Crossroads Summer 2016 (Vol. 18 No. 2) by Russell Sage College

VOLUME 18 | NUMBER 2 Summer 2016

CROSSROADS

For alumni of Sage College of Albany, the Sage Graduate Schools and the former Junior College of Albany and Sage Evening College

Alumni Celebrate Sage History and Future at Centennial Sage Sips >>> page 9 Jean Dahlgren Named SCA Dean

Opalka Family Dedicates Sculpture on Albany Campus

Class Notes and Alumni Doing MORE

inside cover

DEAN’S MESSAGE

JEAN DAHLGREN

CROSSROADS JEAN DAHLGREN NAMED DEAN OF SAGE COLLEGE OF ALBANY Jean Dahlgren, MFA, has accepted the position of dean at Sage College of Albany. She was previously associate professor of Graphic + Media Design. As dean, Dahlgren will provide academic leadership and vision for the future of Sage College of Albany; work with faculty to develop strategic goals; and collaborate with the Office of Student Life to ensure a culturally and intellectually enriching student-centered environment. Dahlgren began teaching at Sage in 1988, becoming program coordinator for Graphic Design in 1996, and leading the development of the four-year program in Graphic Design in 2002. She has served on the Curriculum Committee; Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion Committee (including service as chair); Executive Committee; and many ad-hoc committees. She is a member of the leadership team for the College Board/ Educational Testing Service Advanced Placement in Studio Art and she serves on the board of the Upstate New York AIGA, the professional association for design. Dahlgren received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fine Arts at SUNY Oswego and an MFA in Graphic Design from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that I step into my new role as dean of Sage College of Albany. I have spent my entire teaching career at Sage’s Albany campus and am very much looking forward to working with students, faculty, staff and you, our alumni, in my new role. I want to start by thanking Dean Joanne Curran for her service to Sage over the last three years. Dean Curran advanced many initiatives at SCA including the Spirituality Center on the Albany campus, the iThink Tank program, the Scholar’s Program and the Scire Award. On behalf of the entire Sage community, we wish her the very best in her retirement. It was great to see so many of you at the Sage Sips alumni event in April. It was a wonderful evening, during which we dedicated the Centennial sculpture in front of the Opalka Gallery, celebrated alumni who participated in the art exhibit in the Little Gallery, and held a brick dedication in front of the Administration Building. If you were unable to make it, please consider coming back to one of the many Centennial events planned at Sage this year. A list of events is at centennial.sage.edu. We are looking forward to welcoming New York Times best-selling author Wes Moore to campus to sign copies of his book The Other Wes Moore, this year’s summer reading choice for incoming students. You are invited to attend the book signing on September 16. Please check sage.edu for details surrounding this and other events related to the summer reading choice. If you’re like me, you’re fascinated to read about the accomplishments of Sage alumni; this issue includes profiles of Kelly Coon Brock SCA ’09, Mike Cavanaugh JCA ’72, Michael Francis JCA ’85, and news that several of you submitted to Class Notes. SCA was just named a top graphic design school by Graphic Design USA magazine. We are very proud of this, and of the many alumni from our Art + Design programs including Danielle Godbout Morales SCA ’08, also featured in this issue. In this Centennial year at The Sage Colleges we have much to be proud of and much to celebrate. We hope you will join us for at least one event this year. The Sage College of Albany Alumni Facebook page can keep you up-to-date. Nothing gives us more pleasure than hearing how you have benefited from your experiences at Sage. Stay in touch and we look forward to seeing you. Jean Dahlgren

Dean, Sage College of Albany

Published by The Sage Colleges Office of Communications & PR director of communications & marketing Shannon Ballard Gorman SGS ’13 editor Elizabeth Gallagher art director Sarah Statham SGS ’08 contributing writers Deanna Cohen Elizabeth Gallagher Matthew Klein Lori Maki contributing photographers Tamara Hansen Matt Milless Allan Stern graphic designer Simona Bortis-Schultz/figure8 the sage colleges office of communications & pr 65 1st Street Troy, NY 12180 Tel: (518) 244-2246 Fax: (518) 244-2398 E-mail: crossroads@sage.edu

“To Be, To Know, To Do” The Sage Colleges’ enduring motto

“Be. Know. Do. MORE”

Tagline celebrating Sage’s 100-year legacy and promising future

Mission Statement The mission and purpose of The Sage Colleges is to provide the individual student with the opportunity and means to develop and advance personally and professionally, and thus to be successful in achieving life goals; to contribute to the larger society a group of diverse, thoughtful and competent citizenleaders who continue to be engaged in the pursuit of lifelong learning; and to translate learning into action and application, recognizing the obligation of educated persons to lead and to serve their communities.

About the Cover Memorabilia from the archives and snapshots from the photo booth at Sage Sips.

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

SUSAN C. SCRIMSHAW, PH.D.

PRESIDENT SUSAN SCRIMSHAW TO STEP DOWN IN 2017 Ninth President Led Growth in Fundraising, Enrollment, Academic Programs, Facilities

resident of The Sage Colleges Susan Scrimshaw announced in June that she will step down at the conclusion of her contract in June 2017. She has served as president since 2008. “I have enjoyed working to position Sage to thrive in its second century, so while this decision is bittersweet, the timing makes sense,” Scrimshaw said. “I am proud of the milestones that I have been able to accomplish together with the faculty, staff, board, alumni and community partners.” Under Scrimshaw’s leadership, Sage has achieved renewed fiscal health

and record fundraising, increased enrollment and diversity and expanded its academic programs. “President Scrimshaw is a bold visionary and her innovative thinking helped to transform The Sage Colleges,” said Tip Simons, chair of The Sage Colleges Board of Trustees. “Because of her efforts, Sage is stronger than ever – a vibrant, diverse and academically outstanding institution that is on its way to university status.” The board of trustees is conducting a national search for a new president. In the coming year, Scrimshaw will visit

MORE than Before: Successes Under President Scrimshaw’s Leadership

with alumni across the nation and work to conclude the $50 million Centennial Campaign for Sage, position Sage to apply to New York state for university status and ensure a smooth transition to the next leader. She is looking forward to traveling with her husband Allan Stern, spending time with grandchildren and friends, and completing the second edition of her co-edited book, The Handbook of Social Studies in Health and Medicine. She will remain involved with the Nevin Scrimshaw International Nutrition Foundation, the Food and Nutrition Bulletin and the National Academy of Medicine.

COMMENCEMENT

FINANCIAL STABILITY: Sage emerged from a budget deficit and now operates with a balanced budget. The endowment is up by almost 50 percent. RECORD FUNDRAISING: In honor of its Centennial year, Sage launched the most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history. As of June, the Centennial Campaign for Sage has raised $48,494,393 toward its $50 million goal. INCREASED ADMISSIONS: Applications have grown by almost 157 percent since 2008. Undergraduate enrollment has increased by over 4 percent and new graduate student credit hours have increased by more than 52 percent. IMPROVED DIVERSITY: Diversity on Sage campuses has increased by 12 percent. Sage enrolls students from Afghanistan, China, Dubai, Greece, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Thailand. INNOVATIVE ACADEMICS: In 2009, Sage restructured graduate programs to create the Esteves School of Education, School of Health Sciences and School of Management. Sage has since added an online division; the School of Management earned accreditation from the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Educators and expanded its MBA program to Saratoga County; and the Esteves School of Education offers its Educational Leadership doctorate in New York City. Additionally, the Sage for the Second Century plan allows Sage students to take classes at either campus. More than 70 students have taken advantage of cross-college enrollment. ENHANCED FACILITIES: Improvements on the Sage College of Albany campus include the acquisition and renovation of the Armory at Sage, the M&T Bank Stock Trading Simulation Room, the Art + Design Technology Center and beautification projects including sculptures and gardens.

Thomas Maggs JCA ’67, president, Maggs and Associates insurance brokerage; Donna Robinson Esteves RSC ’70, member, The Sage Colleges Board of Trustees, energy entrepreneur and former teacher; Nelson “Tip” Simons, chair, The Sage Colleges Board of Trustees; commencement speaker Paula A. Johnson, M.D., MPH, president of Wellesley College and women’s health care leader; and President Scrimshaw. Sage awarded 879 degrees and honorary doctorate degrees to Maggs, Esteves and Johnson at its Centennial commencement celebration on May 14.

NEW YORK CITY ALUMNI CELEBRATE SAGE CENTENNIAL

Ronnye Berg Shamam RSC ’64, President Scrimshaw and Faye Dittelman RSC ’64 (standing) with Shanice Sargent SCA ’14, Akeba Ibrahim SCA ’15 and Shanell Foskey SCA ’14 (seated) at an alumni gathering and Centennial Campaign donor recognition event in New York City.

CROSSROADS Summer 2016

Sage founded in 1916; in Albany since 1949 Centennial Celebration

“ Centennial Sculpture” Dedicated During Sage Sips Celebration Trustee Chet Opalka and his wife Karen, parents of Jesse Opalka JCA ’97, gave Inner View_Nexus_ Open I, a sculpture by Caroline Ramersdorfer, to Sage in honor of the college’s Centennial celebration. The sculpture was dedicated during the Sage Sips reception in April.

Opalka Gallery Director Elizabeth Greenberg, Karen and Chet Opalka, Susan Scrimshaw and John Van Alstyne, husband of sculptor Caroline Ramersdorfer who was unable to attend the dedication ceremony.

The work of marble and stainless steel is at the entrance to the Opalka Gallery on the Sage College of Albany campus. The gallery was constructed in 2002 with funds donated by the Opalka family. Ramersdorfer will have a solo show at the gallery this fall.

High profile installations at the Albany International Airport and the Albany-Rensselaer Train Station will promote Sage’s educational legacy during the Centennial year. The installations include pillars in baggage claim, an illuminated wallscape and backlit dioramas at the airport, while a massive Sage banner hangs from the Amtrak station’s ceiling. It is all very impressive – both as an introduction to the Sage brand and as a point of pride for students and alumni.

Former Sage President Bill Kahl with Susan Scrimshaw in front of Centennial display at Albany airport.

Members of Sage’s administration and board of trustees underneath the Centennial banner at the airport.

PLANNING “ALL THINGS CENTENNIAL”: Five Questions for Director of Special Events Mary Ellen Shea Mary Ellen Shea JCA ’96 is the liaison between Sage’s Albany campus and graduate programs and the alumni, student, community and steering committees planning the Centennial celebration. She gave Crossroads a peek at the planning and a preview of some Centennial events to come. Sage Night Out in January kicked off the Centennial year, and the energy at the sculpture dedication and Sage Sips in April was incredible. I know there is MORE to come. Will you give us a preview? The Tri-City ValleyCats will host Sage Night on Sunday, August 28 at which we’ll welcome first-year students. Alumni are invited and a Sage notable will throw the first pitch! The students will have their annual Spirit of Sage cruise in September, on board the Captain JP, and we’re looking at ways to make that special for them in this Centennial year. SageFest is Saturday, September 24 on the Troy campus, and there will be a Sage Centennial 5K run/ walk at 10 a.m. Registration is open to everyone! We’ll have commemorative Centennial t-shirts and prizes for the top finishers. Noted journalist Paul Grondahl is writing a book celebrating Sage’s first 100 years, which should be published in the fall. The Centennial Gala is the keystone celebration for the year, and will be held on Friday, October 21 in the Armory at Sage College of Albany. There will be live music, dining stations, cocktails and a silent auction. Proceeds from the gala will benefit the Sage Centennial Scholarship Fund. There are several other activities planned up to the formal conclusion of the Centennial celebration on June 30, 2017. For more information – and a link to the MORE Store, offering a curated selection of commemorative merchandise – visit centennial.sage.edu.

For a link to the MORE Store, offering a selection of commemorative merchandise, visit centennial.sage.edu Who is involved in Sage’s Centennial? The Steering Committee was selected by President Scrimshaw with representation from leaders

Q+A

throughout The Sage Colleges. The committee is comprised of President Scrimshaw, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Melissa Komora, Vice President of Student Life Trish Cellemme, Trustee Carrie Hillenbrandt, former Trustee Janet Jones and Rose Grignon, executive assistant to President Scrimshaw. This committee serves as the final decision makers, with input from the college community, on all matters pertaining to the celebrations. A larger Centennial Community Committee includes members from all walks of college life. Give us a glimpse behind the scenes: when did the committees start work? How did were priorities decided? What has been most exciting? I was brought in toward the end of January 2015, at which point the Steering and Community committees had already been formed, and the Steering Committee had identified some signature events based on staff, faculty, student and alumni input. Planning the gala has been the most exciting for me with finalizing the band, caterer and florist, but checking off the boxes on all of the logistics for all the events has been enormously satisfying. One of the most enjoyable elements of planning the events has been finding out how excited the students are. They have formed a Student Centennial Committee and are recruiting fellow students to volunteer at the 5K, the annual donor reception and the gala. The same can be said about alumni from both campuses. They have embraced the planned events, and are working hard to assist with all aspects of the Centennial. What are your goals for the Centennial celebration? I think if we can continue to position The Sage Colleges in the public eye as an institution that not only celebrates our history, but is actively planning for the next 100 years, that’s a success. That we are known for nurturing future leaders, that’s a win, and that we, as a college, celebrate and embrace our place in the Capital Region, the cities of Troy and Albany, and globally. Is there anything that you would like to add? I’d like to thank all of the individuals who I’ve been working with to plan all things Centennial. Everyone has been unfailingly supportive and generous with their time and resources. Successful events don’t happen in a silo, and the Centennial celebrations can’t happen without the full support of the entire Sage community, which I’ve received, and then some!

All ALUMNI WELCOME: THE SAGE COLLEGES CENTENNIAL EVENTS SAGE NIGHT AT TRI-CITY VALLEYCATS

5K RUN/WALK FOLLOWED BY SAGEFEST

August 28, Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, Troy

September 24, 10 a.m., Russell Sage College

BOOK SIGNING WITH WES MOORE,

CENTENNIAL GALA

author of The Other Wes Moore September 16, 7 p.m., Sage College of Albany

October 21, 8 p.m., The Armory at Sage College of Albany For complete details, visit centennial.sage.edu.

Influenced

LIVES THAT

Sage’s Albany Campus and Graduate Programs

new installation in Kahl Campus Center, Lives of Influence, recognizes members of The Sage Colleges community whose lifetime achievements and affiliation with Sage have brought honor to the college. “As we celebrate our Centennial, we also celebrate the women and men who have helped Sage reach this milestone,” said President Susan Scrimshaw.

Each month during the Centennial year, a placard dedicated to a notable alumnus, faculty member or administrator of influence will be added, and their contributions to the college noted in subsequent issues of Crossroads.

THOMAS O. MAGGS JCA ’67 Thomas Maggs is president of Maggs and Associates insurance brokerage. His industry expertise, service on national and state government commissions and activities on behalf of educational and cultural organizations have contributed to economic development, landmark preservation and quality of life issues throughout New York state. Former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush appointed Maggs to the Commission for Restoration of the Statue of Liberty and the U.S. Export Import Council, and former New York State Governors Mario Cuomo and George Pataki named him to the Jones Commission – which reformed insurance coverage legislation in New York state – and to the state parks commission. Maggs has remained consistently involved with The Sage Colleges: he has spoken at Honors Convocation; helped dramatically increase annual giving among JCA alumni as alumni chair of the Students and Scholars Campaign; served on the President’s Council advisory board; and supported The Sage Ring Legacy Society, the Corporate Connections scholarship program and other fundraising initiatives at the leadership level. He is a board member and trustee of Trustco Bank and dozens of organizations – including the Bard College Music Festival, the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, Oakwood Cemetery, the Rensselaerville Institute, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Albany Symphony Orchestra and Springbrook School – are stronger for his involvement. The Sage Colleges recognized Maggs as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1991; with the Board of Trustees Community Leadership Award in 2003; and with an honorary Doctorate of Public Service at its Centennial Commencement celebration in 2016.

It All Adds up to

90%

of Sage College of Albany students receive some form of financial aid; The Sage Colleges awarded $21.3 million in scholarships and grants last academic year.

37,000 Sage graduates across the country and around the world

I wanted to relate to students as a working artist. WILLIE MARLOWE Professor Emerita Willie Marlowe taught painting and drawing in the Department of Visual Arts on Sage’s Albany campus from 1977 through 2008. She also taught in Sage’s international studies programs at Somerville College in Oxford, England, and at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. “I wanted to relate to students as a working artist, pass along what I had learned about drawing and painting, and give students a sense of how important it is for professional artists to do good work, present it well and deliver it on time,” she said in a profile written upon her retirement from Sage. Marlowe chaired the Visual Arts department for two years, received six faculty research grants, and took two sabbaticals to paint. She has had residencies at the Millay Colony for the Arts in Austerlitz, New York; the Cill Rialaig Project in Ballinskelligs, Ireland; the Emily Harvey Foundation in Venice, Italy; the Milkwood International Residencies, Cesky Krumlov, South Bohemia, Czech Republic; and at Atelier Cres, Cres Town, Croatia. She has also been a visiting artist in Barbados, West Indies; Cortona, Italy; Wexford, Ireland, where she had a 10-year retrospective exhibition at the Wexford Arts Center; and Tula, Russia. Marlowe continues to paint and exhibit widely. Her work is represented by galleries in upstate New York, North Carolina and in Ireland. Her work was included in “Women Gazing Inward,” a group show at the Ceres Gallery in New York City in January 2016, and she will participate in group shows in Hudson and Troy, New York, and Sacramento, California, later this year.

banners hang in Kahl Campus Center, celebrating: • Four NCAA Tournament appearances

700

Sage College of Albany undergraduate students (200 in the School of Professional & Continuing Education).

undergraduate programs. 17 linked and accelerated programs. 25 graduate programs.

• Four Skyline Conference Tournament Champion teams • Six Skyline Regular-Season Champion teams • Two ECAC Champion teams … all in the last four years

12:1

Sage College of Albany Student-Faculty Ratio

percen the un

“My mother raised [my siblings and me] to be artists”

ROBIN DU BRIN JCA ’74 “My mother raised [my siblings and me] to be artists,” said Robin Du Brin in a 2014 Crossroads profile. (Her sisters, Susan Du Brin, Carolyn “Jane” Du Brin JCA ’73 and Leslie Karen “Kerry” Du Brin JCA ’77, SGS ’06 also studied art at Sage, as did her mother, Carolyn Sanford Du Brin.) And Robin Du Brin does have the heart and eye of an artist; by profession, however, she is a real estate investment adviser specializing in the senior housing sector. At Sage, Du Brin earned an associate degree in Fine Arts with honors. She completed a bachelor’s degree and certificate in art education at the University of Washington and earned a law degree from the University of Puget Sound (now Seattle University). While attending law school, Du Brin started an investment group specializing in venture capital deals. Following graduation, she continued working with her investment group, but found real estate more interesting than venture capital. When a client sought her help in divesting from a cluster of skilled nursing facilities, Du Brin spotted a sector that seemed overlooked: senior housing. She founded a real estate consulting firm that financed commercial real estate in the 80s, and in 1994, partnered with Columbia Pacific Group. Du Brin eventually acquired CPG’s interests in Columbia Du Brin Realty Advisors, the first registered investment advisor to specialize in senior housing and health care investment services with a national scope. After two decades as president and CEO, she has advised banks, health care corporations, real estate developers, non-profits and other clients on senior housing assets exceeding $800 million. Du Brin pursues philanthropic goals alongside business objectives: as a member of Seattle’s Emerald City Rotary Club, she worked with high school students to establish Computers for the World, a non-profit that reconditions donated computers and delivers the technology to schools and community centers in developing countries. More recently, she has been involved with Malaria Rotarian Partners, which works with PATH, the global health non-profit that is funded by the Gates Foundation. Adapted from a profile by Joely Johnson Mork in the summer 2014 issue of Crossroads.

nt ethnic diversity in ndergraduate programs

As a member of Seattle’s Emerald City Rotary Club, she worked with high school students to establish Computers for the World, a non-profit that reconditions donated computers and delivers the technology to schools and community centers in developing countries.

SALLY A. LAWRENCE, PH.D. Sally Lawrence taught high school Spanish, then taught and

served in administrative roles at several area colleges prior to becoming dean of Sage Junior College of Albany in 1985. She retained responsibility for JCA when she was appointed dean of Sage Evening College in 1995. In 2000, Lawrence was named Vice President of Academic Affairs for The Sage Colleges. In a profile written upon her retirement in 2010, Lawrence said that serving as dean of JCA was “the perfect job” because she worked with students as well as faculty – teaching Spanish, guiding student development and working with student government. “I missed the students when I became VP,” she said, but emphasized that the VP role had its own rewards and was in itself a form of teaching. “The best part is working with faculty to build a curriculum designed for students and working with the president and trustees to get the institution where it needs to go,” she said, adding that as VP, she appreciated the vantage point that allowed her to see the whole institution. Lawrence was named Emerita Professor of Spanish in 2010 and also received the Academy for Character Education’s Distinguished Service Award for her exemplary service and contributions to character education at Sage and in the community.

Sally Lawrence at the dedication of the S. Charles DeMatteo Garden at Sage College of Albany in 2010.

The best part is working with faculty to build a curriculum designed for students and working with the president and trustees to get the institution where it needs to go.

ALUMNI NEWS Dear Alumni,

It is spring as I write, my favorite season of the year. I am an avid (obsessed) golfer, so

“Sage College of Albany Alumni Association” on Facebook

I am eagerly anticipating Sage’s annual Gator Golf Tournament on June 6. By the time you read this, graduates both new and from the last several decades will have met fellow alumni on the course at Normanside Country Club to have fun, play golf and build connections that translate directly to real world opportunities. Keep this in mind because I want to see you there next year! Spring is also an important time at colleges around the country because of commencement exercises. I was honored to speak at Sage College of Albany’s Baccalaureate Convocation on Friday, May 13. The Kahl Gymnasium was full of proud students, parents, faculty and administration. Sage’s Commencement Ceremony was held the next day at the RPI Field House. This spring, my wife and I welcomed our son, Hudson Michael, into the world. I share this because you also have important events in your lives such as new careers, promotions, engagements, marriages, children, etc. Keep us informed of these amazing things! We like to share achievements from your personal and professional lives. Write to us at sagealumni@sage.edu. Sage Sips, held in April at the Armory at Sage College of Albany, was another great opportunity for alumni to share news about their lives and meet new friends who share the Sage connection. There are still plenty of opportunities over the coming months

Michael Markou SGS ’10 earned his master’s degree in Organization Management at Sage’s School of Management. He is dean of student services at Bryant & Stratton College and has worked in higher education for over 10 years. He specializes in leadership, qualitative strategies to maximize success rates, operational effectiveness, organizational strategy, customer relations, student and personnel development, and mediation.

to attend Sage’s Centennial celebrations. Check out all of the upcoming events at centennial.sage.edu and sage.edu/alumni. Director of Alumni Relations Kate Genovese and I are always looking for alumni to join the association board, volunteer on campus or with alumni in the community, or share another idea to make alumni connections even stronger. I look forward to connecting with you!

VISIT twitter.com/sagealbanyalum

Mike Markou SGS ’10 President, Alumni Association

flickr.com/sagephotoshare

MIKE CAVANAUGH JCA ’72 JOINS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mike Cavanaugh joined the Alumni Association board of directors in the spring. He is principal of Cavanaugh Communications, a consulting and media production company with not-forprofit, higher education and government clients, and he is retired from a 36-year career in Public Affairs at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. He is also a member of the board of directors of the American Wildlife Conservation Foundation and the American Canoe Association’s New York State Executive Council. Cavanaugh – who expressed specific appreciation for Sage faculty members Don Bessette in English, Don Anderson in Math and Harold Schwager in Biology – earned his associate degree at JCA in Liberal Arts “with a lot of science classes” and his bachelor’s degree at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Cavanaugh reconnected with Sage when he reached out to the alumni office for assistance

CROSSROADS Summer 2016

contacting former classmates with whom he had lost touch. In doing so, he learned of the Association’s increased efforts to engage Junior College of Albany alumni. “It seemed well worth doing,” he said of joining the board, adding, “I encourage alumni who are wondering about a former classmate to reach out as soon as possible. In my search, I discovered that a good friend from JCA had passed away just a few days before I began my search.” Cavanaugh is a certified paddling instructor through the American Canoe Association and leads several instructional programs throughout the northeast, including the David Fisher Upper Hudson Heroes kayaking program for disabled veterans. He is eager to work with Sage’s Alumni Association to expand events and programming beyond traditional networking receptions and in July, he offered a guided kayak tour on the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers for Sage alumni. Watch sage.edu/alumni for more events like this.

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni have access to campus resources including the library and fitness facilities, but an alumni card is required. For information on alumni benefits and to request your alumni card, visit sage.edu/alumni and click on “Benefits.”

WEST HALL West Hall is the location of the alumni office on the Albany campus.

Sage College of Albany and Sage Graduate Schools Alumni Relations West Hall, Room 206 140 New Scotland Ave Albany, NY 12208 I 518-292-1915 sagealumni@sage.edu

UPCOMING EVENTS OCTOBER 1: SCA Gator Day NOVEMBER 4: Cooking class NOVEMBER 13: Alumni Community Service Day MORE details at sage.edu/alumni

ALUMNI ART SHOW The fifth annual Alma Mater Alumni Art Show was part of Sage Sips and on exhibit at the Little Gallery throughout April. Jared Schafer SCA ’14 – pictured with his art – was among the artists who participated.

ALUMNI GAMES Dozens of alumni-athletes got together for some friendly competition this spring at the annual game for former members of the men’s basketball team and the first alumni games for former members of the men’s soccer team, women’s soccer team and women’s volleyball team.

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI President Scrimshaw presented awards on behalf of Sage’s Albany Campus and Graduate Schools Alumni Association at the Sage Sips celebration in April. Kelly Coon Brock SCA ’09 received the Outstanding Young Alumnus award, which recognizes an alumnus who has graduated within the last 10 years for community service. Brock is a faculty member in the Esteves School of Education’s Physical Education program and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst; she is involved with several autism support and awareness organizations (turn to page 13 for more on Brock’s work). Paul Hook JCA ’86 received the Distinguished Alumnus award, recognizing an alumnus’ contributions in his or her field and community. Hook, vice president of business development at the creative agency Overit, has built a distinguished career in marketing and communications. He is an internationally published illustrator, an accomplished musician, and has held leadership positions on a number of local economic development and non-profit boards. He twice served as president of the Alumni Association, first in 1987-1988 and most recently from 2014 through last year.

To nominate an Outstanding Young Alumnus or a Distinguished Alumnus, visit sage.edu/alumni/awards. Nominations are accepted any time.

SAGE SIPS The Sage Sips reception in the Armory at Sage College of Albany featured Albany campus memorabilia from Sage’s archives, a photo booth, an opportunity to paint a one-of-a-kind wine glass (pictured) and – of course – specialty drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

CROSSROADS Summer 2016

CLASS NOTES

Laura M. Cohen [NP, ACNP-BC, School of Health Sciences, 2004, 2011] was named Advanced Practitioner of the Year at Rutland Regional Medical Center. The award recognizes advanced degree nurses and physician assistants, and Cohen, a nurse practitioner, is the first recipient. She has worked at the Rutland Heart Center since 2013 and is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, American Association of Heart Failure Nurses and American College of Nurse Practitioners. She volunteers at the Rutland Free Clinic and the American Lung Association and is a member of the Community Collaboration Committee at Rutland Regional.

organize educational and social events for the greater design community. Doane joined architecture+ in 2013.

Michael Markou [M.S., School of Management, 2010] and his wife, Lindsey Markou, welcomed a son, Hudson Michael, in May. Carmen Duncan, MSW, SCA ’08 was one of three Sage graduates named to the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40 list of executives and innovators who will shape the future of Albany. Duncan is founder and CEO of Mission Accomplished Transition Services, an organization that supports young adults as they set personal and professional goals. She was profiled in the summer 2015 issue of Crossroads.

Christopher Corbett [M.A., School of Health Sciences, 1994] is published in the Palgrave Handbook of Volunteering, Civic Participation and Nonprofit Associations (Basingstoke, UK:Palgrave Macmillan). Corbett applied his research on organizational dysfunction and worked with researchers from the United States, Lebanon and Uganda to jointly author a chapter, “Self-Regulation in Associations.” The chapter empowers non-profits to improve their self-governance practices. Corbett is also the author of Advancing Nonprofit Stewardship through Selfregulation: Translating Principles into Practice (2011, Kumarian Press). “[My] master’s level training in Community Psychology from Sage … emphasized the critical need to help communities help themselves through systems level intervention, second-order change and a strong emphasis on prevention rather than remediation,” he said, describing his publications as satisfying outcomes of his Sage education that challenged him to continue his non-profit research. More information is available at palgrave.com and kpbooks.com. Angela M. Doane, NCIDQ, IIDA SCA ’10, an interior designer at architecture+ in Troy, New York, has been appointed to serve on the board of the Albany City Center Chapter of the International Interior Design Association. As professional development chair, she will

CROSSROADS Summer 2016

Aarika Hansen SCA ’15 has been hired as a member services assistant at Northeast Association Management, Inc., which provides management services and staffing to non-profit associations and government-related entities. Hansen previously worked as a teaching assistant at The Sage Colleges and as assistant manager of Hansen’s Laundromat. She is a resident of Glens Falls, New York.

Daquetta Jones SCA ’08 [M.S., School of Management, 2011] was one of three Sage graduates named to the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40 list of executives and innovators who will shape the future of Albany. Jones is executive director of the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region. She was profiled in the summer 2014 issue of Crossroads.

Laura Mullins Klein [M.S., Esteves School of Education, 2005] was one of three Sage graduates named to the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40 list of executives and innovators who will shape the future of Albany. She is president of John M. Mullins Rigging & Hauling, Inc. Kyle Ray SCA ’13 has joined AOL, Inc. in New York City as a data visualization designer. He was previously a senior information designer at Salient Healthcare in Albany. Karen Reichel Smith [MSN, FNP, School of Health Sciences, 1983, 1998] wrote, “I’ve added a third master’s degree (a post master’s-Psych NP) and a doctorate in nursing since I left Sage’s hallowed halls! I was a former Junior College of Albany nursing faculty member, then morphed to nurse practitioner and eventually had my own private psych practice … I wanted to announce the release of my book, Nursing Chose Me: Called to an Art of Compassion, and my website, nursingchoseme.com. The website contains information about the book, nursing bloopers, true stories and more. The book chronicles the journey from a scared new graduate to an independent NP. Many chapters are devoted to my experiences as a nurse faculty member – several of which are based on my years as a Sage instructor. It is a great read for new graduates or even students considering a nursing career. Some of my former Junior College of Albany students might get a kick out of it too.”

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DOING MORE

ACTOR, WRITER + PRODUCER CREDITS SUCCESS TO SAGE BASKETBALL

hen Michael Deep Francis JCA ’85 was finishing high school on Long Island, he expected to go into the military. Then, his varsity basketball team competed in a state championship held upstate and JCA assistant coach Brian Beaury approached him about playing for Sage. Around the same time, Francis was appearing in his high school production of A Raisin in the Sun. It was his first theatre experience, and he loved it. When he learned he could major in theatre arts at JCA – then offered through the Fine Arts department* – and play basketball, he enrolled. Today, Francis is head of Jetfarm Pictures (Jetfarm is an anagram of his, his wife’s and his son’s initials) and a busy actor, screenwriter and producer. He’s collaborated on film, television, theatre and music projects with actress Taral Hicks of A Bronx Tale, music video producer James Kraze Billings and hip hop artist Maino, and two films he’s worked on – Transformation and The Bubble Gum Hit – have been accepted by the Hollywood Black Film Festival. “All of this started because I went to Sage,” he said. Francis has just been made assistant producer on Judy San Roman’s next film, Rich Girl, Rich Boy, which began

shooting in August. He is also working on a musical based on the book series The Real Life Adventures of Jo Jo Bean (The books are written by Francis’ wife, Tracé Wilkins Francis, and illustrated by Malachi Jackson JCA ’99, SCA ’07) and a feature film inspired by folk hero John Henry, who according to legend, hammered faster than a steam-powered hammer during the construction of the Big Bend Railroad Tunnel in West Virginia. “I’m starring in John Henry and I’m also producer and co-wrote the screenplay,” said Francis, who is collaborating with Eric Richardson-Hagans of Buffalo Soldier Films on the project. The team shot a short trailer and brought it to the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California, where entertainment-industry insiders gather annually to pitch or acquire projects, talent and financing. There, they connected with the West Virginia Film Office and have started scouting locations and looking for financial backing. Francis is confident that the movie will get made, and when it does, he looks forward to arranging a screening on Sage’s campus. Francis returns to campus almost every year to play in the annual alumni basketball game and reconnect with the coaches who first encouraged him to attend college

Michael Francis (back, right) with his 6-year old son and the parents of former JCA basketball coach Bill Toomey. Francis has remained close to the entire Toomey family since he played basketball for JCA in the 1980s. and supported his success ever since. “I learned about responsibility at Sage. Coach Bill Toomey made an incredible impact on my life,” he said. “I’m very close to Coach Toomey’s family, to Mike Long and to basketball alumni. This year they met my wife and 6-year-old son for the first time. It was a special moment for me. I will always return. They are family.” Learn MORE about Michael Francis’ work at facebook.com/johnhenrythemovie. * Today, Sage College of Albany students can study theatre via the Creative & Performing Arts programs and The Sage Theatre Institute on the Troy campus.

GAME ON: DANIELLE GODBOUT MORALES SCA ’08

anielle Godbout Morales was looking for work after graduating from Sage College of Albany with a Fine Arts degree and kept seeing ads from one local company. “I wanted to work in a competitive industry and have a challenging career,” she said. “I had been on every local help wanted site and Vicarious Visions showed up over and over advertising for artist positions.” Morales applied and was hired, initially as a software tester, at the Albany-based video game studio. She swiftly, in gamer parlance, “leveled up” to user interface artist. She has now been a UI artist for five years, working primarily on

Print Exchange with a Purpose

Skylanders, a phenomenally popular game series for consoles and mobile devices. (Unfamiliar with Skylanders? Ask any school-age child to fill you in.) Morales designs the menus and icons that help players travel through the world of Skylanders, as well as displays and logos used to promote the games. For the recently released Skylanders: SuperChargers, she designed and animated the “Level Select” screen (in this iteration, a giant map) and the start menu (animated books that offer game options to the player.) “I worked with the concept artist, designers and engineers to get these screens and many others to work and to feel good, both aesthetically and as a user experience that 6- through

After participating in one print exchange, Morales started her own in conjunction with The Arts Center of the Capital Region, which exhibits the submitted work. “Twenty artists participated the first year,” she said. “The fourth year I thought, hey, why don’t we make this even more meaningful? I asked participants to submit an extra print to be sold for charity at the gallery. This year, proceeds will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.” For more information about the 2016 exchange, visit facebook.com/day2dayprintexchange.

12-year-olds can navigate,” she said. Professors Emeriti Willie Marlowe and Harold Lohner were major influences on Morales at Sage. “They were teaching, and creating and showing work, and networking all the time,” she said. “Harold Lohner was my printmaking professor and really turned me on to a medium I didn’t know much about but quickly fell in love with.” Lohner introduced Morales to print exchanges, in which participating artists submit a set of identical prints and receive original works from other artists in return. “I thought, wow, I’m broke and would love to own more art. What better way to start my collection than trading with other artists,” she said. In addition to her full-time job, Morales offers custom graphic design services via Danielle Morales Arts & Design; runs an international print exchange, now in its sixth year; and participates in events and exhibits at area galleries. Last fall, she spoke on a panel of women in video game design at Sage’s Opalka Gallery and she and Vicarious Visions colleagues exhibited their personal artwork at the Albany Center Gallery in early 2016.

CROSSROADS Summer 2016

FACULTY ACCOLADES

SAGE COLLEGE OF ALBANY

ESTEVES SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Lynn Capirsello, assistant professor, Interior Design, is the first educational chair on the board of the International Interior Design Association, Albany City Center Chapter.

Lori Finn, Ph.D., BCBA-D, assistant professor, Applied Behavior Analysis, has been appointed to the editorial board of the International Journal of Developmental Disabilities. She and Cheryl Davis, MSEd., BCBA, lecturer, Applied Behavior Analysis, delivered “Creating Interactive Video Lectures to Increase Student Engagement” at the Teaching Professor Technology Conference in New Orleans in October 2015 and via a virtual conference sponsored by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education in February. Finn and ABA students Brizida Vinjau and Carman Chu presented “Know How? Show How! Evidence-based Staff Training Practices” at the Esteves School of Education’s autism conference in April.

Melody Davis, Ph.D., assistant professor, Art History, spoke on “The Narrative Stereograph and the Cult of Domesticity” at George Mason University in February, and on “Convergence: Gender in the American Stereograph” at the University of Pennsylvania in April. Sean Hovendick, assistant professor, Graphic + Media Design, was invited to exhibit his collaborative work “Undetermined Measurements: Super Fund Sites Across America” at a juried exhibition at the FUSE Art Space in Bradford, England. He presented “Collaborative Capstone: Partnering Academia with Industry” at the AIGA Design Educators Conference in Portland, Oregon. His work was also included in juried exhibitions in Baltimore, Plymouth and Cohasset, Massachusetts, and Fort Collins, Colorado. A manuscript by Janel Leone, Ph.D., assistant professor, Law & Society, and James Carroll [M.S., School of Health Sciences, 2016], “Victimization and Suicidality Among Female College Students,” was accepted for publication in the American Journal of College Health. Backbeard: A New Musical, based on Professor of Graphic Design Matthew McElligott’s books, premiered at the Theater Institute at Sage in June. His book, The Mad Scientist Academy: The Weather Disaster was released in July. Work by Gary Shankman, MFA, professor, Fine Arts, was included in exhibits at the Oakroom Artists Gallery, Schenectady, New York; the Frisbee Agency Gallery, Catskill, New York; and a national juried exhibition at the Shirt Factory Gallery, Glen Falls, New York.

MORE at sage.edu/spotlight

CROSSROADS Summer 2016

Benjamin Mauro, Ph.D., associate professor, Applied Behavior Analysis, presented “Behavioral Momentum and Treatment Relapse” at the Esteves School of Education’s autism conference in April. John Pelizza, Ph.D., associate professor, Health Education, has been named interim dean of the Esteves School of Education. He will work with faculty to ensure continuity in critical activities surrounding accreditation, reporting, enrollment management, faculty development and student success during the search for a permanent dean. Pelizza joined Sage in 1974 as a faculty member in the Department of Health Education. A nationally known speaker on change, productivity, team building and personal growth, he has spoken to thousands of organizations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. “Black Professor, White Students: Reflecting on the Relevance of Culturally Responsive Teaching with Predominantly White Students in a Graduate Teacher Preparation Program” by Tiffany Powell, Ph.D., assistant professor, Childhood Education, was accepted for publication by the International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Tracy McLeod, Ph.D., assistant professor, Special Education, delivered “Understanding the Process of Collaboration in Wake of Standard-based Curriculum and Stronger Accountability” at the American Council on Rural Special Education 2016 National Conference in Las Vegas.

Deborah Shea, Ed.D., assistant professor, Educational Leadership, participated on a panel at the annual meeting of the New England Educational Research Organization. She spoke about leadership as it relates to teacher effectiveness and how the supervision process can support reflection.

SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES Joan Dacher, Ph.D., professor, Nursing, is vice chair of New York state’s Palliative Care Education and Training Council. The council is charged with establishing palliative care education in medical schools and residency training as well as in nursing and social work programs. Dacher is co-authoring the white paper that will be submitted to the state health commissioner, chancellor of the state university and members of the legislature.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT Eileen Brownell, Ph.D., associate professor, Management, presented on experiential learning at the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, in April.

Help Sage Students Stand Out in Interviews and on the Job! The Office of Career Planning is seeking professional attire in good condition for students who are in need of clothing for internships, interviews and other career-related activities. Items like blazers, slacks, skirts, dresses, ties, shoes and shirts can be dropped off to Sage College of Albany (third floor of the library) or Russell Sage College in Troy (Room 318 in the Shea Learning Center) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Email scacareer@sage.edu for more information.

Q+A

KELLY COON BROCK, MSEd., BCBA

Kelly Coon Brock SCA ’09 teaches in the Esteves School of Education’s Physical Education program and recently became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She spoke to Crossroads about how she is using her expertise in behavior modification and physical education to help future physical education teachers Be, Know and Do MORE for their students. What attracted you to a career in education in general, and to physical education more specifically? I was always active, and participating in sports and recreation provided me with meaningful experiences. I worked as a K-12 physical education teacher prior to transitioning to higher education, first as an adjunct and then full time. Teaching at Sage provided the opportunity to work with my mentors, former Professor of Physical Education Patricia Mosher, Ed.D., and Associate Professor of Health Education John Pelizza, Ph.D. I felt that I could bring experience, guidance and ideas to future teachers. At the time I joined Sage, I was already working in the behavioral field and on my postgraduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis. What inspired you to pursue additional certifications to work with students with behavior challenges? I had a wonderful student in my class on the autism spectrum. He intrigued and challenged me to come up with ideas to get him involved in the activity, keep him involved, motivate him and help him to appreciate Physical Education for the class that it is. I started working with an afterschool program for students with cognitive,

emotional and behavioral challenges and decided to further my education. Is physical education for children with autism an overlooked area? If you had asked me this question 10 years ago, I would have said yes. However, since my careers in higher education and behavioral consultation place me in the schools, I see physical educators striving to develop and implement appropriate lessons that are extremely successful in mainstream and adapted settings. The Capital District has phenomenal PE teachers. How have you seen appropriate physical education positively impact a student’s challenging behavior? Physical Education is more than teaching students how to “play sports.” It emphasizes interpersonal skills, communication and cooperation. For students with difficulties in social situations, PE provides the opportunity to practice skills in a safe environment. Additionally, PE is structured. Structure assists students in developing routines and predictable outcomes which assists in the development of appropriate behaviors. How does your background in both physical education instruction and applied behavior analysis inform your teaching at Sage? I teach a variety of classes concentrated in Physical Education, including Instructional Strategies for Developmental Disabilities and Instructional Strategies for Orthopedic Disabilities. The majority of my students are pursuing teacher certification. They often take advantage of the 4+1 program at Sage, which allows them to take four graduate classes as an undergraduate then complete

their Master of Science in Health Education in one year. For fellow professionals in the teaching field looking to further their education, I recommend Sage’s Applied Behavior Analysis program. I also offer CPR, automated external defibrillator and first aid instruction and I work with colleagues in the Esteves School of Education to offer workshops for teacher certification exams. A majority of the work I complete as a behaviorist involves developing Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans which is an integral part of many students’ individualized education plans. I can help Sage Education students understand what these documents mean for teachers and students. Additionally, applied behavior analysis relies heavily on data collection, so I am able to share appropriate ways to record data and the importance of documentation. Is there anything else you would like to mention? Sage Physical Education majors received a perfect passing rate on the edTPA, a professional assessment of teaching readiness, in spring 2015. Instructor of Physical Education Peter Stapleton and I are developing additional tracks for students to take within the Physical Education program. We are working on an adapted PE track, which focuses on behavior management given my ABA background. We are also working on a sports administration track, and reaching out to make MORE connections within the Physical Education world! So keep an eye on the PE program!

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THE $50 MILLION CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN FOR SAGE is an ambitious fundraising campaign to take Sage into its second century. Centennial Campaign gifts of any amount support academic programs, facility renovations and upgrades, and an endowment for faculty and campus needs. To make your gift, visit

centennial.sage.edu

A special opportunity is available during the Centennial Campaign for Sage: A personalized 12” x 12” Centennial brick will honor donors who make a $500 gift and a personalized 4” x 8” marble tile will honor donors who make a $1,000 gift. These special pieces will only be offered during the Centennial Campaign and will be prominently featured outside of the Kahl Campus Center. centennial.sage.edu/bricks-and-tiles

Thank you for helping Sage Be. Know. Do. MORE

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