryan announced today that Alfred State College President Dr. Uma Gupta has accepted his invitation to lead a SUNY-wide initiative to increase the number of women and minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines across the
university.  She will resign her position as President of Alfred State College effective June 30, 2006 in order to lead this important initiative.

"The University appreciates President Gupta’s strong leadership and great efforts at Alfred State College," said Chancellor Ryan. "The challenge of making science and mathematics more accessible to under-represented groups is an important issue for SUNY and the State of New York. Dr. Gupta is well-qualified to take on that challenge."

Proudest Accomplishment for Alfred State College

My proudest accomplishment was a transformational vision and strategy that turned around an economically distressed farm laboratory into an organic “Smart Farm” which today attracts national and international attention. There is optimism in the community that the Smart Farm will create much-needed economic vibrancy in Western New York. This is an innovative framework for economic development through the integration of agriculture and leading edge technologies. Further, for the first time in its hundred-year history, the college secured an unprecedented five million dollars in state funding in its very first year of implementing this plan. This was due to collaboration, teamwork, and strategic thinking of dedicated educators and community leaders.

Read select press coverage:

Download asc22.pdf

Download asc23.pdf
Download asc25.pdf

Download asc26.pdf
(Press release from Office of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton)

Technology Leadership

Alfred State College received national prominence by attaining the 21st position in Intel’s second annual “Most Unwired College Campuses” survey. The survey ranks college campuses by greatest wireless Internet accessibility. Alfred State was the only SUNY institution in the top 50.

Read select press coverage:

Download asc8.pdf

Community Outreach Initiatives for Alfred State College

As President of Alfred State College, I spearheaded these community outreach iniatives:

• Leadership Circle: This new and exciting outreach initiative is a breakfast series that brings outstanding industry and community to educate the community on a wide variety of issues. Some workshops that focus on women’s issues were also offered. An annual conference serves an important void in the community for leadership training and mentoring.
  (Press Coverage: Download asc4.pdf
  )
• Children’s International Festival: With a vision to enhance global awareness in a small rural community, the Children’s International Festival was launched. A committee of faculty, staff, students, and community members has enthusiastically embraced this initiative. The proceeds from the event go to a local charity and an international charity. 
  (Press Coverage: Download asc7.pdf)
• Katrina Relief: The recent national disaster resulting from Hurricane
  Katrina rallied the entire campus community with a flurry of
  fund-raising events geared toward relief of the victims. The campus
  gave up its annual Christmas party among other things to raise more
  than $10,000 for Katrina Relief. My family and I led a
  campus team of faculty, staff, and students to Biloxi, Mississippi, for
  four days in November 2005 to assist Katrina victims.Download asc19.pdf
  to read my article about our experience in Biloxi.
  (Representative Press Coverage: Download asc1.pdf | Download asc6.pdf
  | Download asc13.pdf
  | Download asc16.pdf | Download asc17.pdf
  )