SUNY Canton Celebrates New Assistant Director of Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership
Robert M. Bruce has defined his career by working with student leaders and encouraging growth within SUNY Canton’s clubs and organizations. He is best known for his behind-the-scenes efforts to help ensure concerts and student events run smoothly and sound perfect.
The college is recognizing Bruce following his promotion to assistant director of Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership (SAIL).
“My favorite memories here at SUNY Canton are seeing students’ reactions after special events,” he said. “I also love to watch our student leaders grow into strong, empathetic, confident, and capable members of our community.”
Bruce graduated from the Berklee College of Music with a concentration in contemporary writing and production in 2012. He currently plays bass and dabbles in piano, guitar and drums.
“I went back to school at 28 after working years in a gas station convenience store and the now defunct Borders Books,” he said. “I like telling students that life, school, etc. is not a race. Everyone has their own pace, and I would not change my timeline one bit.”
The accomplished musician said he sees himself working closely with students for the foreseeable future and would like to get more involved within the public service field. “My connections with students are a big part of what drives me.
Originally hailing from Connecticut, Bruce now lives in Potsdam and has extensive ties with the north country. He was living in New York City when he first heard about a technical manager position at SUNY Canton from his brother-in-law in 2013. “My sister Lauren is the head coach of women's lacrosse at SUNY Potsdam,” Bruce said. “My oldest sister, Krista, was the music teacher at Potsdam High School.”
Bruce works under Priscilla Legette, director of SAIL. The office is part of the Student Affairs division and housed in the Richard W. Miller Campus Center.
“I would not be the emerging leader I'm striving to be without Priscilla’s unwavering support,” he said. “She has remained steadfast in assuring me with straight-forward and constructive feedback as well as guiding me to become a better person.”
Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college’s career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 23 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and will be transitioning to the SUNYAC in Fall 2024. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.