SUNY Reconnect student joins board of trustees

FLCC's student trustee is a full voting member of the board.

Geoff Hellauer-Geiger of Geneva, a smart systems technologies major, enrolled at FLCC in fall 2025 through the SUNY Reconnect program after working in various client operations roles. 

Launched as a state initiative in 2025, SUNY Reconnect allows eligible New Yorkers an opportunity to earn a community college degree with no educational expenses. The program covers the cost of in-state tuition, fees, and qualifying books and supplies, after all other financial aid. 

Geoff, who will serve as student trustee for the College's board of trustees for the 2026-27 academic year, is also a member of the Student Corporation Executive Committee. He answered the following questions about his decision to enroll at FLCC and take on his new role. 

What aspects of the Reconnect program intrigued you? What led you to enroll at FLCC? 

I attended the University of Texas back in 2006, but I never graduated. Then, after living in Texas, New Jersey, New York City and now Upstate for various career opportunities, everything finally aligned with SUNY Reconnect being announced. 

It makes me feel like I am not alone in doing this. There are so many people that are trying to go back to school, and New York is making it easy. 

Even though I had heard of Reconnect a few times, it was not until after seeing an FLCC Facebook ad that I finally thought, "OK, let's just apply. Let's go take the tour."  

The tour guide did a fantastic job, and it made me realize that this is what I want to do and where I want to go. I ultimately chose the smart systems technologies program because I thought it would really give me a challenge since I do not come from a technical or electronics background. 

How has your experience in the smart systems technologies program been so far?  

My program has been challenging, but in a good way. I've gained a lot of good knowledge, and it has also given me a lot of confidence in my abilities.  

Originally, it felt challenging since I have not taken a science or physics class in a long time, but Professor Samanta and his teaching assistant, Dan, have been helpful in guiding me through concepts along the way.  

The best part of my smart systems classes has been the site visits. It's been eye-opening to see what a smart system actually is, how it functions, and the opportunities that come with it. 

You had the opportunity to meet the SUNY Chancellor this past spring. Can you describe that experience?   

It was great. To be able to be one-on-one with him felt like he sees a real person. I think the Chancellor is a community-minded person, so it was an exciting opportunity to meet him and local elected officials and put faces to names.  

Having students there also helped build relationships and show the importance of the program. We are all just looking to make our way of life a little bit better.  

What inspired you to serve as Student Trustee?   

I would say FLCC has been extremely accommodating of non-traditional learners, and as student trustee, I would like to emphasize that to others who may be thinking about returning to school. I want to encourage others to use FLCC's resources and take advantage of the opportunities available here. 

Traditional and non-traditional students have different lives and experiences, and the world is changing, so we have to be ready for it. 

I want to be a student trustee who is accessible and encourages community building. My goal for decision making is to keep all of us in mind because some of us may need a lot of help, but all of us need some help. 

Geoff will serve on the 10-member Board of Trustees and have full voting rights as a trustee. Student trustees serve for one year and are elected every spring semester for the following academic year. 

He is also co-founder of the Geneva Parks Collective, a resident-led initiative dedicated to improving Geneva’s parks and recreational spaces, and serves on the City of Geneva Recreation Advisory Board and the Board of Ethics. 

FLCC faculty, staff and SUNY Reconnect students pose with FLCC President Robert Nye, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., state Sen. Pam Helming and Assemblymember Andrea Bailey at the SUNY Reconnect event April 23.