New Mural Depicts 200 Years of SUNY Fredonia History

Two centuries of history now cover a wall at SUNY Fredonia's Fenton Hall. Earlier this month, a dedication ceremony was held for a new 8-by-43-foot mural depicting the university's history. It comes as Fredonia prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary. The mural was created by Erin Ruffino, who graduated from Fredonia in 2019. She says the project, which began in September 2024 and involved approximately one year of research, was possible with help from Mandi Shepp of the Reed Library and Darwin R. Barker Museum Curator Max Walters...

Erin Ruffino: a tremendous help

Teresa Adams, Director of Donor Relations, Stewardship and Scholarships with the Fredonia College Foundation, was also involved. Ruffino says she feels "incredibly lucky" to have been chosen to create the mural, adding that it feels surreal to see the finished project...

Erin Ruffino: seeing the project completed

University President Stephen Kolison says the dedication "marks a very special chapter in the history of SUNY Fredonia." Fredonia Mayor Mike Ferguson was also among the officials on hand for the ceremony. The mural is located near Fenton Hall's lifetime donor wall and was made possible by a gift from Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union to the Fredonia College Foundation.

Watch Erin Ruffino talk more about the bicentennial mural in the video below.

Photo by SUNY Fredonia