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October 19, 2026
Please send items for the Coffee Break (employee) or Solutions (student) newsletters to newsletter@sage.edu by the end-of-day Wednesday.
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☕ Join Coffee Hour, Wednesday, 9 a.m., for more benefits updates from CDPHP. Access the Zoom link and other Coffee Hour resources.
🗓️ Tour Russell Sage’s Albany Campus on Wednesday, October 21, at 3:05 p.m. Meet at the Admissions Building. Scroll to the events section for more employee campus tours.
💲A TIAA financial consultant will be on the Albany campus next week, on
Tuesday, October 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., West Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room. Schedule your appointment online or by phone at 800-842-2252.
✒️ Publish Your Creative Work: Submit your art, photography, or writing to The Rev literary and creative arts magazine before November 20.
🚨 Disaster Training Drills: The Nursing Department will conduct disaster training drills Tuesday, October 20; Wednesday, October 21; and Friday, October 23, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in Schacht Theater (Troy). The drills will simulate a business conference involving a gas explosion, with simulated injuries and special effects. Expect increased activity and simulated emergency conditions around Schacht.
💜 New York state’s #PurpleThursday to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month is Thursday, October 22. The Title IX Office encourages you to wear purple and post pictures to social media with #DVAM2026 #NYSOPDV @RSC_TitleIX.
| | In Memoriam: We are saddened to share the passing of former colleague Kristian “Kris” Jackson on September 3. Kris was a mail coordinator at Russell Sage from July 2001 to April 2024. We are grateful for his nearly 23 years of service and his contributions to the daily life of the college. Our condolences go out to his family, friends, and former colleagues. | | Student-ambassadors from the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute met with NYS Senator Pat Fahy in Albany and George Hearst III in New York City during recent study-away trips. Read more about the trips on Sage.edu. | |
Explore Grad Programs at Sage
Employees considering a graduate degree are invited to the Graduate Open House, Wednesday, October 28, at 5:30 p.m. in Bush on the Troy campus. Meet the Graduate Admissions Team and faculty from in-person programs, and enjoy light refreshments.
Register for the Grad School Open House
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Students Present Research at NYSAFLT Conference
Eleven students presented research at the New York State Association for Foreign Language Teachers conference in Albany on October 16. Their topics spanned education, psychology, biology, health sciences, language, culture, and technology. Read about the conference and see the full list of students and their topics on Sage.edu.
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This Week at Opalka Gallery
Albany campus
Opalka Gallery’s Stage & Stanza: Conversations with Creatives series returns on Thursday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. Join poet Carol Durant for a conversation with Broadway veteran and Theatre Professor Robin Lewis and poet, playwright, and short story writer Jeffery Torres.
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Please Promote to Students:
Mocktails Networking Event
Up to 70% of jobs are never publicly posted. Help your students build critical networking skills in a low-stakes, fun environment during Mocktails, hosted by the Career and Self-Discovery Center on Tuesday, October 27, 4 p.m., Bush Memorial, Troy.
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TECH CHECK FROM IT: Fight for Your Data
Last week, IT encouraged you to strengthen the gates of your Cyber-Citadel with better passwords. But what happens if someone steals the key? That’s where multi-factor authentication comes in.
Think of MFA as a second guard at the castle gate. Even if someone gets your password, they still need another way to prove they belong before they’re allowed inside. But that second guard needs your help.
📱 Only approve MFA requests you initiated. An unexpected authentication prompt could mean someone has your password and is trying to access your account.
🚫 Never approve a request just to make it go away. If you didn't try to sign in, deny the request and report it to IT.
This Week’s Quest: Pay attention to your next MFA prompt. Before you approve, ask, Did I initiate this?
HALT. VERIFY. TELL SOMEONE. One stolen password shouldn’t open the whole castle. Together, we can keep the Russell Sage College Cyber-Citadel secure.
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Updates from Professor Harvey Strum
Professor of History Harvey Strum delivered a paper, “Anti-Irish Nativism and the 1837 St. Patrick’s Day Riot in Troy” for the New International Virtual Association on October 12. On October 18, he co-chaired a Zoom session and delivered a paper, “Atlantic Canada’s Aid to Ireland during the Little Famine, 1880,” for the International Conference on Education and Social Sciences. The Wall Street Journal published his letter to the editor, “China's Persecution of Jews,” on October 7, 2026.
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Wall of Wins!
“A big thank you to the Albany campus Facilities team for their work on the Opalka Pop-Up Beer Gardens. September is such a busy time so we’re grateful for the support! We couldn’t do it without you all!”
–Amy Griffin & Gina Occhiogrosso at Opalka Gallery
“Rob Chacon, IT operations technician, THANK YOU so much for your prompt help at 92 1st Street! We really appreciate how quickly you got all of our office technology back up and running. Your fast response made a huge difference.”
-Sheri Spraker, Executive Assistant to the VP for Advancement
🟩🟦Please share a success or shout out a colleague on the Wall of Wins 🟩🟦
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Looking for something to do? New events are added to The Chomp online calendar every day. Check it often to see what is going on!
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Campus Tours for Employees
Wednesdays, 3:05 p.m., rotating campuses
Russell Sage, Albany: October 21 and November 11 (Meet at Admissions Building)
Russell Sage, Troy: October 28
(Meet at Admissions House)
ACPHS: November 4
(Meet at O’Brien Building)
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Just Announced: Mermaid Chè Monique
Monday, October 19, 4 p.m.
James L. Meader Little Theater, Troy
Chè Monique is a mermaid performer, instructor, and founder of The Society of Fat Mermaids. She has been featured in Netflix’s MerPeople, YouTube’s Embodied, and news stories and interviews. In conjunction with Professor Meaney’s PHL275 “Water Stories” class, she will discuss the ways that mermaiding works as a form of play and liberation, engaging bodies and minds and opening up opportunities for identity expression, wellness, and community.
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The Title IX Office will have giveaways and resources for #DVAM2026:
💜 Monday, October 19, 3-5 p.m., Buchman, Troy
💜Thursday, October 22, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., ACPHS Gozzo Student Center, Albany
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A Conversation with Michelle Horton, author of Dear Sister
Thursday, October 22, 9:30 a.m.
Opalka Gallery, Albany campus
Michelle Horton will discuss her memoir detailing the case of her sister, Nikki Addimando, who was incarcerated for killing her abuser, and Horton’s fight to raise Nikki’s children in the fallout. Presented by the Hoffman Lecture in Sociology and Social Policy, co-sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Studies Department, Sociology and Forensic Mental Health Programs. Questions? Contact braytk@sage.edu.
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Fall 2026 FDC Research Café
Thursday, October 22, 4 p.m.
Alumni House, Troy or Zoom
Billy Fillmore (Art & Extended Media) will share how classroom small talk can foster student belonging, and Cathron Donaldson (Physical Therapy) will present her qualitative study on physical therapists with disabilities and how they navigate workplace barriers, accommodations, and identity.
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Go Gators, Go! Home Games This Week
Tuesday, October 20
🏐 Women’s Volleyball vs. SUNY Delhi, 6 p.m. (KCC, Albany)
Wednesday, October 21
🏑 Field Hockey vs. Hartwick, 6 p.m. (home games played at UAlbany)
⚽ Women’s Soccer vs. Hartwick, 7 p.m. (ACPHS)
Saturday, October 24
⚽ Men’s Soccer vs. Alfred, noon (ACPHS)
Streaming matches all week!
🕹️ Esports: See the full esports schedule and watch at twitch.tv/sagegators.
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TIAA Financial Consultant Sessions
Schedule your appointment online or by phone at 800-842-2252:
💲Albany: October 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., West Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
💲Troy: November 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cowee, 2nd Floor Conference Room
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Navigating Non-Linear Careers — Webinar with Media Executive C.J. Kettler
Learn from Hearst Executive C.J. Kettler on Wednesday, October 28, 6 p.m., during a free webinar on navigating career pivots. Kettler, whose career spans MTV, CBS, and Netflix, will discuss how varied job experiences add up to become a powerful skill set. Presented by the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute and the Times Union’s Women@Work. Register to receive the event link.
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Previously Announced and Recurring Events
💬 Tuesdays: Open Discussion with College Chaplain Darren Gundrum, noon, Buchman, Troy: Bring thoughts, interests, concerns, or listen and enjoy the company.
🧠 Register for a program on dementia care and brain health on Thursday, October 29, at 7 p.m. in Bush Memorial (Troy).
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Fitness Classes
Troy:
Sign up for Dance Fitness: Mondays, 5 p.m., Robison Gym
Sign up for Flexibility and Mobility: Tuesdays, 5 p.m., McKinstry 206
Sign up for Mat Pilates: Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m., McKinstry 206
Sign up for Zumba: Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m., Robison Gym
Albany:
Sign up for Yoga: Mondays, noon, Science 101
| | Send announcements for the Coffee Break employee newsletter and Solutions student newsletter to newsletter@sage.edu. | | | | |
