By President Denise A. Battles
Looking Toward a Bright Future for the Geneseo Community and Beyond
This issue of the Scene marks a new beginning. Over the past several months, members of the College’s advancement and communications teams have redesigned your Geneseo magazine to better capture the spirit and vision of the College, as well as the lives and pursuits of its alumni. We have also established a more robust online presence for the magazine at geneseoscene.com, with stories of students, faculty and alumni illustrating how the College is evolving, while still staying true to its roots and traditions. We encourage you to join us in conversation online and through Facebook and other social media channels.
The theme of this issue of the Scene, passion and drive, are attributes found in the people of Geneseo and products of an institutional culture of excellence found in every department, school and office on campus. That culture is fostered and nurtured by a deeply held mission that motivates all we do.
We have refined our College mission through our strategic planning process, which began in fall 2015. As part of that same process, we developed a vision for the College in 2021: “Geneseo will be recognized widely for demonstrating the enduring power of a public liberal arts education.” Four themes emerged through that planning for our future: excellence in higher learning (our core mission); access (a cornerstone of public colleges); sustainability (a requisite foundation of individual, institutional and societal resilience); and commitment to the public good (a foundation of this institution).
Our commitment to the public good is apparent in Geneseo’s efforts to increase opportunities for faculty and student research, service and economic development; student volunteerism in the region; collaboration with the community; and awareness of our many campus cultural events, including the performing arts. Further, we are expanding our partnerships with outside entities, such as the ones we have with Letchworth State Park’s Humphrey Nature Center to improve its public programs, and Campus Auxiliary Services’ engagement with farms in the region.
We often hear our alumni speak fondly of their experiences at Geneseo and how they have influenced their lives after graduation. Passion and drive are cultivated here, and when those attributes are coupled with a commitment to the public good, what emerges are involved, caring and informed Geneseo alumni ready to take on leadership roles in their careers and communities. Their stories populate this issue of the Scene. For example, you will read about the passion and drive of Mark and Susan Ashley, class of 1977, to help people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, and class of 1987 graduate Jeanine Lupisella’s extraordinary school-building efforts in rural Nicaragua.
These stories about how our alumni, faculty, staff and students are demonstrating their passion and drive — working to build and shape communities, here and around the world — are inspiring. They remind me of the impact our Geneseo community can and does have on improving the lives of citizens all over the globe. I have great confidence that this influence will only continue to grow as we work to realize our vision for the College in 2021.
