SUNY Potsdam Alumnus Bruce Rodgers '71 to Present 'Navigating the Future Without a Map' Presentation on Oct. 22
Award-Winning Playwright & Hermitage Artist Retreat Co-Founder Bruce Rodgers '71 Returns to SUNY Potsdam for Deeply Rooted, Future Focused Campaign Launch Week Events
Potsdam, NY (10/08/2026) — Bruce Rodgers '71 helped establish the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Sarasota, Fla., now a nationally recognized organization that gives artists dedicated time and space to develop new creative work.
Now, the SUNY Potsdam alumnus is set to return to his alma mater for a special event reflecting on his life and career -- sharing lessons on resilience and creativity, just in time for a special week in the life of the campus.
Rodgers will present "Navigating the Future Without a Map" on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. in Kellas Hall Room 106. This LoKo Arts event is free and open to the public.
His public presentation is part of a week of special events celebrating Potsdam and the launch of Deeply Rooted, Future Focused: The Campaign for Potsdam.
"Bruce is returning to Potsdam at a pivotal moment in the life of the College, as we launch the most ambitious fundraising campaign in our history and begin shaping what this campus will look like for generations to come," said David R. Davin, vice president for college advancement. "With his long history of creative leadership, entrepreneurship and guiding organizations through change, Bruce brings exactly the kind of perspective this moment calls for. His own story is a powerful reminder of what a Potsdam education can set in motion -- and of the role imagination plays in shaping the future for SUNY Potsdam."
Learn more & RSVP for free: "Navigating the Future Without a Map" with Bruce Rodgers '71
A complimentary reception will follow the presentation outside Kellas 106, featuring refreshments, conversation, and artwork on display.
About the presenter:
Bruce Rodgers '71 drove to Potsdam on Sept. 10, 1967, in his 1962 VW Microbus for freshman orientation. He was given a beanie and a handbook -- but, as Rodgers reflects, the beanie didn't keep him warm, and the handbook was soon obsolete.
His four years at Potsdam, from 1967 to 1971, coincided with a period of profound and rapid social change at SUNY Potsdam, across the United States and around the world. In his keynote, Rodgers will reflect on how those years helped prepare him for a life of creativity and creative work -- a life for which no handbook could have prepared him.
Drawing on his own experiences as an artist, entrepreneur and arts advocate, Rodgers will consider what lessons from his Potsdam experience can help us navigate an increasingly unpredictable future.
Earlier that day, Rodgers will also present "Escape to Create" at 12 p.m., also in Kellas 106. That presentation will explore artist communities across disciplines, including how artists can find these communities, apply to participate and take advantage of opportunities that provide dedicated time and space for creative work. The talk is designed for artistic creators at every stage of their careers. Campus and community members alike are welcome to attend.
Both events are free and open to the public, made possible by the generosity and artistic vision of Kathryn (Kofoed) '54 and Donald Lougheed (Hon. '54).
Free parking for these events is available in Lots 2 or 6. To view the campus map, visit potsdam.edu/admissions/visit/maps.
About LoKo Arts:
Founded in 2012, LoKo Arts is SUNY Potsdam's year-round arts initiative, bringing bold visual, performing, literary and interdisciplinary arts experiences to campus and the North Country through artist residencies, performances, exhibitions, workshops, educational outreach and community collaborations. Each year, programming culminates in the LoKo Arts Festival, a multi-day celebration of creativity and connection. The 2026-27 academic year marks LoKo Arts' fifteenth anniversary, celebrated through the theme "Illumination," with the 2027 Festival taking place April 27 through May 2, 2027.
All LoKo Arts programs and events are free and open to the public. LoKo Arts is made possible through the generosity and artistic vision of Kathryn (Kofoed) '54 and Donald Lougheed (Hon. '54). To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu/loko.
About the Potsdam College Foundation:
Established in 1968, the Potsdam College Foundation is a nonprofit corporation charged with receiving gifts on behalf of SUNY Potsdam and stewarding the continued growth of private giving in support of the College. Its mission is to ensure a quality future for the College and its people by encouraging gifts of all types and stewarding endowments to support scholarships and campus programs. For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/giving/pcf.
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
Bruce Rodgers ’71, award-winning playwright and co-founder of the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Sarasota, Fla., will return to SUNY Potsdam for special public presentations during the public launch week for Deeply Rooted, Future Focused, the College’s most ambitious comprehensive campaign yet.