DATE: Saturday, May 14
TIME: 1 p.m.
LOCATION: Morrisville State College Recreation Center
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF GRADUATION CANDIDATES: Approximately 700
MEDAL OF DISTINCTION PRESENTATION AND RECIPIENT’S REMARKS: Recipient, Robert M. Simpson, President, CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO).
About the award: The President’s Medal of Distinction Award is conferred by the President of Morrisville State College to individuals who have made outstanding contribution to the campus communities of Morrisville State College through their service, leadership, and achievements. This award is presented to citizens of the region, state, or nation for their significant service, leadership, and professional achievements. It is the highest non-degree honor awarded by the college.
About recipient Robert M. Simpson: Robert M. Simpson serves as president of the CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), based in Syracuse, New York. CenterState CEO is an independent and forward-thinking economic development strategist, business leadership organization and chamber of commerce.
A supporter of Morrisville State College, Simpson is a member of the Morrisville President’s Advisory Council and has been a guest lecturer for the Pyramid Brokerage Lecture Series on the campus.
In 2011, Simpson was appointed by the Governor to serve as co-chair of the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council (CNY REDC), a commission responsible for coordinating economic development for Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego counties. In this role he has helped lead regional strategies and develop investment priorities for competitive state funding, ultimately securing $844 million for the region – more than any other region in the state.
Simpson actively engaged the Brookings Institution to develop the region’s most sophisticated planning efforts to date, including Metropolitan Business, Export, and Foreign Direct Investment plans. Simpson serves in leadership roles across CenterState CEO’s affiliates and partner organizations, including Syracuse’s business incubator, The Tech Garden; the NUAIR Alliance; the CNY International Business Alliance, CenterState CEO’s Foundations, Electronics Park LLC, and Benefit Specialists of NY. He holds board and advisory seats with the CNY Biotech Accelerator, the University Hill Corporation, and the Downtown Committee of Syracuse.
Simpson also serves on numerous community boards, including the Central New York Technology Development Organization, Syracuse 20/20, the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance, and others.
Accolades include 40 UNDER 40 recognition by CNY BizEvents (2006); the Salvation Army’s Community Team Spirit Award (2010); Onondaga Citizens League Citizen of the Year (2010), and Boy Scouts of America Boypower Honoree (2016).
Before joining CenterState CEO, Simpson worked for Defenders of Wildlife, in Washington, DC; served as policy director for the State Environmental Resource Center, Madison, Wisconsin; and served as assistant legislative director for the Office of John D. Rockefeller, IV, in the United States Senate.
Simpson is a native Central New Yorker who graduated from Colgate University in 1997. He earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. He and his wife, Corinne Ribble, and son Ben reside in Syracuse.
UNIQUE ASPECTS: The colorful ceremony will begin with the Syracuse Scottish Bagpipe Band leading graduates into the formal commencement exercises. The stage will be adorned with flowers grown and supplied by students in the college’s horticulture program and arranged by graduating seniors from the program.
SHUTTLE SERVICE: The campus shuttle service will be available to transport guests to the ceremony.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For more information, visit www.morrisville.edu/commencement or contact the Morrisville State College Public Relations Office at 315.684.6041.