Dear Campus Community,
Mike Malloy, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, has announced his retirement, effective September 29, 2021.
Mike began his career at New Paltz in June of 2008 and has been instrumental in transforming the campus’ safety culture over the past 13 years. During his tenure he placed emphasis on growing supervisor knowledge and responsibility toward injury prevention and as a result the campus experienced a marked decrease in the number of student and employee injuries.
He and his team developed a Campus Safety Manual that includes over 26 safety programs, 5 environmental programs as well as improved fire safety related programs. He also developed supervisor self-audits, a training matrix, personal protective equipment hazard assessments and supervisor chemical inventories to assist in supervisor safety education. His work with professors and technicians in academic settings brought improved student/faculty safety protocols to areas such as Fine & Performing Arts and Science & Engineering. He also achieved the American Heart Association AED/CPR and First Aid Instructor Certification so he and his team could train SUNY staff and students in the use of AEDs and CPR.
Mike worked closely with Facilities Management and Design & Construction to improve campus walking surfaces, outdoor lighting and storm preparedness. He also served as code enforcement officer, reviewing building plans for code compliance and issuing building permits for the campus.
His service on several campus and regional committees greatly influenced the overall safety of campus. Some notable committees included the Campus Sustainability Committee, Campus Student Safety Committee, Mid-Hudson Valley Safety Committee and he co-chaired the campus’ initial Emergency Response Committee (pre-cursor to the Emergency Management Team) where the Campus Emergency Response Plan was developed.
Preparation and response to major weather events was greatly enhanced with Mike at the helm. He was instrumental in the campus’ recovery from the devastating impacts of tropical storms Irene and Lee in 2011. There were many times Mike stayed on campus through the overnight hours to help out in precarious weather, putting his own personal safety in jeopardy for the sake of the campus.
His community service is admirable. Each year, Mike led the campus annual coat drive, providing hundreds of coats and warm-weather clothing items to those in need. He also volunteered at the Elting Library’s “Read to a Dog” program, with his trusted side-kick, Augie.
- In the early days of his campus career, he developed a plan to (humanely) remove and manage the prolific waterfowl on campus. He found a domestic waterfowl rescue farm and brought in the NP Wildlife Watch group to round up and transport geese to Maryland. He then obtained our beloved K-9 employee, Augie! Together this dynamic duo successfully managed the geese population, saving thousands of dollars (less the amount we paid for kibble) and creating cleaner ponds and walkways for faculty, staff and students to enjoy.
Mike co-authored two children’s books with our very own Rachel Rigolino, entitled “Augie Goes to College” and “Augie Goes to the Library”. Augie has served as a loveable campus and community ambassador for more than a decade and will be retiring alongside his favorite human!
Please join me in congratulating Mike on his well-earned retirement at a gathering on Tuesday, September 28, at 3:30pm in the MPR Pre Function Space, Student Union Building.
Sincerely,
Michele Halstead
VP for Administration and Finance
