Coffee Break Newsletter Masthead

December 8, 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.


P.S. Coffee Break will take a coffee break after the December 15 issue, resuming January 12, 2026. Solutions resumes on Sunday, January 18.

Coffee Hour, December 10: Zoom in at 9 a.m. for presentations from Accessibility Services and the Gator Claws-It and to share good news.


Save the Zoom link to your calendar and find more Coffee Hour links.

animated snowflakes falling over swaying pine trees with text inviting to a holiday reception and Russell Sage and ACPHS logos

See you at the Holiday Reception on Friday, December 12, from 2-4 p.m. at the Gozzo Student Center on the ACPHS campus!

Help Support the Holiday Raffle and Wine Pull!


The Holiday Party Committee is gathering raffle items and wine donations to support this year’s holiday reception cause: the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.


Popular raffle contributions include themed gift baskets, gift cards, college swag, artisan items, or services. For the wine pull, bottles valued at $10 or more are welcome. If you or your office would like to contribute, please complete this brief form. Thank you for helping make this tradition both joyful and impactful!

 

What's New

 
Person painting a mural of a large blue eye with orange birds on a brick wall.
Three adults and two children on stage set with black and white photos in background

Visual and Performing Arts Grads In the News


Art + Extended Media graduate Quill Harrison '21 (pictured painting a mural on the Albany campus in 2019) is one of the local artists who shared the inspiration and process behind their work in At schools, libraries, businesses and more, murals are on display in the Capital Region in the Times Union. 


Also see this Saratogian interview with Theatre graduate Nick Martiniano '14 (cast photo, right), about his and Theatre Professor David Baecker’s (left) return to Cohoes Music Hall this month for A Christmas Story. (The Times Union named the production Best Theater Performance of the year last year!)

Spongebob struggling to write at a desk. Shows paper and it says only the word "the"

Stop By and Write Holiday Cards to Future Gators!


A personalized touch means a lot in the student recruitment process, so we're asking Sage employees to join us on Tuesday, December 9, and/or Thursday, December 11, from noon to 3 p.m. to write holiday greetings to the hundreds of accepted students we'd love to see at Sage next fall.


Bring your favorite pen if you have one, and we'll supply the rest. These sessions are drop in, so sign a few cards or a few dozen. Head to the Administration Building on the Albany campus (Admission area) or the Admission Building in Troy to participate. Enjoy some cookies while you're there.

Please Encourage Grad Students to Apply for Broughton Graduate Fellowship; Applications Due February 15, 2026


The Broughton Graduate Fellowship is an award for advanced scholarly research by graduate students. Students may apply as an individual or a team.


The fellowship committee updated the 2026-2027 Broughton Graduate Fellowship guidelines and application. The application deadline is February 15, 2026.


Please encourage graduate students to apply for this prestigious award and to be attentive to the details provided in the guidelines and application. Email Kathy McLaughlin with questions. 

 

Way to Go!

 
Person standing under a large inflatable archway with a "WELCOME TO THE SHOW! banner in front of a playground with baseball stadium i background

What’s it like to work Savannah Bananas games at Yankee Stadium? Business student Anthony Bisner knows! It’s just one of the hands-on sports roles he’s taken on while at Sage. Read his story on Sage.edu.

Miniature diorama inspired with a garden and mini furniture and a framed book cover
People in a room participating in a group dance with ornate decor and large mirror
A scrapbook cover titled Sense Sensibility and Soundtracks with a silhouette and gold fabric binding and tulip decorations

End of Semester Highlights From English, Expressive Arts in Mental Health 


After spending the fall immersed in Jane Austen’s novels and influence, students in Professor Tonya Moutray’s ENG 309: Major Writers seminar gathered last week to share their final creative projects and mark the author’s upcoming 250th birthday. The event even included a Regency ballroom dancing lesson led by Dean Andrea Rehn.


Just before the Thanksgiving break, Professor Tracy Gilbert's EMH: 430: Expressive Arts in Grief and Healing students shared their own end-of-semester work — presenting projects focused on building more grief-informed, supportive college environments. Read more about those presentations on Sage.edu. 

A woman stands next to two informational posters on easels, discussing a topic at Russell Sage College
Person presents a poster titled Meaningful Learning Cardiogenic Shock at Russell Sage College
Person presenting in front of display boards to seated individuals in a classroom setting

CSTEP Celebrates December Graduates


CSTEP students graduating this month gathered Thursday for a luncheon celebration in the CSTEP office. The event included presentations from three nursing students who took part in the fall CSTEP-funded research program — all of whom have already accepted job offers:


  • Fallon Diamond (left) presented “Acute Asthma Exacerbation” and will join Albany Medical Center.


  • Zainab Shahzadi (center) presented “Meaningful Learning: Cardiogenic Shock” and will join St. Peter’s Hospital.


  • Chone Knox presented (right) “Med/Surg Mayhem,” and will also join Albany Medical Center.
Women's basketball college athlete stands next to her coach and holds a commemorative basketball in a gymnasium

Student Athletes Set Records,

Earn Empire 8 Recognition


Last week, Layla Acosta (pictured with coach Michael Branche) became just the 10th Russell Sage women's basketball player to surpass 1,000 career points, and cross country athletes Aniya-Jade Bailey and Chris Pellegrini were named to the Empire 8 Conference's Tomorrow's Leaders Team, for athletes who have emerged as leaders in their sport, the classroom, and the community. Read more at sagegators.com. 

Wall of Wins: Add your success or celebrate someone else's.

Do you have news to share? Send it to newsletter@sage.edu.

 

Previously Announced Events

 

Looking for something to do? New events are added to The Chomp every day. Check it often to see what is going on!


Have an event to promote? Add it to The Chomp first, then email the details to newsletter@sage.edu.

Three wooden blocks with text MIND FULL or MINDFUL against a blue background

December Mindful Mondays from EAP


Short sessions to reduce stress, boost mood, focus, and resilience. Each week features a different mindfulness practice.

Sessions are 12:30-12:45.


🟢 Register for Monday, December 8

🟢 Register for Monday, December 15

Poster for The Lightning Thief The Percy Jackson Musical featuring lightning bolts and a stylized sword

The Lightning Thief, Through December 12


The Theatre Institute at Sage presents The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical at the Schacht Fine Arts Center, Troy campus, through December 12.


Performance schedule and ticket info at theatre.sage.edu.

 

ICYMI

 

Please complete Russell Sage's Q4 2025 Security Awareness Training by December 23. Check your email for the link.



Access past issues of IT's newsletter in the Sage Guard Newsletter repository.


Lunchbox with apple and sandwich next to colored pencils and stacked books

Please Help Promote Nutrition Study


The Nutrition Science department is conducting a study to understand how many college students experience food insecurity and how it affects their education and well-being. The findings will help inform recommendations on policies and the use of food assistance resources available to college students.


Participation is voluntary, and identities will remain anonymous during and after the study. Students 18 or older, enrolled in a two-year, four-year, or graduate program and residing in the U.S., are eligible. You may also forward the survey to others. Questions can be directed to Assistant Professor Laura McClure.

Green square with words Thrive at Russell Sage

Take a Break with the Wellness Center


🌿 Book the massage chair in Albany


🌿 Book the massage chair in Troy.


🌿 Purchase health essentials, including contraceptives, pain relief, menstrual care, and basic first aid at the Troy Wellness Center's vending machine.


Discover the NYT’s Best Books of the Century: Browse the collection in the library's catalog.


Find past issues of Coffee Break in the newsletter archive.


For reference:

 

Thanks for Reading!

 

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 the following week’s issues.

 

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