When she was a young girl, 1973 SUNY Oswego graduate Lois Frankel understood what some in society saw her future to be. They thought she would get married, have children and stay at home to run her household. Going to college would be a “waste of money,” she recalled them saying.

Fortunately, her mother thought otherwise.

“My mother paid for Oswego from her salary as a nurse,” said Frankel, who went on to earn a bachelor’s, a master’s and a doctoral degree. “If it weren’t for her, I don’t think I would have figured out how to make it happen. I know now that education does make a difference for so many reasons, and too often smart, but economically vulnerable young people don’t have the same educational opportunities as their wealthier counterparts.”

To express her deep gratitude to her mother and to help others afford a SUNY Oswego education, Frankel established the Sonia P. Frankel Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship will be awarded for the first time during the 2024-25 academic year to a student who is majoring in gender and women’s studies, demonstrates financial need, is a sophomore or junior and maintains a 2.8 GPA. Additionally, the recipient must work in an on- or off-campus job throughout the school year.

“I hope this modest scholarship eases that [financial] burden in such a way that it allows the recipient to focus on themselves, their strengths, proclivities and desires,” she said. “That opportunity happens so rarely in our lives. The scholarship certainly isn’t enough to make the burden disappear, but I hope it provides breathing space.”

The scholarship also pays tribute to Frankel’s own education and the learning that stemmed from her women’s studies courses with such professors as the late Barbara Gerber and Patti McGill Peterson, who went on to be president of St. Lawrence University and Wells College.

“This foundation was pivotal to my ultimate path,” Frankel said.

Initially launching her career in the field of higher education in student affairs, she transitioned into a more lucrative human resources role in the private sector while earning her advanced degrees in counseling psychology. She then transitioned into a private practice as a psychotherapist focusing on the issues of women in the workplace, and today, she runs an international executive coaching firm.

Frankel is also an accomplished author, known for her bestselling business guide for women, "Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office," and a series of related books, including "Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich," "Nice Girls Don’t Speak Up or Stand Out" and "Nice Girls Just Don’t Get It," as well as "See Jane Lead" and "Ageless Women, Timeless Wisdom."

“I cannot tell you how rewarding it is to receive an email or LinkedIn message from someone in Africa, Australia, South America or even here in the U.S., telling me that one of my books helped to turn around a faltering or plateauing career,” Frankel said. “I never get tired of hearing that.”

Frankel is committed to giving back as much as she can. She founded two nonprofits -- MOSTE: Motivating Our Students through Experience and Bloom Again Foundation: Sowing Seeds of Health and Hope.

This new scholarship at Oswego carries on that commitment to helping others and is a nod to the legacy of the 10th president of SUNY Oswego, Deborah F. Stanley, who created a culture of support for students.

“Life isn’t about simply making a living,” she said. “It’s about making a difference. I feel like this scholarship is a return on my mother’s investment –- which is why I wanted the scholarship to be in her name. If you’re in a position to be able to make a difference, no matter how large or how small, and you don’t do it, then you're not living with a spirit of generosity.”

Frankel's gift supports the Transforming Lives Scholarships, an initiative to celebrate the inauguration of SUNY Oswego’s 11th president, Peter O. Nwosu, this fall by advancing one of his top priorities –- funding to better meet students’ financial needs.

-- Submitted by University Advancement