FLCC trustees recognized for distinguished leadership

Joan Geise and Donna Mihalik have served FLCC for 18 years.

Two Finger Lakes Community College trustees, Donna Mihalik of Victor and Joan Geise of Canandaigua, were recognized this fall for outstanding service to FLCC and the community college mission.

Geise, a board member since 2008, received the Marvin A. Rapp Award for Distinguished Trustee Service from the New York Community College Trustees (NYCCT) organization in September. Currently the board secretary, she served as chair from 2013 to 2015 and again from 2022 to 2024. Geise is a retired educator who taught high school social studies at Victor Central School for 35 years.

“Joan’s contributions have helped reinforce the college’s role as a driver of community and regional development,” said President Robert Nye. “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 participated regularly in statewide and national professional development through NYCCT, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), and the State University of New York (SUNY). These experiences sharpened her understanding of emerging trends and best practices in higher education and community college governance, Nye noted.

As the board’s liaison with the FLCC Foundation for 17 years, she has helped to build that organization into a significant asset for the college and has promoted its fundraising events.

The Marvin A. Rapp Award is named for a SUNY administrator who helped establish 13 community colleges and later served as president of Onondaga Community College. He was an FLCC trustee from 1996 until his death in 1999. Rapp was also known for his role as the Canandaigua city historian.

In October, Donna Mihalik received the Northeast Region Trustee Leadership Award from ACCT, a national nonprofit representing 6,500 trustees at community and technical colleges. The award recognizes trustees who have made significant contributions to advancing the mission of community colleges. The Northeast region includes community colleges in the District of Columbia and 11 states: Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

Since joining the FLCC board in 2008, Mihalik has served as board secretary, vice chair and chair. She has also contributed through service on the board’s committees for Audit and Enterprise Risk Management, Education and Planning, Finance and Facilities, Board Development, and Nominations.

Mihalik has participated in state and national professional organizations and has served on the NYCCT Executive Committee since 2016. She is the current chair of the NYCCT Educational Foundation. Mihalik also served two-year terms on two ACCT committees, participated in several regional meetings, and served on a panel at two ACCT 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,” said fellow Trustee Richard Russell. “Donna’s willingness to lead, mentor and serve wherever needed has made her one of the most influential trustees in the college’s history.”

Beyond her board roles, Mihalik experienced community college firsthand as a student. While serving as a trustee, she enrolled in the new media degree program, graduating in 2015. Her experience as a student provided her with insight into the student experience and reinforced her understanding of the transformative power of community colleges.