When it comes to knowing what support incoming Farmingdale State College (FSC) students need most, Bryan Etienne knows firsthand. Years before joining FSC as an admissions advisor in 2022, he was an incoming FSC student himself, and walked through the same doors he now opens for hundreds of new students every semester.
“My favorite memory as a student at FSC is also my very first experience at the College,” said Etienne, ’17, a science, technology, and society graduate. “After graduating high school, I was uncertain about which college to attend. With my mother’s guidance, we visited the office where I now work. As I spoke with FSC staff about the College, I was met with warmth and encouragement. I felt a sense of excitement as I decided to attend Farmingdale State College.
“Looking back, it feels like a full circle moment to now be working in the very office I once visited, unsure of my next step,” he added. “FSC has changed my life in so many meaningful ways. And I am committed to giving back to FSC for all it has offered me, in my current role.”
Etienne’s experience is echoed across campus, where FSC’s professional team of alumni has more than doubled since 2018 to comprise 98 of 375 full- time professionals in fall 2024.
“As a student, I became very involved in campus life and loved how easy it was to get involved and make connections,” said Caitlyn Urban, ’22, coordinator of programming and organizations for the Office of Student Activities (OSA), who joined FSC professionally in 2023. “My favorite campus memory is serving as one of the student chairs on the RamChella Committee. I am so grateful that I now get to plan RamChella as a member of FSC’s OSA staff.”
After earning an associate degree in advertising art and design in 1981, Bill Steedle, assistant dean for the School of Business and associate professor of visual communications, was immediately offered a position as an instructional support assistant, “and 43+ years later, I’m still here—and I’m quite happy with how things turned out. It has been rewarding to give back to the College in a variety of meaningful ways,” added Steedle, who contributed significantly to the development of the College’s visual communications curriculum, including its recent national accreditation. Among his numerous honors and accolades, he has received the FSC Alumni Association’s Excellence in Service Award, a Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service, and the President’s Award for Academic Leadership.
University Police Department Officer Connor Coghlan, ’18, who recently received a State University of New York Police Chief Life Saving Award for his heroic actions while responding to an emergency call last summer, shared that “serving and protecting the students and campus community at my alma mater is a great honor.” After serving as an emergency medical technician and New York City Police Department officer, “it’s come full circle, and I’m so happy to be back,” said Coghlan, who joined FSC professionally in 2023.
Chief Information Officer Pete Greco first joined FSC in 1993 as an instructional support technician for the Visual Communications Department before earning an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree from FSC in 1995 and 2002, respectively.
“FSC is special because of the people who work here and all the care they put in. And alums make it even better because we especially want to give back to where we came from and see FSC continue to grow.” Tevin Foster, '19, associate director of digital content
“Going from being a student, to a staff member, to teaching classes, and finally to becoming an administrator has allowed me to experience the campus firsthand and all that it has to offer,” said Greco, who won a Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 2012. “It has helped me understand what students look for and expect when they come to campus, and I bring all of those experiences into what I do every day… Farmingdale has become a second family to me, and I truly feel like I belong here. Being both an alum and an administrator in a department that connects with every area of the campus has made my work incredibly rewarding.”
“It’s the best of both worlds,” agreed Associate Director of Digital Content Tevin Foster, ’19, who joined FSC professionally in 2022 and recently received a 2025 SUNYCUAD Award for Excellence in Photography. “FSC is special because of the people that work here and all the care they put in. And alums make it even better because we especially want to give back to where we came from and see FSC continue to grow.”
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