When Melea Jones decided to return to school after a five-year break, she was not sure what her next step should be. She knew she wanted to grow and challenge herself, but she was uncertain about which program would feel like the right fit. Encouraged by her boss at Monroe Community College’s Upward Bound Program, …
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Amanda Ross’s journey to SUNY Polytechnic Institute was fueled by a growing dedication to mental health care. After years working in Family Medicine, Interventional Pain Management, Leadership, and Psychiatric settings, she saw firsthand the critical need for more specialized psychiatric nursing skills. That insight, combined with her passion for helping patients through complex emotional and …
For Karina Shanne, nursing has always been more than just a profession. It has been a lifelong journey of learning, teaching, and service. After earning her Associate degree from St. Elizabeth College of Nursing in 2012 and her BSN from Utica University in 2014, she went on to practice as a bedside nurse. But it …
Antonius “Tony” Rivera ‘02 G’05 has carved a unique and impactful path in both education and business. Originally from New York City, Tony’s journey from SUNY Poly to becoming a passionate school counselor and entrepreneur has been shaped by his diverse experiences and deep commitment to making a difference. While attending SUNY Poly, Tony was …
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Sean Smith ‘23 is already making waves in the tech world with the launch of his own startup, Triarii AI LLC. The company has a mission of developing large language models for use by cybersecurity professionals. Growing up in Staten Island, Sean, who majored in Computer and Information Systems, always knew he wanted to pursue …
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For Stephanie Jones ’19 G ‘20, a Whitesboro native, choosing SUNY Poly was more than just a decision to stay local — it was a decision to embrace community. “SUNY Poly felt like a second family,” she recalls. “The sense of belonging, the passion of the professors, and the close-knit environment really made it home.” Staff …
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By next year, there are expected to be more than 50 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices, with the data generated exceeding 79 zettabytes. To put that into context, a zettabyte is a trillion gigabytes. Securing that data is paramount. These are the types of items Anthony Macera, who earned his Master’s Degree in Computer …
Read more “Anthony Macera ’95: Computer and Information Science”
As a young girl, Heather Potrzeba ‘96 would head to her grandfather’s bakery and deli at 4 a.m. to help peel eggs and make salads before customers arrived. That business, Holland Farms Bakery & Deli on Oriskany Blvd in Yorkville, has stayed in the family since it opened in 1955. Today, Heather is the iconic …
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There was little time Clayville native Nick Levanti ’16 didn’t spend in the Wildcat Field House. While his Sociology degree has served him well in coaching, the former student-athlete/lacrosse standout says, “I learned the most inside that building.” These life lessons came from working closely with SUNY Poly Athletics staff and coaches like Al Calogero, …
For Caitlin Bajrektarevic ’21 and Caryn L. Schweinsberg ‘20, both graduates of SUNY Poly’s Community and Behavioral Health (CBH) program, you might say their ties to the institution run deep. Their mothers both attended and graduated from the university, and now they’ve returned to help lead the university’s educational outreach efforts at six Herkimer County …
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A deep fascination with different cultures and human behavior led Kay Klo, 27, towards anthropology during her undergraduate studies. As executive director of the Midtown Utica Community Center (MUCC), Klo works closely with Executive Board Member Dr. Kathryn Stam, who is a Professor of Anthropology at SUNY Poly and serves as the coordinator of their Information …
If you take a drive around Utica and spot one of the city’s many revitalization efforts, there’s a good chance Utica native Stephanie Wurz ’14 had a hand in making it come to fruition. Wurz is currently a Senior Engineer for the City of Utica, having previously been a junior and assistant engineer. She earned …
Read more “Stephanie Wurz ’14: Civil Engineering Technology“