SUNY Maritime College

It was an exciting day at Maritime College. We welcomed Kapil Longani, Senior Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, Bess Chiu (Chief Deputy General Counsel and Chief of Staff), and Mairead Jones-Kennelly (Senior Counsel for Maritime College)! We had thoughtful discussions on our commitment to ethical responsibility and showcased our cutting-edge facilities, including our bridge simulator and the EMPIRE STATE VII training ship. We're proud to highlight our dedication to excellence in maritime education and leadership!

Wishing our Cadets luck on their USCG Exams! Your dedication and commitment is a testament of the educational and practical experiences you’ve had at Maritime College. Remember, we are, as always, ‘First and Foremost.’

PMT kicked off the new year with its first 2025 Offshore Wind class, providing critical training to Trevcon divers! Led by SUNY instructor Mark Koldras, participants learned the importance of safety while working in offshore wind arrays. These include safe climbing techniques, rescue strategies and first aid response. Through our Global Wind Organization (GWO) certified Basic Safety Training (BST), Trevcon's divers gain hands-on training that prepares them for many situations while supporting the region's emerging offshore wind industry.

📖Faculty Friday📖

Meet Dr. Aaron Alejandro Olivas, our incredible Maritime Studies professor! With a Ph.D. from UCLA, he takes students on an unforgettable journey through the rich and complex maritime empires of the Early Modern Atlantic World (1492-1826).

Teaching undergrad and grad courses in World History, Dr. Olivas focuses on the vibrant histories of global Latin America and Spain, making history come alive with hands-on experiences using historical documents and artifacts.

With deep roots in Spain, Argentina, Cuba, Bolivia, Brazil, France, Guatemala, and Italy, Dr. Olivas brings a unique perspective to the classroom!

In 2024, he was honored with the President’s Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching—a testament to his dedication and passion for education. When he’s not inspiring students, he’s busy publishing, presenting at conferences, and sharing his expertise through guest lectures.

Nothing but net! 🏀The Maritime Men’s Basketball Team took on King’s Point in a game that was met with excitement despite it being a bitterly cold evening. Our players know the heat on the court is unmatched. Congratulations Privateers!

Final Score - 69-57

This is a proud moment for Team Philippines and Maritime College! Under the guidance of Maritime's Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Justin Manjares, Team Philippines brought home the silver medal at the 2024 World Lacrosse Super Sixes in Hong Kong!

After finishing 3-1 in round-robin play and defeating Germany in a thrilling semifinal, Team Philippines fell short against the FOGO Stealers in the gold medal match. Still, they showcased significant improvement from last year, fueling excitement for lacrosse's return at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles!

As we gear up for the start of the Men's and Women's Lacrosse season, we want to express our excitement and pride in all that our coaching staff has to offer. Their dedication and expertise will undoubtedly contribute to our teams' continued growth and success.

Get ready for an epic showdown! The Maritime Men’s Basketball team will go head-to-head with the Kings Point Mariners this Wednesday, January 8, at 7 PM in the Riesenberg Gymnasium! Bring your friends and family - you don’t want to miss an intense game of rivalry action. See you there! 🏀

The Maritime College community is proud to announce the January Commencement Exercises, which will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 10 AM in the Riesenberg Gymnasium.

Maritime College President RADM John A. Okon, along with the Faculty, Staff, and Students, invite you to join us in celebrating the achievements of our graduates and marking the start of their bright futures. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize our students for their hard work and well-deserved degrees.

📖Faculty Friday📖

Meet Dr. Caterina Panzeca, an inspiring Marine Environmental Scientist! With a B.S. in Environmental Geology, an M.S. in Marine Environmental Science, and a Ph.D. in Marine and Atmospheric Science from Stony Brook University, she is committed to advancing our understanding of marine ecosystems.

Dr. Panzeca is proud of her academic contributions, including the development of the capstone course, Field Methods in Marine Environmental Science, and leading a water quality monitoring program. Her dedication to teaching earned her the prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2020.

Fun Fact: Dr. Panzeca has explored every continent—yes, all 7—by land or sea!

Wishing our Maritime Family a joyous and prosperous New Year! As we sail into 2025, we’re excited about all the opportunities, growth, and achievements the new year will bring. To our students, faculty, staff, and alumni — thank you for being part of this incredible journey. 2025 will be a year to remember!

📖Faculty Friday📖

Meet Dr. Daniel An! He holds a Ph.D. in Quantum Physics and Mathematical Analysis from Stony Brook University, and an M.S. in Applied Mathematics, a B.S. in Mathematics from Korea University.

During his time with a shipping company, he realized the vast amount of untapped data in the industry! To address this, he launched the Data Science & Machine Learning program, where he teaches students about AI theories, their impact on the maritime sector, and safe data management practices.

In 2023, he was honored with the President's Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching!

Fun Fact: Dr. An also has a YouTube channel where he shares his love for math – and he’s gained over 16K subscribers!"

✨Save Time At Tax Time While Supporting Maritime!✨
Your philanthropy can do more than create change—it can help you save during tax time. Did you know contributing to the SUNY Maritime Foundation through your IRA can benefit you and the College? Talk to your financial advisor or tax professional to learn more about making the most of your IRA contributions.

Here's how:
🎁IRA Contributions are Tax Deductible - When you donate directly from your IRA to a qualified nonprofit, such as the SUNY Maritime Foundation, your contribution may reduce your taxable income, making your giving go further.
🎁Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) - If you're 73 or older and subject to RMDs, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). This allows you to transfer up to $105,000 directly to the Foundation, lowering your taxable income while supporting Maritime College.

✨For more information on an IRA Charitable Rollover: https://bit.ly/maritime-gift-legacy"

The magic of the holiday season made its way to Maritime! ❄️ Be sure to tag us in your beautiful snowfall photos with .

Wishing all a warm and cozy day with your loved ones.