School of Business Staff Changes

John Levato, who has spearheaded the development of the School’s Office of Career Services, will devote a major part of his time to building the services of that office so that students will have access to the most up-to-date resources and strategies available for conducting a successful job search. His duties will include developing the School of Business constituent group, planning alumni events and building alumni loyalty.

Albina Grignon has assumed responsibility for managing the School’s Office of Student Services. She will be in charge of advisement of graduate students and oversee the graduate admissions process as well. She will serve on the Graduate and Undergraduate Affairs committees and will coordinate enrollment management.

Susan Maloney will now handle undergraduate advisement and coordinate undergraduate admission to the School. She will be responsible for transfer credit evaluation and coordinate the 3/2 program.

Student Services, Campus Life Merge

The Department of Student Services has been combined with the Department of Campus Life, creating a new Department of Student Life. This new department consists of International Student Services, Multicultural Student Affairs, Disabled Student Services, Student Groups and Organizations, Campus Center Facilities Management, and Career Services. Direct leadership of the Student Life department is the responsibility of Carl Martin, assistant vice president for Student Affairs.

Also, with the retirement of Victor DeSantis, a search for a new Director of Career Services is underway. Professor Susan Phillips of the Department of Counseling Psychology is chairing the search. Tony Torres will serve as Director of Career Services on an interim basis. Torres will provide the necessary leadership in addition to meeting his obligations to the Student Life department.

In addition, Shai Brown, currently a Residence Hall Director, will serve as Career Services Counselor for an 11-month period. Ms. Brown previously worked in the Career Development Center as career librarian and career counselor.

Advancement Assignments Announced

In Alumni Affairs, Margaret (Peg) Aldrich has been appointed Assistant Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the Alumni Association. For the past 11 years, Aldrich has served Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. As Director of Alumni Relations and Institute Programs since 1991, she was the central force behind award-winning programs of national prominence. Previous to RPI, Aldrich served the University at Albany and was a 1986 recipient of an award for excellence in professional service. She is an alumna of Albany with a Master of Science degree.

In Community Relations, Christine Bouchard, who has been serving as Interim Director since January 1, has been appointed as Director. From 1984-1996, Bouchard worked in the Division of Student Affairs where she served with distinction. During the past seven months, she has directed many University events including the Citizen Laureate dinner, the CESTM grand Opening and most recently, the Empire State Games opening reception. Bouchard holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science degree from Albany.

Vesna Gjaja has been appointed Assistant Vice President for University Advancement with a focus on outreach and marketing. She joined Albany in 1993 as Director of Community Relations. Since January of this year, she has directed Alumni Affairs on an interim basis. Her experience as a marketing consultant combined with her expertise at Albany will contribute to her continued success in serving the University in her new position. Gjaja is an alumna with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Judith Miller, a second-year doctoral student in the Ph.D. program in Public Administration at Rockefeller College, will be joining the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations as a graduate assistant. Prior to her doctoral studies, Miller served from 1992-1995 as assistant director of development and corporate and foundation relations officer at Trenton State College.

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