Planned Gift to Support Partnership between College and Rochester City Schools
Distinguished Service Professor Dr. Betsy Balzano has made a planned gift to The College at Brockport to support partnerships between the College and high schools in the Rochester City School District.
Balzano, who joined the Brockport faculty in 1971, teaches graduate classes in math, science and technology, supervises student teachers and coordinates the Brockport/Edison School Partnership.
“The favorite part of my job is teaching and working in the schools with the teachers and student teachers,” said Balzano.
The gift to the Edison/Brockport Partnership is the latest in a long history of giving by Balzano to the College. In addition, Balzano has made a generous cash gift to support this important program.
The youngest of six children to immigrant parents, Balzano was the only one in her family to attend college. Her father and mother, from Ireland and England, respectively, made their home in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Balzano took advantage of Rhode Island’s public higher education system and received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and science from Rhode Island College.
“I wouldn’t have been able to go to college unless it had been a public education institution,” said Balzano. “I really believe in supporting public institutions and people who are first-generation college students.”
Balzano decided to further her education when she was living in Florida, where she was teaching at a junior high school. She earned her master’s degree in biochemistry and doctorate in science education from Florida State University. When she decided to return to the Northeast, she obtained a teaching position at Brockport and made a successful career here.
In making these gifts, Balzano is demonstrating her commitment and leadership to the College.
“I believe that it is important to contribute to the College as resources get less and less,” she said.
“The reason I give is because I believe in public education and the need to support the College,” said Balzano. “We need to provide for the people who come after us, in particular the students in Rochester who probably would not be able to even consider college without some financial support.”Brockport Foundation
350 New Campus Drive
The College at Brockport
Brockport, NY 14420
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