Release

Campaign Highlights UAlbany as Great Starting Point

Contact: Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 19, 2006) -- Twelve UAlbany alumni who exemplify the ideal of "Reaching Higher, Achieving More" began a visual residency on campus this month as their images and career stories were posted around campus on 7-foot-high poster boards in the Lecture Center area and large tripod screens in University Hall.

The posters represent the first installment of a campaign that celebrates the successful career paths of UAlbany alumni in all walks of life. And several of the "Reaching Higher, Achieving More" poster subjects will be on campus on Friday, Oct. 20, at a luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom to discuss their career highlights with students, faculty, and staff.

On hand will be "twin" talent agency owners Debbie and Lisa Ganz, '88 and '89; Jack Henion '72, whose company is a worldwide leader in applying nanotechnology to pharmaceutical research; and former U.S. Department of Justice drug czar Tom Constantine '71.

In the spring, kiosks placed in other parts of campus will further spotlight these achievers. "The campaign is designed to show all students and prospective students how UAlbany is the starting point for successful careers by giving them the tools to begin their self-discovery," said Catherine Herman, associate vice president for media and marketing. She said that new rounds of posters are being planned for each new school year.

"It is certainly impressive to view these remarkable careers," said Jason Zogg, a senior who was a member of focus groups that weighed the first designs of the posters. "Too many of us lack an understanding of just how far we can go with a University at Albany education. The stories on these posters are not usually heard about, but they are as noteworthy as any you'd find at Ivy League schools. It helps to validate and even places more value on our experiences here."

In addition to the alumni coming on Oct. 20, others highlighted include a major cruise line CFO, a revered children's rights advocate, a nationally renowned children's book author, a Drama Desk Award-winning actress and a U.S.Circuit Court of Appeals justice.

Zogg also agrees that the posters teach that undergraduate education is not necessarily "about straight, prescribed career paths. That's very encouraging. The important thing is a strong education. Look at me — I'm an urban studies & planning and political science double major, and this summer I did an internship with Jet Blue airlines."

Note to editors: PDF files of the campaign posters are available for download:
Maureen Baginski >>
Catherine Bertini >>
Tom Constantine >>
Lisa and Debbie Ganz >>
Jack Henion >>