The Rockefeller College Advisory Board made their first visit to the College since the founding of the Advisory Board by former Dean Frank Thompson. The Advisory Board has two chapters, one in New York City and another in Washington D.C and they usually hold their biannual meetings in either of these locations. However, this was a perfect opportunity for the Advisory Board members to meet our new dean, Jeffrey Straussman, and see the college, some for the first time since graduation.
In the evening some of the advisory board members had the opportunity to talk with undergraduate students at Alumni house on the Uptown campus. The students included representatives from the Political Science Honors Program, Public Policy, Washington Semester, Pi Sigma Alpha, and the Program in Financial Market Regulation.
Dean Jeffrey Straussman, Co-CHair Lewis Wiener, Board Member Frank Jazzo, Professors Jose Cruz and David Rousseau
Friday proved to be a very busy day with a variety of activities on both the Downtown and East campuses. The Rockefeller College Public Administration program held their Professional Applications class on the East campus on Friday 27th, with various presentations by the students. The board members participated in this by being part of the panel evaluating this and giving out the prestigious “Rockys.” Also on Friday morning, on the Downtown Campus board members listened to four doctoral student presentations from both the Public Administration and Political Science departments, having a range from those who are beginning their dissertation to those nearing the end of the road.
Lunch was served on the East Campus in conjunction with the Professional Applications class and then the advisory board committee meetings with the three committees, career services, development and programming having their meetings simultaneously. The Career Services Committee invited a group of students to participate in their discussions about internships and job preparation and placement. The biannual board meeting was held in the Levitt Room on the Downtown Campus, chaired by co – chairmen Jeffery Mishkin and Lewis Wiener and the first board meeting for Dean Jeffrey Straussman, in which board members listened to talks by six faulty members publishing books this year on a variety of subjects. Then on Saturday the rain held off while some board members enjoyed the UAlbany football game.
This was an excellent opportunity both for students to connect with the board members and put names to faces as well as for the board members to remember the college, visit the bookstore to pick up much wanted University at Albany t–shirts, meet the new dean and interact with each other in a different setting. The event was a great success and we look forward to periodically holding future meetings on campus.
