A few years later in 1993, Colleen began working in the President’s Office as a keyboard specialist, a position she would hold until 1997 when she was named secretary to the president. In 2000, Colleen became the assistant to the president and worked alongside Dr. William Rezak. It was here that she began to truly form many of her extraordinary relationships.

Because of this and her genuine ability to engage with alumni and others associated with the college, Colleen was asked to join the Office of Institutional Advancement (IA). In 2004, after a decade in the President’s Office, she became a development officer. Four years later in 2008, she was named the director of Alumni Relations, a position she held until her retirement.

Through her work in both the President’s Office and the Institutional Advancement Office, Colleen formed strong bonds with countless Pioneers, oftentimes going above and beyond. She spoke with them, ate lunch with them, and heard their stories, listening with sincere earnest as they recalled their own lives and memories of Alfred State.

Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Danielle White says that Colleen has been a huge asset to her office, particularly because of all the relationships with alumni, board members, and others that she developed while working in the President’s Office.

“She already had a lot of really strong, established long-term relationships which translated well for her when she transferred into our division,” Danielle says. “Relationship building is the foundation of who we are and what we do.”

Danielle notes that Colleen “has such a warm and inviting personality that all the alumni just love her, whether they just met her or she’s known them for years.”

“Colleen’s huge heart is very obvious to people when they meet her,” Danielle said. “She’s a genuine, kind, and compassionate person. Her relationships are deep when you are friends with her. It’s not just a surface friendship. In addition, Colleen has been an amazing colleague and friend to me and her co-workers and we will miss her very much.”

Longtime cross country and track and field coach Gary Moore, who is now retired, currently heads the Alfred State alumni chapter in Rochester. He says that Colleen has always gone “above and beyond the call of duty” when it comes to supporting the alumni chapters.

“We would say, ‘You know what, we’ll run the meeting here in Rochester ourselves and talk about things.’ She would say, ‘No no, we’re going to come up.’ She would be up there all the time at every meeting that took place,” he says.

“She was always happy to support the alumni and asked all of them how they are doing and what’s going on in their lives, and this was in the evening after I’m sure she worked all day in Alfred because we’d have a meeting at 5 or 5:30,” Gary said. “And of course she was at almost all the events in the Rochester area and she had to get there before the event starts and leave when everybody’s gone normally, so she’s just very supportive of the alumni and our Rochester chapter.”

Although her dedication to Alfred State and its alumni is unfaltering, Colleen’s true devotion lies with her family as wife to husband Francis and mother to their three daughters, Alexandra (29), Ashtin (27), and Carley (23).

Both Alexandra and Carley are graduates of Alfred State. Alexandra received her degree in liberal arts and sciences: social science in 2011 and Carley earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2019.

As a mother, Colleen’s daughters describe her as “a strong role model who is selfless and empathetic, yet also a force to be reckoned with.”

“Mom’s dedication as a mother has shown in every aspect of our lives whether it be sitting at the kitchen table helping with homework or shouting encouragement from the bleachers at our soccer games,” Alexandra said. “However, her devotion was most evident in regard to our health, as my sister Carley and I have cystic fibrosis (CF).”

Throughout the past 28 years, Colleen has been passionately involved with the Western New York Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation raising thousands of dollars in funding toward a cure. As a steadfast and devout advocate, she has received numerous distinguished awards and recognitions. In 2019, she became a board member.

“It’s impossible to put into words how grateful my sisters and I are for her,” Alexandra said. “I think I speak for anyone who knows her when I say, ‘She’s one of the best people I know.’ Her strength and compassion toward Alfred State, her family, friends, and the cystic fibrosis community is unparalleled.”

Whether inviting you back to campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend, keeping you up to date on the college through her biannual letter in the Alumni and Friends Magazine, or even just chatting with you at a Rochester Red Wings baseball game, Colleen Argentieri lets you know that your connection to Alfred State matters, that your story matters, and that you yourself matter.

Colleen’s passion for the Blue and Gold will always be strong, as will the bonds that she has formed with so many people over the years, whether they call her a mom, a friend, or even a fellow Pioneer.