Mallory Bower, Brian Wallace earn SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Dedication to SUNY Oswego’s student experiences and initiatives supporting the campus community have earned Mallory Bower and Brian Wallace the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.
Bower, director of experiential learning and program director for general studies, and Wallace, director of campus recreation, earned recognition for superior performance of job duties as well as impact above and beyond supporting university and student success.
Starting at SUNY Oswego in 2013 as associate director of career services, Bower has taken on roles of increasing responsibilities and consistently succeeded, nominators said, while always keeping the opportunities for Oswego’s students and the well-being of colleagues as critical guideposts.
Tina Phillips, associate director of experiential learning, noted that Bower has led the office in expanding opportunities in internships, career-related coursework, service learning and other experiential avenues.
Providing opportunities
“She has played a critical role in removing financial barriers for students wanting to participate in experiential learning and consistently ensures greater equity in access to high-impact learning,” Phillips wrote, referencing Oswego’s exemplary role in SUNY’s Internship Impact Fund.
The fund, which ensures students receive paid internships to provide greater access and opportunity, funded 132 Lakers in the past year. It complements a recent successful rollout for the Empire State Service Corps – which pays students for community service placements – and other experiential programs continuing to thrive.
“She has strengthened the university’s experiential learning landscape and advanced meaningful collaboration across departments and divisions,” Phillips noted. “In every role she has held, Mallory has consistently centered students’ well-being, goals and potential.”
Bower first came to the department as first-year experience coordinator in 2019, and took on increasing roles related to providing students with opportunities to learn and gain experience in classes, at internships and experiential placements, and through service learning.
Even while rising in responsibilities, Bower’s humble nature and support for others makes her a remarkable and authentic leader, wrote Lillian Evans, director of the Triandiflou Institute.
“Mallory is the kind of professional whose servant leadership is not just well articulated, it is fully lived out in her daily practice,” Evans wrote. “She approaches service through a lens of access, justice and community-building, and she consistently works to ensure that systems, programs and processes are equitable for all students. Her work embodies the core mission of SUNY Oswego: to create an environment where learners thrive, engage, and feel a deep sense of belonging.”
Michelle Bandla, assistant vice president for academic support and a previous Chancellor’s Award winner, praised Bower’s persistence in always finding a way to help Oswego’s students achieve.
“Mallory is a dedicated problem-solver who thoughtfully finds creative, innovative solutions to ensure we are meeting our students' needs and preparing them to be critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and engaged citizens ready for a changing world, Bandla wrote.
Beyond that, Bower has provided valuable service as a board member of the United Way of Greater Oswego County, Zonta Club of Oswego committee member and as a foster parent.
Bower earned her master’s in student affairs - higher education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s in communication from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
Campus-wide wellness
Wallace joined SUNY Oswego in 2003 as manager of the university’s fitness centers and also has thrived in attaining positions with increased responsibility and campus-wide visibility.
Kathleen Kerr, vice president of student affairs, praised Wallace’s “intentional efforts to listen to students, implement innovative programs and broaden participation opportunities.”
“During the 2024–2025 academic year alone, Campus Recreation offered 12 intramural leagues, supported 27 registered club sports and delivered 28 diverse programs and events,” Kerr noted. “The two campus Fitness Centers, managed by Brian and his team, provide more than a dozen weekly classes each semester and personal training support to nearly 150 users. His oversight also includes a robust aquatics program and well-attended student and community ice-skating offerings.”
“Under his leadership, Campus Recreation has seen measurable increases in engagement including a 17 percent increase in fitness center usage, a 22 percent increase in club sport participation, and increased participation by underrepresented students due to strategic inclusion efforts,” wrote Gabriel Marshall, associate vice president for student affairs. “His impact on SUNY Oswego is substantial and enduring.”
Amy Bidwell, associate professor of health promotion and wellness, noted that Wallace – who also has been an adjunct professor in that department for two decades – has been very successful in building cross-campus coalitions focused on all the dimensions of wellness.
“Under his leadership, Campus Recreation has continued to expand and innovate, offering programs that enhance the physical, mental and social well-being of students, faculty and staff,” Bidwell wrote. “His ability to unite recreation, wellness and community engagement has made the department a cornerstone of the university’s holistic health initiatives.”
Wallace additionally provides cross-campus leadership, such as chairing the SUNY Oswego Health and Well-being Steering Committee, spearheading the university signing the Okanagan Charter to commit to campus-wide wellbeing, valuable work on an Oz ChatBot initiative and more. He also fosters partnerships with other departments leading to successful and fun events.
Putting students first and helping staff find value have been hallmarks of Wallace’s passion and efforts, leading to many successes, said Sara Rebeor, assistant vice president for residence life and housing.
“One of the key attributes that makes Brian deserve this award is his unwavering commitment to student development and success,” Rebeor wrote. “Brian has always had a passion for developing and supporting his team to reach their full potential ... Through his quick wit and caring nature, Brian creates an environment for his staff in which they truly feel they are a part of the team and that they matter. He aligns their experiences with the knowledge and skills needed for them to succeed.”
Wallace earned his master’s in exercise physiology from Ithaca College, and a bachelor’s in health and exercise science from Gettysburg College.