Professor of English/Remedial Specialist Naftali Rottenstreich
  • Faculty Queensbury

Naftali Rottenstreich

  • Professor of English/Remedial Specialist

"My parents came to the United States as working-class immigrants. Neither of them had a formal education. But they understood and emphasized the role that school could play in achieving one's dreams. Higher education, in particular, was a real mystery to them. Nonetheless, they made tremendous sacrifices to make certain that my brothers and I saw the experience through. College was my ticket to a better life ― a life far more prosperous and stable than my parents'. Having taught at the college level for more than 20 years, I am more convinced than ever that education remains the single most effective vehicle for social mobility and self-discovery. I love helping students discover their path to personal and professional fulfillment."

Biography

It was as a student at Brooklyn College that Naftali first experienced the transformative potential of education. He maintains a profound debt to those teachers who helped him discover his own possibilities. For the past 25 years, Naftali has tried to honor that debt by helping his own students  recognize their own promise and realize their own ambitions. His single guiding question remains, "How do I better serve my students?"

Before coming to SUNY Adirondack, Naftali owned and operated Red Fox Books in downtown Glens Falls. 

Education

Bachelor of Arts in English from Brooklyn College (CUNY), 1990; Master of Arts in English from George Mason University, 1993; Ph.D. in 20th Century American Literature from the Graduate Center, CUNY, 2003

Hobbies and interests

Naftali is an avid walker and photographer. He loves to garden and camp, travel and read. He also recently discovered the joys of improv.