From the Podium and Beyond
Schweitzer Is VP for Health Sciences and Biomedical Initiatives
Neurobiologist Laura Schweitzer, Ph.D., an experienced health-care executive and higher-education leader, was appointed vice president for Health Sciences and Biomedical Initiatives at the University at Albany last September.
Recognized for her roles in research, academic programs and workforce development, Schweitzer is committed to public engagement and the critical role of higher education in the community and as a driver of economic development. As president of Union Graduate College for six years, she oversaw Union’s merger with Clarkson University. She also served as vice president of Academic Affairs at SUNY Upstate Medical Center; as chief academic officer at Bassett Healthcare; and in a succession of administrative roles at the University of Louisville.
Schweitzer holds a Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in neuroscience at Duke University, where she was named to the research faculty. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Miami.
In the Capital Region, Schweitzer chairs the board of the 300-plus member, eight-county Council for Economic Growth (CEG) and serves on the New York Governor’s Regional Economic Development Council. At the national level, she serves on the external advisory committee for a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Program at the University of Cincinnati and on the faculty for the Executive Leadership in Academic Technology and Engineering Program at Drexel University.
Articulation Agreements Partner UAlbany, Albany Law School
Photo: Mark Schmidt
The University at Albany and Albany Law School signed two articulation agreements last November to enhance academic opportunities at both institutions.
Under the terms of the agreements, each school will recognize and accept credits for a range of specific courses from the other, saving both money and time for students. One, between Albany Law and the University’s School of Criminal Justice, will enable students to pursue a law degree with a master of arts in criminal justice. The other, with the College of Arts and Sciences, will provide more collaborative academic offerings for students pursuing both a law degree and an M.A. in history.
Undergraduate Commencement Speaker Set
Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D., will deliver the commencement address at UAlbany’s undergraduate ceremony May 15. Jolly is president and chief executive officer of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners, a network of foundations, funds and organizations sharing knowledge and services to maximize the impact of charitable giving across the state.
The Paris Review Honors Davis
Photo: Mark Schmidt
University at Albany Professor of English, Writer in Residence and Writers Institute Fellow Lydia Davis joined authors Joan Didion, Philip Roth, William Styron and other literary elites April 5 when she received the Hadada, The Paris Review’s lifetime achievement award. Davis is also a MacArthur Fellow and the recipient of the 2013 Man Booker International Prize.
Ananou Is Named VP for ITS
Simeon Ananou joined UAlbany Feb. 1 as vice president for Information and Technology Services and chief information officer. A longtime administrator and a student-focused leader with a deep appreciation for campus communities, systems, processes, and decisions driven by data analytics, Ananou previously served at Salisbury University in Maryland, where he was chief information officer and adjunct faculty in information and decision sciences.
Ananou earned a B.A. in international relations from The Ohio State University; an M.B.A. in computer information systems from Barker College, Michigan; and a D.Ed. in administration and leadership studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
