Massry Fellows Make an Impact at Local Nonprofits

ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 2, 2026) — Four UAlbany students spent the summer volunteering with Capital Region nonprofits addressing food insecurity, end-of-life care, literacy and services for older adults as part of the Massry Community Service Fellows Program.

Established in 2014 through a gift from the Massry Family Foundation, the program provides scholarship support to UAlbany students who complete 400 hours of community service with a local nonprofit organization. Fellows gain hands-on experience under professional supervision while learning how nonprofits operate and applying their academic knowledge in community settings.

This year's fellows are pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology and informatics, literacy, educational policy and leadership and social welfare. Their experiences ranged from improving food safety technology to supporting multilingual learners and exploring creative approaches to dementia care.

Alaina Marino

Alaina Marino, who expects to graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in biology and informatics, with a concentration in data analysis, served at the Joan Nicole Prince Home in Scotia, which provides end-of-life care to people with terminal illnesses.

Working under Executive Director Toni Warren, Marino gained experience at a health care-focused nonprofit while applying skills from both areas of study.

Her fellowship also led to an opportunity to continue working with the organization as its assistant director.

“One of the most meaningful outcomes of the Massry Fellowship was the opportunity to transition into the Assistant Director position at the Joan Nicole Prince Home," said Marino. "I believe the experiences, skills, and confidence I gained throughout the fellowship prepared me to take on this new role and continue contributing to the organization beyond the Fellowship.”

Rabab Mesbahi

Rabab Mesbahi, a doctoral student in literacy, volunteered with Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus (RISSE), working under Kaira Kristbergs, director of adult education.

Mesbahi supported adult English learners and prepared educational materials, drawing on her knowledge of Arabic, French, Spanish and English to help students understand unfamiliar concepts and feel more comfortable in the classroom.

She hopes to become a professor and researcher supporting multilingual learners and preparing future educators.

“Our classroom brought together people whose lives began in different countries and continents, each carrying their own knowledge, experiences, and hopes," said Mesbahi.

She noted that when she shared a language with learners, she could use it to explain an unfamiliar idea, clarify instructions or help someone feel more comfortable asking a question.

"Sometimes, a few familiar words were enough to begin a conversation and build a connection," added Mesbahi.

James Flomo-Kellen

James Flomo-Kellen, a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Policy & Leadership, volunteered with Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region under the supervision of Sara Adams, the organization's health and wellness leader.

At Trinity Alliance's food pantry at 15 Trinity Place in Albany, Flomo-Kellen worked with clients from various backgrounds, assisting with food distribution, inventory management and daily operations.

His fellowship also combined administrative responsibilities with technical work aimed at improving the pantry's operations.

“A major contribution of my fellowship was completing a technical project that had been pending for over a year," Flomo-Kellen said. "I installed and configured Mocreo remote temperature sensors in the pantry’s cooling units and created a clear inventory and guide for staff."

The improvements strengthened food safety monitoring, helped prevent food waste and supported the pantry's emergency feeding program.

"This work taught me how to serve people respectfully, manage busy environments and apply administrative skills in real community settings," he added.

Molly Bray-Hayes

Molly Bray-Hayes, who expects to graduate in May with a PhD in social welfare, served at Bright Horizons Adult Day Services at the Beltrone Living Center, a program of Colonie Senior Service Center, under Director Sue Napierski.

The fellowship allowed Bray-Hayes to explore practical applications of her arts-based dissertation research with people experiencing cognitive changes due to dementia. 

Working directly with participants and staff helped deepen her understanding of creative expression, trust and personal connection in dementia care.

“I feel as though a part of me was left there with the people I grew to know, the laughter we shared, the trust we built, and the parts of our creative selves we discovered," Bray-Hayes said. "As I move forward, I’m not sure what my academic and professional future holds, but I know it will be foundationally informed by my time at Bright Horizons."