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October 14, 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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☕☕ NEXT WEEK: Coffee and Community with President Shaftel
Please join President Shaftel for Coffee & Community on Tuesday, October 21, at 9 a.m. on the Albany campus. It’s a chance to gather informally, share ideas, and enjoy conversation over a cup of coffee.
📅 Register for October 21 Coffee and Community
There's one more Coffee and Community on Monday, November 18 on the Troy campus.
📅 Register for November 18 Coffee and Community
The location will determined by registration and capacity and will be shared once you register.
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Attend an Upcoming Merger Update Session
Last week, President Shaftel sent a merger update, including info on hybrid merger update sessions for employees that will be held Thursday, October 30, from 11 a.m. to noon at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences' Gozzo Student Center (Room 201/202) and on Wednesday, November 5, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Russell Sage in Bush Memorial.
The sessions, presented by President Shaftel and ACPHS President Toyin Tofade, will both cover the same material and will include opportunity for Q&A. They will also be available via Zoom for remote employees. Register for the sessions using this link.
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Know a High Schooler Who Wants to Make a Difference?
Have a high schooler at home — or know one who loves getting involved? Invite them (and their friends!) to Sage Engage, a free, half-day conference on Wednesday, October 29, on the Albany campus. They'll learn how to turn great ideas into real impact in their schools and communities.
Learn more and register for Sage Engage.
| | ⚠️ Disaster Drills Scheduled: The Nursing department will conduct disaster drills on Tuesday, October 28, Wednesday, October 29, and Friday, October 31 on the Troy campus. The drills will take place during the day in Alumnae House and on First Street outside of Alumnae House. These practice drills include student actors displaying injuries; police and fire departments will also participate.
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Professor, CIRC In National News for Helping Resolve Decades-Old Case
During an October 8 press conference, the Albany Police Department recognized Associate Professor Christina Lane, Director of Russell Sage’s Criminal Investigation Resource Center, for her role in helping solve a decades-old cold case. Lane's work on the case and with students received attention in national, state, and local news stories. Here are some links:
Associated Press and ABC News
Northeast Public Radio
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Author James Preller Visits Art Therapy Class
Author James Preller (pictured center, plaid shirt) visited Professor Tracy Gilbert’s Intro to Art Therapy class to discuss his book, Shaken. The novel’s main character works with an art therapist after a life-changing injury. While researching the story, Preller consulted with Professor Gilbert and another art therapist about how art therapy might support his character. Now, Gilbert uses Shaken as a case study in her class to help students explore a client’s use of art therapy and better understand the application of the clinical practice.
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Professor David Baecker Featured in AHA! A House for the Arts Episode on Oscar-Winning Troy Actress
Professor of Theatre David Baecker appears in a recent episode of WMHT's AHA! A House for the Arts, discussing Maureen Stapleton — the Academy Award–winning actress who thanked her hometown, Troy, New York, in her Oscar acceptance speech.
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Bookstores This Week:
Adjusted Hours, Champion Sale
Get 25% off and free shipping on Champion apparel through October 16, in store and online. Adjusted hours:
Albany: Closed Monday | 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday | 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Friday. Shop Albany bookstore online.
Troy: Closed Monday and Tuesday | 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday | 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Friday | 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Saturday for Admission Open House. Shop Troy bookstore online.
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Wall of Wins
"S/O to Brandee McAdoo from the Financial Aid team who went back to her high school alma mater, Albany High, and gave an amazing presentation on the financial aid process to prospective families! Amazing presentation and amazing presenter!" -Director of Undergraduate Enrollment Management Ryan Sue
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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Gator an E8 Player of the Week
Congratulations to Men's Soccer goalkeeper Mateja Milutin, who was the Empire 8 Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, October 5.
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From IT: Outsmart AI Scams This October
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world with innovation — but it also fuels scams, fake content, and digital deception. This October, we’ll help you sharpen your skills to spot AI tricks and protect yourself from new cyber threats. Each week, you’ll face a different type of attack and test your eye for detail with interactive “spot the lie” posters. Are you ready to uncover the truth?
Seeing isn’t always believing. AI-generated visuals and files may look convincing, but they leave behind telltale clues: changing clothing or disappearing backgrounds, distorted hands or accessories, mismatched shadows, suspicious links, or oddly formatted documents. If something feels off, pause and verify through official channels before clicking or downloading. With awareness and practice, you’ll become a true digital detective — able to dodge deception and stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Read the Sage Guard October Newsletter.
Access past issue of Sage Guard.
| | Reminder: Cybersecurity training must be completed by October 31, 2025 for staff and faculty, and by November 18, 2025 for adjuncts. Finish on time to keep your account access uninterrupted. | |
Theatre Institute's Nunsense
There are show October 17 and 18 at St. Mary’s of the Assumption in Waterford, and October 25 and 26 at St. Thomas the Apostle in Delmar. Purchase tickets.
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Tuesday, October 14
🪷 Sign up for Yoga Fitness, 5:15 p.m., McKinstry 206, Troy
⚽ Sign up for Intramural Soccer, 6-8 p.m., Armory Turf, Albany
Wednesday, October 15
🔥 Sign up for Zumba Fitness, 5:15 p.m., Robison Gym, Troy
Thursday, October 16
🥞 Serve Albany Brunch Series: Hosted by local nonprofits (not a Russell Sage event), this monthly series highlights community issues. Topic on October 16 is Women’s Empowerment. Find information and sign up for Serve Albany events.
💭 Intercultural Cafe: Help English learners practice conversation in a friendly setting, 4–5:30 p.m., West Hall, Albany Campus. Email grad student Noora Ahmed at ahmedn2@sage.edu for more info.
🏀 Sign up for Intramural Basketball, 7-10 p.m., Robison Gym, Troy
Friday, October 17
💚 Opening Reception, Beyond Grief’s Door 6:30-8 p.m., Little Gallery, Rathbone Hall, Albany. Presented by EMH 430: Expressive Arts in Grief and Healing.
Monday, October 20
🪷 Sign up for Yoga Fitness in Albany, Mondays, 8-9 a.m., Kahl Campus Center 224. October 20 through November 17.
💜 Resources for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 12:30-2:30 p.m., KCC dining area, Albany. Meet representatives from Sage's Title IX Office, Albany County Crime Victim & Sexual Violence Center and Equinox
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
Tuesday, October 28
💳 Mocktails Networking Event 4:30-6 p.m., Bush Memorial, Troy. Please encourage students to register for Mocktails and register for the Internship and Volunteer Fair, and attend both. They could win a $100 gift card!
Tuesday, November 4
💳 Internship and volunteer fair, 11 a.m.-2p.m., Armory, Albany. Please encourage students to come, or attend as a class. Students who register for the Internship and Volunteer Fair and register for Mocktails (and attend both!) could win a $100 gift card!
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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:
Volunteer with Every Campus a Refuge: Fill out the ECAR volunteer interest form if you are available 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. | | | | |
