Two longtime campus leaders are being honored with the Ithaca College Presidential Medal. Bonnie Prunty, dean of students, and David Prunty, executive director of auxiliary services, will be recognized at the 2022 Commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 22.
Established in 2019, the Presidential Medal was created as a way to honor a member or members of the Ithaca College family or valued partners of the institution whose lives embody the values of Ithaca College and demonstrate a strong sense of service and sustainability to the Ithaca College community and our world.
David Prunty joined Ithaca College in 1987 as a residence coordinator after earning his M.A. degree in higher education administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He subsequently served in a variety of leadership roles in the Office of Residential Life before being named director of conference and event services. Since 2015 he has served as executive director of auxiliary services, responsible for supervising offices including the Campus Center, Conference and Event Services, ID Operations, the Campus Store, General Services (Print Production, Mail Services, and the Warehouse), and Dining Services.
Prunty has been responsible for multiple campus-wide initiatives, including serving on the leadership teams for Convocation, Commencement, the Ithaca College 125th Anniversary Celebration, and many other large events. Since 2009 he has taught in the Roy H. Park School of Communications as a lecturer in the live event design and management minor. He has represented the college on the boards of a number of local organizations, including the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, Ithaca Tompkins International Airport, and Leadership Tompkins.
Bonnie Prunty came to Ithaca College in 1988 after she also earned her master’s degree, in student personnel services, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Starting as a residence director, she served in a series of increasingly responsible positions in the Office of Residential Life over the next three decades, including as director of residential life and judicial affairs beginning in 2001.
In June of 2018 Prunty was named dean of students, overseeing the Offices of Residential Life, Student Conduct and Community Standards, Case Management, and New Student and Transition Programs along with the Center for Counseling, Health, and Wellness. The college recently announced that as of June 27 she will be assuming the position of vice president for student affairs and campus life through 2024. A sampling of her institutional service includes the IC 20/20 Advisory Committee, Enterprise Risk Management Committee, Residential Models Task Force, and First-Year Experience Coordinating Committee. Her professional affiliations include serving on the executive board of the Association for College and University Housing Officers – International.
The Pruntys have two children who are graduates of the college—Ashley ’12, M.S. ’13, and Ryan ’18.
For more information on the graduation ceremonies, visit Ithaca.edu/commencement.