GCC names speaker for 48th annual commencement

Joshua Fredenburg

Press Release, GCC

BATAVIA – Genesee Community College has announced the commencement speaker for the May 22 graduation, the college’s 48th annual commencement program.

Joshua Fredenburg is a nationally acclaimed speaker, commentator, leadership /diversity consultant, relationship expert and author of five books.

The May 22 graduation begins at 1 p.m. and will feature a dynamic speaker who is known for inspirational messages that often lead to life changing and transformational results.

Fredenburg is the president and founder of the Circle of Change Leadership Conference, an award winning annual leadership development program for college students. The program provides emerging leaders with the skills, resources and access to learn from more than 70 executives from Fortune 500 companies such as Pepsi, Columbia Pictures, Hewlett Packard, CNN, UPS, MTV, Mattel, Starbucks, Verizon Wireless, NBC Universal, IBM and Warner Brothers.

In addition, Fredenburg is a member from the California State University Board of Directors, received an award from the Young Professionals Urban League of Los Angeles, and has been featured on numerous local and national talk shows.

In other matters, the Board of Trustees:

Approved the curriculum changes to the college’s Liberal Arts and Science Humanities and Social Science Associate in Arts degree. While continuing to review GCC’s academic programs under the SUNY seamless transfer initiative, Dr. Kathleen Schiefen, provost/executive vice president for Academic Affairs reported that GCC’s Humanities and Social Sciences program now includes six concentrations in History, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, English and Economics to better enable students who are transferring for a baccalaureate degree in these areas of specialty.

Received the donation of 300 sewing patterns to be used by GCC’s Fashion Design students in their efforts to create garments for both classroom projects and the College’s annual Fashion Show. The donation was made by Jennifer Newell, GCC’s dean of students, and is valued at approximately $6,000.

Heard Richard Ensman, director of Development and External Affairs report on the ongoing efforts of the college’s 50th Anniversary Steering Committee, which is being co-chaired by Board of Trustee Chair Diane D. Torcello and Rick Dudkowski, professor of Business and Fashion Merchandising Management.

Organized into four subcommittees, the group is excited to be planning special events and opportunities over the next 20 months that will commemorate significant points in the college’s history. Among the events being planned are: a college community Founding Day scheduled April 15 to recognize the day SUNY acknowledged the wishes of area leaders to create GCC; the Groundbreaking and Anniversary Kickoff Celebration on April 28 at 4 p.m.; development of a new Anniversary webpage featuring the online scrapbook and events calendar; and special anniversary components added to annual events including but not limited to Homecoming, the Fashion Show, Discover the Stars, Encore and the Wolcott Jay Humphrey Symposium for Leadership.