University at Albany

University at Albany's Atmospheric Science 5th Year/PhD Candidate, Adam Deitsch has been chosen as a winner of the Student Poster Competition at 43rd Annual American Association for Aerosol Research Conference. The selection judges chose Deitsch for this competitive award among 180 other national students during the 2025 conference held in Buffalo, NY. Deitsch received a certificate as well as a cash prize for his poster titled, "Measuring Atmospheric Plastic and PFAS Nanoparticles with the High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer," which examined micro/nanoplastics (MNP) and per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) data gathered and its relation to Atmospheric impacts in New York State. The American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) is a nonprofit professional organization for scientists and engineers who wish to promote and communicate technical advances in the field of aerosol research. The Association fosters the exchange of information among members and with other disciplines through conferences, symposia, and publication of a professional journal, Aerosol Science and Technology (AS&T). Association membership represents all areas of aerosol science including: Global Environment, Microcontamination, Air Pollution, Instrumentation/Measurement, Aerosol Chemistry, Material Synthesis, Aerosol Physics, Pharmaceutical Aerosols, Occupational and Public Health, Filtration/Separation, Atmospheric Sciences, Combustion, Biological Aerosols, Metrology/Standards, Indoor Air Quality, and Radioactive Aerosols/Nuclear Safety. Committed to the development of aerosol science and its application to important societal issues, AAAR offers an international forum for education, communication, and networking among leading aerosol researchers.

Our Ph.D. student, Jack Appleman, recently led a special in-person workshop in NYC as part of Subway to Success, a week-long micro-conference sponsored by the Association for Talent Development - NYC Chapter! The workshop, "The Secret to 'Yes': Build Your Influence with Strategic Storytelling," focused on how storytelling can be used to Secure buy-in Win clients Advance careers Strengthen influence through the hero's journey and WIIFM (What's In It for Me) framework. Learn more about the conference here: https://atdnyc.org/Micro-Conference

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

The President's Office, in partnership with Student Affairs & Enrollment, hosts a design contest for the annual UAlbany Holiday Card. Students are invited to submit artwork - including drawings, paintings, illustrations, photography or digital art - to the Annual Holiday Card Art Contest. Any UAlbany student in good academic and judicial standing is eligible to submit one entry with artwork that reflects one or more of the following themes: Wintertime fun and festivities on campus, The UAlbany spirit of innovation, collaboration and learning, Great Danes helping others or Hopes for the New Year. Entries are preferred with special emphasis placed on imagery not specific to any one seasonal holiday. All entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by the University at Albany's Office of the President. Artwork will be judged on creativity, artistic merit and how it applies to the contest theme. The first-place winner's design will be featured on the University's digital holiday card, which will be shared with the campus community, donors and friends of UAlbany. Finalists will be announced via email in early December. First, second and third place winners receive a UAlbany scholarship.

Organized by the UAlbany Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment and Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, the essay contest has been running as part of the university's Constitution Day celebrations for several years. This year's prompt asked students if they would change the Preamble if they were writing it today. Each student received a monetary award, funded by the Rockefeller College Prof. Harold W. Adams Student Experience Fund, which was endowed by Tim Murphy, an alumnus of the college.

After a highly competitive election cycle, the University at Albany's Communication Department is proud to announce that Alexandra Stankus has been elected as the Graduate Student Representative for the Human Communication and Technology Division at the National Communication Association. According to The National Communication Association's (NCA) website, "The Human Communication and Technology division (HCTD) of the National Communication Association (NCA) promotes the research and study of the intersection between human communication and technology. The division is concerned with the broad spectrum of issues relevant to the field of human communication and technology. HCTD welcomes both quantitative and qualitative work that focuses on different areas of connection to, interaction with, and development of technology as a phenomena of human communication." Stankus's election reflects her commitment to research, leadership, and service within the field of communication where she will partner with other dedicated professional volunteers on their universal mission to advance communication scholarship, teaching and practice.

The Acker-Newman Fellowship is a prestigious entrepreneurship program within the Massry School of Business designed for MBA and business students. It supports students who aim to launch new startups or collaborate with existing ones across two academic semesters. Fellowship winner Shookofeh Beyranvand's startup covers the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters. Beyranvand was selected among many applicants for her entrepreneurial initiative and interdisciplinary background. Under the mentorship of Professor Heidi Knoblauch, she is currently working on a health-tech startup idea that applies AI to improve healthcare data management and compliance. Beyranvand's academic background in allied health sciences has strongly shaped her passion for developing business solutions that address inefficiencies in healthcare systems. The fellowship allows her to combine business training with medical knowledge to create innovative, impact-driven products. The University at Albany's Massry School of Business congratulates Shookofeh Beyranvand on her incredible, professional achievement.

Shookofeh Beyranvand was selected for the Fall 2025 cohort of the RISE Fellowship. The RISE Fellowship is a highly competitive entrepreneurship and innovation program at the University at Albany that empowers student-led startups to grow from idea to market. RISE supports eight student startups each semester, helping them connect academic research with real-world business impact. Shookofeh joined a startup as a product and business strategist to strengthen its business foundation. While the team had solid technical and academic capabilities, they needed guidance in business development. During his time at the startup, Shookofeh has conducted extensive customer discovery interviews, developed a complete business plan, and designed the go-to-market strategy. He coached the team in preparing and delivering a compelling investor pitch that led them to compete for the RISE investment prize valued at several tens of thousands of dollars.

Since September 2025, Shookofeh Beyranvand has served as the Product Manager of AI at Caldarium, a growing AI startup that develops intelligent data-cleaning and optimization tools for healthcare organizations, including hospitals, clinics and insurance companies. She currently works on a seven-member technical team on building an AI-driven product that automatically cleans, standardizes and organizes complex healthcare data, making it ready for analysis and decision-making. Once the data is prepared, customized AI models are deployed to generate performance insights and key KPIs for each organization. In her role, Beyranvand defines product features, aligns the business and technical sides of development, sets strategic goals and ensures the company stays ahead of its competitors. She is also involved in research and product design, and has learned to communicate fluently with the engineers by understanding technical AI concepts such as data schemas, API integration and model validation.

Air Force Major General Michael Bank, the commander of the New York Air National Guard, announces the recent promotion of members of the New York Air National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

The Ada Craig Walker Award is given to a graduating undergraduate senior woman who "in judgment of the faculty best typifies the ideals of the University." Students who have received this award possess at least a 3.0 GPA and receive a scholarship of $2,000. The award was established in 1940 by Captain William John Walker in memory of his mother, Ada Craig Walker, class of 1871. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made signficant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community.

The Spellman Awards for Community Service recognizes African, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American heritage students at the University at Albany who have made notable efforts to enhance the quality of life for the University community. The Award for Outstanding Community Service is presented to students or organizations who meet one or more of the following criteria: Have demonstrated unselfish involvement in efforts to improve the quality of campus life; Dedicated considerable time and energy to worthwhile projects that benefit others; Identified by student peers, faculty and administrators as an individual or group which has consistently given of themselves to improve the University community. The program and the awards are named in honor and memory of Seth Spellman, Jr., past dean of the University's School of Social Welfare, serving until 1980. He was also a professor and past chair of the Department of Africana Studies, which he helped establish in 1969. In 1984, Spellman was awarded the rank of Distinguished Service Professor by the SUNY Board of Trustees for personifying excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership and community service.

The Dean's Letter of Commendation at the University at Albany recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of part-time undergraduate students. To qualify for the Dean's Letter of Commendation, students must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher in their first semester of study and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in subsequent semesters.

Philip Rosero, a Business Administration Major and Finance/Management Concentration student at the University at Albany Massry School of Business, was selected to share his story on Amazon Prime's series, The College Tour. Hosted by Alex Boylan, the show provides a look into campus life through the perspectives of current students. In his segment, Philip offers a glimpse into his journey at Massry and in UAlbany's Army ROTC program. His narrative captures the ambition and determination that brought him from his hometown Masbate, Philippines to UAlbany, highlighting the university's global reach and role as a home for students from every corner of the world. During his appearance, Philip detailed the multifaceted experiences that have defined his college career. He spoke about his dedication as an ROTC cadet, where he develops the discipline and leadership skills essential for a future in military service. Furthermore, Philip showcased his academic growth since joining Massry, illustrating how the program has equipped him with the knowledge to excel. His story is a testament to UAlbany's commitment to fostering diverse talents and providing transformative opportunities for leadership, academic excellence and personal achievement.

The Dean's Letter of Commendation at the University at Albany recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of part-time undergraduate students. To qualify for the Dean's Letter of Commendation, students must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher in their first semester of study and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in subsequent semesters.

Air Force Major General Michael Bank, the commander of the New York Air National Guard, announces the recent promotion of members of the New York Air National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

The Dean's List at the University at Albany recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of full-time undergraduate students. To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher in their first semester of study and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in subsequent semesters.

The America East Conference Presidential Scholars award recognizes student-athletes who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher and earned their undergraduate degree in the year of the award. In addition to registering a 3.75 GPA for their college career, award winners must have received their undergraduate degree in the academic year in which they are honored and have attended their institution for a minimum of two years. The Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award program started during 2013-14 academic year. More than 1,000 student-athletes have been honored as part of the program since its inception.

The Athletes and Recreation Leadership Award recognizes athletes who participate in Division 1 sports, intramurals, or club sports whose leadership has transcended their sport. Recipients will have made invaluable contributions to their team, achieved academic distinction, or have made significant contributions to our university and its surrounding community. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made signficant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community.

The Sustainability Leadership Award recognizes a graduate or undergraduate student who contributes to the advancement of environmental, economic, and social sustainability within the UAlbany campus and surrounding community. This student will have demonstrated a leadership role in raising awareness and increasing campus involvement in advancing sustainability. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made signficant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community.

The Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Award is given to sorority and fraternity members and organizations who have contributed to their chapter, the Greek system, and the University. Through strong leadership and valuable service, these students and organizations have exemplified the ideals of brother and sisterhood and have worked to further develop Greek life at the University at Albany. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made signficant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community.

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

The Women's Outstanding Leadership Award is given to a student who has demonstrated significant leadership and commitment to improving the quality of life for women at the University at Albany. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made signficant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community.

The Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated leadership in increasing the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion. This includes, but is not limited to, promoting appreciation of individual differences and working with others to find common ground. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made signficant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community.

The Christine A. Bouchard School Spirit Award was established in honor of Christine A. Bouchard by her colleagues and friends, on the occasion of her retirement as Vice President for Student Affairs at the University at Albany. The purpose of this award is to recognize undergraduate students who best exemplifies and promotes school spirit. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made significant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community.

The Jonathan Whyte-Dixon Memorial Scholarship recognizes UAlbany students who best exemplify Jonathan Whyte-Dixon's school spirit, meaningful involvement within the UAlbany community, leadership on campus and overall enthusiasm and passion. A track and field athlete who was a member of the graduating class of 2016, Whyte-Dixon became heavily involved with extra-curricular activities within the UAlbany community and never stopped. He provided significant leadership to the Orientation Office, Residential Life, Gender & Sexuality Resource Center and Liberty Partnerships Program. Whyte-Dixon tragically and unexpectedly passed away from cardiac arrest while playing basketball with family on July 4, 2018 at the age of 25. He was a giver and volunteered his time to help others, where he even skipped his own graduation in order to go to Haiti and teach students. Whyte-Dixon's enthusiasm and passion for changes in education and social justice left a print everywhere he went. The award includes a scholarship of $1,500 for student recipients. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made significant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community.

The Community Service Leadership Award recognizes students who most clearly evidence a service ethic in their citizenship. Students will have demonstrated unselfish involvement at UAlbany or in the surrounding community as they strive to better an aspect of society by dedicating considerable time to worthwhile projects that benefit others. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made significant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community.

The Distinguished Scholar-Leader Award at UAlbany recognizes and honors graduating undergraduate seniors who best exemplify the scholar-leader-service ideal. Student awardees have demonstrated academic excellence, effective leadership in the University community and a commitment to serving others. Distinguished-Scholar-Leaders have also demonstrated a strong commitment to their academic and intellectual development as evidenced by participation in research or other creative scholarly activity. This award is among the highest conferred upon undergraduates. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made significant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community.

The Spellman Awards program at the University at Albany was established in 1986 as a way to recognize and acknowledge the academic achievements of UAlbany students of African, Asian, Latino and Native American heritage. The Spellman Award for Academic Achievement is presented annually to scholars who are full-time undergraduates with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above and have been matriculated at the University for a minimum of two consecutive semesters. Top Academic Achievement Award honorees are the highest-ranking male and female recipients of African, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino and Native American heritage in their class. The program and the awards are named in honor and memory of Seth Spellman, Jr., past dean of the University's School of Social Welfare, serving until 1980. He was also a professor and past chair of the Department of Africana Studies, which he helped establish in 1969. In 1984, Spellman was awarded the rank of Distinguished Service Professor by the SUNY Board of Trustees for personifying excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership and community service.