TC3 English professor awarded Chancellor’s Award 

Steve Weed, an adjunct English professor at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3), has made a positive impact for students on campus.

It’s what led to Weed receiving the prestigious Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching for the 2024-25 school year.

“I was definitely excited and honored, and humbled,” Weed said. “It may sound like a bit of a cliché, but I also know adjunct faculty who could/should receive the honor. I feel quite fortunate to have so many collaborative colleagues. We share ideas a lot, and I’m a much better teacher from the numerous ideas I’ve gotten from these collaborations.”

The award recognizes the “expertise, commitment and dedication of SUNY’s adjunct faculty who serve as exemplars for their peers,” according to a release.

The selection process starts with a nomination and includes a committee review before being forwarded to SUNY by the college president. Following further review, the final decision is made by John B. King, Jr., the SUNY chancellor.

TC3 President Amy Kremenek presented the Chancellor’s Award medallion to Weed, while also sharing letters that supported his nomination.

“He demonstrates outstanding commitment to his students,” Kremenek said. “He has raised awareness with the college leadership about issues that impact students. In everything he does, he has always kept students at the forefront of his concerns and actions.”

Each year, Weed teaches an introduction to writing class, a research and methods class and an intercultural communications class. On occasion, he’ll teach classes on the introduction to literary analysis.

“Each class has its challenges, and each has its rewards,” Weed said. “I like the variety, and I like all classes equally. The students are all quite interesting in each class.”

When it comes to teaching at TC3, Weed enjoys the return on investment (ROI).

“Cortland and Tompkins counties, and New York state, and the federal government provide funds. Those tax dollars get a great ROI,” Weed said. “Many of the students at TC3 come from working backgrounds, and many go on to transfer to four-year colleges, but after their associates [degree], many graduates return into the community as chefs and cooks in restaurants, as farm workers, as nurses, as construction workers, working in manufacturing. They have jobs that, hopefully, have some meaning, and they pay taxes in this area and in the state.”

Weed, who’s taught at TC3 for 12 years, has had about 400 students overall. He called teaching at the college “fortunate,” mainly due to its small size.

“I enjoy my colleagues, their commitment to both education and the community,” Weed said. “A community college really is about both: education, but also community. The students come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences, and it’s always fun to get to know them on a human level. It’s quite exciting to see student growth, both personal and academic.”

Pat Sewell, a fellow adjunct professor, called Weed a “highly valued” teacher.

“He is someone who helps us all with effective teaching,” Sewell said. “I think so highly of Steve that I recommended my own child take a class with him.”

While Weed is honored to receive the award, he doesn’t want it to be all about him.

“There are many people on campus working on improving their teaching, doing interesting and creative teaching,” Weed said. “I’ve learned a lot and benefited a lot from numerous colleagues.”

Weed couldn’t thank his students and co-workers enough during his time at TC3.

“Many of the students are dealing with a lot in their lives and have to juggle a lot, but a good amount of students give their all,” Weed said.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Dryden Little League to hold golf tournament May 18

The Dryden Little League will host a fundraising golf tournament at the Stonehedges Golf Course in Groton on May 18 to support youth baseball and softball.

The tournament, which will be a captain-and-crew format, begins at 8 a.m. The cost is $300 per team and includes 18 holes, greens fees, a cart and dinner after golfing.

The event also includes door prizes, gift bags, a putting contest, longest drive and closest to the pin contests and raffles for other prizes.

For more information or to request a registration form, send an email to mruse13@gmail.com.

Jennie’s Book Club meets April 15

The monthly meeting for Jennie’s Book Club will be April 15 at 10 a.m. at the Southworth Library.

The club will discuss “The Women” by Kristin Hannah. Copies of the book are available at the library.

The library provided a description of “The Women”:

“When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances ‘Frankie’ McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

“The story tells of a turbulent, transformative era in America: the 1960s. ‘The Women’ is that rarest of novels — at once an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided by war and broken by politics, of a generation both fueled by dreams and loss on the battlefield.”