PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Seven SUNY Plattsburgh faculty and staff members were honored with 2023-24 Chancellor's Award earlier this spring and Beth Shaughnessy, Plattsburgh State Athletics' administrative assistant was given the honor for her excellence in classified service.

Cited for excellence in several areas of teaching and service, Chancellor's Awards for Excellence are State University system-wide honors given to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for "consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence," according to SUNY.

"These programs underscore SUNY's commitment to sustaining intellectual vibrancy, advancing the boundaries of knowledge, providing the highest quality of instruction, and serving the public good. Through these awards, SUNY publicly proclaims its pride in the accomplishment and personal dedication of its instructional faculty, librarians and professional staff across its campuses," as stated by SUNY.

"This is outstanding, well-deserved news to all of us here in Cardinal Country," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Mike Howard, "In addition to keeping our department running smoothly on a daily basis, Beth is often the first point of contact to our students-athletes, prospective student-athletes, families, alumni and countless other members of the Cardinal family.  She has been a is a tremendous ambassador for SUNY Plattsburgh for many years and we are very grateful for her continued and ongoing service to Cardinal Athletics & Recreation."

Beth Shaughnessy began her career at SUNY Plattsburgh in May 2002 working the overnight shift as a University Police dispatcher, answering the UP phone, blue light emergency, and 911 calls, among the myriad duties of the desk. After a brief separation where she worked at the Clinton County Department of Social Services, Shaughnessy returned to SUNY Plattsburgh when a position opened in undergraduate admissions in 2004.

After 10 years in admissions, Shaughnessy joined the Department of Sport and Wellness as a keyboard specialist 2, and later moved to athletics and recreation as administrative assistant 1, where she works now. Shaughnessy's role currently is helping manage student workers, greeting the public, students, and employees at the entrance of the Plattsburgh Athletics offices, assisting the director and assistant director of athletics, tracking expenses and revenue for all athletic departmental and team accounts, and taking on many other duties within the department.

"I am honored to receive the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service," Shaughnessy said. "I enjoy working with many offices on campus to make sure our students have a great experience while they attend SUNY Plattsburgh."