Cynthia Santiago-Guzman '91, MBA '93, David Berkowitz '00, President Lois B. De Fleur and Michelle Adams '94 together in Albany on BU Advocacy Day, April 16

Several alumni joined teams of faculty, students and staff in Albany to lobby legislators on behalf of Binghamton University April 16 at the first-ever BU Advocacy Day. Seven teams made up of 40 advocates for the University, led by President Lois B. DeFleur, visited legislative offices, the governor's office, the State Business Council, the state Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research, and the Division of the Budget. Alumni participants included David Berkowitz '00 and Cynthia Santiago-Guzman '91, MBA '93, who have written their accounts of the day below.

Binghamton creates a strong sense of community

"When I arrived at the first legislator's office, I had no notes prepared, no statistics memorized, no pithy quotes to make myself sound smart," wrote Berkowitz, whose team was headed by Tony Ferrara, vice president for Administration. "All I had was familiarity with a subject matter that I care deeply about: my experiences at Binghamton. Thus, my only option was to speak from the heart.

"At each of the six visits on my team's agenda, I told the congressmen of the sense of community that Binghamton fostered," he continued. "It's this aspect that led me to graduate not just thinking highly of the school, but feeling connected to it and all the people I met while I was there. That's something you can't measure in contributions or research grants or awards from national publications, yet it's perhaps the one thing most responsible for keeping alumni connected to Binghamton long after they earn their degrees."

Berkowitz, an editor at eMarketer, Inc., is chair and founder of the Hinman Alumni Network, a member of the Metro New York Alumni Network steering committee and a board member of Jewish Alumni of Binghamton -- The Cultural Connection (JAB).

Binghamton University: a school for everyone to be proud of

"Binghamton University provided me with an invaluable experience during my six years as a student ('91 BA in economics, '93 MBA in international business)," wrote Santiago-Guzman, whose team was headed by John Hachtel, associate vice president for University Communications and Marketing. "I joined the Alumni Board of Directors five years ago in an effort to give back to the University, which I am so very proud of. I have been an advocate for Binghamton University since I became a student. BU Advocacy Day in Albany was just an extension of my commitment and loyalty to the University.

"During our visit to Albany, faculty, staff, administrators, students and alumni joined teams to show our New York state legislators that Binghamton University was a school for everyone to be proud of," Santiago-Guzman continued. "Binghamton University offers the best and brightest students an academic education that cannot be compared to that of any other public school. This day was our way of letting the legislators know that we appreciate their hard work in Albany to get Binghamton the TAP dollars and funding we need. We wanted to let them know of our student population, research activities and athletic accomplishments so that they can also be proud of us and know that their perseverance in Albany is acknowledged and makes a difference.

"I look forward to continuing to work with the University and the Alumni Board of Directors in future advocacy initiatives," she noted, "and hope that other alumni will join me in whatever capacity they can to spread the word that Binghamton University is more than just a New York state school located in upstate New York -- it is a university that provides a student with all the tools they need to succeed in and out of the classroom, and a college experience of immeasurable worth."

Santiago-Guzman, a financial manager at Citibank, serves as a volunteer for the Alumni Admissions Program and for the Metro New York Career Fair. She has served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors since 1997.

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