For Immediate Release
February 26, 2020

Suffolk Assistant Professors Named SUNY Online Teaching Ambassadors for Excellence

Suffolk County Community College Assistant Professors Fabio Montella, Assistant Professor of Library Services and Adjunct Professor of History from the Eastern Campus and Joshua Wolfson, Assistant Professor of Health, Wellness, and Physical Education on the Michael J. Grant Campus have been recognized state-wide as Open SUNY Online Teaching Ambassadors.

“The work of these two professors is a testament to Suffolk’s commitment to student access across the county and the state.  It is a pleasure for us to be able to join SUNY in recognizing the incredible efforts of Suffolk faculty and their commitment to creative pedagogy,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs & Interim Executive Dean, Eastern Campus Dr. Paul Beaudin.

Open SUNY Online Teaching Ambassadors are exemplary online educators who are enthusiastic and effective in online teaching, and who can be positive and strong advocates for online teaching in our SUNY community.

Open SUNY Online Teaching accepts nominations from each SUNY institution annually to recognize outstanding SUNY online instructors as Open SUNY Online Teaching Ambassadors.

Online courses benefit a variety of nontraditional students -- career builders, job changers, those who have credits but haven't completed degrees, the military and other distance learners -- as well as traditional "college-age" with work or family demands. Flexibility, accountability, consistent presence, and engaging content and assignments are among the ingredients for successful online courses, said the faculty members representing Open SUNY.

An innovative collaboration that opens the digital door to online-enabled teaching and learning opportunities across all 64 SUNY institutions, Open SUNY requires its teaching ambassadors to be "exemplary online educators, who are enthusiastic and effective in online teaching, and who can be positive and strong advocates for online teaching in our SUNY community."