About Gloria Mattera

Dr. Gloria Mattera ’52/’55 was in the business of changing lives. Born in Rochester, New York, Gloria Mattera earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at SUNY Brockport. While teaching in the demonstration school at SUNY Geneseo, she also completed doctoral studies at Penn State. She joined the SUNY Geneseo faculty believing that, by teaching prospective teachers, she could affect more people; she served there for 30 years.

Observing the need for services for migrant farmworker children, she established the Geneseo Migrant Center in 1968. It grew over time to include summer school activities for migrant children, daycare for infants and pre-schoolers, adult education and recreation services, health and dental services, and arts and folk arts programs. The vision and success of her migrant work was honored both locally and nationally.

Even though her work was incredibly timeconsuming, Dr. Mattera remained loyal to her Alma Mater and served as a member of several Alumni Association committees. In 1986, she received the Alumni Association’s highest honor and was inducted into the Brockport Alumni Association Hall of Heritage.

Her untimely death in 1988 left a void for everyone who was touched by her kindness and generosity. But, her enduring commitment to students and her far-sighted planning created an endowment that will last forever. Her planned gift endowed a student scholarship fund that will provide the means to continue changing lives – one student at a time.