Three Morrisville State faculty/staff members were recently honored with Chancellor's Awards for Excellence by the State University of New York and SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher.
Receiving the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service is:
Benjamin D. Ballard, of Manlius
The SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service recognizes faculty members for excellence in teaching techniques, scholarship and professional growth, student services and academic standards.
Receiving the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching is:
Victoria T. Fry, of Hamilton
The SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes professors who show outstanding skill in the classroom, scholarship and professional growth, commitment to students and high academic standards.
Receiving the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service is:
Enrico L. D'Alessandro, of Frankfort
The SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service recognizes outstanding job performance by professional staff in administrative positions and those who have transcended the normal definitions of excellence.
“Faculty and staff who receive the Chancellor's Award for Excellence have served their students, fellow faculty and staff, campuses, and communities with the utmost distinction,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher.
The honor provides system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and encourages the ongoing pursuit of excellence.
Ballard, Fry and D'Alessandro will be recognized during the college's 103rd commencement ceremony which will be held May 17 at 1 p.m. in the recreation center.
Benjamin Ballard
Ballard, assistant professor of renewable energy, joined the Morrisville faculty/staff in 2007. Throughout his tenure, he has provided leadership in many facets including in his role as director of the Morrisville State College Renewable Energy Training Center (RETC).
An active advocate for the college, he has participated in many campus recruiting and outreach events. He serves on numerous committees and is the co-advisor of the Renewable Energy Club.
Ballard has also been instrumental in collaborating with colleagues to implement renewable energy and sustainability projects on campus. Among them are: the Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) Greenhouse system integrating hydroponics, aquaculture, and algaculture and the evaluation of algae and horse manure/bedding for biofuels. Other projects include wood gasification for small- and commercial-scale combined heat and power, on-farm anaerobic digestion; and on-campus small-batch biodiesel production for greenhouse heating and farm equipment.
The college and students have benefited from numerous grants Ballard has helped write and secure, in addition to his assistance with course and curriculum development, including the college's new bachelor of technology degree in renewable energy.
In addition to leaving his mark across campus, Ballard has also done so in the community, teaching numerous professional workshops and courses. He has a long list of distinguished publications and frequently shares his expertise as a speaker at conferences and “green” shows.
Ballard also takes his lessons outside of the classroom, immersing students in sustainability/renewable energy projects that have provided them valuable hands-on field work.
He is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the New York Biomass Energy Alliance, the Biomass Thermal Energy Council, and the Society of American Foresters.
Ballard earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in forest resources management from SUNY-ESF, an M.S. in statistics from Syracuse University, and a Ph.D. in forest ecosystem science and applications from SUNY-ESF.
A native of Groton, Ballard and his wife, Jennifer, live in Manlius with their two children, Alanna and Avery.
Victoria Fry
Fry, professor of social science and humanities, began her career at Morrisville State in 1983.
While at Morrisville she has served in numerous capacities including as former Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, chair of the Social Science Department and associate dean of Liberal Arts. She also ran the college's learning center, served as secretary of faculty congress and trained campus tutors.
Her campus service also includes running the Future Teacher's Club, faculty orientation, and serving on numerous committees.
In addition to her commitment in the classroom, Fry is dedicated in the community where she served as charter president for Literacy Volunteers in the Mohawk Valley and as liaison on the Board for School District Teaching Centers. She also served on the Delhi Liberal Arts Advisory Board and the Madison Hall Board.
Fry taught for many years at the college's Norwich campus and was a consultant for an online freshman experience program. She also taught in public schools in New York, Georgia and Texas as well as taught English as a Second Language (ESL) as an adjunct for El Paso Community College.
Additionally, she has written courses in developmental education and ESL as well as taught a wide variety of courses in literature and social science.
In 1991, Fry was recognized for her dedication, receiving the SUNY Chancellor's Award in Professional Service.
Fry earned a B.A. in English from Utica College, an M.Ed. as a reading specialist from the University of Texas, and a Ph.D. in higher and adult education from Syracuse University.
She is the daughter of Victoria Tomcho, of Hamilton.
Enrico D'Alessandro
D'Alessandro, University Police chief at Morrisville State College since 2001, has more than 40 years of dedicated service in public safety, both in law enforcement and fire safety sectors.
His extensive background in law enforcement includes serving as director of the Oneida County Regional Training Center, and co-director of the Mohawk Valley Police Academy. He spent 28 years with the Oneida County Sheriff's Department working in various capacities, including as division commander for the Law Enforcement Division, as the first co-commander of the Utica Arson Strike Force, administrator for the Oneida County Drug Task Force and the first polygrapher at the Oneida County Sheriff's Department. He serves on the Oneida County Arson Task Force and was also one of its founding members.
Additionally, he was appointed to the board of directors of the New York State University Police Chief's Association, serving as president from 2008-2009, and spent 24 years as a special agent with the United States Air Force Reserve assigned to the Office of Special Investigations.
A master instructor for the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office of Public Safety, D'Alessandro is also a member of the NYS Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is past president and secretary of the SUNY Police Chiefs Association.
Active in his community, he is also a member of the Oriskany American Legion, the Erie Canal Woodcarvers Association, the Trenton Fish & Game Club and the NRA.
D'Alessandro's career has been decorated with accolades which include receiving the 2010 Oneida County Arson Task Force Distinguished Service Award.
D'Alessandro earned an A.A.S. degree in criminal justice from Mohawk Valley Community College, a B.A. in sociology from SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome, and an M.P.A. in public administration from Marist College.
He and his wife, Carol, live in Frankfort.