Thomas L. Gebhardt is an alumnus of the University at Albany receiving his B.A. in 1973 and his M.A. in 1980. He earned his A.A. degree at Corning Community College before transferring to the university. Tom has been Chairperson of the Committee on University & Community Relations since its creation in the fall of 1990. He has worked in the field of off-campus affairs and community relations for nineteen years. In the fall of 1992 Tom was recognized by the University at Albany as the first recipient of the “Outstanding Professional Service Award” by the Division of Student Affairs for “significant contributions to improving university and community relations.”

The Committee on University & Community Relations itself received national recognition as a finalist/second place in the 1997 “Neighborhood of the Year” awards by “Neighborhoods USA” as well as local recognition by the Neighborhood Resource Center in the city of Albany as the “1995 Organization of the Year.” In addition the committee was named “Runner-up for the 1997-98 Outstanding Public Relations Program Award” by Commission XVII - Commuter Students and Adult Learners - of the American College Personnel Association. In the March, 2000 edition of the “Journal of American College Health” Tom co-authored an article entitled “A Campus-community Coalition to Control Alcohol-related Problems Off Campus: An Environmental Management Case Study.” In May of 2000 he was recognized by the Neighborhood Resource Center in the City of Albany as the “2000 Outstanding Public Official of the Year.” Most recently, Tom co-authored an article entitled “Developing and implementing a successful social norms campaign targeting long-term neighbors in the community” that was published in “The Report on Social Norms” in October, 2004.

He works with the Don’t Walk Alone Safety Escort Service and co-coordinates the WhistleWatch Safety Program. Tom works closely with the Albany Police Department, local neighborhood associations, tavern owners, landowners, City of Albany officials and student leaders to improve safety off campus, facilitate better town-gown relations, develop alcohol and other drug prevention programs off campus and improve the quality of life in the neighborhoods off campus where our students reside.