Albany Mayor and Nobel Prize Winner to Speak at UAlbany 2026 Commencement

By Amy Geduldig

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 4, 2026) — The University at Albany will welcome back Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs and Nobel Prize-winning scientist Joachim Frank as keynote speakers for its 2026 Commencement ceremonies. Applyrs, a double alum (MPH ’05, DrPH ’14) will speak at the University-wide undergraduate ceremony on the morning of May 16. Frank, a former UAlbany professor, will speak later that afternoon at the graduate ceremony and receive an honorary degree.  

“I am delighted to welcome two exceptional speakers, Albany Mayor Dr. Dorcey Applyrs and Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Joachim Frank, to the University at Albany’s 2026 commencement ceremonies. As a two-time UAlbany alum, Mayor Applyrs’ personal story of graduating from our university and building a life dedicated to public service will resonate with students during our undergraduate ceremony. And Dr. Frank’s journey of perseverance and scientific discovery will inspire students at our graduate ceremony. Both Dr. Applyrs and Dr. Frank embody UAlbany’s commitment to empowering our graduates to unleash greatness. I look forward to celebrating UAlbany’s Class of 2026 with them,” said Havidán Rodríguez, president of the University at Albany.  

Mayor Applyrs 

A proud UAlbany alum, Applyrs is the 76th mayor of Albany. She brings a deep background in public health and previously served as the city's chief city auditor. Her administration is focused on people-first leadership, equity, accountability and measurable results that improve daily life for Albany residents. Mayor Applyrs centers her work on expanding economic mobility, strengthening public safety and community trust, increasing housing stability and improving public health and neighborhood vitality.  

“My experience as a student at UAlbany was life changing. Earning my degrees here shaped who I am today, connecting me to a community that has become deeply important to me and my family, and opening doors to a life of purpose and public service. This is a joyful and significant milestone, and I am so happy to celebrate this special moment with our graduates,” said Applyrs.  

Joachim Frank  

Joachim Frank is a biophysicist considered to be the founder of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), a technique now widely used to determine the structure of biological molecules.  In 2017, Frank was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Richard Henderson and Jacques Dubochet.   

Frank studied physics at the University of Freiburg and received a doctorate from the Technical University of Munich, for a dissertation in the laboratory of Walter Hoppe at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry focusing on image processing of electron micrographs. After his postdoctoral studies in the U. S. and the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, he joined the Wadsworth Center as a senior research scientist and became part of UAlbany’s founding faculty for the department of biomedical sciences. Frank has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades for his development of the mathematical and computational foundations of cryo-EM and the application of this technique to the study of ribosome structure and function. Since 2008 he has been at Columbia University, where he is a professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, and a professor of biological sciences.  

“Coming back to this campus on this very special occasion and seeing the success of class 2026 and the smiles on your and your parents’ faces is a wonderful experience.  I wish you all the best in the coming years, and, particularly, stamina and courage to stand up for what is right,” said Frank.

UAlbany will host a series of in-person commencement events from Thursday, May 14, through Sunday, May 17, to celebrate the Class of 2026. Additional information about commencement schedules and details is available on the University’s website.