IBM Innovator Nick Donofrio to Deliver 12th Annual Bunshaft Lecture at UAlbany
ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 3, 2025) — Nick Donofrio, the former executive vice president of innovation and technology at IBM, will deliver the fall 2025 Bunshaft Lecture at 4 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Main Theatre at the University’s Performing Arts Center.
Be it Watson, Blue Gene or the Genographic Project, Donofrio knows the inside stories behind the birth of landmark technologies at IBM. He’s also grounded in life lessons that he learned growing up in a blue-collar household. Last month he was was recognized at the Waves of Change STEM Global Competitiveness Conference for his leadership in creating, supporting and enabling an environment of opportunity and growth at IBM.
Donofrio, who spent 44 years at IBM before retiring in 2008, remains active in the tech space by serving on scientific boards. For example, as a trustee for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), he was instrumental in helping to establish the first flagship NSTC site at the NY Creates Albany NanoTech Complex that’s home to UAlbany’s Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering.
The annual Bunshaft Lecture — presented by UAlbany’s College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering and endowed by alumni Albert Bunshaft ’80 and Caryn Bunshaft ’82 — gives students topical information about careers in computing and engineering sciences.
A reception following Donofrio’s talk will take place at 5 p.m. in the PAC’s Fetterer Lounge. Donofrio will answer questions from the audience and sign copies of his book, If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes, which will be available for purchase.
The event is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of UAlbany. For more information and a link to register, visit the Bunshaft Lecture page.