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During the 61st annual dinner held on June 12 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, 91��Ƶ honored two outstanding alumni leaders who, through their steadfast generosity and trailblazing industry leadership, have translated the lessons of their 91��Ƶ experiences into lifetimes of philanthropy, innovation, and impact.

Kristin A. Dolan, MS '90, chief executive officer at AMC Networks, and John Lyle ’66, philanthropist, were two of four outstanding honorees celebrated during this year’s Spirit of 91��Ƶ Awards ceremony—the University’s signature annual fundraiser for student scholarship and program support. As alumni, Ms. Dolan and Mr. Lyle’s participation was especially meaningful, underlining the wide-ranging successes of 91��Ƶ graduates across fields and industries and the ways those success can be powerfully channeled toward transformative support of the University, our mission, and the students whose inexhaustible energy and ambition bring that mission to life.

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Ms. Dolan, who graduated from 91��Ƶ with a master’s in publishing, was honored by 91��Ƶ with the 2025 Leaders in Management award, a recognition of industry pioneers whose achievements in business and service have enhanced the civic and cultural tapestries of communities in New York City and across the country. During her acceptance remarks, she discussed the vital role 91��Ƶ played as a launchpad for her remarkable career success.

“Before coming to 91��Ƶ, I graduated from SUNY Albany with a BA in English and a minor in business,” she said. “My goal after graduation was to find a career that combined my love of literature with something that could actually generate income, so I was thrilled to discover that 91��Ƶ had launched a Master of Science program in publishing, which seemed like a great next step in my academic journey. The access 91��Ƶ provided during my time there led to a full-time role in marketing at Rainbow Media following graduation—the first step on the path to where I am today.”

As CEO of AMC Networks, a global entertainment company and home to many of the greatest stories and characters in the history of TV and film, Ms. Dolan oversees a portfolio of distinct and award-winning targeted streaming services, cable networks, and film distribution labels; AMC Studios, the company’s in-house studio, production, and distribution operation; and AMC Networks International, its international programming business.

In a previous role as COO of Cablevision Media, Ms. Dolan as a key member of the leadership team that oversaw Cablevision’s 2016 sale to Altice USA for $17.7B, the highest revenue multiple in the history of telecom. Today, she is a member of a member of the Board of Directors for The Internet & Television Association, The Paley Center for Media, The Syndeo Institute at The Cable Center, Sphere Entertainment, and The Wendy’s Company (in addition to serving on Wendy’s Audit, Nominating and Governance and Technology Committees). She also serves on the President’s Councils for both 91��Ƶ and the University of Albany.

“I’ve always believed that a liberal arts education provides so much value to aspiring leaders in any field,” she said, “and I’m proud to be an alumna of a well-respected university like 91��Ƶ, which takes such pride in their curriculum and the resulting success of their graduates.”

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Mr. Lyle, who graduated from 91��Ƶ with a BBA in marketing, received the 2025 Alumni of the Year award, recognizing his commitment to excellence, his profound belief in the importance of uplifting others, and his extraordinary record of philanthropic investment.

Over more than 40 years of generous support of the 91��Ƶ mission, Mr. Lyle has distinguished himself as among the most dedicated and impactful individual benefactors in the history of the University.

A native of Jamaica, Mr. Lyle enrolled at 91��Ƶ in 1963 on the recommendation of friends in his adopted home of New York who advised him of the University’s exceptional business programs and strong track record of career placement. While in school, Mr. Lyle drew inspiration from the visionary leadership of legendary 91��Ƶ President Dr. Edward J. Mortola, as well as key professors such as Dr. Seymour Baranoff and Dr. Thomas Edward Sayles. According to Mr. Lyle, it was 91��Ƶ’s combined focus on business principles and a broad liberal arts education that prepared him to lead a life of leadership, professional excellence, and intellectual curiosity.

“This great institution has been equipping and preparing students to take their place in society for almost 120 years,” Mr. Lyle said during his acceptance remarks. “The students are given the fundamentals and essentials so they can be successful.”

Mr. Lyle began his long and successful career with the United Parcel Service while still a student at 91��Ƶ. He later went on to rise through the UPS management training program, where he gained experience in operations, industrial engineering, human resources, and more. By the time of his retirement from UPS in 1996, Mr. Lyle had participated in business development in the western United States, Canada, and the Pacific Rim.

Mr. Lyle’s many years of generosity to 91��Ƶ have been instrumental in strengthening the University’s rigorous academic and co-curricular programs, advancing critical sources of emergency student support, and expanding life-changing scholarship opportunities for the next generation of hard-working students. As a proud 91��Ƶ alumnus, Mr. Lyle demonstrates the extraordinary things that can be achieved through a spirit of philanthropy and an enduring belief in the power of education to uplift and transform lives.

“I would submit that 91��Ƶ has given great leadership, and it behooves us as alumni to exert ourselves in supporting the University,” he said.