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Jacqueline M. Jung ’61 Lifetime Service Award
JACQUELINE M. JUNG ’61 Lifetime Service Award
SUZANNE CORBET THOMAS ’62
Honoring one or more members of the Skidmore community who have demonstrated exceptional service to the College for at least 25 years as an alumna/alumnus, trustee, faculty member, administrator, staff member, parent or friend.
Few alumni have contributed more to the growth of Skidmore than Trustee Emerita Sue Thomas ’62. For almost half a century, she has given back to her alma mater with volunteer service of unrivaled depth and breadth.
Her dedication to Skidmore was evident early on: As a senior, Sue joined the Alumni Association Board of Directors as a student representative. At the time, Skidmore, like many women’s colleges, needed to grow its endowment in order to thrive.
A sociology major, Sue went on to earn an MSW from Columbia University in 1964 and pursue a career in social work. Later, as a wife and mother of three, she lent her support to community organizations as well as Columbia University, Dartmouth College, the Pingry School, the Newark Boys Chorus Middle School and St Edward’s School.
Sue maintained close ties with classmates and increasingly focused her time, energy, and talent on Skidmore. A longtime class agent and Reunion planner, she signed on as class president and correspondent in the late ’70s. Sue joined the Celebration Campaign Committee and Leadership Gifts Task Force in the ’80s and was elected to the dual role of alumna trustee in 1990. Continuing to expand and deepen her involvement, she stepped up to chair the Friends of the Presidents Committee and took on leadership roles in each of Skidmore’s successive capital campaigns. After a stint on the Nominating Committee, Sue returned to the Board of Trustees as chair from 2002 to 2008 and served as a senior member until 2014. Her deep knowledge of Skidmore and strong leadership skills energized each of the many committees on which she served, including Academic Affairs, Infrastructure, Budget and Finance, Executive, and Trusteeship.
A perennial member of the Palamountain Honorary Committee, Sue was active on committees that helped develop the Tang Teaching Museum and bring Philip A. Glotzbach to the College as Skidmore’s seventh president. Over the years, Sue and husband Charlie have graciously opened their home to host numerous College and regional alumni events. These stalwart Skidmore ambassadors have also been generous benefactors.
Sue’s tenure as a trustee coincides with one of the most remarkable periods of growth in Skidmore history. Partnering with President Glotzbach, she played a pivotal role in the administration’s expansion and renovation of campus facilities. These have included the Tang Museum, the Zankel Music Center, and — most recently — the Center for Integrated Sciences. At the same time, Skidmore has gained a new level of national recognition for academic excellence, entrepreneurial focus, and commitment to diversity and sustainability.
In 2002, Sue’s extraordinary contributions were recognized with an Alumni Association Outstanding Service Award. She was honored with the Board of Trustees’ Denis B. Kemball-Cook Award in 2017, for “having given sacrificially of wisdom, time, and talent.” In 2012, Sue received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from her beloved alma mater.
Today, she celebrates her 60th as Reunion chair and a most worthy recipient of the Jacqueline M. Jung ’61 Lifetime Service Award. Sue continues to represent Skidmore as chairwoman of the Conference of Board Chairs of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities.
“What an honor it is to be celebrated with an award that bears the name of my good friend and Skidmore colleague, Jacki Jung. Whatever I have done for Skidmore pales in comparison to how much Skidmore has enriched my life — as a student and as a volunteer. How rewarding it is to have been a part of the growth of this incredible institution.”
— Suzanne Corbet Thomas ’62
