News

At sunrise, while most of the campus is still quiet, soft nickers echo through the SUNY Morrisville Equine Rehabilitation Center (ERC). Vegas and Jerry’s ears perk forward as they recognize the familiar sound of students’ voices and footsteps approaching the barn.   Jerry, a chestnut Quarter Horse, is always the first to greet them, letting out a cheerful whinny before standing patiently, ready for attention and his breakfast.

Are you a food entrepreneur in Madison or surrounding counties? SUNY Morrisville invites you to a free Foodpreneur Forum, Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at its brand new Shared-Use Kitchen, located at 102 Eaton St., Morrisville.   Participants can tour the new space, connect with fellow food creators and explore how to help shape the future of local food innovation. They can also learn about upcoming resources designed to support their food business.

Come explore SUNY Morrisville’s Arnold R. Fisher Dairy Complex during Madison County’s Open Farm Day on Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The complex is among farms throughout Madison County showcasing its facility during the annual event, which offers visitors an opportunity to see working farms in Madison County, meet local farmers, enjoy tours and demonstrations, animals and products tastings.  

As the SUNY Morrisville campus prepares for an exciting new academic year, peer mentors in its Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) have been immersed in a week of team-building exercises and strategic planning as they welcome one of the largest incoming EOP Summer Academy cohorts in the college’s history.

Two years ago, Jennifer Gilbert Jenkins, associate professor of agricultural science at SUNY Morrisville, envisioned transforming an old apple orchard into a thriving food forest, a regenerative agricultural system that mirrors the structure of a natural forest. Her vision: a self-sustaining ecosystem filled with edible plants, supporting biodiversity and long-term sustainability.  

At 46 years old, Jeffrey Monette is proving that it’s never too late to follow your passion or to make a difference. The Oswego resident commutes an hour and 15 minutes each way to SUNY Morrisville several times a week. But for him, the long drive is a small price to pay for a future rooted in sustainability and a chance to make a meaningful impact on the world.

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.

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

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.

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.

SUNY Morrisville welcomes Bin Zhu as the next Dean of the School of Agriculture, Business & Technology (ABT), effective July 1, 2025. “Please join me in extending a warm Mustang welcome to Dr. Zhu as he joins SUNY Morrisville,” said SUNY Morrisville Provost Suzan Harkness. “We are excited for the depth of experience, expertise, leadership and scholarship he brings, and look forward to the impactful work he will make in supporting our mission, vision and strategic goals.”

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.

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.

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.

When sisters Haley and Hannah Gill first arrived on the SUNY Morrisville campus, they were among many students to join the college’s Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) and Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) programs.  

Interested in making a game and being part of a global experiment in creativity? SUNY Morrisville is once again serving as a host site for Global Game Jam® (GGJ), the world’s largest game jam event, taking place Friday, Jan. 24-Sunday, Jan. 26. During the worldwide event, participants are given a central theme and just 48 hours to create a video or board/card game.

Six SUNY Morrisville students were part of this year’s National Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference, one of the largest gatherings of wildlife professionals and supporters in North America. The conference, held this year in Baltimore, Maryland, spotlights the latest advancements in wildlife management and research while providing opportunities for networking and career advancement. Engaging speakers and immersive workshops were part of the agenda.

In all of his time as an automotive professor in SUNY Morrisville’s automotive technology Ford ASSET program, professor Dan Akers saw his largest freshmen class this year.   Known for intensive labs, top-notch facilities and capstone internships, it’s one of the reasons why the two-year program is a popular choice for automotive students who want to lock in a career even before they graduate.

Tis the season of giving and SUNY Morrisville and the Morrisville-Eaton Central School (MECS) District are teaming up to provide families in need with food for the Thanksgiving holiday.   Seventeen families, chosen by the MECS School District, will benefit from the effort, started by MECS social studies teacher Meaghan Palmer and coworkers 15 years ago to address food insecurities in the district. The generosity multiplied when the two schools joined forces.  

The SUNY Morrisville campus came together to celebrate World Sustainability Day on Wednesday, Oct. 30, with presentations and demonstrations, which included turning sunflowers into oil for biodiesel, installing owl boxes along a nature trail and prepping a wildflower pollination meadow. Sustainability Day raises awareness of the importance of sustainable living and promotes environmental stewardship.

The SUNY Morrisville Theater Department and Student Government Organization present the musical Kinky Boots, Thursday, Oct. 31, Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. in the theater of the college’s John W. Stewart Center for Student Activities (STUAC).

SUNY Morrisville horticulture students joined thousands across the globe, participating in The Society of American Florists (SAF) annual goodwill initiative, Petal it Forward. They handed out flowers and bouquets to unsuspecting community members and passersby, encouraging recipients to keep one and share the other with someone else.