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Russell Sage College honored former Trustee Chair Patricia Sparrell ’78 at its 109th commencement ceremony in May. Sparrell received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of her career, volunteer service, and philanthropy, which have opened doors for learners at every stage of their academic and professional lives.

Sparrell is an active ARCS Metro Washington member and has served in several roles for ARCS National since she joined in 2015. She is currently leading philanthropy efforts for the Metro Washington chapter. She helped the chapter plan and host an ARCS All Members Conference in Washington, D.C. in 2018, which included a speech by Associate Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Sparrell is a chemical engineer who retired from ExxonMobil after 35 years in technical and managerial positions across the Research & Engineering, Marketing & Refining, Supply & Logistics, and Biomedical Sciences divisions, ultimately serving as Global Manager of Process Engineering and Optimization Technologies, where she led a $100 million budget and more than 400 employees worldwide. 

She also served as president of ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., providing product safety, health, and environmental science support across all ExxonMobil businesses. She helped lead complex organizational change, contributed to innovations reflected in her patents and publications, and championed opportunities for women in technical fields as founder and co‑chair of the company’s Downstream Women’s Leadership Team.

“Russell Sage College gave me the skills I needed to begin my career and to grow it in ways I never could have foreseen, and it’s so meaningful to me to receive this honorary degree,” she said. “Looking back, I can see how the college’s motto — Be. Know. Do. — tracks with my experience of building confidence, maintaining curiosity, and bringing people together to accomplish important things.”

As a member of the Russell Sage College Board of Trustees from 2013 to 2025, including six years as chair, Sparrell guided the college through a pivotal era that included both institutional transformation and the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic. During this period, the Albany and Troy campuses were united as a single coeducational college, helping lay the foundation for sustained enrollment growth. The college also achieved a major financial turnaround.

Accepting the honor, Sparrell reflected on her journey.

“As I was listening to that citation, I thought, ‘Is that really me?’ It is a perspective that only comes after decades of looking forward and finally taking a moment to look back. It reminded me that Russell Sage was the starting point for my career and volunteer work.” 

“None of this happens alone, and I am grateful for the people who have been part of it,” continued Sparrell, who credited colleagues on the Board of Trustees and Sage’s leadership, faculty, and staff for their collective work to build a secure future for the college.

She also acknowledged her husband, Duncan; daughters Hillary, Stephanie and Courtney; her son-in-law, Dean; her Russell Sage College roommate and best friend of 52 years, Janet Blakely Rosenberg; and her trustee mentor, Fred Miller.

“Thank you to the entire college community for this tremendous honor.”