Immerse yourself in a campus culture that's as eclectic as you are.
Future in Focus
Ever since he was in middle school, Lucas Scalcione '25 knew that he wanted to pursue a career in medicine, specifically ophthalmology. Now he has completed the rigorous MCAT exam, is wrapping up his degree in biology at SUNY Potsdam, and will be entering medical school next fall.
A lifelong curiosity about the inner workings of humankind brought Alexandra Sveshnikova ‘25 to the SUNY Potsdam Department of Anthropology. The fire of that curiosity fueled by a research trip to Kenya, where she joined SUNY Potsdam Associate Professor of Biological Anthropology Nasser Malit and more than 20 researchers and experts from around the globe at several sites in the remote Turkana Basin to understand how climate change shaped evolution from 23 to five million years ago.
When Brett Bull ’17 arrived at SUNY Potsdam as a psychology major, he never expected that his side music projects would lead to a career in the music industry. After working in the studio with a music producer during his final years at SUNY Potsdam, his music has continued to gain traction. After joining the Crucial Music Corporation—which focuses on placing music from independent artists in blockbuster films and television shows—his song “Hit the Strip” has been chosen for the Hollywood film, “Anora!”.
As Dr. Karen Davis stands at the front of the classroom discussing her lifelong dedication to the examination of animal behavior, she draws on one anecdote after another as a researcher, zookeeper, and Wolf Curator. With a master’s degree in neuroscience and a Ph.D. in experimental psychology, her students benefit from her extensive education, research, and life experience.
Just four years after completing his degree at SUNY Potsdam in exercise science, Luke Vitale ’20 has already received his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Duke University, completed three clinical rotations around the country, and has now launched his career as a physical therapist.
This summer, six SUNY Potsdam students have completed hands-on internships around New York State focused on examining the local history of the Revolutionary War. Part of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Semiquincentennial Summer Fellowship Program, the students have been diving into the local history archives and helping historians plan for upcoming celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of American Independence.
Last month, Dr. Hadley Kruczek-Aaron and her students spent four weeks excavating artifacts from Heaven Hill Farm, a historic farmstead in the heart of the Adirondacks. The immersive hands-on experience allowed students like Sebastian Herrera ’25 and Leia’lani Dibble ’26 to use trowels and other tools to uncover food remains, shells, bone, ceramics, and glass, and reveal signs of everyday life on the farm over the past 200 years.
As the first graduate of SUNY Potsdam's dual degree program with the Kyiv National Economics University, Stephanie Bulakh '24 brought big dreams with her, as she seeks to use her degree to help build a brighter future for her war-torn country.
This spring, 11 students joined Dr. Page Quinton, Dr. Mike Rygel and Dr. Christian Schrader on an amazing journey to explore significant geological sites of west Texas and southwestern New Mexico. They plied acres of ground in search of clues and fossilized life forms, climbed 2,000 feet in elevation and hiked 10 miles roundtrip along the way—bringing to life topics discussed in their classes back home.
No stranger to challenges, Theresa Adams ’24 draws from a deep well of lived experience to help remote First Nations people get the health care they need.
