For Immediate Release
May 4, 2015

Suffolk Math Professor Honored

Suffolk County Community College Professor of Mathematics Deborah S. Wolfson has been awarded the selective Chair Academy’s 2015 International Exemplary Leadership Award for her redesign of the Excelsior Program.

The award, presented at the International Chair Academy’s annual conference in April, recognizes exceptional post-secondary leaders who exemplify and support academic and administrative excellence in leadership. 

The Excelsior Program is Suffolk County Community College’s concurrent enrollment program with Suffolk County high schools that allows high school students to earn college credits.

“The Chair Leadership Foundational Academy, and then the Advanced Leadership Academy, has played an important role in my personal and professional growth.  Through the Academy I have been able to cultivate amazing relationships, and develop leadership and life skills to invest back into the College.  Thank you to Suffolk County Community College for bringing the Chair Academy to our college.  Receiving the Chair Academy’s prestigious 2015 International Exemplary Leader Award, has always been a goal of mine and exemplifies the importance the college places on developing effective leaders,” said Wolfson, of Commack, NY.

“Professor Wolfson’s leadership and dedication has seen our Excelsior Program’s enrollment skyrocket,” said Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Shaun L. McKay, adding “The entire college community and I applaud and congratulate Professor Wolfson on a job well done.”

The College lauded Wolfson and her achievements in a letter nominating her for the prestigious award:

“Professor Deborah Wolfson has demonstrated superior leadership in redesigning Suffolk County Community College’s Excelsior Program, our concurrent enrollment program with Suffolk County high schools.  When she accepted the leadership of this program enrollment was stalled.  But, soon thereafter, enrollment soared over 300% and continues to grow.

“Using leadership tools learned at the Chair Leadership Foundational Academy, and then the Advanced Leadership Academy, Deborah has mastered the art of maintaining high academic standards to build a quality program that appeals to high school students in Suffolk County, our service area,” the letter said.

The Chair Academy is dedicated to delivering exemplary leadership development and has offered world-class, competency-based leadership development programs for college and university leaders since 1992.