Two Herkimer College Employees Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Awards

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Two Herkimer County Community College employees were recently honored with the 2016 SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. Tabitha Carter, coordinator for the Internet Academy, received the Chancellor’s Award for Professional Service, and Assistant Professor of English Andrew Devitt received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Carter and Devitt were recognized by their colleagues at the College’s employee recognition ceremony, and publicly during the 2016 commencement ceremony, where they were presented with Chancellor’s Award medallions.

“The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the many faculty across our university system who have gone above and beyond as they educate, mentor, and conduct research alongside our students, as well as the staff whose service to SUNY is of the highest caliber,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “It is an honor to recognize the excellent work of Tabitha Carter and Andrew Devitt at Herkimer County Community College. Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients!”

Carter has been employed at Herkimer College for 16 years, initially hired as an application support technician. She then served as technical assistant for client services in the Internet Academy for 12 years and was promoted to coordinator of the Internet Academy in December 2014. Carter is actively engaged on campus through her leadership roles on committees and special initiatives, including professional development and technical assistance trainings conducted through the Teaching and Learning Collaborative. At the SUNY system level, she has served on the Open SUNY Learning Management System Administrators Committee and on the SUNY Learning Network/Open SUNY Advisory Council. “Tabitha provides our students, faculty and staff with the highest quality of service,” said Herkimer President Cathleen McColgin. “Her commitment to excellence is a defining characteristic of her work.”

Devitt joined the Herkimer College faculty more than 15 years ago as a member of the English department. He founded and acts as faculty advisor for the Writer’s Club and helps edit the campus literary magazine, Phaethon. In addition, he has been an active and productive participant in the College’s efforts to develop an effective process of academic assessment. Devitt is credited with giving individual attention and support in the classroom, reaching his students on both an intellectual and person level, many of whom stay in contact with him to discuss writing long after they’ve taken his classes. “Professor Devitt leads by example, establishing a highly effective classroom environment that is serious and rigorous in regard to its subject, but also encouraging for all students input,” added McColgin.

The SUNY Chancellor’s Award program was created to publicly recognize and honor superior professional achievement by faculty and professional staff, and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. The award is designated for faculty and staff members who personify professional excellence and serve as role models not only for the State University of New York community, but for Herkimer County Community College as well. A complete list of Herkimer College faculty and staff who have been honored with the Chancellor’s Award is available at www.herkimer.edu/chancellor-awards.

Photos Attached: Pictured from left is Assistant Professor of English Andrew Devitt and Coordinator for the Internet Academy Tabitha Carter.