SUNY Board Honors Former SUNY Cortland Professor Griffen with Distinguished Citizen Award

New York City – Yesterday at its regular monthly meeting, the State University of New York Board of Trustees honored the late SUNY Cortland Professor William Griffen with the 2008 Distinguished Citizen Award.  The award was established by the Board in 1980 to “honor citizens of the State of New York who exemplify the highest standards of public service.”

“Bill Griffen’s life’s work and legacy make him most deserving of this posthumous honor,” said
SUNY Board Chairman Carl T. Hayden. “This man was my seventh-grade teacher. He was an extraordinary human being. He stood for what is good and right and always acted upon it.”

Interim SUNY Chancellor Dr. John B. Clark also praised Griffen, who was Professor of Education at SUNY Cortland from 1955 to 2007, when he passed away from cancer. “Bill Griffen leaves behind a distinguished record of more than 50 years of research, teaching and service to SUNY Cortland. Perhaps is greatest legacy, however, are the students who benefitted from his knowledge, generosity and dedication to teaching” Clark said. “It is our honor to recognize his exemplary career.”

SUNY Cortland President Erik Bitterbaum said, “Bill kept meticulous records. In his 51 years, he taught more than 11,000 students – he actually counted them. And what’s more is that he inspired 11,000 students. I think that’s very important. I’d like to thank the Board for honoring him and thank his colleague and friend, Henry Steck, for seeing to it that this honor be made today.”

Griffen was the author of two books, numerous journal articles and is also recognized as a master teacher.  His former students submitted testimonials in support of the award that highlighted his   devotion to teaching and the selfless way in which he educated and inspired them.

Griffen’s areas of teaching and research specialization were philosophy of education, social foundations of education, technology and education and race, class, and gender and education.  He received his BS in PE and Health from SUNY Cortland in 1950 and his MA and Ph.D. from Cornell University in Education and Sociology in 1957 and 1967 respectively.  He joined SUNY Cortland as assistant professor in 1955, was tenured in 1961, and promoted to full professor in 1974. 

 Griffen was recognized during the board meeting for his life of service as a citizen, taking courageous and principled stands in support of civil rights and non-violent opposition to the war in Vietnam. His research and teaching infused his public involvement, and the values that guided his activism during some of the most tumultuous times in history, in turn, motivated his academic pursuits.   

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 427,000 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu 

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Professor Bill Griffen was Professor of Education at SUNY Cortland from 1955 to 2007 when he passed away from cancer.  His areas of teaching and research specialization were Philosophy of Education, Social Foundations of Education, Technology and Education and Race, Class, and Gender and Education.  He received his BS in PE and Health from SUNY Cortland in 1950 and his MA and Ph.D. from Cornell University in Education and Sociology in 1957 and 1967 respectively.  He joined SUNY Cortland as Assistant Professor in 1955, was tenured in 1961, and promoted to Full Professor in 1974. 

Dr. Griffen has a celebrated record of over 50 years of research, teaching and service to SUNY Cortland.  He is the author of two books, numerous journal articles and is also recognized as a master teacher.  Testimonials from his students speak to his devotion to teaching and the selfless way in which he educated and inspired them.

Most importantly, in terms of this award, Professor Griffen lived a life of service as a citizen, taking courageous and principled stands in support of civil rights and non-violent opposition to the war in Vietnam.  His research and teaching infused his public involvement, and the values that guided his activism during some of the most tumultuous times in history, in turn, motivated his academic pursuits.  His life’s work and legacy make him richly deserving of this posthumous honor.

The Board of Trustees of the State University of New York is proud and honored to present to the family of Professor William Griffen, the 2008 Distinguished Citizen Award in recognition and appreciation of his significant contributions to all the citizens of our State.

June 17, 2008