To Faculty and Staff:

It is with mixed emotions that I announce the retirement of Patrick Calabria. Pat has served with exceptional dedication and professionalism as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Enrollment Management since 2007. Pat has been a valued member of the State University of New York system for the last twenty years. He was an invaluable asset to me in my transition to FSC.

Pat will be retiring in the first quarter of 2021. He had planned to retire sooner, but stayed on to assist the College during the Coronavirus pandemic. I am deeply appreciative of his willingness to postpone retirement in the interest of the College.

A brief announcement cannot fully capture all that Pat has accomplished at Farmingdale.

Under Pat’s direction, the College’s enrollment increased by 33 percent resulting in almost $500 million in enrollment revenue. He has re-imagined FSC’s major recruiting events such as Open House and Accepted Students Day.

Pat has created a more robust brand for the College and raised our profile on Long Island and beyond. He has also conceived and organized many campus events and initiatives including the Farmingdale Forward 10 Year Plan and the annual Legislative Breakfast. In addition, he developed and led the Students First initiative to transform the campus culture to be more student oriented. Pat was also largely responsible for the athletic pep rallies that brought many of us together to celebrate.

During his tenure at FSC, the Institutional Advancement division has been recognized with over 20 national and SUNY awards for design, publication, and media relations. Pat has also personally received the Long Island Business News Communicator Award, the Hofstra University Alumnus of the Year Award, and the Public Relations Professionals of Long Island (PRPLI) Lifetime Achievement Award. His deep engagement in community and public affairs of Long Island has been vital to building our reputation in the region.

If that was not enough, Pat also initiated the annual Faculty and Staff Softball game to promote comradery among the staff at FSC and always was ready and willing to tell a joke or two to warm up a crowd at an event. These were not always his best decisions.

I would be remiss if I did not add that Pat has been a trusted friend and valued colleague to me, and many others at FSC. He will continue to be an excellent ambassador for Farmingdale. We are fortunate to have some remaining time with Pat. Prior to his departure, please join me in wishing him the very best and expressing our deepest gratitude for all he has accomplished here.

John Nader
President