LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring outgoing President John M. Anderson,
Ph.D. after many years of distinguished service to Alfred State College

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the
significant milestones in the distinguished careers of esteemed resi-
dents of this noble Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
outgoing President John M. Anderson, Ph.D. after his years of distin-
guished service to Alfred State College; effective March 31, 2013, he
will leave this position to assume the presidency of Millersville
University of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, During Dr. Anderson's more than 11 years as a professor of
chemistry and physics at Alfred State (which began in 1981), he also
served as chair of the Faculty Senate at Alfred and was convener of
statewide SUNY Local Governance Leaders; both experiences influenced him
as president to elevate faculty senate representation to the highest
level possible; and
WHEREAS, While Dr. Anderson was president, enrollment at Alfred State
grew by 20 percent and the college embarked on a new Strategic Plan that
included the reallocation of a significant amount to new strategic
initiatives; new programs were added, including new baccalaureate
programs in sport management, forensic science technology, human
services management, and nursing; and
WHEREAS, Most recently, Alfred State received approval for a five-year
bachelor in architecture (BARCH), the only one of its kind in the State
University of New York (SUNY) system; for the last five years, the
college has also been named as a top college by the U.S. NEWS & WORLD
REPORT BEST COLLEGES REPORT; and
WHEREAS, Most notably, the college has also undergone its largest
building boom in recent history under the leadership of Dr. Anderson;
large projects include the complete renovation of the Physical and
Health Sciences Building featuring state-of-the-art laboratories and
classrooms, and the construction of a new student leadership center that
is unlike anything seen in higher education; in addition, the college
also renovated the College Farm and opened the new Center for Organic
and Sustainable Agriculture, which is one of only three centers of its
kind in the nation designed to enable students to learn about tradi-
tional and organic agriculture in a side-by-side analysis; and
WHEREAS, In between Dr. Anderson's years as an Alfred State professor
and his presidency, he held several senior-level administrative posi-
tions within the college including the roles of vice president of
student services, dean of student development, vice president of insti-
tutional advancement, and provost and vice president for academic
affairs; and
WHEREAS, When Dr. Anderson left Alfred in 2003, it was to serve as
interim executive vice president for academic affairs at State Universi-
ty of New York Institute of Technology; a year later, he was named exec-
utive vice president and provost of Hartwick College in Oneonta, a posi-
tion he held for four years, becoming president of Alfred State,
beginning in 2008; and
WHEREAS, Within higher education, Dr. Anderson is active on several
boards including ACUPCC, the New York Campus Compact Executive Commit-
tee, the SUNY Resources Allocation Committee, and the SUNY Finance &
Administrative Strategy Team; he serves on the board of directors for
Springbrook in Oneonta, a non-profit organization that supports people

with developmental disabilities, and locally, he is active on the Alfred
Tech Resources Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Anderson has a bachelor of science degree in physics with
a minor in chemistry from State University College at Brockport; a
master of arts degree in physics from the State University College of
Arts & Sciences at Geneseo; and a Ph.D. in education from Cornell
University in Ithaca; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Anderson's major area of doctoral study was adult educa-
tion, with minors in program evaluation and planning and organizational
behavior; he also completed additional post-graduate work at Harvard
University's Institute for Educational Management, and the State Univer-
sity of New York at Buffalo; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Anderson will leave behind a renowned legacy, having
served with loyalty, honor and distinction, governed by a keen sense of
duty; this remarkable educator always showed a unique grasp of human
problems in his official acts; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his wife, Vivien, who feels
privileged to be a part of his life and rejoices in his achievements;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor outgoing President John M. Anderson, Ph.D. after many years of
distinguished service to Alfred State College, and to offer best wishes
in all his future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to John M. Anderson, Ph.D.