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September 29, 2025
Send announcements for the Coffee Break (employee) or Solutions (student) newsletters to newsletter@sage.edu by the end of the day Wednesday to appear in next week’s issues.
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SAGEGIVES is Tomorrow, and Your Gift Could Win You VIP Campus Parking
Tomorrow is the day! Join the entire Russell Sage College community starting at midnight, Tuesday, September 30, for the 10th annual SAGEGIVES, the college's 24-hour giving challenge. All employees should have received information in their intercampus mailboxes. You can also visit sage.edu/sagegives.
All employees who make a gift on or before Tuesday, September 30, will have their name entered into a raffle for a fall semester VIP parking spot on either campus.
It is sure to be an exciting day! Thank you in advance for your support!
| | Watch a recap video from Sage Engage 2024. The event received media attention and helped the college stand out for a Grand Gold in the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards. This year is another chance to showcase the inspiring work happening at Sage while encouraging the next generation of changemakers. | |
Lead a Session, Inspire Prospective Students at Sage Engage
On Wednesday, October 29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Russell Sage College will host the second annual Sage Engage, a free half-day conference for high school students who exemplify Sage’s motto: Be. Know. Do.
The day includes interactive sessions, demonstrating ways students can turn ideas into action, and make an impact in their communities. Would you to consider helping to lead a session? Are you involved in any projects or programs that showcase how we can all work together to improve the world? This might involve volunteering, engaged learning, wellness, activism, advocacy, and more! Do you know students who might want to get involved with you? Even better! Sign up with your idea and the organizers will be in touch. Questions? Email Assistant Professor of Education Kelly Smith at smithk33@sage.edu.
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New Faces at the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute
We’ve already shared news about Shelly Calabrese — who has had fundraising as part of her role as executive director of the Denise Taber Finard ‘80 Women’s Institute — now serving as assistant vice president for major gifts. She will maintain her fundraising liaison role for the Women’s Institute, as well as expand our major giving program.
A team has been assembled to guide the institute through the next year — and carry out its ambitious agenda — until we launch a search for a new director.
That team, which includes Calabrese, is also made up of:
Interim director: Dr. Eileen Brownell, a longtime faculty member in the School of Management, will serve as the institute’s interim director, ensuring that all programming planned for the year runs smoothly, supporting new ambassador recruitment, and representing the institute in the community and to prospective donors.
Faculty fellow: Amy Pass, an assistant professor and student success librarian at Sage, has already formed a tight bond with Women's Institute student-ambassadors as she leads them through a leadership development curriculum. She’ll also take the lead on recruiting new ambassadors to the institute.
Women@Work professional development certificate lead: Dr. Jen Murphy will work with the institute on a contract basis to develop a Women@Work/Russell Sage co-branded women’s leadership development certificate for area professionals. This non-academic certificate will also serve as a gateway to the Flex MBA and Flex Organization Management graduate programs at Sage.
Cabinet liaison: Jenn Gish, vice president for marketing and communications, will serve as the team’s lead, overseeing the execution of the institute’s goals.
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Just Announced: Film Talk and Writing Workshop with Uchenna Ugwu
Thursday, October 9, 9-10:30 a.m., Zoom
Nigerian screenwriter and filmmaker Uchenna Ugwu will give a talk and writing workshop on her directorial debut, I Too, Crave Death, an Igbo-language short film that explores mother-daughter relationships and other family dynamics, mental health, grief, and suicidal ideation. The event is hosted by The Rev literary and art magazine in honor of World Mental Health Day: Register for the film talk and writing workshop and receive access to view the film via a Google link.
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From Sage to Screams: Horror Filmmaker Talks Career and NYT Recognition
Read a Q&A with Theatre alumna Anna Shields, who has written and starred in several independent films, including The North Witch, which was just listed among Five Horror Movies to Stream Now in The New York Times. She shares the “strange comfort” she finds in the horror genre, the opportunities she had at Sage, and advice for early-career actors.
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Trial Access to Symptom Media is Ending; Please Share Feedback With the Library
Faculty, please check out the library's trial access to the Symptom Media video library* — more than 1,000 video simulations of mental health conditions with activities — and submit feedback before October 4. (*Gmail is glitchy with this link; you can also access Symptom Media via https://library.sage.edu.)
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Don’t Let Your Email Signature Make You Look Stuck in the Past!
A colleague sent screenshots of old email signatures she's seen floating around, with "Albany and Troy" or — gasp — the "One College. Two Campuses." version from pre-2020! These often linger in shared mailboxes, like department@sage.edu. If you have access to one of these accounts, please take a minute to update the signature and logo. The logo you should be using is pictured, and you can find instructions for updating it on the Communications Resources page. Thank you!
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TUESDAY: Author talk with Dora Rodriguez
Tuesday, September 30, 6 p.m., Opalka Gallery, Albany
Dora Rodriguez will share her memoir Dora: A Daughter of Unforgiving Terrain, recounting her survival of a 1980 desert crossing while fleeing political violence in El Salvador’s civil war and her path to becoming a humanitarian leader.
| | Keep scrolling! Many more events this week, further down! | |
Wall of Wins
"To Assistant Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Associate Professor of Physical Education Pete Stapleton, thank you for 'tutoring' me in measurement and evaluation. I am grateful and have become so much better because of the time you spend with me. You're the BEST!" -Terry Gendron, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Physical Education
"Shout out to Theatre’s David Baecker, who always sends the Marketing and Communications team fantastic alumni outcomes, so we can do profiles! We appreciate the wonderful work you do as faculty to inspire student success, and that you are an advocate for highlighting the Sage story!" - Marcom team (P.S. You can read the profile he suggested about Anna Shields, just a few entries above in Coffee Break)
Fresh, blank squares are always available at the Wall/Google Doc of Wins. Please share your wins or celebrate a colleague!
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Phishing Alert: How to Identify Phishing Attempts
IT is seeing increased phishing attempts, including messages sent from compromised @sage.edu accounts. A familiar sender does not guarantee legitimacy. Core rule: IT will never request your username, password, or personal details by email. Treat any “verify your account” message or time-pressured request as suspicious — even if it appears to come from a Sage address. Red flags:
🚩 Generic greeting, like “Dear Staff Member”
🚩 Urgent language, like “Failure to complete within 24 hours ...”
🚩 Suspicious links, including shortened and obfuscated URLs like shorturl.at/...
🚩 Password request: IT will not ask you to enter a password via an email link
🚩 Odd and mismatched wording, like references to other institutions (e.g., “Post University”)
What to do:
- Mark as spam and delete — even if the sender is an @sage.edu colleague
- Do not click links or open attachments
- Report it: submit a ticket at sc.sage.edu (attach the email if possible) so security can investigate and notify impacted accounts
Thank you for staying vigilant! Your caution protects the entire community.
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FROM HR: Money Worries Weighing You Down?
Your Employee Assistance Program has financial tools and resources to help you cut costs, boost savings, and manage money with less stress:
- Certified financial coaching: Help for debt management, saving, spending, and creating a budget.
- Online personal finance and investing courses
- Money-saving ideas and resources
- Financial calculators: Test scenarios such as buy vs. rent, debt paydown, investing, loans, and more.
- Savings benefits: Discounts, rewards, and perks from your favorite brands.
Explore these and other free tools by logging in at www.theEAP.com/Higher-Education-EAP. If money worries affect your mental health, call 800-252-4555 to connect with counseling and coaching benefits for stress management or dealing with life issues that may be contributing to money problems.
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All Week
🧭 Compass Roses: Maps by Artists at Opalka Gallery, Albany, features 30 maps by local visual, literary, and performing artists. Events this week include a performance exploring grief and a jazz quartet.
Monday, September 29
🪩 Sign up for Dance Fitness, 5 p.m., Robison Gym, Troy
Tuesday, September 30
💬 Open Discussion with College Chaplain, noon, Buchman, Troy. Bring thoughts, interests, concerns, or listen and enjoy the company.
🪷 Sign up for Yoga Fitness, 5:15 p.m., McKinstry 206, Troy
📚 Dora Rodriguez, author of Dora: A Daughter of Unforgiving Terrain, 6 p.m., Opalka Gallery, Albany
Wednesday, October 1
🩸Red Cross Blood Drive, noon-5 p.m., The Aggie, Troy. Schedule your appointment to give blood.
🔥 Sign up for Zumba Fitness, 5:15 p.m., Robison Gym, Troy
Thursday, October 2
🧭 Kyle Turgeon’s Trying, doors 6:30, show at 7 p.m., Opalka Gallery, Albany. This free performance explores grief through the story of a young couple navigating the loss of a family member. Opening set by Adam Tinkle, featuring meditative electro-wind expansions.
Friday, October 3
🧭Arch Stanton Quartet, 6:30, Opalka Gallery, Albany. Free, but register to reserve seats. Part of Albany's First Friday celebration of the arts.
Saturday, October 4
⚽ Fiesta y Fútbol Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, noon-4 p.m., Albany
Saturday, October 11
👣 Join Russell Sage's NAMIWalks team for the National Alliance on Mental Illness community walk, 10 a.m., in Albany's Washington Park. One Sage team member will win a Fitbit Versa 2.
Tuesday, October 21
☕ Coffee and Community with President Shaftel, 9 a.m., Albany. Register for Coffee and Community. (One more Coffee and Community on November 19, Troy)
Tuesday, October 21- Wednesday, October 22
💚Grief-Informed Practice Workshop, Albany campus. Learn more and register for Building Confidence Across Disciplines: Practical Tools for Supporting Grieving Individuals (Students can sign up for the grief workshop free.)
Thursday, October 23
🟢🔷 TIAA Representative One-on-One Meetings, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., West Hall, Albany. RSVP for an on campus meeting with TIAA.
Additional TIAA Dates:
- November 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cowee 3rd Floor, Troy
- December 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cowee 3rd Floor, Troy
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Club Advisors Needed! Email Director of Student Activities Theresa Belfance at belfat@sage.edu to volunteer.
Unwind in the Wellness Center: Book a 25-minute massage chair session and recharge in a calm, quiet space. Book the relaxation space in Albany or book the relaxation space in Troy.
Employees Invited to Publish Creative Work: The Rev literary and creative arts magazine is accepting submissions for its 2026 edition. Photography, drawing, painting, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction accepted through November 21. Email Laurel Petersen at peterl4@sage.edu for information.
Free Online Fitness Classes: Log in at BODi/Beachbody on Demand with
Username: Recreation@sage.edu and Password: Thrive2020
Free CDPHP Cycle! membership: Free daily bike rides with the CDPHP Cycle! app and promo code RussellSage: www.cdphpcycle.org.
Pizza Deals from Papa John's: Use these online-only coupon codes for deals from Papa John's at 571 New Scotland Avenue (Papa John's is an athletics sponsor.)
- Use code GATOR1: 1 large pizza, 1 topping, $7.99
- Use code GATOR2: 3 medium pizzas, 1 topping, $18
- Use code GATOR3: 2 medium pizzas, 1 topping, $5.99 each (must buy 2)
- Use code GATOR4: 1 medium pizza, 1 topping+ breadsticks OR 6 garlic parmesan breadsticks, $12.98
Links from IT:
Volunteers Needed
- Intercultural Cafes, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays (Spirituality Center, Troy) and Thursdays (West Hall, Albany), are friendly gatherings where English language learners practice conversation with volunteers. Drop in, or email Nana Owusu-ofori (Troy) or Noora Ahmed (Albany) to learn more.
- Please complete the ECAR volunteer interest form if you are available to work with Every Campus A Refuge to help individuals and families get settled and find community in the Albany area.
Find past issues of Coffee Break in the newsletter archive.
Moodle help: Find updated Moodle links and important information for 2025-2026 in this PDF. You can also schedule a training session with Sage Online via the Training Request Form.
For reference:
| | Send announcements for the Coffee Break (employees) or Solutions (students) newsletters to newsletter@sage.edu by the end of the day on Wednesday to appear in next week’s issues. | | | | |
