Pietraface Wins National Honor

For Service To SUNY Oneonta

ONEONTA – SUNY Oneonta Professor Emeritus Bill Pietraface accepted the Robert L. Payton Award for Voluntary Service today at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District 2 conference in National Harbor, Md.

Given annually, the Payton Award is presented to an individual who “demonstrates leadership in advancement programs, furtherance of the philanthropic tradition, and public articulation of needs, goals and issues in education.”

Pietraface, a retired SUNY Oneonta biology professor and former chair of the biology department, is “always giving his time and financial resources to SUNY Oneonta and other organizations in the Oneonta community,” according to SUNY Oneonta Vice President for College Advancement Paul Adamo, who has worked with Pietraface for the past 20 years.

“He inspires donors, College Advancement professionals, and other volunteers through his intelligence and generosity,” Adamo said. “Bill makes all of us better professionals and stewards of philanthropy.”

Since 2001, Pietraface has served in increasing leadership roles on the College at Oneonta Foundation board of directors. He has served as both president and vice president of the foundation, and as co-chair of the college’s successful $6 million fundraising campaign, The Fund for Science and Technology. Pietraface is currently secretary of the foundation, chairs its Finance Committee, and sits on its Advancement and Membership Committee.

In addition to his varied leadership roles in the Foundation, Pietraface founded the GoSTEM Summer Institute at SUNY Oneonta. He’s also active with many organizations in the greater Oneonta community, including St. Mary’s Church, the Center for Continuing Adult Learning and the Greater Oneonta Historical Society.

Bill and his wife, Marge, have established two scholarships on campus, made a gift commitment to name the Pietraface Tissue Culture Laboratory — a 320-square-foot area for faculty and student research in the Physical Science Building — and have made a provision in their estate plan for the College at Oneonta Foundation. Pietraface also has become an effective solicitor of major gifts to benefit SUNY Oneonta.

In 1986, Pietraface was the recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He received the 2006 Outstanding Faculty Service Award from the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association Board of Directors. Prior to this election, Pietraface was vice president for the College at Oneonta Foundation Board of Directors and chair of the finance committee.