News
Princess of Thailand Visits Sage
May 22nd, 2009
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited both Sage campuses during a brief stopover in New York's Capital Region on her one-week visit to the United States. Her Royal Highness is a member of the Thai Royal Family. President Susan Scrimshaw and her father, Nevin Scrimshaw, Ph.D., a global leader in nutrition and public health, are family friends of the Thai Royal Family, having collaborated on projects to improve nutrition and health in Thailand.
"We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness for making time to visit Sage," said President Scrimshaw. "We look forward to long partnerships between our communities and our educational institutions in both countries."
Many members of the Sage community were involved in Her Royal Highness' whirlwind visit to Sage, hosted by President Scrimshaw and her husband, Allan Stern (greeting Her Royal Highness, at right). The itinerary included:
Thursday, May 21
- Dinner with Sage faculty in health sciences and education and Russell Sage College Dean
Friday, May 22
- "Women of Influence" breakfast with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Jackson and Sage Vice President for Academic Affairs Sally Lawrence
-
Troy Campus Tour:
- Nursing Department Simulation Lab (nursing professors Kathy Buono, Michelle Hayward and Kathy Kelly)
- INVEST Incubator and Evident Technologies (CEO Clint Balinger)
- Presentation on Women's History at Russell Sage College and the WORLD program (RSC Dean Sharon Robinson)
- A luncheon in the Opalka Gallery, with greetings from Congressman Paul Tonko; Assemblyman John McEneny; and Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino. Special guests included Sage Trustees Jim Prout, Barry Ilberman, Jane Altes, Chet Opalka and his wife, Karen; Southern Vermont College president Karen Gross; Sage College of Albany graduate Tom Maggs, president of Maggs and Associates; and Sage Graduate School alumna Emshika Alberini, who is a native of Thailand, and her family. Sage faculty and administrators were also invited.
-
Albany Campus Tour:
- i.Think presentation (SCA Interim Dean Kevin Stoner)
- Student Art Exhibit (Jim Richard Wilson, Opalka Gallery Director)
- Art & Design Building tour (Visual Arts Chair Sally Packard and photography professors Chris Jordan and Linda Morrell)
Often referred to as the "Princess of Technology" or the "Princess of Information Technology" because of her interests and expertise, Her Royal Highness holds several degrees in history and a doctorate in educational development. She speaks fluent English, French, and Chinese, and has studied German and Latin. She teaches and is head of the History Department at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.
Accompanying Her Royal Highness on the visit were:
- Siriporn Chaimongkol, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations, New York City
- Pasinee Limatibul, business woman
- Valliya Pangsrivongse, business woman
- Sumonta Promboon, former president, Sri Nakarin University
- Prapod Assavavirulhakarn, dean, Faculty of Art, Mahidon University
- Kraisid Tontisirin, professor emeritus, Mahidon University and advisor to Her Royal Highness Projects
