June 9, 2025

Global emails are like glitter: hard to clean up. Coffee Break, delivered every other week in the summer, is your tidy alternative. The next issue is on June 23. Please send your news by the end of the day, June 18.

✨ Send all your sparkling news to newsletter@sage.edu ✨

Save the Date text on a chalkboard background

Professional Development Dates

Please mark your calendar for the following professional development days during the 2025-2026 academic year:

Thursday, August 21, 2025: Opening Day

Wednesday, January 14, 2026: J-College

May 19-21, 2026 (Tuesday-Thursday): May College

Please Post Student Positions by June 15: Contact Nana Owusu-ofori or Jenn Morrill in the Career and Self-Discovery Center with questions. Also see:

How to Post a Position on Handshake

How to Hire Student Workers (once you have applications)

What's New

Group of people dressed in running clothing standing outdoors on steps.

Who Are These Amazing People Who Thrive@Russell Sage?

They're our CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge participants for 2025. About a dozen Sage employees participated in the 3.5-mile run in Washington Park on May 15.

As you commit in your heart to joining next year so everyone gets the message that Russell Sage is serious about all eight Dimensions of Wellness, keep in mind that you don't have to be a runner to participate. (You can walk, and if you're not inhibited by rules like some people from another organization, you can take a shortcut across the bridge in Washington Park.) We may issue a department challenge to see who can get the most participants next year, so start recruiting now for 2026.

Shoutout to Joe Michaud IV, director of recreation and fitness, for organizing the team. And shoutout to Catherine Rodriguez, our UI/UX web programmer, for not only finishing the race but doing it with her adorable baby boy strapped to her back. He finished first in smiles.

In the News

Tawana Davis, associate vice president for student life, was a panelist for a CBS6 Mental Health Special: Breaking the Silence.

The Times Union highlighted nursing student Ryleigh Hotaling in Community Service Awards honor Capital Region volunteers making a difference, and school counseling student and Tri-City ValleyCats outfielder Jake Reinisch in Shenendehowa grad Reinisch finds opportunity with ValleyCats.

There is a great photo of college community members in the Girls Inc. 2025 Strong, Smart, & Bold Awards photo gallery in the Times Union. Girls Inc. is one of the college's community partners.

The college's affiliation with the Delightful Run for Women/Freihofer's Run for Women was mentioned in several media reports (The race's Health and Fitness Expo was at the Armory again this year, and the race donates money to local organizations, including Sage.)

Green and blue geometric background with Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan Progress Report overlay

Russell Sage College has completed the final year of its three-year Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan. The 2024–2025 DEI Strategic Plan Progress Report (PDF) highlights key achievements and sets the stage for continued progress.

TWO DATES: Coffee Hour IRL This Summer

The Innovation Committee and Human Resources are partnering to host two in-person Coffee Hours this summer, with refreshments, lawn games, and a live version of the Wall of Wins!

🧋 Wednesday, June 18, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Albany quad (rain location, KCC). Add Albany Coffee Hour IRL to your Google Calendar.

🧋 Wednesday, July 16, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Buchman Plaza, Troy (rain location, Buchman). Add Troy Coffee Hour IRL to your Google Calendar.

RSVP for Coffee Hours IRL (one or both!)

Children and adults gather around an activity table outdoors

Volunteer for World Refugee Day Events

The college is hosting two events on Friday, June 20, on the Albany campus, to commemorate World Refugee Day:

🔷 Middle School Field Day,

10 a.m.–2 p.m., Quad

🔷 Community Celebration,

4–6 p.m., Armory

Pictured: Sage hosted 90 middle schoolers from Albany International Center for sports, STEM, art, and more in conjunction with World Refugee Day 2024.

A group of people seated around a wooden table in a room engaged in conversation with various items on the table

Intercultural Cafe Volunteers Needed!

RSC hosts Intercultural Cafes from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays (Spirituality Center, Troy) and Thursdays (West Hall, Albany). These are friendly gatherings where English language learners practice conversational English with volunteers. Snacks and drinks are provided! Drop in, or email Nana Owusu-ofori (in Troy) or Noora Ahmed (in Albany) to learn more.

Hands holding a smartphone with social media notification icons overlayed

From IT: Social Media 101

Social media is a part of professional life, and what you share can impact your reputation and your institution. Avoid posting internal updates, client or student information, or anything that could violate privacy laws like HIPAA, FERPA, or GLBA. Be cautious of phishing attempts, fake accounts, and suspicious links — these can compromise institutional data and systems. Find more social media best practices in the June Sage Guard newsletter and access past issues in the Sage Guard newsletter repository

Way to Go!

A grid of greenish yellow and blue sticky notes on white background

This summer, please continue to share the everyday victories that make this college community exceptional: Wall/Google Doc of Wins.

nine people posing in front of an APTA New York backdrop with one holding an EASTERN sign

Five of nine NYAPTA delegates are affiliated with Sage's physical therapy program. These include Professor Laurie Hepler, front row, left; Kristen Seaburg '08, front row, right; Sharon Marion '85, back row, left: Audrey Paslow '10, back row, second from left; and Sara Holland '10, back row, second from right.

Russell Sage PT Well Represented at NY APTA Conference

Five physical therapy faculty members presented research at the New York American Physical Therapy Association 2025 conference on June 1 in Albany, and faculty member Laurie Hepler and several alumni were delegates to the Delegate Assembly (pictured above), which is an arm of the association's governing body.

Conference participants included:

🟢 Rupali Singh, PT, Ph.D., who delivered a platform presentation “Effects of low-level laser therapy on painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A pilot study.”

🟢 Katrin Ramsey, PT, DSc, who presented a poster, “Sleep deficiency: A modifiable risk factor that negatively impacts college student health and well-being.”

🟢 Erin Elkins, PT, DPT, Ed.D., and Jennifer Aiossa, PT, DPT, DCE, who presented a poster, “Students academic success: Does a sense of belonging or a sense of community matter?”

🟢 Laurie Hepler, PT, DPT, CWS, CLT, who presented a poster, “The effect of low-level laser therapy on the healing of diabetic foot ulcers: An umbrella review”

🟢 Audrey Paslow, PT, DPT, who is an adjunct professor and alumna, was the speaker for the delegate assembly, which took place prior to the conference.

Person holding a JAVELIN sign with a medal around their neck against a cloudy blue sky

Outdoor Track & Field athlete Kaiden Simpson (pictured) was named a First Team All-Empire 8 performer in the javelin and Brandon Clarke and Mercedez Cecelia-Storey were selected for E8's Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Teams. Read more about the Track & Field award winners.

More Athletics Headlines

Baseball Duo Garner All-Region Honors from D3Baseball.com

Two earn honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association

Lacrosse student-athlete selected to play in the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association North-South Senior All-Star Game

Gators Named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Softball Team and to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Baseball Team.

HR Corner

From HR: June is Men’s Health Month

Men’s Health Month is a time to raise awareness about men's health and wellness. Here are a few resources:

🟢 Get screened: The George Washington University Hospital shares essential screenings for men

🟢 Get one-to-one professional coaching through your EAP: Get help for stress

management, substance misuse, nutrition, and fitness. Call 800-252-4555.

🟢 Don’t forget your mental health. Call 800.252.4555 for in-the-moment counseling help from your EAP.

Red first aid kit with medical items including bandage and scissors and thermometer

CPR/First Aid Classes Coming Up

Register for a CPR/First Aid class to learn lifesaving skills for adults, children, and infants, including use of an AED; hands-only CPR; first aid for wounds, stroke, and choking; how to administer an EpiPen, and more. Attendance is limited to 15 per class.

🔷 June 18, 1-4 p.m., KCC, Albany

🔷 July 16, 1-4 p.m., Bush Memorial, Troy

We're Hiring

Housekeeper

Waste Collection/General Maintenance

Reminders

Engage for Change conference supporting academic-community engagement, is Wednesday, June 11, 10:30 a.m., in Bush Memorial, Troy campus. Register for Engage for Change.

Wellness and Support Benefits

🌱 Counseling and other resources: Support services are available to employees through the Employee Assistance Program. Log in at www.theeap.com/higher-education-eap or call 800-252-4555.

🌱 More wellness resources at the CDPHP Health Hub.