I first want to begin by thanking the Alumni Association and in particular Brian Fessler, Mike Christakis, and De’Shawn Wright for their nomination for this honor.  It is a great privilege to stand before you, and see so many friends, colleagues and classmates.

In the months since I first learned of this award, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the University at Albany--why I ultimately decided to enroll, what my experiences were, and how have they impacted my career.

One theme kept coming to mind, and perhaps one that is familiar to many of you: we came to Albany for the proximity to power, and stayed out of a sense of service--specifically, for a career in public service.

All too often in today’s political world we are surrounded by a culture that is focused on the horse race, the power rankings, the winners and losers, the Machiavellian darker angels of our nature.  This has led us to a disjointed, dysfunctional system that is filled with anger and lacks the ability to compromise.

Conversely, Rockefeller College and UAlbany instilled in us a sense that politics and policy are both equally important sides to the political equation, that service and sound policy are just as important as who is winning the day’s news cycle. 

I think this is largely why, in my own personal experience, classmates from both ends of the political spectrum are able to remain close...because we were equally instilled in the idea that government can be used to make the world a better place.  These are lifelong friendships between people that constantly disagree on substantive issues...the kind of people that many without the U.A. experience won't even try to engage with, much less maintain relationships with.

It is out of that sense of service that I feel the most gratified not when a policy recommendation of mine gets enacted, but rather when I get a phone call thanking me for taking the time to assist or explain something, providing help in ways that many regular citizens don’t feel they get from their government.  Imagine how different the world would be if those were the outcomes most rewarded by the political system. 

It is often said that a church is more than a building, but the people in it. Despite the differences between the academic and religious worlds, I think the University at Albany is much the same way; we continue to grow and expand as a collective of individuals, into new geographies and new industries, ever increasing our interconnectedness with others and extending the university experience long after the end of four years; and hopefully we’re translating that into ways to make the lives of others better.