Coffee Break Newsletter Masthead

August 25, 2025


Send your 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.

☕ One More Week to Coffee Hour's Return: Zoom in to Coffee Hour at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, for an update from Director of College Services Mike Rossman. See the Coffee Hour schedule or sign up to present.


Save the Zoom link to your calendar; find recordings of previous Coffee Hours; volunteer for the Innovation Committee, or email the Coffee Hour team at innovation@sage.edu.

Help Education Students Collect School Supplies for Kids at Joseph's House & Shelter: Please drop donations in the bins located in Buchman Pavilion (Troy) and KCC (Albany) by August 29. 

 

What's New

 
Three people moving in items to a dorm

Shout out to Residence Life and everyone in our campus community who helped welcome our newest Gators to campus this weekend!

Largest Total Enrollment in 10 Years


We can always celebrate a new academic year beginning, but this year is particularly sweet.


As of last Friday morning, the total registered student enrollment number stood at 2,831, up from last fall's census number of 2,790 and the highest total since 2015. And we still have an anticipated 100 to 150 more CITE students to come in, as they have a later registration.


It's also the first time we've had back-to-back years of more than 400 new undergraduate students in a decade. Be sure to congratulate yourself and your colleagues on a job well done.


Read more about this big enrollment year, and be sure to tell your friends.


And check out news coverage of this milestone on WNYT and CBS6.

Theatre, OT Programs Get Shout Out on Local Webcast


Russell Sage Trustee Benita Zahn and Adjunct Theatre Instructor Ellen Cribbs (both actors) host a webcast called Everything Theater. They recently interviewed Michael Pizzi of Sandhill Theatre, who’s also an occupational therapist.


Pizzi's description of how OT intersects with theatre begins at 17:00; then, at 23:45 he mentions Sage's excellent OT program. Theatre gets a terrific shout out and the ACPHS merger is mentioned, too.

A woman with chin length blonde hair glasses and a bright smile

Amy Pass Named Faculty Fellow of the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s

Institute


The Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute is thrilled to welcome Professor Amy Pass as the new faculty fellow for its student ambassador program! Professor Pass brings an incredible depth of experience in research, instruction, and student support to this role. As an assistant professor and student success librarian at Russell Sage, she has been a champion for academic growth and holistic student development. Her passion for teaching, whether through first-year experience courses, study skills workshops, or service-learning programs, perfectly aligns with the Women’s Institute’s mission to cultivate reflective, values-driven leadership among student ambassadors.


With a career rooted in empowering learners — from federal training programs in Washington, D.C., to online education innovation at SUNY Empire and Sage — Professor Pass exemplifies the mentorship, knowledge, and care the institute hopes to instill in every student.

Two people wearing gray SAGE FLAG FOOTBALL shirts standing back to back against a dark background

Greco Construction Sponsors Sage Women’s Flag Football


Greco Construction, led by Russell Sage Athletics Hall of Fame member Sam Greco Jr., ’64, ’11, is the inaugural sponsor of Sage’s women’s flag football program.


Also see Russell Sage College women's flag football program receives its first sponsor (Troy Record).

Free Couch-to-5K Program for Survivors


Strong Through Every Mile (STEM), a nonprofit organization that empowers survivors of interpersonal violence and abuse and DV through the sport of running, will once again offer its free couch-to-5K program to students and employees at Russell Sage. Runners of all genders and abilities are welcome.


They'll hold an info session for employees on Friday, August 29, at noon.


Register to access the August 29 info session link and feel free to share the flier, or reach out to Jenn Gish at gishj@sage.edu for more.

Fall Pickleball League Returns!


The Student/Staff Gator Pickleball League is back! Teams of doubles will compete in weekly matches from September 8 through October 10, finishing with playoffs and a prize for first place.


Find out more, then sign up for pickleball!

Stylized geometric compass rose with COMPASS ROSES text

Compass Roses: Maps by Artists, at Opalka Gallery September 2-October 11


Compass Roses: Maps by Artists—Albany opens September 2 at Opalka Gallery on the Albany campus. The exhibit feature 30 maps by local visual, literary, and performing artists, and a calendar of events ranging from art talks to yoga.


Read more about Compass Roses.

 

Way to Go!

 

Wall of Wins: Extra Flavor and a Freebie This Week! 🌶️


"Thanks to Martin McCormack in Facilities for planting peppers out front of 92 1st Street, Troy, in the flower garden, and making them available to all to take. But be careful, they can be hot!"


"Lead IT Technician Cris Cornett, we really appreciate you helping with IT office moves in West Hall. We needed things done quickly, and you delivered. Thank you!" -Office of Advancement


We’re always glad to hear how EVERYONE at Sage supports students and each other, and we’re even gladder to shout about it via the Wall/Google Doc of Wins. Please share your wins or celebrate a colleague!

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

 

Events

 
outdoor scene of band and crowd at dusk

Opalka Gallery reopens September 1, and beer gardens kick off September 5. See the beer garden schedule for bands, food trucks, and more.

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.

Friday, August 29


👟 STEM Couch-to-5K Info Session, noon. Register to access the Zoom link


Tuesday, September 2


🪷 Sign up for Yoga Fitness (weekly though November 18)

Tuesdays, 5:15 p.m., McKinstry 206, Troy


Wednesday, September 3


☕ Coffee Hour, 9 a.m., Zoom in to Coffee Hour Wednesday at 9 a.m. for an update from Director of College Service Mike Rossman.


🔥Sign up for Zumba Fitness (weekly through November 19)

Wednesdays, 5:15 p.m., Robison Gym, Troy


Monday, September 8


🪩 Sign up for Dance Fitness (Weekly through December 1)

Mondays, 5 p.m., Robison Gym, Troy


Friday, September 5


🍻 Beer Garden, 6-9 p.m., Opalka Gallery, Albany campus


Friday, September 12


🍻 Beer Garden, 6-9 p.m., Opalka Gallery, Albany campus


Wednesday, September 17


🟢🔷 TIAA Representative One-on-One Meetings, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cowee 3rd Floor, Troy campus. RSVP for an on campus meeting with TIAA.


Additional TIAA Dates:

  • October 23, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., West Hall, Albany campus 
  • November 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cowee 3rd Floor, Troy campus
  • December 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cowee 3rd Floor, Troy campus


Friday, September 19


🍻 Beer Garden, 6-9 p.m., Opalka Gallery, Albany campus


Wednesday, September 24


🟢🔷 Lunch and Learn with CDPHP: Tools to Manage Stress, noon, Bush Memorial, Troy campus.


Saturday, October 10


💚 Sage is forming a team for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Walk on Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m. Find more info and register for the NAMI Walk.

 

Reminders

 

"How-To" 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 a young woman from Afghanistan get settled and find community in the Albany area.


Find past issues of Coffee Break in the newsletter archive.


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 the promo code RussellSage: www.cdphpcycle.org.


Coffee Hour links: Find Coffee Hour recordings; see the Coffee Hour schedule or sign up to present; or email the Coffee Hour team at innovation@sage.edu.


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:

 

Thanks for Reading!

 

Send your 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.

 

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