The Syracuse University contingent at the Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting in November included Marjorie Cantor Professor of Aging Studies Merril Silverstein (second from left) and Human Development and Family Science doctoral students, from left to right, Xiaoyu Fu, Bo Jian and Ying Xu.

In mid-November, as part of the for the human dynamics programs in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Syracuse University announced that Falk’s departments of (MFT) and (HDFS) would merge and become one department within Syracuse’s starting July 1, 2025.

Within one week, the synergies between the two departments became apparent at the prestigious (NCFR) from Nov. 20-23 in Bellevue, Washington.

Eman Tadros

At the NCFR, MFT Assistant Professor was honored with both the Olson Grant and Advancing Family Science Emerging Mentor/Teacher Award. In addition, several HDFS faculty and doctoral students presented their research, including Marjorie Cantor Professor of Aging Studies , who was a keynote speaker.

“Dr. Tadros’ involvement with NCFR highlights the interconnection between the HDFS and MFT departments,” says MFT chair and Professor of Practice . “NCFR and many other professional organizations support both departments’ focus on expanding scholarship on human systems and development, and relational wellbeing.

“Our mutual emphasis on families and systems sets the stage for increased scholarship and service for individuals and systems in our community and around the world,” Watson adds.

The , which is available to NCFR members who contribute to the discipline of family science by bridging research, theory and practice, was previously awarded to Silverstein and former HDFS doctoral student , who is now an assistant professor at Texas Tech University.

“Dr. Hwang and Dr. Silverstein gave a keynote talk on their work with the award focusing on the impact of digital communication in maintaining intergenerational relationships during the pandemic,” says HDFS chair and Associate Professor . “Dr. Tadros will similarly present her work as a keynote next year. Through their important work, these faculty represent the shared values of research in the two departments, which will soon join and continue to do high-level research on family processes that has significant implications for the wellbeing of families.”

Watson says Tadros will use the Olson Grant to fund her scholarship on racially and ethnically minoritized individuals’ online dating behaviors. The highlights “Dr. Tadros’ exemplary mentorship, particularly in providing research opportunities for underrepresented students,” Watson says.

In addition to the NCFR, HDFS faculty and doctoral students recently presented at another prominent national conference: the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Nov. 13-16 in Seattle, Washington. At both the NCFR and GSA events, HDFS faculty and doctoral students presented on a wide array of topics related to important questions of well-being for families and older adults (the complete list of HDFS presenters is below).

Human Development and Family Science doctoral student Bo Jian with her poster presentation at the National Council on Family Relations 2024 Annual Conference.

“The presentations at the GSA included original research on dementia care, mortality patterns, mental health and intergenerational relationships in older adults,” Mulvaney says. “Much of the research was focused on examining key processes of aging and relationships across diverse contexts, including Mexican, Puerto Rican and Chinese communities. As a whole, the presentations represented cutting-edge research that adds to the scientific literature that highlight the experiences of diverse older adults.”

At the NCFR, Mulvaney says, the presentations focused on key features of family relationships and developmental processes, including biased-based harassment of adolescents, child maltreatment, intergenerational relationships and the impact of poverty on children’s self-regulation.

“All of the research utilized high-level and cutting-edge methodologies to inform our understanding of these critical family processes,” Mulvaney says.

Visit the for a complete list of the HDFS presenters at the GSA and NCFR conferences and the research they shared.

Department of Exercise Science Assistant Professor Kylie Harmon (right) and exercise science student Rylie DiMaio review a sonogram of DiMaio’s leg muscles to provide a baseline for Harmon’s research on preserving muscle strength during immobilization.

Mind over matter.

, an assistant professor in the in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, has always been fascinated by this deep-rooted idea that a person could control a physical condition with their mind.

More specifically, she wondered if a person could use their mind to preserve muscle mass and strength during a prolonged period of immobilization. For Harmon, turning this idea into actual research was sparked by where researchers used neuromuscular electrical stimulation on muscles immobilized in a cast to preserve leg strength and mass. Surprisingly, mass was preserved, but strength was not.

Harmon’s research found that given the role of the nervous system in immobilization-induced weakness, targeted interventions may be able to preserve muscle strength but not mass, and vice versa. Though preliminary, her findings highlight the specific nature of clinical interventions and suggest that muscle strength can be independently targeted during rehabilitation.

Harmon’s innovative research, which was conducted over several months and with nearly 40 participants, was by the peer-reviewed scientific journal Experimental Physiology.

We sat down with Harmon to learn more about her research, most surprising findings, and next steps. Here’s that discussion:

Kylie Harmon

Q: What did you learn from the previous research on this topic, and how did that frame what you wanted to accomplish with your research?

A: Those researchers saw that daily muscle stimulation helped to maintain muscle size, but didn’t impact muscle strength. In much of my work, I was using interventions that improved muscle strength but had no impact on muscle size. I had some experience with action observation and mental imagery, which are neural intervention techniques in which a person observes muscular contractions or thinks about performing muscular contractions without actually doing so. These have been shown to be effective for strength gain or preservation, as they activate the neuromuscular pathways responsible for strength production. However, they don’t impact muscle size.

So, I thought it would be interesting to directly compare these two interventions–neuromuscular electrical stimulation versus action observation + mental imagery–to see if previous findings held up. We decided to design a lower-limb immobilization study with one group performing daily action observation + mental imagery to preserve strength, and another group performing daily electrical stimulation to preserve muscle size. The goals were twofold: 1) To further demonstrate that strength and size are distinct qualities and need to be addressed with specific interventions and 2) To hopefully improve rehabilitation outcomes by preserving size and strength during immobilization.

Q: Once you established your goals, how did you determine your research methods?

A: It took several months and a lot of teamwork to determine our methods. I relied heavily on existing literature to determine how to best implement lower-limb immobilization, what leg braces to use, what joint angle to immobilize at, and how long immobilization was needed before we would observe decreases in strength and size. I reached out to authors of my favorite papers to ask them about their methodologies, such as how to design an appropriate action observation + mental imagery intervention and what stimulation devices to buy.

Once I had a good idea of the game plan, I presented the idea to my mentors and collaborators to get their feedback. Finally, we developed a sizable research team to help with the project: three Ph.D. students, three M.S. students, four physical therapy students, and five undergraduate students. It was very much a team effort!

As demonstrated by exercise science student Lydia Van Boxtel, the subjects in Kylie Harmon’s study need to learn how to use crutches after being fitted with the leg brace.

Q: Can you describe the process of gathering your data?

A: We screened 117 interested people, and when all was said and done, we had 39 individuals fully participate in the study. Prior to the immobilization week, we tested muscle strength, muscle size and the ability of their brain to activate their muscles. We then had physical therapy students fit participants with a leg brace and crutches and show them how to navigate a variety of obstacles–opening doors, using stairs, sitting and standing.

During their week on crutches, participants had to wear accelerometers around both ankles so we could ensure that they were actually using the brace and crutches when away from the lab. We gave them a shower chair to assist in bathing, as they had to keep the brace on at all times except during sleep. We asked them to track the food that they ate. We also had a member of the research team call and check in on each participant every day during the immobilization week to make sure they were complying with study protocols and weren’t running into any issues.

In addition to immobilization, one group performed daily action observation + mental imagery using a guided video and audio recording, and another group performed daily neuromuscular electrical stimulation on their thigh muscles with a stimulation device we gave them.

We had participants return to the lab for a post-testing visit and again re-tested their muscle strength, size and neuromuscular function. If they lost strength (which almost everyone did), we had them come back to the lab twice a week for lower body resistance training until they regained their strength. We didn’t want them to leave the lab with weak, small muscles because of our experiment. Not very ethical. We ensured they were recovered and as well. Amazingly, no one dropped out during the leg immobilization, and we had 100% compliance.

To read the full Q&A with Harmon, visit the .

The Syracuse University contingent at the American College of Sports Medicine annual conference included, from left to right, Andrew Heckel, Assistant Professor Joon Young Kim, Alaina Glasgow, Wonhee Cho and Tara Cuddihee from the Department of Exercise Science.

Four students in the in the were recognized for their exceptional research at the recent Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (MARC-ACSM) annual conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Doctoral students Alaina Glasgow and Andrew Heckel and undergraduate student Tara Cuddihee presented their research at the conference, while doctoral student Wonhee Cho presented for undergraduate student Eleanor Kwacz, who was unable to attend. (Read more about Cho and his research later in this story).

Heckel’s study was selected as a top five doctoral abstract, and Kwacz’s research was chosen as a top five undergraduate abstract. Exercise Science Assistant Professor works with all four students on their research and says they “demonstrate an impressive level of scientific understanding, critical thinking, hard work and dedication.”

“The students’ curiosity, intellectual rigor and resilience in tackling complex challenges reflect not only their individual talents but also the supportive academic environment that fosters their growth,” Kim says. “These students represent the next generation of researchers, innovators and problem-solvers.”

is comprised of a diverse group of professionals and students dedicated to the advancement of sports medicine and exercise science. The Mid-Atlantic Chapter represents Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., and “the chapter seeks to communicate scientific information, provide a forum for research, foster professional peer interaction and support career growth,” according to its website.

Doctoral student Wonhee Cho presents at the conference for Eleanor Kwacz, whose research was chosen as a top five undergraduate abstract.

Two Falk College faculty members also presented at the conference: Exercise Science Associate Professor (Measuring Sleep with Wearable Devices) and Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Assistant Professor (Moving Beyond Female Athlete Triad: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport).

“This recognition strengthens Syracuse University’s reputation, opening doors to further collaborations, future funding opportunities and increased visibility within the academic community,” Kim says. “It highlights the faculty’s mentorship, the quality of resources available to students through their mentor, department, college and university, and the university’s role in advancing knowledge in their fields.”

To learn more about their research journey in Falk College, we asked doctoral student Heckel G’25 and Kwacz ’27, a health and exercise science major on the pre-med track, to tell us about the MARC-ACSM conference, their presentations and their mentors. Visit the to read their answers.

Stronger as a Team

Cho, who presented for Kwacz at the MARC-ACSM conference, is another student who has made a significant impact the Department of Exercise Science.

Cho’s most recently, co-authored by Kim and his team members, appeared in Science Direct, one of the world’s leading sources for scientific, technical and medical research. He recently presented his abstract at annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, where he received $1,500 for being selected as a finalist for the 2024 Ethan Sims Young Investigator Award.

Cho’s abstract presentation, “Relative Fat Mass as an Estimator of Abdominal Adiposity in Youth Across the BMI Spectrum,” was the result of a collaboration between Kim’s lab and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where Kim did his postdoctoral training before joining Syracuse University.

Heckel says he would have not been recognized by MARC-ACSM without the support and teamwork of his fellow lab mates, Cho and doctoral student Alaina Glasgow.

“Dr. Kim encourages us all to work together as a team, and I’m a better student and researcher today because of the people I get to surround myself with,” Heckel says. “I’m very thankful to have been able to work alongside Wonhee and Lainie during this project, and I’m excited for the future research we’ll all be able to do together.”

Visit the Department of Exercise Science website to learn more about Kim’s and exercise science , and . If you’d like to participate in research being conducted by the lab, contact Kim at jkim291@syr.edu.

During his recent visit to Falk College, sports marketing expert Brandon Steiner (center) visited with sport management students. From left to right, Dashiell Geller, John Mastrangelo, Griffin Goldberg, Grey Gutfreund, Steiner, alumnus Andrew Amell, Erin Moore, Livia McQuade, and Tynan Weathers.

When you combine a great storyteller with a lifetime of great stories, you get . . . Brandon Steiner.

Steiner, who graduated from the University in 1981 and served as founder and chairman of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia for more than 30 years, visited the earlier this fall to speak with students from the Falk College’s Department of Sport Management. Steiner is chair of Falk’s .

From his humble beginnings growing up in a low-income neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, to working his way through Syracuse, to the creation of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia, and to the formation of his current companies, and , Steiner had plenty of colorful stories and business advice to share with the students.

Steiner first met with students from two sport management classes: Assistant Teaching Professor ’ Principles of Sport Management class and David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management ’s Managing the Sports Organization class. Following the classes, Steiner had lunch with eight current sport management students (and one alumnus).

We asked two of those eight students, Erin Moore and Tynan Weathers, to discuss their experience with Steiner. Here’s what they wrote:

During Brandon Steiner’s meeting with sport management students, his “discussion on both the NIL space and women’s sports brought in real world cases of how he viewed issues and solutions,” Tynan Weathers says.

Erin Moore ’25, sport management major, emerging sport enterprise minor

“When given the opportunity to attend a lunch with Brandon Steiner, I couldn’t pass it up! From the moment he walked through the door, his passion for the sports industry was undeniable. Listening to his stories about working with New York Yankees legends like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera was incredible and they showcased his passion for building personal relationships with clients and consistently delivering beyond expectations.

“It was also inspiring to hear how he’s mentoring younger players, like current Yankees infielder Oswaldo Cabrera, to help them develop not just on the field but in their careers beyond it. During the lunch, he stressed the importance of going the extra mile, thinking outside the box, and developing strong relationships—values that have been key to his success in the industry. Overall, I’m incredibly grateful to Mr. Steiner for taking the time to share his insights with us and to Falk College for offering such a unique opportunity.”

Tynan Weathers ’25, sport management major, food studies/business minors

“Talking with Brandon Steiner was certainly an enlightening experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories he detailed to us with subjects ranging from Derek Jeter to Oswaldo Cabrera. Mr. Steiner has a passion for the sports industry as well as a major passion for Syracuse University and specifically the sport management program. His discussion on both the NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) space and women’s sports brought in real world cases of how he viewed issues and solutions.

“However, my favorite portion of the discussion is the fact that he seemed genuinely interested in our backgrounds, as he asked questions to learn more about who we are and our areas of interest moving forward. A major piece of advice I took away is the importance of being able to dedicate time and make sacrifices that others aren’t willing to make. That’s what puts you ahead of your competition.”

Steiner Student Support Fund

Last academic year, Steiner worked with the Falk College advancement team and Department of Sport Management to create the Brandon S. Steiner Sport Management Student Support Fund that “supports health, housing, education and overall well-being of Syracuse University undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Sport Management in Falk College.”

The Steiner Student Support Fund awards support for a single academic year, and students can apply for funds by completing . A student can’t be awarded funding more than twice.

In addition to the Steiner Student Support Fund, there are other opportunities and awards available to students in the Falk College. Please visit the page on the Falk website for more information on how to apply.

Chef Madhu Gadia (left) was the featured speaker for the annual Joan Christy Lecture on Food and Culture.

Renowned says her passions are cooking and nutrition, and the way she shares her fondness for cooking and nutrition is through teaching.

In late October, students from the in the were able to witness Gadia’s enthusiasm firsthand and benefit from her teaching lessons as she was the featured speaker for the Joan Christy Lecture Series on Food and Culture.

The lecture series is made possible by the Christy Food and Culture Fund, which was established in 2005 through the generosity of Syracuse University nutrition alumna Joan Christy ’78, G’81 to provide support for a lecture series in the nutrition program. The annual event involves a discussion of the cultural foodways and a demonstration and tasting of select dishes from the cultural cuisine.

“These lecture series give students the opportunity to learn more outside the classroom and get exposed to new cultures and cuisines,” says nutrition science master’s student Kirsten Gunderson ’23. “I try to attend at least one lecture a semester through the nutrition department’s different lecture series because it allows me to gain a deeper insight on the many paths nutrition can take us. With Chef Gadia’s knowledge, students had the opportunity to learn how cooking can be joyous, healthy and nurturing.”

Working with students from Teaching Professor and Chef Mary Kiernan’s Food Service Operations class, Chef Madhu Gadia helped students create an Indian menu of basmati rice, chickpea curry, spicy new potatoes and Cream of Wheat halwa for dessert.

Gadia, a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator, is known for her homestyle, healthy and authentic Indian cooking. The author of two popular books, “” and “,” Gadia has more than 25 years of experience as a nutrition counselor, diabetes educator, writer and speaker. Her areas of expertise include healthy eating, weight loss, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other health/nutrition-related topics.

Before becoming a best-selling author, Gadia worked as a clinical dietician and diabetes educator. That led to invitations to conduct cooking classes in her hometown of Ames, Iowa, and as she started to accumulate recipes, she decided to write her first book, which eventually was purchased and distributed by the Penguin Publishing Group.

“During the first few years (after the success of ‘Indian Home Cooking’), I did a lot of cooking demos around the country,” Gadia says. “I’ve done them for chefs, communities and cooking schools, and then I wrote ‘The Indian Vegan Kitchen’ and that led to more cooking demos and sharing my passion through teaching.”

Gadia spent several hours in the morning of her day in Syracuse with students from Teaching Professor and Chef ’s Food Service Operations class. During the class, the students created an Indian menu of basmati rice, chickpea curry, spicy new potatoes and Cream of Wheat halwa for dessert.

“During prep, I admired her meticulous approach to layering flavors; she emphasized that spices should not blend too early and provided specific instructions on when to add each one to enhance the aroma,” says nutrition major Daphnee Chu ’27, who oversaw the preparation of the chickpea curry. “I enjoyed discussing Indian cuisine with her, particularly the distinctions between North and South Indian dishes, which I find intriguing.”

Chu says learning from Gadia was a “fascinating experience,” and Gadia says she is always excited to impart her knowledge on a younger generation.

“The most important thing is that the teacher (Kiernan) is giving them exposure to other cuisines and expanding their repertoire and interests,” Gadia says. “Maybe 10 years down the road they’ll say, ‘The first time I had Indian cuisine was when this teacher came in and told us how it all works.’”

In the evening, Falk College students, faculty and staff packed Room 204 for Gadia’s demonstration, where she explained in detail how she cooked each of the dishes that the students helped make in the morning.

Nutrition Science major Daphnee Chu ’27 (left) and Nutrition Science master’s student Kirsten Gunderson ’23.

“Having tasted authentic Indian food before, I noticed that some of the spices Chef Gadia used were different from what I was accustomed to, despite both being labeled as ‘chickpea curry,’” Chu says. “During her lecture, she explained how ‘spiced’ Indian cuisine is, mentioning that 95 percent of Indian households don’t use curry powder.

“This insight surprised me, as I had never considered it before, and it made me realize that I had never encountered two Indian dishes that tasted exactly the same,” Chu adds. “This experience deepened my understanding of Indian food culture, and I’m grateful to Falk for the chance to work closely with Chef Gadia.”

As Gadia described her preparation and cooking methods during the demonstration, she emphasized that Indian foods are relatively easy to make, and they don’t have to be spicy. At the end of the demonstration, all attendees enjoyed samples of the food that Gadia and the students had prepared in the morning.

“My cooking mantra would be Indian cuisine is simple and easy, and people think it’s so complicated,” Gadia says. “I disagree with that, and my job is to show them how it’s simple and easy.”

Gadia says her nutrition mantra is that all foods, even some of the ones we consider unhealthy, can fit into a healthy diet. Gunderson says she appreciated the opportunity to spend time with a well-known chef and dietician who is equally focused on cooking and nutrition.

“Between her expertise in Indian cuisine and my novice understanding of it, I was able to take away so much,” Gunderson says. “Her comforting nature in the kitchen and the joy she got from cooking was evident throughout her presentation.

“I had not had a prior experience learning about Indian cuisine, but I was most interested in learning about the different spices and how they truly add to a dish,” Gunderson says. “Getting the opportunity to smell and try some spices that I never had before was exciting.”

Please visit the webpage to learn more about academic programs, facilities and career opportunities.

Kathrine Switzer, who has been at the forefront of change in women’s sports for more than 50 years, spent a recent afternoon speaking with students in the Sport Management “Race, Gender and Diversity in Sport Organizations” classes.

When Kathrine Switzer ’68, G’72, H’18 famously became the first woman to officially run in the Boston Marathon in 1967, women in the United States could not apply for, yet alone own, their own credit cards.

In fact, women weren’t allowed to own credit cards until 1974, when the enabled women and minorities to obtain credit cards and loans. That was a critical time for women in America, and Switzer continued the athletic and social revolution she started in 1967 by winning the New York City Marathon in 1974.

“In the 2024 New York City Marathon (on Nov. 3), there will be 52,000 runners and 27,000 will be women, and you can bet that all 27,000 have their own credit cards and will spend millions of dollars in New York City,” Switzer told students during a recent visit to the .

Kathrine Switzer will be the featured guest on an upcoming ’Cuse Conversations podcast with host John Boccacino. The podcast was recorded in the Falk College podcast room and is scheduled to air in early December.

Switzer, an emeritus member of the Falk College , visited Syracuse and Falk College Oct. 24 for a variety of reasons, including a discussion with Syracuse University Libraries’ about creating a collection of Switzer’s artifacts related to her career and women in running. Switzer discusses this collection, her time at Syracuse, her Boston Marathon experience and more in an entertaining ’Cuse Conversations podcast scheduled for early December.

At Falk, Switzer spent the afternoon speaking with students in the sport management “Race, Gender and Diversity in Sport Organizations” classes taught by , assistant professor of sport management.��From breaking barriers in the Boston Marathon to becoming the driving force behind the inclusion of the women’s marathon in the Olympics starting in 1984, Switzer has been at the forefront of change in women’s sports, and she encouraged the students to “let your mind run wild” when thinking of the impact they can make.

“Look at the format of the (2024) Olympic Games in Paris and the events that took place there,” she said. “Whoever heard of half of these (sports), but they’re inspiring and viable. You have so many things you can get involved in and get creative with.

“Things may not be easy,” she added. “You’re going to hit a lot of brick walls, people may laugh at you, but stick with it, finish the job, and try to create something wonderful–and you will.”

Switzer has never stopped running–she is the first woman to run a marathon 50 years after her first one –and she has never stopped advocating for the inclusion of women in sports. In 2017, Switzer launched as a global nonprofit organization to empower and unite women through the creation of local running clubs, educational programs, communication platforms and social running events.

The number 261 is a nod to her bib number in the 1967 Boston Marathon that the race director tried to take from her. Switzer’s boyfriend, who was running along with her, pushed the director to the side and Switzer finished the race. Like Switzer on that day in Boston, 261 Fearless is focused on women’s empowerment and putting one foot in front of the other to finish the race.

“If you want to lift a woman up, show her how to run,” Switzer said. “We look at all the modern women out there running and there’s thousands and thousands of them, but there are also so many women across the world who are isolated or restricted by religious convention, or social convention, or social mores.”

Since its inception, 261 Fearless has trained and mentored over 500 coaches who have worked with nearly 7,000 women in 14 countries and five continents through education programs and women-only running clubs.

“After getting the women’s marathon in the Olympics Games, I thought that was great for women who can train and compete in a race. But what about those women under a burqa in Afghanistan or enslaved in their home with domestic abuse, how are we going to reach them?” Switzer said. “That’s what inspired us to create 261 Fearless.”

Brooke Siket ’25

“Suddenly, that old bib number became a number that meant fearless in the face of adversity,” she added. “From the worst things, come the best things. If something is wrong, there’s an opportunity to change it.”

At this year’s New York City Marathon–the 50^th anniversary of Switzer’s win in the event–261 Fearless created The Fearless 50, a team of 50 runners who are passionate about supporting women and understand the transformative power of running. As part of this initiative, The Fearless 50 hosted a fundraising brunch on Nov. 2. Falk College was a proud sponsor of that event, and Switzer was the featured speaker. The Falk College logo was also be featured on the bibs worn by The Fearless 50 runners.

Brooke Siket ’25, a sport management major in Falk and marketing minor in the , was one of the volunteers who worked at The Fearless 50’s events. Siket, who currently works as a facilities and game management intern for Syracuse University Athletics, was notified of this opportunity with The Fearless 50 through Internship Placement Coordinator and was offered the internship after an interview with Kim Chaffee, 261 Fearless’ administration and communications manager.

“I was invited to attend all their weekend events, including a panel with Peloton, a panel with Kathrine Switzer, the brunch to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her victory at the New York City Marathon and a cheer zone between Peloton and 261,” said Siket, who is a Falk College peer advisor and ambassador and a member of the team and the and (WISE) clubs.

“I am looking forward to marathon weekend as I will be able to interact with other volunteers, Kathrine Switzer and others,’’ Siket said before heading to New York City.

During the weekend, Switzer repeated various versions of the inspiring message that she gave to Falk College students during her visit when one asked about the best piece of advice Switzer had for them.

“Show up! Nothing happens when you stay at home,” Switzer told the students. “What’s out there may be scary, but you have to face it and that’s what opportunity is. When the world won’t give it you, you have to go out and get it.”

In 2018, Switzer delivered the Commencement address at Syracuse and was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. To learn more about Switzer’s history and ongoing advocacy work, visit her website.

Sudha Raj (right) accepts her Lifetime Achievement Award from Manju Karkare, a registered dietitian nutritionist and nutrition coach who nominated Raj for the award.

In early October, Raj was recognized for her impactful career in dietetics when she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from (DIFM), a subgroup of the .

“Sudha brings a whole-person approach to her teaching and mentoring of students and colleagues,” says , associate professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. “She willingly shares her time and knowledge with anyone who is curious to learn more about the benefits of nutrition.”

Raj, a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, received the award during the in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“I am honored and humbled to receive the DIFM Lifetime Achievement award,” Raj says. “My deepest gratitude to those who nominated me, my colleagues, students who continue to inspire me every day and my family who have always supported me in all my endeavors.

“This incredible honor as a recognition of my work is inspiring and motivating to me,” she says. “It encourages me to continue making a positive impact in the field of nutrition and dietetics.”

According to the DIFM website, the purpose of the Lifetime Achievement Award is to “recognize a DIFM member whose contributions over their lifetime have advanced the principles and practices of integrative and functional medicine and nutrition. This award will honor one who has ‘made a difference’ in education and professional development, furthered professional opportunities and advancement for nutrition and dietetics practitioners, and has demonstrated excellence as evidenced by work that is innovative, creative and recognized as exemplary by professional peers.”

Raj has been a difference-maker on the Syracuse University campus and worldwide. She was instrumental in developing and implementing one of the first pilot studies to investigate dietary acculturation patterns in Asian Indian immigrants in the United States, and more recently she was one of two Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics members responsible for the inception of the member interest group for Asian Indians in Dietetics.

“Sudha has been a leader in the department and the nutrition and dietetics profession around integrative and functional nutrition for many years,” Brann says. “Due to her leadership and encouragement, several faculty attended a multi-day training to integrate these concepts into our courses and curriculum.

“Sudha has continuously supported the advancement of dietetic professionals practicing integrative and functional medical nutrition therapy by acting as an educator, scholar and through her public service,” Brann says.

The eligibility criteria for the Lifetime Achievement Award included two letters of recommendation. Brann wrote one letter, and the other came from Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, IFNCP, RYT, owner of in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Sudha Raj

Richard says Raj’s vast and varied portfolio showcases her generous contributions to the profession, her students, and all those who benefit from her service.

“Sudha’s skills and attributes are not only admirable, but the lives she has touched with her contributions, advocacy, wisdom and dedication to the profession are immeasurable,” Richard says. “She teaches with thoughtfulness, depth and precision while using the Nutrition Care Process in addition to applying integrative and functional nutrition principles.

“In addition, her work ethic and commitment are further illustrated by her roles in her family and community, all while advocating for nutrition as an RDN, researcher, author, educator, leader and contributor in a variety of settings,” Richard says. “It is an honor and pleasure to call her colleague, mentor and friend and to serve our profession alongside her.”

While the Lifetime Achievement Award signals a milestone in Raj’s career, it does not mark the end of it as she continues her mentorship of students and unique contributions to the practice of integrative and functional nutrition.

“My deepest thank you to my nutrition colleagues for their unwavering support and encouragement as I navigated the field of integrative and functional medicine as a specialty within the broad nutrition space over two decades,” Raj says. “They have helped me develop professional resources and curriculum for education and training.

“My DIFM colleagues have been wonderful mentors; they have educated and provided me several opportunities to share my knowledge in the form of professional development offerings for dietetic professionals,” she says. “I also want to acknowledge Syracuse University and Falk College for supporting my teaching and research interests and fostering my academic interests. I hope I can continue to provide support and inspiration for the next generation of dietetic professionals.”

When then-high school junior Isabelle “Izzy” Kaplan visited Syracuse University in March 2023, the University had just announced it would be offering a new, first-of-its-kind degree program focused on esports starting in the fall of 2024. The program would be offered jointly by the and the .

Kaplan was already interested in majoring in communications, but she also enjoyed playing esports and was excited when she heard about this new major during her visit. When she later told her mother that she wanted to attend Syracuse and enter this groundbreaking program, Emily Kaplan wondered what took her daughter so long.

“My parents support me being happy; they want the best for me,” Kaplan says. “They were there when I was told about this program, and they saw how my eyes lit up. When I mentioned it to my mom, she said, ‘You know, I’m surprised you’re just saying something about it now because I saw how you first looked, and I’d thought you’d immediately jump on that.’”

Kaplan, who’s from Long Island, New York, is now a member of the inaugural esports class. The program is unique because it features three tracks that combine elements of Falk College and the Newhouse School – esports business and management, esports communications, and esports media and design – and as Kaplan starts her academic career, she’s leaning toward the communications track.

But for now, first things first, and Kaplan is one of about 20 students taking Esports Executive Director and Professor of Practice ’s Introduction to Esports class. Gawrysiak says the introductory class is designed to help students understand the esports ecosystem how it operates in society and at Syracuse, and to get them excited about the major because of the hands-on opportunities they’ll experience throughout all of their courses.

Esports Executive Director and Professor of Practice Joey Gawrysiak, shown here teaching the Introduction to Esports class, says Syracuse University’s esports program was built to prepare students for a successful career in esports and various other professions.

“An esports education is not about just classroom learning, and it’s not just about preparing students to work in esports,” says Gawrysiak, who built the esports program at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, before coming to Syracuse. “It’s about preparing them to have a very successful career by the time they graduate in whatever career it might be, whether it’s esports, esports adjacent, the entertainment industry, traditional sports, broadcast journalism, business, or whatever they might want to get into.”

As she navigates her first semester on campus, Kaplan is splitting her time with Newhouse and Falk, taking basic courses such as Communications 117 and 100 with Newhouse and Principles of Sport Management with Falk. To learn more about why Kaplan chose Syracuse and the esports major, we sat down with her for this Q&A.

How did you get interested in esports? Had you ever considered a career involving esports?

I was 3 or 4 years old when I got my first video game. We loved playing Mario Kart and all the Super Mario games, and it’s been present in my life ever since.

I didn’t think about taking a career approach to it until about last year, because I actually found out about it when I toured Syracuse for the first time. I was interested in communications, I was looking at Newhouse, and I met someone who was working on developing the (esports) program.

This was before any of these people (the esports staff) were here. So, it was still just an idea being developed and they said it’s a very new program, very experimental. Not a lot of other schools have tried it to this level, and I thought that was cool because I love video games, and I’m interested in the fact that it’s communications.

What was the discussion like with your parents when you told them you wanted to be an esports major?

They like innovation, and this was brand new. They were a little worried because especially over (COVID) quarantine, everyone was a bit of a hermit, and I was on video games a lot. And they were concerned that maybe I’d be playing it too much here.

But then I started explaining to them that it wasn’t really the playing aspect – it was more the communications, forming connections, and networking – and they were interested. They thought I could really do something with this, and they thought it was also super cool that this field is becoming more balanced with males and females.

Would you like to get more involved with the management and production side of esports events on campus?

Yes, I’d love to be involved. I’m helping right now with the development of a club team, which will hopefully be a varsity team next year.

And it’s not just me. Everything here is very group-oriented. You’re never alone doing this kind of stuff, which is nice, and I never feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. There’s always some sort of guidance or someone else who’s also clueless so you don’t feel as bad!

My main goal is to obviously be friendly with everyone here, but also find connections and network through this very connected area because everyone seems to know everyone in this. It’s a little scary, but it’s also super cool and convenient.

What do you envision your next four years will be like in this major?

For me and the program in general, everything is going to be very experimental because this is year one, it’s still brand new and so fresh. And I think that’s exciting because it’s a pilot program and everything’s still being developed. Classes are still being developed.

There are three paths that you could take with this, so that’s all still being figured out. And no one fully knows where you’re going to end up. But the fact that there’s a lot of flexibility with this makes it very interesting.

It’s going to be a good learning experience, not just as a student, but probably for everyone working here. And I think it’ll be successful.

This spring, Kaplan will have an opportunity to take the Business of Esports class with Gawrysiak, and the Esports Production class with Esports Communications and Management Co-Director and Newhouse Professor and College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor . Gawrysiak says the students will be encouraged to engage in the program outside of the classroom by joining a team, helping to manage a team, managing one of the esports and gaming centers on campus, or taking advantage of travel abroad opportunities.

To learn more about the esports program, tracks of study, and experiential learning opportunities, please visit the web page.

Livia McQuade (center) with U.S. wheelchair rugby team members Joe Delagrave and Sara Adam. The team won a silver medal in Paris, and Adam became the first woman to compete on the U.S. wheelchair rugby team at the Paralympics.

For sport management major Livia McQuade ’25, the path from the to Paris for the Paralympic Games went like this:

After learning about an internship opportunity with the (OSG) on the Careers webpage, McQuade reached out to Internship Placement Coordinator for more information. OSG is a management and marketing agency that provides top sponsorship opportunities and marketing strategies for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Through Perez, McQuade learned that recent sport management graduates Elena Randolph ’24 and Jacob Bennett ’24 strongly endorsed OSG after both had interviewed with the organization and Bennett worked there as an athlete relations intern. From there, McQuade discovered that OSG’s Director of Athlete Relations ’16 was a sport management alumna and “connecting with her jumpstarted this experience from the first interview all the way to the Paralympics,” McQuade says.

“I preach that the Falk College is better known as the ‘College of Opportunity’ and this internship is the purest reflection of that,” McQuade says.

Thanks to her Falk connections and stellar academic background, McQuade spent this past summer with OSG in Loveland, Colorado. McQuade, the executive vice president of the in the Falk College and co-chair of the club’s 2024 , says she wants to work with the Olympic and Paralympic Movement following graduation and this internship has been an invaluable step in that process.

We asked McQuade to describe her experience working for OSG at the Paralympic Games in Paris and here’s what she wrote:

Livia McQuade (left) with Olympus Sports Group Director of Athlete Relations Jessica Leonard ’16. They’re standing in front of the Arc de Triomphe with the Agitos (the Paralympics logo) displayed on the Arc for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games (similar to the Olympic Rings on the Eiffel Tower).

“Over the summer and into this fall semester, I have been an athlete relations intern with Olympus Sports Group. I worked under OSG Founder and President and former U.S. speed skater Ian Beck and Syracuse University alumna Jessica Leonard, and much of my internship was centered around the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Through the summer months and while four of our Olympic swimmers were competing in Paris, I worked on the backend reviewing and supporting contract negotiations for athlete partnerships, preparing athletes’ speaking outlines, updating athlete websites and project managing the upcoming book release for one of our most prominent athletes (Jessica Long).

“At the beginning of September, I took a hiatus from my classes in Falk to attend the Paralympics with OSG’s incredible leadership team and nine of our competing athletes. Our roles on the ground in Paris were largely dedicated to celebrating our athletes at their events; we cheered for Jessica Long in para swimming, Sarah Adam and Joe Delagrave in wheelchair rugby, Noah Malone and Susannah Scaroni in para track and field, Dennis Connors and Jamie Whitmore in para-cycling and Steve Serio and Trey Jenifer in wheelchair basketball. All while proudly decked out in USA apparel!

“All other responsibilities centered around any of our athletes’ media or speaking appearances. This included trips to Team USA House, Bridgestone House and Toyota House, as well as a luncheon with Bank of America and International Paralympic Committee Board members. Of all the places and moments we witnessed, the one that sticks with me the most is attending para swimming: Seeing the notorious Olympic/Paralympic-sized pool, being in a packed arena, and just being in that atmosphere was an ‘I made it’ moment for me.

“I am incredibly grateful and fortunate to work with Ian and Jessica at OSG. For the remainder of the fall semester, I am continuing to work with OSG in a limited role with the addition of our newly hired intern and capstonee sport management major (and Syracuse track and field hurdler) Kirstyn Schechter ’25. While Kirstyn takes over the responsibilities I held this summer, I will focus mostly on coordinating media opportunities and schedules for the release of Jessica Long’s new book, “,” set to publish on Oct. 1!”

Interested in a career in the sport industry? Visit the webpage to learn more about academic programs, experiential learning, and career opportunities.

It’s the first partnership of this kind between an American college or university and a Japanese professional sports team. As part of this agreement, sport analytics students and faculty will work in different capacities with students and faculty from , which is located on the Japanese island of Kyushu.

Kumamoto Basketball Co., Ltd., President and Chief Executive Officer Satoshi Yunoue says partnering with Syracuse’s prestigious sport analytics program will improve the team’s performance as it seeks to move from the Japanese B.League’s B2 league to the B1 league. The Volters open their season on Oct. 7.

“In recent years, the importance of data has been gaining attention, and we are confident that together with Kumamoto University, (Syracuse) will support us in the analytics portion and contribute to improving our winning percentage as we accumulate know-how in data analysis,” Yunoue said in a statement on the team’s website that was translated into English.

“We are excited to be able to work with Syracuse University, which is leading the way in data analysis in the field of basketball in the United States,” Yunoue added.

The Falk College’s partnership with Kumamoto is the next phase for sport analytics students, who already provide data analysis for 11 of Syracuse’s athletic teams. In this photo, sport analytics major Dan Griffiths reviews performance data with track and field student-athlete Elizabeth Bigelow.

In serving as the Volters’ de facto analytics department, seven undergraduate and graduate students in sport management will remotely collect and analyze a variety of data, including player performance statistics, live game video, information from wearables that track performance data, and business and operations data.

“We are honored and excited about the partnership between Kumamoto University and Syracuse University Sport Analytics,” says Sport Analytics Undergraduate Director and Professor . “We look forward to providing statistical insights, building visualizations and models, and doing everything we can to help with the success of the Volters as we build what we hope to be a lasting collaboration with our wonderful partners at both Kumamoto University and the Volters.”

Under Paul’s leadership, sport analytics students have captured back-to-back National Sport Analytics Championships, and they have won numerous player and team analytics competitions in basketball, football and baseball. About 70 students are providing data collection and analysis for 11 of Syracuse University’s athletic teams, and other partnerships such as the one with Kumamoto are in the works both nationally and globally.

Previously, the Volters utilized staff members to analyze data on a limited basis. In addition to analyzing the Volters’ data, the Syracuse students will help analyze data from opposing teams, and the collaboration with Syracuse and Kumamoto University will help the Volters build their own data analysis team.

“We would like to use the Volters as a hub to connect university students in Kumamoto and America,” Yunoue says. “We are grateful for this connection, and we will become a team and work together as colleagues working toward this goal.”

Paul says this partnership speaks to the uniqueness of the sport analytics program because Syracuse students will apply the skills they’re learning in the classroom to a variety of areas for the Volters that will benefit from data analysis.

“This is the next step in the evolution of our program where our students are working in a practical laboratory with a professional team in another country and all that goes with it,” Paul says. “These are the ways they can show off their skills, and with the different time zones they can wake up in the morning and see the score of the game and the results of what they did.”

From left to right, Chinny Nwagbo, Felisha Legette-Jack and Vera Jones, panelists for the “Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women in Sport” discussion Sept. 13 at Falk College.

When Tatiana Warren ’04, G’06, was a student-athlete at Syracuse University, she received support from all corners of campus: her track and field coaches; faculty and staff in the Department of Exercise Science; and her advisors in the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Program, which prepares high-achieving undergraduate students for success in graduate/doctoral studies.

Knowing first-hand the benefits of mentorship and allyship in breaking barriers for women in all fields of work, Warren will be spending this year’s Coming Back Together weekend giving back to current students during two signature events at Syracuse University’s .

(CBT) is a triennial event for Black and Latino alumni to return to campus and celebrate their accomplishments, meet current students and remain connected to Syracuse. For this year’s CBT from Sept. 12-15, Warren will participate in a networking event for current students and moderate a star-studded panel discussion called “Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women in Sport.”

“Having mentors and allies who believe in your potential can make a significant difference in one’s career trajectory,” says Warren, a member of the Falk College Advisory Board. “Additionally, creating inclusive environments where diverse voices are heard and valued is essential for driving systemic change. It’s not just about giving women a seat at the table, but also ensuring they have the support and opportunities to thrive.”

Warren, fellow members LaTisha Marshall ’98 and Andrea Massop Ramos ’85, MCN, and member Jasmine Jordan ’14��worked together to create the Falk networking and panel discussion events.

Warren earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Exercise Physiology degrees from Syracuse University and her Ph.D. in public health with a focus on health aspects of physical activity from the University of South Carolina. Affectionately known as “Dr. Tati,” Warren is a distinguished health equity strategist and the founder of , a multimedia initiative dedicated to disseminating accurate, evidence-based health information to diverse audiences. Warren consults with health professionals, community leaders, educators and community members to implement and evaluate effective health programs.

During Coming Back Together weekend, Falk College Advisory Board member Tatiana Warren will participate in the networking event and moderate the panel discussion at Falk.

Warren attended CBT for the first time in 2017 and says the weekend “was incredibly nostalgic” for her as she played in the inaugural CBT Celebrity Basketball Classic for former student-athletes.

“I’ve learned that Coming Back Together is a fantastic opportunity to bridge the gap across all generations, especially for Black and Latino communities, and invest in the future Syracuse leaders of tomorrow,” she says.

To that end, Warren, Ramos and other notable Syracuse University alums will participate in a speed networking event with students from 12-12:45 p.m., Friday, Sept. 13, in Room 335 at Falk College. Ramos is a clinical nutritionist, private health chef and entrepreneur who in 2018 founded Healthy FRIENDZ Nutrition to build independence and confidence in youth, students with disabilities and the aging.

Warren says networking is a crucial gateway to establishing and advancing your career, and she has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share after spending nearly two decades specializing in community engagement and improving health in underserved populations.

“My first job opportunity after completing my doctoral degree in healthcare was at a hospital, and it came about because I was a Syracuse University alumna,’’ Warren says. “I remember that interview being effortless; I simply discussed my experiences at Syracuse, highlighting how being a student-athlete and specifically a student-athlete of color laid the foundation for my commitment to community-based work from an equity perspective.”

The panel discussion featuring Syracuse women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack ’89, NFL Players Association Director of Player Programs and Engagement Chinny Nwagbo ’05 and award-winning broadcaster Vera Jones ’88, G’91 (all former Syracuse basketball players) will run from 1-1:50 p.m., Sept. 13, in Grant Auditorium at Falk College.

Jones will also be the emcee and announcer for this year’s CBT Celebrity Basketball Classic. “This game is for those who can walk the walk,” says Jones. “I can talk the talk and that’s what I plan to do!”

Warren says the panel topic–Breaking Barries and Empowering Women in Sport–is important to her because she has spent her professional career breaking barriers as often the only woman or person of color serving boards or advisory groups that helped shape the future of health programs for people of color or people from marginalized communities.

“Empowering women in sports is close to my heart; as a former track and field athlete and recipient of the , I understand the unique challenges and triumphs women face in this field,” she says. “This discussion’s theme extends beyond the sports industry as it highlights the broader issues of gender and racial equity, representation and empowerment in all sectors of society.”

In addition to the networking event and panel discussion, Falk is sponsoring a table at the Saturday, Sept. 14, “Shades of Orange Sneaker Ball,” a fundraising and alumni awards gala at the JMA Wireless Dome to support the . Here’s a complete ��Visit the�� to register for the program through Saturday, Aug.��31.

Here’s more information about the guests for the Falk College panel discussion:

Head Coach – Syracuse University Women’s Basketball

“Coach Jack,” a Syracuse University alumna with degrees in child and family studies and psychology, returned to lead the Orange basketball program in 2022. With over 30 years of coaching experience, she has guided three Division I programs to 13 winning seasons, nine postseason berths, and six 20-win seasons, amassing a 343-279 record. Legette-Jack is enshrined in several halls of fame, including the Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame, the Syracuse Urban Sports Hall of Fame and the Syracuse University Orange Plus Hall of Fame. In 2021, she became the first female in Syracuse University history to have her No. 33 jersey retired in the JMA Wireless Dome rafters.

Director of Player Programs and Engagement – NFL Players Association

Chinny Nwagbo, a former Syracuse University women’s basketball standout, graduated in 2005 with a degree in biology. She played professional basketball for 11 years in various countries and represented Nigeria in the 2006 World Championship Games. Post-retirement, Nwagbo has built a successful career in the sports industry with roles at the U.S. Department of State, PeacePlayers International, Monumental Sports & Entertainment and more. She now serves as Director of Player Programs and Engagement at the NFLPA, creating resources to help professional athletes succeed beyond their playing careers.

President. Vera’s VoiceWorks, LLC
Adjunct Professor of Public Speaking, University of North Florida

Vera Jones is a motivational speaker, communication coach, author and award-winning broadcaster. She has over 30 years of experience as a women’s basketball analyst and reporter for ESPN, Fox Sports and NBA-TV. Vera hosts the women’s basketball show “Certified Unscripted” and the motivational podcast “Perseverance Live.” She holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a master’s degree in television, radio, and film from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Larsen, Chair of the Department of Public Health in Syracuse’s , was invited to present to a panel of scientists, policymakers and policy implementers at an information-gathering event called the “White House Roundtable on Emerging Technologies for Preventing Health Emergencies.” At the onset of COVID in 2020, Larsen spearheaded an interdisciplinary team of experts in coordination with the New York State Department of Health to create a wastewater surveillance system throughout New York State.

David Larsen presents his “lightning talk” at the White House.

As one of many presenters during the three-hour roundtable, Larsen was given two minutes to discuss the merits of testing wastewater for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

“It was quite humbling to receive the invitation,” Larsen says. “I always hope that my work can influence public health, and since COVID-19, I’ve been trying to support the improvement of our infectious disease surveillance systems in New York State and this country.”

Today, the����is testing for COVID in at least one wastewater treatment plant in all 62 of the state’s counties, covering a population of 15.4 million. The����provides the most recent statistics regarding the network.

Days before Larsen’s trip to Washington, D.C., the (CDC) named the New York State Department of Health Wastewater Surveillance Program as a new in the National Wastewater Surveillance System. New York’s system was recognized by the CDC for its exemplary performance in the early detection and monitoring of communicable diseases such as COVID-19, polio, influenza and more.

This past spring, Larsen received a prestigious to teach and continue his wastewater surveillance research at the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria.

Larsen is clearly a leading expert in this field and he received the invitation to speak at the White House from Nicole Fehrenbach, the Branch Chief of the Rapid Response Research and Surveillance Branch of the CDC. The CDC is intimately familiar with Larsen’s work as the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network is a part of the CDC’s .

Larsen had visited Washington, D.C., before Aug. 27 and saw the White House from the outside, but he had never been in the complex until he attended the roundtable hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

“Walking into the Eisenhower Office Building and seeing the offices of the Chief of Staff and other executive officials and the west wing of the White House was a bit surreal,” Larsen says. “It was the culmination of a lot of hard work since March of 2020.”

During his “lightning talk,” Larsen says he emphasized that the functions of infectious disease surveillance are two-fold. First, they need to alert us when a community is at increased risk,” he told the panel. “And second, they need to confirm a community is no longer at risk.”

David Larsen at the White House with the Washington Monument in the background.

“The Covid-19 pandemic showed how inadequately our systems performed in these two functions,” he added. “So, improvements are needed. Wastewater is a great way for both of these, and perhaps one of the most cost-effective ways to confirm a community is not at risk.”

Larsen says his remarks were “well received,” although he can’t share specific reactions because of the privacy guidelines for the roundtable. He’s encouraged that panelists were responsive because of the looming funding needs for wastewater surveillance.

“Right now, wastewater surveillance in the U.S. is largely being funded by COVID-19 emergency funds,” Larsen says. “As the emergency is over, those funds will expire. I hope that future funding will be made available to continue these efforts.”

Those efforts, which started on the campus of Syracuse University and now extend worldwide, will continue at Syracuse with Larsen leading the way.

“Right now, my team at Syracuse is focused on transitioning the operations of the program we’ve built in New York over to the State Department of Health,” he says. “That will allow us to dive deeper into the science and maximize the benefits of the systems.

“With the newly awarded Center of Excellence, we will support other states in the region, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” he adds. “And then globally, the Europeans are leading an effort to coordinate global wastewater surveillance and we’ll continue to support those efforts.”

In 2017, Chancellor Kent Syverud (left) honored employees who marked milestone anniversaries in 2016. Professors Sarah “Sally” Short (center) and Jack Graver were celebrated for 50 years of service to the University.

By 1975, Sarah “Sally” Short, Ph.D., Ed.D., was already a legend on the Syracuse University campus.

But on Jan. 3, 1975, she became world famous when an article appeared in The New York Times describing her unique teaching methods. The story included a photo of Short on a motorcycle—the same one she rode down the stairs of the Newhouse School of Public Communications and into her lecture room as her surefire way to grab the students’ attention.

“Dr. Short was my favorite professor back in the late 1960s,” Meredith “Mary” Moses Maxwell ’70 said in a 2020 social media post for the . “Her classes were exciting, from being rewarded for correct answers with candy, to being greeted—often by name—walking across campus. I was in the famous class that was welcomed in Newhouse’s basement auditorium by the unmistakable sounds, smells and sight of a motorcycle entering and driving down the aisle by none other than Dr. Short.”

On Jan. 3, 1975, The New York Times published a feature story on Short that included this iconic photograph taken by Anestis Diakopoulos. “She was a wonderfully vibrant and exciting person to know,” Diakopoulos says. “She charmed many a student with an unprecedented teaching style, even for the 1970s.”

Short, who joined the Syracuse University faculty in 1966 and taught an estimated 55,000 students, died in late July, about two months shy of her 100th birthday. A professor emerita in the Falk College, Short taught various nutrition courses, including Nutrition in Health, Sport Nutrition and Dietary Supplements, and several other courses at Syracuse. She retired in 2016 after a half-century in higher education.

“I had the opportunity to co-teach the large Nutrition in Health class with Dr. Short and was able to see how she valued engaging students,” says , associate professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. “She was innovative in her pedagogy and loved storytelling to teach about nutrition. She was also passionate about sports nutrition and had conducted research in examining the dietary intake of athletes at Syracuse University.”

Following the article in The New York Times, Short brought national attention to Syracuse University and the concepts of nutrition and sports nutrition through countless newspaper and magazine interviews and appearances on television shows such as “Today,” “Good Morning America” and “Real People.”

“A few weeks (after the article), my older brother serving in Vietnam wrote and asked if I knew anything about this ‘crazy’ SU teacher,” Moses Maxwell said in 2020. “He’d seen a picture and article about the stunt in the Saigon Times. I was so proud to be her student. She was the ultimate teacher and a role model for my teaching and counseling career.”

Connecting With Youth

Numerous former students recount memorable classes that earned Short the moniker “Psychedelic Sally.” But theatrics aside, Short had a remarkable knack of connecting with younger generations.

, teaching professor and graduate director in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, was a teaching assistant in Short’s Food Science class for two years during Raj’s doctoral program. Raj says Short was “very empathetic” with her students and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them.

“She was a legend in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association), and several FNCE (Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo) attendees—noticing my Syracuse University badge—have inquired over the years about Dr. Short,” Raj says. “Many were her students, and others had heard about her bringing her motorbike into the classroom.

“I fondly remember her giving me newspaper clippings of my children’s achievements in the Fayetteville Manlius School District, and she always celebrated their successes with us,” Raj adds. “I will miss her annual Christmas greetings and her smiling demeanor.”

, associate professor and undergraduate director in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, says Short’s ability to connect with youth extended to Voss’ daughter, Elise, who was 7 when she first met Short. Elise recently graduated from Nottingham High School (Short’s alma mater) in June, 100 years after Short’s birth in 1924.

Sarah “Sally” Short

“Elise idolized her,” Voss says. “Sally had an uncanny sense of knowing whenever Elise was alone in my office. She would quickly scoop Elise into her office before I returned, and they would have Oreo tea parties and Sally would tell Elise tales of when Ed Smith (Pre-K-8 School) first opened.

“I would eventually find Elise tucked into the pillows on the daybed in Sally’s office,” Voss continues. “What a sweet connection over an impressive generational gap. Sally lived a great life and made a huge difference in the lives of thousands of young folks. It’s a lovely legacy.”

A Lifelong New Yorker

Born in Little Falls, New York, Sarah Harvey moved with her family at the age of 4 into a house in Syracuse that was just two houses away from her future husband, Walter Allen Short. They both graduated from Nottingham High School—Walter in 1945 and Sally in 1946—and were blessed with three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Short earned doctor of philosophy and doctor of education degrees from Syracuse University and taught at Upstate Medical University in addition to Syracuse University. She received several awards for her research and teaching, was a fellow of the American Dietetic Association.

For Short’s full obituary, visit the .

Students game in the esports room at the Barnes Center at The Arch.

But the program’s first year was anything but a “zero” as Syracuse won the Emerging Program of the Year Award at the (NACE) National Convention from July 17-19 in Winter Park, Florida, just outside of Orlando.

In addition to the program award, two Syracuse University students—Kamron Manii ’24 and Braeden Cheverie-Leonard ’26—won awards and five other representatives from Syracuse were named award finalists.

“In year zero, Syracuse University esports was nominated and recognized across the board from students to staff for their contributions to the overall collegiate esports industry,” says Joey Gawrysiak, executive director of the esports degree program. “We are proud of what we are building here at Syracuse and want to continue to push the boundaries of what is possible by a collegiate esports program.”

Syracuse’s program employs a holistic, experiential learning-based approach that prepares students for career success in various industries, leveraging the largest collection of faculty and staff members of any esports program on a college campus. The , offered jointly by the and the , is among the first of its kind at a major university.

NACE is the only nonprofit membership association of colleges and universities with varsity esports programs. Over 260 schools across the United States and Canada compete for NACE championships every year across a variety of esports titles, and this past spring Syracuse captured the NACE .

Here’s more about Syracuse’s award winners from the 2024 NACE National Convention:

• Emerging Program of the Year: This award is presented to a program that has been active for two years or less, is on the path to excellence and has displayed outstanding achievements competitively, academically or within their community. Syracuse checked all these boxes, and Gawrysiak describes the program’s successful first year in an episode of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast.
• Player of the Year (Counter-Strike 2): Manii, who majored in forensic science and psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, received this award as a student-athlete who showed outstanding impact both on and off the game and was a leader who supported his team in multiple ways.
• Student Leadership Award: Braeden Cheverie-Leonard, a sport management major in Falk, received this honor for demonstrating exceptional leadership among his peers and exhibiting outstanding contributions to his collegiate esports community. In this , Cheverie-Leonard takes you on a whirlwind tour of his favorite spots on campus, including the esports room at the Barnes Center at The Arch.

Here are the Syracuse award finalists:

• Broadcast Talent of the Year: Daniel Saligman ’27, a dual major in television, radio and film in the Newhouse School and linguistic studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, was a finalist for this award, which recognizes a student who brought insight and electricity to a broadcast as an on-air talent.
• Coach of the Year (Counter-Strike 2): Director of Esports Competition Travis Yang was a finalist for this award that is presented to an individual serving in a coaching capacity who displays outstanding abilities in the development of their team both competitively and holistically.
• Support Staff of the Year: Program Manager Nikita Bair was a finalist for this honor awarded to a non-program director for outstanding leadership, mentorship and contributions to their program’s success.
• Emerging Director of the Year: Director of Production and Outreach Sean Kelly was a finalist for this award given to an individual with fewer than two years’ experience in collegiate esports as a full-time program director who displays outstanding abilities in the development of their program, whether it be competitively, academically or within their community.

For more about Yang, Bair and Kelly, read the news about them joining the program earlier this year.

• Scholar of the Year: Lindsey Darvin, an assistant professor in the Department of Sport Management in the Falk College, has emerged as a national leader in the movement for greater equity in esports and computer gaming. In , Darvin discusses the impact of her research and the course she teaches that is a requirement for all esports majors, Race, Gender and Diversity in Sport Organizations.

Visit the ��to learn more about the esports communications and management degree.

The approaching academic year will be filled with growing spaces that foster esports student experiences virtually and in-person, for both seasoned competitors and first-time gamers. Highlights include the anticipated spring 2025 opening of the dedicated Schine Student Center esports space.

In his work with the U.S. Track and Field team, sport analytics major Dan Griffiths attended the New York City Grand Prix Meet–the final meet for track and field athletes before the U.S. Olympic Trials.

The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and Paralympics are here and representatives from the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University will have an impact on this year’s Games–and, quite possibly, future Olympic Games.

The Falk College representatives who are involved in several unique ways with the Olympics and Paralympics include current Falk students Dan Griffiths and Livia McQuade, Department of Sport Management Associate Professor Jeeyoon “Jamie” Kim, and Sport Management graduates and former Syracuse University student-athletes Freddie Crittenden III ’17, Kristen Siermachesky�� ’21 and Lysianne Proulx ’21.

Here are their stories:

Student: Dan Griffiths

Dan Griffiths spent this past academic year working with the Syracuse University cross country and track and field teams.

At Syracuse University and now with the U.S. Track and Field team (), sport analytics major Dan Griffiths��’26 is helping to revolutionize how performance data is collected and analyzed.

When Griffiths started working with the Syracuse track and field and cross country teams before the 2023-24 academic year, the teams weren’t utilizing a data-gathering system. But the student-athletes were using Garmin wearables to track their own data, so Griffiths built his own application and a tool that transported all of their data into his application, which then created spreadsheets he used to analyze that data.

With Griffiths’ help, the Syracuse women’s cross country team won its since 2011. Throughout the academic year, Griffiths conducted and presented his research at various national competitions and conferences, including the (he was runner-up in sport analytics research), and the inaugural Sport, Entertainment and Innovation Conference () last week in Las Vegas.

Griffiths’ success at Syracuse and his interest in track and field led to his connection with USATF, which gave him the freedom to explore his areas of interest. Using a combination of the latest technology, Griffiths helped create three-dimensional models to best understand an athlete’s musculoskeletal forces.

“For throwers (discus, shotput, javelin), my work focused on using a pose estimation model to detect patterns that could be linked to longer, more powerful throws,” Griffiths says. “For sprinters and distance runners, I used pose estimation data to monitor overtraining and track progress throughout the season and before meets.

“I also conducted extensive research for multi-event athletes in the heptathlon and decathlon,” he adds. “This research aimed to understand how fatigue affects scoring in multi-events and how different training sequences can reduce fatigue.”

Griffiths shared his work with the coaches, and at least two of the athletes he analyzed will be participating in the Olympics: javelin thrower Curtis Thompson and 400-meter runner Alexis Holmes. During his time with USATF, Griffiths traveled to the New York City Grand Prix Meet–the final meet for track and field athletes before the U.S. Olympic Trials–and the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon.

“The thing we think about every morning is ‘How can we win another gold medal today?’”��Griffiths says. “Having the opportunity to combine everything I’ve learned and truly be a trailblazer and innovator for USATF and those athletes, especially in a track and field biomechanics context, has made me uber-passionate about the work we are doing at Syracuse and the future of AI/analytics and sports.”

The track and field events run Aug. 1-11.

Student: Livia McQuade

Sport Management major Livia McQuade will attend the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to serve as a resource for U.S. athletes, their families and their sponsors.

Livia McQuade ’25 is a sport management major and sport event management minor who has spent this summer in Loveland, Colorado, as an athlete relations intern with . Olympus is a management and marketing agency that provides top sponsorship opportunities and marketing strategies for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

In her role, McQuade has interfaced with athletes from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams and their partners, and with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and other national governing bodies. Her projects have included reviewing contracts, building athletes’ personal websites and organizing outlines for athletes’ speaking engagements.

“I’ve had a truly incredible experience within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement–during a Games year of all times!” McQuade says. “Through it all, I’ve had the privilege to work with some of sport’s most impactful Olympians and Paralympians, including Apolo Ohno, Jessica Long, Noah Elliott, Sarah Adam, Alex and Gretchen Walsh, Alex Ferreira and Steve Serio.”

McQuade, the executive vice president of the in Falk College and co-chair of the club’s 2024 , says she wants to work with the Olympic and Paralympic movement following graduation and this internship has been an invaluable step in that process. Her experience with Olympus will continue in September, when she’ll attend the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to serve as a resource for U.S. athletes, their families, and their sponsors. The Paralympic Games run from Aug. 28-Sept. 8.

“I could not be more grateful and excited,” McQuade says of her upcoming experience in Paris. “My leadership (at Olympus Sports Group)–Ian Beck and ’16–have thrown extraordinary opportunities my way, and they will remain valuable mentors long into my career.”

Freddie Crittenden III, shown here competing for Syracuse, will represent the U.S. in the 110-meter hurdles event in Paris.

At the U.S. Olympic Trials in late June, longtime U.S. hurdler����’17 qualified for his first Olympic Games by running a personal-best 12.96 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles. Crittenden finished second overall to teammate and three-time world champion Grant Holloway, who recorded a time of 12.86.

A public health major at Falk and former All-American for the Syracuse track and field team, Crittenden just missed a bronze medal at the World Championships last summer and now at age 29, the Olympic Trials may have been his last opportunity to qualify for the Olympics.

“It feels amazing. Honestly, I’m still in shock and I’m trying to figure out what happened,” Crittenden said immediately after his Olympic Trials run. “But it’s an amazing feeling to come out here and accomplish what I’ve been trying to accomplish for the past 17 years. It’s beautiful.”

Two former sport management majors and Syracuse student-athletes, rower Kristen Siermachesky ’21 and soccer goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx ’21, are alternates for the Olympics with .

Proulx is Team Canada’s third-choice goalkeeper, meaning she will be activated if either the starting or backup goalkeeper is injured. Although she didn’t start at Syracuse until her junior season, Proulx recorded the fourth-most saves (281), second-most saves per game (5.3) and seventh-most shutouts (eight) in program history.

Since graduating from Syracuse, Proulx has excelled in professional leagues in Portugal, Australia and now in the United States with of the National Women’s Soccer League. This past February, Bay FC acquired Proulx from Melbourne City for what Melbourne City described as a record-breaking transfer fee for an outgoing A-League player.

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Proulx represented Canada in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She went to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as Team Canada’s third-choice goaltender behind Kailen Sheridan and Sabrina D’Angelo, who have maintained their positions for the Olympics.

Former Syracuse goalkeeper and sport management graduate Lysianne Proulx (center, with ball) is an alternate for Team Canada’s soccer team.

Like Proulx, Siermachesky will be available to her team if an injury occurs. But unlike Proulx, her path to Canada’s rowing team featured a different sport at Syracuse: ice hockey. She played four years as a defenseman at Syracuse and recorded a black-and-blue inducing 132 blocks in 125 games for the Orange.

After graduating from Syracuse, the native of New Liskeard, Ontario, considered playing ice hockey overseas but decided to pursue her graduate degree in sports administration at North Carolina. She wanted to continue her athletics career, but North Carolina doesn’t have an ice hockey team. Then-Syracuse ice hockey coach Paul Flanagan suggested she try rowing and contacted the Tar Heels’ coach to make that connection.

Siermachesky’s athleticism and potential caught the eye of the Team Canada Development Team, which asked her to move to British Columbia to train with the national team. Just three years into the sport, she is now on the cusp of competing in the Olympics and it’s likely she and Proulx will remain in the mix for the next summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

The rowing competition runs from July 27-Aug. 3, while the women’s soccer tournament started July 24 and runs through Aug. 10.

Associate Professor Jeeyoon “Jamie” Kim at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Faculty: Jeeyoon “Jamie” Kim

��is an associate professor in the Department of Sport Management who studies the long- and short-term social and economic effects of hosting the Games and other major sporting events. Kim is the former manager of the Korean Olympic Committee, and on Aug. 8 she’ll present at the 11th International Sport Business Symposium in Paris.

Kim’s presentation will focus on how the��, an Olympic-style event for athletes between 15 and 18 years old, can better impact their host city and support the aims of the Olympic Movement.

“The hope for Olympic sport participation legacy is grounded on the ‘trickle-down effect’ (i.e., watching Olympians compete will inspire youth to participate in sport),” Kim says in a recent Q&A. “For the Youth Olympics, the event can also be a steppingstone for younger athletes to compete on the international stage and grow to become Olympians. Additionally, the Youth Olympics offer many grassroots-level sport opportunities (e.g., sport camps, collaboration with local schools) to encourage the general youth to learn about Olympic sports.”

To combat youths’ dwindling interest in the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee added break dancing, sport climbing and surfing to the lineup for Paris. Kim says this is a critical time for the future of the Olympics as upcoming Games in Paris, Milan Cortina (2026), and Los Angeles (2028) will be held in traditionally strong sports markets where there are opportunities to increase interest.

“Paris 2024 will be the first Olympics to include breaking in the official program,” Kim says. “We will have to see how the event turns out. But, so far, looking at the Olympics qualifiers series and the ticket popularity, it seems like there is a lot of interest garnered for the sport.”

Kim spent five-and-a-half years with Korean Olympic Committee as a member of its International Games, International Relations and 2018 PyeongChang Olympics task force teams. While in Paris, Kim will conduct research in Korea’s Olympic Hospitality House and share her findings with students in her Olympic Sport Management and Olympic Odyssey courses.

And Kim plans to attend the women’s individual finals event of her favorite summer Olympic sport, archery. “Korea has been very strong in the sport historically, and it is always fun to watch a sport where my team does well,” Kim says.

So Darvin, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the in the , has dedicated her research and teaching career to creating greater equity in esports and gaming.

Lindsey Darvin

Darvin has emerged as a national leader in this area, and she was recently named a finalist for the (NACE) Scholar of the Year Award. The winner will be announced at the July 17-19 in Winter Park, Florida.

“It’s such an honor to be nominated for this award,” Darvin says. “I was thrilled to learn I was a finalist and excited to know that the work I have been doing to drive greater equity in the gaming and esports spaces has been recognized by scholars and practitioners across the industry.”

Nationally, Darvin is making an impact as associate editor of the (JEGE); co-chair of the esports mini-track at the January 2025 , where her goal is to advance esports scholarship and promote JEGE and publishing opportunities in the space; and a regular contributor to Forbes Magazine, where she writes columns such as about how an all-women’s Fortnite tournament is driving equity in esports.

On the Syracuse campus, Darvin has been awarded Falk College seed grants to examine the culture of gaming for gender minoritized participants, and to study the processes of building community in gaming spaces for minoritized participants.

She also received a to work with two undergraduate students on a multi-level review of the underrepresentation of women and girls in esports and gaming (the manuscript is currently being developed). Overall, Darvin has received more than $22,000 in grants and awards for esports and gaming research projects.

Starting this fall, the University is introducing an , offered jointly by the Falk College and . The course that Darvin teaches, Race, Gender and Diversity in Sport Organizations, will be a required course in this new major.

Below, Darvin shares more about her motivation to create greater equity in the esports and gaming space.

For nearly three weeks, the students traveled from the Melbourne Cricket Ground to Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef to Sydney, Australia’s largest city. As part of their immersion trip, each student was required to contribute to , a blog that captured their day-to-day experiences.

The entire blog is worth a read, but here a few daily excerpts to get you started:

Rugby lessons in the park

Day 3: Julia Cronin ’26 (sport management major)

Our group walked to Victoria University, where we met with�� Matthew Klugman, who taught us about the history and rules of Aussie Rules Football and the social impact of the game. After a captivating lecture, our group got lunch and headed to Flagstaff Gardens Park with Damian Hecker (“Damo”) to try out Aussie Rules Football. We started out with drills and then played a scrimmage game. I even surprised myself and scored a goal.

Later, we watched the St. Kilda Saints vs. Fremantle Dockers at Marvel Stadium (in Melbourne). We all got dinner at the stadium, and many tried the famous Australian meat pies and kangaroo meat! Our group understood the game much better after getting the chance to play it ourselves in the park earlier. Unfortunately, St. Kilda (Professor Burton’s favorite team) didn’t pull off the win but the game was so fun to watch nonetheless.

Day 6: Finley Dermody ’27 (sport management)

This morning, we started our day with a walk to the Twenty3 Group’s office, where we met with CEO�� John Tripodi. He gave us a presentation on the (marketing) company that he started himself. It was fascinating to hear about his journey.

Next, we heard from Raphael Geminder ’82, G’84, a Syracuse alum and chairman of the (packaging company) Pact Group, who flew in from Europe to speak with us. Geminder shared his experiences at Syracuse University and talked about sustainability initiatives at Pact. He talked about the circular cycle compared to the linear cycle, as well as the importance of a good role model over a good job.

We walked to the Melbourne Museum and had the chance to explore the museum prior to the official tour. We then had a guided tour at the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre. The tour was very educational and gave us a deeper understanding of Aboriginal culture and history.

Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 9: Anna McDonald ’26 (sport management)

The trip to the Great Barrier Reef took about two hours through rough ocean waters. On the way there the boat crew taught us about the marine life we might see, proper scuba diving and snorkeling techniques, and told us what to expect from the day.

Arriving at the reef was beautiful, from the boat you could see some of the corals and the water was very blue. I got the opportunity to scuba dive for the first time, and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. I got to see some many different types of fish and all the corals. After the first dive we ate lunch and had the opportunity to dive or snorkel again. This time I just snorkeled, which was just as cool.

Day 12: Leda Rossmann ’26 (history)

We arrived in sunny Sydney very excited for warm weather since it’s been pretty rainy in Melbourne and Cairns. We drove to Bondi Beach to visit the legendary Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club. The pools are saltwater and freezing cold. I was so excited to jump in. I was a competitive swimmer for most of my life so the water is one of the most calming and nostalgic places I can be.

Our bus driver took us on a guided tour of the Sydney sights. We saw The Gap and heard the story of Don Ritchie, who saved at least 180 people who were going to jump off the rocks. We also saw Lady Macquarie’s (rock) Chair, where she would look into the harbor to watch for ships bringing news of her family during the early colonization days. We saw some of Vivid Sydney, a light/art show in the harbor with lights into the sky and on the bridge and art projected onto the Opera House and other buildings.

Walking the Great Ocean Road.

Day 15: Doug Capdeville ’24 (communication and media studies)

After spending time on the beach and listening to a presentation about the local surf club, we headed to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks rugby facility. There, we learned how to play rugby. The staff was super friendly and taught us the basics, which was really fun. We even got to try out some drills ourselves.

After that, we sat through a lecture by the Sharks’ staff. They talked about the team, their strategies and what it’s like to be part of the rugby community. It was really interesting to hear about the behind-the-scenes stuff.

The day ended on a high note with an exciting Sharks game, which was about an hour away from the rugby facility. The atmosphere was incredible—fans were cheering and the energy was off the charts. The game was intense and really fun to watch. From the beach to learning rugby and experiencing a live game, it was a day filled with awesome memories.

Day 17: Thomas Wildhack ’26 (sport management)

After an unforgettable two weeks, the final day had arrived. Fortunately, we had had another free morning, which gave some of us the chance to fit in one last adventure, and others to catch up on some much needed sleep.

I had previously found out that not only was June 1 the first day of winter, it was also the first day of whale season. Humpback whales would begin a great migration from Antarctica up the coast of Australia in search of warmer waters. I figured that whale watching would be a great way to go out on a big splash. Once we made our way into the ocean, it didn’t take long to find some activity. A few whales were splashing around, and swam over to the boat to show off their skills. I thought the whales would be scared of the boat, yet I learned many whales are incredibly curious creatures and often approach boats.

We finished off the trip with one final group dinner at the Great Southern Bar. We reflected on our favorite moments of the trip, and took one final group photo. All of us couldn’t believe how fast these last few weeks went by. We made memories that will last a lifetime and bonds that will last forever.

Visit the for the full story with daily excerpts. To learn more about other experiential learning trips, academic programs and career opportunities in the sport industry, visit the website.

Falk College sport management and sport analytics students!

For the NFL Draft in late April, the Detroit Sports Commission and –the city’s visitors bureau–did indeed utilize the talents of six female students from Falk College’s : Aryssa Hopps ’25, Grace Froehlke ’26 and Alivia (Ava) Uribe ’26 from Sport Management, and Anna Pierce ’25, Madelyn (Maddy) Forster ’26 and Claire Patin ’26 from the department’s program.

During their trip to Detroit for the NFL draft, the six Sport Management and Sport Analytics students from Falk College enjoyed a fun axe-throwing excursion. From left to right, Maddy Forster, Grace Froehlke. Anna Pierce, Claire Patin, Ava Uribe, and Aryssa Hopps.

During their three days in Detroit, the students worked a variety of volunteer roles, visited with female executives from the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and networked with Syracuse University alumni at a dinner hosted by David Katz, chair of the Visit Detroit Board of Directors and the parent of a Syracuse University student. The students were accompanied by Sport Management Internship Coordinators , who organized the trip, and .

Perez says the genesis of the trip was a conversation between Falk College Dean Jeremy Jordan and Katz, who believed students would benefit from volunteer opportunities at the draft. In discussions with the Sport Management team, Jordan suggested that this experiential learning opportunity be reserved for female students, and Perez thought that was “a fantastic idea.”

“There’s a push for female leadership and providing opportunities for females in the sport industry,” Perez says. “As we know, they’re still the minority within the industry, so we wanted to make it a point to bring the most students we could to get this experience.

“As soon as we mentioned the NFL draft and having the opportunity to go, they without hesitation said yes, even before they figured out their schedules,” Perez adds.

To better understand the impact of this trip, we asked two of the students–sport management’s Hopps and sport analytics’ Patin, to share with us the highlights of their experience in Detroit. Here’s what they wrote:

Aryssa Hopps

“My time working in at the NFL Draft was truly an unforgettable experience. I was the first interaction all volunteers had before starting their shifts with the draft, meaning I was able to have an impact on every individual. Whether it be offering a warm greeting, asking them if they were excited about the draft, or just chatting about our favorite teams, I felt as though every person that I met truly impacted my experience in Detroit.

Sport Management major Aryssa Hopps (second from left, standing) with her fellow volunteers in Teammate Headquarters at the NFL Draft.

“Most volunteers lived in Detroit or other areas of Michigan, and others were from surrounding states. It was inspirational to hear the stories and different backgrounds of everyone I worked with. Every person had a different reason for why they wanted to volunteer and give back to the city of Detroit.

“While I was inside during my shifts at the and not outside with all the activities like the other women on our trip, I wouldn’t have wanted my experience to be any other way. I was able to form friendships with the small crew that I worked with, who made a lasting impact on my impression of Detroit. Over the course of two days, our crew became so close we all signed up to volunteer to work the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, where we hope to meet up again someday.”

Claire Patin

“While in Detroit for the 2024 NFL Draft, me and my peers had the opportunity to experience so much in such little time. The night before the draft, David Katz hosted us as well as other Syracuse alumni in his home for a dinner and networking event. There were people from all different classes and majors from Syracuse, most of them working in the sport industry in some type of way. It was amazing to talk to everyone and build connections with them. There were so many successful people in the industry I want to go into in one room, and it was a great opportunity to have conversations with all of them.

Claire Patin with Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow at the autograph signing tent at the NFL Draft.

“The first day of the draft, I worked at the autograph signing tent helping with the lines, directing people, and taking pictures of fans with players. One of the players signing autographs was Frank Ragnow, a center for the Detroit Lions, who was a fan favorite. It was fun to see fans so excited to meet him and be right there to take their picture with him.

“I love the culture that sports creates, and I got to see this with hundreds of people who wanted an autograph from their favorite player. All of the fans were so nice, and just so excited to be at the draft. I feel really lucky that I not only got to experience it myself, but also be a part of the positive experience for the fans. Overall, it was an unbelievable experience to be working the NFL draft.”

Future Opportunities

As with an NFL team after the draft, Perez and Knighton went back to work soon after returning to Syracuse to start looking at opportunities for next year and beyond for female students and all students from Sport Management. For example, after the positive experience the students had in Detroit, they’ve already started talking about how they can get students to the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four in Detroit in 2027.

“We have a good push for elevating our female students and trying to provide them experiential learning and leadership opportunities and now we can be strategic and build partnerships to make that happen,” Perez says. “We definitely have the mindset of, how can we provide more of these experiences for all of our students?”

Visit the to learn more about the Department of Sport Management and its academic programs, experiential learning and career opportunities.

Members of the Social Workers United (SWU) student group from Falk College are collecting school supplies for children in Liberia. From left to right, SWU members Carina St. Andrews, Benetta Dousuah, Gideon Casper and Mary Claytor.

The West African nation of Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Seven out of 10 children live in extreme poverty and the educational system has faced many challenges, including a lack of learning materials and school supplies.

Benetta Dousuah

Benetta Dousuah, a graduate student in the in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University, is well aware of the hardships experienced by Liberian families. Dousuah’s family escaped from Liberia during back-to-back civil wars that ravaged the nation between 1989 and 2003, and it took almost a decade at a refugee camp in Ghana before they could immigrate to the United States.

Dousuah is a member of the Social Workers United (SWU) student group from , and she asked the organization to help her with a drive to collect school supplies for children in Liberia.

“Donating school supplies to children in Liberia is an impactful gesture that resonates deeply with me,” Dousuah says. “As someone who fled Liberia during the civil war and found refuge in the United States, I understand firsthand the transformative power of access to education.”

The drive is underway through July 15, and SWU is asking for donations of school supplies: pens, pencils, paper, folders, binders, crayons, backpacks, glue, tape, calculators, sporting goods and scissors. Donations can be dropped off in the School of Social Work Suite 244H in Falk College’s White Hall, or made through SWU’s .

The enduring memories of U.S. Army soldiers providing humanitarian aid in her homeland influenced Dousuah’s decision to . She served as a U.S. Army unit supply specialist–a crucial role in the logistical backbone supporting the U.S. military’s global presence–and the units often play a vital role in humanitarian operations.

“My family’s journey from a refugee camp in Ghana to the United States was made possible by the generosity of others, inspiring me to give back,” Dousuah says. “The school supplies–which will be donated to Victory International Christian School System, Paynesville Harvest Christian Academy and Pamela Kay High School–will directly enrich the educational experiences of countless children. These supplies, ranging from backpacks to writing materials, hold the potential to empower Liberian students and enhance their learning environments.”

Faculty and staff advisors��, �����Ի� advise and support SWU students as they develop service projects, but the students lead the projects.

“Being involved in this donation drive is truly remarkable,” says SWU President Mary Claytor, a graduate assistant in the School of Social Work. “SWU is dedicated to fostering service projects aligned with students’ passions, and Benetta’s contribution exemplifies the limitless potential of our initiatives.”

This the third donation drive organized by SWU this year, following the in the fall and in the spring. It’s the first international drive facilitated by SWU.

Social Workers United students Carina St. Andrews (left) and Gideon Casper are asking members of the campus community to donate school supplies for children in Liberia.

“The students of Social Workers United continue to exemplify the core values of social work: service, social justice, human dignity, the importance of relationships, integrity and competence,” says Genovese, social work associate teaching professor and Master of Social Work Program director. “These key values drive all social workers and can be seen in action in the students of Social Workers United.”

Genovese and Dousuah say it’ll take about three months for the school supplies to reach Liberia by boat, so they’ll be shipped by the end of July to ensure delivery during the school year.

“Personally, I plan to visit Liberia in December to distribute the supplies myself, allowing me to witness firsthand the impact of our collective contribution,” Dousuah says. “By supporting education in Liberia, we are investing in the future of these children and fostering global education equity.

“Together,” Dousuah adds, “we can make a difference in the lives of Liberian students, providing them with the tools they need to build brighter futures.”

U.S. News and World Report has ranked the Syracuse University School of Social Work among the ��in the country. To learn more about the School of Social Work’s academic programs, experiential learning, and career opportunities, visit the .

School of Social Work Professor Eric Kingson (left) and Chair Carrie Smith present Jim Stone with an award for his dedication to the annual Legislative Policy Day event.

When Jim Stone started his first year at Syracuse University in 1958, he had every intention of following in his parents’ footsteps and becoming a teacher.

In his junior year in the University’s School of Education, Stone was required to spend one afternoon a week working with children at a local school or agency and he selected the . That decision started Stone on a career path that led to a long and distinguished career as a social worker and as a member of the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics . “I really liked that work (at Hillbrook) and, long story short, I decided I wasn’t going to be a teacher, I was going to be a social worker, much to the dismay of my mom and dad, who were both teachers,” says Stone, a Syracuse native who graduated from Syracuse in 1962 and received his master of social work degree in 1964.

Stone’s first field placement as a social work student was with the New York State Division of Youth. His early career was in the juvenile justice system as Onondaga County director of Detention Care and with the state Division of Youth in positions ranging from director of community-based programs to superintendent of the largest training school in the state. He then moved into the mental health field as chief of service in two New York State Office of Mental Health psychiatric centers, and as director of community services for Livingston and Monroe counties. He served as New York State’s Commissioner of Mental Health from 1995-2003 and entered the federal Senior Executive Service until his retirement in 2009. “The marvelous thing about social work personally is that it gave me fabulous opportunities,” says Stone, who now lives in Albany. “I never went to the School of Social Work thinking I’d be the state Commissioner of Mental Health or working for the federal government as director of behavioral health for Indian Health Service.”

But even before he started his social work career, Stone displayed the traits that made him such a respected social worker. After earning his degree, he spent one year as a teacher in the Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District near Syracuse because he had initially received scholarship money toward becoming a teacher. “Nothing bad would have happened if I didn’t accept (the teaching position), but my conscious would have bothered me,” Stone says. “So, I taught for a year, and I had the good fortune of meeting a fellow teacher, Joan Borzelle G’67, and we got married and had three wonderful boys.”

Legislative Policy Day

At Falk College, Stone recently retired after more than 30 years as a volunteer with the School of Social Work Board of Visitors, which evolved into the Falk College Advisory Board when the and other departments joined to create . On April 12, Stone was bestowed with the title of Emeritus Board Member, and Falk Assistant Dean for Advancement says Stone will continue to be invited to Syracuse University and Falk College events and remain available as a sounding board for other board members. “There is no one more deserving of emeritus board member recognition than Jim Stone, and we are forever grateful for his service,” Myers says. “For more than 30 years–even before Falk College was created–Jim has provided leadership and mentorship to our social work students and faculty. His philanthropy and dedication to educating future social work students can be seen every year with the James L. Stone Legislative Policy Day.”

Legislative Policy Day provides School of Social Work undergraduate and graduate students a unique opportunity to witness the real-life involvement of leaders who are actively involved in shaping policies that address an important social issue.

Named after Stone because of his personal and financial support of the event, Legislative Policy Day is an important component of the Social Work curriculum. Held annually at the Onondaga County Courthouse in downtown Syracuse, the event provides Social Work undergraduate and graduate students a unique opportunity to witness the real-life involvement of community leaders, citizen organizations, politicians, and social workers who are actively involved in shaping policies that address an important social issue.

This year marked the 25th Legislative Policy Day and the April 12 event focused on “Social Security Across Generations.” That topic was a fitting tribute to retiring School of Social Work Professor and national Social Security expert , who has worked closely with Stone over the years to build Legislative Policy Day into a signature event for the School of Social Work. “I’ve always been interested in the Legislature and the legislative process, but I had to teach myself about it and Legislative Day gives students a good perspective on what’s out there and how to make connections,” Stone says. “I feel really good about it because the students are getting something out of it. The speakers get something out it, too, because they’re getting a perspective from the students’ point of view.”

This year’s event started with James T. Rowley, chair of the Onondaga County Legislature, describing how the Legislature works and how citizens, community leaders, social workers and other professionals can effectively address county issues and related legislation. That introduction was followed by panel discussions with guest speakers focusing on various perspectives related to social work, including the strategies and efforts of national and local organizations and advocates who work to protect and expand Social Security. “Social workers have a professional responsibility to advance social justice by working to address systemic inequities and strengthen health and human services that individuals, families and communities rely upon,” Kingson says. “Through their practice, they have direct experience with numerous social concerns This event is designed to encourage them to use that knowledge and reinforce how important it is for social workers to be engaged in policy and community change.”

Providing Support

“There is no one more deserving of emeritus board member recognition than Jim Stone, and we are forever grateful for his service,” says Falk College Assistant Dean for Advancement Megan Myers.

During this year’s Legislative Policy Day, Kingson and School of Social Work Professor and Chair presented Stone with an award for his dedication to the annual event. They thanked him for his contributions and, as Kingson said, “we’re all here because of Jim.”

“I’m grateful that over the years, Jim has become a friend,” Kingson says. “He has been very positive and helpful, including making contacts (with guest speakers) for us on some of the legislative days that focused very closely on his areas of knowledge, including mental health.”

In addition to Stone, Kingson and Smith presented an award to the members of the County Legislature and their staff for their support over the years.

“Over the 25 years we’ve held Legislative Policy Day conferences at the County Legislature, we’ve never been charged for use of the county’s historic Legislative Chambers and members and staff have always been very welcoming,” Kingson says. “Each chair of the Legislature has been introduced and presented to the students. It’s a perfect opportunity to educate students about how citizens, advocates, politicians and other professionals engage in policy and community change..”

As they head into their respective retirements, Stone and Kingson will remain connected to the School of Social Work and committed to helping with future Legislative Policy Days as the event grows and evolves.

Most of all, Stone and Kingson remain optimistic about the future of the social work profession and they’re confident that the students who have attended Legislative Policy Day over the years will continue working to create social and economic justice in a diverse and rapidly changing world. “There’s only one direction for it to go, and it is going in that direction,” Stone says. “It has to be there for people. These are particularly difficult times, it seems to me, and people need a lot of support and social work is a profession that can provide that kind of support.”

U.S. News and World Report has ranked the Syracuse University School of Social Work among the “” in the country. To learn more about the School of Social Work’s academic programs, experiential learning and career opportunities, visit the .

Analytics is the sport industry’s most popular tool as it’s transforming every aspect of the game, from player performance and team strategy to fan engagement and business models.

Over spring break, 20 sport analytics majors from the enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit Italy and witness first-hand the impact of analytics on the highest level of soccer. The eight-day trip to Milan, Bologna, Florence and Rome was part of Professor sport analytics course which explores how data is revolutionizing soccer.

“The international experience, in general, is extremely important for our students, but it also gives them a perspective of how analytics are used in different sports at different levels internationally,” says Paul, director of the program in Falk College. “The students were not merely observers, they actively wrote and presented sport analytics research to the clubs we visited.”

From left to right, students Nick Rovelli, Jack Taliano, Aidan Corr, Theo Schmidt, and Ben Jennings present to Bologna FC Club officials Luca Saputo, Director of Business Optimization, and Yuri Dell’Atti, Chief Data Analyst.

The students met with analytics staff members and other team officials from elite soccer clubs across Italy while also exploring the culture, history and food of the ancient European country that’s surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. As one of the trip’s many highlights, the students attended an Italian Serie A league game between AC Milan and Empoli before more than 70,000 fans at Milan’s San Siro Stadium ().

The students were accompanied on the trip by Paul, Sport Analytics Program Coordinator G’10, and co-faculty member Ed Lippie, who worked with AS Roma of the Italian Serie league from 2013-20 as a senior performance consultant and head performance coach.

“With our connections we had the privilege of behind-the-scenes access, demonstrating to the students the variety of positions their skill sets match and the opportunities that exist internationally,” Dorchester says. “The value is building on Syracuse University’s Academic Strategic Plan by allowing the students to participate in a study abroad or study away setting, with considerations to their academic goals and financial circumstances.”

Students Jake Graff ’24 and Zachary Silverstein ’26 say it was fascinating to learn how Italian soccer clubs utilize data compared to sports teams in the United States.

“Clubs with all levels of financial resources and historical success are embracing analytics and finding ways to utilize them in areas that are best for them,” says Graff, a sport analytics major with an information management and technology minor. “Everyone collects and uses data differently, so being able to see numerous perspectives from a league like Serie A was eye-opening.”

Adam Goodman ’25, a sport analytics major with an economics minor, admits he’s not the biggest soccer fan but says it was valuable for his career goals to understand how soccer teams at the highest level approach their analytics.

“I think the main takeaway in terms of my career was the change in the way I think,” Goodman says. “The program allowed me to immerse myself in all aspects of soccer analytics, which, going forward, will change the way I approach future research.”

For the full story and a video about the trip to Italy, please visit the .

While in Italy, sport analytics students enjoyed visits to cultural landmarks such as the Colosseum in Rome.

David Falk (back row, center), a noted sports agent whose most famous client is Michael Jordan, hosted a reception April 15 for many of the sport analytics students who represented Syracuse University in national competitions this spring.

, the director of the program in the , says two of the key cornerstones of the program are research and competition.

“Our students diligently work on research and internal competitions during their classroom activities, various sport analytics clubs and individual research projects,” says Paul, a professor in the in the Falk College. “We pride ourselves on being willing to compete with anyone at any time and to show off our work in competitive settings.”

This semester, sport analytics students and faculty have had a lot to show off.

Falk College benefactor David Falk (center) says the sport analytics program is “the crème de la crème of what Syracuse University can offer.”

From player and team analytics competitions in basketball, football, and baseball to the National Sport Analytics Championship to the presentation of research at prestigious conferences, the sport analytics program showcased students and faculty at competitions throughout the country.

In mid-April, Falk College benefactor and noted sports agent David Falk hosted a reception for many of the sport analytics students who participated in the competitions this year. Falk, who has long been recognized as one of the sport industry’s leading figures and most talented innovators, compared the students’ achievements to a Major League Baseball player’s most coveted feat: Winning the triple crown (leading the league in batting average, home runs and RBI).

“At Syracuse, you guys have won the analytics triple crown: baseball, football and basketball,” Falk said. “To me, that’s beyond incredible. This program, in my opinion—and our Chancellor (Kent Syverud) knows how I feel—is the crème de la crème of what Syracuse University can offer.”

Sport analytics major Danny Baris, who won two undergraduate paper competitions, says the curriculum is designed to prepare students to excel at these events.

“The main advantage that I think the sport analytics program gives us is that our curriculum mainly focuses on usable skills rather than theory,” Baris says. “This makes what we learn in the classroom very applicable in these competitions. The program also places a heavy emphasis on presentation skills, and one thing that has set us apart in many of these competitions is presentation quality.”

Paul agrees that the key to the program’s success—and the key to graduates finding desired jobs in the sports industry—is this emphasis on marketable skills.

“High level mathematics and statistics, intense coding and statistical modeling, a wide overview of key economic and business theories and models, a focus on effective communication, and a foreign language requirement span across a wide range of jobs and careers in many industries in today’s society and into the future,” Paul says. “We just happen to study and apply these topics to the fascinating world of sports.”

Back-to-Back

From left to right, Collin Kneiss, Nicholas Kamimoto, Marissa Schneider, and Tyler Bolebruch won the business analytics category at the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship in Dallas, Texas.

In late February, a team of four sport analytics students captured Syracuse University’s second consecutive title in the in Dallas, Texas.

The four students finished in the top 13 in the : Nicholas Kamimoto (5th), Collin Kneiss (seventh), Tyler Bolebruch (11th), and Marissa Schneider (13th). Those finishes enabled Syracuse to capture the ahead of the University of Iowa, University of Oklahoma and host Baylor University.

“Our team felt good about our chances of winning the team title after the competition,” Kamimoto says. “We knew that we put out great work and we also thought that we were the only school to have every student advance past the first round.”

The students won the 2024 business analytics category. In 2023, Syracuse won the game analytics category that was not part of the competition this year.

“The overall performance of our team was great,” Kamimoto says. “Although we were bummed that none of us ended up winning first individually, having everyone in the top 13 is pretty incredible.”

For more about the Sport Analytics program’s success this spring, please visit the .

From left to right, the Falk College team of students Rylee Pepper and Kristen Davis and professors Lynn Brann and Rachel Razza lead an activity with Universal Pre-Kindergarten students from Elbridge Elementary School as part of the Mindfully Growing program.

Do you like broccoli?

“I touched broccoli with my feet.”

You like eating watermelon, what does it smell like?

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What does snow taste like?

“B���dz����DZ���.”

Welcome to a Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Age 4 classroom at in Elbridge, New York, where it’s true that kids say the darndest things but with their five senses–sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch–they’re also learning healthy eating habits through the Mindfully Growing program.

The program’s curriculum is being taught by a team of professors and students from Syracuse University who, throughout this school year, have been visiting the UPK Age 4 classrooms at Elbridge Elementary on Thursday mornings. On the morning where broccoli was on the children’s minds, professors and and doctoral student Kristen Davis focused on touch as they hid baby carrots, clementines, and pea pods in a box and the children used their sense of touch to guess what they were.

After guessing the type of food, the children are able to taste it.

After the food was pulled from the box, the children were able to taste it and discover that this healthy stuff isn’t so bad after all.

“The program is getting the students in touch with different ways to experience food,” Davis says. “They’re seeing food in a different way, connecting with where it comes from and ways they can slow down and enjoy it.”

Slowing down and enjoying the food is where the “mindfully” part of the Mindfully Growing program comes into play. The nutrition component is paired with mindfulness practices, which can foster greater empathy and communication skills, improve focus and attention, reduce stress and enhance creativity and general well-being.

“It works because the kids get excited about being included in activities that their friends are enjoying,” says Elbridge UPK Age 4 teacher Mark MacLachlan. “So, when they are offered to try raw shell peas with all of their friends at school, it’s an easy sell.

“Most of the kids really enjoyed them, too,” MacLachlan says.

A Mindful Journey

The Mindfully Growing curriculum was created by Brann, associate professor and Chair of the at the , and Razza, associate professor and chair of the Department of (HDFS) at Falk College whose research focuses on the benefits of mindfulness-based programs for promoting resilience in schools and communities.

The initiative is funded by the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group of the , and Brann and Razza recently received a grant from the MetLife Foundation through the to ensure the curriculum resonates with marginalized populations.

Brann says the curriculum is focused on 4-year-olds because it’s trying to get young children to develop an understanding of where food comes from and increase their acceptance of a variety of foods before they get set in their ways. The 10 lessons start with the origin of plants, fruits and vegetables, moves into using senses to explore foods, and finishes with lessons on hunger vs. fullness and sharing food together.

“It’s a good time to get them to explore food, and we do a tasting pretty much every lesson so they get an opportunity to try something new,” Brann says. “With this group, almost every one of them has tasted the food and several of them have asked for more, which is pretty exciting to see them being so open to it.”

From left to right, the Falk College team of Rachel Razza, Colleen Smith, Christina McCord, Rylee Pepper, Lynn Brann, and Kristen Davis delivered the Mindfully Growing lessons at Elbridge Elementary School this spring.

Razza says with preschool children ages 3-5, there’s a significant increase in executive function skills, so they’re better able to delay gratification and inhibit their impulses. Thus, the interventions offered by the Mindfully Growing curriculum are important to introduce to this group of students.

“Can they control their impulses and self-regulate overall and also in the food context?” Razza says. “Lynn and I have been working to determine the overlaps between these two areas and how we can use intervention to simultaneously enhance both of them.”

While Brann, Razza and Davis are with one UPK class for 30 minutes, the other class is having a 30-minute yoga lesson with yoga instructor Colleen Smith from BeLive Yoga (beliveyoga@icloud.com) and undergraduate student Christina McCord from Falk College’s . Smith, who has been teaching yoga and mindfulness to preschool children in the for several years, helped connect Brann and Razza to Superintendent James Froio and Elementary School Principal Brooke Bastian because, as Smith says, she “continues to be impressed by their support of students and their willingness to offer yoga and programs or events that supplement the students’ daily education.”

In her yoga sessions, Smith says she helps the children learn how to self-regulate their bodies, breath and even emotions as she tries to “meet the children where they are” by matching their energy level and then bringing them to a brief time of rest.

“One thing that can be difficult for them is trying new experiences and foods,” Smith says. “The yoga and mindfulness lessons can help children pay attention to their bodies, thoughts and breath in the moment so they can self-regulate and make healthy and appropriate choices when presented with new or challenging experiences like a mindful eating lesson.”

Bastian, who’s in her fourth year as principal and 11th in the district, says Elbridge Elementary School has a unique UPK program because it offers a full day for both 3- and 4-year olds. Bastian says she and the teachers have enjoyed the partnership with Syracuse because they know the positive impacts that early intervention can have on students. “Mindfulness is a focus in UPK to help promote self-regulation, and when mindfulness is approached in a holistic��way it can have a greater impact,” Bastian says. “We want children to develop��healthy habits in general so food, which is highly��motivating, is a great way to begin that mindful journey.”

For the remainder of this story on the Mindfully Growing program, please visit the .

Merril Silverstein

, the inaugural holder of the Marjorie Cantor Endowed Professorship in Aging (a joint appointment in Syracuse University’s and ), is an expert on aging in the context of family life who’s uniquely qualified to examine the impact of China’s aging population.

Silverstein, a professor in the at Falk and chair of the in Maxwell, is editor of the 2022 book “,” which was recently released in paperback. The book��focuses on the accelerated social and demographic changes in China and examines their implications for family care and support for older adults.

Combining quantitative data from social surveys in China, comparative surveys in Taiwan and Thailand, and qualitative data from in-depth interviews, “Aging Families in Chinese Society” explores the various challenges facing aging families in China as a result of reduced family size, changing gender expectations, rapid economic development and urbanization, rural-to-urban migration, and an emerging but still underdeveloped long-term care system.

To dive into this topic in more detail, we asked Silverstein to discuss this phenomenon and its impact across the globe. Here’s that conversation:

Falk College students with Chinny Nwagbo ’05 (in center of back row) while touring the NFL Players’ Association, where Nwagbo is the director of player programs and engagement. Students learned about athlete representation, sports marketing and a range of player wellness programs, including nutrition, professional development, mental health and legal services.

The Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics is a unique college with a diversity of programs from exercise science to social work to sport analytics.

The common denominator is Falk’s focus on experiential learning, and this past fall 27 students representing on-campus and online programs from all departments participated in one of the college’s most immersive experiences: the “Falk in D.C. Career Exploration Trip” hosted by the .

It was the third Falk in D.C. trip, but the first that included separate tracks for health/human services and sport-related careers, with all attending Falk students joining together for select site visits and panels that represented both health and sport professionals. The students engaged with alumni and employer representatives from 28 Washington, D.C., and Baltimore area organizations through site visits and panels, and even more at the alumni networking reception.

“The combined nature of the trip allowed many students to expand their professional interests and discover the overlap between health and sport professions,” says , associate director of career services. “Over the course of the trip, all attending students demonstrated new or improved ability and confidence in career skills including networking, industry knowledge, communication and awareness of professional values.”

Health students met with representatives from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Bread for the City, Urban Institute, and MedStar, among many others. Sport students met with representatives from several organizations, including Under Armour, Big League Advantage, Washington Commanders, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, DC United and Leveling the Playing Field.

All students participated in visits with the NFL Players’ Association, Washington Nationals, Building Bridges Across the River, Living Classrooms Foundation and PeacePlayers, International.

“The Falk in D.C. Career Immersion Trip gave me the opportunity to learn about the vast array of options that will be there for me post-graduation in the public health field,” says public health major Brinda Parikh ’26. “Being able to hear firsthand from industry professionals about their experiences throughout their careers was very eye-opening, and this trip helped me grow my network of Syracuse University alums that could help me in my own career in the future.”

More than 100 students and University alumni gathered at the the Mission Navy Yard restaurant for food, photos and networking.

When the students returned from D.C., Career Services asked for their reflections of the trip, how it fit into their decision to attend Syracuse University and their career goals. Here, we’re sharing responses from five students from across the college: master of social work student Nicole Corrente, public health major Tommy DaSilva ’26, health and exercise science major Alexia Harris ’26, sport management major Brianna Nechifor ’26, and sport analytics major Liam Roberts ’27.

Why did you choose Syracuse University and Falk College?

Alexia Harris: I chose health and exercise science because I have always loved studying the way the body works and moves. I chose Syracuse University because its program is amazing and has already set me up for success in my first semester here.

Tommy DaSilva: I chose both of my majors (public health and policy studies) because I want to improve the lives of others through government action or nonprofit community work.

Brianna Nechifor: I chose to become a sport management major because I was encouraged to enter the industry by my tennis coaches and friends who saw my burning passion for sports. I chose Syracuse University because of the community and opportunities that are available to me, including the Sales and Marketing Club, Sport Management Club and WISE (Women in Sports and Events).

Nicole Corrente: I’m a graduate student of social work who’s originally from Syracuse, so choosing Syracuse University was a natural fit.

Liam Roberts: Outside of school my biggest passion has always been sports and in school I always enjoyed math and working with numbers. As a result, the sports analytics major was perfectly catered to what I am interested in and what I want to do in life. The opportunities this major provides, including ones like this D.C. trip, were not available anywhere else and it’s ultimately why I chose to attend Syracuse.

What are your top three highlights so far from your Syracuse University experience and what are your career goals?

Brianna Nechifor: My top three highlights have to be the introduction of the new esports major, a field that I am very passionate about; the Falk in D.C. Exploration Trip; and the Sport Management Charity Sport Auction (shoutout to the Sales Committee!). My ultimate career goal is to work in esports, possibly in event management.

Nicole Corrente: My top three highlights have been my graduate coursework and research; the Falk in D.C. trip; and all the amazing connections I’ve made along the way. In the future, I plan to have a career in anti-trafficking efforts as a therapist for survivors of trafficking.

Alexia Harris: My top three highlights so far are setting up my internship with strength and conditioning in the athletics complex for next semester; being able to go on the Falk in D.C. trip; and all the different campus opportunities available. My ultimate career goal is either to go into athletic training or sports nutrition.

During their visit to Nationals Park, Falk College students learned about careers in sport management, analytics, broadcasting, community engagement, player health, food service and more.

Liam Roberts: My Syracuse experience has only just begun, so my highlights are likely still to come. But so far, my No. 1 highlight would definitely be this trip, while other great experiences are connecting with Professor (Shane) Sanders and participating in the basketball and baseball analytics clubs.

Tommy DaSilva: Highlights of Syracuse so far have been my service-learning work with International Services and the YWCA; the work done by my organization SAPHE (Student Association of Public Health Education); and the professional connections I have been able to make. I don’t have a specific ultimate career goal as I’m open to any opportunities that come my way, as long as they can be used to help someone in some way.

What is your most memorable takeaway from the Falk in D.C. trip?

Liam Roberts: I engaged with and explored exciting opportunities within the sports industry that I would have otherwise never been able to experience, and in a manner that was fun and interesting. This experience was one that I could not see myself getting anywhere else and I’m glad I had the opportunity to join.

Alexia Harris: This trip provided me with exposure to a lot of different employment opportunities and fields that I had never thought about before, as well as connecting me to a wide variety of people.

Tommy DaSilva: This trip gave me insight into potential careers that I would have never thought possible without these face-to-face conversations.

Brianna Nechifor: I was able to interact with a variety of perspectives in the sports industry, even those you may not think you have a connection with them. Everything is in one way connected, and this trip can help shift your opinions on different sectors of the industry. It’s honestly something you shouldn’t be afraid to apply for!

Nicole Corrente: This was an amazing experience! This trip provided me with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet representatives from the CDC, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and several nonprofit agencies. Learning about these organizations taught me a lot about the importance of a strong work ethic and an open mind. I look forward to staying connected to the Syracuse University alumni that I met and staying engaged with the work they’re doing in D.C.

Students interested in the “Falk in D.C.” trip in the fall 2024 semester can watch a video summary of the trip and find fall 2024 updates on the .

Tyler Sliker (left), clinic director at the Couple and Family Therapy Center, chats with Department of Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student Kalila Taylor in one of the therapy rooms at Peck Hall.

In 2023, student therapists from the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy in Syracuse University’s provided a total of 9,134 therapy sessions to 682 individuals. Those free sessions in the Couple and Family Therapy Center at Peck Hall included 3,713 for individuals and 5,412 for couples and families.

Think about those numbers for a minute–and the impact the sessions had on those in the community surrounding the Syracuse University campus.

“If not for the hard work of our students and faculty–given the dire state of mental health services in our community and most communities–it’s likely many of these clients would experience long waitlists elsewhere, reduced services due to expense or go without mental healthcare altogether,” says , clinic director at the . “This work is truly critical to our community and beyond as it’s training much-needed therapists and providing much-needed care.”

Indeed, this is a mutually beneficial arrangement as students seeking to earn their or in marriage and family therapy are provided real-life opportunities to hone their craft.

Kalila Taylor says she gravitated toward marriage and family therapy because it’s “a field that gives me the opportunity to make a real difference in peoples’ lives.”

“The thing about studying to be a therapist is that the only way to learn is by doing,” says Kalila Taylor, who’s on track to earn her master’s degree in May. “I was incredibly nervous when I first started seeing clients, but with the support of my colleagues and supervisors, I was able to develop my skills and build my confidence as a therapist.”

Taylor, who is from Jacksonville, Florida, earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy with a minor in psychology from Florida State University. In researching graduate programs, she discovered Syracuse University and the exceptional reputation forged by the , which offered the first accredited master’s degree in the country.

“I’ve always wanted to better understand human behavior and have been continuously fascinated by how we relate to one another as people,” Taylor says. “Marriage and family therapy combines a lot of my various interests while also being a field that gives me the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Student therapists start seeing clients when they’re enrolled in MFT 760 (Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy), and that’s typically in their second semester of the program. Sliker says their caseload varies depending on client need and the readiness of the student, but ideally students start their clinical work with four to five cases.

Taylor says when she first started seeing clients, she was concerned about managing conflict in the room. However, through supervision and experience, she learned how to help her clients navigate conflict in their relationships while also normalizing that conflict for herself.

Eventually, Taylor was providing up to 20 sessions per week.

“I think it can be especially challenging to help a client process an experience that you haven’t worked through yet in your own life,” she says. “Again, that’s why supervision is so important so that you get the opportunity to talk through your own personal obstacles to show up better for your clients.”

To ensure quality training for student therapists and beneficial care to their clients, Marriage and Family Therapy faculty and staff provide supervision to the students working with individuals, couples and families. In 2023, faculty and staff provided more than 1,800 hours of supervision to 16 students.

The students are supervised on a weekly basis, at minimum, and Sliker says it’s common for student therapists who are just getting started to reach out to on-call supervisors between their regularly scheduled supervision meetings.��Marriage and family therapists are only able to see clients unsupervised when they’re fully licensed.

In New York State, that’s roughly two years after graduation, if they’ve been working full-time as a therapist since receiving their graduate degree. If you’re a member of the community who meets with a fully licensed marriage and family therapist, and that therapist is licensed in New York, you can expect your therapist has had about 3 ½ years of supervised clinical experience, including 1 ½ years of graduate school.

As clinic director of the Couple and Family Therapy Center, Tyler Sliker works with faculty and staff to coordinate the thousands of therapy sessions that marriage and family therapy students provide each year.

“Students often begin their journey to become a therapist with excitement as well as plenty of anxiety and uncertainty of their ability,” Sliker says. “However, therapy is most effective when there is a strong relationship between therapist and client. For those who find themselves in a Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program, there is often already a strong ability to build relationships, and beginning therapists usually have the necessary skills to successfully navigate those initial sessions with clients.

“Then the path to becoming a great therapist, in my opinion, is forged by the therapist’s continued investment in their growth and development, a lifetime connection with supervisors and mentors, and genuine care for the clients they serve,” Sliker adds.

Taylor says there’s an immense feeling of satisfaction when a therapist is able to form relationships with clients, watch them progress in real time, and help them develop skills they didn’t have at the start of therapy. In what may seem like a strange twist to someone outside of the therapy sessions, Taylor says one of her proudest moments occurred when a couple she was working with chose to separate.

“I don’t believe it’s the job of a therapist to tell clients what to do because I think clients should be treated like the experts of their own experience,” Taylor says. “I was proud of this couple for coming to the realization that breaking up was the best thing for both of them because that can be one of the most difficult decisions to make. I remember those clients thanking me for helping them throughout the process, which was such an amazing moment that provided to me a lot of encouragement.”

For Taylor, it was a rewarding moment among many that occur for student therapists every day at the Couple and Family Therapy Center.

“Becoming a therapist is similar to learning a craft or an art: One learns by doing,” Sliker says. “So as much as our community benefits from the services the Couple and Family Therapy Center provides, the students are benefiting just as much.”

The Couple and Family Therapy Center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. The center provides free, confidential sessions in-person and virtually. To inquire about receiving therapy services, call 315.443.3023.

More than 250 people–including individuals, couples, parents and children–attended Trans Support Day in April 2023, and organizer , Ph.D., says the Trans Team is looking to top last year’s turnout at the 2024 event. This year’s Trans Support Day will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on March 23 at Peck Hall, 601 E. Genesee St., just north of the Syracuse University campus. The event is free and open to the public.

“I feel like it’s going to be a really powerful community event like it was last year,” says Martin, an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy in the . “This event offers a space filled with hope, positivity and community support.”

More than 250 people–including individuals, couples, parents, and children–attended Trans Support Day in April 2023 at Syracuse University’s Peck Hall in downtown Syracuse.

Attendees at this year’s Trans Support Day will have the opportunity to connect with local trans-affirming providers and resources; receive name and gender marker legal support; access free clothing and makeup; get free services from hair, nail and makeup artists; access trans-affirming products; receive therapeutic support for parents of trans youth; and have a space for youth to connect.

As a new feature, the Trans Team has invited two world-renowned local surgeons to share their expertise with attendees interested in gender-affirming surgery. Other guests will include post-surgical providers from Upstate University Hospital’s and , and representatives from , a not-for-profit organization that promotes the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people in Central New York as they age.

Martin says events such as Trans Support Day are more important than ever as members of the trans community experience societal and legislative discrimination in the United States. According to the , more than 500 bills in over 40 states have been introduced seeking to block trans people from receiving basic healthcare, education, legal recognition and the right to publicly exist. Several similar bills were signed into law in 2023.

New York is one of a handful of states where no anti-trans bills have been passed. But accessing resources such as the ones that will be available at Trans Support Day remains an issue for trans people everywhere.

“In my clinical practice, I connect with other therapists, and we often collaborate with other local resources and providers,” Martin says. “However, I learned that often clients are not aware of these services and allies available to them in Syracuse.

“I wanted to create an event that brought everyone together in one room,” Martin adds. “Although we have different expertise and resources, we all have one common goal, to improve the well-being and support the transgender community.”

, Ph.D., an MFT associate professor, founded the Trans Team in 2004. The team is part of the Syracuse University in Peck Hall, and students on the team receive specialized training to provide gender-affirmative therapy for transgender people and their families and assist in the readiness process for medical gender transition.

Coolhart says the 2023 Trans Support Day was a huge success thanks to the leadership and efforts of Martin and marriage and family therapy students, faculty and staff. In the previous Trans Support Day in 2019, the attendance was 40 people, so the event is growing significantly and assisting more members of the trans community.

“The current political landscape for trans folks is threatening and scary, making this event so necessary and special,” Coolhart said after last year’s event. “In a world that often does not welcome trans people, I could see on the faces of the guests the gratitude, validation, and support they felt having a space that was celebrating them and connecting them to the resources they need.”

Together, they have created a new and innovative partnership starting this spring that will greatly benefit veterans as well as students from the in the .

Nick Armstrong (left) and Ken Marfilius

Marfilius, a U.S. Air Force veteran and assistant dean of online education and associate teaching professor in the School of Social Work, and Amstrong, a U.S. Army veteran and head of public sector at , teamed with Cabana co-founder and CEO to form a partnership that will integrate their immersive group support technology into the School of Social Work’s curriculum and tap into the combined strengths and capabilities of both organizations.

“Our collaboration with Ken and Falk leverages our immersive support technology platform, Cabana, and combines it with Syracuse University’s academic excellence and its nationally recognized commitment to veterans,” Armstrong says. “Our plan includes hands-on initiatives such as internships, collaborative education and joint research. These efforts will bring our partnership to fruition and strengthen our shared commitment to serving military communities.”

As Syracuse University’s first Post 9/11 GI Bill recipient, Armstrong earned an M.P.A. and Ph.D. from the . He spent nine years at Syracuse’s before joining Cabana, which builds innovative technology solutions that provide guided mental health support for employers, health care workers and military professionals.

Marfilius, who received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Syracuse and M.S.W. and D.S.W. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, developed the first military mental health course at the Falk College, serves as Falk’s student veteran liaison, and led the creation of the partnership between Falk and the University’s College of Law that helps�� veterans access the legal services they need.

So, when Armstrong reached out to Marfilius to discuss ways in which they could partner around the services Cabana provides to military populations, Marfilius jumped right in and started working with Armstrong and Black on the framework for their collaboration.

“I believe the partnership between Cabana and the Falk College is innovative in social work education and mental wellness,” Marfilius says. “It offers the ability to integrate real-world internships and cutting-edge tele-mental health training into our curriculum. We can prepare our graduate students for the future of social work, ensuring they are not only skilled but also technologically adept.”

Cabana’s immersive group support technology for clients includes a video component (center), a chat feature (right) and the functionality to be anonymous and mute your microphone within the group setting (left).

Here are the highlights of this unique partnership:

• Cabana Internship. Cabana will host one graduate student intern from the School of Social Work to support ongoing peer group support operations and psychoeducational content development. The intern will work under the supervision of Cabana’s head of mental wellness for a minimum of 500 hours.

• Tele-Mental Health Training and Education Support. Cabana will collaborate with the Falk College faculty to embed its immersive group support technology into ongoing coursework and curricula to foster training and preparation of future social work professionals.

“The tele-behavioral health landscape is evolving rapidly, demanding practitioner and client adaptability to virtual environments,” Armstrong says. “Our partnership infuses Falk’s curriculum with leading-edge tools via Cabana’s underlying technology platform, better preparing students for client engagements through digital platforms.

“Moreover, Falk students, equipped with an advanced tier of military cultural competence, will enhance our clients’ experiences—and their future clients—with more relatable, informed support that builds trust and overcomes stigma,” Armstrong says.

• Military and Veteran Virtual Peer Groups. Cabana will work with Falk faculty and its alumni network to assist ongoing virtual peer support groups for military and veterans starting this spring.

“This collaboration aligns with the Syracuse University mission to be the best place for vets, and it uniquely positions us to offer specialized support to our military and veteran communities,” Marfilius says. “Through virtual peer support groups and the development of tailored psychoeducational content, we are providing them with the essential mental health support they deserve.”

• Military and Veteran Psychoeducational Content Development. Cabana will work with Falk College faculty to review and evaluate Cabana content as a third-party reviewer.

“Engaging with industry partners allows us to bring practical, real-world experiences into our academic environment,” Marfilius says. “This partnership brings vast possibilities for research collaborations and advancement in peer interventions and group psychoeducation.”

• CEU/Education Credits. Falk College faculty will provide feedback, evaluate and, where appropriate, certify Cabana groups and content to satisfy New York State CEU (continuing education unit) requirements for well-being hours.

• Research Collaborations. As opportunities arise for Cabana and the Falk College, the two entities agree to evaluate research collaborations and grant opportunities surrounding peer interventions, group psychoeducation and other forms of mental health support.

“This collaboration aims to address the critical national shortage of mental health professionals, leveraging technology to extend reach and overcome barriers to access, especially for underserved populations,” Armstrong says. “It’s not just about serving more; it’s about serving smarter and cultivating a workforce ready for the challenges of today’s and tomorrow’s mental health landscape.”

Social work students interested in getting involved in this partnership should email Marfilius at kjmarfil@syr.edu, or School of Social Work Director of Field Education Tracy Walker at ttwalker@syr.edu. Graduate students interested in the internship will go through an interview process with the School of Social Work and Cabana, and the intern will receive a modest stipend.

Social Workers United students from Falk College celebrated Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras with residents from Brookdale Summerfield Senior Living in Syracuse.

This was going to be a story about the Social Workers United student group from the and how it once again organized an event to benefit the Syracuse community.

And it still is.

But if you dig deeper, this story is much more than that.

It’s about how these students “continue to exemplify the values of social work: service, commitment to clients, and social justice,” says , school of social work assistant teaching professor and master of social work program director who oversees Social Workers United (SWU).

It’s about a woman named Dolly, a resident of in Syracuse who, before SWU students came to visit on Feb. 13, hadn’t celebrated Valentine’s Day since her husband died.

And it’s about the kindness that Dolly showed her students as a teacher years ago, the kindness that SWU students showed Dolly and her friends on Feb. 13, and the hope that even with the politics, wars and mass shootings that dominate our headlines today, kindness is still all around us.

“We are so proud of our future social workers,” Genovese says. “They are shining a light toward a brighter future.”

‘An Amazing Group’

SWU is the student group of the in Falk College. Each semester, the students organize a food or clothing drive, and this past fall they collected food for the which helps students experiencing food insecurity.

Faculty advisors , , and Genovese advise and support the SWU students as they develop service projects, but the students lead the projects. For their first project of the spring semester, the students arranged a Valentine’s Day event for the residents of Brookdale Summerfield, an adult home and adult home memory care community for seniors.

Social Workers United students delivered handmade Valentine’s Day cards with personal messages, heart-shaped donuts, and balloons to the Brookdale residents.

On Feb. 13, the SWU students delivered handmade Valentine’s Day cards with personal messages, heart-shaped donuts and balloons to the Brookdale residents, who were already celebrating Mardi Gras. SWU’s arrival added a boost to the celebration.

“The valentines were collected in the social work office, and I really thought one student, (SWU president) Mary Claytor, was just going to drop them off at Brookdale,” Genovese says. “I had no idea the entire group of students was going and bringing balloons and donuts. The students organized all of this and paid for it themselves as SWU does not receive funding. They are an amazing group!”

Claytor, a first-year graduate student and graduate assistant who’s on track to obtain a master’s degree in social work, says when the students arrived, each one went to a different table to deliver their cards and engage in conversations. It didn’t take long before one of the residents shared a story about receiving two purple hearts from his service in World War II.

“There were so many incredible stories and lots of laughter,” says Claytor, who’s from Denver, Colorado. “Some folks were so surprised that we would dedicate time to them and asked for us to come back soon! It was a great experience, and we were happy to do something special for a group of people who did not expect to be celebrated.”

‘A Calling to Help’

Keianah Greene, who is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical social work, entered the room with the other SWU students and went to a table where she met Dolly and her friends. Dolly said she hadn’t celebrated Valentine’s Day since her husband passed, but when she learned the students were coming, she wanted to attend and learn more about them.

Greene, who’s from the Bronx, New York, and now lives in Syracuse, explained why she wants to be a social worker before they discussed family and how important it is to be loving, kind and optimistic despite our daily struggles.

“Dolly mentioned that she was a middle school teacher in Birmingham, Alabama and that her mother had told her at an early age that she had a calling to help people,” Greene says. “She also mentioned the number of children she worked with and how they used school as an escape from problems they were having at home. So she always made sure to bring extra supplies for her classroom such as clothing, snacks and other necessities.”

Social Workers United student Keianah Greene (third from left) and Brookdale resident Dolly (second from left) had a heart-to-heart conversation about caring for other people.

Dolly told Greene that caring for others is fulfilling, but making sure that all the children in her classroom were included was challenging. Dolly emphasized the value of support systems and self-care for social workers and other caregivers.

“You can’t care for anyone if you don’t take care of yourself first,” Dolly told Greene.

As Greene was saying goodbye, Dolly told her that on this Valentine’s Day, she felt like she was reunited with her husband.

“She was happy to say that she knew this was her husband’s sign to come meet us (the students), and that our heart-to-heart conversation meant a lot,” Greene says. “I’m glad that I was able to learn from her and also spread the love.”

‘Brightens Their Day’

During their visit, Claytor spoke with Brookdale’s activities director about other ways the students might be able to get involved with the residents.

They discussed Brookdale’s game-and-movie nights, which would be an opportunity for students to engage with residents in a fun way. They talked about students helping the residents start a new garden with flowers, fruits and vegetables when the weather gets warmer.

Claytor assured the director that the students would be happy to help in any way possible.

“During our conversation, she mentioned that the residents often feel forgotten,” Claytor says. “They miss socializing with new people and having stimulating conversations about the future. She explained that it brightens their day when visitors come to see them, especially students.”

Kindness, it seems, is not a relic of the past that’s being thrown out with landline telephones, DVDs and alarm clocks. It’s all around us; we must know where to look.

Visit the to learn more about the School of Social Work and its academic programs, experiential learning, and career opportunities.

From left to right, sport analytics majors Tyler Bolebruch, Marissa Schneider, Nicholas Kamimoto and Collin Kneiss will compete in the business analytics category at the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship in Dallas, Texas.

Four students from ‘ program will travel to Dallas, Texas, Feb. 21-22 to compete in the and defend Syracuse’s national title.

Seniors Collin Kneiss, Nicholas Kamimoto, Tyler Bolebruch and Marissa Schneider will represent Syracuse University at the event, which is hosted by the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks at their home arena, the American Airlines Center. The students will compete in the business analytics category; in 2023, Syracuse University won the game analytics category, which is not a part of the competition this year.

“They are a true inspiration as they have taken on this challenge, been willing to put themselves in the arena and continually worked to improve their skills and themselves,” says , director of the sport analytics program and a professor in the in the Falk College. “They are role models and leaders to our young students and are incredible representatives of the Falk College and Syracuse University.”

The championship in Dallas is the second half of the national competition that includes more than 150 college students from around the country. In the first half, which was held virtually, students were given a prompt and had to prepare and present their analytics work to judges.

“The students in our program are our greatest asset,” says Paul, the team’s coach. “We are so proud of Collin, Nicholas, Tyler and Marissa and how well they performed and look forward to them demonstrating their abilities on a national stage.”

The trip to Dallas is funded through a gift from University Trustee and alumnus Andrew Berlin ’83, who continues to support sport analytics student-focused initiatives.

Before they traveled to Dallas, we asked Kneiss, Kamimoto, Bolebruch, and Schneider questions about representing the Falk College and Syracuse University at this national event, their first-round success and what they expect in the finals. Here’s what they said:

From left to right, Collin Kneiss, Nicholas Kamimoto, Marissa Schneider and Tyler Bolebruch

Q: What’s it like to represent the Falk College and Syracuse University at this prestigious national event?

Kneiss (sport analytics and economics dual major with a minor in sport management): Being able to represent Syracuse and the Falk College has been an amazing feeling. Syracuse has been a great place to be and has helped me in so many ways, so I’m glad to be able to now represent the University.

Kamimoto (sport analytics and economics dual major and sport management minor): It’s an honor to represent Falk, Syracuse and the sport analytics program at the championships. Syracuse has been my home for the past four years, and it feels incredible to finish my time here by competing at the championships. I have learned numerous skills from my professors at Syracuse that I’ll be able to apply during this event.

Bolebruch (sport analytics and economics dual major with minors in finance and mathematics): I’m grateful to represent Falk and Syracuse at the national level. I look forward to the four of us having a chance to bring home another trophy for Falk and Syracuse University.

Schneider (sport analytics and economics dual major and sport management minor): I feel incredibly proud that I get to represent Falk, Syracuse and the sport analytics program at the championships. This competition is an experience that I feel very honored to have as not everyone gets to participate in it.

Q: In the first round, can you briefly describe what you did and your reaction when you saw the final standings?

Kneiss: For the first round, we were given data and asked to create a presentation within three days that we eventually presented to two analytics judges over Zoom. When everything was done and I woke up to (congratulatory) emails from many of my professors and advisors, I felt proud of my work and excited that my name was on it.

Kamimoto: In the first round, I created a ticket price-model based on the number of days before an event. I examined how the prices and quantity of tickets purchased changed at all levels of the stadium, depending on whether the tickets were purchased seven days or less before the event or seven days or more before the event. Upon seeing the final standings, I was proud of my achievement and of the entire team as we all finished in excellent positions.

Bolebruch: In the first round, I created models to show how the demand for tickets shifts as the game gets closer. I felt confident about this analysis, and I expected the four of us to do very well,��but to see all four of us in the top 20 with all the students that participated was better than I could have hoped.

Schneider: I was extremely proud of myself and, of course, my peers who also placed in the top standings. I have never done something like this before, so I felt proud of my work and I hope to have the same success, if not better, at the championships in Dallas.

Q: How are you feeling about your chances in Dallas, and do you know what assignment you’ll receive at the competition?

Kneiss: I was extremely nervous coming into this competition, but after seeing my qualifying results, I have become confident with my abilities and my chances in Dallas. We know the data will involve recycling and trash data, so I’ve tried to start brainstorming the possibilities of what I can do and hopefully get ahead early.

Kamimoto: I’m feeling good about my chances in Dallas, and I’ll need to continue to put my best work out there. We know that we’ll be working with an energy and sustainability dataset, and I am excited to get there and get started.

Bolebruch: I feel confident. With our seeding, we have a good chance of finishing as the No. 1 school; now, it’s time to show up and perform. We recently received a study guide and practice dataset for the competition, and it will likely focus on sustainability and energy at different sport venues. So, it will be interesting to see what everyone will come up with for that.

Schneider: I feel confident in my chances, and I also feel confident in the chances of my peers. We have all received a study guide for the championships that says we’ll receive data related to water and waste. The championship is the same format as the virtual rounds as each participant is expected to present a five-minute presentation based on the given prompt that everyone will receive. Each participant is given a few hours to create the presentation that will provide insights for venues to improve sustainability performance.

The number of attempts beyond the arc had increased in each of the previous 10 seasons, from 22.2% in 2010-11 to 39.2% in 2020-21, and it had been nearly five years since a team won a game without making at least one 3-pointer (that streak is now up to eight years). Led by 3-point specialists Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Golden State Warriors had won three of the previous seven NBA titles and were about to win a fourth in 2022.

It appeared the 3-point revolution would never end. But a recent study by sport analytics professor and associate professor shows that while the number of 3-point shots continues to increase, the average expected value of 3-pointers has become less than 2-pointers since the 2017-18 season.

Justin Ehrlich

“When taking fouled shots and made free throws into consideration, we found that what had long been a premium for the 3-point shot started to become a dispremium in the 2017-18 season and that trend is continuing,” Ehrlich says. “The implication of these findings is enormous in terms of potential impact on roster construction and offensive philosophies.”

The from Sanders and Ehrlich, “Estimating NBA Team Shot Selection Efficiency from Aggregations of True, Continuous Shot Charts: A Generalized Additive Model Approach,” is available through the Social Science Research Network website. Sanders and Ehrlich will present their paper as one of seven finalists in the research competition at the NBA-centric March 1-2 in Boston, Massachusetts.

“In past conferences, there has been a lot of discussion among NBA executives about how basketball analytics created the 3-point ‘moneyball’ era of basketball and how this has impacted the popularity of the game,” Sanders says. “Perhaps ironically, our research uses basketball analytics, along with a fully specified team offensive objective function, to say there is now too much 3-point shooting for a point-maximizing offense.”

To conduct their research, Sanders and Ehrlich developed a new shot chart that uses a generalized additive model to estimate total shot proficiency continuously in the half-court. Their shot chart incorporates missed shots that draw a shooting foul—and shot-pursuant free throw scoring—to determine total scoring yield following a shot decision.

Current expected value formulas fall short by not including this additional information, which, when combined with the outcome of the initial shot attempt, results in what Sanders and Ehrlich call the “true point value” of a shot.

• True Value from 2-point shot attempts=1.181
• True Value from 3-point shot attempts=1.094

(2022-23 NBA season)

And even when not factoring in free throws, the researchers found that the expected value from 3-point shots are now worth less than 2-point shots:

• Expected value from 2P field goal attempt=2P% * 2 = .548 * 2= 1.096
• Expected value from 3P field goal attempt=3P% * 3 = .361 * 3= 1.083

(2022-23 NBA season)

Shane Sanders

The true value data can be found in , and the graph below shows the expected and true values of 2- and 3-point shots from 2016-22.

According to this research, the expected value from average 2-point field goal attempts (FGA) is now worth 0.013 points more than average 3-point FGA, even before factoring in shot-pursuant free throw scoring. In other words, if you multiply the probability of making a 3-point FGA times the value of a 3-point FGA, it’s worth less than if you multiple a 2-point FGA times the value of a 2-point FGA.

When discussing true point value, the researchers use the term “shot attempts” instead of “field goal attempts” because their formula includes missed shots when a player is fouled, which is not included in standard field-goal attempt statistics. So, when including made and missed free throws, the disparity based on this new true value metric is even greater as average 2-point shot attempts are now worth 0.087 more points than 3-point shot attempts.

Officials from NBA teams and the league have discussed moving the 3-point line back from its current distance of 23 feet, 9 inches (22 feet in the corners). But as this study shows, the value of a 3-pointer is decreasing at the current distance, and teams are already starting to alter their shot selection to emphasize more high-percentage 2-point shots.

“These research findings do not coincide completely with the unresearched musings of NBA analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal,” Sanders says. “For example, our findings do not suggest that such perimeter stars as Stephen Curry or Damian Lillard should not shoot a lot of threes. It means marginal stretch fours and other marginal outside shooters should not pull up for a 3 as often and that some marginal outside shooters should not extend their range to 25-26 feet or more. Players can still achieve the offensive spacing benefits of positioning on the perimeter without some players shooting from there quite as often.”

AAG recognized 17 geographers in various practice areas for their contributions to geographic research and advancement of practice, and careers devoted to strengthening the field of geography, including teaching and mentoring. The honorary title of AAG Fellow is conferred for life.

Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern

Minkoff-Zern is an affiliated faculty member in the in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; in the College of Arts and Sciences; in Maxwell; and the in Maxwell.

“It’s a huge honor to be recognized for my work in my home discipline of geography,” Minkoff-Zern says. “As an interdisciplinary scholar, I work across academic fields, looking at food systems with a geographic perspective, focusing on the migration of people and their agrarian knowledge and practices. This honor acknowledges not only my work but the growing impact of food systems research on the broader discipline.”

address, contribute to and at times create initiatives to advance the discipline. Fellows also advise AAG on strategic directions and challenges, and mentor early- and mid-career faculty.

“Being named an AAG Fellow means I will join others in setting strategic initiatives and decisions for the organization, including taking part in committees, helping with broadening services and membership, and mentoring early-career geographers,” Minkoff-Zern says. “In recent years, the AAG has been strengthening its focus on accessibility and equity in the discipline through teaching and mentorship and advancing climate change research through interdisciplinary approaches. I hope to engage in reinforcing these efforts.”

The AAG Fellows Selection Committee chose the 2024 class of Fellows. The complete list of Fellows with their citations is available on the .

“The breadth and depth of experience among this year’s AAG Fellows is a tribute to their commitment and to the breadth of the discipline of geography,” says Gary Langham, executive director of AAG. “We are grateful for their insights and leadership in advancing AAG and the field.”

With her faculty affiliations in Falk College and the Maxwell School, Minkoff-Zern is at the forefront of bridging the disciplines of food studies and geography and has emerged as “a leader in a growing group of geographers who focus on issues of labor, race, and class within agriculture and food systems,” according to an AAG news release announcing the 2024 Fellows.

Minkoff-Zern is currently working on a funded research project sponsored through the Lender Center for Social Justice with , associate professor of geography,��called “Food Policy Councils as a Vehicle to Address the Racial Wealth Gap in Food System.”

“This project looks at the role of Food Policy Councils in advancing labor justice for front-line workers across the food chain, including living wage initiatives, support for unionization, and improved health and safety standards and enforcement,” Minkoff-Zern says.

Beyond her notable research, Minkoff-Zern is a leader in the subfield of food and agriculture, having served as chair and in many other roles in the . In this position, she helped steward the group toward new programs such as a scholarship for community food and agriculture partnership research.

Minkoff-Zern is the author of two books. “” tells the story of Mexican and Central American immigrants who are reshaping American farming by drawing on agricultural knowledge and practices from their home countries. Her second book, “Will Work for Food: Labor Across the Food Chain,” co-authored with Teresa Mares, looks at labor across the food chain from farms to food processing and into the home and explores the intersections between sustainability movements and labor organizing. This book will be published by the University of California Press in 2025.

“He was in and out of the hospital for extended periods of time, and what he saw were a lot of kids who were in the hospital and literally no one ever came to see them,” says Dee Anna Sobczak, David’s mother. “With his family and friends, David was never alone, and we would embrace kids that were there and bring them into our circle. He realized then and there that he’s very lucky to have a support group and not everybody has that.”

Sobczak wanted to be a football coach, and he earned his undergraduate degree from the in the because a football team, like society, is made up of people from all walks of life. He wanted to learn how to best communicate with the players, show empathy for their individual situations and build trust–the building blocks of social work.

Danny, Dee Anna and David Sobczak (left to right) created the Sobczak Family Student Support Endowed Fund to assist Falk College students who are experiencing financial hardship.

Sobczak spent four seasons as offensive student assistant coach for the Syracuse football team, and he recently completed his first season as an offensive assistant coach for the University of Akron. Meanwhile, Sobczak’s younger brother, Danny, played football in high school and he and David told their mother that in both high school and college, many of the student-athletes struggled to pay for day-to-day items.

“What we found is that a lot of the students who were part of the team were on scholarship, but they weren’t funded for school supplies, their computer–all the things that would have set them up to be just as successful as their peers,’’ Dee Anna Sobczak says. “Many of the kids didn’t even have the money to buy lunch.”

As a result of those conversations, Dee Anna, David and Danny, who graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder last spring, decided to create a fund to help Falk College students who are experiencing financial hardship. Working with Director of Development Megan Myers, who will become Falk’s assistant dean of advancement March 1, they created the Sobczak Family Student Support Endowed Fund that provides mini grants for an academic year.

“A lot of times, these students are trying to fight their way out of whatever situation they came from and start a new life for themselves,” Dee Anna Sobczak says. “This (fund) is to help set them up to be as successful as their peers, and that way everybody is on the same playing field as much as they can be.”

The mini grants are available to meet a wide range of needs and provide access to opportunities. Categories of support include emergency basic needs, fees and supplies associated with the student’s educational program, and other critical student and human needs. Mini grants range from $100 to $300.

The Sobczak Family Fund is open to graduate and undergraduate students from the following Falk College programs: exercise science, human development and family science, marriage and family therapy, nutrition and food studies, public health and social work. In the types of needs it addresses, the fund mirrors the for students enrolled in Falk’s Department of Sport Management.

Students may apply for assistance from the Sobczak Family Student Support Fund by filling out this and including documentation/information about circumstance. A student can’t be awarded funding more than twice.

David Sobczak, who was a student assistant coach for the Syracuse University football team, earned his undergraduate degree from the School of Social Work in Falk College and recently completed his first season as an offensive assistant coach for the University of Akron.

David Sobczak’s disability is physical, and his challenges are there for all to see. But what his social work education taught him and his family is that we don’t know everything that might be going on in a person’s life, and the family fund is for students whose challenges may not be so obvious.

“There are really special people in social work,” David Sobczak said in a fall 2022 interview. “When it comes to my career and where it helps me, I’m going to encounter–and I’ve already encountered–people with tough situations in their family lives and you’ve got to be there for them.

“So, you learn about empathy, how to deal with people and how to communicate, and you also learn that we’re all people,” he added. “You treat people as people and that’s a life skill that will take you further than any education can ever take you.”

In that interview for that appeared before Syracuse’s bowl game in 2022, David talked about wanting to give back and serve as a role model for those with disabilities who have dreams of their own. The family fund for Falk students, Dee Anna Sobczak says, is to help students overcome outside challenges to complete their education and realize their dreams.

“We want them to be the best version of themselves they can be, figure out who they want to be and what they want to do, and put a path together to get there,” Dee Anna says. “And also, to realize that nothing is impossible; if you can dream it, you can do it.”

In addition to the Sobczak Family Student Support Endowed Fund, there are other opportunities and awards available to students in Falk College. Please visit the page on the Falk website for more information on how to apply.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

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But Larsen is also a father of four children, and that side of him had a slightly different reaction.

“I didn’t expect to get it because the European posts are quite competitive. When I received the email notification, it was kind of an ‘oh, crap’ moment. What have I done?” Larsen says, smiling.

What Larsen and his wife, Natalia, did was pack up their four children—Isabel, 13; Sophia, 11; Madeline, 8; and Teddy, 5—and travel roughly 6,500 miles to a house they’re renting in Birgitz, a village outside of Innsbruck, from January through July. Their daughters are attending English-speaking schools, while their son is attending a German-speaking preschool (German is the primary language in Austria).

“Their schooling is going to be a bit disrupted, but they’re good students who read a lot and we’ll keep on top of it and fill in the gaps they might miss,” Larsen says. “It is a ski town, so we’ll spend some time skiing, and the schools for the older girls had London excursions last year so perhaps they can do trips like that.”

are competitive fellowships that provide students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad, exchange ideas, and play critical roles in U.S. public diplomacy as they seek to find solutions to shared international concerns.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 390,000 scholarships and its alumni include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 78 MacArthur Fellows, and thousands of leaders and world-renowned experts in academia and many other fields across the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

At the outset of COVID in 2020, Larsen, an epidemiologist, led an interdisciplinary team of experts in coordination with the New York Department of Health to create a wastewater surveillance system throughout New York state. Today, the is testing for COVID in at least one wastewater treatment plan in all 62 of the state’s counties, covering a population of 15.3 million. The provides the most recent statistics regarding the network.

Before Larsen and his family traveled to Austria, we asked him about the Fulbright Award, what he’ll be doing in and outside of Austria, and why a wastewater surveillance system to test COVID and other infectious diseases is crucial to worldwide health. Here’s that conversation:

Q: Why did you want this fellowship?

A: You submit for a specific award, and I submitted for a position at the Medical University of Innsbruck. I had reviewed their papers and there was good science coming out of there, so I reached out to their scientists who are working on wastewater surveillance in Austria and created their own network in the Tyrol region where Innsbruck is located.

I told them about my work in New York state and the wastewater surveillance network here, and they were supportive of my application.

Q: What will you be doing at the Medical University of Innsbruck?

A: I’m a visiting professor and they’ve asked me to teach two courses that meet once a week and are equivalent to a 3-credit course here. I’m teaching a condensed version of my “Spatial Statistics for Public Health” course, and I developed an overview course for public health surveillance. Those were selected in brainstorming with my colleagues at Innsbruck who thought those would be of most value to their students.

In addition, I’m working with the wastewater-based epidemiologists there, and the research project attached to the Fulbright is the comparison of the networks in New York state and Tyrol.

Q: Will you be working outside of Austria?

A: There’s a national wastewater network in Austria, and initiatives to establish a global network being led by Europeans. Europeans have been doing wastewater surveillance for drugs since 2010, and they’ve got a great model of collaboration across the different nation states. So, I hope to connect with that team and learn more about it, in addition to working with the Austrians.

I’m working here in New York state, primarily, and others are working across the globe on the same issue and building a global system. So, we’ll take the lessons we’ve learned and the challenges we’ve overcome here in New York and go to Austria, share those, and I hope to learn lessons they’ve learned and the challenges they’ve overcome in Austria, and then Europe, and more broadly. Hopefully, we’ll have a greater understanding and improved wastewater surveillance systems as a result.

At the outset of COVID in 2020, David Larsen led an interdisciplinary team of experts in coordination with the New York Department of Health to create a wastewater surveillance system throughout New York State.

Q: Why is this collaboration so important?

A: ��We built this (network) with COVID, but we also built it for the future. Right now in New York state, local health departments are using the data we produce–particularly the sequencing data to track variants–but also the hospitalization forecasting that we provide them. Our aim is to provide the local health departments and the public with robust understanding of COVID-19 risk.

At the same time, COVID is not the only infectious disease, and there’s always potential for what we call “Disease X,” which is the next emerging infection. It could be another coronavirus, it could be an avian influenza, it could be something we’re not thinking about right now. The goal is to make this system ready and prepared to empower the public health response to whatever comes in the future.

In New York state, we supported the polio response in 2022 and made a huge impact on understanding how many people were at risk of polio. We are piloting influenza, RSV, Hepatitis A, Norovirus, and Antimicrobial Resistance (which occurs when a virus doesn’t respond to medicine). Antimicrobial resistance is a looming public health threat and could be very impactful. We do support the COVID response, but that’s the tip of the iceberg of where we hope the wastewater surveillance network goes.

The idea here is that perhaps most, if not all, infectious diseases can be surveilled or found in wastewater. Beyond that, drugs and environmental toxicants and pollutions and other measures of non-communicable diseases can be measured. How do we build this system to make the world a better place?

Q: What motivates you to do this?

A: This came about because I wanted to safely open my kids’ schools. I wanted to get back to normal. When COVID hit, we shut down and I supported the response—I still support the response we had—but it was a response made without local understanding of risk.

Infectious diseases are local. You have travelers that take them from community to community, but you can have little enclaves of safe places. We had one at Syracuse University in the fall of 2020. It was safe from COVID because of the aggressive public health measures and the aggressive infectious disease surveillance we were doing with wastewater and testing.

Could we have a situation where infectious disease is threatening, but we have these little pockets of freedom? And that’s informed a lot of my work: How do we live a free life in a world affected by infectious disease? The way to do that, in my view, is to fight these diseases so they’re no longer a threat and then you have to be able to confirm that they’re not affecting people. That’s where infectious disease surveillance comes in.

Q: Vaccinations are down, and a new COVID variant is on the rise. What’s your message to people as we approach the four-year anniversary of COVID?

A: People associate COVID with public health restrictions: masks, closed restaurants, closed schools, quarantine, isolation. But at its best, public health is empowering. Freedom from polio, the ability to drink tap water, the trust we have in our food system, the long-term health care as we get older. That is public health. And if we are on the front foot—if we prevent the disease—then we can avoid the restrictions that happen. The shutdowns are a last resort when we have overflowing morgues and overflowing hospitals and it’s a panic button. It was the last resort and that’s the situation we found ourselves in.

Real public health is, how do we build a system so we don’t get into that position again? Vaccines are part of that toolkit; clean air, air filtration, environmental adjustments are also part of that toolkit and infectious disease surveillance is definitely part of that toolkit.

Himself.

Steiner, who graduated from Syracuse University in 1981 and is now chairman of the , grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. His father left the family when he was 5, and while his mother, Evelyn, operated a beauty salon, it was a struggle financially for her to raise Brandon and his two brothers.

After 30 years as founder and chairman of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia, Brandon Steiner is running two new companies, The Steiner Agency and Collectible Xchange.

Despite a low SAT score, Steiner convinced a Syracuse admissions counselor that she “will never regret letting me in,” he wrote in his 2012 book “You Gotta Have Balls.” Steiner was admitted and his family did receive enough financial aid to pay for tuition, but there was still one problem: He didn’t have any additional money to live from day to day.

Steiner has never forgotten those days. Working with Falk College Assistant Dean for Advancement and Sport Management Chair and Director , Steiner has created the Brandon S. Steiner Sport Management Student Support Fund that “supports health, housing, education and overall well-being of Syracuse University undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Sport Management in Falk College.”

“Look at a kid like me,” Steiner says. “I was willing to work full-time in college; otherwise, going to Syracuse probably wouldn’t work. If I just went up and wasn’t willing to work full-time–and I’m not talking about work study, I’m talking about a 40-hour-a-week job–I don’t think I could have made it up there.

“But I don’t know if that can work in today’s age,” he continues. “I want to focus on poorer kids who have something special going on and if we can get them additional help, they would come.”

The Steiner Student Support Fund awards support for a single academic year, and students can apply for funds by completing . A student can’t be awarded funding more than twice.

Students in the Department of Sport Management, including sport analytics and sport venue and event management students, are encouraged to apply for internships and work as much as they can in the sport industry while they’re attending school. As part of their degree requirements, they complete a 12-credit Senior Capstone with a full-semester experience at a sport organization.

The new Steiner Support Fund is the latest of several ways Brandon Steiner (far right) has given back to Syracuse University. In the spring 2023 semester, Steiner connected Sport Management student Tracey Edson (second from right) and public relations major Samantha Messina with New York Yankees player Oswaldo Cabrera to create a marketing deck for Cabrera.

With the rigorous demands of the program, it can be difficult for students to work the kind of hours that Steiner worked as a student to help pay for food, housing, fees and supplies, and other critical student needs. Steiner says he hopes his fund will help all students, but particularly underrepresented students who, like Steiner, might need support but are future stars in the sport industry.

“We have to make it easier for them to come here,” Steiner says. “And the reality is, the teams, leagues and players are all diverse and we want to be diverse with the students we’re sending into the industry.”

At Syracuse, Steiner attended the because his mother suggested he major in accounting. Utilizing his work ethic, ingenuity and ability to make an impression on people, Steiner served as founder and chairman of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia for more than 30 years.

In 2019, he launched two new companies: , the nation’s premiere independent athlete procurement source, and , an online platform for fans, collectors, store owners, celebrities, athletes and teams to buy and sell collectibles.

The Steiner Student Support Fund is the latest way Steiner has given back to Syracuse University and Falk College’s Sport Management program, which he played a key role in creating more than 20 years ago. He says attending Syracuse “gave me the biggest break I ever got,” and he wants his fund to provide opportunities for students like him who will become the next generation of sports marketing trailblazers.

“There’s nothing like the feeling of pride you get from passing the torch to the next generation,” Steiner wrote in his book. “I can’t wait to see all the innovative products they come up with.”

In addition to the Steiner Student Support Fund, there are other opportunities and awards available to students in Falk College. Visit the page on the Falk website for more information on how to apply.

Mike Mangano

That’s why Mangano has fully embraced the partnership between the University’s and the in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics that’s allowing nearly 50 students majoring in sport analytics to provide real-world data to assist the coaching and athletic performance staffs of 11 of Syracuse’s men’s and women’s athletic teams.

The specifics vary from sport to sport, but in general, most students are collecting performance data from the student-athletes’ wearable devices, analyzing that data from training, practices and games, and interpreting that data to provide insights to coaches and staff.

When Mangano was an assistant athletic trainer for the men’s soccer team, he says that kind of data helped coaches determine the optimum workload for each player. Once the players started maintaining that weekly goal, soft tissue injuries decreased. “So, for me, it’s great. I don’t have to do as much work,” Mangano says, laughing. “But at the same time, my philosophy is, do the work on the front end. If you can prevent injuries–and obviously you can’t prevent them all–but if you can prevent most of the injuries and add that kind of education for the student-athletes and coaches, then (the analytics) are working for us.”

The genesis of this partnership between athletics and analytics can be traced to Mangano’s interest in analytics and sport performance and conversations he had with , the program manager for the program and a former soccer standout at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. Riverso encouraged Mangano to earn his , which Mangano did last year, and they arranged for sport analytics students to start collecting, analyzing and interpreting data for the men’s soccer team in 2022.

Sport analytics students also started working with the women’s lacrosse team last season. The men’s soccer team won the 2022 Division I national championship, while the women’s lacrosse team reached the 2023 Division I Final Four.

Sport analytics student Danielle Napierski at the JMA Wireless Dome, where she attends practices and games to collect data on the Syracuse women’s basketball team and its opponents.

“The role of our student analysts has been integral to our program’s success,” says , men’s soccer head coach. “The student analysts are responsible for collecting and interpreting all GPS data and providing detailed post-match and post-training reports. These reports are presented to the coaching staff with concise information that enables us to make objective decisions around training load and managing student-athletes’ minutes in games. “In addition to the GPS data, the student analysts provide half-time and post-match reports of pre-determined categories that allow us to see how we are playing, and how we can make the necessary adjustments,” says McIntyre.

The partnership expanded this academic year to include the following teams: women’s and men’s basketball, field hockey, football, ice hockey, women’s and men’s lacrosse, women’s and men’s soccer, softball and track and field.

“The coaches were open to having students who were passionate about working with this type of data metrics and analysis, and this was a perfect opportunity to start utilizing my knowledge and applying what I learned in the classroom,” says second-year student Danielle Napierski, who is one of seven sport analytics students working for the women’s basketball team.

, assistant provost for student-athlete academic development at Syracuse, says the sport analytics students are available to all athletic teams and the athletic department plans to make this a long-term arrangement with the sport analytics program.

“This collaboration represents an exciting opportunity to merge the worlds of athletics and data analysis, further enhancing our ability to make informed decisions and drive success both on and off the field,” says Syracuse Director of Athletics . “Together, we will harness the power of analytics to gain a competitive edge and propel our student-athletes and teams to new heights.”

, director of the sport analytics program and a professor in the Department of Sport Management, says the partnership provides sport analytics students with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to apply the data analytics skills they’re learning in class. “It not only provides the students with real-world experience in sports but gives them the chance to see it applied directly to the University sports teams they already love and support,” Paul says.

Second-year student Dan Griffiths says when he first toured the campus, his guide said the sport analytics program partnered with some of the teams, and Griffiths figured it was only the football and basketball teams. But now, two years later, Griffiths is working with his favorite sport, track and field.

“This is exactly why I came to Syracuse,” Griffiths says. “After my first year, I was very committed to being a part of the team, and I saw that I could have this opportunity as long as I had the initiative to take it on myself.”

To get a better understanding of this partnership, we talked to sport analytics students Griffiths, Napierski and Caden Lippie about their roles with the athletics department. Visit the to read more about their experiences.

Department of Public Health postdoctoral researcher Dustin Hill.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a burden on the U.S. health care system since its arrival in early 2020. COVID remains a threat to our communities, particularly during the winter months when new cases and hospitalizations are likely to surge. The ability to predict where and when new patients will be admitted to hospitals is essential for planning and resource allocation.

“Our findings indicate that wastewater surveillance improves prediction models for hospitalizations by 11 percent over models that use case data at the county level and by 15 percent for regional hospitalization estimates,” says Hill, an environmental data scientist and epidemiologist who works in the in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. “When looking at how many beds a hospital has available, those percentages can make a big difference in whether that hospital is going to have space for new patients or not, and this data can help them get ready for changes.”

Hill led a project that used wastewater surveillance data in predictive models to improve estimates for new COVID hospital admissions in New York state. The research team’s results were published recently in the peer-reviewed journal and were gathered in collaboration with State University of New York at Albany, University at Buffalo, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Stony Brook University and the New York State Department of Health.

Throughout the pandemic, hospitalization forecasting models have relied heavily on clinical data collected from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antigen tests. But this data can be biased because of a lack of widespread testing and may not be quick enough to indicate a surge.

In their study, the researchers combined wastewater surveillance data (how much SARS-CoV-2 is found in wastewater) with clinical case and comorbidity data to predict the seven-day average of new hospital admissions 10 days after the wastewater sample collection.

Pruthvi Kilaru, who earned his master’s of public health in 2020 and is now a third-year medical student at Des Moines University in Iowa, is shown here in 2020 collecting wastewater near the Women’s Building for COVID-19 testing.

Wastewater data are being collected across New York state through the , and that data can be used to continuously update forecasting predictions each week. According to the research, the average difference between predicted hospitalizations and observed hospitalizations was 0.013 per 100,000 population, or 1.3 in 10,000,000 population, providing high accuracy.

The New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network is testing for COVID in at least one wastewater treatment plant in each of the state’s 62 counties, covering a population of more than 15.3 million. The provides the most recent statistics regarding the network.

The research team is exploring how their methods to predict COVID hospitalizations can be further refined and applied to other infectious diseases such as RSV and influenza as wastewater surveillance expands to cover these public health threats.

“Predicting future hospitalizations using wastewater data helps get our public health partners in front of surges before they happen so they are prepared when new patients need to be admitted and can distribute resources accordingly,” Hill says. “The methods we developed here are going to be instrumental for tracking the diseases we already know about, and perhaps even more important for the diseases that could arise in the future.”

As vice president of University Union, Molly Gross (second from right) helped organize events such as the Block Party on April 29, 2022, at the JMA Wireless Dome that featured A-Trak, 070 Shake, 2 Chainz, and Baby Keem. With Gross in the photo are, from left to right, Beck Patrone, Mackenzie Glaubitz and Mo Morris.

Molly Gross ’22, G’23 is proof that it’s never too late in your academic career to change your career goals.

In Spring 2022, Gross was set to graduate with a public health degree. She was a work-study student in the Falk College admissions office, and Director of Admissions asked Gross if she was excited about graduating and starting her career. “I said, ‘Actually, I don’t know.’ I was stressing a little bit because I didn’t know if that’s what I wanted to do anymore,” Gross says.

Gross had more conversations with Golia and her staff and told them she had enjoyed organizing concerts as a member of the . “With Molly’s public health background, she initially considered a PA (physician assistant) program for graduate school,” Golia says. “However, during her time at Syracuse University, she was involved with the student union organizing events, where she realized her passion was in live music and events. “She contemplated finding a job and then potentially pursuing graduate school,” Golia adds. “But as a student employee in the Falk admissions office, we kept driving her to consider the Forever Orange opportunity.”

Molly Gross says Syracuse University “gave me the opportunity to learn so many different things and working with UU (University Union) was an experience that really formed where I am now.”

The provides half the tuition for students who enroll full-time in a qualifying graduate degree or certificate program at Syracuse University. The scholarship is automatically available to graduating seniors who are eligible for admission and commit to attend graduate school immediately after graduation.

Golia connected Gross with , director and chair of the Department of Sport Management at Falk College, who met with Gross to discuss the department’s one-year (SVEM) master’s program. “I talked it over with my parents and the (Forever Orange Scholarship) was a large factor because I don’t know if I could have gone without it,” Gross says. “I looked at the (SVEM) program and the connections it has and the value it brings that could help me learn more about the industry and help me get more exposure and progress faster in that career.”

Gross’ decision was a smart one as she received the 2023 Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Department of Sport Management and is now the event manager for the Oak View Group entertainment company based in Atlantic City, New Jersey, about an hour’s drive from her hometown of Cinnaminson, New Jersey.

We recently caught up with Gross to talk about how her passion for the live music industry developed at Syracuse University, the value of her public health degree and her new position coordinating live events. Here’s that conversation:

Q: You entered Syracuse University as a biology major but then switched to public health as a sophomore. What prompted that change?

A: I took one (public health) class in the first semester of my sophomore year, and it was a service-learning class where we worked with an organization in Syracuse (Vera House) and helped them in any way they needed and produced a project out of it.��The class was really engaging, and after that class I switched over to public health because I was thinking that maybe I’d go to the medical side and PA school.

I didn’t really think about staying at Syracuse (for graduate school) or switching to the event side until the end of my senior year. I was vice president of the University Union (UU), and in high school I never had exposure to the entertainment world to even know that was what I wanted to do. Syracuse gave me the opportunity to learn so many different things and working with UU was an experience that really formed where I am now.

Q: Where did you get your love of live music?

A: Where I grew up, there’s the River Line (train) that would take us to Camden, New Jersey, and we would go to what’s now called the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion. They would have concerts all summer and my friends and I would go no matter who was performing. I always liked being in that environment; I love seeing people attend events and get excited and follow their favorite performers.

Q: You started the SVEM program in July 2022 and worked closely with the staff at the JMA Wireless Dome. What was that like?

A: Both in the Fall and Spring semesters we had (Dome Director) and (Associate Director) as professors and it was great to hear about their experiences because they have worked in so many positions and places within the entertainment industry and in the Dome.

In the fall semester, we had a ‘secret shopper’ event where Tom gave us tickets to a basketball game and we acted as if we were spectators, but we were really observing the environment. How were the security lines? How were ticket takers and concession staff interacting with guests? How clean was the area? So, we were thinking critically about our experience and reporting back to him.

As event manager for the Oak View Group entertainment company based in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Molly Gross oversees events such as Disney on Ice that recently appeared at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

Q: Did the program involve any additional experiential learning?

A: The way the program was structured, it was as much about the experience you gained outside of the classroom as inside. We had projects where we reached out to network with people; looked into different jobs that we wanted to potentially hold one day and what path could get us to that; and made phone calls to ask other people about their different experiences in the industry.

I worked in the (Syracuse) Oncenter box office, Syracuse Amphitheater, and with the operations team in the JMA Dome, I felt like they were always encouraging us to use our time outside of the classroom as wisely as possible. It was always in the back of my mind that if I was going to spend this money and time in this program, I was going to make the most of it. I was going to spend every second trying to gain as much as I could, whether it was working this event at the Dome or that event in the community. It’s always shown me that it comes back around and the experiences I had with those things did help me later.

Q: What are you doing in your current position in Atlantic City?

A: SVEM has us do a nine-credit practicum and I did that in the summer (of 2023) as an event coordinator at the Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. I was recently promoted to event manager, and I work between the client and the building to make sure they have everything they need, whether that’s setting up, connecting with food and beverage, or their internet and AV (audio-visual) needs.

At the Convention Center, our clients are conventions, trade shows, meetings and luncheons. At Boardwalk Hall, it’s concerts, indoor auto racing, Disney on Ice and events like that. I go from working a convention from 7 to 4 on a Monday to working a concert on Friday night. I really like that about my role; I’m getting to see it all.

Q: What role does your public health background play in your career?

A: The general manager where I work right now is put in situations where he has to make decisions or plan for situations that you might not ever think you had to, like he was leading a lot of the decision-making when COVID hit and had to decide certain plans and procedures for the company and the venue. I hope to get to one of those positions one day and I think that what I learned in the public health program at Syracuse will always be valuable.

And whether I use it in my career or not, it’s also been valuable to my life in general, understanding the complexities of health and the world. There were so many classes where we talked about the social determinants of health and how everybody is experiencing different things that affect their health—understanding that diversity helps no matter what you’re doing.

Q: What would you say to other students who may be in the position that you were in as they approach graduation?

A: Always have the conversation. If you’re not happy where you are, talk to an advisor and have that conversation. With how the majors are structured, time is limited, so I would act on it sooner than later. I know if I’m feeling that way, I’d rather act on it than regret it later.

I don’t think any decision is final. Just because you make a decision now doesn’t mean everything is closed off forever.

Several of the 60 students from universities in France, Germany and Switzerland who attended the RECOS seminar in May gathered for this group photo in Todtmoos, Germany. Syracuse University’s representatives at the seminar were Kristin Esposito (second row, far left) and Jennifer Carter (second row, fourth from left).

Alsace is a region in northeastern France that borders Germany and Switzerland and reflects a mix of cultures because over the centuries it has alternated between German and French control.

It seems an unlikely place for an American university to make an impact on social change. Yet for the past 16 years, the in the has played a key role in helping shape the region’s upcoming social workers.

From 2008-2022, social work Professor Emerita presented at the annual Confédération des Ecoles Supérieures en Travail Social de la region, which is translated as Confederation of Universities in Social Science in the (Alsace) Region and uses the acronym RECOS. School of Social Work assistant master of social work online field director , who had presented virtually under Mudrick’s tutelage in 2021-22, took the baton from Mudrick this past May and presented in person at the seminar in Todtmoos, Germany.

Esposito was joined at the seminar by master of social work (M.S.W.) online student Jennifer Carter, who is currently living in Germany. About 60 social work students from six universities in the Alsace region (three from France, two from Germany and one from Switzerland) attended the weeklong seminar and traveled daily to a different country to learn how social welfare and policy plays out in human service organizations in those countries.

Before the COVID pandemic, Mudrick would accompany six to eight students from her course Social Work in Europe and the U.S.: A Four-Nation Experiential Comparison class to the seminar and share social work experiences from an American point of view. With Mudrick’s retirement and now that the seminar has returned to an in-person format, Esposito is looking to reimagine the SWK 710 course and provide opportunities for M.S.W. residential and online students to attend the seminar.

“The purpose of Syracuse University students’ attendance and participation at RECOS is multi-faceted,” Esposito says. “The School of Social Work believes in providing our students with experiential opportunities, and the RECOS seminar offers global exposure to the profession and highlights ways in which social work policy and practice can differ from the U.S. Students often come back with new techniques, ideas, and strategies in how to engage a certain population.

“Another important takeaway for our students is the appreciation of the cultural and social aspects of how France, Germany and Switzerland view social problems, where resources are allocated, and how social work is operationalized in those areas,” Esposito adds. “Finally, there’s the cultural immersion experience as our students are exposed to the food, music, interrelationships, and architecture of three countries.”

Although she was the only American student at the seminar, Carter says the European students were “friendly and welcoming” and appreciated the opportunity to engage with Carter to practice their English.

“It was interesting to work on different projects with the other students; we all went to lectures together, ate together and at the end of the day were able to have some fun together,” says Carter, who’s on track to earn a master’s in May. “We’re all similar in that we have the desire to help others and advocate for change, especially with vulnerable, marginalized populations.”

Universal Need for Social Work

The SWK 710 course was launched after a School of Social Work M.S.W. graduate invited Mudrick to RECOS as a guest speaker. Mudrick learned about the unique ways in which social work is practiced in the Alsace region, where each country’s policies and practices were different, but they shared the same workforce because, for example, a social worker who lived in Germany might work in France.

Kristin Esposito (left) and Jennifer Carter represented Syracuse University at the 2023 RECOS seminar.

The seminar enables social work students from the region to gain shared knowledge and understanding of each country’s policies and practices and elevate their employability after graduation. Since Mudrick attended her first seminar in 2008, the School of Social Work has been invited each year to provide an American perspective on seminar themes such as the harm reduction model in substance abuse treatment, person-centered care in social work, and for the 2023 seminar, juvenile incarceration and rehabilitation.

Each day of the 2023 seminar focused on a different country, with experiential small group sessions in the morning followed by a presentation from a community expert in the field of incarceration. In the afternoon, the students traveled to that country to visit with an agency partner who specializes in incarceration, prevention, and rehabilitation. ��This past spring, the students traveled to Mulhouse, France; Freiburg, Germany; and Basel, Switzerland.

Esposito’s presentation during the seminar focused on the U.S. juvenile justice system and the polices and best practices that drive successful rehabilitation and reintegration. Esposito says what jumped out at her during the seminar was the common need for social work across countries.

“We all have universal human needs, struggles and approaches to solve our communities’ problems,” Esposito says. “The way that social work is operationalized in these three countries is similar to the way we practice in the U.S., and it was surprising to me that our problem-solving was very much parallel and the types of programming and support is much the same, minus name and title differences in programming. Our differences lie in the cultural nuances.”

As a student participant, Carter attended all the scheduled lectures and field trips and collaborated with the other students in breakout groups. Carter says it was fascinating to see how the juvenile justice system works in the three countries.

“I thought that Germany would have a tougher stand on crimes in the juvenile justice system with a more punitive justice model, however it was France��that seemed to have a more repressive model,” Carter says. “Germany’s current juvenile system��is geared toward education and diversion strategies rather than punishment.”

‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Experience

Next year’s seminar will run from May 12 to May 24 and focus on the topic “Sex and Social Work.”

“The RECOS team is meeting to discuss ideas around sex work, sex trafficking and sexual abuse/trauma work,” Esposito says. “I have been invited back to participate and present and am hoping to recruit more students to join in the spring.”

Jennifer Carter (center) with two students from the seminar standing along the Rhine River in France

Carter, a Schenectady, New York, native who earned her undergraduate degree from Ashford University in Arizona, says she returned from the seminar feeling “enlightened” by engaging with students from other countries and discovering the social work similarities and differences between those countries and the U.S.

“Although their justice systems are all unique in their own way, the recurring theme that resonated with me is that it doesn’t matter where were live, racial minorities and particularly immigrants seem to be the ones who are more prone to receive punitive punishment within the justice system and less likely to have appropriate access to treatment interventions,” she says.

“Learning about the juvenile justice systems in these three countries and attending Kristin’s presentation for the United States has fueled the fire that was already starting with my desire to work with adolescent and young adults in the future,” Carter adds. “These young people can benefit from having more social support and preventive treatment intervention to guide their future life trajectory instead of a societal-favored punitive approach.”

For social work students who are considering this trip, Carter says it’s a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” that will help shape their career path.

“If you like traveling, exploring different cultures, food and history, and engaging with people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, this trip offers all of that and so much more,” Carter says.

Visit the to learn more about academic programs, experiential learning and career opportunities for residential and online students.

Italian chef Jacopo Tendi (right) provides cooking tips for his guests at the Joan Christy Lecture Series on Food and Culture at the Falk College.

This past spring, nutrition students in the Mediterranean Food and Culture class had the unique opportunity to cook in the Tuscany home of renowned Italian . And in late October, Chef Tendi had his first opportunity to visit Syracuse as the Falk College returned the favor.

Or, to be more precise, returned the flavor.

Tendi was the featured speaker for the Oct. 24 Joan Christy Lecture Series on Food and Culture. The lecture series is made possible by the Christy Food and Culture Fund, which was established in 2005 through the generosity of Syracuse University nutrition alumna Joan Christy ’78, G’81 to provide support for a lecture series in the nutrition program.

For about five hours that morning, Tendi cooked with students from Chef Mary Kiernan’s (NSD) 216 class in the Susan R. Klenk Learning Café and Kitchens. Tendi and the students created a Tuscan menu of chicken cacciatore, fresh seasonal vegetables, potatoes gnocchi with a pumpkin sauce, four different kinds of crostini and biscotti that’s made to be dipped in a Tuscan dessert wine.

“But today,” Tendi said, smiling, “we’re not going to dip in.”

During his Christy Lecture demonstration that night, Tendi showed how to make the chicken, gnocchi and biscotti, and the food made earlier in the day and at night was served to guests. Tendi was joined at the demonstration by his 19-year-old son, Riccardo, who recently finished culinary school in Italy and like his father was visiting the United States for the first time.

For Tendi, there were other familiar faces in the audience: nutrition majors Mara Baker ’24, Tess Palin ’24 and Alyssa Quinn ’24, all of whom had cooked with Chef Tendi in his home in Tuscany in May.

“Reconnecting with Chef Tendi was a wonderful experience. He remembered all our names and welcomed us with the same warmth as at home in Italy,” says Quinn. “In his demonstration [at Falk], I wasn’t aware that bruschetta (for the crostini) could be made with cabbage—it never occurred to me.

“Chef Tendi once again expressed his innovative abilities with his recipes, and they were delicious,” Quinn says. “I still can’t stop thinking about how good the chicken cacciatore he prepared with the NSD 216 students was.”

Teaching Nutrition and Sustainability

NSD 452/652 is the Mediterranean Food and Culture: A Florence Experience class taught by nutrition and food studies Associate Teaching Professor in the spring semester. The class explores Mediterranean culture, lifestyle, and cuisine through lectures, readings and discussions that prepare students for a 12-day immersion trip to Italy.

While in Italy, students travel through the countryside to tour farms; observe olive oil, pasta, cheese and wine productions; cook with Italian chefs; and enjoy farm-to-table meals. The trip ends in the heart of picturesque Tuscany—home of the —and includes visits to Tendi’s home, where fresh ingredients are readily available from his vegetable garden, fruit trees and olive trees.

Chef Tendi with his son, Riccardo, who recently graduated from culinary school in Italy.

Tendi spent more than 20 years teaching at Syracuse University Florence and now hosts students at his home for cooking demonstrations and takes them on visits to organic and biodynamic farms near his home. Tendi says he enjoys teaching students and he often talks to them about sustainability and how it applies to cooking your own food.

“To make a pasta dish, you need no more than five or six ingredients,” Tendi said. “If you buy a premade pasta dish and look at how many ingredients are in it, you can imagine that it’s not something you want to eat. It’s mainly preservatives and flavors and colors to make it look good. With good ingredients, you don’t need to do that; the force of the ingredients come out. This is what I like teaching to young people because they’re our future generation and maybe they’re the ones that will change how we feed ourselves.”

Tendi and his wife, Anna, founded a nonprofit organization, Salati Bene, which promotes educational programs regarding nutrition and sustainability for Italian and American students.

“It was a surreal experience to cook in Chef Tendi’s home this May with the guidance of him, his wife and his daughter,” says Palin. “My biggest takeaway from that experience was that you do not need loads of ingredients to make something delicious. You just need local food cooked well to make a spectacular dish.”

Baker says what she learned most from cooking with Tendi was how to cook and improvise with fresh ingredients.

“As someone from North America who loves to cook, being able to cook in Italy and experience the cultural differences firsthand was extremely valuable,” Baker says. “Ever since my return from Italy, I have made more of an effort to make my meals completely from scratch when possible.”

Feeding Your Body and Heart

The Syracuse students who had an opportunity to cook with Tendi and his family in Tuscany were excited to see him at Falk and came away from the demonstration with an even better understanding of his methods and philosophies.

Palin says she learned about different cooking mediums and their uses, particularly pairing the right pans with the type of stove in your home. By being able to observe Tendi in his home and then in an unfamiliar kitchen, Baker says she realized that “it’s not just the ingredients that make the dish, but it’s the atmosphere.”

Working with students from Chef Mary Kiernan’s Nutrition Science and Dietetics class, Chef Tendi created a Tuscan meal that was served during the Christy Lecture.

“While Syracuse has state-of-the-art kitchens, Chef Tendi had a harder time navigating the kitchen as he’s used to his cooking methods and his own kitchen at his home in Tuscany,” Baker says. “Establishing a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere in the kitchen is important as it adds to that sense of comfort and joy that comes with food.”

The emphasis on cooking with joy—and cooking with your family—was at the heart of Tendi’s lecture and demonstration at Falk.

“It’s important that parents cook with their children because that’s the way to infuse in children the joy of cooking,” Tendi said. “Cooking is with love, passion and joy; it doesn’t have to be a competition like with the TV shows. You don’t have to win anything, just enjoy. And if you’re spending time with your relatives or friends, you feed your heart, too.”

For the students who were in Tuscany to witness Tendi in the kitchen and with his family, those lessons will always be an ingredient in their meals.

“Cooking with him in his kitchen was a stress-free, relaxing experience, and coupled with the wonderful dining experience in his backyard is something I have taken home and implemented in my own house,” Palin says. “I prioritize cooking and eating with my roommates, even on busy days as that’s the time to relax and bond with my roommates.”

“Cooking with Chef Tendi reignited my passion for cooking at home again,” Quinn says. “Cooking is a time to let the creative juices get to work, and I take that into consideration every night when I cook at home. I’ve begun experiencing new ways of cooking a variety of produce since my experience with Chef Tendi, and plan to continue to do so.”

Visit the and webpages to learn more about these programs.

Danielle Cantor (center left) and David Falk (center right) answered questions from sport management students during a presentation moderated by Michael Veley (far left) and Dennis Deninger (far right). “I love being able to connect with students,” Cantor said.

With a massive 6-foot-10 frame and deep voice, former Georgetown University basketball coach John Thompson was an imposing figure and “my toughest critic,” says , the renowned sports agent who represented Thompson.

“I know I was afraid of him,” said a smiling , executive vice president and partner of Falk Associates Management Enterprises (FAME), which was co-founded by Falk.

As Cantor rose through the ranks at FAME, Falk made sure she had a seat at the table whenever they met with Thompson. Eventually, Cantor knew she had gained Thompson’s trust when at the end of one meeting, he turned to her and asked, “What do you think?”

As a key member the FAME team, Cantor (far left) became the first female National Basketball Players Association-certified player agent.

It was yet another moment in her trailblazing career when Cantor realized she was indeed making progress in the male-dominated sport industry. Now, as the first female National Basketball Players Association-certified player agent, Cantor enjoys sharing stories about her journey with young women and men who want to work in sports.

Cantor and Falk, who has long been recognized as one of the sports industry’s leading figures and most talented innovators, visited the Oct. 26 and spent more than three hours speaking with students from classes taught by , director and chair of sport management, and professors , and .

Their main theme was women in sports, but they touched on a variety of topics, including Thompson’s impact on Falk (“He was the most influential man in my life,” Falk says); how Cantor landed a four-year, $85 million contract for her first client (Malcolm Brogden) that doubled the contract he was previously offered; and, of course, Falk’s most famous client, Michael Jordan.

“I love being able to connect with students,” Cantor said. “You never really know how it’s going or how they’re feeling because we’re doing so much talking, but then they line up and want to talk after class to say, ‘This is amazing and thank you so much for being here and we learned so much.'”

“That’s what it’s all about, being able to share real-life experiences and real-life stories as opposed to just theories that you read about,” she added.

Cantor said she was impressed with the students’ questions. One of them came from Samie Haber ’24, who is interested in ecommerce and digital merchandising with a sports apparel company. She asked Cantor for advice on how to get started as a female in the business world.

“She said it’s about connections and told me to have Professor Deninger give me her email and she would help me with those connections, which is very helpful,” Haber said. “It was interesting to hear about her experience from a woman’s perspective, and I feel like together they were able to provide a lot of insight for us.”

In 2017, Sports Business Journal wrote a “Game Changers” that highlighted her ascent to the NBA’s first female player agent. Cantor said she hadn’t paid much attention to the gender issue, but that story helped her understand her impact on the industry.

“That was a turning point in that a lot of work that I would do after that became about helping young women in sports and making sure there are more opportunities for everyone to be in positions of power,” Cantor said.

200 White Hall was filled with sport management students for the presentation.

During their presentations, Cantor and Falk discussed the evolution of those opportunities and highlighted what has worked—and what hasn’t—for women’s sports and female athletes in terms of creating a product that consumers want to buy.

“My biggest takeaway was that women are getting more involved in sports, and I think that’s very important because of how things were in the past and we want to progress into the future,” Haber said.

In 2010, a gift from Falk and his wife, Rhonda S. Falk ’74, at Syracuse University. Falk, the co-founder of FAME who earned an economics degree from Syracuse, says he enjoys returning to campus and engaging with the future leaders of the sport industry.

“I’m really proud of what Michael Veley has created over the last 18 years (with sport management),” Falk said. “It’s a unique program because it’s structured to be experiential, like with what we had today (with the presentations). We have amazing professors, the quality of the students is so high, and I’m so proud that it’s something that bears my name.”

The second annual Jonathan B. Wanderstock “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Sport” symposium featured, from left to right, panelists Leashia Lewis, Amy Reed, Kwame Agyemang and Dom Cambareri, keynote speaker Kevin Clayton, and moderator Rockwell Brown Burton.

At the start of his keynote address at the Oct. 12, Jonathan B. Wanderstock “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Sport” lecture, had one request for the large gathering of students in attendance in the Dineen Hall. “If nothing else, I want you to walk away with one new concept or tool that will help you on your journey to success,” said Clayton, senior vice president and head of social impact and equity for the Rock Entertainment Group, which includes the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers.

It’s safe to say that the students—and everyone else who attended—walked away with more than one concept to consider and a far better understanding of what it means for an organization to practice what it preaches when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA).

Keynote speaker Kevin Clayton is the Senior Vice President and Head of Social Impact and Equity for the Rock Entertainment Group, which includes the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers.

Clayton explained that his job title is his “what,” but it’s a person’s “why” that has more impact because your why is your purpose. For Clayton and the Cavaliers, their “why” became clear after George Floyd, a Black man, was murdered by a Minnesota police officer in May 2020.

“It wasn’t until post-George Floyd that we knew our why: connect the platform of sports to social justice,” Clayton said. “We’re the only city where three sports teams [the Cavaliers, the NFL’s Browns and MLB’s Guardians] have met every two weeks for the past three years around issues for social justice. We focus on law enforcement, education and voting/civic engagement, and for all three teams to be involved the impact is like 1+1+1 equals 100 and not 1+1+1 equals three.”

The “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Sport” lecture series is made possible through a generous gift to the from alumnus Jonathan B. Wanderstock, who earned his undergraduate degree in public communications and management from Syracuse University and is a for the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus.

The second annual event featuring Clayton and four other sports industry executives was hosted by the Department of Sport Management in conjunction with the Syracuse University College of Law’s Office of Career Services and Entertainment and Sports Law Society.

“The establishment of the Sport Management DEIA symposium by Jonathan Wanderstock has impacted the lives of hundreds of students across campus, not only those attending the symposium but from having our panelists attend eight classes as part of their supportive contributions,” said , director and chair of the Department of Sport Management.

“Our department stands in solidarity with our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility as we focus on areas of awareness, training and education,” Veley added. “We seek to use sport as a platform for social justice and social responsibility while encouraging open, honest dialog, including those related to racism, privilege and allyship.”

In addition to Clayton’s keynote address, the event featured a panel discussion moderated by , associate dean for inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility at the . The panel included:

• , George and Betty Blanda Endowed Professor in sport leadership and director of the Future of Sport Institute at the University of Kentucky;
• , volunteer executive director of Syracuse Challenger Baseball and founder and board member of the Carrier Park Field of Dreams All-Inclusive Sports Park;
• , assistant athletic director for diversity, equity and inclusion at Villanova University; and
• , head women’s basketball coach and diversity, equity and inclusion athletics director at Rochester Institute of Technology.

The panelists explained their roles in DEIA and social justice initiatives and answered questions from Brown Burton. After a Q&A with the students, Clayton and the panelists remained for one-on-one discussions with students.

The DEIA symposium “has impacted the lives of hundreds of students across campus,” says Michael Veley, director and chair of the Department of Sport Management. This photo shows students during this year’s event at the College of Law’s Dineen Hall.

In his address, Clayton said one of the ongoing issues with DEIA is that “we have not come to a universal understanding of what diversity is.” He said the Cavaliers and NBA have defined diversity as the “collective mixture of our fans, team members, properties, teams and partners characterized by our differences as well as our similarities.”

He said it’s possible to have diversity but not inclusion unless you create a trusting environment in which all are included, respected and supported. And equity, Clayton says, is building an “organizational landscape where all are empowered to be their authentic selves and contribute.”

At the end of the Q&A, Lewis—a Syracuse native who attended Villanova University—offered advice for students courtesy of a conversation she had with renowned political activist, author and University of California professor Angela Davis, who notably once said, “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”

“I asked her, ‘What hope do we have?’” Lewis said. “She said, ‘Ask the youth; they are the future.’”

“I came away from that meeting (with Davis) asking myself, ‘What am I going to do to help (students) be ready to fight for social justice?’” Lewis said. “So, I would say that we all have a role to play.”

For Grace Brashears ’25, the answer to both questions is the same: She has dedicated her life to helping children and their families “while they walk the terrifying path that is pediatric illness.”

At the end of the 2023 OttoTHON, organizers revealed to all the participants and the children and their families in attendance the total amount of money that OttoTHON raised for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Brashears, a junior, is a double major at Falk (human development and family science, and public health) who’s working toward becoming a certified child life specialist. In that role, Brashears will help children and families navigate the process of illness, injury, disability, trauma and hospitalization.

But Brashears is helping children and their families even before she graduates in 2025. Brashears, from Holland, Michigan, was recently named the youngest executive director in the 10-year history of OttoTHON, Syracuse University’s 12-hour dance marathon that raises money for , which is adjacent to campus.

“It’s quite an honor,’’ says , associate professor and undergraduate director of the (HDFS). “This will be a wonderful representation of Syracuse values and an important show of support for children managing these challenges.”

Grace Brashears ’25

OttoTHON is a part of a larger international movement of students fighting for a future without childhood illness. Hundreds of Dance Marathon programs throughout North America raise funds and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. In recent years, OttoTHON has raised more than $100,000 a year for Golisano.

In a recent meeting with her HDFS faculty advisor and mentor, Professor of Practice , Brashears mentioned that she had been named executive director. Happy and excited for Brashears and how her work with OttoTHON reflects the social justice values of HDFS and Falk, Cameron asked Brashers to write a reflection about her appointment that Cameron could share with the department leadership.

Throughout the year, OttoTHON plans and runs various small events, fundraising pushes and support initiatives for the children and families who have been treated at Upstate Golisano. All of this leads to the organization’s signature large event in the spring, the 12-hour Dance Marathon. This 12-hour party is a celebration of all the kids and families who have and currently are walking the path of pediatric illness. Throughout the event, patricipants play games, eat food, watch performances from several student groups, fundraise, hear stories from staff and families at the hospital, and, of course, dance.

Ronny Ditchek ’23 and Grace Brashears ’25, 2023 OttoTHON fundraising co-chairs.

“This year, I have the absolute honor of being the executive director for OttoTHON. After being a part of the OttoTHON Leadership Program as a first-year student and serving as the first-year recruitment co-chair on the executive board last year, I am thrilled to be able to step into this role during my junior year here at Syracuse,” says Brashears.

Pediatric illness is something that Brashears has always been highly passionate about. “Since I started the mini-dance marathon program at my high school (Holland Christian High School), my biggest ‘why’ for being a part of this movement is to ensure that no child or family ever has to feel that they are alone while they walk the terrifying path that is pediatric illness,” she says. “Programs like Dance Marathon offer an opportunity for the local community to help fill the gaps in healthcare today through the funds they raise and the support they offer. This ‘why’ brought me to Syracuse University to pursue my degrees in human development and family science and public health with the goal of becoming a certified child life specialist.”

As executive director, Brashears will oversee the organization and set the top priorities and goals for OttoTHON; manage and ensure that initiatives, fundraisers and events run successfully; and assist in whatever capacity is needed. She will also serve as a liaison to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Syracuse University community, the greater Syracuse community, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other key partners.

“My ultimate responsibility and personal goal as executive director are to be sure OttoTHON does absolutely everything we can to ensure that the families we work with know there is a group of passionate Syracuse University students across the street from them who will do everything in our power to do anything that will make this journey even the tiniest bit easier for them,” she says.

Brashears believes it is vital for Syracuse University students to get involved in experiences that will get them into the local Syracuse community in a way that benefits the members of that community. “As an out-of-state student, it can be easy to look at Syracuse, New York, as just Syracuse University; this is why it is essential to know that Syracuse is an entire community of people that goes far beyond the University. OttoTHON is a great way to begin to do this.”

Those interested in joining the internal side of OttoTHON can apply to be a part of a committee (applications coming out soon), or the new Team Captain program. Other opportunities are offered to participate in the various small events held on campus, by donating to the hospital through OttoTHON’s Donor Drive page, or by registering through the donor drive to be a dancer (participant) at the main event in the spring. For more information on where to sign up, donate, or any with any other questions, follow on Instagram at @ottothon or email Brashears at Ottothon@gmail.com.

In addition to her OttoTHON activities, Brashears is a Falk College student ambassador, Falk research assistant, University orientation leader and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

For Raven Campbell ’24, who grew up in Jamaica and moved to the United States when she was 14, the journey to her chosen career path has at times felt just as long and daunting.

Raven Campbell

But in conversations with her family and Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics advisor, , and through out-of-classroom experiences such as her observership this past spring at a hospital in Kingston, Campbell has transformed her passion for working with children into her career goals of becoming a child life specialist and then a developmental pediatrician.

While pediatricians offer general primary care services to children, developmental pediatricians assist in specific difficulties, struggles or deficiencies in the growth and development of a child. “I’ve always had a love for children and felt a spark when I was around them,” says Campbell. “But career-wise, I didn’t know what I was going to do.

“I had my first class with Professor Cameron, and she was talking about child life, and I thought that was something I wanted to do,” Campbell continues. “As time passed, I wanted to do more with that and this spring in Jamaica I met a developmental pediatrician and learned that’s something I’m interested in doing while also getting my child life specialist certification.”

Cameron, a professor of practice in the (HDFS) at Falk College, says Campbell’s child life coursework has provided a foundation that will benefit her as a developmental pediatrician because the curriculum focuses on the impact of illness, injury, trauma and hospitalization on human development. “Raven’s ambition to pursue dual credentials makes sense to me because she’s someone who wants to leave no stone unturned and is deeply committed to providing exceptional care to children and families,” says Cameron. “It takes a lot of work to become certified, but she sees the value in the knowledge, skills, and abilities of child life specialists and how having that skillset can take you far in meeting the needs of children, youth, families, and communities.”

‘Children Gravitate Toward Her’

Born in Brooklyn, Campbell moved to Kingston with her family when she was a baby. She grew up in a house that centered on children and education as her mother, Pauladene Steele, is in her 23rd year as a teacher, Coordinator of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, and now Vice Principal at the , a private international school in Kingston. “I saw very early that how she interacted with children really stood out,” says Steele. “I found it unique that children–ones she knew and ones she didn’t know–would easily gravitate toward her and it became more pronounced as she started to interact in Sunday School at church.

Raven Campbell with her cousin, Mialani, in Hampton, Virginia. While helping to raise her cousin, Campbell started to become interested in child development.

“She had this calming effect where children were involved,” says Steele. “And she could take on the identity of an older one, a little one, a baby; she had that fluidity in terms of engaging and interacting with all children.”

When she was 14, Campbell moved to the United States to live with her uncle (Steele’s brother) in Virginia. Steele wanted her daughter to have a U.S. education, and Campbell spent four years at Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia. During that time, Campbell’s aunt had a baby, Mialani, and Campbell is proud to say that she helped raise her. While enjoying the time with her cousin, Campbell started to become curious about child development and the cultural differences between the United States and Jamaica. “In Jamaican culture, it’s normal for conversations you have with a child to be more like the conversations you have with adults; it’s not baby talk,’” says Campbell. “With food as well; people here tend to wean their kids into solid foods, but Jamaican people give babies various kinds of foods from an early age. I had a different perspective than other people because I grew up in a Jamaican family and things were so different.”

When she was a senior in high school, which was also the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Campbell became ill with sepsis and had to be hospitalized. Sepsis is a serious condition that occurs when the body’s immune system has an extreme response to an infection. “After the care she received, she said, ‘Mom, I really want to work in a hospital. I don’t want to be a medical doctor, but I want to work in a hospital and work with children,’” says Steele. “She thought a big part of her recovery was because of the attention and care she received from the different practitioners who helped her, and she wanted to do just that.”

Please visit the to read more about Campbell’s journey to Syracuse University.

Public Health Professor Dessa Bergen-Cico (left), shown here speaking at the International Drug Policy Academy (IDPA) in Strasbourg, France, this past June, is the coordinator of the addiction studies program at the Falk College and co-developed the IDPA’s curriculum.

Needing one more class or an independent study to complete a , Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics student Emily Graham turned to Public Health Professor for advice and Bergen-Cico offered the opportunity of a lifetime–a four-day immersion program in Strasbourg, France, in early June to participate in the International Drug Policy Academy (IDPA).

Bergen-Cico has been working with the Council of Europe’s and International Cooperation Group on Drugs and Addictions since 2010, and she co-developed the IDPA with the Pompidou Group’s leadership team in 2018. The IDPA, an intensive professional development program divided into three modules over a period of one year, is designed for professionals from all over the world who work as managers or senior team members in the areas of drug policies and addictions.

Emily Graham

For Graham, the IDPA showed her the value of cross-collaboration and understanding that there is more than one solution to substance abuse issues.

“The biggest takeaway for me was asking for help,” says Graham. “Sometimes when you get into executive positions, you feel like you need to figure it all out. But it’s OK to reach out and say, ‘Hey, what did you guys do and what were your results and how can we improve from that?’”

The IDPA is one of several unique opportunities for Syracuse University students to work with faculty and obtain global experience that exposes them to new ways of thinking about substance abuse and addictive behaviors. These opportunities are available to students who participate in the Falk College’s program that Bergen-Cico coordinates, and students like Graham who are involved with addiction studies in other ways.

As an undergraduate student and Barnes Center at The Arch peer educator, Emily Graham was asked to oversee the program for students who are in recovery from substance use disorder or sober curious. Soon after she received a bachelor’s degree in public health in 2022, she became assistant director for the in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. The Lerner Center’s mission is to improve population and community health through research, education, outreach and health promotion programming focused on the social, spatial and structural determinants of physical, mental and behavioral health and health disparities.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Graham is particularly interested in health and wellness for military veterans, who have a high rate of substance use disorder. She says the IDPA gave her a global perspective on prevention that she couldn’t get anywhere else.

“Being in the U.S., you can get single-minded about how we’re handling it here,” says Graham, who recently received the Maxwell Staff Rising Star award. “But you’re seeing that drugs affect everybody, and we’re all trying to find a common solution and work toward a common goal.”

From Syracuse to Strasbourg

When he was the center director of Syracuse University Strasbourg, Raymond Bach created an internship program for Syracuse Abroad students through his collaborations with Pompidou Group Deputy Executive Secretary Thomas Kattau. The Pompidou Group consists of representatives from countries throughout the world who “provide knowledge, support and solutions for effective, evidence-based drug policies, which fully respect human rights,” according to its website.

Dessa Bergen-Cico (left), Emily Graham (center) and McKenna Moonan, a master’s student of public diplomacy and global communications, stand in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Moonan was working as an intern for the Pompidou Group.

In 2010, Pompidou Group leaders expressed an interest in having U.S.-based experts in addiction and drug policy work with them on executive training programs for European-based drug policy administrators and Bach connected them to Bergen-Cico, who had emerged as an innovative expert on substance abuse and addiction. By 2011, Bergen-Cico started providing opportunities for students from the addiction studies program to participate in the Pompidou Group’s executive training programs and their first collaboration was held in Budapest, Hungary.

“Sasha Almasian Menkes ’13 was a public health and addiction studies student who participated much in the same way that Emily did this year,” Bergen-Cico says. “For the participants in 2011, the course was focused on emerging democracies in a lot of the former Soviet Union countries that were establishing independence and trying to find public health-based approaches to dealing with substance use and addiction.”

Over the years, the executive training expanded into the IDPA, which has evolved into a three-module program to accommodate increasingly complex topics and the growing number of attendees from all over the world. This year, Module 1 was held at Syracuse University Florence, Italy, in March; Module 2 was held in Strasbourg in June; and Module 3 will be held in Valletta, Malta, in October.

“Drug policies have changed dramatically, certainly in the U.S and in the past 15 years globally,” Bergen-Cico says. “For example, we went from heavy prison sentences for possession of cannabis to it being recreationally legal or decriminalized for anybody 21 and over in the majority of U.S. states and many countries are following a similar path. That just gives you an idea of the landscape and the people who are working in this area need a lot of training to be brought up to speed.”

Please and other opportunities for students interested in addiction studies.

If you’re interested in learning more about the addiction studies program at the Falk College, visit the or contact Bergen-Cico at dkbergen@syr.edu.

A group photo at the Mount Everest base camp, which is marked as the official destination point. Fun fact: That point changes every year as base camp is built on a moving glacier.

Of all the exceptional Syracuse University Study Abroad courses, there is one that towers above the others–about 18,000 feet above.

Mount Everest Base Camp Trek: The Human Response to High Altitude is a three-week, three-credit course and international research expedition in Nepal led by exercise science professor , chair and graduate director of Falk College’s . To teach students how the human body adapts to extreme high-altitude environments, the course interlaces full immersion classroom instruction with cutting-edge research led by faculty and advanced graduate student experts in physiology.

Before leading the trek to Mount Everest base camp, Exercise Science professor Tom Brutsaert and other professors and physiology experts directed five days of classes in the Nepal capital of Kathmandu.

Various physiological and altitude performance measurements of the students, faculty, researchers and Sherpa volunteer guides continued all the way to the Mount Everest base camp at almost 18,000 feet (roughly 3.5 miles) above sea level.

“The trip is immersive, and physically and emotionally challenging, but the payoff to students is close faculty contact, incredible experiential learning opportunities, and adventure,” Brutsaert says. “For the faculty and researchers involved, our student-focused ‘incremental ascent to high altitude’ research model has also proven to be very productive in terms of data generation and grant funding.

“For me,” Brutsaert adds, “it has been the pleasure of my career to lead two of these expeditions, one in 2018 and again this year.”

Designed for undergraduate and graduate students interested in human environmental physiology, mountaineering and adventure, the course brought the Syracuse contingent together with high-altitude experts, researchers and students from Mount Royal University in Canada, Iowa State University and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The Syracuse students included health and exercise science majors Sofie Confalonieri, Alaina Hauber, Michael Jodlowski, Nathan McCarthy and Lydia Van Boxtel; Benjamin Dennison (chemistry), Emily Shuman (human development and family science), and Anthony Watt (bioengineering); and Taylor Harman, a Ph.D. student who received her M.S. in exercise science and is currently working on her Ph.D. in anthropology.

Including research participants and Sherpa guides (Sherpa is one of the Tibetan ethnic groups native to the most mountainous regions of Nepal), the group featured “an extended family of about 45 people all united toward a common goal,” Brutsaert says.

At Pheriche (altitude: 13,340 feet), the group’s head Sherpa and his wife gave four Falk College students prayer scarves. From left to right are Alaina Hauber, Sofia Confalonieri, Lydia Van Boxtel, and Emily Shuman.

The 2023 trip was funded through a three-year grant from the that was awarded to principal investigator Brutsaert and co-investigators from Mount Royal and UCLA. The grant supported the students, four faculty members, four post-doctoral students and several other trainees. It also paid for the direct costs of research on Sherpa volunteers – work that had not been done on the previous trip in 2018.

This year’s trip ran from May 15-June 6, starting with five days of classes in the Nepal capital of Kathmandu and pre-departure testing that measured hypoxia-sensitivity, hematology and exercise performance. The trek to Everest base camp and back covered about two weeks and 130 kilometers (81 miles) of strenuous hiking. On the way up, the schedule included rest days at increasing altitudes to allow for acclimatization and safe ascent.

To get a firsthand view of this unique experience, we asked Emily Shuman, a human development and family science major from Falk who’s minoring in biology, to describe it for us. Here’s what she wrote:

“Looking back on my three weeks trekking through Nepal, there are so many moments that stick out to me. The memories that first come to mind when I reflect on my trip include waking up each morning face-to-face with Ama Dablam (a mountain in the eastern Himalayan range of Koshi Province, Nepal), visiting active monasteries, participating in global research, meeting Sherpa who have summited Mount Everest, and becoming friends with researchers and undergraduates from around the world.

“Traveling to Nepal and having the opportunity to trek up to the base camp of Mount Everest was by far one of the most amazing things I have ever done, but it was also among the most grueling and emotional. Sixteen days of intense hiking, altitude sickness, food sensitivity, weather difficulties and lack of sleep made the trek even more difficult.

“Don’t get me wrong, it was the most life-changing experience of my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but it’s not the trip that everyone dreams of when they think of ‘vacation getaways.’ Despite the struggles that we as a group endured throughout our several weeks in the mountains, it was all worth it in the end. After all, how many people can say they’ve trekked through the Himalayas and seen Mount Everest up close and personal, while also participating in major research projects?

Emily Shuman

“Those 16 days spent in the Himalayas–and the days in Kathmandu before and after the trek–taught me more about myself and the world than a classroom ever could. Not only was I learning about the effects of high altitude on the body, but I was experiencing it firsthand. We spent hours learning about how the different parts of your body react to the lack of oxygen in the air, and then we went out and experienced it for ourselves, allowing us to connect with not only the material but our physiology in a way that would otherwise be strictly hypothetical.

“We watched movies and documentaries about the mountaineering industry and the amazing group of people who lead trips to the summit of Mount Everest, and then we were able to talk about it with the Sherpa in the room. Guest lecturers taught us about their world-renowned research one night and we woke up and participated in it the next morning. Everything that we did in Nepal taught me something different about the world of research, the world of mountaineering or the world of physiology.

“To anyone considering going on this trip in the future, I cannot recommend it enough! Is it a lot of hiking in one day? Yes. Will you get sick from the altitude? Probably. But does it leave you with a sense of accomplishment and awareness (for not only yourself but also the world) that can’t be found anywhere else? YES! Since returning from Nepal, I have spent hours talking to my friends and family about the trip, and to all of them I say the same thing: It was the toughest thing I have ever done, both physically and emotionally, but it was also the one thing that has taught me the most about who I am, and what I can be a part of, in this life.”

Throughout their adventure, the participants posted a (Shuman’s blog entry is Day 16 on May 31). For a peek at what you’ll read in the blog, here’s an excerpt from Wesley Lefferts (Days 17-19 June 1-3), a cardiovascular exercise physiologist and an assistant professor at Iowa State University who received his M.S. in exercise science and Ph.D. in science education from Syracuse University:

“We survived. Survived AMS, sleep apnea, finger-stick blood draws, VO2max tests, upset stomachs, headaches, restless nights of sleep, smelly socks and dodging yaks and zoes (zo’s, I have no idea how to spell it exactly, but they are basically lower altitude cows that replace yaks which don’t do well in the warmer temperature).”

(Editor’s note: A dzo is a hybrid between the yak and domestic cattle.)

Lefferts also created a video of the trip that you can watch .

To learn more about the academic programs, experiential learning and research opportunities available in Falk College’s Department of Exercise Science, visit the department .

Michael Veley, the Department of Sport Management’s founding director and chair, speaks at the news conference announcing the launch of the groundbreaking Sports, Entertainment & Innovation Conference.

On July 14, and Syracuse��University’s , in collaboration with the Las Vegas-based guest experience agency , proudly announced the launch of a first-of-it-kind Sports, Entertainment and Innovation Conference��(SEI-Con) hosting thought leaders and subject matter experts from across the globe to educate, collaborate and create dynamic ventures together.

The inaugural conference will be held in Las Vegas with an opening reception on July 15, 2024, and the three-day conference from July 16-18. The event will include exhibitor pods, innovation labs, daily keynotes, seminars/sessions, roundtables and daily wrap parties with music.

“There has been momentum building in the area of professional sports throughout Southern Nevada in recent years, and the economic growth that comes along with it is undeniable,” says University of Nevada, Las Vegas President��. “Through business and workforce development, and of course innovation, UNLV is a key partner in this growth, and SEI-Con is the latest example of our collaborative work to reinforce Las Vegas’ reputation as the world leader in tourism, sports and entertainment.”

Analysts predict the global sports market to reach $2 trillion, which is 2% of the $100 trillion world economy, bolstered by an influx of money from new sources, emerging technologies and growing demand. Already the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas has become an emerging sports destination and is perfectly positioned to host an annual conference focused on the intersection of sports, entertainment and innovation.

“The opportunity for our students to work on this world-class event captures the essence of our experiential-based academic programs,” says , founding director and chair and Rhonda S. Falk Endowed Professor in the in Falk College. “We, along with our nationally acclaimed advisory council of industry executives, fully embrace the collaboration with UNLV’s premier programs, the creative genius of Circle, and business partners and sports entities in one of the most dynamic sports and entertainment markets in the world.”

From left to right, Shawn Garrity (Circle), Rodney Paul (Syracuse), Michael Veley (Syracuse), Sport Management alum Chris Sotiropulos ’09 (vice president of stadium operations for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders), Jay Vickers (UNLV Sports Innovation) and Vickers’ daughter, Juliana, gather to celebrate the launch of SEI-Con starting in July 2024.

Attendees will have opportunities to meet industry executives and explore the latest innovations in sports and entertainment, esports and gaming, sports sociology and diversity, broadcast brands and media, research and development and more.

“Through collaborations with academic partners and the sports and entertainment industry, we are training the next generation of sports scientists and sports business professionals through interdisciplinary education and research,” says UNLV Sports Innovation Chief Operating Officer . “SEI-Con will produce opportunities for education and collaboration that will result in unprecedented deal-making that will undeniably have a positive impact for our universities, students and the sports and entertainment industry.”

The event will also recognize leadership in sports, entertainment and academia, and connect audiences dedicated to the future of these industries.

“We are eager to display the work being done by our faculty directly in sports, including innovative programs in sport management, sport analytics and our newest program in esports, plus other elements of the college such as sports-related research in exercise science, nutrition and other areas,” says , director of the program and a professor in the Department of Sport Management at Falk College. “We are most excited, however, to show off our greatest asset, our students, on the world stage in the great city of Las Vegas.”

The July 14 kickoff news conference was covered by several media outlets, including the and . from the SEI-Con announcement featuring Veley and Vickers.

The impressive list of SEI-Con speakers for next summer’s conference includes David Falk, Falk College benefactor and one of the sports industry’s leading figures as an NBA player agent; Brandon Steiner, Falk College Department of Sport Management Advisory Council president and a sports marketing expert; Syracuse University Director of Athletics John Wildhack; Sport Management Associate Professor and Undergraduate Director Gina Pauline; and Veley and Paul.

For more information about SEI-Con, including a FAQ and how to register, visit the .

Introduction to Sport Social Work is an elective course created by Associate Teaching Professor of Social Work in collaboration with Rachel Hamilton, a master’s of social work student who’s currently interning with . Marfilius will teach the course and Hamilton will be his research assistant, and here’s an excerpt from the course description:

Introduction to Sport Social Work: Applying a strength-based perspective to promote the health and well-being of student-athletes through a social justice framework. Through course readings, students will learn about sport social work theory, interprofessional collaboration, and understanding the well-being issues of athletes. Course assignments will help students gain knowledge in applying strength-based perspectives within engagement, assessment, and interventions with athletes.

Rachel Hamilton

In recent years, more professional and collegiate sports teams have added mental health professionals to their staffs. But a professional with a social work degree provides teams with what Hamilton describes as a “macro and micro mix.”

“You’ve got an individual who can see something from the micro level of the individual who’s right in front of them, but also can zoom out and look at the societal trends, the trends within athletics, and the policies in place to evaluate what can be done to improve those policies and make it easier for athletes to feel supported in their mental health and well-being,” Hamilton says.

“With social workers, it’s that vast scale and scope of skill sets that make the difference,” Hamilton adds. “It’s not just a clinical degree. It can be, if that’s what you want it to be, but as an advanced clinical student, I’m also having to take classes like social welfare policy that are more organizationally based and macro-based. With that knowledge, even if I do just want to work one-on-one with an individual, I still have the ability and the skill set to look at it from the macro perspective.”

“It’s never been a part of our program before, and Rachel and Ken are educating me about utilizing it because we want to have as many tools in our toolbox as possible,” says , the senior associate athletics director of sports medicine in the athletic department. “In college athletics, we are continually challenged to identify new ways to best serve our student-athletes, and this program has the potential to provide us with another resource to help serve the bigger purpose.”

‘Mental Health Linchpin’

Marfilius and Hamilton are both former athletes; Marfilius competed for Syracuse’s rowing team, and Hamilton was a member of a varsity cross country team in Maine that won multiple high school state championships. Hamilton’s husband is former Syracuse football player Macky MacPherson, who went on to play for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and coach Division I college football.

Ken Marfilius

Hamilton, a student member of the Alliance for Social Workers in Sport and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, is the first social work student to intern in the athletic department. Marfilius, an Air Force veteran whose primary research focus has been on military populations and veterans, had started building a course on social work and sports and was assigned as Hamilton’s field placement supervisor for her internship with athletics.

Together, they refined the course that Marfilius had started to build by incorporating that “macro” strength-based view that goes beyond general mental health support.

“It could be a student-athlete who comes from a challenging background with adverse childhood experiences and what we find, just like with the military, is that at 18 years old those experiences aren’t left behind,” Marfilius says. “They bring those with them–in addition to the pressure and the competition and the academics–and we look at both individual needs and systemic and structural needs of student-athletes and organizations.”

Marfilius says social workers can serve as a team’s “mental health linchpin,” helping directly with mental health-related issues or making referrals to other mental health professionals when appropriate. Mitchell says he views social workers as another potential source of education for student-athletes who don’t know what resources are available or have tried to cope privately with their problems because they didn’t want to seek help.

“We want to build trust by educating them and letting them know we have their best interests at heart,” Mitchell says. “If they can trust us when everything is going great, it increases the trust when things are not going as well.”

A Growing Demand

Marfilius says the new course is also ideal for students interested in sports administration, coaching or working with athletes.

David Sobczak, who was a student assistant coach for the Syracuse University football team and is now a coach at the University of Akron, pursued a Social Work degree at Falk College because it taught him how to communicate with players who didn’t come from the same background.

“I was interested in working with student-athletes, but there were not a lot of universities, if any, that have a social work program that’s so heavily integrated into a school that offered sport management and sport analytics,” Hamilton says. “I believe that’s why I was able to break into the athletics department for my internship hours.”

Hamilton says her internship started with her interest in working with student-athletes on their mental health challenges but has evolved to look at how student-athletes can be supported from a systemic level. Marfilius says the Sport Social Work course will provide students with a similar opportunity to explore both sides.

“Just that exposure alone, and to have that understanding of what sport social work really is at a macro level, allows them to then look at their career trajectory in a different way,” Marfilius says. “But also, as a career choice, we have more folks who are entering this niche of a field.”

Hamilton says her long-range goal is creating a sport social work program at Syracuse that will meet what will eventually be a growing demand for social workers in the industry.

“Sports acts like a microcosm; there are leadership positions and administrative positions where you can utilize your social work skills to perform well,” Hamilton says. “There are support roles, mental health roles, and your traditional counseling roles, but also this skill set is invaluable to help navigate personality dynamics and group dynamics, and understanding the ways in which you can integrate and use those skills.”

Sport management students presented their marketing decks to New York Yankees player Oswaldo Cabrera in early June. From left to right, are the following: Elizabeth Ellis, Alison Gilmore, Brandon Steiner, Tracey Edson, Cabrera, Samantha Messina, Cecilia “CJ” Westwater, Kate Lawton, Dylan Canell and Dave Meluni.

During the Spring 2023 semester, students in the Department of Sport Management’s Sport Sponsorship and Promotion class partnered with New York Yankees player to help build his brand and create his marketing deck.

The class culminated with a trip in June to New York City, where seven students met with Cabrera to share their final projects.

“We had the opportunity to share our decks and our thought process and explain the importance of Oswaldo working to grow his brand as he continues to grow as a player,” says sport management major Tracey Edson ’24. “The word that comes to mind to describe this experience is ‘grateful.’ Projects like this are what separate the Syracuse sport management department from other sport management programs.”

The connection with Cabrera started with conversations between Assistant Teaching Professor , who teaches the Sport Sponsorship and Promotion class in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Management Advisory Council President ’81, a sports marketing expert. Steiner was impressed by Meluni’s groundbreaking work with his Name, Image and Likeness class, and Steiner wanted to explore sports marketing opportunities for students.

Steiner, the founder of the Steiner Agency, Athlete Direct and CollectibleXchange, has a long-running relationship with the Yankees from his days as founder of Steiner Sports, a sports memorabilia business. Steiner thought the 24-year-old, bilingual Cabrera had a lot of marketing potential, and Cabrera’s agent told Steiner he could use marketing help because his expertise was in contracts, not marketing.

Meanwhile, as part of the class, Meluni assigned a “sports money endorsement” project where the students would analyze former athletes and determine their current marketing potential.

“For example, Muhammed Ali, what would he be worth today?” Meluni says. “Then we thought it would be fantastic to take this project and use it for an existing athlete. When the opportunity with Brandon and Oswaldo came up, we gave the students the option of using legacy athletes or Oswaldo, and more than 20 chose Oswaldo.”

Sport management student Tracey Edson presents her team’s marketing deck to New York Yankees player Oswaldo Cabrera.

The students met Cabrera via Zoom during the Yankees’ spring training camp in February to give them “an idea of what he’s about off the field,” Meluni says. They then used the sales prospecting software Sponsor United to research brands that would best fit Cabrera’s lifestyle. Throughout the semester, students also researched social media trends of athletes that compared to Cabrera and began building his social media strategy.

In addition, Steiner visited campus in April to talk with the students and guide them as they finished their marketing decks.

“Each of the conversations (with Cabrera and Steiner) helped us put our sponsorship decks together,” Edson says. “We worked for weeks building the presentations with information regarding Oswaldo, his background, social media and engagement rates, athletes that are comparable to him based on where he is at in his career, and five potential brands that could be beneficial for him to partner with. With each brand we developed a rationale behind it and suggestions for activations he could pursue.”

For her project, Edson teamed with Samantha Messina ’23, a public relations major in the . “Working with Samantha was beneficial for both of us because we each brought different learned experiences that helped us in creating a project that was eye-catching for both Oswaldo and Mr. Steiner,” Edson says.

The final projects were shared with Steiner, and the top students were selected and awarded a trip to Yankee Stadium to watch a game and meet Cabrera. The students were Edson, Messina, Dylan Canell, Elizabeth Ellis, Alison Gilmore, Kate Lawton and Cecelia “CJ” Westwater.

Unfortunately, the Yankees’ game against the Chicago White Sox that night was postponed due to the hazardous air quality conditions created by the Canadian wildfires. Still, the students met with Cabrera and Steiner for more than an hour at a hotel in New Rochelle where the students were spending the night.

Based on their research, the students shared with Cabrera the types of companies in New York City and his native country, Venezuela, that are spending money on marketing products that align with Cabrera’s interests. They also discussed social media, and the students suggested he talk more about his family on .

Sport management student Tracey Edson (second from right) worked with public relations major Samantha Messina on a marketing deck that was “eye-catching” for both New York Yankees player Oswaldo Cabrera and sports marketing expert Brandon Steiner.

The next day, Cabrera posted a photo of him and his brother, Leobaldo, who’s also a professional baseball player. That post received nearly 21,000 likes and a 14% engagement rate, which Meluni says “is staggering.”

“He had already taken what the students presented to heart,” Meluni says.

Meluni says the foundation of his teaching philosophy is experiential learning, and he has been talking to Steiner about partnering with another professional athlete for the class this fall. Marketing agents working with athletes on their brands is a growing field, and Meluni says these partnerships with athletes will enable students to walk into a job interview and show agency-level work.

In the case of Cabrera, an engaged alum in Steiner and a forward-thinking professor in Meluni found an opportunity for students to build a portfolio that included the type of athlete who would be an ideal client for a marketing agency.

“I am truly appreciative of the tireless work and support that the sport management department and alumni around the world show to current students,” Edson says. “Moments like this with Oswaldo would not be possible without them. Thank you to all the faculty and staff in the SPM department and to the many alumni who take the time to help students develop professionally and personally.”

When fully phased in, raising the retirement age to 69 would result in a 13-14% reduction in Social Security benefits for all workers regardless of when they first accept retired worker benefits.

, a professor of social work in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, is a founding co-director and current board chair of , the organization that launched and staffs the . The RSC is also proposing cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, and Kingson says these reductions would be devastating to most Americans.

“This proposal would essentially privatize Medicare, reducing protections and increasing the financial risks of older persons and people with disabilities,” Kingson says. “The waiting period for new disability insurance beneficiaries would be doubled to five years, Medicaid benefits and eligibility will be slashed and new provisions allowing Medicare to negotiate lower pharmaceutical prices will be eliminated.

“And ironically,” Kingson says, “the RSC’s plan would also extend the Trump administration’s 2017 tax cuts—a change that the Congressional Budget Office estimates would add $3.5 trillion to the federal deficit from 2025-34.”

Kingson is well-positioned to speak to the politics surrounding social security’s evolution, financing and expansion of benefit protections. He served as policy advisor to two presidential commissions: the 1982-83 National Commission on Social Security Reform, and the 1994 Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform. An active volunteer on the Obama campaign’s Retirement Security Policy Advisory Committee starting in July 2007, Kingson later served on the advisory committee to the Social Security Administration’s transition team.

Kingson is the author of several books and articles addressing the political and economic consequences of aging, retirement and social security, including “.” In that book, co-authored with , president of Social Security Works, Kingson and Altman make the case for an all-generations expansion of Social Security for Americans of all ages, races, genders and ethnicities.

Here, Kingson answers three questions about the several prominent proposals.

The in-person residency for online Marriage and Family Therapy students included a campus tour of Syracuse University and a visit with Otto!

This past April, the (MFT) in the Falk College hosted its first in-person residency for master of arts online students.

The department welcomed 33 students from all over the country, and for many it was their first experience in Syracuse. The students attended workshops, learned therapeutic skills from MFT faculty and staff, and shadowed residential students to get a sense of the services offered at MFT’s at Peck Hall in Syracuse, near the Syracuse University campus.

The three-day visit culminated with a keynote presentation by Falk Family Endowed Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy , lunch, a campus tour and social time at the Inn Complete on South Campus.

Before they visited Syracuse, we asked two online students, Stacey Martha McDonald Lowe and Ali Asad Somjee, to introduce themselves and explain why they decided to pursue an online MFT degree. Here’s what they wrote:

Stacey Martha McDonald Lowe

Stacey Martha McDonald Lowe says she has “felt connected to, and related well with, my classmates and professors since day one” of her Syracuse University experience.

In 1988, upon beginning my undergraduate studies at Howard University, I did not initially declare a major. I was still trying to figure out how to make meaning of my life’s work. At that time, I was not sure what “I wanted to be when I grew up,” but what I did know was that I wanted to help people and have a positive impact in the lives of children and adolescents.

My early years as a student at Howard University introduced and reinforced the notion that to whom much is given, much is required. As such, I feel as though it is my responsibility to use my gifts, talents, and knowledge gained in service.

I come to the MFT program at Syracuse University as a non-traditional student. I have worked for the federal government at various agencies in a variety of positions for 30 years.��The positions that I found most fulfilling were the ones where I had opportunities to connect with people and help them in a way they found meaningful.��I began to ask what should become the cornerstone of the next phase of my life as I seek to be a positive force in the world. After much consideration, I realized that many already rely on me for informal counseling and that the responsible thing to do would be to receive formal training.

The next step for me was to research MFT programs.��I live in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.��Local options are very limited, so I expanded my search to include online programs.��I am very happy to have the opportunity to study at Syracuse.��I will admit that prior to beginning the online MFT program at Syracuse, I was a little skeptical (my own personal bias toward in-person classes), but I was excited to have an opportunity to receive the training that I needed despite the lack of opportunity available locally.

But I started thinking, “How will I connect with my colleagues and professors?”��These concerns were quickly resolved. I have felt connected to, and related well with, my classmates and professors since day one.��My learning experience has far exceeded any expectation that I had.

Ali Asad Somjee

Ali Asad Somjee says he appreciates MFT’s online program because “as someone working full-time, I value flexibility and the ability to study at my own pace.”

I deeply value my relationships and connections with people; it is in authentic interactions with others that I find myself most engaged in the “flow state” described by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. After I transitioned from a career in finance to my current career in the nonprofit industry, I focused completely on working with adolescent youth to mentor and help them develop their social-emotional skills.

These experiences helped me realize how central relational dynamics are for me as both subjective meaningful experiences and a mentally stimulating intellectual topic. These experiences and my intellectual interest in psychology led me to discover marriage and family therapy as a discipline and career path that I now choose to embark on.

My professional goal is to become a formally trained and licensed practicing therapist. Additionally, I intend to combine this professional goal with my personal goal of learning and growing, and integrating all my learned knowledge and experience to develop myself as a person and add value to my graduate program, discipline and patient/clients. Personally, I am very curious about people’s life experiences, backgrounds and values.

As someone working full-time, I value flexibility and the ability to study at my own pace. For this reason, I searched for quite a while to find an online MFT program from a highly reputed university. I realize that an online program forfeits the value of in-person discussions and connections, so I look forward to the practicums and on-campus residencies as avenues to connect directly with professors, mentors, colleagues and patient/clients.

Editor’s Note: Somjee was recently awarded a from the . The fellowship supports the development of new scholars who will advance systemic theory, research and clinical practice grounded in a commitment to social justice.

Visit this MFT to learn about other caring professionals in the online master’s program in Marriage and Family Therapy at Syracuse University.

From left, Caden Lippie, Zachary Palfey and Jonah Soos were three of the six sport analytics students from Syracuse who spent the Spring 2023 semester working for performance intelligence company Kitman Labs.

Thanks to a collaboration between the and Kitman Labs, six sport analytics students from Syracuse University experienced real-world opportunities this past spring.

is the world’s leading sports science and performance analytics company. The six majors from Falk’s —Robert “RJ” Frahm, Benjamin Jennings, Caden Lippie, Garrett Naylor, Zachary Palfey and Jonah Soos—were assigned weekly tasks to answer questions about the impact of the NBA schedule on player injuries.

“The best way to learn the analytical skills we’ll need for our future careers is to work directly with real-world data,” says Palfey, who graduated in May and is now working as a digital analytics assistant for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. “Kitman provided us with injury data, and we were tasked with gathering NBA schedule data. It was a great experience to match the two datasets and analyze different tendencies over time.”

Kitman Labs has an established history of working with top teams and athletes across a variety of sports. The company’s technology has been used by teams in many of the world’s most elite sports leagues, including the NCAA, Premier League (soccer) and NFL.

“It’s hard to emphasize the value of an experience like this; it takes everything we do in classes and applies it to the real world and sports industry,” says Soos, who’s in his second year of a 3+1 program majoring in sport analytics and minoring in sport management and economics. “It was a chance to learn and do what I love, and our results mattered and can make a difference.��It was a defining experience in my freshman year and a partnership I hope to continue in the future.”

The opportunities to work with Kitman will continue for Soos and other sport analytics students as Kitman and Falk recently announced a research partnership that will produce detailed analysis and findings on a wide range of topics on a quarterly basis starting this fall. Timely topics investigated in the studies will include the impact of load management and back-to-back games on the health and performance of NBA players, performances in women’s sports and other areas.

“My freshman year consisted of mostly general classes, so having an opportunity to work on an analytics project was great,” says Lippie, a rising sophomore. “I also found the support from the other students I worked with to be extremely valuable. Going into the project with little experience, I was not expecting to be contributing much, however, with the support of the group and Kitman, I was able to contribute and learn a lot in the process.”

, director of the sport analytics program and a professor in the Department of Sport Management, is always on the lookout for potential business partners and he worked with adjunct professor and sport analytics alum Nick Riccardi to develop the partnership with Kitman.

“Kitman Labs is doing important, innovative and informative work in sports, and it’s an honor to have our students working on projects with them,” Paul says. “From day one, they have shown a genuine interest in helping our students improve and preparing them for work in the industry. We are excited about the collaboration between the talented professionals at Kitman and our students.”

Soos, who worked with Paul in the fall of 2022 on an independent research project on MLB umpires, says he jumped on the opportunity to work with Kitman because “they’re an exciting company doing exciting things.” For the project, Soos created a “star-player” variable to measure the top players on each NBA team, and used that variable to assess injuries, team success and how and when stars were injured or rested.

“Opportunities to work with real data while creating real conclusions and discoveries are few and far between for college students, let alone underclassmen,” Soos says. “Along with that, [Kitman’s team] took the time to meet with us weekly, get to know us and were quick to answer our questions and concerns.

“Never did they make us feel like college students working for them, but more like respected colleagues,” Soos says. “It was a great privilege to work with them, and I hope to do so in the future.”

Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs, says “having a cooperative research partner at Syracuse will be invaluable in making these vital studies even more relevant, timely and actionable.”

Soos, Palfey and Lippie all say they want to thank Kitman, professors Paul and Riccardi, and their fellow sport analytics colleagues for their partnership and support this past spring. For Kitman, the feeling was mutual.

“We are proud to work with Professor Paul and the students at Falk College on a series of critical research topics that will help better understand and amplify the work we are doing in the space with a wide number of teams, leagues and sports,” says Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs. “Our goal is to continue to dig deeper on the how and why tied to data and performance success, and having a cooperative research partner at Syracuse will be invaluable in making these vital studies even more relevant, timely and actionable.”

The analysis of the NBA-related case study findings is currently underway, and the initial results will be shared soon. There’s more to come this fall, with sport analytics students expected to play a significant role in that research.

“Having the ability to learn while completing a project was more helpful than the typical lecture format seen in most classes,” Lippie says. “Being able to learn something and then immediately apply it to a real-world task made me feel more confident in what I was learning.”

About Kitman Labs

Kitman Labs is the performance intelligence company setting a new industry standard for how elite sports organizations use data. Its proprietary advanced operating systems—iP: Intelligence Platform—is used by top teams and organizations across a variety of sports to optimize athlete performance, reduce injury risk and enhance overall health, wellness and longevity. Kitman Labs is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in Dublin and Manchester.

Here are several of the 50 Department of Sport Management students who received the Director’s Academic Achievement Award for achieving a GPA of 3.4 or higher for each of their consecutive semesters at Syracuse.

The recently honored about 70 undergraduate and graduate students from the Class of 2023. Here are the list of Falk College departments and student award winners, or links to full stories with a list of winners and descriptions of the awards.

Exercise Science

• Graduate Research Excellence Award: Page Williams
• Undergraduate Research Excellence Award: Christian James Ruiz

Food Studies

Human Development and Family Science

Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)

• MFT Social Justice Award: Annemarie Sohn

Nutrition Science and Dietetics

• Outstanding Dietetic Intern—Director’s Award: Sydney Teeter
• Nutrition Science and Dietetics Graduate Research Award: Madeline Hobika
• Outstanding Graduate Student in Nutrition Science Award: Sophia Dimkopoulos
• Outstanding Graduate Assistant in Nutrition Science Award: Caroline Fletcher Moore
• Nutrition Science and Dietetics Undergraduate Research Award: Taylor Fein
• Emily Gere Coon Award: Ashleigh Lok Jack
• Peer Leader in Nutrition Science and Dietetics Award: Junhui “Carol” Lang
• Susan J. Crockett Prize for Student Leadership: Julia Langer
• Faculty Award for Excellence in Nutrition Science: Sivan Avramovich
• Marjorie V. Dibble Scholarship Award: Mariana I. Perez Lugo
• Ruth Tolley Award–Women of the University Community: Elizabeth Kot
• Vershann Icem-Wright Professional Promise in Nutrition Science and Dietetics Award: Philip E. Farina
• Victoria F. Thiele Scholarship Award: Cristina Sofia Grigas and Tess Palin
• Victoria Li Scholarship Award: Alyssa M. Quinn
• Selleck Award: Sivan Avramovich
• Elizabeth L. Reid Memorial Award: Rylee Brook Pepper

Public Health

• Academic Excellence in Public Health Award: Nicole Pulido
• Excellence in Public Health Practice Award: Brooke Breton
• Public Health Leadership Award: Panagiotis Hatzelamprou
• Research Award for Public Health Award: Kinley Gaudette
• Social Justice in Public Health Award: Brooke Kirchner
• Excellence in the Public Health Graduate Program Award: Md Koushik Ahmed and Rachel Arauz

Social Work

• Hortence Cochrane Award: Aglaeth Vazquez

Sport Management

Faculty of the Year Awards

• Professors Jane Burrell, Lynn Brann and Bryce Hruska were honored with for their outstanding teaching, scholarship and internal and professional service contributions in 2023

Alexander Borelli, Sport Analytics

Borelli

“Throughout my four years, my most influential and memorable experiences have come from within the Falk College. Starting the Fantasy Sports Club in 2021 and serving as vice president was an incredibly fulfilling experience that allowed me to bring together many like-minded individuals. It has been amazing to see an idea I started with one of my peers develop into a hub for students to attend weekly and discuss their fantasy football leagues.

“Being a recruiting intern for the football team during the 2021-22 season was also a memorable experience that taught me about the player operations side of a football organization. Syracuse University, and the various experiences in my time here, has helped me develop into a better person and leader.”

In the News: Borelli competed for the Syracuse team that in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.

Kylie Dedrick, Sport Analytics

Dedrick

“Syracuse has provided me with memories, experiences and friends that will stick with me for years to come. One of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had was joining the Sport Analytics Women (SAW) club. I was involved with other clubs but SAW truly gave me a tight-knit community of women to go through this program with as there are not too many of us. ��The club gave me the opportunity to grow as a person and take on more responsibility.

“I’ve also been able to participate in multiple case competitions, attend the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and connect with some amazing people in the sport industry. Coming to Syracuse University is truly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

In the News: Dedrick competed for the team that division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.

Kiersten Edwards, Public Health, Neuroscience

Edwards

“While my classes and clubs at Syracuse have always provided security in their routine, it’s really the people and the adventures you embark on with those people that make the difference. Nothing has been more meaningful to me than the nights I spent with friends staying awake far too late, or the in-depth conversations with faculty beyond school—those that dove into my dreams, my sorrows and our collective hope for what the world could be someday. I am so grateful for the friends I made, the faculty mentorship received and the future Syracuse has helped provide for me!”

In the News: Edwards is also a 2023 Syracuse University Scholar and through public health, she found the path to improving the lives of others.

Taylor Fein, Nutrition Science and Dietetics

Fein

“I’ve had many meaningful experiences at Syracuse but volunteering for the Shaw Center’s Books and Cooks program each semester is one that stands out. We visit a local elementary school every Friday to teach students a lesson about nutrition and food from different countries. I have built connections with the students and witnessed how much joy it brings to their day, and am grateful to have been part of a program that makes a difference.

“Another experience I am thankful for is conducting my own research. In my Sleep and Hydration study I was able to conduct hands-on research with human participants. I am now looking forward to pursuing a Ph.D. in physiology and continuing this path of academic discovery through research.”

In the News: Fein received the 2021 from the Department of Nutrition Science and Dietetics.

Shane Halpin, Sport Analytics

Halpin

“The sport analytics program has provided me with countless rewarding opportunities to cultivate and demonstrate my analytical skills as they relate to the world of sports. My most meaningful experiences have been representing Syracuse through the SABR [Society for American Baseball Research] Diamond Dollars Case Competitions.

“As part of these events, I collaborated with peers formulating responses to complex prompts relevant to current issues in baseball. These experiences have required me to think outside the box and find precise and unique answers. Being selected as captain of my teams in the last two competitions has been a gratifying experience, allowing me to reflect on my growth as a student and leader.”

In the News: Halpin competed for the Syracuse team that division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.

Aric Lechner, Public Health, Neuroscience

Lechner

“In my time at Syracuse, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some amazing, bright-minded people. Working closely under the guidance and mentorship of Professor and other public health faculty members has been a defining experience. The pilot study was made possible through SOURCE [Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement], through which I received research funding to further analyze new methods for the detection of opioids in wastewater.

“Syracuse University Ambulance (SUA) has been another place of support during my time here. Being able to serve as a personnel supervisor has had a meaningful impact on my growth as a leader, teacher and person, and I’m forever grateful to all of those who have made these last four years so special.”

In the News: In addition to SUA, Lechner was a member of the , Syracuse University’s official welcoming committee for new students.

Eli Miller, Sport Analytics

Miller

“Being part of the Falk College provided me with a unique learning experience that I could not have received anywhere else. The coursework was not only challenging but also very practical, giving me real-life experience that will undoubtedly come in handy in my future career.

“The University’s robust internship program allowed me to apply my knowledge in real-world settings, giving me hands-on experience and the opportunity to network with industry professionals. The faculty and staff were also incredibly supportive, providing me with guidance and resources to succeed both academically and personally. I feel confident my experiences at Syracuse have given me a strong foundation for success and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

In the News: Miller competed for the Syracuse team that division in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.

Mara Miranda, Public Health

Miranda

“Since beginning my journey at Syracuse, I have had opportunities to grow professionally and personally. My experience participating in undergraduate research through SOURCE has been truly rewarding.

“Working with Professors , and on research involving head injuries, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), helmet policies and rule changes in the National Football League (NFL) has helped me bridge my love for sports with my passion for public health and medicine. Being a member of the Falk community granted me opportunities that I will hold for a lifetime.”

In the News: Miranda assisted with the research for a study on head injuries for NFL players that was published in the .

Matthew Penn, Sport Analytics

Penn

“Some of my most influential experiences at Syracuse have been in clubs. One of those clubs is the Baseball Statistics and Sabermetrics Club, for which I have served as vice president. Through the organization, I have been able to work on research and travel to Arizona to compete against other schools across the country in SABR Case Competitions.

“Another club that has been influential is the Sport Management Club and its Charity Sports Auction. As co-chair of the Analytics Committee for the auction, I helped raise money and give back to the Central New York community. These experiences have helped me grow both as a person and in my career.”

In the News: Penn and the Sport Management Club at the 2022 Charity Sports Auction.

Madison Roberts, Human Development and Family Science

Roberts

“Syracuse offered many extraordinary opportunities, but my time presenting at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) stands out as one of the most impactful. In the fall of my sophomore year, I began an independent study with Professor and another student, examining the developmental and personality variables that influenced students’ willingness to engage with diverse viewpoints on campus. This project was accepted for the SPSP National Conference in Atlanta.

“This opportunity reinforced my passion for research and contributed to my decision to pursue graduate school, including taking a position in a research lab. I look forward to taking these skills and applying them to my future academic career.”

In the News: Roberts received the 2021 from the Department of Human Development and Family Science.

Brielle Seidel, Public Health

Seidel

“Syracuse has been a place of true academic and personal growth for me. I have been able to explore my passion for the medical field and service by taking public health and addiction classes and engaging in meaningful campus organizations, including Syracuse University Ambulance and Camp Kesem. Additionally, I traveled abroad to Geneva, Switzerland, expanding my understanding of the world and addiction studies.

“Being a 2022-23 Remembrance Scholar has been one of the most meaningful experiences at Syracuse. I faced challenges and grief in honoring Luann Rogers and those who perished on Pan Am Flight 103. Through that experience, I was able to find the importance of promoting peace, connection and love—the qualities that build a better future.”

In the News: Seidel was one of the University’s 2022-23 Remembrance Scholars, whose mission was to honor and remember the students and others lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

Joanna Vines, Public Health, Policy Studies (Maxwell School)

Vines

“During my freshman year, I determined that a double major in public health and policy studies would align with my interests and goals. This interdisciplinary path provided me with valuable opportunities and meaningful experiences and enabled me to make positive impacts over my years at Syracuse.

“I have engaged in experiential learning roles as a research consultant for the Onondaga County Health Department, an intern for Planned Parenthood and a laboratory assistant at the COVID-19 Program Management Office. Through these positions, I enhanced my skills and knowledge in public health practice and connected with influential public health community leaders. These experiences inspired the research content for my honors thesis, which addresses public health and educational disparities and inequities in New York state.”

In the News: This spring, Vines is working as an intern in the education and outreach department at of Syracuse.

Benjamin Wachtel, Sport Analytics

Wachtel

“When I first learned of the sport analytics program at Syracuse, I knew it was the best choice for me. Now as I am completing my studies, I can reflect on how much I have grown both inside and outside the classroom.

“Out of all my experiences—whether competitions, research or other extracurricular projects—one of the most meaningful has been being a Berlin Scholar for sport management instructor . In this role, I am participating in department research while also learning about this process. I have assisted with research pertaining to the NCAA transfer portal, providing input on project ideas and cleaning data.

growth as a student, researcher and future professional in the industry could not have been achieved without the opportunities the sport analytics program provided to me.”

In the News: Wachtel competed for the Syracuse team that in the AXS National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship.

Junhui “Carol” Yang, Nutrition Science and Dietetics, Psychology (College of Arts and Sciences)

Yang

“As an undergraduate researcher and research assistant at Syracuse, I have been presented with numerous impressive opportunities and resources. During my sophomore year, I joined Professor ’s lab and worked on a study investigating the cross-generational effects of omega-3 fatty acids on improving obesity and chronic inflammation. Through this research project, I learned various skills in experimental operation, including testing gene expressions.

“Serving as a peer mentor in International Student Success and the Renée Crown Honors Program, and being a teaching assistant for Professor , has provided me with meaningful opportunities to assist others. Additionally, I am honored to have been pre-selected by the Phi Beta Kappa Society New York Chapter at Syracuse University, the most prestigious academic honor society in America. The confidence and passion I have developed at Syracuse have propelled me toward pursuing my dream of becoming a physician-scientist.”

In the News: Yang’s research with Ramalingam involved examining obesity in male mice to explore the idea that a healthier father will produce a healthier child.

Bloom, a 1969 Syracuse University alumna and engaged Falk College Advisory Board member, died in March 2022. But her mission to help others endures at the with the Jane Rockberger Bloom Social Scholarship in Refugee/Migration Services.

The 2022-23 recipient of the award was graduate student Salma Silvas, who received her bachelor’s degree in social work in 2020 from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, before joining Syracuse University’s master’s program.

“As it was nearing time to apply to colleges and pick a major, I knew I had to help dismantle oppressive systems that hold people back,” Silvas says. “I found social work was the perfect match for me with the ability to work with different populations while uplifting people and gaining transferable skills.”

Salma Silvas, the 2022-23 recipient of the Jane Rockberger Bloom Social Scholarship in Refugee/Migration Services, says “all people, no matter their immigration or financial status, should have dignity when dying.”

To learn more about Silvas, we asked about her hobbies, academic interests, and career aspirations. Here’s that conversation:

Tell us about yourself–what do you like to do in your free time?

Being from a coastal community, I enjoy spending my time at the beach, walking along the coastline, and reading. Now that I attend school in Syracuse, I have had to adjust my hobbies slightly. Outside of academics, I enjoy hiking, admiring waterfalls, and the snow–I had only seen it a few times prior to moving here. I have pushed myself to move to a place where I did not know anyone, or anything, which has allowed me to gain more confidence in every aspect of my life.

Why did you choose social work as a profession?

My grandfather made the journey from Mexico to this country decades ago in search of better opportunities for his family. Growing up in a Mexican American household and community, I saw firsthand how systems can sometimes work against communities of color. My parents instilled in me that going to school, having food, having a home, and having my basic needs met were all privileges that many people did not have.

What are your academic interests and aspirations?

While obtaining my bachelor’s degree in social work, I fell in love with the aging population, which led me to my senior year internship at a skilled nursing facility. I am currently interning at Upstate Medical University (in Syracuse), previously with the palliative care unit and currently with the inpatient psychiatric unit, where I find many intersections in aging, death, and dying. I strongly believe that all people, no matter their immigration or financial status, should have dignity when dying.

The aging and dying community are sometimes thrown to the side and viewed as a lost cause, but this is far from the truth. My academic interests lie in learning more about the aging, death, and dying population and how I can further engage and educate Latinx communities on the importance of preventative care and advanced care planning.

What would like to say to the family of your scholarship sponsor, the late Jane Rockberger Bloom?

Navigating the post-undergraduate world can be difficult and confusing when there are a limited number of people in your community with graduate school experience. Being a first-generation college graduate, and a first-generation graduate student fills me with immense pride.

I am so grateful that a portion of my financial burden for this academic year has been alleviated. I cannot accurately express my gratitude for this opportunity to continue to make my family and community proud. Thank you so much, and I will forever be grateful for your sponsorship!

Interested in a career in social work? Visit the ��to learn more about its academic programs, experiential learning, and career opportunities. Visit the site to learn more about the wide range of opportunities and awards that are available to Falk College students.

Those who would like to make a gift to the Jane Rockberger Bloom Social Scholarship in Refugee/Migration Services can . To make a gift by check, please make it out to Syracuse University and mail to Falk College Advancement, 427 White Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244. If you have any questions, please contact David Salanger, assistant dean for advancement and external relations, or call 315.443.4588 or contact Megan Myers, director of development, or call 315.443.1817.

Linghua Jiang, Qingyang Liu, Sanum Shafi, Caitlin Smith and Ying Xu presented at the conference in late March, with Smith attending through a fellowship provided by the National Science Foundation. Liu was also recently elected to the (SRCD) and will serve on the council’s Science and Social Policy Committee.

“SRCD is the preeminent international conference for research in child development and it was wonderful to see our students well-represented in the program,” says , Human Development and Family Science department chair and associate professor. “Their involvement reflects the quality of their scholarship, as proposals undergo a rigorous peer-review process that prioritizes leading-edge research and diversity, innovative methodology, and significant contribution to the field.

“The SRCD conference also offers graduate students a unique opportunity to connect with researchers from around the world, as there are ‘lunch with the leaders’ events and receptions dedicated to networking and professional development,” Razza adds.

The trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, included dinner at the Salt & Olive restaurant for (from left to right) School of Social Work Assistant Professor Xiafei Wang, Human Development and Family Science doctoral students Sanum Shafi and Qingang Liu, HDFS Department Chair and Associate Professor Rachel Razza, HDFS Assistant Professor Joey Merrin, HDFS doctoral student Caitlin Smith, and HDFS doctoral almna and Clarkson University Professor Ying Zhang.

Smith received the SRCD Early Career Transdisciplinary Fellowship, which supported her attendance at the SRCD Biennial Conference and the #HolisticDevScience Conference earlier this year. The fellowship is awarded to early career scholars who demonstrate a commitment to transdisciplinary, multi-sector and translational research.

At the conference in Utah, Smith hosted a roundtable discussion on “Bridging the Divide Between Undergraduate Coursework and Research: A Synergistic and Scaffolded Approach” during the Teaching Institute pre-conference. We asked Smith to introduce herself and her research and discuss her experience at the conference and how it impacts her career path. Here’s what she wrote:

“I am a Ph.D. candidate in Human Development in the Falk College, studying social and community influences on consumption behaviors, with a particular interest in how perceptions of health, self-efficacy and environmental factors interact to affect food choice among children. I presented two posters and hosted a roundtable discussion at the 2023 SRCD Biennial Conference.

“During the SRCD Teaching Institute pre-conference, I hosted a roundtable discussion on bridging the gap between undergraduate coursework and research, building upon my own work integrating research methods into the introductory and elective courses I have taught. Alongside (undergraduate director and associate professor) , I also presented a poster on developing a career immersion trip for undergraduate students, based upon our experience with (associate professor) on planning and effectively running a career immersion trip to New York City earlier this year.

“Finally, I presented a poster on my dissertation work during the SRCD Biennial Conference. The poster examines the intersecting influences of food availability, the family food environment, and self-efficacy on rates of produce consumption among children.

“At the SRCD Biennial Conference and the #HolisticDevScience Conference in the fall, I was able to connect with, and learn from, many other scholars who are committed to both translational and transdisciplinary scholarship, and innovative teaching. I look forward to continued collaboration with these scholars as I complete my dissertation and begin my job search, in which I hope to continue my community-engaged research while teaching.”

Liu Elected to Student and Early Career Council

HDFS doctoral student Qingyang Liu was recently elected to the Society for Research in Child Development Student and Early Career Council and will serve on the council’s Science and Social Policy Committee.

Following a rigorous nomination process, Qingyang Liu was elected to the Student and Early Career Council (SECC) by SRCD members. The council represents students and early career interests on SRCD committees and fosters the development of student and early career scholars who are the future of interdisciplinary research on infant, child and adolescent development in diverse contexts and across life-long trajectories.

Liu and the other are listed on the SRCD website.

“Being selected to serve on the Science and Social Policy Committee is a wonderful honor for Qingyang and the HDFS graduate program,” Razza says. “We are excited to see how her enthusiasm for research helps shape the next generation of scholars!”

Interested in a career in human development? Visit the homepage to learn more about its academic programs, research and experiential learning, and career opportunities.

Evan Weissman

That vision was shaped in large part by Syracuse Professor Evan Weissman, a tireless advocate for equity in the food system whose work provided the foundation for grassroots food justice initiatives throughout the country.

Weissman died unexpectedly in April 2020, and his family created the to honor his legacy. Lopez was the 2022-23 recipient of the award, and she is continuing the work that Weissman believed in so deeply.

“For my master’s thesis, I’m focusing on college food security at my alma mater and former service placement, Gonzaga University,” Lopez says. “I plan to address the identities most impacted by food insecurity and the barriers that limit food access for students to determine interventions that support students and their overall success.”

To learn more about Lopez, we asked about her background, career aspirations and connection to Weissman. Here’s that conversation:

April Lopez, the recipient of the 2022-23 Evan Weissman Scholarship Fund, is focusing her research on food insecurity for college students and labor rights for farmworkers.

Q: Can you tell us about your life before Syracuse University?

A: I’m originally from Washington state, a daughter of farmworkers, a former fruit packer and an undergraduate student from Gonzaga University, where I studied marketing and communication studies.

Unsure of what to do after graduation, I decided to pursue a year of service through Washington Service Corps, a state branch of AmeriCorps at Gonzaga University (it happened to coincide with the start of the pandemic). In this role, I recovered leftover food from campus dining and repurposed it for meal programs throughout northeast Spokane, Washington. At the height of the pandemic, I was placed on alternative service at a food bank distribution center called Second Harvest, where I was responsible for community food distributions throughout the inland northwest.

After three months, I returned to Gonzaga to resume my responsibilities and adapt to the changes brought on by COVID-19. Moved by the efforts to mitigate food insecurity, I pursued a second year of service in which I continued the responsibilities of repurposing meals and led school food and snack distributions for our partner schools.

Q: Why did you choose Syracuse for your master’s?

A: My life and academic interests were far more intertwined than I was aware of, having faced food insecurity and labor injustices as a fruit packer, and eventually dedicating two years of service to food security efforts. This all culminated in pursuing a master’s in food studies, and I decided to apply only to Syracuse University’s food studies master’s program because I was drawn to the program’s vision of food justice that aligned with my own values of food justice.

April Lopez in the Susan R. Klenk Learning Café and Kitchens in the Falk College

Q: What are your academic interests and aspirations?

A: I am particularly interested in research involving college food security and farmworker labor rights, both of which are topics that resonate with me personally given my background in agricultural work and my own experiences as a food insecure college student.

Q: What would like to say to the family of your scholarship sponsor, the late Evan Weissman?

A: I am very grateful and honored to receive this scholarship. I had many fears coming into graduate school, primarily the financial vulnerability of being a low-income student.

While I have had the great privilege of being a graduate assistant for two of his former courses, I, unfortunately, was unable to meet Evan. But learning more about what he did and left behind has inspired me to continue his legacy of food justice. I have felt touched by his work and the legacy he has left behind. In all that I have had the privilege in doing, he has been there.

Interested in a career in food justice? Visit the to learn more about its academic programs, experiential learning and career opportunities.

Those who would like to make a gift to the Evan Weissman Scholarship Fund can . To make a gift by check, please make it out to Syracuse University and mail to Falk College Advancement, 427 White Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244. If you have any questions, please contact David Salanger, assistant dean for advancement and external relations, at 315.443.4588 or dasalang@syr.edu, or Megan Myers, director of development, at 315.443.1817 or mmyers01@syr.edu.

But even as they were separated by 13 years and thousands of miles, they remained close and McPeck always had a special greeting for his sister.

“She knew every time she spoke to her brother, he would say, ‘How’s my beautiful little sister?’” says James Edwards, Kiersten’s father.

But on Christmas day in 2017, when Edwards was a senior in high school, those sweet messages were silenced forever when McPeck died from a fentanyl overdose.

Kiersten Edwards in Florida with her brothers Daniel (left) and Ryan.

Edwards’ journey since her brother’s death has not been a straight line. She considered becoming a doctor, enrolled at Syracuse University for engineering, and is now a public health major who’ll graduate in May. During her time at Syracuse, Edwards discovered that her desire to make the world a better place could be realized through public health initiatives such as addiction prevention.

“I’m never going to be able to bring my brother back, but maybe I can positively affect the lives of other people,” Edwards says. “I think that’s what drives me, taking the trauma and pain that I experienced and really trying to protect other people from it.”

As a community volunteer, an award-winning teaching assistant in the Department of Physics and the recipient of multiple (SOURCE) awards for her public health research, Edwards has already made a significant difference in the lives of others.

A double major in public health and neuroscience with a public health concentration in addiction prevention, Edwards is also designated as a 2023 Falk Scholar, the highest academic award conferred by the .

And to cap off her exceptional four years at Syracuse, Edwards has been named a 2023 Syracuse University Scholar–the highest academic accolade given to graduating seniors–and she and her fellow scholars will lead the student processional at Commencement.

It seems Daniel McPeck’s beautiful little sister is doing just fine.

“I’m extremely proud of what she’s doing, and Daniel would just love it,” James Edwards says. “Daniel loved his family and let them know it every time he saw them. To have her find some good in it and honor him that way, nothing can make me happier.”

‘Exercise Her Mind’

Edwards’ fascination with health started with her own. When she was around 4, she and her father were four-wheeling on the trails in the woods near their Vermont home when a tree branch fell and punctured her leg.

Her parents rushed her to the doctor’s office, where she squirmed on the table until the doctor asked if she wanted to sit and watch him stitch her up. “Yeah, I want to watch,” Kiersten Edwards recalls saying, “this is super cool.”

“I was like, uh, I think I need a chair,” James Edwards says, laughing. “I’m all woozy, and she was glued to it.”

Edwards’ tolerance for pain would be tested as she developed into an Olympic-level snowboarder who competed for World Cup teams in multiple junior world championship events. Her injuries mounted, and she needed surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee.

Before injuries took their toll, Kiersten Edwards was an Olympic-level snowboarder.

The doctor who performed her surgery was a family friend who was also a doctor for the U.S. Olympic team. Sensing her interest in medicine, he asked if Edwards wanted to shadow him for a day. Following a day of watching knee and hip replacement surgeries, Edwards decided she wanted to be a surgeon.

Edwards rehabbed her knee and eventually returned to top-level competition, but her heart was no longer in it.

“Snowboarding was fun and a passion, but it wasn’t what she was meant to be,” James Edwards says. “I think she was tired of training and exercising her body and wanted to train and exercise her mind.”

‘I’m Learning from You’

Edwards had her future mapped out: Study biomedical engineering, attend medical school, and become an orthopedic surgeon. Syracuse University had always been on her radar because her sister, Alicia, graduated from Syracuse in 2006 and Edwards’ “first crush” was basketball star Carmelo Anthony, who led the Orange to the national championship in 2003 when Edwards was 3.

“I sobbed when he left Syracuse because it didn’t quite make sense to me why he was leaving,” Edwards says, referring to Anthony’s departure from Syracuse in 2003 for the NBA.

In her freshman year at Syracuse, Edwards met her partner, Andrew Nibbi, and started to question if spending the next eight years becoming a doctor would be the best thing for her personal life. While she was still interested in health, she started to think about other career options and considered transferring to another college.

In the spring of 2020, her freshman year, Edwards took an introduction to physics class taught by Walter Freeman, an associate teaching professor in the in the . That was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as students transitioned to online learning Freeman created a group chat for the class of more than 400 students.

Edwards and Nibbi were among the students who would stay connected with Freeman late into the night to discuss their “thoughts and feelings and hopes and dreams and fears” during that frightening time, Freeman says.

In the fall, Edwards and Nibbi joined Freeman’s introduction to astronomy class. For their final project, Edwards wrote a poem that compared gravity to the social cohesiveness forces that were being strained during the pandemic. Nibbi wrote stirring music to accompany Edwards’ impassioned reading.

Freeman was floored.

“I returned their project ungraded,” Freeman says. “In these cases, I usually give students extra credit, but I told them I’m not qualified to give you a grade on what you have done here because I’m learning from you and not the other way around.”

Kiersten Edwards and her partner, Andrew Nibbi, in California.

As Edwards gravitated toward public health and Nibbi toward the to pursue a career in filmmaking, Freeman became their sounding board. Freeman recognized Edwards’ many talents, and he asked her to join his group chat in the spring of 2021 to help students with homework. In the fall, she was hired as a teaching assistant for the astronomy and physics classes that she had taken with Freeman.

In the spring of 2022, Edwards was recognized for her ability to connect with students with an Undergraduate Teaching Award from the .

“She has been a cultural leader among other teaching assistants in that she understands what we are about, the supportive environment we’re trying to create, and the human values of our course,” Freeman says. “She has always done what needs to be done to take care of people.”

‘Why Are You All So Happy?’

In August 2020, as the University was about to enter its first full school year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Edwards was hired to work in the testing lab that was set up in the Life Sciences Complex. There, she met Falk College Associate Professor of Public Health and students majoring in public health.

“I was like, what is this public health thing and why are you all so happy?” Edwards says, smiling. “This was before we had a vaccine and everything was shut down, and what struck me was that everyone in that lab who was a public health major seemed just a lot happier than a lot of people I knew.”

Whether they were in the lab for pay, an internship, or as a service-learning course for public health, the students were “generally happy and they enjoyed contributing to something that directly affected their lives,” Kmush says.

“We were making the (COVID testing) pools, so once they got the hang of it, it was pretty monotonous and they could talk and chat with each other across the tables and get to know each other and talk about their different degrees,” Kmush says.

Intrigued, Edwards started investigating the major and emailed Undergraduate Director and Associate Professor of Public Health to ask questions about the different paths she could take with public health, including addiction prevention.

Through her conversations with Thompson and her advisor Professor , and in her classes with public health professors like Kmush, Associate Professor , and Assistant Professor , Edwards came to identify the social determinants of health (food insecurity, racism, education, etc.) and their devastating impact.

“There’s one particular class that I took with Dr. Mutambudzi that really emphasizes how cultural disparities affect health throughout somebody’s lifetime,” Edwards says. “There are statistics and stories that have really affected me that came from this class and all of my other classes (at Falk) that emphasize to me the importance of looking at racial and gender disparities in health, why are they there, and what can we do to fix them?”

After taking Kmush’s epidemiology course, Edwards asked if she could get involved in research and Kmush suggested SOURCE. With Kmush as her faculty mentor, Edwards received a grant to pursue her idea of studying Syracuse University’s COVID data and comparing it to the University’s COVID policies to see if she could identify trends that contributed to more or fewer cases.

Kiersten Edwards was intrigued by the many different paths she could take with public health, including addiction prevention.

What makes Edwards’ research unique is that she’s using data from the semesters when it was mandatory for all students to test. That gives her a more complete picture of a specific population than, for example, a county’s data that will always be incomplete because not every resident reported the result of their home test.

Edwards hopes to complete her analysis by graduation, and she’ll partner with another student who’ll work on getting the research published next year. Kmush says the findings can eventually be used to make informed decisions about vaccines, masking, and other protocols for COVID, RSV, the flu or whatever else comes along.

“I want to feel like I’m making a difference, so that means I want the research I do to support policy changes for the positive,” Edwards says. “Making a change in policy is the way you affect real human lives.”

‘Go Out and Get It’

Following graduation Edwards will return home to Los Angeles, where she’ll join Nibbi, who’s working as a digital imaging technician in the film industry. Eventually, she wants to pursue a Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience with an emphasis on how to diagnose and treat addiction and substance abuse disorders.

But for now, she’s taking a gap year to work as a research assistant at , a private university focused on health sciences that has campuses in Los Angeles and Oakland. Her research, which has already started, will focus on burnout and how it affects the workforce with an emphasis on nurses, women, and underrepresented populations.

“I want to figure out a way to use the research I’m going to be doing on the neuroscience side of things in public health and then, moving forward, how can we practically apply this to the lives of humans?” Edwards says.

Those close to Edwards have no doubt she is going to make a difference and save lives.

“She really embodies the virtue of the well-rounded academic, of being a scholar of not just this thing or that thing, but many things, and putting all of those talents to use to try to make the world more than what it should be,” says Freeman, her mentor.

“Her future is all laid out for her,” says her father, James Edwards, “and she’s going to go out and get it.”

For her public health internship this spring, Edwards is working in Syracuse for the needle exchange program at ACR Health, a not-for-profit that provides a variety of support services. For Valentine’s Day, the clients–those with drug issues who are exchanging needles at ACR–were invited to write anonymous notes to the staff.

One note will remain forever etched in Edwards’ memory and it could have easily come from her brother Daniel during his most difficult struggles. It read, “Thank you for still realizing we’re people.”

“I think there are a lot of people who are forgotten,” Edwards says. “So much of what I want to do is trying to highlight and remember those people.”

Sport analytics major Hett ’23 and sport analytics alumnus Klaus ’22, G’23 recently finished second at the (TPBNC) in New Orleans, Louisiana. The competition annually attracts competitors from top law schools across the United States and high-profile judges from the NBA.

“I was thrilled to place second overall in the competition,” says Hett, who’s from North Berwick, Maine. “In a field of over 40 teams, my goal was to make the final round. As the event progressed, I did believe that we could win. We gave it our best effort, but came up just short.”

alumnus Chris Robinson ’15 created the event while he was a student at Tulane Law School. The competition randomly assigns students to act as an agent or a team to represent an active NBA player who is eligible for free agency in the summer.

Jackson Hett (left) and Preston Klaus display their runner-up plaque after earning the highest finish by a non-law school team in the history of the Tulane Pro Basketball Negotiation Competition.

Both sides negotiated, seeking to come to a legal contract under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. The competitors were judged on Negotiation Ability/Strategy, Basketball/NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement Knowledge and Strength of the Deal.

“We were told this year’s negotiations were the most competitive and that we were just a few votes shy of winning it all,” says Klaus, a Palm City, Florida, native who graduated with a degree in sport analytics last year and is now studying finance at Syracuse. “Even in defeat, we knew we made a positive impression and exceeded expectations.”

In the first two rounds, Hett and Klaus faced off against law students from Loyola University Chicago/Chicago-Kent College of Law and University of California (UC), Berkeley. After negotiating against the University of Massachusetts, Syracuse’s Hett and Klaus were one of four teams to reach the final round, where they negotiated against third-year law students from Tulane in front of 32 NBA executives.

In the final negotiation, Hett and Klaus placed second by two votes.��It was the highest finish by a non-law school team in the competition’s history, and they were the youngest team in the event this year.

“The department is very proud of Jackson and Preston for not only taking the chance to enter this top-notch competition, knowing it was stacked with law students and graduate students, but to then finish second is unbelievable,” says Sport Analytics Director . “It truly shows how talented they are and how the Falk College’s sport analytics program is making a name for itself around the country in these types of competitions and conferences. Jackson and Preston are destined for success in the sport industry.”

To learn more about their performance at the TPBNC, we asked Hett and Klaus about their passion for sport analytics, their negotiating strategy and what it was like to reach the finals.

While obesity in mothers has been the primary focus of early life nutrition and children’s health, obesity in fathers has been overlooked. According to the CDC, about two in three males of reproductive age in the United States are either overweight or suffer from obesity.

, Ph.D., an assistant professor of in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, has spent the last two years working with students on research involving parental obesity and how a diet modification–specifically the consumption of fish oil–can potentially reduce a father’s or mother’s obesity and its adverse effect on children.

After studying effects of fish oil in maternal obesity last year, Ramalingam and nutrition science students Junhui “Carol” Yang ’23 and Mariana Pérez Lugo ’24 are currently examining obesity in male mice to explore the idea that a healthier father will produce a healthier child.

“If (human) fathers are obese, it increases the risk of obesity by 10 to 12 times in their children,” Ramalingam says. “My research will hopefully establish that fathers need to pay attention to what they eat during the pre-pregnancy period to help reduce obesity in their children.”

Yang, a double major in nutrition science in the Falk College and psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, is investigating the role of fish oil in reducing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obesity in males, and examining if healthier fathers are producing healthier female offspring.

Pérez Lugo is studying the role of fish oil in reducing obesity in male offspring by analyzing the adipose tissue (i.e., body fat) of obese male mice who are fed fish oil and their offspring.

The American Heart Association is funding this year’s research and funded last year’s research, which was spearheaded by Akriti Shrestha G’22, a research assistant in the nutrition science department. Last year, Shrestha focused on the male offspring liver tissue.

In a previous study, Ramalingam examined the benefits of fish oil for pregnant female mice and their offspring. Shrestha’s research and the ongoing research with Yang and Pérez Lugo is connected to Ramalingam’s earlier study, with the ultimate goal to determine if fish oil consumption in both females and males will lead to healthier offspring. Ramalingam’s ongoing research was recently highlighted in from Syracuse Woman Magazine.

“The rates of obesity are increasing and leads to other diseases, including diabetes and heart diseases,” Ramalingam says. “I have a genetic risk of heart disease and hence my interest in reducing obesity and associated heart diseases. What better way than to reduce it using diet or bio actives.”

Nutrition science student Junhui “Carol” Yang (left) says with the support and encouragement of Professor Latha Ramalingam, she has received several grants and awards for her research.

Ramalingam says this study is important for Yang and Pérez Lugo, who are both interested in attending medical school. The research training in nutrition will help them recognize the importance of nutrition in the prevention of chronic diseases.

To get a better understanding of the impact of this research on their current studies and future careers, we asked Yang and Pérez Lugo about their work with Ramalingam. Here’s that conversation:

Q: Why is this research important to you?

Yang: This research is valuable because it allows me to see my potential and interest in doing research; Dr. Ramalingam has given me patient and professional guidance on my graduate thesis for the Renée Crown University Honors Program; and with her support and encouragement, I have received several research-related grants and awards for my study, which has built my confidence and made me more proactive.

I am impressed by how much financial and resource support Syracuse University provides to undergraduate researchers. Through doing presentations at research fairs, I have met and built connections with several outstanding professors and researchers.

Pérez Lugo: This research is important to me because we aim to find a very easy and realistic intervention that will lead to healthier children. Fish oil can be taken as a supplement but can also be found in certain foods. A good example is adding fatty fish such as salmon to our diet.

Q: For prospective students who want to come to Syracuse University and conduct research, can you give us an idea of the time commitment for this research and how you have fit it into your schedules?

Pérez Lugo: The time commitment has varied depending on the stage of the study we were in. You can spend anywhere from two to 10 hours in the lab each week. It comes down to communicating with your research mentor and setting clear expectations and goals.

I am lucky that Dr. Ramalingam is very flexible and considerate of my class schedule, so it has never been difficult to make time for research. If time commitment is a concern, set a specific time each week dedicated to research and look at it as you would a class or any other commitment where you are expected to attend.

Yang: The first semester of your sophomore year is a good time to go research fairs because the students and professors of various laboratories will introduce their current projects and research topics. The students can target several laboratories based on their interests and leave their contact information to the lab members. Later, they will receive emails from the targeted labs. They can ask more detailed questions, including the schedule.

Mariana Pérez Lugo says her research work in Falk College has provided valuable experience that will benefit her future career in medicine.

When the decision is made, students receive related lab training and start lab work during the second semester of their sophomore year. However, if the student already feels overwhelmed by courses or anything else in their sophomore year, junior year is also a good time to commit to a lab. In my situation, I efficiently took most of the required courses for my double majors in my first two years, so I only needed to take 15 credits of courses per semester in the following two academic years while committing to research. Another smart way to save time is using your research project to apply for an independent study to fulfill 3 credits of major electives.

Q: How valuable has it been/will it be for your career goals to have conducted this research and worked with Dr. Ramalingam on this project?

Yang: This enjoyable working experience in Dr. Ramalingam’s lab helps me see the charm of finding potential solutions to clinical diseases through research. I have changed my career goal from being a physician to a clinical trial researcher for epidemiology.

Now, obtaining an M.D.-Ph.D. degree will be my new academic goal for the coming years. Meanwhile, I have gained good skills in using experimental instruments, including but not limited to RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and gene expression. This has enabled me to build a good skill foundation to start more research studies in the future, even in different science fields.

Pérez Lugo: I joined Dr. Ramalingam’s lab my first semester of freshman year, so I have been part of this study for a long time and am very proud of everything I’ve learned and accomplished. It has taught me so much not only in the lab but in areas such as writing, teamwork and problem-solving.

This has been a valuable opportunity because it has given me research experience that will be beneficial in my career in medicine. Additionally, as data analysis continues, we are also writing our research paper on this study with the intent to publish which will also serve as my senior year honors thesis.

Q: Is there anything else about your experience that you’d like to share?

Junhui “Carol” Yang, shown here at the Honors Research Fair with Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, says her career goal is to become a clinical trial researcher for epidemiology.

Yang: Dr. Ramalingam is very generous and thoughtful. We had a high school student doing a summer research project in our lab, and I had a wonderful working and mentoring experience with her. During the project, whenever we encountered questions, Dr. Ramalingam gave timely help and guidance. Before the student left, Dr. Ramalingam took us out to celebrate. This semester, Dr. Ramalingam organized a team meal for us and praised our efforts!

Pérez Lugo: Being in a research lab has been a major part of my undergraduate career and I am very grateful that Dr. Ramalingam gave me a chance my freshman year. To any student interested in research but doesn’t have a lab yet, my advice would be to reach out and stay in touch with professors whose research interests you. They may not have an open spot now, but they might next semester!

Junhui “Carol” Yang

A native of China, Yang is a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program advisory board and the American Society for Nutrition, and this past fall she was nominated by Falk faculty as a candidate for a Syracuse University and Falk College Scholar Award. She received the Ruth Tolley Award from the Women of the University Community in Spring 2022, and she has received funding/scholarship awards from several Syracuse University programs, including SOURCE, the University Honors Program, International Student Success and Invest in Success.

Mariana Pérez Lugo

A native of Puerto Rico, Pérez Lugo is president of the Catholic Student Association and an EMT for Syracuse University Ambulance and was an orientation leader. She is a Renée Crown University Honors Program student, and received the Nutrition Science and Dietetics Research Award-Undergraduate and the Emili Gere Coon nutrition student award. She has received scholarships/funding for her research as a McNair Scholar, WiSE Undergraduate Research Scholar and SOURCE grant recipient. She is in Spain this semester with the Syracuse Abroad program.