Several Mohawk Valley Community College faculty and staff members earned State University of New York Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence for the 2021-2022 academic year.
The Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence are SUNY-level honors conferred to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. Individuals selected for this honor are role models within the SUNY community.
Jason Covey (Excellence in Adjunct Teaching): Jason Covey has been an Adjunct Instructor at MVCC for 12 years teaching primarily Coding and Computer Information Systems coursework. Covey maintains a deep commitment to blending rigorous content with accessible teaching techniques and representative materials. He creates a strong connection with each of his students and serves as a coach and mentor in and out of the classroom. He served as a primary developer and consultant for the College’s “Crack the Code” event and “Code Academy.”
Thomas Welpe (Excellence in Classified Service): A Storekeeper within the Facilities and Operations Department for nearly 20 years, Thomas (“Tom”) Welpe plays a vital role in keeping the College operating safely and effectively. As critical operational supplies suddenly vanished from inventories across the nation during the pandemic, Welpe demonstrated creativity and innovative problem-solving to source those items. His dedication, skill, creativity, and outstanding customer service are invaluable, and his impact on everyday life on campus is exceptional.
Todd Kubica (Excellence in Professional Service): For 15 years, Director of TRIO-Upward Bound and GEAR UP Todd Kubica has been a leader of high-impact educational programming that serves hundreds of youths in the Mohawk Valley. He has repeatedly demonstrated his dedicated energy, innovative thinking, and strong commitment to provide educational, social, and emotional supports to underserved populations to succeed in education and life. He is an advocate for the City of Utica youth with a focus on inclusivity and transforming lives.
Shane McGovern (Excellence in Professional Service): In his 17 years of service to the College, Director of Dual Credit Shane McGovern has worked to grow his program into one of the largest in the state. His innovative thinking and highly effective stewardship of community relationships has made an incredible difference for high school students seeking to take their first steps in higher education. His tremendous work ethic has brought over 30 school districts, four counties, and more than 200 dual credit adjunct instructors into the College.
Jedediah Kimball (Excellence in Teaching): For 19 years, Professor Jedediah (“Jed”) Kimball has taught in the School of Art. He has taught several courses spanning topics in figure drawing, sculpture, graphic novels, printmaking, and more. Kimball regularly blends technique videos into instruction to engage students, in tandem with social media and blog posts to convey information that captures his students’ attention. His knowledge and experience have been instrumental in his department’s advances in student success.
Jim Fiore (Excellence in Teaching): Professor James (“Jim”) Fiore has expertly taught an extensive list of highly technical electrical engineering courses for over 40 years. During the pandemic, Fiore rapidly responded to the move to remote operations. He created an “Electronics with Professor Fiore” series and a library of over 150 professional videos. He also personally developed an Open Educational Resources (OER) collection to support remote delivery. He has written five textbooks and seven lab manuals – all free for his students.
Alexander Haines-Stephan (Excellence in Faculty Service): In his 13 years at MVCC, Professor Alexander (“Alex”) Haines-Stephan has distinguished himself as a role model for his excellent teaching, tireless volunteering of time, and dedicated efforts on behalf of campus initiatives. He has been a critical player on the Guided Pathways Steering Council by providing invaluable insight, perspective, and leadership to completely reimagine the educational experience at the College. Haines-Stephan remains an active participant in College governance.
David J. Nackley (Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities): For 17 years, Professor David Nackley has steadily worked to infuse his teaching and artistic vision throughout the College and community to advance student learning and student success. His creativity takes form in a wide range of outlets such as sculpture, photography, computer-generated artwork, woodworking, poetry, and music. Nackley actively participates in open mic and poetry reading events and uses these occasions to address many societal issues that relate to the human condition.