Arthur Samansky, a resident of Old Bethpage, New York, has been selected as a recipient of a 2020 SUNY Excellence in Adjunct Teaching award for his work as an adjunct instructor in the School of Business at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
“The best adjunct and part-time instructors bring to the classroom critical expertise, an ability to engage students, and a passion for helping those students succeed,” said College President Calvin O. Butts, III. ”Art Samansky is most-deserving of this honor because he qualifies across the board and exemplifies the power of a teacher providing help in as many ways as possible so his students can excel.”
Having joined SUNY Old Westbury as a member of the School of Business Executive-in-Residence program in spring 2014, Samansky began teaching “Business Communications” in fall 2014 and later developed and taught “Business Presentation Skills.” In his five years on campus, he has taught more than 900 students. In addition to his teaching responsibility, Samansky’s service to students includes holding workshops on resume writing, networking, and interview techniques. He also created and hosts the School of Business professional development video podcast “Highway to Your Future,” which features business leaders and faculty members providing topical information and advice for students.
“Art exemplifies our commitment to prepare students to think critically, communicate effectively, and act responsibly throughout their careers and personal lives,” said School of Business Dean Raj Devasagayam. “We have witnessed first-hand his excellence and are proud SUNY has recognized it also.”
Samansky brings to his work at SUNY Old Westbury experiences from a 50-year career in journalism and public relations. Currently, he runs his professional communications consulting firm, The Samansky Group, which he founded in 2000. His career also includes corporate communications positions with leading financial institutions, including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities Industry Association. Prior to those positions, he worked as a journalist for the Associated Press-Dow Jones newswire and other New York metropolitan newspapers.
According to SUNY, recipients of the Excellence in Adjunct Teaching Awards personify professional excellence and serve as role models for the SUNY community. With this new award category, we now have the opportunity to appropriately recognize dedicated adjunct faculty whose accomplishments rise to the level of the stated award criteria.
SUNY Old Westbury has been preparing students for careers in accounting, finance, management, and marketing for more than 40 years. Through the instruction and research of its faculty, the School of Business pursues its mission of empowering students with the knowledge, skills, and values to think critically, communicate effectively, and act responsibly. Serving more than 800 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the School of Business offers rigorous academic training in a small class atmosphere.