23 24 PRIORITIES PROGRESS
JULY 1, 2023 – JUNE 30, 2024
This report is our way of remaining accountable to you.
Greetings!
It is my honor to report to you on a busy and productive year at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. There were so many achievements in 2023-2024 that I wish to share: New academic programs that are already attracting hundreds of applicants. New recognitions for our scholarly work, our community outreach and even our athletic teams. Indeed, we are filled with Panther Pride for our Men’s Track and Field team, which won its inaugural USCAA National Championship in May!
And for our future, we have unveiled a new strategic plan for 2024-2029 and beyond.
There will be more said in upcoming reports about that last item, which creates a roadmap for achieving our vision of a vibrant, thriving campus that prepares a global community of students for careers in health care through both in-person and online environments. Amid this time of great change in both education and the healthcare industry, I hope you will look forward to learning how we will become an integral part of our communities – and indeed an international health education leader.
This report, however, is about looking back – on what we have done this past year to live up to the promises I made on my arrival to campus two years ago in light of the higher education landscape. It was then that I identified the six priority areas listed herein. This second Priorities & Progress report is our way of remaining accountable to you, of sharing the efforts we have made to move forward on each of these six fronts.
I hope you will agree that we have much to be proud of.
Last year, I expressed my mission to make sure more people knew about the incredible work done by the dedicated scholars, students, educators and staff at ACPHS and the value we offer. As you can see within, we are doing that. More people are hearing our name. More students are expressing their intention to enroll. I certainly hope more are aware of my personal favorite statistic – that we are ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 2 in the country for return on investment in a 2022 report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
We will keep at it in the coming year, strengthening our longstanding reputation and building upon it. As always, I welcome your thoughts and insights, and look forward to continuing to serve the entire community committed to ACPHS.
Sincerely,
Year at a Glance 23 24
AUG. 2023
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is established, with the hiring of AVP Jonathan Phipps.
SEPT. 2023
9 – Professor Tofade is inaugurated as the 10th president of ACPHS.
OCT. 2023
Walt Borisenok becomes chair of the Board of Trustees as four new members join the board.
5 – NSF awards
ACPHS $400,000 to grow its capacity to participate in regional innovation ecosystems.
8 – Following a national search, Michael Pasquarella joins ACPHS as VP for Institutional Advancement.
6 – LifeSciencesNY honors ACPHS for distinguished achievement in research and academics.
11 – ACPHS accepts military artifacts and pays tribute to Paul Stanley Frament ’39, one of the U.S. Navy’s most highly decorated pharmacists.
JAN. 2024
Research Commons, an online repository of ACPHS research, goes live.
David Meredith joins the College as Vice President of Enrollment Management.
17 – President Tofade convenes the inaugural Leadership Development Program, a semester-long seminar for senior leadership as well as faculty and staff nominated by senior leaders.
23 – President Tofade unveils the College’s strategic plan for 2024-2029 during the annual State of the College event.
FEB. 2024
Dr. Marcel Musteata receives notice of a $480,000 NIH R15 award for his breast cancer research.
7 – ACPHS announces new academic programs: a BS in Health Sciences and an online MS in Biomedical Sciences.
MAR. 2024
15 – Dozens of highachieving Capital Region high school students attend ACPHS’ inaugural Future of Healthcare Workshop.
19 – The Governor's Office chooses Parkside Pharmacy as the site of NYS officials’ announcement regarding a new birth control access law.
APR. 2024
ACPHS receives NYS approval to provide teach-out programs in biology, psychology and forensic psychology, and hires eight College of Saint Rose faculty members, following the announcement that Saint Rose would close.
27 – ACPHS Men’s Track and Field team wins its inaugural USCAA National Championship.
MAY 2024
Landon Thompson ‘24 is the first student accepted from ACPHS into a prestigious MD-PhD program, at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.
11 – ACPHS holds its 144th Commencement. More than 40% of PharmD graduates take advantage of a new opportunity to also acquire a bachelor's degree.
17 – The Collaboratory receives a $166,000 county grant to provide Narcan training.
JUN. 2024
3-7 – ACPHS’ CBET hosts the NIIMBL eXperience for the second year, introducing diverse first- and second-year college students to the biopharmaceutical industry.
5 – President Tofade is named to the Albany Business Review Power 50 for the second consecutive year.
Dr. Sibdas Ghosh (pictured below, top left) is named Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Meenakshi Malik (top right) is named the inaugural Dean for Health Sciences, Dr. Joseph Carreno '10 (bottom left) is named Director of Research and Dr. Courtney Tackes '14 (bottom right) is named Interim Dean of Pharmacy.
NOV. 2023
PRESIDENTIAL PRIORITIES
President Tofade announced her key priorities for the College when she assumed her post as its 10th president in the summer of 2022. Significant progress has been made in these key areas from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, as highlighted below.
Priority #1: Increase Enrollment
An energized Enrollment Management team, under new Vice President David Meredith, increased its outreach on- and off-campus, with more visits to high schools and the hosting of special events, including the first Future of Health Care Workshop for high-achieving secondary school students and a welcome event for students of the now-closed College of Saint Rose. Attendance at the November Open House was up 51% over the previous year, and attendance at Accepted Students Days was up 22% in March and 21% in April. Despite a delay in student responses to admissions offers due to changes in the 2024 FAFSA financial aid form, overall deposits were up 16% for Fall 2024 over the previous year, with huge gains in deposits from transfer students and those entering the pharmacy doctoral program from other undergraduate schools. These achievements resulted, in part, from a revamping of enrollment processes for those key student populations. Even better results are expected as more accepted students are able to assess their financial aid packages.
11m impressions from digital advertising on Meta, Google and other outlets
3.2m impressions from billboards during application season
Priority #2: Enhance Awareness and Reputation
impressions from social media, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X
website page views, including views from 350,000 new visitors
The Office of Communications and Marketing added to ACPHS’ promotional toolkit with digital advertising, billboards and an updated College magazine, which all served to improve recognition of the College’s brand. Digital advertising, which began in December 2023, included placements on Meta, Google and other outlets. Eight billboard designs flashed across four Albany interstate locations during prime application season, mid-March to mid-May. An updated alumni magazine was distributed in September and well-received by 96% of readers responding to a survey. In addition, the College is working with the educational technology company 2U to establish and promote two new online programs.
In addition to official marketing efforts, faculty, staff and student leaders represented ACPHS in person at conferences and events around the country and were recognized by their peers with prestigious awards.
Priority #3: Identify and Create Multiple Revenue Streams
In addition to an increase in research dollars (see back page), ACPHS received $3 million for other sponsored projects. New funding included a $625,000 state grant for the Accelerator for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, a business incubator at the Life Sciences Innovation Building; $400,000 for the Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training (CBET) to grow its capacity to participate in regional innovation ecosystems; nearly $70,000 for CBET to run the NIIMBL eXperience to introduce underrepresented student populations to
the biopharmaceutical industry; $121,460 from Ascendis Pharmaceuticals to support the College’s burgeoning fellowship programs; $75,000 from The Eddy to support a new residency; and $166,000 from Albany County’s Opioid Settlement Fund to the Collaboratory, ACPHS’ public health resource in Albany’s South End, for naloxone (Narcan) training. In addition to this vital grant and contract activity, the College benefited from almost $600,000 in philanthropic gifts in support of the Students First Fund, scholarships and the Collaboratory.
Resource Development
The College is committed to diverse resource development efforts that support its mission and accelerate the objectives of its strategic plan. The power of collective investment by our stakeholders fosters financial strength for the future.
Scholarships & Other Philanthropic
$594,000
$1.1 million
Residencies & Fellowships
$582,000
Other Sponsored Programs
$724,000
Priority #4: Increase Intentional Engagement
The 2023-2024 academic year saw an increase in student events, attendance, and interest in clubs and professional organizations. Some 290 students attended the Fall Involvement Fair to assess organizations they could join, up from 106 students the previous year. Health Occupations Students of America was a new addition to the 55+ clubs and organizations on campus. The Office of Student Engagement and Wellness added evening and weekend programming to its offerings.
Students also receive enhanced support toward their academic engagement, as the Center for Student Success initiated more proactive advising and smaller cohorts.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has created engagement opportunities for every student on campus. Its efforts include the formation of an International Student Advisory Committee, collaborative events with Albany Law School and participation in Albany’s Juneteenth celebration.
The Human Resources office has opened its doors to faculty and staff, with hours designated for walk-in visits, and has begun distributing a newsletter. The DEI Office also started a newsletter and the Office of Communications and Marketing continued producing its well-received e-newsletter, which keeps 2,000 students, families, faculty and staff connected with campuswide information.
Priority #5: Strengthen the Foundations of the College
In January, the President unveiled a new strategic plan for the next five years and beyond. A steering committee identified five pillars that reinforce ACPHS’ mission, vision and values:
ɯ Academic Excellence
ɯ Quality Student Experience
ɯ People and Culture
ɯ Engaging with Communities
ɯ Financial Strength and Stewardship
On the first pillar, Academic Excellence, the state has approved an updated pharmacy curriculum and an updated pre-pharmacy pathway that allows students to earn a BS en route to their PharmDs. In Fall 2024, we will offer new academic programs, both in person and online, including a BS in Health Sciences, a hybrid MS in Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology, BS in Biology and an online MS in Biomedical Sciences. The state has also approved ACPHS to deliver new offerings in biology, psychology, forensic psychology and forensic science.
Academic affairs has been reorganized to support these goals. Dr. Sibdas Ghosh has joined ACPHS as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Meenakshi Malik has been named Dean of Health Sciences and Dr. Courtney Tackes '14 will serve as Interim Dean of Pharmacy. Dr. Joseph Carreno ’10, has been named Director of Research.
Priority #6: Keep Listening, Learning and Executing in Alignment with the Strategic Plan
President Tofade has continued to maintain an active schedule, meeting with people regionally and around the world, as well as communicating frequently with the campus community. She and other College leaders have led several town halls, updating the campus community on plans for the College’s growth, including forums that allowed faculty and staff to pose questions to the vice presidents for Academic Affairs and Enrollment. President Tofade led a new Leadership Development Program during the spring semester for senior leadership, as well as faculty and staff nominated by senior leaders. She has maintained a schedule of open office hours for students, faculty and staff for face-to-face conversations. And she has joined the boards of five prestigious organizations representing higher education, health, economic development and media in the Capital Region.
In all communications to the community, President Tofade has emphasized the need for a growth mindset to position ACPHS for a successful future.
Scholarly Activity
ACPHS faculty across all academic departments are engaged in research aimed at untangling the complex mechanisms of disease, diagnosing and characterizing disease markers, identifying new and effective drug therapies, and understanding the challenges in delivering effective health care to diverse populations. Research grants in 2023-2024 totaled $2 million, including a new $480,000 grant for breast cancer research.
See a full report of ACPHS research faculty and their work in the 2024 Faculty Research Profiles.
OUR MISSION:
We educate the next generation of leaders to improve the health of our society.
OUR VISION:
ACPHS strives to be a global leader in preparing students for transformative heath careers to solve problems that change the world.
PRESIDENT’S SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Michele Vien, Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration and CFO
John Felio, Vice President of Student Experience
Diane O'Connor, Vice President of Communications and Marketing
Michael Pasquarella, Vice President of Institutional Advancement
David Meredith, PhD, Vice President of Enrollment Management
Sibdas Ghosh, PhD, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs
Meenakshi Malik, PhD, Dean of Health Sciences
Joseph J. Carreno ’10, PharmD, MPH, Director of Research
Courtney Tackes '14, PharmD, MBA, Interim Dean of Pharmacy
Michelle Lewis, PhD, Executive Director, Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training
Jonathan Phipps, Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Altair Espino, Executive Assistant to the President and Liaison to the Board of Trustees
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Walter S. Borisenok, LHD, Chair
William G. Shields '84, RPh, MBA, Treasurer
Richard H. Daffner '63, MD, FACR, RPh, LHD, Secretary
Helen A. Ashuntantang ‘06, PharmD, MS, MPH, MSL
Matthew Bette
Holly M. Bonsignore ‘82, PhD
Karen M. Carpenter, MS
Paul Derohannesian II, JD
Christopher J. Di Lascia '83, PharmD
Edward J. Enos '84, MS, RPh
Donna French ’88, PhD
Hugh A. Johnson, MA, LHD
Rose Lang '69, RPh
Susan Learned '91, PharmD, MD, PhD
Shane McGann '13, PharmD, RPh
James Notaro '84, RPh, PhD
Kimberleigh A. Phelan, MBA
Wallace Pickworth '69, PhD
Gregory Sciarra '93, RPh, MBA
David Stack '76, LHD
Marc Watrous ’91 RPh, PhD
Dawn Thompson, JD
Pamela Williamson, MBA, RAC, FRAPS
Kandyce J. Daley '74, RPh, MBA, Trustee Emeritus
T.Gregory Dewey, PhD, President Emeritus
James J. Gozzo, PhD, President Emeritus