Gail O. Mellow, Charles C. Nazzaro, Carol L. O'Connell, and Glenn H. Utter have been selected to receive the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award during JCC’s commencement ceremonies.

Presented by the JCC Alumni Association, the award recognizes graduates who have distinguished themselves in their careers and/or in service to their communities.

Jamestown Campus award recipients
Dr. Mellow, Dr. Utter, and Nazzaro will be honored at the Jamestown Campus ceremony on May 16, which begins at 10 a.m. in the Physical Education Complex.

Dr. Mellow received an Associate in Arts degree from JCC in 1973, a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and master’s and doctoral degrees from The George Washington University.

A social psychologist with extensive experience in higher education, Dr. Mellow was appointed president of LaGuardia Community College in August 2000. She has served in various faculty and administrative capacities at community colleges in Maryland, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. In addition, she served as director of the Women’s Center at the University of Connecticut and the Project on Women and Technology. She also founded and chaired the Northeast Connecticut Economic Alliance.

Dr. Mellow has served on the boards of educational and professional associations, non-profit agencies, and on various community boards, including the New York Industrial Retention Network. She was a gubernatorial appointee to the New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission.

Nazzaro, a 1975 JCC alumnus, earned a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Binghamton. He has held various positions at WCA Hospital since 1985 and was named the facility’s director of finance in 2000. Prior to joining the WCA staff, he was district manager of an H & R Block office in Kansas City for four years.

Nazzaro serves as a Chautauqua County legislator and as a member of the Jamestown Boys & Girls Club and Kiwanis Club of Jamestown boards of directors. He is a former member of the Jamestown Zoning Board of Appeals, Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, Jamestown Local Development Corporation, and the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Commission.

Dr. Utter, a 1965 JCC alumnus, earned a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Binghamton, a master’s degree at the University of London, and master’s and doctoral degrees at SUNY Buffalo. He is a professor of political science and chairperson of the political science department at Lamar University.

A member of the Lamar faculty since 1969, Dr. Utter has authored several books on political science and social issues.

Dr. Utter is past president of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church council in Beaumont, Texas and performs with the Lamar University Civic Orchestra.

Cattaraugus County award recipient
Ms. O’Connell will be honored at the Cattaraugus County Campus commencement on May 15, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Olean Family YMCA/JCC Physical Education Center.

Mrs. O’Connell, a 1979 JCC alumna who retired in 2004 as director of development for the JCC Foundation, joined the staff of the Cattaraugus County Campus in 1981.

Mrs. O’Connell is past president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer of the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce. She also served as secretary of the Olean Charter Commission; president of the Olean Newcomers Club; board member of the JCC Federal Credit Union, Economic Development Zone, Interfaith Caregivers, and the Olean Business Improvement Association; and member of the City of Olean’s promotion and marketing committee.

Mrs. O’Connell has served as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, the Heart Association, and the March of Dimes. She has also served on the Olean Rehabilitation Center HUD board of directors and a member of the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation board of directors.

She is a recipient of the Olean Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Award, the Olean YMCA Salute to Olean Award, the JCC Presidential Award for Excellence in Professional Service, and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.