University at Albany

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 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.

The Returning Woman Award recognizes a student who serves as a positive role model for returning women. The recipient will have demonstrated her exceptional leadership skills through participation in campus activities and personal success in facing the challenges of pursuing her educational goals as a non-traditional student. 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 Project SHAPE Award is for a student volunteer in recognition of exceptional performance, commitment and service as a valuable member of the Project SHAPE: Sexual Health & Peer Education program. 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.

This award is presented to a graduating student who demonstrates a commitment of exceptional time and energy volunteering for CEHC to help improve the experiences of peers, future students, and the broader CEHC community.