SUNY Potsdam Recognizes 16 Faculty & Staff Members for Excellence
Dr. Charles Guy was awarded the 2026 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at SUNY Potsdam.
SUNY Potsdam recently honored 16 faculty and staff members with the 2026 Chancellor’s Awards and President’s Awards, in recognition of their dedication and service to the campus.
This year, three employees received Chancellor’s Awards, while another 13 were honored with President’s Awards. The Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence are SUNY-level honors, conferred to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. The President’s Awards are open to faculty and staff at SUNY Potsdam, including PACES Dining Services, the Child Care Center and campus Research Foundation employees.
`This year’s Chancellor’s Award recipients were as follows:
Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service:
Dr. Deborah Conrad is the senior assistant dean for assessment and accreditation in SUNY Potsdam’s School of Education and Professional Studies. Her record of service exemplifies the very highest standards of sustained, exemplary faculty service. Over more than two decades at the College, Conrad has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to institutional governance, faculty success, academic quality and continuous improvement—consistently contributing far beyond the scope of her responsibilities. As a principal leader for the College’s Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation accreditation process and a key contributor to its Middle States Commission on Higher Education compliance efforts, she has played an indispensable role in advancing institutional effectiveness. Equally notable is the breath and longevity of her service in shared governance, as a longtime member of Faculty Senate and participation in campus committees and School-level governance. Her service has spanned curriculum development, academic policy, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, student success and faculty evaluation—often simultaneously and always with exceptional professionalism. Beyond SUNY Potsdam, her professional service in literacy education and teacher preparation—particularly her extensive work in the Caribbean—demonstrate the global reach of her expertise and broader impact of her leadership. She has previously been honored with the 2024 President’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.
Dr. Deborah Conrad was awarded the 2026 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service at SUNY Potsdam.
Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service:
In her role as the teacher education advising coordinator for SUNY Potsdam’s School of Education and Professional Studies, Lisa Stewart exemplifies the highest ideals of professional service. She advises a large and complex caseload of undergraduate education students, providing individualized, accurate and compassionate guidance that supports retention, timely degree completion and success certification pathways. Her deep institutional knowledge and professionalism ensure clarity and continuity for students navigating demanding academic programs. Stewart consistently exceeds the expectations of her positions through leadership, initiative and innovation. She has developed systems, tools and policies that strengthen advising practices, support accreditation requirements and improve outcomes. Her creation and continued oversight of the College’s Professional Clothes Closet stands as a particularly impactful contribution, removing financial barriers to student success, while advancing equity, inclusion and professional readiness. Her service extends across the institution, as an active committee participant, and she regularly represents SUNY Potsdam at outreach events, where her credibility, warmth and expertise contribute meaningfully to student engagement and enrollment. A past recipient of the 2014 President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advising, Stewart has become a cornerstone of the undergraduate teacher education program and a trusted resource for students, faculty, administrators and alumni alike.
Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching:
Since joining The Crane School of Music faculty in 2002, Professor of Tuba and Euphonium Dr. Charles Guy has been a defining instructional leader, modeling teaching excellence across applied instruction, pedagogy and ensemble leadership. His record reflects consistently superior teaching, distinguished by pedagogical mastery, exceptional student mentorship and an unwavering commitment to academic and artistic excellence. His instruction at Crane is flexible, student-centered and intentional, across private lessons, pedagogy courses and ensemble work alike. Guy remains active in his field through sustained professional performance, conference participation and outreach. His creative activity and instructional resource development directly inform his teaching, ensuring students engage with contemporary repertoire, performance practices and current instructional methodologies. Equally notable is his exceptional accessibility and commitment to student growth beyond the classroom. He is generous with his time, mentoring students through performances, conference attendance, graduate school preparation and early career development. The success of his students—reflected in competitive graduate placements, professional appointments and sustained careers in music education and performance—provide compelling evidence of his impact as an educator. He has previously received the 2021 President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, reflecting his instructional leadership, dedication to students and sustained contributions to the profession.
This year’s President’s Award recipients included:
- President’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching: Dr. Missi Wooldridge, Department of Public Health
- President’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching: Pamela Charleson, Advanced Studies in Education
- President’s Award for Excellence in Auxiliary and College Educational Service: Kimberly Bradshaw, Potsdam Auxiliary and College Educational Services
- President’s Award for Excellence in Clerical Service: Lynne Durant, Campus Life
- President’s Award for Excellence in Clerical Service: Alicia Jones, School of Education and Professional Studies
- President’s Award for Excellence in College Service: Rachel Bayliss, Residence Life
- President’s Award for Excellence in College Service: Dr. Kathryn Sherman, Piano Pedagogy, Crane School of Music
- President’s Award for Excellence in Community Service and Outreach: Dr. Hadley Kruczek-Aaron, Anthropology
- President’s Award for Excellence in Fostering a Welcoming and Inclusive Campus Climate: Adam Wheeler, Wilderness Education
- President’s Award for Excellence in Operational Service: Christine Golden, Physical Plant/Custodial Services
- President’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service: Karen Ahlfeld, Admissions
- President’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities: Dr. Brian Doyle, Bands, Crane School of Music
- President’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities: Dr. Robert Snyder, Biology, Natural Sciences
To find out more about employment at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/offices/hr.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.