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State University System letter to students

July 27, 2021

State University System Students:

We are excited to welcome you to our campuses next month! To help us provide high-quality classes, student services, extracurricular activities, and athletic programs in a healthy environment, we strongly recommend that all students get vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus before arriving on campus.

Since the onset of the pandemic, our successes are a result of our campus communities accepting a shared responsibility for their health and well-being and practicing recommended precautions. Being vaccinated can protect your health and you are likely to avoid disruptions in your semester if you are exposed to COVID-19. Thank you for doing your part to help our campus communities prepare for a healthy fall semester.

Syd Kitson
Chair, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Board of Governors

Marshall M. Criser III
Chancellor, State University System

Dr. Larry Robinson
President, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Agricultural & Mechanical University

Dr. John Kelly
President, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Atlantic University

Dr. Mike Martin
President, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Gulf Coast University

Dr. Mark B. Rosenberg
President, ³Ô¹ÏÍø International University

Dr. Randy Avent
President, ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Mr. John Thrasher
President, ³Ô¹ÏÍø State University

Dr. Patricia Okker
President, New College of ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Dr. Alexander Cartwright
President, University of Central ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Dr. W. Kent Fuchs
President, University of ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Dr. David Syzmanski
President, University of North ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Dr. Steven Currall
President, University of South ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Dr. Martha D. Saunders
President, University of West ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.

Dr. Lily Li is a Professor of Physics at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, where she specializes in materials science, analytical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical devices. Prior to joining ³Ô¹ÏÍø Poly in 2025, she spent 11 years at SUNY Potsdam, where she advanced to Full Professor and developed a 3-2 Engineering dual-degree program with Clarkson University. Her work emphasizes experiential learning and research-driven education to prepare students for careers in STEM fields.