We cordially invite you to join us for a special evening at SUNY Sullivan's Seelig Theatre, where you can be among the first to welcome SUNY Sullivan’s new president, Dr. David Potash, to campus. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our special guests, award-winning veteran PBS FRONTLINE journalists and filmmakers Martin Smith and Marcela Gaviria, and our emcee for the evening, filmmaker, curator, and author Ultan Guilfoyle.
Spotlight on SUNY Sullivan
Saturday, June 29
5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Join us in the Seelig Theatre for a conversation with our special guests.
Cocktails & Hors D'oeuvres | Dessert Reception
Guest Speakers Martin Smith & Marcela Gaviria
PBS FRONTLINE journalists | filmmakers
Silent Hospitality Auction
Event Emcee Ultan Guilfoyle
filmmaker | curator | author
Seelig Theatre at SUNY Sullivan
112 College Rd, Loch Sheldrake, NY 12759
Dr. David Potash
Dr. David Potash most recently served as president of Wilbur Wright College, a dual-campus community college in the Chicago area. Under Dr. Potash's leadership, Wright developed new degree and certificate programs, crafted and implemented equity, enrollment, and strategic plans, heightened community service and civic engagement, expanded career programs and apprenticeships, and took major strides in serving the community. Those, and other accomplishments, have earned Wright significant recognition, including the Padron Award for institutional transformation in 2020, the Seal of Excelencia for commitment to serving Hispanic students in 2021, and the Example in Excelencia in 2023. Most recently, Wright earned the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement.
A New Jersey native, Dr. Potash and his wife of 25 years, Jenny Gibbs, have an adult daughter and a college-age son. Dr. Potash is an avid blogger, chef, an enthusiastic bicyclist, and an aspiring sketchbook artist.
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“... throughout his career, (Dr. Potash) has demonstrated a focus on rigorous academics, service to an increasingly diverse student population, and keen attention to wraparound services to ensure student success.”
- SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr.
Martin Smith
Marcela Gaviria
Martin Smith and Marcela Gaviria are veteran PBS FRONTLINE journalists and producing partners with RAINmedia, an independent documentary production company in New York City. Their films, many produced and reported for PBS FRONTLINE, have covered the most important news events of our time, from the rise of Al Qaeda, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the culture of risk-taking on Wall Street, America’s heroin epidemic, and the crackdown on undocumented immigrants under the Trump Administration. Their most recent production was FRONTLINE’s landmark 3-part docuseries, America and the Taliban (2023), which chronicles America’s longest war.
RAINmedia’s films have won every major award in broadcast journalism, including multiple Emmys, duPont-Columbia Gold Batons, George Polk Awards, Peabody Awards, Overseas Press Club, and Writers Guild Awards.
![Ultan Guilfoyle in New York City in 2017 [Paul d’Orléans]](https://sunysullivan.edu/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Design-Art-Desire-Ultain-Guilfoyle-The-Vintagent-Ultan-Portrait-812x1024-1-circle-a2b2b51c9d48ebd14a9f20548b259790-pc5rihz2v7at.jpg "Design-Art-Desire-Ultain-Guilfoyle-The-Vintagent-Ultan-Portrait-812x1024")
Ultan Guilfoyle
Ultan Guilfoyle was the director of film and video production at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum from 1995 through 2001. During his time at the museum, Guilfoyle co-curated, with his friend Prof. Charles Falco, the groundbreaking, blockbuster exhibition The Art of the Motorcycle. One of the best attended museum exhibitions ever, The Art of the Motorcycle has been credited with reintroducing motorcycles to the general public as beautiful objects of design, machines with intrinsic artistic qualities ridden, and works to be collected by connoisseurs.
Guilfoyle began his filmmaking career at the BBC in London. His award-winning films have been shown on PBS, HBO, and Bravo in the US, and BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 in the UK. When not making films, Guilfoyle writes about design and architecture.
(photo caption, credit: Ultan Guilfoyle in New York City in 2017. [Paul d’Orléans])
Before the show:
MEET & GREET
We are also pleased to offer the option of an intimate cocktail party with our evening's special guests before the main event. Tickets to this pre-game event include admission to the Spotlight on SUNY Sullivan event.
Saturday, June 29 | 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Seelig Theatre Lobby at SUNY Sullivan
112 College Rd, Loch Sheldrake, NY 12759
Introducing
Take-A-Seat
at SUNY Sullivan
Place your personalized message onto a brass seat plaque in SUNY Sullivan's Seelig Theatre in exchange for a donation.
You can:
- Honor a friend, an alum, or loved one
- Promote your business
- Memorialize someone special
- Quote a play, a poem, or a personal hero
- Display any custom message or quote you like (within reason)
Some restrictions apply. Print space on plates is limited. SUNY Sullivan has final approval over all name plate messages. Take-A-Seat name plates are promotional only, and do not guarantee the donor exclusive use of that seat at Seelig Theatre events.
Proceeds from Take-A-Seat benefit the SUNY Sullivan Foundation.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Dr. Ellen Galligan
Contributor
Migs & Bing Wright
(in honor of Martin, Marcela & Ultan)
Contributor
Patricia & John Adams
Booster
Thank you to our caterers & vendors!
The Foundation would like to extend special thanks to the following businesses & organizations that are supporting the Spotlight Silent Auction focused on Sullivan County's destinations, hospitality & cuisine.
Become a sponsor, donate an item to the silent auction, or ask any questions you wish by emailing foundation@sunysullivan.edu or calling 845.434.5750 ext. 3188.
Proceeds from this event will support the SUNY Sullivan Foundation, an organization focused on creating opportunities for students and faculty, and sustaining our ability to make SUNY Sullivan accessible and affordable to all. SUNY Sullivan Foundation is registered with the IRS as a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.