Felix Muzza ’75 (Adolescence Ed: Social Studies)
Felix Muzza is a lifelong educator and educational leader whose distinguished career in New York State public education spans over four decades. With a commitment to student growth, educational excellence, and community impact, Felix has served in multiple leadership capacities—ranging from elementary principal to college-level internship coordinator—with a legacy defined by innovation, mentorship, and service.
Currently, Felix serves as the Part-Time Internship Coordinator at Finger Lakes Community College, a role he began in 2023 after six years as a Career Advisor in the college's Adult Basic Education Program. There, he supported students through academic and career transitions, provided individualized guidance, led workshops, and helped coordinate services and accommodations to ensure student success at all levels of readiness.
Prior to this, Felix held key administrative roles at Jamestown Public Schools for nearly three decades. From 1990 to 2013, he served as Elementary Principal at both Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and C.C. Ring Elementary School, overseeing budgets, curriculum planning, staff development, and school safety. His work in these roles centered on creating collaborative learning communities and recruiting top-tier teaching professionals to deliver meaningful instruction. Earlier roles included Assistant Principal, Dean of Students, and Work Study Coordinator, where he was particularly committed to providing support to high-risk youth, facilitating job training programs, and building strong relationships with families.
Felix also contributed to teacher preparation as a Student Teaching Supervisor at St. Bonaventure University and supported applied learning as an Applied Learning Coordinator at Jamestown Community College from 2013 to 2016. In these roles, he focused on cultivating internship opportunities, coaching preservice teachers, and ensuring students were prepared for the real-world demands of education and the workforce.
Felix’s professional journey began with a focus on social studies education, and he has maintained Permanent New York State Certifications in Social Studies (Grades 7–12), Coaching, School Administration and Supervision (SAS), and School District Administration (SDA). He earned his Associate of Arts in Social Sciences from Jamestown Community College in 1972, a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from SUNY New Paltz in 1975, a Master of Science in Education from SUNY Fredonia in 1983, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Administration in 1986.
His work has been honored with prestigious accolades, including the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership in Education Award in 1999 and the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from SUNY Jamestown Community College in 2014.
With a leadership philosophy grounded in student advocacy, educational access, and positive school culture, Felix Muzza continues to leave a lasting impact across generations of students, educators, and communities throughout New York State.
“I am very honored and humbled to receive this extremely prestigious award. I look back on my days at SUNY New Paltz and have wonderful memories and wonderful friends. I also cherish each and every colleague I interacted with as a member of the SUNY New Paltz Alumni Council from 2018 to 2024. I was truly fortunate to have contributed to such a wonderful organization. My fifty-plus years in education would not have been possible without the many professors and staff who contributed to my education. I am also very thankful for all my friends and the many experiences we shared at SUNY New Paltz, which have shaped my future. Therefore, I would like to state that this award is a gift I will treasure, just as I treasure everyone and everything in my life that has contributed to my fortunate ability to impact the lives of students, even as I perform my daily duties and responsibilities at Finger Lakes Community College. I also treasure this award as I do my SUNY New Paltz education and my tenure on the Alumni Council. So from the deepest part of my heart, I thank you!”
