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2007

2006

2007

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Alumni Profile: Michael '87 & Deborah Krause Curcio '87  
Reflections Winter 2007

Careers:
Michael
Senior Vice President/Managing Director of the Global Equity Portfolio Management Group, Alliance Bernstein; former Partner, Sanford C. Bernstein

Debbie
Active volunteer and mother of two; former Vice President of Human Resources and Analyst for the Investment Banking Group, JP Morgan

Residence:
Montvale, NJ

How Our Education at Oneonta Benefitted Us Most:
Our degrees in Business Economics at Oneonta established the academic foundation upon which we both built by achieving our master’s degrees in Business Administration.  Our bachelor’s degrees from Oneonta and our master’s degrees from Clarkson led to our long, successful careers in the financial services industry.

What We Remember Most About Our Oneonta Years:
The easy answer is that we met each other while attending Oneonta and eventually moved on to build a wonderful life together!  We also shared some of the same wonderful friends, many of whom are still close friends today.  Mike’s freshman-year roommate, Joe Rosenberg ’87, remains one of our best friends, and Chris Deery ’87 was the best man at our wedding.  We entered college barely old enough to vote and with little direction in terms of where we were going.  After four years in the beautiful hills of central New York, we each left with a partner for life, several life-long friends, and a clear plan to take our education further.

Why We Financially Support the College and the Campaign:
We both came from families that had to work hard and make sacrifices for us to attend college.  Financial aid in the form of work-study programs and Regents scholarships contributed to our ability to afford the expenses of a high-quality college education.  Debbie’s academic achievement at Oneonta led to her receiving a full scholarship and stipend to attend the MBA program developed in cooperation with Clarkson University.   Looking back now, we appreciate the benefits that these opportunities provided us, and we would like to give back so that others can achieve their educational goals as well.

What We Hope the College Will Be Like in the Future:
Though we look back with nostalgia on our days at Oneonta, we’re very excited to watch the College become more selective and competitive academically.  Our combined career experiences in management, human resources, recruiting, and training have made us appreciate the value of academic achievement, commitment, and work ethic more than ever.  As the quality of education at Oneonta continues to improve, so too will the caliber of young adults who graduate and move on to successful careers like the ones we’ve enjoyed. 

2006

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Faculty Profile: William & Marjorie Miller Pietraface
Reflections Fall 2006

 
Careers:
Bill
Professor and Chair of the Biology Department, College at Oneonta.

Marge
Instructor and Internship Supervisor, Human Ecology Department, and Employee Assistance Program Coordinator, College at Oneonta. Thirty-year career as a social worker.

Residence:
Oneonta, NY

How We Came to Work at the College:
We came to work at the College at Oneonta directly after Bill completed his Ph.D. We felt we wanted to be part of a smaller campus community in a more rural setting rather than an urban setting.

Why We Financially Support the College:
Financially supporting the College is one way we can give back to the place that has meant a great deal to us. Additionally, Marge would not have completed her undergraduate degree without scholarships and other forms of financial assistance. She has a keen first-hand appreciation of what this assistance can mean to a student.

What We Hope the College Will Be Like in the Future:
We hope that the College at Oneonta will continue to offer a high-quality education to all enrolled students. We also hope that graduates of the College will look back on their Oneonta experience and realize that attending the College was one of the most positive experiences and best decisions that they ever made.

Dr. William Pietraface serves on the College at Oneonta Foundation Board of Directors, where he is a member of the Advancement Committee and 25th Anniversary Planning Committee. The Pietrafaces have endowed the Pietraface-Miller Scholarship for students at our College who have financial need.

Career: 
Attorney, Senior Partner at Popick, Rutman & Jaw LLP
New York, NY

Residence:
Roslyn, NY

How My Education at Oneonta Benefitted Me Most:
My education and degree benefitted me by providing the opportunity to go to law school after graduating from Oneonta. In addition, the knowledge and writing skills that I acquired have helped me professionally.

What I Remember Most about My Oneonta Years:
I remember finding a good balance between academics and socializing. After 25 years, I still keep in touch with a lot of the friends I made while at Oneonta. I look forward to my 25th class reunion this June so I can catch up with old friends, and I encourage everyone to return to campus for this weekend.

Why I Financially Support the College:
I believe it is very important to support the school financially so that high academic standards and the campus overall can be maintained. Scholarships, the Alumni Field House, and the new residence hall help attract better students when they come to campus before deciding on which college to attend.

What I Hope the College Will Be Like in the Future:
I hope that the College continues to recruit the best students and faculty and to upgrade and maintain the campus facilities. I would like Oneonta to remain a fine academic institution and a great place that enables students to grow and mature before the next step in their lives.