Employees With 25-plus Years of Service Honored at Milestones Ceremony

A group of smiling people, first row seated, second two rows standing, wear name tags and hold certificates.
University at Albany employees were recognized for their years of service at a ceremony at ETEC. (Photos by Mario Sotomayor)

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 13, 2025) — Sixty-nine UAlbany faculty and staff were honored Tuesday for being “the lifeblood” of the University. The Milestones ceremony and reception, held at ETEC, honored employees who have worked at UAlbany for 25 years or more.

“Whether you work in a classroom or a research lab, in student affairs or finance, in athletics or advancement, in campus dining or facilities, your work is critical to our university’s success,” President Havidán Rodríguez told the group. “You are the lifeblood of this institution. Your work is what enables this university to fulfill our mission to serve as an engine of opportunity.”

William Kennedy holds a certificate with his name printed on it, while being congratulated by Provost Carol Kim and President Havidán Rodríguez.
Provost Kim and President Rodríguez congratulate William Kennedy for 55 years at the University.

The longest serving employee honored Tuesday was William Kennedy, the Pulitzer-prize winning author, MacArthur “genius” award winner and founder of the New York State Writers Institute. Kennedy has been on the faculty at UAlbany as a professor of journalism and creative writing since 1970.

Last year Kennedy received UAlbany’s highest honor, the Medallion of the University; on Tuesday he received a 3-D printed gold Damien head in honor of his 55 years of service.

Four people stand in front of UAlbany banners, one holding a purple great Dane bust and one holding a certificate with his name, Richard Albagli, printed on it.
Richard Albagli was honored for 50 years in the Department of Music & Theatre.

Honored for 50 years at the University was Richard Albagli, a lecturer in the Department of Music & Theatre. Albagli is principal percussionist with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, and co-founder of both the Adirondack Percussion Ensemble and Associated Solo Artists.

President Rodríguez thanked Vice President for Administration Todd Foreman, Chief Human Resource Officer Gary Evans and their staffs for planning and organizing the celebration. And he thanked all the recipients for their service, whether in the classroom, dining halls, offices, labs or buildings and grounds.

“This University owes you all an immense debt of gratitude for your dedication. The time and talent you have each shared with our community throughout your tenures has changed this University and it has changed lives,” he said. “Without you, there is no University at Albany community.”

Following is a full list of those honored for their years of service:

25 years

  • Richard Aussicker
  • Doreen Bailey
  • Michael Barberich
  • James Bonville
  • Katharine Briar-Lawson
  • Gerald Burke
  • William Burke
  • Marcy Casavant
  • Mary Casella
  • Elizabeth Conrad
  • Kimberly Cozzens
  • Bonnie Diamond
  • Eric Eisenbraun
  • Deborah Forand
  • Patricia Geary
  • Lisa Giovannangelo
  • Maureen Godwin
  • Daniel Goodwin
  • Bettina Heath
  • Mary Kate Hedderman
  • Seiichiro Higashiya
  • Michael Hill
  • D Holdren
  • Hal Lawson
  • Cristian Lenart
  • Jon Mueller
  • Joan Nellhaus
  • Thomas Palmer
  • Benjamin Paultre
  • Marie Rabideau
  • Carol Rodgers
  • Denise Salerno
  • Lotfi Sayahi
  • Karen Schultz
  • Meryl Schwalb
  • Eszter Szalczer
  • Kinsun Tam
  • Alexandre Tchernev
  • Vadim Tokranov
  • Janet Topal
  • Michael Yakimov

30 years

  • Christine Cannata
  • Mei-Hwa Chen
  • José Cruz
  • Susanna Fessler
  • Latoya Jackson
  • William Jaeger
  • Nadieszda Kizenko
  • Jon Mandle
  • Cathleen McCarthy
  • Kim Moran
  • Randall Olocki
  • Donald Orokos
  • Kevin Quinn
  • Eliot Rich
  • Corinna Ripps Schaming
  • Janice Vega
  • Rodger Wyland

35 years

  • Keith Beattie
  • Leslie Carroll
  • Dolores Cimini
  • Thomas Hoey
  • Michael Jaromin
  • Donald Keenan
  • Yin Har Miller
  • Gregory Nowell
  • Patrick Romain
  • David Smith

40 years

  • Shari Kent
  • Carlos Rodríguez

45 years

  • Linda Lawrence
  • Lawrence Schell
  • Kathie Winchester

50 Years

  • Richard Albagli

55 Years

  • William Kennedy