University at Albany Foundation Announces 2025 Citizen Laureates

By Amy Geduldig

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 10, 2025) — Thomas Tyrrell, Marcia J. White and Andrew Berglund have been named 2025 Citizen Laureates by The University at Albany Foundation. The awards honor outstanding leaders in business and industry, government and academia, who have helped transform the Capital Region community through service and philanthropy.

Tyrrell and White were named Community Laureates in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Capital Region and beyond. Berglund was named Academic Laureate, an award that honors notable achievements in academia and research.

"The University at Albany Foundation is honored to celebrate three visionary leaders whose contributions in business, public service and academic research have strengthened the Capital Region,” said Fardin Sanai, vice president for university advancement and executive director of The University at Albany Foundation. “The annual Citizen Laureate Awards Dinner is an incredible opportunity to recognize the achievements of our community while advancing support for UAlbany students. I would like to thank the Citizen Laureate Advisory Committee and all those who submitted nominations. We look forward to gathering in October to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2025 Laureates and to continue building opportunities for our students through this signature event.”

The awardees will be honored at the annual Citizen Laureate Awards dinner to be held Thursday, Oct. 30, at UAlbany’s Broadview Center.

Since its inception in 1977, the Foundation’s Citizen Laureate celebration has supported hundreds of students with its annual gala dinner, a signature fundraising event for UAlbany student scholarships. The program has successfully brought together the academic and business communities of the Capital Region, and its endowment has grown to over $2 million.

For more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities, visit Citizen Laureate or contact UAlbany’s Office of University Events at (518) 442-5310. 

Meet the 2025 Citizen Laureates:

Community Laureate: Thomas Tyrrell

Born in Albany, Thomas Tyrrell began his insurance career in 1974 with Fuller & O’Brien Inc. in Albany. He served in a variety of executive capacities with the agency and was elected president in 2002. Fuller & O’Brien joined the brokerage firm of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in 2008, whereupon Tyrrell became Albany area president and subsequently Albany area chairman in 2012. He joined Rose & Kiernan Inc. in 2014 as vice president and senior construction industry liaison.

Community Laureate: Marcia White

Marcia J. White served as president of The College of Saint Rose, where she prioritized the development of the college's mission-driven inclusive living and learning environment. A Saint Rose alum, she led the college during the global pandemic, the national reflection on race and social justice following the murder of George Floyd and intense economic challenges, particularly in higher education. During her presidency, she made extraordinary efforts with the Saint Rose board to lead the college on a path to sustainability. While those efforts were unsuccessful, her commitment to Saint Rose students never wavered. Working with the college’s provost, she ensured all students were provided support to complete their Saint Rose degrees or given options for seamless transfer, with more than 230 Saint Rose students transferring to UAlbany. 

Prior to her appointment at Saint Rose, White had an extensive career in public service. She held the position of press secretary to the majority in the New York State Senate and served as president and executive director of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, where she led a financial and artistic transformation that ensured the SPAC's continuation as a preeminent cultural institution and major economic driver in the Capital Region.

Academic Laureate: Andrew Berglund, PhD

Director of the University at Albany’s RNA Institute and professor of biological sciences, Andrew Berglund’s scientific career has revolved around understanding the role of RNA in biology. His research focuses on neuromuscular diseases, with the goal of translating basic science into therapeutic strategies using a combination of biochemical, cellular, genomic and computational approaches. For the past 16 years at the universities of Oregon and Florida, his research group has focused on RNA splicing with an emphasis on understanding the mechanisms of a common form of muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy and other microsatellite diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinocerebellar ataxias. 

At UAlbany, Berglund and his team played a pivotal role in the testing for COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic. As director of the RNA Institute, he serves to bring together talented researchers united by a common goal in understanding the role of RNA across different fields and is committed to training students and future generations of scientists to advance critical biomedical research in the Capital Region.