Retired Employee Spotlight - Mary Katherine "Kathy" Snyder '75/M'85
Jul 1, 2025 10:00 AM
eNews Retired Employee Spotlight highlights former employees who made a difference on our campus every day and helped to change the lives of our students. This edition of eNews features Mary Katherine "Kathy" Snyder '75/M'85.
Department Retired From: Human Resources, Vice President
How long did you work at FSU?
20 years - Full-time for 19 years and continued with the Employee Development and Leadership Series for another year.
What 3 words can you use to describe FSU?
Welcoming, caring, dynamic. (At least it was then!)
List any professional or personal accomplishments we can celebrate with you.
Probably my proudest accomplishment was ending Contingent employment. For too long, many employees worked in a contingent status for years without benefits, while doing the same work as their colleagues. I developed a plan to convert, over a period of years, all contingent employees to regular status. and Dr. Gibralter allowed it to be implemented. We were the only school in the USM to do so. Unfortunately, I understand this is no longer the case which is of great disappointment to me.
Along with Dr. Jeff McClellan, I worked to establish the Employee Development and Leadership Series, a year-long program designed to help prepare University employees for leadership roles.
I negotiated the first ever collective bargaining agreements with Exempt and Nonexept Employees and Campus Police and continued as chief Negotiator for those agreements throughout my career. We always strived - on both sides - to establish mutually beneficial agreements and maintain positive and respectful relationships. I think we did a pretty good job of that.
What was your favorite thing about working at Frostburg State University?
The people and the sense of pride we all had as part of the University. It was truly a family atmosphere.
What advice would you give to current students?
Work hard, play hard, and always be true to yourself. It’s you, you have to look at in the mirror every day.
What is a cause near and dear to your heart and why?
Family - not necessarily a “cause” but the most important thing in my life.
I support several Autism charities and foundations as we continue to search for a better understanding of this condition and work to ensure that people on the autism spectrum are successful members of our society.
In addition, animals have always been a wonderful part of my life and I currently serve as Secretary of The Allegany County Animal Foundation Board.
I also serve as Vice President of the Allegany County Retired School Personnel Association.
What do you do for fun or keeps you busy in retirement?
I have fun whatever I do and if I don’t it’s my own fault! I spend time with family and long-time friends, I have eight perfect grandchildren, I walk about 4 miles a day with my four-legged buddy Henry, watch British TV and finally get to read as much as I like. In addition, we’ve been bitten by the travel bug and Viking Cruise Line has become our good friend. Along with river cruises, to celebrate our 50th anniversary (We got married over spring break while at FSU), my husband and I just returned from a 15 day Viking Ocean Cruise around The British Isles. There’s the annual family trek to OBX - all 16 of us - and of course, just the joy of being with family. We can always find an excuse to get the whole gang together and celebrate!
Do you stay connected to other retirees or current faculty/staff?
Absolutely!! I was fortunate to establish life-long friendships during my tenure at FSU and they are very important to me. We make it a point to remain in touch and to get together as often as possible.
Kathy Barger Snyder ’75/M’85 and her husband, David L. Snyder ’75, both graduated from Frostburg State and started a Frostburg legacy that has extended to their three daughters,– Carrie (Snyder) Jaso ’01, Katherine “Kate" (Snyder) Loughrie ’03/M’04 and Jillian (Snyder) Fradiska ’05/M’07, a son in- law Sean D. Fradiska ’96 and granddaughter, Emily F. Fradiska ’22. She is pictured here with her 8 grandchildren.
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