POTSDAM – The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently honored Brooks Washburn of Potsdam, with Honorary Lifetime Membership, during a ceremony at Reunion 2023.

Honorary Lifetime Membership is presented to non-alumni who have made exceptional contributions to the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association and/or the College. Washburn was recognized for his long-standing relationship with the College and his impact on The Crane School of Music and beyond.

Brooks Washburn grew up with a profound love and respect for The Crane School of Music. As the son of Dean Emeritus Dr. Robert Washburn '49 and Beverly Washburn '63, he especially appreciated the role and impact that faculty have on their students and each other, having witnessed it first hand throughout his upbringing.

Brooks is now a loyal supporter of the School where his father left his legacy. Over the past few years, Brooks has made significant gifts to the Fund for Crane, providing much needed financial support and flexibility for music students and programs. In recognition of his gifts, the SUNY Potsdam College Council has chosen to name the newly constructed rehearsal room in the Crane Complex in honor of Bob and Beverly Washburn. Through his thoughtful philanthropy, Brooks has ensured two essential things: perpetual annual funding in support of Crane, and the assurance that Bob and Beverly will forever be an integral part of the Crane student experience, as students use the rehearsal space to enhance their musical skills.

With a bachelor's degree in architecture and urban planning from Princeton University, Brooks is the project architect for Brooks Washburn Architecture DPC, in Potsdam. By lending his architectural expertise, Brooks was an integral part of the design and realization of the College's newest building, the HEARTH (Handcrafted Experiential Archaeological Research and Teaching Hub). Brooks worked with the College to maximize the impact and benefit of the HEARTH to the College and the surrounding community, both through his insight and financial support.

For more information about the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.