May 6, 2025

It’s not easy to surprise UUP President Fred Kowal.

Since being elected UUP president in 2013, Kowal has dealt with everything from threats to organized labor and education at the national level to advocating for state funding for SUNY, fighting with SUNY to save members’ jobs and how UUP can stand in solidarity with other unions.

But the executive boards of UUP and NYSUT managed to surprise Kowal at the NYSUT 2025 Representative Assembly in Rochester May 3 with special recognition: Higher Education Member of the Year.

Kowal, wearing his “Brooklyn Needs Downstate” T-shirt,” smiled broadly when NYSUT Secretary/Treasurer Philippe Abraham—UUP’s former statewide vice president for professionals and a great friend of Kowal’s—announced the award and invited him to the stage. The men shared a hug and Kowal watched a video about himself—created by NYSUT under the guise of collecting information about UUP’s history.

“I get up with the idea every morning with the idea, as difficult as it may be, there is an opportunity to make the life of one individual member better,” Kowal said.

You can view the video HERE.

Raised in a union household, Kowal’s activity with UUP started early in his career as a professor at SUNY Cobleskill. He became legislative chair and later, chapter president. He found it energizing and rewarding to know he was part of protecting members and their livelihoods.

“Unions are vital.” Kowal said. “The idea workers can come together and bargain for each other and for future generations, that’s incredibly valuable. We have an opportunity and obligation to make life better for others, especially those who have less.”

Kowal wasn’t the only UUP member honored at the RA. Downstate Chapter President Redetha Abrahams-Nichols, who also serves as a UUP statewide Executive Board member and is on UUP’s Negotiations Team—was named NYSUT’s Healthcare Professional Member of the Year.

View a NYSUT-produced video featuring Abrahams-Nichols HERE.