A Message from President James Van Vorst | | | | Much has been happening within the Emeritus Center. For example, our Albany Life Long Learning Institute (ALLI) continues to grow. The fall semester was very well attended, and courses for our spring semester begin March 16. In addition, we recently named Carol Whittaker as our William L. Reese Fellow for 2026. Her tireless work in developing and managing ALLI, as well as her other contributions to the Emeritus Center and other community groups, has been extraordinary. For more of Jim's message go to President's Message. (Left - Photo of James Van Vorst) | | Most 2021 - 2025 Speakers Were Recorded - Videos Now Available! | | Did you miss one of our speakers in the Fall, 2025 semester? Our website has a chronological listing of all the talks. There you will find links to our YouTube channel with Zoom recordings for most of our presentations dating to September 2021. | | Albany Lifelong Learning Institute (ALLI) Program - A Fall Semester Success and Spring Semester Offerings | | (Above - Healthy Aging Adults from Hope Trust) | | |
The enthusiastic reports from ALLI’s inaugural (Spring 2025) semester led us expand from three to six courses for Fall, 2025. By all measures, the expansion was a success. Two courses reached capacity almost immediately, and our overall enrollments more than tripled from 50 to 175. The vast majority reported that the course met or exceeded their expectations and praised their instructors for their expertise and enthusiasm.
Our Spring 2026 program begins on March 16. The course on AI and Society reached capacity quickly, and the instructor for Murders that Matter had to withdraw, forcing us to cancel that course, but the four remaining courses are still open if you register soon. For dates, course descriptions, student testimonials, photos, and other information go to Lifelong Learning Courses.
| | Emeriti Join CIHS Students on Saranac Lake Field Trip | | (Photo of Students and Emeriti outside Trudeau Museum in Saranac Lake) | On October 17, the Emeritus Center and the ALLI program partnered with the Center for Global Health of College of Integrated Health Sciences (CIHS) on a field trip to Saranac Lake. Six emeriti and ALLI students joined 39 students and staff from CIHS to visit the Trudeau Laboratory Museum in Saranac Lake. The Museum highlights the history of America’s first tuberculosis (TB) laboratory, established in 1894 by pioneering physician Edward L. Trudeau. We also visited the grounds of the nearby Adirondack Cottage Sanatorium, where patients were treated with “fresh air and rest,” along with more traditional medical care, until 1954. To complement education with recreation, we also visited the Wild Center in Tupper Lake on the way home, where we connected with Adirondack nature and wildlife. More details and photos are posted here. | | Emeritus Center Elects Carol Whittaker as Fellow for 2026 | | (Above - Photo of Carol Whitaker) | |
Carol Whittaker is a Great Dane of long standing, holding a bachelor’s degree and three master’s degrees from UAlbany. She began her 20 years of NYS service in Governor Rockefeller’s Office of Education Performance Review and the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH). When the School of Public Health (SPH) was created under a Memorandum of Understanding between UAlbany and NYSDOH in 1985, she joined the faculty as an Associate Clinical Professor.
Upon retirement, she became an active participant in the Emeritus Center and a member of our board of directors. Ms. Whittaker believes strongly that many older adults are eager for continued learning opportunities, and, to help meet this demand, led a small group of board members to design and implement our Albany Lifelong Learning Institute (ALLI) program in spring 2025. As noted in our story above, the inaugural semester was a great success, and the program has expanded from three to six courses and enrollment has more than tripled. Click here for more information about Carol and her Fellow award.
| | (Above - Photo of Rat Bromley) | Ray Bromley, Professor Emeritus of Geography, Planning and Sustainability, published two articles in Fall 2025.Both articles report on case studies developed for the book that he is working on, provisionally entitled Beyond Moses: Public Works in the New York Metropolitan Region, 1924-1973. | |  | (Above - Photo of Jose Cruz) | In September 2025, José E. Cruz, O’Leary Professor of Political Science, joined the Advisory Board of Capital District Latinos, a nonprofit social services and advocacy organization that provides cultural, educational, and health-related services to residents in the Capital Region. He will help develop a music and wellness program. | | | More information about the recent work of Professors Bromley and Cruz, as well as Paul Cummings, Bob Gluck, Paul Miesing, George Robinson, Leonard Slade, Jr., Mary Beth Winn, and Robert Yagelski is available at Emeriti in the News. | | Preview: The Schedule of Speakers for Spring 2026 | | |
The complete Spring Speakers Program is posted on our website.
We also are in the process of upgrading and improving the furniture and presentation capabilities in our home at UAB 134. We believe that, when done, the improvements will improve the Speaker Series program as well as expand our ALLI offerings.
| | 2026 marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the William R. Reese, Ph.D., Emeritus Center. To celebrate, the board of directors is planning a special event on November 10 from 4 to 6 PM at UAB 134. More details to come, but in the meantime be sure to save the date! | | How to Donate to the Emeritus Center | | Some emeriti have asked how to donate to the Emeritus Center, either to honor a deceased colleague or to help support our programs. See this link for more information. | | Thanks once again to Dan Smith for this issue's Humor Corner. Everyone over 60 years old can certainly identify! | | And there’s so much more to be found on our website, including a list of Board members and updated announcements. Be sure to visit our website often for updates. | | | | |
