AAU campaign to raise awareness of SUNY’s leading public research universities

The Association of American Universities (AAU) is partnering with UB and Stony Brook on a campaign that aims to raise awareness about the universities’ status among the nation’s leading public research universities. It will also focus on both institutions’ innovations in medicine.

UB and Stony Brook are the only two AAU institutions in SUNY, and both were also recently named flagship institutions within SUNY by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

AAU developed a 30-second video touting UB’s research on reversing Alzheimer’s disease memory loss, as well as pioneering surgical techniques developed in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and the university’s efforts in transforming women’s health through the School of Public Health and Health Professions’ long-standing involvement in the Women’s Health Initiative.

The video, as well as text-based versions of it, will appear on social media, public affairs television shows in New York State, and prominent digital news websites such as The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and Times Union throughout May and June.

“By heightening awareness of the societal impact of SUNY’s two AAU universities, we hope to engender greater support of our research and education missions in New York State and beyond,” said John Della Contrada, UB vice president for communications.

Over the past year, AAU has worked with several universities — including Pitt, Penn State, Illinois and Minnesota — on similar ads as part of its “America’s Leading Research Universities” campaign.

The public sees the value of the medical innovations and breakthroughs produced by institutions such as UB and Stony Brook, according to AAU’s public opinion polling. The AAU campaign featuring UB and Stony Brook aims to get that message out to influencers in Albany and Washington, D.C

“Highlighting the role that America’s leading research universities play in improving the quality of life for all Americans is a core mission for the AAU,” said Pedro Ribeiro, AAU’s vice president for communications. “We want the public to understand the unique role that research universities, like UB, play in both education and innovation, and these campaigns are an integral part of that work.

“We’re delighted to have partnered with New York’s flagship public research universities to highlight the innovation that is happening on their campuses,” Ribeiro says.

Founded in 1900, the AAU is composed of 65 of America’s leading research universities, which transform lives through education, research and innovation. UB was elected to join the AAU in 1989.