Alana Holt
A historic gift to the Fredonia College Foundation has resulted in a life changing scholarship for a Chautauqua County resident.
The foundation received the single largest one-time gift from an individual to create an endowment from the estate of Susan Stiner Speir, the long-time partner of SUNY Fredonia alumna Kathleen “Kathy” J. Wise, ʼ77.
The gift, totaling just over a million dollars, funds the Kathleen J. Wise Chautauqua County Scholarship. The scholarship covers tuition and fees — and is restricted to students who reside in Chautauqua County. The scholarship is renewable providing the awardee remains in good standing.
"This scholarship allows me to focus completely on my academics and push me further to achieve my goals along with striving to be an exceptional representation of what this scholarship stands for and the standards it holds students to.” - Alana Holt
Alana Holt of Fredonia, a sophomore transfer student majoring in Political Science, is the first recipient of the scholarship. On receiving word of the scholarship, she was “overwhelmed with compassion and gratitude.” She added, “This scholarship is not only a way to help me along my college endeavors but allows me to prepare for my future as well, as I plan to go to law school after my undergrad and pursue a career in the legal field. This scholarship allows me to focus completely on my academics and push me further to achieve my goals along with striving to be an exceptional representation of what this scholarship stands for and the standards it holds students to.”
Kathleen, the daughter of Earl F. and Barbara A. Steger Wise, was a graduate of Fredonia High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with honors from SUNY Fredonia. After working for the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging, she attended the State University of New York at Albany, graduating in December 1980 with a Master of Public Administration degree from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.
Devoting her career to a life of public service, Kathleen worked for the New York State Assembly as a Legislative Analyst before becoming the Assistant Director, and subsequently, Director, of the Research and Program Development Office, providing advice and counsel to the New York State Assembly Minority Leader, and presenting policy options. For six years Kathleen served as Director of Programs for the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation, which invested over $600 million in economic development through the application of university research in business.
An Ohio native, Susan was a 1960 graduate of Kent State University, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1964 from Iowa State, and a Master of Public Administration degree from SUNY Albany in 1981. Her career began in Dayton, OH, in dietary nutrition at a local hospital, and continued at numerous positions in the field including Director of Nutrition for the Dayton Area Chapter of the Red Cross, Chief Dietician of a hospital group in Kansas, and then as a consultant to the New York State Department of Health as a nursing home inspector. She was recognized by Marquis Who’s Who as an esteemed professional in Health Program Administration.
Susan later turned her interests in Wall Street and investing into a career change in the financial services industry as a stockbroker and financial consultant in Latham, NY. She was a member of the American Society for Female Executives. She also served as a Committee Member of the Republican Party for the Town of Colonie, NY, for four years. Susan had also been a member of the American Society for Public Administration, the American Management Association and the American Dietetic Association. She retired in 2003. Her personal interests ranged from gardening to needlework and was a member of the American Sewing Guild. She and Kathleen loved travel, especially to Nova Scotia.
Kathleen passed away on June 11, 2018; and Susan passed away April 4, 2023.
“We are grateful for the thoughtful generosity of Susan and Kathleen. Their bequest will provide a transformative college education for a Chautauqua County resident,” said Karen Rohr, who serves as Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the Fredonia College Foundation.
