Joseph Moore and Beth Chiquoine

During our time (2000 to 2007) at Empire State College, Joe as president and Beth as the director of assessment services, we came to appreciate the history, mission and spirit of the college; the dedication and professionalism of its faculty and staff; and the determination and maturity of its students. Most of Beth’s career in higher education has been working with and for adult learners and most of Joe’s higher education career centered on strengthening institutions’ capacity to support a diverse range of engaged learners.

Given the deep income inequality in our country, the challenges many adults face in making the decision to earn a college degree, and the limited sources of scholarship funds for adult learners, we hope that our modest annual gifts and endowed fund might make college a bit more affordable for a few adult learners so they can earn their degrees and realize some of their (often deferred) aspirations.

We also know that many adult learners are parents, and when they enroll and succeed in higher education, their children grow up in an environment where college becomes a realistic plan, not just a fanciful dream. We have always felt that this is a powerful multi-generational impact of all Empire State College scholarships.