Huynh, a member of the Class of 1998 and master’s degree Class of 2008, is the associate director for career services at SUNY Oswego. Upon graduation from college, she spent three years working as a full-time volunteer at Saint Francis Farm, dedicating herself to serving the community through housing rehab, hospitality, youth programming, meals and more.

She has brought her leadership in service to an international level, leading SUNY Oswego students on service trips to India and the Dominican Republic as well as around the U.S. to Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland and Pennsylvania. In total, Huynh has participated in over a dozen week-long service immersion experiences.

Huynh also co-authored a proposal for participation in the inaugural program for President Barack Obama’s Interfaith Community Service Campus Challenge, and was selected to attend the kickoff event in Washington, D.C. She has served on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Greater Oswego County since 2008, and most recently as the president (2016-18); she has earned awards from five different organizations.

Huynh started her career at SUNY Oswego as the coordinator of the Volunteer Services Office, then as assistant director of student advisement and now as associate director of career services. She has created new annual events, secured funding for the first VISTA professional to campus and developed alternative break experiences for students.

She co-authored a successful application for Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement Classification and authored a successful application for SUNY Oswego’s recognition for the U.S. President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

Outside of her core responsibilities, she stays very busy with the following: the State Employees Federated Appeal Campaign Committee and the Hall Newman Center Foundation; as a coach for Oswego Youth Soccer Association; the Newman Club advisor; Phi Sigma Sigma advisor; Judicial Hearing Boards for Student Conduct and Compliance member; a member of the Franciscan Youth and Adult Commission of the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order of the United States and much more.

Her work on campus earned her the President’s Award for Excellence in Professional Staff Service as well as the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service, two of the highest SUNY honors bestowed on an individual.

“We were impressed by the caliber of the award recipients,” said awards committee Chair Jennifer Shropshire, Class of 1986, former president and long-time member of the OAA and a current member of the Oswego College Foundation, Inc. “They represent a broad definition of success, reflecting Oswego’s varied programs and the wide-ranging paths that alums take after graduation.”

In her acceptance speech, Huynh recalled getting involved in the Adopt a Grandparent program as a SUNY Oswego student.

“That was an impactful program for me,” Huynh said. “It still runs today and I am really hopeful that the 100 students who participated this past year had similar experiences -- and are really getting outside of themselves and being part of this greater community.

“I am really proud to be part -- to be an alum and a staff member of an institution that is really so committed, not only to students but to the greater community, and knows that connecting students to the community really makes impacts that really lasts a lifetime,” she said. “So, I am proud to be an Oswego alum and so humbled to receive this award.”

A 158-year-old comprehensive college in the State University of New York system, Oswego enrolls about 8,000 students in its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; School of Business; School of Communication, Media and the Arts; and School of Education. Visit oswego.edu for more information.