2000

Gracie Mercado was promoted to senior vice president of Business Operations, Prudential Center and New Jersey Devils. Previously, Gracie oversaw human resources for the Prudential Center and the New Jersey Devils in a vice-president’s capacity.

2001

Donna Canestraro received the 2015 Excellence in Professional Service Award from the University at Albany.

Erin McCampbell joined Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria, LLP, Buffalo, N.Y., as an associate in the criminal-defense trials and appeals practice area.

2002

UAlbany Alumni Association President Joseph Garba was recently appointed to the role of secretary, Intergovernmental Relations, to New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

2003

Claudwardyne Thevenin is a faculty member and medical doctor at Albany Medical Center. Lisa Ferretti received the 2015 Excellence in Professional Service Award from the University at Albany.

Nathan W. Giesselman was recently named partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. He has practiced tax law with Skadden since 2006. Nathan transferred from the New York City office to Palo Alto, Calif., in 2013 to help launch the firm’s Silicon Valley tax practice. 

Tracey McNerney was recently accepted to the University at Buffalo’s Ph.D. program in Curriculum, Instruction and the Science of Learning. Her research will focus on the use of digital video in online education.

2004

Ryan M. McCabe was honored as a member of the New Orleans City Business 2015 Leadership in Law class, which recognizes 50 area lawyers. Leadership in Law acknowledges legal professionals in four categories: firm associated, court associated, in-house counsel and educators. Honorees are selected based on their professional and community involvement, as well as for achievements that have set the pace for the overall community. Ryan is an associate at Steeg Law Firm, LLC, New Orleans.

2007

Andrew Kennedy was appointed deputy director of State Operations for Policy, State of New York. Previously, he served as Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s assistant secretary for Economic Development. Timothy Buddenhagen recently accepted the position of training manager at Documentation Strategies in Rensselaer, N.Y. Kristin Anderson is the lead school psychologist at Beaufort County School District in South Carolina.

2008

Post-Star reporter Amanda May (Whistle) Metzger received the New York State Federation of Lake Associations’ Media Award, presented annually to a journalist who has brought attention to issues and potential problems involving water bodies and watershed. She was chosen for her story “New septic treatment units seen as way to protect Lake George,” and for her continued coverage of issues at Lake George and lakes throughout the southern Adirondacks.

Graham Leonard was named an associate of Hodgson Russ, LLP, in Buffalo. Graham represents clients in estate and trust matters. Prior to attending law school, Graham served as an AmeriCorps VISTA.

2009

Chris Flowers joined Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. as an associate in the litigation practice group at the firm’s Milwaukee location. His practice focuses primarily on contract and commercial litigation. Chris received his J.D. from Marquette University Law School. While at UAlbany, he was a legislative fellow at the New York State Senate and an intern at the state Assembly.

Caitlin Root was recently promoted to senior accountant in the audit department of Lumsden & McCormick, LLP. She serves commercial businesses and exempt organizations by performing review, audit and bookkeeping services.

2010

Joaquin Souberbielle competed on the 30th season of the CBS reality show “Survivor.”

2011

Victor Cueva, a member of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Class of 2015, was chosen to be an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow. He was recently featured in The New York Times for this honor.

2012

Gabrielle Bogan launched Life by Design, a life-coaching business.

2013

Gregory Skochko was recently awarded a fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) in crafts/sculpture. Stephanie Kazanas received the 2015 Excellence in Teaching Award from the University at Albany.

Tyler Carroll is employed by the Dutchess County Department of Social Services. He is president and director of Hudson Valley Bridge Builders (info: hvbridgebuilders.org.)

Alysia Siciliano graduated from Trinity College with a master’s degree in public policy. While there, she interned for the U.S. Senate and the Office of the Secretary of the State of Connecticut. Alysia aided in the creation of a statewide civic-education curriculum that shaped her final graduate studies project, “Increasing Civic Engagement: Revising Civic Curriculum in Connecticut.” In addition, she wrote a dedication within the 2014 Connecticut State Manual and Register, co-founded the Trinity College Graduate Student Association, and spoke at the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies C3 Framework Conference. Alysia currently works for the Hartford Board of Education and serves as a member of the graduate-studies advisory board.

Casey Jakubowski, recently appointed an alumni mentor by the University at Buffalo, was a guest speaker at the HIRE Conference for the School of Education in late May. She has also authored two book reviews on education reform for The History Teacher and the Alberta Journal of Education Review. Amber Wilmot was recently promoted to director of Administration with the office of New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan.