Professor Receives Highest Honor from State University of New York

Rockland Community College Professor Receives Highest Honor from State University of New York

Only community college faculty member awarded Distinguished Service Professorship

Suffern, NY - Elaine S. Padilla, Ph.D., Professor, Social Sciences, of Suffern is the only community college professor in New York State to receive the Distinguished Service Professorship, one of the highest designations bestowed upon instructional faculty by the State University of New York (SUNY).

The Distinguished Service Professorship is conferred upon a faculty member who has achieved a notable reputation for extraordinary service not only to the campus and to SUNY, but also to the community, the State of New York and/or even the nation.

Dr. Padilla’s career has spanned three decades at Rockland Community College.  She has distinguished herself as an exceptional leader in areas of national and international public and humanitarian concerns.  Padilla was awarded a Fulbright to study in Japan and she has studied extensively in Asia and other international communities. At the College, she helped establish Rockland’s first Phi Theta Kappa chapter; created sexual harassment prevention training for employees on campus; initiated procedures for student assessment and placement; and proposed a resource center to foster excellence in teaching and learning. In the community, she served as president of the Rockland Unit of the American Cancer Society.  In addition, Padilla has served the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools as a member of numerous accreditation teams.

Padilla earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from The City University of New York, a Master of Arts degree in Urban Sociology and a Ph.D. in Urban Sociology and Demography from Fordham University

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Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate's degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to simply learn something new. Quality education...at a price you can afford.