Celebrating UAlbany's 40th Citizen Laureate Awards Dinner 

From left, Citizen Laureate honorees David Alan Miller, Anne and Harry Rosenfeld, and Marlene Belfort.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 22, 2019) –The University at Albany Foundation will host the 40th Citizen Laureate Awards Dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the SEFCU Arena.

A social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase through Friday.

This year’s honorees are: internationally acclaimed molecular geneticist, National Academy of Sciences member and UAlbany Distinguished Professor Marlene Belfort; Grammy Award-winning symphony orchestra conductor and music director of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, David Alan Miller; and veteran newspaperman and prolific editor Harry Rosenfeld and his wife, Anne, who is active in many community organizations.

The event recognizes outstanding leaders in business and industry, government and academia, and are the most prestigious honors bestowed by The Foundation.

Belfort will receive the Academic Laureate Award, and Miller and the Rosenfelds will be recognized as Community Laureates. Proceeds from the dinner benefit The Foundation and UAlbany student scholarships.

Academic Laureate Marlene Belfort

Belfort is a Distinguished Professor in the departments of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Sciences at UAlbany. A member of the National Academy of Sciences and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she has been continuously funded by the NIH for more than 30 years, with research interests that apply to biotechnology and medicine.

Known for mentoring the scientists of tomorrow, she has mentored dozens of Ph.D. and post-doc fellows and advocates for promoting the careers of women in science.

Belfort graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of California at Irvine.

Community Laureate David Alan Miller

Grammy Award-winning conductor and music director since 1991 of the Albany Symphony Orchestra (ASO), Miller is known for his exploration of unusual repertoire, educational programming, community outreach and recording initiatives. Frequently in demand as a guest conductor, Miller has worked with most of America’s major orchestras as well as others around the globe.

He toured twice with the ASO, twice to Carnegie Hall, once to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and along the entire Erie Canal for the Symphony’s “Water Music NY” 2017 project. He founded The Dogs of Desire, a contemporary ensemble composed of ASO members.

Miller graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and with a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from The Julliard School.

Community Laureates Harry & Anne Rosenfeld

Harry Rosenfeld has had a lifetime career as a newspaperman – as an editor, war correspondent and columnist – with the New York Herald Tribune, Washington Post (where he oversaw the Watergate coverage that resulted in a Pulitzer Prize) and ultimately, the Times Union, where he serves as editor-at-large.

Anne Rosenfeld is a former nursery school teacher who has served many organizations, including The University at Albany Foundation, Albany League of Arts, Wildwood Programs, B’nai B’rith Senior Housing, and Albany Tennis Club.

Married since 1953, the Rosenfelds have three daughters and seven grandchildren.

History of Citizen Laureate Awards

Celebrating its 40th year, The University at Albany Foundation’s Citizen Laureate Awards have maintained their original intent, which was to strengthen the ties between the academic and business communities. Designed to not only honor each year’s recipients for their achievements but to inspire others to share their talents to benefit the community and academia, they continue to recognize and elevate the awareness of civic and academic achievement exemplifying the highest standards of leadership and citizenship.

Since 1977, the awards have honored outstanding leaders in business and industry, government and academia for their extraordinary accomplishments. Exactly 100 distinguished awardees have been honored over the course of the event’s history, and our laureates’ efforts continue to transform our region economically, scientifically, culturally, intellectually and socially.

The Academic Laureate Award recognizes individuals for their notable achievements in academia, including teaching, research, scholarship and/or service. The Community Laureate Award honors individuals for their impactful and sustained contributions to the community. Both must have widely recognized records of achievements which have long-range significance in enhancing the quality of life in the community. Nominations for the awards continue to be limited to the Capital Region.

Funds raised through the dinner benefit the important work of The University at Albany Foundation, which acts on behalf of the University’s educational, research and public service missions. Established in 1967 to encourage philanthropic support, The Foundation supports the University’s strategic plan and sponsors efforts to build the University’s ties to the community.

Michael J. Castellana ’84, ’92, president and CEO of SEFCU and Jerel T. Golub, vice chairman of Price Chopper/Market 32, are event co-chairs.

To learn more about the event, visit UAlbany Citizen Laureate or contact the Office of University Events at (518) 442-5310.

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