Albany Joins with
Stony Brook on Sensors
The University has become a partner with SUNY-Stony Brook in a new state-funded Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) designed to enhance the development of microelectronic sensors used by New York companies in a variety of industries.
The new CAT in Emerging Electronics, Materials, and Photonic Technologies for Diagnostic Tools and Sensor Systems is the first of 14 CATs located throughout New York State to represent a partnership of two SUNY research universities.
The Center is also the first new CAT to be selected since Sept. 1993 when Albany became home to the CAT in Advanced Thin Film Materials (now the Center for Advanced Thin Film Technology).
Upon announcement of the partnership on July 28, President Hitchcock said, "We are honored by New York State�s recognition of the research excellence and the industrial relevance of research activity at Stony Brook and Albany. We are excited by the continued expansion of Albany and Stony Brook�s research partnership. Together we are building a high technology corridor from Long Island to the Capital Region that will create thousands of high technology jobs."
After reviewing many proposals for other CAT designs, the National Research Council (NRC) recommended Stony Brook�s proposal for a joint CAT. The NRC recommended the joint CAT proposal because of the combined technical capacity, economic significance to industry, and because of the commitment of both universities. The NRC is an operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering, two of the most prestigious scientific and engineering member organizations.
It was also formally announced that James Castracane, who has spent ten years with InterScience, Inc., a high technology company in the region, has joined the Albany CAT as deputy director for technology. His expertise is in sensors and will play an important role in the collaborative role in the new joint center.
Castracane said, "This CAT will maximize the use of our combined capabilities, including more than $40 million in microelectronics infrastructure used to develop and manufacture the sensors used by companies in a variety of industries."
Alain Kaloyeros of the Department of Physics, and director of CAT, further explained that the new center was important to industry and would be able to assist companies in almost every sector of the economy. He added, "Thanks to the support for the Centers for Advanced Technology by Governor George Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, New York State will continue to expand the number of manufacturing companies assisted by this unique public-private technology development partnership."
Correction: Women�s Conference Call
The Sept. 2 Update listed an incorrect information number for the State Association for Women�s fall conference, "Integrating Solutions: Leadership, Networking, Problem Solving," on Sept. 25 in Schodack. The correct number is 442-5546.
Local Freshmen are KeyBank Winners
Two Class of �02 freshmen are among six area students recently awarded four-year KeyBank scholarships. Jason Hogan of Fort Plain, a graduate of Fort Plain High School, and Jenny Yu of Niskayuna, a graduate of Niskayuna High School, received their awards on Aug. 12 at The Desmond hotel in ceremonies for the students, their families and college administrators. Provost Judy Genshaft and Director of Financial Aid Dennis Tillman represented Albany.
KeyBank�s scholarship program, which began last year, provides students with $8,000 in tuition assistance, divided over their four-year college careers. An aspect of the program is the pairing of bank officers as mentors with scholarship recipients.
The recipients were chosen from nominations from the 10 colleges in the Capital Region in which potential winners would attend. They were selected based on their records of extracurricular activities, community service, work or volunteer experience, and financial need.
A delegation of staff members from the Parliament of the Republic of Georgia visited the Albany Region the week of Aug. 19 to get help in developing democratic and economic stability. The delegation�s visit was sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development and was hosted by the University�s Center for Legislative Development.
The Republic of Georgia, previously part of the Soviet Union, became independent in 1990 leaving it to form a delegation consisting of high-ranking members of the Parliamentary Budget Office and the Committee on Budget and Finance. The Parliamentary Budget Office had been newly created and intended to supply budget data and analysis for the Parliament, similar to the actions of the U.S. Congressional Budget Office. The members of the delegation were travelling throughout the U.S. to learn about issues related to the legislative budget process and study the relationship among local, state, and federal levels of government.
Abdo I. Baaklini, director of the Center and professor of Public Administration, stated that, "Building appropriate and effective legislative institutions is an important part of keeping a country on a path of stable democratic and economic development. As part of that process, the legislature must develop the technological and human capacity to play an appropriate role in the budget process in order to maintain democratic accountability."
Transfers Coming from Massachusetts CC
Berkshire Community College has become the first community college outside of New York State to enter into a transfer program with the University. A formal agreement was signed in June stating that qualified BCC associate�s degree holders in specific areas will automatically be admitted to Albany with a junior standing in a baccalaureate program.
BCC graduates of such programs as selected studies, business administration, and computer information systems may qualify to transfer all their coursework into similar programs at the University, as well as into baccalaureate programs such as criminal justice and social welfare.
Even though BCC participates in around 50 other such programs with other baccalaureate institutions around the country, including other SUNY colleges with very specialized majors, Robert Pura, vice president and dean of academic affairs, felt that the latest agreement with Albany was especially meaningful.
"Albany�s proximity to Berkshire residents, and the breadth of programs added to our students� transfer opportunities, are two aspects of this agreement that we are particularly pleased about," said Pura.
Public Health Postdoctoral Fellow
Lupita Montoya-Jansen recently became a recipient of the University�s Postdoctoral Scholar Fellowship Program for Underrepresented Individuals. Montoya-Jansen graduated from Stanford University in 1991 with two degrees, a Ph.D. in environmental engineering/air pollution and an M.S. in mechanical engineering/thermosciences.
She also received her B.S. in engineering/applied mechanics from California State University at Northridge, where she graduated cum laude. Recently, Montoya-Jansen fulfilled her 1997-98 fellowship obligations at Stanford.
Montoya-Jansen is assigned to Albany�s School of Public Health and supervised by faculty sponsor Katherine Alben this 1998-99 academic year. During her year of residence, she will be conducting research in the areas of environment studies and its effect on public health and will also have some teaching responsibilities. Montoya-Jansen has become only the second recipient of the University�s Postdoctoral Scholar Fellowship.
Patroon Room Feast on Thursday
The Patroon Room will hold a Lunch Buffet on Thursday, Sept. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The feast will feature Chicken Francaise, lemon crumb whitefish, steamed mussels and a fajita bar, with mardigras, chicken Teriyaki, artichoke and chi chi bean salads, roasted peppers, seafood rice, roasted redskins and garlic, fresh sautéed vegetables and desserts.
Reservations for the buffet can be made by calling 442-5985.
KeyBank Awards Scholarships to University at Albany Class of '02 Freshmen
Jason Hogan and Jenny Yu, now University at Albany freshmen, received KeyBank scholarships at an awards luncheon on Wednesday, August 12, 1998, at The Desmond in Albany.
Jason Hogan (center), photo right, a graduate of Fort Plain Central High School, now a University at Albany freshman, is shown with Dennis Tillman (left), director of Financial Aid, and Hogan�s KeyBank mentor Nick Papa, the senior vice president for national client services in the Key Services Corp.
Class of 2002�s Jenny Yu (center), photo left, a graduate of Niskayuna High School, is shown with her KeyBank mentor Mary Lee-Civalier (left), a senior quality analyst for continuous improvement coordination in the technology operations group of Key Services Corp., and Judy Genshaft, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.