SUNY Adirondack names five new Trailblazers

College celebrates change-making alumni for community contributions 

SUNY Adirondack proudly inducted five distinguished alumni to its Trailblazers Society last week at the college’s annual investors breakfast.

In a ceremony presented by Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart, & Rhodes, P.C., SUNY Adirondack honored Meghan E. Cook, Joseph Donahue, Patrick J. Sallarulo, Paul Dowen and Dr. Amy Hogan-Moulton, who were recognized for excellence in professional achievement, community service, service to SUNY Adirondack and/or outstanding spirit.

“This class of Trailblazers exemplifies the impact SUNY Adirondack alumni make on our community and beyond,” said Liz Lastowski, director of annual giving and alumni relations at the college.

Cook, Class of ’92, is director of Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) and assistant director of the Office of Counter Terrorism (OCT) at the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYS DHSES). 

A global leader in public sector digital transformation, Cook has more than 27 years of experience in government policy. She spent 25 years at the Center for Technology in Government (CTG), a renowned research institute at University at Albany. She is an affiliate professor at Albany Law School and formerly served as adjunct professor at Rockefeller College and Advisor to the NYS Local Government IT Directors (NYSLGITDA) for two decades.
 
Cook has published extensively on digital transformation in government, including recent works on AI and local government cybersecurity. A sought-after speaker, she has led more than 350 strategy sessions for government leaders worldwide and earned awards including Excelsior College’s Alumni Achievement Award and SUNY Chancellor’s Award. 

She holds degrees from SUNY Adirondack, Excelsior University and University at Albany. She is a board member for Saratoga Rowing Association and a former leader in the Girl Scouts of Northeastern NY. She resides in Saratoga Springs with her two children.

Donahue, Class of ’87, is a nationally acclaimed host and interviewer. With more than 40 years of broadcasting experience, he is a trusted voice on WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, hosting “The Roundtable,” a daily program celebrated for engaging conversations with diverse guests, including world leaders, best-selling authors, musicians and experts across various fields. 

In addition to “The Roundtable,” Donahue hosts “The Book Show,” a nationally syndicated program dedicated to literature. Each week, he interviews notable authors such as Stephen King, Anne Tyler and Roxane Gay, delving into their books and creative processes. 

He has earned more than 100 national and local awards for his interviewing skills, including the Scripps-Howard Excellence in Electronic Journalism Award and several Associated Press and Edward R. Murrow awards. 

Donahue is also a visiting professor at Bennington College, sharing his expertise in interviewing and the media. He is a Comfort Food Communities board member, supports nonprofits and advances the arts through initiatives such as The Creative Life series at University at Albany.

Sallarulo, Class of ’77, is a successful chiropractor, business owner and philanthropist. He is president of Park Ridge Healthcare and Physical Medicine, CEO/president of PONKO Chicken Holding and Franchise Companies, CFO/partner of ActivHealthcare Insurance Corporation and president of Chamblee Tucker Properties. 

He worked as accounting supervisor for St. Regis Paper Company, president/partner of G&P Construction Company, and financial analyst for First Investors. After earning an associate degree in accounting from SUNY Adirondack and a bachelor’s in Business Administration from Siena College, Sallarulo earned a doctorate from Life University. 

He served in leadership roles with the Georgia Special Olympics, the Auditory Verbal Center of Atlanta and Georgia Chiropractic Association (GCA), among others. He helped raise more than $1 million for nonprofit organizations. He was recognized as GCA’s Chiropractor of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year,.

Sallarulo performs as Frank Sinatra in the Atlanta Rat Pack Tribute Show and has sung for Pope John Paul in Rome. He has been married to Susan Brayden Sallarulo, Class of 1977, for 43 years. They have two daughters, one granddaughter and a second granddaughter expected in April 2025.

Dowen, Class of ’79, earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Vermont—Castleton in 1980, then returned to Glens Falls and started his accounting career. He founded his own firm in 1987, which merged to form the Queensbury-based firm Whittemore, Dowen & Ricciardelli in April 2006. 

Paul has been active in Glens Falls Rotary Club since 1982 and has been involved with numerous other community and charitable groups, serving in various roles, including board seats and committees, and volunteering his time. He serves on the boards of The House of Grace of the Adirondacks and The Adirondack Hockey Coalition. He just completed services to the boards of Christ Church United Methodist (42 years) and SUNY Adirondack Foundation (29 years) and is now a director emeritus of SUNY Adirondack Foundation. 

Hogan-Moulton, Class of ’86, is a doctor of nephrology and hypertension at Saratoga and Glens Falls Hospitals. 

She is medical director of the DCI Renal Centers in Saratoga and Glens Falls, and chair of the Department of Medicine at Glens Falls Hospital. She is a member of the American Society of Nephrology and serves as board member of Northeast Kidney Foundation. As a founding member of Upstate Kidney Foundation, she seeks to educate people on the prevention and management of kidney disease. 

She earned an associate degree in Biology from SUNY Adirondack, a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a doctor of medicine degree from Albany Medical College. She completed her internal medicine residency at University of North Carolina and a fellowship in nephrology at Chapel Hill.

More than 100 guests celebrated the Trailblazers in Northwest Bay Conference Center. 



CAPTION INFORMATION: From left: SUNY Adirondack President Kristine D. Duffy, Ph.D., Meghan E. Cook, Joseph Donahue, Patrick J. Sallarulo, Paul Dowen and Dr. Amy Hogan-Moulton celebrate the 2024 Trailblazers.