New Appointments and Promotions / Winter 2010
Hudson Valley Community College
Dennis Kennedy ’95 joined the college on Dec. 6 as executive director of communications and marketing.
He formerly served as director of communications at the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities. In his capacity at that non-profit member association, he managed a wide variety of external communications programs and advocacy campaigns. In addition, he served as a media spokesperson, organized Web communications and special events.
Prior to joining CICU in 2002, Dennis worked at UAlbany as an assistant director of marketing and special events and as an associate director of corporate and foundation relations.
Dennis has an associate’s degree from Hudson Valley Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Marist College in communications, and a master’s degree from UAlbany in organizational communications.
Jefferson Community College
Christine M. Rizzo has been appointed to the position of college development officer for the Jefferson Community College (JCC) Foundation. As executive director of the JCC Foundation, Ms. Rizzo will be responsible for the development and implementation of strategic advancement objectives for the College including cultivating financial support, planned giving, grant coordination, alumni programming and special event planning.
Rizzo brings to Jefferson more than 13 years of fundraising, grant-writing, management and supervisory experience in the non-profit sector. Most recently, Ms. Rizzo served as the area director for American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in Syracuse where she was responsible for raising program funds through grant applications, mail campaigns and personal appeals. She facilitated partnerships between the AFSC and the Mohawk community, acted as liaison and cultivated relationships between the Quaker community and regional AFSC administrators. During her eight-year tenure at AFSC, Rizzo managed an internal advancement staff as well as AmeriCorps volunteers.
Rizzo holds a bachelor of science degree in education from Cornell University. She also earned both a master of divinity degree and master of arts degree in theology from Aquinas Institute of Theology in Missouri.
She will join Jefferson Community College on January 11, 2011.
Schenectady County Community College
Darren Johnson joined SCCC recently as the assistant dean for planning, accountability and advancement. He previously was media relations manager, assistant director and director of public relations at Stony Brook Southampton College. Additionally, he has worked as an adjunct assistant professor in the English Department at Suffolk County Community College and Southampton College of Long Island University.
He holds a master of fine arts degree in English and writing and a bachelor’s degree in English and pre-law from Southampton College of Long Island University.
Carmel Patrick has been named executive director of development at SCCC. Most recently, Carmel worked as the director of development and external relations for the Schenectady Museum and Suits-Bueche Planetarium. She has also served as the executive director for Senior Services of Albany and the director of training and events and volunteer development for the United Way of Northeastern New York.
She holds a master’s degree in educational administration and policy studies from the University at Albany, a bachelor’s degree in marketing from New York University and an associate’s degree from Mount Ida Junior College.
SUNY Delhi
Kim MacLeod, communications and new media manager at SUNY Delhi, has earned accreditation in Public Relations (APR) through the Public Relations Society of America.
University at Buffalo
John Della Contrada has been named assistant vice president for media relations at the University at Buffalo.
He formerly served as senior director of media relations and also national media director at UB, as well as director of communications for UB’s School of Management.
He began his career at Hudson Valley Community College as assistant director of public relations/sports information director.
Della Contrada also recently earned a master’s of science degree in communications management from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.