The pen pal program launch, which is open to the University community, coincides with National Professional Social Work Month. Recognized each March at Syracuse University, this month-long commemoration honors one of the largest professions in the country. This year’s theme is “Social Workers are Essential.”

“Social workers have been advocating and caring for others across the country as our nation has experienced an incomparable pandemic, racial unrest and economic uncertainty,” says Jennifer C. Genovese, the master of social work (MSW) program director and a faculty member of the School of Social Work, as well as an alumna of the program. “We are so proud of our students who truly reflect the values of social work. Their ongoing commitment to caring for others symbolizes that social workers are essential.”

This social media post aimed at connecting pen pals with senior citizens prompted members of Social Workers United to take action.

Handwritten letters offer a meaningful way to stay in touch with loved ones, especially for the elderly. “Everyone needs connection right now,” says Ben Phelps, a second-year MSW student and the president of Social Workers United. “People don’t write letters anymore. Younger generations are not used to doing it. But for many senior citizens, writing and receiving letters is what they do and what they love.”

This past fall, Social Workers United also sponsored its annual food drive for the Syracuse community that yielded nearly $1,000 in donations for the Rescue Mission. The drive combined virtual and contactless donations. Says Phelps, “I knew about 25 percent of the people sending me money through Venmo, which was rolling in constantly from classmates and their families.”

Seeing the community need—and the community response to helping—the students wanted to do more. When Phelps saw a social media post aimed at connecting pen pals with senior citizens, he and his peers decided to take action.

As participants in the Ready to Care Program, Social Workers United is directing those interested in reaching out to senior citizens to an online system that collects and distributes the letters. The process is easy, allowing users to upload a handwritten letter and image or complete an online form that places content into an appealing visual format. The letter writer simply hits the send button and letters are matched with a recipient who receives a printed letter by mail. Letter writers can share their email or mailing address to stay in touch although it is not required. For more information about the pen pal program, please email bephelps@syr.edu.

“By their actions, Social Workers United members, led by president Ben Phelps and vice-president Laura Buys, have demonstrated the core values of our profession: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.�� Even during a year of uncertainty and remote learning, these MSW students have found ways to contribute to the local and national community,” notes Genovese.

Social work is one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. Social workers serve in many capacities across the life continuum, helping individuals and families from infancy through the senior years. “The recent events in our society have promoted renewed interest in having social work skills applied in a variety of ways to ensure that social justice is at the center of our response to need on every level,” says Professor Carrie Jefferson Smith, director, School of Social Work. Thousands of professional social workers have been trained at Syracuse University’s School of Social Work for more than 60 years. Many have chosen to remain and practice in the Central New York area.

“Seeing there is a community of really amazing women in the industry, no matter how small, is proof I can succeed there as well. This has been a real inspiration for me, and I imagine it will be for other women,” says Brown, who is a member of the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club and the newly formed Sport Analytics Women (SAW) Club, where she serves as vice president.

During the Fall 2020 semester, the Sport Analytics Women Club hosts Olivia Stasiuk, marketing analytics manager, Dallas Cowboys. Founding club organizer and president, Mackenzie Mangos, pictured front, facing forward, manages the virtual meeting.

For women in the University’s sport analytics program that admitted its fifth class this past fall, networking with female role models in sports is essential as they enter a traditionally male-dominated field. With ongoing national efforts to encourage more young women to pursue science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM fields, female students in Falk’s sport analytics program are inspiring a new generation to follow in their footsteps.

“Our female sport analytics majors are truly trailblazers, jumping in headfirst to apply their skills and knowledge to this important aspect of sports business,” says Rodney Paul, professor of sport management and founding director of the sport analytics program. “They recognize they are role models and genuinely value, respect, and honor that role. They are leading the way for young women who love both sports and STEM programs in middle school and high school to careers in sports.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that through 2024, mathematical science occupations, such as data analysts and statisticians, are expected to grow at rates higher than average. From analyzing player performance to evaluating the effectiveness of sponsorships and advertising, sport organizations rely more than ever on trained professionals to process and analyze data.

Brown grew up watching her brother play sports, spending her free time studying baseball. She credits her calculus and studio art teachers for the skills and confidence to pursue a career in sport analytics and feels that inspiration is important to pass on. In addition to serving as a peer advisor and teaching assistant for first-year students, Brown also mentored high school students during Falk College’s Summer 2020 Berlin Sport Analytics Academy to enhance their analytical problem-solving and presentational skills. The academy is made possible through generous support from Syracuse University Trustee and alumnus Andrew T. Berlin ’83.

Having siblings on travel sports teams that took her family across the country fueled Alison Gilmore’s passion for sports. Gilmore, a first-year sport analytics major, is pictured here (L-R) with sister, Rachel and brother, Graham.

Like Brown, having siblings on travel sports teams that took her family across the country fueled Alison Gilmore’s passion for sports. “I was pretty good at writing but loved math, and I wanted to combine my passion for math with sports,” says Gilmore, a first-year sport analytics major.

During her sophomore year of high school, her father mentioned Syracuse University’s new program in sport analytics he’d heard about at work. She researched the program that night. “It was exactly what I wanted. There was nothing else like it. And if I went anywhere but here, it would not have been the same. I am just very grateful for this opportunity.”

Gilmore is also a member of the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club and Sport Analytics Women Club. “Our program is very networking-oriented from the beginning. It is amazing and gratifying so early to have access to these professionals. It sets us up to succeed because we see what skills are needed to get to their levels,” says Gilmore.

Referencing professional broadcasters Holly Rowe and Maria Taylor, as well as San Francisco Giants coach Alyssa Nakken as role models for aspiring female sport professionals, Gilmore says, “given the roles these women are in, younger girls see these are attainable goals and gain confidence.”

Second-year sport analytics student Mackenzie Mangos has minors in economics and information management and technology, and plans to graduate in three years. As a high school student-athlete who captained her teams in soccer, basketball, softball and volleyball, Mangos always loved math, envisioning her major to follow that path. “The sport analytics major bridges two things I love: sports and math,” says Mangos, who plans to finish her degree in 2022.

Leadership qualities she fostered throughout high school continued when she arrived at Syracuse University, participating in the prestigious SABR Diamond Dollars Analytics Competition at New York University as a first-year student. It was a natural transition for her to start the Sport Analytics Women Club at Syracuse this fall.

“I felt that this club would be a place for women to feel welcome as soon as they get on campus or even before arriving,” says Mangos. The club’s membership, currently at 13 and growing, welcomes students from all across campus. The group hosted three guest speakers virtually during the Fall 2020 semester, including Olivia Stasiuk, a marketing analytics manager with the Dallas Cowboys; Dafna Aaronson, a performance and people analytics specialist for the Los Angeles Kings; and Bria Grant, senior manager of business intelligence with the Brooklyn Nets.

The group is currently focused on research projecting how women’s college basketball players will perform in the WNBA and plans to host tutorials on programs like R, Tableau and SQL.

Mangos believes seeing the success of other females in a predominantly male field will inspire more females to enter the industry. “Females are a minority in sport analytics, but there is so much opportunity for us,” says Mangos. “I hope our successes will encourage more women to pursue this career and want to enroll in this major here at Syracuse University.”

To learn more about Falk College’s programs in sport analytics, contact Professor Paul at rpaul01@syr.edu.

The Juice livestream is dedicated to supporting, promoting and encouraging professional development and social interaction among young professionals in the sports and entertainment industry. Experienced professionals will engage in dialogue, offer guidance in professional development and answer questions submitted by the students through a weekly live webinar series.

The first Zoom webinar session is slated for 2 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, July 15, and is titled “The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace.” This event, moderated by sport management Professor , will address how and why diversity is important, challenges companies and professionals encounter throughout their careers, success stories and ideas for how every person can help foster a more inclusive work environment. Featured panelists will share their strategies and successes building and working with diverse teams as well as highlight the positive impact diversity and inclusion can have on a corporate culture, business success and a company’s bottom line.

Hear from licensed clinical psychologist and Syracuse University Falk College alumna Dr. Tasha Brown ’10, as well as Spelman College Assistant Professor Danielle Dickens, whose research includes identity negotiation, stereotyping and prejudice in the workplace. Brown and Dickens will be joined by WarnerMedia Executive Director Josette Sprott and sport and entertainment professional Orestes Hernandez. More details, including registration information, is available at

The Syracuse University ELC exists as a core group of the Sport Management Department’s most committed and influential young alumni that are focused on providing guidance in various ways to current sport management, sport analytics, and sport venue and event management students.

Evan Weissman

Evan L. Weissman, Ph.D., associate professor in food studies and nutrition in the Falk College, passed away unexpectedly while at home with his family on April 9. Weissman touched the Syracuse community where he lived, and that he loved deeply, with his kindness, his energy and his passion for social justice.

Weissman joined the Falk College in 2012 and was instrumental in working as part of the collaborative team that successfully launched a bachelor of science in food studies in 2014 and additional academic programs since that time. The undergraduate director of the Food Studies program, he was an affiliated faculty member in Syracuse University’s Aging Studies Institute and the Maxwell School’s Department of Geography.

He was a highly approachable, committed teacher who was equally comfortable in a classroom and working with students on a compost pile. Whether it was an introductory food studies course or advanced-level offering, Professor Weissman engaged students in community-based work to advance social change. During his popular Farm to Fork course, students explored culinary theory and practice of alternative food networks through cooking laboratories and field trips.

A partnership he created with My Lucky Tummy, a pop-up food court celebrating the refugee and new American community in Syracuse, helped students develop tangible, transferrable skills while making an impact on the community. Students worked side-by-side with chefs from Eritrea, Japan, South Sudan, Iraq and Bhutan, learning about different cultural foodways and developing related competencies. Students’ deep interest in this particular learning opportunity, and the many hours they volunteered for no pay or credit, exemplified the commitment to making communities stronger that he fostered in his students.

His numerous honors include the Syracuse University Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award, the Falk College Faculty of the Year Award for Teaching Excellence, the Syracuse University Faculty Sustainability Fellowship and a Teaching Recognition Award as part of the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professorship Program, which he received in 2015. ��That same year, students in his Feeding the City course were honored with a Chancellor’s Award for Public Engagement and Scholarship, an award Weissman and his students received on multiple occasions in recognition of meaningful and sustained engagement.

Evan Weissman and his family

His research examined grassroots efforts to address food disparities in urban America. His specializations in local food policy, food deserts, community food systems, food justice, food system inequality, urban agriculture and community gardens made him an often sought-out expert for national and local media, including WAER’s City Limits project focusing on poverty in Syracuse, where he discussed how proposed changes to the SNAP food and nutrition program would impact local families, food security and agriculture in our region.

With scholarship that was directly and consistently focused on equity, diversity and inclusion through community-engaged, participatory teaching, his research sites often became hosts for students fulfilling practicum requirements, and many of his journal publications included student co-authors.

A collaborator who reached across the Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry campuses and beyond, he was the recipient of numerous research grants and awards. Most recently he served as principal investigator of the project “Increasing Demand for Local Foods in Cortland County School Meal Program,” funded by Cornell Cooperative Extension/NYS Farm to School, to raise awareness of and demand for local foods in schools. He was a co-principal investigator on the CUSE Grant “Turbulent Tenancy: Evictions in Syracuse,” further illustrating a lifelong commitment to interdisciplinary innovation to build and strengthen communities.

Weissman was a founding member and served on the board of Syracuse Grows, a grassroots network that cultivates food justice through advocacy, education and resources in support of urban food production, and served on the Onondaga County Agricultural Council. His unwavering dedication to these causes also helped launch the newly formed Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA), a multi-sector coalition of stakeholders from across the food system in Onondaga County.

As a professor and researcher, Evan Weissman (pictured far right) connected his students to the causes of inequality to food access and the many ways to address it. His unwavering dedication to these causes led to him to be a co-founder of Syracuse Grows, an organization that supports urban food production through community gardening.

His many professional affiliations included the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society, the Association for the Study of Food and Society, and the Association of American Geographers where he often chaired conferences and presented at them.

An associate editor of Urban Agriculture and Regional Food Systems he was also an ad hoc reviewer for Agriculture, Food and Human Values; Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Ethics; Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development; and Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, among others.

Weissman earned a Ph.D. in geography at the Maxwell School. His dissertation, “Cultivating the City: Urban Agriculture and Agrarian Questions in Brooklyn, NY,” explored the tensions between the stated goals and outcomes of urban cultivation. He earned a master of arts in sociology and a minor in environmental policy from the University of Tennessee, and a bachelor of arts in environmental policy, administration and law at Binghamton University.

As an educator, mentor, scholar and friend, Weissman was committed to the human condition, always problem-solving to build better communities. He inspired those around him to advocate for equity in the food system and beyond. Along with his family, the Falk College community, including current students and countless alumni working for food justice and social justice, will continue the work he believed in so deeply as shared in a . Additional details about ways the community will come together to celebrate the life and work of Professor Weissman will be announced at a later time.

“The Regional Planning Consortium is where regional collaboration, problem solving, and systematic improvements for the integration of mental health, addiction treatment services, and physical health care occur as it relates to Medicaid Reform,” says Katie Molanare, CNY RPC coordinator and statewide lead for the RPC Workforce Committee.

The RPC is a network of 11 regional boards across New York State, comprised of stakeholders who work closely to guide behavioral health policy in the region, problem solve service delivery challenges, and recommend priorities to the State for reinvestment of Medicaid savings. Workforce development has been a focus area for the CNY RPC since 2018 when the idea for a specialized training for care management staff was discussed with CNYCC and Syracuse University. The training was approved by the committees and board in 2019.

Combining data collected from the CNY RPC Workforce Development Committee, other regional care management training pilots, and aspects of the Falk College’s School of Social Work framework, the ten-week training for frontline workers includes topics on Medicaid redesign, strengths-based practice, ethics and boundaries, engagement, and documentation. It will also involve workers’ direct supervisors, who will play a crucial role in helping staff connect the skills they acquire in the CCCP to their daily practices.

“Our collective aim was to make the program sustainable and bring it to scale. As frontline workers develop new competencies, it will be important for their supervisors to understand what they are learning to help them connect their coursework to real-world practice,” says Matthew Spitzmueller, assistant professor and principal investigator of the CCCP. Co-investigators from the School of Social Work include Nancy Mudrick, professor, and Tracy Walker, director of field placement.

The 30 frontline care workers and 10 supervisors participating in the pilot program represent organizations integral to the certificate’s development. They include Children’s Consortium, Circare, Liberty Resources, The Neighborhood Center, Oswego County Opportunities and Oswego Health. All six organizations currently sit on an advisory board for the project, including the CNY RPC, which provided the advisory board with relevant regional data collected from frontline staff and supervisors.

“Improving health and wellness is essential to delivering the best possible care for patients across the community,” says Cathy Homkey, executive director at the Central New York Care Collaborative. “By investing in this type of training for frontline care workers, they will gain the skills and expertise needed to improve care and connect services in a way that is in the best interest of the patient. Offering these types of tools can increase employee satisfaction and lead to a more positive work environment which plays a key role in staff retention.”

A 2014 Medicaid waiver awarded to New York State from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services targeted a 25 percent reduction in avoidable hospitalization over a five-year period. Its triple aim targets improving population health, enhancing the quality of care, and reducing the per capita cost of health care. The waiver addresses critical issues across the state and allows for comprehensive reform through a Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program. The DSRIP program promotes community-level collaborations and focuses on system reform.

CNYCC is the lead entity for the DSRIP program in Central New York. Through the New York State DSRIP Program, CNYCC supports service integration, collaboration on patient care, quality improvement, and the shift toward value-based payment. CNYCC’s goal is to empower its partner organizations and their employees with the necessary skills to deliver integrated care management services and provide resources for effective care management principles.

“A workforce responsible for care coordination must be equipped with proper training. A certificate program that targets the complex responsibilities of this workforce will mitigate unanticipated impacts on human service organizations. Syracuse University’s School of Social Work is uniquely well positioned to develop a certificate program that addresses the full spectrum of opportunities and challenges facing the care coordination workforce,” says Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of the Falk College.

Care coordination involves a diverse workforce made up of practitioners who collectively treat the whole person, from primary care providers, mental health and substance use disorder providers, case managers and home healthcare managers to employment specialists, housing providers, residential and respite care workers, among others who often practice independently of each other. While better integration of these services benefits individuals and families receiving them, implementation has produced a number of challenges for frontline workers and the organizations that employ them.

“Behavioral health frontline staff face many challenges with the work that they do. In addition to having no clear job guidelines, frontline staff have an average of 40+ clients with high needs, they must complete multiple assessments within a tight timeframe, and they must understand community resources and government services. This puts an enormous amount of stress on this workforce, especially for those coming into the field with no prior experience,” adds Molanare. “The unique and essential role that frontline staff play is crucial to Medicaid Reform succeeding and paving the way for these high-need clients to receive the care they deserve.”

Essential to these efforts is the role of managed care organizations administering primary and behavioral health services, promoting accountability and quality improvement. While these reforms create new opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and innovation, they also produce unanticipated challenges in the workforce that is charged with executing the State’s goal of integrating care across systems that were traditionally siloed.

“For more than 60 years, Syracuse University’s School of Social Work has trained thousands of bachelors- and masters-level social workers who today are direct care providers and program administrators across the systems that contribute to population health. The School is eager to partner with nonprofit organizations, advocates, and public officials to develop, implement, and evaluate a pilot certificate program that addresses a critical need in the care coordination workforce,” adds Spitzmueller, whose research examines direct service provision to adults with severe and persistent mental illness, the strategies behavioral health workers adopt as they negotiate changing work conditions under Medicaid reform, and the impact of policy reform on socially and economically vulnerable people.

Central New York Care Collaborative is a partnership that connects more than 2,000 health care and community-based service providers in six counties across Central New York—Cayuga, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego. The primary goal of the collaborative is to serve the population by improving the coordination of healthcare services, enhancing the quality of performance outcomes, and creating an overall better system of care for patients. More information can be found at .

The American Anthropological Association honors Professor Sandra Lane for multidisciplinary teaching, research, scholarship.

professor of public health received the 2019 George Foster Award for Practicing Medical Anthropology in recognition of outstanding contributions to applying theory and methods in diverse contexts that demonstrate a significant impact on policy. The award was presented at the American Anthropological Association’s annual conference in Vancouver, Canada on November 22.

Her impact on the field of medical anthropology is demonstrated both inside and outside of the classroom, including extensive mentorship to undergraduate and graduate students across the Syracuse University campus as well as high school students in the local community. Lane is the Laura and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of��, with appointments in the����in Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Upstate Medical University.

Along with Robert A. Rubinstein, distinguished professor of anthropology in the Maxwell School, Lane developed a model that links the community-participatory analysis of public policy with pedagogy, known as Community Action Research and Education, or CARE projects. This model integrates action anthropology and community-based participatory research with teaching by bringing students out of the classroom to address health disparities in their communities.

Lane’s CARE projects help students and professionals gain the understanding and skills to take action in partnership with community members and other organizations. One of these projects focused on lead poisoning in rental housing, a topic that was recently covered on the WCNY public television program, . She has also led CARE research projects on food deserts in Syracuse, neighborhood violence, and healthcare for the uninsured. These CARE projects resulted in 16 journal articles where 75 student and 22 community members collaborated as co-authors. The student co-authors include undergraduates and graduate students in anthropology, public health, medicine, education, physician assistant training, and several high school students.

In 2015-2016, Lane chaired the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s committee that wrote the Framework for Educating Health Professionals to Address the Social Determinants of Health. This report proposed a conceptual model to help organizations, educators and communities collaborate to address health inequalities.

The World Health Organization defines the social determinants of health as the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. An essential element in Lane’s approach with all students is that innovative learning strategies must encompass experiential, community-oriented, problem-based and other types of transformative learning to identify the social determinants that lead to health disparities.

The Framework publication led to extensive discussions among faculty in five upstate New York institutions including Syracuse University’s Departments of Anthropology, Marriage and Family Therapy and Public Health; University at Buffalo’s School of Social Work; Le Moyne College’s Physician Assistant Program; The Sage Colleges’ Nursing Program, and; Upstate Medical University’s Medicine and Bioethics. The collaborators’ network, called the Route 90 Collaborative, supports faculty interested in implementing the framework in their curricula.

Professor Lane’s work recognized for this award also includes her doctoral study with collaborators from Egypt and the United States conducting ophthalmological research that was integral to UNICEF’s SAFE strategy policy; her work as an anthropologist with a Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-funded research team that evaluated the public health costs and benefits of needle-syringe exchange in 12 cities in the United States and Canada, and; her work with the Onondaga County Health Department where she led the team that wrote the first two successful Healthy Start grants, from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, totaling nearly $10 million. She later became the founding director of Syracuse Healthy Start, a multi-agency, community-based project to reduce infant mortality among infants of color.

Lane’s current areas of research focus include the impact of racial, ethnic and gender disadvantage on maternal, child, and family health in urban areas of the United States and the Middle East.

Students from the School of Social Work attended the policy forum addressing lead poisoning of children in New York state.

With a focus on implications for public policy and social work practice, the 21st Annual James L. Stone Legislative Policy Forum brought students together with neighborhood, community and political leaders, and other experts to understand what can and needs to be done about the large number of children exposed to lead.

Any amount of lead in the body can be harmful, causing life-long cognitive and neurological delays and behavioral problems, among other issues. It is caused by inhaling or ingesting microscopic lead dust that comes from lead paint in older homes, the dirt where children play, water flowing through lead pipes into our homes and other less pervasive sources.

Students heard from panelists and speakers including state and county officials and others with political, professional and personal experience. They addressed lead poisoning from many aspects, including:

• social, economic and political forces giving rise to this problem
• implications of poisoning for children, families and communities
• ways social workers, social work services, public health professionals and policy advocates touch families experiencing the lead poisoning of a child
• efficacy of existing laws, regulations and programs
• legislation, administrative changes and advocacy civic efforts
• practical steps for remediating and eliminating lead poisoning of children

Keynote speake Gustavo Rivera, New York State senator representing, District 33 and chairman of the Committee on Health, presented “Legislative Action to End Lead Poisoning of Children in New York state.” Panels included:

Making State and Local Change
Moderator: , professor, Syracuse University School of Social Work
Panelists: Hon. Rachel May, Senator, New York State, District 53, chair, Committee on Aging and chair, Legislative Commission on Rural Resources; Hon. David H. Knapp, Chair, Onondaga County Legislature; Hon. Pamela J. Hunter, assemblywoman, New York State Assembly, District 128; chair, Subcommittee on Women Veterans

Lead Poisoning of Children in New York and Syracuse:
Poverty, Race, & Environmental Injustice
Moderator: , professor, Syracuse University School of Social Work
Panelists: , professor of public health and anthropology, Syracuse University, Research Professor Upstate Medical University; Robert Searing, curator of history, Onondaga Historical Association; Hon. Joe Driscoll, 5th District councilor, Syracuse Common Council, founder, Syracuse Lead Prevention Coalition; Kelly J. Mikullitz, Esq., supervising partner, O’Connell and Aronowitz Lead Poisoning and Toxic Exposure Litigation Group and first vice president, Brain Injury Association of New York State

The Lived Experience: How Lead Poisoning Affects the Lives of Children, Families, and Service Providers
Moderator, , associate professor, Syracuse University School of Social Work
Panelists: Darlene Medley, parent and member, Families for Lead Freedom Now; Oliviere Sekarore, bridging case manager, Refugee & Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE), and Ellen Morrissey, grandmother, member, Families for Lead Freedom Now, and founder of an online lead poisoning support group

Public/Private Collaborations to End Lead Poisoning in Syracuse
Moderator, , assistant professor, Syracuse University School of Social Work
Panelists: Peter Dunn, president and CEO Central New York Community Foundation; Stefanie Pasquale, commissioner, Department of Neighborhood and Business Development, City of Syracuse; Debra Lewis, M.S.W., lead program coordinator, Onondaga County Department of Health; Paul Ciavarri, community development organizer, Community Counsel Project of Legal Services of Central New York

The daylong event concluded with comments from Professor Kingson and Ellan Ryan, an M.S.W. graduate student. Ryan served as the student conference coordinator working closely with event organizers Professors Kingson and Carrie Jefferson Smith, along with director of the School of Social Work and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Syracuse University, Keith Alford.

School of Social Work alumnus James L. Stone, M.S.W. ’64 created an endowed fund to support this event into the future and was involved in this year’s event. “Once again, the School of Social Work has brought together an amazing and informative panel of experts, law makers and committed community leaders who bring clarity, understanding and passion to a significant issue that is relevant to social work practice and policy. We are indebted to James Stone for his generosity in endowing this event,” says Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of Falk College.

Merril Silverstein

The degree to which religion is decoupled from prosocial goals and spirituality in contemporary young adults is one of many research questions to be addressed in the project “Spirituality and Prosocial Values in the Absence of Religion Among Millennials and Their Families.”

This study, led by Merril Silverstein, the Marjorie Cantor Endowed Professor of Aging Studies in the Falk College and the Maxwell School, is made possible by a $2,898,748 award from the John Templeton Foundation and could very well reframe the debate on generational change as it addresses aspects of religious devolution about which relatively little is known.

According to Silverstein, “values traditionally associated with religion may have remained constant or strengthened in the contemporary cohort of millennials even as the religious basis for those values has weakened.” By studying the religious orientations of the millennial generation within the larger context of spirituality and prosocial values compared to previous generations, the researchers will have a deeper understanding about prosocial values and spirituality and their decoupling from religion.

In the classroom, Silverstein’s course Aging in the Context of Family Life explores trends and changes in families with an emphasis on intergenerational differences, similarities and influences. “Millennials have often been portrayed in the media as part of an egocentric, narcissistic and amoral generation. Often ignored, however, is the reality that millennials are linked to earlier generations through their family lineages. Our focus on intergenerational family influence is what makes our investigation unique,” notes Silverstein.

This project includes Falk College co-investigators Maria Brown, assistant research professor, School of Social Work, and a faculty associate, Aging Studies Institute, and Sara Vasilenko, assistant professor, Department of Human Development and Family Science. Collaborators also include Vern Bengtson, professor emeritus, University of Southern California; Joseph Blankholm, a religion scholar at University of California, Santa Barbara; and Christel Gärtner, University of Münster, a well-known scholar embarking on a multinational study of the intergenerational transmission of religion.

Three Syracuse University doctoral students, one enrolled in the Maxwell School’s Sociology Department and two enrolled in Maxwell’s Social Science program, and a post-doctoral scholar who was formerly a graduate student in Falk College’s Department of Human Development and Family Science, will be involved in analyzing data and writing journal articles.

The Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSOG)—a multi-panel, multi-generational study that has collected data on three-generation families from 1971 to 2016—will be used to address research questions advanced in this project. Building on the almost 50-year LSOG study, this research team will collect survey and interview data from millennials who are members of the fifth generation in families who have participated in the study since its inception in 1971, as well as from their parents and grandparents who participated in earlier surveys that were supported by the National Institute on Aging and the John Templeton Foundation.

Silverstein’s previous Templeton-supported research indicated Baby Boom parents with no religious identification tended to beget children with no religious identification. This relationship with respect to millennials and their parents and grandparents is largely unknown, despite the large percentage of religiously unaffiliated in this youngest generation.

The outputs and outcomes of the project will broaden the body of knowledge around the millennial generation in relation to their parents and grandparents.

Silverstein recently received a $393,372 award from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health to investigate the care adult children provide to their older parents under various conditions of vulnerability, especially those related to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The researchers believe there may be links between early parental investments of time, money and emotion and how parents’ later-life needs are met by their adult children. Data for this project are derived from the LSOG.

In light of changing family structures and growing uncertainty about reliable sources of care in later life, this project, Intergenerational Antecedents of Care to Older Adults Approaching the End of Life With and Without Dementia, will inform researchers and public policy professionals about the family as a reliable source of extended care in later life.

Jointly appointed in the Falk College, Department of Human Development and Family Science, and the Maxwell School, Department of Sociology, Silverstein is a faculty associate in Syracuse University Aging Studies Institute. Earlier this year at the American Sociological Association’s Annual Meeting, Silverstein was honored with the Matilda White Riley Distinguished Scholar Award by the organization’s Section on Aging and the Life Course. This annual award honors a scholar in aging and the life course who has shown exceptional achievement in research, theory or policy analysis, or who has otherwise advanced knowledge of this field.

Minkoff-Zern, an assistant professor of food studies, looks at the opportunities and challenges for Latino/a immigrant farmers transitioning from farm workers to farm owners in her new book, “The New American Farmer: Immigration, Race, and the Struggle for Sustainability.”

In her course FST 310: Labor Across the Food System this fall, students are partnering with the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC United) to conduct surveys with restaurant workers to better understand wage-related issues in the workplace. In FST 303: Food Movements, students each choose a food-related social movement to conduct their own semester-long study of it. She has also worked with undergraduate and graduate students on her own research, analyzing census data, co-authoring research papers, and transcribing and coding interviews.

Minkoff-Zern, an assistant professor of food studies, authored the new book, “” (MIT Press). The book looks at the opportunities and challenges for Latino/a immigrant farmers transitioning from farm workers to farm owners, offering new perspective on racial inequity and sustainable farming. It also makes an intervention on discussions of agricultural sustainability.

She interviewed more than 100 participants, including farmers and people who work with them, such as U.S. Department of Agriculture staff, farmers market managers, nonprofit and extension workers, among others. Her observations and interviews of farmers at markets and their farms, and attendance at relevant conferences aimed at outreach to immigrant and other farmers of color, took place over six years and five states, including California, Minnesota, New York, Virginia and Washington.

“In my research I found that immigrant farmers were largely using what could be described as alternative or sustainable farming practices, yet are not being recognized for their contribution to sustainable food systems, as they are typically not as well networked or savvy at marketing as U.S.-born farmers,” Minkoff-Zern says.

teaches the course Labor Across the Food System where students learn about labor conditions for farm laborers and those working in food processing, service and retail, and how that relates to a vision for a more just and ecologically sustainable food system.

For her new book, Minkoff-Zern interviewed more than 100 people, including farmers and people who work with them, such as U.S. Department of Agriculture staff, farmers market managers, and nonprofit and extension workers.

Her interviews with farm workers who succeeded in starting their own farms, against the odds, unveiled what barriers they faced due to their specific ethnic and racial identities as immigrants of color.

“When we look at agriculture today, immigrants are not just workers, but they’re people who have a lot of knowledge in agriculture, are very skilled in agriculture and they have more barriers to owning land and starting a business.”

With the release of her book, her research continues, which includes outreach to organizations that are helping immigrant farm workers transition to owning their farms. Funders for her research include the Association of American Geographers, the Goucher College Dept of Environmental Studies and, at Syracuse University, Falk College Seed Grant and the Labor Studies Working Group.

Brandon Steiner

Brandon Steiner ’81 will address Falk College’s Class of 2019 at the school’s Convocation ceremony on May 11. Steiner has continued his commitment to Syracuse University—and in particular, its students—through service to Falk College and its Sport Management Advisory Board, which he currently chairs.

“Every semester, Brandon is in our classrooms working with students and providing them first-hand guidance from his experiences. His genuine mentorship to students in Falk College, and across Syracuse University, illustrates the ongoing commitment of an alumnus who continues to make it his priority to give back to his University and its students,” says Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy. “Brandon has always found a way to stay connected—and committed—to our Syracuse University family. We are deeply privileged to work with him.”

He devotes his time to several charities, including Family Services of Westchester, which helps to provide quality social and mental health services to strengthen families, children and individuals. With Steiner’s help, Family Services of Westchester was able to open a home for teenage boys with no place to call home.

As founder and chairman of Steiner Sports Marketing, the largest company of its kind in America, he works closely with corporations to align them with athletes to promote their products. An unprecedented partnership with the New York Yankees, announced in 2004, provided a way to offer fans authentic Yankees memorabilia and one-of-a-kind fantasy experiences at Yankee Stadium. Since then, Steiner Sports has developed similar partnerships with Notre Dame Football, Syracuse Athletics and Madison Square Garden that bring fans closer to the games, as well as to the athletes themselves through various programs, including meet-and-greets, speaking appearances, signed memorabilia and countless other products and services.

Steiner is the author of three books, including his most recent publication released in 2018, “Living on Purpose: Stories about Faith, Fortune, and Fitness That Will Lead You to an Extraordinary Life.” He hosts both a popular podcast, “Unplugged,” and a live Q&A show broadcast on Facebook Live called “Project X.” A much sought-after speaker, he has delivered keynote addresses, TEDx talks, corporate training and motivational speeches to sports teams and businesses around the world.

He is featured on ESPN Radio 1050 on Sunday mornings, along with his co-hosting duties on “Yankees-Steiner: Memories of the Game” on the YES Network. Steiner is an expert commentator on all issues involving sports and often appears on national news networks.

More information about Falk College’s Convocation can be found at falk.syr.edu.

“Many clients wait long periods of time or are apprehensive about talking with someone skilled enough to listen and guide them through the rough waves in life. This partnership will change lives and homes,” says Merlin Merrain, M.P.H., SCC director of health services. The new services are provided by Falk graduate students supervised by American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)-approved mental health professionals. Appointments are available weekdays and evenings and can be made by calling 315.671.5817 or 315.671.5835.

Brandon Hollie G’21, a second-year Ph.D. student in marriage and family therapy, turned his research interest of decreasing violence in urban communities into action. His research, published recently by the National Council on Family Relations, examines gun violence as a symptom of past inter-generationally transmitted injustices focuses on preventing gun and gang violence in the black community. Hollie began counseling clients at the Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility this fall and is already seeing an increase in participation.

“Increased access to treatment in impoverished neighborhoods is one way to reduce violence, and strengthening the bond between individuals and families could impact prevention and intervention of gun violence,” says Hollie.

According to Tracey Reichert-Schimpff, who directs the couple and family therapy clinic in the Falk College and is a doctoral student in the marriage and family therapy program, “working at this site offers students the opportunity to develop relationships with other programs that are part of the setting. This certainly enhances knowledge and increases sensitivity to and connection with the local community.”

Collaborations led by Falk College addressing neighborhood violence and trauma date back to 2008. During a class focused on the signs of alcohol abuse, Timothy “Noble” Jennings-Bey, director of the Trauma Response Team, connected street life to addiction. That is, why do young men engage in destructive criminal, violent behavior? He shared his theory with Falk public health professors Dessa Bergen-Cico and Sandra Lane. Their ongoing collaboration has resulted in 11 journal articles, one book chapter, a video and dozens of media interviews.

In addition to Jennings-Bey, Bergen-Cico and Lane, partners now include Falk public health faculty David Larsen and Arthur Owora; Tracey Reichert��Schimpff and Linda Stone Fish from Falk’s Department of Marriage and Family Therapy; Robert A. Rubinstein, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; and Robert Keefe, faculty member at the University at Buffalo. Community partners include Frank Fowler, former chief, Syracuse Police Department, and Helen Hudson, Syracuse Common Council president and founder of Mothers Against Gun Violence, among others.

Grant awards from the Health Foundation of Western and Central New York and the John Ben Snow Foundation have supported workshops to help social service professionals, educators, health care practitioners, juvenile justice workers, clergy and mental health counselors learn how to identify and address trauma.

Reichert-Schimpff notes the community collaborations have also increased the awareness and skills of students entering the mental health field. Each year, Jennings-Bey and the team from the Street Addictions Institute, along with Syracuse University faculty, educate MFT students around community violence and street addictions. Students hear directly from community members about how their lives have been impacted by policies and intergenerational injustice. Students also visit SCC to become familiar with available resources.

Other on-going trauma-informed activities in Falk College include the following:

• a training program funded by the National Science Foundation and supported through the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, to prepare military veterans to conduct trauma-related research with other veterans;
• coursework and research on trauma-informed mindfulness-based programs for veterans their families and others impacted by violence;
• how veterans’ experiences of complex and morally fraught circumstances in military service in time of war affect emotional, mental and spiritual health;
• neurobiology of trauma;
• collaborative training models for interpreters and practitioners of psychotherapy;
• trauma resiliency in urban environments;
• turbulent tenancy—evictions in Syracuse;
• promoting school success among at-risk urban adolescents;
• gender-based violence and substance abuse among female adolescents;
• coursework and research in intimate partner violence in the U.S. and neighborhood violence in the U.S. and Caribbean;
• links between neuropsychological executive functions and domestic violence;
• coursework in EMDR Therapy, which relieves many types of psychological distress, and;
• courses and an academic track focused on trauma in medical settings with children.

For more information, visit falk.syr.edu.

Eligible matriculated students include:

• All Syracuse University alumni applying to master’s degree programs in Falk College (see list below), including members of the Class of 2019;
• Children of current full-time Syracuse University employees (notarized supplemental forms required);
• Any Advanced Standing MSW-enrolled student from any accredited BSW/BSSW program throughout the nation; and
• Current Falk master’s program students who are Syracuse University alumni; children of current full-time Syracuse University employees are also eligible.

Falk graduate programs include:

Interested students should contact Falk admissions, submit their application by Feb. 15, and must formally matriculate. For more information, please contact the Falk College Office of Admissions at 315.443.5555 or email��falk@syr.edu. Award is subject to change.

A $51,110 grant was awarded by the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York for the project, “Early Identification of Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults Living at Home.” The study focuses on adults aged 65+ who are served by select community programs in Syracuse neighborhoods with high concentrations of poverty and high proportions of older adults. It is led by Dr. Maria T. Brown, assistant research professor in Falk College’s School of Social Work and faculty associate in Syracuse University’s Aging Studies Institute (ASI). Project partners include ASI, the Onondaga County Office for Aging, SUNY Upstate Medical University’s Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease, Syracuse Community Connections and the Central New York Citizens Aging Research and Action Network (CNY-CAN).

“We are very excited about this project since it will give us the opportunity to identify those who may have an early dementia before they are in a crisis situation. We know that older African Americans often do not seek medical care until their health problems are more advanced, and at that point, they��may be tougher to treat. Early identification of a serious memory problem will allow us to develop a care plan to help the older adult remain independent and enjoy a high quality of life for as long as possible,” says Dr. Sharon Brangman, Distinguished Service Professor, inaugural chair of the Department of��Geriatrics, director of the Nappi Longevity Institute and director of the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease at SUNY Upstate.

Early detection of AD/D often provides opportunities for earlier interventions and treatments, clinical trial participation, improved access to medical care and support services, opportunities for still-capable older adults experiencing cognitive decline to make financial, legal and care plans consistent with their preferences, and potentially delayed need for nursing home placement.

Through a collaboration of service providers, the pilot will integrate the evidence-based and publicly available Mini-Cog screening tool, a simple, five-minute assessment validated to increase the detection of cognitive issues. This new project builds on Dr. Brown’s with the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York. The work included recommendations that policy makers and practitioners use the model to improve data collection about at-risk populations, as well as to guide development and measurement of strategies to address those risks and delay the onset of frailty.

The pilot will be evaluated to determine its effectiveness in increasing early detection and access for comprehensive cognitive evaluation while minimizing the burden to the service providers conducting in-home screenings. Results will determine the effectiveness of the program for a more geographically and demographically diverse population regionally and contribute to the evidence base about the effectiveness of home-based cognition screening.

“We are thrilled that the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York has chosen to fund this pilot project, which enables us to reach older adults who might not otherwise be diagnosed or receive needed supports,” says Dr. Brown. “We are fortunate to be partnering with agencies that are embedded in the local community and familiar with the issues faced by older African Americans in that community and to have members of the community whose lives have been touched by dementia or dementia care giving on our project team.”

The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York is an independent private foundation whose mission is to improve the health and health care of the people of Western and Central New York. It invests in, and partners with, organizations and communities to spark lasting positive change in health and health care for underserved populations, including older adults and children ages birth to five impacted by poverty. To learn more about the Health Foundation, its work and the many other ways it is involved in the communities it serves, visit the Health Foundation’s website at .

SU’s Aging Studies Institute is a collaborative initiative of the Maxwell School and the Falk College. Its mission is to coordinate and promote aging-related research, training and outreach at Syracuse University. To learn more about ASI, visit the Institute’s website at .

Genesis Health Project COL and FALK Elder Law Clinic At Living Water Church 2018

“Advance directives enable people to appoint a proxy to make decisions when they are no longer able to, and they lay out a person’s preferences for the care they want,” says McNeal, who directs the College of Law’s Elder and Health Law Clinic that she developed in 2008. Providing general practice legal assistance for those aged 60 and over with low or moderate incomes, the EHLC offers students the opportunity to represent clients with faculty guidance and oversight.

Earlier this year McNeal, Falk public health professor, Luvenia Cowart, and Maria T. Brown, assistant research professor in Falk College’s School of Social Work and faculty affiliate at Syracuse University’s Aging Studies Institute, identified ways to connect experiential learning for law students with an unmet need in the community. Cowart is the co-founder of the Genesis Health Project that aims to reduce health disparities and promote healthy lifestyles among African Americans in Syracuse. The African American Dementia Caregiver Support Project’s 12-Week Healthy Living Program is a Genesis Project that promotes health and wellness, including education about dementia caregiving, nutrition and physical fitness.�� A two-part seminar series on advance directives was a natural fit for the Genesis Project.

“Advance planning for medical decisions and preferences is never an easy conversation to have with loved ones, but it is a necessary and responsible thing to do,” explains Cowart.�� “The students from the College of Law, under Professor McNeal’s leadership, filled a significant void within our community.”

Prior to the community clinic, McNeal and the students met in small groups to discuss advance directives, relevant ethical issues, and how to structure the educational session and clinics. College of Law students Chris Baiamonte, Esther Chung, Cynthia Moore, and Caleb Williamson developed a comprehensive presentation on end-of-life issues and advance directives, which they presented to the Healthy Living participants. The students returned a week later to help nearly 25 participants complete individualized documents through one-on-one guidance.

“This collaborative project provided both a service to the community and a wonderful hands-on learning opportunity for the students, hopefully instilling in them the value of connecting with and contributing to our local communities,” says McNeal.

Student Cynthia Moore described this as “an invaluable experience, which gave me the opportunity to provide community education on complex issues and��follow-up with one-on-one client counseling.”

Says student Esther Chung, “my experience with the advance directive project was an incredibly positive, reaffirming one. This project allowed me to step outside the confines of the school and expand my own role from��scholar to educator, an important role in the legal field. Being able to fill that role in itself was valuable, but additionally I felt re-energized, humbled, and grateful for having had this opportunity, even for a brief moment,��to share in this heart-warming and uplifting community.”

Participants expressed an overwhelming appreciation for the knowledge gained and the learning experience.�� Several participants explained the importance of having the seminars held in the community, making them available to everyone.

“I think this was a great learning experience for the students and opportunity to educate the community on legal issues.�� I am hopeful that we can continue to work with the Healthy Living Program to benefit community members and law students,” says McNeal.

In 2016, professors Cowart and Brown received a five-year, $500,000 grant from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to fund programming to deliver Alzheimer’s Disease and caregiving support to the African American community in Syracuse—including respite care and connections to community resources—as part of the Genesis Health Project. This initiative, led by Syracuse University’s Falk College, is part of the NYSDOH’s Alzheimer’s Disease Program, which implemented a $25 million strategy in 2015 to support people with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias and their caregivers.

Matthew Spitzmueller

Spitzmueller’s study is titled, “Upstate New York – Unfamiliar Territory: Evaluating the Impact of Health Care Reforms on Behavioral Health Care Providers in Rural Upstate New York.”�� This project will explore the opportunities and barriers rural behavioral health organizations experience as they implement health care payment and delivery reform.

According to Spitzmueller, “rural behavioral health services target a population that is uniquely vulnerable, costly to serve and difficult to reach. When behavioral health systems do not effectively engage this population, health disparities worsen and untreated illnesses put added pressure on high-cost systems, such as hospitals.”

This study will focus on ensuring that rural behavioral health providers can survive and flourish in a changing health care system, which is critical to building equitable and sustainable systems of care. “The findings from this project will be used by behavioral health and social service organization leaders in rural areas of New York as well as county and state government officials to continuously improve the behavioral health service system,” says Spitzmueller.

Specifically, Spitzmueller was selected for the Interdisciplinary Research Leaders program. Designed for teams of two researchers and one community leader, Interdisciplinary Research Leaders supports engaged research, crafted and conducted by innovative teams to explore a problem and apply a solution in real time, making an immediate positive impact in their home communities. The three-year program provides participants with annual support of up to $25,000 and a one-time research grant of up to $125,000 per team.

This study fits Spitzmueller’s background and trajectory as an ethnographic researcher of mental health policy and organizational practice. Spitzmueller earned a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration.�� His research examines direct service provision to adults with severe and persistent mental illness, the strategies behavioral health workers adopt as they negotiate changing work conditions under Medicaid reform, and the impact of policy reform on socially and economically vulnerable people.

As a participant in the RWJF leadership program, Spitzmueller will benefit from high-caliber curricula and coaching from national leaders, collaborate with other cutting-edge thinkers to create greater impact, and accelerate his ability to build healthy communities, inform public opinion and policy, and contribute significantly to building a Culture of Health.

To learn more about Interdisciplinary Research Leaders and RWJF’s other leadership development programs, visit the .

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. Since 1972, it has supported research and programs targeting some of the nation’s most pressing health issues, from substance abuse to improving access to quality care.

The AAMFT MFP fellowships include awards for doctoral students at the dissertation completion stage of their curriculum, which Coppola received. Nleko was awarded the Now is the Time MFP fellowship as a master’s student interested in service provision to the nation’s youth. Tor received the doctoral fellowship to support completion of her pre-dissertation core curriculum.

Funded by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the AAMFT Foundation has created the MFP to support the training of practitioners or practitioner/researchers in culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services, treatment, and prevention.

Jennifer Coppola

Jennifer Coppola, a doctoral candidate, has a background in human development from the University of Rochester. Trained on the Transgender Treatment Team at Falk College’s Couple and Family Therapy Center at Peck Hall, her current research investigates couple relational processes, including the impact of gender, sexual, and racial minority stress. Her dissertation focuses on attachment and fairness-related relational experiences of transgender women and their cisgender partners. She hopes to progress her research to include conceptualizing integrative therapeutic models that serve marginalized populations. Clinically, her work is dedicated to the transgender and LGBQ+ communities, and multistressed couples and families. She uses contextual and attachment theories, an affirmative intersectional lens, and emotionally-focused couples therapy (EFT).

Coppola presents her research work and model of couples therapy nationally and internationally. “I believe in utilizing a self-of-the-therapist approach to training.�� Cultural humility in clinical practice involves a lifelong commitment to reflection and disassembling power and privilege,” she says.�� Upon graduation, Jennifer plans to continue teaching in the MFT field, and extend her research.�� She also has a part-time private practice.

Gift Nleko

Gift Nleko, a native of Nigeria, was diagnosed with polio at age 3. Due to the civil war in Nigeria, she and her family sought political asylum in Houston, Texas, when she was 9. “My experiences as a disabled Nigerian-American refugee inspire my work with diverse, underrepresented and socially disadvantaged populations,” she says. Having graduated from Lamar University with a B.S. in psychology, she immediately enrolled in Falk College’s dual master’s program in social work and marriage family therapy. She has gained hands-on experience providing therapy at the Couple and Family Therapy Center, serving clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders at Family Counseling Services- Cortland, and co facilitating the Domestic Violence Group and Healthy Relationships workshop series at the YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County.

Gift currently interns at the Syracuse University Counseling Center, providing mental health and substance abuse services, while contributing to a diverse campus environment. Her past research as a McNair Scholar focused on the effect of father absence on adult daughter’s mate selection. She will continue exploring the correlation between father absence, mental health, substance abuse, trauma and relational attachment.

Shaelise Tor

Shaelise M. Tor is a second-year doctoral student who completed an M.S. in marriage and family therapy at the University of Rochester. Her current research interests include participatory research with refugee and immigrant populations; the impact of race and cross-cultural relationships in family therapy and advocacy; families involved with multiple systems of care; and relational ethics and attachment injuries. She currently serves clients in an outpatient couple and family therapy center as well as in a satellite, community-based clinic utilizing a postmodern attachment and experiential approach that emphasizes resilience and the impact of power and oppression.

“I hope to increase access to culturally humble mental health care and decrease barriers to care by utilizing non-traditional modalities of therapy,” she says. ��Upon completion of her doctoral studies, it is her goal to be on the faculty at a university where she can conduct research, teach, and supervise future generations of therapists.

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is the professional association for the field of marriage and family therapy, representing the professional interests of more than 50,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. The AAMFT Research & Education Foundation funds systemic and relational research, scholarship and education to support and enhance the practice of systemic and relational therapies to advance the health care continuum, and improve client outcomes.

Andrew Berlin

“Syracuse University has played a very significant role by providing the foundation for my business success, and this gift is my way of making a commitment to help ensure that students will have the resources to make sport analytics the best program in the country,” says Andrew Berlin. “I believe this cutting-edge program—the first of its kind in the country—will shape the direction of the sports industry for years to come.”

The Berlin gift will provide scholarship and financial assistance to select undergraduate sport analytics students, as well as support for faculty research, participation in academic symposiums and student-focused sports analytical competitions. Berlin Scholars will be selected based on academic proficiency, research skills and experiential engagement. Outstanding upper-level students interning with professional teams or sport analytics companies will be eligible for participation as Berlin Senior Research Associates to mentor younger classmates and conduct seminars on analytics techniques. Associates will also support sport analytics faculty research that may include co-authoring journal articles and presenting research findings at domestic and international sport analytic and economic academic symposiums.

“As the proliferation of sophisticated analytics in the sport industry continues to transform data-driven decision-making, our graduates will provide strong technical and analytical skills sport organizations are seeking to make sound business decisions,” says Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy. “We are grateful for the Berlin family’s generous support that will further escalate Syracuse University’s reputation as a nationally recognized leader in sport management education.”

Plans for a lecture series and creation of an on-campus program for high school students interested in sport analytics are also under development. The annual symposium featuring leading innovators in sport analytics will be hosted across the country, with the inaugural event taking place in Chicago to feature a panel of local industry executives and SU sport analytics professors. Over time, the symposium will incorporate graduates of the sport analytics program, including Berlin Scholars and Berlin Senior Research Associates.

“The gift from Mr. Berlin will further expand the exciting opportunities available for the incredible students in our program,” notes Rodney Paul, professor of sport management and sport analytics program director. “Mr. Berlin serves as a role model for our students, not just from his successes and leadership in the business and sports world, but also in terms of his generosity and care he exhibits as it relates to young people and the future.”

The future Berlin Sport Analytics Academy at Syracuse University will include guest speakers, projects, lectures and activities for high school students. Participants will benefit from gaining first-hand knowledge presented by sport analytics faculty and students while enhancing their analytical problem-solving and presentational skills.

“The generosity of the Berlin family gift allows us to follow our blueprint of recruiting Ivy League-caliber students from across the globe,” says Michael Veley, the Rhonda S. Falk Endowed Professor and chair and director of the Department of Sport Management. “Providing opportunities for our students to showcase their analytical and academic skills will allow us to build our brand while providing students with unlimited opportunities outside of the classroom.”

Falk College’s bachelor of science degree in sport analytics provides students with a deep understanding of math, statistics, research methodology, sport economics, database management, finance and computer programming. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to think conceptually and analytically while applying these principles to real issues in sport organizations. The degree incorporates a mandatory foreign language requirement to prepare students for the global sport in a variety of different possible analytics career paths on the player evaluation side, business side or both.

“Mr. Berlin’s gift is a huge jumpstart to Syracuse University’s sport analytics program,” says Charles Garrett ’19, a dual major in sport analytics and broadcast and digital journalism. “It will provide tremendous opportunities for students to attend conferences and present research, keep facilities state of the art, and adapt with a rapidly growing field to assure we are readily prepared for the industry.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the job market for various data analyst disciplines is growing at 27 percent annually, far exceeding the national job growth average of 11 percent. The sport industry is the fifth-largest economic sector in the U.S. economy, generating slightly less than $500 billion in 2014-15.

“Analytics are integral toward changing on-field baseball strategy and scouting talent,” says Jason McLeod, the senior vice president of player development and scouting for the Chicago Cubs. McLeod, who is a three-time World Champion in that role with the 2016 Cubs and 2004 and 2007 Boston Red Sox, says “the Syracuse University sport analytics program will offer interdisciplinary skills that will prepare students to become the next generation of analytical thinkers, both from a business and player development perspective.”

Berlin is��chairman and CEO of Berlin Packaging,��the leading global supplier of glass, plastic and metal containers and closures.��He graduated with a political science degree from the and the . He earned a law degree��at��Loyola University of Chicago, attended the Executive Program at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, and studied military history at Boston University.��A member of the Maxwell��School��Advisory Board and the Chicago Regional Council, he has supported the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism—a joint endeavor of��the Maxwell School and��the��College of Law—by��creating��the Andrew Berlin Family National Security Research Fund��in honor of Professor��Emeritus��David Bennett.

“This gift is a giant step forward for the program,” adds Justin Perline ’19, a dual major in sport analytics and newspaper and online journalism. “Having the resources to send students across the country and the world in pursuit of their passions is incredible. And most important, we now have the opportunity to bring Syracuse University’s sport analytics program into the national and international spotlight for everyone to see.”

Falk College’s offering in sport analytics is the newest addition to its academic portfolio of programs in the Department of Sport Management that includes sport management (B.S.), sport venue and event management (M.S.) and intercollegiate athletic advising and support (C.A.S.). For more information, visit .

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu.

This year’s REU program participants taking in a baseball game at NBT Stadium on June 12.

Ten student-veterans and traditional students recently completed the monthlong 2018 Trauma Research Education for Undergraduates (REU) Program hosted by Falk College. To enhance skills for conducting trauma research while increasing their ability to gain admission to competitive graduate programs, participants attended seminars on research methods and statistics, neurobiological, psychological, and physiological aspects of trauma, and research ethics as well as weekly self-care lessons and graduate school application workshops.

Following a national review process, participants are identified and paired with experienced mentors from a broad range of disciplines. Through these efforts, students develop a hypothesis and perform statistical analysis of research data. Students will continue their research projects for the coming year, with the goal of presenting findings at a national or regional conference.�� Previous students presented at the annual meetings of the Eastern Psychological Association, Southeastern Psychological Association and Association for Psychological Science.

Participants who completed the June 2018 program include Casssidy Brydon (Florida Atlantic University), John Christopher (Tarrant County College), Ansel Gautam (Drew University), Brittany Hampton (Marist College), Tyler Johnston (University of Southern California), Erin Meyer (Cleveland State University), Wilmer Rivas (University of Southern California), Naomi Ruffin (Georgia State University), Matthew Ruhnke (University of New Haven) and Ian Troidl (SUNY at Buffalo).

Project manager Ivan Castro, who completed the Syracuse REU program in 2012, notes that participants consistently report this opportunity helps them gain valuable graduate-level research experience prior to entering graduate school. When the REU program was launched in 2012, it was designed for veterans to create an opportunity to engage them in this content area. With only six veterans enrolled prior to the program start that first year, the collaborators decided to enroll non-veterans, which is an important facet of the continuing program.

With spots for five veterans and five non-veterans, the program draws on personal experiences of veterans who understand the nature and context of traumatic events. Veterans are able to acclimate to an undergraduate culture with traditional undergraduates and are appreciated for their unique perspectives. Undergraduates see the benefit of knowing their study population because the veterans provide insight into their experiences.

A joint effort by Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY Oswego, the Collaborative Research: REU Site:Training Diverse Undergraduate Teams of Veterans and Non-Veterans to Conduct Trauma Research with Veterans project is directed by Brooks B. Gump, Falk Family Endowed Professor of Public Health. Professor Karen Wolford, who coordinates the interdisciplinary graduate certificate program in trauma studies at SUNY Oswego, co-directs the program.

Supported by a National Science Foundation REU grant and Syracuse University’s ��this program spans one year, including the intensive four-week summer program in June. For more information, including details about the June 2019 REU Program, contact Ivan Castro at iecastro@syr.edu or visit��traumaresearch.syr.edu.

A four-year collaborative partnership between the Falk College and the Council of Europe’s Cooperation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs will support rigorous curricular development and training for drug policy administrators. Dessa Bergen-Cico, associate professor of public health and coordinator of Falk College’s addiction studies programs, right, is Syracuse University’s partnership lead.

A four-year collaborative partnership between the Falk College and the Council of Europe’s Cooperation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs (the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group) will support rigorous curricular development and training for drug policy administrators. This collaboration is an outgrowth of Falk College’s on-going partnerships with the Pompidou Group and Syracuse University’s Study Abroad Strasbourg program.

Dessa Bergen-Cico, associate professor of public health and coordinator of Falk College’s addiction studies programs, is Syracuse University’s partnership lead. She has worked with the Pompidou Group since 2010 to support drug policy administrators in developing sustainable, effective drug policies focused on public health and safety. The trainings provide managers from government and non-government institutions with objective, data-driven approaches to developing, implementing and evaluating national drug policies that are evidence based, promote human rights and strengthen international cooperation. Using data as a foundation, this cooperation supports effective policies and academic research.�� Faculty and select students with an interest in research in drug policy and drug use trends may contact Bergen-Cico (dkbergen@syr.edu) to learn more about opportunities for involvement in research and the biannual executive education trainings.

Results of these collaborations to date include published research in Substance Use and Misuse, ��The Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse, Journal of Drug Policy Analysis, ��International Journal of Psychology and Psychoanalysis, and World Medical and Health Policy as well as international executive-level training and presentations.

Bergen-Cico’s research and scholarship span numerous emerging democracies focused on drug policies and emerging trends in drug use. In 2011, students and faculty from Falk College’s public health program attended the Pompidou Group—Syracuse University Trans-Atlantic Executive Training on Drug Policy:�� Effective Governance of Coherent Drug Policies where Bergen-Cico presented on the then-emerging opioid crisis in the United States. In 2015, she was selected as a Fulbright Scholar to conduct research on substance use and drug policy in the country of Georgia and across Eurasia.

Last spring, Bergen-Cico presented training for the Council of Europe on new psychoactive substance use trends and demand reduction responses in the U.S. where she shared her groundbreaking research on new psychoactive substances Kratom and Siberian Ephedra. In September 2017, Thomas Kattau and Elena Hedoux from the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group visited Syracuse University to promote internship opportunities and study abroad programs. This visit included several presentations on the role of international cooperation in fighting drug use, the migration wave in Europe and resulting challenges for public health systems, and how new psychoactive substances are bringing new challenges to societies.

After learning about Bergen-Cico’s research on the efficacy of mindfulness-based programs for prevention and drug demand reduction in the U.S., Ricardo Sánchez Huesca, Mexico’s deputy general director of youth integration centers for Mexico, invited her to conduct training in Mexico.�� In addition to a December 2017 seminar on�� mindfulness for prevention of traumatic stress and addictive behaviors, Bergen-Cico gave the keynote presentation titled, “New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Trends and in the United States” at the 19th International Congress on Addictions: Dual Disorders and Comorbidity Associated with Substance Use in Cancun, Mexico.

This spring, Bergen-Cico conducted the training, “Political or scientific evaluation? Examination of legalized cannabis policy outcomes in the U.S.” with��25 participants from 17 countries representing four different continents as part of the 2018 Pompidou Group’s executive training program in Venice, Italy. This program that examined evaluating the development, implementation and impact of drug policy will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, this fall where Bergen-Cico will participate.

Karen Kirkhart

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), the nation’s preeminent honors organization for first- and second-year students, named Karen Kirkhart the Laura Taddeucci Downs National Advisor of the Year. Kirkhart, a professor at the School of Social Work in Falk College and director of its baccalaureate program in social work, has been a Syracuse University chapter advisor for NSCS since 2008.

Laura Taddeucci Downs was the first NSCS advisor at the organization’s inaugural chapter founded in 1994 on the campus of the George Washington University.

“Laura believed in the vision of NSCS to make a positive difference for students, even when it was simply just an idea,” says NSCS Founder Stephen Loflin. “A leading advocate for supporting first- and second-year students, Laura knows firsthand what it takes to meaningfully impact the student experience and embodies a student-first philosophy, for which Dr. Kirkhart has emulated for more than a decade with NSCS members.”

The selection process was quite rigorous, starting from a pool of more than 300 higher education professionals nationwide, including the 2018 NSCS Regional Advisor of the Year candidates. In the end, however, Kirkhart’s unwavering support and dedication to the NSCS Chapter at Syracuse University for the past 10 years put her ahead of the leading finalists.

“NSCS advisors are often responsible for the unglamorous tasks that in the end are vital to the success of the chapter. They’re the backbone of NSCS,” says Laura Taddeucci Downs. “My husband and I have followed Steve Loflin and NSCS for years, and thought it would be nice to endow the award. Our hope is that the $1,000 professional stipend may help compensate the advisors in some small way for the countless hours they have dedicated to NSCS over the years.”

“I have been privileged to advise the wonderful Syracuse University Chapter of NSCS since 2008, when one of my honors students invited me to serve,” says Kirkhart. “NSCS stands for integrity, a core value for all citizens. I especially value the diversity of our officers and members and how well they respect one another and work together. Their commitment to community service—both individually and collectively—is inspiring, and we continue to build partnerships with other recognized student organizations on campus.”

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an honors organization that recognizes and elevates high-achieving freshmen and sophomores. With its three pillars of scholarship, leadership and service, NSCS is proud to provide career and graduate school connections, leadership and service opportunities and gives out a million dollars in scholarships, awards and chapter funds annually. NSCS has more than 320 chapters nation-wide with more than 1.5 million lifetime members globally.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu.

A student-veteran

The discussion series to raise public awareness of PTSD and its effective treatments is free and open to the public. It takes place in conjunction with the Trauma Research Education for Undergraduates program, a joint effort by Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY Oswego to improve access to research experiences for groups typically underrepresented in research.

The project, “Training Diverse Undergraduate Teams of Veterans and Non-Veterans to Conduct Trauma Research with Veterans,” is directed by Brooks B. Gump, Falk Family Endowed Professor of Public Health and co-directed by professor Karen Wolford, who also coordinates the interdisciplinary graduate certificate program in trauma studies at SUNY Oswego.

The discussion series includes:

• Monday, June 4, 1:30 p.m., 335 Falk Complex��

Douglas Scaturo, retired clinical psychologist, Syracuse Vet Center, “Combat Trauma: An Overview of Military Stressors, PTSD, and Its Treatment”

• Wednesday, June 13, 1:30 p.m., 335 Falk Complex��

Scott Aubin, U.S. Air Force veteran, PTSD awareness instructor, “Dealing with unrecognized PTSD”

• Monday, June 18, 1:30 p.m., 335 Falk Complex��

Emily Bovier, assistant professor of psychology, SUNY Oswego, “Secondary Symptoms of Concussion or Mild Traumatic Brain Injury”

• Monday, June 25, 1:30 p.m., 335 Falk Complex

Kyle Possemato, clinical research psychologist, Syracuse VA Center for Integrated Healthcare, “Clinical Research with Military Veterans with PTSD and Substance Abuse”

Supported by a National Science Foundation Research Education for Undergraduates (REU) grant and the ��this program spans one year, including an intensive four-week summer program in June. This program provides research training to increase skills in conducting trauma research while increasing a student’s ability to gain admission to competitive graduate programs.

“Through a competitive national review process, we have selected a group of student-veterans and traditional students to complete this research training this summer,” says Wolford. “The students will be paired on teams with mentors to research PTSD and will later present their research at national conferences.

“As part of this research training, we invite guest speakers who have expertise in the area of PTSD to inform our research trainees on cutting edge developments on traumatic stress research. We open these expert talks to the community as part of the June Posttraumatic Stress awareness month, which is an ongoing national effort to educate about PTSD,” Wolford adds.

For more information about the speakers or REU program, contact Ivan Castro at iecastro@syr.edu or visit��traumaresearch.syr.edu.

Keith Alford

Alford is chair and associate professor in the School of Social Work, . A former child protective services worker, outpatient family therapist and therapeutic foster care supervisor, he has devoted his professional life to serving and researching the needs of children and families. He became affiliated with InterFaith Works in 1996 when the agency was launching the Communitywide Dialogue Circles to End Racism.

“Dialogue is so important versus debate,” he says. “When you debate, you have winners and losers. But when you engage in dialogue, it is a process of really trying to understand where the other person is coming from and where he or she would like to go. Through dialogue, we are always looking for ways to clear up misperceptions and understand the lived experiences of others. It also provides the opportunity for relationship building. Sometimes lifelong relationships develop across multicultural lines as a result of dialogue circles.”

In addition to his involvement with InterFaith Works, Alford has regularly served other organizations across Onondaga County. For eight years, he served as a trustee of the Onondaga County Public Library. He is a current board member of Access CNY, an organization that serves people with disabilities. In 2014, he was named by “Social Work Degree Guide” as one of the 30 most influential social workers in the nation. In 2015, he was given the Harriet Tubman Spirit Award from Bethany Baptist Church and the Excellence in Service Award from Falk College. His academic writings have appeared in numerous social work journals and he has authored book chapters in “Mental Health Care in the African American Community” (Haworth Press, 2007) and “Educating Our Black Children” (Routledge, 2001). He is co-editor of “Rural Families and Reshaping Human Services” (Routledge, 2015).

Says Alford, “I am humbled by this award. I am aware of others who have received it over the years and they are people I have always admired. It is also a reminder that my work is not complete. There is still much to do. So this award will be an energizer in many ways—inspiring me to persevere in the work I have always done and will continue to do with a renewed sense of purpose.”

2018 InterFaith Leadership Awards will also be presented to Dennis Baldwin, counsel, Mackenzie Hughes; the Rev. Frederick Daley, pastor, All Saints Church; Rabbi Daniel Fellman, Temple Concord; Melanie Littlejohn, regional executive director, National Grid; Peggy Ogden, former president/CEO, Central New York Community Foundation; the Rev. Peter Shidemantle, pastor, Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church; Yusuf Soule, coordinator, OnCampus Program, Syracuse City School District; and the Syracuse University .

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an��undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic , with a global footprint, and��, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit .

Meditation has been shown to foster resilience in children.

Mindfulness and contemplative practices are experiential modes of learning and self-inquiry, and include various forms of meditation, focused thought, writing, creative/performing arts and yoga. Such practices can foster greater empathy and communication skills, improve focus and attention, reduce stress and enhance creativity and general well-being. Given these advantages, these skills are of growing interest to researchers and practitioners from diverse fields, including those working with children and youth as these practices contribute to an individual’s growth across multiple developmental domains.

Gonzalez will describe the effectiveness of school-based mindfulness interventions with inner-city populations, highlighting the cultivation of spaces for wellness and healing with urban youth served by the Baltimore City Public Schools. He has taught yoga to diverse populations throughout the world at public and private schools and colleges, drug treatment centers, mental crisis��facilities, homeless shelters, wellness centers and other global venues. He has partnered with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health and Penn State’s Prevention Research Center on a stress and relaxation study and is a published author in the Journal of Children’s Services.

“Given the broad interest at Syracuse in contemplative practice, this speaker will help attendees enrich their understanding of its application and to see how its benefits extend to diverse populations,” says Professor Matthew Mulvaney from Falk College’s Department of Human Development and Family Science and one of the event’s organizers. “Students and others will be interested in this work as it represents effective intervention practices in at-risk communities.”

According to Mulvaney, Contemplative Collaborative researchers conducting school-based research in Syracuse will integrate site visits with Gonzalez to local schools, providing further linkages between Syracuse University and the Syracuse City School District. Syracuse University’s Contemplative Collaborative bridges student life and academic life through a community of faculty, staff, administrators and students with shared interests in mindfulness and contemplative practices that embody engaged learning, a mindful academy, and compassionate society.�� This community is comprised of more than 140 members representing diverse disciplines and offices across the University.

For information about the event, including accessibility and accommodations requests, please contact Kathy Rainone, kbrainon@syr.edu, 315.443.2757.

Chef Bill Collins works with participants during the “Flavor and Savor” sodium reducation session in the Falk College kitchens.

According to the CDC, nearly 9 in 10 U.S. children eat more sodium than recommended, and about 1 in 9 children has raised blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Because the majority of sodium consumed is present in foods prior to their purchase and preparation, the Health Department-Falk partnership created “Flavor and Savor” sodium reduction sessions for local agencies and schools to lower sodium intake from prepared foods as well as when making recipes from scratch.

Developing and leading the sessions were Falk culinary specialist Chef Bill Collins in collaboration with Roseanne Jones, a registered dietitian-nutritionist with the Health Department’s Bureau of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Collins teaches courses in Falk College’s nutrition and food studies programs and is a professional chef who previously owned and operated restaurants. “Chef Collins helped participants think about all of the places sodium shows up in recipes and how to combat it,” says Jones. “The training helped participants build flavor into recipes without adding any salt.”

Using a simple hands-on approach, participants learned that with only minor adjustments, sodium content can be significantly lowered. “We helped participants understand the sodium content of pre-packaged foods and what approaches they can take to make their food healthier,” says Collins. During the session, Collins compared a store-bought barbecue sauce to one he served in his restaurants for years with 58 percent less sodium. “By changing two ingredients—no-salt-added canned tomato and ketchup—the reduction jumped to 97 percent. The marinara sauce and the salad dressings all had similar results,” notes Collins.

Attendees included cooks, chefs, dietitians, dietetics students and managers, from SUNY ESF, Onondaga Community College, SUNY Upstate Medical University, PEACE, Inc. Head Start and Senior programs, Salvation Army, Lydia’s Lullaby Daycare and the Syracuse City School District. Jones notes that, “sodium reduction changes in each of these venues could impact up to 20,000 people per day in Syracuse.”

According to Jones, 25 percent of adults in Onondaga County have been diagnosed with hypertension. National estimates show there could be another 36 percent of people who go undiagnosed. “Diet is important in this equation. Changing sodium content in our pre-made foods, as well as foods from cafeterias and restaurants, helps people reduce sodium intake without their even having to try,” she says.

When Falk College opened the Susan R. Klenk Café and Teaching Kitchens in 2016, the vision was to create a space that set the stage for industry-leading, forward-thinking approaches to food and nutrition that would benefit students as well as the community at-large. “Social responsibility in the community is a critical part of our mission,” says Falk Dean Diane Lyden Murphy. “This program is another example of how Falk College’s experiential kitchens allow us to train future food and nutrition professionals to work effectively with the community.”

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an��undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic , with a global footprint, and��, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit .

Al-amin Muhammad, left, and the Rescue Mission will both receive Daniel and Mary Lou Rubinstein Social Justice Awards on March 19.

Al-amin Muhammad is the founder of We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach, Inc. who, along with the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse, will be honored that evening with 2018 Dan and Mary Lou Rubenstein Social Justice Awards for their�� demonstrated commitments to service and social justice in the Syracuse community.

Presented for more than 30 years, the Rubenstein Social Justice Award is given in honor of the late professor Dan Rubenstein, a former faculty member in the School of Social Work and his late wife, Mary Lou, a former school social worker. Recipients of this award are role models whose courage and strength inspire others to stand up—and step up—to advocate and be a voice in the Syracuse community. The values of social justice are integral to their daily lives. The work of honorees each year, by their individual and collective examples, exemplify the true spirit of the Rubenstein Social Justice Award.

Muhammad��is an advocate for people who are homeless and founder of We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach, Inc., an organization that helps meet the immediate needs of the homeless by providing items such as food and clothing, in addition to providing education, encouragement and enrichment programs that aim to help break the cycle of poverty.��The Rescue Mission has a long and positive history of uplifting humanity and building upon the strengths of individuals.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available. For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations, contact the Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services (EOIRS) office at 315.443.4018.

A reception will follow the program in 335 White Hall in the Falk Complex. Please RSVP by March 12 to Indrani Gurgol at iagurgol@syr.edu. For more information about the March 19 program, including parking, please visit the .

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an��undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic , with a global footprint, and��, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit .

Emme

An alumna of VPA, is the iconic world’s first curvy supermodel. A TV personality, model, mom, author, brand spokesperson, creative director of her clothing lines, cancer survivor, lecturer and globally recognized women’s advocate for positive body image and self-esteem, she is the first model invited to speak before a Congressional subcommittee in Washington, D.C., with a mission to increase public awareness of eating and body image disorders.

A screening of the documentary “Straight/Curve: Redefining Body Image” with Emme will take place Tuesday, Feb.��27, in Grant Auditorium in the Falk Complex. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. “Straight/Curve,” which features Emme and other successful, diverse models, aims to create a healthier dialogue around body size and image and educate people on health and representation while capturing a visual slice of life of the fashion industry right now. The filmmakers interviewed students and faculty in VPA’s School of Design, which partnered with Emme to launch the Fashion Without Limits (FWL) initiative in 2014. FWL promotes the creation of size 12+ designs in the junior year; students use dress forms in size 16, 18 and 20 donated by Wolf Form Co. exclusively for Emme and FWL. Closed captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided at the film screening.

Falk College and its nutrition program��will welcome Emme as the featured guest for the Third Annual Ann Selkowitz Litt Distinguished Speaker Series on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 5:15 p.m. in Grant Auditorium. ASL interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available for the lecture. Her presentation, titled “Facing our fears: Embracing the ones we’re with,” will be followed by a reception and book signing featuring her newest book. “Chicken Soup For The Soul, Curvy and Confident: 101 Stories of Loving Yourself and Your Body” encourages women to embrace their bodies once and for all and will be available for purchase that evening. A Fashion Without Limits Pop-Up Show will follow the lecture. The show will feature fashions created by VPA fashion design students as part of the FWL initiative.

Now in its third year, the Litt Distinguished Speaker Series is named after Falk College nutrition alumna Ann Selkowitz Litt ’75, a nationally known nutritionist who helped children and adolescents with eating disorders and assisted developing athletes in reaching their full potential. The nutrition consultant to CosmoGirl magazine, Litt was the author of “The College Students’ Guide to Eating Well on Campus,” “Fuel for Young Athletes”��and the “ADA Guide to Private Practice.” She was the nutritionist for the NFL’s Washington Redskins and served as spokesperson for several media campaigns during her career, including the “Got Milk” campaign. After her death, the Ann. S. Litt Foundation, Inc., was created to support nutrition education.

For more information about the documentary screening and pop-up show, contact the College of Visual and Performing Arts at 315.443.8931 or mjgranni@syr.edu. For information about the Ann Litt Lecture, contact Falk College Events at koveley@syr.edu or 315.443.9816. For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations, contact the Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services (EOIRS) office at 315.443.4018.

About Syracuse University

Founded��in 1870, Syracuse University is a private international research university��dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering student success through teaching��excellence,��rigorous scholarship and interdisciplinary research. Comprising 11��academic schools and colleges, the University has a long legacy of excellence��in the liberal arts, sciences and��professional disciplines that prepares��students for the complex challenges and emerging opportunities of a rapidly��changing world. Students enjoy the resources of a 270-acre main��campus and��extended campus venues in major national metropolitan hubs and across three��continents. Syracuse’s student body is among the most diverse for an��institution of its��kind across multiple dimensions, and students typically represent��all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Syracuse also has a long legacy of��supporting veterans and is home to��the nationally recognized Institute for��Veterans and Military Families, the first university-based institute in the��U.S. focused on addressing the unique needs of veterans and their��families.

Students work in one of Falk College’s demo kitchens with��video cameras operating overhead.

“We are very proud of our partners and colleagues from Ashley McGraw for this award. We could not be more pleased with the design and the excellent learning opportunities their innovative design continues to provide our students in our food, nutrition and public health programs,” says Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy.

The Susan R. Klenk Learning Café and Kitchens opened in September 2016 and provide a hands-on learning laboratory to prepare students with traditional and emerging professional competencies for careers in food, nutrition, dietetics and public health. The facility includes an experimental food lab kitchen, commercial kitchen, baking nook and café. A video camera system allows faculty and chef instructors to broadcast classes, food demonstrations and seminars from Falk College to anywhere on campus and across the country. A generous and visionary gift from Falk College alumna Susan R. Klenk made the learning café and kitchens possible.

The experimental food lab includes an eight-station teaching kitchen and an associated café. Lunch is served in the café during the last four weeks of each semester, allowing hands-on experience for the students at every stage of food planning, preparation and service.

“Not only was it a rewarding experience working with the college to design these important spaces, but it has been gratifying to witness students taking ownership of them,” says Christina Aßmann, project architect��for Ashley McGraw Architects.

The ACE Center’s demonstration kitchen features an island-cooking suite at the front of a 50-seat lecture hall. Cameras capture the activity of cooking from every angle.��Images are projected on��three large TV screens above the counter, giving the audience multiple perspectives of the activity at hand and providing the possibility of recording or broadcasting.

The learning café and teaching kitchens set the stage for industry-leading, forward-thinking approaches to food and culture, nutrition, research and food studies development. The design fosters creativity and collaboration across a variety of departments, schools and colleges, creating interdisciplinary partnerships that support teaching innovation, student learning, research and scholarship. In addition to unlimited faculty-supervised hands-on experiences, this dedicated space provides an ideal environment for student-faculty research projects and educational community partnerships that set the SU programs apart.

What do you get when you put a bell pepper and a carrot together with corn niblets, green beans, blueberries and eggplant?

A rainbow.

Chef Mary Kiernan demonstrates the rainbow of foods to children at Bernice M. Wright Lab School.

This multi-colored food kaleidoscope supports a deliberate effort known as “eating the rainbow” to help children make healthy food choices. Thanks to a grant from the American Culinary Federation (ACF) in support of Child Nutrition Day in October, associate teaching professor and ACF chef Mary Kiernan, presented a mini food demonstration and tasting of the rainbow with children at the Bernice M. Wright (BMW) Lab School.

Childhood Nutrition Day celebrated on or around Oct. 16 each year focuses on fostering and promoting awareness of proper nutrition. Recently, children at the BMW Lab School, a part of ’s Department of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS), worked in small groups led by Chef Kiernan and Falk nutrition major Mary Mik, who is also a Susan R. Klenk Learning Assistant. The demonstration engaged children ages two through four on such topics as how many taste buds a person has and why the foods they sampled that day are important to good nutrition.

“It is exciting and essential for young children to interact with professionals—to see a real live chef in person. It exposes them to new interests, as well as new information,” says BMW Director Daria Webber.

The hope was for children to take home their learning to their families. “We talked about things that taste too good, and why it is important to eat some of those foods that may not taste great but we should eat anyway because of what they do for our bodies,” adds Kiernan.

The young BMW students weren’t the only ones engaging in learning that day. Syracuse University student interns from HDFS had the opportunity to experience and observe this program.

Founded in 1970, the BMW South Campus laboratory school offers high-quality, developmentally appropriate inclusive early childhood education programming accredited by the .

Since the launch of Childhood Nutrition Day in 1995, hundreds of chefs across the nation have participated in events in support of healthy childhood nutrition.

Jeeyoon Jamie Kim

Kim was awarded $18,000 as part of the International Olympic Committee’s advanced Olympic research grant for her project “Building a Sport Participation Legacy Through the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.” She also received a Falk College Seed Grant for $7,500 grant for the project “Building Korea’s Brand Personality and Equity with the Olympic Brand and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.”

Sport participation legacy among younger generations is of primary interest to South Korea and any countries hosting Olympic Games, as well as those invested in the Olympic movement. With a large youth population and a strong strategic position in Asia, PyeongChang hopes the 2018 games will enable a legacy of new growth and potential. The Organizing Committee’s ‘New Horizons’ vision aims to expand winter sports in Asia, and transform the local Gangwon province into a new and tourism destination. The Asian market is described by some in the sports industry as the youngest and fastest-growing winter sports market in the world with the largest aggregate youth population.

Through the project, Kim aims to understand and derive strategies to stimulate young people’s interest in watching the Winter Olympics, and to effectively transfer that interest to sport participation. With Korean and Chinese youth selected as the target population, the findings will help deliver a better sport participation legacy��for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in the host country as well as across Asia. With the 2022 Winter Olympics scheduled for Beijing, the research will provide valuable insights for the next host of the Winter Olympics.

Kim joined Falk College’s Department of Sport Management in August 2016 after earning her Ph.D. from Florida State University. Her research agenda is anchored on the impact of sport events on local communities and event consumers. Prior to this role, she served with the Korean Olympic Committee. For over five years, she worked for the International Games, International Relations and 2018 PyeongChang Olympics Task Force Teams. She will present her research at the 2018 International Sports Business Symposium in Chuncheon/Pyeongchang.

Rick Welsh

Falk Family Endowed Professor of Food Studies and project co-investigator Rick Welsh at will lead evaluation and assessment efforts that could help develop and extend appropriate AD technology for smaller livestock farms, especially dairy farms, to realize the substantial environmental benefits from greenhouse gas emission reductions, economic benefits from energy production and health benefits from reducing pathogen loads on farms. Welsh is partnering with two environmental engineers from Clarkson University, Stefan Grimberg and Shane Rogers.

According to Welsh, “The USDA and U.S. EPA, as well as other research institutions, realize that smaller farms have been ignored in this area. There is growing interest in developing research programs and AD technology for smaller livestock farms. Our work is ahead of this curve, and we have made design innovations based on extensive field research and experimentation that will be helpful to operators of smaller livestock farms.”

Research findings from an initial award by NIFA in 2014 to understand the implications of AD technology for smaller farms indicated that the technology was economically viable for smaller dairy farms, and operators of such farms were interested in AD technology. As a result, the research team received funding for this latest project.

Along with a graduate student, Welsh will conduct focus group interviews to determine what farmers learned about using AD technology from attending workshops on the topic, including working with a pilot digester located at the Cornell Cooperative Extension farm in Canton, New York.�� Followup in-person interviews with farmers, Cornell Cooperative Extension agents and the principal investigators will provide an in-depth understanding of the likelihood that farmers will adopt some or all of the technological systems proposed.

Welsh joined the Department of Public Health, Food Studies and Nutrition at Syracuse University in 2012 from Clarkson University. He serves as editor-in-chief for the journal Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, published by Cambridge University Press. His research and teaching focus on social change and development with emphases on agri-food systems, science and technology studies and environmental sociology. In 2016, he received the Excellence in Research Award from the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society and was awarded the Fred Buttel Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement from the Rural Sociological Society in 2012.

In celebration of 100 years of nutrition education, hosted nearly 150 guests, including current students, alumni, community partners, current and retired faculty and staff, and other members of the campus and local communities at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown on Sept. 22. The evening included remarks by event chairperson, Lynn Brann, associate professor of nutrition;��Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy; and Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly. In addition to networking and reminiscing, attendees enjoyed a silent auction that raised more than $2,000 to support nutrition students’ community service, research efforts and study abroad experiences.

The anniversary commemoration continued the following day at the Falk Complex with by alumni on topics ranging from adding flavor to heart health and empowering registered dietitians in using social media to emphasizing local, sustainable food and mindful eating. Special guests included nutrition alumna Rhoda Dearman Morrisroe and her husband, Paul, whose generous support created the Nutrition Assessment, Consultation and Education (ACE) Center in Falk College, and Falk alumna Susan R. Klenk, whose support made the Klenk Learning Café and Kitchens possible. Also in the audience were Syracuse alumni Helaine and Marvin Lender, whose family supported a food laboratory dedicated in Slocum Hall in 1988.

Daina Falk, founder and chief executive of Hungry Fan, and the daughter of Syracuse University alumni and Falk College benefactors, David B. and Rhonda S. Falk, conducted a cooking demonstration titled, “Keeping Hungry Fans Happy with a Healthy Half-Time.” Alumna and keynote speaker Wendy Demark-Wahnefried ’88 addressed the role nutrition science can play in reducing the nation’s burden of cancer. Demark-Wahnefried is the Webb Endowed Chair of Nutrition Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Falk College Nutrition alumna Cindy Chan Phillips demonstrates heart-healthy recipes during the 100-year celebration on Sept. 23 in the Nutrition ACE Center.

Nutrition education at Syracuse University emerged during World War I when the field of nutrition science was in its infancy. Around that time, the American Home Economics Association canceled its annual meeting due to member obligations to World War I efforts. A small group of dietitians met in the Cleveland Hospital basement to discuss how to better communicate with one another and assist in the war effort. From this meeting, the American Dietetic Association, the professional organization for nutrition and dietetics recently renamed the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, was founded. Along with Syracuse University, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates 100 years this year.

“The founding members of the nutrition program here were forward thinkers who were ahead of their time. These faculty members were accomplished female scientists who built the foundation for the nationally recognized program that stands today.�� We honor these founders and the many others who followed in their footsteps with the shared goal of providing good-quality nutrition to all for the betterment of society,” says Brann.

While acknowledging the faculty and staff over the decades who played a critical role in the lives of the 2,078 nutrition, nutrition science and dietetics alumni around the world, Dean Murphy referenced former College of Home Economics Dean Annie MacLeod, who was a firm believer that education should not be confined to the classroom. “Among the earliest examples of service learning in Falk College’s history is one attributed to nutrition students who responded to an urgent call from the city’s Welfare Department to help mothers prepare healthy, appetizing meals from their food distribution packets. Dean MacLeod’s philosophy was especially embraced in the nutrition programs then, and that continues today. I couldn’t be prouder of our nutrition faculty and staff’s dedicated approach to theory-to-practice learning that makes social responsibility and social justice a priority today,” says Murphy.

Student organizers working with the transgender population recognize how expensive the transition process is. Many insurance plans don’t cover the costly expense of hormones and there are fees associated with blood work, binders, doctor visits, name changes and other legal documentation. At times, money for a new wardrobe is not possible. For clients with families, or teens who may not have parental support or any financial abilities, shopping for clothing is not only costly, but can be a fearful experience during the transitioning process.

For more information, please contact Anne Metzger-Wormuth at 315.443.3023 or acmetzge@syr.edu. Drop-off locations for donations include Peck Hall at 601 E. Genesee St. and Falk College, Office of Student Services, 300 MacNaughton Hall.

Catherine Falk

Catherine Falk, pioneer of the wards’ right of association bill named after her late father, Maxwell School alumnus, Peter Falk G’53 (M.P.A.), will speak at Falk College on Monday, April 17. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in Falk Room 200 at 6:45 p.m.

Known for his starring role in the popular television show, “Columbo,” Peter Falk was at the center of a court battle in 2009 when his daughter, Catherine, filed for conservatorship after her stepmother did not allow contact or visitation with the ailing 81-year-old actor. An advocate for elder abuse prevention, guardianship reform and disability rights drafting, and lobbying legislation for rights of association for those experiencing isolation in a guardianship/conservatorship, Catherine Falk continues to lobby for family rights legislation nationally.

The Peter Falk Bill was drafted in 2011 in California, which Catherine took to her father’s home state of New York where it was sponsored and passed with support of Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli. Today Peter Falk’s Law in many states provides protection for adults in guardianship/conservatorship who are wrongfully isolated from family and friends and denied visitation, information and contact.

Falk’s presentation will include perspectives from Catherine Falk Organization advocates, Sara Harvey and Coz Witten Skaife. To learn more about their work, visit��.��For more event information, email��koveley@syr.edu.

As Falk College’s Department of Sport Management prepares to welcome its inaugural class of sport analytics majors this fall, it is teaming up with the National Baseball Hall of Fame to host baseball fans, sport industry professionals, researchers, alumni and students for a special two-day event April 21-22 in Syracuse.

The Baseball Legends Night and Baseball Analytics Symposium will bring attention to growing career opportunities in sport analytics while highlighting analytics’ role as an essential business decision-making tool in sports. The events will be of special interest to baseball fans as analytics continue to transform how they watch the game. Both days will feature insider perspectives from Roberto Alomar and Ryne Sandberg. The title sponsor for these events is Key Foundation.

Ryne Sandberg. Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

“Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar and Ryne Sandberg, whose playing careers intersected with the early stages of big data in baseball, will provide their insight and experiences for this lead-in to Syracuse University’s new Sport Analytics program,” says Jeff Idelson, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “As players—and for Sandberg as a major league manager—Robbie and Ryno had access to an ever-increasing arsenal of baseball information, but the application of that information remains a very human task.”

Tickets for the 2017 Baseball Legends Night on Friday, April 21, at The Oncenter are available through Ticketmaster (surcharges apply) at or by telephone through The Oncenter at 315.435.2121 or Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000. Individual general admission tickets are $100, and a limited number of VIP tickets are available for $250. General and VIP tickets include a cash bar reception, dinner, silent auction and roundtable discussion with the Hall of Famers. The VIP ticket additionally includes a private pre-dinner VIP reception with either Alomar or Sandberg and an autographed baseball. Tables of 10 may also be purchased through Ticketmaster (surcharges apply) or the Department of Sport Management at 315.443.9881.

Roberto Alomar. Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

“We are extremely pleased to collaborate with the iconic National Baseball Hall of Fame on this one-of-a-kind event in Syracuse,” says Michael Veley, director and chair of sport management and the Rhonda S. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management. “No sport engages generations of fans like baseball, especially through statistics. These events also provide exceptional experiential learning opportunities for our students planning the dinner and symposium.”

The Baseball Analytics Symposium on Saturday, April 22, in Grant Auditorium on the Syracuse University campus is free and open to the public, with advance registration required (limited to the first 300 people to sign up) at .

In addition to a panel discussion with Alomar and Sandberg highlighting their views on how data has changed the way the game is played, the symposium will include presentations by sport industry professionals, academic researchers, and past and current Syracuse University students. The symposium will feature the debut of the documentary, “Analytics: Changing the Fan Experience.”

“In addition to a weekend showcasing new and exciting career paths in sports, without a doubt it will show students that Syracuse University is the place to study sport analytics. We are exceedingly proud to partner with the National Baseball Hall of Fame in this endeavor,” says Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of Falk College.

In May 2016, Falk College announced a bachelor of science in sport analytics to prepare students to think conceptually and analytically while applying these principles to real issues in sport organizations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for various data analyst disciplines is growing at 27 percent annually, far exceeding the national job growth average of 11 percent. The sport industry is the fifth largest economic sector in the U.S. economy, generating slightly less than $500 billion in 2014-15.

Statistics have always been an integral part of baseball. But today, the combination of evolving technologies that capture more data in new and different ways, the availability of powerful analytics tools, the use of this information by networks to enhance the viewing experience, and the rise of fantasy sports continue to transform the way the game is played, managed, and consumed. Data helps teams make advancements in player evaluation and customer engagement. Players can now consistently and methodically monitor and improve their on-field performance. Because baseball analytics can help fans more fully understand the game in ways that previously went unnoticed, it is leading to a deeper enjoyment of the game by serious fans while promoting a baseball appreciation for the casual fan.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. For more information, visit baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.

For more information about the April 21-22 events, contact the Department of Sport Management at spmbhof@syr.edu.

Beth Broadway

In commemoration of National Professional Social Work Month during March, the in the will present its annual Dan and Mary Lou Rubenstein Social Justice Award program on Monday, March 6, at 6:45 p.m. in Heroy Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public, and will include a keynote address by Beth Broadway titled “Building Bridges of Understanding in a Divided Time—Challenges Facing Immigrants and Refugees, and How Our Community Can Help.”

Broadway is president and CEO of InterFaith Works of CNY, who, along with Clifford Ryans, founder of O.G.’s Against Gun Violence, will be honored that evening with 2017 Dan and Mary Lou Rubenstein Social Justice Awards for their respective demonstrated commitments to service and social justice in the Syracuse community. Presented for more than 30 years, the Rubenstein Social Justice Award is given in honor of the late professor Dan Rubenstein, a former faculty member in the School of Social Work and his late wife, Mary Lou, a former school social worker.

Broadway leads programs at InterFaith Works that use service, education and dialogue to build bridges in a divided world and to provide comfort to frail elderly people; job opportunities to healthy seniors; refugee resettlement; chaplains in jails, hospitals and nursing homes; and dialogues between people of different backgrounds. She previously led the Community Wide Dialogue to End Racism and is the designer and facilitator of The Leadership Classroom that trains and equips individuals to improve city neighborhoods.

Clifford Ryans

Ryans founded O.G.’s Against Gun Violence to help reduce community violence. He works tirelessly to educate young children about the perils of violence, guns and gangs through presentations at schools, local events and rallies. With a deep commitment and courage driven by his personal experience of losing a son to gun violence, Ryans shared his experiences as a featured panelist at the School of Social Work’s James L. Stone Annual Legislative Policy Symposium that focused on gun violence as it relates to trauma, community relations and racial justice.

For more information about the March 6 program and to R.S.V.P., contact the School of Social Work at ljmarra@syr.edu.

“We’ve created a group where people involved in community-based research can develop ideas, problem solve and connect resources. This exchange allows us to share our most valuable resource—our experience,” says Amy Dumas, grants development specialist in the Falk College Research Center who facilitates the group’s meetings and list serv. Dumas has been working closely with Peter Vanable, associate provost for graduate studies and dean of the graduate school and interim vice president for research, and Tracy Cromp, director of the Office of Research Integrity and Protections, to organize these efforts.

Dumas envisioned a working group such as this one while she was in a previous role as a project manager on Falk College’s Syracuse Lead Study (SLS) led by Falk Family Endowed Professor of Public Health Brooks Gump. This ongoing National Institutes of Health-funded project recruits school-aged children from specific zip codes to investigate lead exposure’s impact on cardiovascular health.

Knowing firsthand how difficult it can be to identify and retain human subjects, Dumas often referred SLS participants to other studies. It got her thinking that if there was a coordinated effort for campus members to get connected—and stay connected—it could be beneficial on many levels. After discussing the idea with Professor Gump, Dean Diane Lyden Murphy and Deborah Monahan, Falk associate dean of research, everyone agreed a campuswide interest meeting was a logical next step.

Current members of the collaborative group are in full agreement about the many benefits it can accomplish. “Having an outlet to seek expertise and input from researchers in other disciplines helps facilitate more effective and efficient implementation of research. This support not only helps us do better research, it also helps us broaden our research by promoting interdisciplinary collaborations that would not have happened otherwise,” says Emily Ansell, associate professor of psychology and director, SUPer Lab, in the College of Arts and Science’s Department of Psychology.

To date, the 40-member group has explored shared areas of need including the recruitment of specific populations, sharing local organizations contacts, connecting with fellow researchers, gaining insight into the use of social media and developing partnerships to navigate Environmental Health and Safety protocols. Other expressed needs on the group’s agenda include identifying potential community-based sites for conducting research, developing a participant database to be shared among campus researchers and choosing a name for this newly formed collaboration.

Says Vanable, “I’m delighted that this group has taken off. Research involving community-based recruitment can benefit tremendously from the collective wisdom of faculty, staff and graduate students from across multiple units. The group provides a great opportunity for collaboration and support for both funded and unfunded research initiatives.”

For more information, contact Amy Dumas at adumas@syr.edu.

“Sport and Social Responsibility,” will provide first-hand commentary from panelists working in various professional fields about how to use sport as a tool for positive action and change, including such topics as:

• How former athletes use their sport experience to leverage community resources and��bring awareness to important societal issues.

• How foundations and organizations view sport as a means to create positive and sustainable social, political, and economic benefits for children, families and communities.

• The potential influence of sport to address some of the world’s most pressing issues, such as gender equity and global malnutrition.

Professor Teresa MacDonald, director of Falk College’s Sport and Human Development Institute, selected the symposium’s theme as a model for students, whether they are majoring in human services, business, science, sport or other fields, to understand the importance of social consciousness and how it can be accomplished through sport.

Sport is vital to the holistic development of young people by fostering physical and emotional health. It is also a powerful tool to facilitate social integration and tolerance while promoting inclusion, citizenship and respect. Sport for development programs are playing increasingly significant roles in many global humanitarian and charitable organizations because of sport’s ability to highlight commonalities and bridge cultural and ethnic divides.

“In today’s age of big business and global outreach, we wanted to provide a forum for students to learn about ways foundations and organizations embrace sport to create positive and sustainable social, political, and economic benefits for children, families and communities,” says MacDonald. “Our students will learn about the potential intersection of their interests and professional preparation with organizations and individuals using sport as a tool for advancing social networks and meeting non-sport goals.”

The symposium will explore how sport connects with many professional areas including human services, community development, local and global policy, and program development, among others. Moderated by Sue Edson, executive senior associate athletics director/chief communications officer, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Syracuse University, scheduled panelists include:

• Shanell Mosley, assistant director, sports partnerships, U.S. Fund for UNICEF

• Falk alumnus, Duane Kinnon ’91, president and CEO, The Kinnon Group

• Falk alumnus, Max Levitt, ’11, executive director, Leveling the Playing Field, Inc.

• Falk alumnus, Sam Rodgers ’15, current Syracuse University College of Law student, former student-athlete and Syracuse University chapter founder, Uplifting Athletes.

• Brandon Steiner ’81, founder and chairman, Steiner Sports Marketing

“Sport is a universal language that promotes social connections, understanding and tolerance while contributing to the physical and emotional health of individuals, families and communities,” says Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of Falk College. “Equally as significant to Falk College as it focuses on educating socially conscious global citizens in all of its majors, sport offers a compelling and powerful tool for advocacy, social justice and change.”

The Sport and Human Development Institute in Falk College explores the intersection of sport with human development, social change and social inclusion. Created in partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the institute aims to provide professional education and learning opportunities for students while supporting interdisciplinary, sport-focused research to advance understanding and application of sport in this developing discipline.

The institute aims to collect and disseminate important research findings and to share best practices among leaders, researchers, policy makers, and practitioners who influence sport-for-development initiatives. It also provides exposure, experience, and networking for our students interested in professions and non-profit entities that incorporate sport as a tool for engagement.

In 2016, Falk College and MacDonald created and implemented the first university model for UNICEF’s Kid Power Program () to allow kids to get active and save lives in collaboration with fourth- and fifth-grade students and their teachers at Lemoyne and McKinley-Brighton elementary schools in Syracuse. A Falk College Seed Grant Program supports interdisciplinary, sport-focused research among Falk faculty exploring intersections between their professional areas of study and the field of sport. ��MacDonald is also exploring experiential and research opportunities using sport as a context for development, prevention, and intervention. For more information, contact the Sport and Human Development Institute at tmmacdon@syr.edu.

The new Falk Café on 2 serves make-your-own salads, wraps, sandwiches, hamburgers and many other items.

The Falk Café on 2 will celebrate its grand opening on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Students, faculty and staff from all across campus are invited to a cake cutting at 12:15 p.m. with Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy. In addition to free cake, there will be complimentary coffee and tea throughout the afternoon, courtesy of Falk College. All guests can also enter to win a variety of gift baskets.

Syracuse University Food Services’ newest café, the Falk Café on 2, is located across from the main Student Lounge on the second floor of the Falk Complex. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. In addition to make-your-own salads and wraps, the café has a grill for sandwiches and hamburgers and many other items.

With the opening of the Falk Complex in 2015, it marked the first time in the college’s history—which dates back to 1917 when the School of Home Economics began as a course in the College of Agriculture and the first nutrition course was taught—that Falk College’s academic disciplines and administrative offices were housed in a central location. In 2011, Syracuse University alumni David B. and Rhonda S. Falk committed a generous and visionary gift that renamed Falk College and supported the move to the new Falk Complex.

Today Falk College is home to the departments of Human Development and Family Science, Marriage and Family Therapy, Public Health, Food Studies and Nutrition, Social Work and Sport Management. It is also the alumni home to the Colleges of Agriculture, Home Economics, Human Development, Human Services and Health Professions, and Human Ecology and the Schools of Nursing and Social Work.

Syracuse University Food Services’ newest café, the Falk Café on 2, is located across from the main Student Lounge on the second floor of the Falk Complex.

In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the School of Social Work in , the Syracuse University community is invited to participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service that will take place Monday, Jan. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Syracuse Model Neighborhood Association, 401 South Ave. Assistance is needed to sort and pack boxes of clothing and to prepare sandwiches for delivery to the Samaritan Center. Drivers and vehicles are also needed to deliver food and clothing.

“In celebration of our 60th anniversary, we thought it was fitting to engage in service activity on a day that most people view as a day off. Our Day of Service is instead a ‘day on,’ allowing students, faculty and staff to engage with the greater community in a way that is meaningful, tangible and fits with the philosophy of Dr. King,” says Professor Keith A. Alford, director of the School of Social Work. “For our students, this event brings into focus that academe is more than laptops, lectures and exams. Without a doubt, our students will see the significance of believing in the dignity and worth of humankind. This is a core value of the social work profession that our program instills in its courses and field work.”

As part of the Day of Service efforts organized by the School of Social Work and Falk College in collaboration with the Greater Syracuse Labor Council/AFL-CIO and the United Way of CNY, a donation drive is currently underway. Donations of winter coats, jackets, warm blankets, non-perishable food, formula and diapers are now being accepted and can be dropped off at the Social Work office at 244 White Hall before Jan. 16, or at the Syracuse Model Neighborhood Association on January 16 (the day of the event) from 9 a.m. to noon.

“The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a day meant to move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community,” says Deborah Ducett, director of field instruction in the School of Social Work and one of the event organizers. “We look forward to putting words into action and serving our community by collecting needed clothing and items for the greater Syracuse area.”

For more information, and to sign up for volunteer service, please call the Social Work offices at 315.443.5550 by Jan. 12, or contact Deborah Ducett (dmducett@syr.edu ) or Adrienne Renfroe (alrenfro@syr.edu).

The online auction offers a wide range of sports memorabilia, including a Tony Parker signed jersey, Evander Holyfield signed boxing glove, 2013 American League All-Star autographed baseball, New Jersey Devils suite package, a Carmelo Anthony signed basketball, Dirk Nowitzki signed sneakers, two stadium tickets to the CFP Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31, vacation packages and more.

For more information about the auction, visit or contact the Department of Sport Management at 315.443.9816.

The Sport Management Club is a student-run organization of the Department of Sport Management in .

“The Lived Experience: The Front Lines of Gun Violence and Community Trauma in Syracuse” was one of several panels that took place during the recent 18th Annual James L. Stone Legislative Policy Symposium. Panelists included, left to right: Lepa Jones, president, Mothers Against Gun Violence; Randy White, project director, Syracuse Cure Violence; Clifford Ryan, founder, OGs Against Gun Violence; Rev. David Bulluck, founder, Change Agent Consortium, and; Alejandro Garcia, professor of social work.

“As social workers, we understand that the reality of gun violence in our society cannot be ignored. It is a major issue that is fraught with competing elements. The unthinkable trauma experienced by children, mothers, fathers and community members, in general, must be acknowledged and treated,” says Keith A. Alford, associate professor and director of the School of Social Work. “As a society and even as a local community, we must sadly recognize, not always in an accusatory way, that certain communities have been marginalized and in many cases, forgotten. Proactively addressing rage resulting from feelings of powerlessness, and igniting resilience will be crucial if we really want to see positive turnarounds. It is a collective matter that requires our full attention, compassion, sensitivity and followthrough. This is the clarion call we all must answer.”

Keynote speaker David Alexander Bullock presented, “The Crisis and Trauma of Gun Violence in the City.” Bullock is the pastor of the Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church in Highland Park, Michigan, and founder of the Change Agent Consortium, a national coalition of faith, labor, civil rights organizations and active citizens committed to social change by combining the power of direct action, public policy and local projects.

Of the event, M.S.W. student Jen LoPiccolo noted, “As social work professionals, it’s imperative that we stay abreast of the political landscape paralleling our work. The symposium provided an opportunity to listen to unwavering community leaders building an anti-violence movement and creating a space for student activists to contribute. As a native Detroiter, the issues of gun violence, racial justice and community activism are personal and important to me. This was a humbling and invigorating day that challenged participants to ask themselves: how will I influence policy and be an agent for change?”

School of Social Work faculty involved in the day-long program included Keith A. Alford; Alejandro Garcia, professor; Eric Kingson, professor; Tracey Marchese, professor of practice, and; Matthew Spitzmueller, assistant professor. Guest speakers and panelists included Pam Hunter, assemblywoman, New York State Assembly; Timothy “Noble” Jennings-Bey, founder and CEO, Street Addiction Institute Inc.; and Helen Hudson, Syracuse Common Councilor at Large and president pro tempore, among many other community leaders.

The day-long event, held at the Onondaga County Courthouse, was organized by Kingson in collaboration with Alford, Kenneth Corvo, Nancy Mudrick, Spitzmueller and other social work faculty, and M.S.W. graduate assistant and conference coordinator Jelilat Williams, as well as Sandy Lane, a professor in Falk College’s public health program whose work has addressed the conference topic for more than a decade. School of Social Work alumnus James L. Stone, MSW ’64 created an endowed fund to support this event into the future and was involved in this year’s event.

“Once again, the School of Social Work has brought together an informative panel of experts, law makers and committed community leaders who bring clarity, understanding and passion to a significant issue that is relevant to social work practice and policy. We are indebted to James Stone for his generosity in endowing this event,” says Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of Falk College.

The crowd views items up for bid at a previous Charity Sports Auction.

The SPM Club is a student-run organization in ’s Sport Management Department. Over the last 11 years, the Sport Management Club has raised over $300,000 for local charities.

“We are thrilled that the Sport Management Club has chosen McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center as the beneficiary of this year’s Charity Sports Auction. The funds raised from this event will stay in Onondaga County, helping provide services to hundreds of abused children, putting them on a path of healing,” says Linda Cleary, McMahon/Ryan’s executive director.

McMahon/Ryan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ending child abuse through intervention and education. The organization offers a safe, child-friendly process for abused children and their families, supported by a committed, professional team specializing in the investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse. The center provides services to nearly 700 child victims and their families each year.

Purchase of a game ticket for the Dec. 10 Syracuse men’s basketball game is necessary for access to the auction and can be purchased on the SU Athletics’ Web site () or at the Carrier Dome Box Office. Tickets can also be ordered by phone at 1-800-DOMETIX. Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , and visit for the most up-to-date event information.

CEPH accreditation is based on the quality of an institution’s educational program that prepares students for entry into the public health field as practitioners, health educators and other professionals who carry out broad public health functions in local, state, national and international settings. To earn and maintain accreditation, programs must meet specific educational quality standards related to leadership, management and governance, resources, faculty qualifications, curriculum, program effectiveness, advising and diversity.

“For prospective undergraduate students and their parents in the college selection process, CEPH accreditation provides assurance that programs meet important, accepted standards for the education of undergraduate students in public health,” notes Associate Professor Maureen Thompson, a member of the public health faculty who led the CEPH accreditation team. “For prospective employers, accreditation indicates our curriculum covers essential areas critical to the practice of public health. And for our graduates, this accreditation helps enhance employment opportunities for positions that base eligibility upon graduation from an accredited program.”

By 2020, the United States will need 250,000 additional public health professionals, according to estimates by the Association of Schools of Public Health. The Department of Labor reports employment of health educators will increase through 2020. Falk College’s focus on experiential learning, in addition to its CEPH accreditation, is beneficial not only for students but the local community as well.

“Falk College’s public health program utilizes a service learning approach to integrate community-based learning opportunities with classroom instruction. Students complete 480 service hours while being engaged in promoting health, planning, implementing or evaluating health education, understanding diversity and improving health literacy. This service learning culminates with a nine-credit, 400-hour internship that demonstrates student expertise in a practice setting. Our public health students provide an estimated 30,000 hours of service work to the Syracuse University and regional community each year,” says Dean Diane Lyden Murphy, Falk College.

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs offered in settings other than schools of public health. These schools and programs prepare students for entry into careers in public health. The primary professional degree is the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), but other baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered as well. For more information, visit .

A counselor works with a child at a sand table.

The core courses and elective options in the 12-credit program include the theoretical foundations of therapy with children and their families/caregivers, as well as evidenced-based practice approaches and techniques. Completion of the certificate prepares students for clinical practice with children in mental health, school and residential settings and community agencies.

According to the most recent Surgeon General’s Report on Children’s Mental Health, almost 21 percent of children and adolescents ages 9 to 17 have evidence of distress associated with a specific diagnosis. Approximately half of this group had some treatment in one or more sectors of the de facto mental health service system. However, the remaining 11 percent received no treatment, translating to a majority of children and adolescents with mental disorders not receiving any care.

“Employers are seeking trained professionals who can work with children around a range of presenting concerns. In an era of evidence-based practice, our certificate program in child therapy affords master’s-level clinicians an additional credential as they approach a highly competitive job market,” notes Professor Thom deLara, chair of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy. “The certificate will also help address the significant shortage of child-centered practitioners in the mental health work force by creating a consistent cadre of appropriately educated and trained professionals.”

Many of the courses in the CAS will be taught at Peck Hall, a 30,000-square-foot facility in the Syracuse community with three smart classrooms, a 24-station computer lab and an on-site Center for Couple and Family Therapy where students gain valuable hands-on experience. Students will also take courses in the newly renovated Falk Complex. Students can enroll in the program full or part time in the fall or spring semesters, as well as during the summer.

For more information about the new CAS in Child Therapy, please contact the Falk College Office of Admissions at 315.443.5555, falk@syr.edu, or visit .

Falk College’s new experiential kitchens and café opened at the start of the fall semester. (Photo by Dianne Seeley)

today announced the opening of the Susan R. Klenk Learning Café and Kitchens, a new hands-on learning laboratory to prepare students with traditional and emerging professional competencies for careers in food, nutrition, dietetics and public health. A dedication ceremony, reception and tours will take place Friday, Sept. 16, at 9:30 a.m. on the fifth floor of White Hall in the Falk Complex. The campus community is invited to attend.

The new facility includes an experimental food lab kitchen, commercial kitchen, baking nook and café. A video camera system allows faculty and chef instructors to broadcast classes, food demonstrations and seminars from Falk College to anywhere on campus and across the country.

A generous and visionary gift from Falk College alumna Susan R. Klenk made the learning café and kitchens possible. A dual major in the , Klenk pursued a teaching career with the Syracuse City School District. Because her career always revolved around supporting students to help them be successful, she created the Susan R. Klenk Learning Assistantship in September 2009 that allows them to take a leadership role, provide support for classmates and gain valuable management experience.

Falk College chef instructors Mary Kiernan, Chris Uyehara and Bill Collins. (Photo by Joe Librandi-Cowan)

“Susan Klenk is a true advocate for student learning and a generous visionary whose ongoing support makes Syracuse University an extraordinary place to study food. With the opening of the Klenk Learning Café and Kitchens thanks to Susan’s commitment and support, Falk College, which began offering courses in food and nutrition in 1917, is leading the way in preparing students for expanding career opportunities in food,” says Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of Falk College.

The learning café and teaching kitchens set the stage for industry-leading, forward-thinking approaches to food and culture, nutrition, research and food studies development. Its design fosters creativity and collaboration across a variety of departments, schools and colleges, creating interdisciplinary partnerships that support teaching innovation, student learning, research and scholarship.

In addition to unlimited faculty-supervised hands-on experiences, this dedicated space will provide an ideal environment for student-faculty research projects and educational community partnerships that set the SU programs apart. For more information about the Sept. 16 event, please contact Falk College at 315.443.9816.

Public health faculty come from diverse backgrounds with extensive experience in the Caribbean, Canada, East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, offering students valuable exposure to issues and lifestyles of these cultures. (Photo by PATH/Laura Newman)

Public health faculty come from diverse backgrounds with extensive experience in the Caribbean, Canada, East Asia, Africa and the Middle East, offering students valuable exposure to issues and lifestyles of these cultures. The variety of faculty disciplines offers students in-depth knowledge from multiple perspectives. With a deliberate focus on research methods and biostatistics, complemented by mentored faculty research and a thesis project, the 42-credit program will position graduates to meet a research and analytic need that continues to grow.

The program includes two core areas of study. In the public health core, students will gain skill in the development and evaluation of global health programs, examine social and behavioral determinants of health and apply epidemiologic principles to global public and environmental health issues. In addition to this public health core, a research and statistics core provides students with the tools needed to conduct a mentored independent research project. Additional details about the M.S.P.H. are located in the .

Students in the program select one of the following two tracks of study:

The Biostatistics Track involves advanced study of biostatistical tools (e.g., logistic regression, meta-analysis, survival analyses and geographic information systems) and the application of these tools to a novel research question developed by the student working with a faculty advisor.

The Global Track incorporates some of these analytic skills to the study of global health issues such as cultural health norms and practices, historical experiences of ethnic groups and culturally determined patterns of dealing with issues of health, illness and disability.�� Students will complete an independent research thesis under the guidance of a faculty advisor.

For more information about the new master of science in public health, as well as other programs in Falk College’s public health portfolio, including a bachelor of science in public health, master of arts in addiction studies, master of science in global health and certificates of advanced studies in addiction studies and global health, contact the Falk College Office of Admissions at 315.443.5555 or falk@syr.edu, or visit the website, .

The Genesis Health Project has launched an initiative to provide support African Americans with dementia and their caregivers.

The goals of the African American Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregivers Support Program (AADCS) are to provide Alzheimer’s and dementia education to inner-city African Americans and increase use of available resources to diminish caregiver stress. The programs include educational seminars and cultural competency training for community-based partners. A 12-week Healthy Living Program was launched Aug. 13, encompassing Alzheimer’s Disease and nutrition education, exercise sessions, and yoga and meditation.

Launched in 2004, the Genesis Project is part of a larger minority health initiative, in partnership with Falk College, corporate donors, government agencies and other regional partners. The multi-year, community-based initiative aims to reduce health disparities and to promote healthy lifestyles among African Americans. Targeting underserved populations in the area through a network of health advocate volunteers at local churches, the Genesis Project has focused on health issues such as diabetes prevention and management, obesity, and prostate and breast cancer awareness and education in addition to its newest focus on Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia caregiving.

Under the leadership of Falk College public health professor Luvenia Cowart, co-founder of the Genesis Project, collaborating with co-investigator Maria T. Brown, an assistant research professor at the Aging Studies Institute, the project will implement multiple strategies, including:

• creating opportunities for partner organizations to offer education, assessments, referrals;
• offering funding to support caregivers’ involvement in GHP;
• supporting community members as they explore and consider available resources and services, and;
• providing self-care and stress management education for caregivers in African American faith-based communities.

Cowart’s academic interests are focused on public health and health education among minorities, community partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations, health disparities and mental health issues. Brown is a social gerontologist who studies later-life experiences of socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, women and racial, ethnic and sexual minorities.

The former department name dates back to an earlier period prior to the 1980s when the field emerged from the intersection of home economics, early childhood education and care, and child psychology. The field has changed fundamentally and today is a dynamic interdisciplinary endeavor that studies developmental processes utilizing research methods and techniques typical of other social sciences. ��The change is consistent with professional journal names and the professional research organizations that oversee these fields, as well as the names of aspirational peer departments both nationally and internationally.

The newly named department will continue to build on its proud historical lineage and traditions that have evolved over the last 88 years.�� From the program’s initial start with a few courses in child care, additional courses in family living and child development were added in the subsequent years until the College of Home Economics was renamed the College of Human Development in 1971. The Department of Child and Family Studies was previously named the Department of Child Development and Family Relationships before it was renamed in the 1980s.

Over the years, several stalwarts—like Bettye Caldwell, who ran one of the nation’s first intervention programs in the Early Head Start program; Sol Gordon, who established the Family Plan­ning and Population Education Center; Bernice M. Wright, whose leadership in early childhood education and care was instrumental in campus programs still in existence today; Alice Honig, an internationally renowned child development scholar; and Anna Babic, who offered the first University-wide undergraduate course in gerontology—served as department faculty.

While the department’s name has changed, students will still receive a B.S., M.S, M.A.,�� or Ph.D. in Child and Family Studies as this degree name is officially registered with New York State at this time.

Graduate students from Falk College put together a golf tournament to benefit Vera House’s domestic and sexual violence prevention programs.

The tournament included more than 120 golfers, lunch, a dinner reception, silent auction, guest speakers and raffle prizes. The execution of the tournament was part of the sport venue and event management curriculum that requires students to organize an event to gain a direct, hands-on learning experience working in all facets of the sports industry. Student efforts also included selecting the community partner, course operations, marketing, hospitality, fundraising and sponsorships under the leadership of Gina Pauline, associate professor of sport management.

This event deliberately connects event management courses, including experiential learning opportunities, with social responsibility, which is a hallmark of all academic programs across Falk College. “The students have gained so much experience in all facets of event planning while understanding the need for themselves and their peers to go outside of the confines of a classroom and serve as an advocate to end domestic and sexual violence,” says Pauline. “While they came into this course focused on planning an event, it has turned into so much more as they now understand social responsibility. Vera House has been a tremendous organization to partner with this semester. The impact this project has left on each and every one of them professionally and personally is tremendous.”

“We are extremely grateful to be named the beneficiary of Falk College Sport Venue and Event Management graduate program’s golf tournament,” says Vera House Executive Director Randi Bregman. “The proceeds from this great event will sustain our services and programs that help us achieve our mission to prevent, respond to and partner to end domestic and sexual violence and other forms of abuse. We would like to thank all those involved in organizing the event, including the ‘Sport Venue and Event Management’ class from Falk College, associate professor of sport management Gina Pauline and Timber Banks Golf Club. We also look forward to future collaboration and partnering with Falk College students to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault.”

The graduate students in the incoming class will now continue the work by organizing the event for the second year, during which they hope to add to the success of the event as well as have different auxiliary events throughout the year to support both their learning as well as the work of Vera House.

Food studies alumna Imelda Rodriguez ’16 and food studies major Ashia Aubourg ’18 work together in handing out CSA shares last fall.

For the second year in a row,��BrainFeeders, a student organization in ‘s Food Studies program, is partnering with Common Threads CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to bring fresh produce to campus. All Syracuse University and ESF faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in the Fall 2016 program that will run for nine weeks (Sept. 1-Oct. 27).

Beginning the first Thursday in September, Common Thread Farm will deliver boxes to campus for its members.��The drop-off��location will be under the Huntington Beard Crouse Hall portal every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.��If members are interested in campus delivery to another location, BrainFeeders will deliver CSA boxes for an additional fee of $5 (locations around the general campus area only). For more information, and to purchase a CSA share, please contact��brainfeederscsa@gmail.com.��The deadline to sign up is Aug. 15.

Two share sizes are available this year. A full share is $280 total (approximately $31 per week), with eight to 10 types of sustainably and locally grown vegetables. A half share is $150 total (approximately $16 per week) and has four to five types of sustainably and locally grown vegetables. Vegetables to be expected in a box include lettuce, beets, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, potatoes, herbs, eggplant, onions, winter squash, kale, chard, garlic, leeks, celery and more.

According to Felicia Ramallo, a food studies and nutrition science double major in Falk College and BrainFeeders secretary, “The CSA is one of our long-term projects to encourage students to have a connection with a farmer and become more connected with the local foods that are produced around central New York.” BrainFeeders was created in 2015 and is working to establish long-lasting food access and justice programs throughout the SU/ESF campus.

“The on-campus CSA program, organized by our food studies student club, is one of the many ways the students in our program are taking initiative and applying what they are learning in classes. We are constantly impressed by what this group takes on and how they get students and other community members engaged in local and sustainable food system projects,” says Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern, assistant professor of food studies and BrainFeeders faculty advisor.

to watch the BrainFeeders’ CSA 2016 video.

David Falk

The documentary “David Falk: Agent of Change,” will air on ESPN2 on Tuesday, July 12, at 8 p.m. In a career spanning five decades, David B. Falk ’72 set the market for how all future sports stars would be compensated. Written, produced and directed by Falk College sport management professor of practice Dennis Deninger, this documentary is narrated by Newhouse School alumnus Mike Tirico ’88. Original music was composed for the film by William DiCosimo, assistant professor in the Setnor School of Music.

“Agent of Change” premiered on the Syracuse University campus in October 2015 as part of the dedication ceremony for the new Falk Complex. His family’s generosity has endowed Falk College and the Falk Academy for Management and Entrepreneurship at George Washington University Law School.

Falk, the founder of FAME, has long been recognized as one of the sports industry’s leading figures and most talented innovators. During a 40-year career, he has represented the top players in NBA history and has negotiated record-breaking contracts for his clients, both on and off the court. His vision and ability to read the changing landscape helped to shape the evolution of the business of sports. Chair emeritus of the Sport Management Advisory Board in Falk College, he additionally serves on Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees.

These programs, which are free and open to the public, take place in conjunction with the Trauma Research Education for Undergraduates (REU) program, a joint effort by Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY Oswego to improve access to research experiences for groups typically underrepresented in research.

The project, “REU Site: Training Diverse Undergraduate Teams of Veterans and Non-Veterans to Conduct Trauma Research with Veterans: Collaborative Research,” is directed by Brooks B. Gump, Falk Family Endowed Professor of Public Health in Falk College and co-directed by professor Karen Wolford, who also coordinates the interdisciplinary graduate certificate program in trauma studies at SUNY Oswego. Other faculty from these institutions and SUNY Upstate Medical University are involved in the program, as well as Falk College’s Keith A. Alford, associate professor of social work, and Dessa Bergen-Cico, associate professor of public health.

With support from the (IVMF) and Falk College, the Summer 2016 REU Program has announced that Linda S. Schwartz, Veterans Administration (VA) assistant secretary for policy and planning will present a lecture on June 27 at 1 p.m. in the Maxwell School’s Global Collaboratory, Room 060, Eggers Hall. In her role, Schwartz serves as the VA’s principal advisor on all matters of policy and organizational strategy by providing VA decision makers with the advice, counsel and support necessary to fulfill the VA mission.

Additional speakers featured during this series include:

Thursday, June 9:

• Douglas Scaturo, retired clinical psychologist, Syracuse Vet Center, Readjustment Counseling Service, Syracuse VA Medical Center, “Combat Stress,” 1:30, Falk Complex, 400 MacNaughton Hall.

Monday, June 13:

• Duane Quates, federal��archeologist, U.S. Department of the Army, “Archaeology and the Modern Military: An Exploration of��Non-Traditional Applications,” 9 a.m., Falk Complex, 400 MacNaughton Hall.
• Kyle Possemato, clinical research psychologist, Syracuse VA Center for Integrated Healthcare, “Clinical Research with Military Veterans with PTSD and Substance Abuse,” 1:30 p.m., Falk Complex, 400 MacNaughton Hall.

Monday, June 27:

• Thom deLara, professor of practice, Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, Falk College, “A contextual framework for understanding trauma,” 9 a.m., Falk Complex, 400 MacNaughton Hall.

Supported by the grant “National Science Foundation Research Education for Undergraduates NSF��REU Site: Training diverse teams of Veterans and non-Veterans to study trauma in Veterans,” the REU program spans one year. Students attend an intensive four-week summer program during June that includes coursework, mentored student-faculty interaction and the development of a research project. Students conduct their research under the continued mentorship of REU faculty during the following fall semester. Students, with their mentors, present research findings in the following spring at a national or international conference.

This program provides research training to increase skills in conducting trauma research while increasing a student’s ability to gain admission to competitive graduate programs.

For more information about the speakers or REU program, contact Ivan Castro (iecastro@syr.edu) and visit .

Sport analytics students will learn math, statistics, research methodology, sport economics, database management, finance and computer programming as it applies to sport analytics

With growing numbers of sport organizations embracing data analytics’ powerful role in understanding and prioritizing information to maintain a competitive advantage, there is increasing demand for sport analytics professionals to guide data-driven decision making.�� Falk College has announced a new bachelor of science (B.S.) in sport analytics—the first undergraduate program of its kind in the country established within a professional sport management program—to provide students with a deep understanding of math, statistics, research methodology, sport economics, database management, finance and computer programming integral to sport analytics.

“Upon graduation, students will be prepared to think conceptually and analytically while applying these principles to real issues in sport organizations,” notes Professor Rodney Paul, a sports economist who led the collaborative development of the new degree. “Our program prepares students for a variety of different possible analytics career paths on the player evaluation side, business side or both.”

The new degree incorporates a mandatory foreign language requirement to prepare students for the global sport industry. “Sport industry executives repeatedly tell us that students who are bilingual are highly sought after, especially in growth areas including South America, China and India,” says Falk College Dean Diane Lyden Murphy.

The announcement of the new degree follows a two-year process of analyzing changes in the industry, including in-depth interviews with senior-level sport executives and practitioners, in careful consultation with Falk College’s Sport Management Advisory Board, made up of company presidents, founders, CEOs and other top-level executives.

According to Falk College benefactor and Sport Management Advisory Board member David B. Falk, founder and CEO of FAME, “Analytics have become an invaluable tool not only in analyzing player performance but also in evaluating the effectiveness and reach of sports sponsorships and advertising. In the second decade of the 21^stcentury, it is almost inconceivable that a sports organization could operate successfully or efficiently without a strong analytics capability.”

Adds Nick Carparelli Jr., senior director of�� college sports for UNDER ARMOUR®, who sits on Falk College’s Sport Management Advisory Board, “The process of making sound business choices always starts with investigation and research. Effectively analyzing data,��whether��it be��information about purchase intent from our consumers or a marketing evaluation on a prospective��partner, is a critical next step in any decision making process. The amount of data and information available to us continues to grow, and the ability to process and understand that information is a necessary skill set in our industry.”

To date, several undergraduate sport management students have worked on analytics research projects through courses and participation in the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club, which is advised by Paul.�� He and sport management students Matt Filippi ’15, Greg Ackerman ’15, and Zack Albright ’15 co-authored research that was a poster presentation at the 2014 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston. Their paper, “The Effects of Atmospheric Conditions on Pitchers,” studied the impact of air density on pitch selection and pitcher performance.�� This research was also the focus of an article in ESPN The Magazine.�� Sports research by Paul and students has also been presented at the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) Analytics conference and published in academic journals.��Groups of students regularly participate in the Diamond Dollars Case Competitions in Phoenix and New York City.

“Increasingly, analytics are an integral part of many of our content offerings, both in the linear and digital space. As sports teams and leagues invest in analytics, it will create and drive content. The fact that Falk College is introducing a degree in analytics will accelerate the use and sophistication of analytics in all facets of the sports industry,” says John Wildhack, Executive Vice President, Programming and Production, ESPN.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the job market for various data analyst disciplines is growing at 27 percent annually, far exceeding the national job growth average of 11 percent. The sport industry is the fifth-largest economic sector in the U.S. economy, generating slightly less than $500 billion in 2014-15.

“The future growth of sports domestically and globally will be carefully measured through detailed and comprehensive analytic evaluation,” says Michael Veley, the Rhonda S. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management and director of the Department of Sport Management. “This degree will prepare students with high math and computer programming aptitudes, who are passionate about working in a diverse and growing industry, better than any degree now made available in the sport management discipline. It will help transform the future of how sports business is conducted through data-driven decisions.”

Sandra Lane

The resulting report, “A Framework for Educating Health Professionals to Address the Social Determinants of Health,” proposes a conceptual model to help organizations, educators and communities collaborate to address health inequalities.

“The innovative learning strategies��encompass experiential, community-oriented, problem-based and other types of transformative learning to identify the social determinants that lead to��health disparities. Such learning should take place in basic health professional education and in the��continuing education of health workers,” says Lane. This report defines health professionals broadly, including public health, nutrition, social work, communication specialists and clinicians.

The World Health Organization defines the social determinants of health as “the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.” These forces and systems include economic policies, development agendas, cultural and social norms, social policies and political systems. Social determinants of health��promote or lower health and include factors such as access to��education and��employment, exposure to violence or toxins and access to food.

The committee’s review supports the need for a holistic, consistent and coherent framework that can align the education, health and other sectors, in partnership with communities, to educate health professionals in the social determinants of health. Educating health professionals about the social determinants of health generates awareness among those professionals about the potential root causes of ill health and the importance of addressing them in and with communities, contributing to more effective strategies for improving health and health care for underserved individuals, communities and populations.

According to the recently published report, the terms “health inequities,” “health disparities” and “health inequalities” are all used to reflect stark differences in health and health outcomes among and between populations. A consistent message embedded in each of these terms’ definitions is that without addressing the underlying causes of disease and ill health, the risk of perpetuating a cycle of inequity, disparity and inequality will remain for generations to come.

“The goal of this transformative education is to help students and professionals to gain the understanding and skills to take action, in partnership with community members and other organizations,” says Lane, who has several examples of this action. She has developed a model that links the community-participatory analysis of public policy with pedagogy, called CARE (Community Action Research and Education). Her CARE projects include food deserts in Syracuse, lead poisoning in rental properties, health of the uninsured and her current project on neighborhood trauma and gun violence.

Lane, a Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence and research professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Upstate Medical University, researches the impact of racial, ethnic and gender disadvantage on maternal, child and family health in urban areas of the United States and the Middle East. She has published 40 peer reviewed journal articles; 19 book chapters; a 2008 book, “Why Are Our Babies Dying? Pregnancy, Birth and Death in America”; and a policy monograph, “The Public Health Impact of Needle Exchange Programs in the United States and Abroad.”

Syracuse Noontime Runners race start in Manley Field House. One of the runners is Chancellor Kent Syverud, at left in black T-shirt. (Photo courtesy of Patti Ford, budget manager in the Department of Physics and co-commissioner of the league)

By the year 2030, there will be 72 million Americans aged 65 or older.�� Experts report that the quality of these seniors’ lives, whether they will be spent in good health or managing chronic disease, could be determined by their level of physical activity. A panel discussion featuring experts in the field and record-setting athletes aged 60 to 83, will follow the presentation of the film. Panelists include:

• Patti Ford, co-commissioner, Syracuse Noontime Runners League;
• Kevin Heffernan, assistant professor, Department of Exercise Science, , director, Human Performance Laboratory;
• Wally McRae, 83-year-old runner;
• Coreen Steinbach, World Masters gold medalist, 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters, and;
• Janet Wilmoth, professor, Department of Sociology, ,
  director, Aging Studies Institute.

Each year since 2012, the Department of Sport Management has engaged students in an in-depth research project that starts with the “Sport in American Society” course taught in the fall semester by Professor Deninger. “Sport for Life” is an independent study project for five undergraduate students during the Spring 2016 semester. Working closely with Deninger, the students studied recent reports and data on sport and aging, initiated contact with various organizations and experts, and formulated questions to ask senior athletes, sports program directors, and leading researchers in first-person interviews. The student researchers include Jay Alter, Max Bloch, Emily Campeas, and Jenna Kielar, all members of the Syracuse University Class of 2016, and Matt Lane, ’17.

“It is our hope that these annual Sport in American Society projects and documentaries will represent a legacy of student and faculty research that will distinguish the Department of Sport Management and the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and create more opportunities for our students,” says Deninger, who created series and content during a 25-year career at ESPN.

Two prior Falk College research project films he directed, “America’s First Sport” and “Changing Sports Changing Lives,” have been honored by the Syracuse International Film Festival. “America’s First Sport,” which focused on the history and rapid growth of lacrosse, has aired nationally on ESPN2 and ESPNU.

For more information, contact the Department of Sport Management at 315-443-9881.

Bettye Caldwell

Professor Caldwell, who chaired the Department of Child and Family Studies, worked for more than five decades in comprehensive early childhood development programming, primarily serving low-income preschool-age children and their families. During this time, she worked closely with Julius Richmond, then-chairman of pediatrics at Upstate University. In 1967, they formed the Children’s Center in Syracuse, the first early intervention program in the country. At that time, it was forbidden in New York State to care for infants in groups. Caldwell’s advocacy resulted in a special waiver that paved the way for creation of the Children’s Center.

Receiving huge national interest, the center—operating from an old house on East Adams Street—had more than 1,000 visitors in its first year, including Eunice Shriver. Caldwell credited these national figures with drawing attention to the program and helping it survive in the early years.

“Dr. Bettye Caldwell was a true pioneer in her field. Syracuse University is so very proud of her lifetime dedication focused on putting the best interests of children first, and providing countless individuals and families the tools they needed to do the same,” says Diane Lyden Murphy, dean of Falk College. “We are forever grateful that her commitment touched our campus and community so deeply in the time she and her family spent in Syracuse.”

In 1969, Caldwell relocated with her family and served on the faculty of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock for many years. In Little Rock, she established the early education project at Kramer School for young children through age 12. “Bettye thoughtfully and deliberately created an infant center in the school so that young students in different grades and classes could visit and learn nurturing ways with babies��and well-trained caregivers who were available right in their own school building,” reflects former graduate student of Professor Caldwell and now professor emerita of child and family studies in Falk College Alice Sterling Honig.

In an interview in 2014, Professor Caldwell noted, “I met Alice Honig professionally in 1963, when I had my first major research grant, ‘Infant Learning and Patterns of Family Care.’ The grant had one position for a research assistant, and I hired Alice. It is with great happiness and pride that I claim that her experience on this early research project helped prepare her for her own independent and self-initiated research in the years that followed.”

While they worked together at Syracuse University, Caldwell and Honig found little documentation was available to plan curriculum that would help children thrive. “Bettye and I and others would meet at night back at the center, after putting our children to bed (and getting babysitters), to hammer out what we thought theorists would want us to do to help the littlest ones flourish,” recalls Honig. “We’d ask ourselves, how would the theoretical writings of Erikson and Piaget translate into practice and programmatic interactions? We truly felt like pioneers.”

Caldwell led a team of psychologists and psychiatrists to China, which included Honig, that was the very first��such group after the Cultural Revolution to be allowed by Mao Tse Tung to visit child care centers and children’s hospitals. With a reputation and scope of influence that was global, Caldwell received many awards throughout her career, including the 1978 Ladies Home Journal Woman of the Year for which she was honored at a ceremony joined by Betty Furness, Maya Angelou, Kate Smith and Betty Ford.

In September 2014, a generous gift from Professor Caldwell created the Dr. Alice Sterling Honig Endowed Scholarship Fund to benefit students majoring in child and family studies at Syracuse University. “Thanks to her visionary generosity, students of the future will have the opportunity to build upon Dr. Caldwell’s innovative work that is such a critical part of both Falk College history and national social programs in early childhood intervention,” adds Dean Murphy. For more information on making a gift to the scholarship created by Professor Caldwell, contact the Falk College Office of Advancement at 315-443-8989.

Brooks Gump

“The program provides a unique opportunity for veteran and non-veteran undergraduates to work together on the common goal of research to better understand the consequences of trauma experienced by veterans. There is a significant degree of important bonding that takes place over the course of our program. These connections help veterans transition and reintegrate into the undergraduate culture while providing ‘traditional’ students, who are non-veterans, with an important perspective from those who have first-hand knowledge of the context for this research,” says Gump.

The project, “REU Site: Training Diverse Undergraduate Teams of Veterans and Non-Veterans to Conduct Trauma Research with Veterans: Collaborative Research,” is directed by Gump and co-directed by professor Karen Wolford, who also coordinates the interdisciplinary graduate certificate program in trauma studies at SUNY Oswego. Other faculty from these institutions and SUNY Upstate Medical University are involved in the program, as well as Falk College’s Keith A. Alford, associate professor of social work, and Dessa Bergen-Cico, associate professor, public health.

The month-long REU immersion program, now in its fifth year, brings together veterans and non-veterans in a safe environment to pursue trauma research activities, and is currently planning for its 2016 program, June 6 through July 1. It involves coursework, mentored student-faculty interactions and development of a research project. Participating students receive a stipend for attending the summer session. Room and board are provided free of charge, as needed, with some travel cost assistance available for out-of-state participants.

With generous support from the Institute for (IVMF) and Falk College, Ivan Castro, a veteran and past participant of the REU program, now supports it as project manager. The collaborative partnership with IVMF makes it possible to bring special guest presenters to campus. The Summer 2016 program organizers are coordinating a feature presentation by Linda S. Schwartz, VA Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning. In her role, Schwartz serves as the VA’s principal advisor on all matters of policy and organizational strategy by providing VA decision makers with the advice, counsel and support necessary to fulfill the VA mission.

For undergraduates interested in graduate school, it can sometimes be challenging to find meaningful research experiences that offer hands-on opportunities coupled with close work and mentoring with skilled faculty researchers. The REU program is an ideal way to gain valuable research experience while increasing marketability for admission to competitive graduate programs.

“The data from our evaluation suggest this program might serve as a model for re-integration of returning veterans, particularly for those returning to higher education. It offers a unique and valuable research lesson for all participants,” adds Gump.

In addition to his ongoing supported research by the NSF, Gump serves as principal investigator for two other external grants. First, the National Institutes of Health’s research project, “Environmental Toxicants, Race and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Children,” investigates the relationship among race, socioeconomic status, blood lead levels, cardiovascular responses to acute stress and cardiovascular disease risk. Second, Project Time Off is funding a study to examine how past and current vacationing behavior impacts psychological and physical health ().

Gump joined the faculty at Syracuse University in 2010.�� He currently serves on the editorial board of the journals, Psychosomatic Medicine and Health Psychology, and serves as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous other journals, including Pediatrics, American Journal of Epidemiology, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, and Social Science and Medicine. He recently served a four-year term on the National Institute of Child Health and Development’s Health, Behavior, and Context review subcommittee. The recipient of numerous research awards for his work, Gump was honored with Falk College’s Faculty of the Year in Research for 2012-2013.

Fallon Hiller, a junior majoring in social work in Falk College, plants pinwheels to denote Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month in the space between Schine Student Center and the Newhouse Complex.

The Falk Ambassadors assist its Admissions Office staff with important recruitment activities during the year. Ambassadors provide assistance at all Falk College open houses, give tours of the facilities and provide the student prospective at special events throughout the year. Falk College peer advisors help incoming freshmen and transfer students understand and transition into college life. Peer advisors also assist the Falk College Student Services Office in a variety of other ways, including involvement in meetings and activities during Syracuse Welcome-New Student Orientation, giving small group campus tours and helping with schedule adjustments.

The McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site is a Syracuse-based nonprofit organization dedicated to ending child abuse through intervention and education. Since opening in 2002, McMahon/Ryan has helped thousands of abused children and their family members, assisting and advocating for more than 400 abused children annually. Learn more at .

For more information about Falk College’s efforts on behalf of Child Abuse Prevention Month, contact: Annette Hodgens (ahodgens@syr.edu) or Brooke Tyszka (bctyszka@syr.edu).

A child at play

A link to the conference agenda, including speakers and topics, is available at .

The conference emphasizes the promotion of developmentally and culturally appropriate practices in early childhood development and education by highlighting the interplay among ecological niches, child development and early education. The conference aims to increase interdisciplinary understanding of the role of family, community and educational practices in childhood development.

The conference offers a helpful venue for students to network with faculty from other universities on job and graduate study opportunities. Additionally, it has consistently offered many opportunities for faculty and students across universities to collaborate on joint research projects and publications.

“CFS graduate students, along with students from the other institutions, have published along with faculty members,” notes Jaipaul Roopnarine, the Pearl Falk Endowed Professor of Child and Family Studies. “There have also been opportunities for graduate students to publish their work independently in major academic outlets on play.”

Along with associate professor of child and family studies Eunjoo Jung, Roopnarine has been invited to serve on the editorial board of the International Journal of Play as a result of their on-going participation in this conference and their international work on play. Professors also serve on doctoral student committees and offer guest lectures via Skype and in person across universities. For example, Professor Roopnarine serves on a doctoral committee in curriculum and instruction at Penn State, while��Professor James Johnson of Penn State will provide a guest lecture via Skype to students in CFS 331, an undergraduate class on play this spring.

This year’s conference will include research-based presentations on the play of immigrant and refugee children, games in Chinese society and internal working models about the benefits of play activities in diverse cultural settings. Some of this work will be featured in upcoming volumes, including the “Handbook on International Perspective on Early Childhood Education” (Routledge Press, authored by , of Bloomsburg University and Johnson, all of whom will be presenting at this year’s conference.

The Inaugural��Sport Venue and Event Management Golf Classic��includes 18 holes of golf, lunch and a dinner reception for the $150 entry fee. For those interested in attending the reception only, $45 tickets are available. The reception-only tickets include dinner, a silent auction to benefit Vera House and remarks by author-advocate Katelin Maloney whose novel “Drowning” raises awareness of the consequences of domestic violence. Two survivors impacted by domestic violence and sexual abuse will also share their experiences during the evening event.

“Our class wanted to choose a charity that focuses on important and pressing issues within society and the Syracuse community today. Fundraising��for��Vera House has also provided us the opportunity to stand up to domestic and sexual��violence on college campuses,” says student Carolyn McCaslin.

The execution of the tournament is part of the sport venue and event management curriculum that requires students to organize an event to gain a direct, hands-on learning experience working in all facets of the sports industry. To date, their efforts have included selecting the community partner, course operations, marketing, hospitality, fundraising and sponsorships.

While students planning the tournament are currently enrolled in SPM 665, “Advanced Event Management,” taught by Associate Professor Gina Pauline, who also serves as undergraduate program director in sport management, the vision for the tournament started in an event management course she taught last summer. Students’ efforts were then tied into a Fall 2015 sport marketing course taught by assistant professor of sport management Patrick Walsh where students focused on marketing, sponsorship, public relations and operations. Their activities included market research and resulted in the marketing plan being used for the golf tournament.

This event deliberately connects event management courses, including experiential learning opportunities, with social responsibility, which is a hallmark of all academic programs across Falk College. During March,��the students and many others at Syracuse University joined thousands throughout Central New York wearing a white ribbon or white wristband to raise awareness about domestic and sexual violence in support of the annual White Ribbon Campaign, which is led by men and encourages all members of the community to join them in their efforts. Students participated in the annual White Ribbon Breakfast, and met with Vera House staff throughout the semester.

“The students have gained so much experience in all facets of event planning while understanding the need for themselves and their peers to go outside of the confines of a classroom and serve as an advocate to end domestic and sexual violence,” says Pauline. “While they came into this course focused on planning an event, it has turned into so much more as they now understand social responsibility. Vera House has been a tremendous organization to partner with this semester. The impact this project has left on each and every one of them professionally and personally is tremendous.”

For more information about the event, including sponsorship and donation of auction items, contact Carolyn McCaslin at 402-670-9322 or via email at cgmccasl@syr.edu. Details are also available at