Genesee Community College will induct both Shari A. McDonald and William M. Powers as honorees into its Alumni Hall of Fame in Batavia on Tuesday, September 27, at 4 p.m.
Shari A. McDonald, GCC class of 1997, is the Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo. Shari has been part of Catholic Health System’s Mercy Hospital of Buffalo for the last seven years, serving as Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. She has executive oversight over regulatory standards, compliance, patient satisfaction, patient safety, quality of patient care and employee engagement.
Shari previously practiced 20 years in Rochester, starting at Strong Memorial Hospital where she was mentored for leadership and then Rochester General Hospital, where she served as the Senior Administrative Director of Emergency Services, Women’s Services and Acute Services. Among her accomplishments, Shari was instrumental in helping guide strategic planning to increase inpatient and emergency volume, change management and building strategic direction.
In addition to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with Leadership in Health Care Systems from Grand Canyon University in Arizona, Shari holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Rochester.
Shari has been recognized for her work with several awards throughout her career. She was named to Buffalo Women of Influence in 2020, the Mercy Hospital of Buffalo 2018 Nurse of Distinction, Greater Rochester Quality Award in 2013 and 2014, and the Nursing Leadership Award from Rochester General Hospital in 2012 and Strong Memorial Hospital in 2006.
Shari was the President of Finger Lakes Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders (FLONEL), past president for Western New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders (WNYONEL) board member of New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders (NYONEL), a member of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) where she served as a New York State Delegate, and past President of the Genesee Valley ENA. She is also a member of the Western New York Professional Nurses Association, American Heart Association where she serves as Chair and Spokeswoman for the Go Red for Women Campaign in Western New York, and is part of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Shari taught adjunct courses at Cornell University, and is a board member for Connect Life. Shari is the Nurse Executive Chair for Hany’s Hospital Association for Western New York & Central New York, 2021-present and Healthcare Executive Forum/American College of Healthcare Executives (HEF/ACHE) Board of Directors Board Member, 2019-present.
A Buffalo native, Shari resides in Lakeview with her husband, has three adult children and 12 grandchildren.
William M. Powers, GCC class of 1975 graduated from Genesee Community College with his A.A.S. degree in Business Administration and is retired Superintendent of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He is a proud third generation New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision employee.
Mr. Powers continued his education and earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Brockport in Business Administration in 1977. While working and raising a family, he continued with his education and received a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Buffalo State in 1987.
William started his career as a correction officer and was promoted to correction counselor, senior correction counselor, assistant deputy superintendent, deputy superintendent and superintendent. He was assigned to ten correctional facilities and was superintendent at five of them.
He became involved with the American Correctional Association Accreditation process in 1984, and served as Accreditation Manager at several facilities. He currently serves as a Delegate Assembly member for ACA. William was appointed a member of the New York State DOCCS Female Offender Task Force where he assisted in developing policy for the agency executive team consideration, collaborated with local and state law enforcement including local District Attorneys dealing with criminal prosecution of offenders. During his 38-year career, William was assigned to maximum, medium, minimum, shock/boot camp, work release, and alcohol and drug treatment facilities. He was also assigned to both male and female correctional facilities. After his retirement from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in 2014, William has continued to be active in the criminal justice field by conducting training and ACA audits of correctional facilities in the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and The Kingdom of Bahrain. He remains active as a consultant for Vital Core Health Strategies.
William is an Attica native and continues to live there with his wife and has two adult children and four grandchildren.
Each year, candidates are nominated by friends, family, colleagues, or other associates for their impactful contributions to their profession and distinguished service to the community and Genesee Community College. The GCC Alumni Hall of Fame, which is located on the second floor of the Conable Technology Building, boasts honorees from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds.
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