ALISA OPPENHEIMER
Special to The Leader
Michael Igoe, assistant professor of Communication and Carmen Rivera, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, are being recognized for their charismatic efforts they have put into the campus and surrounding community.
Through demonstrating a distinct willingness to make an impact, the two have been selected as the 2019 recipients of the President’s Awards for Excellence, an honor presented to outstanding members of the university.
Both Igoe and Rivera received personal phone calls from University President Virginia Horvath a week before the campus-wide email announcement.
“I saw that the president had left a message and wanted me to call,” said Carmen Rivera. “I thought it was just going to be about a work-related issue, so it was a nice surprise.”
Prior to this, Rivera has received a Fellowship for Hispanic Leadership in 2018 and a Chancellor’s Award for Internationally Sanctioned.
For Rivera, this didn’t take any excitement away from Horvath’s message. “Honestly, it was a total surprise. I was really touched when I found out I had been selected,” said Rivera.
Rivera started at Fredonia in January of 2006, as chair of the language department, which later led to her position as associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Rivera’s duties on campus currently include overseeing schedules and curriculums for the department, but she admits that the part she takes most pride in is working with the students.
“I often work with students who are on probation or academic dismissal to help them get back to being successful and that’s the part I really enjoy,” she said. “Talking to them, advising them, guiding them, so that when they return, it’s a successful experience and not a repeat of the past.”
Something she feels that has made her stand out is her ability to work in a group environment.
“When I think about it, anything that I have done has been a group effort, or a community effort and maybe that’s the thing they are seeing — my willingness to work with others,” said Rivera.
Rivera feels a sense of achievement after receiving the award.
“When you’re in the midst of working for all these years, you don’t really get to sit back and look at what has been done and an award like this makes you pause and look at what you have accomplished,” said Rivera.
Similarly, Igoe felt honored by Horvath’s news via phone call.
“The president actually called me herself,” said Igoe. “It was a nice feeling.”
Before his career as a full-time professor, Igoe was a broadcast journalist for 30 years.
After his broadcasting career, Buffalo State invited him to teach a course, leading him into more teaching opportunities.
“I’m fairly new to the teaching game,” said Igoe.
Igoe eventually ended up as a professor at Fredonia, and he has been teaching here for 10 years.
Three of those years he spent teaching abroad in China, which he feels had a great impact on his outlook on teaching.
“One thing I took away from being in China, was how important the role of a teacher is in the lives of students,” he said.
In his past, Igoe has won many awards for his achievements in media but the President’s Award will be his first-ever award for teaching, which he admits makes this award extra special.
Not only because of his late start but also because of his passion, it is evident that Igoe definitely implicates extra attention and detail into his teaching.
“I’ve put a lot of effort into being successful as a teacher and it’s nice to know that you’re efforts are recognized,” said Igoe.
One thing Igoe does that he feels makes all the difference is getting to know his students on a personal level and adjusting to their needs and expectations.
“In all my courses I try to tailor them to the extent in which I am able to for the audience I have in front of me,” he said.
Igoe and Rivera are both excited to celebrate their award at the Service Luncheon on Wednesday, April 24, where the recipients will be honored.
The Service Luncheon will not only acknowledge Igoe and Rivera’s service but will recognize years of service by other Fredonia members, as well as those who have retired in the past year or are retiring in the months to come.
With registration required, the luncheon tickets will be sold for $5 and will take place in the Williams Center Multipurpose room at noon.