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SUNY Potsdam Alumni Honor Peter Galloway '83 with Donald L. Tompkins Distinguished Service Award

Peter Galloway '83 of West Chester, Pa., Honored with 2025 Donald L. Tompkins Distinguished Service Award from SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association

Potsdam, NY (07/15/2025) — The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently honored Peter Galloway '83 of West Chester, Pa., with the Donald L. Tompkins Distinguished Service Award during Reunion 2025.

The Donald L. Tompkins Distinguished Service Award is presented to alumni of The State University of New York at Potsdam who have made exceptional contributions to the Alumni Association and/or the College. It was renamed in 2022 in honor of former Alumni Association Trustee Donald Tompkins '68.

Galloway was honored for his unwavering passion, generous spirit and extraordinary impact at the College.

About the recipient:

Peter Galloway '83 has quietly and consistently embodied the true spirit of service to SUNY Potsdam. With humility, dedication and an enormous heart, he has offered steadfast support to the College and its community for decades.

As a student, Galloway served as director of the Barrington Student Union and was a proud member of the Order of Prometheus. Since then, he has remained deeply engaged with his alma mater, giving generously of his time, talent and resources. He has served on the Alumni Association Board of Trustees since 2016, holding roles as secretary, president-elect and president, and continues to serve as a valued and active trustee.

Galloway is always the first to raise his hand or answer a call to action -- he simply says "yes" whenever SUNY Potsdam needs him. He is deeply committed both to engaging fellow alumni and to supporting current students, bridging generations to strengthen the entire community. His volunteerism spans committee work, mentoring, event sponsorship and strategic leadership. Alumni Association President-Elect Matthew R. Cotty '09 described Galloway as someone who has made "a profound commitment to fostering a stronger community and ensuring future generations of students have access to transformative experiences."

His financial support, consistent since 1986, reflects a deep and personal commitment to student success. From addressing urgent campus needs and student emergency funding to supporting the Pay It Forward Fund, Galloway has helped to ensure that SUNY Potsdam students have the tools they need to thrive. He also established a program fund to support student leadership training -- particularly for students involved in Greek Life -- demonstrating his commitment to cultivating the next generation of strong, engaged leaders. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in launching the Prometheus Food Pantry, further emphasizing his care for student well-being.

To find out more about SUNY Potsdam's committed alumni, 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 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.

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Media Attachments

Peter Galloway ’83 of West Chester, Pa., seen at left, is the recipient of the 2025 Donald L. Tompkins Distinguished Service Award from SUNY Potsdam’s Alumni Association. SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Suzanne Smith (right) presented the award at Reunion 2025.

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