Two longtime Finger Lakes Community College trustees, Joan Geise of Canandaigua and Donna Mihalik of Victor, received leadership awards this fall recognizing their service to the college and community college education, FLCC announced Nov. 11.
Geise received the Marvin A. Rapp Award for Distinguished Trustee Service from New York Community College Trustees in September. Mihalik received the Northeast Region Trustee Leadership Award from the Association of Community College Trustees in October. Both joined FLCC’s board in 2008.
Geise recognized for college and foundation service
Geise is currently the board secretary and previously served as chair from 2013 to 2015 and again from 2022 to 2024. A retired educator, she taught high school social studies at Victor Central School for 35 years.
She has also served as the board’s liaison to the FLCC Foundation for 17 years, helping develop the organization and promoting its fundraising events, according to the college.
“Joan’s contributions have helped reinforce the college’s role as a driver of community and regional development,” FLCC President Robert Nye said in the release.
“By advocating for innovation in program delivery, partnerships with industry, and student supports, Joan has fostered a more responsive college model that results in improved educational outcomes, enhanced workforce readiness, and a more integrated relationship with the community.”
Geise regularly participated in statewide and national professional development through New York Community College Trustees, the Association of Community College Trustees and the State University of New York. Nye credited those experiences with strengthening her understanding of higher education trends and community college governance.
Her award is named for Marvin A. Rapp, a SUNY administrator who helped establish 13 community colleges and later became president of Onondaga Community College. Rapp served as an FLCC trustee from 1996 until his death in 1999 and was also Canandaigua’s city historian.
Mihalik honored for regional trustee leadership
Mihalik’s award recognizes significant contributions to the community college mission. The Association of Community College Trustees is a national nonprofit representing 6,500 trustees at community and technical colleges, according to the release.
Its Northeast region covers the District of Columbia and 11 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
During her time on FLCC’s board, Mihalik has served as secretary, vice chair and chair. Her committee service has included audit and enterprise risk management, education and planning, finance and facilities, board development, and nominations.
She has served on the New York Community College Trustees Executive Committee since 2016 and currently chairs its Educational Foundation. She also served two-year terms on two Association of Community College Trustees committees, attended regional meetings and participated in panels at two of its conferences.
“During a critical period when NYCCT sought to refocus its mission and strengthen engagement, Donna helped lead transformational changes that revitalized the organization and increased trustee participation across New York State,” fellow FLCC trustee Richard Russell said in the release.
“Donna’s willingness to lead, mentor and serve wherever needed has made her one of the most influential trustees in the college’s history.”
Mihalik also experienced FLCC as a student while serving on its board. She enrolled in the new media degree program and graduated in 2015. The college said that experience gave her additional insight into students’ experiences.
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