Dr. Edwin and Susan Portugal Granted Honorary Lifetime Membership in the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association
From left, Dr. Edwin Portugal, SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Suzanne Smith and Susan Portugal at Reunion 2023. The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association has named the couple honorary alumni in recognition of their many contributions to the College.
The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently honored the longtime faculty member Dr. Edwin Portugal and his wife Susan Portugal, both of Norwich, Conn., with Honorary Lifetime Membership, during a ceremony at Reunion 2023.
Honorary Lifetime Membership is presented to non-alumni who have made exceptional contributions to the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association and/or the College. The Portugals were honored for their intentional investment in SUNY Potsdam to ensure the success of current and future students.
About the recipients:
Professor of Business Administration Dr. Edwin Portugal has inspired future entrepreneurs and business leaders at SUNY Potsdam since 1993. As a member of the faculty in the Department of Business Administration, Ed creates a learning environment that nurtures creativity, collaboration and innovation. For his students, he creates a space in which they are free to think outside the box, debate differences of opinion, share ideas and dream big. His classes are filled with hands-on learning experiences, including collaborative projects, presentations and networking opportunities.
Reflecting on his interactions with Ed, former business major John Struthers ’97 shared, “There are few people I’ve met that are as dedicated and passionate as Dr. Portugal is to his family, his students and SUNY Potsdam. I cannot think of SUNY Potsdam without thinking of Dr. Portugal.”
Ed’s wife, Susan Portugal, is a senior research scientist for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and is just as committed to SUNY Potsdam. Together, the couple has given generously of their time and resources to the College to ensure that students are able to pursue their dreams. In the past 30 years, they have established three endowed scholarships at the College, all of which reflect their passion for education, curiosity and diversity—all core values of the SUNY Potsdam family. They have also established two funds that provide resources for learning experiences. Most recently, they committed to building the Susan Portugal and Dr. Edwin J. Portugal Endowment in support of travel and presentations within the Department of Business Administration.
For more information about the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.
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 3,600 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.