Marianne Buttenschon, Class of 1981
New York State Assemblywoman

Mohawk Valley Community College has named New York State Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon ’81 the recipient of the MVCC Alumni of Merit Award for 2024. The award is presented annually by the MVCC Alumni Association to a nominee who has contributed to the improvement of the community, helped the College, and otherwise demonstrated professional leadership that symbolizes MVCC’s mission of student success and community involvement.

Dr. Marianne Buttenschon ’81 received the 2024 Alumni of Merit Award, presented annually to a nominee who has contributed to the improvement of the community, helped the College, and otherwise demonstrated professional leadership that symbolizes MVCC’s mission of student success and community involvement. Buttenschon is the New York State Assemblywoman for the 119th District and serves on the agriculture, banks, economic development, education, higher education, and veterans affairs committees. She was chosen to be the NYS Assembly’s representative on the Interoperable and Emergency Communications Board based on her longtime commitment to public safety and the improvement of New York’s first responder capability and is a member of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, Asian Pacific American Task Force, and the Task Force on Women’s Issues. Before being elected to serve on the Assembly, Buttenschon was the Dean of Public Service and Emergency Preparedness at MVCC. In the community, she and her husband have operated the Buttenschon Christmas Tree Farm in Marcy for more than 30 years. She serves as vice president of the Utica Community Food Pantry, and a member of the League of Women Voters, International Association of Chiefs of Police, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. Buttenschon earned her doctorate in education from Northeastern University, her master’s degree in public policy from Binghamton University, her bachelor’s degree in public justice from SUNY Institute of Technology, and her associate degree from MVCC.