SUNY Canton College Council Announces New Leadership

Longtime Chair Ronald O’Neill steps down and welcomes retired educator Kathleen Dodge as his replacement.

SUNY Canton College Council Chair Ronald O'Neill, a 1963 graduate, is retiring from his post. He is passing the role to College Council member Kathleen Dodge, a retired educator who lives in Waddington.

"As a student, alumnus and College Council member, I've had the privilege of watching the college grow and evolve while staying true to its mission of providing affordable, accessible academic programs,” O’Neill said. “I am grateful for the dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni, and fellow council members I've worked alongside, and I am confident that SUNY Canton will continue to thrive under Kathleen’s leadership."

O'Neill first joined the College Council in 1984 and was appointed chair in 1992 by Gov. Mario M. Cuomo. He was reappointed by Gov. David A. Paterson in 2008 and served in the position until this past summer, when Dodge was appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. In total, he has 33 years of service on the College Council, and he plans to continue his service as a councilmember.

Dodge said O’Neill’s dedication and institutional knowledge transcend his formal leadership responsibilities. “He’s so very proud of everything that is done at SUNY Canton,” she said. “I think his commitment to the faculty and staff at the college is laudable.”

O’Neill is a SUNY Canton Hall of Fame member and a noted member of the North Country community. He was named to the State University of New York Alumni Honor Roll and received SUNY Canton's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2000. He was the youngest Democratic chairman for the Town of Canton, a Morley Library Trustee, a member of the Morley Volunteer Fire Company, and a St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging advisory board member. He was also a St. Lawrence County Community Development Program Head Start board member and served terms as both secretary and president.

During his former career with the Social Security Administration, he served as an alternate and on-site union representative for the American Federation of Government Employees.

Dodge originally joined the College Council in 2023 and plans to co-lead her first board meeting with O’Neill during the fall semester.

“I find myself incredibly impressed with the growth of the college, specifically in the health and Cybersecurity programs,” Dodge said. “It appears that SUNY Canton is positioning itself to lead rather than be led in higher education.”

The incoming chairperson spent her entire career as an educator. She taught English Language Arts and served as the English Department Chair at Massena Central Schools. She also served as a graduate instructor at SUNY Potsdam. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and English Literature from St. Lawrence University and her Master of Science in Secondary English Education from SUNY Potsdam.

Although Dodge did not attend SUNY Canton, her father, John Calnon, was a 1942 graduate, and her brother, Bert Calnon, is a 1971 graduate. She said that their educations helped shape her perceptions of college.

The SUNY Canton College Council is a volunteer board that provides oversight and guidance to the college. Council members serve as advocates for the institution, advise campus leadership on strategic initiatives, and help strengthen connections among the extended college community.