At a glance
Alfred State Director of Accounting and Controls Peter McClain and Professor and Coordinator of the Construction Management program Dr. Reza Yadollahi were the recipients of the Leadership through Civic Engagement award.
Alfred State Director of Accounting and Controls Peter McClain and Professor and Coordinator of the Construction Management program Dr. Reza Yadollahi were the recipients of the Leadership through Civic Engagement award.
The award is given by the College Council is presented to acknowledge students, faculty, and staff who have led or initiated exemplary academic and/or co-curricular initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to engaging in the community— locally, nationally, or globally—through service, volunteerism, activism, politics, and much more.
McClain has been a highly involved member of both the Alfred State and Village of Alfred community. His investment in civic oriented activities has made a real difference.
On campus, McClain has been the driving force for the Mega-drive and Mega-sale initiatives. He has worked with residence assistant offices to collect clothing, refrigerators, electronics, and non-perishable food that would previously be discarded in dumpsters. After sorting through what is collected in the summer, he hosts a Mega-sale during Week of Welcome for incoming students, families, and community members.
He is also on the Community Advisory Board and has helped identify projects within the community for the Center for Civic Engagement service programming. He has also served as the club advisor for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
In the community, he has served as a Village Trustee and Deputy Mayor since April 2015. Prior to that he was a member of the Village Planning Board and the Village webmaster.
McClain has also been an Education Foundation board member, the treasurer for Cub Scout Pack 1026, and is the inventor of the card game Str8 Eight.
He sees opportunities and takes the initiative to get things done to the benefit of the college and the community.
Yadollahi has worked diligently and passionately to support not only his students but the community around him.
On top of his teaching and advising duties, Yadollahi has shared his knowledge with others by presenting at SUNY conferences and writing papers to further others education.
As the advisor to the college’s Associated General Contractors of America club, he has earned grants to foster student activities and projects each of the last three years, adding up to nearly $8,000. He has guided field trips to various construction projects that gave his students an opportunity to see and communicate with those on the inside of these projects.
Yadollahi has organized a program to clean-up the Village of Alfred, helped the elderly clean up their yards, judged high school bridge competitions, and has organized and executed the Mary Huntington Bridge Competition on campus.
One of his latest projects is working with the Village of Alfred on sustainable development. A pair of grants have been applied for to help achieve sustainable goals.
His efforts have been important towards the learning, motivation, and career goals of his students.
McClain and Yadollahi were honored during the college’s end of year recognition luncheon.