Alumni Stories
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Joan Bolebruch Zopp is a lifelong resident of the Village of Johnson City, NY, where her family lineage dates back to the early 1900s. Born in 1937 to
parents who met at the C. Fred Johnson Carousel, she came of age in the WW2 era, when Harry L. Drive was known as Maple Street, and was filled with apple orchards, not shopping centers…
Masagid Gasi’s story begins far from Johnson City, in the country of Sudan, located in northeast Africa. Born amongst political unrest during the War in Darfur, Gasi’s family sought refuge first in the capital city of Khartoum, before fleeing to Cairo, Egypt. Desperate to create a better life for her family, Gasi’s mother courageously parted from her children to file for asylum…
In 2025, women entering engineering are celebrated with scholarships and mentorship programs. But in the 1950s, women daring to pursue a career in STEM were often discouraged — or outrightly dismissed. One such pioneer, Karen Weygand Maddock (PE ’61), was one of the first female graduates of Broome Technical Community College’s…
Exactly 50 years ago, Wayne Mitteer (LAAS ’74; RN ’75) graduated from Broome Community College’s Nursing: A.A.S. program, poised to embark on a vocation in bedside care. To fund his degree, he worked as an orderly at Lourdes Hospital and never left. Mitteer credits his career as a critical care nurse…
Carefully making his way to the microphone at the opening of SUNY Broome’s 2025 Mock Disaster drill, Kevin Morrissey (BUMA ’88) opened his presentation with words of gratitude. Morrissey wasn’t addressing the group as a fellow police officer, paramedic, or nurse, but rather as the recipient of their collective care on September 26, 1981, and throughout the weeks, months, and years that followed…
When Adam Gordon (LACM ’17; MUSS ’18) was a toddler, he busily gravitated towards three things — extension cords, batteries, and cameras. While his early interests initially kept his parents on high alert, they were incredibly prophetic. Little did they know then that Gordon would spend his professional life surrounded by 20,000 feet of fiber-optic cable…
More Alumni Stories…
(by SUNY Broome Academic Division, then alphabetically by last name)
Fred Akshar
Broome County Sheriff
Taking one step into Sheriff Frederick J. Akshar II’s (CJPO ‘99) office explains it all. Each wall is covered with reminders of the three guiding factors in his life – God, family, and community. The combination of family photos, mementos, and verses about hope, can make someone forget they’re in a correctional facility…
Chris Dattoria
Developing Lifelong Skills Through Physical Education
When Chris Dattoria walks past the cafeteria at Glenwood Elementary, the room erupts in cheers. Celebrity-level status with the primary school demographic is a job perk that Dattoria initially hadn’t expected when he first decided to become a physical education teacher…
Dr. Penny Haynes
Dr. Haynes Returns To The Hive As Vice President Of Academic Affairs
At a PHS reception, Dr. Penny Haynes introduced herself to one recipient in particular – a graduate from a high school that is located near her childhood home. A SUNY Broome alumna herself, she knows what it’s like to hail from a small place…
Amber Hontz
Flight Paramedic
When “Take Your Child to Work Day” rolls around every April, Oggy Hontz will win the award for “mom with the coolest job.” While the rest of his friends will spend their day in mundane offices, Oggy will tag along with his mom, Amber Hontz, to the LifeNet 7-8 base…
Stacy Marrow
Solving the Problems of Practice in Higher Education Through Holistic Student Support
After working for years in unsatisfying jobs, Stacy decided to come to SUNY Broome to add a new skill-set: web design. “I was first hired by BU in the Department of Public Administration, and what got me the job was my ability to work on websites…”
Junelle Perry
A student, mom & future CPA transfers to her dream school
Junelle first attended SUNY Broome at the age of 19, but left college after having her son and adjusting to motherhood. She tried again a few years later, but left again after having her daughter and instead became a stay-at-home mom…
Zachary Pedley
SUNY Broome alumnus founds an award-winning brewery
Hours before opening, The North Brewery is quietly busy, with silver vats in the back turning hops and other ingredients into the Endicott establishment’s award-winning beer. Come nightfall, however, the small Washington Avenue business…
Gregory Thurston
A leader works to build a better campus and a more vibrant community
Until a few years ago, Gregory Thurston walked the SUNY Broome campus as a recruiter for the U.S. Marine Corps. He struck up conversations with students and faculty members and enjoyed the interactions. The Fort Lauderdale native…
Emily Zielewicz
Balancing Public Servant & Civilian Life One Day at a Time
For Emily Zielewicz, maintaining a distinct balance between her professional life and personal life is a daily activity. Professionally, Zielewicz wears many hats, most notably the trademark Sheriff’s Stetson. As a Deputy with the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, Zielewicz ensures the overall welfare of the community members of Broome County…
Maria Bajwa
Supporting a Small Program, with Big Education
Maria Bajwa was born to be in healthcare. As the daughter of a physician in rural Pakistan, Bajwa’s childhood home often doubled as a clinic. Maria’s mother graciously welcomed infirm members of the community into their home, where her father treated their needs…
Lynda Brown Bass
A Hornet & Yellow Bird looks back and gives back to Broome
Lynda Brown Bass knew she wanted a career in serving others and saw two options at Broome Community College — the dental hygienist program or nursing. She chose nursing. “Personally, I just couldn’t picture myself being in people’s mouths all day long…”
Michael Buffone
Circling Back to Broome
When Michael Buffone’s (ISAS ’88; RN ’92) deteriorating eyesight forced him to stop practicing as a registered nurse, he assumed that his career in healthcare had officially come to a close. Little did Michael know that his alma mater would come calling, looking to use his skills in a unique way…
Tim Doolittle
In the Stage of Life to Matter More
Tim Doolittle is a fount of knowledge, wisdom, and advice. Longing for advice on what to do when you face the uncertainty that follows being laid off after decades in industry? That might be Tim’s best story of all….
Jesse Greene
Jesse presses on, balancing a challenging regimen of studying, work and martial arts
In a sense, Jesse Greene was living three lives simultaneously. In one, he was a student in the Physical Therapist Assistant program and preparing to graduate in May 2020. In the overnight hours, he works as a security guard. And then there is his third identity…
Keith Hughes
An Ivy League Hornet Returns To His Alma Mater To Tutor And To Prepare For His Future In Pharmacy
If you need a little extra help in science class, Keith Hughes will offer his guidance and expertise as a professional tutor in the college’s Learning Assistance Department. He has some impressive credentials…
Michelle Hroncich
School Nurse
There is a common misconception that school nurses simply check temperatures and pass out band-aids. Michelle Hroncich (RN ’00, EMT ’03), the resident school nurse at Vestal Middle School, is the perfect example to dispel this myth…
Richard Bedosky
Providing Peer Support in the Journey of Recovery
Changing careers in your 50s can be a daunting experience. But, when change is fueled by the desire to help others, the worries somehow seem to lessen. For Rich Bedosky Jr. (CHDC ’24), the decision to pursue a new career as a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) came from his personal belief…
Roger Brooks
Storyteller and SUNY Broome alumnus goes deep on ‘American Real’
Everyone has a story, a unique human experience aching for expression. Roger Brooks’ mission is to draw it out question by question for the world to see. A Binghamton native, Brooks is the founder and host of American Real…
Kelly Devine
A Nontraditional Approach to a Second Career
One interaction with Kelly Devine (HSCD ’17) explains it all. A perfectly balanced blend of compassion and strength, Devine advocates that everyone deserves a chance. It is this mantra of hope that first drew her to the world of chemical dependency counseling a decade ago. …
Dr. James Distin
Emergency Medicine Physician
No one enjoys a trip to the emergency room. Yet for many in this community, that message of comfort is delivered by a familiar face, Johnson City native James Distin (LAAA ’08), DO, an Emergency Medicine physician at United Health Services…
Matt Ebbers
Documenting Our Days At SUNY Broome
Last year was a big year for Matt Ebbers (MUSS ’15). He was honored with the 2022 Young Professional HYPE Award in the Creative Industry by the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce…
Sharon Exley
Town of Dickinson Councilwoman
Sharon Exley was born in Johnson City, NY, and lived on Harry L. Drive when the commercial street of today was purely homes and farmland. Exley, her parents, and her younger sister made their little neighborhood in Johnson City the central point of their lives. Her father, a machinist in WWII…
Jason Garnar
Broome County Executive
Broome County Executive Jason T. Garnar (ISED ‘97) never hesitates to share his status as a SUNY Broome alum. While most know that he is a graduate of SUNY Broome, they may not be aware that Garnar’s SUNY Broome story began when he was just a toddler. Garnar was born in Binghamton, NY, but spent his formative…
The Hempsteads
A SUNY Broome education is a family affair
At SUNY Broome, “everyone knows a Hempstead,” Susanna joked. That may not be precisely true; to date, no members of the Deposit family have opted to major in a STEM field, at least not yet. But SUNY Broome has become a family tradition for the Hempsteads…
William Mason
‘The Franchise’ stays connected and pursues a future in radio
Just call him The Franchise. “I’m like a franchise of SUNY Broome!” explained William Mason (LACM ’16). A proud Hornet, Mason visits campus every year to connect with the faculty and staff who made such a difference in his life…
Nichole McMillen
Embracing the Magic of Early Childhood
Life has indeed come full circle for Nichole McMillen (EC ’10). In 2009, when McMillen transferred to SUNY Broome to study Early Childhood: A.A.S., she never imagined that one day she would return to campus to assume the position of Director of the B.C. Center…
Nick Venuti
Lights, Camera, Action – Nick Pursues A Career In Film
Plenty of people dream of careers in the film industry, but Nick Venuti is hustling to frame his shot. After earning his associate degree through SUNY Broome’s Communications and Media Arts program in 2017, he transferred to the New York Film Academy…
Scott Sasina
Delivering the News to the Community that Raised Him
For thousands of Southern Tier residents, an evening at home is not complete without Scott Sasina (LACM ’13), co-anchor of 12 News, and his nightly broadcast. While most viewers know that Sasina deeply enjoys reporting…
Alan Schroeder
Scientist and SUNY Broome alum travels the world, planting seeds and fighting pests
Albania, Zambia, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, and Rwanda: Alan Schroeder has lost count of the countries he has visited as an agricultural scientist and consultant. As a Liberal Arts and Sciences major at SUNY Broome – then called BCC, he discovered a love for science…
Lea Webb
New York State Senator
Senator Lea Webb’s (LA ’01) favorite photo of herself incredibly foreshadows her life as a public official. In the photo, two-and-a-half-year-old Webb’s shirt proclaims “Kids Are People Too!” The little girl, looking straight into the camera, with her hands on her hips, looks as though she is saying, “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” And she does…
Rebeccah Bates
Rebeccah Learns to Learn and Masters Problem-Solving Through Engineering Science
A typical job interview question for new graduates is this: What did you learn in college? Many managers are seeking a particular answer: “I learned how to learn.” That’s certainly true for Rebeccah Bates, a 2016 Engineering Science graduate who landed a job as a software engineer at Lockheed Martin…
Dani Bryan
Airborne Bound
One of Cadet Fourth Class Dani Bryan’s first childhood memories is of the power and beauty of aviation. She distinctly remembers tagging along with her dad to the Greater Binghamton Airshow. Clinging to her noise-canceling head-phones, she gazed up at the sky…
Louis Cane
The History of a State Tech Hornet: 86-year-old alumnus remembers fire of 1951 and the rise of a new community college
Louis Cane didn’t attend SUNY Broome, Broome Community College or even Broome Tech. He was a proud member of The Electricals, as electrical technology students were called in the days of the Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in Binghamton, the college’s very first moniker …
Jacob Kumpon
Converting Trash into a Sustainable Treasure
When most cousins connect at family events, they share stories, play games, and lovingly tease their older relatives. When Jacob Kumpon (BA ’18 & ES ’20) and his cousin, Jack Lamuraglia, gather at a family event, they find a quiet corner of the room and build an empire…
Stephanie Daub Kuzio
Inspiring the Next Generation Of Women in STEM
When Stephanie Daub Kuzio (CT ’83) traveled to campus last spring to celebrate the dedication of the Edwin C. Daub Baseball Field in honor of her late father, Professor Emeritus and Coach Edwin Daub, she could not help but reflect on her own SUNY Broome experiences…
Tom Phillips
King of the Mountain: SUNY Broome Grad Oversees Upstate New York’s Biggest Road Project
With a $300 million price tag, the Prospect Mountain construction project is a massive undertaking. At the pinnacle is Engineer In Charge Tom Phillips, an Engineering Technologies alumnus, who has watched construction unfold since 2011…
Charles Randall
High fidelity: A SUNY Broome alum heads famed audio company
McIntosh Labs manufactures all of its audio wonders in Binghamton, which it has called home for 70 years. At the head is President and CEO Charles Randall (ET ’85), a SUNY Broome’s Electrical Engineering Technology program graduate…”
Patrick Scanlan
Engineer distills life’s priorities and finds success producing world-class spirits in Colorado
Throughout the course of our lives, our roles and identities can shift, boiling with our ideas and passions and condensing into a new, truer version of ourselves — utterly changed from what came before. You can see that process on a terrestrial scale at Woody Creek Distillery…
The Stewart Family
Educating Three Generations at SUNY Broome
As Stephen Stewart (ELME ’03) poured over the black and white photos in his father’s College yearbooks, he couldn’t help but compare his father, Dr. William D. Stewart’s (BT ’58) traditional college experience at Broome Tech…
Dr. Harold Trimm
Bonding SUNY Broome Through Chemistry
For over four decades, Dr. Harold Trimm (CH ’02) has remained synonymous with chemistry at SUNY Broome. A champion of both the College and the universality of chemistry, Dr. Trimm has devoted his life to making science engaging and accessible for two generations of students…
Phuc Vo
Engineering Science alum explores the final frontier by working on projects for the ISS
At 220 miles above the Earth, the International Space Station (ISS) relies on a complex web of systems to keep astronauts safe and healthy in the void of space. Repairing equipment in space proves difficult, which is why teams of engineers — including Phuc Vo…
Francis Battisti
Dr. Battisti leaves a legacy and lasting impact on the college he loves
The very first time Francis Battisti (BT ’68) set foot on campus, it involved — of all things — a cow’s eye. It was eighth grade and the future Dr. Battisti was, he admitted, a somewhat indifferent student. Hoping to spark his interest, his Union-Endicott teachers had him dissect a cow’s eye for a science competition. He qualified for regionals at Broome Technical Community College….
Joe DeAngelo
The Greatest Reward: A Civil Engineering Tech Alumnus Gives Back In The Classroom
One of the greatest gifts for professors is seeing their students succeed in their chosen field. SUNY Broome Civil Engineering Technology Professor Joe DeAngelo sees SUNY Broome alumni hard at work whenever he drives through local or state road construction…
Colleen Cashman
Volleyball Champ Returns to her Alma Mater as Interim Athletic Director
Interim Director of Athletics, Colleen Cashman, has one hope for the students of SUNY Broome. “I just want our students to have a college experience that is as wonderful as the experience that I had when I was a student at SUNY Broome. Some of the happiest memories of my life are on this campus,” said Cashman…
Diana LaBelle
Engineered to inspire, Diana LaBelle models career possibility as an engineer and professor
Diana LaBelle was only 17 years old when she enlisted in the Marine Corps during her senior year at Binghamton High School. She graduated early to join the military, but she still needed her father’s written consent because she didn’t meet the age requirement…
Justin Lynady
From ‘Third time’s the charm’ to counseling, coordinating & teaching
When Justin Lynady (HSCD ’12) stands in front of his “Psychology of Addiction” class, his students see Professor Lynady, the Regional Coordinator for the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and substance abuse counselor with more than a decade of experience in direct service. What they may not know about their instructor…
Suzanne Maier
256 Years & Counting: Celebrating Committed Professors with a Half-Century in the Profession
When Suzanne Maier was in high school, dental hygienists came into the school to provide fluoride treatments. She became interested in becoming a dental hygienist and chose Broome Technical Community College’s well-respected program…
Dr. Jennifer Musa
Blending Science with Service
Dr. Jennifer Musa (CHDC ’23; HSCD ’23) has one of the biggest hearts (if not the biggest) on campus. As a biology professor, Musa would quickly correct this anatomical exaggeration. Big hearts, however, aren’t measured in cardiac muscle tissue. Instead, they are weighed in selfless acts of generosity…
Dr. Harold Trimm
Bonding SUNY Broome Through Chemistry
For over four decades, Dr. Harold Trimm (CH ’02) has remained synonymous with chemistry at SUNY Broome. A champion of both the College and the universality of chemistry, Dr. Trimm has devoted his life to making science engaging and accessible for two generations of students…