UAlbany Honors its Veterans at Opening of the New Great Dane Hall of Service

A man in a green jacket and dark cap takes a photo of a wall adorned with photos and artist renderings of UAlbany veterans

David Sosa ’92, a Marine Corps veteran whose daughter is a UAlbany student, gets a closer look at the Veterans Wall of Honor during a celebration of the opening of the Great Dane Hall of Service inside UAlbany's Main Library. (Photos by Patrick Dodson)

By Amy Geduldig

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 8, 2025) — The University at Albany honored students and alumni that have served in the United States Armed Forces with the opening of the new Great Dane Hall of Service and rededicated Veterans Wall of Honor on May 7.

The new Great Dane Hall of Service features UAlbany's historic Veterans Wall of Honor, a 36-foot paneled mural that features a list of 4,370 names of past and present students, faculty and staff who served during war or peace time. The nine panels, which were unveiled in 2001, were part of the UAlbany Veterans Project led by alum Eunice Whittlesey '44 and a group of dedicated volunteers. Names are updated annually and since the initial unveiling, approximately 1,300 names have been added to the wall, furthering the original goal of the project to remember the sacrifices and achievements of University veterans.

A man in glasses and blue suit waves at a man with white hair and a raised arm. — President Rodríguez called out to fellow veterans in the audience during the dedication of the of the Great Dane Hall of Service.

UAlbany President and U. S. Air Force veteran Havidán Rodríguez welcomed veterans and the campus community to the new commemorative space, which is on the garden level of University Library on Uptown Campus. Attendees included Dahl Taylor, the artist who created the Veterans’ Wall of Honor, and graduating senior Danielle Gandelman, a Public Affairs & Policy major with a concentration in American Politics, who was honored for their work as a Newman Civic Fellow (a program run by Campus Compact). Gandelman spoke about their public service and volunteer work in the community.

“As Great Danes, we are all called to serve our community in different ways," President Rodríguez said. "The new Great Dane Hall of Service is a testament to the University at Albany’s commitment to the veterans who are a part of our community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni. The new Hall of Service also pays homage to myriad other ways Great Danes serve our community, including through mentoring, volunteering and community-engaged scholarship. As a veteran, I am proud of my service to this country and proud to honor the service of my fellow UAlbany community members.”

In addition to the thousands of students honored, the Great Dane Hall of Service reflects the traditions of UAlbany — named after its beloved Great Dane mascot and designed in the school’s colors of purple and gold. The space also highlights the reach of the University’s veterans through a display that illustrates their engagement and service to the country. A second veterans' memorial is located at the University's Downtown campus, featuring three plaques that were honored with a rededication several years ago.

The campus community is invited to contribute to the project in a number of different ways, including: suggesting additions to the Veterans Wall of Honor of UAlbany individuals who have joined the military; sharing virtual materials or remembrances to be displayed in the University’s digital archives; or offering further support through the University’s Alumni Association, which can be contacted at [email protected]. Veterans can submit photos and letters from their time in military service to be considered for the space.

The Great Dane Hall of Service is part of the University’s ongoing effort to enhance spaces at the University Libraries, including the opening of the new President’s Reading Room last September. The $43,000 renovation of the new reading room the second floor of the University Library features a gallery of portraits of UAlbany’s leaders since its founding, flanked by photos of distinguished professors.