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Donor Profiles • Maria & Arthur Smith • The Burke Endowment • John Kelly III • Morris Massry • • Jill Kanin-Lovers • The Yang Family Scholarships • Lance Vetter • Marcia Brown • |
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Arthur L. Smith of Glens Falls, N.Y., and his late wife, Maria (Mah-RYE-uh) Kelly Smith, B.S.’38, M.S.’50, have funded an endowment to provide Rockefeller College graduate students with valuable internships and projects in state agencies. “My wife felt that some of the happiest years of her life were spent in the education field,” Smith said. “She had a strong attachment to the College for Teachers,” UAlbany’s predecessor. Because the pair had the resources, he said, “She wanted to do something to promote better government.” The two met as kids while swimming in the Hudson River near Waterford, N.Y. Only three months after Pearl Harbor, Smith, who had enlisted in 1939, was the flight engineer on bombing missions out of Australia. When his Martin B-26 was forced to make an emergency landing on Papua, New Guinea, he and six other crewmen luckily were rescued by an Australian unit. After the war, Smith used the G.I. Bill to earn his pilot’s wings and spent 35 years in corporate aviation, retiring from International Paper Corp. in 1980. Maria Kelly had the good grades to win a scholarship at the former New York State College for Teachers when she was 16. She majored in business, married Art in 1945, then spent her career as a teacher and college professor as they moved around the country. She also backed a range of environmental and good government causes. In 1957, heading the League of Women Voters in Poughkeepsie, she won Eleanor Roosevelt’s backing in helping to stop legislation that would have raised barriers to participation in political primaries. Maria died in 1999. Smith sees comparisons between America’s vulnerability to attack before World War II and the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. “Just as we were not prepared for World War II, we were grossly ill-prepared for the recent events,” he said. “The lack of intelligence astonishes me.” — Richard Chady 
Ryan was enrolled in UAlbany’s Department of Reading when he received an Arvid J. Burke Scholarship in May 1999. For the Niskayuna native, the scholarship, which supports School of Education students, “lent a lot of importance to what I was doing at the time: trying to become a teacher. It made me feel as if people other than myself were interested in fostering careers in teaching.” Since the Burkes had passed away just months before — Arvid in January 1999, and Mary in October 1998 — Ryan did not have the opportunity to thank them for their generosity. Still, “I learned that they had been longtime supporters of the School of Education, and that meant a great deal,” he remembers. “Their kindness in encouraging people to enter the teaching profession was very meaningful to me.” Ryan noted that the Burke Scholarship also “increased my confidence in myself and in my ability. Although I graduated at the end of August, I knew I was going to get a good job.” He listed the scholarship on his résumé, and within days landed a position as a reading teacher for seventh- and eighth-grade students at Sand Creek Middle School in the South Colonie Central School District. “I love my job; I truly do,” says Ryan, who began his second year of teaching this past September. With support from the Arvid J. and Mary A. Burke Fellowship in biology, Goodrich-Blair completed her Ph.D. studies at UAlbany. Today, she is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, where she teaches microbial physiology and diversity. The former Avoca, N.Y., resident recalls having lunches with Arvid and Mary. “They were utterly delightful people. They were always interested in hearing about my research. It meant a lot to me that they were willing to support a young student, even if they didn’t quite understand what that student was trying to contribute to the world.” Carrico was also grateful for the Burkes’ support. After conducting research in Richard Zitomer’s UAlbany lab and earning her undergraduate degree in biology in 1988, Carrico accepted a position as technician at Rockefeller Research in New York City, where she studied the genetics of telomere length in Saccharomyces cerevisiae [baker’s yeast]. When she returned to the University a few years later, the Burke Fellowship supported her doctoral studies. The fellowship was “very generous,” she remembers. “It really helped me and other laboratory members. The money actually paid my salary, allowing me to focus on my research. Doctoral students in the biological sciences usually spend about 25 to 50 percent of their time teaching, which can delay research efforts.” The fellowship also freed up a teaching assistantship line so another student could be admitted to the biological sciences department. Carrico now works at Incyte Genomics in Beverly, Mass,. and is an adjunct assistant professor at Albany Medical College’s Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease. Arvid Burke, a School of Education faculty member, was recognized nationally for his expertise in school finance. Because he was also interested in genetics, he and his wife established not only the Burke Scholarship in education that supported Justin Ryan, but also the Burke Fellowship that benefited Pauline Carrico and Heidi Goodrich-Blair. The Burkes, who initially supported the funds with yearly gifts, later endowed a trust fund to support both in perpetuity. A distribution of $250,000 has already been made from the trust, and additional funding is due in 2001-02. — Carol Olechowski 
What inspired Kelly, the senior vice president and group executive of IBM’s Technology group, to steer to UAlbany the single largest donation in IBM’s history and one of the biggest ever in the nation’s higher education history? “Albany has a reputation for a high-quality microelectronics research program and a track record of producing outstanding physics students,” says Kelly, who met Alain Kaloyeros, the head of Albany’s Institute for Materials five years ago while scouting UAlbany as a high-tech site. In addition, he said, IBM’s ties to Albany and other universities “promote a strong local economy and provide a well-trained workforce to allow continued growth of the New York high-tech industry in general.” The technology of computer chips is being driven by efforts to put more and more transistors on a chip to improve speed and power, and that means that the size of transistors has to become smaller and smaller. In the future, researchers envision transistors that are built by manipulating atoms and whose dimensions are at the “nanoscale.” One human hair is about 100,000 nanometers. Many see these tiny structures as driving the next industrial revolution and advancing desktop manufacturing, cellular repair, artificial intelligence, inexpensive space travel, clean and abundant energy, and environmental restoration. IBM’s support, together with New York State’s pledge of up to an additional $50 million, is enabling the University to build right next to the Center for Environmental Sciences and Technology Management (CESTM) the first University-based 300-millimeter computer wafer prototyping and workforce training facility in the world, a facility that will serve as the distinctive physical core of the Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics. The new facility will also include a business incubator and will serve as the home of the new School of Nanosciences and Materials. Not only does the research augment IBM’s $5.6 billion global R&D budget, it nurtures a valuable training ground for future IBM employees by funding up to 20 co-op internships per year. Kelly has already mentored several grads into IBM. — Richard Chady
The Niagara Falls native moved to Troy 50 years ago and has been immersed in community outreach ever since. His work with such organizations as the United Way, the Cerebral Palsy Center for the Disabled, and St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation of Troy and St. Mary’s Hospital board is well documented, as are his tireless efforts on behalf of UAlbany. Massry became involved with the University at Albany in 1987, when he “automatically” became a member of its Foundation board after receiving the Community Laureate Award. In the years since, he has been a Foundation director and served as chair of the Leadership Gifts Committee during the University’s first comprehensive fundraising effort, the $55 million Campaign for Albany. Massry also was a member of the Center for Environmental Sciences and Technology Management (CESTM) design committee, and he played a key role in the acquisition of the East Campus, which is the home of University research faculty, academic programs and private, research-driven companies. Massry and his wife Esther, who are the parents of six children, both view the University at Albany as a vital educational resource for the Capital Region. “It’s affordable for many students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to handle the tuition, so it’s important that we support the University,” Massry said. To that end, he is working with the Foundation to build its endowment. Paul T. Stec, C.P.A., M.B.A.’81, UAlbany’s vice president for finance and business, said Massry has played a central role in real property issues of critical importance to the University. “His leadership, vision and expertise have been very important to us,” Stec said. Massry, who founded Tri City Rentals, a firm that owns and manages properties in the Capital Region as well as in Buffalo and Rochester, is also helping to build UAlbany’s physical facilities: He is president of the Student Housing Corporation, which is overseeing the construction of Empire Commons at the northwest edge of the uptown campus. The 26-building complex, which will provide housing for 1,200 undergraduates and graduate students, is set for completion by January 2003. — Carol Olechowski 
“I just fell in love with it. Economics opened up my eyes to things that got me excited,” says Kanin-Lovers, B.A.’72, who eventually majored in history and minored in not one, but three subjects: economics, political science and peace studies. Today, she is the senior vice president for human resources at Avon Products, Inc., in Manhattan, the largest direct seller of beauty products in the world. The first grandchild in her family to earn a college degree, Kanin-Lovers (pronounced KAY nin-LUV ers) graduated from Martin Van Buren High School in Queens when she was 16. She knew that her family could not afford to send her to any institution other than a SUNY or CUNY school. “From everything I had read, Albany was the best school in the system. When I went to school, you were either going to be a nurse or a teacher, and Albany had a very good reputation for (producing) teachers. Of course, I didn’t become a teacher, but I did my research, and I felt Albany would be a good school for me,” she said. Two professors stand out in her memory, Dr. Said Shah, who taught economics, and Dr. Richard Kendall, who taught history. “I remember that Dr. Kendall made me angry because he would say such provocative things in class. It was the only class in which I received a “C.” But he taught me things I didn’t realize I was learning until later,” says Kanin-Lovers. Besides her responsibilities for more than 40,000 Avon associates around the globe, Kanin-Lovers is on the board of the Avon Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, which recently awarded UAlbany’s Initiatives for Women program $100,000 to support ten nontraditional women students with academic promise but financial need. The goal of the Avon-Life Impact Scholarships is to give women the opportunity to complete a four-year degree and achieve long-term success. “I didn’t know about the proposal until it came through the (Foundation) board,” says Kanin-Lovers. “I was so impressed because it meshed so well with our values at Avon. We discussed it at length because we don’t give away $100,000 without a lot of thought. There are a lot of good programs out there, and we want to select ones that make a difference in individual lives.” Last Oct. 10, Kanin-Lovers came back to campus to participate in a dialogue with UAlbany President Karen Hitchcock highlighting the annual Initiatives for Women dinner. The topics included professional empowerment, philanthropic responsibility and Avon’s e-evolution. “Avon, in particular, places great emphasis on the importance of relationship building. The relationships our Avon representatives establish with their clients make this company very special and our customers very loyal,” Kanin-Lovers said. Before joining Avon in 1998, Kanin-Lovers was vice president, global human resources, for IBM Corp. in Tarrytown, N.Y. She holds an M.A. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at Penn. — Christine McKnight and Pamela Lowe Editor's Note: Applications for the ninth round of Initiatives for Women Awards will be available Jan. 23, 2002, and are due by March 4. Last year IFW granted 37 awards totaling over $27,000. For more information, click on albany.edu/ifw/. 
The Yang Family Scholarships were established through the generosity of Mark Yang of New York City, a 1992 graduate who is dedicated to helping minority students and to giving a boost to persons who need a “second chance.” Yang, a native of Taiwan who grew up in comfortable Scarsdale after emigrating here at age 14, said he was impressed with UAlbany’s rich cultural environment. “Albany has a very diverse student body and terrific people who care about what they do,” he said. “If you want the opportunity to succeed, Albany will give you that.” While majoring in chemistry, Yang served as a tutor and helped with fund-raising events through the Chinese Students Association. Now an attorney and portfolio manager with UBS PaineWebber, his alumni activities led him to benefit two programs. • Establishing the Yang Family Scholarships for persons in need, particularly those seeking a “second chance.” The program is administered through Carson Carr, UAlbany’s associate dean for academic affairs. • Enhancing the Spellman Achievement Awards for minority undergraduates who excel in academics, leadership and community services. Carl G. Martin, assistant vice president for student affairs, oversees this program. The family scholarships provide modest, but often crucial support to help students continue in school. “We lend a helping hand here and there,” Yang said. “It’s the little things that can really bog you down.” “We often see students on the verge of dropping out,” Carr said. “This is the incentive for them to continue.” Yang’s gift also enhanced the Spellman program, which awards certificates to all minority students who earn at least a 3.0 and further recognizes the top male and female minority students for each undergraduate class. The latter receive plaques and cash awards. Yang’s grant means that the 15-year-old program can be made permanent and the stipends increased. “It provides an opportunity for the campus to recognize outstanding academic achievement,” Martin said. “And it serves as an incentive for other students to strive to be the best they can be academically.” — Richard Chady 
Vetter, an avid polo player and fan, recently suggested to Vice President for Advancement Robert Ashton that sponsoring a polo match and inviting alumni and friends to watch would be a way to pull alumni together for a good time. Ashton liked the idea, and, last August 28, with Vetter’s support, the University held its first-ever polo event to benefit the Department of Athletics and Recreation. Everyone who attended the event in Saratoga Springs enjoyed watching the game, vying for sports-related items at a silent auction and cheering on their favorite player in the long ball contest. The latter included such infamous players as Karen “the Crusher” Hitchcock and Bob “Mustang” Ford — UAlbany’s football coach and one of Vetter’s favorite people from his Albany days. At UAlbany, Vetter began to understand that personal characteristics such as empathy and creativity can be as important to a person’s success as knowledge. “I think empathy and creativity are the qualities that make me good at what I do,” says the 38-year-old entrepreneur, inventor, consultant, husband, father, sports fan, polo player and ex-Marine. “In order to be effective, I have to be keenly aware of each company’s needs, and sometimes the top brass is either unable or reluctant to articulate those needs. That’s where empathy comes in. Often, the needs of the companies don’t appear to mesh. That’s where creativity comes in.” Vetter refers to his Albany days as “a positive and eye-opening experience,” crediting people like Coach Bob Ford and Professor Stanley Blount with treating students like people first and athletes or students second. When Vetter isn’t creating deals for companies, playing polo or inventing educational children’s toys, he’s a family man. His wife, Lori, has her own management company running doctors’ offices, and his children, David, 14, and Alexis, 6, are stars in their own right. David has achieved straight As for five years running and Alexis models for domestic and international magazines and companies such as Burlington Coats. They live in Boca Raton, Fla. — Linda Wheeler 
“I was grateful for the training I received, for the fellowship with other students, but also for the friendships with some of the excellent faculty at that small college,” says Brown, B.A.’40, who majored in English literature and drama. Harold Thompson, Agnes Futterer and Edith Wallace all stand out in her memory. She describes them as faculty who “left their students changed forever . . . Each of these teachers always seemed to have time, time to listen, time to converse, time to warn, time to plot the future. . . .Now, I admire today’s much larger University, led by a keen and gifted president.” Brown’s collection, donated to the University Libraries’ M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, documents her life’s work from her first book, The Little Carousel (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1946), to her last book, How the Ostrich Got Its Long Neck, by Verna Aardema (New York: Scholastic, 1995). Brown has generously provided funding support to process, organize, preserve and exhibit this unique research collection. She has also donated funds to support graduate students from the School of Information Science and Policy and the History Department’s Public History Program. They process collections and develop finding aids, databases and exhibits, and enhance their education with “hands-on” experience in Special Collections and Archives. “I have been asked why I chose the University at Albany to receive contributions . . . I think of them as a debt being repaid. One can rarely repay a gift in kind, but out of gratitude one can insure its continuance. Each of us can help young people develop the flexibility of mind and spirit that can enable their gifts to go on,” she said. In honor of her intellectual and financial contributions to the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, the Department’s Research Room was dedicated as The Marcia Brown Research Room at a ceremony last Nov. 2. As a leading illustrator and author of children’s books, many of which bring to life fairy tales and folklore from other lands and times, Brown noted that “majoring in English literature and drama in college proved to be more valuable than I could foresee. The plot lines of suspense and action constantly mounting to a climax, then tapering off into peace or perhaps acquired wisdom, are part of well-told tales for children as well as of adult plays.” A three time recipient of the American Library Association’s Caldecott Medal — given to the U.S. illustrator of the most distinguished picture book for children during the preceding year — Brown continues to paint in her studio in California, now focusing on Chinese art. — Dorothy Christiansen |
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