Erica Kiduko self-secured an internship with the Global Peace Foundation to connect and enhance the research in her thesis with a hands-on summer internship.

Erica Kiduko G’25, who grew up in Tanzania, decided to use her 2023-24 to help further her research and promote education around gender-based violence through a nonprofit in the country.

Kiduko, who is pursuing a master’s degree in Pan-African studies in the , was doing her thesis research on the status of women in Tanzania and a National Plan of Action to help prevent violence against women when she decided to expand her work through a Clements Internship.

“I was working on a project that is my passion, and I applied for an internship that captured my goals and my passions,” Kiduko says.

The Mark and Pearle Clements Internship Awards are now open for juniors, seniors and graduate students of any major who seek to further their career development through undertaking self-obtained unique internship opportunities. The award provides students with financial assistance to help in the pursuit of their unique professional goals.

The award typically provides students with $1,500-$6,000 to assist with internship-related travel, accommodations, required materials or living expenses.

Erica Kiduko

Kiduko was working on a thesis titled “Reckoning an Icon: Exploring Scholarship and Activism of [Kenyan professor] Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo,” where she explored the ongoing imbalance women in Tanzania face and why, despite the implementation of the National Plan of Action, many women were still experiencing physical violence.

The action plan focuses on protecting the rights of women and girls, preventing such violent acts from occurring in the future and providing relief to help violence victims recover, but Kiduko says many of the citizens are unaware of the plan and many of the laws in place to protect these girls and women aren’t strict enough.

Wanting to connect and enhance the research in her thesis with a hands-on summer internship, Kiduko turned to the Clements Internship Award to study the effectiveness of the National Plan of Action through a self-secured internship with the Global Peace Foundation, which was one of the organizations involved in launching the National Plan of Action.

As a program officer, Kiduko worked on the Global Peace Foundation’s Uniting to End Violence Against Women in Football [soccer] initiative, which focused on both resolving issues of gender-based violence in women’s soccer and changing the societal norms and behaviors that often prevent victims of violence from reporting these incidents. Kiduko worked with soccer players ages 16 to 25.

“The initiative was trying to promote women’s empowerment by preventing gender-based violence while creating a safe environment for everyone to play their sport,” Kiduko says.

Kiduko helped run workshops where she and her fellow program officers would provide consultations to determine how much they understood about the prevalence and risks of violence while also equipping them with the knowledge of how to proceed should they witness an attack. One of the culminating projects was the release of an app where the players could anonymously report incidents of violence, whether they were the victims or the witnesses to an attack.

Erica Kiduko (back row, third from the left) turned to the Clements Internship Award to study the effectiveness of Tanzania’s National Plan of Action to help prevent violence against women through a self-secured internship with the Global Peace Foundation.

“It can be really hard for these players to report these incidents. Soccer could be their entire life and they’re afraid of being taken off the team for reporting an attack,” Kiduko says.

How will Kiduko apply the critical lessons learned through her internship and apply them to her work once she graduates from Syracuse University?

“Once I graduate, I still plan on exploring this community-driven approach to solving the important issue of gender violence. Now, I can conceptualize the different types of activism, from political and humanitarian activism, and I’m so grateful to have received the Clements Internship Award,” Kiduko says.

Applying for the 2024-25 Mark and Pearle Clements Internship Award

This year’s application process closes on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. In addition to being responsible for self-securing internships, students interested in applying are also required to include their internship proposal, including outlining the purpose and goals of the internship and how this relates to their educational and career objectives. Interested students also need to secure a faculty or staff sponsor letter by the application deadline. Visit the for complete details.

On this “‘Cuse Conversation,” Kathrine Switzer discusses making history as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, why she’s never stopped advocating for the inclusion of women in sports and what it means to be a proud alumna.

Instead of wallowing in what could have potentially been the lowest moment of her life, Kathrine Switzer ’68, G’72, H’18 used the adversity she overcame during her historic run at the Boston Marathon as fuel to inspire women around the world.

Switzer, who in 1967 became the first woman to officially run and finish the Boston Marathon when she entered as K.V. Switzer using bib number 261, contended not only with the grueling course and frigid race conditions, but also a physical challenge from race director Jock Semple. Around mile four, Semple leapt out of the photographers’ press truck and headed straight for Switzer and her contingent of runners from Syracuse University.

Kathrine Switzer (wearing bib number 261) is harassed by Boston Marathon race director Jock Semple (in black) while she is running in the marathon. Switzer’s boyfriend at the time, Tom Miller (wearing bib number 390), delivers a block to Semple that frees up Switzer to continue running. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Herald)

As Semple tried to rip Switzer’s bib off the front and back of her grey Syracuse track sweatshirt, Switzer was frightened. Her coach, Arnie Briggs, the University’s mailman and a veteran runner at the Boston Marathon, tried to convince Semple that Switzer belonged in the race, to no avail. Only after Switzer’s boyfriend, Tom Miller, a member of the Orange football and track and field teams, blocked Semple, was Switzer free to continue chasing down her pursuit of history.

In that moment, Switzer followed Briggs’ advice to run like hell, driven to prove Semple and the other doubters wrong by finishing the race. She hasn’t stopped running with a purpose since.

Kathrine Switzer

“As I was running, I realized that if these women had the opportunity, just the opportunity, that’s all they needed. And by the time I finished the race I said, ‘I’m going to prove myself, play by their rules and then change those rules,’” says Switzer, an emeritus member of the of Sport and Human Dynamics’ .

“From the worst things can come the best things and that’s what I tell students whenever I speak to classes. If something is wrong, there’s an opportunity to change it, and we can then reverse it. When you’re training for a marathon, you’re out there for hours by yourself. I loved to use that time to take on a problem and solve it,” says Switzer, who earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism from the and English from the , and a master’s degree in public relations from the Newhouse School.

After her triumph in Boston, Switzer would complete more than 40 marathons, including winning the New York City Marathon in 1974, and she was instrumental in getting the women’s marathon included in the Summer Olympics. Switzer’s global nonprofit, (an homage to her Boston race bib), has helped thousands of women discover their potential through the creation of local running clubs, educational programs, communication platforms and social running events.

On this “�Ļ��ܲ��� Conversation,” Switzer discusses making history as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, why she’s never stopped advocating for the inclusion of women in sports and what it means to be a proud alumna whose running career was launched as a student on campus.

Check out  featuring Switzer. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

How did you use the Boston Marathon experience to create more running opportunities for women?

Kathrine Switzer finishes the Boston Marathon in 1975 doing her personal best: 2:51.37. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson)

I was raised by parents who said you know right from wrong, so always go for what’s right. I knew it was going to be time-consuming, but I knew it was important to both correct the error the establishment had made, but more than that, I wanted women to know how great you can feel when you’re running. When I was running, I felt empowered. I felt like I could overcome anything. Running is naturally empowering, it’s a super endorphin high, and I wanted women to experience that.

One of the issues I wanted to solve was getting the women’s marathon into the Summer Olympics. It came down to opportunities and I wanted to create these opportunities, so [once I was working for Avon Cosmetics] I created the Avon International Running Circuit, a series of races around the world that are for women only, where we could make every woman feel welcome and treat her like a hero.

Eventually, we had 400 races in 27 countries for over a million women around the world. We had the participation, we had the sponsorships, we had the media coverage and we had the international representation. In 1981, by a vote of nine to one, women’s marathon was voted into the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. That was an incredible feeling.

What has running given you?

Running has given me just about everything. It’s given me my religion, my husband, travel opportunities, my health and wellness, but the biggest thing it has given me is this perspective on myself, this empowerment and belief in myself that I can do whatever I set out to accomplish.

What kind of impact has 261 Fearless had in empowering and lifting up other women through running?

We’ve already proved that, regardless of your age, your ability or your background, if you get out there and put one foot in front of the other, you’re going to become empowered. If you want to lift a woman up, show her how to run.

We need to do it at the grassroots level and invite women around the world to have a jog or a walk with one of our more than 500 trained coaches. We’re working village by village, city by city, country by country to spread the word on the life-changing benefits of running, and we’ve worked with nearly 7,000 women in 14 countries and five continents so far. 261 was perfect for this mission. It became a number that means being fearless in the face of adversity. People have told me that 261 Fearless has changed their lives and that they’re taking courage from what I did.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Kathrine Switzer speaks to students in Falk College Professor Lindsey Darvin’s Sport Management “Race, Gender and Diversity in Sport Organizations” class. (Photo by Cathleen O’Hare)

First-year head coach Fran Brown guided Syracuse to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Holiday Bowl, the 29th bowl appearance in program history. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Athletics)

For the third straight season, the Syracuse University football team has qualified for a bowl game, the first time the Orange have secured back-to-back-to-back postseason appearances since a run of five consecutive bowl games from the 1995 to 1999 seasons.

On Sunday afternoon, Syracuse (9-3, 5-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) learned it will take on the Washington State Cougars (8-4) in the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl in San Diego, California. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on Dec. 27 and will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

Fans who are interested in making the trip to California to cheer on the Orange can visit for information on the Holiday Bowl, including how to purchase tickets. Fans are encouraged to buy their Holiday Bowl tickets through Syracuse Athletics to ensure their seats in the Syracuse sections of Snapdragon Stadium.

This year’s squad earned the 29th bowl appearance in program history, with the Orange sporting a 16-11-1 record all-time in bowl games. This will be Syracuse’s first time playing in the Holiday Bowl.

First-year head coach Fran Brown has the Orange at 9-3 after the regular season, tied for the most regular season victories by a first-year head coach in program history. Syracuse will enter the bowl game ranked in the College Football Playoff (No. 21), Associated Press (No. 22) and USA Today Coaches Polls (No. 25).

The Orange closed out the regular season with a thrilling 42-38 win over No. 8 Miami inside the JMA Wireless Dome on Nov. 30, a game where the Orange pulled off the largest comeback in school history (rallying from down 21 points), earned its first top 10 win since 2017 and secured its third win over a ranked opponent for the first time since 1998.

A win in the Holiday Bowl would be Syracuse’s 10th this year and would represent the program’s third 10-win season since the 2000 campaign.

The Orange and the Cougars have met once before, in 1979, with Syracuse defeating Washington State by a score of 52-25. With construction occurring on the JMA Wireless Dome, that game was played at then Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

Felisha Legette-Jack

With a little less than two weeks remaining in this year’s campaign, there’s still time for University employees to make a gift of any size to support their fellow Central New Yorkers in need. The campaign kicked off on Oct. 18 and runs through Friday, Dec. 13.

“Syracuse is a strong, blue-collar city. When we do things together, when we do things united, my hope is I am going to be living proof of what giving back to our community looks like,” Legette-Jack says.

The United Way of Central New York has been providing residents with access to essential resources for 102 years, funding 73 different human service programs and projects at 34 nonprofit partners. Through the employee giving campaign, faculty and staff have supported the vast impact United Way has in our community while empowering its work for the last 52 years.

Michael Frasciello

“The United Way gives us that opportunity to make sure we are helping those who have the biggest needs. This is the community we live and work in, and so when we talk about an obligation and responsibility to the community, these are our neighbors, these people are us. This includes individuals within the University who benefit from these programs. The University’s commitment to the United Way, if it’s not seamless, it’s almost symbiotic,” says , dean of the .

This year’s employee giving campaign runs through Friday, Dec. 13.

University employees are encouraged to consider making a voluntary pledge through MySlice. Options are available for either a one-time donation or a recurring donation through payroll deduction each pay period. University retirees are also invited to participate as many enjoy the longstanding tradition and generous spirit of this annual event. For those who prefer, a paper pledge card may be obtained by contacting campaign coordinator Jake Losowski at jjlosows@syr.edu or 315.443.4137.

Every dollar raised remains in Central New York to help the United Way address various community needs. Faculty and staff are encouraged to unite with their Orange colleagues to give hope to those with the greatest need in our community.

In case you need inspiration for why your gift matters,  featuring co-chairs of the University’s employee giving campaign, , the deputy athletics director and senior woman administrator, and , vice president of enrollment services, along with other University employees discussing the importance of contributing to the United Way.

Kirsten Elleby

“The United Way is literally changing lives through the work that they do in partnering with other organizations. You never know when your friend, your neighbor, your family member is going to benefit from some of the good that United Way does, so I think it’s really important for us to give back,” Elleby says.

In addition to the co-chairs, the annual campaign is led by a collection of team leaders from colleges and departments across campus who collaborate to promote the campaign and encourage their colleagues to participate.

“The United Way is really the hub of the nonprofit community in Central New York. We have a lot to be fortunate for, so giving back is a way to acknowledge that and make a difference,” says Cristina Hatem, director, strategic marketing and communications for Syracuse University Libraries.

No gift is too small and every dollar helps change lives.

Kevin Du

It’s a mentality that has served Du, an electrical engineering and computer science professor in the , well as he has carved out a decorated career as a global cybersecurity expert. His labs have been used by more than 1,100 institutions and universities across the world, and it all started with the launch of the , which developed hands-on instructional laboratory exercises known as SEED labs for cybersecurity education.

But at the time of its creation in 2002, the experiences Du wanted to provide to his students around cybersecurity education didn’t exist in a practical fashion. He set out to create a virtual training tool that could help prepare cybersecurity experts on how to handle the pressing issues they would face in the future.

The initiative launched thanks to $1.3 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The SEED project’s objectives are to develop an instructional laboratory environment and accompanying laboratory exercises that help students comprehend the practical security principles, concepts and technologies associated with cybersecurity issues; apply those principles to designing and implementing security mechanisms that can counter cybersecurity attacks; analyze and test computer systems for potential security issues; and apply these security principles to resolving real-world cybersecurity problems.

“I designed the SEED project so students can actually walk through those attacks by themselves on their computer,” says Du, who is a fellow of both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Association for Computing Machinery. “Not just talk about the attack, but now they can actually see the attack and think about what they would need to do to stop the attack.”

Since its founding, the open-source (software that is made freely available to interested parties) SEED project, which operates by having the students access the lab work through virtual machines, has accomplished the following:

• Developed more than 40 labs exploring computer and information security topics like software security, network security, web security, operating system security and mobile app security, and
• through its SEED emulator, users can replicate the internet on a single computer, introducing students to hands-on cybersecurity research activities related to the internet, Border Gateway Protocols (the internet’s routing protocol), Domain Name System (the internet’s directory), and Blockchain, Botnet, the Dark-net and more.

“We are not teaching students to carry out these attacks, but if you don’t know what’s happening behind the attack, you won’t know what to do when you encounter an attack,” Du says.

Kevin Du (second from right) has carved out a decorated career as a global cybersecurity expert. His labs have been used by more than 1,100 institutions and universities across the world. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

A Safe, Hands-On Environment for Resolving Cybersecurity Attacks

Before Du created these virtual labs, cyberattacks would be explored on paper, with professors describing how a theoretical cyberattack could be carried out. While it is important for students to understand the theoretical workings of cyberattacks, Du says this approach leaves out the equally important practical application, the actual stopping of a cyberattack as it is happening or once it has happened.

Professors would discuss cyberattacks in theory, but gaining hands-on, practical experience was very limited, for one very good reason, according to Du. Working through cyberattacks represents a security threat, one that can’t be tackled on a normal University-issued computer, because some of the cyberattacks being studied could bring down the entire internet if they were successfully carried out.

The solution, according to Du, was to build virtual machine technology that would allow Syracuse University students—and students in classrooms all across the country—to access and run the cybersecurity software on their own personal computers.

At the time, virtual machine technology was still relatively new on college campuses. Du fine-tuned the project’s goals and objectives, focusing on educating students about the dangers of the different kinds of attacks while emphasizing ways to keep these attacks from happening.

“There was a huge gap between the theory and the practice of a cybersecurity attack. We needed to fill that gap,” Du says. “The big achievement with the SEED lab is we brought the ideas that students were learning about in their research and we simplified those ideas and made this hands-on component that compliments the theoretical teachings.”

Becoming a Global Leader in Cybersecurity

Since starting as a professor at the University in 2001, Du’s research papers have been cited 17,800 times, and he has won two ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security Test-of-Time Awards.

In 2015, Du, who was always interested in hands-on learning, began offering training workshops funded through a $1 million NSF grant for interested cybersecurity educators at colleges and universities across the country. Each summer, approximately 80 instructors converge on Link Hall for a weeklong intensive training workshop where they learn the ins and outs of Du’s open-source software. Since offering the sessions, Du estimates that more than 400 college professors were trained on the software and are now teaching their students many of the same cybersecurity awareness and prevention lessons Du teaches through his labs.

“I’ve found that many instructors share my teaching philosophy that they want to have hands-on practice with their classes, but they’re finding there weren’t many opportunities,” Du says. “Now, my SEED lab can fill that gap and it’s very easy for the instructors to use. Because I put a lot of thought into designing this SEED lab, it makes it easier for other professors to bring the teachings back to their campuses.”

Du has also written a textbook based on the SEED labs, “Computer and Internet Security: A Hands-on Approach,” that is used by nearly 300 universities. Knowing the source material can be a bit dry when digested only in a textbook, Du built a recording studio in his basement and produces video lessons complete with hands-on demonstrations to accompany his lectures. The videos are posted online and available at a cost of $10 per class.

“The videos certainly help enhance the teachings through demonstrations of the attacks or the lessons we’re learning and have helped more people benefit from my SEED labs,” says Du, who hopes to one day introduce artificial intelligence topics into his SEED labs’ educational environment.

Dwayne Murray, deputy director of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA), discusses its impact on campus and around the world, explores what sets Syracuse University apart as a best place for veterans and shares his love for working with veterans and military-connected students.

Syracuse University has a long, proud history of serving our veterans and military-connected students that dates back to World War I and the post-World War II era when thousands of veterans embarked on their journey to a college degree through the G.I. Bill.

One of the central organizations on campus that helps the University accomplish this mission is the (OVMA), which, for the last 10 years has played a critical role in helping veterans, military-connected students and their family members pursue their higher education dreams.

Dwayne Murray ’97 is living out his dream job as the OVMA’s deputy director, and he’s proud of the work the organization does through its programs and initiatives while serving as the University’s central hub for veteran and military-connected students.

Dwayne Murray

“The OVMA sets our veteran and military-connected students with an opportunity to go through the entire life cycle of being connected to Syracuse University, from being recruited to when they graduate with their degrees,” Murray says. “We provide student success opportunities, immersion trips, job readiness activities and an outstanding 100% job placement rate thanks to our career services office.”

Murray was a track and field student-athlete on campus and earned degrees in sociology ( and ) and information management and technology () before enlisting in the U.S. Army immediately after graduating.

Following a decorated 25-year active-duty career in the Army, both as an enlisted soldier and an officer, Murray returned to his alma mater in June 2022 to take on this latest career challenge, which blends his passion for his country with his drive to help veteran and military-connected students achieve their goals.

“To be at the intersection of where I’ve had some of the most formidable experiences of my life as a student, and then to combine that with the purpose, direction and motivation that comes from being in the Army, I had to take advantage of this opportunity,” Murray says. “It’s the only calling for me that was bigger than continuing to serve in the military because I could pay back my institution, I could pay back the students that walk these halls and I could share those lessons I’ve learned and experiences I’ve had with our campus community.”

On this “�Ļ��ܲ��� Conversation,” Murray discusses the impact the OVMA has had on campus and around the world, explores what sets Syracuse University apart as a best place for veterans and shares his love for working with veterans and military-connected students.

Check out . A transcript [PDF] is also available.

Global Impact as a Best Place for Veterans

Murray says the commitment to our veterans and military-connected students is “baked into our DNA as a University,” including the advent of the Student Army Training Corps, which was the forerunner to the Army ROTC. Syracuse University was also home to one of the first Air Force ROTC programs on a college campus in the nation.

Dwayne Murray (second from left) poses with attendees at the OVMA’s Stars & Stripes tailgate.

Among the many ways the OVMA and the University help facilitate the transition from active duty to student, Murray points to:

• a simplified, streamlined admissions process, including waiving application fees, which has led to a 300% increase in enrollment over the last 10 years;
• customized support services;
• innovative and creative programming under the leadership of Director of Veteran Career Services Jennifer Pluta G’15 that has yielded a 100% job placement rate for student veterans;
• a welcoming and inclusive environment, featuring various affinity groups;
• strong cross-campus relationships that lead to expanded opportunities for students; and
• significant scholarship opportunities that eliminate financial barriers to a degree.

Dwayne Murray enjoyed a decorated 25-year active-duty career in the U.S. Army, both as an enlisted soldier and an officer, before returning to Syracuse University in June 2022.

Add it all up and Murray says it’s easy to see why Military Times consistently ranks Syracuse University among the “best place for veterans” among private universities.

“We are fully committed to enhancing the opportunities for our students, and these efforts have led to a global impact,” Murray says. “We have close to 60 veterans enrolled in the fully interactive hybrid online juris doctorate program [known as JDinteractive], which gives our veterans and military-connected students the opportunity to earn their law degree completely online. We have students in the Defense Comptrollership program, that earn an MBA from the and a master’s degree in public administration through the Maxwell School. They go on to serve as leaders in their civilian agencies or their military branch of service.”

National Veterans and Military Families Month

While Murray has always seen Syracuse University as part of his identity—when he was 7 years old, his grandmother bought him a Syracuse sweatshirt from the Salvation Army that became a cherished possession—the University is also ingrained in his family.

Dwayne’s wife, Alison Murray ’01, currently serves as the assistant dean for student assistance with Hendricks Chapel, where she is responsible for religious and spiritual outreach programs and services that assist students seeking holistic support. Alison, who earned a nursing degree on campus, served in the Army for more than 20 years.

With November being National Veterans and Military Families Month, the Murrays are an outstanding example of service to country and passion for giving back to students.

“Alison is a nurse by trade, and Hendricks Chapel is like a hospital in that she can diagnose folks and provide them with the type of support and assistance they need to grow, thrive and be successful,” Dwayne says. “It’s an amazing feeling knowing we share this strong connection with our alma mater.”

Alison and Dwayne Murray.

The Syracuse University Marching Band performs on the steps of Hendricks Chapel during Orange Central Weekend. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

The University welcomed about 1,300 alumni, friends and their families back to campus over the weekend to celebrate our community, our incredible spirit and Orange pride during Orange Central Homecoming Weekend 2024.

The campus came alive with excitement, memories and plenty of good times, including watching the football team pull out a thrilling 38-31 win in overtime against Virginia Tech.

Check out some of the photos below from the weekend’s activities. For more fun photos, browse the Orange Central photo album on the .

Members of the Orange community pose for a photo with Otto at the Homecoming Alumni Breakfast. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

Attendees enjoying a home-cooked meal during the Homecoming Alumni Breakfast. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

During the SU Arts Fair and Brunch, participants demonstrated their rhythm on the drums. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

(From left to right): Alpha Chi Omega sisters Suzanne Hewett ’94, Rhonda Bergeron ’94, P’26, Shannon Von Vassel ’94 and Kim Tromba ’94 are all smiles as they reunite at Orange Central! (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

Orange alumni and student entrepreneurs listen to a panel discussion during the Orange Tank Business Pitch Competition. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

An attendee participates in a flight simulation during the Be a Pilot and Test Out the Flight Simulator with the SU ROTC Air Force Cadets program. (Photo by Liam Kennedy ’26)

Orange Central attendees show off their school spirit in front of the Hall of Languages. (Photo courtesy of the Syracuse University Facebook page)

During the “Destroy All Monsters” Exhibit Tour, attendees learned how fandom and participatory culture developed from the pre-Internet era to present day. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

Participants in the SU Arts Fair and Brunch. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

Forever Orange Friday was a fun and family-friendly evening on the Quad. Check out the JMA Wireless Dome lit up in Orange! (Photo courtesy of the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)

Head coach Fran Brown (center) leading the Orange football team onto the field for Saturday’s Orange Central game vs. Virginia Tech. Syracuse would rally from down 21-3 to earn a 38-31 win inside the JMA Wireless Dome. (Photo courtesy of the )

On this “�Ļ��ܲ��� Conversation,” Jason Davis and Jenny Stromer-Galley offer up tips and tools you can use to help spot misinformation, share advice to help us be better-informed consumers of information and social media, and analyze the latest research on misinformation trends in the upcoming presidential election.

With the increase of misinformation and disinformation on the internet and social media, our brains struggle to process what we’re seeing and whether an image, a video clip or a story is real or not.

Faculty members and have studied the trends and created tools to help discern what’s real and what is synthetic when it comes to content posted online and on social media.

Stromer-Galley is an expert in political campaigns and misinformation and is a professor in the ; Davis is an expert on misinformation and disinformation detection. He is a research professor with the Office of Research and Creative Activity in the , and is also co-director of the .

“Depending on where people are getting their information, the quality and credibility of that information could be quite low,” Stromer-Galley says. “It leaves the public more vulnerable to state actors who are trying to engage in disinformation campaigns or U.S.-based malignant actors who are trying to manipulate the public for their own ends.”

“Our brains have not evolved as fast as the technology, and so we are still as vulnerable as we ever were to the same sorts of approaches at being deceived, intentionally or unintentionally,” Davis says. “With this new digital landscape and digital speed and scale, we need digital tools to help us protect ourselves from ourselves sometimes, and sometimes from that malicious information ecosystem.”

On this “�Ļ��ܲ��� Conversation,” Stromer-Galley and Davis offer up tips and tools you can use to help spot misinformation, share advice to help us be better-informed consumers of information and social media, and analyze the latest research on misinformation trends in the upcoming presidential election.

Check out featuring Davis and Stromer-Galley. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

Semantic Forensics Helping Detect What’s Real and What’s Fake

Davis is involved with the Semantic Forensics program, whose work is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Through his efforts with DARPA, Davis is helping to advance research into the detection of disinformation and misinformation in the media.

Jason Davis

Semantic forensics is the understanding of not just whether something is real or fake, Davis says, but also delves into the why. What was the intent? Who was the target?

In its fourth year of concentrating on this research area, Davis has been developing digital tools that identify synthetic, manipulated media. The program evaluates the detectors being used, striving to understand what they can and can’t do when it comes to identifying synthetic media, as well as how effective they are at spotting real or synthetic content.

“We can say with confidence that this detector works for detecting these kinds of fake, synthetic images at a 98% accuracy, and it is capable of doing this but not being able to do that. They’re not a panacea, but here’s what they can do, so we learn how to use these detection devices properly and use them appropriately,” Davis says. “Then there’s the development of the tools and the modeling of the threat landscape. How do we create controlled versions of what we know is going on out there in the wild so that we can study, train and better understand our capabilities.”

Investigating Social Media Spending Trends and Messaging Behind Political Ads

Stromer-Galley, who leads the University’s  team, has studied misinformation trends in this presidential race and other top 2024 contests.

Jenny Stromer-Galley

After the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, over the summer, the ElectionGraph team explored the money being spent by the candidates, political action committees, political parties and unknown actors that mentioned presidential candidates in advertisements on both Facebook and Instagram.

The aim was to “visualize the firehose of information and misinformation coming at voters from groups with a jumble of motives, ties and trustworthiness ahead of the 2024 elections,” Stromer-Galley says.

The findings showed that:

• negative social media advertising in the presidential race increased after the assassination attempt;
• nearly 3,500 Facebook pages from outside organizations spent $55 million over the past year in an effort to influence the public this election season; and
• there was a pattern of “coordinated inauthentic behavior” among some outside organizations, including a large network of Facebook pages running ads (costing an estimated $5 million) aimed at scamming the public under the guise of supporting a presidential candidate’s campaign that garnered roughly 234 million impressions.

“To our surprise, there was a large network of individuals and organizations that we didn’t know who was behind this that were running scam ads targeted to people who are activated and excited about the presidential election. They were capitalizing on their enthusiasm by turning over their credit cards and then they’re getting scammed,” Stromer-Galley says. “While Facebook is trying to take down those pages, the scammers continue to stay a step ahead.”

Tips to Ward Off Misinformation

When you find yourself aimlessly scrolling through social media without thinking about the validity of what you just saw, that act makes you fully engaged in the platform and susceptible to misinformation or disinformation.

Users are encouraged to embrace cognitive friction when scrolling, because, according to both Davis and Stromer-Galley, the social media apps are designed for you to absorb content at face value, without applying deeper thought to who was behind the post or what their intent might be. By increasing friction, you take the proactive step of slowing down and contemplating the legitimacy of a post.

Both Davis and Stromer-Galley say that the best defense to misinformation and disinformation campaigns is knowledge, urging people to get their news from a wide-range of diverse, traditional media outlets, and to not solely rely on social media as a reliable news source.

Knowing that students have questions about the voting process, and hoping to improve awareness and engagement around voting, the University’s  has put together a [PDF] that outlines the specific deadlines and requirements for students.

Included in the “�Ļ��ܲ��� Otto Vote” guide is information about the following:

• how to register to vote and when your state’s voter registration deadline is
• whether you need to request an absentee ballot and the requirements you must meet to be eligible
• how to get your ballot sent to campus and information on changing your mailing address and whether you should list your campus mailing address
• postmark and absentee ballot return deadlines for every state and which states offer online ballot tracking
• how to cast your ballot on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, if you plan on voting in Syracuse

María Quiñones Rios

“It’s important that we acknowledge that voting is a right and we should all exercise that right,” says María Quiñones Rios ’25, SA’s communications director who is studying public relations in the .

“This was about making sure our students have all the information they need to make sure they can vote in the upcoming elections, and that they know their vote will count,” Rios says. “We see a lot of young people be disillusioned with politics in the United States and it’s really important to let students know that they do have a voice and that their voice is their vote.”

Additionally, SA has collaborated with the to ensure current students have the proper access to participate in the upcoming elections. NYPIRG has been conducting tabling in the Schine Student Center encouraging students to register to vote.

The SA is the official student governing and advocacy body for the nearly 16,000 Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry undergraduates.

Students in New York with additional questions about the voter registration process can visit the .

From an early age, Mark Radel ’28 always demonstrated compassion for his peers. As a precocious 9-year-old, Mark would rush onto the basketball court (accompanied by the coaches) whenever someone got hurt to check in and offer a helping hand.

Luke Radel ’26 says empathy is his brother’s superpower. “Mark is overflowing with empathy, and he has a great ability to know if somebody is having a bad day, and what he can do to help them through it,” Luke says, with a proud smile—and that trait will serve Mark well as he strives for a career in sports and exercise science as an athletic trainer.

Mark’s career ambition is being supported by , an initiative from the  that sets a high standard among inclusive higher education programs, making higher education more accessible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through individualized and inclusive coursework, student-centered planning, internships, and social and extracurricular activities.

“I want to help people. I’m loving learning about the body, and how what we eat helps make us strong, and when I graduate, I want to work with my football team, the Buffalo Bills, as a trainer,” says Mark, a sports and exercise science major at the University who was born with Down syndrome.

When Luke (left) attended Syracuse University and study both political science and broadcast and digital journalism, Mark decided to follow in his brother’s footsteps. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

An Unbreakable Bond

Mark’s benevolent spirit helped Luke during his darkest days. While visiting colleges with his family in Boston, Massachusetts, Luke, an aspiring broadcast journalist, was out to dinner when he discovered his voice had left him. Realizing there was a potential health problem, Luke checked into Massachusetts General Hospital for observation.

Within a few hours, the doctors gave Luke their diagnosis: Stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. With his head spinning, Luke began undergoing chemotherapy sessions twice a month for six months, oftentimes for five or more hours per visit. What got him through those trying times?

“Mark was by my side, and his compassion was so helpful. Plus, he gives the best hugs. Whenever I was having a bad day, those hugs were just amazing and turned my day around,” says Luke, whose cancer is in remission. “Mark’s had his fair share of health struggles, and in that moment, I realized what Mark overcomes every day just to keep going, all the work he does to go to school and live his life. If he’s taking on that daunting situation every single day, I can take care of my chemotherapy.”

When Luke decided to attend Syracuse University and study both political science in the and broadcast and digital journalism in the , Mark decided to follow in his brother’s footsteps, applying to and being granted admission into InclusiveU’s highly competitive program.

Their unbreakable bond was further strengthened as roommates on campus. Luke helps Mark with his homework and with prepping his meals, and configured Mark’s Google Maps app on his phone with the relevant directions needed for Mark to traverse campus on a daily basis.

Luke and Mark Radel during their shared class in the Falk College. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

“Mark is Mr. Independent on campus. He doesn’t want to rely on someone else to help him get across campus. He’s done an amazing job of navigating everything it takes to be a student,” Luke says. “I’m really grateful to be at an institution like Syracuse that is always striving to ensure everybody has access to the opportunities they need to succeed and feel welcome in these spaces.”

Life-Changing Opportunities

From the moment Mark came into his life, Luke has embraced advocating on behalf of his brother, fighting to ensure he was given access to every possible opportunity. It’s part of the Radel family’s genetic makeup. Their father, Patrick, was an attorney who helped people with mental and developmental disabilities be included in their elementary and high school’s educational programs, and their mother, Mary, created a support group, , that raises awareness and educates and connects parents of children born with Down syndrome to resources.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, which, Luke says, is the perfect time for members of the University to learn how people with Down syndrome are valuable contributors to the University community.

“People with Down syndrome are more alike than they are different from us. Mark needs to be in environments that will push him outside of his comfort zone and push the limits of what a person with Down syndrome can accomplish,” Luke says. “You’ll be helping Mark by interacting with him, but you’re also helping yourself gain a better understanding of how people with Down syndrome see and interact with the world around them.

Inspired to become a broadcast journalist from his efforts advocating on Mark’s behalf, Luke has amassed an impressive portfolio as a broadcast journalist, recently covering both the Republican and Democratic national conventions and serving as a in Utica, New York.

Luke hopes to use his dual degrees to continue telling impactful stories that make a difference, including his brother’s inspirational journey to Syracuse University.

When Mark got his acceptance letter into InclusiveU I cried tears of joy. I was so excited for him, and I have loved being able to share in the Syracuse University journey with Mark, Luke says.

“I always wanted to go to college, and being here with my brother has been amazing. This experience has changed my life,” Mark says.

Sports as a Unifying Force

A lifelong fan of playing sports, Mark Radel enjoys participating in the Special Olympics Unified Sports club basketball team on campus. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

The table tennis area in the lounge of Luke’s off-campus apartment complex is getting quite the workout on a Tuesday morning before they both have class in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Good-natured comments fly back and forth whenever a point is scored. Their friendly matches, typically a best two-out-of-three affair, offer insights into their dynamic.

“It’s fun to play sports and I like learning new things while I am playing,” Mark says. “And I like to beat Luke. We always have fun when we play.”

“Oh yeah, this is always fun whenever we play [table tennis]. Mark loves watching and playing sports because it’s exciting and fun for him, and it’s a great way to stay active and also be part of a team and a community. Mark just loves being around people,” Luke adds.

Outside of their sibling showdowns in table tennis, Mark also participates in the Special Olympics Unified Sports club basketball team on campus, practicing every Sunday in the Women’s Building.

Surrounded by friends, Mark takes great pride in his basketball abilities. “It’s fun to shoot, dribble the ball and then pass it to my teammates, but what I’m really good at is shooting and scoring,” Mark says with a smile—but more than his performance, he enjoys the camaraderie and friendships that form with his peers.

“It’s the best. We cheer each other on, cheer for big shots and we all want everyone to play well and have fun,” Mark says. “I play better when my teammates are cheering me on, yelling ‘Mark, Mark, Mark!’ It makes me happy and motivates me.”

Brothers Mark (left) and Luke Radel share an unbreakable bond, one that has only strengthened during their time at Syracuse University.

An avid fan of the Syracuse University football team, Luke and Mark eagerly await each home game. Mark can often be found yelling and cheering on the team while wearing his No. 6 Syracuse jersey, originally purchased to honor former starting quarterback Garrett Shrader ’23, but this year, the jersey is a nod to current starting quarterback Kyle McCord ’25.

From his seats in the 300 section inside the JMA Wireless Dome, fans flock to Mark’s infectious attitude, exchanging fist bumps and high-fives every time Syracuse comes up with a big play.

“It’s really cool and it makes me feel great to know I’m making new friends while we’re cheering on Syracuse,” Mark says.

“Mark has such a big smile on his face when he’s interacting with our fans, and it makes me so happy to see his joy,” Luke adds.

The employee giving campaign runs through Friday, Dec. 13. Celebrating 102 years of impact in the local community, the  funds 73 different human service programs and projects at 34 nonprofit partners.

Kirsten Elleby

“The United Way makes a direct impact on people through supporting a variety of amazing initiatives and programs within our community. You will treasure the feeling when you know your dollar helped make a profound difference in someone’s life, perhaps even a family member or a friend in need,” says , one of the co-chairs of the University’s employee giving campaign and the deputy athletics director and senior woman administrator.

University employees are encouraged to consider making a voluntary pledge through MySlice. Options are available for either a one-time donation or a recurring donation through payroll deduction each pay period. University retirees are also invited to participate as many enjoy the longstanding tradition and generous spirit of this annual event. For those who prefer, a paper pledge card may be obtained by contacting campaign coordinator Jake Losowski at jjlosows@syr.edu or 315.443.4137.

In case you need inspiration for why your gift matters,  featuring Elleby and her fellow University co-chair for the campaign, , vice president of enrollment services, along with other University employees discussing the importance of contributing to the United Way.

Ryan Williams

“Syracuse University is crucial to the vitality of the broad Syracuse community. When we partner with the United Way of Central New York, we ensure that services and supports are made available to community members who need them,” Williams says. “I have personally seen how United Way agencies change lives and knowing that Syracuse University faculty, students and staff contributed made it even more impactful.”

Every dollar raised remains in Central New York to help the United Way address various community needs. Faculty and staff are encouraged to unite with their Orange colleagues to give hope to those with the greatest need in our community.

Through the Syracuse University employee giving campaign, faculty and staff can give back to this initiative that supports and empowers the United Way to continue making a vast impact in our community.

“I challenge us to come together and make this year the best turnout ever for the Syracuse University campaign—to not only reach our monetary goals, but more importantly the goals of making our community stronger, prouder and more united than ever before,” Elleby says.

Many departments organize activities to raise additional funds to be donated to the campaign. Fundraising activities have included bake sales, raffles, contests and gift baskets. In the past, the Department of Public Safety held a step counting challenge, while Syracuse University Libraries held a bake sale that was popular with staff and students with all proceeds benefiting the United Way. Employees are encouraged to get involved, even if they have not participated in the campaign in the past.

In addition to the co-chairs, the annual campaign is led by a collection of team leaders from colleges and departments across campus who collaborate to promote the campaign and encourage their colleagues to participate.

“This campaign touches so many different aspects of peoples’ lives. It’s not just to give money to a company for them to do this one goal. It’s how can we take these funds and find the most important or the most critical or the ideal place to help the community in the best way possible,” says Kristin Jeter, access services librarian with Syracuse University Libraries.

No gift is too small and every dollar helps change lives.

“You don’t miss one or two dollars a week coming out of your paycheck. And that little bit can help make a big difference. Community is everyone working together for a common goal,” says Charlotte Stahrr, academic program administrator in the College of Professional Studies.

InclusiveU Director Brianna Shults and student Matthew Falanga discuss the life-changing opportunities InclusiveU affords its students, how InclusiveU has made a profound impact, how InclusiveU has become the standard-bearer for how colleges run an inclusive higher education program and how the benefits extend to the greater campus community.

The White House. Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The New York State Capitol building in Albany.

Matthew Falanga

These are just some of the places an enthusiastic delegation from Syracuse University’s InclusiveU program have traveled over the years, meeting with policymakers, politicians and higher education leaders to push for change to make higher education more accessible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

For more than a decade, InclusiveU, an initiative from the , has set the standard by which all other inclusive higher education programs are judged. Its model encompasses individualized and inclusive coursework, student-centered planning, internships, and social and extracurricular activities.

“I always wanted to go to college, and when I heard about Syracuse University and its InclusiveU program, I knew that was where I wanted to go to achieve my dreams,” says Matthew Falanga ’26, who was born with Down syndrome and is majoring in communications at Syracuse. “The best part of coming to Syracuse is making new friends and being involved on campus. It makes me feel very happy.”

Over the last 10 years, InclusiveU has experienced exponential growth and is now the largest program of its kind in the country. This year, 102 students are pursuing their academic dreams on campus, including 44 students who, like Falanga, live in residence halls.

Check out featuring Falanga and InclusiveU Director Brianna Shults G’20. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

Recruiting Advocates, Reducing Stigmas

Over the years, InclusiveU Director Brianna Shults G’20 has led countless trips to bring current InclusiveU students and recent graduates to meet with elected officials. These trips serve to recruit new advocates, increase support and awareness of the program, and reduce the stigmas that still exist surrounding students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The opportunities InclusiveU affords aren’t readily available for many students like Falanga. According to , only 2% of school-age students with intellectual disability are likely to attend college after high school, and of the 472 colleges and universities in New York state, only 24 have inclusive postsecondary education programs.

Brianna Shults

“There was this cliff that many students with developmental and intellectual disabilities would drop off once they graduated high school. Some would find work or a program that filled time in their day, while some would do volunteer activities. Some just stayed home. By being able to take that next step in their development alongside their peers, continuing their educations while gaining skills to launch their careers, InclusiveU has given students the opportunity to define who they are and what they want to be. They get to have the same experiences their peers were afforded,” Shults says.

Now, thanks to a $200,000 grant from the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, the School of Education’s  will provide technical assistance to schools and colleges in Western and Central New York to create and enhance inclusive college programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This is in addition to the technical assistance InclusiveU has already provided to colleges and universities in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee when representatives from those institutions visited campus in 2023. InclusiveU students led campus tours while sharing how their higher education experiences had changed their lives.

“There are not enough inclusive programs like ours and our field is very collaborative. We want all students with intellectual or developmental disabilities who want to go to college to have an opportunity that fits their needs,” Shults says. “The demand versus available opportunity and the capacity of these programs is something that needs support. We are thankful for the Golisano Foundation’s help to build out this program and provide the type of support and knowledge that other programs [at other institutions] are looking for.”

Celebrating People With Disabilities

For many adolescent students with developmental disabilities, the pursuit of higher education is filled with roadblocks and can be a daunting task for both aspiring students and their families. But thanks to InclusiveU, students of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities are empowered to come to campus and experience college life in a fully inclusive setting, learning the necessary skills to thrive in the classroom and find a job after graduation.

These experiences prove to be life-changing for students like Falanga, who over the summer interned with , where he worked on a project promoting voting rights for people with disabilities, and also represented InclusiveU as an inclusive higher education advocate at a Disability Pride Event in the White House.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Falanga, who had a specific message for the government officials he met during his visit.

“Just because I was born with a disability, I want to celebrate my disability. I also want to help other people with disabilities feel better about themselves. Be proud of who you are. It is important for people with disabilities to learn about these programs [like InclusiveU] and know that they can go to college and start their new life,” says Falanga, who hopes to use his degree to land a job where he can help create more legislation that opens doors for people with disabilities.

Representing InclusiveU at a Disability Pride Event in the White House over the summer were (from left to right): Karly Grifasi, assistant director of operations and communications, Jennifer Quinn, internship and employment coordinator, Matthew Falanga and Shafreya Wilkins.

Opening Doors for All

Syracuse University has a proud 154-year history of opening its doors to all students who are interested in receiving a college degree, regardless of their background or upbringing.

InclusiveU, which was founded in 2001 as a dual enrollment program with the Syracuse City School District, has provided the necessary skills for students to both thrive in the classroom and find a job after graduation. By incorporating InclusiveU students in classes with the general Syracuse University student body, Shults says the entire campus community benefits.

“It helps make all Syracuse University students better friends, better classmates, better coworkers and better community members,” Shults says. “Having this experience and interaction with InclusiveU students helps our whole campus think inclusively. It helps our administration think differently and more inclusively. We’re able to adjust the way students access their classes or how they interact with faculty to make sure those experiences are inclusive for all.”

Equipped for Lifelong Success

The initiative’s work is evolving. InclusiveU students now participate in the University’s First Year Seminar course, and in May, InclusiveU is launching the first inclusive Syracuse Abroad experience to Italy, with a goal of expanding opportunities for its students to study abroad.

Once they earn Syracuse degrees, many InclusiveU students successfully find paid, competitive jobs, due in part to the strong relationships InclusiveU develops with its partners, both on campus and in the Central New York community. It’s also a result of the yearlong internships InclusiveU students participate in as part of their three years of academic education.

Matthew Falanga (left) and Shafreya Wilkins during a visit to Washington, D.C.

But there’s more work to be done when it comes to support and funding for InclusiveU, including thinking beyond the students’ time on campus.

“We want to ensure that students can lead the lives that they want to live afterwards, and that goes for employment, community involvement and living situations. We have advocated for ending subminimum wage and closing sheltered workshops. The Higher Education Opportunity Act hasn’t been reauthorized since 2008,” Shults says. “These are all really important things to help individuals with disabilities lead productive and meaningful lives beyond higher education.”

For now, Falanga is focusing on fine-tuning his public speaking skills, continuing to make new friends on campus and finding ways to get and stay involved with the University he loves so much.

“Syracuse University makes me feel very happy and proud. InclusiveU has helped me to make new friends, take great classes and explore my career choices. This has changed my life,” Falanga says.

For many Orange students, joining a (RSO) is a terrific way to not only become more involved on campus, but also explore and expand your interests and discover your community by making new friends.

From celebrating your cultural heritage and cultivating your academic interests to furthering your career ambitions and pursuing your recreational passions, with more than 300 RSOs, club sports offerings and Greek life chapters on campus, there’s truly something for everyone.

Anne Lombard

“Involvement on campus is important to student success. There is a significant body of research on college students that indicates that students who are involved and find their ‘home’ on campus are more likely to be successful and more likely to graduate,” says , executive director of student engagement.

While the options are unlimited, the number of hours in a day a student has to commit to extracurricular activities is not. Becoming too involved with clubs and RSOs can lead to poor grades in the classroom, burnout and feeling overwhelmed by increasing responsibilities.

Especially for new students, who are just learning the time management skills needed to juggle their academic courseload with campus involvement, Lombard recommends exercising patience.

“Don’t get over-involved, especially in your first semester. It’s important to get yourself on solid ground academically before getting involved in RSOs and activities. For many students, academic expectations are much greater than they were in high school. Involvement outside the classroom is important, but students’ academic pursuit is why they are here,” says Lombard, who leads a team of staff members who work directly with the RSOs on campus.

Lombard sat down with SU News to offer advice on how students can avoid involvement burnout, questions to ask before becoming a member of a club or RSO and resources available to help with the decision-making process.

Is there a right time for new students to join a club/RSO?

Three students represent their student organization at a table on the Quad as part of the Student Involvement Fair for Recognized Student Organizations. (Photo by Tiancheng Tang ’26)

I generally encourage new students to join one RSO in their first semester so that they can get used to college-level coursework, living away from home (if applicable) and being more independent. One RSO is doable for most people. More than that might be too much in your first semester.

What are some questions students should ask themselves before signing up?

Students have an almost endless array of organizations from which to choose at Syracuse University and can easily feel overwhelmed by the variety of choices or get over-extended. Any student considering involvement in RSOs should ask themselves what they hope to gain from the experience and how much time they can realistically dedicate to non-academic pursuits. Not every RSO needs to relate directly to their career goals or future path. There can be many reasons to join a group, including meeting new people and looking to connect with like-minded students.

What kind of research should students undertake before joining?

Students should be very honest about how much time they have to dedicate to involvement outside the classroom. Students can learn a lot about groups by attending events like the Student Involvement Fair, held at the beginning of each semester, and using , a web-based portal focused on connecting students to involvement opportunities on campus.

How will a student know if they have taken on too many responsibilities?

If a student starts cutting corners to complete things, stops enjoying their responsibilities or their responsibilities begin to feel like a burden, those could be signs that a student has taken on too much. They should listen to what their intuition is telling them. Most students probably recognize when they’re getting overextended.

What advice do you have for students who realize they might have taken on more than they can handle?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Students should know there are faculty and staff who care about them and their experience. There are many people and offices who want to help and who want students to be successful.

Be sure to visit for more information on the resources available, including a , how to , upcoming , questions on , staff members to and .

Students (from left) Janese Fayson ’26, Astrid Melendez ’25 and Adalys Sanchez ’26 share what their Latine heritage means to them, how they’ve discovered a cultural home on campus and why they wanted to get involved in planning Latine Heritage Month celebrations on campus.

What does it mean to be a descendant of Latine/x/o/a and Hispanic heritage and trace your cultural roots to one of the more than 20 Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, Central America, South America or the Caribbean?

It’s impossible to come up with a singular defining trait, characteristic or value that represents Latine culture, but beginning this week and running through Oct. 26, the University community is coming together to learn more about the rich cultural history of various identities within the Latine community during Latine Heritage Month (LHM).

Three current students—Astrid Melendez ’25, Adalys Sanchez ’26 and Janese Fayson ’26—share what their Latine heritage means to them, how they’ve discovered a cultural home on campus and why they wanted to get involved in planning LHM celebrations.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Fronteras Sin Limites: Embracing our Borderless Cultures,” exploring the experiences of Latine communities who live along and across borders, both physical and cultural, and highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the Latine community who navigate multiple identities and spaces.

Learn the stories of how these three student leaders celebrate their cultures, then check out the complete schedule of .

Astrid Melendez ’25

Academic major: Information management and technology ()

What is your cultural heritage? “My entire family is from Lima, Peru.”

Astrid Melendez

What role does your cultural heritage play in your life? “It plays a very important role. Growing up in Germany and moving to the United States when I was in elementary school, I knew that my cultural background made me different. My parents left Peru when they were in their 30s, and growing up, my parents were still learning English. Spanish was my first language and no matter where I lived, our Peruvian culture was always prevalent in my day-to-day life. Especially when it came to language, food and our customs. When I am at Syracuse, I like to cook Peruvian meals and treats like Lomo Saltado and Alfajores. Back home, my family and I often go to Peruvian cultural events and restaurants.”

How have you found a cultural home on campus? “Joining SALSA [the South American and Latine Student Association] is the place I have been able to find a cultural home at Syracuse. Before SALSA, I had never met any other Peruvian my age that wasn’t related to me. It made me happy to not only get to meet other Peruvian college students, but also other students with South American heritage. SALSA and its members have turned into a family for me here.”

How has SALSA helped? “SALSA’s mission is to have a student organization focused on South American culture and we thrive creating events while educating and building a community for students belonging to or interested in South American cultures. I’m currently president, and this club is special and exciting! I’ve learned more about other South American countries and cultures and it’s been amazing working with the proud and passionate executive board members.”

Adalys Sanchez ’26

Academic major: Earth science with a minor in women and gender studies ()

What is your cultural heritage? “I am a first-generation college student who was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and I also have family roots in the Dominican Republic.”

Adalys Sanchez

What role does your cultural heritage play in your life? “My Puerto Rican heritage shapes my perspective on resilience and community, influencing my drive to succeed as a first-generation student. It deeply influences my passion for environmental justice, as I’ve witnessed firsthand the effects of environmental inequality on marginalized communities. Part of why I wish to study environmental law is because I want to go back home and create sustainable policies that allow everyone to live in a safe and clean environment. My heritage is also important because it means that if I succeed in my career goals, I will be bringing a new and diverse perspective to the legal field.

“Whenever I’m home, I try to visit the different parts of the island to learn about our rich history. I also participate in local festivals such as Fiestas Patronales, where the streets come alive with music, dancing and traditional foods. And during the holidays, our culture really comes alive. At Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), we gather for large feasts of traditional food, including some of my favorite food like arroz con gandules (rice with peas), lechon (pork) and coquito (a coconut-flavored drink similar to eggnog). We also tell stories and do parrandas (similar to caroling).”

How have you found a cultural home on campus? “Through the student organizations I belong to, like the Puerto Rican Student Association, which allows me to connect with other people who celebrate Puerto Rican culture, discussing current events on the island and getting to organize events where we participate in our traditions. It really makes me feel like I have a little piece of home here with me at Syracuse. I’m also a member of the Raíces Dance Troupe since I’ve always loved dancing and I can enjoy my culture through music and movement.”

Why did you want to get involved in organizing the LHM celebrations? “Latinx culture is deeply rooted in community, joy and resilience, which are often expressed through vibrant celebrations, music and gatherings. My main role was organizing the (Oct. 10), where students can have fun roller-skating while enjoying one of the most prominent music genres in current Latinx culture. I want everyone, especially first-year students, to embrace their roots and do so in ways that educate the community while having fun and empowering ourselves. I want to show how important claiming your heritage can be to finding your place on campus and in society.”

Janese Fayson ’26

Academic majors: Marketing and finance ()

What is your cultural heritage? “I am a first-generation college student from Miami, Florida. I am Black and Puerto Rican.”

Janese Fayson

What role does your cultural heritage play in your life? “My heritage influences so many things, from my style to my way of expressing myself, it is so inherently engrained in me. Good music, great food and amazing company is my go-to way to celebrate. I love my heritage.”

How have you found a cultural home on campus? “I belong to so many different organizations [including the Caribbean Student Association, the Black Student Union, Student Living and Student Association], not only because I enjoy being involved, but because I love being able to meet new people, some of whom share similar identities with me, and others who do not. I feel so immersed in culture when I am with them.”

How has the Caribbean Student Association helped? “I joined my freshmen year at the Welcome Fête and have been involved ever since, now holding the title of president. Our mission is to uplift, inspire and bring Caribbean people and the Syracuse community together. It has helped me find some of my favorite people and I learn something from them every day, whether about their culture, heritage or as individuals. Being president of such a vast organization is so fulling for so many different reasons and I have learned more about myself through it all.”

Buzard and her longtime research partners— (associate professor of economics at Tufts University) and (associate professor of economics at Brigham Young University)—received word this summer that they had been selected by the Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute to conduct research as visiting scholars at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

They will spend two weeks furthering their studies on how women carry a disproportionate share of the mental load, but the exact dates for their residency were held up over child care concerns for Gee and Stoddard. The trio expects to convene at the Federal Reserve in the spring or early summer of 2025.

When it comes to these invisible tasks—which can include scheduling medical appointments, arranging child care and carpools and planning for other child-related extracurricular activities—this is par for the course, according to the preliminary findings of their research proposal.

Kristy Buzard

“There have been several times when one of my co-authors has been presenting the paper and they have to pause because their child’s school is calling and they have to stop what they’re doing to take the call,” says Buzard, a Melvin A. Eggers Economics Faculty Scholar and senior research associate for the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration.

“Our research strives to understand the disproportionate burden of the mental load that it seems women bear, but we’re also planning on going deeper to understand why that happens, and what the impacts are. Hopefully, this may help us better understand the wage gap between men and women.”

To study the inequality in external demands placed on women, Buzard, Gee and Stoddard ran a large, randomized control trial where they sent emails from fictitious parents in heterosexual relationships to school principals asking them to contact one of the parents. Recording which parent the principal contacted and their reaction to different messages parents might send, Buzard says the group set out to quantify why principals would insist on calling the woman even if she says she’s busy, while respecting the man’s stance that he was unavailable.

The research revealed that mothers are 1.4 times more likely to be contacted by their child’s school than fathers and that parents had a relatively difficult time getting schools, doctors’ offices, day care facilities, places of worship and other organizations to respect their wishes when it comes to which parent should be contacted when issues arise.

“These principals responded less strongly to the signals the moms were sending about being unavailable while largely not calling the men who say they’re unavailable,” says Buzard. “This asymmetry in how the principals behaved led us to ask about the mental load and why mothers end up taking on more of the responsibility when there are more external demands being asked of them?”

Buzard sat down with SU News to discuss the goals of this research, how being a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis will advance their efforts and why women have a larger parenting burden placed on them than men.

How will this residency help advance your research?

We’re hoping the Federal Reserve has data they can share that will shed light on our research. The Fed is not a monolith; there’s the Federal Reserve Board at the center as well as the twelve Reserve Banks and all their branches. There are research departments and community development departments. There are economists and people who are more policy and outreach focused who are also interested in these same issues. The more that we as academics, specifically economists, can do to be in touch with people on the policy front lines, the better our research is going to be. We need to be in touch with the policy landscape and I’m excited to connect with the Federal Reserve’s network.

How are you and your team incorporating the data you’ve collected and interpreting what it says about why women have a larger burden placed on them than men?

One of the early pieces of data we’re working with is taking transcripts from the voicemails that were left for us from principals—about 17,000 voicemails (out of the 80,000 principals we called)—and doing a sentiment analysis to quantify how nice or mean or happy the principals were in the voicemail. That is, we’re studying what sentiment was embodied in the way these people are talking when they leave the message.

We’re in the very early stage, but what we expect is that if the email sends a signal that says the mother’s unavailable—which goes against the social norm—and if there is pressure on women to always be available as parents, we’d see more negative sentiment from principals when the mother said she was unavailable. If that response is going to be judged negatively, we would hope we could pick that up in these voicemails. If the father is not available, our guess is that’s not really an issue for the principal.

There are these subtle and not-so-subtle social cues that tell women that this [always being available for your child] is your job and you’re bad if you don’t do it. Where does this come from? Why do women do more of this work? If the mother lets something fall through the cracks, is she treated differently than if dad lets something fall through the cracks? These are some of the questions we want to explore.

Why have we seen a slowdown in the closing of the wage gap between men and women?

It closed over time and now it’s kind of stubbornly sitting there, but we’re a bit puzzled at this point as a profession in being able to explain exactly why we don’t seem to be able to [fully] close the wage gap. I’m not sure we can say it has stopped closing, but if you look from the 1980s on, there was a big closing of the gap as more women came into the workforce and we shifted to dual-earner families.

It seems like we’ve hit some kind of limit and we’re not seeing the gap close at any appreciable rate and at this point, a big part of the gap can be explained by motherhood. There’s also a path dependency because child care is so expensive that unless you have two people who are both super-high earners, there is an economic incentive for one of them to step out of the labor force to take care of children when they’re young. Because historically women have made less than men, oftentimes the calculus says it’s better for the family if the mother is the one who steps out of the workforce. But none of this is in isolation—these are norms that developed over time and we’re kind of just stuck now.

What are some of the other intended or unintended results of this research as it pertains to the wage gap between men and women?

If we really want to understand the gender wage gap, we need to think about the ways that the anticipation of this gap has people making career decisions from very early on. We conducted a survey asking a range of questions, thinking about the fact that you might have extra demands coming from parenthood and how that might affect your choice of a college major.

We see twice as many women as men saying they thought hard about this when they chose their college major. We see a lot more people saying they chose to stay at home for some portion of the time [since becoming a mother versus becoming a father]. We see people saying they chose more flexible arrangements, or they might take less money in exchange for more flexibility. The reason all of this is important, aside from people’s health and happiness, is that this can place women at a real disadvantage in terms of long-term outcomes in the labor market.

Head football coach Fran Brown uses the life lessons football teaches to transform his Syracuse University student-athletes into men who are invested in their community and put the needs of the team above their own needs.

The Fran Brown era got off to a fantastic start when the Syracuse University football team defeated Ohio University 38-22 Saturday afternoon before a raucous crowd of students, Central New York community members and alumni of the football program inside the JMA Wireless Dome.

Since his hiring as the program’s 31st head coach on Nov. 28, 2023, Brown has been busy making his mark, bringing in a slew of talented student-athletes and coaches while focusing on once again turning the Orange into national championship contenders.

But this job is about more than football for Brown, who came to Syracuse as the nation’s top college football recruiter and a member of the 2022 College Football National Championship coaching staff with the University of Georgia. Brown uses the life lessons football teaches to transform his players into men who are invested in their community and put the needs of the team above their own needs.

Fran Brown

“Football has changed everything. It’s helped me be where I’m at today because of teamwork, because it’s bigger than just yourself. When you’re able to give it everything you’ve got, and it’s for us, not for I, then it becomes about everybody,” Brown says. “Now that I’m in the position I’m in, I can take football and I can help people literally change lives. I can be a blessing to others and to the community.”

Brown is a self-made man who came from humble beginnings in Camden, New Jersey, and football became an outlet for Brown. He excelled on the gridiron as Camden High School’s quarterback. After spending a year playing for Hudson Valley Community College, Brown was recruited to play for Western Carolina University by Matt Rhule, future head coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Brown thrived at cornerback, earning first-team All-Southern Conference honors and serving as team captain en route to earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Brown credits his coaches for helping him reach his full potential as a football player and, more importantly, as a man focused on making a difference in his community.

“My coaches were good, positive men that were teaching me the right things and wanted to see me be successful,” says Brown. “That just poured into me and has been a big influence on my coaching career. You always take all the good that everyone gives you and you want to be able to give back, to help, to push young men to go be successful in life.”

With excitement building around the Orange football team—faculty and staff are encouraged to purchase their tickets to Saturday’s —Brown stopped by the “�Ļ��ܲ��� ��DzԱ���������پ��DzԲ�” podcast to discuss how he’s making his mark on the program, why he’s all-in on Syracuse University football and how his upbringing shaped and molded him into the leader he is today.

Check out featuring Brown. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

How can you describe the emotions of this past weekend?

Fran Brown talks with his student-athletes during Saturday’s season-opening win over Ohio University. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Athletics)

It was cool. It was emotional, just because of my family and getting them to have the opportunity to see me become a head coach. It’s a milestone when it comes to the entire family, my wife, my children, my siblings, my aunts and uncles. I’m extremely happy for them, and more so I’m happy for all the buildup from this community and how, since day one, we’ve gotten buy-in from the community. Everyone, the community, the staff, the faculty, the students, the alumni, everyone has been behind us. Everybody’s been open arms wanting to see us be successful. This win was for them. We deserved to start this out the right way.

How nervous were you before kickoff?

There were uncontrollable nerves! I was extremely nervous, but at the same time, when you prepare like we have, it’s a little bit of anxiety and that’s a part of the game. But I knew we were prepared. I didn’t lack the preparation, so it was just about football. I’m just thankful and happy that everybody [in the JMA Dome] got to enjoy their Saturday with a win.

What did you learn about yourself after your first game as a head coach?

Fran Brown takes in the action during his first game as head coach at Syracuse University. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Athletics)

I’ve got to control my composure on certain things. I was still in a practice mindset. My coaching staff did a great job and I learned that I was able to trust them and let them do what they need to do. Keep the players involved, even if they’re not on the field. Just getting everyone to focus on the game. Be where your feet are. It’s mental toughness. This is bigger than just a football game. Football teaches us about life and teaches us how to take care of all those little things.

With our core values, we are DART (Detailed, Accountable, Relentless, Tough). We need to be able to live DART at all times. Are you being detailed? Accountable? Relentless? When things are going the wrong way, are you displaying toughness?

What is the thought process behind DART?

I figured out what I can give these young men, outside of trying to get them closer to their faith, that they can take with them for the rest of their lives. No matter the situation, this DART tool is going to get them in and out of some of the toughest situations in their lives. Anyone that is going to lead a business, lead a family or be successful needs to be detailed, be accountable and be able to hold others accountable and be comfortable with others holding you accountable. You’re going to have to be relentless going after what it is you want to be in life. And you should be tough. If you’re DART in everything you do, you’re probably going to be very successful.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

New Student Association President German Nolivos ’26 (right) and Vice President Reed Granger ’26 strive to get as many student voices as possible involved in the decision-making process on campus.

Listen. Learn. Lead.

Those three simple verbs were repeatedly emphasized by German Nolivos ’26 and Reed Granger ’26 during the spring general elections.

German Nolivos

Hammering home an effective message to Syracuse University’s student body was especially important since Nolivos and Granger were running unopposed. With no competition, the duo was essentially guaranteed to assume leadership roles as president and vice president. But they did not intend to simply coast to victory.

Rather, they worked tirelessly to convey the important role SA plays as a bridge that listens to student concerns and works with the administration to resolve them.

“We wanted the students to understand that we cannot effectively work without their input. We want to leave our mark on student government by focusing on these recognized student organizations and multicultural organizations that have been looking for help from the student body and the SA. We can strengthen the relationship between our students and student government,” says Nolivos, a Posse Leadership Scholar and first-generation college student studying political science in the and and public relations in the .

“We needed to convince students to engage with the Student Association, and we campaigned on those values of listening, learning and leading. Our goal is to advocate for new policies that are effective in resolving the issues our students face, and to let the student body know how truly important our advocacy is,” adds Granger, who is studying photography in the Newhouse School and political science in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences.

Reed Granger

The message was well-received, as Nolivos and Granger were elected president and vice president, respectively, after garnering more than 90% of the votes. The SA is the official student governing and advocacy body for the nearly 16,000 Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry undergraduates.

Nolivos and Granger have held previous leadership roles on campus, and they are excited to hold these positions while striving to get as many student voices as possible involved in the decision-making process on campus.

The “listen, learn, lead” motto extends beyond a campaign slogan, influencing Nolivos and Granger’s main objectives as elected student leaders. For this upcoming academic year, their main goals include:

• listening to the voices of traditionally underrepresented student populations;
• learning from and engaging with the collective diversity on campus;
• leading by continuing to foster an inclusive, accessible and welcoming campus for all;
• improving campus safety, especially on South Campus;
• enhancing the quality of the food in the dining halls and continuing to provide students access to food through complimentary grocery trolley runs;
• helping the University reduce its carbon footprint while striving to achieve carbon neutrality by 2032; and
• creating changes that will enhance the student experience for all.

Nolivos and Granger sat down with SU News to discuss their goals for the academic year, offer their advice to new students on campus and share how their time at Syracuse has fueled their growth as student leaders.

What will make this a successful academic year?

German Nolivos: My goal is always to empower the students who work under me, to make sure the Student Association’s 100 members know that they’re appreciated, and that the work they’re doing has an impact on our campus. For this year to be successful, we want the campus community to know who we are and that the Student Association can be a valuable resource for our students.

Reed Granger: To spread the word of Student Association to more students than ever before and continuing the good relationship we have with our administration. Being able to improve on what previous student leaders have done while continuing to advocate for the student body.

What’s one thing you wish you knew before you started your Syracuse journey?

Granger: Time management. I don’t know if there’s an overall secret to time management, but I wish that before my first day, somebody told me about how to manage my time. Given my areas of study and my involvement on campus, everything I do, every meeting I have goes through my Google Calendar, even homework assignments. And I encourage new students to make sure you have some free time.

Nolivos: In the first couple of weeks on campus, it’s important that you build up your support system. You’re going to have opportunities to meet people from all over the world. Make sure you really take the time to find the people that you want to be there with you for this journey. This is the opportunity to become the person that you want to become. It’s a new chapter in your life. Give this 100% of your attention. One thing that helped me my first year was extracurriculars. Discovering your community will help you feel more connected to campus.

German Nolivos ’26 (left) and Reed Granger ’26 conveyed the important role the Student Association plays as a bridge that listens to student concerns and works with the administration to resolve them.

Are there any common mistakes for first-year students to avoid?

Nolivos: Think about the classes you’re taking, especially your required classes, and figure out which classes you should take first to set you up for future success. And from a social perspective, make sure that you’re treating this as the first page of the rest of your life. Be transparent with yourself on this journey. Be an open book with everything. You’re going to find people from different paths of life and different experiences than you. Make sure you’re always respectful of other people’s opinions and experiences and learn from them.

Granger: Don’t join too many clubs or take too many classes, you’re just overwhelming yourself while you’re still trying to learn what it means to be an undergraduate at Syracuse University. You can lose your sense of self while you’re trying to figure out who you are. Don’t put too much on your shoulders when you first get here.

How has Syracuse University helped you become the person you are today?

Granger: I’m a fully changed person since my first year. This campus has given me elements of friendship that I never experienced in high school as I figure out what I seek in friendships. Who do I want to spend time with? Why do I want to spend time with them? The true value of friendship and what it can do for your life is something that I truly have learned in the past two years here. Also the importance of making connections, whether with your classmates or your professors. So many of these connections are either involved in your career path or are going to be involved. Learn to maintain those connections. That’s one way the Syracuse experience has changed me for the better.

Nolivos: I’m a political refugee. I arrived in this country six years ago. I always had trouble trusting myself and my abilities, and felt I was always going to be behind my peers. But Syracuse made me realize how much power I have and how far I can push myself to become the person I want to become. Syracuse has given me the tools to build that future for myself.

Members of the Kehr/Hirsh family (from left to right): Steven Hirsh, Samantha Hirsh, Michael Kehr, Alice Hirsh, Ryan Kehr, Jonathan Hirsh and Rebecca Hirsh.

On an overcast Mother’s Day in 2018, a photo was taken outside of the Hall of Languages depicting a proud Syracuse University graduate, Ryan Kehr ’18, surrounded by happy family members.

It’s the kind of photo that gets taken repeatedly during Commencement weekend. This particular photo tells the story of the Kehr/Hirsh family—a proud collection of alumni whose connections to Syracuse date back to the fall of 1966. That’s when Alice (Musikar) Hirsh ’70 began her pursuit of a nursing degree from the College of Nursing.

Hirsh is the matriarch of an Orange legacy family that currently boasts seven alumni members:

• Alice and her husband, Steven ’70 (philosophy, );
• Alice’s children, Jonathan ’99 (marketing management, ) and Samantha Hirsh ’10 (inclusive elementary and special education, ); along with Jonathan’s wife, Rebecca (Rosenstein) Hirsh ’99 (child development in what is now the );
• Hirsh’s nephew, Michael Kehr ’86 (political science, and the College of Arts and Sciences), and his son, Ryan (information management and technology, )

The family will add another branch to the tree when Julia Kehr ’26, Michael’s daughter, graduates in May of 2026 with dual degrees in international relations (Maxwell School) and information management and technology (iSchool).

Alice, Ryan and Julia sat down with SU News to discuss their love of the University, the Orange bonds that connect them and the impact Syracuse has had on their lives.

Alice Hirsh ’70

Alice Hirsh

What drew you to Syracuse University? “The College of Nursing had a stellar reputation. It was hard to get into, and it was exactly what I wanted academically. When it came to choosing Syracuse, I wanted a big school, one with great sports teams and Greek life. It was everything I wanted and more, and the College of Nursing really did a great job of teaching and preparing us.”

Involvement on campus: A member of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, Alice met her husband, Steven, during the fall semester of her sophomore year. They married a few months after graduation.

How strong is your affinity for Syracuse? “I had such a positive experience at Syracuse University. It was an important part of my life. I’m still very close friends with a group of 15 women who graduated from the College of Nursing with me. We still communicate and we get together every couple of years for Orange gatherings that we plan ourselves. Now, seeing so many members of my family go on to study and earn degrees from Syracuse really warms my heart. Everyone has had their own, great experiences. My family knows that everything I own is orange, and they know how important Syracuse University is to me.”

What makes Syracuse special? “Each one of us found something different to focus our attention on. For me, it was Greek life. For Jonathan, he was passionate about . Samantha was on the . We each discovered our passions and interests because of our time on campus, and as a family we all believe Syracuse is a great place.”

Ryan Kehr ’18

Ryan Kehr

What drew you to Syracuse University? “It wasn’t instilled in me that I had to attend Syracuse, but Syracuse was my number one choice. Plus, anyone I ever talked to about Syracuse always mentioned how great their experiences were and how strong the alumni network was. I didn’t know what I wanted to study at first, so I applied to the iSchool and completely fell in love with the tight-knit community.”

Involvement on campus: An iSchool peer advisor, Ryan also worked for SIDEARM Sports, eventually running the student team of workers. “Working under SIDEARM Sports’ founder Jeff Rubin ’95, G’98 was invaluable. I owe so much of my career success to the lessons I learned from Jeff and from my classes. The first class I took from Jeff made me fall in love with technology as a career.”

Current job: Ryan is in his third year as a product manager for the NFL. He helps the league build up its electronic medical records platform for athletic trainers, team physicians and the players.

How did Syracuse set you up for career success? “The iSchool gives students so many opportunities to learn, grow and pick their own career path. I learned how to be a good communicator, a good problem-solver and a good team player. Another key lesson I learned is to take advantage of every opportunity to meet with alumni. We did these iSchool road trips where we would go to Silicon Valley, New York City and Boston and meet with different companies that had Syracuse alumni. We’d hear about their career journeys, and that helped me know what I wanted to do when I graduated. I’m thankful for all those opportunities; they shaped me into the person I am today.”

Julia Kehr ’26

Julia Kehr

What drew you to Syracuse University? “When we were all on campus for Ryan’s graduation and I saw all of my family members together, that was really cool to see everyone who shared that Orange connection. I knew right then that I was meant to be at Syracuse. I applied early decision my senior year of high school and didn’t visit any other colleges.”

Involvement on campus: A member of the Delta Gamma sorority, Julia became involved with Slice Consulting, a student-run consulting firm that provides pro bono services to clients and nonprofits in Syracuse. She currently serves as a project manager.

Career ambitions: “I interned at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey this summer and really enjoyed that experience. That solidified my interest in working for a nonprofit, which Maxwell definitely instilled in me and has been enhanced through my work for Slice Consulting. I feel like working in the public sector consulting or working as a project manager for a nonprofit would be a great fit.”

What makes Syracuse special? “I always saw how closely tied to Syracuse my family was, but I never realized what that meant until I enrolled. The second I came back to campus from winter break my freshman year, I understood how special it was that we all shared the same values because we were all at the same place for college and learned such valuable life lessons.”

The annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day occurs Sept. 7 when Syracuse hosts Georgia Tech.

Syracuse University will once again celebrate its faculty and staff with for the Saturday, Sept. 7, game at the JMA Wireless Dome when the Orange take on Atlantic Coast Conference rival Georgia Tech. Kickoff is set for noon.

Faculty and staff and their guests are invited to the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle prior to the game to enjoy a performance by the Pride of the Orange Marching Band, an appearance from our mascot, Otto the Orange and food and beverage concessions.

The first 400 full-time, part-time or temporary faculty and staff with a faculty or staff Syracuse University I.D. to visit the University’s pregame Faculty and Staff Appreciation tent on the Shaw Quad will receive a game day gift and a $5 concession coupon that can be redeemed in the JMA Wireless Dome. The pre-game tailgate begins at 9 a.m.

The week prior to the game, a drawing will be held to invite faculty and staff members to enjoy an enhanced game day experience. Those who have purchased tickets prior to Sept. 1 will be eligible for the drawing. Winners will be notified prior to game day.

Tickets

Discounted tickets are priced between $18.75 each (300-level seating), $34.88 each (predominantly 200-level seating) and $57.93 each (300-level seating near the 50-yard line) for University faculty and staff, their children and their guests (up to a limit of 10). Faculty and staff may . Tickets can be purchased until the day of the event.

Parking

University parking permits will be honored for free game day parking at the Skytop parking lot and the Comstock Avenue and University Avenue garages. For faculty and staff who do not already have University parking permits, a single one-time-use complimentary Skytop parking pass will be available for game day. These permits will be available for pickup on Thursday, Sept. 5, and Friday, Sept. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Office of Human Resources, 621 Skytop Road, Suite 1001, with proof of a Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day game ticket and a Syracuse University I.D.

With questions about Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or email hrservice@syr.edu. With questions about football tickets, email athsales@syr.edu.

As we celebrate 80 years of the Goon Squad welcoming new students to campus, Sue Weber and Jack Withee reminisce about their experiences moving into Syracuse University, discuss when they knew they wanted to join the Goon Squad and explore the group’s lasting impact and legacy.

When the Goon Squad first formed in 1944, its original purpose was to reinforce Syracuse University’s campuswide policy requiring all new students to wear beanie caps during their first semester on campus.

Sue Weber ’68 fondly recalls wearing her beanie when she arrived in the fall of 1964, and her beanie and the straw Goon Squad hat she received when she joined as a sophomore are among her most precious Syracuse University mementos.

While first-year students are no longer obligated to wear their class beanie—which was the custom, along with doffing their caps as a sign of respect when in the presence of older students—the  still plays a role as one of the most impactful traditions on campus.

Sue and Eric Weber

Celebrating 80 years of making a difference in the lives of first-year students, the Goon Squad—featuring more than 550 student leaders—will greet new students and lend a hand during move-in at residence halls as part of , the University’s new student orientation program.

“I went to a very small [high] school, and when you joined a group like the Goon Squad, it immediately gave you a bunch of great friends. I still have those friendships today,” says Weber, who earned an illustration degree from the School of Art (now part of the ) and met her husband, Eric, on campus. “I can’t believe the Goon Squad is turning 80 years old. Such great memories!”

This year, the University is preparing to welcome more than 4,000 first-year students. International students arrive Friday, while domestic students move in Aug. 19-21 and embark on a week filled with programs that introduce new students and their loved ones to life on campus through academic and social events.

Jack Withee

“We make sure the move-in environment is the most welcoming and inclusive it can be. We’re the first face of the Syracuse community that these students are being introduced to,” says Jack Withee ’26, an inclusive elementary and special education major in the . “When the Goon Squad helps them move in, they haven’t met the students on their floor yet. We’re greeting them at the door as they come to campus, so it’s important from the get-go that we set the tone that this is your new home.”

In this “�Ļ��ܲ��� Conversation,” Weber and Withee reminisce about their own experiences moving into Syracuse University, share when they knew they wanted to join the Goon Squad and discuss the lasting impact and legacy of the Goon Squad.

Check out featuring Weber and Withee. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

How did the Goon Squad help with your move-in?

Jack Withee: I was so excited to get to campus and start the journey to become the person I always wanted to be. But your first day is so nerve-wracking. Luckily, I had this woman, Erin, who moved me in. I remember as she was moving me in, she looked me in the eyes and told me that I was going to be okay. She truly made me believe it, and that made me realize I was ready to spread my wings and that I can do this. That’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my time on campus, and that’s something I tell every single one of the students I help move in.

Sue Weber: My freshman year I lived in Washington Arms, which was used as a dining room for the Peace Corps at the time. During what was a chaotic time, I was so thankful for the Goon Squad. They took me aside and welcomed me to campus. I was on the fifth floor, so they helped me put all my stuff in the elevator and answered the questions my mom and dad had. The Goon Squad was just wonderful and very helpful, and we were so happy they were there to help.

When did you know you wanted to give back and join the Goon Squad?

Weber: I absolutely knew I wanted to give back and join the Goon Squad when it was my turn. I remember how overwhelmed I felt coming to campus from a small school and a small town into this huge university. I know how that made me feel and I always wanted the classes behind me to feel the same way that I felt because of the Goon Squad. I wanted them to feel welcomed and know that they made the right choice coming to Syracuse University.

Withee: Whenever I saw Erin [who helped me during move-in] on campus, I would realize how much I had grown since move-in, and to think she jump-started that growth by helping me get on my feet and start the year on a level playing field. She made me want to pay it forward and give back to the first-year students who came after me.

How would you describe the lasting impact and legacy of the Goon Squad here on campus?

Weber: It’s a testament to how important it is and how people feel about it. It leaves a lasting memory. It’s something that made you feel good then and something that makes me feel really good now. It’s just a wonderful thing to introduce people to a big campus that can be very overwhelming, and you don’t forget the help you received from the Goon Squad.

Withee: The presence the Goon Squad has on campus is so powerful. You only move into Syracuse University once and no one forgets the people who move them in. That sticks with you, this spirit of the campus community being there to help each other out when you really need the help. It’s an honor to help first-year students. Syracuse has provided me with so many opportunities to be the person I’ve always wanted to become, and I’m so grateful.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Jennifer Pluta has worked in career services at Syracuse University, including spending the last 10 years providing advice to Syracuse’s veterans and military-connected community.

When enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on May 19, 1999, she had no grand plans for making a career out of her service to her country. Rather, feeling compelled to give back to her country, Pluta thought she would serve for a few years before embarking on the next chapter of her life.

Today, the military has become the focal point of Pluta’s career, connecting service members to their benefits and resources while providing both mentorship and guidance that enhances the professional development pursuits of soldiers.

Along with commemorating 25 years of military service, Pluta, a first sergeant in the Army Reserve, is celebrating another professional milestone. For nearly 20 years, Pluta has worked in career services at Syracuse University, including spending the last 10 years providing advice to Syracuse’s veterans and military-connected community.

Jennifer Pluta

“I’ve always had a desire to go into the service. I’m so honored to have had this experience and I can’t believe I’m now at 25 years of military service,” says Pluta, director of Veteran Career Services in the , who also led the University’s Veterans Affinity Group for faculty and staff.

“I just never thought this was the plan when I first enlisted, but here I am. I love serving my country. I love helping and mentoring our soldiers on their journeys. Being a humble servant who gives back to our soldiers is the most honorable thing I can think of.”

By encouraging student veterans to discover more about the potential employment opportunities available to them, Pluta’s passion for career services has led to an impressive 100% placement rate for connecting student veterans to new careers following graduation. She achieves this through customized career coaching, mentoring, networking and her strong connections with potential employers.

Pluta’s commitment to serving veterans led to her being named a scholar for the 2023 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program by the George W. Bush Institute. The initiative supports individuals who not only give back to our nation’s veterans and military families, but are motivated to broaden their skillsets, knowledge and influence to enhance their efforts to support the military-connected communities they serve.

Pluta, who earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from the in 2015, sat down with SU News to discuss her passion for service, the joy she gets from and the role she’s happy to play in making Syracuse University one of the best places for veterans.

Where did your passion for this work come from?

I always had an interest in career services going back to high school, when I would read resume books and wanted to learn how to make someone’s resume standout. When I was in college [at Alfred University] I did an internship with the Alfred University Carer Development Center. When I was first deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, I wound up helping soldiers to access their GI Bill benefits, student loans and other educational assistance programs.

I didn’t know you could make a career doing this. But from the onset of my military career, I wanted to know how the military benefits worked, because, for so many, those benefits are the key reason they chose to enlist in the Army Reserve. I also knew, from conversations on the base [in Kuwait], that there were many soldiers in the military who weren’t aware of the many benefits and educational incentives available to them. I was eager to share my knowledge with as many soldiers as possible because access to education through the Army’s benefits could significantly enhance their career paths and help eliminate many financial barriers.

How satisfying has it been to connect veterans and soldiers to their benefits?

It’s always been so rewarding helping my fellow soldiers. I’m lucky that I can do something I’m passionate about while helping others achieve their goals. It’s my job to help soldiers realize that they have a tremendous skillset to offer to an employer. Too often, veterans have a limited viewpoint on the value of their skills and what opportunities might be available to them. But it’s such a rewarding feeling when they understand that employers are interested in their skills and what they bring to the workforce. That’s the reward, when they realize what’s possible.

Once I came to Syracuse, shortly after my deployment in 2005, I started here as a temporary, part-time employee in the Center for Career Services. It was supposed to be on a limited basis, but it’s going to be 20 years for me with Syracuse University next year. I’m passionate about empowering our veterans and military-connected students with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed with their professional goals. I’ve had the best time and made some of the most amazing connections by helping the people I’ve served with.

How does your role with career services impact the University’s reputation as one of the best places for veterans?

Because I served as an Army Reserve career counselor and am still active in the Army Reserve, I have an understanding of not only what our service members have been through, but how their military experiences and leadership can be leveraged and utilized to help achieve their career goals. I know what resources to use to help translate their military experience into career success. I help those soldiers who want to go back into the service, and I help our faculty and staff who need help navigating their careers in the Army Reserve. I can use my network and my experiences to help connect veterans to the necessary resources, and I’m really happy I’ve been able to contribute.

On this episode of the “‘Cuse Conversations” podcast, El-Baz Abdallah and Budoor Alsaadi discuss their experiences as international Fulbright students participating in the pre-academic program, how they adjusted to life as students in the United States and how they plan on using their research to make a difference.

Each summer, the hosts a prestigious preparatory program that helps dozens of international Fulbright Scholars begin their journeys to graduate degrees and research opportunities.

It’s called the , and Syracuse University has served as a proud host site for the last 10 years, celebrating the power of both an international education and a cultural exchange.

This year, 44 master’s and Ph.D. students from 20 countries around the world are spending four weeks on campus discovering American culture, learning about life as a graduate student in the U.S. and developing necessary research skills.

The program is operated on campus by the (ELI), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education.

Each morning, the ELI offers English courses and lessons, including how to write a research paper as a graduate student. In the afternoons, cultural presentations and workshops are offered by Syracuse faculty and staff.

These international scholars are connected to a facilitator, a graduate of the pre-academic program who offers advice, guidance and friendship while mentoring these aspiring researchers. On the weekends, participants can take advantage of social field trips to cultural destinations like Niagara Falls and Green Lakes State Park.

El-Baz Abdallah

Before departing for their graduate schools, the students give poster presentations on their research as a potential springboard to the research they will conduct for their capstone project.

“Through my research, I want to see how we can use technology and data information to better people’s lives,” says El-Baz Abdallah, a facilitator from the Comoro Islands who is entering his second year studying data analytics in the . “When I heard about the pre-academic program, I had been working for some time and hadn’t really thought about going back to school for my master’s degree, but the prestigiousness of the Fulbright program really stood out. There’s such a great impact, not just from the curriculum or the academics but the networking with your fellow scholars. This program was very rigorous, but it was really worth it.”

Budoor Alsaadi

“From how we should be writing up our research and our bibliographies to what it means to do research as a graduate student in the United States, I’ve been really happy with all of the information I’ve learned that helps us adapt to the educational system here,” says Budoor Alsaadi, a native of Iraq who is pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus in environmental engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In this “�Ļ��ܲ��� Conversation,” Abdallah and Alsaadi discuss their beneficial experiences as international Fulbright students participating in the pre-academic program, how they acclimated to life as students in the United States and how they plan on using their research to make a difference.

Check out podcast featuring Abdallah and Alsaadi. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

How has this program helped with your academic transition to graduate school and your cultural adjustment?

El-Baz Abdallah: This program helped me tremendously. It was a big adjustment in terms of the food, the people, the culture and the language. Before I came here, I spoke English every day but had to think about what I wanted to say in French first and then express myself in English. But the College of Professional Studies made our transitions so easy. They set me up with a host family, which is a proud tradition here, and that host family became like a second family for me.

Academically, the program taught me how to directly interact with the professor if we have a question about a lecture or a topic. Back home, you would go to class and take notes, but here, we learned you can actually ask questions of your professor. We learned about office hours where you can go and discuss the topic if there’s something you didn’t understand. These are things I wouldn’t have known about being a master’s student in America were it not for the pre-academic program.

Budoor Alsaadi: There was a lot of new information to learn. There was so much harmony in the program because we’re all international students trying to figure things out while supporting each other. Everyone has been so kind, sweet and caring and willing to help each other out. We’re learning but we’re also having fun.

Another great thing is how many different cultures are in this program. There are students from more than 20 countries here, so we get to learn about their cultures, music, foods and languages. It’s great that Fulbright brings together these people from different backgrounds and experiences to learn from each other.

How do you plan on using your degree to make a difference in the world?

Alsaadi: I want to study water treatment and water pollution, which is a rising problem in my country and all over the world. It’s a problem that needs much more attention, because one day, we’re going to have very limited resources for water. Water technology is a broad field with a lot of opportunities, and I wanted to accelerate my knowledge on this topic at an early age so I can be well-equipped to make a difference in my career.

Most people in Iraq drink groundwater because the water in the rivers has high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), which is expensive to treat and turn into drinking water. I hope that, through my research, I can go back to Iraq and find new technologies and new chemicals that can help with treating TDS. I want to discover a solution that can improve the water quality in my country and help deal with this ongoing and increasing water shortage.

Abdallah: My studies combine data science and artificial intelligence (AI), how to actually build AI models to harness information or data. I’ve been involved with two projects I’m passionate about. One was analyzing the energy consumption trends of New Yorkers to study how low-income people can improve their energy consumption through incentives from the government. Another project was working with my mother, who is a gynecologist back home on Comoros Island, to enhance maternal health care and address the big problem of women losing their baby without knowing it. For my capstone research project, I’m building an AI model to analyze the mother’s and the baby’s heart rates, analyzing the existing data and looking at gaps in the data to ensure that when this happens, we can act so mothers don’t have to move from their rural home to the capital city, or from one island to another, to get medical attention.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Noah Eagle is handling play-by-play duties for NBC’s coverage of Team USA men’s and women’s basketball at the Summer Olympics.

The Super Bowl. French Open tennis. Primetime college football and basketball games between nationally ranked opponents. The radio play-by-play voice of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers.

In the ever-competitive field of sports broadcasting, what Noah Eagle ’19 has accomplished in his six-year professional career is quite impressive. In May, Eagle’s hard work was recognized by his peers, as he won the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Personality/Emerging On Air after his debut season calling “Big Ten Saturday Night,” the weekly primetime Big Ten football game broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

Noah Eagle (center) won a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Personality/Emerging On Air after his debut season calling “Big Ten Saturday Night,” the weekly primetime Big Ten football game broadcast on NBC and Peacock. He’s pictured with sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen (left) and color commentator Todd Blackledge.

Eagle’s ascension has been meteoric—the Clippers hired him right after he graduated with a broadcast and digital journalism degree from the —and he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. His next assignment takes him to Paris, France, as the play-by-play broadcaster for Team USA men’s and women’s basketball at the Summer Olympics.

For someone who grew up a “massive” fan of the NBA, broadcasting Team USA games at the Olympics is a “special honor,” says Eagle. Especially since he will call games involving NBA players he has long admired—like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry—and will be on the mic as the U.S. women’s team pursues their unprecedented eighth consecutive gold medal.

“Basketball has been a passion of mine for a long time, and when I look at this specific assignment, it’s a dream come true. Watching Team USA at the Olympics helped grow my love for the sport, especially the ‘Redeem Team’ in 2008 that brought back the gold medal for the U.S. I remember parking myself on the couch during those Olympics and watching LeBron James play with Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Jason Kidd and Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse basketball royalty. Those were legends of the game. Now, I’m calling Team USA games with LeBron, K.D. and Steph, who are legends of the game. There’s something special about calling basketball games while representing your country,” Eagle says.

The father-son sportscasting duo of Ian Eagle ’90 (left) and Noah Eagle ’19

Sportscasting and a love for Syracuse University runs in the family. Noah’s father, Ian ’90, has handled play-by-play for CBS Sports’ NFL games since 1998 and concluded his first year as the network’s lead announcer for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. His mother, Alisa (Terry) Eagle ’90, earned a retailing degree from what is now the , and his sister, Erin ’21, earned an advertising degree from Newhouse.

“When I’m calling games, I’ve always got an orange wristband on my right wrist that shows my Orange connection,” Eagle says. “There’s always so much love to the ’Cuse. As my mom always says, Syracuse University is our happy place.”

Before the Olympics began, Eagle sat down with SU News to discuss his “surreal” career journey, how he’s preparing to call Team USA’s basketball games and the lessons he learned from his debut performance at the Olympics in 2021.

At the age of 27, you’ve already worked the Super Bowl, served as the radio voice of the Los Angeles Clippers, called French Open tennis action and broadcast countless college football and basketball games. How would you describe your ascension in sportscasting?

Noah Eagle

It’s quite surreal. I never anticipated my career going this way, but that’s what I love about this field. You never know the path you’re going to take. Everybody’s sportscasting path is different based on timing and circumstances. I was fortunate to not only have something open up [the Clippers radio play-by-play job] but to have people who believed in me and put my name out there for that job. Olivia Stomski [director of the Newhouse Sports Media Center and professor of broadcast and digital journalism and television, radio and film] is at the top of that list, and I had so many great mentors around campus who played a massive role in my career.

I’ve gotten lucky that I’ve gotten chances to do some big things, and my viewpoint has always been if you get the chance to do the big thing, you better step up and knock it out of the park. I’ve loved every second and hope this journey continues for a long time.

How have you been preparing for the Games?

Learning about every team and putting my broadcast boards together [with key facts and figures for each team]. Before that, I read a book on the original Dream Team because I wanted to make sure I knew my history of why there weren’t professionals allowed on the United States’ teams before 1992, why they changed that rule and how that decision has impacted the Olympics. Now, it’s preparing for the men’s and women’s competitions, making sure I’m knowledgeable about the teams and players.

It’s an honor to call basketball games at the Olympics, but my preparation is no different than if I was preparing to call a high school, college or NBA game. You put the team together on your broadcast board and make sure you have all the information you think you might need. Preparing gets easier with each game because you’ve got a much better sense of the teams based on the flow of how these games go.

What lessons did you learn from your first Olympic assignment in 2021 calling 3-on-3 basketball from NBC’s headquarters?

Because of being prepared for any outcome, you’d better be ready to deliver a memorable call for the big moments that matter the most, the moments that are guaranteed to live on the longest in the gold medal games. It can’t just be the standard, run-of-the-mill call. I don’t necessarily spend the night before thinking about what I’m going to say, but before our broadcast starts, I have a general idea of the direction I’m going to go. If you’re trying to think of it in the moment, that’s when things can go awry.

Rower Kamile Kralikaite, a 2024 All-American, three-time All-ACC First Team selection and two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, will represent Lithuania in the upcoming Summer Olympics.

Being a skilled rower earned an athletic scholarship to Syracuse University, where she helped the claim the first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship in school history.

Her proficiencies on the water also earned Kralikaite the opportunity of a lifetime representing Lithuania in the women’s pair competition at the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

To qualify for the Olympics is a dream come true, especially being from such a small country. I still can’t believe I get to represent my country on this big stage. — Kamile Kralikaite ’24

But there was a time not that long ago, before Kralikaite came to the United States, when she wanted to abandon her rowing career. Recruited by a local coach when she was just 13 years old because she was tall and athletic, Kralikaite left her family and friends to begin a three-year training project focused on qualifying for the 2018 Youth Olympics.

While Kralikaite enjoyed the sport, her entire life revolved around rowing, and she experienced burnout from the arduous training sessions with no days off. Then came the decision that helped turn things around for Kralikaite: enrolling at Syracuse University as an international relations major in the and .

Once on campus, Kralikaite discovered that she was so much more than a talented rower. She formed tight friendships with her fellow student-athletes and coaches and rediscovered her love of rowing. Kralikaite credits her coach, , with helping her heal and find a healthy balance between rowing and her personal life.

“I will forever be happy and grateful for my experiences at Syracuse University. I met so many cool people that supported me and helped me reach my goals,” says Kralikaite, a 2024 All-American, three-time All-ACC First Team selection and two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree. “It was incredible how much we were able to achieve. Winning the ACC championship for the first time in school history was amazing. Everyone was selfless and wanted the same goal and worked tirelessly to help our team achieve success. It was the best experience.”

Kamile Kralikaite (right) and her partner, Ieva Adomaviciute, will vie for a gold medal in Paris in the women’s pair competition.

Kamile Kralikaite

Kralikaite, who hails from the tiny central Lithuanian city of Kaisiadorys (population: 8,334) will vie for a gold medal in Paris after she and her partner, Ieva Adomaviciute, in Belgrade, Serbia, last September. The top 11 boats qualified for the Olympics.

The begins on July 28, with the semifinals on July 31 and the final on Aug. 2.

“Our goal is to qualify for the A final, which would be huge. Right now, we’re producing some good speed from our boat, and we feel good. You wish for the gold, but as long we give it our absolute best against the world’s best, I know we’ll do well,” says Kralikaite, who along with Orange teammate Martyna Kazlauskaite, won the 2023 U23 World Championship in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Before she takes center stage with the world’s best rowers, Kralikaite sat down with SU News to discuss how she’s preparing for the Olympics, the thrill she feels representing Lithuania and how her time on campus fueled her holistic development.

How have you been preparing for the Games?

Kamile Kralikaite (back) and her partner, Ieva Adomaviciute, preparing for the Olympics.

The last couple of weeks has been about mental preparation, because you can’t gain too much speed at this point. I’ve been going for runs, working on my breathing, doing exercises and training on the water. I train six to seven hours each day. My goal is to be as brave and confident as I can during my races.

My preparation started almost a year ago. I knew we’d be racing against women who had more experience than I did, so I started working on becoming as mentally strong as I could. I treated trainings as if we weren’t just going up against ACC or NCAA competition, but also the competition I’d see in the Summer Olympics. When it comes time to compete, I’ve put myself in that situation a million times before mentally, so I know to just give it my best effort.

How can you describe the thrill of qualifying for the Olympics and representing Lithuania?

To qualify is huge, a dream come true, especially being from such a small country. Our whole Olympic rowing team is very young. Seven of our eight athletes are going to their first Games. It’s such a cool feeling and I still can’t believe I get to represent my country on this big stage. Lithuanians have been so supportive to those of us who qualified, and it’s great to know all that hard work paid off.

What’s your pre-race routine?

I started listening to this intense techno music and I just started feeling very brave. I’d walk around feeling like a winner and acting like a winner. If you walk into the room when you’re about to warm up and you’re already scared and fearful, you’ve already lost. I also write down and say out loud to myself that I am enough, which sounds so simple, but it’s a very powerful message. Whether you’re lining up for a race at Syracuse or in Paris for the Olympics, we’re all equal. Once the race starts, it’s about whoever wants it more and whoever was better prepared. Maybe some of my competitors have been in the sport longer, but I plan on giving my absolute best.

I also always wear my Syracuse gear whenever I warmup. But in the Olympics, there’s rules that we have to wear the official uniform when we race, so I have to take off my Syracuse gear. But I know I will have Orange Nation cheering me on!

How have you embraced the power of positive thinking?

I like visualizing success. It’s very powerful because you put yourself in a place where you see yourself achieving. Rowing is a sport where you line up and give it everything you’ve got for two kilometers. Your body is going to be in extreme pain for six to seven minutes. You have to be ready for it and not get scared when your competitors are around you, so visualization and practicing breathing exercises has helped me a lot.

How much did you grow during your time on campus?

Kamile Kralikaite (center) in action with her Syracuse teammates.

I fully grew into the person I am today because of Syracuse. I started to love myself again, to love life and love people. I started to see how much better everything is when you work together versus when you’re trying to achieve everything by yourself. My coaches showed me how to be the best possible version of myself. I was surrounded by the best people and they made Syracuse such a special place.

Sydney Bergan ’23 will cover the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris as an audience editor for USA Today.

The internship that launched Sydney Bergan ’23 on a path to covering the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, France, started off on an unexpected trajectory.

As a junior at Syracuse University, Bergan landed an internship through the prestigious Dow Jones News Fund with McClatchy, but instead of serving as a reporter—which was her career ambition—Bergan was assigned to the digital media program as an audience engagement intern.

Bergan spent 10 days enhancing her digital media literacy skills at Arizona State University, taking curated stories and repackaging them for different audiences. From there, Bergan worked as an intern for The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer. Before long, The Sacramento Bee hired her as an audience editor while she was still enrolled in classes at Syracuse. Now, she’s an audience editor for USA Today.

Being an audience editor was the perfect blend of content creation and newsworthiness. Bergan excelled by understanding how to create stories that resonate with audiences, and she enjoyed having conversations with people about what types of content they want to see.

Sydney Bergan

“I thought of myself as a reporter and I always knew I loved people and telling their stories,” says Bergan, who earned a magazine, news and digital journalism degree from the .

“But once I started, I just fell in love with the audience engagement work. I love the content creation and curation side of journalism. It allows me to be creative. I do a lot of content design for USA Today, coming up with stories that will reach our audiences wherever they’re looking for their content. I love looking at the analytics to see what stories, videos or graphics perform well and which ones don’t. It’s all so fascinating.”

Her next assignment will take her to Paris to create content around the Summer Olympics for USA Today. It’s a dream come true for Bergan.

“I love the Olympics. Always have. It’s crazy I’ll be covering the Summer Olympics! It just feels so surreal,” Bergan says. “I worked hard to get here, and I know I’ve got this, but there’s some imposter syndrome at play. This is a big deal. I’m working with journalists who have covered the Olympics many times before. I’m the new kid on the block and am just trying to learn as much as I can and soak it all in.”

Before she arrives in Paris, Bergan sat down with SU News to discuss her content strategy for the Olympics, the must-have interview or piece of content she’s hoping to create and the valuable lessons she learned on campus.

What does the job of an audience editor entail?

In the simplest terms, my job is to get eyes on articles and content in unique and creative ways through platforms like our website and our social media. We’re the behind-the-scenes people who use our news judgment and understanding of the platforms to determine where content will perform the best.

A lot of people say they feel they have more than enough content to consume out there, but they have a hard time breaking it down and understanding it. We do a lot in the social media video space through explainer posts on our Instagram and Facebook pages that help break down complex issues into the five things you need to know.

What’s your Olympic content strategy?

You don’t know what the big story is until you get there. I’ll be doing a lot of cultural content, showing the audience the sights and sounds of Paris during the Olympics. You have this iconic European city playing host to an iconic event. Part of my job is figuring out what people who aren’t there would want to see. What is it like to be in Paris while the Olympics are going on? What’s the food like? What’s the atmosphere? What are people talking about? What’s on the mind of the Olympians? Every day is going to be fun and exciting, and I’m ready to make videos and content that resonates with people.

What’s one must-have interview or piece of Olympic content you want to create?

If I could talk to [gymnast] Simone Biles or [swimmer] Katie Ledecky, sign me up! But they are obviously in high demand. I’m just really excited to see the venues and show our audience how integrated they are into the city. Beach volleyball is being played underneath the Eiffel Tower. Marathon runners are literally running through the city. Equestrian is happening at the Château de Versailles. There’s so many different, fascinating utilizations of this space and I just want to do it all.

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your time on campus?

News judgment. News judgment is very hard to come by, recognizing what deserves the spotlight. Those skills have been essential every day of my career and it all comes back to the years of training we had at Syracuse University and in the Newhouse School. The class activities where you identify the lead of a particular situation. Working as an editor for The Daily Orange, I was coming up with stories all the time. All that practice became muscle memory and now it’s part of my toolkit. Had I not spent all that time learning what a lead should look like and what is the most important news story of the day, I wouldn’t have that strong news judgment I have today.

Students in Brad Horn’s Managing Global Brands of Sport: An International Public Relations Study class learned about global sport through the communication lens during a three-week immersion experience in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Historically, the Olympics have provided countless memorable athletic achievements—the Miracle on Ice men’s hockey team upsetting the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York; the Dream Team capturing gold at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain; gymnast Kerri Strug shrugging off an ankle injury to lead Team USA to its first-ever team gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, just to name a few.

And while there are sure to be impressive performances when the world’s best athletes converge in Paris, France, for the upcoming Summer Olympics, the Games are also an opportunity to showcase the global power of sport, which is the focal point of recently concluded Managing Global Brands of Sport: An International Public Relations Study class, held for three weeks in Lausanne, Switzerland, as part of an immersion experience for students.

Brad Horn

“We focus on how to bridge the gap between what Americans know about sports in our country compared to global sport through communications,” says Horn, associate dean for strategic initiatives and professor of practice in public relations in the .

“Look ahead to what the U.S. is going to see in sport. We’re hosting the 2026 World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympics are being held in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympics potentially will be hosted in Lake Placid. This is a decade where those working in U.S. sports will be working with and dealing with global sport entities like never before, and there’s a big knowledge gap. I want to do my part to help prepare students to better understand that landscape.”

Horn’s professional background in communications and public relations includes working for more than 20 years in Major League Baseball (MLB) and with the Baseball Hall of Fame, serving as an ambassador at the World Series, the World Baseball Classic, the All-Star game and MLB International before heading up communication and education for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

“This idea of global sport has always been part of my DNA,” says Horn, who sat down with SU News to discuss the objectives of his class, the important takeaways and how his students leave with a broadened understanding of the global power of sport.

Describe the goals and important takeaways of the class.

Students pose on the floor of the Union Cycliste Internationale’s headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland.

This is an immersion into global sport through the communication lens. We look at how organizations communicate through their sport or their sport’s governing body about cultural and geopolitical issues with stakeholders around the globe. The idea is to give students various perspectives from organizations like the International Olympic Committee, FIFA, the International Testing Agency, anti-doping agencies, FIBA, the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the Union Cycliste Internationale and more. These were some of the bigger organizations we visited this year.

Our students also work a two-day Hosts and Federations Summit, where 300 delegates came to Lausanne to pitch their cities on major sporting events, to pitch their sport to match with a city or to pitch their rights to sell these sporting events. It gives students a chance to look at sport in an entirely different way than what we think about in the U.S., which is so focused on the four major sports [football, basketball, baseball and hockey] and on college sports. They get to study how global sport governance works and how communication is developed at a central office. It’s an immersion that gives them a front row seat into global sport communication.

How did you incorporate the upcoming Summer Olympics into your class?

We’re trying to understand the origins of sport in places like Greece, Switzerland, China and Australia. The origins are not in the four major sports in America, which are so young compared to the historical lens of the Olympiad. We look at the lessons we’ve learned during the modern Olympics by bringing people together across cultures. We look at moments like the 1936 Summer Olympics in Germany, when Adolf Hitler used the Olympics as his propaganda and Jesse Owens, the great Black American track and field athlete, refused to interact with Hitler and his racist agenda while winning four gold medals.

We spend time trying to understand the idea of Olympism, a philosophy that emphasizes the wholeness of body, will and mind, combining sport with culture and education. We examine how the media prepares for the Games, the questions the press could be asking the host country and how people are representing their nations from a media standpoint.

We then look at how the Olympics create this idea that sport unites us during a time when the world is so polarized. As communicators, there are two questions we always want to answer in public relations: Who are we trying to reach and what are we trying to get them to do? In sport, we’re not just trying to get a box score out there and hope fans see it. We’re trying to think deeply about passion and fan engagement and how we can unlock this fandom.

Influenced primarily by an American viewpoint on sports, what are some of the reactions students have when they come over for this immersion experience?

These students realize that the U.S. is not the center of the sports world. We went to the Centre for Sport and Human Rights to help students understand that not everything that glitters is gold when it comes to sport. There are human rights atrocities and violations of athletes’ rights. There are violations of worker rights when stadiums are being built for competitions. Migrant workers died building stadiums for the World Cup in Qatar.

These issues are all becoming bigger with each passing day. I feel very passionate about this immersion experience because it truly gives students a sense that sport is a lot more than just the NBA Finals, the Super Bowl or seeing a great Aaron Judge home run. Globally, sports are tied into societies and into national pride, and communicating across those cultures is really challenging.

As associate director of First Year Seminar, Jimmy Luckman helps provide a warm, welcoming and engaging atmosphere for the thousands of first-year students who arrive at the University each year.

When Jimmy Luckman prepared to embark on his college journey at SUNY Brockport, he desperately sought a meaningful connection with the campus community, opting from the get-go to become involved with a multitude of activities.

“I wanted to be a part of that process to welcome students into the college experience,” Luckman says.

Today, as associate director of the University’s (FYS) in the , Luckman helps provide a warm, welcoming and engaging atmosphere for the thousands of who arrive at the University each year.

His professional career and accompanying research studies the emerging field of orientation, transition and retention, which aims to examine why some college students excel and engage with their campus community while others feel disconnected once they arrive on campus.

Jimmy Luckman

“Every day I get to bring in the things that I’m passionate about, what I learned in the classroom, and figure out how we can continue to enhance the student experience and help students figure out their identities. That’s important because I didn’t really find out who I was and discover all the elements of my identity until graduate school. I’m still learning who I am,” says Luckman, a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ issues who identifies as a queer man.

Recently, Luckman completed a doctoral degree from St. John Fisher University in executive leadership and successfully defended his dissertation, “More than Just a Sticker of LGBTQ+ Inclusivity: Exploring College and University-Based LGBTQ+ Center Director’s Process and Perceptions of LGBTQ+ Campus Climate Assessments.”

Among the goals of his research: collecting and leveraging the stories of LGBTQ+ students at various universities to both ensure their experiences are being heard and to create meaningful changes and to explore what universities are doing to connect students with local LGBTQ+ community resources.

“By being outspoken and an advocate in public spaces, hopefully, I can inspire queer scholars, queer community members and allies in our community to make a difference. We have an obligation to inspire queer youth and we must support those who want to support the LGBTQ+ community, and that starts with setting an example. I’m grateful for these opportunities,” says Luckman, entering his fourth-year teaching FYS.

Luckman sat down with SU News to discuss how he uses his lived experiences to enhance his FYS teachings, how he hopes to use his dissertation research to make a difference and effect change and why you can find him wearing his trademark bow tie in class and around campus.

How does First Year Seminar enhance the development of our students?

Jimmy Luckman (second from right) poses with the Department of the Year award.

I tell my students that my classroom is a space for them to actively make a difference on campus. FYS helps students with their transition to the University.

Another thing I love is making students a little uncomfortable. When we think about the transition to college, we think about how to make a comfortable and inclusive environment, and I recognize that. But when I talk to my students about my LGBTQ+ identity, specifically my queer identity, I automatically tell my students on the first day that, based on the way I sound, you’re potentially going to assume certain things about me. This doesn’t make you a bad person if you did. That’s part of FYS, learning about yourself and the opinions we form and learning to get uncomfortable.

Syracuse University is a place to engage in conversations, and for some of our students, they’ve never talked to someone who was so out before. I often share my queer identity and that openness invites students to share the elements of who they are, and potentially to expand what they know about the LGBTQ+ community.

How has your time on campus helped you discover your queer identity?

Some people say coming out, but I say I came into my identity at age 24 because that reflects how I was able to truly embrace who I am. I came into my queer identity in my graduate program [at Northern Arizona University] and Syracuse was the space and the place where I first explored how my identity looks as a working professional and as a role model who engages with and forms friendships and connections in the community.

I started volunteering at the immediately when I came to Syracuse in 2019. The majority of my really close friends are members of the LGBTQ+ community because we have similar interests and that commonality of seeking spaces where we can be authentically queer, which is something that I didn’t get to do when I was younger.

Syracuse has given me an opportunity to learn, reflect and try to find those alliances, resources and people to help propel our community forward. The has been very intentional and inclusive in its efforts to provide counseling and resources to the community. The has invited me to do a on my dissertation. We have a space to celebrate queer work and I know we have people on campus who feel a sense of support through the people and the resources available to them.

How did you decide on your dissertation?

There’s not a lot of literature specifically focusing on LGBTQ+ campus climate assessments to see how we are actually supporting students. I wanted to look at it from a lens of what do colleges and universities say or do to bring in students while offering an inclusive space, collecting data from LGBTQ+ centers and then utilizing that data to share that out from the perspective of these centers. How do we leverage this data to make changes on campus?

For my dissertation, what I really focused on was the importance of storytelling. We have students who share their stories of their experiences on a college campus, and I explored how can we leverage this information and these stories to make sure their voices are being heard and then go about creating change. How can we support LGBTQ+ students and create inclusive environments and affirming spaces that allow our campus community members to feel safe sharing their life experiences.

What’s the significance of the bow ties you frequently wear?

Jimmy Luckman poses with a First Year Seminar participant.

It’s all about having fun. Students are spending their Friday afternoons with me, so why not dress up for them? I’ve lost track of how many bow ties I own. I have different color bow ties. Holiday-themed bow ties. Floral bow ties. Even an SU-themed bow tie! It’s just a fun and different way to engage with my students. For them to see their professor dressed up and excited for class, I’ve noticed that they will open up with me and trust me more than previous students might have. I’m known on campus hopefully for my positive demeanor and for being a queer leader, but the bow ties help me standout and they’re a conversation starter. Plus, it brings me happiness!

Benetta Dousuah (left), Jude Akpunku (center) and Zahra Johnson were named 2024 Tillman Scholars as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self.

Three talented and passionate Syracuse University student veterans—Benetta Dousuah G’25, second-year law student Jude Akpunku and Zahra Johnson G’25—were recognized as 2024 Tillman Scholars by the .

The award unites and empowers remarkable military service members, veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self. Dousuah, Akpunku and Johnson were selected out of nearly 1,600 applicants.

are provided academic scholarships, leadership development opportunities and access to a supportive national network as they embark on career journeys in the fields of health care, public service, business, STEM, law, the humanities and education.

The fellowship program honors Pat Tillman, a starting safety for the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals, who in 2002 put his football career on hold to serve his country with the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Tillman’s family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation following Tillman’s death in April 2004.

Syracuse University was invited to become a Pat Tillman Foundation University Partner in 2017. To date, the University has seen .

Dousuah, Akpunko and Johnson sat down with SU News to discuss why they wanted to become Tillman Scholars, reflect on the prestigious honor and share how they will use the scholarship to make a difference in their communities.

Benetta Dousuah G’25, U.S. Army

Academic major: Social work ()

Benetta Dousuah

What drew you to study at Syracuse University? “I chose Syracuse University because it’s known for being a veteran-friendly school. While transitioning out of the military, I visited and was impressed by how much they support student veterans. The National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building showed me how much the school cares about their veteran community.”

Where did your interest and passion for your field of study come from? “My aim is to challenge and transform the existing stigma surrounding mental health and well-being in the military. My goal is to become a social worker and serve as Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) representative at a behavioral health clinic on a military installation, particularly regarding sexual assault and harassment. This position will allow me to address significant issues related to mental health and advocate for policy changes within the SHARP program.”

How does it feel to be recognized as a Tillman Scholar? “It’s an honor to be surrounded by people dedicated to making a difference in our military. My passion is to change how investigations are done in the SHARP program. I am excited to bring this idea to other scholars and see what the future holds.”

What motivated you to apply to be a Tillman Scholar, and why do you think you were selected? “Pat’s story is incredible. It demonstrates selfless service and leadership, two of the Army’s core values. As a Tillman Scholar, I am honored to carry on Pat Tillman’s legacy. I’m inspired by these exceptional individuals who are making a difference. I was chosen as a Tillman Scholar because of my dedication to making a positive impact. Despite facing a traumatic experience, my goal is to reform the system that failed me, ensuring a safer military for future generations.”

How do you plan to use this scholarship and this experience to make an impact in your community? “I aim to use the education and experiences from Syracuse University and the Tillman Scholar program to advocate for significant policy changes, specifically to reform the investigative process within the SHARP program.”

Jude Akpunku, U.S. Naval Academy

Academic major: Online J.D. program, JDinteractive ()

Jude Akpunku

What drew you to study at Syracuse University? “The University’s strong commitment to veterans and its renowned law program attracted me, aligning perfectly with my aspirations in law and public service.”

Where did your interest and passion for your field of study come from? “My interest in law developed from my experiences in the military and as a Defense Legislative Fellow [with U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey], where I saw firsthand the impact of policy and law on service members’ lives and national security.”

How does it feel to be recognized as a Tillman Scholar? “It is a profound honor. It validates my commitment to service and leadership and inspires me to continue advocating for justice and equity.”

What motivated you to apply to be a Tillman Scholar, and why do you think you were selected? “I was motivated by the program’s focus on leadership and service, which resonate deeply with my personal values and experiences. I believe I was selected due to my demonstrated commitment to these principles through my military and legislative roles.”

How do you plan to use this scholarship and this experience to make an impact in your community? “I will advance my legal education, focusing on public policy issues that affect veterans and underrepresented communities. I aim to leverage this opportunity to advocate for policies that provide greater support and resources to these groups.”

Zahra Johnson G’25, U.S. Army

Academic major: Biomedical forensic science ()

Zahra Johnson

What drew you to study at Syracuse University? “While stationed at Fort Drum, New York, I applied to an Army program called Green to Gold Active Duty, which allows active-duty soldiers to continue their education. I was looking for a school that offered graduate degrees in forensic science, and since Syracuse offered an M.S in different aspects of forensic science, such as medicolegal death investigation and biomedical forensic science, that was my top pick!”

Where did your interest and passion for your field of study come from? “In the wake of a tragedy in my family [the death of my uncle], I was prompted to study forensic science and specifically focus on death investigation. My mother never felt the closure she needed. I hope to help families find some closure by providing them as much knowledge and information as possible through scientific methods and proper and timely investigations.”

How does it feel to be recognized as a Tillman Scholar? “Pat Tillman was one-of-a-kind, someone who believed in impacting the world in a positive way. As a girl growing up in Afghanistan, I would have had little to no opportunities to seek education and follow my dreams and ambitions. The sacrifice of heroes such as Pat allowed me to go to high school, and to have freedom and opportunities that led me to where I am today. The honor is beyond words; I’m extremely proud.”

What motivated you to apply to be a Tillman Scholar, and why do you think you were selected? “The Tillman community shares the same values I believe in my core and was a great opportunity to become part of a community that will help me in my journey to become a better leader.”

How do you plan to use this scholarship and this experience to make an impact in your community? “This scholarship is not only going to help me grow intellectually but will also connect me to a supportive community that can help me improve my service. My goal is also to advocate for soldiers to pursue an education while serving, since education holds the key to a successful and healthy nation.”

On this episode, Joey Gawrysiak discusses the evolution of the esports program on campus, the progress made in its first year, the expanded opportunities available to students and what’s planned for the future.

Beginning in the fall, Syracuse University’s will welcome admitted students to campus for classes.

This past academic year served as “Year Zero” for the esports degree program, which employs a holistic, experiential learning-based approach that will prepare students for career success in various industries, leveraging the largest collection of faculty and staff members of any esports program on a college campus.

It’s an all-encompassing venture, including both the academic degree program and the competitive teams that vie for national championships in their respective games.

Academically, students who embark on this first-of-its-kind esports communications and management program, offered jointly by the  and the , will pursue one of three tracks:

• esports business and management, covering such topics as sport promotion, sport venue management and finance for emerging enterprises;
• esports communications, including coursework in virtual reality storytelling, esports and advertising, public relations principles and sports in the metaverse; or
• esports media and design, focused on 3D animation, game experience design and virtual production.

Competitively, Syracuse University fielded its first varsity esports squad in January, with the Orange winning a national championship in the Counter-Strike game and experiencing plenty of success across other varsity and club sports teams.

Joey Gawrysiak, executive director of the esports degree program, was hired last August to bring his visionary research and skills to campus, helping Syracuse capitalize on the tremendous popularity of esports while continuing to offer students innovative career options in emerging fields.

Joey Gawrysiak

“Students will get a world-class education from esports-specific faculty that are at the top of their field in researching and teaching esports, with industry connections that will help you find an experience, a capstone, an internship and a job. That’s part of your educational journey,” says Gawrysiak, who developed one of the first esports degrees in the country at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. He notes that the best-in-class esports facilities currently underway on campus will create standout opportunities for students to engage with esports and gaming.

On this “�Ļ��ܲ��� Conversation,” Gawrysiak discusses the evolution of the esports program on campus, the progress made in its first year, the expanded opportunities available to students and what’s planned for the future.

Check out featuring Gawrysiak.  A transcript [PDF] is also available.

This year will be no different, as event organizers like Cora Thomas are once again excited to bring together residents of all backgrounds and ages to honor and embrace Black culture through educational workshops, live music performances and family-friendly events.

Cora Thomas (far left) and the City of Syracuse’s Juneteenth board of directors are excited to honor and embrace Black culture during the city of Syracuse’s 34th annual Juneteenth Cultural Festival.

The city of Syracuse’s 34th annual takes place June 14-15 in Clinton Square downtown, beginning with the raising of the Juneteenth flag in front of Syracuse City Hall on Friday, June 14. One of the highlights is Saturday’s victory parade, which starts outside of the Dunbar Center at 11 a.m. and concludes in Clinton Square at noon.

“I am passionate about celebrating and preserving our history, and Juneteenth is a powerful symbol of freedom and unity,” says Cora Thomas, office manager who serves on the Syracuse Juneteenth board of directors as chair of the ancestral celebration.

“Being part of this committee allows me to contribute to raising awareness and fostering a sense of community and pride. It’s an honor and there’s a wonderful sense of unity as we honor the past and continue to look towards a brighter future.”

This year’s celebration is the third in Syracuse since Juneteenth (June 19) became an acknowledged New York state holiday in 2020.

All musical performances will occur in Clinton Square. The festivities conclude on the actual holiday, June 19, by honoring outstanding community members during the ancestral celebration in the city hall commons atrium. There will also be a Miss Juneteenth Pageant on June 13 at the Community Folk Art Center.

Thomas sat down with SU News to discuss the importance of Juneteenth, how the celebrations have grown over the years and why the victory parade is an “incredibly moving experience.”

Student volunteers like alumnus, philanthropist and Life Trustee Daniel D’Aniello ’68, H’20, who was studying abroad in Florence at the time, earned the title “Mud Angels” for getting their hands dirty and rescuing priceless works of art and historical artifacts after the great flood deluged the city’s churches, libraries and museums with mud.

During the University’s Commencement exercises inside the JMA Wireless Dome, Nardella encouraged the more than 6,700 graduating students to be like the “Mud Angels,” by taking ownership, getting their hands dirty and becoming active and involved with their own communities.

“Those ‘mud angels’ became part of our community, and our community became part of them, forever. This is the power of education, the power of embracing your journey,” Nardella told the graduates, their families and friends. “We were made to pursue virtue and knowledge. I ask you to take ownership, to never stop pursuing knowledge.”

Dario Nardella, the mayor of Florence, Italy, challenged the Class of 2024 to tackle issues concerning the environment and climate change, the protection of human and civil rights and an increase in worldwide polarization during his Commencement speech. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Syracuse University and Nardella’s city share a deep connection, as Florence is home to the , which opened in 1959 as the first American campus with a study abroad center in the city.

Grateful for the chance to address the Class of 2024—consisting of graduates from all 50 states and 66 countries around the world—Nardella challenged the graduates to tackle issues concerning the environment and climate change, the protection of human and civil rights and an increase in worldwide polarization.

While resolving these “colossal challenges” could seem daunting, Nardella reminded the graduates that their time on campus has equipped them with the necessary skills, including a “thirst for knowledge that can challenge differences, overcome fears and fight prejudice.”

“As you continue your journey through the world, set your sails towards the future and create your own map of the world. Facing the future can be scary. It might be hard. But if you use passion and curiosity as your compass, you will be able to advance confidently and successfully,” Nardella said. “We have the power to steer our history in a more positive direction, and I trust we will. Your moment is now.”

Beyond the skills they acquired on campus, Nardella emphasized the importance of practicing gratitude, paying attention to the needs of others, engaging with your community and remaining determined to take action without a fear of failure as other essential leadership traits.

“Nourishing your curiosity and knowledge as a defeat does not equate with failure if we take it as an opportunity to learn. Ignorance, on the other hand, is [a failure]. Be passionate and compassionate about what you do and who you are. And most importantly, don’t let anyone take that away from you,” Nardella said.

Student Leaders Leondra Tyler ’24 and Omnia Shedid L’24 have made their mark and discovered their career ambitions through their time on campus. They plan on using their degrees to make a difference.

This weekend’s Syracuse University Commencement marks a time to reflect and celebrate the end of a long journey for students. Two decorated student leaders, Leondra Tyler’24 and Omnia Shedid L’24, share their stories and their paths to Syracuse University on this edition of “�Ļ��ܲ��� Conversations.”

Leondra Tyler

A non-traditional student, Tyler will graduate cum laude with dual degrees in neuroscience and psychology from the and the through the Part-Time Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP).

Tyler has been recognized as a McNair Scholar, Our Time Has Come Scholar and Remembrance Scholar, and is a passionate leader with the Hendricks Chapel Food Pantry. She is engaged in both social psychology and behavioral neuroscience research, including a (SOURCE) research fellowship, and she eventually plans on utilizing her degrees to impact her community as a doctor.

“I took advantage of all Syracuse University has to offer, and I made a mark on this campus. I’m making it a better campus for the next round of students that are coming in. It’s been such an amazing journey. While it’s very sad to me that it’s almost over, I know Syracuse will always be my home,” Tyler says.

Omnia Shedid

Shedid, the president of the College of Law’s Class of 2024, is a member of the Advocacy Honor Society’s Trial and Alternative Dispute Resolution divisions. She’s helped connect veterans with access to essential resources with the , and held two prestigious summer internships—as a law clerk at the Office of the Attorney General of Rhode Island, and at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Shedid landed her “dream job” as an honors attorney with the government after graduation.

“Being at the College of Law taught me how to lead with understanding, which is such a beautiful way to tie up my entire experience because my law classes taught me how to understand not just the law, but other people’s perspective on the law. It’s important to understand where people are coming from and what they need as a lawyer, because you can’t really support people unless you actually know what it is that they need,” says Shedid.

On this Commencement-centric “�Ļ��ܲ��� Conversation,” Tyler and Shedid discuss their surreal paths to Commencement and how their time on campus reinforced their drive to make a difference once they graduate.

Check out episode 163 of the  podcast featuring Tyler and Shedid. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

First-generation college students Melanie Salas (left), Jean Castilla (center) and Brianna Gillfillian discuss the challenges they faced, the lessons they learned and their plans for after graduation.

A trio of first-generation college students have demonstrated hard work and resiliency and shown how they ultimately set themselves on the path that will culminate Sunday morning inside the JMA Wireless Dome when they become the first members of their families to earn college degrees during Syracuse University’s .

• Melanie Salas ’24 was inspired by a high school coach to challenge herself to realize that she could do anything she set her mind to.
• Jean Castilla ’24 worked hard to strengthen his knowledge base and earn admission into a prestigious New York City high school that would prepare him for the rigors of college.
• Brianna Gillfillian ’24 pushed the limits of her comfort zone to leave her home country of Jamaica to earn a college degree and rely on the kindness of strangers to pay her way to Syracuse University through a GoFundMe account.

Surrounded by the nearly 6,700 fellow degree recipients, and in front of their families and friends, Salas, Castilla and Gillfillian will join the ranks of the more than 250,000 proud Orange alumni around the world, knowing that, hopefully, their stories will inspire other would-be college students to overcome their fears and blaze their own paths.

Leading up to convocation, these talented first-generation students sat down with SU News to discuss the challenges they faced, the lessons they learned and their plans for after graduation.

Melanie Salas ’24

Melanie Salas

Path to Syracuse University: “When I was in elementary school, people always told me I wouldn’t be anything in life. It motivated me and forced me to grow into the person I am today. When I was in high school, my softball coach helped me discover that I could do anything in this world, and that really inspired me to go out and learn as much as I can. My parents [Juan Salas and Lorena Granados] did everything for me to get to Syracuse University and now I am set to graduate early, and I’m just so thankful for the mentors on campus who helped me overcome the struggles I faced.”

Academic major: Biology ()

Involvement on campus: Our Time Has Come Scholar, Ronald E. McNair Scholar, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, orientation leader, Research Experience for Undergraduates, research assistant with SUNY Upstate Medical University, Food Recovery Network (part of the Catholic Center)

Best piece of advice: “Always put your foot in every single door, because you never know when the opportunity will come along that could change your life. Whenever I could, I represented myself, stood up and spoke out and from those moments, I grew into the person I wanted to be, who helped make change on campus. All those people who told me I would never be anything inspired me to bring about change to my community. You truly start on the path toward your dreams once you come to campus.”

Plans after graduation: Will be enrolling in Baylor University’s cell, molecular, health and disease biology graduate program, with the goal of earning a Ph.D. and one day opening her own research lab focused on studying ways to improve the overall health and well-being of society. “I want to help those who don’t have access to opportunities I’ve had. I want to give back to those less fortunate and help make a difference in our community.”

Jean Castilla ’24

Jean Castilla

Path to Syracuse University: “It’s been a mission of mine to attend college since I was in middle school. When I was in the eighth grade, instead of playing with my friends or playing video games, I was studying for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test, which is used to determine who gets into one of the top eight specialized high schools in New York City. I was admitted into the High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College, and was on a path to college from there. The decision to focus on my studies changed the trajectory of my life and my family’s life. My mom, Rosa, made a lot of sacrifices so I could pursue an education, and knowing what she sacrificed drove me and inspired me.”

Academic major: Entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises ()

Involvement on campus: Our Time Has Come Scholar, Hendricks Chapel Scholarship, Whitman Internship Scholarship, Veteran Legacy Fund Scholarship, Lois and Martin J. Whitman Scholarship, Office of Veterans and Military Affairs Scholarship, Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Florence Scholarship, student liaison in the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs

Best piece of advice: “Especially for my fellow first-generation students, a big thing is to have faith that everything will work out. Having faith in yourself and believing in your abilities is something we all need to practice. If you can’t believe in yourself, it won’t happen. I know I’ve gone through a lot of obstacles and adversity in my life, but every time I remind myself that I’m just being tested to see if I’m ready to move on to the next chapter in my life.”

Plans after graduation: Castilla currently serves as a crew chief in the Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing and has a job lined up in the military once he graduates. He’s also planning on continuing his career as an entrepreneur, “creating an established business where I’m the CEO and I can help other people in my community. That’s my ideal situation. I want to be able to give back because I’ve been helped tremendously on my journey.”

Brianna Gillfillian ’24

Brianna Gillfillian

Path to Syracuse University: “My high school curriculum in Jamaica emphasized math, English and information technology, so I had a lot of experience in those fields and it was something I was genuinely good at and enjoyed. My parents didn’t graduate from high school, so after I graduated, people asked me ‘why don’t you stay in Jamaica for college?’ I knew I had to come to America, but I didn’t have the money to pay for a flight to Syracuse, so I personally launched a GoFundMe to get me to Syracuse. Because nobody in my family went to college, I relied on my high school guidance counselors for advice, and in terms of my finances, I had to do everything on my own. I learned that I am resilient from this process. It would have been easy to just stay in Jamaica, get a scholarship and get my degree but I knew if I didn’t go away to college I would regret it. I had a vision for myself and would stop at nothing to make it happen.”

Academic major: Computer science ()

Involvement on campus: Our Time Has Come Scholar, National Society of Black Engineers, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, Alpha Kappa Psi (business fraternity), Delta Sigma Theta (sorority), Kalabash Dance Troupe, Scholars on a Mission, Save our Child’s Heart Foundation

Best piece of advice: “I feel being as outgoing as possible helped me connect with the University and discover my community. I love being involved in organizations, and I feel that through my involvement I was able to put myself out there and become the person and the leader I wanted to be.”

Plans after graduation: Will be enrolling in Syracuse University’s engineering management program in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, with the goal of one day working in product management or project management within the field of technology or engineering. “I’m a very creative person, and I’m always thinking in terms of the user experience and design when it comes to the different apps. I want to make sure that whatever product I’m helping to develop is suitable and maximizes the user experience.”

Saraswati Dhakal

In that role, Dhakal coordinated the center’s renal transplant services, delivering care and treatment to patients while providing counseling and guidance to both the recipients and the family members of the donors.

Dhakal experienced the challenging hardships of working with patients with terminal illness, and she saw firsthand the psychological impact it can have on a family watching a loved one go through their health battle.

Those interactions reinforced to Dhakal the importance of holistic health care while setting her on a path to become a professional counselor and mental health advocate once she graduates.

“Witnessing the impact of mental health challenges on individuals close to me sparked a desire to understand and support those struggling with such issues. Those experiences as a nurse and transplant coordinator further ignited my curiosity to learn more about mental health, which stems from a desire to better understand individuals’ experiences, motivations and resilience in the face of adversity,” Dhakal says. “I am continuously intrigued by the complexities of human behavior and the role of counseling in promoting well-being.”

Saraswati Dhakal plans to utilize her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling to create a safe, accessible environment for everyone seeking help.

During her time on campus, Dhakal was the graduate assistant at the Center for International Services, working with the staff to offer programming and services that support the well-being and overall success of the international student population while contributing to the center’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. She also was active with the , the counseling academic and professional honor society, serving as secretary during the 2023-24 academic year.

Dhakal will participate in the on Saturday, May 11, in the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

Leading up to convocation, Dhakal sat down with SU News to discuss the challenges facing mental health care professionals and how she plans to utilize her degree to create a safe, accessible environment for everyone seeking help with their mental health.

Ellie Parkes (left), AJ Bekoe (center) and Sandy Lin say their experiences at Syracuse University have helped prepare them for careers in historically male-dominated fields.

Women have traditionally found themselves outnumbered by their male counterparts when it comes to jobs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, as only 21% of engineering majors and 19% of computer and information science majors are women, according to the American Association of University Women.

Thankfully over the years, the field has become more inclusive and progress has been made to help more women earn STEM degrees and land a job working in STEM once they graduate.

Three current students—Juanitta “AJ” Bekoe ’24 (aerospace engineering), Sandy Lin ’25 (computer science) and Ellie Parkes ’26 (electrical engineering)—have set their sights on leveling the playing field and helping more women enter these traditionally male-dominated industries.

They sat down with SU News to share their stories of how the is preparing them for career success, the most valuable lessons they’ve learned during their time on campus and how they plan to utilize their degrees once they graduate.

With Commencement rapidly approaching, it’s only natural for members of the Class of 2024 to feel anxious if they don’t have a job lined up yet. But instead of feeling uncertain, , the University’s director of , assessment and student success, recommends students exercise patience and focus on identifying opportunities that resonate with their passions to help advance their job searches.

Career services offers a variety of resources available to help students at every step of their job search.

Adam Capozzi

“The important thing is there are resources here to help with your job search,” Capozzi says. “Or maybe you don’t know if you want to go into the workforce. Maybe you want to continue your education, maybe you want to take on an internship or go into volunteer work, or maybe you even want to take a gap year. Figure out what you’re passionate about and a lot of that will be figured out within six months of graduating.”

Career Services annually where soon-to-be graduates provide information on their plans after Commencement, including whether they had accepted a job, enrolled in graduate school, joined the military or took on a volunteer or service program. According to the most recent data available, for the Class of 2023, only 8% of respondents were still searching six months after graduating.

It’s easy for students to access job and internship-based resources on the , which features relevant content and information, including links to central and individual school/college Career Center websites, upcoming career services events, ways to build and enhance career skills, and more.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the following resources:

• , the University’s centralized career management tool that allows students the ability to schedule career advising appointments, apply for internships and professional employment, explore career fairs and professional development events, as well as connect with over 300,000 employers and continuing education institutions, including Fortune 500 companies, start-ups and alumni;
• , a resume review platform intended to help your resume standout;
• , where students learn about the job interview process while practicing their interviewing skills with school and college career advisors or the Career Services team; and
• , which connects students with free access to more than 16,000 online courses taught by industry experts.

When applying for jobs, one best practice for students is to tailor their resume and cover letter to match the specifications of each opening.

Among some of Capozzi’s favorite tips and pointers for students:

• No matter how many jobs you’re applying for, tailor your resume and cover letter to match the specifications of each opening. With more companies relying on artificial intelligence to filter through resumes, incorporating certain keywords from the job description can help candidates stand out from the crowd.
• Don’t burn bridges when networking, especially when it comes to cold outreach.
• Identify your interests and skills to figure out what really excites you in a job.
• Have faith in your talents and abilities, and never downplay your experiences.

Capozzi sat down with SU News to share how the University can help advance your career, explain the best practices when it comes to asking for a job reference or recommendation and discuss the impactful role immersion programs play in setting students up for professional success.

Attendees at a press conference learned about a new initiative from Google that would provide funding for free access to specific Google coursework. The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) will receive $3.5 million. J. Michael Haynie, third from right, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and the executive director of the IVMF, spoke at the press conference in Washington, D.C.

Syracuse University’s (IVMF) received a $3.5 million grant from Google to help train our nation’s transitioning service members, veterans and military-connected spouses on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence topics.

The funding, part of Google’s $75 million AI Opportunity Fund, will provide free access to Google’s AI Essentials Course and the Google cybersecurity certificate to ) participants. The IVMF is one of the fund’s first recipients.

“We’re excited to partner with Google on this new initiative, which will help make AI training universally accessible throughout the country. With this new Google AI Essentials Course, we are confident that we can arm veterans and military spouses with the training and skills necessary to begin to leverage the technology and put it to use in their career,” said , vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and the executive director of the IVMF, at a press conference today in Washington, D.C.

Over the next three years, the goal is to train transitioning service members, veterans and military-connected spouses on how to best leverage and incorporate AI into their daily lives.

“AI offers significant opportunities to accelerate economic growth, particularly if people have access to the right resources and training,” said James Manyika, senior vice president for research, technology and society at Google. “Google.org’s new AI Opportunity Fund and Google’s AI Essentials Course are important next steps in our commitment to ensure everyone, everywhere can access AI training. No single employer or policymaker will be able to modernize workforce programs on their own—we are committed to collaborating across industry, civil society and government to ensure the opportunities created by new technologies are available to everyone.”

Haynie said the IVMF team provides training, education and technical assistance to more than 20,000 service members, veterans and military-connected family members annually. Recently, Haynie said one of the most asked about questions from the veteran community involved ways to learn more about AI and its everyday uses.

This grant from Google addresses both a specific need for veterans and a specific gap in training nationwide, as only half of workers have access to sufficient AI training opportunities, according to the .

J. Michael Haynie

“We’ve found that military veterans are eager to embrace the technology in their professional life to increase productivity, whether while running their own small business or working for one of America’s employers. We were working to find the right answer for them, but with an increasingly crowded marketplace of resources and training it was difficult to identify the right opportunity…enter our friends at Google. This training will have a lasting impact on veterans and military spouses,” Haynie said of , which has supported IVMF with its efforts of preparing transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses to bring their skills to civilian careers since 2013.

According to Google, its online AI Essentials course, taught by the tech giant’s industry experts, will train people to use generative AI effectively in their day-to-day work. Participants will receive practical, hands-on experience with AI—including best practices and how to responsibly use AI—and those who complete the course will earn a certificate from Google to share with their network and with potential employers. The course normally costs $49 per person, but thanks to this grant, IVMF participants can learn these skills at no cost.

The half-day camp is open to boys and girls ages 5 to 13 and will occur at the SU Soccer Stadium April 22-26 from 9 a.m. to noon daily. Players of all experience levels will learn from head coach Ian McIntyre, associate head coach Jukka Masalin, assistant head coach Carter Lincoln and current members of the team through instructions and guidance to the campers.

The Syracuse men’s soccer spring break camp runs April 22-26 on campus.

Featuring activities, skills, drills and games based on the fundamentals of soccer—dribbling, passing, shooting and learning to compete on the field—Lincoln says the camp’s goal is to teach those fundamentals through entertaining activities and exercises.

“Fun is the priority. We want to inspire young soccer players and instill a passion for the game. Through soccer, children can learn the importance of hard work, teamwork and dedication to becoming the best versions of themselves,” Lincoln says. “We also want to strengthen our relationship with the Syracuse community, which is the biggest supporter of our program. These camps strengthen those community ties and allow campers and their families a chance to get to know our staff and student-athletes better.”

The camp costs $200 per child. For information or to register, visit or send an email to susoccercamps@gmail.com.

Annie Chen (left) and Bettina Talento are two of the passionate student leaders who helped plan Syracuse University’s annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrations.

April is a time for the Syracuse University community to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

Celebrated nationally in May, the University hosts its annual AAPI Heritage Month in April so all campus members can join in honoring the histories, cultural diversity, identities and contributions of AAPI communities.

Annie Chen

This year’s theme is “Harmony in Heritage,” celebrating the rich diversity found within AAPI communities while also highlighting the unity and shared experiences that bring these varied cultures together. Asian Americans trace their roots to over 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia, each with its own unique histories, languages beliefs and traditions. Pacific Islanders represent another ethnically diverse group with Indigenous peoples from Hawaii, Guam, Samoa and other Pacific islands and territories.

AAPI Planning Committee co-chairs Annie Chen ’25 and Bettina Talento ’25 say the month-long festivities are the perfect way to showcase their proud cultural heritage while emphasizing that the differing heritages serve to unite the AAPI community.

“Harmony in Heritage aims to pay homage to our heritage and the different traditions that have been passed down and subsequently shaped our cultures. It’s important to recognize and celebrate our heritage while also welcoming the present,” says Chen, who is studying psychology in the and plans on pursuing a career promoting mental health and well-being once she graduates.

“It means finding our middle ground among the diverse cultures in Asia and the Pacific islands, where we all can thrive in harmony,” adds Talento, a dual major in advertising in the and marketing management in the who hopes to work in a role combining her passions for design and marketing.

Bettina Talento

Chen, Talento and Chelsea Kang ’24 served as AAPI Heritage Month co-chairs on the planning committee, and they worked alongside to cultivate an highlighting and honoring the cultural heritage, history and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The month opened with a celebration kickoff on March 31 and included speakers, exhibitions, performances and student organization events. Some of the remaining highlights include Friday night’s , (April 17),  (April 19), the (April 20), and (April 20).

Chen and Talento sat down with SU News to share why they were passionate about planning this year’s events, the important role their culture plays in their lives and how their time on campus has strengthened their ties to their heritage.

As the campus community celebrates Earth Month, Lydia Knox discusses the state of sustainability and explores how the University is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2032.

What does it mean for Syracuse University to invent and demonstrate cutting-edge sustainability initiatives?

It means reducing the University’s environmental impact responsibly by identifying, promoting and implementing practices that will meet our current needs without compromising the needs of future generations. And it includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions through wisely managing energy efficiency projects.

Projects like the recently completed improvements to the mechanical systems at the Center for Science and Technology, a multi-year initiative that resulted in a 25% reduction in steam use in 2023 and an annual emissions reduction of over 500 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e). Or the recent replacement of the Lally Athletics Complex arena lighting, an effort expected to reduce carbon emissions by 141 metric tons per year.

“Sustainability encompasses a lot, but I think in the most basic sense it’s trying to really have a positive impact on the community and on the environment, and to just make sure that the practices we’re putting forth each day are both benefiting us now at this current moment, but also will have a benefit to future generations of students, faculty and staff here at Syracuse University, and on a larger level, the whole Syracuse community. This is not one fix-all. It’s going to take a lot of people,” says Lydia Knox G’22, the sustainability project manager in the .

During April, the campus community is coming together to celebrate Earth Month. On this ‘Cuse Conversation, Knox discusses the state of sustainability at Syracuse University, the wide range of Earth Month efforts occurring on campus, how the University is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2032, how you can get involved with these initiatives and why she left her career as a television meteorologist to pursue her passion for sustainability and preserving the Earth.

Check out episode 162 of the podcast featuring Knox. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

Mary Spio (right) and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade have collaborated on virtual reality learning experiences on how to become a better basketball player.

None of it made sense.

Whenever Mary Spio ’98 wore a virtual reality (VR) headset, she would feel nauseous and get sick. She wasn’t alone. Other women who tried on a VR headset told Spio they felt the same way.

Spio set out to determine the root cause of these issues, even after some of the largest virtual reality companies rejected her idea that there was an issue specifically for women. What she discovered would revolutionize the VR industry, making the technology accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

“VR headsets involve the interpupillary distance [IPD] or the eye distance, and women and men have very different eye distances. The lower limit of everything that had been built at that time was at the upper limit for women, which meant when the average woman put on the VR headset, the eyeballs were being pulled apart and she suffered from audiovisual incoherence. They would get sick and couldn’t enjoy the experience as it was intended,” says Spio, who earned an electrical engineering degree from the .

Working with an ophthalmologist and a scientist that built nothing but lenses, Spio started studying VR headsets. She quickly learned that the dynamic range of the lenses being used was way outside the range for women and children, which motivated Spio to build the first headset with the IPD adjustment and featured the correct lens range for users of all ages.

For users who didn’t grow up playing video games, Spio also created a patent-awarded, easy-to-use controller that eliminated another barrier to entry.

“Men and women just see the world differently, and that carries over into VR. I filled this gap that no one was looking at. It was a gap they didn’t even know existed. In a way, I was able to build this technology and now we have more women using our platform,” Spio says.

Mary Spio

Today, Spio is the founder and CEO of CEEK VR, a developer of premium social virtual and augmented reality experiences that simulate communal experiences, such as attending a live concert, learning in a classroom or cheering on your favorite team at a sporting event. She has even collaborated with Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade on virtual reality learning experiences about becoming a better basketball player.

The technology is being leveraged by industries ranging from health care to entertainment to offer participants hands-on training that mimics real-world scenarios and can be more impactful than traditional learning measures.

Her career accolades include being named an NBC News 100 History Makers in the Making, receiving Boeing’s Outstanding Achievement in Electrical Engineering Award, and earning an Arents Award in 2017, the highest award Syracuse University bestows on its alumni.

Spio sat down with SU News to discuss her revolutionary career, why she’s driven to use the technology to help underrepresented members of society and the indelible impact Syracuse University has had on her life.

On Wednesday, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the SSIC would receive the federal funding, as part of $3 million package. The new funding demonstrates the significant role Syracuse University will play in building and training the workforce of the future that will power Micron’s leading-edge memory megafab in Clay, New York, the largest facility of its kind in the United States.

The South Side Innovation Center will receive $1 million in federal funding to upgrade its facilities in support of its role to help grow the workforce and prepare small businesses as Micron’s $100 billion investment in the region.

“The funding will “supercharge Central New York’s efforts to make sure Micron benefits every corner of the community,” Schumer says. “From upgrading facilities on Syracuse University’s South Side Innovation Center to help training our workforce and increasing small businesses’ ability to access the semiconductor industry, this funding will help get Central New York ready for the transformation ahead.”

The SSIC, an entrepreneurial project of the , seeks to increase the vitality of the local and area economy by recruiting, nurturing, and training emerging and mature businesses. The SSIC provides these businesses with incubation support, development, education, market access, and credit assistance, using highly skilled trained professional counselors.

“The South Side Innovation Center has been a hub of innovation in our community for nearly two decades. Its work has stimulated economic growth, propelled job creation and driven community revitalization,” says . “With Central New York on the verge of a once-in-a-generation transformation, this support will allow the center to enhance its impact in cultivating a thriving and stable workforce in Central New York. I am grateful to our elected officials, especially Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, for their tenacious advocacy on behalf of our state, our region and our city.”

“We are delighted to receive this support for the SSIC. This significant investment in modernizing the SSIC facility truly is a game-changer and will act as a cornerstone of our work to support even greater success for our community entrepreneurs and innovators. This investment is an investment in creating an even greater future for Syracuse and Central New York” says Alex McKelvie, interim dean of the Whitman School.

The funding will help SSIC upgrade its infrastructure to reflect current business needs and workplace expectations and update its technology to provide training in an inducive and innovative environment. The investment in the SSIC will “expand workforce training,” and “spark new life and grow businesses in Central New York,” says Gillibrand.

The funding will also help modernize SSIC’s facilities to both better serve the community and guarantee that the space is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act’s accessibility regulations.

Knowing the size and scope of Micron’s transformative investment in the region, and recognizing that has one of the highest poverty rates () in the U.S. and higher levels of unemployment (), Schumer and Gillibrand emphasized that the money will “help ensure that the economic development [created] will be equitable and inclusive.”

According to a issued by the senators, the funds will also be used to support transformative capital investment to create jobs, develop a more qualified workforce, and generate tax revenues through sales of profitable new businesses, ultimately contributing to the overall health and stability of the Central New York economy.

“This eclipse will be a beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime event in the sky that will bring us all together,” says Walter Freeman, an associate teaching professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

“Introduction to Astronomy” classes always end the same way they began, with Freeman advising his students that, ultimately, “we look at the stars because they are pretty and they illuminate who we are as humanity.”

That humanity will be on full display at 3:23 p.m. on Monday, April 8, when the University campus community and Central New York will experience a total solar eclipse—a naturally occurring phenomenon when a new moon finds itself precisely between the Earth and the sun—creating nearly 90 seconds of pure darkness during the middle of the afternoon.

The philosophy Freeman instills in class varies greatly from when humanity’s first encounters with solar eclipses, when people believed the sun powered their lives, and the events in the sky were closely associated with religion and mythology. Since the timing of the sun, moon and stars’ motions were documented to both keep time and navigate, anything that led to the sun’s disappearance, even for a few seconds, “served as harbingers of doom and gloom, an omen of terror,” says Freeman, an associate teaching professor of physics in the .

Walter Freeman

Freeman uses stargazing and phenomenon like the upcoming solar eclipse to demonstrate to his students how the advancement of astronomy over time teaches us a valuable lesson on “the development of our capabilities as people,” Freeman says. As scientific advances are made, society has come to comprehend the sheer brilliance on display during a total solar eclipse.

“This will be a beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime event in the sky. Science gives us a means to predict and understand eclipses. But beyond that, physics takes a back seat here. The eclipse isn’t a scientific event as much as it is a human event. Everyone will be able to appreciate what happens in a poetic and artistic way. That will be beautiful, and it will bring us all together,” Freeman says.

Campus community members are invited to participate in this rare occasion—the next total solar eclipse in Syracuse isn’t predicted to happen for another 375 years—through a series of on-campus events.

The Department of Physics, in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences, is hosting various on the Quad from 1:30-4 p.m. Physics students will lead assorted make-and-take projects and demonstrations across different locations. Telescopes will be available by Carnegie Library, and guided and eclipse-related presentations are being offered in the Stolkin Auditorium. Be sure to visit the for more helpful information.

Additionally, join the Barnes Center at The Arch and Hendricks Chapel on the Quad from 2:30-4 p.m. for an featuring a sound bathing experience and guided meditation, a viewing of the total solar eclipse, and a celebration of Buddha’s birthday ritual with the Buddhist chaplaincy.

Leading up to the eclipse, Freeman spoke with SU News about what makes this total solar eclipse different, where the optimal viewing areas are for experiencing maximum totality and why people should focus on who they’re watching the eclipse with instead of striving for that perfect social media post.

The campus community is invited to participate in a variety of solar eclipse-themed activities on April 8.

It’s been nearly 100 years since the Central New York region experienced a total solar eclipse, but on Monday, April 8, Syracuse University will find itself situated along the for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Beginning at 3:23 p.m., a new moon will find itself precisely between the Earth and the sun, creating roughly 90 seconds of pure darkness during the middle of the afternoon.

University community members are invited to participate in this rare occasion—the next total solar eclipse in Syracuse isn’t predicted to happen for another 375 years—through a series of on-campus events and celebrations in Syracuse. Students can pick up their solar eclipse glasses through their residence hall.

Special note: All Parking and Transportation vehicles will suspend service on Monday from 3:15-3:30 p.m., after the total eclipse, they will resume their normal service.

College of Arts and Sciences Eclipse Celebration

The Department of Physics, in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences, is hosting various on the Shaw Quad from 1:30-4 p.m. Physics students will lead assorted make-and-take projects and demonstrations across different locations. Telescopes will be available by Carnegie Library, and guided and eclipse-related presentations are being offered in the Stolkin Auditorium. Complimentary eclipse glasses and pinhole projectors will be provided while supplies last.

To allow blind members of the campus community a chance to participate in and enjoy our eclipse watch party, has secured a device that turns light into sound. There will be speakers on the Quad to project the sound from the eclipse, and there will be information, provided by the , on how you can make your own device.

Of course, we will all (safely) peer skyward to view the total solar eclipse between 3:23-3:25 p.m. Be sure to visit the for more helpful information.

Solar Eclipse Sound Bathing and Drumming

Join the Barnes Center at The Arch and Hendricks Chapel on the Quad from 2:30-4 p.m. for an , featuring a sound bathing experience and guided meditation, a viewing of the total solar eclipse, and a celebration of Buddha’s birthday ritual with the Buddhist chaplaincy.

David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

The Falk College is hosting a viewing party for students, faculty and staff from 3-4 p.m. outside of the Falk Complex, MacNaughton and White halls. Eclipse glasses and snacks will be provided.

College of Law

The College of Law is holding an admitted student event and will be passing out eclipse glasses to members of the College of Law community.

Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

The Maxwell School is holding an in the Lincoln Courtyard of Maxwell Hall from 2:50-3:50 p.m. and will provide glasses to attendees.

Solar Eclipse Festival at the MOST

Enjoy tabling activities, food trucks and free eclipse glasses during the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology’s (MOST) from noon-4 p.m.

Solar Eclipse Spectacular With the Liverpool Public Library

and participate in guided learning activities starting at 2 p.m. at Onondaga Lake Park. Free eclipse glasses will be provided while supplies last.

Solar Party on Solar Street

on Solar Street of the Syracuse Inner Harbor from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. There will be food trucks, live music and free eclipse glasses.

Angelica Molina (left), Adya Parida (center) and Yajie (Lannie) Lan discuss their respective journeys to Syracuse University, how they found not only success but a welcoming community on campus, their advice for fellow international students and how they plan on making a difference in their communities once they graduate.

Finding out you were accepted into Syracuse University to pursue your academic dreams is a joyous time—and the start of a new adventure.

On this “�Ļ��ܲ��� Conversation,” three accomplished international students stopped by to discuss their respective journeys to Syracuse University, how they found not only success but a welcoming community on campus, their advice for fellow international students and how they plan on making a difference in their communities once they graduate.

Adya Parida ’25 traveled nearly 7,700 miles from her home in Ranchi, India, to study computer science in the (ECS).

Yajie (Lannie) Lan ’24 ventured more than 7,300 miles from her home in Chengdu, China, to earn an architecture degree from the .

Angelica Molina G’25 ventured more than 2,700 miles from her home in Cali, Colombia, to earn master’s degrees in public administration and international relations in the .

Check out episode 161 of the podcast featuring Parida, Molina and Lan. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

When it comes to fostering a strong relationship between herself and her mentees, Montgomery understands that representation matters, and being able to relate to the students she advises is just as important as the advice being offered.

Montgomery and her fellow student mentors with —a peer-to-peer group designed to help women of color support and empower each other as they navigate their college journeys—have been helping first-year and transfer women of color successfully acclimate to life on campus through engaging programs and meaningful mentorship.

The result? Members of Dimensions form a true sisterhood and strengthen their leadership and professional development skills through weekly meetings that focus on pertinent topics like acclimating to college life, building community, setting goals, mental health awareness, career-oriented support and more.

Kamille Montgomery

“Dimensions offers a support system of people who are going through the same journey together. If I can provide advice and guidance for incoming first-year students, that’s such an important way to help out. Dimensions offers an opportunity to build those relationships and make students feel like they’re not alone on their journeys,” says Montgomery, an early childhood and special education major in the .

On Friday, Dimensions is holding its Women’s History Month reception from 4-6 p.m. in Room 304 ABC in the Schine Student Center. SU News sat down with Montgomery to learn more about the powerful impact of Dimensions, where her passion for education came from and how she will put her degree to use in the City of Syracuse through the .

Mary Calvi

But it was that curiosity—combined with the confidence acquired through her broadcast journalism classes in the and a big break provided by Sandy Montag ’85, president of The Montag Group—that helped Calvi realize her childhood dreams while remaining appreciative of the powerful impact of the alumni network.

“I feel indebted to Syracuse University and the incredible alumni connections and the powerful reach of this network of alumni. We’re all so open to connecting and sharing our advice and feedback with each other, and there’s a tremendous camaraderie among the alumni,” says Calvi, a 14-time New York Emmy-winning anchor on WCBS-TV in New York and anchor of “Inside Edition Weekend.”

Choosing Local News Over Cartoons

While her childhood friends were watching cartoons, Calvi vividly remembers being enthralled with the local newscasts. There was something powerful, captivating and mesmerizing about how the on-air reporters delivered the news to Calvi, who grew up in Yonkers, New York.

When she was in the ninth grade, Calvi first got her hands on a microphone and camera and started writing and producing her own newscasts for a small local community television station in her hometown.

“I was doing really local news, talking about the upcoming festival or what was happening in and around town that weekend, but I loved it,” Calvi says. “It was the power of curiosity. I was always curious about what was happening, but also what was the reason behind what was happening.”

Mary Calvi (right) reporting from the scene of a news story for WCBS-TV in New York.

While anyone who watches Calvi deliver the news today can’t help but see her as a natural, it wasn’t until she arrived at Syracuse University to study broadcast journalism that Calvi discovered the confidence she would need to launch her on-air career.

“There was no better journalism school in the country, and there was no other place I wanted to go. But just because I knew this was what I wanted to do from an early age, didn’t mean I actually thought I could do this. It really took me having the real support and encouragement from my Newhouse professors that allowed me to become confident that I could go out and do this for a living,” Calvi says.

Calvi recalls one instance where , the former department chair and current associate professor of broadcast and digital journalism, challenged her students to report on a breaking news scenario equipped only with a few tidbits of information and some video footage.

“I was terrified, but I ad-libbed my way through the report, and every time I went live afterwards, that experience came in handy. You have to go through the raw emotions of being live in the field to catapult yourself to that next level of reporting, because it really forces you to fix any problems you might have with your on-air delivery or your writing,” Calvi says.

Covering an Unprecedented Day in American History

Calvi considers herself to be an adept researcher, someone who is always prepared for that day’s story. But nothing could have prepared her for the challenges of reporting on the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.

On that fateful day when terrorists killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 others in the worst attack against the homeland in our nation’s history, Calvi was on the air for 18 consecutive hours, delivering the latest updates to a terrified audience while fielding phone calls from scared citizens frantically searching for their loved ones.

“It’s very difficult to put into words what that day was like. It was devastating and even hard for me now to go to that site. We were just trying to deliver the news as it was happening There was the breaking news piece of it, but also the humanity side of it, the families of those who were lost. It was so difficult. Over the years, I’ve covered every remembrance, and it really doesn’t get much easier for the families,” Calvi says.

The unprecedented events of Sept. 11 really hit home for Calvi, a native New Yorker, who also covered the World Trade Center bombing on Feb. 26, 1993, one of her first-ever on-air news reports. In both instances, knowing there was a priority placed on providing viewers with the most up-to-date information, Calvi was able to demonstrate great empathy while interviewing survivors and family members who had lost a loved one.

“It really hits you hard as a reporter when you talk to those who go through tragedies. We talk about breaking news and getting the story in this industry, but so many of us, especially in a market like New York City, have met families who are dealing with terrible tragedies. The reporter must go to the family of that victim and talk to them. It really changes your perspective about the news business, but also about life in many ways. You really get a true sense of the impact these stories are having that you’re reporting on,” Calvi says.

Relating to the pain of losing a family member or a friend is not a new feeling for Calvi, who was a junior at Syracuse University when terrorists bombed Pan Am Flight 103 on Dec. 21, 1988, killing 270 people, including 35 Syracuse students returning from a semester abroad.

Investigative Reporter Becomes Accomplished Author

Calvi’s storytelling skills aren’t limited to television. She has found success as a , relying on her talents as a reporter to shine a light on two stories of romance involving well-known American presidents.

Mary Calvi’s second book, “If a Poem Could Live and Breathe: A Novel of Teddy Roosevelt’s First Love,” features the actual love letters between Roosevelt and Alice Lee.

Calvi’s first book, “Dear George, Dear Mary,” described how, before George Washington met his eventual wife, Martha, he fell for Mary Eliza Philipse, one of the richest women in America who was from Calvi’s hometown. After sorting through old letters, journal entries and publications from the time, Calvi uncovered the facts that served as the basis for her novel, “an unbelievable story of love, deception and vengeance,” according to Calvi.

Her second book, “If a Poem Could Live and Breathe: A Novel of Teddy Roosevelt’s First Love,” features the actual love letters between Roosevelt and Alice Lee. Those letters were long rumored to have been destroyed or lost to time, but a persistent Calvi eventually discovered not only the letters, but never-before-seen photos of the two lovebirds.

“With both of these books, I knew there was an exclusive story. I wanted to share their stories and their voices with the world because I think they were both wronged in history for many reasons. Mary was named a traitor during the American Revolution, while Alice was marked as someone incapable of intellectual growth. It was quite a thrill being able to share their voices and tell these long-forgotten stories,” Calvi says.

Another case of Calvi’s curiosity paying off.

As imam and Muslim chaplain, Amir Durić fosters community and togetherness. His research focuses on supporting and enhancing the Muslim student experiences on college campuses across the country.

As a faith leader, an imam is the one who proceeds, the one who stands in front and leads the mosque’s worshippers as a role model.

A deeply religious man, Amir Durić knew he was meant to serve as a faith leader when he was a child and his grandfather called upon him to lead his family’s daily prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. It is a time when observant Muslims around the world come together in hopes of increasing their consciousness, self-awareness and empathy through fasting daily from dawn to sunset and worship that elevate their spirituality.

Durić gathered the courage to deliver the prayers, and soon after accepting the responsibility, he started noticing a newfound love and passion for the spiritual life. Durić had found his calling.

Amir Duric

“With faith, I am on the receiving end of timeless and divine wisdom that really broadens my horizons beyond this temporary world. My faith motivates me to be a better citizen of this world, because I have a role to play, and that role is not just about me, but about those around me as well,” says Durić, the imam at . In his role, he is responsible for fostering a sense of community and togetherness among the students who practice Islam on campus.

Since 2017, Durić has led efforts to enhance and improve the Muslim student experience on college campuses across the country. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in  through the .

With the holy month of Ramadan underway, Durić stopped by to share his thoughts on the role an Imam plays on campus, describe the core tenets of Islam and address the biggest misconceptions surrounding the religion. He also discusses his groundbreaking research on the Muslim student experiences on college campuses across the country and explains how an interfaith collaboration with Rabbi Ethan Bair brought together Muslim and Jewish students to learn more about each other’s beliefs and values.

Check out podcast featuring Durić. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

The theme for this year’s celebrations was “Existing Outside the Lines: The Colors of Resistance.” Through a lens of intersectionality as art, this theme encapsulated the rich diversity within the Black community while also acknowledging the spectrum of color that Blackness holds.

Relive the celebrations through our photo gallery, which captures highlights from several of the signature events led by the Black History Month Committee and coordinated across campus by the . Thanks to all who participated!

Black History Month Kickoff Celebration (Photo by Julie Herman)

Black History Month Kickoff Celebrations (Photo by Julie Herman)

Black History Month Kickoff Celebrations (Photo by Julie Herman)

Black History Month Kickoff Celebrations (Photo by Julie Herman)

Black History Month Kickoff Celebrations (Photo by Julie Herman)

Black History Month Kickoff Celebrations (Photo by Julie Herman)

Black History Month Commemorative Event: Night at the Museum (Photo courtesy of on Instagram)

Olutosin Alabi G’25 won the Third Annual Afropreneurship Competition (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Libraries)

The Third Annual Afropreneurship Competition (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Libraries)

Black History Month Orange After Dark Trap N’ Paint (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

Black History Month Orange After Dark Trap N’ Paint (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

Black History Month Orange After Dark Trap N’ Paint (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

Black History Month Orange After Dark Trap N’ Paint (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

Black History Month Orange After Dark Trap N’ Paint (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

Black Beauty Expo (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Black Beauty Expo (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Black Beauty Expo (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Black Beauty Expo (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Black History Month Career Mixer (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Black History Month Career Mixer (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Black History Month Career Mixer (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Black History Month Career Mixer (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

20th Annual WellsLink Transitions Ceremony (Photo courtesy of Multicultural Affairs)

20th Annual WellsLink Transitions Ceremony (Photo courtesy of Multicultural Affairs)

20th Annual WellsLink Transitions Ceremony (Photo courtesy of Multicultural Affairs)

Black History Month Week of Wellness–Mental Health Talk (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Black History Month Week of Wellness–Mental Health Talk (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Black History Month Week of Wellness–Mental Health Talk (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

All Wheels! No Ceilings! Black History Month Soul Skate (Photo by Leigh Mai Vo ’24)

All Wheels! No Ceilings! Black History Month Soul Skate (Photo by Leigh Mai Vo ’24)

All Wheels! No Ceilings! Black History Month Soul Skate (Photo by Leigh Mai Vo ’24)

All Wheels! No Ceilings! Black History Month Soul Skate (Photo by Leigh Mai Vo ’24)

Men of Color Initiative Induction Ceremony (Photo courtesy of Dylan Antigua ’22, G’23)

The College of Law’s Fifth Annual Black History Month Dinner (Photo courtesy of on Instagram)

K.G. Tan

Table tennis is a game of both force and angles.

The goal is to strike the ball past your opponent by taking advantage of the observable angles and opportunities. Devising a plan of attack for problems known and unknown. Predicting your opponents’ future moves while remaining in position to return a forehand, backhand or overhand slam.

It’s no wonder Kwang G. Tan G’73 naturally took to table tennis.

Possessing an innately inquisitive, problem-solving mind, Tan, who earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the (ECS), was ideally suited for the fast-paced game that requires one to both immediately tackle the problem they’re facing while thinking about where your opponent is vulnerable now, and where they will be vulnerable in the future.

“I always liked playing table tennis. Even now, we have table tennis downstairs, and I still like playing,” Tan says about the facilities in his retirement community in San Diego, California. “There’s always a lot of physical movement, side to side, forward and backward. You always have to be thinking.”

When it comes to philanthropy, Tan is always thinking of Syracuse University. He is a generous benefactor of the University, including his immense support of the .

In 2017, K.G. Tan made a gift of $3.5 million, which led to the creation of the Barnes Center at The Arch.

In 2017, a $3.5 million gift from Tan enabled students to have access to comprehensive health, wellness and recreation services and resources through both significant renovations to Archbold Gymnasium and the creation of the Barnes Center at The Arch. The result is the K.G. Tan Sports and Fitness Facility on the second floor, and a dedicated table tennis space where students who wish to follow in Tan’s footsteps can pick up a paddle and play on the third floor.

In 2019, Tan donated $5 million toward the creation of the National Veterans Resource Center, a facility dedicated to academic research, programming and thought leadership that addresses the social, economic and wellness concerns of the nation’s veterans and families.

“K.G. has enjoyed an exemplary and innovative career in the technology sector. His commitment to the University highlights the impact a defining Orange experience can have,” Chancellor Kent Syverud says. “Syracuse University is grateful that K.G. continues to inspire current and future generations of students. His support and generosity will set our students and faculty up for continued academic and research excellence.”

Recently, Tan funded the $1.5 million K.G. Tan Professorship, which will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) research for ECS faculty.

“Dr. Tan’s endowed professorship will support a preeminent researcher and educator in the field of artificial intelligence. This person will be a top scholar in the development and rigorous analysis of AI algorithms, all while serving as a compelling instructor for our talented cadre of computer science students. We are grateful for his gift, his guidance and his passion for innovation,” says ECS Dean J. Cole Smith.

Devising Solutions for Unknown Problems

The same traits that suited Tan in table tennis helped him carve out a successful career in the technology sector, especially in the early days of computers, when engineers were devising solutions for problems that weren’t yet known. Engineers like Tan were both examining problems that needed to be solved and working out the answers to those problems.

K.G. Tan

Working for such titans of the industry as IBM, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Sun Microsystems, Tan held five patents —four from IBM and one under Sun Microsystems—while maintaining important leadership positions at both IBM and HP.

The very first time Tan used a computer as an undergraduate student studying electrical engineering at the University of Illinois-Urbana in the late 1950s, he became determined to understand what made these ginormous machines work.

“Every field has potential, and that potential is unlimited. But at the time, we knew very little about what computers could do and what role they would play in the future. I gained experience working on the university’s main computer then and from that point on I was fascinated with learning as much about computers as I could. What can these big supercomputers do? How does their software and hardware work? I didn’t know, but I knew I wanted to know,” Tan says.

From IBM to Syracuse University

After earning a master’s degree in electrical engineering from The Ohio State University in 1962, Tan immersed himself in the exciting world of computers, designing computers for IBM for roughly five years.

While at IBM, Tan applied for an IBM residence fellowship program, with the hopes of earning a doctoral degree in electrical engineering. Out of more than 200 applicants, Tan was one of two selected to the prestigious program and was admitted to Syracuse University’s electrical engineering doctoral program.

As part of the program, ECS engineering professors traveled to IBM’s Poughkeepsie-Kingston campus. One faculty member in particular, Professor Ming-Kuei Hu, made a lasting impression on Tan. Hu helped lead the intellectual development of Syracuse University’s computer engineering program, which at the time was only the second accredited program of its kind in the country and Hu was the first professor to teach computer courses at the University.

As one of Tan’s professors and his advisor, Hu encouraged Tan to build upon his impressive practical experience with computers and conduct a deeper dive into the field.

“Professor Hu was very open-minded and gave me some great guidance in the field of computers that really enhanced the work I was doing for IBM while encouraging me to focus on new areas of study in computing,” says Tan, who spent two years at Syracuse.

Doing Whatever It Takes to Accomplish a Task

Today computers are everywhere, from personal laptops and desktop computers to powerful smart phones and Apple watches. Users have an insatiable need for speed when it comes to accomplishing tasks on computers and electronic devices.

When Tan first started working for IBM, he was tasked with designing some of the company’s first functional computing units. Much was unknown about the tasks a computer could handle, but the same desire for computing tasks to be completed as quickly as possible permeated throughout IBM’s offices.

In this emerging field, there were countless problems for Tan to investigate. Every problem he attempted to solve was brand new. Tan says that, in general, adding more components would lead to a faster solution, but he was also operating in a finite system where the physical space was limited.

It was a constant balancing act between speed and space.

“Take the adder (a digital circuit that performs additions of numbers). You based your work on the component given to you and went about providing the fastest unit you could design. That was the goal. Of course, the component you were designing didn’t exist in the field, so you had to design something that would meet specific performance requirements,” Tan says. “We were given specifications for how fast it should be and had to figure out the minimum components to use. Much of the time, adding more components wouldn’t fit the physical space requirements. There’s always a trade-off of speed versus space. In this field, there was no precedent; you had to think about different solutions and go through many iterations. Sometimes it worked.”

The Profound Impact of Giving Back

Growing up in China, Tan’s parents instilled in him at an early age the importance of getting an education and being a lifelong learner. As he was pursuing his college degrees, Tan helped pay for his room and board by working part-time jobs, first as a busboy and then in a lab.

Every minute Tan was working part-time was time he couldn’t spend either studying or working on that day’s classroom lessons.

Wanting to give more time back to Syracuse University’s students, in 2013 Tan established the Tan Family Education Foundation Scholarship, providing a minimum of six and as many as nine qualified students $10,000 annually. As of March 2022, this Scholarship amounts to $90,000 annually for three years through 2024.

“Time is the most important resource. The scholarships I had as a student were important to me because they bought me more time to pursue my studies. Those two extra hours I was working each day could have been spent in the lab and in the classroom,” Tan says. “When recipients have a scholarship, they have more time to do the research that they need to do. More time to work on solving their problems. More time to focus on their studies. More time to pursue what they’re interested in academically. It makes a difference.”

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University 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 Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit  to learn more.

David Bennett ’56 has been in attendance for the home coaching debuts of the last five Syracuse head coaches.

When Adrian Autry ’94 led the Syracuse University men’s basketball team into action against the University of New Hampshire to open the 2023-24 season, there were many familiar faces in the stands inside the JMA Wireless Dome cheering on the Orange.

But as far as program historians go, one particular fan, , stood out for his longevity and loyalty to the men’s basketball team. After all, he’d been in attendance for the home coaching debuts of the last five Syracuse head coaches.

You’d have to go back a century—to the 1924-25 squad that defeated St. Lawrence University by a score of 32-26 on Dec. 12, 1924, in Lewis Andreas’ first season on campus—for the last home coaching debut Bennett didn’t see in person, and Bennett had a valid excuse for missing that home opener: He wasn’t born until 1935.

As Autry’s team handled New Hampshire by a score of 83-72 on Nov. 6, Bennett was there in Section 123, a seat he has occupied since the Dome opened in 1980. His interest in Syracuse athletics goes back to 1940, when his father, Bernard, a local attorney and fellow Syracuse University alumnus, took his son to his first game when he was just 5 years old.

“Oh, I’ve gone to a lot of Syracuse basketball games, going back to when I was a boy. My father was a very big basketball fan, and it was a great bonding experience to go to basketball and football games with him,” says Bennett, professor emeritus of history in the .

Long-Lasting Orange Fandom

Over the last 75 years, there have been five head men’s basketball coaches: Marc Guley (1950-62), Fred Lewis (1962-68), Roy Danforth (1968-76), Jim Boeheim ’66, G’73 (1976-2023) and Autry.

David Bennett with his wife, Gerda, during a recent men’s basketball game in the JMA Wireless Dome

Bennett was 15 years old when Guley made his home head coaching debut, guiding Syracuse to a 101-39 victory over the University of Toronto on Dec. 12, 1950, in Archbold Gym. He’s seen the Orange men play in Archbold, the downtown Jefferson Street Armory (after a fire ravaged Archbold in January of 1947), the New York State Fairgrounds Coliseum, the War Memorial, Manley Field House and the Dome.

He was fortunate enough to see future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Cousy when Holy Cross played Syracuse, and when Bennett enrolled at the University to pursue an American studies degree, he saw future Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown ’57 star for the Orange football and basketball teams.

Bennett cheered on the Orange during the first basketball games at Manley Field House (1962) and the Dome (1980) and has fond memories of watching Hall of Famers Dave Bing ’66, H’06 and Boeheim earn a berth in the NCAA tournament during the 1965-66 season, the program’s second NCAA appearance at the Division I level.

“Syracuse had some great basketball teams. Under coach Fred Lewis, we had this walk-on named Jim Boeheim, and he was playing with a guy who became his closest friend, a man who is one of the great players in the history of the sport in Dave Bing. That team was a great story. Jim went from walk-on to team captain, and Bing was a dominant player. Those teams were fun to watch,” Bennett recalls.

Bennett joined the faculty of the Maxwell School in 1961, after returning from the University of Chicago, where he received a Ph.D. in history. He was on the faculty for 60 years before retiring and was a past Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence. Bennett served as chair of the history department, chair of the University Senate Committee on Athletic Policy and chair of the University Athletic Policy Board, a role he held for 20 years. He was faculty representative for athletics to the NCAA for those 20 years.

Bennett played a central role in creating the Faculty Oversight Committee for Athletics, which was responsible for ensuring the athletic and academic enterprises were aligned and recruited student-athletes who were just as committed to their studies as they were to their sport.

Bennett was on search committees that helped name Jake Crouthamel as athletic director (1978), and Dick MacPherson the head football coach (1981). And in 1976, Bennett was on the committee that recommended to then-Chancellor Melvin Eggers the hiring of Boeheim as the next head men’s basketball coach leading up to the 1976-77 season.

Favorite Men’s Basketball Memories

Every time Syracuse has advanced into the Final Four—including that unexpected run in the 1974-75 season, the devastating losses in the national championship during the 1986-87 and 1995-96 seasons and, finally, a national title during the 2002-03 season—Bennett has been at the games cheering on his alma mater.

“That 1987 team, with Derrick Coleman, Rony Seikaly, Sherm Douglas and others, that was my favorite team, and they were so close to winning a national championship,” Bennett says, the bitter taste of the loss to Indiana University still evident in his voice. “But I’m forever thankful to Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick, Gerry McNamara and the 2003 team that finally won it all. That was probably the greatest moment, at least for me, in the history of Syracuse University athletics.”

David Bennett, professor emeritus of history in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

For a beloved professor who taught primarily modern American history and modern military history at Syracuse from 1961 through 2021, the fact that Bennett, who can vividly recall moments from past basketball seasons, has been present for so many of the landmark moments in program history is not lost on him.

“I recognize the similarities between my time as a professor and my interest as a Syracuse basketball fan. I never wrote about American athletics, but I was always interested in it. And of course, because I’m a historian, I can remember a lot of the games I’ve seen. I’ve always been a fan because my father and I had a bonding experience around Syracuse sports,” Bennett says.

As Autry makes his way through his first season as a head coach, Bennett wishes him well and doesn’t want to witness another head coach make his Syracuse debut anytime soon.

Margaret Talev discusses the mission and vision for the Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, how distrust in election results and politicians is at an all-time high and the challenges artificial intelligence poses.

can vividly recall the specific moment she knew journalism had failed to properly inform and educate a large portion of the American voting electorate.

It was Jan. 6, 2021. More than 1,000 citizens were protesting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Talev was working as managing editor at Axios, overseeing the outlet’s political coverage. During the events, one of her reporters became trapped in the chambers of the House of Representatives, while another was trapped in the Senate’s chambers.

A decorated and accomplished national political journalist, Talev prided herself on helping people understand the news, both in the short-term and big picture. Talev covered American politics and the White House for 30 years, including working the campaign trail for presidential elections in 2008, 2012 and 2016 as a White House correspondent for Bloomberg News and McClatchy Newspapers.

Talev watched the events unfold and was left wondering how thousands of her fellow citizens could stage a protest based on misinformation.

Unsure of her future in journalism, Talev wanted to focus her career efforts on the relationship between the news that was being produced and consumed by voters and how that was impacting their views on democracy and governance.

Margaret Talev

She was immediately interested in serving as the Kramer Director of the Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship (IDJC), a joint effort of the . Based in Washington, the institute promotes nonpartisan, evidence-based research and dialogue in the public interest, striving to create new knowledge, foster a more informed and engaged citizenry and better equip students for success.

“I cared about focusing on the governance and the information piece of this, which is, how is democracy working for people? What do people believe democracy is? And why are a segment of Americans so upset with the process that they’re willing to resort to violence or willing to believe conspiracy theories? That became the central question that I was interested in reporting on, and the chance to build an institute that would really be dedicated to looking at the connection between news and government, between journalism and politics, between how people perceive the way their country is working and the news they’re ingesting,” Talev says of the IDJC, which will formally open its headquarters in Washington later this spring.

On this “’Cuse Conversation,” Talev discusses the mission and vision for the IDJC, how distrust in election results and politicians is at an all-time high, the role citizens can play to address issues facing our democracy and the challenges artificial intelligence poses.

Check out episode 158 of the featuring Talev. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

This powerful African proverb emphasizes how, after someone learns to read or write, they have an obligation and a responsibility to pass that knowledge on to someone else, thus spreading wisdom and education throughout their city or town.

Employing the same principles of uplifting and educating one’s community, the (MCI) began in 2020 with four Syracuse University students who were seeking to support and empower each other as they navigated their college journeys.

Through word of mouth, engaging programs and peer mentorship, MCI has developed into an impactful student organization and a true brotherhood for its members. The growth is impressive: The first class boasted 18 members. Four years later, during Friday’s annual —the culminating event of the inaugural Men of Color Initiative Week—approximately 64 students will be recognized as campus leaders during a ceremony inside the Regency Ballroom of the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center.

“Groups like the Men of Color Initiative are necessary for every person of color, to have a support system filled with people who are going through the same journey as they are and who can offer advice and guidance on their journey. Because I was able to help cultivate my leadership skills during my time with MCI, I’ve been able to influence and help other students of color who need advice,” says Ibraheem Ayinde ’24, a senior biology major in the .

Through word of mouth, engaging programs and peer mentorship, the Men of Color Initiative has developed into an impactful student organization and a true brotherhood for its members.

“The induction ceremony is a special moment. We’re given our special MCI jackets and it’s a great feeling for everyone to be acknowledged and brought into this network of individuals striving for a better tomorrow. I know my induction ceremony was a pinnacle moment for me. Every single person who left that space was happy. For many of them, it was the first time their name was recognized in the presence of others for their accomplishments,” says Ryan Nkongnyu ’25, a junior studying communication and rhetorical studies in the (VPA).

MCI’s programs explore issues unique to the experiences facing men of color in higher education. Through peer, faculty and staff mentorship, MCI promotes leadership development, academic support and service-learning opportunities while cultivating the next generation of leaders by creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard and valued. Meetings often center on topics like financial literacy, self-branding, personal advocacy and what it means to be a man of color.

“Our meetings are big picture. We talk about how we interact with our community, how there are specific challenges facing men of color and how we can overcome those challenges, and about the long-term changes we want to see for our respective communities. We get to the root of these issues, and it’s been rewarding knowing I’m not alone in any of this,” says Zac Chavez ’26, a sophomore studying film in VPA.

Leading up to the ceremony, get to know Ayinde, Nkongnyu and Chavez, three of the group’s passionate student leaders.

Ibraheem Ayinde ’24

Ibraheem Ayinde

When Ayinde transferred to Syracuse in 2021, he had never heard of colleges offering programs like MCI. It wasn’t until his first week, as he was walking around getting acquainted with campus, that he came across Open House and discovered MCI. It was a life-changing event.

Ayinde hopes to become a physical therapist after he graduates. Perhaps it’s his commitment to helping people that made Ayinde a natural fit as one of MCI’s peer mentors and leaders.

“This group was born from that desire to want to do more for ourselves and for this campus. We’re all like-minded individuals that, regardless of our career interests, want to see people that look like us succeed. I just love helping people. If there’s somebody who leaves our meetings feeling empowered and like they’re not alone, I know I am doing well as a leader,” says Ayinde, who helped orchestrate the recent Black History Month MCI Basketball Classic on campus.

Recently, the first cohort of MCI alumni came back and spoke with students about their experiences—both on campus and in the real world. Ayinde is looking forward to maintaining a lifelong camaraderie with his fellow MCI alumni and says he’ll always make time to mentor current students.

Ryan Nkongnyu ’25

Ryan Nkongnyu

Nkongnyu is an involved student leader, serving as vice president of the , event coordinator for the , ambassador and peer mentor for the (J.U.M.P. Nation) at Syracuse University and chaplain for the .

A first-generation college student and an , Nkongnyu admits he initially struggled some adjusting to life on campus. But earning a college degree has been his lifelong dream, so Nkongnyu was committed to overcoming any obstacles he faced.

During his second semester, Nkongnyu found himself seeking out spaces where he could meet and connect with “like-minded individuals who wanted to shape and mold the future.” He was introduced to MCI and inducted in February 2023.

“I was looking for great personal connections in a space where I felt like I belonged. MCI has helped make me gain confidence and be a better person. I’m inspired by this group. We’re always talking about how we can support each other and build a community where we lift each other up. These people have my back, and we help each other out with the problems we’re facing. We’re a true brotherhood,” says Nkongnyu, who hopes to work in the entertainment industry, either as an anchor or a producer.

Zac Chavez ’26

Zac Chavez

Chavez is no stranger to peer mentoring groups. When he was in middle school, Chavez began dedicating himself to his studies. The goal: getting into the college of his choice.

Before he committed himself to a career in film, Chavez first envisioned becoming a lawyer, and he joined a local program called Legal Outreach, where, with the help of public and private law firms across Manhattan, he participated in legal debates based on real cases on the Supreme Court docket.

But while the mentorship opportunities were meaningful, Chavez says he “struggled finding a mentor who looked like me.” That all changed when he joined MCI during his first year at Syracuse.

“It was a breath of fresh air to know there is a space and a program like MCI at Syracuse. It became a safe haven for me. Everyone has something positive or constructive to say, and there are different perspectives from people who have been through what you’re going through. It’s great to figure out how to navigate those issues from a multilayered perspective, and this experience has helped with my professional development,” says Chavez, who is also a member of the .

Chavez has also used the group to further his filmmaking skills, producing a documentary on both MCI’s basketball tournament and its upcoming induction ceremony.

Student leaders Dylan France and Andi-Rose Oates discuss what fueled their involvement as student leaders, how they hope to inspire other students to become agents of change and what their Black heritage and Black culture means to them.

Syracuse University has a proud and storied tradition of honoring through a series of engaging and thought-provoking student-run programs, events and discussions occurring through March 3 on campus.

The theme for this year’s celebrations is “Existing Outside the Lines: The Colors of Resistance,” and through a lens of intersectionality as art, student organizers like Dylan France ’24 hope to express both the rich diversity present within the Black community, and the broad spectrum of color that Blackness holds.

Dylan France

“If you look across campus, there’s so many students from so many different backgrounds doing all these amazing things. To highlight that creativity and the different leadership efforts from students, that’s the goal: to showcase all these different avenues and outlets while demonstrating how we’re existing beyond the lines of what, traditionally, blackness is looked as,” says France, a dual major studying finance and real estate in the .

France and sophomore Andrea-Rose Oates ’26 are among the many passionate and talented Black student leaders who have become agents of change for their peers during their time on campus. And France and Oates are committed to helping train a new generation of student leaders.

France serves as the comptroller for the Student Association, is one of two undergraduate representatives to the , belongs to both the and the , and is a member of the Black History Month Committee.

Oates is an energetic leader of , a peer-to-peer mentoring program geared toward self-identified women of color. Ever since she was a child, Oates has been inspired to do good and make her community a better place. But that drive intensified in the summer of 2020 after George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Andi-Rose Oates

“That’s when I became passionate about my advocacy work, whether it was talking about the issues affecting the Black population within America and the world, really focusing on that and getting more involved with not only my advocacy, but my direct action to bring about change in these issues,” says Oates, who is studying both public relations in the and policy studies in the .

On this “’Cuse Conversation,” France and Oates discuss what fueled their involvement as student leaders and how they hope to inspire other students to become agents of change, explore what their Black heritage and Black culture means to them, share how they found community on campus and offer up their highlights from the Black History Month celebrations.

Check out featuring France and Oates. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

As vice president for research, supports and empowers Syracuse’s internationally recognized creative and scholarly excellence, advancing centers and institutes that are global leaders in their fields.

In this role, Brown helps faculty and students pursue research and creative activities across the natural sciences, humanities, engineering, education, arts, social sciences and law fields. Brown also leads the and its component units, which serve as the backbone of the University’s research, scholarship and creative support enterprise. Collectively, these efforts help students and faculty expand their knowledge through innovation, creativity and discovery.

Duncan Brown, vice president for research.

Brown, who is in his second year as vice president for research, has been a physics faculty member since 2007 and is an accomplished physics researcher, recognized as an international leader in gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics before taking on this latest position.

“The main vision is to empower and amplify and tell the stories of the amazing research that’s happening here and the amazing creative activities that our faculty are pursuing. Faculty really want to do research and creative activities, and they want to engage our students and our students want to be part of this,” says Brown, who also serves as the in the .

On this “’Cuse Conversation,” Brown elaborates on his vision for the research enterprise at Syracuse University, explains what makes Syracuse a premier research institution, examines the impact of the research being done by faculty and students and reveals where his passion for research came from.

Check out podcast featuring Brown. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

Vice President for Research Duncan Brown supports and empowers the University’s internationally recognized creative and scholarly excellence, advancing centers and institutes that are global leaders in their fields.

Barner says the strong foundation for her career accomplishments formed as she was earning dual undergraduate degrees in and from Syracuse University.

And now, Barner is paying it forward. Thanks to her generous and transformative donation as part of the Forever Orange campaign, Barner’s latest gift of $1 million will ensure the future of . In recognition of the gift, the building will be renamed the Barner-McDuffie House—in honor of Barner, a Syracuse University trustee, and her husband, Haywood McDuffie.

Trustee Sharon Barner’s transformative donation of $1 million as part of the Forever Orange campaign will ensure the future of 119 Euclid—a space that celebrates the Black student experience—enhance scholarship opportunities for first-generation and underrepresented students and strengthen cultural, academic and social student-led activities that promote Black culture.

“Sharon and Haywood are passionate benefactors, ambassadors and supporters of Syracuse University, and especially our students,” says . “This gift allows the University to continue expanding meaningful opportunities for students to build a sense of belonging and community here at Syracuse. I am grateful to Sharon and Haywood for their generosity and vision and look forward to celebrating their philanthropy later this year during Coming Back Together.”

This is the first building on North Campus named by an African American family through philanthropic support. In addition to endowing 119 Euclid’s future, the gift will enhance scholarship opportunities for first-generation and underrepresented students and strengthen cultural, academic and social student-led activities that promote Black culture.

“I came through Syracuse University during a period of change across the 1970s. As an African American female, I found a community that was supportive of all the things I thought I could do with my life,” says Barner, who is now vice president and chief administrative officer at Cummins Inc., an Indiana-based multinational known as a global leader in power technology. “As I looked to give back, it was about both giving back to Syracuse and to people who had experiences like myself. I wanted to help make sure they had the foundations they needed, both through finding community and scholarship.”

Sharon Barner has achieved career success at the highest levels of her field, including as vice president and chief administrative officer at Cummins Inc., an Indiana-based multinational known as a global leader in power technology.

Reflecting on her days on campus, which served as a formative experience, Barner felt there was something missing from her Orange journey: a dedicated space for Black students to gather, share their experiences and feel at home on the University campus. Barner is excited to see how her donation will inspire and make a lasting impact on students for years to come.

Creating Sense of Home and Family

The first time Barner walked inside 119 Euclid, she understood why this was a special place for Black students. From the friendly faces greeting her to the enticing aromas emanating from the kitchen, Barner says she instantly felt at peace and knew this was a project to which she wanted to contribute.

“It felt like there were a million mothers telling me to ‘come in and be comfortable.’ I felt like I was home. There was this sense of family. You have a community of people who are going to help keep you safe, mentally and physically, while helping you grow as a person,” says Barner, whose son, Haywood McDuffie III ’17, also graduated from Syracuse. “Students feel included when you have those kinds of spaces, knowing you have a village that supports you.”

“Affinity spaces such as the Barner-McDuffie House are critical for community-building, leadership development and student success. This space, under Marissa Willingham’s leadership, has helped our students cultivate a sense of belonging at Syracuse,” says . “I’m excited to see the innovative programs that will be hosted in and through the space.”

Besides her academic pursuits, Barner found her community through her involvement in a number of activities at Syracuse University—from being a cheerleader and joining the Delta Sigma Theta sorority to writing for The Daily Orange and teaching English as a second language to Spanish-speaking children in the City of Syracuse.

Inspiring Fellow First-Generation Students

Sharon Barner

A first-generation college student, Barner understands the financial stresses families can face trying to pay for higher education. That was the other driving force behind this gift, which will also support the , which provides critical financial assistance, leadership training and alumni mentorship for first-generation and underrepresented students at Syracuse University.

“I want those students to know that someone like me knows what they’re going through and is rooting for them to be successful at Syracuse University and beyond. I hope one day these students will look back, understand the value of their Syracuse education and feel compelled to give back to future generations of students,” says Barner, who as a trustee is currently on the search committee charged with identifying the University’s next chief information officer.

“When you think of all that Sharon has accomplished as a first-generation graduate of Syracuse University, it’s clear that the Syracuse experience is a game changer. It’s wonderful that she continues to think deeply about the needs of current students through her philanthropy,” says .

“Sharon’s generosity will help offer students more impactful programs and activities at the Barner-McDuffie House while furthering the space’s goals of providing a sense of community, a place to build connections and celebrate the outstanding contributions of the Black community on campus,” adds .

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University 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 Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit  to learn more.

At the heart of the movement were the non-violent, civil disobedience teachings of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader who inspired Black citizens around the country to speak out and stand up for their constitutional rights.

Professor emeritus Roosevelt “Rick” Wright, who participated in the Civil Rights Movement sit-ins and demonstrations, learned invaluable life lessons by meeting and dining with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Wright had the pleasure of meeting and eating with Dr. King several times as a teenager, as his Sunday school teacher was King’s sister-in-law, Edith Scott Bagley. Those Sunday evening suppers saw Wright consume much more than fried chicken, ham, collard greens, candied yams, potato salad and snap beans: He hung on King’s every word as the eloquent reverend imparted life lessons on the impressionable Wright.

Words of wisdom that, more than 55 years after King’s death, still resonate loud and clear with Wright.

“The most important thing Dr. King impressed on me was the need for education. He would say, ‘Roosevelt, one of the problems here in America is that we as African Americans were brought to this country as slaves to work the fields and the agriculture of the South. Technically our families built this country for free as slaves,’” Wright says.

“Dr. King said that America has got to wake up from this idea of white superiority. They are immediately taught at birth that African Americans were inferior, dumb and stupid, and that their worst was better than your very best. How do we get past this? Education and schooling. Get smart. And he preached how to handle incredible challenges of conflict through non-violent protest. While we were sitting at those lunch counters, I remember white kids coming in calling us every name in the world. They threw hot water on us, hot sauce in our faces and everything. And we just sat there and took it.”

Dr. King’s message and mission will be honored at the University’s 39th Annual on Sunday, Jan. 21, the largest event of its kind held on a college campus.

Roosevelt “Rick” Wright.

In this “’Cuse Conversation,” Wright recalls the powerful impact Dr. King made on him, shares how Dr. King utilized the radio to preach his non-violent message and how Dr. King’s oratorical prowess inspired his successful career as both a radio broadcaster and television, radio and film professor at the .

Wright, who became the first Black communications professor at Newhouse, was the first faculty advisor for the student-run radio station WJPZ and served as faculty manager for WAER. He was an invaluable resource for the thousands of students who took one of his classes, and is the definition of “Major Market.”

Check out featuring Wright. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

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Joe Castiglione, the longtime radio voice of the Boston Red Sox, will be honored during Hall of Fame Weekend on July 19-22, 2024, in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Red Sox)

“Swing and a ground ball, stabbed by [Keith] Foulke. He has it, he underhands to first — and the Boston Red Sox are the world champions. For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball’s world championship. Can you believe it?” Castiglione told the audience as Red Sox players mobbed each other in celebration after snapping what was the second-longest World Series drought in baseball history.

The ball from the final out of that World Series is on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and on Wednesday, Castiglione received word that, he, too, was heading to Cooperstown as the 2024 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for excellence in broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He joins fellow honoree Bob Costas ’74 (2018) as the only Orange alumni to win this award.

“I’m still stunned. It hasn’t sunk in, yet,” Castiglione said. “It’s such a tremendous honor to be recognized. It’s overwhelming to know your name will forever be in that broadcasters section with some of the best to ever do this.”

This was Castiglione’s fourth time being a finalist for the award. On the day the Hall of Fame came calling, Castiglione went to put his cell phone on speaker so his wife, Jan, and son, Joe Jr., could hear the good news. Instead, Castiglione, an admitted technology klutz, hung up on the Hall of Fame.

“That was the longest 60 seconds of my life, waiting for them to call me back,” Castiglione recalled with a laugh. “But eventually they called back.”

Castiglione has been delivering his signature call, “Can you believe it?” as the radio voice of the Red Sox for 41 years, and when, on the second try, the Hall of Fame delivered this news, Castiglione said he was the one who couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Josh Rawitch [the president] said, ‘You always like to say can you believe it, well Joe, you’re going into Cooperstown!’ and that was just my ultimate ‘Can you believe it’ moment,” Castiglione said. “I’ve had so much support from my wife of 52 years, Jan, and my family. I’ve had the support of the Red Sox, and the support of the fans. The fans have to accept you and trust you and Red Sox nation is very knowledgeable and very passionate. One of the reasons they connected with me is I’m passionate about the ballclub. People tell me they can tell if the Sox are winning or losing by the tone of my voice during the game. I’m blessed to have that connection with Red Sox nation.”

Learning From Baseball’s Best

Castiglione first fell in love with baseball on the radio by listening to the iconic Mel Allen broadcast New York Yankees’ games. Later, Castiglione was introduced to Ernie Harwell, the legendary radio voice of the Detroit Tigers.

Joe Castiglione (Photo courtesy of WEEI)

As he was breaking into sports broadcasting, Castiglione admits he spent a lot of time listening to both Allen and Harwell, picking up pointers on how to inform and entertain an audience, deftly blending stories with statistics to paint a picture of the action on the field.

“Describe what you see as it’s happening, and make sure you call the play in great detail so the fans have a good idea of what’s going on. Baseball is a storytelling game. Use those stories. A story tells a thousand words. This is entertainment. We’re trying to entertain and inform our audience,” Castiglione said on the when asked about the greatest lessons he learned from Allen and Harwell.

Castiglione will be honored during the Hall of Fame Awards Presentation as part of Hall of Fame Weekend on July 19-22, 2024, in Cooperstown. He joins Allen (a co-recipient of the first Ford C. Frick Award in 1978) and Harwell (1981) in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown, a place reserved for the best broadcasters the game has ever known.

Can’t Script History

In a decorated career full of highlights—Castiglione called four no-hitters and a pair of 20-strikeout gems from Roger Clemens—being the first person to broadcast a Red Sox title still stands out among all the other calls.

“I’d thought about what it would be like to call the last out of a Red Sox world championship for years, and I went back and forth in my mind. Finally, I concluded that I can’t script it. I don’t know how it’s going to end, so I’ll just react to what happens. I’ve known broadcasters that try to script it and they might mess it up. I was just hoping for something definitive. I didn’t want a diving catch where we wondered if he caught it or didn’t catch it. I wanted a definitive play and we got a simple ground ball to the pitcher. That was the best way it could have ever happened,” Castiglione said.

Castiglione earned an undergraduate degree from Colgate University and a master’s degree in television and radio from the . He credits Syracuse University and for helping him discover his voice as a play-by-play broadcaster.

When Castiglione was at Syracuse, in the summer of 1969, he made his inaugural trek to Cooperstown, the first of countless visits to the Hall of Fame. Nearly 55 years later, he will return to be honored as one of the best baseball broadcasters to ever call a game.

“It makes you want to pinch yourself to see if this is real. I’ve always known what I wanted to do ever since I found out I wasn’t good enough to be a ballplayer at age 10. I’ve had so many blessings in my life,” Castiglione said.

Besides calling Red Sox games, Castiglione also handled broadcast duties for both the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) and the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2022, the home Fenway Park radio booth was named in Castiglione’s honor.

Brown and his peers from Camden, New Jersey, made the 95-mile trek to Meadowlands Stadium to watch local star Donovin Darius ’98, future Pro Football Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb ’98 and the 17th-ranked Orange take on the 24th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in the Kickoff Classic on Aug. 26, 1997.

On Monday morning, as Brown was introduced as the newest head coach, he harkened back to vivid memories of a dominant, 34-0 trouncing of Wisconsin by Syracuse as the blueprint for where he wants to take this program.

“Why Syracuse? That [game] is my vision of Syracuse. We are going to bust our butt to get back to that way. To bring back the great tradition of football that was here before me, before my era,” Brown told a packed audience of media members, former Orange football student-athletes and supporters of the program in the Ferguson Football Auditorium in the George R. Iocolano and William C. Petty Football Wing at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud (left), head football coach Fran Brown (center), and Director of Athletics John Wildhack ’80 during a press conference introducing Brown to the Syracuse University community.

Wanting to return the Orange to a time when the program was consistently ranked in the Top 25 under former head coach Paul Pasqualoni (107-59-1 record in 14 seasons) and offensive coordinator George DeLeone (who Brown worked with at both Temple University and Baylor University), Brown had a message for the football alumni.

“I need your presence. I need those guys to see the history that was before them. I need them to want to be able to mimic what happened before them,” Brown said. “The money and all those things will come when the time is right. I want your guys’ presence. I want your heart. Because you’re going to get my heart. You’re going to get every bit of me that you can get for the entire time I’m here.”

Vowing that current and prospective student-athletes will follow his DART method—being detailed, accountable, relentless and tough in their pursuit of greatness on the football field, in the classroom and in the community—Brown said he’s “all-in on Syracuse University.”

“I am competitive. I need to win at everything. You can’t chew gum faster than me. I’m going to win at everything and we’re about to go shock the country,” Brown said.

Get to know Brown, the nation’s top college football recruiter and a member of the 2022 College Football National Championship coaching staff with the University of Georgia.

What Can Brown Do for Orange?

Brown played a critical role in attracting top talent to Georgia, and his deep ties to New Jersey and the Northeast will allow him immediate recruiting success for the Orange.

Brown and Wildhack share a laugh.

“I was always able to go out and recruit and get the best players, but it wasn’t because I was saying or selling all this stuff. It was because of the relationships. It was me continuously talking to them about life, helping young men become closer to the man above [God],” Brown said. “I recruit just being genuine. I’m telling the kids the truth. I’m telling all the kids now, ‘The reason you should come to Syracuse is, because [if] you’re coming here, you’re going to be successful for the rest of your life.”

Brown said he plans on “taking care of our backyard, from Canada to the DMV [Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virgina].”

“That’s why I got the job [because of my recruiting]. We all understand that. I’m not going to stop that. Why would you stop doing what you’re good at?” Brown said.

Diamonds in the Rough

Brown is a self-made man who came from humble beginnings. His mother gave birth to Brown when she was just 13 years old, and by the time she was 21, there were four boys running around the house. Football became an outlet for Brown to escape life’s difficulties, and he excelled on the gridiron as Camden High School’s quarterback.

After spending one year playing football for Hudson Valley Community College, Brown earned an associate’s degree and caught the eye of Matt Rhule, future head coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers who was serving as Western Carolina University’s assistant head coach. Rhule recruited Brown to play for Western Carolina, where he thrived at cornerback, earning first-team All-Southern Conference honors and serving as team captain en route to a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

As Brown was talking with Kent Syverud, Syracuse University’s Chancellor and president, Syverud asked him an innocent question:

“I know you can recruit, that’s great, but what about the diamonds in the rough? What about those guys that people overlook? What are you going to do about them?” Brown recalled. “I said ‘How am I going to forget about me?’ I can’t forget about me. I was one [a diamond in the rough]. I was the guy that went to school, didn’t have all the stuff everybody else had. I had an uncle, Charles Brown, he told me ‘Don’t ever, ever, ever allow your situations to dictate your outcome. You make the best of it. You dominate, you get up, and you walk every single day with the next foot forward.’ And I’ve always busted my butt.”

Relationships Matter

Brown’s extensive coaching resume includes stops at Rutgers University (2020-21), Temple University (2011-16, 2019), Baylor University (2017-18) and Paul VI High School (2010). He has worked with some of the top coaches in the country, including Rhule at the University of Nebraska and Georgia’s Kirby Smart. Both offer high praise for Brown.

Fran Brown (center) poses with his two sons, Fran Jr. (far left), and Brayden (second from left), his wife, Teara (second from right), and daughter Ivy Ann.

Brown made a lasting impression on Rhule, who first recruited Brown to play at Western Carolina and then connected Brown with then-Temple University coach Steve Addazio, an introduction that helped Brown land his first college coaching job in 2011. After Rhule took over the Temple program in 2013, he tapped Brown as one of his full-time assistant coaches.

It’s one of the many reasons why forming lifelong relationships with his coaches and his prospective student-athletes really matters to Brown, and why Brown continues to keep in touch with the families of his recruits long after they’ve committed to join him.

“I don’t really have a recruiting pitch. I just ask recruits ‘Do you want to be successful? Do you want to become a man? Do you want to be a good father? Do you want to be a good husband?’ When you’re asking those questions, then it becomes authentic,” Brown said. “I’m building genuine relationships. I’m going to know your grandma, I’m going to know your aunt. I’m going to know your cousin. I’m going to make sure that I’m detailed with everything and write it down. For me to have students trusting me, I need to understand and know them.”

Burdens of Being a Black Head Coach

There are 133 Division I institutions playing football, and only 14 of those programs (10.5%) have Black head coaches. Brown recognizes the special opportunity in front of him and realizes there will be immense pressure on him to succeed. If he’s successful, he knows more doors will open for other aspiring Black head coaches.

“Do I know that there’s a little more on me because I am a Black man? Yeah, and I’m cool with that. I’m excited about that because I’m going to open the door for everybody. I’m going to do this the right way because it’s bigger than me. There’s a lot of people that came before me that didn’t get this opportunity, and there’s going to be a lot that come after me that will be because of how I do here at Syracuse,” Brown said.