Coffee Break Newsletter Masthead

March 10, 2026


Send announcements for Coffee Break (employees) or Solutions (students) to newsletter@sage.edu by end of day Wednesday to appear in the next issues.

No Coffee Hour this week: Coffee Hour returns Wednesday, March 18, 9 a.m., with guests from Opalka Gallery. Find the Zoom link and more Coffee Hour resources or contact the Innovation Committee at innovation@sage.edu.

Dates to be aware of:


  • Check your email for the first Security Awareness Training for 2026. Please complete it by March 13 (This coming Friday!)



  • If you’ll be renting regalia for commencement, contact Carol Pett at 1pettc@sage.edu by Sunday, April 5. Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for complete details.

Spring Break Bookstore Hours: This week, the Albany bookstore is open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Friday. The Troy bookstore is open Wednesday and Thursday only, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. They're always open online.

 

What’s New

 
Great Colleges to Work For 2026 logo

Announcing 2026 Great Colleges to Work For Survey


Russell Sage College will again participate in the Great Colleges to Work For program, a survey focusing on workplace quality in higher education. You may have received an email from ModernThink on March 4 titled “The Great Colleges to Work For 2026 Faculty/Staff Survey.”


Sage’s rate of participation has been higher than the average of all institutions, and the results yield valuable information, enable benchmarking against comparable institutions, and allow us to identify opportunities and make informed decisions.


There is an element of random sampling in their process, so not all employees received the survey. If you did, we very much hope you will take part. The survey will be open all month. Please note the survey is both voluntary and completely confidential; our institution will not be able to trace results back to individuals. We hope you’ll use a portion of your workday to share your thoughts. Results are processed by ModernThink LLC, an independent management consulting firm. They can be reached at 888.684.4658 or at surveys@modernthink.net.


Thank you in advance for your participation. Please contact Brian Evers or Kirk Robinson with questions, or visit www.GreatCollegesProgram.com.

In the News


Biology major Khaleil Pryce spoke with News10 ABC about discovering a love of theatre while studying biology at Sage. Professor of Theatre David Baecker joined the conversation. The Theatre Institute at Sage’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher featuring Pryce was written up in the Saratogian and The Record. 


Russell Sage's ICAN program and partnership with the Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls and Green Tech High School was the subject of Albany schools partner on program to boost diversity in nursing workforce on CBS6.


Associate Professor and Nutrition Department Chair Sonya Hauser kicked off a series of stories she and our nutrition faculty will be doing with CBS6 for National Nutrition Month. In the first installment, she talks about all the hype around protein intake.


Christina Lane, associate professor of criminal justice and director of the Criminal Investigation Resource Center, spoke with WAMC Northeast Public Radio for Russell Sage program could help cut down on cold case backlog.

 

Way to Go!

 
 Ten people posing in front of a "NORTHEAST CONFERENCE" backdrop

Members of the Russell Sage community at the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages: Back row: Jacob Kagan, Daniel Kagan, Lyndsey Edick, Lilliana Langdon, Bridelle Toumani. Front row: Professor of Spanish Kate Kagan, Adrianna Denio, Molly G. Oravsky, Elena Baranoski, and Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Heliana Magalí Chavez Cortez.

Students Present Research Posters at NECTFL Conference


Eight students shared research at the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, held in New York City on February 27. 


The students participated in a poster session titled “Emerging Scholars: Research Across Cultures, Communities, and Disciplines” which highlighted undergraduate research spanning culture, language, community engagement, biology, health sciences, advocacy, and neurodiverse learning. The session gave the students a valuable opportunity to share their research, receive feedback, and connect with educators and peers from different fields, said Professor of Spanish Kate Kagan, associate director of the Honors Program. They represented Russell Sage with distinction and their posters showcased the strength of undergraduate research at Russell Sage, she added. Read the full list of student presentations.

A man in a white dress shirt and green patterned tie stands on a basketball court sideline, appearing to coach during a game.

Empire 8 Honors for Men's Basketball Coaches, Athletes


Congratulations to Head Coach Brian Barnes (pictured) and assistant coaches Brian Eastman, Kevin Blanchet, Andrew Zibro, and Todd Williamson ’25, who were voted Empire 8 Men’s Basketball Coaching Staff of the Year. Student-athletes also earned All-Conference honors. Read about the team’s landmark season.

Pay it Forward on the Wall of Wins!


Have you been recognized on the Wall of Wins? Why not pay it forward and shout out a colleague?

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

 

Tech Check From IT

 
No spam" sign with a crossed-out envelope and the word "SPAM."

It’s Stop Spam Week


March 9-13 is Stop Spam Week, the perfect time to take a stand against unwanted and often dangerous messages in your inbox. Spam isn’t just annoying — it’s one of the most common ways cybercriminals steal information. Help stop it by avoiding suspicious links, not replying to unknown senders, and reporting phishing or spam messages. The sooner spam is flagged, the better IT can protect the entire college community. A few smart clicks can make a big difference. Let’s keep our inboxes clean and our data secure!

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

 

Events

 

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!


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

A smiling person with short brown hair and a mustache, wearing a black sweater against a plain background

Everything Is Theatre: A Funny and Reassuring Career Talk

March 16, 6 p.m., Bush Memorial, Troy


Theatre grad Brandon Hansen returns to Russell Sage to share how creative skills translate into real-world impact


Read a Q&A with Hansen, now Vice President of External Affairs at the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, on Sage.edu.

Logo for the Denise Taber Finard '80 Women's Institute at Russell Sage College, featuring a stylized tree within a circle on the left.

What is Your ‘To Be?': Personal and Professional Journeys

Wednesday, March 18, 4-6 p.m.

Bush Memorial, Troy campus


Hear from Russell Sage graduates in the fields of education, health sciences, and government, who'll share their personal and professional successes and challenges, as well as tools and resources to navigate disruptions along the way. The talk will be followed by an interactive workshop. Learn more and register for this panel and workshop, hosted by the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute.


We're also doing a drawing for gift cards and prizes for those who attend, so please encourage your students to stop by and make plans to attend yourself!

Registration Now Open for the CDPHP Workforce Challenge


Thrive@ Russell Sage and Recreation and Fitness are organizing a team for the CDPHP Workforce Challenge, a 3.5-mile walk/run on Thursday, May 21, at 6:25 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza. It costs $5 to join Team Russell Sage College (The “normal” price is $35, but Thrive will cover the remaining $30!) Register for the Workforce Challenge.

 

Keep in Mind

 

Regalia Rental for Commencement: Please Order by April 5


If you’ll be participating in commencement or other end-of-semester events that require regalia (like Honors Convocation or PT Hooding), please contact Carol Pett at 1pettc@sage.edu or 518-274-0199 by Sunday, April 5.


Note: This rental option is for administration, faculty, and staff only. Please do not share with students.


If you rented regalia in the past, the bookstore will not assume you need it again unless you confirm. Please include the following information in your email:


  • Height
  • Jacket or dress size (indicate if over 250 lbs. so the gown fits properly)
  • Hat size or head measurement around the widest part of the forehead in inches
  • Degree and field of study (e.g., Master of Science in Chemistry)
  • College or university and city and state
  • Daytime contact information


Rental Pricing:


  • Bachelor’s unit (cap/gown/tassel/hood): $77 + tax
  • Master’s unit (cap/gown/tassel/hood): $84 + tax
  • Doctoral unit (cap/gown/tassel/hood): $93 + tax
  • Doctoral unit (tam/gown/tassel/hood): $121 + tax
  • Individual components (gown, hood, cap/tam, tassel) can also be rented


Payment is due at pick-up at M.O.S.S. Books, Troy (Gurley Hall, 1st Floor). Please return all items as soon as possible after your ceremony.


Store Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.


Shipping is $7.99. Contact the bookstore to discuss alternative payment, pick-up, or delivery options. Orders received after the deadline may incur extra shipping charges.

Free Fitness and Nutrition Consultations


To make an appointment or ask questions, email Recreation and Fitness Director Joe Michaud.


Fitness Consultations — McKinstry Fitness Center, Troy

Meet with Certified Personal Trainer Bila Bonifacio. Appointments available:


👟Monday: 2-6 p.m.

👟Wednesday: 1-4 p.m.

👟Friday: noon-3 p.m.


Nutrition Consultations — FitStop, Albany Armory

Walk in or make an appointment to meet with Nutrition graduate student RJ Burkitt for information (not guidance from a Registered Dietitian; Registered Dietitian education in progress).


🍏Mondays: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

🍏 Tuesdays: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

🍏Thursdays: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Children in tie-dye shirts on stage and pointing with a colorful mural backdrop.

TIS Kids, TIS Teens, and Summer on Stage — Register Now!


The Theatre Institute at Sage is excited to announce four shows being produced exclusively for K-12 students, its biggest season ever! Sage community members get $100 off registration for a new program for 6-12 year olds, a revamped summer camp, and the popular TIS Teens program. Email Eddie Knight for more information.

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.


Free tax help at Troy Public Library, across Second Street from the Troy campus, Thursdays, through April 9. Walk-ins welcome; appointments can also be scheduled. Visit www.tax.ny.gov/tap.

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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