Each year, the Saint Rose Alumni Association recognizes outstanding alumni and faculty with the Distinguished Alumni Award and Thomas A. Manion Distinguished Faculty Award.
The Distinguished Alumni Award acknowledges a Saint Rose alum for demonstrating the excellence of a Saint Rose education through outstanding accomplishments or significant contributions to society. The distinction must lie in one of the following areas: professional, academic, cultural, service, or creative expression. Selection for the award is based on the quality of achievement, the scope of its impact, and the extent to which it exceeds the nominee’s customary professional responsibilities.
The Thomas A. Manion Distinguished Faculty Award was established in honor of former Saint Rose President Thomas A. Manion. This award is presented to an eligible faculty member in recognition of excellence in teaching, outstanding professional accomplishment, and concern for students demonstrated by influencing their professional and personal lives.
We’d like to introduce you to the 2022 honorees.
Distinguished Faculty Award
Dr. Barbara Ungar, professor of English
Dr. Barbara Ungar, professor of English, is known for her works of poetry. To students, she is someone who always gives valuable advice for growing their writing skills and encourages them to step out of their comfort zone in their writing. Her classes are full of students eager to improve their proficiency in poetry or creative writing. She is known to go above and beyond for her students, and she works to make her classes exciting and informative. Her desire to make her students great writers means she accepts nothing less than greatness.
After receiving her Ph.D. in English at The City University of New York, Ungar became a lecturer and professor of English at The City University of New York from 1987 to 1995, and The College of Saint Rose from 1995 through today. In addition to her teaching, Ungar has published a variety of full-length poetry collections, and her poems have appeared in journals and anthologies. Her most recent book, “Save Our Ship,” was awarded the Richard Snyder Memorial Prize.
Ungar’s popularity is not limited to her work in poetry and teaching. Many of the former students who nominated her attest to her ability to individually mentor and guide them through hardships. She has provided students with advice on not just writing, but how to improve their overall experience at the College and become better students.
Ungar says every time she is on campus, she feels like she’s spending time with friends. When teaching, she tries to encourage her students to do whatever they’re passionate about.
She recalls the poem “The Way It Is” by William Stafford and says, “He talks about writing as a golden thread, and he says if you hang onto that golden thread, it will carry you through life. I try to give that to students, but it could be science, it could be teaching, could be art, music. And I try to help each student find their own thread and hope that there’s something that they can take with them from their time at Saint Rose.”
2022 Distinguished Alumni Award
Kathleen “Kathy” Turon Kieffer ’84, G’89, G’02
Kathleen “Kathy” Turon Kieffer received her bachelor’s degree in special education from Saint Rose in 1984, her master’s degree in reading in 1989, and returned to receive her certificate of advanced study in 2002. In the years after her graduation, she has stayed involved in the College. She is a long-serving president of the Capital District Chapter of The College of Saint Rose Alumni Association, where she hosts events and helps to provide scholarships for undergraduate students.
Coming from a small town, Turon Kieffer thought Saint Rose’s small-campus atmosphere would be a good fit. After graduating, she taught special education for over 20 years in the Troy City School District. Now retired, she still serves as the resident of the local Capital District Alumni Chapter and conducts training for educators and staff in therapeutic crisis intervention counseling. According to her nomination, Turon Kieffer is a “self-sacrificing woman who changes our world service by service.”
Her ability to give back goes beyond her work in the classroom and assisting future special education professionals. She often does community service and stays in contact with other alumni from Saint Rose.
“When students leave Saint Rose, you bring that giving, caring nature in whatever role you’re in,” Turon Kieffer says. “I mean, I certainly think of that in education, but I think any of the majors that Saint Rose has, you are bringing people out into the community who are going to do good in whatever field that they are in.”
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