The dissolution of the role of Student Volunteerism and Community Engagement
SUNY Geneseo to dissolve current Volunteer department in February 2026, leaving program’s continuation ambiguous
Photo courtesy of Cheyenne DeMarco
As of December of 2025, a decision was made in June of this year to alter a cease a role within SUNY Geneseo’s Department of Student Life—the role of Student Volunteerism and Community Engagement—with the dismissal of the current Assistant Director of Student Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Cheyenne DeMarco, effective February 2026. This decision comes as a shock to many in both the Geneseo and student community, as the volunteer opportunities made possible by the connections established by this role, are vital to the campus’s civic engagement. This decision has left many confused about the future of volunteer opportunities on campus, who will oversee these opportunities, and the general status of programs created for the role of Student Volunteerism & Community Engagement, like the recently established Knights’ Harvest food pantry.
When contacted for comment, DeMarco was open to providing clarity to this incoming change. Through email, DeMarco began by stating, “I remain deeply committed to student service learning and the value it brings to our institution. Which is why I want to share the knowledge tied to the role with the students of Geneseo before I go, to avoid that information getting lost.”
DeMarco went on to explain her role on campus and within the Department of Student Life. She stated that the Assistant Director of Student Volunteerism & Community Engagement position directly supports both students and the community, adding, “The role functioned as a central bridge—helping students find meaningful volunteer opportunities and helping community partners reach students who could support their work.” She added that this role created “infrastructure” that “linked the two sides of Geneseo” through communication—acting as a “liaison” for information to both volunteer services and students—highlighting one “long-standing community relationship” with the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities.
Following this communication, The Lamron asked about the future of the role and its various volunteer programs. DeMarco responded, “Without this dedicated point of coordination, students will now need to navigate volunteer options on their own, and community organizations will have to independently seek out campus contacts…[without this connection, it will be] more difficult for students to access opportunities and for community partners to engage with the campus.” To clarify, she added that this would not dissolve volunteer opportunities, but asserted that “all students who need or want volunteer opportunities would be impacted” in their search process.
DeMarco went on to clarify that the future of volunteer opportunities is not known to her, nor to those who may be stepping in to oversee the duties left over from the Assistant Director of Student Volunteerism & Community Engagement. If the Department of Student Life chooses to reallocate the responsibilities of this position, more answers will become clear.
While much is left to be decided, the status of the Knights’ Harvest Pantry is certain. “The campus pantry, Knights’ Harvest, has to stay because it is a SUNY mandate. So students can rest assured that the pantry will not be dissolved with the position of Student Volunteerism and Community Engagement. It will remain housed in the Student Life Department for now.”
When asked for additional information, DeMarco directed all inquiries to the divisional leadership in Student and Campus Life as anything more is unknown to her.
Chip Matthews, the Director of Student Life, when contacted for comment, stated he would be open to further discussion in January, stating, “By then I should have a better understanding [of] how we will be moving forward with volunteering services. We are fortunate at Geneseo to have access to so many opportunities and that our student groups are involved in multiple service/volunteer experiences.”
The Lamron will provide an additional article once information is known on the future of the programs held by this role and broader access to volunteer opportunities on campus.
As a final note, DeMarco provided a list of the current community partners, which you can find in the picture for this article. DeMarco stated these are current partners “I have worked with or have had active conversations with regarding future programs over the past 15 months, since I stepped into this role. This list reflects the organizations with whom we have established relationships or ongoing dialogue.”