Every year, the state university and numerous academic and professional organizations honor hundreds of UUP members for outstanding accomplishments in their disciplines, on campus and in their communities.

The Voice is pleased to recognize some of these members here.

• Stacia Dutton, a computer information systems instructor in SUNY?Canton’s Canino School of Engineering Technology, is heading up The Next Step Program, an industrial partnership developed for full-time Verizon employees to earn their associate degrees. Dutton earned the appointment based on her extensive industrial experience and in recognition of her ability to bridge the gap between industry and higher education.

• Daniel Gagliardi, an assistant professor of mathematics at SUNY Canton, co-wrote Introduction to Linear Algebra with Applications with James DeFranza, a professor of mathematics, computer science and statistics at St. Lawrence University. The book, published by McGraw Hill, adopts a student-oriented, conversational writing style and integrated real-world applications.

• Candace Merbler, a reference support associate in UAlbany’s University Libraries, recently earned a Chancellor’s Award for outstanding service. Merbler has worked at UAlbany since 1980. She has served SUNY and UUP?as a member of the University Senate and as co-chair of the Advisory Committee on Campus Safety, as well as in several elected UUP chapter positions and on the statewide UUP?Executive Board.

• Bruce Wright, an agricultural engineering professor at SUNY?Cobleskill, was recently recognized by John Deere for achieving advanced level status as a John Deere TECH instructor. The recognition required Wright to complete extensive John Deere product technical training, which will help to ensure that SUNY?Cobleskill students will gain critical skills in servicing the extensive technology and high- performance computer systems designed into the newest equipment.

— Karen L. Mattison