Susan Barker, '81 & '00
Executive Director of Research Advancement

Represents the Division of Research on the BU Advocacy Day Planning Committee Susan joined the University's professional staff as a science writer and editor in the Office of University Relations in 1996. She has been with the Division of Research since 2000. She developed and edits the University's award-winning electronic research newsletter Discover-e and has been the major contributing writer to the University's annual research magazine since its inception in 1997. She is a former reporter and regional editor of the Press & Sun-Bulletin and the former president of Prometheus Associates, a public relations and rhetoric consulting firm. Susan is also an internationally credentialed addictions counselor and a nationally certified optician. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Binghamton University in 1981 and 2000, respectively, and has served on more than 15 University committees.

Terrance Kane
Director of State Relations

Terry's responsibility on the BU Advocacy Committee is to give the committee a sense of what the State officials are interested in learning about with respect to the University, and to schedule the Team appointments. Terry's job as Director of State Relations is to interact with State and Local Governmental officials as well as State and Local agencies and to advocate for the University with these groups.

Cheryl Dimick
Assistant to the Vice President for External Affairs

Cheryl provides support to Mary Lou Sollis, the BU Advocacy Day Coordinator.  Cheryl calculates the data for student/alumni information cards and prepares student/alumni maps for our Albany display. Cheryl provides on-site help in Albany on Advocacy Day assisting wherever needed. Cheryl served as the original BU Advocacy Day Coordinator in its first three years from 2002-2004.  She began her career at Binghamton University in 1989 working first for President Clark and then for President DeFleur. After a brief absence from campus from 1996-1999, she returned to work in External Affairs.  Among other things, Cheryl serves the Division of External Affairs as HR Master, Project Manager for financials, and oversees the administrative functions for the Division and Office of the Vice President for External Affairs.

Peg Kelly
Director of Special Events

Peg researches and reserves meeting, display and reception spaces and handles set up needs/logistics with the Office of General Services in the Empire State Plaza. Peg also takes care of feeding our advocates on site and works with Sodexho (Albany) to produce the closing legislative reception. The Director of Special Events reports to the President's Office and provides planning and coordination of various University-wide and President hosted campus events. These consist of annual recurring activities, mostly for faculty and staff recognition and appreciation, and other special events such as ceremonies for ground breaking and dedication of buildings, honorary degree conferrals (other than Commencement) and visits by major political leaders, dignitaries, and delegations.

Michael Kennerknecht
Chief of Staff for Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo

Mike has worked for Assemblywoman Lupardo, since she was first elected in 2004. He is responsible for the management of the Assemblywoman's offices and staff, as well as coordinating legislation and public affairs. In addition, Mike completed his Masters in Public Administration (MPA) at Binghamton University in December 2002.

David W. Lee Clerk II, Student Accounts and CSEA Local 648 Union President

David W. Lee represents nearly 800 CSEA Members and recruits CSEA members for the union delegation. David has worked on campus since 1982 where he began in the university mail room and then transferred to Student Accounts in 1988. As President of Local 648 he has been working hard to serve all the members in the Local. He is a strong advocate for his members while balancing their needs with the needs of Binghamton University.  He is a graduate of the CSEA Leadership And Development (LEAD) Program, a statewide program developed by CSEA Inc. to assist in the growth and development of future leaders in the organization.  In Student Accounts David's responsibilities are Auditing and Delinquency Coordinator, Attorney General/Collection Agency Process Coordinator.

Tom Lyon
Construction Manager, Physical Facilities

Advance Team Coordinator for BU Advocacy Day. In this capacity, Tom makes sure all of our materials (gifts, brochures, displays, etc.) arrive safely and on time Tom serves as the advance team coordinator for advocacy day and in that capacity he delivers all of the gifts and display materials to the Empire State Plaza before everyone else arrives by bus in Albany. He continues to work all day moving our materials from place to place, and then he works to coordinate bringing materials back to campus at the end of a very long day. Tom has been a Carpenter in Physical Facilities for the past 14 years.

Aaron M. Martin
Legislative Director Senator Thomas W. Libous

Liaison between the Binghamton University Day Planning Committee and New York State government.

In his nine years with Senator Libous, Mr. Martin has had experience working in various areas of the Office including legislation, constituent services and public affairs. In his current role as Legislative Director, Mr. Martin oversees Senator Libous' legislative and budget operations. Aaron's guidance and suggestions have been extremely valuable, and much of our success can be attributed to the advice he has given and his hard work with the BU Advocacy Day Planning Committee.

Dan Polhamus '00
Associate Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

Dan is responsible for the planning and implementation of regional alumni activities.  Working closely with the Alumni Association Board of Directors and other campus partners, he ensures that innovative events and programs are offered to alumni around the world.  He collaborates with the Admissions Office and the Career Development Center to cultivate alumni admissions and career network volunteers.  Dan has the opportunity to engage an alumni base that is now over 90,000 strong, and is dedicated to finding new ways to keep alumni connected to the Binghamton University campus.  Recruiting, educating, and mobilizing volunteers in the alumni advocacy program is a priority.

Chris Ritter
Associate Vice President for Communications & Marketing

Responsible for shaping the messages and materials for BU Advocacy Day. Chris makes sure we present a strong case for the value that Binghamton University delivers to New York State, and for the worth of the state's investment in our campus. As the AVP for Communications & Marketing, Chris oversees all Communications and Media messages as well as Publications. Chris came to campus in fall of 2003, from Clarkson University in Potsdam.

Mary Lou Sollis
Assistant to the Vice President for Research
BU Advocacy Day "Coordinator"

Basically, if you have questions, she's the one to go to. Mary Lou serves as administrative support person to the Vice President for Research. She tends to such duties as Oracle HR Master and Labor Distribution for the Division. Mary Lou also works closely with Susan Barker, Director of Research Advancement, on planning and coordinating projects and workshops within the Division of Research. Mary Lou represents the Division on a variety of campus committees.

Gerald Sonnenfeld
Vice President for Research Chair, BU Advocacy Day Planning Committee

In July 2004, Gerry took up his present position as Vice President for Research and Professor of Biological Sciences at Binghamton University. A native New Yorker, he has always been aware of the level of academic excellence at Binghamton and sees potential for the campus to take advantage of research opportunities. In keeping with the University's mission, the Vice President for Research establishes divisional goals, spearheads strategic planning, administers divisional directives and builds internal and external partnerships to enhance the quality, productivity and reputation of sponsored research and scholarship at Binghamton University.

Darryl Wood '78
House Operations Director, Anderson Center for the Arts and
Chapter President, UUP

Darryl represents UUP and recruits UUP members for the delegation. Darryl is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton, 1978, with a joint MBA/MA in History. His interest was in how and why corporations support higher education. After graduating, he worked in the School of Nursing from 1978 until 1989. Since that time, he has worked at the Anderson Center for the Arts as House Operations Director. After serving six years as UUP Chapter Vice President for Professionals, he was elected Binghamton Chapter President in 2001. Building on the foundation of Bob Pompi, who he succeeded as Chapter President, Darryl was the prime force behind creating the Binghamton Advocacy Day. He sees this day as an opportunity to share our vision of the university with our representatives in Albany. In addition, this day is an opportunity for the campus community to celebrate the wonderful things we do here.

Mary D. Woolson
Assistant Vice President for Alumni and Constituent Relations

Mary Woolson has oversight of the Binghamton Fund (annual giving programs) and the alumni and parent relations office, serving as the main staff liaison to the Alumni Association Board of Directors.  She is a key member of the alumni and development communications team.  In addition, she supports the vice president for external affairs with special projects for the division.  Mary has been in the advancement profession for 20 years, the last 15 at Binghamton University having served as director of the Binghamton Fund, senior director of development and campaign director.