More than 400 alumni from across the country returned to SUNY New Paltz for Alumni Reunion 2025, held between Oct. 17 and 19.
With the sun shining down and a beautiful fall breeze passing, Hawks who haven’t seen each other in years embraced with hugs and jumped right into reminiscing. Roommates and suitemates saw each other for the first time in decades, alumni traveled hours via plane, train and automobile, Hawks brought family members who had never seen campus, and current students were in numbers to network and learn about life after New Paltz.
During campus tours led by present-day student ambassadors and the annual hike at Mohonk Preserve, it was easy to hear alumni whispering “I’m so glad we came” to one another as they enjoyed the idyllic Hudson Valley foliage.
But before the annual alumni hike, we had two jam-packed days of events and activities that brought energy, nostalgia and connection to every corner of campus.
Honoring milestones and memories
Traditions like our annual Lantern Ceremony and the Heritage and Alumni Awards continued to attract alumni who were there to celebrate a joyous moment.
The Lantern Ceremony on Oct. 17 brought home Hawks from the Class of 1975 for a celebration of their 50th anniversary since graduation.
“Your presence here today reminds us that SUNY New Paltz is not just a campus, it’s a community that endures across time,” said Interim Alumni Relations Director Jen D'Andrea. “It lives in the friendships you made, the values you carried with you, and the light you continue to share with the world. Your legacy is here, in our classrooms, our traditions, our sustainability efforts and in the lives of students who continue to benefit from the trail you helped blaze.”
That included Michael Janoska ’71 (Geography) and Paul Rodden ’71, a duo who knew each other as teammates in New Paltz Swimming. “It’s fun to be back,” said Rodden. “When you get here as a freshman, four years seems like the rest of your life, until its 50 years later.”
Another in attendance was Susan Bohn ’75 (Elementary Education Pre K-6 Psychology), who brought her daughter along to show her mom’s favorite college spots with a tell-all about some of her favorite memories.
Meanwhile, William Schaedel ’75 (History) cashed in his Amtrak points for a train ride from Orlando, Florida, to Poughkeepsie, New York, enjoying a slow and scenic roll into a busy weekend.
On Saturday, a group of 10 remarkable alumni and friends of the Alumni Association were our special guests as the 2025 SUNY New Paltz Heritage and Alumni Awardees. Their unwavering commitment to the University’s ideals sets an inspiring example for our entire New Paltz community.
They were celebrated with heartfelt applause, personal stories and well-deserved recognition at a packed dinner ceremony in the Student Union Ballroom. Family and friends came together for congratulations, including a touching moment for Heritage Award winner Corinna Caracci, whose sister traveled over four hours to surprise her at the ceremony.
New experiences, lifelong connections
Reunion also helped connect alumni with the spirit of discovery that is core to SUNY New Paltz’s DNA. Interactive workshops led guests through activities like learning how to letterpress, and thoughtful panel conversations took place across a range of academic subjects, enriching the intellectual experience for alumni who were excited to step back on campus.
A reunion of its own kind came together with the gathering of alumni from Voices of Unity, a 45-years-strong choir originally founded by Pastor Daryl Ware ’89 (Business Administration). Voices of Unity perform regularly at campus events and host their own showcases, including their upcoming anniversary performance on Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. in Studley Theatre.
“It was like family when I first joined, and it’s still like family,” said Nsikak Udoh '08 (Finance) '13g (Business Administration), credentials specialist with SUNY New Paltz’s Office of Records & Registration. “It means the world to come back here tonight.”
Other events included an interactive design workshop where participants learned about physical computing, tours of Shango Hall attended by alumni who themselves helped create the historic murals that line that building’s walls, a planetarium show and the Music Therapy Alumni Showcase.
“There is a benefit of organized events,” said Victoria Falco ’18 (Graphic Design), who was in attendance with two of her friends who were all impressed by the changes in just the few short years since they had graduated.
Sharing stories and career insights
This year’s Reunion delivered a rich variety of insight-filled panels among its many offerings, with conversations devoted to sharing personal journeys, professional lessons and the evolving world beyond college. These panels offered a real link between life on campus and the world after graduation. Alumni talked about how their New Paltz experience shaped their skills and their networks.
“I got to my ideal career from New Paltz through a combination of hard work, networking, resiliency and luck,” said Mark Malizia ’11 (Political Science; History), chief of industry and enterprise engagements at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.
Current students had a unique opportunity to hear firsthand experiences, career journeys and professional insights from alumni working across a range of industries.
“What I've realized is that the communication skills and the language skills that I learned here helped me understand how to deal with intercommunication and cultural difference,” said Jason Vanderbeck ’05 (French), director of construction & facilities at FIGS.
Other networking opportunities included gatherings and receptions across campus, like the Engineering Alumni Reunion, where folks learned about the latest updates on engineering programs and shared where they landed after graduation. In attendance was Jason Greenberg ’12 (Computer Engineering), now a senior software engineer at Oceaneering.
“It's not so much the building that you were in, but the people you were interacting with on a daily basis that gave you the laughs and the memories,” he said.
A campus alive with Hawk pride
All weekend long, alumni had the opportunity to meet President Darrell P. Wheeler, but on Saturday morning his talk attracted folks who were excited to hear directly from him about the latest news around campus.
"Everything we do at SUNY New Paltz is really about you, the students, the alumni, the community, getting to the end game and having our students achieve success,” said Wheeler during the President’s Talk. “It’s all about student success. You’re the alumni who manifest and demonstrate that you have a love and commitment for the school.”
At the all-alumni luncheon on Oct. 18, the President bopped around tables to hear more from returning Hawks, while others posed at the photo booth or flipped through old yearbooks. Two of those people were Deborah McNamara ’74 (Adolescence Education: French) and Thomas McNamara ’74 (Psychology), a New Paltz couple who got married 48 years ago, and were back to reconnect with Deborah’s roommate, Donna Quinn ’75 (Science), for the first time since they graduated.
Another family affair included Jennifer Glass ’95 and Emily Glass ’26, a legacy connection as both SUNY New Paltz alumnae and sisters of the Agonian sorority.
"I’m really happy I chose to go to New Paltz,” said Em. “It made us grow closer, and it’s honestly really cool, especially bringing her back to the sorority because she graduated almost 30 years ago.”
Alumni Reunion also provided an occasion for Greek life gatherings, including the Agonian Alumnae Affair and get-togethers for the Phi Eta Sigma Fraternity, Inc Gathering, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Gathering, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Gathering, Theta Phi Gamma Alumnae Luncheon, Delphic Fraternity (Sigma Tau Gamma) Gathering, Clionian Sorority Luncheon, and the Delta Kappa Zeta Annual Reunion. Other groups also had events, including First World and EOP.
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Until next year
As the weekend came to a close, laughter lingered across campus and conversations stretched long after goodbyes were said. Alumni Reunion 2025 reminded everyone that while time may pass, the New Paltz spirit only grows stronger.
For more photos of this year’s Alumni Reunion, click here.
Save the date for Alumni Reunion 2026 next year: Oct. 16-18, 2026.
