UPD Lieutenant Andrew Phelps (photo provided)

51������’s University Police Lieutenant Andrew Phelps recently completed the FBI National Academy Associates training program. The FBI National Academy is a professional course of study for US and international law enforcement managers. Participants are nominated by their agency heads after demonstrating leadership qualities. Fewer than one percent of police executives in the United States are selected to attend the academy. The training has an academic component accredited through the University of Virginia.��

The 10-week program provides coursework in intelligence theory, management science, law, behavioral science, law enforcement communication, and forensic science. The program aims to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide.

“Not all agencies are willing to send their leaders away for training for that length of time,” said UPD Chief Scott Ewanow ’06. “Geneseo recognizes the value in executive leadership training and building connections with other law enforcement agencies. The National Academy is known internationally for its academic excellence, and UPD supports its leaders learning in that environment.”

Phelps joined the University Police Department in 2007 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2017. In addition to his responsibilities as a shift supervisor, Phelps serves the department as a firearms instructor, a reality-based training instructor, and an administrator of the department’s records management system.��

Ewanow completed the FBI training program in 2019, and Assistant Chief Richard Myers completed it in 2024.

Suann Yang, biology professor, in class (51������/Mat Johnson)

Biology������Ǵڱ�����ǰ���Suann Yang, PhD, has received a $228K National Science Foundation grant to support professional development workshops for SUNY faculty across western New York. The project promotes faculty teaching practices that help recruit and retain students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The workshops are part of a comprehensive $2 million project titled “Collaborative Research: Translating research on how people learn, and organizations change to accelerate adoption of high-impact practices throughout a state university system.” Michelle Withers, associate professor of biological sciences at Binghamton University, leads the five-year project with 51������, Stony Brook University, Yale University, and the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement.

“We aim to transform STEM education across all SUNY campuses by helping faculty, administrators, and institutions adopt evidence-based teaching practices that give students more authentic and engaging learning experiences,” said Yang. “Evidence-based teaching practices tell us traditional lecture sessions are not the best way for everybody to learn. Evidence has shown that more students do better with learner-centered methods, regardless of their backgrounds.”

Geneseo will host one of the first workshops in 2027. The integrated  (MoSI)-Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities (SENCER) workshop is one of 17 integrated MoSI-SENCER workshops across New York. The institutes target faculty who teach STEM in the SUNY system but are open to all disciplines.

In addition to the MoSI-SENCER workshops, the project team will provide training on vertically integrated projects, in which teams of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty work on long-term projects in research, design, innovation, and entrepreneurship. They will also provide training on course-based undergraduate research experiences; workshops on using AI and online learning tools; and faculty mentoring networks to support participants after workshops. 

Yang said the team hopes the project will enable a shift toward more learner-centered teaching across the wider SUNY system. That shift would ultimately help build a strong, globally competitive workforce in STEM fields.

Amy Sheldon ’90 (51������/Keith Walters ’11)

51������ has appointed Amy Sheldon ’90, PhD, as associate provost for academic affairs. A professor who has taught at Geneseo since 2000, Sheldon has helped shape the college’s curriculum, expand opportunities for students, and lead academic initiatives through shared governance.

As associate provost, Sheldon will work with faculty and staff on undergraduate curriculum, academic program assessment, and student success. She will also serve as the college’s Middle States Accreditation liaison officer and a member of the provost’s executive leadership team.

“Amy’s commitment to faculty, staff, and student success, along with her deep understanding of Geneseo’s academic enterprise, has prepared her well for this role,” said Mary C. Toale, EdD, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “She is a collaborative leader who listens, builds relationships, and brings clarity to complex work. I look forward to partnering with her as we continue to advance Geneseo’s vision as New York’s equity-centered public liberal arts honors college.”

Sheldon currently chairs the Department of Geological, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences. She previously served as founding dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, interim provost, and chair of the College Senate. As Senate chair, she co-led the group that guided Geneseo’s new general education curriculum to 97% approval. The College received the SUNY Shared Governance Award during her tenure.

Her work has also connected students with new academic opportunities. As founding dean, she helped launch an Integrated First-Year Experience pilot and secure a National Science Foundation award that led to a partnership with Eastman Kodak Company. She has contributed to nearly $4 million in funded NSF grants supporting STEM student success, teacher preparation, and external partnerships.

A first-generation college student, Sheldon earned her bachelor’s degree in geological sciences from 51������, her master’s degree in geology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and her PhD in geological sciences from the University of Utah.

“Geneseo has long been my academic home,” said Sheldon, “and I am honored to continue serving our community in a role that supports the people, programs, and shared commitments at the heart of our academic mission.”

Sheldon will continue teaching through the fall semester while working with department colleagues on the transition. The appointment follows a search led by a committee co-chaired by Ann Monroe-Baillargeon, PhD, dean of the Ella Cline Shear School of Education, and Lisa Wilder, PhD, associate dean of the School of Business.

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Founded in 1871, 51������ is New York’s Public Honors College. Geneseo provides a distinctive, equity-centered honors experience that equips students with the knowledge and skills to build a better world, guided by the values of learning, creativity, belonging, civic engagement, and sustainability.

Assemblymember Andrea Bailey, members of the Geneseo College Council, and campus and SUNY leaders celebrated Geneseo’s ACE Program (51������/Mat Johnson)

Last week, 51������ students shared their experiences in the college’s new Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program during a luncheon with Assemblymember Andrea Bailey, members of the Geneseo College Council, and campus and SUNY leaders. 

The gathering in Milne Library highlighted how ACE combines personalized advising, financial assistance, and career preparation to help students maintain academic momentum and graduate on time. Geneseo’s inaugural cohort includes 150 students across 31 academic majors, more than 90% of whom are first-generation college students. 

Bailey joined the gathering to discuss the importance of ACE and the state’s investment in student success. Her participation connected the legislative support behind the program with the Geneseo students benefiting from it. 

“Investing in public higher education means helping students get to graduation,” said Bailey. “ACE provides practical support that can make a real difference, from help with everyday expenses to personalized advising. Hearing directly from Geneseo students today reinforces why the state’s investment in this program matters.” 

Council members also heard from 51������ President Melinda D. Treadwell; Casey O’Brien, SUNY associate vice chancellor for student success and transformational initiatives; and Cori Quinn, acting ACE program director at Geneseo, who provided an overview of ACE at Geneseo. Over lunch, council members spent time with participating students, hearing directly about their experiences with the program and their goals for college and beyond. 

“At New York’s public honors college, access and excellence belong together. Our responsibility to students begins when they arrive and continues through graduation,” said Treadwell. “We are grateful to Assemblywoman Bailey, her legislative colleagues, SUNY leadership, and Governor Hochul for investing in that responsibility. ACE gives students practical support and a consistent connection to people who know them and their goals.” 

ACE helps eligible students address financial and academic challenges that can interrupt progress toward a degree. Supports include funding for textbooks, groceries, transportation, and other costs of attendance, alongside academic assistance, comprehensive personalized advising, and career development activities. 

The luncheon recognized the partnership among SUNY, state leaders, and campus staff that makes this support possible. Treadwell also thanked the Geneseo staff and colleagues for bringing the program to life and emphasized the importance of listening to students as the College develops its inaugural program. 

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. has said that SUNY is committed to the success of every student and “the continued expansion of ASAP|ACE program will help participating students complete their degree on time, achieve their dreams, and move forward on a path to upward mobility. I am thrilled that through the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature these programs will serve 10,000 students across the state and serve as a model for other institutions to follow.” 

Launched at SUNY in 2024, Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and ACE provide coordinated support for students pursuing associate and bachelor’s degrees, respectively. An additional $8 million allocated in the FY2026–27 state budget brings annual state investment in the programs to $20 million, supporting students across 44 SUNY campuses. 

Early SUNY results show that participating students attempt and earn more credits and return for subsequent semesters at higher rates than comparable students who are not enrolled in the programs. At Geneseo, ACE strengthens the college’s commitment to helping students turn access to a rigorous public honors education into degree completion and opportunities beyond graduation. 

51������ 51������ 

Founded in 1871, 51������ is New York’s Public Honors College. Geneseo provides a distinctive, equity-centered honors experience that equips students with the knowledge and skills to build a better world, guided by the values of learning, creativity, belonging, civic engagement, and sustainability. 

(51������/Ben Gajewski)

The Princeton Review has named 51������ a .

Geneseo is among 209 institutions chosen for the designation based primarily on academics, affordability, and career prospects for graduates.

In addition to its Best Value College designation, which is unranked, Geneseo earned other top rankings:

• #3 , based on students’ ratings of accessibility of internship placement at their school

• #32 , based on Princeton Review’s ROI ratings

“Internships are critical to career readiness, which is why 51������ has made it a priority to ensure that all students have access to meaningful experiential learning opportunities,” said Jessie Stack Lombardo, executive director of the Career Design Center. “We recognize that access alone isn’t enough, so we’ve built wraparound supports to help students navigate and overcome the financial, logistical, and other barriers that can stand in their way. SUNY funding has strengthened this work, allowing us to expand resources and create more opportunities for students to gain valuable experience, both on campus and in the broader community.”

Princeton Review factored in data from surveys of administrators, students, and alumni at more than 650 institutions in 2025–26. In all, more than 40 data points were weighted to tally ROI (return on investment) ratings for the schools. The ROI ratings were the primary basis for the company’s selection of schools as Best Value Colleges.

“Being recognized as a Best Value School reflects what we believe makes Geneseo distinctive: a public honors education paired with the value of SUNY tuition,” said Costas Solomou, vice president for enrollment management. “That combination gives students the opportunity to invest in their future without allowing college debt to dictate what comes next.”

Published annually since 1992, The Princeton Review is a New York-based company renowned for its test preparation, educational services, and college admission counseling. The Review is not affiliated with Princeton University.

51������ 51������

Founded in 1871, 51������ is New York’s Public Honors College. Geneseo provides a distinctive, equity-centered honors experience that equips students with the knowledge and skills to build a better world, guided by the values of learning, creativity, belonging, civic engagement, and sustainability.

Book cover image courtesy of Yale University Press

Michael Oberg, SUNY Distinguished Professor of history and an internationally renowned scholar of Native American studies, has published  (Yale University Press, 2026).

The book traces the Onondagas from their emergence, through the formation of the Iroquois League, and into the present day. It tells of their survival and commitment to their land and cultural values despite military invasions, disease, and efforts to eliminate their lands and traditional government. 

Oberg began the project in 2010 as part of his research on the clean-up of Onondaga Lake, one of the most polluted bodies of water in North America.

“That research laid the groundwork for what became the book, which involved intensive archival work over many years and interviews with members of the Onondaga Nation,” said Oberg. “The book is the history of one Indigenous town over 500 years, and the people who lived in it and visited it.

“I would argue Onondaga was a capital city in early America, and it remains an Indigenous capital today,” said Oberg. “Its importance in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries should place it on the same plane as more familiar places like Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia. If any number of white people had had their way, the Onondagas would have been eliminated. They have persisted, and they continue to speak from the heart of Indigenous America.”

Yale University Press said the book “not only sheds light on the resilience of a vibrant and influential culture but examines the intricate diplomatic politics that shaped the relationship between the Onondagas—and the entire Haudenosaunee Confederacy—and the emerging American states, and how the legacy of these early encounters continues to resonate in the twenty-first century.”

The Central Fire of the Iroquois is Oberg’s tenth book on Native American history, including Peacemakers: The Iroquois, the United States, and the Treaty of Canandaigua, 1794 (Oxford University Press, 2015) and a textbook, Native America: A History (Wiley-Blackwell, 2022), co-written with historian Peter Olsen-Harbich ’14.

Oberg founded the Geneseo Center for Local and Municipal History and directs The Gardiner Foundation Semiquincentennial Student Fellowship Project, which funds student fellowships exploring American independence.

Oberg received the title of Distinguished Professor, SUNY’s highest rank, in 2015. He has also received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities (2013) and the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2003). He joined the Geneseo faculty in 1998.

Learn more about 51������’s undergraduate and graduate history programs.

(51������/Keith Walters ’11)

As climate change, civil discourse, and artificial intelligence reshape what New York’s students need to learn, three 51������ faculty and staff members have been selected to help guide SUNY’s response. Their fellowships will bring Geneseo expertise to efforts that support educators and reach students across the state.

Ahmad Almomani, associate professor of mathematics, and Aaron Herold, associate professor of political science and international relations, have been appointed to SUNY fellowships focused on sustainability and civil discourse, respectively. Alexis Clifton, director of Geneseo’s Teaching and Learning Center, has been reappointed to a fellowship focused on AI for the public good. Together, their roles place Geneseo expertise in systemwide efforts to develop resources, support educators, and shape how SUNY approaches three consequential issues.

“Every student in New York deserves to graduate ready to navigate a changing climate, engage thoughtfully across differences, and use AI with wisdom,” said Mary C. Toale, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “As New York’s Public Honors College, Geneseo is proud to contribute to that work. Ahmad, Aaron, and Alexis are bringing our expertise to colleagues across SUNY, and their leadership will benefit students throughout the state and here on our own campus.”

For Almomani, that work begins with what students learn about the world they will inherit. He joins 11 other from 10 SUNY campuses who will help faculty bring climate literacy and sustainability into courses across disciplines. This year, the group will also support faculty preparing future teachers to meet New York State’s climate education requirement for P–12 curricula.

Herold’s fellowship addresses another challenge for public education: helping students participate thoughtfully in civic life. He will serve as one of SUNY’s to support the system’s civil discourse General Education requirement and strengthen civic education and engagement.

Clifton returns for a second term as a . As AI changes how people teach, learn, and work, the 11-member cohort will help faculty and staff across SUNY examine its effective and ethical use and develop professional learning opportunities within academic disciplines.

Together, the fellowships give Geneseo faculty and staff a role in developing resources and approaches that will support teaching across SUNY. It is one way New York’s Public Honors College can help public education meet the challenges ahead.

51������ 51������

Founded in 1871, 51������ is New York’s Public Honors College. Geneseo provides a distinctive, equity-centered honors experience that equips students with the knowledge and skills to build a better world, guided by the values of learning, creativity, belonging, civic engagement, and sustainability.