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Summary

Dr. Kenneth Levison retired from SUNY Geneseo in June 2011 and was an integral part of the campus and to Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS). The core mission of the college is teaching, and with the support of all the staff, the college is able to achieve its high standing. It is through their work that students receive an outstanding and well-rounded education and an exemplary residential college experience. This award is intended to recognize an individual in a non-teaching position who has consistently demonstrated both outstanding achievement in one's professional position, as well as a high level of leadership skills and service contributions that extend well beyond, displaying leadership and involvement in many areas across the campus.

The Levison Award of Excellence was established by CAS to recognize members of the College or CAS's professional, non-teaching staff, employed at either organization 7 years or more, and who have: 

1. Consistently exhibited exemplary leadership skills and service contributions
2. Acted as a role model and mentor for others
3. Been leaders on the campus not only in their professional position, but by actively participating widely in the campus community and the community beyond.

Nomination Criteria

We are seeking to recognize an individual who has made a lasting impact on the campus community and demonstrates the criteria below. This individual will have the honor of receiving the Levison Award of Excellence. The recipient will receive a medallion and a check in the amount of $250 from CAS. The established criteria for this award are:

• Performance -- Consistent high level of performance that results in a recognizable and meaningful impact on the organization (CAS and/or College)
• Commitment -- Continuous involvement in supporting the mission of the organization (CAS and/or College) and achieving results that serve as a role model to other members of the campus community
• High Standards -- Exemplary and consistent demonstration of personal qualities such as integrity, dedication, professionalism, and leadership
• Contributions -- Specific examples of achievements that further the mission of the organization (CAS and/or College)

Nominations can be submitted by faculty or staff of CAS or SUNY Geneseo. A committee comprised of a group of stakeholders will evaluate the nominations and recommend one candidate for the award.

Deadline

Nominations for the 2025 academic year will be accepted through January 31, 2026. Submit your nomination . 

Past Award Recipients

Matthew Pastizzo, 2024

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Matt is an exceptional and talented leader in Institutional Research. He is highly skilled and creative in designing dashboards that help departments and the college analyze data and trends effectively. Professional, dedicated, and accommodating, Matt consistently supports the campus community with a positive and welcoming demeanor.

His guidance and expertise have been invaluable, especially during the past several challenging years. Matt collaborates seamlessly with all departments and divisions, demonstrating the brilliance and creativity that reflect the best of Geneseo. He leads the Institutional Research department with both skill and grace and is a respected mentor to students, faculty, staff, and his team.

Last summer, when department chairs were tasked with academic program evaluations, Matt played a crucial role by developing dashboards and analyzing data that significantly enhanced the accuracy and depth of these assessments. He is always willing to share data that helps departments better understand and reach their target student populations, particularly for arts-based classes and programs.

Matt is an active member of campus committees, including the Strategic Planning Committee, and is consistently available to assist department chairs and deans with data analysis and problem-solving. He exemplifies what it means to be a behind-the-scenes leader whose impact is both profound and lasting.

Kristy Barkan, 2023

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Kristy is extremely conscientious, productive, and committed to getting jobs done. Her attention to detail and work ethic result in above average results. When asked to create a website, she not only fulfills the request, she researches best practices and offers new ideas and different approaches. Kristy can be counted on to ask the probing questions, encouraging individuals to consider all angles and audiences. Particularly in a crisis, Kristy is astute and thoroughly thinks through the issue at hand to help respond holistically and soundly. Her attitude is contagious. She is always cheerful and looking on the positive side of everything and encourages her peers to do the same. Kristy holds herself to a high standard and as a result others follow.

When asked to complete a job, she does more than what is required, whether that be additional work or completing it in record time. The Geneseo website is a high-performing environment through which we gain new students, new faculty, and engage with alumni and the community. Despite challenges with our current web content management system, Kristy is able to continue to create and maintain high quality pages that perform well in web searches. Websites are scored based on how often they come up in a Google search, and Geneseo.edu is consistently rated above average due to Kristy’s leadership. Her participation in the Leadership Journey training program has allowed her not only to gain new skills but also to pass her existing knowledge to the next wave of committed Geneseo employees.

Kristy never shies away from a volunteer opportunity. She served on countless search committees, as chair and member, as well as several multidisciplinary committees, mostly related to CIT and technology, but she's also on the Holiday Knights committee and other "fun" employee life activities. I can't imagine a Geneseo campus without Kristy on it. She brings the joy!

Sarah Frank, 2022

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Sarah Frank is our 2022 recipient of the Levison Award of Excellence. Sarah sets and enforces a standard of excellence for the college that makes SUNY Geneseo a better place to live, learn, and work. Among many examples, Sarah's work elevates the quality of the Diversity Summit, selecting and handling speakers, logistics, and managing student workers. Her impact is evident on the academic side of the college, where students and teaching faculty frequently speak of Sarah as a problem solver and regular contributor to our collective quality of life. People go to her for all kinds of requests, because she is known as a person who gets things done. 

She always knows the name of the student and staff at the various events. From the new resident assistant to the vendors at various events. Sarah is not only physically present, but also emotionally invested in treating everyone involved with respect and making them feel valued. Low morale is an issue we increasingly face on campus and Sarah improves our sense of community with her dedication. She consistently works after hours to fine tune and perfect events and I see it resonate with the students that she trains. The students who are working under Sarah as resident assistants or other team members improve in the classroom the longer she supervises them. They internalize her expectation for attention to detail and follow through. 

The most recent Diversity Summit was an amazing achievement that could not have been done without Sarah. It directly contributes to the college's mission of being an anti-racist institution and pursuing inclusivity across campus. Sarah also contributes to the living learning community initiatives (LLCs) that greatly enhanced learning for the residents. She attends regional conferences to speak on issues important to residence life, such as her 2016 presentation on Sexual Assault Reporting and Resilience at the CSPA-NYS conference in Buffalo.

Tom D'Angelo, 2021

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Tom was nominated for embodying our Campus Auxiliary Services mission to have a positive effect on the lives of all who engage our community, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the college. During his 40+ years with CAS, he worked closely with Restaurants and Cafés to procure specialty products, spices and meats for special events, cultural dinners, campus-wide catering events, and Presidential parties. He is noted for going above and beyond in service of others. He makes a significant impact in both big and small ways. 

You may have seen him behind a waffle maker at Accepted Knights, working at the concessions stand for graduation, bartending for galas and reunions, or driving delivery as needed, because no job is too big or small when it comes to supporting and having a positive impact on his colleagues and community. He’s coordinated with our food suppliers to develop internships for Geneseo students, allowing students to gain valuable work experience, explore a career path, and build and refine skills that will give them an edge in the job market. 

His efforts also play an integral role in supporting our local businesses and farmers; and he’s responsible for our annual Food Show and Pride of New York events that bring local companies and farmers to showcase their animals and products on campus. Tom’s generous nature extends to the community surrounding the college as well. He is the driving force behind years of donations to local organizations in need. From organizing donations to local food banks such as Foodlink, Geneseo Methodist Church, and Geneseo Groveland Food Pantry to donating equipment and furniture to the Arc of Livingston-Wyoming, you can always trust that Tom will get the job done, and that has left a lasting impression on our organization.

Ed Beary, 2020

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The mission of the Biology Department is to provide instruction, scholarship, and service in the biological sciences to the SUNY Geneseo academic community and society as a whole. Ed Beary certainly furthers this mission through his daily tasks—including coordinating orders and maintaining sophisticated equipment—in support of instruction (especially in lab courses) and faculty-student research.

Beyond his technical role, Ed contributes meaningfully to the department’s culture. Dr. Apple remarked, “Ed also contributes to departmental culture, and is known for his love and knowledge of plants, bugs, and reptiles.” Dr. Hannam added, “He maintains some invertebrate collections on the side that I have used on short notice in my teaching lab when availability of my planned organisms fell through. And I can always drop in to his office in the stockroom with a question about finding an item for research or a student project.”

Often serving as the department’s own MacGyver, Ed is a creative problem solver and reliable resource. Dr. Hannam continued, “Often something as simple as a Tupperware container for collections, or zip ties and screening, or sand or birdseed—animal behavior projects are often built on the cheap by MacGyvering needed materials. Ed is my on-site MacGyver; he will brainstorm with me, and more often than not he has something on hand that will work, and if not, I have it in just days.” A few weeks ago, he even ran home in the middle of the day to bring in his pet snake for a demonstration in Dr. McCartney’s Vertebrate Biology Lab.

His contributions extend well beyond the lab and classroom. Dr. Bosch noted that Ed helps collect animals for demonstrations in the Invertebrate Biology Lab and assists with equipment for research and courses on Conesus Lake. The campus regularly consults him during animal emergencies, such as loose bats in dorms, wasps nests, and honeybee hives or swarms.

Ed’s outreach and enthusiasm for science are unmatched. In the past, he led countless tours of the animal care facility for scouting and 4-H groups. As the animal collection has dwindled, he’s found new ways to contribute—such as leading public programs as a Master Gardener, particularly with 4-H participants. He is an irreplaceable part of the annual departmental BioOlympics, managing the Madagascar hissing cockroach races that determine the winning team. As Dr. Apple noted, “Ed Beary has helped individual faculty on so many occasions: taking care of animals over holiday breaks, helping transport materials to and from the Arboretum using his truck, and offering advice and supplies for propagating plants for the Arboretum.”

Paul Jackson, 2019

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Paul Jackson was nominated for the Levison Award of Excellence for his strong drive to get things done. He is dedicated to working hard for students and employees to effectively utilize campus technology. Paul tenaciously addresses areas for improvement within CIT. Whether it is a bug, unexplained behavior by an application, or an ill-defined procedure, Paul is relentless in making sure that the matter is addressed. He has done much to assist other SUNY schools as they work to improve their technology platforms, and he is recognized as a SUNY leader for his contributions  to the SICAS organization.

Paul is highly respected among the members of the Geneseo community. He navigates difficult work situations with confidence, seeking an outcome that will best serve the college. He treats everyone with respect and dignity. His contributions include providing training and support to Banner users as they transitioned through a difficult upgrade, elevating Geneseo's standing in the SUNY community through the SICAS program, and stepping up on the front-line support to help incoming students and faculty members. He has been a leader in adopting new technologies.

Teresa Sexton, 2018

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Teresa was the recipient of the 2018 Levison Award of Excellence—and deservedly so. Who better to receive this prestigious honor than someone who worked closely with Dr. Levison for years and continued to perform her role as Assistant to the VP with remarkable ease and professionalism? Teresa played a major role in organizing several campus events, all of which she executed flawlessly. Her behind-the-scenes coordination—such as sending reminders and managing logistics for luncheons, retiree recognition, and Work Smart/Work Safely events—reflects her dedication and lasting impact on Campus Auxiliary Services and the College. She also had a key role in the presentation of the Gloria and Van Quaal Outstanding Quality Service Award, handling nominations and preparation with care and precision.

Beyond event planning, Teresa consistently supported the mission of the organization through her involvement in a wide range of projects. Notably, during the Sturges/Fraser project, she coordinated meetings that brought together consultants, college staff, and representatives from the town of Geneseo. Her organizational skills extended to tracking committee memberships (such as the Disaster Task Force and Building and Grounds), managing campus training follow-ups, and ensuring administration staff had the proper name badges and apparel.

Teresa’s commitment to excellence touched nearly every aspect of college operations. She organized the Essential Services list, monitored monthly attendance reports, prepared hiring forms, and finalized evaluation processes for professional employees. As one of the college’s most dependable contributors, her integrity, work ethic, and attention to detail played a major role in the success of numerous campus initiatives. Teresa’s efforts have left a meaningful and lasting mark on the Geneseo community.

Donna Bardeen, 2017

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Donna Bardeen, Director of Auditing and Accounting (CAS), was awarded the 2017 Levison Award of Excellence for being a true professional who held high standards for herself and staff with just the right amount of compassion. Her calm demeanor was such a great benefit to the entire corporation, not just her immediate staff. She was reliable and provided guidance and advice. As a leader on the CAS team, her experience and leadership was consistent amidst times of change.

Donna held herself accountable with integrity, dedication, and professionalism. CAS for many years enjoyed a clean audit record. Donna supported all the departments within CAS recognizing that we're all in this together whether it's working at culinary events, graduation, or helping organize donations to local charities.

Chip Matthews, 2016

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Charles (Chip) Matthews was nominated as the Levison Award of Excellence recipient in 2016 for his thoughtfully researched, student-focused approach to projects. Chip has a way of adding a personal touch to every program he works on and the perfectionism behind the coordination of his events is always evident. Examples of the programs Chip has hand crafted are: Weeks of Welcome for new student orientation (13+ years), Wellness Intern Initiative, Live the Green Dot (raising awareness of personal-based violence), Inaugural Installation, Grand Opening of Barnes & Noble College Bookstore, and the SUNY March Madness Mascot event, among others.

It is evident to many that Chip embodies the SUNY Geneseo mission statement and participates in committees, programs and events that further this mission. For instance, Chip developed a rich, co-curricular late-night and off-campus travel program for students which allows them to integrate what they learn in the classroom with social experiences. He also initiated a Student Life Internship Program that supports 8 student interns as they utilize information learned in the classroom to do specific applications in the College Union. These internships include projects based in marketing, event planning, and communication. Chip is also involved in the Applied Integrated Learning Work Group run by David Parfitt to determine how SUNY Geneseo can improve upon our high-impact practices.

In the Fall of 2016 Chip accompanied Admissions staff on a road trip to New York City to speak with potential students about what Geneseo has to offer both inside and outside of the classroom. This recruitment effort helps keep our enrollment numbers high and encourages diverse students to join our community. Also in the Fall, former Director of Orientation Kim Harvey and Chip went to Perry Middle School and spoke with 7th and 8th graders about bystander intervention. They had previously offered a similar workshop at York High School, and their workshop came highly recommended. Chip was nominated by Dr. Bonfigilio and the President's office to represent Geneseo at the most recent SUNY Leadership Training Institute.

I think it is also important to note that it is very rare to see Chip not wearing some type of Geneseo attire. A Knight pin, Geneseo tie, participating in blue and white day, or decked out in something that exemplifies how proud he is to be a part of this community is almost a daily occurrence. It is with the highest regard that Chip Matthews was nominated for the Levison Award of Excellence. 

George Gagnier, 2015

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This year's 2015 recipient is George Gagnier, a college staff member who has served in multiple capacities across campus in non-faculty roles. A longtime member of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation, he currently serves as the Assistant Director of Athletics. Over the years, he has also contributed as a resident director, area coordinator, assistant director of residence life, assistant basketball coach, and sports information director. In total, George has served the students and the college for over twenty-five years.

Throughout his career, George has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership and service. He advised the Student Athletic Advisory Committee for eighteen years, helping student-athletes raise approximately $15,000 for local charities. He also chaired the Sports Hall of Fame committee for twenty years and organized the athletic awards ceremony for seventeen years. In both roles, he developed programming, prepared content, and served as Master of Ceremonies. These signature events reflect his dedication to creating meaningful, well-executed experiences for students and alumni. George also ensured that Sports Hall of Fame nominations were thoroughly researched, so committee members could make informed decisions, and he cultivated diverse, collaborative representation across campus.

George is also well known as the voice of the Ice Knights. For the past twenty years, he has served as the volunteer public address announcer for the men’s ice hockey team. His professional and enthusiastic presence enhanced the experience not only for student-athletes but also for the 1,500–2,000 fans who regularly attend games. His contribution in this role added a unique and memorable element to the college’s athletics culture.

He has mentored and inspired many students who have gone on to careers in sports information, coaching, professional athletics, and even broadcasting for networks like ESPN. George also made significant professional contributions, including serving as the ECAC-SIDA workshop chair in 2011, where he managed logistics for a 160-attendee event in Rochester, NY. Additionally, he served three terms on the ECAC softball selection committee, supporting the broader athletic community.

Outside the college, George is active in the community. He serves on the Board of Directors for Livingston Country Club, coaches youth soccer for the Genesee Valley Bronze Bear Soccer Club, and represents the Western New York Livingston Blues Hockey Organization. His work promoting SUNY Geneseo and serving his local community exemplifies the spirit of dedication, leadership, and pride that defines the Geneseo brand.