Alumni & Friends

The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association is proud to welcome new members into the alumni family each year as our students graduate. Shared experiences at SUNY Potsdam and during the years following graduation keep our community strong, throughout generations and no matter the distance. We love connecting with our alumni and friends-check out the links below and contact the Office of Alumni Relations with any questions.

View Active Alumni by State

Alumni & Friends Connection Form

Keep the Potsdam Family connected by updating your contact information, sharing exciting life updates and learning about volunteer opportunities! Complete the Alumni & Friends Connection form.

Mark Your Calendars for Reunion 2025!

Reunion 2025 is scheduled for July 10-13. Events will be held both in-person and virtually.

Reunion Information

Crane School of Music Livestream

Don’t miss a performance by any of our talented students, faculty members or guest artists! Many Crane School of Music concerts and recitals are streamed live on YouTube and Facebook. View the current livestream schedule.

Impact the Next Generation of the Potsdam Family

SUNY Potsdam alumni and friends play a role in both SUNY Potsdam's history and future. Ensure that our current students have access to opportunities and experiences, like the ones that positively impacted you as a student, by making a gift today.

Refer-a-Student Program

You can help the Potsdam family grow by sharing your love for the College with a prospective student. The Admissions Office will connect with the student, and you can receive a Potsdam Proud Package, including resources for students you know and a gift for you. Complete the online form today!

Stay connected with alumni and friends all year long!

Social media allows us to share nostalgic memories, exciting news and relevant stories with our growing network of alumni and friends. Follow our public pages on Facebook and Instagram, or request to join our private alumni groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Hailed by the Boston Globe for her “uniformly excellent” performances, mezzo-soprano Katherine Beck ’12 is one of opera’s greatest rising talents. She recently returned to her alma mater to perform alongside Grammy Award-winning pianist Craig Terry in Snell Theater, where she sang the beautiful aria "Non piu mesta," from Rossini's "La Cenerentola (Cinderella)."

From Potsdam to Pulitzer

Stephan Savoia ’75, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, first caught the photojournalism bug at SUNY Potsdam in 1974. From capturing historic moments like the aftermath of 9/11 to numerous presidential campaigns, his career has spanned decades as he shaped history through his lens. Now retired, Savoia reflects on his extraordinary journey and will return to his alma mater this summer to share his stories and showcase his remarkable work.

Crane to the World: Vallejo’s Journey

Jessie Vallejo ’07, a SUNY Potsdam alumna, has taken her passion for mariachi music from the Crane School of Music to global stages, performing at venues like Dodger Stadium and the Latin Grammy Awards. After earning her Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, she now teaches at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, while also returning to Potsdam to support the college’s mariachi program, Los Osos del Norte.

Radical Honesty with Chuck Lorre ’74

Chuck Lorre’s return to SUNY Potsdam in the Fall of 2024 was candid and heartfelt. The legendary TV producer reflected on his journey, from humble beginnings to creating iconic sitcoms, while sharing lessons learned and an inspiring $1 million donation to support future students. Don’t miss this glimpse into the mind of the man behind “The Big Bang Theory” and “Two and a Half Men.”

From Hobby to Hollywood

When Brett Bull ’17 arrived at SUNY Potsdam as a psychology major, he never expected that his side music projects would lead to a career in the music industry. After working in the studio with a music producer during his final years at SUNY Potsdam, his music has continued to gain traction. After joining the Crucial Music Corporation—which focuses on placing music from independent artists in blockbuster films and television shows—his song “Hit the Strip” has been chosen for the Hollywood film, “Anora!”.

‘Potsdam Shaped Who I Am’

Just four years after completing his degree at SUNY Potsdam in exercise science, Luke Vitale ’20 has already received his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Duke University, completed three clinical rotations around the country, and has now been hired as a travel physical therapist for a sports / orthopedic clinic on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.

Destined for Coaching

As a young hockey player, Travis Crickard ’11 dreamed of one day becoming a head coach in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Years later, after completing his undergraduate degree at SUNY Potsdam, a master’s degree at the University of Ottawa, and working for numerous hockey organizations around Canada, he has reached his goal. Last year, Crickard landed a job as the head coach for the Saint John Sea Dogs, one of 60 junior hockey programs in the CHL that regularly funnels athletes directly into the NHL.

Realizing His Dreams

When Wilber Parada ’20 arrived at SUNY Potsdam his freshman year, he already had a vision for his future. His plans to one day become a Doctor of Physical Therapy would involve years of hard work, completing undergraduate and graduate degrees, and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination. Seven years later he has made his dream a reality. Parada is now working at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, one of the top-rated hospitals in the country, where he’s conducting research on exoskeletons and robotics, and helping to rehabilitate patients suffering from chronic illnesses.

Interweaving Nature and Art

After receiving a full scholarship to pursue her BFA in visual arts at SUNY Potsdam, Hong Hong ’11 has parlayed her undergraduate experiences into an impressive career as an artist and professor. Recently, she received a $50,000 grant through the United States Artists Fellowship, which along with the Guggenheim and the MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grants, is considered one of the most prestigious awards an artist can receive.

Protecting the Endangered

Traveling up and down the east coast, and through the Gulf of Mexico, Brogin Van Skoik ’11 puts his degree from SUNY Potsdam to the test. Working as an endangered species observer on a large dredging vessel, he carefully monitors the human impact on a precious assortment of turtles, fish, and whales—halting dredging operations at a moment’s notice if too many species are harmed by the shipping operations.

A Creative Journey to Tinseltown

From Potsdam to Hollywood, Keisuke Hoashi ’89 has continued to push the creative envelope his entire life. The SUNY Potsdam alumnus has carved out an impressive career in acting—starting on stage during a live performance at SUNY Potsdam—he has gone on to appear in more than 85 TV shows and movies, 80 national TV commercials, and 150 live theatrical productions, everything from "Mad Men," and "Bob’s Burgers" to national TV commercials for TD Ameritrade and Citibank.