SUNY Canton Media Relations Manager Receives Chancellor's Award

A member of the award-winning SUNY Canton Public Relations team has been selected by SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson to receive the 2019 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.

Gregory E. Kie, senior media relations manager and college photographer, was nominated by his peers for the system-wide honor. It is bestowed in recognition of consistently superior professional achievement to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. He received a medal denoting his success at the college’s Faculty and Community Awards Dinner held May 9.

“Greg has helped improve the college’s image through his outstanding photography and news writing abilities,” said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran. “He’s contributed to every major college publication during his 15-year career and helped develop positive working relationships with the local media. His work has helped tell the ‘SUNY Canton story’ and elevated the college’s profile and prestige.”

Kie began as a temporary part-time writer and photographer in 2004, after a brief career as a correspondent reporter for the Massena-Potsdam Courier Observer. The year following, he was granted a full-time position under the direction of Randy B. Sieminski, who is now the college’s athletic director. He received his current title in 2014 while working for the college’s current Director of Public Relations, Travis G. Smith.

“Greg embodies the spirit of SUNY Canton through his unique skill set, work ethic and welcoming demeanor,” Smith said. “Throughout his tenure, he has juggled his media relations and photography responsibilities with great skill, professionalism and collegiality.”

As an adjunct instructor in the college’s Graphic and Multimedia Design program, Kie has helped several students start careers in photography. He was described as a focal point for mentorships and recognized for helping to foster an entrepreneurial spirit for students by Professor Charles R. Fenner, who teaches in the Management program.

Kie also volunteered as a Riot Games’ “League of Legends” coach in the college’s thriving esports program during the past year. He also supports the SUNY Canton Steel Bridge Team by helping students paint their bridge in preparation for their annual competitions.

SUNY Canton’s entire Public Relations Department received the Excellence in College Service Award in 2017. Kie contributed three of the department’s 12 State University of New York Council for University Advancement (SUNYCUAD) awards during his career, picking up two Excellence in Writing citations and a Judge’s Citation for news releases.

“I’m so very proud that my colleagues chose to nominate me for this career-defining achievement,” Kie said. “I’ve been exceptionally lucky to be a part of a continually innovating and evolving college that has allowed me to grow within my position. I look forward to everything that will happen next.”

Kie is a Plattsburgh native who graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Studio Arts in 1998.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York’s premier college for career-driven bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in digital design, engineering technology, health, management and public service. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. As SUNY’s leader in online education, SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 19 online degree programs. The college placed first in 14 categories in a SUNY-Wide Student Opinion Survey, most notably in career services, tutoring, library resources, and classroom facilities. The college’s 15 traditional athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level as part of the North Atlantic Conference. SUNY Canton also offers varsity esports and cheerleading.