Farewell President Collins Archives - Page 12 of 23

Positive Role Model and a Friend – Thank you!

Mike Ryan ’85

Mary Beth and I thank you and wish you and Karen all the best as you embark on this next chapter. We hope to keep touch and if you are ever in South Florida you will look us up.

Thank you for making us better alumni!

Ron Ayers ’02

Tony and Karen —

Believe it or not, we never interacted on campus until after I graduated and shortly after joined the Alumni Association. I can say without a doubt, that your enthusiasm, passion and joy for Clarkson and its community, truly made me a better Alumni. Your spirit makes us want to do more, raise each other up and gives us an incredible amount of pride to be a Golden Knight. Thank you for all that all of the warmth that you’ve shown the Ayers Family. My children will never forget where your foosball table is.

We can’t wait to see you on your next adventures!

Thanks for your humbleness

Fatima Mustafa ’21

It was during the second month at Clarkson and the USA ( Feb 2017) when I first met Tony and Karen Collins. The event was a panel discussion about the world Hijab day. Tony and Karen were setting at the middle of the audience and not in front. Back home, the front seats are always reserved for people in such positions. So never came to my mind that they would be the president and his wife. They came to the panelists at the end to say hi and to support us. I asked him, what do you do at Clarkson? ?.. he smiled and Karen told me “He is Tony, the president”. I was embarrassed and my immediate response was to laugh. We took a photo together to remember this incident and their humbleness.. since then Tony and Karen have been a support for me, the activities I do at Clarkson. They have also been supportive for the Muslim community at campus. Thanks for all the positive words, encouragement and genuine smiles. And thank you for understanding my special greetings since as a Muslim women I don’t shake hands with gentlemen.

Well, one day you stopped me in the hallway and asked about my future plans. You offered to write me a recommendation letter during job search.. it’s my honor Mr. president and I’m super grateful for this offer.

Tony and Karen, Thank you again for everything you did for Clarkson community. I’ll never forget your humbleness and leadership.

Fatima Mustafa, PhD of Chemistry, Aug 2021

(Advisor : Prof. Silvana Andreescu)

Memories and Words to Tony and Karen Collins

John Munter ’59

One of the biggest gifts in my life is that when leaving Clarkson in the late fifties, my wife and I would develop a close and lasting relationship with Tony and Karen Collins. It all began while I was on a project at Clarkson. I quickly realized their impact went well beyond the university community; it reached the Village, Town, in fact, the entire North Country. Their connections allowed me to receive ready access to volunteer services, materials and equipment to successfully accomplish the trail project.

Over the years, Rosemary and my respect grew immensely for Tony and Karen due to their power as a team and engaging and inclusive leadership style which allowed us to broaden and deepen our involvement with Clarkson. We’ve been exposed to and grown within the community of students, facilities staff, coaches and professors that have enabled Clarkson to evolve and grow… I’m not just talking about the hockey teams either! They have built and amplified a culture that has brought students, staff, and professionals nationwide to the steps of Clarkson University, bettering the North Country.

Though we have confidence and faith in the new leadership, Tony and Karen’s departure will certainly affect the student body and faculty and be felt by many throughout the community in the years to come.

We look forward to our continued relationship with the entire Collins family and wish them all the best on their next endeavors!

Respectfully,

John ‘59 and Rosemary Munter

“Let the Party Begin”

Garry and Chris Morrow ’63

Tony and
Karen,

Karen and Tony,

From the
day we first met you through numerous encounters – at the Hockey Game in Ottawa, at the
Saratoga Racetrack and sunset cruises in Southwest Florida = we have been
inspired by the way you have made yourself available to all the Clarkson
stakeholders and the Grace and thoughtfulness that have characterized your
interactions with us. Your energetic and enthusiastic leadership have propelled
Clarkson to heights never imagined prior to your arrival. We wish you all
the best that life brings in the days to come. You are truly “a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed.”

Garry
& Chris Morrow

Our Clarkson Legacy’s have crossed in many ways

Carol Dowd Greene ’78

Tony and Karen,

On behalf of Mark Greene ’77, Bryan Greene ’04, Beth Greene Monaco ’07, Tim Monaco ’07 and myself, we have truly enjoyed and valued your impact on us personally and the entire Clarkson Community. We have fond memories of the many times during your tenure where our Clarkson lives’ have crossed paths. From Tony’s inauguration in September 2003, when Bryan was President of CUSA and spoke at a very moving ceremony reflecting the pride the Clarkson Community had in making one of their own President; to Beth and you doing the groundbreaking of the Student Center in 2009 and you, Beth, Tim and Bryan participating in the opening celebration of the Student Center in 2011; to Mark and your relationship when he was President Elect of the Alumni Association in the Opening of Clarkson’s Capital Region Campus and as President of the Alumni Association; to Tim and your interaction for the First Annual OktoBAJAfest in October 2021. We appreciate your friendship and your interest in our growing family these past years. We will you all the very best as you move on the next adventure and have the opportunity to enjoy your family. Thank you for many wonderful memories!

Fondly, Cindy Dowd Greene ’78

Memories from previous college reunions and Brunches at Saratoga Race Track

David Stankavich ’72

Dear Tony & Karen:

It was a pleasure knowing you and meeting at previous college reunions and Saratoga Race Track brunches at the At the Rail pavilion. My wife, Christine, and I want to wish you all the best in your future plans. You both made us feel right at home. We will miss you at my upcoming 50th reunion happening this summer in July 2022.

Regards and best wishes,

David & Christine Stankavich

I hope our paths continue to cross!

Beth Reasoner ‘

Dear Karen and Tony,

Thank
you again for all you have done for me, for Clarkson, for the entire north country and
beyond. You have both made great sacrifices for the greater good and will be dearly missed.

I
wish you both many, many happy retirement years and like you said, I hope our
paths continue to cross!

Beth Reasoner

Thank You Tony and Karen Collins

Thomas Murphy ’74

Your friendship and dedication over your time at Clarkson University has been a significant contribution to so many people. Your understanding of how connected we are to other colleges and universities, and careers that add to our early experiences at Clarkson. Thank You for meeting with me and Professor Theodore Hagelin at Syracuse University College of Law and seeing how that adds to the journey we take. Technology Commercialization is best accomplished through interdisciplinary teams, where Engineers (STEM), Management, and Law experts work together, and where the contribution of each discipline is respected.

I would also like to say that everytime I visited Clarkson University your focus on each and every student and my introduction to them was amazing.

Thank You Tony and Karen!

Amanda Titus ’18

Tony and Karen,

The impact you have had on the Clarkson community and the legacy you will leave behind is tremendous. Your dedication and commitment to each and every member of the Clarkson University family is unmatched, and that’s how you made us feel at Clarkson, like a family.

I was a member of the women’s hockey team from 2014-2018 and my family and I will always remember how you knew every player and parents’ name (even as brand new freshmen!). After getting to know you both this isn’t surprising, it’s who you are. You are two caring people that are genuinely interested in the students and their families.

I have great memories of looking up in the stands at regular season games, conference championships and national championships and seeing you proudly cheering us on. We were extremely lucky and grateful to have had the support that you gave us.

President Collins and Karen, there aren’t enough words to describe the impact you’ve had on the lives of students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members. Thank you for everything, Clarkson will miss you.