Academics

Carrie Wafler’s dreams started small. She loved riding horses, gardening and spending time outdoors. And she had an entrepreneurial spark that set her apart. When those passions came together at SUNY Morrisville, something extraordinary blossomed — quite literally. Today, Wafler owns Barn Blooms Flower Farm, in Wolcott, a thriving floral business that blends artistry, horticulture and agriculture. A proud two-time graduate of SUNY Morrisville, she now gives back as an adjunct instructor, teaching courses in equine science, agricultural business and horticulture.  

Three SUNY Morrisville faculty and staff members were recently honored with Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence by the State University of New York and SUNY Chancellor John B. King.   Receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service is: Laura Pierie, of Morrisville, associate professor of humanities The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service recognizes the consistently superior service contributions of full-time teaching faculty.

Step into SUNY Morrisville professor Elisa Livengood’s classroom and you’ll find yourself surrounded by oversized tanks teeming with vibrant fish, anemones, clownfish, seahorses and a world of aquatic wonder. Here, hands-on projects and cutting-edge research aren’t just part of the curriculum — they’re the foundation of an immersive learning experience that brings marine science to life. This engaging approach has earned Livengood the admiration of students, colleagues and industry professionals and, most recently, the 2024-25 SUNY Morrisville Distinguished Faculty Award.

SUNY Morrisville graduates Laura Bedell, of New Hartford, and Vidya Jawahir, of Oxford, have been recognized with the prestigious Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE), the highest honor bestowed by the State University of New York (SUNY). The award celebrates students who have successfully integrated academic excellence with leadership, campus involvement, athletics, community service, the arts, or career achievement.

Each spring, the SUNY Morrisville greenhouse comes to life, overflowing with vibrant blooms in all shades imaginable. Students move with purpose — trimming, watering, transplanting and caring for flowers and plants in preparation for the college’s annual spring plant sale, a tradition that has become a favorite for the campus and local community. This year’s sale will be held at the Spader Horticulture Complex, May 8-9, from noon-5 p.m.; May 10, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; May 15-16, from noon-5 p.m.; and May 17, from 8 a.m.-noon. It is open to the public.

It’s a unique hands-on learning experience. Students in SUNY Morrisville’s residential construction program are rolling up their sleeves to build a small house right inside their lab. The ambitious 14-week project is more than just an exercise in construction — it’s a lesson in teamwork, problem-solving and real-world application of classroom concepts. Building the 15.6-by-40-foot house indoors is the vision of Michael Gridley, associate professor of residential construction.

Two SUNY Morrisville students are making a meaningful impact through their dedication to community service. Michael Roberts, a game programming B.Tech. student from Brooklyn and Harper Callard, an aquaculture and aquatic science associate degree student from New Hartford, were honored with Empire State Service Corps Awards for their significant contributions. Roberts received the Leadership in Service Award for his commitment as a Morrisville-Eaton Middle-High School K-12 tutor with the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP).

SUNY Morrisville is hosting a Renewable Energy Spring Institute on Friday, March 14, for current high school and BOCES students, educators, guidance counselors and college transfers, to learn more about renewable energy. The free event, from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at the college’s Agricultural & Clean Energy Technology Center (ACET), features demonstrations in the center’s six state-of-the-art renewable energy labs.

On any given day, SUNY Morrisville professor Brendan Kelly and his environmental students can be seen trekking to the college’s forests or in other areas of the community to conduct field work. Donned in hard hats, sturdy boots and neon attire, they brave most any elements for the hands-on experience his labs are known for. Esteemed by his students for his approach to teaching, his efforts go far beyond the classroom and labs.

SUNY Morrisville students were among those championing for additional legislative funding and support for students with disabilities enrolled in colleges and universities across New York State during this year’s Student Empowerment Day. The event, hosted virtually by the New York State Disability Services Council, gathered more than 300 students, advocates and policymakers, including 14 SUNY Morrisville students and leaders — all highlighting the urgent need for more funding to ensure the fair access and essential support for students with disabilities.