As the SUNY Potsdam registrar, Nancy Rehse felt as though she had her finger on all aspects of the College’s operations.

“The registrar is the person who greases the wheels on the campus to get things done and keep them running smoothly,” she said. “Potsdam has a unique relationship among all the different departments. I’ve been to several colleges and seen other campus operations. I can tell you no place runs as well as Potsdam.”

Rehse first arrived at SUNY Potsdam in the mid-1980s as the director of research and sponsored programs before moving to the position of assistant to the provost. That’s where she came to know not only how the campus operated but also how well it operated.

Then in the early 1990s, Rehse became the registrar, and she became intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of the College, structuring general education requirements and making sure students graduated on time.

Rehse retired in 2002 for a number of reasons, but mainly because her mentally disabled son was living in a group home. She incorporated a board of directors, secured state assistance and founded LEAP Inc., a home for the mentally disabled. The organization opened its first house for four men back in 1996. Today, the organization has three residences and a day habilitation house, housing more than 50 people and employing 55. Rehse currently serves as the organization’s president and CEO.

Though Rehse already serves on a number of boards throughout the region, she recently accepted to chair the SUNY Potsdam Emeriti Board. She replaced Dr. Judith Ranlett, professor emerita of history.

“I agreed to take this on because I love the people at Potsdam and what they all do,” she said. “I don’t want to lose that connection.”

Rehse doesn’t want others to lose that connection to Potsdam just because they retire. She points out many younger people are retiring who are not ready to be cut off from the community that is SUNY Potsdam. She wants to create “pathways” that will help retirees stay connected to the College even after they’ve turned in their retirement notice. She also is looking to work with the College Alumni Association to help former students connect to faculty and staff members who have since retired.

“People want to feel needed,” she said. “And people are constantly looking for ways to stay involved. I want to make it easier for faculty emeriti to stay connected to the College community that has meant so much to them throughout their lives.”