48-year Trustee Don Mawhinney Reappointed to Board
The longest-serving Trustee in the 64-campus State University of New York system, Donald M. Mawhinney Jr., Esq., began his 48th year of service to students and the community as he was reappointed to the Onondaga Community College Board of Trustees by County Executive Joanne M. Mahoney on March 12, 2009.
“We are fortunate that we have such a committed supporter of our community college in Don Mawhinney. As a founding member of the OCC Board of Trustees, his guidance and knowledge are of great advantage to the college and community alike, and I am grateful for his continued service to Onondaga County,” said Onondaga County Executive Joanne M. Mahoney.
“It is my honor to sponsor the reappointment of Don Mawhinney to continue his service on the Onondaga Community College Board of Trustees. Don is a tremendous asset to the College and the entire community. Don brings to the Board of Trustees a broad-based knowledge of higher education, business, law and public service. He is a strong advocate for the College and a wonderful resource for the Onondaga County Legislature as we continue our support for the College,” said Patrick Kilmartin, Esq., 11th district legislator and chairman of the Legislature’s Education and Libraries Committee. The committee voted unanimously to approve the County Executive’s recommendation that Mawhinney be reappointed.
“Through his years on the Board, Don has provided a steady hand of leadership and is a formidable advocate for the Board’s role in serving and supporting our College and community. I am certain that Don will continue to serve as a strong asset to the entire Board of Trustees,” said David W. Murphy, Board Chair.
Donald M. Mawhinney Jr., Esq., a former member of the Onondaga County Board of Supervisors, was appointed as a founding member of the Onondaga Community College Board of Trustees in 1961. In his nearly five decades of distinguished service to Onondaga, he has served in multiple leadership roles and has held the positions of board chair, vice-chair, secretary and chair of various board committees, including chairman of the construction committee for the College’s Onondaga Hill campus. In 1980, he incorporated the OCC Foundation, serving as a founding member and President of its Board of Directors. Mawhinney was also a leader in establishing the College’s nationally accredited Children’s Learning Center.
“I am grateful to the County Executive and members of the County Legislature for the honor of serving the College and community for another seven years. This is another indication of the County’s support for the College for the past 48 years since its founding, and the remarkable leadership and accomplishments of President Sydow,” said Donald Mawhinney at the meeting of the County Legislature’s Education and Libraries Committee, where the vote took place.
“The value of Trustee Mawhinney’s 48 years of faithful service to Onondaga Community College and the people of Central New York is simply beyond measure,” said Onondaga President Debbie L. Sydow, Ph.D., who also attended the committee meeting. “He is an inspiration to us all.”
Trustee Mawhinney has served as president of the New York Community College Trustee Association, and in 2000, was honored with a lifetime membership to the national Association of Community College Trustees. He was further recognized in 2002 as the recipient of the Northeast Region Trustee Leadership Award, and has also been honored by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. In 2006, Onondaga Community College rededicated the campus’ former Academic One building as “Donald M. Mawhinney Jr. Hall” in honor of Mawhinney’s nearly 50 years of service to the College.
A World War II veteran, Mawhinney is an attorney with the Syracuse-based law firm Hiscock & Barclay. He is a past member of the New York State Bar Association House of Delegates and chairman of its International Law Section. He serves as a Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel. His extensive service to the community includes membership on the Board of Directors for Hope for the Bereaved, Park Central Presbyterian Church, Erie Canal Museum, YWCA, Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra.
The Onondaga Board of Trustees is chaired by David W. Murphy. Board members are Vice Chair Connie Monteleone Whitton; Secretary Paul M. Solomon; Education Committee Chair Dr. Gary R. Livent; Finance and Audit Committee Chair Margaret M. O’Connell; Donald M. Mawhinney, Jr. Esq.; Corey L. Mitchell, Sr.; Steven F. Aiello; Edward J. Heinrich; and Student Trustee George Reed.
