Attorney and alumnus Cerrie, '03, named to College Council

New York Governor David A. Paterson has appointed prominent Dunkirk attorney Michael Robert Cerrie to the SUNY Fredonia College Council.  His seven-year appointment became effective in September and will conclude in June 2017.

Mr. Cerrie replaces the Honorable Michael Sullivan, a lawyer and the Village of Fredonia Mayor, who recently completed his term on the council. Mr. Cerrie currently serves as the attorney for the City of Dunkirk, a position he has held since April, and as a public defender for Chautauqua County, which he has served since 2007. He also maintains a private practice in Dunkirk, and worked for the Fredonia law firm of Gullo and Price from 2007 to 2009.

An alumnus of SUNY Fredonia, Mr. Cerrie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 2003 and went on to earn his Juris Doctor in 2006 from Syracuse University. He co-founded the Nathan George Foundation, an organization which generates scholarships to softball and baseball players graduating from Fredonia High School, while also providing financial support to local sports programs in Fredonia and neighboring communities. He also volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County.

A Fredonia resident, Mr. Cerrie joins eight other council members including Chairperson Frank Pagano of Fredonia, Cynthia A. Ahlstrom, Angelo Bennice and JoAnn Niebel of Dunkirk; Russell Diethrick of Jamestown, Dr. Robert Heichberger of Gowanda and Carla Westerlund of Greenhurst.  Kevin Wysocki, a Political Science and Biology major from Cherry Creek, is the Student Association president and serves as the student representative. The Fredonia College Council meets quarterly on campus.