Celebrating Our Newest Alumni Faces

Six Onondaga Community College were recognized as the newest distinguished Alumni Faces honorees during a ceremony April 3 in the Recital Hall's Frederick Marvin and Ernst Schuh Recital Hall. The alumni were honored for their professional achievements and contributions to the college and the community. The honorees are:

Kim Dwyer '89

• Before OCC: native of Utica
• OCC degree: Architectural Technology
• Profession: Founder, Dwyer Architectural
• The outstanding design work of Kim and her team can be seen in healthcare and higher education facilities across new York State thanks to her work as Managing Partner of Dwyer Architectural, a New York State Certified Woman-owned Business Enterprise. Kim worked at King + King Architects for more than two decades before starting Dwyer Architectural in 2010.

Dr. David Lee '84

• Before OCC: Liverpool High School
• OCC degree: Mathematics & Science
• Profession: Veterinary Medicine Educator and Researcher at Cornell University
• Dr. Lee was a self-described average high school student who took advantage of his only opportunity to attend college. After completing his associate degree, he transferred to Cornell where he earned multiple degrees. Dr. Lee worked in Colorado and Minnesota before returning to Cornell as the Associate Dean for External Programs at its College of Veterinary Medicine. The position provides him the opportunity to both teach and be involved in research and development.

Jasenko Mondom '09

• Before OCC: refugee from Bosnia who arrived in the United States in 1997.
• OCC degree: Business Administration
• Profession: Job Developer, Syracuse City School District
• Jasenko is a refugee from war-torn Bosnia who dedicated his life to educating fellow refugees in the United States. After completing the Refugee Assistance Program, he was hired by the Syracuse City School District to train refugees for entry-level manufacturing jobs. More than 1,000 of the refugees he assisted became employed because of his efforts. He earned degrees from OCC and Columbia College, served on several community advisory boards, and received multiple awards for his service.

Wayne O'Connor '67

• Before OCC: Central High School in Syracuse
• OCC degree: General Studies
• Profession: Educator
• Wayne dedicated his life's work to teaching and guiding those who most needed it. He began teaching Social Studies at Shea Middle School in 1970. More than a decade later, he became an administrator serving as vice principal, principal, and ultimately an area superintendent who oversaw 19 schools in the Syracuse City School District (SCSD). From 2007 to 2019 he was Executive Director of Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection which serves at-risk and low-income SCSD students in grades 7 through 12 and prepares them for either college or a career after graduation. During his time there, the number of students enrolled in Hillside and their graduation rates improved exponentially.

Emad Rahim '16

• Before OCC: Fowler High School
• OCC degree: Human Services
• Profession: Professor & Chair at Bellevue University, Surge Entrepreneurship Manager at CenterState CEO
• Emad is a survivor of genocide in Cambodia where he lost his father and older brother to war. After fleeing to the United States, his family found a home on Syracuse's west side. He graduated from Fowler and came to OCC where he was part of the Educational Opportunity Program. When he was diagnosed with dyslexia and received much-needed accommodations, it opened up a world of possibilities for him. He earned multiple doctorate degrees and became an award-winning author, educator, Fulbright Scholar, and TEDx Speaker. He dedicated his life to making his community a better place, working as the Surge Entrepreneurship Manager at the Tech Garden with CenterStateCEO, and serving as the Kotouc Endowed Professor and Chair at Bellevue University.

Shawn Wayson '79 & '80

• Before OCC: Nottingham High School
• OCC degrees: Humanities, Radio & TV
• Profession: Television News Chief Video Editor
• Shawn was a leader in a male-dominated segment of the television news industry, serving as Chief Video Editor for more than 40 years at WSYR and WSTM in Syracuse. She graduated from Nottingham High School and earned two degrees at OCC before transferring to SUNY Fredonia where she turned a television internship into her first full-time job. While excelling in her career, Shawn was a member of OCC's Broadcast Media Communications Advisory Board which benefitted from the advice of industry professionals. In 2021 she was recognized for her career achievements when she was named to the Syracuse Press Club's Wall of Distinction.