The event also celebrated student achievement with the presentation of the , recognizing exceptional contributions to research.

Tessa DiCicco ’25 was this year’s recipient of the Norma Slepecky Undergraduate Research Prize.

Tessa DeCicco ’25, a biomedical engineering student in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, is this year’s recipient. Her paper, titled “Defining Anatomical Relationships of the Tibial Tubercle to Inform Execution of Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy in Revision of Total Knees,” received unanimous approval from the review committee.

DeCicco was co-nominated by Era Jain, assistant professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, and Dr. Timothy Damron, an orthopedic physician and the David G. Murray Endowed Professor with Upstate Medical Center.

DiCicco has worked for the past three years with Damron. Her winning paper, accepted to the 2025 annual meeting of the Orthopedic Research Society, aims to define pertinent anatomical relationships in the proximal tibia to inform fixation device design and provide data that may be considered when performing and securing a tibial tubercle osteotomy. The project involved collecting precise anatomical measurements to inform the development of a novel orthopedic fixation device. She played a central role in pinpointing critical anatomical and radiographic reference points. These foundational metrics directly shaped the planning and implementation of the project from start to finish. DeCicco submitted this paper as her primary research project.

Jain has also worked closely with DeCicco in her lab. “What sets Tessa apart is her enthusiasm for research, her ability to grasp complex scientific concepts quickly and her persistence in pursuing new challenges,” she says.

The Norma Slepecky Undergraduate Research Prize and Memorial Lecture honors the memory of ���ϲ����� Professor Norma Slepecky, a distinguished auditory neuroanatomist and member of the Institute for Sensory Research. A founding member of WiSE, this award was endowed in hopes that her legacy for undergraduate research mentorship would continue. The annual prize is awarded to undergraduate researchers in their junior or senior year who demonstrate excellence in research based in the full range of applied biological and engineering sciences.

Since 1999, ���ϲ�����’s Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) has championed the success and advancement of women in STEM and their allies of any gender, sex or other identity through inclusive, research-based programming and mentorship. Serving 18 departments across six schools and colleges, WiSE fosters a supportive community that empowers undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs and faculty alike to persist and excel in their academic and professional journeys. Led by experienced faculty and staff, WiSE promotes equity, builds networks and equips participants with tools for leadership, resilience and success in STEM fields.

To learn more about WiSE and Norma Slepecky, . Stay up to date with our social media @TheSUwise on and .

Launched by an interdisciplinary ���ϲ����� team in 2023, affecting college students’ adjustment to campus life, with an emphasis on both risk and protective factors that influence psychological well-being.

The lab combines quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods to analyze student mental health trends and to develop strategies to improve campus support systems. In just over a year, researchers have already published academic papers in competitive journals and launched several studies examining resilience, belonging, help-seeking behaviors and mental health outcomes among ���ϲ����� students.

The Lab THRIVE team. From left to right, Michiko Ueda-Ballmer, Qingyi Yu, Yanhong Liu, and counseling and counselor education doctoral students Xihe Tian and Eunji Park. Lab members absent from the picture: doctoral students Sarah Litt. Kahyen Shin, Emily Beauparlant and Si Gao

Born to THRIVE

The lab’s interdisciplinary approach brings together researchers from counseling, public affairs and policy.

It is co-led by , associate professor of counseling and counselor education in the School of Education; , associate director of health and wellness research at the ; and , associate professor of public administration and international affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

“It started when Dr. Yu invited me to join the Barnes Center’s research committee,” Liu says. The committee, formed in 2022, focused on Universitywide data related to student wellness and program effectiveness.

As Liu, Yu and Ueda-Ballmer examined the data, their overlapping research interests became clear. For instance, Liu’s expertise in positive psychology and the mental health of marginalized youth complemented Ueda-Ballmer’s work on social determinants of health and suicide prevention.

Liu saw an opportunity to create a structured research hub that would not only deepen their understanding of student mental health but also train doctoral students. “Our doctoral students were eager to engage in meaningful research,” Liu says. “We wanted to create a space where they could contribute to projects with real-world impact.”

Data-Driven Support

By 2023, Lab THRIVE was established as an interdisciplinary hub.

“Many research projects conducted within the lab aim to offer a holistic view of the integrated health and wellness of ���ϲ����� students,” Yu says. “The primary goal is to better understand the predictors and protective factors that influence students’ overall well-being, providing valuable insights into the areas that need the most attention for improving student health and wellness.”

The lab’s pilot study used two years’ worth of data to examine the association between students’ engagement in wellness activities—such as physical exercise, the ��and the —and their mental health outcomes. This research identified wellness activities as predictors of reducing depressive symptoms among students.

Another study explores international students’ help-seeking behaviors, identifying the importance of resilience in improving students’ mental health.

“All our studies provide data-driven support for strategic planning within the University’s health and wellness initiatives,” Yu says, “ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and addressing the most critical factors influencing students’ well-being.”

Clear Intentions

Sarah Litt, a second-year doctoral student in counseling and counselor education, says that her work with Lab THRIVE is a benefit of attending �����ϲ�����: “Opportunities for research like this are rare in counseling programs.”

Litt contributed to the project addressing international students’ help-seeking behaviors, which became one of Lab THRIVE’s .

The paper—narrowing on gender identity, sexual minority status and academic level—revealed that male-identifying international students were less likely to seek help, while students identifying as gender or sexual minorities were more likely to seek formal support, highlighting a need for targeted advocacy and outreach.

“I learned so much from Dr. Yu about refining research questions and statistical analysis,” Litt says. “I started with a clinical focus, but the project pushed me to think more critically about data and methodology.”

Lab THRIVE’s research pipeline also complements student support programming at ���ϲ�����. “Our findings are helping the Barnes Center understand what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to supporting student well-being,” Liu says. “We may not see a whole lot of products now, but what is most important is the development of a solid pipeline and clear intentions about every project we initiate.”

Sense of Belonging

A key element of Lab THRIVE’s success is its wider cross-campus collaborations. The lab works closely with the Barnes Center at The Arch, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, TRIO Student Support Services (part of the School of Education’s ) and the to recruit participants for ongoing focus groups. Starting in fall 2025, these focus groups will explore how students experience campus life and seek mental health support.

“We want to understand not just the barriers to help-seeking but also what promotes a sense of belonging,” Ueda-Ballmer says. “We’ve learned that students who feel connected to their peers and the campus community report lower levels of loneliness and distress.”

Doctoral students such as Litt are actively involved as facilitators in these focus groups, gaining hands-on research experience while contributing to meaningful data collection. “It’s a unique learning opportunity,” Litt says. “I’m getting exposure to public health and data analysis alongside my counseling training.”

Yu adds, “These conversations provide rich qualitative data that helps us better understand how students find community and feel a sense of belonging at ���ϲ�����.”

Building a Legacy

Lab THRIVE’s work is offering insights to professionals beyond ���ϲ�����. Last year, Liu, Yu and Ueda-Ballmer presented their findings at national conferences, including at the 2024 Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention.

“We were part of a panel on loneliness,” Ueda-Ballmer says. “The audience was surprised to learn that college students experience such high levels of loneliness despite being surrounded by peers. That reinforced how critical it is to promote belonging and support.”

Fittingly, given her research interests, Litt finds the lab experience supportive on a personal level: “It can be a really lonely journey at times with doctoral studies, but when collaborating, especially with people going through a similar process, it really creates a sense of community.”

When asked where she thinks the lab’s future lies, Liu points to expanding its research capacity and increasing student involvement: “We hope to publish more studies and attract more doctoral students to the lab. It takes time to build momentum, but we’re already seeing meaningful results.”

Yu says another exciting direction is expanding the lab’s interdisciplinary collaborations: “We are actively seeking partnerships with researchers from other fields to examine how emerging areas—such as artificial intelligence—can contribute to a deeper understanding of students’ mental health.”

Litt agrees with this outlook, concluding, “There’s so much crossover between psychology, counseling, sociology and public health. I hope Lab THRIVE continues to grow as a model for interdisciplinary research and training.”

Story by Ashley Kang ’04, G’11

This year’s event, which raised funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York, included 158 University employees. Everyone’s favorite mascot, Otto the Orange, was there to cheer on the runners and walkers and give plenty of high-fives. Jay Hubisz, professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Sascha Scott, associate professor of art and music histories in the College of Arts and Sciences, were the highest placing runners from the University, both finishing in the top 30.

Each June, the in the Office of Human Resources sponsors the University’s participation in the WorkForce Run, as part of their mission of empowering and encouraging employees to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. A special thanks to the Wellness Champions who assisted the wellness team in coordinating this year’s event, including Melissa Chirico Brown, Gianna Mangicaro, Jacqui Smith and Alecia Zema.

All photos below were captured by Amy Manley, senior multimedia producer, Division of Communications.

���ϲ����� faculty and staff participate in the 2025 ���ϲ����� WorkForce Run.

, professor of television, radio and film in the Newhouse School, was named faculty representative to the board by Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost Lois Agnew, in consultation with the University Senate Academic Affairs Committee. Lodato, Persin and Goenka will all serve two-year terms.

In addition, four new student representatives to the board have also been named: German Nolivos ’26 and Anna Mirer ’26, undergraduate student representatives; Alexia Chatzitheodorou, graduate student representative; and Ryleigh Peterson L’26, law student representative.

The diverse backgrounds and experiences of these newly named representatives will bring fresh insights to the board and its various committees, and contribute greatly to the implementation of strategic objectives in support of the University’s mission and vision. All representatives will report to the Board at Executive Committee and full board meetings.

Dean, Faculty and Staff Appointments

Mark Lodato, Academic Dean Representative, 2025-27

Mark Lodato

Appointed dean of the Newhouse School in 2020, Lodato came to ���ϲ����� from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He serves on the Carnegie-Knight Initiative on the Future of Journalism Education and represents the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication on the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Ensuring Newhouse students are job-ready, Lodato expanded professional partnerships that boost experiential learning opportunities with industry leaders, including BuzzFeed, Edelman, ESPN, the New York Post and PBS. He added the school’s first-ever executive director of instructional technology position to lead plans to design and implement technology strategies that prepare students for a rapidly evolving field and is committed to Newhouse taking a leading role in the responsible use of artificial intelligence in communications.

Under Lodato’s leadership, Newhouse partnered with the to launch the ���ϲ����� in Washington, D.C. He spearheaded plans to launch a new esports communications and management bachelor’s program in partnership with the . He also led Newhouse as the school formulated a five-year strategic plan that focuses on how engaged digital citizenship will drive the future of journalism and mass communications.

Before his academic career, Lodato spent 16 years as an award-winning television reporter and anchor for network affiliate television stations in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Phoenix and Fort Myers, Florida.

As academic dean representative, he participates, ex officio, on the board’s Academic Affairs Committee.

Tula Goenka, Faculty Representative, 2025-27

Tula Goenka

Goenka is a professor of television, radio and film and the graduate program director for her department in the Newhouse School. Goenka is an author, human rights activist and filmmaker who produces and edits documentaries. The common thread in all her pursuits is an interest in women’s rights, equity, resilience and the use of art and music to build awareness and preserve heritage.

Born and raised in India, Goenka first came to ���ϲ����� as an international graduate student in 1984, and received a master of science in television-radio from Newhouse in 1986. Ten years later, she joined the Newhouse faculty. She created the SU Bollywood program offered through ���ϲ����� Abroad, and has taken more than 50 Newhouse students to Mumbai for the monthlong immersion.

She served on the Chancellor’s Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence and founded and co-directed the annual ���ϲ����� Human Rights Film Festival and Digital Witness Symposium.

In 2009, Goenka received the Chancellor’s Award of Excellence for Engaging the World, and the Chancellor’s Awards for Public Engagement and Scholarship, 2014 Inspiration Award, partly because of her social justice work. She was the Newhouse Endowed Chair of Public Communications from 2016-19, and the Newhouse Dean’s inaugural Leadership Fellow from 2022-25.

Goenka was a member of the Senate Agenda Committee from 2022-25 and has been a member of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Senate since 2017. As faculty representative, she participates, ex officio, on the board’s Academic Affairs Committee.

Andrea Rose Persin, Staff Representative, 2025-27

Andrea Persin

Persin provides strategic financial oversight to support the goals of the College of Arts and Sciences in her role as the assistant dean of budget, finance and administration. She manages all aspects of the college’s budget and directs expenditures to align with actual revenues received. She also has the primary oversight for the college’s human resources-related processes, including annual compensation review and implementation, performance partnerships, staffing and organizational planning.

Persin began her career at the University in May 2015 as an assistant director of budget and finance. Prior to joining the university, Persin worked at AXA Equitable as a senior manager of enterprise governance where she oversaw the monthly financial and variance reporting for multiple information technology business units.

Persin holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College in business administration with a minor in accounting. She will earn an MBA from the Whitman School of Management this month.

As the staff representative during the 2025-26 academic year, she participates, ex officio, on the Advancement and External Affairs Committee.

Student Appointments

Anna Mirer ’26, Undergraduate Student Representative, 2025-26

Anna Mirer

Mirer is a rising senior in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences and is a student, triple majoring in neuroscience, psychology and policy studies. She is passionate about integrating science and public policy, using mental health research to drive meaningful, long-term change. Mirer served as vice president of university affairs for the , where she worked to elevate student voices and led campuswide programming.

At the , Mirer managed the peer leader team within Health Promotion, developing outreach strategies and campuswide wellness initiatives. She interned with the YMCA of Central New York and served as a research assistant with the Golisano Center for Special Needs.

Mirer co-founded Connect 315, a student-led initiative aimed at strengthening relationships between the University and the surrounding community through collaborative programming and civic dialogue. In partnership with the City of ���ϲ�����, she co-authored a literature review on community engagement strategies related to the I-81 redevelopment project.

As undergraduate representative she participates, ex officio, on the Student Experience Committee.

German Nolivos ’26, Undergraduate Student Representative, 2025-26

German Nolivos

Coming to ���ϲ����� from Miami, Nolivos is a first-generation college student and a rising senior at the University. He is pursuing a dual major in political science and public relations through the College of Arts and Sciences, the Maxwell School and the Newhouse School.

A recipient of the prestigious Posse Foundation Full-Tuition Leadership Scholarship and a , Nolivos currently serves his second term as president of the Student Government Association. He also represents the student body as a senator in the and as the undergraduate student representative on the Board of Directors. In 2023, Nolivos pioneered and spearheaded the first Latino Music Festival at the University.

Nolivos is a member of the provisional chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha. His professional experiences include internships with Telemundo, NBCUniversal, Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. He received the 44 Stars of Excellence Award from the Office of Student Engagement in spring 2024, and was named an outstanding student in 2021 by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

As undergraduate representative, he participates, ex officio, on the Student Experience Committee.

Alexia Chatzitheodorou, Graduate Student Representative, 2025-26

Alexia Chatzitheodorou

Chatzitheodorou is a Ph.D. candidate in theoretical soft matter physics in the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research has focused on the geometry and elasticity of soft materials, specifically liquid crystal elastomers, and she is most interested in biomechanics. She is an active member of the Future Professionals Program and the at ���ϲ�����.

Originally from Greece, Chatzitheodorou earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in physics from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom, where she served as the student representative of physics undergraduates and a physics student ambassador, and was actively involved in outreach activities. At ���ϲ�����, she has continued her commitment to science advocacy through teaching, mentorship and outreach. In addition, she has served in the Physics Graduate Organization and the Physics Colloquium Committee (2023-24), and as a co-organizer of the 2025 Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Driven by a mission to bridge science and societal impact, Chatzitheodorou has developed a growing interest in science policy.

As the graduate student representative for the 2025-26 academic year, she participates, ex officio, on the Academic Affairs and the Student Experience committees.

Ryleigh Peterson L’26, Law Student Representative, 2025-26

Ryleigh Peterson

Peterson is a third-year law student in the . She currently serves as managing editor of the ���ϲ����� Journal of International Law and Commerce, Vol. 53, after previously holding the position of associate editor for Vol. 52. Peterson also works in the College of Law’s Admissions and Financial Aid Office as a law student ambassador and a work-study student. During the fall of 2024, she was a student attorney in the Bankruptcy Clinic. Peterson spent the summer of 2024 in ���ϲ����� at Bond, Schoeneck & King as a 1L Summer Associate, where she is returning as a 2L summer associate for the summer of 2025.

Prior to attending the College of Law, Peterson had a three-year career as a corporate paralegal. Her undergraduate degree is in media and communications with a minor in legal studies from CUNY Hunter College in New York City.

As the law student representative to the board for the 2025-26 academic year, Peterson participates, ex officio, on the Academic Affairs and the Student Experience Committees.

Award recipients, from left, were Matty Simon, Blake Brossman ’98 (NEW), Warren Johnson ’20, Gisele Marcus-Thomas ’89, Doug Present ’86 and Tyler Newman ’20.

“We are honored to recognize six outstanding alumni, corporate supporters and friends who have demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment to the Whitman School, ���ϲ����� and its students. But this is also an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of all of our alumni and other supporters, many of whom are here to share this celebration with us. So many have made, and are continuing to make, valued and impactful contributions to Whitman, ���ϲ����� and our students,” said McKelvie at the event. “The success of our students and the trajectory of the Whitman School is highly correlated to how well we can leverage the Orange family and help expose students to career prospects, share career success, answer questions, connect students with internships or full-time opportunities and support Whitman through philanthropy. We are deeply appreciative of the many ways that our dedicated alumni, corporate partners and friends contribute to helping our students and the mission of the Whitman School.”

Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award

Established in 1986, the award is the highest honor given to a Whitman alumnus. The award recognizes a distinguished Whitman graduate who has achieved professional distinction while remaining actively engaged in efforts that support the progress of the Whitman School’s mission. This year, the award was presented to Douglas Present ’86, who earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing management at Whitman. He is the founder of Douglas Present Associates and has an extensive background in experience and leading acquisitions in the health-care space.

Present is a member of the ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees and chairs the Board’s Finance Committee. He sits on the Whitman philanthropy and engaged volunteer leadership committees. He also serves on the Whitman Advisory Council (WAC). Present has shared his vast expertise with students, including at a master’s program residencies held in New York City. He and his wife, Susan, are generous financial supporters of various initiatives at the Whitman School and Hendricks Chapel, including a significant seed gift to the Whitman Student Opportunity Fund, which enables students to fully participate in various Whitman experiences by contributing to expenses not covered by financial aid.

Whitman Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service

Two alumni, Blake Brossman ’98 (NEW) and Gisele Marcus-Thomas ’89, were presented with the Whitman Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service. This award recognizes University alumni, corporate partners or friends who exemplify a significant commitment to helping Whitman prepare and place future business leaders.

Brossman is an entrepreneur and founder of PetCareRx. Most recently, he founded Click Action Ventures, an investment and innovation platform managing over $100 million in family office capital. Brossman was presented with this award for his engagement with Whitman’s Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises as a judge of numerous student competitions, class speaker, and mentor and advisor to student-founded startups. He was also praised for taking on Whitman students enrolled in the NYC Semester when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

Marcus-Thomas is the vice dean of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis. She previously worked for Accenture, AT&T and Thermo Fisher Scientific, improving financial performances and enhancing operational efficiencies. Marcus-Thomas was selected for this award for her service as a ���ϲ����� Trustee and her significant involvement with the Lender Center for Social Justice as a contributor to the center’s annual consortium and academic conference presentations. She has also been philanthropically engaged with the Whitman School, including establishment of the Gisele A. Marcus Endowed Scholarship Fund and support of the Delta Sigma Theta Endowed Scholarship Fund. And she was recognized for her regular interaction with Whitman students through specialty programming and the Whitman Women in Business organization.

The Orange Ovation Award

Warren Johnson ’20 and Tyler Newman ’20 were each presented with the Orange Ovation Award for setting a positive example to Whitman students through their professional successes and service to the Whitman/���ϲ����� community. Recipients of this award must have graduated from the University within the past 15 years.

Johnson earned dual bachelor’s degrees in supply chain management from the Whitman School and information management and technology from the School of Information Studies. He is a procurement analyst with BAE Systems in New Jersey and has supported Whitman students and alumni networking events in the New York City area. Johnson is currently a member of the Young Whitman Advisory Council (YWAC) for which he chairs the Student Engagement and Mentorship Committee. He has also led efforts to establish the Goodman Leaders Academy/YWAC Mentorship Program.

Newman graduated from the Whitman School with a double major in finance and marketing management and was a member of the Forever Orange Student Alumni Council and Delta Sigma Pi. He is the assistant vice president of client development and strategic initiatives at Synchrony, where he has driven strategic growth and fostered key partnerships in the Synchrony Outdoors market. Newman has been a strong advocate for Whitman and instrumental in a successful partnership/hiring relationship, which has resulted in more than 50 ���ϲ����� students and graduates invited into Synchrony’s Business Leadership Program. In addition, he has helped engage Synchrony’s company leadership into a greater relationship with the Whitman School, as well as attended numerous student and alumni events.

The Whitman Impact Award

The Whitman Impact Award was given to Matty Simon, who for the past several years has been Bloomberg L.P.’s lead recruiter for analytics and sales roles in the Americas, primarily for the New York and San Francisco offices. Simon was selected for the award for being “one of the most impactful recruiters we’ve had the pleasure of working with,” according to McKelvie, noting that Simon has been a true champion for the Whitman/Bloomberg relationship, helping to fill Bloomberg’s offices with “a remarkable amount of Orange.”

Simon was recognized for his enthusiastic presence at student experiential events, the ability to foster connections between both institutions, and his ability to collaborate on alumni events on campus and globally to forge intentional connections to the Whitman School. Simon just recently joined Bloomberg’s London office to continue working in talent acquisition and develop a greater focus on international recruitment.

This story was written by Caroline Reff

Deposits should be made as early in the day as possible on Monday, June 30.

Deposits received after June 30 will be processed as July (fiscal year 2026) business.

The exception is for monies received on or before June 30 but not processed due to internal mail delays. Those deposits can be credited to fiscal year 2025 by indicating “JUNE BUSINESS” on the deposit slip in red ink.

Cash Operations can only accept deposits for June business (fiscal year 2025) until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2025.

Questions or concerns may be directed to Tina Kelly at tkelly01@syr.edu.

Stop by , , , the or the to explore. are available online.

If you work remote you can still use the Libraries’ resources by . Visit us online at for more information.

So how can staff take advantage of this benefit? Below are a few ideas:

• Borrow materials or resources— any materials or resources from our collection. This includes , , , , , , and more! Looking to borrow something not available from our collections? You can
• Borrow technology—Need presentation equipment, audio/video equipment or an extra laptop? items from the Libraries for free!
• Sign-up to use wellness resources—The Libraries offer numerous resources for mind, spirit and physical .
• Sign-up for free digital subscriptions—As a staff member, you can receive to ���ϲ�����.com, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. You can also by searching Journals in the Libraries’ collections.
• Print posters—Need to
• Reserve a room—Need a private room for a call, a small team room for a project or a larger public space for an event? at the Libraries for free.
• Use Research Guides—Librarians and staff curate a variety of on a wide range of topics that support users through research projects.
• Use data analysis/statistical software—Get help finding data to analyze, using statistical software like SAS, Stata and SPSS, research methods and study design. The Libraries also provide��.
• Use primary and secondary sources—Are you instructing a class, offering training or have a team that you’re working with that can benefit from learning how to use the Libraries and primary or secondary sources? .
• Attend workshops and events—The Libraries hosts a number of
• Leisure reading—Looking for a fiction book for leisure reading or have books that you want to donate? Check out the in Bird Library.
• Fun Fact: U.S. Government Documents—Did you also know that the Libraries is open to the public as a ? Public access to the government documents collection is guaranteed by public law (Title 44 United States Code).

about the Libraries? You can get help by calling, texting, emailing, using the chat button on the website or contacting a librarian.

Trey Augliano ’27, a rising junior in the majoring in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises and marketing management, recently launched Utopia Beauty, a science-driven beauty retailer that promises to bring transparency and trust to the personal care industry.

As a student leader engaged in innovation initiatives, Augliano is no stranger to the startup world. As an Orange Innovation Scholar and Intelligence++ Scholar, he has worked behind the scenes at the Libraries mentoring student founders and helping commercialize emerging technologies through the .

Now, he’s stepping into the spotlight with��, a direct-to-consumer retailer offering high-performance products backed by independent, third-party clinical research. From skincare and makeup to candles and luxury body sprays, the brand debuted with a curated collection of 50-60 rigorously vetted products, all validated by clinical labs in the U.S. and Europe.

Trey Augliano

“I wanted to create something that cut through the noise,” Augliano says. “There are too many beauty products making bold claims without data to back them up. Utopia Beauty stands for a future where science meets self-care.”

Utopia’s business model reflects Augliano’s broader vision for e-commerce which includes drop shipping to keep overhead low, free U.S. shipping and a loyalty program that rewards customers for supporting evidence-based wellness. The target audience? Discerning consumers, especially women, who demand transparency, sustainable sourcing and premium quality.

Augliano’s path to launching Utopia Beauty has been anything but conventional. A Watertown, New York, native, he began experimenting with business ideas in middle school and filed his first provisional patent by age 12. During high school, he taught himself e-commerce, launched several online stores and began sourcing products directly from international manufacturers. Those early experiences gave him a global mindset and framework for operational detail.

His decision to attend ���ϲ����� was sealed the day he visited the Blackstone LaunchPad at Bird Library. Finding the center empty that day because staff and students were engaged in a big business plan competition, he left a sticky note on the founding director’s computer expressing his interest. That single gesture led to a lasting mentorship and his early integration into the University’s entrepreneurship ecosystem—even before officially enrolling.

“Trey embodies the spirit of ���ϲ����� Libraries and the community we built here with the help of students scholars and innovators like him. It is entrepreneurial, collaborative and deeply driven,” says Linda Dickerson-Hartsock, founder and retired director of Blackstone LaunchPad. “Now he’s launching a company that could set a new standard in the beauty industry.”

For Augliano, the intersection of wellness, entrepreneurship and science is more than just a brand. It’s personal. “I’ve always loved building things that have a purpose,” he says. “���ϲ����� gave me the platform, the mentors and the community to do that at a higher level.”

Story by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, strategic initiatives advisor, ���ϲ����� Libraries

Researchers from ���ϲ����� and the United Kingdom found chemical clues in ancient South African sediments linking past atmospheric shifts to droughts that mirror Cape Town’s Day Zero crisis. Recent droughts have brought water sources like the Theewaterskloof Dam (pictured above) in South Africa dangerously close to drying up. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Climate change is reshaping the global water cycle, disrupting rainfall patterns and putting growing pressure on cities and ecosystems. Some regions are grappling with heavier rainfall and flooding, while others face prolonged droughts that threaten public health, disrupt economies and increase the risk of political instability. In one recent example, a years-long drought between 2015 and 2020 brought Cape Town, South Africa, to the brink of running out of water—a moment officials dubbed “Day Zero.”

Scientists have long debated whether extreme events like the Cape Town water crisis are driven by human-caused climate change or are part of natural climate variability, with some models suggesting that global warming may indeed play a role.

“But a model is not the real world,” says��, Thonis Family Associate Professor in ���ϲ�����’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES). “So we looked back in time.”

The team extracted organic compounds from sediment samples using a cocktail of solvents. As those solvents evaporate, the organic material remains in the vial as an orange residue.

In a paper recently published in��, Bhattacharya and a team of researchers—led by EES graduate Claire Rubbelke ’25, Ph.D., (and supported by undergraduates Lucy Weisbeck from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry as well as, in earlier work, Ellen Jorgensen ’23)—analyzed ancient plant matter preserved in a column of sediment drilled off the coast of South Africa. These molecules contain hydrogen isotopes from the rainfall that nourished the plants, providing a chemical fingerprint of past climate conditions.

At the New York City Clio Sports Award Show in December 2024, the student team comprised of art director Jack Wojtowicz and copywriter Micaela Kraker won three Clio Sports Awards: two Bronze Awards and one Shortlist Award. They won for their campaign “One Eagles Nation” for Duolingo.

The student team comprised of art director Meiling Xiong and copywriter Maggie Mallon won a Silver Clio Entertainment Award for their campaign “Real Housewives of Duolingo” at the Los Angeles Entertainment Clio Award Show in November 2024.

The awarded campaigns were created in professor of practice ’s Portfolio III course, the culminating course for at the Newhouse School, where students learn to create conceptually strong, integrated campaigns using mediums including emerging technologies, digital, outdoor and experiential.

The Clio Sports Awards celebrate the best in global sports advertising. Only five winners worldwide were selected in the student category, and��“One Eagles Nation”��was one of them, earning a Bronze Award. It also won a second Bronze in the student category, where only eight winners were recognized globally. Additionally, it won a Shortlist Award in the category, among only three winners worldwide.

View the Bronze Award-winning campaign in a two-minute case study video: “.”

Print ad for “One Eagles Nation” ad campaign

Through their research, Wojtowicz and Kraker found that Philadelphia football fans are fiercely passionate, but with 34% living outside the U.S., their chants don’t always reach the Philly stadium. The students’ campaign uses Duolingo’s platform to connect international Eagles fans with those in Philadelphia.

To bring this concept to life, they started with the idea of Eagles Ambassadors. Eagles fans who are in America will download Duolingo, and the most active learners on the app will be chosen as Eagles Ambassadors. As part of the campaign, Eagles bars will be set up around the world, and the Eagles Ambassadors will livestream directly from the stadium tailgates to these Eagles bars.

For the first time ever, Eagles fans around the world will virtually tailgate in the parking lot of Lincoln Financial Field. Using their Duolingo skills, Eagles Ambassadors will initiate chants back and forth between people in the stadium and people in the Eagles bars in other countries, so that the fans can share their love for the favorite team.

As they chant, automatic captions will be generated so the fans can fully understand one another. This will allow people in major cities like Berlin, London and Paris to get the full Philly experience. The Eagles Ambassadors will also ensure that fans around the world get a chance to chant on the Jumbotron at the Lincoln Financial Stadium. To generate local buzz, the “One Eagles Nation” campaign includes putting posters around Philadelphia, spreading the word with cheeky messaging. Wojtowicz and Kraker also created a series of three print ads featuring similar messaging.

“The best ideas combine two things that don’t initially seem like they’d fit together…like Philadelphia Eagles fandom and learning a foreign language. But the creative team found the sweet spot where those two elements intersect and the result is an idea you never saw coming,” says Wojtowicz and Kraker’s creative mentor, Bruce Jacobson ’92, group creative director at VML and Newhouse creative advertising alumnus, when praising their idea.

How did the students manage to get such an accomplished mentor during their time in Portfolio III? For the class, White, using her industry connections, created a mentorship program to pair each student creative team with an award-winning creative director from a top ad agency.

In Portfolio III, White gives each student creative team weekly one-on-one feedback to help them push their ideas further. Concurrently, student teams meet with their industry mentor typically three to five times during the semester, which also helps them elevate their ideas.

The Clio Entertainment Awards celebrate excellence in entertainment advertising. Xiong and Mallon’s “Real Housewives of Duolingo” campaign made its mark at the Entertainment Clio Awards, winning a Silver Clio in the category. This team was announced as just one of 11 winners in this category.

View the Silver Award-winning campaign in a two-minute case study video: “.”

A fiery collaboration between��Duolingo��and��Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise, this campaign brings drama to language learning like never before. Xiong and Mallon realized that learning a new language can sometimes be tedious, even boring, work, especially for busy adults. So, they came up with the perfect remedy to boredom: a spicy collaboration with the Real Housewives reality show and Duolingo to help people learn their new language of choice.

After a one-month streak��on Duolingo, users connect their accounts to the Peacock streaming service, select the language they’re learning, and watch any��Real Housewives episode with subtitles in that language. The drama unfolds in two parts. First, Duolingo breaks down the reality show’s scenes, teaching grammar and pronunciation. Second, on TikTok, fans recreate legendary scenes in the language they are learning with English subtitles, using the hashtag #RHODL.

Next, the 10 videos that get the most likes on TikTok earn a spot on the��Housewives’ reunion episode—but with a twist. The people who created these viral videos will be invited to join the reunion episode in person. At the show, they must��recite an iconic Real Housewives line in their learned language. Make a mistake? A Housewives cast member delivers the ultimate penalty: a splash of Pinot right to the face.

This campaign taps into Generation Z and millennials’ love for binge-watching reality TV, all to turn language learning from a chore into a must-share experience.

Sam Mazur ‘96, a proud Newhouse creative advertising alumnus and freelance creative director with credits at Wieden+Kennedy, Ogilvy and Terri & Sandy, mentored the duo alongside White to help them bring the heat.

“What better way to get someone interested in learning a language, which can be a difficult and cumbersome process, than by adding something as flavorful as the��Real Housewives��to the mix? Tapping into a fandom means truly tapping into culture, and that can be a powerful way to connect an audience to a brand. And they nailed it,” White says.

The creative advertising students’ success in the competition highlights the Newhouse creative advertising program’s ability to develop talent that truly makes an impact, creating work that resonates with experts in the industry who are also judges in these competitions.

Story by Molly Egan

Michael J. Bunker

Bunker, a military veteran with 14 years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard, brings more than two decades of experience in campus safety, emergency management and public safety leadership, most recently serving as chief of campus safety at the University of Denver. There, he oversaw all safety and security operations for a large, urban campus, including emergency management, environmental health and safety, and security technology.

Allen Groves, senior vice president for the student experience and chief student experience officer, led the search committee supported by students, faculty and staff that endorsed Bunker’s candidacy.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mike Bunker to the ���ϲ����� community,” says Groves. “His innovative leadership, commitment to contemporary safety practices and deep understanding of the evolving needs of campus communities make him uniquely qualified for this critically important role. I look forward to working closely with him to enhance the safety our campus community and emergency preparedness across the University.”

“I am honored to join ���ϲ����� and lead a dynamic team dedicated to creating a safe, supportive and welcoming campus environment,” says Bunker. “I look forward to quickly engaging with our community and partnering with students, faculty, staff and stakeholders to strengthen our emergency preparedness, foster transparency and ensure every member of our Orange community feels safe and is safe.”

During his tenure at the University of Denver, Bunker led transformative initiatives, including the creation of an integrated mental health campus response team strategy and the deployment of body-worn cameras and artificial intelligence-enhanced security systems. He also created and deployed trust-building programs with students, such as family-style dinners with student groups and close collaboration with student government and athletics.

Bunker is well-known for his expertise in proactive threat management; compliance with federal standards, including the Clery Act; and taking a student-centered approach to campus safety. At ���ϲ�����, Bunker will report to Groves and oversee a comprehensive portfolio that includes public safety operations, emergency management services, crisis planning and response, and collaborative outreach across the University’s diverse community.

Before his time at the University of Denver, Bunker held leadership roles with the Georgetown University Police Department and the Campus Public Safety Institute. He’s also held positions with the Falls Church Police Department in Falls Church, Virginia, and George Mason University Police Department.

A lifelong learner with a commitment to continuing education, Bunker has two master’s degrees, including an MBA from the University of Denver and a master’s degree in project management from Georgetown University. He also has a graduate certificate in executive leadership coaching.

Bunker will move to the region next month and is looking forward to becoming a part of the Central New York community.

For more information about Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services at ���ϲ�����, visit .

Curated by Associate Artistic Director Melissa Crespo, the festival features Playwright-in-Residence Esperanza Rosales Balcárcel and Central New York’s own Zizi Majid. Due to scheduling changes, Rosales Balcárcel replaces previously announced Playwright-in-Residence Christine Quintana.

“Ever since Kyle Bass founded the Cold Read Festival, ���ϲ����� Stage has proudly upheld our commitment to the development of new work,” says Crespo. “It’s an honor to continue that legacy with the Julie Lutz New Play Festival and provide an essential pipeline for play development.”

Majid, community engagement and education coordinator at ���ϲ����� Stage and instructor with the ���ϲ����� Department of Drama, will present a reading of her play “Milk” on Saturday, June 14, at 5:30 p.m., with a talkback immediately following. Directed by Crespo, the reading will feature Awni Abai-Bahri, Hend Ayoub, Salma Mahmoud and Neagheen Homaifar. Tickets for the reading of “Milk” are free of charge but must be reserved in advance at or by calling the Box Office at 315.443.3275.

Rosales Balcárcel will begin writing a brand-new piece during her residency at the theatre, with support from ���ϲ����� Stage artistic staff. The cast includes Armando Gutierrez, Karis Wiggins and Samora La Perdida. Because the play will be in such early stages of development, there will be no public presentation during the festival.

The Julie Lutz New Play Festival surrounds a fully staged world premiere production, Rogelio Martinez’s “The National Pastime” (June 11-29), which was commissioned and incubated as part of the Cold Read Festival in 2022. Martinez will be joined by Crespo and ���ϲ����� Stage Resident Playwright Kyle Bass for a talkback immediately following the 7:30 p.m. performance of “The National Pastime” on Thursday, June 12. The talkback is included in the purchase of a ticket to the June 12 performance of “The National Pastime.”

The Julie Lutz New Play Festival continues Cold Read’s commitment to supporting and developing new work at ���ϲ����� Stage, including six recent world premieres: Bass’ “Possessing Harriet,” “Salt City Blues” and “Tender Rain,” and the world premiere productions of “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” “Somewhere Over the Border” and “How to Dance in Ohio.” Next season, ���ϲ����� Stage will produce the world premiere of Rae Binstock’s boxing drama “Relentless.”

“In this time of aggressive cuts to longstanding government funding for the arts, audience support of new work for the theatre is more vital than ever,” says Bass.

The festival’s new name is in honor of Julie Lutz, a ground-breaking astronomer and professor who also loved traveling, the outdoors, music, food and theatre. She was a champion of the arts and deeply committed to issues around diversity and inclusion. In 2023, The Julie Lutz New Play Development Fund was established with a $1 million gift from the estate of Lutz’s husband George Wallerstein to specifically support new play activity, developing and producing exciting new work for the theatre.

Audiences are invited to spend the day enjoying new work at ���ϲ����� Stage by pairing the reading of “Milk” on June 14 with tickets to “The National Pastime” at 2 p.m. Boxed lunches may be purchased in advance and will be available immediately following “The National Pastime” performance. Tickets for “The National Pastime” and boxed lunch add-on are available at . (Must be reserved by June 3.)

FESTIVAL EVENTS SCHEDULE

“The National Pastime” Talkback
Thursday, June 12, immediately following the 7:30 p.m. performance
Presented in the Archbold Theatre

Playwright Rogelio Martinez will be joined by Associate Artistic Director Melissa Crespo and Resident Playwright Kyle Bass to discuss the play’s journey from the 2022 Cold Read Festival to this fully realized production.

“Milk”
By Zizi Majid
Directed by Melissa Crespo

Dramaturgy by Kristin Leahy
Saturday, June 14, 5:30 p.m., with a talkback immediately following
Presented in the Storch Theatre

Sofia, a Syrian woman who whilst on a makeshift iron vessel on the Mediterranean Sea, meets Sarah, a woman from South Sudan who’s similarly seeking a better life. Sofia confides her deepest wishes as she considers returning to her home in Syria and a future life with a partner of her own choosing. “Milk” is a play written as an empathetic response to the global migration crisis.

��

]]> /blog/2025/05/27/timur-hammonds-placing-islam-receives-journals-honorable-mention/ Tue, 27 May 2025 15:59:08 +0000 /?p=210569 A book authored by Timur Hammond, associate professor of geography and the environment in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, received an honorable mention in the 2025 International Journal of Islamic Architecture (IJIA) Book Award competition.

The awards committee described his book, “Placing Islam: Geographies of Connection in Twentieth-Century Istanbul” (University of California Press, 2023), as “evocative storytelling and innovative methods [that] reveal how spatial practices and religious identity are deeply intertwined in the shaping of urban experience.”

In his book, Hammond examines practices and architectural projects spanning from the final years of the Ottoman Empire to the early 2010s. He argues that rather than focusing on what Islam is, scholars ought to begin by examining where it is, a project that he pursues by focusing on shifting practices of place-making. Through this exploration, Hammond provides a detailed account of urban religion in Istanbul and invites readers to rethink how evolving Islamic cultures in Turkey and beyond are conceptualized. The book is also available on through the University of California Press’ Luminos platform.

The IJIA Book Award recognizes outstanding books that advance research in Islamic architecture, history and urbanism. It celebrates works that encourage interdisciplinary dialogue across fields such as design, art, preservation and urban planning. The award emphasizes diverse narratives from global Islamic contexts, including underrepresented regions, diasporas and Muslim-majority societies. Awardees received a prize and a two-year subscription to IJIA.

Timur Hammond

The IJIA publishes peer-reviewed articles with an emphasis on the detailed analysis of the historical, theoretical and practical aspects of architecture.

Hammond is a senior research associate in the Middle Eastern Studies Program and a research affiliate in the South Asia Center and the Center for European Studies. His research specialties include cultural and urban geography, geographies of memory, Turkey and the Middle East. In 2022, he received the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Teaching Recognition Award for Early Career Performance at ���ϲ�����.

This story was written by Michael Kelly

Beginning in the Fall 2026 semester, two students from Lockerbie Academy will be selected each year to receive the Lockerbie Scholarship. Recipients will be chosen by a joint committee of ���ϲ����� and Lockerbie Academy representatives, using elevated selection criteria based on rigorous academic standards. The selected students will demonstrate academic excellence and a deep understanding of the Pan Am Flight 103 tragedy, which continues to shape both communities.

“This new and revitalized partnership with Lockerbie Academy honors the memory of those lost in the terrorist attack, while also supporting the educational aspirations of Lockerbie students,” says Lois Agnew, interim vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “Our new approach preserves the program’s most cherished traditions while ensuring we bring students to campus who are prepared to fully engage with the academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities ���ϲ����� offers.”

Brian Asher, headteacher at Lockerbie Academy, says: “���ϲ����� has, since the terrible events of Dec. 21, 1988, held a special place in the heart of Lockerbie. We re-forge our bond in honor of all those who were lost that night. We act forward in their memory. I am excited to work with our ���ϲ����� colleagues on behalf of the Academy as we build on our shared past, towards a shared future.”

The University and Lockerbie Academy anticipate the renewed collaboration will continue through at least 2028, aligning with the 40th anniversary of the Lockerbie Scholarship Program and its enduring impact on both communities.

Although there will be no Lockerbie Scholars on campus during the 2025-26 academic year, ���ϲ����� will welcome a group of 10 students and two sponsors from Lockerbie Academy in October 2025 for Remembrance Week.

“Their visit will both commemorate Remembrance Week and celebrate the strong and ongoing bond between Lockerbie and ���ϲ�����,” Agnew says.

“Our continued investment in financial aid ensures that students from all backgrounds can thrive here—academically, personally and professionally,” says Ryan Williams, vice president for enrollment services. “With a record-breaking number of applications this year, we look forward to welcoming one of our most exceptional incoming classes yet.”

The Board of Trustees recently approved the following rates for tuition, room and board, and fees:

• tuition for full-time undergraduates will be $66,580;
• the average room rates for most full-time new and returning undergraduates will be $11,000;
• the Orange Unlimited meal plan that offers greater value and flexibility is now $8,120;
• the student activity fee will be $219;
• the residential internet and cable access and service fees will remain the same at $460;
• the co-curricular fee will be $280; and
• the health and wellness fee will be $890.

���ϲ����� remains committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need. Financial aid packages typically include a combination of ���ϲ�����-funded scholarships and grants, federal and state aid, private scholarships, federal student loans and work-study opportunities.

“The Archive as Liberation”

The exhibition is on display in the Kathleen O. Ellis Gallery at Light Work, 316 Waverly Ave. in ���ϲ�����. An opening reception will take place at Light Work on July 25 from 5-7 p.m.

The exhibition is organized by Aaron Turner (Light Work artist-in-residence, 2018, and
Light Work exhibiting artist, 2021). Turner has gathered a unique group of artists and writers to engage in dialogue around archival photographic methods. The exhibition includes work by Andre Bradley, Chisato Hughes, Alec Kaus, calista lyon, Raymond Thompson Jr., Harrison D. Walker, Wendel A. White and Savannah Wood.

“The artists included in this publication and exhibition are engaged in resilience, ancestral
understanding, counter-memory, translation, activism, tension, narrative and critique. Through
their artistic gestures, they illustrate freedom in the Archive,” says Turner.

2025 Light Work Grants in Photography

The 2025 recipients are Sarah Knobel (St. Lawrence County), Joe Librandi-Cowan (Onondaga County),
and Lida Suchy (Onondaga County). The runners-up are Marna Bell (Onondaga County)
and Adrian Francis (Onondaga County).

This year’s judge was Marina Chao (a curator at CPW in Kingston, NY), who writes: “From an
unexpected approach to plastic waste to portraits of Ukrainian civic leaders to an exploration of
home, family and memory, this year’s grantees address subjects that are intimate and personal,
urgent and political, in innovative, collaborative and deeply felt ways.”

The Light Work Grants are part of our ongoing effort to support and encourage Central New
York artists working in photography and related mediums within a 50-mile radius of ���ϲ�����.
Established in 1975, the Light Work Grants are among the oldest photography fellowships in the
country. An opening reception will be held in the Jeffrey J. Hoone Gallery at Light Work on July 25
from 5-7 p.m.

Summer gallery hours are: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For general information, please
visit www.lightwork.org or call (315) 443-1300.

BiOrbic and the Dynamic Sustainability Lab are both committed to interdisciplinary approaches to discovery and innovation that tackle the opportunities to develop cost-effective biobased innovations including circular approaches.

One of the near-term actions arising from the memorandum of understanding will be the development of joint approaches to leverage the rapidly emerging utility of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and data.

“This MOU formalizes and greatly expands our initial collaboration to leverage our shared dedication to advancing biobased markets in the United States and European Union through joint research, outreach and workforce development,” says Jay Golden, director of the Dynamic Sustainability Lab and the Pontarelli Professor in the .

Derek O’Brien, BiOrbic executive director, says, “We are delighted to deepen our collaboration with the Dynamic Sustainability Lab and ���ϲ�����. The challenges we face as a society today are not confined within borders and it is only through collaboration and partnership that we can build a better and sustainable future. The circular bioeconomy presents a significant opportunity for economic growth in Ireland and the United States. The bioeconomy is the part of the economy which uses renewable resources from agriculture, forestry and the marine industry to produce food, feed, materials and energy, while reducing waste, in support of achieving a sustainable and climate neutral society.”

Three linguistic studies students, Loretta Awuku (left), Sylvia Page (center) and Johnson Akano, pose with their presentation at ���ϲ�����’s One University poster session.

Loretta Awuku, Sylvia Page and Johnson Akano—three graduate students pursuing linguistic studies master’s degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences—spent the past year researching and contributing to assessment and curricular development processes.

The research team’s project, , was led by faculty mentor Amanda Brown, professor and linguistic studies program director in the College of Arts and Sciences. Brown received a , which aims to enhance student assessment knowledge and skills, develop a sense of agency to inform curricular decision-making and provide invaluable insight about the student learning experience.

The research project engaged 14 current students and six graduates in a mixed methods approach to answer the project’s three research questions:

• Do students know about current program learning outcomes?
• How do student feel about the master of arts (MA) focus areas?
• Should a psycholinguistics focus area be added?

“The participants felt more comfortable sharing their perspectives with their peers and the project has revealed a number of insights around which important faculty discussions and program innovations will follow,” Brown says of the benefits of engaging with students in the assessment.

The mini-grant opportunity gave the student researchers the assessment knowledge and skills to advance their future success. Akano pointed to the personal development this project offered as he pursues postgraduate opportunities.

“I’m really interested in assessment and one of the major reasons I got involved in this project was to learn more,” Akano says. “I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in the area of language assessment and I think the skills and the knowledge that I’ve acquired from this program will be very valuable for me when I start my doctoral studies.”

Page was pleasantly surprised by the amount of responses they received to the survey. “Their engagement showed they were invested in the program even though they had completed it and they actually wanted their voices to be heard,” Page says.

The students presented their research at the 9th Annual TESOL/Applied Linguistics/Foreign Languages (TALFL) Conference and ���ϲ�����’s this semester.

“It’s a great experience to present at a conference to different people from across the country and build the skills needed to communicate data collection and analysis,”��Awuku says, highlighting the presentation skills she developed through these opportunities.

For this research team, the Student Engagement in Assessment Mini-Grant experience and findings benefitted them directly and also benefits future students in the program. Applications for 2025-26 mini-grant are open through Aug. 8. Interested? .

Story by Naimah Rahman

Otto the Orange cheers on faculty and staff at the finish line of the ���ϲ����� WorkForce Run on June 10. (Photo by Amy Manley)

We want to know how you experience ���ϲ�����. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience by sending them directly to ���ϲ����� at newsphoto@syr.edu. You might see it featured here.

Employees are all smiles at the ���ϲ����� WorkForce Run June 10. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Staff members in the College of Arts and Sciences enjoy a friendly game of Connect 4 during a staff barbeque on the Quad. (Photo courtesy of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Facebook page)

Students in the School of Information Studies presented their research to the SEC Crypto Task Force in Washington, D.C.—demonstrating how emerging technology intersects with real-world policy. (Photo courtesy of the School of Information Studies)

Garden Managers Erica Howard G’26 (left) and Alyssa Quinn G’26 work on the irrigation system for the newly planted vegetables at Pete’s Giving Garden. (Photo by Amy Manley)

The College of Arts and Sciences Dean Behzad Mortazavi (far right) mingles with staff members during a staff barbeque on the Quad. (Photo courtesy of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Facebook page)

The 52nd annual “On My Own Time” celebration highlights the often-unsung faculty and staff artists who create art on their own time. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Students kick around a soccer ball on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quad. (Photo by Amy Manley)

A campus tour stops in front of Carnegie Library on a spring day. (Photo by Amy Manley)

���ϲ����� Libraries marked Memorial Day with an “In Remembrance on Memorial Day 2025” exhibition in Bird Library. (Photo by Amy Manley)

In commemoration of Memorial Day, a wreath-laying ceremony was held outside Hendricks Chapel. (Photo by Amy Manley)

The men’s lacrosse team poses after clinching a spot in Championship Weekend with a thrilling 19-18 win over Princeton in the NCAA quarterfinals. The Orange secured the program’s 27th appearance in the Final Four, third most in Division I history. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Athletics)

Members of the men’s lacrosse team celebrate after holding off the Princeton Tigers to secure a spot in the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Championship. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Athletics)

The cast of “Little Women” perform at ���ϲ����� Stage in the Department of Drama’s final performance of the 2024-25 season. (Photo courtesy of the )

During its Awards and Appreciation celebration in New York City, the Martin J. Whitman School of Management honored its alumni, faculty, staff, recruiters and students who go above and beyond. Pictured are (from left to right) Interim Whitman Dean Alex McKelvie; Matty Simon (Whitman Impact Award); Blake Brossman ’98 (Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service); Warren Johnson ’20 (Orange Ovation Award); Gisele Marcus-Thomas ’89 (Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service); Douglas Present ’86 (Jonathan J. Holtz Award); and Tyler Newman ’20 (Orange Ovation Award).

During Maymester, students in the Falk College’s Department of Sport Management are participating in an Olympic Odyssey study abroad trip, traveling through four European countries to explore the history, culture and global influence of the Olympic Movement. Pictured here, students pose outside of Buckingham Palace. Follow their journey at . (Photo courtesy of the )

Crouse College is always picture-perfect. (Photo by Amy Manley)

A moment of peace and togetherness outside Lyman Hall. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Even the birds are happy it’s summer. (Photo by Amy Manley)

We love the color orange, but pink isn’t bad either. (Photo by Lonnie Timmons)

Nadaya Brantley (second from left), assistant teaching professor of social work, assessment champion award honoree and recipient of the Student Engagement in Assessment mini-grant, poses with four of the project’s School of Social Work student partners. The entire student assessment team included Naomi Brogden, Paige Esposito, Amaya Saintal, Hailey Vanish, Casey Wills and Annabelle Wemmer.

In her opening remarks, , associate provost for academic programs, highlighted the importance of celebrating the various ways faculty, staff and students have engaged in assessment practices. Awards were given in five categories.

• Assessment Champion: This award recognizes University community members who advocate for meaningful assessment to enrich the student experience and who have made outstanding contributions to the University’s culture of improvement. The recipients were:
  • Academic: , undergraduate director and assistant teaching professor, School of Social Work, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
  • Academic/Functional: , associate dean for student affairs, teaching professor and Dean’s Faculty Fellow for Assessment, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Shared Competencies:
• Outstanding Assessment: This award recognizes a distinguished academic, co-curricular and functional area for overall robust assessment. The recipients were:
  • Academic: , School of Art, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  • Co-Curricular:
  • Functional: College of Arts and Sciences/Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs academic and professional advising office
• Best Engagement Strategies: This award recognizes programs/units for engaging faculty, staff and students to participate and contribute to the assessment process. The recipients were:
  • Faculty Engagement: and B.S. programs, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Staff Engagement:
  • Student Engagement:
• Best Use of Results: This award recognizes an academic, co-curricular and functional area for how assessment results are used in making decisions. The recipients were:
  • Academic: , Falk College
  • Co-Curricular:
  • Functional:
• Collaborative Inquiry and Action: This award recognizes a partnership that extends beyond a single school, college, division or unit and uses strong assessment methods and data as a catalyst for improvement. The recipient was:

After the awards, 2024 Assessment Leadership Institute faculty participants were recognized for their poster presentations detailing assessment activities over the past year:

• , Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute, College of Arts and Sciences
• , philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
• , civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• , civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• , film and media arts, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Recipients of the Student Engagement in Assessment grant were also acknowledged for their poster presentations showcasing the collaborative experiences of students, faculty and staff:

• Linguistic studies M.A. program: Loretta Adadzewa Awuku, Sylvia Page, Johnson Akano, Amanda Brown
• Newhouse Office of Academic Affairs: Kit Fletcher
• Public health program: Collins Annor, Bernard Appiah
• Retention and Student Success: Prabin Raj Shrestha ’24, Hope Smalling
• School of Social Work: Naomi Brogden, Paige Esposito, Amaya Saintal, Hailey Vanish, Casey Wills, Annabelle Wemmer, Nadaya Brantley

In the closing remarks, Laura Harrington, director of institutional effectiveness, noted that the One University Assessment Celebration “is an important reminder that assessment is not a checkbox or something that goes into a black hole. It is a dynamic and collaborative process that strengthens teaching, learning and operations across our campus.” The showcased efforts demonstrate “a deep commitment to and investment in student success. Thoughtful assessment gives us agency to better understand, support and elevate every part of the University.”

Visit the to see event photos, presentation materials highlighting recipients’ achievements and posters.

Story by A’yla James

Mosab Abu Toha (Photo credit: Mohamed Mahdy)

Mosab Abu Toha G’23, a graduate of the M.F.A. program in creative writing in the College of Arts and Sciences and a current visiting scholar at ���ϲ�����, has been awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for a series of essays in The New Yorker chronicling life in Gaza.

“It hurts to win a big prize while the suffering which I wrote about in the winning work continues,” says Abu Toha. “It is my biggest hope that this achievement and recognition will be a step toward greater understanding of the decades-long plight of the Palestinian people and that it will inspire people, especially those in power, to act and put an end to this tragedy.”

A Palestinian poet, essayist and fiction writer, Abu Toha returned to ���ϲ����� last year through the University’s participation in the international Scholars at Risk program. The Pulitzer Prize Committee awarded Abu Toha for his “essays on the physical and emotional carnage in Gaza that combine deep reporting with the intimacy of memoir to convey the Palestinian experience of more than a year and a half of war with Israel.”

“Mosab’s writing tells the important and often untold stories that deserve to be shared and amplified,” says Lois Agnew, interim vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “This Pulitzer Prize honors not just his talent, but his courage and dedication to sharing his lived experience.”

“Mosab takes great pride and responsibility in his role as a writer and storyteller,” says Behzad Mortazavi, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Having our M.F.A. program graduates recognized at the Pulitzer Prize level confirms the University’s status as among the very best places for exceptionally gifted writers.”

Abu Toha also expressed gratitude to the University: “I would like to thank ���ϲ�����’s administration, the Chancellor, the provost, the dean of arts and sciences and the creative writing program’s director, faculty and staff for their support.”

The New Yorker series also received an Overseas Press Club Award. Among Abu Toha’s other literary achievements are his latest poetry collection, “Forest of Noise” (Knopf, 2024), which was named a New York Times Notable Book, and his acclaimed debut collection, “Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear” (City Lights, 2022). The latter was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and won the 2022 Palestine Book Award in the Creative Writing category. He is also the recipient of the 2023 Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry and the 2022 American Book Award. His work has appeared in Poetry, The Nation, Arrowsmith and other leading literary publications.

Before returning to ���ϲ����� in 2024, Abu Toha was a visiting poet and scholar at Harvard University and served as librarian-in-residence at Harvard’s Houghton Library. He is the founder of the Edward Said Library in Gaza and previously taught English to middle school students through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

“You did not do this alone. Each of you got here because of so many who have faith in you. Some of the people who have faith in you, your faculty, the staff, are sitting in front of you and working all around this dome and all around this campus,” the Chancellor said. “Some of the people who support you and have faith in you, your family, your friends, your classmates are right behind you and next to you now, where once again, as always, they will have your back.”

The Chancellor conferred 6,930 degrees during the ceremony.

Three graduates gather together for a final (for now) sway at Commencement 2025. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Congratulations graduates! The accomplishments of the Class of 2025 were celebrated by students, faculty, staff and families as the University held its annual Commencement ceremony in the JMA Wireless Dome on Sunday, May 11. The photos below capture some of the pomp and circumstance of this special day.

For more Commencement coverage, check out the keynote address by 10-Time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, Chancellor Kent Syverud’s remarks and student speaker and University Scholar Jonathan Collard de Beaufort ’25 addressing his fellow classmates.

Keynote speaker Carmelo Anthony addresses the Class of 2025 from the podium. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Chancellor Kent Syverud offers remarks to the crowd of graduates and their loved ones. (Photo by Coco Boardman)

University Scholar Jonathan Collard de Beaufort ’25 was selected as the student speaker on behalf of the Class of 2025. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Commencement 2025 (Photo by Amy Manley)

College of Arts and Sciences alumnus Robert “Bob” Mankoff ’66 (right) was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree by Chancellor Syverud. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Ali Meders-Knight (right), executive director of California Open Lands and Mechoopda tribal member, was awarded an honorary doctor of human letters degree by Chancellor Syverud. (Photo by Amy Manley)

School of Education alumna Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56 (right) received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Chancellor Syverud. (Photo by Amy Manley)

You did it, Class of 2025! (Photo by Amy Manley)

Graduate School Marshal Qingyang Liu waves to the crowd as she processes. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Carmelo Anthony (Photo by Amy Manley)

Commencement 2025 (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Bea González G’04, former vice president for community engagement, special assistant to the chancellor and dean of University College, served as mace bearer. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

A student celebrates with loved ones on the Shaw Quad after the ceremony. (Photo by Amy Manley)

From left: Lois Agnew, interim vice chancellor and provost; Jonathan Collard de Beaufort ’25, student speaker; Jeffrey M. Scruggs, chair of the Board of Trustees; Commencement speaker Carmelo Anthony; and Chancellor Syverud. (Photo by Coco Boardman)

Commencement 2025 (Photo by Amy Manley)

The obligatory cap toss (Photo by Amy Manley)

When Commencement falls on Mother’s Day, mom deserves a shout-out too! (Photo by Amy Manley)

Commencement 2025 (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Would it even be Commencement without Otto the Orange? (Photo by Amy Manley)

Commencement 2025 (Photo by Amy Manley)

Commencement 2025 (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Commencement 2025 (Photo by Amy Manley)

Jeremy Jordan, dean of the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, takes a selfie with Otto and graduating students during the college’s Convocation event. (Photo courtesy of the )

Maxwell grads pose with Dean David M. Van Slyke (far left) during the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Convocation. (Photo courtesy of the )

Celebrating on the Quad after the College of Professional Studies Convocation on May 8. (Photo courtesy of the )

Sawyer Duserick ’25 is pumped to graduate magna cum laude from the Falk College. (Photo courtesy of Lea and Shannon Duserick)

Spotted at the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) Convocation: “It’s Just Rocket Science.” (Photo courtesy of )

An Orange diploma is a beautiful sight. (Photo courtesy of )

All smiles at the College of Law Commencement on May 9. (Photos courtesy of the )

From left: Newhouse Class Marshal Charlotte Ebel ’25, national anthem singer Lauren Juzang ’25, Newhouse Convocation keynote speaker Jim Weiss ’87, undergraduate speaker Naimah Rahman ’25 and Newhouse Class Marshal Ryan Myers ’25. (Photo by Genaro C. Armas)

Singers onstage at the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Convocation (Photo courtesy of )

Graduates from the School of Information Studies pose outside of Hinds Hall. (Photo courtesy of the )

Bauer, the Whitman School of Management’s pet therapy dog, donned a special cap and bowtie to help celebrate the occasion. (Photo courtesy of the )

Chancellor Kent Syverud (left) receives the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award from Scout Executive/CEO of Scouting America, Longhouse Council Edwin Theetge at the 57th Annual ScoutPower event on May 7.

Chancellor Syverud, a native of Irondequoit, New York, has long been involved in the mission of scouting, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout and previously serving on the board of the Longhouse Council. Chancellor Syverud and his wife, Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, have three grown sons, Steven, Brian and David, all of whom participated in scouting.

“I am honored to be named the Distinguished Citizen of the Year by Scouting America,” says Chancellor Syverud. “Scouting has been a meaningful part of my life for as long as I can remember—first as a scout and now as a member of the Longhouse Council. I’m grateful for the friendships, bonds and connections I’ve made, and I appreciate everyone who supports Scouting America and encourages young people to participate in scouting programs.”

This year’s ScoutPower event featured another Orange connection: NBC sports commentator Mike Tirico ’88 delivered the keynote. Tirico, an alumnus of the University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences and well-known sports commentator, delivered an engaging and inspiring address. Tirico’s career includes notable coverage of “Sunday Night Football,” the Olympics and other high-profile sports broadcasts.

Mike Tirico delivers the evening’s keynote speech.

���ϲ����� was the presenting sponsor of the event, along with JMA Wireless. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry President Joanie Mahoney ’87, L’90, who herself has a notable history with scouting and was named Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Longhouse Council in 2023, served as this year’s event chair.

���ϲ����� Athletics continues to demonstrate its commitment to academic excellence, as shown in the latest release of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Academic Progress (APR) data. The University earned a single-year score of 989 (out of 1,000) for the 2023-24 cohort—the highest score achieved in the past four years.

���ϲ�����’s score of 989 is once again above the national average��and marked the 13th-straight year with an APR score of 982-or-better.

APR, which began in 2006, is the NCAA’s academic metric that tracks the eligibility, retention and graduation of student-athletes. A score of 989 not only reflects the sustained efforts of student-athletes, coaches and academic staff, but also reaffirms ���ϲ�����’s position as a leader in student-athlete academic success.

“This achievement is a reflection of the dedication our student-athletes bring to both their sport and their studies,” says Tommy Powell, assistant provost for student-athlete academic development. “We’re incredibly proud of this collective accomplishment and grateful for the support from faculty, coaches and staff who make this success possible.”

In addition to the overall department success, 11 teams earned a perfect single-year APR score of 1,000, including women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, softball, men’s track and field, women’s track and field and volleyball. It’s the seventh-straight year that ���ϲ����� has seen at least four of its programs receive perfect APR scores.

The NCAA also tracks multi-year APR scores, with volleyball achieving a perfect 1,000 for the sixth-consecutive year to lead all programs. Women’s basketball, women’s cross country and women’s lacrosse also received perfect multi-year scores.

All ���ϲ����� Athletics programs remain comfortably above the NCAA’s minimum APR standards, underscoring the University’s holistic commitment to the academic and personal development of its student-athletes.

Through a research project funded by the (SOURCE), School of Education (SOE) seniors Denaysha Macklin ’25 and Emma Wareing ’25 are continuing research to investigate barriers women of color face in advancing from K-12 teachers to school leaders.

The project—called “Pipeline to Educational Leadership Positions for Women of Color,” now in its fifth year—utilizes qualitative interviews with minority women who serve or have served as district-level administrators, examining the adversities they have overcome in obtaining their positions.

Timely Research

Both Macklin and Wareing earned a SOURCE fellowship after Professor encouraged them to apply. The pair started their research over the summer of 2024 with guidance from Theoharis, who has been a SOURCE advisor since the project began.

SOURCE offers a range of programs to foster and support undergraduate participation in faculty-guided scholarly research. Since summer 2021, 12 SOE faculty have mentored undergraduates through SOURCE grants and programs. Director Kate Hanson says student participants build research skills, learn to design and revise projects, present their work and produce timely contributions to their discipline.

“They are able to connect their knowledge from their own education to innovative and cutting-edge research,” Hanson says, noting that SOE students can use their new understanding of the broader landscape in both their future classrooms and educational leadership roles.

Macklin and Wareing began their portion of the project by reviewing previous years’ transcripts before connecting with educational leaders to request and conduct interviews over the spring 2025 semester. “Using qualitative methods allows us to fill the gap of literature that highlights these shifts to leadership roles,” Theoharis says.

Each year, students have sought to speak with at least two women, conducting two-part interviews to inquire about career experiences, paths and transitions to administration, as well as any racial and gender barriers they faced. As the project continues, with future undergraduate researchers adding more first-person accounts, Theoharis says at some point all the interviews will be combined and published.

Inspirational Women

Professor George Theoharis discusses the SOURCE-funded research project “Pipeline to Educational Leadership Positions for Women of Color” with Emma Wareing ’25 (seated left) and Denaysha Macklin ’25.

Wareing and Macklin will join Theoharis to present their findings at the American Education Research Association (AERA) conference, April 23-27 in Denver, Colorado.

“AERA is the biggest, most prestigious education research conference,” Theoharis says. “Since Emma and Denaysha are focused on school leaders, they will present in the division on administration and leadership, sharing the project with researchers, faculty and doctoral students.”

At past conferences, student research has been well received. “It’s typically not a space for undergraduates, so when attendees hear from them, they’ve been very impressed,” Theoharis says. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised several times how gender and racially affirming the space has been for our students.”

Theoharis notes that the presentations overwhelmingly attract women of color whose own experiences resonate with students’ findings, which, Theoharis says, helps the young researchers see a potential future in such spaces, affirming that they belong.

“I don’t remember having a Black woman as a teacher, let alone [in] leadership,” Macklin says, “Getting to talk to people who were in these positions and still are, it makes me able to see myself there, whereas before I couldn’t really see myself doing anything more than being a teacher.”

A goal of the project is to document the stories and experiences of women of color because, Theoharis says, too often teachers don’t reflect the diversity represented in the student body. Within school administration, he adds, there is an even more disproportionate lack of minority women.

“Part of the research is to understand their experiences,” says Theoharis, who notes students use a critical race theory framework and incorporate the idea of counter narratives, listening to the voices of marginalized processionals. Those interviewed are specifically asked about barriers they’ve faced around sexism and racism.

A surprising theme Macklin discovered in her interviews is resilience: “They are such inspirational women and have so many lessons to share. Hearing their stories and hearing how positive they still are is motivating,” Macklin says.

Intergenerational Sharing

Wareing, who is Asian, says the project also has helped her imagine herself in such roles: “I can finally see myself there—in actuality, not just in theory,” says Wareing, who, like Macklin, had little exposure to non-white teachers or administrators.

For her interviews, Wareing chose to focus on Asian women, who reported that their experiences with forms of oppression were often less explicit than what past interviewees shared. “But racism did play a factor and impacted how they carried themselves in these positions because of Asian stereotypes and expectations placed onto them,” says Wareing, whose subjects spoke about being immigrants and growing up and being educated with different cultural norms and how each impacted their leadership styles.

The students’ personal and professional realizations are a key benefit of the SOURCE fellowship, according to Theoharis. “It connects them with people in the field and helps sets their sights on potential leadership roles. The intergenerational sharing is a really nice part of this.”

In addition to introducing undergraduates to research, SOURCE pays an hourly rate for the work and funds conference travel. “It raises the profile of our students and the school,” Theoharis says. “Because our students consistently get these grants, it says the School of Education has undergraduates who are engaging in serious research. … Our School can do research at the highest level.”

The project’s original premise developed from a proposal made to Theoharis by Jenny Gines ’21, now an eighth-grade teacher. Previous student researchers included SOE alumnae Ashanti Hunter ’22, Michelle Ho ’22, Savannah Stocker ’23, Emily Peterson ’23, Amanda Feliz ’24 and Kamille Montgomery ’24.

Theoharis says SOURCE applications were submitted this winter by juniors Vera Wang ’26 and Eliani Jimenez Merino ’26, who will start their part of the research endeavor this summer.

Thinking of the time when all the “Pipeline to Educational Leadership” interviews are curated into a publication, Macklin says she hopes such a collection can widely inform about barriers to professional growth and help remove them: “I feel the project’s goal is to identify the problems. Then we can expose those problems and attack them before they become a problem for the next generation,” Macklin says.

Story by Ashley Kang ’04, G’11

Graduates get ready to celebrate! (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

It’s time to celebrate, ���ϲ����� Class of 2025! Bring your family and friends and join in all the excitement and pomp and circumstance during .

The University’s Commencement exercises will be held in the JMA Wireless Dome Sunday, May 11, beginning with the degree candidates’ procession at 9:30 a.m.

Carmelo Anthony, the 10-Time NBA All-Star who guided the men’s basketball team to the 2003 NCAA Championship, will deliver the Commencement address.

School and college convocations and Commencement will also be livestreamed. Visit the May 8-11 to view the ceremonies online.

At Sunday’s Commencement, around 6,900 students are expected to graduate.

���ϲ����� Chancellor and President Kent Syverud will address the graduates and confer degrees. Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew will give the welcome.

The University will recognize three honorary degree recipients:

• Robert “Bob” Mankoff ’66, influential cartoonist with a decades-long career as cartoon contributor and editor at The New Yorker;
• Ali Meders-Knight, executive director of California Open Lands and Mechoopda tribal member; and
• Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56, ���ϲ����� life trustee and president of Heritage Management Co.

Bea González G’04, former vice president for community engagement, special assistant to the chancellor and dean of University College, will serve as mace bearer.

Tadodaho Sidney Hill, of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, will give the ceremonial opening. The Rev. Dr. Brian E. Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel, will give the invocation. Peter A. Gianesini Jr. ’94, president of the ���ϲ����� Alumni Association, will welcome the newest alumni.

Student Marshals and Scholars

Representing the Class of 2025, Mark Nzasi and Yifan “Ivan” Shen are the senior class marshals and will lead graduates during the ceremony.

The University’s Commencement exercises will be held in the JMA Wireless Dome Sunday, May 11. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Along with the all-University marshals, 23 student marshals represent the 13 schools and colleges at the University. The marshals will lead the degree candidates of their respective schools or colleges.

Twelve seniors have been designated as ���ϲ����� Scholars. This is the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows. University Scholar Jonathan Collard de Beaufort, College of Arts and Sciences, was selected as the student speaker on behalf of the Class of 2025.

Retiring faculty members who have been recommended to receive the title of emeritus by the University Senate to the ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees will be recognized by Jamie L. Winders, vice provost for faculty affairs.

The University Marshal is Kira Reed, associate professor of management, Whitman School of Management. Associate University Marshal is Tula Goenka G’86, professor and graduate program director, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Also during the ceremonies, Army and Air Force ROTC cadets will present the colors.

The ���ϲ����� Wind Ensemble will perform under the direction of conductor Timothy W. Diem.

The national anthem will be sung by Olivia Scanzera ’25, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Enzo Cupani ’25, College of Visual and Performing Arts, will sing the alma mater.

Security and Other Important Information

To ensure a safe and enjoyable event, all guests and degree candidates will go through , including metal detection, prior to entering all Convocation and Commencement venues. The University has a , which will be in effect for Commencement weekend. Bags larger than 10″ x 10″ will not be allowed into Convocations or Commencement.

Get the OrangeNow App for the Commencement Experience

Download the and choose the “Commencement Experience” for easy access to Commencement weekend details and to receive push notifications related to the weekend’s events.

(Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Update Your Email Address

Congratulations, Class of 2025! You’re Forever Orange, and the wants to stay in touch with you. It’s especially important to so we can reach you!

Ask Orange Alumni

���ϲ����� alumni are standing by to help as you take the next step. Make career connections without any app, sign-up or login information to remember. Just !

Class of 2025 Giving Campaign

��before��Thursday, May 8, to receive special orange, white and silver cords to wear at Commencement!

Fill up the Wishing Well!

Are you a soon-to-be grad or a friend or family member of someone graduating? Mark the milestone with a gift in honor of the Class of 2025 and to have it featured on our Wishing Well website!

Instagram Stickers

There will be new Instagram Stickers available for the 2025 Commencement Weekend, which can be found by searching SUGrad25 on Instagram starting Thursday, May 8.

More information about Commencement 2025 can be found at .

“I’m excited to spend some of my last moments on campus celebrating with the people who have made my college experience so special,” says Chloe Langerman ’25. “It’s going to be bittersweet, but I can’t wait to move forward as an Orange.”

Senior Sendoff Checklist

1. : Celebrate the incredible achievements of the ���ϲ����� Class of 2025 on Thursday, May 8, from 1-4 p.m. on the Quad. Spend the afternoon making lasting memories before you head into your next chapter. Enjoy lawn games, a DJ and giveaways for all graduating students!
2. : Leave your legacy and support the future of ���ϲ����� students. When combined with gifts from your classmates, your class gift of $25 or more makes a real difference.
3. : Celebrate your next adventure and complete the First Destination Survey as soon as possible. Students can find your First Destination Survey by logging into and visiting their Career Center page.
4. : A memento for graduating seniors, the yearbook is filled with senior portraits, academics, sports and much more. Visit the to purchase your 2025 yearbook from Jostens. Orders are due Friday, May 9.
5. : From preparation, a complete schedule of events, accessibility information and more, this is your one-stop for all your Commencement Weekend information needs.
6. : Graduation marks the start of the alumni experience! Be sure to stay in touch through the Alumni Association’s expansive events, services, clubs and more!

“I’m looking forward to attending the Senior Celebration alongside my best friends and soaking up every last minute we have on campus and taking them down in some lawn games,” says Maggie Anderson, ’25. “Cheers to the Class of 2025 and all of the incredible opportunities awaiting us in the future!”

Resources for Families and Supporters of Seniors
The Orange families and supporters of seniors have played an important role in the successes of the Class of 2025! Explore the helpful resources highlighted below.

• : Visit and learn more about Commencement Weekend, find campus maps, hotel and restaurant information.
• : From , , receiving communications with the , to learning what items are permitted or not to bring and the University’s Clear Bag Policy, the is available to answer .
• : Family and friends are welcomed to make a gift, share a congratulatory message and photo of their student to further celebrate the amazing accomplishment of graduation.

In response, the University’s Center for International Services is actively supporting the affected students. The center is coordinating closely with the Office of Academic Affairs and the students’ academic programs to ensure continuity in their education. Two of the three students remain on track to graduate as scheduled, and efforts are ongoing to assist the third student in maintaining their academic progress.

The University understands this news may be concerning for international members of our community and has been in direct communication with international students as well as international faculty and staff. As the situation continues to evolve, the University will provide updates as appropriate and urges anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to Juan Tavares, director of the Center for International Services, at jtavares@syr.edu or 315.443.5833.������ ����

“This initiative ensures that a ���ϲ����� education remains within reach for every talented and driven student—regardless of financial circumstances,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “���ϲ����� has a long history of being a university welcoming to all. The ���ϲ����� Promise will continue this legacy for the next generation of students so the best and brightest students can choose to be Orange and thrive here.”

How the ���ϲ����� Promise Match Works

At the heart of The ���ϲ����� Promise is a transformative $10 million matching initiative that empowers donors to enhance their impact and deepen their commitment to student success. Fueled by two generous unrestricted estate gifts, ���ϲ����� will offer a 1:2 match for contributions supporting scholarship endowments. Eligible gifts include contributions of $100,000 or more that establish new endowed scholarships, and $50,000 or more to enhance and sustain existing ones. This forward-thinking program not only reinforces the University’s long-term dedication to access and affordability but also positions ���ϲ����� as a national leader in expanding student opportunity.

Meeting the Moment—and the Need

Today, 78% of ���ϲ����� students receive some form of financial aid. In recent years, the University has reduced the average student debt burden by more than 10%. To build on this progress and meet the financial and academic needs of today’s students, ���ϲ����� is increasing its commitment to growing and sustaining permanent funding sources in perpetuity. Tracy Barlok, senior vice president and chief advancement officer, says scholarships offer just that—lasting support that grows over time through investment and continued giving.

“This initiative is critically important because it allows us to attract and retain students who strengthen our academic excellence and elevate our entire community,” says Barlok. “We’re inviting our alumni and donors to be part of something transformational—to pay it forward to help future generations of students pursue a ���ϲ����� education and thrive—both as students and as future Orange alumni.”

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

Rebekah Lewis

“I am thrilled to begin the director position and look forward to collaborating with center staff and faculty affiliates to expand its crucial work,” says Lewis, who has more than 15 years of experience in health and higher education settings.

In her previous role at the Ottawa University Heart Institute, Lewis provided program evaluation and qualitative research expertise for a variety of women’s cardiovascular disease prevention projects at the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre. Her current evaluation research focuses on improving primary prevention of cardiovascular disease among high-risk women. She received a master of public health from Boston University School of Public Health in 2001.

“We are pleased to welcome Rebekah Lewis to the Lerner Center as its new director,” says , Lerner Chair in Public Health Promotion and Population Health, director of the and professor of sociology. “Rebekah brings a wealth of expertise in health education, program evaluation and research. Her forward-thinking orientation and ideas for program development align perfectly with the Lerner Center’s mission.”

The Lerner Center was established in 2011 with an endowment from Sidney Lerner ’53, a marketing executive and public health advocate, and his wife, Helaine. Its mission is to improve population and community health through research, education, advocacy and programming focused on the social and structural determinants of health and health disparities. It supports numerous programs, assistantships and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, including the popular DeStress for Success course, an undergraduate social impact competition and internships.

The center recently announced that it will host national Healthy Monday programming, a signature public health campaign that aims to reduce the risk of chronic disease by offering prompts about healthier habits. Hosting the national Healthy Monday campaign was made possible by an organizational restructuring and a $2.52 million gift to the Lerner Center and ���ϲ�����’s Forever Orange Campaign by Helaine Lerner in 2023.

Story by Michael Kelly

As a recognized student organization (RSO), University Union (UU) is the official programming board of ���ϲ����� university. Entirely student run, the RSO works to source and host campus entertainment, including Block Darty and Block Party.

“Serving as president this year has been one of the most rewarding experiences,” says Naimah Rahman ’25, University Union president. “The whole year leads up to Block Party and Block Darty, which feels like our Super Bowl. To be a part of a ���ϲ����� tradition that students look forward to every year is an immense honor. Our team works tirelessly all year to make sure we put on an event that the student body will resonate with. I am honored to lead an incredible team of people that make this happen!”

Block Darty

Activities on the Quad from 1-5 p.m. are free for ���ϲ����� and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) students. There will be food trucks, inflatables, activities and more.

“Our events are tailored for the students that come to them, so every activation, brand and activity has been thought out,” says Rhylee Hudson ’27, collaborations director of University Union. “Organizing Block Darty has been something amazing. I’ve never dreamed that I could’ve loved planning events this much. It is so rewarding to see people interested in our event and that makes the planning all worth it.”

Block Darty will also feature an outdoor concert with live music from artists Sun Room, Alex Vaughn and Padma.

“There aren’t many opportunities for college creatives to showcase their work on large scales,” says Emma Barbosa ’25, design director for Block Party and Block Darty. “Through these events, I’ve gotten the chance to see my work displayed throughout campus and it’s a gratifying feeling seeing the campus community interact with it.”

Block Party

The Block Party Concert lineup will be headlined by two-time Grammy nominated rapper Latto with support from Role Model.

Breakout Queen of Da Souf rapper Latto has been making a name for herself since she was 8 and hasn’t stopped since. In the past three years, the 24-year-old released her project Queen of Da Souf, her album 777 and loose singles while continuing to elevate and garner accolade after accolade. Big Latto’s ‘got that real big energy’ and shows no signs of stopping.

Role Model’s been in love. He was so in love he wrote his entire debut album, Rx, about it. But not all romances last forever, and the 27-year-old’s grieving of that same relationship is at the center of his sophomore album, Kansas Anymore. As rough as it was to ride that roller coaster of heartbreak and homesickness, Role Model feels these are the greatest songs he’s made yet.

Tickets are required and the JMA Wireless Dome opens at 7 p.m.

• ���ϲ����� and SUNY ESF: Tickets are $20 for students, faculty and staff with valid University I.D. and email address. Students can purchase a maximum of two tickets and at time of purchase they will be loaded on to their account.
• General Public: Tickets for the general public are on sale via . Tickets will start in the 200-level reserved area and continue to the 300-level if needed.

Tickets will also be available for purchase in the Box Office throughout the duration of the event on Friday, April 25, 2025.

For questions, or to request accommodations, contact University Union vice president, Enoca Shin ’25, at uuvicepresident@gmail.com by 5 p.m., on Wednesday, April 23, for Block Party and Thursday, April 24, for Block Darty.

The University has an abundance of disciplines that can relate to a career and technical education (CTE) pathway and provide a meaningful experience for an intern. If you think your team is a good fit for a summer intern, please reach out to Jake Losowski, the University’s associate director of community engagement, at jjlosow@syr.edu. The deadline to apply is May 1.

Intern Moo Loe Htoo worked at the SENSES Project last summer, where students can learn about music production, podcasting and more.

Now in its fifth year, the SU Summer Internship Program offers the opportunity for rising high school seniors from the SCSD’s CTE program or Say Yes scholarship programs to engage in a six-week work opportunity on campus to gain valuable hands-on experience working closely with University employees in their chosen field. The goal of the program is to give local students real-world job experience before their high school graduation. Summer internship experiences have led students to both higher education and the workplace, and interns have completed the program with a better understanding of what their future career might look like.

Having an SCSD summer intern working with you can also be rewarding for your team. “Although it’s important to expose young people to the opportunities that exist in our organization, it is equally important and fulfilling to provide our staff with the chance to feel valued and energized by impacting young people in a positive way,” says Mike Hartnett, patrol commander in the Department of Public Safety.

The University’s Office of Community Engagement works with the school district to align the experience with the students’ goals and interests. Summer interns come to campus well-equipped with knowledge and skills from the classroom as well as hands-on learning opportunities and are eager to learn from qualified professionals.

The CTE program works to empower all students to build technical, academic and professional leadership skills for college and career success. Students take courses in a specific CTE pathway that allows them to obtain work-based learning experiences and master skills that prepare them for employment or secondary education after finishing school. Some CTE programs that could align with opportunities on campus include:

The Summer Internship Program has had many successful internship placements throughout the course of the program, including the Barnes Center at the Arch (Health Professions learning pathway) the Department of Public Safety (Law Enforcement learning pathway) and Facilities Services (Construction Technology, Electrical Trades, Manufacturing and Welding learning pathways). These placement sites have been successful thanks to the employees working with the interns who have acted as career coaches, engaging with the students, guiding them through the experience and teaching them the skills of the job.

Summer interns from the Say Yes scholarship program have also had positive work experiences on campus; their positions are more general and range from administrative support to summer youth program counselors.

The annual 5K event features a and is a great opportunity to bond with your coworkers, enjoy some friendly competition and promote wellness among faculty and staff.

“In 2022 and 2023, ���ϲ����� earned the distinction of having the largest team at the event among the dozens of local companies that participate,” says Molly Morgan, associate director, of health and wellness for faculty and staff. “This year, we are looking to regain that title with an incredible showing of our faculty and staff. We encourage employees of all abilities and fitness levels to come out for an evening of fun, movement, socializing and meeting new people from across the University!”

Participants gather for a group photo at the 2024 ���ϲ����� WorkForce Run.

Registration Details

• Fee: $21.50 (the University subsidizes the remaining fee)
• Deadline to join the team: Tuesday, May 6
• Includes: Unisex performance-blend ���ϲ����� team T-shirt, official race T-shirt and a complimentary Mediterranean buffet
• Link:

T-shirt/Bib Pick-Up

• Monday, June 9, from 2 to 5 p.m., 621 Skytop Road, Suite 1112
• Tuesday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to noon, 228 Schine Student Center

Help Spread the Word!

To help recruit additional colleagues from your office or department, download and print this year’s WorkForce Run flyer [PDF] and hang it around your workspace.

The ���ϲ����� WorkForce Run is for of the University; however friends and family are welcome to join by registering as an individual participant, paying the full race fee of $55 and picking up their own race packet.

Parking is available at NBT Bank Stadium and shuttle bus service is provided. The has detailed parking information and answers to frequently asked questions.

The event is also a fundraiser, with this year’s event benefiting , a nonprofit that provides a temporary home for families with seriously ill children who travel to the region for medical care.

To learn more, visit the or email wellness@syr.edu with any questions.

Ryan Monarch

The Moynihan Award is given annually in recognition of an outstanding record of teaching, research and service. It was established eponymously in 1985 by then-U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who was also a former member of Maxwell’s junior faculty from 1959 to 1961.

Monarch joined Maxwell in August 2021 after serving as principal economist for the international finance division of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2021. He received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan in 2014.

Monarch studies U.S.-China trade, buyer-supplier relationships in international trade and how the recent tariff war affects U.S. exports and supply chains. His research has been published in the Journal of International Economics–the top journal in international economics–and multiple other top-tier economics journals, such as the Review of Economics and Statistics, the Journal of the European Economic Association and American Economics Journal: Applied Economics. He has also written numerous policy reports. His work has been sponsored by the National Bureau of Economic Research and has been cited by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Economist and Reuters.

In recent months, Monarch has been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, the South China Morning Post, the New York Post, Spectrum TV, National Public Radio, The Motley Fool and other outlets for his expertise on ongoing events in international trade policy, and he served as a panelist for the Maxwell School event “Trump’s Tariffs: Issues and Implications” held on April 9.

The Moynihan Award recipient was chosen by a committee of faculty comprised of Leonard Lopoo, Andrew Cohen and Emily Thorson. In a nomination letter submitted by Lopoo, they noted that Monarch is “an expert in international trade” who has “made important contributions to the ‘buyer-supplier matching’ topic.”

“His course evaluations are outstanding,” wrote Lopoo, associate dean, chair and professor of public administration and international affairs. “Students frequently commented on how Professor Monarch makes complicated topics easy to understand” and enjoyable to learn.”

Lopoo also noted Monarch’s “important service to the Maxwell School,” serving on the international trade search committee and serving as director of the Trade, Development and Political Economy Workshop.

This story was written by Michael Kelly

Tyler Gentry ’25 (right), who received funds from the Internship Funding Award, and a coworker in the Vevo office space in Los Angeles

Annually, offers the Internship Funding Award, which provides financial assistance to ���ϲ����� sophomores and juniors throughout summer internship experiences. The award covers the cost of credit or travel and living expenses. Internships can be either paid or unpaid for students to be eligible to receive the award. Other eligibility requirements include the following.

• The applicant has not previously received the Internship Funding Award.
• The internship is an external summer position.
• The internship is supervised by a professional who can help the student explore opportunities that link theory with practice in the field of the student’s interest.
• The applicant’s profile is updated and complete.

Applications for the Internship Funding Award are due June 10, 2025. The following highlighted students received the Internship Funding Award in 2024.

Making Global Connections

Gabrielle Harrison ’25 spent her summer as a consumer public relations intern at FINN Partners in London, England. In this position, Harrison was immersed in the PR world and worked on projects for clients around the world. “I had the chance to contribute to meaningful campaigns, from media relations to event planning, and learned a great deal about the industry from my incredibly talented colleagues on the consumer team,” says Harrison.

The FINN Partners office in London (Photo by Gabrielle Harrison ’25)

Harrison says that future applicants should be thorough and specific about how they would benefit from the award. “Preparation is essential, so take time to craft a compelling narrative that showcases your passion and how this experience will benefit both you and your community.”

Contributing to the Entertainment Industry

Tyler Gentry ’25 spent his summer in Los Angeles, California, as a music and talent intern at Vevo. The Internship Funding Award allowed him to experience the city and work with leading artists in the music industry. “My internship gave me the opportunity to create studio performance videos for artists such as Dasha, The Warning, Wolftyla, Chanel Tres and many more!”

Gentry says that it was a difficult process to figure out the financial logistics of his internship, but he says it’s important for students to stay determined. “Be passionate about what you want and how you will obtain it. My passion and determination helped me stay focused on creating a realistic plan for me to make the internship happen,” says Gentry.

Securing Jobs Post-Graduation

Through the support of the Internship Funding Award, Madison Deak ’25 interned last summer at Goldman Sachs Ayco in Cohoes, New York. Her experience included networking opportunities with financial professionals and immersion in the world of wealth management. “After an amazing summer I’m excited to be returning full-time to Goldmans Family Office post-grad,” says Deak.

Deak says an essential part of finding an internship is to stay open-minded; it took her over a year after she started applying to land an offer. “As long as you’re doing the right things: applying, interviewing and continuing to be involved in your academics, you will find something. It may just take time. You will end up where you’re meant to be.”

For complete information and application details, visit the on the Career Services website. Contact Erin Smith at ejsmit06@syr.edu with any questions.

Story by Student Experience communications intern Chloe Langerman ’25, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

Long lines of families turned out for support and shared their heartbreaking stories of evacuations and lost homes. Amid the sorrowful scene, Aga recalls watching a group of children playing tag and laughing in the parking lot while their mother waited in line for food and other provisions.

“It was just such a human moment in such a tragic, apocalyptic scenario that it just really struck me that this is something people are going to have to deal with for years, and it’s real people just trying to get through it,” says Aga, who has worked as a field representative in Chu’s Pasadena office for three years.

On the first day of the Eaton fire, Jan. 7, Aga fielded calls from residents who had evacuated, who had lost their homes, and who couldn’t find family members. Some had lost loved ones in the flames. Chu’s district, which covers most of northeastern Los Angeles county and serves nearly 750,000 residents, was heavily impacted by the Eaton Fire; it destroyed nearly 9,500 structures, scorched over 14,000 acres and claimed 17 lives before it was fully contained.

Maxwell alumnus Zayn Aga (pictured center, wearing a tie) is shown with colleagues during a visit to fire-ravaged Altadena, California, by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (left) and other lawmakers.

Aga was part of a team advocating for federal aid to support the affected community. They also assisted residents in receiving medical equipment and in recovering lost mail and other critical documents.

“It’s our job and our responsibility to make government work for people,” Aga says, adding that he strives to “make government work for somebody just a little bit better and be a little bit more accessible.”

Aga said he finds purpose in making a difference in small, meaningful ways. Despite evacuating his own home, he gathered supplies and drove across the city, visiting four different centers in search of one still accepting donations. One day he rounded up a lost dog and located its worried owner who had been searching since the fires.

“Helping people in a crisis, and exercising initiative and going the extra mile even when his own safety and property are being threatened, sounds so much like Zayn,” says , professor of political science. “He’s the complete Maxwell package—empathy, dedication to service and determination to improve government. I’m very proud of him.”

Aga says his Maxwell schooling helped prepare him to support others in times of need, reinforcing the importance of solving problems one step at a time. He said he gained especially valuable experience interning for U.S. Sen. Charles “Chuck” Schumer and U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi.

“At its core, this was all just people doing their best and trying to be there for one another,” says Aga of his experience.

Story by Mikayla Melo

Lauren Woodard

, assistant professor of anthropology, has received the Spring 2025 Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) First Book Subvention for her upcoming book on Russia’s migration policies on the Russia-China border.

Woodard’s book is titled “Ambiguous Inclusion: Migration and Race on the Russia-China Border” (University of Toronto Press, 2026). It draws on her 17 months of ethnographic fieldwork, including interviews and immersive participant observation in Moscow and Vladivostok, Russia, and Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 2014-17.

Further, it explores how those who immigrate to Russia through its Resettlement of Compatriots Program experience challenges adapting to life in the country, despite receiving expedited citizenship and state benefits. Migrants’ uneasiness, she argues, reflects racial hierarchies that are shaped by complex configurations of ethnicity, language and culture.

The ASEEES is a nonprofit scholarly society that supports teaching, research and publishing about Central Asia, the Caucasus, Russia and Eastern Europe. It hosts an annual convention, book prizes and the Slavic Review—the leading peer-reviewed journal in the field. The first book subvention prize is awarded twice annually to three winners for individually authored books.

Woodard’s research has been supported by the Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fellowship, Fulbright research grants to Russia and Kazakhstan, and the Social Science Research Council. She was also awarded the Title VIII Research Scholar fellowship by the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., in 2022 for her research on migration, race and belonging in Russia’s Far East. She received the International Relations Teaching Award for the 2022-23 academic year, which recognizes excellence in teaching and contributions to the international relations undergraduate program.

Woodard is a senior research associate in the Center for European Studies. She teaches courses on political anthropology, Eastern Europe, anthropological theory and global encounters.

Story by Michael Kelly

Graduate by Hilton is a lifestyle brand made up of 35 hand-crafted hotels that reside in dynamic, university-anchored towns across the U.S. and U.K. Each hotel is created with a focus on local history and nostalgia—from the design touchpoints to the culinary experiences—capturing the unique spirit of each university and reflecting the cultures and traditions of the communities they are located within.

“Graduate is an ideal partner in helping us bring to life a distinctive and dynamic space that authentically represents the ���ϲ����� experience,” says Brett Padgett, senior vice president and chief financial officer. “This collaboration will create a vibrant hub for both our campus and the broader ���ϲ����� community, offering a welcoming destination during key moments like Orange game days, reunions, graduations, campus visits and beyond. We’re thrilled to work together to build a space that reflects the unique spirit and character of ���ϲ�����.”

“���ϲ����� is the perfect partner as we continue the Graduate tradition of delivering collegiate-inspired hospitality to vibrant academic communities,” says Kevin Osterhaus, president, global lifestyle brands, Hilton. “Like the University, Graduate values lifelong learning and connection, and we are confident this hotel will become a beloved destination for visitors, locals and fans alike.”

The planned hotel will feature approximately 200 rooms, on-site parking, a full-service, three-meal restaurant and event space. A rooftop bar and lounge will offer stunning views of campus, creating a space for both hotel guests and members of the Central New York community to gather. The new hotel will be situated across from the University Avenue Garage, at the corner of University Avenue and Harrison Street.

“We are excited about the potential of this new hotel to enhance the overall experience for our campus community while providing a much-needed venue for visitors and events in the area,” says John Papazoglou, senior vice president and chief operations officer. “This development highlights how ���ϲ����� is advancing its strategic goals while contributing to the vibrancy of the City of ���ϲ����� and Onondaga County.”

The University has engaged The Hardy Group to serve as project manager, with DLR Group selected as designer and LeChase serving as construction manager. The University is in the process of selecting a third-party operator for the hotel.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Graduate by Hilton

is a lifestyle brand of hand-crafted hotels that reside in dynamic university-anchored towns in the United States and United Kingdom. Each hotel brings stories and traditions to life through one-of-a-kind experiences, which authentically reflect the unique spirit of each community they are located within. Founded in 2014 by Adventurous Journeys (“AJ”) Capital Partners and acquired by Hilton in 2024, Graduate’s portfolio consists of 35 open hotels across the US and UK. Learn more about Graduate by Hilton at and follow the brand on .

A master’s student in in the , he was the 2024 honorable mention for SNM’s Brian Israel/Sam Pellman Award.

Rolando Gomez

Gómez’s woodwind quintet, , will share the program with two string quartets: Orientalism, by Sami Seif, the 2024 winner of the Israel/Pellman Award, and Bodensee, by Maxim Dybal-Denysenko, the 2024 recipient of SNM’s New York State Federation of Music Clubs/Brian Israel Prize. All three composers will be on hand to introduce their pieces.

Both SNM awards recognize promising New York state composers studying for or embarking on professional music careers.

Tickets are $20 (general admission) and $15 (students and seniors). Students who are 18 years old and younger are free with valid college ID. For tickets and more information, visit SNM’s .

SNM Managing Director Carole Brzozowski ’81 says the concert has grown into a local springtime tradition. “It’s a celebration of emerging talent,” continues the former dean of the (VPA), in which the Setnor School is housed. “The Society for New Music is proud to take a leadership role in identifying and nurturing young, innovative composers.”

Capturing the Spirit��

The Juicy Kandy quintet premiered Sit and Play at the 2023 Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival at The Juilliard School. The performance marked Gómez’s New York City compositional debut.

Collaborating with world-class musicians exposed the Miami, Florida, native to innovative writing techniques. It also inspired him to capture the performers’ personalities in his music.

“Sit and Play is a virtuosic work that reflects my love for jazz, especially bebop,” says Gómez, who graduated from Oberlin Conservatory weeks before the premiere.

Conceived as a theme and variations, Sit and Play evolved into a suite of four contrasting character pieces. The music abounds in shared motives, syncopated grooves and polyphonic textures.

Gómez says the name of the piece is “playful and self-referential,” a nod to the way that jazz and Latine composers use titles to acknowledge the act of music making. “Sit and Play reflects the spirit of the music … and invites musicians to engage with the piece in a direct, intuitive way.”

The 10-minute work has four distinct movements: Jab and Stab, a syncopated exchange between oboe and the rest of the ensemble; Breathe and Sing, a melancholic bassoon solo dedicated to Gómez’s first music teacher—his father; Cut and Paste, a technical tour de force for French horn; and Riff and Run, a vibrant scherzo for flute recalling some of the piece’s earlier themes.

“Working with the Society for New Music is incredibly meaningful,” says Gómez, who recently presented the suite on his master’s recital. “SNM strengthens connections between the University and the professional word, allowing students like me to engage with performers and other composers at the highest level.”

Sit and Play is performed by Kate O’ Leary ’26, flute; Sydney Kincaid ’27, oboe; John Giordano ’26, clarinet; Lily Carpinone ’26, bassoon; and Ryan Hill ’27, French horn.

Expanding His Vocabulary

Gómez was in high school when he began scoring music for video games. A self-taught composer, he enrolled at Oberlin, majoring in composition and minoring in technology in music and related arts.

Working at ���ϲ����� with Natalie Draper—another SNM favorite who is an assistant professor of theory and composition in the Setnor School—has enabled Gómez to expand his musical vocabulary.

“It’s a fusion of traditional and modern styles,” says Brzozowski, noting Gómez’s modernist approach to American and Cuban forms.

Genre-blending is apparent in the program’s other works. Seif’s Orientalism is a meditation on identity and the passage of time, inspired by Edward Said’s landmark book. In turn, Dybal-Denysenko’s Bodensee is named for the lake near his family home in Austria—the same body of water that inspired composer Robert Schumann some 170 years earlier.

Seif is a doctoral fellow at the CUNY Graduate Center; Dybal-Denysenko, a 2024 graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Juilliard student Yuxuan Lin also is a 2024 Israel/Pellman honorable mention. Her entry—Can’t let it go, when it returns for solo cello—is slated for a future SNM program.

Brian Israel taught in the Setnor School from 1975 until his death in 1986. He was a prolific composer, conductor and pianist who befriended SNM co-founder Neva Pilgrim.

Sam Pellman was a Hamilton College music professor who served on the SNM board and chaired SNM’s Israel prize competition until his death in 2017.

Pilgrim was a one-time VPA professor and longtime community partner who died last year. In 1971, she helped found SNM, which has performed and commissioned a formidable body of work by up-and-coming composers. It is the only year-round new music organization in the region and is the oldest nonprofit of its kind in the state, outside of New York City.

Join Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness at the 6th annual on Friday, April 25, at 2 p.m. in the School of Education Commons in Huntington Hall. The celebration is open to the public.

The event will recognize and celebrate faculty and staff for their efforts to examine and enhance student learning and operational success. Awards will be given in five categories:

• Assessment Champion, recognizing campus community members who advocate for meaningful assessment to enrich the student learning experience and operational effectiveness.
• Outstanding Assessment, recognizing a distinguished academic program, co-curricular program/unit and functional unit for a robust assessment and action planning to support decision-making.
• Best Engagement Strategies, recognizing programs/units for engaging faculty, staff and students in the assessment process.
• Best Use of Results, recognizing an academic program, co-curricular program/unit and functional unit for using assessment results to inform decision-making.
• Collaborative Inquiry and Action, recognizing a program/unit that collaborates with others outside of their primary school/college/division to use the assessment process to enhance student learning and campus operations.

Posters highlighting the work of 2024 Assessment Leadership Institute participants and 2024-25 recipients of the Student Engagement in Assessment grant will also be showcased.

Light refreshments will be served. today!

The Hall of Languages lit up in teal for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“Commemorating Sexual Assault Awareness Month on college campuses is essential to raising awareness, supporting survivors and fostering a culture of prevention,” says Leslie Skeffington, Barnes Center at The Arch assistant director for sexual and relationship violence prevention. “Our events are designed to build community among survivors and allies, offering spaces for connection, healing and solidarity as students navigate the final stretch of the semester.”

Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2025

Those seeking to show solidarity and support, alongside survivors, at any stage of their healing journey are invited to participate in Sexual Assault Awareness Month events. Visit the ��for a complete list of events and details.

Take Back The Night 2025

Each year, the University recognizes and participates in Take Back The Night, a global event that brings community members together to speak out about sexual violence, relationship violence and other forms of interpersonal violence. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, April 10, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in the Panasci Lounge at the Schine Student Center.

“This year’s Take Back The Night continues the work of reimagining and recentering students in this long-standing annual event. We have a great group of students planning the event and have received strong support from the Student Association, fraternity and sorority organizations and registered student organizations on campus,” says Virginia Evans, Barnes Center at The Arch staff therapist and sexual and relationship violence coordinator.

“Highlights of this year’s event include student performances, a fashion show, community art projects and a Survivor Speak Out. We will close the evening with a collective healing activity. We look forward to honoring survivorship with our entire campus community on April 10, during Take Back The Night!” Evans says.

For more information or to request accommodations, please call the Barnes Center at The Arch at 315.443.8000 or email��BarnesCenter@syr.edu.

Charles W. Beach

Shortly after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of Arts and Sciences, Charles W. Beach launched a firm representing manufacturers and helped a start-up company become a world class leader in opto-electronic components. Eventually, grew into a leader among manufacturers’ representatives, offering high technology component solutions and quality service throughout the Northeast. Long after Beach himself retired, the company remains family-owned and operated, in Jamesville, New York, with his son David at the helm.

Beach, who died on Feb. 22, 2025, at the age of 88, served his alma mater on the Board of Trustees as a voting trustee from 1991 to 2007 and remained active as a life trustee on the board’s Academic Affairs Committee. He also supported the University and its students philanthropically, including initiatives in the athletics department, and an endowed scholarship in the name of his parents, Arthur and Norma, both of whom were ���ϲ����� graduates. Like their son, Arthur Beach 1917 and Norma Vergason Beach 1925 earned degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences.

While building his business in the 1960s, Beach returned to ���ϲ����� to pursue a master’s degree in education in the School of Education. He continued to live in ���ϲ����� and commute to Rochester to support Kodak and Xerox with various electronic components.

“Through his service and philanthropy, Charlie demonstrated his enduring support of higher education and ���ϲ�����,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “He built a company grounded in innovation and service, demonstrating the value of relationships, integrity, and ingenuity.”

Beach remained devoted to the greater ���ϲ����� region in his civic work and volunteerism. He was a founding member of InterFaith Works of ���ϲ�����, where he served as board president, and was also past president of the United Methodist Foundation Inc. and the Vera House Foundation, and past president of the boards of Elmcrest Children’s Center and ���ϲ����� Rotary.

The city he loved honored him in return. The Post-Standard honored him with a Person of Achievement award in 2003 for his “volunteer leadership and monetary contributions to a long list of Central New York’s social service, educational and cultural institutions over the decades.” Temple Adath Yeshurun honored Beach with a Citizen of the Year award in 2010. In 1991, he was named philanthropist of the year by the Central New York chapter of the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives.

Beach’s commitment to service and inclination toward leadership began early in life. He was elected class president at Nottingham High School after serving in that position at his elementary school, the Charles Andrews School. He pursued his passion for baseball in high school but, according to his family, his dream of playing professionally was dashed when he contracted polio in his pitching arm and shoulder.

Beach is survived by three children, Karen, Marilyn and David, along with seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Haowei Wang

Wang’s research focuses on understanding the social determinants of healthy aging in a global context. In particular, she investigates the transformation of family networks, how multiple dimensions of family relationships impact well-being and caregiving in later life, and how demographic shifts and social policies shape physical and mental health across the life course.

The APC Fellowship program is designed to help early-career population researchers network, increase their profile and develop skills for disseminating research. Fellows are invited to give a talk at an APC research center, present at an APC virtual event and receive support in preparing a policy brief. Founded in 1991, the APC is an independent group of over 40 research institutions in the U.S. that brings together scholars across disciplines to educate policymakers and collaborate on research related to demographics and population change.

“Professor Wang is doing important policy-relevant work on healthy aging and family structures that impact not just individuals but whole communities,” says Shana Kushner Gadarian, associate dean for research. “We are so happy to see this recognition of her research and her strong trajectory.”

Wang is a research affiliate at the Center for Aging and Policy Studies, a faculty associate at the Aging Studies Institute and a research affiliate at the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health. Her areas of expertise are in social gerontology, family demography, aging and population health. She has contributed to many articles in interdisciplinary journals on topics including population aging, health disparities, family structure changes, intergenerational relationships, and COVID-19 experiences among middle-aged and older adults.

Story by Michael Kelly

The One University Awards Ceremony, an annual event to honor members of the ���ϲ����� community who are making a difference through academics, scholarship, creative work and dedicated service, will be held Friday, April 11, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

“The One University Awards are one of the great traditions at ���ϲ�����,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “This ceremony highlights the incredible accomplishments, scholarship, and innovation of our students, faculty, staff, and community. Every year I look forward to celebrating the talented and dedicated people who come together to make this a great university.”

Two major awards—the Chancellor’s Medal and the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence—will be bestowed. The ceremony will also include the presentation of the Student-Athlete Award, Judith Seinfeld Scholarship, Meredith Professorship for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Recognition Award, Enduring Values Award, William Pearson Tolley Medal for Distinguished Leadership in Lifelong Learning and Chancellor’s Forever Orange Award.

and ��will also be recognized. This year’s��University Scholars,��, and��Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars��will also be honored.

All members of the University community are invited and encouraged to attend. A reception will follow in the lobby of the Heroy Geology Laboratory building.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided at the ceremony. For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations, contact Major Events at��majorevents@syr.edu.

Award Recipients��

The��Chancellor’s Medal��is the University’s highest honor and is awarded to individuals in honor of their trailblazing and extraordinary contributions to the University, to an academic body of knowledge or to society.

This year’s recipients are Cydney Johnson, deputy county executive for physical services for Onondaga County and ���ϲ�����’s former vice president for community engagement and government relations, and , Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of policy studies in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

The��Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence��recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions in four overarching categories:

• The award for��Excellence in Student Research��recognizes students who have engaged in collaborative research that has the potential to make a deep and lasting impact on greater society. This year’s recipients are Qingyang Liu, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics (graduate), and Abigail Greenfield, a history major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a political philosophy major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program (undergraduate).
• The award for��Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives��acknowledges faculty and staff who, through their work, enhance the undergraduate experience for students or make invaluable contributions to supporting and advancing the University’s mission and goals. The recipients are��, associate teaching professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (faculty);��, assistant dean for undergraduate programs in the Whitman School of Management (professional staff); , director of international student success in the College of Arts and Sciences (professional staff) and��Emma Karp, operations assistant in Campus Dining and Catering (support staff).
• The��Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction��award is intended for faculty members who are collaborators in work of intellectual richness that has the potential for future impact. The work of these nominees offers possibilities for collaboration within the University and outside in partnership with others. This year’s honorees are��, professor of teaching and leadership and director of the Center for Experiential Pedagogy and Practice in the School of Education, and��, professor and chair of biomedical and chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
• Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence, Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors those who have made extraordinary contributions toward advancing all four pillars of excellence over the arc of their careers while at ���ϲ����� and beyond. This year’s recipient is��, professor and program coordinator for theater management in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

The other awards to be presented are:

The��Student-Athlete Award��recognizes the top female and top male student athletes and are presented to the senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average over the course of their academic and athletic careers. This year’s recipients are Jordan Beck, a finance major in the Whitman School of Management and a member of the men’s lacrosse team, Charlotte Ebel, majoring in public relations in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and German language, literature and culture and women’s and gender studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the women’s rowing team, and Emma Klein, a chemical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and a member of the women’s soccer team.

Seinfeld Scholarship: Each year ���ϲ����� honors the talents of outstanding faculty or students through an��, a distinguished alumna and member of the University Board of Trustees. Awards are made to those who have been determined by their peers to have made outstanding contributions to the beauty of the world, to have added to human values and to ending human abuse anywhere in the world, and to have demonstrated passion for excellence, creativity and originality in academic or artistic fields. This year, the designation is bestowed upon Claire Ceccoli, a senior public relations major in the Newhouse School, and Elizabeth Paulin, a senior sociology major in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences.

The��Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professorships for Teaching Excellence��were created in 1995 to recognize and reward outstanding teaching among faculty. The 2025-28 Meredith Professors are , associate professor in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and��, professor and associate dean of human dynamics in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. The 2022-2025 Meredith Professors, Julie Hasenwinkel and Lauryn Gouldin, will also be recognized. In 2001, the Meredith Professorship Program was expanded to recognize teaching excellence by non-tenured faculty and adjunct and part-time instructors. Awards are given in two categories:��Early Performance��and��Continuing Excellence. This year’s honorees in the Early Performance category are��, associate teaching professor of biochemistry and director of undergraduate program in the College of Arts and Sciences;��, assistant teaching professor of political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs;��, Kenneth and Mary Ann Shaw Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurial Leadership in the College of Engineering and Computer Science;��, assistant professor of public relations in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; , assistant professor in the School of Information Studies; and��, associate professor of law in the College of Law. The two honorees in the Continuing Excellence category are��, teaching professor and associate dean of students in the College of Law, and��, associate teaching professor of writing studies, rhetoric, and composition in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The��Enduring Values Award recognizes an individual who is integral in helping us achieve academic excellence at a university that is welcoming to all. This year’s recipient is Craig Tucker, director of Higher Education Opportunity Program and Trio Student Support Services programs.

The��William Pearson Tolley Medal for Distinguished Leadership in Lifelong Learning��is based in the School of Education and honors national or international leadership in support of lifelong learning. This year’s recipient is , founder and president of H.G. Adams & Associates Inc., and an alumnus of the School of Education.

The��Chancellor’s Forever Orange Award��recognizes individual students, faculty or staff who—by virtue of extraordinary hard work, good values and commitment to excellence—have come to embody the best of ���ϲ�����. This year’s recipient is��, founding director of the Shaw Center for Public and Community Service.

The afternoon begins with the Voices of Service Poster Event, taking place from 12:30 to 3 p.m. in the Bisignano Grand Hall. Organized by Academic Affairs and the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), the event showcases research projects, curricular initiatives and community-based efforts led by ���ϲ����� students, faculty, staff and partners. From veteran-centered education programs to collaborative outreach initiatives, the event offers a glimpse into the diverse ways the university supports military-connected populations.

Brief remarks will be delivered at 12:45 p.m.��and attendees are encouraged to engage with presenters to learn more about ongoing and future projects. The event is open to all and aims to foster new collaborations across disciplines and departments.

Those planning to attend the poster event are asked to .

Following the poster session, attention turns to the K.G. Tan Auditorium for the next installment of the D’Aniello Speaker Series, beginning at 3 p.m.

This edition features a keynote from retired U.S. Air Force Col. Martha McSally, who is among the first women combat pilots in the U.S. military, and a former U.S. senator and representative. McSally, who served in Congress from 2015 to 2020, will share personal insights on facing adversity, leading with courage, and breaking down barriers in both military and political arenas.

Her talk, “Be Unbreakable,” promises to deliver an inspiring narrative of resilience and determination—hallmarks of McSally’s trailblazing career. A reception will follow back in the Grand Hall.

To attend the speaker series, .

Together, these events reflect ���ϲ�����’s ongoing mission to be the best place for veterans—on campus, in the community and across the country.

Carmelo Anthony (Photo by N. Scott Trimble)

Carmelo Anthony, one of ���ϲ�����’s most prolific former student-athletes, will deliver the address on Sunday, May 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the JMA Wireless Dome. Anthony’s return to campus is especially profound as his son, Kiyan Anthony, will soon wear the Orange jersey, following in his father’s footsteps as a member of the Orange men’s basketball program.

The basketball legend and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 finalist played one season for the Orange men’s basketball program helping to lead the team to its first NCAA Championship in a thrilling victory over the Kansas Jayhawks. For his stunning performance, he was named the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four Most Outstanding Player. After ���ϲ�����, he went on to play 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association, earning accolades such as 10-time NBA All-Star and six-time All-NBA Team member. The four-time Olympian for U.S. basketball won three Olympic gold medals and a bronze medal. Beyond his time on the court, Anthony is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and media personality with his podcast “7PM in Brooklyn.”

“Carmelo Anthony played a pivotal role in one of the most storied moments in ���ϲ����� history,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “His exceptional talent, relentless work ethic and athletic excellence are matched by his unwavering commitment to giving back, especially in creating opportunities for young people and aspiring student-athletes. We are honored to welcome Carmelo back to campus to inspire and share his journey with our graduates, their families and the entire University community at this year’s Commencement ceremony.”

“I’m excited to be returning to the Dome to celebrate the amazing achievements of these graduates,” says Carmelo Anthony. “This is a full-circle moment, and serves as a powerful reminder of how education, resilience and a supportive community can empower you to achieve your dreams. Go Orange!”

A top high school recruit with an already impressive talent, he quickly became a standout player at ���ϲ�����. Anthony was a consensus All-American, averaging 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game, helping lead ���ϲ����� to a 30-5 overall record. He was honored as National Freshman of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association, Basketball Times, Sporting News and ESPN.com. He was a unanimous selection for Big East Conference Freshman of the Year and was Big East Conference Rookie of the Week a record 10 times, among other accolades.

With his history-making year at ���ϲ�����, it did not take long for NBA teams to recognize his immense potential. He declared for the 2003 NBA Draft and was selected as the third overall pick by the Denver Nuggets. His prowess and talent set him up as one of the league’s premier scorers. During his time with the Nuggets (2003–2011), he consistently led the team to the playoffs and achieved numerous accolades. In 2011, he was traded to the New York Knicks, where his abilities continued to raise the bar, scoring a career-high 62 points in a single game, a record for both the Knicks and Madison Square Garden.

His career continued with playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers. Over 19 seasons in the NBA, he earned 10 All-Star selections, a scoring title in 2013 and a place on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. His NBA legacy has been solidified as a fan favorite and with his scoring abilities—ranking among the top 10 all-time leading scorers in the NBA.

On the international stage, Anthony’s popularity went global as a four-time Olympian. Anthony joined United States basketball, winning three Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012, 2016) and one bronze (2004).

Off the court, Anthony has continuously given back to provide opportunities for the next generation. Along with his support of youth and family programs and community initiatives, Anthony made a lead gift that kick-started the construction of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center, which was completed in time for the 2009-10 NCAA season. The 54,000-square foot state-of-the-art facility features two full-practice courts, a strength and conditioning room, state-of-the art athletic training suite, offices for both coaching staffs, and complete locker room facilities.

In 2017, Anthony received the Chancellor’s Medal for Philanthropy, which is awarded to individuals in honor of their extraordinary contributions to the University, to their areas of expertise and/or to the community.

Anthony, who retired from the NBA in 2023, has ventured into several entrepreneurial projects. These include the launch of his global estate brand, VII(N) The Seventh Estate; his lifestyle brand STAYME7O, which celebrates his well-known mantra and mindset; and his global, multi-platform content company Creative 7. In his latest project with Creative 7, he executive produces and co-hosts “7pm in Brooklyn,” a top-charting digital series surrounding all things hoops and culture.

This year is the 52nd anniversary of this program, organized by CNY Arts, and faculty and staff are invited to showcase their talents along with other employers and businesses in the region.

All eligible artwork submitted will be displayed on campus at Bird Library in a special exhibition titled “On My Own Time–Celebrating the Artistic Talents of ���ϲ����� Faculty and Staff.” The exhibition will run from May 30-June 12 during library hours.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to support their colleagues by visiting the exhibition and casting a ballot for their favorite piece to win the People’s Choice Award. Also, during the on-campus exhibition, a selection panel of adjudicators—including a CNY Arts representative—will select pieces for an “On My Own Time Grand Finale” exhibition. The finale is a five-week exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art from Oct. 4-Nov. 9 and will include a reception for artists, University colleagues, family and friends on Oct. 9. Tickets to the finale are available starting in September at .

Eligibility for Participation

All active full-time and part-time faculty and staff are eligible to submit artwork for adjudication. Fine arts faculty and professional artists are eligible to submit works outside of their discipline.

Criteria for Submission of Artists’ Work

• All artwork submitted must be��original creations. Copies of published work or craft kits will not be accepted.
• All artwork must have been��completed within three years of entry.
• Artwork must be��finished and display-ready, to include mounting hardware (if applicable). Please submit display instructions or materials as necessary.
• Each faculty or staff member may��submit up to three pieces for the exhibition.

Submission categories include:

• Painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor)
• Metalwork
• Drawing (pen, pencil, ink, charcoal)
• Jewelry
• Collage/assemblage
• Printmaking
• Computer art
• Photography (color or black-and-white)
• Woodwork
• Glasswork
• Sculpture
• Mixed media
• Ceramics
• Fiber art

Registration and Submission Instructions

All artists must register with their intent to participate by��May 9��by completing a��. Artwork submissions must be delivered to Human Resources by May 28 or directly to Bird Library on May 29. Additional details will be shared upon registration. Artists are responsible for delivering and collecting artwork on schedule.

If you have questions or would like to volunteer to assist with the exhibit at Bird Library, email��OMOT@syr.edu.

A pilot study of a post-stroke population by researchers from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders revealed some potential benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on attention and fatigue. Study findings were published in .

Researchers worked with 10 stroke survivors (average age: 62.8) participating in two sessions spaced at least three days apart. They were all diagnosed with post-stroke aphasia, a language disorder that results from a stroke injury.

Each session began with an attention test as researchers recorded brain activity through electroencephalography and tracked pupil size. Participants received an attention-training exercise with either real tDCS or a placebo version. Afterward, they repeated the initial attention test.

Hannah Rembrandt

“If you can find a way to improve their attention, it can help other areas of their life,” says Hannah Rembrandt, first co-author and Ph.D. student in the , directed by��, associate professor and principal investigator of the study.

Understanding post-stroke attention is crucial because it is a foundation of executive functioning, which includes memory, language and planning.

The ���ϲ����� study, however, yielded mixed results. The participants who received real tDCS showed significantly larger pupil dilation, which could be expected to correlate with improved attention. Pupil dilation reveals the activation of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine pathway, a brain system involved in attention. Researchers wanted to learn if pupil dilation measurements could be a physiological marker for assessing its effectiveness.

Yet the actual treatment did not benefit patients in measurable attention tests.

“We hypothesize that attention did not improve because there were too few sessions of the treatment,” says Rembrandt. “Other research has suggested that it is more effective when you use it for multiple sessions.”

A Transcranial direct current stimulation device.

An intriguing finding is when participants received the real stimulation, they felt less fatigued after the attention test than when they received the placebo. The study suggests that tDCS might help reduce fatigue by affecting specific brain pathways. The participants rated their general level of fatigue on a scale of zero to 100 at the beginning and the end of the session.

“If you do a lot of mental activity, we’d expect fatigue to increase,” says Rembrandt. “That tDCS mediated an increase shows a lot of promise to help combat fatigue.”

Rembrandt says more studies are needed to determine whether the treatment could serve as a reliable tool for post-stroke cognitive rehabilitation.

“This is a step forward into understanding exactly how this treatment has been able to help people, and we are looking forward to continuing this work and learning more,” says Rembrandt.

Story by John H. Tibbetts

A warmer future could lead to less salty rivers by reducing the need for road salting. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

The chemistry of U.S. rivers is changing—and will change further in complex ways in different regions of the country. Scientists are exploring ways to predict future changes in watershed chemistry, which could improve managing them for climate change and community health.

University researchers are combining traditional geochemistry with artificial intelligence to predict how alkalinity—a measure of a solution’s ability to neutralize acids—and salts in rivers around the country could be affected by further climate warming and population growth, according to a study published in .

Tao Wen

The research team was led by��, assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Wen also directs the��Hydrogeochemistry��And eNvironmental��Data��Sciences (HANDS) and��Noble Gases in��Earth��Systems��Tracing (NEST) research laboratories.

An excess of salt can make water undrinkable, increase the cost of treating water and harm freshwater fish and wildlife.

Past research shows that as salt levels in U.S. rivers have gone up, these waters have also become more alkaline, which can damage water, wastewater treatment and aquatic life. Increased alkalinity is occurring because of rising temperatures and more rainfall. Human activities, such as more people living in certain areas, might also contribute to it.

Yet alkalinity is also beneficial. When river waters are more alkaline, they help draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and limit climate warming over time. However, before rivers can be harnessed for this purpose, researchers must first understand the basic chemistry at play.

Using machine learning models, the Wen team projected how salinity—measured through sodium levels—and alkalinity will change in 226 U.S. rivers between 2040 and 2100 under different climate and human population scenarios.

In northern states, rivers would become less salty because warmer winters mean less salt will be applied on icy roads. However, in the South and West, where people don’t use much road salt, river salinity will likely stay the same. But as these areas get hotter and drier, more salt from the soil might accumulate and wash into waterways.

The study also found that rising temperature can affect alkalinity. In watersheds rich in carbonate rocks, such as limestone, researchers found that alkalinity flux—the product of the natural breakdown of rock minerals—declines when temperatures surpass 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). This finding suggests that warming past a certain temperature level could suppress alkalinity in rivers.

Researchers from the College of Arts and Sciences are integrating traditional geochemistry with artificial intelligence to forecast the impact of climate warming and population growth on the alkalinity and salt levels in rivers nationwide.

However, in watersheds dominated by silicate rocks or organic carbon, higher temperatures accelerate silicate weathering and the decomposition of organic material, leading to increased alkalinity levels. More rainfall can also increase the amount of these chemicals in rivers, but only up to a certain point.

In the future, some watersheds with lower alkalinity could be manipulated to take up additional alkaline from watersheds, allowing rivers to sequester more carbon from the atmosphere.

For this and other multidisciplinary research, Wen received a 2025��. The award highlights excellent work by independent researchers in their early career that bring new insights into the field of geochemistry or to promote geochemical applications.

Visit the ��to read the full story.

Story by John H. Tibbetts

Plastic components are commonly used in infrastructure and transportation that we depend on—from water and sewer pipes to planes, trains and automobiles. But plastic materials experience stresses that degrade them over time. That’s why plastics in many critical applications are replaced on pre-set schedules, which is expensive but crucial for maintenance and public safety.

Xiaoran Hu

“When mechanical forces cause stress and deformation that go unnoticed in the plastic engineered parts of an airplane, for instance, it can cause significant consequences that we want to avoid,” says Xiaoran Hu, assistant professor of chemistry and member of the .

Supported by the University and the American Chemical Society (ACS) Petroleum Research Fund, Hu and his team have created new molecules that someday could cut down on these risks and expenses. Mechanophores are molecules that respond to mechanical stress by changing characteristics such as their colors, and their incorporation into plastic components could enable visualization of mechanical stress. Hu’s team developed exceptionally sensitive mechanophore molecules—called “configurational mechanophores,”—that undergo mechanochemical isomerization reactions. The activated material can exhibit a color to indicate that a mechanical event has happened in a component. This visible signal would be useful in applications such as autonomous damage monitoring of materials.

“These new molecules could enable research into previously unobservable mechanical events in different materials, including synthetic plastics and biomaterials,” Hu says.

Ultrasensitive molecular force sensors facilitate structural health monitoring in plastic components and could enable scientists to investigate previously unobservable mechanical events in biological systems.

The ���ϲ����� team’s mechanophores are unique. According to a new study in the Journal of the ACS, their chemical transformation is triggered by minus mechanical forces as low as 131 piconewtons, which is below what is required to trigger any other mechanochemical reactions known up to date. For comparison, mechanochemical reactions involving carbon-carbon bond scission typically require nanonewton scale of forces (1 nanonewton = 1000 piconewton). Hu’s mechanophores, on the other hand, are more sensitive than the tiny forces relevant in many biological molecules, such as the unzipping of DNA strands (~300 pN), the unfolding of protein domains, and the breaking of antibody-antigen bonds (~150-300 pN). The new mechanophores could be effective tools in biology, allowing scientists to study stress changes at the nanoscale that were previously unobservable or difficult to measure. This could lead to a better understanding of how mechanical forces influence and regulate various processes in biology.

Additionally, unlike most traditional mechanophores, which are prone to damage by heat or light, the new molecules are stable upon thermal and light exposure, and therefore are well suited for applications in different complex environments.

Hu’s research on configurational mechanophores paves the way for the development of mechano-responsive materials with unprecedented mechanosensitivity. These materials could enable the study of previously unobservable nanoscale mechanical behaviors, playing a crucial role in advancing our understanding across scientific disciplines ranging from polymer physics, materials science, to mechanobiology.

“Our lab is developing the next-generation molecular force sensors with further enhanced mechanosensitivity and capable of exhibiting fluorescence signals or other functional responses,” Hu says. “We also aim to apply our mechanophores to different materials platforms such as mechanosensitive elastomers and paints to develop safer and smarter plastics that autonomously monitor and report mechanical damage. Additionally, we will explore the potential of these molecular force sensors to investigate cellular processes in the future.”

Story by John H. Tibbetts

A group of freshly minted alumni pose together on the Quad at Commencement 2025. (Photo by Amy Manley)

We want to know how you experience ���ϲ�����. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience by sending them directly to ���ϲ����� at newsphoto@syr.edu. You might see it featured here.

The men’s lacrosse team celebrates a thrilling, come-from-behind, 13-12 win in overtime as ���ϲ����� advanced into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Athletics)

Views from the Class of 2025 Senior Celebration: Mapping out where our newly appointed Orange alumni are headed next. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Views from the Class of 2025 Senior Celebration: Preparing to enter their alumni era! (Photo by Amy Manley)

Views from the Class of 2025 Senior Celebration: A little cupcake toast (featuring blue and orange frosting, of course). (Photo by Amy Manley)

Members of the Class of 2025 pose in their Commencement caps and gowns with Otto in front of the Hall of Languages. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Members of the Class of 2025 practice their Commencement celebrations in their caps and gowns while posing on the steps of Hendricks Chapel. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Members of the Hendricks Chapel Choir perform during the annual Blessing of Students, a celebration that kicks off Commencement Week. (Photo courtesy of the )

Students gather with chaplains and Hendricks Chapel staff during the annual Blessing of Students. (Photo courtesy of the )

Scenes from a beautiful spring day with flowers blooming on the Quad. (Photo courtesy of the )

The College of Professional Studies celebrated 11 students (from seven countries) who graduated from the English Language Institute, including four students who will pursue degrees from ���ϲ�����. (Photo courtesy of the )

Students in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management celebrate Whitman Day, the school’s annual celebration of the power of the Whitman community and Orange Business Network, with a fun photo op. (Photo courtesy of the )

Chaplains from Hendricks Chapel took to the Quad to give away donuts and coffee coupons from People’s Place Café during finals week. (Photo courtesy of )

Students soak in the sun on a picture-perfect last day of classes for the Spring 2025 semester. (Photo courtesy of the )

During the annual Flight Day event, College of Engineering and Computer Science aerospace engineering seniors put their airplanes to the test inside the JMA Wireless Dome. (Photo courtesy of the )

Thanks to a helping hand from 25 students from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs’ Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Academic Fellows Program, 721 sandwiches were made for the Assumption Food Pantry in ���ϲ����� during the Catholic Center’s weekly Community Night mass and dinner. (Photo by Father Gerry Waterman, Catholic chaplain)

For Earth Day, the ESF-SU Lights Out Task Force teamed up with staff to turn the lights off at the JMA Wireless Dome. (Photo courtesy of the )

Janna Van Vranken ’25 (right) and partner Addison Simone practice peaceful rock balancing in front of Hendricks Chapel, sponsored by the Buddhist Meditation Association. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Yvonne Malinowski ‘99 and son give their dogs, Mavis and Auggie, a chance to explore the lawn while her daughter takes a campus tour on a spring day. (Photo by Amy Manley)

A sure sign of spring: flowers blooming in front of the Shaffer Art Building. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Otto paid a visit to see Mike Tirico ’88 (pictured next to Otto), who was guest hosting on the “Today” show all this week. (Photo courtesy of the ���ϲ����� in New York City Facebook page)

During the 20th annual Brodsky Series, Jennifer Hain Teper (second from right), the Velde Professor and preservation librarian at the University of Illinois Libraries, led an engaging lecture and hands on workshop on scrapbook preservation. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Libraries’ Facebook page)

The sights of spring are on display in front of the Shafer Art Building on a sunny late-April afternoon (Photo by John Boccacino)

The University Concert Choir practices for an upcoming performance. (Photo courtesy of the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Facebook page)

To gain a better understanding of their testing chamber project design, mechanical and aerospace engineering students (pictured from left to right) James Jabbour ’25, Brady McKenna ’25 and Alexandra Vaida ’25 visited NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to meet with engineers across various disciplines. (Photo courtesy of the College of Engineering and Computer Science Facebook page)

���ϲ����� students, alumni and staff members visited the set of the “Today” show to support guest host Mike Tirico ’88. (Photo courtesy of the ���ϲ����� in New York City Facebook page)

Otto meets with fans on the set of The “Today” show. (Photo courtesy of the ���ϲ����� in New York City Facebook page)

���ϲ����� Ambulance members came together to celebrate its supervisors and administrative team members during its 52nd annual banquet. (Photo courtesy of the ���ϲ����� Ambulance Facebook page)

Members of the campus community came together to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that marks the arrival of spring. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ�����’s Facebook page)

John Lally ’82 speaks at a ribbon-cutting event celebrating the opening of the new Football Performance Center at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex on Saturday, April 12. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Athletics)

Otto sits atop equine friend Charm during a visit with the English equestrian club sports team. (Photo courtesy of @theottoorange and @syracuse_equestrian on )

The Graduate School proudly hosted its inaugural doctoral candidacy recognition event, honoring students who achieved candidacy—a pivotal milestone in the doctoral journey. (Photo courtesy of the Graduate School’s LinkedIn page)

Snow falls on Hendricks Chapel during a mid-April snowstorm. (Photo by John Boccacino)

During the 2025 ���ϲ����� Alumni Awards, the campus community came together to honor outstanding alumni who embody the Orange spirit through their remarkable achievements, leadership and service. Pictured are (from left to right) Paul Greenberg ’65 (George Arents Award); Jon and Karen Ritter, the parents of Jamieson R. Ritter ’19 (accepting the Military/Veteran Alumni Award posthumously on Jamieson’s behalf); Kimberly Wolf Price L’03 (Volunteer of the Year); Chancellor and President Kent Syverud; Jack Kreischer ’65 (Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award); Chelsea Ransom-Cooper ’15 (Generation Orange Award); Melanie Littlejohn G’97 (George Arents Award); and Judith C. Mower ’66, G’73, G’80, Ph.D.’84 (George Arents Award). (Photo courtesy of the ���ϲ����� Alumni Association Facebook page)

OttoTHON is the largest student-run philanthropy event at ���ϲ�����, and during this year’s annual dance marathon event, OttoTHON raised more than $115,000 for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ�����’s Facebook page)

The annual Maxwell Awards of Excellence celebrated five exceptional alumni who embody the school’s commitment to engaged citizenship. Pictured are (from left to right) Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke with honorees Sahil Jain ’13, Margaret Abraham G’89, Ana Maria Menezes ’06 and Tom Bozzuto ’71. Tiesha Peal ’99 was unable to attend. (Photo courtesy of the Maxwell School’s Facebook page)

Representatives from some 80 regional community-based organizations gathered at the Marriott ���ϲ����� Downtown March 27 for an expo event hosted by ���ϲ�����’s Lender Center for Social Justice. One of the highlights was the Funders Roundtable, featuring (from left to right) Jonathan Snow, president of the John Ben Snow Foundation; Melanie Littlejohn, president and CEO of the CNY Community Foundation; Meg O’Connell, executive director of the Allyn Family Foundation; moderator Lyndsey Hodkinson, director of foundation relations; and Kira Reed, senior research associate at the Lender Center.

The inaugural ���ϲ����� Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Summit, the first NIL event organized by students for student-athletes at the University, brought ���ϲ����� student-athletes together with corporate brands for networking, education and NIL development. (Photo by Cathleen O’Hare)

Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and CEO of the Knight Foundation, and CNN anchor Boris Sanchez ’09, discuss the future of journalism before the 2025 Toner Prizes awards presentation in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Shannon Finney)

Admitted students to the Department of Film and Media Arts in the College of Visual and Performing Arts toured Shaffer Art Building and made a short animation with Professor Heath Hanlin during the Spring Reception. (Photo courtesy of the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Facebook page)

The 108th Chancellor’s Review and Awards Ceremony recognizes the exemplary achievements of the University’s Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets. The event on March 28 was held in the JMA Wireless Dome. Pictured are (from left to right) Ryan Kelly, senior associate athletic director; Army ROTC cadets and members of the football team Joshua Kubala and Nathan Edwards; and head football coach Fran Brown. (Photo by Candace Campbell Jackson, chief of staff and senior vice president)

On March 28, the campus community came together to honor the dedication of the University’s ROTC cadets while reflecting our commitment to supporting veterans and military families. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

The time-honored tradition of the Chancellor’s Review and Awards Ceremony underscores the University’s unwavering dedication to military service and mirrors traditional military ceremonies that date back to the Middle Ages. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

Students help cut Otto’s birthday cake during a campuswide celebration at the Schine Student Center. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ�����’s Facebook page)

Students help celebrate Otto’s birthday during a campuswide celebration. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ�����’s Facebook page)

During the annual University 100 Rugby Ceremony, U100 student ambassadors and tour guides were honored for their commitment to the University. (Photo courtesy of the ���ϲ����� U100 Instagram page)

Falk College students in the “Italian Football: Impact and Outcomes” class spent their spring break in Italy, meeting with Italian soccer clubs, learning about their organizations and taking in the cultural significance of the sport. (Photo courtesy of Falk College’s Facebook page)

Operation Veteran Warmup, organized by the College of Law’s online JDinteractive students in collaboration with the Military and Veterans Law Society and the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, helped collect more than 100 winter clothing items to support unhoused veterans in the ���ϲ����� community. (Photo courtesy of the College of Law Instagram page)

Student researchers in the College of Engineering and Computer Science present their work during the 2025 Engineering and Computer Science Research Day in the Schine Student Center. (Photo courtesy of the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences’ Facebook page)

Hendricks Chapel recently hosted the annual Service of Commemoration, which honors students, faculty, staff, retirees, trustees and honorary degree recipients who recently passed away. (Photo courtesy of the Hendricks Chapel Facebook page)

During the annual Service of Commemoration, flowers were placed on the wall on the Quad outside of Hendricks Chapel to remember those students, faculty, staff, retirees, trustees and honorary degree recipients who recently passed away. (Photo courtesy of the Hendricks Chapel Facebook page)

During a postgame ceremony, the ���ϲ����� women’s basketball team honored departing seniors (pictured in their jerseys, from left to right): Izabel Varejão, Saniaa Wilson, Georgia Woolley, Kyra Wood, Lexi McNabb and Sophie Burrows. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Athletics)

Students in the ���ϲ����� Abroad Madrid program took a field trip to Spain’s oldest cultural institution, the Instituto Cervantes, which works to promote Spanish language education worldwide. (Photo courtesy of the ���ϲ����� Madrid Instagram page)

Alumni panelists Kim Burnett ’91, Savion Pollard ’25 and Joe Nehme ’11 speak during the first Micron Day, which showcased the innovation and growing momentum of the technology company’s transformative investment in the community and the deep connections being made with the University and Central New York. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

The Creations Dance Troupe performs for students during the Black History Month Closing Ceremony. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

Students joined the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization to build 88 beds for children living in poverty in Central New York. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

In the early evening hours, a snow-covered campus, including Crouse College and Maxwell Hall, is captured from the steps of the Newhouse Family Plaza. (Photo by Rano Dilmurodova)

The winning team celebrates after capturing the championship of the Black History Month Basketball Classic (Photo courtesy of the Barner-McDuffie House Instagram page)

A group photo of the 2025 Afropreneurship Celebration and Business Competition award winners. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Libraries)

The Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship hosted a field trip to New York City for students in the Newhouse School’s and the Maxwell School’s Washington, D.C. programs. The group toured the United Nations headquarters, had lunch at a renowned Ukrainian restaurant and visited NBC News in 30 Rockefeller Plaza. (Photo courtesy of the Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship’s Instagram page)

���ϲ����� native Tom Kenny (front row center, wearing a green long-sleeved shirt), the iconic voice talent behind SpongeBob SquarePants, visited ���ϲ����� to meet with students and discuss what it takes to build a career in the creative arts. (Photo by Martin Walls)

Members of the Wind Ensemble practice inside the Setnor School of Music. (Photo courtesy of the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Facebook page)

During the 21st Annual WellsLink Leadership Program’s Transitions Ceremony, WellsLink Scholars from the previous year who have successfully transitioned to their second year on campus were honored. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

Student members of the Black Reign Step Team perform during the University’s Black History Month Kickoff event. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ�����’s Facebook page)

Falk College students listen to New Balance Marketing Director Dominick Fabrizio ’99 during a recent on-campus presentation. (Photo courtesy of Falk College’s Instagram page)

The keynote speaker for the 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration was Sarah Willie-LeBreton, a sociologist and president of Smith College. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

Students in the Newhouse Los Angeles immersive professional development program recently visited the set of the hit television show “Jeopardy!” (Photo courtesy of the Newhouse LA Instagram page)

Students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science met with alumni and industry partners during the Spring 2025 Engineering and Computer Science Career Fair. (Photo courtesy of the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences’ Facebook page)

Students from the Newhouse School’s advanced media management graduate program traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, to attend the Consumer Electronics Show, the largest tech and media trade show in the world. (Photo courtesy of the Newhouse School’s Facebook page)

Members of the campus community share a laugh while skating at the Clinton Square Ice Rink in downtown ���ϲ�����. (Photo courtesy ���ϲ�����’s Facebook page)

Otto stops to visit with friends. (Photo courtesy of @theottoorange)

Lights glow from within Crouse College. (Photo by Randy Carroll, staff member with Information Technology Services)

Students walk past the Hall of Languages on a snowy day (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ�����’s Facebook page)

The University’s Women in Leadership Initiative (WiL) recently launched its fourth Diane Lyden Murphy Cohort experience. This immersive learning experience is made up of emerging women leaders, including faculty, staff and administrators, from across the university. It combines experiential learning, hands-on assignments, one-on-one coaching and self-assessment to help women grow and thrive as leaders at ���ϲ�����. Learn more by visiting the WiL website. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ�����’s Facebook)

A student tries out a virtual reality experience during the grand opening of the Gaming and Esports Center in the Schine Student Center. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Pictured from left to right during the grand opening of the Gaming and Esports Center are Chancellor Kent Syverud, Braeden Cheverie-Leonard ’26, vice president of the gaming and esports club, Gabriel Goodwin ’28, a Varsity Rocket League captain, and Brianna Nechifor ’26, who is pursuing an esports communications and management degree major. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Executive Director of Esports Joey Gawrysiak addresses the crowd during the grand opening of the Gaming and Esports Center on campus. (Photo by Tiancheng Tang ’26)

Three students sit around a table and chat in the Schine Student Center during the first day of classes for the Winter 2025 semester. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ�����’s Facebook)

Students were welcomed back to campus with a fresh coating of snow. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ�����’s Facebook)

Students arrive in Madrid, Spain, to begin their semester with the Signature Seminar: Marine Ecology of the Mediterranean Sea. (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Abroad’s Facebook)

Nothing is better than a sunny day in ���ϲ����� in the middle of winter. (Photo courtesy of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs’ Facebook)

Following a memorial service in Hendricks Chapel, Brian Konkol (center), vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel, Devon Bartholomew (right), Baptist chaplain and Sensei JoAnn Cooke, Buddhist chaplain, lead a procession to the Place of Remembrance on Dec. 21, 2024. The service was held on the 36th anniversary of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988. The bombing claimed the lives of 270 people, including ���ϲ����� students returning from a semester of study abroad. (Photo by Qianzhen Li)

The flags in front of ���ϲ�����’s National Veterans Resource Center fly at half-staff in honor of former President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024). (Photo by Charlie Poag)

offer tax savings on eligible health-related expenses for faculty, staff and their eligible dependents, while offer employees the opportunity to contribute pre-tax dollars to an account to help pay for daycare and related expenses for a dependent child or adult.

HealthEquity is the University’s flexible spending account vendor. Faculty and staff with questions about eligible expenses or the reimbursement process can contact the HealthEquity customer care team at 877.924.3967 (TTY: 866.353.8058). A searchable list of and is available on HealthEquity’s website.

Twelve seniors have been named as the 2025 ���ϲ����� Scholars, the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows.

The ���ϲ����� Scholars Selection Committee, a Universitywide faculty committee, selected the scholars using criteria that included coursework and academic achievement, independent research and creative work, evidence of intellectual growth or innovation in their disciplinary field, a personal statement and faculty letters of recommendation.

“We are proud to recognize our University Scholars for their many accomplishments. Not only have they achieved academic success, they have also embraced opportunities—like research and community service—to enhance and expand their undergraduate experience and make the most of their time here. As they prepare to graduate, we are looking forward to celebrating their future accomplishments and success,” says Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew.

The 2025 ���ϲ����� Scholars are:

• Jonathan Collard de Beaufort, a biochemistry major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Charlotte Ebel, a public relations major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, a women and gender studies and German language, literature and culture major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Abigail Greenfield, a history major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a political philosophy major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Yuming Jiang, a mathematics and physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Sierra Kaplan, a political science major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a health humanities major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Emmy Njue, a finance and business analytics majors in the Whitman School of Management;
• Kerrin O’Grady, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and a neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Morgan Opp, a chemistry and biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Timothy Paek, a computer science major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Skyla Ross-Graham a psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Yifan Shen, an architecture major in the School of Architecture, a music history and cultures major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program; and
• Sophia Znamierowski, a biology and neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

Assignment Design Days are dedicated sessions that provide faculty with the opportunity to (re)design assignments that align with the University’s Shared Competencies. These sessions focus on creating transparent assignments that help students develop knowledge and skills related to the University’s learning goals.

Goals of Assignment Design Days

• Engage in iterative teaching and learning practices.
• (Re)Design assignments to align with competency outcomes.
• Create transparent assignment prompts that connect competency learning outcomes, course learning objectives and assignments.

Eligibility and Participation

All ���ϲ����� faculty members teaching courses tagged with one or more Shared Competencies, or those wishing to tag their�� courses, are eligible to participate. Participants will receive a $300 stipend for participating. During the sessions, faculty will map their course assignments to the Shared Competencies rubrics and create transparent assignments using the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework.

Session Schedule

Assignment Design Days are organized by competency:

• May 27, 2025
  • Ethics, Integrity, and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: 9:00 a.m.–noon
  • Critical and Creative Thinking: 1–4 p.m.
• May 28, 2025
  • Scientific Inquiry and Research Skills: 9 a.m.–noon
  • Civic and Global Responsibility: 1–4 p.m.
• May 29, 2025:
  • Communication Skills: 9 a.m.–noon
  • Information Literacy and Technological Agility: 1–4 p.m.

All sessions will be held in person at 400 Ostrom Ave., Executive Conference Room. Faculty interested in participating are encouraged to apply by May 9, 2025.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated; the previous application deadline was listed as May 1.

Story by Naimah Rahman

Student outreach and tabling event hosted by the Office of Financial Literacy (Image credit: Smart Money)

The Office of Financial Literacy works year-round to offer accessible and equitable financial education to ���ϲ����� students and alumni with one-on-one peer counseling services, educational programming and free . Financial Literacy Awareness Month is celebrated annually across the nation in April and was created over a decade ago to raise public awareness about the importance of financial education.

Many University students often express concern with the rising cost of living. On top of this, with tax season, summer study abroad programs, internships and graduation fast approaching students may feel overwhelmed in managing their personal finances. The Office of Financial Literacy is focused on helping students manage such costs including tuition, personal expenses, credit and student loan debts, making the office an essential resource for students to take advantage of.

“Financial literacy brings clarity and certainty to both your immediate and long-term future,” says Karina Anderson, assistant director of financial literacy programs. “This April is an opportunity to emphasize the importance of empowering our students with the right financial knowledge to feel confident in navigating their journey to independence and achieving their goals.”

Here is a preview of some of the events that will be offered during Financial Literacy Week:

• Your Financial Map – Building a Sustainable Budget: Monday, April 7, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
• Borrowing and Credit Confidence – Building a Strong Financial Future: Tuesday, April 8, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Investing for Beginners: Thursday, April 10, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• Panel Discussion: Balancing Finances & Mental Health: Thursday, April 10, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Registration for these events and more can be found .

Staff Selection Process:

All ���ϲ����� staff members in good standing are eligible to apply. If you are interested in being considered for this important role, and submit it to svpchro@syr.edu by the deadline. Once all applications are reviewed, Chancellor Kent Syverud will be provided a list of up to three recommended candidates for final selection.

Important Dates:

• Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
• Representative Notification: The successful applicant will be notified in April
• Training for New Representatives: Training for staff, student, faculty and dean representatives will take place before the fall of 2025.

The creation of a staff representative position is a vital part of the Board’s commitment to hearing from all University constituencies. The Office of Human Resources strongly encourages all staff to consider applying for this opportunity to help shape the future of our university. They look forward to reviewing your applications and working together to ensure that many perspectives are represented at the highest levels of university governance.

Those are a few of the questions examined by a multidisciplinary panel of Maxwell School faculty experts during a recent “What’s at Stake” panel discussion hosted by the Center for Policy Research (CPR).

More than 250 people joined the virtual event held four days before the swearing in of Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. The same day, she sent her staff an email titled “Our Department’s Final Mission” fueling speculation that an executive order to abolish the Department of Education would soon follow. On March 11, the department announced it would cut its workforce nearly in half, to about 2,183 workers.

Sean Drake

Robert Bifulco, professor of public administration and international affairs, moderated the conversation with colleagues Elizabeth Martin, assistant professor of sociology; Michah Rothbart, associate professor of public administration and international affairs; and Sean Drake, assistant professor of sociology. All four panelists are senior research associates at CPR.

Robert Bifulco

To open the session, Bifulco provided some factual context about the Department of Education. In its 2024 fiscal year budget, he pointed out, the department administered programs totaling $268 billion—about 4 percent of the federal budget, a far smaller piece than agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Defense. About 60 percent of the Department of Education budget is spent on Pell grants and federal student loan programs; 17 percent on Title I grants to high poverty schools; and 14 percent to support the education of students with disabilities. “Each of these programs, which together account for over 90 percent of the department’s budget, was established prior to 1979, when the department itself was established,” said Bifulco, who serves as director of CPR’s Program on Educational Equity and Policy.

“President Trump claims the department has been overtaken by radicals, zealots and Marxists, that it promotes liberal ideologies in schools, and that it wastes taxpayers’ money,” Bifulco said. “But when you look at the overwhelming bulk of what the department focuses on and what its budget allocations go for, it’s not clear what most people would want to see cut.”

Martin, whose own research focuses on economic insecurity, credit and debt burdens and financial shocks, spoke to the broad impact of the Department of Education’s programs for students pursuing higher education.

Elizabeth Martin

“This is everything from Pell grants that help lower income students, to work study to student loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized,” she said. “So dismantling the Department of Education, moving the federal aid functions either to states or to the Department of Treasury, which is one proposal I’ve seen, would affect a lot of people. Something like 20 percent of all U.S. households have student loan debt; 30 to 40 percent of students who are currently enrolled are taking on loans every semester.”

One potential consequence of shifting student aid programs out of the federal government, she added, would be to increase gaps between states in higher education opportunities, particularly at public institutions.

“We see huge inequalities in appropriations per student, credit hour and tuition costs and merit- and need-based scholarships,” Martin said. “If federal aid or student loans are moved down to the state level, I imagine that we would see even more widening inequality between states.”

Shifting educational loans away from the federal government may also result in greater reliance on private loans—and the loss of key protections, pointed out Rothbart, who studies public finance and financial management particularly in education.

Michah Rothbart

“Federal student loans provide protections against inability to pay in some circumstances,” Rothbart said. “I could imagine a world where there would be a large increase in the use of private borrowing to pay for higher education, and then students would not have those protections as they move out in their careers.”

In the area of public school funding, Rothbart noted that cutting the Department of Education’s programs, or shifting them outside the federal government, could have unintended consequences on the department’s influence over policy.

“The federal government only provides a small portion of public school funding, but it leverages that to nudge educational priorities,” Rothbart said. “That approach has been in place for years, even predating the formation of the Department of Education. I think it’s important to note that the use of this funding to shape policies can be effective. It actually presents a catch-22 for conservative administrations like the one that’s currently in the office of the presidency, because if the federal government makes cuts to these programs, they could lose some of that leverage to incentivize their other priorities.”

Bifulco said the elimination of Department of Education programs that account for more than 90 percent of its spending would require congressional action. “I think that’s very unlikely,” he said. More likely, he said, is a shift of functions to other federal departments, for instance, moving the Office of Civil Rights out of the Department of Education into the Department of Justice. “That could have big effects on how civil rights are enforced, and what data is collected on civil rights,” he said.

Rothbart said the reshuffling of programs under federal departments “is actually a pretty fruitful discussion.” He pointed out several programs that fall under the purview of education yet are not overseen by the Department of Education. For instance, Head Start is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, national school meals programs are run by the Department of Agriculture, and the GI Bill is overseen by the Department of Veterans Administration. “You could imagine moving programs from other agencies into the Department of Education if it were a different administration,” he said, later adding, “There hasn’t been a major reshuffling of the federal government across agencies in a long, long time.”

Visit the to read the full story.

Story by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

I also wanted to join in thanking the ESFAO [Employee Services, Fiscal Affairs, and Operations Committee] members and Doug [Yung] for their work. We did meet with them at length just before spring break, and we’re going to be meeting with them again before we submit the FY26 budget to the Board of Trustees for final approval. The reason for that is it’s a more intense process this year than past years.

I want to emphasize some of the points that Doug made. We ran a balanced budget in FY24, which ended nine months ago. We are running a balanced budget in FY25, which will end in three months. It’s pretty late in the year, so it’s pretty easy to see we’re going to be fine. We’re going to propose a balanced budget for FY26, and I’m not worried about that. I was worried about it in August, which is why I said what I said to the Senate in August and what I said to the University leadership team and to the deans, because of some of the foreseeable forces, which Doug illustrated in his report. If we’d done nothing since last August, we’d be facing a 3% budget deficit. By the way, 3% translates into millions of dollars. But if we can’t handle a 3% budget deficit humanely as managers and as a community, we’re not a very effective financial community, I believe.

Actually, we have been planning for months how to handle this. Obviously, there’s been additional wrenches thrown in the work by what’s happened with the federal government the last 60 days. Those have been remarkable wrenches for almost all our peers. That’s why you’re seeing these sharp announcements of Johns Hopkins laying off thousands of staff, of freezes of faculty hiring, freezes of graduate admissions. Really, I think you’ll see more of them, since a lot of academic institutions like to behave in a herd, and think behaving in a herd is the safe thing. I think you’ll see lots of institutions, including most of the AAU [Association of American Universities] doing things like this in the next couple of weeks.

My point to the ESFAO Committee and to you all is that we are in a different position because, let’s say, we’re fortunate in the sense that we don’t have an academic medical center heavily dependent on federal grants and the other agencies of the federal government that are looking closely at universities. We are fortunate, in a way that I never thought I would say, that our grants and contracts are heavily shifted away compared to our peers from NIH [National Institutes of Health] and NSF [National Science Foundation], which have been the most strongly acting so far.

That’s put us in a stronger position, but we’re also in a stronger position because we’ve been planning for this for a long time. Actually, we have been financially responsible for a long time, and that means that, I just need to say it again, we are not going to do some of the things you’re seeing elsewhere. We’re not going to have large-scale layoffs. We’re not going to have across-the-board hiring freezes. We’re not going to have deep budget cuts or other drastic measures in graduate programs. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have to be responsible as we’ve been all year in making a plane land with a balanced budget. Basically, what we’ve been doing since August is asking every unit, school, and college to identify efficiencies and realign their resources in ways that really make sense. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any changes, but they’ll be more consistent with the changes we do every year at ���ϲ����� in landing the plane or at least have been doing for recent times.

I think that calls for people to have a little bit of confidence. We are going to come back to the ESFAO with more concreteness as the plane nears landing in the next couple of weeks. The key moment, of course, is the presentation to the Board of Trustees committees going into the May full board meetings. Basically, it’s a boring headline for The Daily Orange and everybody else, but we’re going to propose a balanced ��budget for FY26. It’s going to be both sensible and humane, and there’s going to be opportunities to talk about it before it’s finalized. That’s basically the way it is, and I feel pretty blessed to be in that situation.

What I don’t feel blessed to be in is 60 days into this raft of changes coming in policies from the federal government. I don’t want to communicate complacency in what I’ve said already. In particular since we last met, the Department of Education has both lost half its workforce and has launched investigations related to antisemitism and racism into dozens of higher education institutions. It’s not the only part of the federal government that’s doing that, but the most significant one. ���ϲ����� is not one of the institutions being investigated, but our peers are, and we’re watching those other institutions closely. We’re watching what’s going on at Columbia with particular attention and concern because it’s not just the scale of what’s being asked of Columbia, but the substance, including the academic substance, that’s being requested of Columbia in order to benefit from federal funding. So, we’re paying attention to that.

On March 6, the faculty, students, and staff received a communication from [Provost] Lois [Agnew] and me and others regarding new guidance from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. Broadly speaking, that guidance took the position that consideration of race in any aspect of student academic or campus life is discrimination and a violation of Title XI, the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That new policy went into effect on Feb. 28, two weeks after it was first communicated. This broad interpretation is being challenged in the courts, and we’re following that closely.

I just want to emphasize two things. ���ϲ����� will comply with the law as it develops, but we strongly believe all of our university programs do not discriminate against any group. We strongly believe none of our university programs discriminate against any group. That means we need to be careful and thoughtful in responding. We are working through our Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Mary Grace Almandrez in a Universitywide effort to determine our path forward under the new guidance. Rather than kind of knee-jerk responses, like we’re seeing Columbia forced to do, this includes a process by which we’re actually outreaching and consulting with faculty, staff, and students whose work has helped hold this place together as a university welcoming to all over the last years. That’s going to guide our long-term strategy.

It’s not something I can get done in a week. We have time to look at this closely. We are looking at it closely. We are consulting appropriately, but we’re doing it against, once again, a belief that at our core and at our best, which we have not always been at, we’re a university that welcomes all. How we do that in each era and under each administration has had to be savvy and has had to be wise. We’re in a situation where we have to figure out how to continue doing that now. I believe this community really wants us to continue doing that in the right way, and that’s what we’re feeling our way through.

I do expect, again, that there will be more changes coming from Washington in the next 40 days. It’s 53 days to Commencement. I expect in the next 40 days we’ll see more.

Dean Chandler-Olcott referred to “those persnickety accreditors.” I believe we will come to respect and need to defend our persnickety accreditors before the next 40 days are out. I say that as someone who chaired an accrediting body and was on the Middle States Commission as well. As persnickety as they are, they are largely driven by our peers looking closely at what it takes to deliver a great education to our students and to every student, not just some favored group. So, I think there’ll be more changes coming.

I think we’ll have to report more at the April 19 Senate meeting on the progress, both on the budget and on the response to federal issues. I’m very grateful to a really wide range of people with a wide range of views who’ve been helping us in the last two months. And I hope you keep hanging in there. Thank you.

Gretchen Ritter

“” will begin at 6 p.m. in Grant Auditorium in the Falk College Complex. Led by Regina Luttrell, senior associate dean and associate professor of public relations in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and Jason Davis, research professor in the Office of Research and Creativity in the Newhouse School, the session will focus on the critical skills of detection, attribution and characterization, empowering participants to identify and counter deceptive narratives.

The lecture is part of the Life Together: Seeking the Common Good in a Diverse Democracy��initiative, led by Gretchen Ritter, vice president of civic engagement and education. The initiative began with an inaugural community conversation in October and expanded this semester.

Regina Luttrell

This event is open to the University community and welcomes all who value informed citizenry and seek actionable strategies to promote a resilient, truth-centered democratic society.

“Part of being an engaged citizen is being well-informed on pertinent public issues. We want to help the members of our campus community to be engaged, thoughtful citizens by helping them to understand whether different sources of information are reliable and trustworthy or suspect and problematic,” says Ritter.

“In an era where trust in civil society is eroding and the shared civic sphere is under strain, this event underscores the importance of regaining public trust in news and information,” Davis says. “By fostering critical thinking and media literacy, attendees will discover how these tools are essential not only for navigating today’s complex information environment but also for safeguarding the principles of democracy.”

Jason Davis

“With disinformation everywhere, understanding its long-term impact is critical for protecting democracy, public trust, and informed decision-making,” says Luttrell. “My hope is that people walk away with a deeper understanding of how media manipulation and information ecosystems shape��our world and what they can do to assess, challenge and mitigate its harmful effects.”

Luttrell and Davis serve as co-directors of the Newhouse School’s . The lab serves as a multidisciplinary research center focusing on analytics, artificial intelligence, digital and emerging media as well as an active classroom, and shared lab environment for projects undertaken by faculty and students.