SUNY Potsdam Alumni Honor Nancy Griffin (Hon. '08) with Distinguished Service Award
Longtime Employee Honored with 2019 Distinguished Service Award from SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association
Potsdam, NY (07/18/2019) — The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently honored Nancy E. Griffin (Hon. '08) with its 2019 Distinguished Service Award during the College's Reunion Weekend.
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to alumni who have made exceptional contributions to the Alumni Association and/or the College. Griffin was honored for her loyal and longstanding commitment to SUNY Potsdam.
About the recipient:
For the past 35 years, Nancy E. Griffin (Hon. '08) has embodied what it means to be a member of the Potsdam family. She was a dedicated and successful fundraiser for SUNY Potsdam, raising well over $10 million in support of students, faculty and programs throughout her career, before her retirement in 2017. Her genuine love of the College and deep respect for the donors with whom she worked helped to transform Potsdam into the place it is today.
Nancy began working at SUNY Potsdam in 1983 after moving to the area with her husband, Michael. Since then, she has held several positions on campus, including development officer, director of college relations and director of donor relations. Griffin secured SUNY Potsdam's first $1 million gift, to establish Becky's Place, as well as its second, which helped create the Kilmer Fund for Undergraduate Research. In fact, the effects of her commitment to the College are evident throughout campus, from donor-funded spaces like the Rebecca V. Sheard Literacy Center and Becky's Place, to the hundreds of students who receive endowed scholarships each year.
Throughout her career, Griffin went above and beyond in her work with alumni, donors and volunteers. She was an outstanding fundraiser because she believed in the relationships she built with her donors. Her work never stopped once a gift came in, as she worked tirelessly to make sure that the gift was stewarded well and that the donors felt valued and appreciated. Her kindness and compassion set her apart from others in her field and contributed greatly to the impact she has left on Potsdam.
Nancy and Michael are also donors themselves. In 1993, the Griffins established the Joseph G. Nestich Scholarship in honor of Nancy's father. The endowment is structured to provide annual financial support to nontraditional students at SUNY Potsdam.
In recognition of her love for the College, Griffin received Honorary Lifetime Membership in the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association in 2008. She has also received the President's Award for Excellence in Professional Service (upon her retirement in 2017), the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service (1997), and the President's Award for Excellence in Community Service (1995).
To find out more about SUNY Potsdam's committed alumni, visit http://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 http://www.potsdam.edu.
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Media Attachments
From left, SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Kristin G. Esterberg presents the 2019 Distinguished Service Award to Nancy E. Griffin (Hon. ’08), alongside Alumni Association President Romeyn Prescott ’92.
Longtime employee and loyal supporter Nancy E. Griffin (Hon. ’08) was presented with the 2019 Distinguished Service Award from the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association during Reunion Weekend.
SUNY Potsdam
Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, (315) 267-2918, news@potsdam.eduShare this Story
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