Four accomplished alumni will be recognized by SUNY Ulster in its 2023 Alumni Hall of Fame Ceremony on Wednesday, September 27 at 3 p.m. in the College Lounge on the Stone Ridge campus.
The college has, for 60 years, graduated extraordinary alumni who have excelled professionally and personally, serving their communities in unique and outstanding ways, who have been nominated by their peers for this recognition. The distinguished inductees this year will be:
Hon. Kevin R. Bryant ’91 – Justice Bryant was sworn in as a New York State Supreme Court Justice on January 1, 2022. He is the first African American male to be elected in the entire Third Judicial Department of New York, which comprises 28 counties.
An accomplished attorney with over 20 years of experience seeking sound and balanced justice for clients regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances, he holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from SUNY New Paltz and a law degree from Albany Law School of Union University. His experience includes serving as a special prosecutor for many municipalities in Ulster County, an Ulster County assistant public defender and a private-practice attorney.
Victor Cueva, Esq. ‘09 – As a Peruvian student, Mr. Cueva faced more challenges than your typical student including financing his education and immigration issues. He persevered, and SUNY Ulster gave him the foundation toward his future career in law as an attorney advocating for immigrants.
While at SUNY Ulster, Mr. Cueva was a member of the NJCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Mid-Hudson Conference 2009 team that made it to the regional finals. He led campus tours for prospective students and their parents as a Student Admissions Ambassador, and he consistently made the Dean’s List. He transferred to SUNY Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, where he became President of the SUNY Albany Pre-Law Association and graduated, summa cum laude, with a Political Science degree and a minor in Latin America studies in 2011.
Mr. Cueva earned his juris doctorate degree from Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law as a select number of E. Nathaniel Gates scholars. He was given an offer to become an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow, which is a fellowship created by the late Robert Katzmann–Chief Judge of the Second Circuit. Twenty-five law graduates nationwide were selected for this fellowship and Mr. Cueva was among those chosen to be a part of their second class to be trained as an immigration attorney.
Throughout his legal career, Mr. Cueva has focused on providing quality representation to the immigrants of the Hudson Valley. He has worked in the non-profit sector to assist the people who need services the most. In his most recent role, he is spearheading the New York Legal Response Project at Neighbors Link – a program providing legal services for asylum seekers who have been sent from New York City to shelters throughout the Hudson Valley.
Mr. Cueva was selected as a Rising Star in 2017 by the Hispanic Coalition of NY, Inc. He was appointed to serve as Legislative Counsel for the Ulster County Legislature between February 2021 and February 2022, and due to his body of work in the Hudson Valley, he received certificates of recognition from NY State, federal, and county politicians in October 2022.
Brian Turner ’99 – Mr. Turner has devoted his life to community service. He graduated from SUNY Ulster with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice and was the New York State Vice President for Phi Theta Kappa. He later received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from SUNY New Paltz. Mr. Turner also earned Associate’s degrees from the Community College of the Air Force in Human Services and Transportation.
Mr. Turner served on active duty and in the guard for the United States Air Force, deployed to Baghdad Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and to New Orleans in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. He earned numerous decorations and awards during his service in the Air Force and retired in the position of First Sergeant after 20 years of service.
He volunteered for the High Falls Fire District for over 30 years where he served in the capacities of Firefighter, Lieutenant, Vice President, and Commissioner. Simultaneously, he volunteered as a Driver, EMT, and Lieutenant for the Marbletown First Aid Unit for 13 years.
As a police officer for the City of Poughkeepsie Department Mr. Turner earned numerous citations and held various certifications to include Hostage Negotiator, Field Training Officer, Crime Scene Technician and many more before retiring after 17 years of service.
Mr. Turner has been an instructor for the Ulster, Dutchess, and Columbia-Greene Police Academies. For the past 9 years Mr. Turner has taught various topics to include: Professional Ethics, Mental and Physical Wellbeing of Officers, De-escalation Techniques, Emergency Medical Training, Crime Scene Processing, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Drill and Ceremony and General Topics.
Currently, he continues to serve his community as a volunteer member of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team and also plans to continue instructing at the UCCC and CGCC Police Academies.
Candice Van Dyke, ’05 – Ms. Van Dyke is an Associate Professor of English and Chief Diversity Officer at SUNY Ulster. She first made an impact at the college as a student and has continued to do so in her role as an alumna, tutor, adjunct faculty member, full-time faculty member, Department Chair, and in a part-time administrative role focused on building our community, as SUNY Ulster’s Chief Diversity Officer. Most recently, Candice has been appointed by Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger to serve on the Human Rights Commission.
After graduating from SUNY Ulster with her Associate’s degree, she transferred to SUNY New Paltz and earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and her Master’s of Professional Studies. Her areas of expertise as a faculty and staff member at SUNY Ulster include Developmental Education, Conflict Resolution, and Diversity and Social Justice. Her coursework content areas include English Composition I, English Composition II, Conflict Resolution Through Communication, American Literature I, College Skills, and Introduction to Reading.
Ms. Van Dyke embodies the spirit of SUNY Ulster’s motto, start here, go far, working tirelessly as an institutional change agent by providing leadership and vision to the College while fostering equity in diversity and inclusive excellence. Through her hard work, determination, and community spirit, Ms. Van Dyke consistently demonstrates a commitment to our students and community of faculty and staff.
Since its first ceremony in 1994, SUNY Ulster has honored more than 50 alumni through induction to its Alumni Hall of Fame. Former inductees include world-renowned wine writer and educator, Kevin Zraly; Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, Renee Byer; and former United States Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Beatrice Wilkinson Welters. With a commitment to delivering an exceptional and affordable education, SUNY Ulster has a long track record of preparing future leaders for distinguished careers and rewarding lives.
For more information, contact Heather Eckardt, Alumni Specialist at 845-687-5293, or eckardth@sunyulster.edu.
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