Campus, Community Come Together for Great Dane Dialogue

Photos by Patrick Dodson

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 17, 2026) — Thousands of first-year students participated in a week of lively conversation and connection through UAlbany’s Great Dane Dialogue. Bringing together the campus community and local leaders, the initiative offered students opportunities to hear different perspectives, engage thoughtfully across differences and build the skills needed to navigate disagreement with empathy and respect.

Exploring themes of civic engagement, inclusivity and civil discourse, this week’s programming featured talks with former New York State Sen. Neil Breslin, journalist and author Suketu Mehta, Bria Nickerson, executive director of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, and other campus and community leaders. University Libraries held its Banned Books Read-Out on Tuesday and will host a Marathon Reading of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence today in honor of Constitution Day.

Congratulations to the First-Year Experience program, University Libraries, participating faculty, staff, alumni and community partners who ushered in a successful event that kept students talking, listening and learning.

Fall 2026 Great Dane Dialogue. Bria Nickerson (left), executive director of the NYS Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus and Folake Oyedokun, district director for NYS Assemblymember Gabriella Romero in a discussion moderated by Naishaly Velez Galan (center), survivor advocate, UAlbany Office of Health Promotion.
Photo by Patrick Dodson
Fall 2026 Great Dane Dialogue with Christopher Ellis, deputy mayor of Albany and Rabbi Nomi Manon, executive director of UAlbany Hillel.
Zakhar Berkovich, director of undergraduate student services at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and Sally Friedman, associate professor of political science at Rockefeller, address students.
Photo by Patrick Dodson
Serena White-Lake, member of the Albany Board of Education, and Owusu Anane, member of the Albany's Common Council, chat with students after a panel moderated by alum Nicholas Chin.
Former New York State Sen. Neil Breslin in a discussion moderated by Sheila Seery, UAlbany's vice president for government and community relations, and Ariel Greene, Government and Community Relations student intern.
Photo by Patrick Dodson