UAlbany News

UAlbany Economic Impact Tops $1 Billion Annually The economic impact of UAlbany upon New York state has topped the billion-dollar mark annually. These findings were part of an extensive economic impact study of the University conducted by the Capital District Regional Planning Commission. Details.

UAlbany'03 Graduates Reveal Their Adventures in Real Life Last year just before Commencement, we profiled five UAlbany seniors. They talked about their undergraduate experiences and their hopes and plans for the future. Twelve months later, curiosity got the better of us, so we contacted them to see how they were doing. Here are their accounts as to what life is like in the "real world." Details.

Interim Provost and Vice President for Research Announced Jeryl Mumpower has been appointed interim provost for the University. Mumpower replaces Carlos Santiago, who left at the end of the academic year to accept the position of chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition, Lynn Videka has been appointed interim vice president for Research, to fill the vacancy left by Mumpower's new appointment. Videka is a professor of social welfare and has a served as dean of the School of Social Welfare from 1989-1999.

University Libraries Announce Two New Endowments The Preservation of Tradition Fund for the University Libraries officially was launched June 5 at a Myskania Reunion. The fund, initiated by Phillip Shepherd ’60 and Frances Cicero Shepherd ’62, will provide funds for the preservation of the University’s history and traditions through support of the M.E. Grenander Special Collections and Archives. Matthew Ostoyich ’57, MA ’61, and Sandra Ostoyich, MLS ’71 also have initiated a new endowment fund, Honoring Our Professors Endowed Fund for University Libraries. This fund will acquire, strengthen and maintain the libraries’ collections of materials related to the arts and sciences. The goal for both funds is $100,000 by June 2008. To contribute to either fund, contact Roberta Armstrong at (518) 442-3540 or [email protected]

Campaign Update The word continues to spread about UAlbany’s BOLD.VISION campaign. Alumni receptions were held in Buffalo and Rochester last month with Interim President John Ryan, and regional kickoffs will be held in Philadelphia , PA ; Raleigh , NC ; Chicago , IL ; and Long Island , NY ; later this month. Details.

Schools and Colleges

UAlbany Mourns the Loss of Susan Sherman Nationally known gerontologist Susan R. Sherman, 64, died June 3 of cancer. Until her retirement in 2003, Sherman was a distinguished service professor in the School of Social Welfare and the School of Public Health , as well as a faculty research associate of UAlbany’s Institute of Gerontology , of which she was a founder and former director. She previously served as dean of the School of Social Welfare , where she taught for more than 25 years. Details.

Thomas Begley Receives James D. Watson Investigator Award Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences Thomas Begley, whose research focuses on cellular responses to chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat cancer, is the recipient of a $200,000 grant through the James D. Watson Investigator program. Begley is one of 10 young scientists at New York universities whose work is being recognized with Watson awards. Details.

National Education Council Honors Susan Phillips The National School Development Council honored UAlbany School of Education Dean Susan Phillips with its annual Cooperative Leadership Award in May. The award recognizes outstanding leadership and efforts to establish cooperative relationships to improve educational programs for students in the nation’s schools. Details.

Rizzo Represents Social Work Researchers on Capitol Hill Vicki Rizzo, Ph.D., the executive director for the Elder Network for the Capital Region in the School of Social Welfare , participated in the 10th anniversary of the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research on Capitol Hill in Washington , D.C. Rizzo has been actively involved in efforts to promote government funding opportunities for social work research on aging. Rizzo was one of 12 social work researchers chosen to represent the profession at the national level.

Athletics

11th Annual Golf Classic Rescheduled The 11th Annual Great Danes Scholarship Golf Classic has been rescheduled for June 28 due to inclement weather. Proceeds from the event, which will be held at Shaker Ridge Country Club in Loudonville , NY , will directly benefit UAlbany athletic scholarships. For more information, email Donald Ostrom or call him at (518) 437-4416. Details.

Seniors Qualify for Track Championships UAlbany seniors Teresa Covert and Brandon Howlett have qualified for the NCAA Division I outdoor track & field championships to be held June 9-12 in Austin , TX . Covert placed fifth in the 100-meter hurdles, while Howlett was fourth in the discus at the NCAA East Regional on May 29 at the University of Florida 's Pearcy Beard Track.

more great dane news!

Of Note

Welcome New Alumni Association Board Members! The UAlbany Alumni Association voted in seven new members to the board of directors June 5: Alan Goggins ’84; Carole Harnoff ’74; Matthew Ostoyich ’57, ’61, ’70; Christopher Thompson ’95; Brian Woods ’94, ’97; Shannon Ritter ’92, ’94; and Sean Maguire ’00. From a variety of backgrounds and class years, they will add new perspectives and fresh ideas to the board. Welcome!

Events

Reunion Revolution! UAlbany’s new reunion structure kicked off earlier this month when the classes of 1934-1969 gathered at UAlbany to celebrate their history together. A weekend of events focussing on the downtown campus, class gatherings and reconnecting was enjoyed by all! Alumni classes 1974-2004 should mark their calendars to participate in Homecoming 2004, October 8-10, to take part in their own reunion revolution! Check the alumni calendar for more Homecoming details as they become available. Details.

Museum Announces Summer Exhibitions The University Art Museum will present two free exhibitions this summer. In Five Ways to Say the Same Sadness: New Work by William Pope.L, internationally recognized performance and installation artist William Pope.L will challenge ideas about class, race and American consumer culture. In mALORsUDas sOLarMB: Selected Works by Phil Frost, Frost will transform the museum’s upper level with his rhythmic, idiosyncratic visual language of dots, dashes, hearts and swirls drawn on found objects and collaged surfaces. Details.

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