JCC Holds Annual Recognition Celebration, May 2026

Jefferson Community College (JCC) held its Annual Recognition Celebration on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The College observed four faculty and staff retirees and honored the achievements of faculty and staff including: SUNY Chancellor’s Award recipients, those reaching milestone years of service to the College, continuing appointments, and promotions. Additionally, the 2026 Spirit of Jefferson Award recipient was announced. 

Retirees include Dwight Austin, Adams, instructor, Monica J. Papagni, Adams Center, Cynthia L. Sloan, Watertown, library clerk, and Gerland Zoanetti, Henderson, assistant professor. 

Austin served Jefferson for more than three decades, joining the College as an adjunct instructor in the Paralegal A.A.S. program in 1992. In 2022, he became a full-time instructor, serving until his retirement in 2025. Throughout his tenure, Austin drew on his extensive legal and military experience to prepare students for careers in the legal profession. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from SUNY Albany, a Juris Doctor from Western New England College School of Law, and a Master of Laws from Syracuse University College of Law. Austin served as an Army Intelligence Officer, Rotary Wing Aviator, and Judge Advocate, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve after 23 years of service. He also served as an assistant district attorney in Jefferson County, a legal assistance attorney at Fort Drum, and retired as a Department of the Army civilian attorney after 33 years of federal service.

Sloan joined the College in 2010 as a library clerk, serving students, faculty, and staff until her retirement. In her role, she supported the day-to-day operations of the College while helping create a welcoming environment for the campus community. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from SUNY Oneonta.

After 22 years of service, Zoanetti retired from Jefferson as a biology faculty member. During his tenure, he developed Saturday tutoring sessions to support student success, served as the Biology EDGE (high school concurrent enrollment program) liaison, and contributed to numerous campus committees, including the Curriculum Committee and Senate Nominating Committee. He also supported Jefferson's Super Science Saturday (SSS) for more than a decade and served as the College's United Way coordinator. Zoanetti holds an Associate of Science in mathematics and science from Jefferson, a Bachelor of Science in biology from SUNY Oswego, and a Master of Science in biology from SUNY Potsdam.

Disclaimer: In respect of the privacy preferences of certain employees, some information has been intentionally omitted from this press release.

Retirees who received Emeriti Designation: Dr. Venkat Chebolu, Watertown, professor emeritus, Dr. Eugene M. Renzi, Sackets Harbor, trustee emeritus, Martin P. Schatz, Watertown, trustee emeritus, and Suzanne C. Tingley, Williamsburg, V.A., trustee emerita.

Dr. Venkat Chebolu, Professor Emeritus - Upon his retirement, Dr. Chebolu was recognized for 30 years of service to the College as a chemistry faculty member. He earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from SUNY Stony Brook and served numerous leadership roles, including two terms as chair of the Academic Affairs Committee. He also mentored undergraduate honors research projects and served on a variety of campus committees and initiatives. Dr. Chebolu was an early leader in online science education and was among the first to develop one of the State University of New York (SUNY) system's first fully online chemistry courses with a laboratory kit for at-home experiments. In 1996, he secured Jefferson's first grant from the National Science Foundation, expanding opportunities for science education and research. A founding member of SSS and organizer of National Chemistry Week, Dr. Chebolu also promoted science education through community outreach. His contributions were recognized with the 2020 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Tom Meyers Award, and recognition as Phi Theta Kappa Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member of the Year.

Dr. Eugene M. Renzi, Trustee Emeritus – Dr. Renzi served on the Jefferson Board of Trustees for 18 years after his appointment in April 1989. During two terms, he served as vice chair from 1997 to 1999 and chair from 1999 to 2001. He also served on the Academic and Educational Services, Budget and Planning, and Personnel committees. An OB-GYN physician, Dr. Renzi opened his medical practice in Watertown in 1963 and practiced until his retirement from medicine. He served as an attending physician at Mercy Hospital and the House of the Good Samaritan, was a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, served as president of the Jefferson County Medical Society, and was a member of the advisory board for Crouse Irving Hospital in Syracuse. His service on the Jefferson Board of Trustees concluded in April 2007.

Martin P. Schatz, Trustee Emeritus – Schatz’s association with Jefferson began as a student and continued through decades of service as a foundation board member and trustee. A member of the Class of 1967, he was named a Distinguished Alumnus and received the SUNY Alumni Confederation Outstanding Alumni Award. Appointed to the Board of Trustees in 1997, Schatz served for 10 years, including terms as vice chair from 1999 to 2001 and chair from 2001 to 2003. He also chaired the Budget and Planning Committee and served on the Personnel Committee. Prior to his trustee service, Schatz joined the JCC  Foundation Board in 1992, serving as vice president and later president. He helped lead The Campaign for Jefferson, the College's first capital campaign. Professionally, Schatz worked in banking, retiring as senior vice president of KeyBank after previously serving as vice president and senior commercial loan officer at Marine Midland Bank. His board service at Jefferson concluded in November 2007.

Suzanne C. Tingley, Trustee Emerita – Tingley served on the Jefferson Board of Trustees for 11 years after her appointment in 1999. She served as vice chair from 2003 to 2005 and chair from 2005 to 2007 and also chaired the Academic and Educational Services Committee while serving on the Personnel Committee. During her tenure, she participated in the College's accreditation review process, which culminated in Jefferson earning unconditional reaccreditation from the Middle States Association. Before joining the Board, she collaborated with the College on its distance learning initiative and held a variety of leadership positions in K–12 education, including teacher, dean of faculty, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent of the Sackets Harbor Central School District. Her service on the Board of Trustees concluded in June 2010.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award recipients are Dawn Bartlett, Watertown, Associate Professor of Humanities, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service; Robert Cooper, Lowville, Adjunct Instructor of Lab Sciences, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching; Katie Corbin, Chaumont, Coordinator of Advising, Career & Transfer Services, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service; Kathy Flanders, Clayton, Assistant Professor of Lab Sciences, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching; and Cheryl Martin, Watertown, Secretary, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service.

The Spirit of Jefferson Award, established in 2011, recognizes a campus team that exemplifies cooperative effort and achieves exemplary results. The 2026 Spirit of Jefferson Award was presented to the Jefferson Concern, Attention, Respect for Every Student (CARES) Team. Members of the Jefferson Cares Team include, Team Chair, Tanya Hoistion, Calcium, Daniel Buckley, Glenfield, Jennifer Dalton, Theresa, Sean Duffany, Watertown, Matthew Gorman, Watertown, Korine Ingerson, Watertown, Mallory Jackson, Woodville, Jessica Raymond, Watertown, Gabrielle Thompson, Watertown. The CARES Team provides outreach, support, and appropriate interventions for students in distress, connects them with campus, community, and family resources, and promotes student success.

Past recipients of the Spirit of Jefferson Award include the JCC Women’s Organization (2011), Science Division ~ Super Science Saturday (2012), Library Learning Center (2013), JCC Relay for Life (2014), EverGREEN Committee (2015), North Country Community Cup Team (2016), Chaos Patrol (2017), Facilities Team (2018), National Endowment for the Humanities Grant Team (2019), JCC Campus Community (2020), JCC Food Pantry (2021), Return to Campus COVID Committee (2022), Cannon Threads Clothing Closet (2023), President Dupee Inauguration Planning Workgroup (2024), and the Strategic Planning Co-Chair Team (2025). 

Jefferson recognized these current employees for milestone years of service:

Five Years: Joanna Brislan, Carthage, Korine Ingerson, Watertown, Andrew Lackey, Watertown, Nichole McDonald, Watertown, Eric Monroe, Glen Park, Michael Pitts, Theresa, Christopher Rowland, Chaumont, Jane Rounds, Henderson

Ten Years: Betsi Bentz, Watertown, Joshua Canale, Syracuse, Michael Guga, Dexter, Kady Hoistion, Watertown, Angel Lafountain, Carthage, Tyler Peterson, Watertown

Fifteen Years: Trevor Bradish, Watertown, Todd Parody, LaFargeville, Johanna Pierce, Watertown, Whitney Snyder, Redwood

Twenty Years: Teresa Boulton, Adams Center, Pamela Dixon, Redwood, Jessica Leigh, Brownville, John Scovel, Adams, Laura Young, Watertown

Twenty-Five Years: Renee Elliott, Lowville, John Trumbell, Sackets Harbor, Terri Weller, Watertown

Thirty Years: Timothy Grosse, Watertown

Thirty-Five Years: Ronald Palmer, Black River