College Council Chair June O’Neill (Hon. ’99) of Morley, N.Y., Honored with 2023 Donald L. Tompkins Distinguished Service Award from SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association
SUNY Potsdam College Council Chair (Hon. ’99) of Morley, N.Y., left, poses with President Suzanne Smith after receiving the 2023 Donald L. Tompkins Distinguished Service Award from SUNY Potsdam’s Alumni Association.
The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently honored June O’Neill (Hon. ’99) of Morley, N.Y., with the Donald L. Tompkins Distinguished Service Award during Reunion 2023.
The Donald L. Tompkins Distinguished Service Award is presented to alumni who have made exceptional contributions to the Alumni Association and/or the College. It was renamed in 2022 in honor of former Alumni Board Trustee Donald Tompkins ’68.
O’Neill was honored for her profound impact on the College for more than four decades and her steadfast commitment to its continued success.
About the recipient:
As chair of SUNY Potsdam’s College Council, June O’Neill (Hon. ’99) leads with strong, exuberant confidence. She consistently goes above and beyond her role to ensure that she is aware of the opportunities, needs and important conversations on SUNY Potsdam’s campus. June connects regularly with administration and faculty to stay abreast of how she can best serve the College and its community.
With over 40 years of service to the College Council, June has overseen three separate SUNY Potsdam presidential searches with an unwavering commitment to the success and health of the campus community. Each search represented hundreds of hours of collaboration and organization. Her most recent search concluded this year with the appointment of Dr. Suzanne Smith as the College’s 18th president.
A retired civil servant, June has made an impact through her work in St. Lawrence Country and across New York State. She has served as a regional representative for the governor, director of the Office of Rural Affairs, and director of intergovernmental relations in the Comptroller’s Office, among other roles. Her designation as Chair of SUNY Potsdam’s College Council was appointed by the Governor of New York.
The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association awarded June with Honorary Lifetime Membership status in 1999 in recognition of her years of service to the College. Now, nearly 25 years later, she remains one of SUNY Potsdam’s most loyal volunteers and advocates.
To find out more about SUNY Potsdam’s committed alumni, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.