Message on Disaster Relief

Dear UAlbany Community,

As you know, a series of natural disasters has recently devastated parts of the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria—along with the earthquake in central Mexico—will have social, economic, and environmental repercussions for decades to come.

Many in our community, myself included, have loved ones who have been impacted by these catastrophic events. I have been touched by the number of individuals who have reached out to me directly to ask how my family members are doing in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. I have also been approached by many students, faculty, and staff who are eager to contribute to the relief efforts.

The UAlbany community can make a difference if we join together. That is why I wanted to reach out to you to provide information on ways we can each be of service to the people and communities in need. To help connect our community with a variety of resources, we have compiled a list of organizations accepting donations, along with campus-based relief efforts, at https://www.albany.edu/relief/.

We encourage UAlbany community members in need of direct support to reach out to Student Care Services at (518) 442-5501 for assistance. 

This is a great example of how UAlbany can meet its mission as an engaged public research university—by working collectively to have a positive impact beyond the walls of our campus. Thank you for your generosity as we keep the people affected by these disasters in our thoughts.

Sincerely,

Havidán Rodríguez
President