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Sitting in his high school classroom on Sept. 11, 2001, Kellen Bertrand ’21 watched helplessly as the worst terrorist attack in American history unfolded before him.At the time, Bertrand was a sophomore at Ogdensburg Free Academy, just 30 miles from SUNY Potsdam. In that moment, he felt a calling to serve his country. “That certainly impacted me and gave me a sense of purpose and desire to contribute,” Bertrand recalled.

Sitting at a table with a group of inquisitive first graders, Emily Jordan ’26 uses blocks to bring basic math concepts to life.The capstone experience for her degree in early childhood education, Jordan’s student teaching placement at Lawrence Ave. Elementary School is preparing her for a meaningful career in the classroom—one built on confidence, preparation, and hands-on learning.

Six Questions for a Successful Farmer Despite graduating with a double major in elementary education and English literature, Megan Minchak Bowdish ’88 stumbled onto a completely different career path. After meeting Ray Bowdish ’87 as an undergraduate, she got married and ended up leaving teaching behind. She and her husband started operating Never Tire Farm with his parents in 1992. In 1997, the couple bought the farm outright and then in 2006, when Ray started working in the Department of Biology at SUNY Potsdam, Megan started running the farm on her own.

As he slides a phoropter in front of his patient’s eyes, Lucas Scalcione '25 has them read a chart on the wall across the room—clicking through different lens settings as he brings their vision into focus.“I've had all these great experiences, and hundreds of hours of direct patient care, talking with people and hearing their stories,” said Lucas, a senior at SUNY Potsdam who is in the process of preparing for medical school.

We are a small school with a focus on undergraduate education. SUNY Potsdam is ranked #15 in the nation for number of tenured professors teaching.

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Sociology major Stanley Martinez ’19 didn’t bat an eye this summer when he got kicked by a horse. As he walked alongside the steed, during a horseback riding session with one of his campers at Double H Ranch, the horse got spooked and its hind leg lashed out at him—a jolt that brought back a memory from his youth when Martinez used to tame wild horses with his father in the Dominican Republic.

Sociology is the study of human society, social behavior and social change. Criminal Justice Studies is the study of the criminal justice system.The SUNY Potsdam Sociology program provides students with skills in analysis, critical thinking and communication, enabling graduates to pursue a wide variety of careers or continue learning at the graduate level.