EOP Alumni Newsletter 2007

Welcome to the first online EOP alumni newsletter. We hope to provide informative and interesting news regarding the program, its students and Alumni.

We also want you to be involved in this exciting new process. We would like this to be a vehicle that not only entertains the Alumni, but educates our current students who are extremely interested in EOP Alumni, their successes and what path the Alumni have taken to reach their success.

We are asking that you take a few minutes to email us about your achievements. Our goal is to use this newsletter to help answer questions such as …what can I do with a major in English, or Sociology, or Psychology…etc? What internships did any Alumni take that may give me some good ideas about a future career path? What graduate schools did they apply to? It would be extremely helpful if you could include a picture with your submission via email or mail.

We also encourage you to forward this newsletter link to your friends and fellow Alumni. Interested persons can contact us via email at: ywhyte@binghamton.edu. We look forward to hearing from you all soon.

From the Director

The past year has been one of great challenge, change and progress for EOP at Binghamton University. With the continuing and growing support of dedicated Alumni we have provided much needed support to many students…we look to do even more in coming years.

This next year for EOP will be one of great growth and change. As many of you maybe aware we have had the opportunity to hire two new positions, this will allow us to increase our service to students in two areas. Specifically, we now have a direct liaison to the Career Development Center and additional logistical and planning support for the Summer Program (BEP); of course each of these persons will also work directly with students providing academic advising as well.

As you know need for Higher Education, particularly for students from economically challenging backgrounds is greater now than it ever has been. EOP maintains its focus and philosophy of assisting these students in meeting their goals of attaining the baccalaureate degree. As the number one program in the state we continue to set the standard for academic success for the SUNY system and your accomplishments as Alumni serve to solidify our reputation. This is where you – as an Alumni and friend of the program – can be of great assistance. Your stories, your struggles, your successes are the stories we need. It is with this information we can continue to advocate, intrigue and motivate students (prospective and current), legislators and other policy makers.

Please send us a few of your thoughts; it may take a few minutes to reminisce and write but the effect it can have on others will last much longer.

Thank you for your continued support
James H. Pogue, PhD
EOP Director

HOMECOMING 2007

This year Homecoming will take place on Oct 5-7. EOP is planning some exciting events and hope that our alumni will join us in making this a memorable time and occasion. Further information regarding this year’s event will be posted on the EOP website very soon.

HOMECOMING 2006

hc photo Homecoming 2006 provided an opportunity for alumni to mix in a casual reception a few hours before the BSU fashion show. EOP hosted a reception that gave the chance for alumni to gather and enjoy some light refreshments and conversation. Some of the alumni on hand to join in the festivities were, Ms. Dayo Joseph ’00, Karima Legette ’01 ‘05 and Monique Hacker ‘00. Others were Eldred Harris ‘89 who currently works at Cornell University as a Reunion Campaign Officer and Tonya Parris ’92 Vice President of Wealth Management Technology of Goldman, Sachs & Co., who was there to share a few words about the importance of supporting EOP.

Current Events

There have been a few alumni events that have taken place in the month of January in New York City.

Club Rewind

On Thursday Jan 11, about 60 alumni gathered at Club Rewind to enjoy a night out and to reminisce with friends. The event was coordinated by Leah Dixon ’97 ’98 on behalf of the EOPAO. Leah stated that the evening was enjoyable and quite a few alumni came out for a pleasurable evening.

Divine Bar in Manhattan

On Jan 18, Tonya Parris ‘92 Vice President of Wealth Management Technology of Goldman, Sach & Co., hosted a gathering at the Divine Bar in Manhattan. This event was to celebrate all the persons who had made recent donations to EOP. At the recent reception for donors in NYC we had an opportunity to thank a few of those who have made a financial commitment to the success of EOP at Binghamton University. Of course we realize there is always more than money to putting together a program; however, there is a financial bottom line. The economic concerns of many students are still very real and EOP is a fantastic avenue to facilitate their upward mobility. The assistance we receive from Alumni is a critical component of student success. We continue to work hard to support students and with the input, advocacy and financial support of the Alumni there is no doubt but that we will make a difference.

Fond Farewell

Dr Summer, Vice President of Student Affairs, has stepped down from his duties as vice president and has decided to make his love a teaching a full time profession. He will be teaching courses for College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA, formerly known as Human Development). He will continue with his present duties until his position is filled. Dr. Summers is one of the biggest supporters of the EOP. He has been unstinting in his time and efforts in promoting the program and its students. EOP will definitely miss him in his current capacity, and we wish him luck in his future endeavors.

New Addition

kareema The EOP office wants you to join us in welcoming Karima Legette ’01, ‘05 as the new EOPCounselor/Summer Program Coordinator. Karima will have an assigned student case load and will work closely with Juan Rosario, Kim Allen Gleed and Judith Pranger to guarantee a smooth transition for our students in the summer program. Karima will be responsible for all of the logistical details and help to assist in optimal communication of all components of the Summer Program. Karima comes to us from the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program and is also an alumna of Binghamton University and EOP.

Kareer Korner

Deborah Gray White, PhD ‘71
Dr. Deborah Gray White is a 1971 graduate of Binghamton University’s Educational Opportunity Program. She is a member of the first graduating class of EOP at BU.

Upon completion of her Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton, Dr. Gray White continued her quest for knowledge through attainment of her Master of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1973, and a PhD degree in History at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1979.

She is currently a distinguished professor of History at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. She is the author and editor of over 10 published books, including the internationally and scholarly acclaimed, “Ar’n’t I A Woman? Female Slaves in the Plantation South. Furthermore, Dr. Gray White has served as a consultant for the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), for the Blackside Productions series This Far by Faith, and for the Home and Garden Network Show Homes of the Underground Railroad, as well as being an associate to the Scholars-in-Residence Program for the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Dr. Gray White was the recipient of the EOP Distinguished Alumni Award during Homecoming Weekend 2005.

EOP Superstars

Francisco Polanco (BEP ’03), pictured here with other intern Gregory Smiley, is one of four EOP students currently interning at the New York State Assembly. Francisco responsibilities include preparing bill memos, meeting with assembly members, attending public hearings, committee meetings, floor sessions, and completing background research. Francisco states that “This experince has given me so much to look forward to in both my education and career. Through this experince i have come to the realization that we as college students hold alot more weight than we think we do. One voice has the potential of opening many doors with issues that affect our daily activites.”

Aileen Hernandez (BEP ’04) works in the office of Assemblywoman Catherine Knowlan has also found this to be an inspiring experience and has grown both professionally and personally from this internship.

Tracey Tanjaneik, who transferred in to Binghamton University in fall 2005 and Herminio Quinones (BEP ’02) round out the list of students. Tracey works in the office of Aileen Gunther and is learning a considerable amount about the legislative process.