Oswego Alumni Magazine » Vega

Smiley celebrates 50 years as faculty member

Staff Report — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:52:09 +0000

Distinguished Teaching Professor Marilynn Smiley recently celebrated 50 years as a faculty member at SUNY Oswego. The Indiana native ‘cut a deal’ with her father to pursue music in college. Smiley, who came to Oswego in 1961, still carries a full load as a professor of music with a specialty in musicology — and a long résumé of eclectic research, talented students, women’s equality efforts, organization work with such groups as Vega and the American Association of University Women, musical groups like the SUNY Oswego Recorder Consort and much more. Hear an interview with Smiley and share your comments below.

Interview with Marilynn Smiley – Click to Play

‘Give back,’ Egan urges

Shane M. Liebler — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:30:31 +0000

Discovery Communications executive and April 15 Honors Convocation keynote speaker Jocelyn Sokolski Egan ’84 reminded more than 100 of SUNY Oswego’s top scholars of their potential and urged them to follow their respective roads to success, bumpy though they may be.

“Some paths are easier than others; few are level,” said Egan, senior vice president of Discovery Solutions, the Discovery Communications division dedicated to network-wide advertising sales and partnerships.

A former strategist for Gillette, Frito-Lay and Pizza Hut campaigns, Egan stressed the importance of building a strong network to face life’s hurdles. “I urge you to continue to give back to each other — professionally and through service,” added Egan, a member of the School of Business Advisory Board and participant in the Oswego Alumni Association’s NYC Career Connections program as well as the Alumni Sharing Knowledge program.

10×10+10: KaeLyn Rich

Shane M. Liebler — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:28:57 +0000

KaeLyn Rich ’05 has been an advocate for social justice as long as she can remember.

As Genesee Valley chapter director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, Rich advocates for women’s, LBGT and immigrant rights among many other social issues.

An English Writing Arts and women’s studies major, she served as co-director of the Women’s Center, treasurer of Vega and cast director of the peer-education theatre troupe Melodramatics.

“I have been attracted toward jobs that allow me to get paid for activism and standing up for justice,” Rich said. “The Women’s Center inspired me to truly do work that I love, that feeds my activist soul.”

1. Best Oswego moment: Sitting in the nook outside of Penfield Library with friends, “studying” (cough, cough) and enjoying the few fleeting weeks of sunny weather at the end of my last semester.

2. Worst Oswego weather: The infamous ice storm of 2003 — Classes were actually canceled and we all know classes are NEVER canceled at Oswego.

3. Superpower: Superduperfast talking. I could be one of those people that say all the deadly side effects on radio ads for prescription drugs.

4. Soft spot: Adoptable pets, especially little critters like rabbits and rats. I wish I could adopt them all!

5. Good book: My favorite book changes all the time. Most recently, I was completely sucked into Wench, a historical fiction novel by Dolen Perkins-Valdez.

6. Bad rap: Getting uncontrollably loud when I get excited about something — helpful when organizing a rally, not helpful over dinner in a quiet restaurant.

7. Great food: I make some pretty tasty Buffalo Tofu, my potluck specialty since my Oz days.

8. Favorite Oswego extra-curricular: The Women’s Center was my home away from home from 2002 to 2005. I was so sad when I had to turn in my office key.

9. Coolest Oswego curricular: Helping produce the first SUNY Oswego production of “The Vagina Monologues” in 2003.

10. Best advice: You have to do what you love. Figure out what you are passionate about and don’t let anything hold you back.