Hamilton resident receives Morrisville State College distinguished Faculty Member Award

Morrisville State College faculty member Lisa Rusch, of Hamilton, has received the Morrisville State College Distinguished Faculty Award.



The award is presented annually to a faculty member who displays professional growth, personal and professional achievement, and has provided outstanding service to the college. She will be recognized during the college's 102nd commencement ceremony on May 18 at 1 p.m. in the recreation center.



Rusch, assistant professor of sports nutrition and fitness management (SNFM) and human performance and health promotion (HPHP), began her career at Morrisville State College in 1999.



Throughout her tenure, she has been a positive force on campus, developing the college's Bachelor of Science program in HPHP and establishing the Morrisville State College Wellness Center.



A devoted member of the college and campus community, she has served on numerous committees including the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Committee and the Judicial Board. In addition, she is advisor of the SNFM Club and chair of the High School Connection Committee in the School of Science and Technology.



As chair of the Community Service Initiative (CSI) Committee, Rusch was the driving force in making community service, service learning, and civic engagement a priority at Morrisville State College. Through her leadership, the college assisted with hurricane Katrina relief and participated in food drives to benefit local food pantries.



Rusch also spearheaded numerous campus fundraising efforts and has combined health and fitness with various community service projects such as a body awareness screening day and family fun night in conjunction with the Madison County Health Department.



In addition to serving on the Madison County Board of Directors for Cornell Cooperative Extension, Rusch is chair of the board's Personnel Committee and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. She is co-owner of Rusch's Bar and Grill in Hamilton.



A dedicated member of society, Rusch volunteers with various support groups and charity organizations.

She volunteers at her church as a lector and as the head of lector trainer. She and her daughter also participate in “Handmaids of the Lord,” a program where assistance and care are provided as needed in various activities such as bringing plants and flowers to the homebound, baking for funerals, and serving food at various functions.



Additionally, she has been an active parent volunteer and mentor in the Hamilton School District.



Rusch also teaches a number of courses, presents at conferences, and is working to establish Morrisville State College as an official certification testing site for the American College of Sports Medicine.



Throughout her academic career, Rusch has received many accolades including the Morrisville State Athletic Appreciation Award in 2011. Her unparalleled dedication to the community was recognized by the New York State Department of Health which awarded her a Certificate of Recognition for the Eat Well Play Hard Campaign.



Rusch remains current in her field through her affiliations and memberships in multiple organizations.

She has numerous certifications including; American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR & AED, ACSM Exercise Test Technologist, Motherwell Basic Maternity Health and Fitness, American Heart Association First Aid, Smoking Cessation Counselor, Online HIPPA training, Law Enforcement General Topics Instructor, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office of Public Safety and American College of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist.



Rusch earned a B.S. is zoology at Duke University and an M.S. in health and sport science at Wake Forest University. She will be attending the University of Connecticut this fall to obtain a doctorate in kinesiology. .



Rusch and her husband, Douglas, live in Hamilton and have two children, Brendon and Kendall.