Retirees honored with emeritus status

The Herkimer County Community College Board of Trustees recently approved emeritus status for three retiring employees, effective September 1, 2021.

Emeritus status is an honor granted by the Board of Trustees to retired professional, academic, and administrative staff members who have demonstrated excellence and commitment to making Herkimer College the exceptional institution it is today.

John Lasher has been named Registrar Emeritus. Lasher has amassed 24 years of service to Herkimer College, after being appointed science laboratory technician in 1989 before being hired as an instructor of science in 1992. He went on to receive promotions to assistant professor and lead adviser/assistant registrar in 1997 and 2000, respectively. Lasher was later appointed registrar in 2015 and is retiring from that position. Lasher has served as chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, chair of a Middles States Standards Committee, and member of the Strategic Planning, Chancellor’s Awards, Curriculum, and Commencement committees. He also served as the College’s veterans benefits coordinator and was a member of the SUNY Registrar’s Association (SUNYRA). He holds a B.S. in biology and an M.S. in education from SUNY Albany.

Debra Sutliff has been named Bursar Emeritus. She joined the Herkimer College staff in 1988 and has served as the bursar for more than 30 years. Sutliff received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 1996 and was named a “Campus Angel” by On Point for College in 2010. She is a member of NYSOBBA (New York State Association of Bursars and Business Officers) and served as the SICAS (SUNY Student Information and Campus Administrative System) Functional Area User Group chairperson for four years for Student Accounts/Bursars. At the College, Sutliff served on the Enrollment Management and Marketing, Internet Academy Advisory, Administrative Computing, and Retention committees, as well as the Information Services working group. She holds an A.A.S. from Fulton-Montgomery Community College, a B.B.A. from Siena College, and an M.S. from SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

Susan Tripp has been named Director of Financial Aid Emeritus and has been with Herkimer College for nearly 40 years, having been hired as a technical assistant in the Financial Aid department in 1982. She was promoted to technical assistant II in 1986 and financial aid assistant in 1987. She was later appointed senior financial aid assistant in 1998, and then director of financial aid in 2003. Tripp received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 2011. She is an executive council member of SUNYFAP (SUNY Financial Aid Professionals), Inc. and a member of the NYSFAAA (New York State Financial Aid Administrator Association). At the College, Tripp served on the Information Services working group and the Academic and Student Affairs, Internet Academy Advisory, Administrative Computing, and Readmit and Dismissal committees. She holds a B.S. from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

College President Cathleen McColgin said, “We are grateful to John, Deb, and Sue for their many years of dedicated service to Herkimer College and the students we serve, and we wish them all the very best in retirement.”