Keuka College’s Community Day on Wednesday, Aug. 13, was filled with good news, good cheer, and a good amount of community spirit.
The annual back-to-campus gathering saw some 170 faculty and staff fill the Geiser Dining Commons for a celebration of resilience, achievement, and shared purpose. President Amy Storey provided updates on the College’s financial standing, accomplishments, and progress over the past year, with an emphasis on the performance of staff and faculty.
“Right now, across the institution, we have the right people in the right seats to do really good work, and we’ve seen the evidence of it. I couldn’t be prouder of what you’ve all accomplished in the last year.”
Among areas highlighted by President Storey:
- The College has maintained healthy enrollment figures despite declining numbers of high school graduates across the Northeast.
- The College finished the 2024-25 fiscal year with its seventh successive surplus. As a result, President Storey announced merit increases for eligible employees, to be determined by a formula considering recent pay history, performance, and alignment with median College and University Professional Association salaries.
- Two anonymous gifts totaling $200,000 funded Phase III of the nursing lab renovation honoring alumna Mary Ikeda Chin ’50 and Bing Chin. A $107,500 gift from alumna Kay Faron Ciganovic ’71 will expand Field Period® opportunities, and the Jephson Educational Trusts contributed $158,000 toward a scholarship in the name of a longtime Keuka College Board of Trustees member, the late Robert Taisey, and the new Lakeside Lodge.
- Capital upgrades touched nearly every corner of campus, from comprehensive classroom technology enhancements to a new Kuhl Field press box in memory of Anthony Mattie ’06, along with development of the Lakeside Lodge.
- The College assumed ownership of the longtime bookstore; a strategic move projected to generate an estimated additional $300,000 annually.
Student Senate President Jasmine Downs ’26 thanked faculty and staff for their support and encouragement of students.
Prior to President Storey’s presentation, Student Senate President Jasmine Downs ’26 addressed the audience, thanking faculty and staff for the role they play in shaping students’ time on campus.
“Your hard work, dedication, and constant support truly shapes our experience as students"
Also announced Wednesday were the promotion and tenure of Clinical Associate Professor of Applied Health and Wellness Dr. Cassie Hey ’04 M’07 and the Emeritus Faculty appointments of former instructors Stephanie Craig (Professor Emerita of Social Work) and Dr. Peter Kozik (Associate Professor Emeritus of Education).
The applause was long and loud for facilities employees David, left, and Ron Lucia. The brothers each recently celebrated their 40th year at the College.
The 75-minute presentation included a welcome to all new employees, the bestowal of glass acorns among faculty and staff who have gone out of their way to demonstrate College values, and the acknowledgment of milestone anniversaries. The latter included:
Five-year anniversary
Deb Rasmussen (Instructional Designer).
10-year anniversaries
Luciano Cursino-Parent (Associate Professor of Biology)
Jimmy Habecker (Associate Director of Athletics for Communications and Game Operations)
Mark McNaney (Instructor of Management)
Karol Multer (Collections and Perkins Student Account Representative)
Malia Spofford Xavier (Professor of Spanish/Associate Provost).
15-year anniversaries
Klaudia Lorinczova (Division Chair, Division of Education and Psychology)
Ed Silverman (Professor of Social Work)
20-year anniversary
Beth Russo (Division Chair, Division of Nursing)
25-year anniversary
Barb Demjanec (Laboratory Coordinator, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics)
30-year anniversary
Ann Tuttle (Dean of International Programs-USA)
40-year anniversaries
David Lucia (Custodian)
Ron Lucia (Maintenance Worker)
The Lucia brothers received a sustained standing ovation for their combined 80 years of service to the College.
