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GCC Welcomes Strategic New Faces

Batavia, NY (10/31/2017) — Some of the new faces that are 'moving and shaking' within the new and older facilities at Genesee Community College's Batavia Campus include two new directors overseeing the Alfred C. O'Connell Library and the overall Buildings and Grounds Department, and also two instructors working closely with students in GCC's Fashion Business and Paralegal programs.

Over the summer, GCC's Alfred C. O'Connell Library welcomed a new Director of Library Services, Jessica R. Olin. Olin previously served as the director of the Robert H. Parker Library at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware and the information literacy librarian at Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio; and a research services librarian at Landmark College in Putney, Vermont. Olin earned her Master's Degree in Education through an online program run by at Touro University International in Cypress California in 2007, her Master's of Library Information Science at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts in 2003, and her Bachelor's Degree from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland in 1994. Olin brings over 14 years of experience working in academic libraries in various areas around the United States. "I am excited about building relationships with the College administration, faculty, students and staff," Olin said. "I am thrilled to be a part of such a highly respected institution and library system." Olin resides in Rochester, NY and enjoys knitting, hiking and cooking during her spare time.

GCC's Fashion Business Merchandising program has a new instructor, Laura J. Taylor. Taylor has nine years of experience teaching fashion design and various merchandising courses for both Villa Maria College in Buffalo, New York and the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California where she earned her Master's Degree in Fashion Merchandising. Taylor holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Ecology from SUNY Oneonta and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Fashion Merchandising with a concentration in Fashion Sustainability from Iowa State University. Taylor is a member of the Buffalo Niagara Sales and Marketing Executives organization. She owns and operates a small business performing contractual designs and sewing and serves as a member of the Erie 1 BOCES advisory board. "I was very excited to join the GCC team as fashion is such an important industry here," she said. Taylor resides in Akron, NY with her husband and two children.

A Genesee Community College alumnus, Levi T. Olsen, has rejoined the team as director of Buildings and Grounds. Olsen has over 15 years in facilities management at the University of Rochester where he earned his master of science degree. Olsen also holds a bachelor's degree from the University at Buffalo. "It was great to have the opportunity to do what I enjoy, right here, in Batavia, where I started my education," Olsen said, who resides in Shelby, NY with his wife, Amy, and their four children. When he has free time, Olsen and his wife enjoy working with their local church youth group.

Most recently, Director of Paralegal Studies, Karyn S. Bryson, J.D. has become a full-time faculty member with GCC's Law and Criminal Justice program. Bryson completed the two year accelerated Juris Doctor program at Southwestern University School of Law and has over 18 years of experience as a corporate attorney. In addition, she earned her Bachelor's degree in English from SUNY Brockport. Bryson brings more than ten years teaching Reading and English Language Arts at the high school level and over 11 years teaching at the community college level, including online classes. Bryson was one of only 250 selected from 11,000 applicants as a 2003 Los Angeles Teaching Fellow. Bryson lives in Mt. Morris, NY and during her free time enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her grandchildren.

"Each of these areas, our campus facility, the library, the fashion and paralegal academic programs are made stronger by the addition of these team members," says Director of External Affairs, Richard Ensman.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

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