Dear UAlbany Friends and Supporters,
I am proud to present this look back at a year of tremendous accomplishments at the University at Albany.
2025 was a year of extraordinary achievement, marked by global recognition, pioneering research, and a deepening commitment to our students and community.
The Year in Review highlights moments of immense pride, including our alumnus Dr. Omar M. Yaghi ’85 winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. We also celebrated the grand opening of the College of Integrated Health Sciences and the newly renamed Monte ’86 and Avery ’88 Lipman Republic Records Music Hall. Our campus made significant strides in sustainability with a major decarbonization project and expanded our academic impact with new programs in Environmental Studies and Climate Science.
As you will see from the stories below, the UAlbany community has been hard at work over the past year in classrooms and laboratories, on athletic fields, in our community, and beyond. From leading the nation in weather detection with the New York State Mesonet to deploying AI for mental health care and launching initiatives to support student success, our university continues to rise to the challenges of our time.
I encourage you to review the 2025 highlights below and take the opportunity to celebrate our successes and envision all that we will accomplish together next year.
Thank you all for your commitment, engagement, and support for the University at Albany - the accomplishments listed below are a credit to the power of this incredible community.
Sincerely,
Havidán Rodríguez
President
The Year in Photos - Our Top 25 Pics of 2025
The Communications and Marketing team poured through thousands of photos from 2025 and selected a few of our favorites. Here are our Top 25 Photos of 2025!
Omar Yaghi '85 wins Nobel Prize in chemistry
Student Success
In October, Omar M. Yaghi, a 1985 alumnus of UAlbany's Department of Chemistry, shared the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work to develop metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a breakthrough that opened new frontiers in clean energy, environmental remediation and sustainable water collection. Yaghi, now a faculty member at UC Berkeley, began his academic career at Hudson Valley Community College before earning his BS in chemistry from UAlbany.
RNA Institute, Life Sciences Get $50M Capital Boost
Research
In November, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that UAlbany's Life Sciences Research Building will get a $50 million state-funded expansion to support the groundbreaking research at the RNA Institute. The funding will advance the Institute's research, training, and workforce development, including its cutting-edge work using artificial intelligence to better understand, diagnose and treat debilitating and deadly diseases, including ALS, Alzheimer's, cancer and myotonic dystrophy.
UAlbany Earns Seal of Excelencia Recertification for Students’ Educational and Economic Success
Diversity & Inclusion
The University at Albany has earned recertification for the prestigious Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education, one of 18 colleges and universities to earn the Seal in 2025, recognized for its impact on student success.
Student Ambulance Corps Recognized for Excellence at National Conference
Student Success
Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service took home the top award, the EMS Ready Campus Gold Tier, at the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation’s annual conference in March, becoming the first in New York State to earn the award. The service also won awards in areas including CPR education, EMS excellence and lifesaving response.
New Bachelor of Science Launches Nursing Program
Student Success
Offered in partnership with Albany Med Health System, the new four-year nursing BS degree program will build capacity for health care in the Capital Region while supporting local workforce development. The program will kick off for current UAlbany students in Spring 2026 and will open to new students in the Fall.
Republic Records Founders Give the Gift of Music to UAlbany
Giving
Iconic pieces of music history are on display at the University at Albany, part of a generous donation from alumni Monte Lipman ’86 and Avery Lipman ’88, the groundbreaking brothers who founded Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company. The Great Dane alums have established an endowment at UAlbany that will bring programs and performances to the Campus Center’s auditorium, newly renamed the Monte Lipman ’86 and Avery Lipman ’88 Republic Records Music Hall.
Dozens of Researchers Among World’s Top 2% of Scientists
Research
Dozens of faculty from the University at Albany are ranked among the world’s top 2 percent of scientists, according to the latest Stanford University report published through Elsevier. The annual report highlights top-cited researchers, creating a public database of about 200,000 scientists.
AI Supercomputer Empowers Future Cyber Defenders
Student Success
Students at the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity spent the fall semester using artificial intelligence powered by UAlbany’s advanced computing infrastructure to create incident response plans for various cyber threats.
GE Aerospace Foundation Launches Next Engineers with UAlbany, miSci and NY Creates
Public Engagement & Service
The GE Aerospace Foundation announced a partnership with the University at Albany, Schenectady’s Museum of Innovation & Science (miSci) and NY Creates to launch the Next Engineers program in New York’s Capital Region. As a key location in the continued expansion of Next Engineers, New York will play a vital role in inspiring and preparing the next generation of engineering leaders.
UAlbany Spinoff Secures Funding in Bid to Transform Biotechnology
Business & Entrepreneurship
Professor Scott Tenenbaum, CEO of sxRNA Technologies, Inc., brought in over $625,000 in new awards to the company in 2025. With the help of this new funding, the company is positioned to advance their technology for applications in medical research, pharmaceutical production and the development of new precision therapeutics.
Chemists Design Candidate Drug Against Diabetes
Research
UAlbany-led research identified a key cellular pathway known to drive chronic inflammation and impaired wound healing in people with diabetes. The breakthrough could offer a new therapeutic option for stopping the harmful effects of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes at the source.
UAlbany Named a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists
Public Engagement & Service
With a free bike-share program, miles of trails, fix-it stations and other cyclist-friendly amenities, the University was lauded for encouraging cycling on campus and in the community.
CNSE Graduate Student Solves Biotech Pain Points with RNA Switches
Student Success
With Professor Scott Tenenbaum, doctoral student and RNA Institute Fellow Tia Swenty is working to advance market-ready organoid technologies using programmable RNA "switches" that make it possible to monitor organoids destined for biomedical research applications non-destructively in real time.
Oceanographer Partners on $1.2 Million NSF Grant to Explore Tropical Monsoon Rainfall Patterns
Research
Sujata Murty of the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences teamed up with scientists from five institutions on a $1.2 million National Science Foundation project to better understand monsoon rainfall patterns across Asia, Indonesia and Australia over the last millennium — and how they might look in the future under a changing climate.
Chemistry Professor Receives American Chemical Society Award
Faculty
Marina A. Petrukhina won the 2026 George A. Olah Award in Hydrocarbon or Petroleum Chemistry in recognition of her outstanding research achievements and success in training the next generation of chemists. Named after the Nobel laureate whose research laid the groundwork for cleaner-burning fuels and new methods for synthesizing materials and pharmaceuticals, the award is internationally recognized as a pinnacle achievement in chemistry.
UAlbany Researchers Launch Winter Storm Preparedness Tool for Erie County
Public Engagement & Service
Erie County residents have a new tool available at their fingertips to ensure they are prepared for the next major snowfall, thanks to a team of researchers led by UAlbany's Center of Excellence in Weather & Climate Analytics.
New York State Mesonet Celebrates 10 Years at Schuylerville Site
Research
In August, the New York State Mesonet celebrated the 10th anniversary of its first station at Schuylerville's Hudson Crossing Park. The network has grown into the most advanced and largest early-warning weather detection system in the nation. UAlbany designed, installed and continues to operate it.
Banner Exhibit Highlights Community Engaged Scholars
Public Engagement & Service
Twenty faculty members, all past recipient of the President’s Award for Exemplary Public Engagement, are being featured in a colorful new banner exhibit along the pathways of the University Hall Commons on UAlbany’s Uptown Campus. The display highlights their outstanding community engaged scholarship, teaching, creative work and service.
Nanotechnology Research Center to Receive $10 Million
Research
UAlbany’s Center for Advanced Technology in Nanomaterials and Nanoelectronics (CATN2) will receive another $10 million from Empire State Development as a hub for semiconductor and microelectronics research and development. Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation announced that the CATN2 is among 10 Centers for Advanced Technology that will receive funding over the next decade.
University, State Partnership Aims to Address Problem Gambling on Campuses
Public Engagement & Service
The Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research at UAlbany is partnering with the New York Council on Problem Gambling and the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports on a new initiative to address problem gambling on college campuses. The project will gather data on student gambling and provide financial support, expertise and training to participating campuses to increase screening for gambling addiction.
Ambitious Decarbonization Plan Will Shut Down Gas-Fired Chillers in Summer Months
University News
A $30 million decarbonization project announced in March will enable the campus to shut down its gas-fired boilers during the summer months and significantly reduce its fossil fuel consumption. The project is part of SUNY’s aggressive push to decarbonize its footprint as New York strives reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050.
UAlbany to Purchase Former College of Saint Rose Residence Hall
University News
At a press conference held Nov. 3 with Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez announced the University's intent to purchase Centennial Hall, a residence hall on the former College of Saint Rose campus. The three-story property, at 930 Madison Ave., would be used for UAlbany upperclassman and graduate housing.
CEHC Designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense
Student Success
In October, the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity was designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. The honor recognizes academic excellence and institutional commitment to preparing the next generation of cyber defense professionals.
The Princeton Review Names University to Mental Health Honor Roll for the Second Year
University News
For the second year in a row, the University at Albany was named one of 30 institutions selected for The Princeton Review’s Mental Health Services Honor Roll. The University was featured on the inaugural list last year.
Celebrating Early Career Researchers Across the Life Sciences
Student Success
In November, the 16th annual Life Sciences Research Symposium brought together research trainees from across three UAlbany colleges, and the Capital Region, to share their latest findings, connect with peers and explore opportunities for networking with senior faculty.
$500,000 Gift Supports Students of Languages
Giving
An alum’s generous gift the Department of Languages, Literature and Cultures will provide full-time scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students studying Spanish and other languages. Eligible students will be nominated by faculty.
Chancellor's Award Winners Share Their Favorite UAlbany Moments
Student Success
Eight UAlbany students who won the 2025 Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence, SUNY's the highest honor, shared their plans for the future and reflected on the memories they made at UAlbany.
Introducing Massry School of Business Dean Paquita Davis-Friday
University News
Joining UAlbany from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business, Davis-Friday is leveraging her experience in developing and expanding undergraduate and graduate business programs in the New York metropolitan area to increase the impact of a Massry degree.
Scholarships Aid Four Students Heading for Mental Health Fields
Diversity & Inclusion
Four UAlbany students have received scholarships through SUNY’s partnership with New York State’s Office of Mental Health, designed to strengthen the pipeline of mental health professionals with a focus on serving New Yorkers who may have historically lacked quality mental health care.
Chemist Awarded $2 Million to Advance Computational Simulations for RNA Analysis
Research
Associate Professor of Chemistry Alan Chen received $2 million from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to develop new ways to model the structure and function of RNA in 3D at the atomic level. The research aims to advance RNA-based biosensing and nanotechnology and will help solve longstanding puzzles in RNA structural biology.
President’s Forum on Health Disparities: Equity, Research, Action
Health
In October, the Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities hosted its signature annual event, the President’s Forum on Health Disparities, in partnership with the Harvard JPB Environmental Health Fellowship Program. This year’s forum explored the environmental and social determinants of health and the importance of bridging disciplines for health equity research and action.
Dual Master's Degree Program Established with Polytechnic University of Valencia
International
The University at Albany has signed a new agreement with Polytechnic University of Valencia (Universitat Politècnica de València - UPV) in Spain to launch a dual master’s degree program in Electrical Engineering.
UAlbany, Downstate Researchers Demo Prototypes for AI-Supported Mental Health Care
Research
At the Global Center for AI in Mental Health's annual summit, researchers from UAlbany and SUNY Downstate, together with developers from Google and other leading tech companies, debuted prototypes of their latest tools to expand mental health care capacity. With platforms designed to provide psychological first aid to disaster survivors, and support providers in tailoring evidence-based care, their tools aim to close the global mental health care gap.
Nobel Explainer: Chemist Jeremy Feldblyum on Metal-Organic Frameworks
Research
UAlbany's Jeremy Feldblyum is an expert in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) — the versatile molecular materials at the center of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to UAlbany alum Omar Yaghi. Feldblyum shares insights on the importance of MOFs and the significance of this year's Nobel nod to researchers in the field.
Environmental Studies Major, Climate Science Graduate Programs Added to Offerings
Student Success
In September, the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences at the College of Arts and Sciences launched a new Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies program and Master of Science and PhD programs in Climate Science. All three programs were approved for the fall semester and are now accepting students.
Researchers Selected for SUNY Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force
Public Engagement & Service
Researchers from across campus were selected in September to join SUNY’s STRIVE Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force. The task force is aligned with SUNY's commitment to positively impact the health and well-being of New Yorkers and economic vitality of the state.
University Earns National Recognition for Social Mobility
Diversity & Inclusion
U.S. News & World Report has been ranked UAlbany No. 22 in the nation for the social mobility of its students, No. 61 in best value among the nation’s top public schools, No. 63 nationally among public institutions and No. 127 nationally overall.
UAlbany Hires First Game Center Director
Student Success
Jason Corace, an award-winning game designer and educator, was hired by the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity as the first director of UAlbany’s Game Center. The center will oversee a new undergraduate major in Game Design and Development and a graduate program in Strategic Game Design and Applied Development.
Broadview Federal Credit Union Pilots New UAlbany Business Ed Programs for Businesses
University News
UAlbany and Broadview Federal Credit Union have teamed up to offer a series of non-credit educational programs for Broadview employees. The unique partnership is intended to serve as a model for future collaborations with industry leaders, strengthening Capital District businesses with courses designed for today’s professionals.
University, Spotlight News Win Award for Partnership to Strengthen Local Journalism
Student Success
UAlbany and the Spotlight News won a Global Youth & News Media Prize for Journalism for a partnership developed last year that pairs students in the University’s journalism program with the small weekly newspaper covering Albany County. The award honor organizations that innovate as they strengthen engagement between news media and young people.
UAlbany Launches SUNY Program to Support Student Success and Close Opportunity Gaps
Diversity & Inclusion
This fall, the University at Albany welcomed 200 students to the inaugural class of the Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) program. The program offers students resources to support their success and is aimed at increasing on-time graduation rates and removing common barriers to college completion.
The College of Integrated Health Sciences Opens in the Pine Bush Building
University News
Marked by a festive ribbon cutting event, the College of Integrated Health Sciences opened its doors to the community to celebrate its newly refurbished space on the Uptown Campus, formally renew its 40-year partnership with the NYS Department of Health, and announce a new relationship with the Albany Med Health System designed to enable the creation of additional nursing degree programs. Guests were invited to tour the refreshed space, including the new lab specially outfitted for Anatomy & Physiology training for nursing students.
Students Plant Trees Along South Pearl Street in Albany
Public Engagement & Service
Over the summer, UAlbany students from the Hudson-Mohawk Climate Corps, an initiative led by the Institute for Transformational and Ecosystem-based Climate Adaptation, prepared and planted more than 200 urban trees in Albany neighborhoods.
The Great Dane Dialogue Returns, Exploring Civil Discourse and Civic Engagement
Public Engagement & Service
The University at Albany is bringing back the Great Dane Dialogue, the campus-wide initiative promotes civil discourse, strengthens civic engagement and equips students with the skills to navigate disagreement with empathy, respect and purpose.
Chemists Create New High-Energy Compound to Fuel Space Flight
Research
UAlbany researchers working in computational and materials chemistry came together to create a new high-energy compound — manganese diboride — that could revolutionize rocket fuel and make space flights more efficient. By releasing more energy by volume, less fuel would be needed to power the same flight duration or payload while leaving more room for mission-critical supplies.
Study Reveals a Maya Town’s Defiant Stand in Early Colonial Era
Research
In the rolling countryside of the northern Yucatán, a team of researchers led by UAlbany anthropologist Marilyn A. Masson has brought to light the story of Hunacti — a short-lived 16th-century mission town whose stone streets and Spanish-style church mask a deeper narrative of relentless persecution, resilience and a quiet adherence to Maya religious traditions.
UAlbany Welcomes Students Back to Campus for Fall Semester
University News
The University at Albany welcomed students back to campus for the Fall 2025 semester, including more than 2,900 first-year students.
Disaster Response Researchers Test Virtual Reality Tool With Older Adults
Research
CEHC researchers received $549,943 from the National Science Foundation to lead a project focused on using virtual reality to reduce disaster vulnerabilities for older individuals and others who are disproportionately affected. They spent the summer conducting simulations with seniors in Brooklyn and Atlanta.
Community Program for Kids with Autism Finds New Home at UAlbany
Public Engagement & Service
The Friday Knights Supported Recreation Program provides a space for recreation and socialization for area youth with autism spectrum disorders and their families. UAlbany’s School of Education took on the program after the closure of the College of Saint Rose, where Friday Knights operated since 2004.
RNA Institute researchers join Empire AI to study ALS, muscular dystrophy
Research
In August, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that UAlbany's first Empire AI research projects would involve scientists from the RNA Institute working with colleagues at the University of Rochester to use artificial intelligence to analyze videos of patients diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases like myotonic dystrophy or ALS. The projects were announced as SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. visited campus on Aug. 1, which is World RNA Day.
Spotlighting the public good of UAlbany research and the cost of cuts
Research
In response to federal grant terminations and questions about the value of publicly funded scientific research, UAlbany in July launched a new website to showcase how the public benefits from research conducted by our students, faculty and staff. The website also summarizes the ongoing financial and human impacts of cuts to federal grants to science and creative work.
Albany Named A City on the Rise with Great Danes Leading the Way
University News
Albany was recently ranked fourth in LinkedIn’s inaugural “Cities on the Rise 2025,” a review of the 25 fastest-growing U.S. metro cities for jobs and new talent. According to the report, the University at Albany is playing a key role in the growth of the Albany metro area, which is emerging as a magnet for talent, economic development and innovation.
‘University at Albany Week’ Airs on WAMC’s The Academic Minute
Research
WAMC Northeast Public Radio aired five segments from UAlbany faculty in July during “University at Albany Week” on The Academic Minute.
Researchers Develop FEMA Dashboard to Support Emergency Alert Messaging
Public Engagement & Service
Through a $2.8 million contract from FEMA, researchers from the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity teamed up with the Center for Technology in Government to develop a Message Design Dashboard that helps communicators write effective emergency alerts.
UAlbany Experts Share Insight on Disaster Preparedness After Texas Floods
Public Engagement & Service
Following catastrophic flash flooding in Texas, leaders in New York and across the country turned to UAlbany’s research and expertise for answers.
New Anthropology Study Finds Huge Gender Difference in Size of Ancient Humans
Research
The research, led by UAlbany anthropologist Adam D. Gordon’s study reveals that two early ancestors of humans were far more sexually dimorphic than modern humans — and in some cases, even more than gorillas.
Great Danes Honored as America East Presidential Scholars
Student Success
Eleven students were named America East Presidential Scholars, a recognition of graduating student-athletes who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher. The 2024-25 UAlbany honorees include athletes from cross country, track and field, soccer, softball, field hockey, lacrosse and volleyball.
International Choral Festival Brings Singers from Across North America to UAlbany
Arts & Culture
More than 140 young singers from across the U.S. and Canada descended on UAlbany this July for the Pro Musica International Choral Festival, a free weeklong choral institute for high school students held at the Performing Arts Center on campus. Students had the opportunity to partake in rehearsals, workshops and vocal clinics with renowned faculty and to sing under the direction of esteemed guest conductors and alongside professional ensembles.
UAlbany Researchers Track Climate History in Adirondack Lake Mud
Research
Researchers at UAlbany's Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences collected lake sediments from the Adirondacks to better understand the region's climate past and how it relates to present or future trends.
Studying Miniature Hearts at the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
Student Success
Doctoral student Maria Paredes-Espinosa first heard of the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering while she was a student at Yachay University, a pioneering institution in her native Ecuador. At UAlbany, she found herself right at home, thanks to CNSE's role as hub for innovation and cutting-edge research, where she has been given the opportuity to study miniature hearts in the lab of Janet Paluh.
University at Albany Foundation Announces 2025 Citizen Laureates
Giving
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.
New Grants Support Research on Myotonic Dystrophy and ALS
Research
Two University at Albany researchers working in the Berglund Lab at the RNA Institute have received new funding to support projects focusing on myotonic dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Postdoctoral Fellow Cécilia Légaré will use the new funding to advance her work looking at effects of weight training on muscle cells in people living with myotonic dystrophy. Research Scientist Subodh Mishra will explore how an FDA-approved nutritional supplement could be used to help treat multiple neuromuscular diseases.
Scimemi Lab Explores Early Alzheimer’s Progression, how our Internal Clock Affects Learning and Memory
Research
Associate Professor of Biology Annalisa Scimemi conducts research at the intersection of neuroscience and public health. Surrounded by an interdisciplinary team, Scimemi is working to understand how shifts in brain activity — driven by disease or time of day — shape the way our brains work and how we behave.
Inspiring the Next: Steve Zelin ’84 Launches Giving Campaign at Annual Massry Lecture
Giving
At the 2025 Massry Lecture, Zelin reflected his rise in global finance as the University launched "Inspire the Next," a $30 million fundraising campaign for the Massry School of Business. Zelin said his UAlbany education was one of the best investments he’s ever made.
Professor’s Book Chronicles Life in Fukushima’s Nuclear Aftermath
International
English Professor Thomas Bass explored Japan's cleanup and re-population of the site of 2011 disaster caused when a tsunami killed 20,000 people and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in his new book, "Return to Fukushima." The book looks at the government’s push to resettle the nuclear exclusion zone amid ongoing safety concerns, and the network of citizen scientists working to restore health and life amid radioactivity.
5,000 New Graduates Lauded During Weekend Commencement Ceremonies
Student Success
Nearly 5,000 students celebrated their graduation from the University at Albany at the 181st commencement festivities held Thursday, May 15, through Sunday, May 18. Among the graduates were an estimated 3,000 undergraduates and 1,900 graduate students, including recipients who completed their degrees last summer and fall as well as over the winter.
Atmospheric Science Undergrad Class Exposes Students to AI-Driven Weather Prediction
Student Success
A group of 30 undergraduates in the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences spent the spring semester learning how machine learning can support weather forecasting and disaster preparedness.
UAlbany Esports Takes National Stage at Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup
Student Success
Kenta "qaaa" Lange of the UAlbany Esports team competed on the national stage at the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup in Arlington, Texas. Lange finished third at the event, taking home a $3,500 cash prize.
Student Research and Creativity on Display at 3rd Annual Showcase
University News
The University at Albany hosted its third annual Showcase in May, a day-long event that brings together the entire University community to highlight the academic excellence of students.
Amy Nitza Joins UAlbany to Direct the Global Center for AI in Mental Health
University News
In April, UAlbany welcomed psychologist Amy Nitza to direct the Global Center for AI in Mental Health. In this role, Nitza will lead UAlbany’s involvement in the Center's efforts to develop interdisciplinary AI-based tools to expand access to mental health diagnosis and treatment among underserved communities worldwide.
Neuroscientist Explores Effects of Pregnancy and Menopause on Alzheimer’s Risk
Research
UAlbany’s Damian Zuloaga, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology, was awarded $300,000 to study how pregnancy and menopause impact Alzheimer’s disease risk. The work aims to shed light on how chemical changes in the brain during these two life events could increase chances of developing Alzheimer's later in life.
UAlbany Launches Student-Run Tree Nursery to Improve Urban Forests
Public Engagement & Service
Ahead of Earth Day, the University at Albany announced funding for a new student-run tree nursery that will help boost local climate resilience and urban forestry. Students are working with community volunteers to plant the trees across neighborhoods in Albany.
President’s Spring Address Focuses on Commitment to Core Values
University News
President Havidán Rodríguez highlighted UAlbany’s accomplishments and impact, and to celebrate faculty, staff and student accomplishments. “In challenging times like these, the public mission of higher education is not just more important, it is the light by which we will find a path forward for our democracy,” he said.
StAR Grants Fund 17 Initiatives that Spotlight Research Excellence and Public Impact
University News
The University at Albany will award $500,000 during the 2025-2026 academic year to 17 initiatives that reflect the University’s academic and research excellence and address real-world challenges. Designed to create opportunities that further enhance the strategic priorities of the University, the StAR program provides resources and funding to projects that drive innovation and make meaningful societal contributions.
New Ember Award Celebrates Transformational Teaching
Student Success
Along with the Spark and Torch awards for faculty who strongly impact students' lives, the University announced a new award in April. The first Ember Award for Innovative Academic Engagement, which recognizes commitment to student success and community building, was presented to Linda Krzykowski in honor of her decades of service to the University as associate vice provost and executive director of the First Year Experience.
$2.4M grant lifts new AI & Society College, Research Center
Research
In April, UAlbany launched a new AI & Society College to help prepare students to navigate a world radically changed by AI with a focus on trustworthiness, equity, privacy and accountability. The new college is spearheading a significant expansion of UAlbany's AI-infused curriculum while the associated new AI & Society Research Center is catalyzing research initiatives that bring together scholars in the humanities, social sciences and creative arts with technologists focused on leveraging AI for public good.
UAlbany Hosts STEM and Earth Sciences Family Day
Public Engagement & Service
The University at Albany welcomed more than 500 children and their families from across the Capital Region and beyond in April for STEM and Earth Sciences Family Day, in celebration of Earth Day 2025.
UAlbany Faculty Inducted to American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows
Research
Melinda Larsen, Department of Biological Sciences, and Yubing Xie, Department of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, are among the newest members of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows — one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to medical and biological engineers. Together, they join Dean Michele Grimm, who has been a member of the AIMBE College of Fellows since 2018.
Postcolonial Lab Project Gives UAlbany Students Taste of Local Haitian Cuisine
International
UAlbany French and Spanish students got a taste of local Haitian cuisine as part of the Postcolonial Lab Project, an initiative of UAlbany’s Center for the Humanities, Arts and Technosciences that aims to revive interest in the humanities with hands-on programming. The trip gave students a chance to explore identity, culture and colonization through the lens of food.
Cancer Drug Delivery Platform Continues Through Clinical Trials
Research
UAlbany chemist Max Royzen, in collaboration with San Francisco-based biotech company Shasqi, is developing an innovative drug delivery platform to fight cancer. As the platform evolves, the team is actively honing ways to improve delivery modes to enhance drug efficacy and patient experience.
Epidemiology PhD Student Explores AI to Empower Local Public Health
Student Success
UAlbany PhD student Heather Duncan, who participated in UAlbany's NSF I-Corps program earlier this year, is seeking to develop new AI tools to solve data analysis challenges in county health departments and support continuing education resources for medical professionals.
UAlbany, UConn Researchers Awarded $550,000 to Advance Energy Resilience and Sustainability
Research
In February, a national weather and energy center led by researchers at the University at Albany and the University of Connecticut was awarded $550,000 from the National Science Foundation. The funding is supporting projects aimed at safeguarding the energy industry.
Forensic Chemist Receives DOJ Support for Gunshot Residue Detection Tool
Research
In January, chemist Igor Lednev was awarded $556,572 by the U.S. Department of Justice to develop a gunshot residue detection tool. The laser-based tool can quickly detect and analyze crime evidence.
Professor Uses Fulbright Award to Study South Korea’s Military Modernization
International
Peter Banseok Kwon of the Department of East Asian Studies spent a year in South Korea on a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award, studying newly declassified government documents to shed light on the country’s secretive military modernization programs in 1970s through the 1990s that led to South Korea’s global rise.
Chemist Receives $1.95M for Research on AI-Powered Pathogen Detection, Precision Therapeutics
Research
UAlbany Chemist Mehmet Yigit received $1.95 million from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to advance his transdisciplinary research program focused on AI-powered biosensing for pathogen detection, drug delivery and diagnostics.
Applied Public Health Fellows Get Inside Look at DOH Leadership
Student Success
Master of Public Health students in the Applied Public Health Fellowship program at the College of Integrated Health Sciences had the opportunity to shadow DOH Commissioner Dr. James McDonald to gain career insights and experience state-level health leadership firsthand.
CNSE Researcher Explores Using Sapphires for Fiber Optics Sensing
Research
Professor Mengbing Huang is exploring new technologies for fiber optics sensors — in this case, single-crystal sapphire fibers — for use in extremely harsh environments such as in nuclear reactors or aerospace rockets.
Emeritus Center Launches New Institute for Lifelong Learners
Public Engagement & Service
The new Albany Lifelong Learning Institute launched in the spring and offers a wide range of continuing education courses geared toward older adults and taught by current and retired faculty.
CEHC Launches Revamped Undergraduate Cybersecurity Program
Student Success
In January, the College of Emergency Preparedness Homeland Security and Cybersecurity announced a revamped cybersecurity major. The program is focused on the changing cybersecurity landscape, including the emergence of AI-powered threats.