This year, out of 14 student winners nationwide, four are advertising majors. And two of them are from the .

Tori Aragi ’24 and Jordan Leveille ’24, art directors in the Newhouse creative advertising program, won for five advertising campaigns they created in Portfolio 1, the first course for at Newhouse. One campaign by Aragi came from Portfolio III, the final course in the creative advertising track. Aragi and Leveille’s first-ever advertising campaigns were shown in the March/April 2024 print edition of Communication Arts.

“The fun of Portfolio I is that many students come in with no experience,” says , a professor of practice and Aragi and Leveille’s instructor in Portfolio I. “They tell me they’ve never created an advertising campaign before, and I tell them, ‘The work created in this course often goes on to win creative advertising student awards.’ Time and time again, this proves to be true. In my Portfolio I course, I don’t just teach students how to create ad campaigns; I teach them how to create compelling campaigns that are memorable.”

The Award-Winning Campaigns

“Too Tired to Function” for Raycon Wireless Earbuds

Tori Aragi’s campaign with a print ad for Raycon Wireless Earbuds.

Aragi’s “Too Tired to Function” campaign for Raycon Wireless Earbuds includes three print ads and was developed in her Portfolio I course. It is one of her three campaigns featured in this year’s print edition of Communication Arts. This campaign highlights Raycon’s superior battery life by showing Apple AirPods “falling asleep” during inconvenient travel times and uses visual solution advertising to tell this story, altering visuals to communicate the concept of the ad campaign.

“This was my first-ever advertising campaign,” Aragi says. “Professor White taught me how to blend visuals and copy to create this compelling story.”

“Hydroscape” for Hydro Flask

Jordan Leveille’s campaign featured print ads for Hydro Flask.

Leveille’s “Hydroscape” campaign for Hydro Flask, created in Portfolio I, similarly uses a visual solution approach, transforming Hydro Flask bottles into frigid, icy landscapes to represent how well the product keeps liquids cold. This concept visually links Hydro Flasks to glaciers, a recognizable symbol of cold water.

“This is a clever way of visually showing how the water bottle keeps water cold for a very long time,” White says. “Jordan is strikingly adept at using visual solution advertising.”

“Bad Hair Day” for Aveeno

Jordan Leveille’s campaign featured print ads for Aveeno.

Leveille’s “Bad Hair Day” campaign for Aveeno, created in Portfolio I, takes a playful approach with its visual solution. It depicts the torment of dealing with untreated, damaged hair by transforming the hair into a monstrosity. This campaign shows how Aveeno’s Oat Milk Hair Treatment can “tame” unruly hair, thus positioning the product as the solution to achieving hydrated, healthy locks.

“Fries Over Friends” for McDonald’s

Tori Aragi’s campaign featured print ads for McDonald’s.

Aragi’s second featured campaign, “Fries Over Feelings,” created in Portfolio I, captures the universal sting of someone swiping your McDonald’s fries. Aragi turned this everyday betrayal into a memorable ad series, blending serious undertones with exaggerated humor. Her long-form ads amplify the drama of the stolen fries by incorporating clever comedic twists.

“Professor White’s guidance on copy-based advertising was crucial in developing this idea and its comedic touch,” says Aragi.

“I’m Thirsty” for charity: water

For charity: water, a nonprofit dedicated to providing clean drinking water where many do not have access to it, Leveille came up with the idea in Portfolio I to create drinking water cans with no tab on them, making the water inside completely inaccessible. These cans would be placed in vending machines that appear to dispense free cans of water.

The can’s design is meant to give consumers a glimpse of what it’s like for people who lack access to clean drinking water, aiming to generate empathy for the 370 million individuals facing this challenge daily.��The cans lack tabs, so people cannot access the water. This design gives consumers a glimpse into experiencing first-hand, even if it’s just for a few seconds, what it’s like to have no access to clean drinking water.

Each can reads, “By making this can of water impossible to open, we have restricted your access to clean drinking water. Now you can relate to the 10% of our population who lack access to clean water daily. It shouldn’t be this difficult for anyone to quench their thirst.”

Jordan Leveille’s experiential idea for charity: water brings awareness to the fact that one in 10 people globally do not have access to clean water.

This campaign is notable for its innovative use of experiential advertising, creating a powerful and original experience for the consumer.

“The charity: water campaign tangibly recreates water inaccessibility through a completely sealed and visually identifiable can, allowing consumers to experience an issue that many typically don’t in their daily lives,” White says.

“Just Let It Go” for eBay

Aragi’s third campaign, “Just Let It Go” for eBay, was created in Portfolio III. Collaborating with copywriter Kayla Beck ’24, Aragi targeted Generation Z in the United Kingdom with this cheeky campaign.

Tori Aragi’s campaign featuring outdoor posters for eBay.

Through their research, Aragi and Beck said they found that Gen Z struggles to let go of preloved items, even when they have outgrown them. From there, the creative advertising students created a campaign that gives people the snarky shove they need to realize it is finally time to let go.

“Professor White always stressed the importance of simple ideas and cohesive campaigns, which helped me to create this project,” Aragi says.

2024 marks the sixth consecutive year Newhouse creative advertising students have won Communication Arts Students Showcase Awards.

Molly Egan (left) and Marlana Bianchi won the Grand Prix for their Spotify AI idea, “Break the Sound Barrier.” (Photo courtesy of AKQA)

This is part one of a two-part series documenting the first time Newhouse creative advertising students won the Cannes Future Lions Grand Prix.

In June 2024, Newhouse School creative advertising students Molly Egan ’25 and Marlana Bianchi ’24 walked across the stage to claim the most prestigious student award in the world: the Cannes Future Lions Grand Prix, at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France.

The Cannes Lions Awards are so prestigious, they are considered the Oscars of the advertising industry. And this year, Syracuse made history as the first U.S. undergraduate university to win a Cannes Future Lions Grand Prix. In 2018, Syracuse became the first U.S. undergraduate university to ever win a Cannes Future Lions award.

This year’s competition saw entries from 245 schools across 59 countries—three times the number of entries from the previous year.

Each year, the competition releases a brief for students to answer. The brief for the 2024 competition was for Spotify. Egan and Bianchi earned the award through their compelling entry, “,” designed to make music streaming inclusive for the deaf community.

“‘Break the Sound Barrier’ is phenomenal, bravo. My favorite ideas make me deeply jealous that I didn’t think of them. And they make me ask: ‘How has this not been done yet?’ Because it’s so good,” says Avi Steinbach ’14, creative director/writer at Ogilvy and alumnus of the Newhouse creative advertising program.

Steinbach also won his first Cannes Lions Grand Prix this year in the Social and Influencer Category for the “” campaign. He was involved in every aspect of its creation—from the initial concept and pitching CeraVe to the script, social concepts and Super Bowl spot.

The Inspiration Behind the AI Idea��

Egan and Bianchi said their goal was to make music streaming inclusive for the deaf community.

“Sometimes the best ideas are your first ideas,” says Bianchi. “For me, they often come late at night when I’m exhausted and falling asleep at my desk. This idea started like that, and then Molly and I built on it to create something truly unique.”

Egan said their inspiration began with what she called the unforgettable halftime show at the 2023 Super Bowl.

“Rihanna headlined, but she wasn’t the only performer to leave a lasting impression,” she says. “At that time, Marlana was studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and I was in my college house without ESPN, so we both ended up watching the show on YouTube. From our separate corners of the world, we were mesmerized. Rihanna was split screen with Justina Miles. Miles, a deaf sign language performer, didn’t just translate Riri’s music—she embodied it.”

With electrifying energy, Miles created a whole new dimension to the performance. She brought every lyric and note to life, performing each word while dancing to Rihanna’s beats. Her hands told the story, and her body caught the rhythm so precisely that it felt like she was channeling the core of Rihanna’s music, Egan said.

“Marlana and I couldn’t stop replaying her performance, captivated by how she brought the music to life for both deaf and hearing fans,” Egan added.

Little did they know, this was the first time a deaf sign language performer like Miles was invited to join the Super Bowl halftime show. This major move for music inclusivity is what inspired Egan and Bianchi’s award-winning idea.

Another source of inspiration was MasterCard’s “True Name” campaign, which was shared during their Portfolio III course taught by , professor of practice in advertising. The campaign inspired them to think about how ideas can move the needle on inclusivity. “True Name” lets transgender and nonbinary people display their chosen name on their banking cards, regardless of the name on their identification or birth certificate.

The Grand Prix-Winning Idea for Spotify

“Break the Sound Barrier” is a digital idea for Spotify that aims to make music streaming more inclusive to the deaf community by integrating deaf sign language performances into the platform, ensuring that music streaming is accessible to all users, regardless of their hearing ability.

By partnering with deaf performers like Miles and using deepfake technology, “Break the Sound Barrier” can scale deaf performances into over 300 sign languages for each song on the platform. This approach ensures that Spotify will be accessible to the deaf community.

The next part of their idea lets musicians choose to opt into “.” If a musician opts in, Spotify will generate them signing with deepfake technology. This will let musicians perform in all the world’s sign languages for the first time, bringing deaf fans closer to their favorite artists than ever before.

‘‘‘Break the Sound Barrier’ is just so simple. Real problem. Real solution. While so many agencies are trying to find ways to use deepfake and AI, this idea uses it to address a real issue. This idea also starts on the app, but I could see it extending in a number of ways [like real-life concerts]—another good sign of a huge idea,” says Steinbach.

To read the full story, visit .

Story by , senior in the Newhouse School

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

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

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

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

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

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

Erica Kiduko

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coach Mac’s daughters Janet Sweeney and Maureen MacPherson unveil the plaque for the Coach Mac Food Pantry at Hendricks Chapel. They were joined by their families, at left, and Chancellor Kent Syverud, College of Engineering and Computer Science Professor of Practice Dr. Ruth Chen, Sean McDonough ’84 and Vice President and Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol. (Photos by Zobayer Joti)

For 10 seasons, Syracuse football coach Richard “Dick” MacPherson (Coach Mac) led his team on the gridiron–propelling Syracuse Football back to the national powerhouse it once was. But it was the legendary football coach’s commitment to faith, family and the Orange that left an indelible mark on the Syracuse University community and the City of Syracuse. Although Coach Mac passed away in 2017, his legacy lives on at Syracuse University and in the former student-athletes and students whose lives he touched.

Last month, members of the Syracuse University community, Coach Mac’s family and loved ones, former student-athletes and alumni gathered to celebrate the dedication of the at Hendricks Chapel. The devout Catholic and dedicated family man was born in 1930 amid the Great Depression, the eleventh of 12 children. Like so many families during that time, putting food on the table wasn’t easy. That’s an experience Coach Mac never forgot. And that’s why it is only fitting that nearly a century later, the food pantry at Hendricks Chapel, at his beloved Syracuse University, now bears his name.

Sean McDonough ’84 provided a lead gift for the renaming of the food pantry.

The naming of the food pantry was made possible by generous benefactors, including the lead gift from Sean McDonough ’84, longtime sportscaster and member of the Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board. McDonough met Coach Mac in the fall of 1980, worked for him for three and a half years as a work-study assistant, and maintained a special relationship with him.

“He became to me a father figure, a mentor, a shining example of how life should be lived, particularly by someone in the public eye,” McDonough says. “He was a Hall of Fame person who embodied his considerable Catholic faith through his abundant love and kindness. Much more than one of the greatest football coaches of all time, he was an all-time great as a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, son, friend, mentor and a citizen of the world. He radiated God’s love in his interactions with everyone he encountered. He cared about everyone, everyone was and is important to Coach Mac. God is love. And Coach Mac was and is love.”

In recent years, McDonough, the MacPherson family and Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol began exploring ways to properly honor the man Coach Mac was off the field.

“We decided the food pantry would be the right place, the perfect place to honor Coach Mac and his life of compassionate care and service to others,” McDonough said. “In the place where faith is nourished and where people of many beliefs come to grow deeper in their faith.”

Cameron MacPherson ’16. G’18, Coach Mac’s grandson, looks at photos of his legendary grandfather.

In attendance at the naming ceremony and dedication were Chancellor Kent Syverud, Dr. Ruth Chen and members of the MacPherson family including Coach Mac’s daughters, Maureen MacPherson L’84 and Janet Sweeney ’85, G’92; son-in-law Greg Sweeney; and grandchildren Richard “Macky” MacPherson ’13, G’18, and his wife, Rachel, Cameron MacPherson ’16, G’18 and Suzy MacPherson ’20 and Molly Sweeney. Coach Mac’s wife, Sandra, who became a surrogate mom to many of Coach Mac’s players, died in January.

During his remarks, Konkol reflected on the significance of naming ceremonies. “Today we celebrate that the name of Richard MacPherson, Coach Mac, will be displayed here at Hendricks Chapel,” said Konkol. “We celebrate that from this day forward, more people will see his name. More people will be inspired by his name. Because more will associate his name with faith, with kindness, with generosity and with service.”

Coach Mac’s daughters, Janet Sweeney ’85, G’92 and Maureen MacPherson L’84, outside the food pantry named in honor of their father.

Chancellor Syverud recalled the first time he met Coach Mac, sharing breakfast together at the Chancellor’s House shortly after his arrival in Syracuse in 2014.

“He did most of the talking, and he talked about three subjects: football, family and Syracuse,” Chancellor Syverud recalled. “His greatest joy would be seeing the great human beings that each member of his family continues to be. What we’re doing right here is we’re honoring a good man.”

During the ceremony, a plaque that welcomes visitors to the food pantry was unveiled. Maureen MacPherson reflected on her father’s service off the field. “When he did food drives with the Salvation Army, it was personal to him. And for him to have this food pantry named after him, he’d be thrilled,” she said.

There are currently two food pantries on campus: the Coach Mac Food Pantry in Hendricks Chapel and another on South Campus. Both pantries rely on and donations.

Alison Murray, the chapel’s assistant dean for student assistance, is reminded daily of the importance of the food pantry. “Whenever someone supports the work of the pantry, they are directly supporting our students,” she said.

Leondra Tyler, Hendricks Chapel student engagement coordinator and a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, says “the Coach Mac Food Pantry plays an important role in the heart of campus in Hendricks Chapel. It allows students to have less worries, enhance their college experiences and succeed.”

Following the dedication ceremony, Coach Mac, who served as coach of the Orange from 1981-90, was inducted into the Ring of Honor during halftime of the Orange vs. Connecticut game in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Ghael Fobes ’22, an alumnus of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, has been named a 2025 Marshall Scholar.

The Marshall Scholarship program was created by an Act of British Parliament in 1953 as a living memorial to former U.S. Secretary of State Gen. George C. Marshall and American assistance provided following World War II. The scholarship allows up to three years of fully funded graduate study in any academic topic at any university in the United Kingdom. Fobes is one of 36 students selected from around the country and is Syracuse University’s seventh Marshall Scholar.

“Marshall Scholars continue to represent the very best of American society, dedicating their time and effort to address some of the great challenges of our time, from cyber security and artificial intelligence to advancing our knowledge of the universe,” says Dame Karen Pierce, British ambassador to the U.S. “The Marshall Scholarship remains an integral part of the U.K.-U.S. relationship, established through British gratitude to General Marshall at the end of WWII. We are delighted to welcome such a diverse and talented group of students to the U.K. next year as they continue their studies at some of the U.K.’s top academic institutions.”

Fobes plans to pursue two master’s degrees—in data and artificial intelligence (AI) ethics and in future governance—at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He began producing for NBC News as an intern in college and is currently an associate White House producer for NBC News in Washington, D.C. In his position, he has a firsthand perspective on the role that AI is playing in journalism today.

“I think the effects right now are pretty wide-ranging and pose some great opportunities and challenges,” Fobes says. “For example, we’ve been using artificial intelligence tools at NBC News to make transcription more efficient and effective. We also use them to help verify the provenance of social media content. As for challenges, I think anybody using social media has seen a flood in content created with generative AI. That presents significant obstacles to journalists’ ability to quickly determine the veracity��of content.”

Building upon his Marshall experience, Fobes hopes to return to NBC News ready to lead an innovation office embedded in the network’s newsgathering operation. “My goal is to develop ethical workflows that enhance our ability to gather and present news, focusing specifically on expanding efforts to combat digital misinformation,” he says.

As an undergraduate, Fobes majored in broadcast and digital journalism in the Newhouse School and minored in political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences. He was a Syracuse University Scholar and Commencement class speaker in 2022, and says he continues to carry his Syracuse University experience with him.

“My coursework and the faculty at Newhouse and Maxwell deepened my technical knowledge of broadcasting, sharpened my storytelling skills, and broadened my understanding of domestic and international politics,” he says.��“While a lot��of the learning behind my broadcast degree allowed me to hone my use of a camera, what was truly enriching was learning from Professor Les Rose about the subtleties��of interviewing and story development. It is not just about what catches someone’s eye, but is also about finding ways of introducing your audience to new people, places and perspectives.”

Fobes says his academic experience prepared him for working at NBC News. “It gives me a great foundation for approaching my Marshall Scholarship proposal for developing ethical newsgathering workflows with AI,” he says.

“I am especially grateful to Syracuse for its focus on preparing students with professional development and networking opportunities, and for its satellite campuses in New York City and Washington, D.C,” he says. “Specifically, I’m thankful for Professor Cheryl Brody Franklin’s mentorship through the Newhouse NYC program and Professor Charlotte Grimes, who led the Robin Toner Program in Political Reporting, which I was a part of for four years. They opened the door that allowed me to intern at NBC News throughout my time at SU.”

Fobes��also worked for the Daily Orange. He led the newspaper’s audio department, expanding its footprint as the founder, editor and host of “The Daily Orange” podcast.��“I am grateful to the Daily Orange for giving me the creative space and resources to launch our weekly podcast. Leading the podcast taught me how to pitch and integrate new technologies into the operations of a storied newspaper,” he says.

Fobes worked with the University’s Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) on his Marshall application.

“Ghael’s extraordinary record of service and leadership in his field—and his preparation for and commitment to graduate study in artificial intelligence ethics—made him an outstanding candidate for the Marshall Scholarship,” says Jolynn Parker, director of the CFSA.��“We are thrilled this award will help him achieve his goals.”

Fobes is grateful to Parker and CFSA. “I would not have known about, pursued or completed the application, much less gotten the award, without Jolynn’s encouragement and guidance,” he says. “I am also grateful for the professors who took the time to conduct mock interviews with me.”

Students interested in applying for national scholarships that require University endorsement, such as the Marshall Scholarship, should complete an “intent to apply” form with Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising by the end of June 2025 and plan to work with��.

The Syracuse University football game day kit has everything you need to show your Orange pride and support our amazing student-athletes.

Get pumped, Orange Nation! Excitement is building as the Syracuse University football team gets ready for the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl in sunny San Diego, California, on Friday, Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. Remember this winning season with your very own game day kit, which has everything you need to show your Orange pride and support our amazing student-athletes.

What’s in the Game Day Kit?

Inspired by favorite traditions like “beat buttons” and banner flips, the kit includes:

• an 11-inch by 17-inch poster featuring Coach Fran Brown to track the season’s games;
• an 8.5-inch by 11-inch sticker sheet with Beat [Opponent] banners, game dates and pennant stickers to customize your poster;
• five Otto temporary tattoos to boost your game-day spirit; and
• a small felt Syracuse pennant to add some Orange flair to any space

How Can I Get One?

and make a gift of $10 or more to the Athletics Opportunity Fund, and a kit will be sent straight to you!��Get your game day kit now and cheer on the Orange while supporting our student-athletes. It’s a win-win, just like we’re hoping the end of this season will be with a win in the Holiday Bowl. Let’s go, Syracuse!

The Intelligence++ program is an interdisciplinary initiative that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship to enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. It was established in 2020 in collaboration with the (InclusiveU) and the .

The program features an inclusive entrepreneurship and design curriculum open to students across disciplines which encourages participants to design and develop tangible solutions that address challenges faced by people with intellectual disabilities. Students work in teams to conceptualize and prototype innovations in a hands-on, inclusive approach that blends principles of design thinking, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

Gianfranco Zaccai ’70 H’09 works with students from Intelligence++ program in the Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University Libraries.

The program is supported by the Zaccai Foundation for Augmented Intelligence, thanks to a generous donation from Gianfranco Zaccai ’70 H’09. This funding underscores a commitment to translating research and creativity into real-world applications that promote accessibility and empowerment for individuals with disabilities.

“From artificial intelligence to digital technologies and physical products, this field is positioned for rapid growth,” says Zaccai, who hopes the program will attract students from diverse academic disciplines, fostering innovation in accessibility. “Participating students can join the leading edge of innovation.”

, introduced as an extension of the program, provides additional funding and resources to commercialize these ideas, enabling students to take their projects from concept to market-ready solutions. Students from all schools and colleges can apply for the Intelligence ++ Ventures fund, regardless of their participation in the original Intelligence++ course. The applications are rolling and will be reviewed as received. Applications are not limited to students in the Intelligence ++ program; however, applicants who have worked with the program can demonstrate the necessary discovery work with people in the field to validate their invention or innovation.

Applicants must submit a detailed project proposal, along with a scope and budget supported by a business commercialization plan that demonstrates a clearly identified production and sales path. Students must also demonstrate that they have a production or manufacturing partner capable of producing their innovation, and/or a technical team in place to deploy a commercial roll-out. Submissions must be beyond the concept stage and should have the potential to be deployed in the market within six months. If successfully executed, a student may apply for a second grant to introduce a new product line. A maximum of two grants may be awarded through the program.

An interdisciplinary group of faculty with expertise working in the disability field will make up the review team for proposals.

More information about Intelligence ++ is available . An Intelligence ++ application template can be requested by email or by visiting Bird Library Room 123.

Madison Manning (Cinderella), right, and Trisha Jeffrey (Fairy Godmother) in “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” (Photos by Michael Davis)

Manning plays Cinderella in the production that runs through Jan. 5 in the Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage. All evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. while all matinee performances begin at 2 p.m. Tickets may be , by phone at 315.443.3275 or in person at the Syracuse Stage Box Office.

Manning shares insights into the production and her role.

What can audience members expect from this production?

They can expect a modern twist to it, especially because this is “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” It’s not something that’s very complex in language, and it’s more contemporary in its scene work, general dialogue, blocking techniques and the demeanor to which we perform the show.

Besides expecting a contemporary aspect, they can expect a lot of beauty in the staging, projections, lighting and costuming. Regardless of if they’re following the story or listening to the singing, people will come in and enjoy getting to see such beauty and attention to detail in the visual aspect of it. They can expect to see a heartwarming story that visually, emotionally and mindfully has a lot of love, care and warmth put into it.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your performance?

I’m big on finding inspiration in multiple mediums of art. Most of it comes from other theater, a lot of film and TV, and a few years ago I got into reading a lot of young adult fantasy novels. Even though those stories can be different from the ones told in theater, just tapping into different mediums of storytelling has been a big inspiration for how to tell a story to specific audiences with specific material or storylines.

If it had to be a person, I draw a lot of inspiration from Patina Miller and Cynthia Erivo—Black, female artists that are not only talented but driven and know how to collaborate with other artists. I also draw a lot of inspiration from the faculty at Syracuse and my peers. When you’re in class, watching other people perform, whether there’s solo performances, duets and trios, or scene work, you learn from your peers because you’re constantly watching them grow.

What do you want to convey in the character?

Cinderella speaks with animals.

In the original Disney movie, it literally says that Cinderella was abused, humiliated and forced to be a servant in her own home. Despite all of that, she woke up every single day with hope and optimism. She still showed the stepfamily gentleness and reverence in the face of their hatred and unjustified anger.

The biggest thing I want to convey about the character is that she’s not a damsel in distress and that her strength comes from her ability to choose kindness in the face of adversity. It’s much easier to be mean right back to somebody that’s being mean to you. It’s even harder to show them kindness, continuously show them love and make them a part of your life despite what they’ve done.

What’s the best part about becoming this classic character, Cinderella?

“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” co-produced by Syracuse Stage and the Department of Drama in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, runs through Jan. 5.

The best part, besides wearing beautiful costumes and telling such a fun story, is getting to inspire little boys and girls throughout the Syracuse area. When I was a phantom in “A Christmas Carol” [the Syracuse Stage/Department of Drama co-production] last year, I got to crawl up and down the aisles and look into the faces of people. For children’s matinees, there were a lot of Black and brown children in the audience. The first thing I thought when I got cast was, “How great is it going to be for those boys and girls to see themselves represented on stage, not just as a side character or someone in the ensemble but someone who’s playing the main lead.”

Adeera Harris ’25, my cast member who plays Grace, also pointed out that it’s such a blessing to not see the pigeonholed stereotype of the Black girls, the sassy sidekick or the mean girls; rather, you get to see People of Color in our cast play the prince, the princess, one of the step-sisters, ensemble members and the fairy godmother. You get to see so much diversity that I think will impact a lot of children. My hope is that they take away that things are still possible, and it’s possible for them to be a source of inspiration and encouragement for others.

What’s the most challenging part of this role?

The most challenging part is definitely the singing. After doing three previews, I’m still nervous about getting through all 50-plus shows with this score. It’s a very demanding role vocally in a way that I’m not used to. I would consider myself a belter, but this role requires me to use my reinforced mix, which I’m just now developing as an artist.

I didn’t come into college with vocal training. I did choir in high school but never one-on-one training for my vocal instrument, so I always felt a little late to the game in terms of singing. I knew going into this I would need to really prepare and know these songs like the back of my hand, so that even if I was sick or lost my voice and got it back two minutes before curtain, I’d be able to do the show.

To read the full story, visit the .

Photo by Marilyn Hesler

Need to de-stress this finals week? How about spending some time with a 102-pound, want-to-be lap dog? There’s also a fluffy Alaskan Malamute who loves to be smothered with hugs or everyone’s favorite Goldendoodle.

These friendly, furry campus visitors are part of the , which partners with community organizations to offer pet therapy opportunities throughout the semester, especially during finals. Don’t miss your chance to snuggle with one of these furry friends in the Walters Pet Therapy Room in The Barnes Center at The Arch.

SU News caught up with three of the therapy dogs that frequent the University—Bella,�� Samuel and Clayton—and their owners to learn a little more about each.

Bella and Stepien at a Syracuse Mets game (Photo courtesy of Sue Stepien)

Bella

Bella is a 102-pound Bernese Mountain dog who just celebrated her sixth birthday this past Saturday. This is the second year that Bella and her owner, Sue Stepien, have been part of Pet Partners of CNY—a nationally recognized therapy animal program serving Central New York—and have been visiting the University.

Bella, who thinks she is a lap dog despite her size, is so smart that she knows when it is time to head out into the community in the afternoons. The pair not only visit the University but also the local hospitals and schools.

“We love to get out and meet new people,” Stepien says. “The students especially, they love to chat about their pets back home.”

Not only will you see Bella in the Walters Pet Therapy Room, but you may also see her at various special events on campus.

Samuel

Samuel and Raterman at the Teal Ribbon Walk. The pair participated in honor of Raterman’s grandmother, who passed away from ovarian cancer. Samuel has been asked to lead the walk this coming year. (Photo courtesy of Kim Raterman)

Samuel is a 90-pound Alaskan Malamute who recently turned four. He and his owner, Kim Raterman, work as a team to facilitate their mission of bringing health and happiness to all.

Raterman, a certified health coach, uses pet therapy as part of her practice since it aids in reducing stress, improving motivation and increasing overall health. The pair has also been with Pet Partners of CNY for two years.

Not only do they visit the University, but they also visit other schools and adult day centers and participate in wellness events, including walks in the community. However, visiting the University holds a special meaning to them.

“The students’ faces light up immediately when they see Samuel,” Raterman says. “I love to watch his body language when we are at an event. He has the ability to pick out the person in a group who needs him the most, even when they might not be aware of how much they need him. It’s beautiful to watch.”

You can follow the adventures of Samuel on his .

Clayton

Last, but certainly not least, is Clayton. He is an 8-year-old Goldendoodle who has been visiting the University through the Pet Partners program for seven years. You may have seen his cute face before as he is often featured in promotional ads for the University’s pet therapy program.

What is unique about Clayton? There are five members of the Vescio/Arcuri family who are all certified to go out in the community with him. How did this all start? Pet Partners of CNY had a recruiting table in one of the local pet stores, and while at the time Clayton was too young, once he became a year old and was eligible, Nick Vescio, his wife, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter all became certified. The family works together to attend events all over the community but says the University is their favorite.

“We love engaging with the students and making genuine connections with them,” Vescio says. “They will sit down and talk about their dogs and show us pictures and they like to look at a photo album we carry with us with pictures of Clayton since he was a pup.”

The Vescio/Arcuri family with Clayton (Photo courtesy of Nick Vescio)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

, FYS associate director, has worked with the for the past three years. This fall, FYS 101 student volunteers compiled 480 winter-care packages of warm clothing, snacks and personal care items for Rescue Mission clients. FYS 101 lead instructors and peer leaders also helped package meals for the organization’s annual Thanksgiving dinner, which is open to anyone in need.

As a result of that relationship, leaders from the Rescue Mission invited Luckman and FYS students to participate in this year’s donation drive, “,” on Sunday, Dec. 8. Luckman will appear as an on-air telethon guest between 12:30 and 12:50 p.m. He’ll talk about the purpose of FYS, the University’s partnership with the Rescue Mission and how the organizations work together to help community members while providing positive experiences for students. He and some student volunteers were also invited to answer telethon phones to receive viewer pledges.

Jimmy Luckman

The ability to help others through community volunteerism resonates with students, Luckman says. He believes the Rescue Mission’s motto, “Put Love Into Action,” reflects how students can see the immediate impact of their efforts.

“Our lead instructors and peer leaders have love for our campus and the local community. They recognize that helping people who need emergency shelter, housing, clothing, food, employment, educational resources and connections to other services—which the Rescue Mission provides—is a transformational experience that creates positive change within the community we love. As part of their exploration of the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), working in the community provides tangible experiences [that connect] to what we discuss in class,” Luckman says. “ is a tool that creates connections to help make Syracuse home and to actively engage in DEIA work outside of the classroom. We’re happy to have this relationship with the Rescue Mission and to work with several other local organizations to help make a difference in the community.”

“Movie With a Mission,” now in its 35^th year, will air from noon to 3 p.m. on . The telethon features the 1935 movie classic, “Scrooge.” The fundraising goal is $85,000, and pledges can be made by calling 315.446.9999. Gifts made before and during the program will be matched by community sponsors.

Aakanksha Maheshwari ’25 MSBA, Vaijayanthi Kadhiravan ’26 MBA/M.A. (international relations, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs) and Trang Nguyen ’25 MBA didn’t even know each other before they joined together to compete in the competition sponsored by the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke. Thanks to introductions from mutual friends and the Whitman Women in Business Club, the three came together due to their diversity of talents to enter the competition along with 71 teams from 35 schools in 10 countries. Maheshwari reached out to Erin Draper, director of experiential learning, who helped the group secure funding to travel to the competition in North Carolina and offered the team assistance in preparing for the event.

“Each of us brought our strengths to the competition,” says Maheshwari. “I am good at research and market analysis. Trang is good at financial modeling, and Vaijayanthi has expertise in geographical research and a background in geopolitics. One thing we all have in common, though, is that we are all so organized and structured. We decided to go for this and test our research competition skills. And, we are grateful that the Whitman School is so supportive of experiential learning opportunities like this and provided us with the financial support we needed to get to the finals.”

The case competition was based around Zembo, an emobility pioneer based in Uganda that is striving to build the country’s largest battery-swapping network for e-motorcycles. The two-wheelers provide affordable transportation while reducing carbon emissions.

In Uganda alone, there are more than 600,000 self-employed motorcycle taxi drivers (known as boda boda drivers) providing transportation to approximately 60% of the population. The competing teams worked on a case study that looked at whether Zembo should supply a hybrid model or use internal investments to expand, particularly because the e-motorcycles require recharging by swapping out the entire battery again and again.

“Our teamwork was excellent. Each of us took ownership of various tasks, which gave us time to think of ideas, and no one was cross-checking or micromanaging,” says Nguyen, of the team’s preparation for the competition.

“Team OG,” as the three Whitman students called themselves, made it through Stage 1 with a summary document of a proposed solution and Stage 2 with a PowerPoint presentation explaining their solution to Zembo senior managers. Then, they were invited to Duke University to compete in the finals, giving a 20-minute in-person presentation in front of a panel of judges.

The Whitman team proposed a hybrid solution that utilized a franchisee and internal investment model with multiple charging outlets established at malls, gas stations and commercial and residential buildings. Their idea proposed that Zembo could share the cost of building an entire infrastructure, while also outlining the financials of what the project might look like in seven years.

Presenting last in the competition, the team’s creative approach in the final round ensured they had the judges’ full attention by intermingling their slides with short videos and a role playing scenario between a fictitious investor and CEO to more clearly explain their proposal.

In the end, the Whitman team took first place and a $10,000 cash prize. All three are not only enjoying the prize money but, more importantly, valuing what they learned by competing together in this competition.

“As the only first-year graduate student on my team, I had the opportunity to learn so many things from my teammates,” says Kadhiravan. “Students at Whitman are busy as bees. Had it not been for the competition, I don’t think there would have been as many chances for me to interact so deeply with those who knew more than me.”

“I have been skeptical about what field I want to pursue. But, during this case study competition I really liked the research and think I will continue exploring this further, particularly in the field of AI,” Maheshwari says. “It was a great experience in getting to know myself, and I think we have all become more confident from this competition. We are proud to have brought first place home for Syracuse University and the Whitman School.”

These seniors have been involved as students taking the course in their first year of college, then as peer leaders for (FYS) for three subsequent years. The one-credit, 15-week required course engages students in��conversations, activities and assignments about making the transition to life on campus. It not only serves as an introductory course to Syracuse University, but also actively builds community, connects students to faculty/staff and each other, and encourages a positive transition to a new environment. Within that setting, students explore the topics of belonging, interdependence, wellness, development of identity, socialization, discrimination, bias and stereotypes.

First Year Seminar students Amya Jenkins, left, and Luis Gomez at an information table representing the program at Bird Library’s Welcome Fest. (Photo by Jimmy Luckman)

Since the program began in 2021, more than 500 faculty, staff and students have participated in FYS in various roles. They’ve served as����(faculty, staff and graduate students) or��as ��(undergraduate students). Lead instructors partner with peer leaders to guide seminar discussions for class sections. With some 4,000-plus new students in first-year classes, and with sections capped at 19 students to create an intimate, seminar atmosphere, 225 students were needed to fill the peer leader role in 2024.

Peer leaders are the embodiment of FYS and they are the connectors that are integral to the program, say , FYS director, and Jimmy Luckman, associate director. Peer leaders work in conjunction with lead instructors to guide discussions that are anchored around increasing students’ sense of belonging on campus.

“The program isn’t advanced only by faculty and staff; peer leaders are a big part of the FYS experience. They are connectors for FYS participants and they’re conduits who facilitate discussions on many issues while sharing the kinds of University resources that are available. They connect students where students want to be connected. Through discussions, they can transform the classroom experience, providing a space for sometimes difficult conversations, and that’s been a very strong thing,” Luckman says.

The past four years have been a time of growth for the program, as the previous FYS leaders, Schantz and her team have built “a great foundation,” she says. “Now, we are looking ahead and seeing how to enrich the peer leader experience.”

In addition to monthly leadership development meetings for peer leaders, Luckman says the team is considering creating a peer leader development model and potentially expanding leadership opportunities for the students. ��They are also conducting focus groups to obtain feedback on the peer leader role and may form a peer leader alumni group. They also hired a coordinator to supervise peer leaders and manage the myriad details of hiring and tracking a 200-plus student workforce.

In addition to working with First Year Seminar classes, peer leaders commit time to community service projects, such as a “Blessings in a Backpack” food initiative to help local school children.

While hundreds of peer leaders are needed each year, Luckman says it has not been difficult to recruit for those roles because students love working with fellow students and they understand the value community-building work adds to their background and experience. Many also recognize the role as a chance to develop leadership skills and want to take advantage of that, Luckman says.

The team asked for peer leader feedback to continue to enhance the position and the co-facilitation model the course follows. Schantz says the responses showed the importance of the lead instructor and peer leader in creating a positive atmosphere in the course. Another factor that influenced peer leaders returning to their roles in subsequent years is the respectful environment that peer leaders form with their students.

Four students who took FYS their first year on campus and then stayed on as peer leaders for the next three years are set to graduate this spring. They shared with SU News their reasons for deciding to remain in those roles and what the program has meant to them since their earliest days at the University.

Mariana Godinez-Andraca

Mariana Godinez-Andraca, a dual public relations/psychology major in the and the , is an international student from Mexico City. She likes that FYS embraces “uncomfortable” conversations, such as discussions about cultural awareness, microaggressions and learning to have empathy for others, she says.

“What I value most is that FYS embraces these conversations wholeheartedly, creating a space where students can open up, challenge their beliefs and grow into more empathetic individuals.” She says she has appreciated “sharing my experiences and cultural background…in a space where we actively listen to each other and where everyone’s stories and perspectives enrich our understanding, broadening my own cultural awareness while giving me a meaningful platform to share my journey. I hope I leave an impression that encourages others to embrace diversity and engage more thoughtfully with the world around them.”

Aaron Hong

Aaron Hong, a finance and accounting major in the , credits FYS for helping him overcome difficulty returning to in-person classes after almost two years of virtual learning during COVID. Coming from a mostly white community in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hong says he appreciated the focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. “As a person of Asian heritage, those conversations are very important to me. This experience gave me a different lens on diversity. Having the opportunity to have those conversations and to share those experiences is pretty important.”

Adira Ramirez

Adira Ramirez, a library studies and information management and technology student in the , says participating in FYS for four years has helped her become skilled in how to talk to people in different ways, confidently address a public audience and “better understand people and explain to them who I am in a more cohesive way.”

She says learning about the concept of intersectionality—where everyone has multiple layers of identity that comprise who they are—”has taken me by storm. It’s our lens. It teaches who your audience is, how we learn things, how we view the world and how the world views us.”

N​ehilah Grand-Pierre, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School, finds the give-and-take between FYS participants and peer leaders invigorating and gratifying.

Nehilah Grand-Pierre

When FYS participants were offered the opportunity to ask peer leaders any question about any topic, she says one participant asked how to discover one’s self-worth while in college. “I said the best way is to not define your self-worth through other people. I told how studying abroad in London forced me to stop defining myself by the activities and relationships I had on main campus, and instead define myself by my reactions to all the new things I was experiencing. I said what happens to you doesn’t define you, but how you react to those situations does. I recognized that as a senior, I had so much experience to pull from, and I saw how real experiences helped drive discussions.”

Applications for peer leader positions are now being accepted for the 2025 sessions, says Luckman. Interested students who want to become a peer leader can apply by early December through the Handshake website. More information is available by emailing�� firstyear@syr.edu��or contacting the program office at 315.443.9035.

The Fall 2024 Orange Innovation Fund award winners are (from left to right): Brianna Gillfillian, Waqar Hussain, Emeka Ossai, Ava Lubkemann, and Tosin Alabi.

Syracuse University Libraries announced the seven award recipients for the Fall 2024 grant. Each of the following will receive a $5,000 grant to pursue research initiatives emerging from campus innovation programs. Recipients are:

• Angelo Niforatos G’25 (), founded Niffy Drone Solutions LLC, a drone operation and data analysis solution to improve decision-making, for its stage two prototype. “I finally pursued what I’d been discussing for five years thanks to Syracuse University,” says Niforatos. “I had no idea Syracuse offered so many opportunities like the Innovation Grant to help me gain enough confidence to take that leap and chase my dream.”
• Ava Lubkemann ’27 (), founded Revamped, an eco-conscious initiative reimagining thrift shopping and waste reduction through a mobile model using an upcycled school bus pop-up and donation platform. “This funding gives me the ability to create a venture that addresses the problem of textile waste, particularly on college campuses,” says Lubkemann. “I am excited to build my proof of concept this spring and become part of the projected $82 billion secondhand retail market,�� meeting the demand for sustainable and affordable fashion.”
• Brianna Gillfillian ’24, G’25 (Engineering and Computer Science), founded STEAMfluence, a Science Technology Engineering Art Math (STEAM) pilot summer program for students of color and students in underserved communities. “With the help of Orange Innovation Fund, I will be able to turn dreams into reality and take steps to make the change I aspire to see in the world,” says Gillfillian. “STEAMfluence is not just a venture, it is a pillar of hope for many young people who think they could not advance in a career in STEAM.”
• Emeka Christopher Ossai G’25 (Whitman), founded CampusLabs, which equips university students in developing economies with critical skills needed for entrepreneurship and work. After successfully piloting CampusLabs Nigeria incubator, Ossai is now focusing on creating a hybrid program to expand participation. “This Orange Innovation Fund allows me to bring to life a startup accelerator that’s the first of its kind for university students in Nigeria, combining virtual learning with a direct residency… now we can finally reach talented university founders who would not have had access before because of where they live,” Ossai says. “It’s a real opportunity to see how this model can work across different regions and make entrepreneurship support more accessible.”
• Tony Goncalves ’27 (Engineering and Computer Science), founded GymIn, a comprehensive hardware and digital platform solution to track the use of gym equipment in real-time, optimizing usage and user experience. Goncalves is collaborating with the Barnes Center on a pilot. “GymIn is revolutionizing the fitness industry by providing a comprehensive hardware and digital platform solution for gym owners and users,” says Goncalves. “This award will help us create our minimally viable product to test with gyms to optimize operations, reduce costs, and enhance the gym experience for members through data-driven insights.”
• Tosin Alabi G’25 (Whitman), founded Diabetech, a smart bandage solution for diabetes wound care. Alabi is working on a prototype that integrates an electronic sensor with mobile application and artificial intelligence analytics to detect diabetic ulcers. Alabi, who lost her father to diabetes at a young age, recently completed the NSF I-Corps program offered by Syracuse University and received EB-1 visa status based on her work on Diabetech. The EB-1 visa was issued by the U.S. government to Albert Einstein to extend protections of official residence. Now referred to as the “Einstein Visa,” it recognizes very select researchers with extraordinary talents for their potential to contribute to the American scientific community. “When we prevent a diabetic amputation, we’re not just saving a limb, we’re keeping families walking together longer,” Alabi says.
• Waqar Hussain G’25 (Whitman), founded Iconnic.cloud, an artificial intelligence-driven compute pricing arbitrage platform. “As a dedicated participant in the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, I am grateful for this award to help us build spot compute pricing arbitrage powered by AI,” says Hussain, a Fulbright Scholar.��We are confident that with the support of the Orange Innovation Fund we can revolutionize cloud management services for small and medium-sized businesses.”

The Orange Innovation Fund, a “concept to commercialization” grant fund, is intended to help move graduate and undergraduate student research or scholarly projects from ideation to proof of concept and commercialization. Initial funding came from a gift to Syracuse University Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, a member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees. The program is administered through Syracuse University Libraries, in collaboration with the University’s research and commercialization programs.

Student awardees submitted comprehensive grant proposals that outlined specific, tangible needs related to prototype development while assessing the product, service or technology they are developing. A multi-disciplinary team of University faculty and alumni founders who helped develop the concept for the fund made the award selections. Awards are tied to milestones associated with defined projects over a clear time with identified outcomes.

The spring 2025 funding round will open in winter 2025, with proposals due by March 28, 2025. For more information, email OrangeInnovation@syr.edu.

Bradford Smith (left) working with Danielle Lanphere (right) during a conversation club meeting at the Gebbie Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic. He and other individuals who use Alternative Augmentative Communication to help express themselves gather weekly to build community and expand their communication abilities.

“At each meeting, members share stories, thoughts and plans while participating in engaging and fun activities,” says Hammerle. “This allows them to grow the complexity of their language, increase efficiency with AAC use, and develop a sense of community and support through interaction with other individuals utilizing AAC.”

Michael Theobald (right) uses a Smartbox Gridpad speech-generating device to communicate with others at a conversation club meeting.

Practical Experience

Meetings revolve around a specific theme, and participants take part in various related activities, including games, trivia and guided discussions. Some recent group exercises have included filling out a March Madness bracket, participating in Syracuse history trivia and planning a cross-country road trip.

Each session is planned and facilitated by graduate students, with oversight from Hammerle and other faculty. Through this experience, students acquire transferable skills that will benefit their careers as speech-language pathologists after graduation. They learn how to:

• Use different types of high-tech alternative augmentative communication devices;
• Assist group members with programming and troubleshooting; and
• Operate various software used by each participant.

Alongside these practical skills, students also build relational competencies through their interactions with group members, allowing them to see AAC users as individuals rather than just focusing on their devices.

“By spending a semester in the group, they form great relationships with the AAC users that can help inform their empathy and clinical care in the field,” says Hammerle.

Spreading AAC Awareness

To help educate the public about Alternative Augmentative Communication, several organizations came together in 2007 to designate October as AAC Awareness Month. It marks a time to celebrate individuals who utilize AAC for communication and create supportive communities for AAC users. Each October, members of the conversation club create outreach initiatives to express their unique perspectives, and this year they produced a news article. According to Hammerle, the goal was to help make the public aware of what AAC is, provide tips for communicating with AAC users and express what AAC means to them.

Below are excerpts from the team’s news article, lightly edited for length and clarity:

The Significance of AAC Awareness Month

This month encourages advocacy, education and understanding, helping to raise awareness about the diverse methods of communication available. By promoting AAC, we aim to empower users, foster connections and enhance inclusivity, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to express themselves and be heard.

By raising awareness, we can break down barriers and misconceptions surrounding communication challenges, empowering individuals to express themselves fully. AAC awareness encourages empathy, patience and support from friends, family and the community, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for those who rely on these tools. As we advocate for AAC, we promote not only the right to communicate but also the celebration of diverse perspectives, reminding us that every individual’s voice matters.

The Advantages of AAC for its Users

Mike, an AAC user who comes to the Gebbie Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic for conversation club, says that AAC serves as a vital means of communication for him, as it helps him “get the thoughts out of [his] head. I don’t want them going into the ether.”

Shannon, another member of the conversation club, says that while some people may use AAC occasionally, for others, “it’s a lifeline to the rest of the world so we aren’t so encapsulated in our own heads with our own thoughts.”

Tips for Effective Communication with AAC Users

Brad, a member of the conversation club, says that AAC is “unpredictable technology. They want to work when they want to work.” Shannon added, “just because I use this to speak doesn’t mean I don’t understand what you say and do.” Brad says that AAC is akin to learning a foreign language, and often, the user may be the only person in their family fluent in this form of communication, highlighting the need for patience and empathy from those around them.

The group notes, “We want people communicating with AAC users to know that the process can be time-consuming.” Mike says, “Just give [us] time to speak. It may take a while, but [we] may have something important to say.”

The group notes that everyone deserves to have the time they need to express themselves fully, so patience is key. Rushing the conversation can lead to missed opportunities for deeper understanding, so allowing for that extra time can make all the difference in fostering genuine communication.

If you use AAC and would like to find out more about the conversation club or learn about the clinic’s other services, visit the website or contact them at gebbie@syr.edu.

Through a new initiative called Lender Global, each year one of the University’s abroad centers will be designated as the Lender Global Partner. In addition, three research fellowships will be awarded to students studying at that location.

Lender Global begins in Spring 2025 at with a focus on social and environmental justice. The student fellows will examine the themes of biodiversity and the rights of nature; climate justice for people of the global majority; and meaningful engagement with ethical travel.

Lender Center Director says the extension of the Lender Center’s social justice initiative via the Syracuse Abroad platform makes sense because most social justice issues exist beyond the United States. “This initiative aligns with the University’s goals of preparing students to be responsible global citizens and addressing the social and scientific issues that affect people everywhere. It helps raise awareness that social justice issues don’t begin and end at a country’s borders and that solutions can come from innovative thinkers and dedicated researchers anywhere in the world.”

Assistant Provost and Syracuse Abroad Executive Director says, “We are pleased to partner with the Lender Center on this innovative concept that enhances our current programming and supports experiential learning, innovative research and human thriving. It’s an excellent way for students to include unique research opportunities while they study abroad.” ��

Climate Research

Students will be mentored and guided in their research by , an environmental activist-academic who is Syracuse Abroad’s London-based community engagement specialist, and Maggie Sardino ’23, a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and a Marshall Scholar. The fellows will be affiliated with Syracuse London’s Environment, Sustainability and Policy learning community, which allows students to take classes, live, intern, volunteer and engage in other activities alongside peers with similar interests.

In addition to working on their research and participating in the learning community, fellows will also collaboratively develop communication tools for future Syracuse Abroad students about how to be mindful of their ecological footprint and meaningfully engage with ethical travel, according to Farnum.

Spring 2024 students in the Syracuse Abroad London center program visit the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Wales as part of their examination of sustainable energy transitions and environmental heritage. (Photo by Syracuse London staff)

Farnum says London is an ideal location to study how major cities can creatively solve sustainability challenges. “London regularly ranks as one of the world’s Top 10 Sustainable Cities, is home to many of the world’s greenest buildings and is technically classified as a forest given its extensive green spaces, which comprise 47% of the city’s area. That’s why London makes a wonderful ‘living lab’ for this topic and why the London center provides a natural home for environmental, sustainability and policy studies.”

Troy Gordon, Syracuse Abroad director of global teaching and learning, says the social and environmental justice program is one of the Syracuse London center’s strengths. That focus comprises about 15% of the center’s curriculum—including a pre-semester traveling seminar on sustainability in Scandinavia, a course on climate change and environmental activism and a studio-based course on urban sustainability, in addition to its Learning Community for Environment, Sustainability and Policy. Students are also able to engage and learn in an exciting, green urban environment where social and environmental justice is a focal point and a true strength of the center, he says.

Students enrolled in the Spring 2025 London abroad program will be invited to apply for the fellowship.

Fall 2023 students from a geography course on environmental racism in the Syracuse London program volunteer at Calthorpe Community Garden. It is a green space in the heart of London supporting food security and cultural connection for migrant populations. (Photo by Syracuse London staff)

Lender Center Support

The Lender Center for Social Justice, made possible by a gift from , seeks to foster proactive, innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to social justice issues of equity and inclusion. The Lender Global program is designed to prompt development of novel approaches and creative solutions to global challenges while considering the needs and capacities of the partner program and its host community, Phillips says.

Syracuse Abroad shares many of the Lender Center’s values and commitments, according to Wilkens. Consistently ranked among top study abroad programs in the U.S., Syracuse Abroad has a long history of meaningful community engagement, experiential learning and cultural exchange around the world. Quality academic experiences across professional and liberal arts disciplines are offered at six overseas centers in Florence, London, Madrid, Santiago (Chile), Strasbourg (France) and through a program in Central Europe.

Phillips and Wilkens say Syracuse Santiago will likely be designated as the 2025-26 Lender Global Partner, which would enable students to do research in English, Spanish or both languages.

Transportation

has announced reduced campus shuttle services during the Thanksgiving break.��Safety escort services are available from 8 p.m.-6 a.m. from Nov. 23-Dec. 1 by using the .

For those students looking for help reaching their destinations over the break, Student Engagement provides roundtrip buses to select cities on the East Coast. The cities include: New York City; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, D.C.; White Plains, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Rockaway, New Jersey. Bus tickets are $110 and seats are still available. Visit the for more information.

The University also provides complimentary roundtrip transportation to the Syracuse Hancock International Airport and the Regional Transportation Center (for buses and trains). Buses will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, with pickup from Goldstein Student Center (South Campus), College Place and the Brewster/Boland/Brockway Complex. On Sunday, Dec. 1, buses will provide return transportation from the Syracuse Airport/Regional Transportation Center from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Campus Dining

Many campus dining options will be closed or operate at limited hours over the break.��To see the hours of operation for all locations, ��. Here are some options for where to eat on campus each day.

• Saturday, Nov. 23
  • Sadler Dining Center, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Orange Dining Center, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 24
  • Orange Dining Center, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 25
  • Dunkin’, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Gerry’s Café, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Life Sciences Café, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Orange Dining Center, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
  • Halal Shack, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Tavola 44, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 26
  • Dunkin’, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Gerry’s Café, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Life Sciences Café, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Orange Dining Center, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
  • Halal Shack, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Tavola 44, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 27
  • Dunkin’, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Gerry’s Café, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Life Sciences Café, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Orange Dining Center, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
  • Halal Shack, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Tavola 44, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 28
  • Orange Dining Center, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 29
  • Orange Dining Center, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 30
  • Sadler Dining Center, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Orange Dining Center, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 1
  • Brockway Dining Center, Ernie Davis Dining Center, Graham Dining Center, Orange Dining Center, Sadler Dining Center and Shaw Dining Center, all open standard hours.
  • Starbucks (West Campus), 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Dunkin’, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Greens and Grains, noon-11 p.m.
  • Otto’s Juice Box (Goldstein), noon-11 p.m.
  • Starbucks (Goldstein), noon-8 p.m.
  • CoreLife Eatery, 1-7 p.m.
  • Halal Shack, 1-7 p.m.
  • Original Orange, 4-11 p.m.
  • Southbound, 4-11 p.m.
  • Tomato Wheel, 4-11 p.m.

Barnes Center at The Arch

Barnes Center at The Arch hours for health care, mental health, recreation and other facilities over Thanksgiving break are available on the��.

Reminder: Call 315.443.8000 for 24-Hour Support

Students experiencing a mental health crisis, seeking support for sexual assault or relationship violence, or needing urgent medical consultation can receive free, confidential services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 315.443.8000. Routine consultations should hold until the next business day.

Libraries

The hours for Syracuse University Libraries facilities are as follows:

• Saturday, Nov. 23
  • Bird Library, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 24
  • Bird Library, noon-8 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 25
  • Bird Library, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Carnegie Library, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Law Library, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • King + King Architecture Library, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 26
  • Bird Library, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Carnegie Library, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Law Library, 8 a.m.-5 p.m
  • King + King Architecture Library, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 27
  • Bird Library, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Carnegie Library, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Law Library, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 28-Friday, Nov. 29
  • No libraries open
• Saturday, Nov. 30
  • Bird Library, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 1
  • Bird Library, opens at 10 a.m.
  • Carnegie Library, noon-8 p.m.

Department of Public Safety

The Department of Public Safety is available to the campus community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The department can be reached at 315.443.2224 or by dialing 711 from any campus phone.

This story was written by Student Experience communications intern Chloe Langerman ’25, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

The Student Library Advisory Board is an opportunity for students to share their ideas, needs and feedback to improve the Libraries’ services, resources, spaces and programming. Members will participate in user experience activities during once-a-month Friday meetings and will serve as ambassadors for the Libraries among their peers. Members will also gain leadership and skill-building experience, including in areas of information literacy, communication, civic responsibility, research and creative thinking, while helping to improve the Libraries through fun and interactive engagement. Applicants can anticipate a commitment of approximately three hours per month. Current library student employees are ineligible to participate.

The Student Library Advisory Board is being supported, in part, through a collaboration with . Those with questions can contact Seyvion Scott at sscott17@syr.edu.

The celebration seeks to honor the life and legacy of individuals who exemplify the spirit, life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. yet have not received widespread recognition or been previously honored for their efforts. These individuals represent a direct expression of Syracuse University’s commitment to fostering and supporting a university welcoming to all.

If you know an individual who should be honored and celebrated, please consider for recognition at the 2025 celebration. Nominations must be a minimum of 250 words and a maximum��of 500 words. The nomination should be a written explanation of how the nominee embodies Dr. King’s legacy, and what makes them an Unsung Hero. ��included Syracuse community members, and Syracuse University faculty, students and staff.

Nominations may be made in any of the following categories:

• youth/teen from Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga or Cortland counties
• adult from Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga or Cortland counties
• currently enrolled student at Syracuse University or SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
• faculty or staff from Syracuse University or SUNY ESF

Nominations are due by Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

The 2025 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will take place on Jan. 26, 2025, in the JMA Wireless Dome. Further information will be announced in the coming weeks at .

Questions regarding the Unsung Hero Awards can be directed to Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu.

To support individuals on our campus and in the community, the University is hosting Operation Orange Warmup to collect winter coats. The collection to assist students in need is happening on campus now through Friday, Dec. 6.

“There is a greater need for warm coats on this campus now more than ever before and no one should go without during the winter months,”��says Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the��College of Engineering and Computer Science, who helped establish the Operation Orange Warmup initiative. “Through the work of many campus units, we are helping to ensure those in need are prepared for the cold with a winter coat, and we are proud to partner with InterFaith Works to also assist those in the broader Syracuse community.”

Ways to Donate

Donations can be made several different ways:

• First, happening now through Friday, Nov. 22, students can donate in their residence halls. Collection bins are available in Ernie Davis, Milton, Orange, Day and Brewster, Boland and Brockway halls.
• Next, on Saturday, Nov. 30, when the football team takes on Miami in the JMA Wireless Dome, attendees can bring coats with them to the game. Donation bins will be placed strategically around the JMA Dome at gates A, B, C, D, E, F, M and N.
• Finally, from Monday, Dec. 2, through Friday, Dec. 6, collection bins will be available at Hendricks Chapel, the Schine Student Center on North Campus, Goldstein Student Center on South Campus and the Nancy Cantor Warehouse.

Members of the JMA Dome staff will manage the laundering of the donations before they are given out. Additionally, all children’s coats that are collected will be donated to Interfaith Works.

Volunteer Opportunities

Students looking to volunteer can get involved with Operation Orange Warmup. Volunteers are needed for the following:

• Monitoring collections during the coat drive at the football game on Nov. 30
• Sorting coats at the Schine Student Center
• Administering the selection of coats at the Schine Student Center

For more information and to register to volunteer, students can .

Coat Selection Event

Students in need of a coat can for the coat selection event on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in The Underground at the Schine Student Center.

Through the generosity of Orange fans and the entire Syracuse University community, we can share the warmth with those in need this winter!

“This rise in the rankings is proof positive of the Whitman School’s continuing commitment to providing innovative programs in entrepreneurship at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Our success has been supported by the entrepreneurial spirit that runs throughout the entire university,” says Maria Minniti, Bantle Chair of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy and chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises (EEE). “This upward movement in the rankings is the result of the hard work and commitment of the Whitman School’s leadership, faculty and students, and we are proud to be acknowledged for this level of success.”

The graduate programs were also ranked at No. 24 this year. “These rankings are a quantifiable reflection of the quality of our program and our commitment to giving our students experiences that continue to spark their entrepreneurial spirit,” says John Torrens, deputy department chair and professor of entrepreneurial practice. “Our faculty are truly committed to helping our students bring their ideas to life through mentoring, coaching and sharing their own professional experiences in this space. In addition, students have many opportunities to obtain funding through our various competitions, like the Orange Tank business pitch competition and our Panasci Business Plan Competition, many of which are supported by generous alumni who appreciate the work we do at the Whitman School.”

The rankings are based on data collection that takes into account 40 points about schools’ entrepreneurship programs, faculties, students and alumni. The Princeton Review conducted the data collection in summer 2024 with administrators at nearly 300 schools.

“Since we debuted these rankings nearly two decades ago, the number of colleges and universities offering entrepreneurship courses has grown tremendously,” says , The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief. “We highly recommend the schools that made our lists for 2025. Their faculties are outstanding. Their programs have robust experiential components. Their students have access to extraordinary mentors as well as networking contacts that will serve them well into their careers.”

For more information on Whitman’s undergraduate entrepreneurship major visit: or for the graduate program visit:

Entirely student-run, the event will be hybrid, with bidding opening online via Classy Live on Dec. 8 and continuing in-person on Dec. 10, as the Orange men’s basketball team takes on Albany in the JMA Wireless Dome. Online bidding will close at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

A member of the Sport Management Club greets customers at the Charity Sports Auction

The Rescue Mission strives to put “Love into Action” through providing emergency shelter,
clothing and three meals a day every day of the year in Onondaga County. Services including spiritual care, access to mental health professionals, substance abuse programming and physical health services.

“Hearing about all of the great things the Rescue Mission does solidified my determination to
help those in need here at home,” says Paige Haines, director of events and community
engagement at the Rescue Mission.

Over the past 19 years, the auction has raised over $713,000 for central New York nonprofit organizations. Featured items this year include a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar signed playing card, a guitar signed by Sting, a Carmelo Anthony signed Syracuse University jersey, and much more.

To further the auction’s mission of community impact, this year’s auction title sponsor Apex Entertainment. Apex’s support underscores the commitment to making a meaningful difference in the CNY community.

Visit us at www.sucharitysportsauction.com or follow us on Twitter (@SPM_Auction) and
Instagram (@SPM_Auction) for the most up-to-date event information.

This story was submitted by students in the Sport Management Club.

Douglas Present

The Whitman School of Management is pleased to announce a significant seed gift from Douglas ’86 and Susan Present to the school’s Opportunity Fund. The donation will serve to create a pilot project to allow students with great academic potential, but limited financial resources, to take advantage of the unique opportunities at Whitman by helping to cover certain expenses not traditionally covered by scholarships or financial aid.�� Specifically, the Opportunity Fund will assist students to cover the costs of student activities, unanticipated events leading to financial hardships and stipends to cover expenses related to increasingly important summer internships.

The Presents’ generosity has been primarily anonymous in the past, but they hope that by making the gift public, they can help to raise additional funds and inspire other Whitman alumni to contribute to the Opportunity Fund, as well as encourage University leadership to create a similar fund for all Syracuse students across all schools.

A University Trustee, Doug Present is a member of the Board’s executive committee and chair of its finance committee, and has been a longstanding member of the Whitman Advisory Council (WAC). He graduated from the Whitman School and found success in the healthcare industry, having worked at Deloitte & Touche, Medsite, Inc. and Managed Health Care Associates, Inc., before starting his own investment firm, Douglas Present Associates, LLC.

“Susan and I want every student to have a complete and full Syracuse Orange experience,” Present says. “Costs not covered by financial aid can inhibit opportunities for students with high financial need. All students should have the opportunity to participate in non-academic activities and have the ability to accept a summer internship opportunity in a high-cost city. Lastly, no student should have their academic ambitions thrown off track by unexpected events that lead to expenses not covered by financial aid. Our philanthropy has always been focused on creating opportunities for high-achieving students with limited financial means to have the same opportunities as students who come from higher income families. I am pleased that Whitman is taking the lead on this initiative, and I hope to encourage the implementation of a similar program across the entire University.”

Requests for grants from the Whitman Opportunity Fund will be facilitated on a rolling, case-by-case basis while funding remains available.

“We are extremely grateful for the thoughtful generosity of Douglas and Susan Present, who are strongly committed to relieving the less visible financial burdens that some of our students quietly face,” says Whitman School Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. “We hope this gift will jump start a renewed awareness within our alumni supporters that this kind of need truly does exist and encourage others to help make a difference in Whitman students’ long-term success.”

For more information on the Whitman School of Management Opportunity Fund, go to .

JB Scurlock G’25, office coordinator at Hendricks Chapel and graduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences

Gary and Dave from Facilities Services stopped by Hendricks Chapel to switch out the air filters and while they were there, they were given “be kind.” shirts.

When the communications team at Hendricks Chapel came together to consider what message they wanted to highlight on their promotional items, a simple and powerful message rose to the top: be kind. The message—and the giveaways—have taken off among students and the entire University community.

“With there being so many different religious and spiritual traditions represented at Hendricks, we needed an idea that would resonate broadly, such as kindness,” says Dara Harper, communications manager at Hendricks Chapel. This is where the “be kind.” campaign was launched.

The design was intentional. All lower-case letters, finished with a period. “It helps put things into perspective,” Harper says. The Hendricks Chapel logo is also included on the items, yet the “be kind.” message takes center stage.

Student Involvement

Harper has several students who work with her as part of the communications team at Hendricks Chapel, and all have played vital roles in spreading the word about this campaign. “It serves as a little reminder throughout the day to check on yourself and the ones around you,” says Fe Kligerman ’26, a communications design student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “Having that sticker on your person or seeing it around campus always brings a smile to my face as it brings us together through this shared goal.”

The campaign has been taking kindness across campus since the beginning of the year and has been resoundingly successful. Thousands of T-shirts, stickers and keychains have already been distributed, with more on order. “Whenever I find someone on campus that is wearing a ‘be kind.’ shirt from afar it feels so cool,” says Asil Bascal ’25, a biotechnology major in the College of Arts and Sciences and student employee of Hendricks Chapel.

Hendricks Chapel student communications team (from left): Fe Kligerman ’26, Asil Bascal ’25 and Micah Greenberg ’26

World Kindness Day

Lucy Gonzalez ’27, Hendricks Chapel hospitality associate and Newhouse student

Want your chance to be part of this powerful message? Hendricks Chapel will be giving away T-shirts and more from 2 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in front of the chapel in honor of World Kindness Day. If you can’t make it to campus then, Hendricks Chapel is often tabling at various events around campus with their merchandise.

In honor of World Kindness Day, here are some ways to offer some kindness, including some suggestions from the staff at Hendricks Chapel:

• Smile and say hello.—Bianca Caiella Breed, operations specialist
• Ask someone how they are doing.��Then, pause and take two minutes to truly listen.—Alex Snow, director of events
• Give a compliment, whether it is to a friend, family member, neighbor or complete stranger. Additionally, relay an overheard compliment.
• Be present and be an open ear and heart.—Kaleya Scott, engagement coordinator
  

  Max Jimenez G’25 sports his “be kind.” sticker on his scooter!

• Say hello to each person you meet.—Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, associate dean
• Strike up a conversation with someone who’s standing alone.
• Learn people’s names and commit their names to memory for when you see them again.—Dara Harper, communications manager
• Hang a sign on a bulletin board that says “Take What You Need” with tear-off tabs at the bottom for love, hope, faith and courage.
• Resolve to refrain from negative self-talk (you deserve your kindness too!).

While reflecting on the upcoming World Kindness Day, Harper shared, “just remember, as many others have said, in a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

She is a member of the Student Association’s Sustainability Forum, and she has spent time in the greater Syracuse community as a volunteer youth language instructor and as a researcher to understand residents’ civic engagement preferences. Her many pursuits also include work with the Maxwell-based Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health to publish a brief on a topic she is deeply interested in—environmental racism and injustice.

Zepeda is one of nine Maxwell students who were honored with Centennial Scholar Awards at the school’s Centennial Celebration held Friday, Oct. 18, in the University’s Goldstein Auditorium. The celebration and awards were supported with generous sponsorships from the family of Sean O’Keefe ’78 M.P.A., University Professor and Phanstiel Chair in Leadership, and Maxwell Advisory Board members Cathy Daicoff ’79 M.P.A. and Stephen Hagerty ’93 M.P.A. Hagerty is also a Syracuse University trustee.

Five undergraduates and four graduate students were selected from hundreds of applicants. Each was required to submit a statement describing how their aspirations align with the Maxwell School’s ideals of engaged citizenship and public service.

“To me, public service represents an opportunity to put the public good at the forefront. It entails putting citizens first and actively listening. It means ensuring that every citizen has the same rights and access to feel seen and heard. It means delivering on the needs of the people in my home country as well as abroad,” wrote Zepeda, who is from Honduras.

Before coming to Maxwell, she interned with the United Nations in Honduras, an experience that provided a unique front-row seat to issues central to her interests and career aspirations, including the environment and Indigenous rights.

“I really wanted to gain the skills necessary to tackle the problems affecting vulnerable populations,” she says. “I miss home a lot, and I care about the people and the circumstances. I feel responsible to make a difference.”

In addition to Zepeda, Centennial Scholars are as follows:

Undergraduate Students

Adam Baltaxe of Arlington, Virginia, is pursuing a dual degree in international relations and Spanish language, literature and culture. The senior is currently an advisory board member for Search for Common Ground’s national “Blueprint for Belonging” project which seeks to bring students from diverse perspectives together in colleges across the country. He is also the fundraising chair for Save a Child’s Heart SU, the Jewish representative for Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders and a volunteer for Global Medical Brigades, the Refugee Assistance Program and WCNY’s new Spanish radio station. Baltaxe is a Remembrance Scholar and is a recipient of several honors, including the Coronat Scholarship, IR Distinction and Jewish-Muslim Fellowship. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Iota Rho, Phi Kappa Alpha and Muslim Students’ Association, as well as the multicultural/faith chair for Hillel. He aspires to work internationally, bringing people together through dialogue and resolving conflict.

Undergraduate honorees with Dean David M. Van Slyke are, from left to right, Adam Baltaxe, Jorge Morales, Anna Rupert, Nathan Torabi and Mariana Zepeda.

Jorge Morales of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, is a junior studying history and anthropology. A Success Scholar, Morales is a member of the editorial board for CHRONOS, the Syracuse University undergraduate history journal. He is also the vice president of the Syracuse chapter of Brighten A Day, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting isolation through letters, care packages and video messages. Morales has supported the work of Tessa Murphy, associate professor of history, to transcribe the 1813 Registry of Enslaved Persons in Trinidad. Through his research, he hopes to gain insights into the impacts of slavery and share the personal experiences of enslaved peoples. He plans to use the skills he gains at Maxwell to collaborate with museums and historical sites to better recognize and address issues of intolerance and systemic inequity.

Anna Rupert of Arlington, Virginia, is pursuing degrees in economics and philosophy. The junior is a forward for the women’s soccer team and has received several academic recognitions, including having been named to the All-ACC Academic Team, All-ACC Honor Roll and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. She is a member of the Renée Crown honors program and serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, focusing on community outreach and providing support to other student athletes. Rupert is a research assistant for the economics department and is a discussion leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In the summer of 2024, she plans to intern in the treasury department at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After graduating, Rupert hopes to play soccer professionally in Europe before transitioning to a career in finance.

Nathan Torabi of Visalia, California, is majoring in political science; citizenship and civic engagement; and law, society and policy. A junior, he is an inaugural member of the Next Generation Leadership Corps, as well as a student ambassador for the Maxwell School and the College of Arts and Sciences and OttoTHON, a dance fundraiser that raises funds for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. A Coronat Scholar, he has received several other awards, including the Maxwell Philanthropic Ambassador, Paul A. Volcker Government Internship Award, the Maxwell Exemplary Student Paper Award and Michael D. Schneider Award. Currently a legislative intern for U.S. Senator Charles Schumer in Washington, D.C., he has also worked within the Syracuse Admissions Office and for an attorney’s office. Formerly a project intern with CNY Pride, Torabi aspires to attend law school and become a civil litigator to champion LGBTQ+ rights within the education system.

Graduate Students

Ferdinand Eimler of Berlin, Germany, is pursuing a master’s degree in international relations at Maxwell while also pursuing a master’s degree in public policy from the Hertie School in Berlin as part of the Atlantis Dual Degree Master’s Program. He earned a bachelor’s degree in politics and public administration from the University of Konstanz in Germany. Eimler gained professional experience in international relations at the German Federal Foreign Office, co-organizing diplomacy and foreign policy workshops across Europe for the Global Diplomacy Lab and advancing German foreign policy at the United Nations. He currently works for the Aspen Institute Germany, where he ​​​​fosters relations between state and provincial legislators from the United States, Germany and Canada. As an alumnus of the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship, Eimler aspires to a career focused on strengthening transatlantic relations, particularly between Germany and the United States.

Shown with Dean David M. Van Slyke, the four graduate students honored with Centennial Scholar Awards are, from left to right, Julia Liebell-McLean, Ferdinand Eimler, Benjamin Katz and Kaythari Maw.

Benjamin Katz of New York City is a second-year political science Ph.D. student studying international relations and public policy and administration. His research interests include secession and sovereignty, conflict and violence, and international organizations. He is particularly interested in the politics of the United Kingdom and the European Union. Katz is a research associate in the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs and the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration. He is also a research assistant for a National Science Foundation project on intra- and interstate conflict. Outside of Maxwell, he is a Ph.D. research fellow at the Foreign Military Studies Office, a component of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Katz earned an A.B. in government and history from Hamilton College in 2020 and worked in the financial services industry before he began his Maxwell studies.

Julia Liebell-McLean of central New Jersey is pursuing a dual master’s degree in public administration and international relations. She studied in France during high school, and later, as a Fulbright Scholar and English teaching assistant, spent nine months living in Senegal, inspiring her passion for global affairs. She received a bachelor’s degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and has interned with the Senate Office of Cory A. Booker, the French Institute in New York City and the U.S. Department of State. Earlier this year, Liebell-McLean was also named a 2024 Robertson Fellow, one of the most prestigious awards for graduate students at Maxwell. She hopes to pursue a career with the State Department furthering diplomacy with African countries.

Kaythari Maw of Staten Island, New York, is pursuing a Ph.D. in economics, and says she is the first female Burmese American to do so. Maw earned a master’s degree in regional science from Cornell University, where she was awarded the Southeast Asia Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship to study Burmese. Prior to that she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at Columbia University’s Barnard College. At Cornell and Columbia, she helped to re-establish the Myanmar Students associations; she is currently working on creating a similar organization at Syracuse. With her research, Maw hopes to reduce the gap in literature about the economic circumstances of Burmese diaspora.

Story by Mikayla Melo

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.

Applications for students interested in studying abroad during the Fall 2025 semester open on Nov. 15 at 9 a.m. EST. (Photo by Ross Oscar Knight)

It’s almost time to apply for fall 2025 study abroad programs. Learn more about what students can expect during a fall semester abroad.

Exclusive Fall-Only Programs

The fall semester provides unique study abroad opportunities for students in various academic disciplines and degree plans. Programs like Exploring Central Europe, Engineering in Strasbourg and Spanish Immersion in Santiago are specifically designed for the fall semester. Filled with immersive learning experiences, built-in program travel and unique courses, the fall is an ideal time to explore opportunities abroad.

The fall semester provides unique study abroad opportunities for students in a variety of different academic disciplines and degree plans.

Around the globe, many Syracuse Abroad programs fit into unique degree paths. Drama majors and computer science students can enhance their skills in ��through program tracks that align with their major.

Second- or third-year students on a pre-health track or studying biology, biochemistry or chemistry are encouraged to explore , with a range of STEM-based courses and extracurricular activities. Second-year engineering students can set their sights on a semester abroad in ��while taking classes at INSA, a top-rated engineering university in France.

, embarking on its tenth year as a Syracuse University study abroad program, is exclusively offered in the fall. Based in Wroclaw, Poland, students join a traveling learning community based in the heart of Central Europe and travel to Prague, Berlin and other nearby cities throughout the semester. Students act as action researchers and investigate sites tied to World War II, the Holocaust and Soviet totalitarian rule, studying politics, international relations, history, human rights and atrocity studies.

In the fall, the offers a full Spanish immersion semester with courses in Spanish taken at local Chilean universities. With an optional pre-semester program in Buenos Aires, Argentina, students can experience the vibrant Argentine political culture before beginning the semester in Santiago. Buenos Aries offers breathtaking views of Patagonia, Chilean coastlines and urban cities, and an opportunity to explore the rich Latin American culture.

The Benefits of Fall Study Abroad

The fall semester is an opportune time to take advantage of study abroad opportunities. Due to more flexibility with fall programs, students are more likely to be accepted into their preferred program and housing arrangement, and there are numerous available specifically for fall programs, including Fall-Only Supplemental Aid up to 10%.

Studying abroad in Europe in the fall also offers students the chance to experience once-in-a-lifetime events like the Christmas/Holiday markets in Strasbourg and Poland, local festivals, political events and more.

The Student Perspective

Sophia Moore ‘25 says the fall semester she spent studying abroad at the Santiago Center was “life-changing” and filled with new friendships, cultures and connections.

Sophia Moore ’25, who is studying television, radio and film in the while minoring in Spanish, spent the Fall 2023 semester in Santiago, Chile. Interested in improving her Spanish and learning about Chilean culture, Moore entered the semester with an open mind and was eager to learn more about Latin American culture while absorbing the Spanish language around her.

From embarking on the program’s iconic Signature Seminar in Buenos Aires to meeting new friends and classmates, Moore’s semester abroad got off to a good start. “Buenos Aires, Santiago, and all the other locations I visited while abroad were some of the most stunning, culturally rich places I’ve ever visited, and that in itself was enough to excite me for the semester,” Moore says.

While studying at local universities, friendships were formed in culturally enriching courses. With travel to Patagonia, Cusco, Peru and Montevideo, Moore’s semester was filled with new cities, new friendships, new cultures and new connections. “My semester in Santiago was life-changing. The city itself is modern, clean and well-connected. I look back fondly on my mornings spent commuting to school and feeling like a local,” Moore says.

Preparing to Study Abroad

Fall 2025 program applications open on Friday, Nov. 15 at 9 a.m. EST and can be found on the . The application deadline for most programs is March 15, 2025, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. All students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as some programs have limited space. For specific deadlines, students should refer to each program’s application page.

For more information about fall programs, students can with an international program advisor or make a general advising appointment to explore multiple options. Advising appointments take place virtually or at the Syracuse Abroad satellite office, located on the lower level of Bird Library in room 002.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members are invited to “Holidays at Hendricks” on Sunday, Dec. 8 in Hendricks Chapel. New this year, tickets are required to reserve your individual seat.

Syracuse University invites students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to “” on Sunday, Dec. 8 in Hendricks Chapel, to experience one of the most popular concerts of the calendar year. New this year, due to the concert’s growing popularity and limited seating in the Chapel, to reserve your seats for the free, in-person concert, tickets are required for Holidays at Hendricks and will be made available beginning on Monday, Nov. 18 at noon EST.

The two in-person performances will take place on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel, while the recorded virtual concert will premiere on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. EST.

New and Important In-Person Concert Ticket Details

• Complimentary tickets for the in-person Holidays at Hendricks shows can be ordered from the , beginning at noon EST on Nov. 18;
• All guests will be invited to reserve specific seats in Hendricks Chapel;
• Through this new digital platform, guests will be prompted to create an account, select individual seats and then receive their digital tickets. While tickets will not be made available until Nov. 18, guests can create an account at any time through the Student Box Office online.

Virtual Concert Registration Details

• Registration for the Thursday, Dec. 19, world premiere virtual concert will also be available on Nov. 18 at noon EST;
• Registration is required to receive the link to the YouTube premiere;
• Visit the .

An ongoing tradition hosted by ��and the����in the��, “Holidays at Hendricks” celebrates the sounds of the season and is anchored by the����and its director��, professor of applied music and performance and assistant director of choral activities in the Setnor School.

The student-centered concert features performances from:

• Syracuse University Symphony Orchestra, directed by James Tapia, associate professor of applied music and performance in the Setnor School;
• The international award-winning Syracuse University Singers, under the direction of John Warren, professor of applied music and performance and director of choral activities in the Setnor School, and Concert Choir, under the direction of Wendy Moy, dual assistant professor of music education in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the ;
• Student organists and University organist Anne Laver on the Hendricks Chapel organ;
• Syracuse University’s big band, the Morton Schiff Jazz Ensemble, directed by John Coggiola, associate professor and chair of music education in the Setnor School and the School of Education;
• The World Premiere of “Gloria in Excelsis” from Christmas Cantata, by Peppie Calvar.

Some musical selections for 2024 include “A Christmas Festival,” by Leroy Anderson, “Winter,” by Antonio Vivaldi, a setting of “Joy to the World,” arranged by Taylor Scott Davis and many more.

is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis in Irving Garage, Hillside Lot and the College Place lot. Those who require accessible parking or would like more information about the event may call Hendricks Chapel at 315.443.2901 or email��chapel@syr.edu.

Communication Access Realtime Translation, American Sign Language interpretation and AIRA will be provided at the in-person concerts. Captioning will be provided at the virtual concert. Doors to Hendricks Chapel will open 30 minutes prior to each concert start time.

For more information, visit��. Hendricks Chapel will also post regular updates about the event through its��,����and����pages.

Robert ’86 and Kathryn Taishoff

How do you inspire people to open their hearts and provide the support to raise the hefty sum of $2.5 million? Just ask retired U.S. Navy Capt. Robert “Rob” P. Taishoff ’86 who sees opportunities where others see obstacles, and who is determined to change the way the world views intellectual disability. With the recent Taishoff Family Foundation gift of $2.5 million to inclusive higher education at Syracuse University, Taishoff is challenging others to see the world the way he does and match his family’s pledge.

“I’ve seen the confidence that these young men and women with intellectual disabilities develop when given educational opportunities, and it’s mind-blowing,” says Taishoff. “If we give them the chance to pursue their interests and prepare them for careers, just like we do with every student at Syracuse University, they will thrive, excel, succeed and surprise us.”

Taishoff continues to marvel at the successes of the students who attend InclusiveU and the accomplishments of the , named for his father in 2009 with a $1.1 million grant from Taishoff. The center and InclusiveU have become national models for the inclusion and education of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At that time, Taishoff was a University Trustee; he served as a voting trustee from 2009 to 2021 and is now a life trustee. Taishoff has been involved in many University initiatives, but it was inclusive education and the work going on at the (CDI) in the School of Education that captured his whole heart.

Taishoff’s daughter, Jackie, was born with Down syndrome in 2001, and he experienced firsthand the promise and the heartbreak felt by the families of young people often marginalized by society. “Jackie is very social and friendly, and frequently surprises us with what she’s capable of doing,” says Taishoff. He’d love to see her attend InclusiveU but as a resident of Maryland, her benefits associated with her disability won’t cross state lines. The portability of benefits is one of those systemic policy issues that CDI’s staff is working to change, helping students overcome barriers to pursue an education and career.

According to Sara Hart Weir, a national expert in disability policy and former president of the National Down Syndrome Society, Taishoff is the kind of visionary who “sees endless opportunities not just for Jackie, but for all people with disabilities. Rob wants them to have the kinds of opportunities every other American has, from education to health care, from financial services to careers.” Weir says individuals with Down syndrome are an “untapped workforce who, with access to programs like InclusiveU, can skill up, enter the workforce and become taxpayers.” She says InclusiveU is the “best of the best” in providing these kinds of opportunities.

Strengthening Programming

The Taishoff Family Foundation has contributed several million dollars over the years to strengthen CDI, the Taishoff Center and InclusiveU, providing resources for programmatic growth. “They’ve achieved all their goals in the last five-year plan and that set the stage for the next five-year plan,” says Taishoff, who hopes his new gift will be leveraged to bring in new donor support. The next five-year plan seeks to grow enrollment by 25% and offer new experiences for students with intellectual disability.

“We’re never satisfied with what we’re doing,” says Beth Myers, the Lawrence B. Taishoff Associate Professor of Inclusive Education, executive director of the Taishoff Center and assistant director of CDI. “We may be the largest program of our kind in the nation, but there are always more opportunities to pursue. For example, I dream of first providing our students with a two-week study abroad in Italy with the goal of a full semester of study abroad in any location where any other Syracuse University student can go. Am I dreaming huge dreams? Yes. Is it possible? Yes!” But, Myers acknowledges, it takes more resources and staffing to achieve those dreams.

Myers credits her “amazing team and an incredible staff at InclusiveU who would do anything for these students” to deliver on dreams. She has watched the program at InclusiveU grow from 14 students in three majors to 100 students in 45 majors taking more than 300 courses across the University. “We have allies in every department across campus, top down and bottom up support,” says Myers. “It’s a culture grounded in the University’s 60-plus year history in disability advocacy. People really value the work we do in inclusion.”

“I am continuously inspired by Rob Taishoff’s generosity and, now, his strategic challenge to others to help advance Syracuse University’s leadership in the disability community,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “Rob persists in challenging all of us to think of innovative and creative solutions and to collaborate across units and colleges to ensure equitable opportunities for all our students and to be a standard-bearer for academic institutions nationwide.”

Through those opportunities, Taishoff sees how students become one with the University community. “Our intellectually disabled students are woven into the fabric of the University, from the classroom to living arrangements, from social activities to career preparation,” says Taishoff.

Going Beyond

CDI’s strategic plan for growth goes beyond assisting the growth of the Taishoff Center and enrollment in InclusiveU. It would enhance access to higher education among students in the Syracuse City School district (nationally, less than 2% of high school students with intellectual disability go to college). It would invest in innovative technical assistance for disabled students and establish an Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance Center to help other colleges and universities. It would support research, fellowships and teaching to advance the field. It would provide more resources for career advising and career placement (only 17% of adults with intellectual disabilities are employed nationally). The newly established Robert and Kathryn Taishoff Fund would support many of these initiatives and scholarship support for students.

In addition to the new fund, the latest Taishoff gift continues support through the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education Endowed Fund. Part of the $1.5 billion , Taishoff’s gift builds on and the legacy of the School of Education. Rob Taishoff’s father Lawrence and grandfather Sol philanthropically supported education, journalism and health research. Taishoff says his father was “exceptionally close” to granddaughter Jackie, perhaps because he had witnessed a cousin with Down syndrome sent to an institution and shielded away from society and opportunity.

Taishoff says his own military experience also reinforced the family’s commitment to opening the doors of opportunity. He spent more than two decades in active duty in the Navy and managed Navy and Marine Corps attorneys and civilians representing service members. “No matter what background or walk of life someone was from, whether enlisted or an officer, we were all pulling for the same goals, trying to fulfill a mission,” Taishoff says. “I saw people who were given opportunities in the military that they would not have had otherwise, and I saw them thrive and excel.”

The Taishoff Family Foundation’s legacy aligns with that of the School of Education, which is recognized as an international leader in the deinstitutionalization and school inclusion movements. The school is home to the first disability studies program in the country and the first joint degree program in law and disability studies, and it helped Syracuse become the first research university to launch an integrated elementary and special education teacher education program.

“It’s time to build on history once again,” says Taishoff. “I hope others will join me in creating new futures for countless young people who deserve a chance to contribute in ways that will amaze us.”

About Syracuse University

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

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

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

Involvement with the CRB began when the previous law student representative, Omnia Shedid L’24, sought a successor. Intrigued by the CRB’s role in reviewing complaints about��the conduct of Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers, Oliver stepped into the position, driven by a passion for justice and equality.

As vice chair of the CRB, she emphasizes the importance of student input in maintaining campus safety. “Having a student in the vice chair position allows the student body to be more involved in decision-making,” Oliver says. “The goal is to enhance the relationship between DPS and the student population by ensuring student voices are heard in policy and procedure discussions.”

Oliver also aims to raise awareness about the CRB’s role on campus. “The CRB is a valuable asset to students, but it’s sometimes underutilized because people don’t know what we do,” Oliver says. By increasing visibility, she hopes to encourage more students and DPS members to utilize the CRB for appeals, ensuring their concerns are addressed.

History of the CRB

The CRB was created following an independent review of DPS by former Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch in 2020-21. It is responsible for:

• reviewing appeals of civilian complaints regarding DPS officer conduct;
• reviewing and commenting on prospective new DPS policies, procedures and trainings;
• reviewing key community-facing functions of DPS; and
• issuing to the University community a public annual report of findings and recommendations.

CRB Membership

Since last fall, the CRB has added new members, including:

• Fatoumata Barry ’27, undergraduate student,��College of Arts and Sciences
• Avva Boroujerdi ’25, undergraduate student, Whitman School of Management
• Rosemary Martin ’26, undergraduate student,��College of Arts and Sciences
• Lindsey Oliver��(vice chair),��graduate student,��College of Law
• Christina Papaleo, learning and development specialist,��Office of Diversity and Inclusion
• Andrea Persin, assistant dean of budget, finance and administration,��College of Arts and Sciences
• Lynnie Westafer, graduate student, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Tanya Williamson, assistant vice president, Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Additionally, several members are still completing their term from last year, including:

• La’Kesa Allen, community standards coordinator, Community Standards
• Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, associate dean, Hendricks Chapel
• Mary Kiernan, associate teaching professor, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics (chair)
• Maria Pettolina, professor of practice, Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute, College of Arts and Sciences

The CRB has also engaged two highly experienced consultants to advise on its work. Bethaida “Bea” González, former vice president for community engagement, special assistant to the chancellor and dean of University College, is senior advisor to the CRB; and Melvin “Tony” Perez, former chief of public safety for Monroe Community College, serves as its expert law enforcement consultant.

For more information,����or contact the CRB directly by email to��CRB@syr.edu.

“I joined in 2017, right after high school. Two weeks after I graduated, I headed to boot camp,” says Aviles, an undergraduate student studying at .

Aviles served as a warehouse specialist in the Marines, spending his first two years of service at the Marine Corps Air and Ground Training Center in 29 Palms, California, one of the Marine Corps’ most remote bases in the continental United States. There, he supported the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School, which trains Marines in various ground electronic maintenance roles, tactical communications and anti-air warfare operations.

For the second half of his career, Aviles supported a tank battalion, providing all the supply needs for the unit and its personnel, handing out everything from goggles, gloves, and replacement parts of vehicles and equipment.

When it came time to transition out of the military, Aviles sought out opportunities for higher education through the Warrior Scholar Project (WSP). The WSP program prepares transitioning service members to pursue their academic goals after service. While participating with the organization, Aviles says he learned about Syracuse University and its initiatives to support veterans and military-connected students.

Aviles during his time serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“I was originally planning to go back to my home state of Florida and do community college when I got out, but during my time with WSP, I learned about Syracuse University. I had not been to New York before then, and it seemed like a great opportunity,” Aviles says.

When he first arrived on campus, Aviles says he felt he struggled to fit in as a non-traditional student. It’s a common experience shared by many student veterans, particularly first-generation college students. For Aviles, one thing that helped was finding the military-connected community on campus and meeting people who had similar experiences and understood where he was coming from.

“For me, it was a struggle because you’re older and you don’t really fit in. After a while, everyone’s kind of pushing you and telling you it’s okay. But I’ve opened many doors for myself and had some great opportunities,” says Aviles.

One of those opportunities came through the�� (SVO), Syracuse University’s local chapter of the National Student Veterans of America.��Through the SVO, military-connected students can find an easier transition to academic life and connect with other students who have experienced the rigors of higher education, as well as providing a community for camaraderie and support.

“I feel like it’s a great organization due to the fact that, coming in as a first-year student, I was very closed-minded and just stuck to myself. The SVO actually opened me up to be more open-minded and feel more comfortable. I met great buddies who served in different branches, so I got a bunch of different learning perspectives from different people,” Aviles says.

According to Aviles, that support has been a significant source of his success while pursuing an information management technology degree from the School, learning about various topics from cybersecurity to data analytics. For Aviles, he sees a future in cyber security, hopefully contracting with the U.S. government or working with military-affiliated companies like Booz Allen.

Now, as a junior, Aviles has stepped forward to help welcome other student veterans to campus. Earlier this semester, Aviles was elected as the President of the SVO, a position that he feels passionate about succeeding in.

“It’s a great opportunity for other veterans or even military-affiliated students. They can come in, partake in some of our events, and get together with other like-minded students. It’s just a great organization for us to get together and get more comfortable on campus,” Aviles says.

For those interested in learning more about the SVO or other programs available to military-connected students, please visit the . The SVO holds meetings at least one Friday a month in the student veteran lounge at the National Veterans Resource Center, and those students interested in learning more about military service or supporting veterans on campus are welcome to attend.

Aviles (second from right), along with other members of the Student Veterans Organization, at the annual Stars and Stripes Tailgate before the military appreciation football game. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

Students present research at SOURCE Explore 2024

The program takes place on Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 7 and Feb. 14, with the final presentation on Feb. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. All cohorts, except “Mapping Stories, Making Change with Syracuse Community Geography” take place from 2 to 4 p.m. The Community Geography cohort will meet on Fridays from noon to 2 p.m.

The six SOURCE Explore programs being offered are:

• “Mapping Stories, Making Change with Syracuse Community Geography:” Learn how maps help us visualize and share pressing stories like the impacts of climate change, the global pandemic, housing inequalities and ongoing racial injustice (among many more).
• “Analyzing Media and Popular Culture Through a Social Justice Lens with Newhouse’s CODE^SHIFT Lab:” Learn how to examine media texts (such as news stories, social media posts, movies, TV shows, music videos or advertisements) from a social justice lens to become more mindful media users.
• “Culture Clubs: Researching Communities of Interest:” Explore traces of human culture, activity and ideas through archival materials like photographs, scrapbooks and diaries, homemade fliers and pamphlets, notes and ephemera to better understand what constitutes “community” from mainstream offshoots to counterculture and subculture groups, to organizations of extreme niche interest. This cohort will be offered through the Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center.
• “3D Printing and Advanced Manufacturing*:” Learn how to utilize computer aided design (CAD) and 3D printers in academic research for precise modeling and rapid prototyping of complex structures.
• “Discovering Connections: Using Graph Theory to Solve Real-World Network Challenges*:” Learn how to model networks as graphs and apply key concepts like shortest paths, network flows and connectivity to explore how mathematical models can help solve real problems.
• “Exploring the Building Blocks of Life*:” Learn how DNA, the building block of life, is a key component of life science research through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a common laboratory technique that amplifies DNA sequences of interest.

The three STEM Explore programs* are offered in partnership with the����program; students meeting the LSAMP����are strongly encouraged to apply.

Of the SOURCE Explore experience in spring 2024, one student shared that they learned “how to be more open-minded and adaptable when doing research,” including “how to navigate looking at archival, first-hand sources.” The student explained, “I didn’t have much experience with this prior, as I mainly used online databases and second-hand sources to complete projects. This led me to a third skill that I developed, which was how to narrow down my search and ask relevant questions.”

Interested students should by Dec. 5.

The Salzberg Program is made possible by the support of the Whitman School’s H.H. Franklin Center for Supply Chain Management, co-directed by Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Practice Gary La Point and Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management Julie Niederhoff.

“We are honored to have some of the best industry leaders join us for the Salzberg Memorial Lecture Program to speak to our students and faculty about topics that are a timely intersection of supply chain management, continuous improvement, globalization, sustainability and well-being,” says Whitman School Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. “In addition, we are privileged to present the Salzberg Medallion, which has come to be one of the most esteemed awards in the field of supply chain management since 1949. It is with great pride that the Whitman School, which has the oldest supply chain program in the country, dating back to 1919, showcases some of our top industry leaders, innovative scholars and talented students, who will surely help to inspire the next generation of supply chain leaders—many of whom I’m certain will be products of our own Whitman program.”

Award Recipients

This year’s recipients of the Salzberg Industry Medallion was Toyota Motor Corporation. From left are Whitman School Interim Dean Alex McKelvie; Steve Brown, vice president of parts and logistics and operations at Toyota Motor North America; and J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the Whitman School.

This year’s recipients of the Salzberg Industry Medallion was Toyota Motor Corporation, which has built a reputation as a global pioneer for the Toyota Production System (TPS), its manufacturing practices that set the standard for optimizing processes, reducing waste and creating a culture of continuous improvement that has essentially redefined manufacturing standards globally across multiple industries. Steve Brown, vice president of parts and logistics and operations at Toyota Motor North America, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

The Salzberg Academic Medallion was presented to Charles Corbett, Ph.D. Corbett is the IBM Chair in Management and professor of operation and management and sustainability at UCLA. He also holds a joint appointment at the UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability. His current research focuses on sustainable operations, time management and well-being, and his work has been featured in the media and through keynote lectures around the world.

The Salzberg Medallion award winners were selected from nominations received from past recipients and other highly regarded practitioners in the transportation and supply chain fields.

Five awards were also given to Whitman undergraduate students. Those students pursuing a supply chain management major were given the opportunity to submit a paper and video about their ideas for consideration by the members of the H.H. Franklin Supply Chain Advisory Board. This year’s recipients were the following:

• Taylor Nicole Feiden ’25, marketing management, real estate and supply chain management, who received the $10,000 Brethen Scholarship.
• Gabrielle Goldman ’25 (Whitman/School of Information Studies) ’25, supply chain management and information management and technology, who received the $10,000 Brethen Scholarship.
• Amelia K. Thorn ’25 (Whitman/Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), finance and supply chain management, who received the $1,000 Zinsmeister Award.
• Connor McHugh ’25, business analytics and supply chain management, who received a $5,000 Recognition Award.
• Odette A. Sherk ’26 (Whitman/Maxwell School), supply chain management, marketing and environmental and sustainability policy, who received the Empowering Women in Supply Chain Award, presented on behalf of the Didier Family, who received a $1,000 award.

Industry Presentations

A number of speakers rounded out the event, sharing their perspectives on topics relevant to supply chain management.

Toyota’s Brown and Jeff Cawyer, group manager, Toyota Motor North America, outlined the history and methods of TPS, which has become the standard for the auto manufacturing industry through an organizational culture of highly engaged people solving problems or innovating to merge with the latest technology. TPS is focused on the idea that the customer comes first and that people are the company’s most important resource. The company follows the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, where problems are solved by going right to the shop floor or at the individual dealerships, and the role of managers is to motivate and develop people by building a greater organizational culture where employees feel empowered, supported and recognized.

Toyota is also strongly committed to one of today’s top supply chain challenges: carbon neutrality, which the company is aggressively targeting to reach by 2050. Cawyer also explained how his division handles planning and parts logistics with the Just in Time mindset of “building what people need right now only in the right quantity,” while also making sure that estimated delivery times are met at the dealership level.

The Salzberg Academic Medallion was presented to Charles Corbett, Ph.D. Corbett is the IBM Chair in Management and professor of operation and management and sustainability at UCLA. From left are Whitman School Interim Dean Alex McKelvie; Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the Whitman School; Corbett; and Julie Neiderhoff, associate professor of supply chain management.

Corbett presented “The Operations of Well-Being,” which outlined his research on how processes interact with happiness, equity and sustainability. He talked about “stimulating the best effort of all” and “helping individuals make the most of themselves,” while also addressing how individuals can waste valuable time or make “lazy decisions” that can impact safety and operations, as well as seemingly trivial decisions that can collectively impact whether a person is happy or unhappy.

Corbett emphasized that those who truly use lean manufacturing practices well and give their employees the tools they need to thrive, while those who don’t implement lean well often wind up in chaos. Corbett also addressed the impact of the “new” supply chain created by gig work, as well as the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) on operations.

Adam B. Cunha, head of global key client sales-North America, for A.P. Moller-Maersk, addressed global logistic challenges due to political conflicts and environmental activities surrounding key shipping areas, such as safety concerns in the Suez Canal due to tensions in the Red Sea, fluctuating water levels in the Panama Canal, recent hurricanes in the southeastern U.S. and accidents like the bridge collapse blocking much of the Port of Baltimore. Not only limited to shipping, the company moves almost 20% of the world’s food, materials and goods every day to reach people across the globe. Today, it is creating “the network of the future” to find alternate ways to overcome delays and work around unexpected obstacles. He expressed his hope that Whitman students will remember Maersk not only for shipping “but as a company that is connecting and simplifying global supply chains.”

Sarah Day Kalloch, co-founder and executive director for the Good Jobs Institute, presented “Help Companies Thrive by Creating Good Jobs” based on 20 years of research from “The Good Job Strategy.”�� One topic she spoke about was how critical pay is for low-income, frontline workers—like those working in call centers, warehouses, retail or service.

The Good Jobs Institute has worked successfully with companies, like Costco and Trader Joe’s, to invest in their workers by offering wages greater than their competitors and creating great teams with stable schedules, pay that can support a family, benefits, clear career paths, security and safety. This, in turn, has minimized stress on employees and typically results in much lower turnover, which in itself is a huge cost saver. In addition to improving employee turnover, these employees offer better customer service, better store experiences, and overall higher performance with sales and other metrics, therefore giving a strong return on the investment.

Five students will soon begin a two-year research project examining the potential social justice and public health impacts of living in neighborhoods that have experienced the historical discriminatory practice of redlining. That is a practice where, for decades, financial institutions designated certain neighborhoods—primarily Black ones—as poor credit risks, making it difficult for residents there to own homes or improve their properties.

The students, recently named 2024-26 Lender Center for Social Justice student fellows, will work with Miriam Mutambudzi, assistant professor of public health in the , who is .

They are:

• Tomiwa (“Tommy”) DaSilva ’26, dual major in public health in the Falk College��and policy studies and citizenship and civic engagement in the
• Adara (“Darla”) Hobbs ’22 G ‘26, a graduate student in Pan African studies in the (A&S)
• Jamea Johnson ’25, a psychology major in A&S
• Sabrina Lussier ’26, a triple major in geography, citizenship and civic engagement, and environmental sustainability and policy in the Maxwell School
• Shreya Potluri ’27, an architecture major in the

DaSilva, from Newark, Delaware, is interested in promoting health equity through health promotion policies and community-based practices. On campus, he has been involved in the Student Association of Public Health Education and Connect 315. In the community, DaSilva has interned with the YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County, ACR Health and the City of Syracuse Department of Neighborhood and Business Development.

Hobbs, of Syracuse, earned a bachelor’s degree in��communication and rhetorical studies from the . She has worked for more than a decade with the Syracuse City School District as a teaching assistant, art teacher and as a diversity, equity and belonging building lead.��Hobbs is currently researching the historical and contemporary impacts of redlining on Syracuse’s Black and Latino communities.

Her project, “The Past, Present and Future: An Overview of Redlining in the City of Syracuse,” examines the legacy of residential redlining and resident displacement from the 15th Ward and the ongoing I-81 viaduct project. She also contributed to the development of themes and aesthetic elements for the Barner-McDuffie house, the University’s first Black student center.

Johnson, from Grand Prairie, Texas, has extensive experience in public service, entrepreneurship and community engagement. She is a Congressional intern for New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, working on legislative research, policy development and constituent service. She’s also founder and chief executive officer of Black Girls Garden, an organization that teaches young Black girls and women in low-income living situations to grow their own food to combat food insecurity and poor nutrition.

She took first place in the 2023 Blackstone LaunchPad Small Business Pitch Contest for that startup and also received the 2023 Black Honor Society’s Community Service Leadership Award. On campus, she is Residence Hall Association president and a member of the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble.

Lussier, from the Washington, D.C., area, is an honors student and Maxwell Leadership Scholar. She is a STOP Bias peer educator, a resident advisor for the MORE in Leadership Living Learning Community and has spent the past year working for the Syracuse Neighborhood and Business Development Office.

Her research and academic interests focus on how urban planning intersects with community engagement, social justice and sustainability. Her citizenship capstone and honors thesis looks at the effect of freeway demolition on marginalized communities, focusing on Syracuse’s East Adams neighborhood near I-81 in the historic 15th ward.

Potluri, of Frisco, Texas, is interested in research pertaining to social justice, urban planning and housing. She has researched student learning environments, minority students’ experiences and accessibility to community spaces and facilities in the Syracuse community, along with how architecture is connected to social justice.

Potluri says she wants to determine how architecture can be used to provide people with opportunities and the agency to combat the consequences of redlining.

Miriam Mutambudzi

Mutambudzi’s project examines how Black adults who reside in what have been historically redlined neighborhoods can experience a disadvantaged occupational life course and subsequent health consequences. She says that while redlining began in the 1930s, it has resulted in decades of urban decay and poverty for those neighborhoods that has left a legacy of social and economic disadvantage that continues today.

In addition to Mutambudzi’s role as an assistant professor of public health, she is also a faculty affiliate of the , and at the Maxwell School.

All week:

• Sign your graduating class’s first-generation banner at the Intercultural Collective in the Schine Student Center. The banner will be displayed during graduation season. Participants can also get free first-generation stickers.
• A poster display, “Exploring the First-Generation Syracuse University Experience,” featuring campus community members, will be on exhibit on the first floor of Bird Library. Learn about the history of the first-generation identity in higher education, the diverse definitions of “first-generation” and inspiring profiles of current first-generation campus members. A library research guide will offer a wide array of books and resources by and for first-generation individuals, covering themes such as cultural education, memoirs, celebrations and wellness.

Monday, Nov. 4

• • A workshop on “Crafting Your Pitch” will be offered by Career Services and the Kessler Scholars Program from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in Room 104 of the Tolley Humanities Building. The workshop is tailored to the needs of first-generation students, with a special emphasis on undergraduate students. Participants will discover, practice and leave with branding and elevator pitch techniques to support their career journeys.
  • “,” will be held from 4-6 p.m. in the Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, 114 Bird Library. A diverse panel of faculty, staff, students and alumni will share their unique experiences, challenges and advice in navigating college and the professional environments. The discussion and Q&A session will include how to gather support and resources,

Tuesday, Nov. 5

• The Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS), located on the lower level of Bird Library, will hold an open house from 3:30-5:30 p.m. for first-generation students to explore the variety of individual and group academic support services available.

Wednesday, Nov. 6

• Affinity and networking pop-up space for first-generation students, faculty and staff will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Intercultural Collective office in the Schine Student Center. Meet fellow first-generation peers, share your experiences, sign your class banner and enjoy some light refreshments while building a supportive community.
• “Thriving as a First-Generation Professional: Navigating the Workforce with Confidence,” a trauma-informed workshop designed to empower first-generation college students as they prepare to enter the professional workforce, will be held from 1:30-3 p.m. in 103 Huntington Hall. Participants will explore practical strategies for overcoming challenges unique to first-generation professionals, such as navigating workplace dynamics, developing self-advocacy and managing financial independence.

• A on “Building Your Professional Network” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Learn how to unlock life-changing conversations, mentorships, internships and jobs. Connect with members of the vast Orange community. Open to all undergraduate students, regardless of school/college affiliation.

Thursday, Nov. 7

• An open house will be held in 208 Bowne Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for participants to learn about research, fellowship and other resources and opportunities available for first-generation students with the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA), Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE), Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) and the Lender Center for Social Justice.

Friday, Nov. 8

• A First-Generation Resource Fair will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Jacquet Commons in Huntington Hall. The fair will feature information from�� SOURCE, Syracuse Abroad, Blackstone Launchpad, the McNair Scholars Program, the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and more.
• A First-Generation Celebration featuring “Living Between Two Worlds” with Tianna Faye Soto will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the��Jacquet Commons in Huntington Hall. Soto will focus on empowering first-generation students to explore their identities, celebrate intersectionality and highlight the unique strength each person holds.

The National First-Generation College Celebration is celebrated annually on Nov. 8 to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The act provides equal opportunity for those from low-income and minority backgrounds. The legislation created grants and loan programs, invested in higher education institutions and started the Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) to facilitate the academic success of first-generation college students.

First-Generation College Celebration Week events are made possible by the collaboration and generous contributions of multiple individuals, offices and units on campus that believe in elevating and celebrating our first-generation community of students, faculty and staff.

New Student Programs maintains the for those who self-identify as first-generation college students. The list serves a visual representation of faculty and staff dedication to helping current first-generation college students build their personal success networks and their eagerness to help grow a campus of support. Students are encouraged to connect with faculty and staff members who can share their personal journeys, insight and support throughout this unique student experience.

Doctoral student Cijun Zhang explains his research to BioInspired Symposium attendees. Zhang studies in the Xiaoran Hu functional organic materials lab.

The event featured poster presentations by 79 undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Several researchers presented “lightning talks” on topics such as how and how the human body reacts; fabricating and creating and new technologies to address��problems from clean energy to robotics to medicine. Guest speakers from several universities made special presentations. Awards were presented to recognize researchers in multiple ways.

Three recipients were chosen in the Best Overall Poster category:

• ’25, a dual mathematics and physics major in the (A&S), for “.” (Principal investigators are , physics professor, and Antun Skanata, research assistant professor of physics.)
• , a doctoral student in physics in A&S, for “.” (Principal investigator is , William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics.)
• , an M.D./Ph.D. student in cell and developmental biology at SUNY Upstate Medical University, for “.” (Principal investigator is , associate research professor of biology.)

Two presenters were recognized as Stevenson Biomaterials Poster Award winners:

• , a biomedical and chemical engineering doctoral student in the (ECS), for her work on “.” (Principal investigator is , associate professor of .)
• G’21, a mechanical and aerospace engineering doctoral student in ECS, for “.” (Principal investigator is , associate professor of .)

Two researchers received awards recognizing Best Lightning Talks:

• , a doctoral student in chemistry in A&S, whose topic was “.” Her work involves testing to find an improved diagnostic biomarker��for prostate and other cancers. (Principal investigator is , professor and director of biochemistry.)
• , a doctoral student in biomedical and chemical engineering in ECS, for her research on bone tissue, described in “.”(Principal investigator is , professor of biomedical and chemical engineering.)

A project by , “,” was recognized as having the best commercialization potential. Can is a biomedical and chemical engineering doctoral student in ECS. (Principal investigator is Mary Beth Monroe.)

Receiving honors for her “social impact” initiative was , G ‘22, an assistant teaching professor in the , for her work, “ The project explored an interdisciplinary collaboration between the University’s Departments of Chemistry and Architecture that aimed to foster societal impact through sustainable innovation in architectural materials.��(Her collaborator was , associate professor of chemistry in A&S.)

Winston Oluwole Soboyejo, SUNY Polytechnic Institute President, asks Alexia Chatzitheodorou, a graduate research assistant, about her work on “Shape Morphing of Twisted Nematic Elastomer Shells.” Soboyejo was one of several university representatives to speak at the symposium.

Winner of the People’s Choice Award was , a biomedical and chemical engineering doctoral student in ECS. His project, “”

His research examines how hemostatic materials with antibacterial and antibiofilm properties can reduce infection rates and enhance the healing of traumatic wounds. (Principal investigator is Mary Beth Monroe.)

Best Publication Awards went to:

• G’22, a graduate of the applied data science program who is now a doctoral student in bioengineering and biomedical engineering in ECS. He is exploring the use of hiPSC-CMs to study and understand cardiomyocyte biology through biology with artificial intelligence. His paper, “,” published in Cell Reports Methods in June, presented new methods for investigating the physiological functioning of cardiac organoids using machine learning algorithms.

• , a doctoral student in bioengineering at ECS, studies wound healing and tissue regeneration. His paper, “,” was published in the journal ACS Applied Biomaterials in February.
• , a doctoral student in bioengineering at ECS, received an honorable mention. His paper, “” was published in the journal ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering in June.

The six recipients are the following:

• Dominique Camp ’24 (David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics), founder of clothing brand Camp Collective, will use the funds for the organization’s first collection inventory, photo shoot and mockup designs.
  

  Dominique Camp

• Olutosin (Tosin) Alabi G’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Diabetech, will use the grant to develop a proof-of-concept prototype for the smart sensor/bandage for diabetic foot ulcer monitoring.
• Aidan Turner ’25 (School of Architecture), founder of clothing brand Grater Things, will use the grant for legal services, including project and membership agreements and privacy policy, as well as website development and product research expenses.
• Antonio (Tony) Goncalves ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), founder of fitness app GymIn, will be using the grant to incorporate and other legal business processes.
• Lars Jendruschewitz ’27 (Whitman School and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), founder of Photos by Lars, will use the funds for equipment.
• Ania Kapllani ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), founder of Sunset Music, will use the grant to register as an LLC and to create a logo and website.

Applications must specifically define the need with identified outcomes to be achieved within a set time. Initial money in the fund was provided by Jeffrey Rich L’67, partner at Rich Michaelson Magaliff LLP, and a member of the Syracuse University Libraries Advisory Board. Rich provided a multi-year pledge of $25,000 per year for five years from 2020 to 2025. “I wanted to contribute in a way that directly supports student new ventures and removes any obstacles to startup development,” Rich says.

Carrie Brown

To help you process the experience, Carrie ��Brown, director of counseling, , recommends starting with recognizing what you’re going through.

“Having awareness and naming the experience and feelings is often a good first step. As well as normalizing the experience,” Brown says. Feel that discomfort but also explore your new situation and meet with new people—and focus on thoughts as to why you embarked on this new adventure.

In this Q&A with SU News, Brown shares how you can recognize the signs of being homesick, how to work through those feelings and how friends and family can offer support.

What are the signs that might appear in students who are feeling homesick?

Signs can manifest physically, cognitively and emotionally and often are tied together. Physical signs might include disrupted sleep, lack/change in appetite, lowered immune responses, GI issues, headaches, dizziness, fatigue and general feelings of being unwell. Cognitively, the individual might find themselves consumed with thoughts of returning home, being pessimistic about their new environment or having difficulty concentrating. Emotionally, the person might find themselves having a low mood, being tearful or having feelings of hopelessness. Additionally, they might experience increased levels of anxiety, including nervousness, worry, being jittery, irritability and wanting to withdraw.

Is it very common for students to go through this? What do you tell students about those feelings of homesickness?

Experiences of homesickness are very common and usually occur more often in students who are leaving home for the first time but can happen whenever our routines become completely disrupted for extended periods of time. Research has indicated that upwards of 70% of first-year students experience some symptoms/signs of homesickness, which if not addressed could potentially lead to adjustment difficulties.

Attitude and perspective toward the new experience and environment can have a critical impact. For example, anticipating being homesick can sometimes lend itself to a self-fulling mindset. A person’s ability to sit with the discomfort and explore the unfamiliar, including new situations and engaging with new people can be helpful. Additionally, focusing on thoughts such as why one chose this University can be a good way of offsetting a more negative mindset.

What are ways to help overcome homesickness?

• Seek support by talking with family, friends and professors and building new social relationships.
• Look for ways to recreate things from home that you miss in your new environment.
• Get active and continue to engage in self-care such as paying attention to sleep, nutrition and exercise.
• Create a routine and leave your residence hall. Look for opportunities to get involved with things you enjoy and are passionate about such as joining a University club or committee.
• Avoid the temptation to return home often and/or stay in your room.
• Try to avoid too much social comparison and set realistic expectations. Know that you are not alone in these feelings and that many people can resolve them.

How can families and friends support students who might be homesick?

Families and friends should be open to talking about what the student is experiencing and listen with empathy and normalize the experience. They should also talk about how the student might develop a routine, get involved on campus and how they might find things they enjoy in their new environment. Normalize the time it takes to make deeper relationships and help set realistic expectations. Avoid being quick to have them come home too often and encourage them to get involved on campus and branch out to meet new people.

Who should students reach out to if those feelings don’t go away after a certain period?

Certainly, homesickness over a duration can lead to additional anxiety and depressed mood. In the event that someone notices that homesickness is impacting their daily life and they are not making connections and/or withdrawing from opportunities and isolating they should reach out to a professional such as for support. is another helpful resource that can offer support as well, especially if academics are being impacted.

Ian Glazman-Schillinger

Glazman-Schillinger, in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, is one of 11 doctoral candidates who received the award, which comes with $25,000. The funding supports researchers investigating the origins of serious violence as well as responses to it across historical and contemporary contexts in the U.S. and other countries. Recipients this year are studying a range of topics, including political extremism, gender violence and the use of political rhetoric to undercut democratic movements.

Glazman-Schillinger’s dissertation is titled “White Supremacy Goes Online: The Early Digital History of White Power Activists and how they Shaped the Internet, 1984-1999.” His research examines how far-right white power groups used digital technologies and computer networks in the 1980s and 1990s to recruit, communicate and evade government surveillance and infiltration. He traces white power groups’ transition from the traditional hierarchical organizations of the early-to-mid-20th century to current, more diffuse digital formations. His work builds on scholarship in the fields of information studies, computer mediated communication and the digital humanities, and utilizes methodologies that acknowledge the unique qualities of born-digital materials.

A fifth-year doctoral candidate in the history department, Glazman-Schillinger is a graduate research associate in the Campbell Public Affairs Institute (CPAI). He has taught courses on American history to 1865, early modern European history and modern European history. His advisor, Margaret Susan Thompson, is associate professor of history and political science, and senior research associate for CPAI and for the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration.

“His dissertation project, focusing on born-digital primary materials from the earliest years of online communication, will profoundly illuminate our understanding of hate groups and the radical right in the United States as both historical phenomena and ongoing foci of intellectual, political and even moral concern,” says Thompson. “Ian’s work is not only original but undeniably crucial in 21st century political and scholarly contexts that acknowledge the salience and danger of extremism—although it is considerably less aware than it might be of how extremists organize, communicate and operate.”

Glazman-Schillinger was previously awarded Syracuse University’s Hotchkiss-Ketcham Fellowship as part of a multi-year fellowship package and previously held a nominated position as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He has published work about online and internet hate crimes, the digital origins of the alt-right and far-right movements in the late 20th century. He has presented conference papers at the 2023 Organization of American Historians’ Annual Conference and the UK-based Historians of the Twentieth Century United States’ 2022 annual meeting.

Glazman-Schillinger received a master’s degree from the University of Aberdeen in 2017 and an M.Sc. in contemporary history from the University of Edinburgh in 2018.

Story by Mike Kelly

A team of Syracuse University researchers have published a study exploring how genomic diversity of acetic acid bacteria can alter properties of sourdough. Pictured are sourdough starters grown up from experimental communities (from the left: control [no microbes added], yeast only, yeast plus lactic acid bacteria, yeast plus lactic acid bacteria plus acetic acid bacteria).

When millions of people��went into lockdown��during the��pandemic, they went in search of new at-home hobbies to help cure their boredom. Among them was making sourdough bread. In addition to being sustainable for its use of natural ingredients and traditional methods which date back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, it also is valued for its nutritional benefits. For example, studies have shown that sourdough contains more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants compared to many other types of bread. For people with mild sensitivities to gluten, sourdough bread can be easier to digest since much of the gluten is broken down during the fermentation process. What’s more, many lactic acid bacteria species, which are foundational to sourdough, are considered probiotics, associated with improved gastrointestinal health.

A Flavor Profile Years in the Making

The process of making sourdough bread begins with a sourdough starter. These starters are created when microbes–communities of bacteria and yeast–stabilize in a flour and water mixture. Known as a microbiome, this community of wild yeast and bacteria is what makes sourdough bread rise and contributes to its taste and texture. Sourdough notably differs from most bread because it relies on this starter of wild microbes to help it rise instead of baker’s yeast packets.

Many sourdough starters are preserved over generations, with some samples dating back thousands of years. To maintain a sourdough starter, you extract a sample from a previous dough and mix it into new flour and water. With enough transfers of the sourdough starter, the microbial community will be composed of the yeast, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and acetic acid bacteria (AAB) that are best adapted to the sourdough environment. What makes different sourdough starters unique are the varying strains of yeast and bacteria that produce the distinctive sour flavor.

Testing Genetic Diversity

Advances in sequencing technology have enabled researchers to rapidly profile microbial communities, such as the sourdough microbiome. In the College of Arts and Sciences, members of biology professor����lab have been studying acetic acid bacteria to determine how genetic diversity of AAB impacts sourdough communities.

Professor Angela Oliverio (left), Nimshika Senewiratne (middle), a Ph.D. candidate in Oliverio’s lab, and Beryl Rappaport (right), a Ph.D. student in Oliverio’s lab, co-authored a study which characterized acetic acid bacteria (AAB) from 500 sourdough starters to better understand how genetic diversity of AAB influences characteristics of sourdough.

While previous research has focused more on lactic acid bacteria and yeast, the ecology, genomic diversity and functional contributions of AAB in sourdough remain largely unknown. Beryl Rappaport, a Ph.D. student in Oliverio’s group, recently led a paper published in , a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, where she and other sourdough scientists, including Oliverio, Nimshika Senewiratne from the Oliverio lab, SU biology professor��, and professor Ben Wolfe from Tufts University, sequenced 29 AAB genomes from a collection of over 500 sourdough starters and constructed synthetic starter communities in the lab to define the ways in which AAB shape emergent properties of sourdough. The team’s work was supported by a��awarded to Oliverio earlier this year.

“While not as common in sourdough as lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria are better known for their dominant roles in other fermented foods like vinegar and kombucha,” says Rappaport. “For this study, we were interested in following up on previous findings which stated that when present in sourdough, AAB seems to have a strong impact on key properties including scent profile and metabolite production, which shape overall flavor formation.”

Plates testing for presence or absence of microbes grown in synthetic sourdough communities.

To assess the consequences of AAB on the emergent function of sourdough starter microbiomes, their team tested 10 strains of AAB, some distantly related and some very closely related. They set up manipulative experiments with these 10 strains, adding each one to a community of yeast and LAB. They kept a separate community of just yeast and LAB to serve as the control.

“Since we can manipulate what microbes and what concentrations of microbes go into these synthetic sourdough communities, we could see the direct effects of adding each strain of AAB to sourdough,” says Rappaport. “As we expected, every strain of AAB lowered the pH of the synthetic sourdough (associated with increasing sourness) since they release acetic acid and other acids as byproducts of their metabolic processes. Unexpectedly, however, AAB that were more closely related did not release more similar compounds. In fact, there was high variation in metabolites, many related to flavor formation, even between strains of the same species.”

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

Included in the “’Cuse Otto Vote” guide is information about the following:

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

María Quiñones Rios

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

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

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

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

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

More than 60 pieces from the institutional collection are featured in the show, housed at the of the University’s Nancy Cantor Warehouse Building at 350 W. Fayette St. The show runs through Friday, Nov. 22. Admission is free and open to the public.

The exhibition, “Libro de Artista,” features more than 60 artists books from the collection at the Argentine National Museum. (Photo by Matias Roth)

The exhibition is a production of the University’s POC) gallery in partnership with the (MNBA) and the University’s in the .

Sergio Moscona’s “Personajes Diarios,” in ink, acrylic and collage, depicting the intervention of facsimile 1956 edition of “La Prensa,” a daily newspaper that was censored in 1951. (Photo by Matias Roth)

Latin American creators represented in the exhibition include artist books by Diana Dowek, Luis Felipe Noé, Lucrecia Orloff, Jacques Bedel, Daniel García, Miguel Harte, Carolina Antoniadis, Marcos López and Marcia Schvartz. The exhibition also includes the Agentinian museum’s latest accession to the collection, a piece co-authored by Argentine artists Pedro Roth and the late Syracuse University professor and POC founder Pedro Cuperman.

Juan Astica’s acrylic-on-paper piece, “Diversos Conjuros,” consists of 64 paintings. (Photo by Matias Roth)

“It is an honor to partner with MNBA in its first showing of the ‘Libro de Artista’ collection in the United States,” said , executive director of the Office of Cultural Engagement for the Hispanic Community at Syracuse University.

“Point of Contact worked in close collaboration with the Roth family of creators and with the National Ministry of Culture of Argentina in exhibitions at the New York Art Book Fair held at MoMA PS1 from 2012 to 2018. ‘Libro de Artista’ culminates such a project with this timely exhibit as we commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month 2024,”she says.

Andrés Duprat, MNBA director, explains the art form. He says, “The artist book or Libro de Artista is generally not considered a work of art in itself, but for us, it holds great interest because it is in artist books where explorations, intentions, sketches, and even doubts and regrets or new searches are revealed.”

This foldable book in ink on paper, and bound in leather, is by artist Leonel Luna. It’s called “Genealogías del Arte Argentino.” (Photo by Matias Roth)

In terms of artist techniques, formats and materials, artist books take many forms on paper, cardboard, celluloid, acrylic, metal and other materials, transforming into boxes, intervened prints, collages and pop-up books.

One of the pieces in the show, “La Dama del Río,” is a collaborative work with original texts by Pedro Cuperman and illustrations by Pedro Roth. Pedro Roth is a recipient of the 2023 National Award for Artistic Trajectory, an honor bestowed by the National Ministry of Culture recognizing the exceptional path and contributions of living Argentine creators inducted to the National Gallery of Visual Arts.

Juan Pablo Ferlat’s digital print is titled “Golem.” (Photo by Matias Roth)

“Point of Contact, soon to commemorate its 50th anniversary, has much to celebrate with the accession of this piece to the MNBA’s permanent collection,” says Matias Roth, curator of the “Libro de Artista” Buenos Aires exhibition and an exhibiting artist in the show. “As a member of the Point of Contact board of directors and longtime collaborator of both POC and the National Museum, I greatly appreciate that this work will be preserved in Argentina’s National Art Collection.”

At Point of Contact’s exhibition opening are, from left, Tere Paniagua, gallery director; Matias Roth, Point of Contact board member and show curator; Museum Studies Professor Andrew Saluti and museum studies graduate students Paola Manzano and Molly Dano.

Jade Aulestia

After spending the Spring 2024 semester in , Aulestia decided to extend her time abroad and spend the summer interning in the same location. During her summer session, she interned for ARTE, the Franco-German broadcast station in Strasbourg, just a six-minute walk away from the Syracuse center.

“It was amazing to see how ARTE manages bilingual content in France but also how it caters to the rest of the neighboring counties. ARTE is a popular channel for Europe with coverage in several languages aside from French and German,” Aulestia says.

As a broadcast and digital journalism major, this internship was a valuable experience contributing to both her personal and professional growth. Her internship responsibilities included working on reports, conducting research for their social media platforms and helping to plan future projects. “I learned so much about myself while abroad and I will always be thankful for the experience,” Aulestia says.

Summer 2025 Programs

Summer study abroad programs, ranging from two to nine weeks abroad, are a valuable option for both undergraduate and graduate students who might have trouble fitting study abroad into their busy schedules. Enrolling in programs over the summer can help students catch up or get ahead on degree credits and can even provide valuable work and internship experience.

Summer at Syracuse Centers

Syracuse University students spend time in Strasbourg during their time abroad.

During��, students can choose from a variety of courses at Syracuse Centers in Florence, London, Madrid and Strasbourg. Students can enroll in one or two classes for over two to nine weeks and earn three to nine credits. Sessions are designed to immerse students in the city’s culture through unique activities and city exploration opportunities, along with specially designed weekend trips to surrounding cities and sites.

Courses are offered in a variety of disciplines including advertising, biology, communications, history, political science, psychology, public health policy, sociology, sport management and more.

Summer Internships Abroad

abroad provide students with the opportunity to gain international work experience and build a global network. Syracuse Abroad offers a variety of summer internship opportunities, including programs at Syracuse centers, internships led by University faculty, and programs with pre-approved partners in locations, including Brussels, Tel Aviv and Singapore.

In partnership with the Strasbourg Center, students have access to an exclusive internship program at the . This program is ideal for graduate and advanced undergraduate students interested in human rights, governance, diplomacy and international relations. The Strasbourg Center also offers community internships ranging from placements in business, politics, education, media, art, community service and more.

Faculty-Led Summer Programs

Summer programs led by University faculty are also offered throughout the summer in a variety of locations covering many academic disciplines. Students can study education in South Africa, design in Japan and exercise science in Peru. View all��.

Students can for Summer 2025 programs. The application deadline is Saturday, Feb. 1, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students can to learn more about summer study abroad.

Financial aid is also available for summer programs, including merit scholarships, study abroad grants, need-based grants and more. Learn more about .

Eighteen student groups have been chosen to participate in the Fall 2024 Student Organization Challenge.

Eighteen student groups have been chosen to participate. You can help them succeed as they compete for the highest number of unique donors by the end of the challenge. In addition to the funds raised, the Student Experience team has offered $1,750 in challenge dollars for the following:

• $250 to the first organization to reach 50 donors
• $500 to the first organization to reach 100 donors
• $1,000 to the student organization with the highest number of donors at the end of the challenge

Whether it’s funding a new project, hosting an event or enhancing their operations, your gift can help these groups achieve their dreams.

Why Donate?

• Boost Campus Life: These student-led initiatives strengthen the sense of community and belonging on campus, making Syracuse University a more engaging environment for all.
• Support Students: We can’t do it without��you! Your participation means the world to our dedicated students.
• Maximize Impact: Every unique donor moves students one step closer to unlocking challenge dollars, meaning your generosity goes even further.

The challenge runs until Dec. 3, 2024. Visit to learn more about this year’s participating organizations and their goals.

Story by Brooke Merrifield-Hintz

Known nationally for spearheading unique teaching-excellence initiatives, Neuhaus is also a professor in the School of Education. Most recently, she was professor of history and director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at SUNY Plattsburgh. She has also held teaching positions at several universities, including Denison, Case Western Reserve and Oregon State.

We sat down with Neuhaus to discuss her new role and CTLE’s approach to promoting teaching and learning success.

The new station, “,” is “a thrilling and significant breakthrough” for the growing Spanish-speaking community in the area, says , executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community and director of the University’s . “The station is poised to become a vital resource, reflecting the vibrant mix of Hispanic and Latino cultures and effectively engaging these populations like no other local or regional medium does.”

Paniagua and many others at the University were integral to the development of the station. She first got involved in the summer of 2023 when WCNY CEO and President approached her wondering if a Spanish-language radio station was available in the area. When he discovered there wasn’t one, Gelman asked Paniagua to help him assess the community’s interest in filling that void.

Gelman formed a community task force, which he co-chaired with Paniagua and WCNY-FM Station Manager . Over many months, more than two dozen task force members planned the station’s structure, helped developed funding, sought collaborators and generated programming ideas.

Teresita Paniagua, left, the University’s executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community, speaks to students at an event celebrating Hispanic culture. Paniagua was instrumental in spurring community interest in and involvement to help bring about WCNY’s Spanish-language radio station.

Several University faculty members and instructors from the College of Arts and Sciences, including , associate teaching professor of Spanish and Portuguese and Spanish language coordinator, and , Spanish instructor, participated in the task force efforts.

Also involved in other ways were , Spanish department professor and chair; , Spanish professor; , assistant teaching professor of film in the College of Visual and Performing Arts; , development director for Syracuse Stage; , professor of Spanish at Onondaga Community College; Josefa Álvarez Valadés, ��Spanish professor at LeMoyne College; and , a Newhouse School of Public Communications alumnus and former radio/TV producer who is an associate professor of communications at SUNY Oswego.

As part of the task force’s fact-finding, Paniagua enlisted Whitman School of Management students Nicolas Cela Marxuach ’25, Zachary Levine ’25 and Jonah Griffin ’24 to develop and distribute a community interest survey, which the students circulated to several hundred local residents at community events. She says 98% of respondents supported the idea. The survey also provided insights into audience demographics and programming ideas—including sports, community news, talk shows, music and faith-based content.

There are upwards of 1,000 Spanish-speaking radio stations in the U.S. but Pulso Central is the first of its kind in Central New York. The region is home to some 18,000 Spanish-speaking households, with Spanish-speaking people making up about 10.5% of the area’s population and comprising a segment of the community that has grown 30% over the past decade, according to research done by WCNY.

A Learning Resource

Pulso Central also provides a unique learning opportunity and “an extraordinary new pedagogical tool for experiential education” for the University’s students, says Ticio Quesada.

M. Emma Ticio Quesada, center, a professor in Syracuse University’s Spanish department, uses WCNY’s radio station studio as an experiential learning space and resource for her courses.

Five students from her immersive course, Community Outreach: Language in Action, are interning at the station. The students, Lailah Ali-Valentine, Adam Baltaxe, Kimberlyn Lopez Herrera, Nicolas Bernardino Greiner-Guzman and Jade Aulestia recently created their first podcast.

Ticio Quesada says she also expects students in SPA 300: Our Community Voices, an course, to benefit from the same kind of internship opportunity. The course connects native and non-native Spanish speakers, inspires them to contribute to the local community, and promotes inclusion and social justice.

Partnering Results

Miranda Traudt, the University’s assistant provost for arts and community programming, says the task force is a good example of the positive outcomes that can result when members of the University and local communities work together to achieve specific goals. “This project continues La Casita’s meaningful engagement with Hispanic communities in Central New York and helps fulfill its mission through work in the arts, media, cultural heritage preservation and research adding to the high quality of life,” she says.

Several dozen community members helped WCNY form and air the area’s first Spanish-language radio station. They included, from left, Mitch Gelman, WCNY president and CEO; M. Emma Ticio Quesada, Syracuse University professor of Spanish; Stephanie Gonzalez Rawlings, content producer; and DJ Lorenz (Renzo Quesada), music host. (Photo by Eric Hayden, WCNY)

Game Changer

Paniagua believes the station “can be a game changer,” not only in providing news and information about and for the Latina/Hispanic community but also by “helping to change long-established stereotypes and present a whole new world of possibilities for the people of this community,” she says. “There are many wonderful stories about people who have established their lives in this community and I hope Pulso Central can be a showcase for those stories.”

Launch Event Oct. 24

An official launch event, “,” will be held Thursday, Oct. 24, at WCNY studios and La Casita.

“WCNY is thrilled to help launch Pulso Central,” Gelman says. “Our goal is to provide a platform that will come alive with music and talk that engages listeners and fosters community connection.”

The station reaches listeners in 19 counties. Pulso Central airs on WCNY 91.3 HD-2 in Syracuse, WUNY 89.5 HD-2 in Utica and WJNY 90.9 HD-2 in Watertown. It is accessible online at and streaming on the Pulso Central app.

In this fourth edition of the competition, sponsored by , architects, designers and visionaries from around the world were asked to redefine the future of residential architecture by designing a dwelling for the year 2124 that focused on innovation, sustainability and adaptability.

With issues like climate change, urbanization and technological advancements at the forefront, the competition invited participants to think beyond the conventional and explore the uncharted territories of architectural design by pushing the boundaries, challenging preconceptions and creating visionary concepts for homes that will define the 22nd century.

Guided by Marcos Parga, associate professor at the School of Architecture, the Syracuse University student team of Yifan (Ivan) Chen ’25 and Yue Zhuo ’25 designed “The Domestic Nomad,” a project that, rather than a housing solution, serves as a statement and provocation that redefines nomadism at a contemporary, domestic scale to address the rigidity of private enclosures promoted by the capitalist market.

“The Domestic Nomad”

Inspired by Gilles Deleuze’s notion of nomadism in “A Thousand Plateaus,” the team proposed a radical rethinking of residential spaces and household activities, prioritizing public, communal living over private ownership—even in cold climates like Chicago, their chosen site. Their project manifests as a versatile framework of four distinct levels, each offering unique combinations of height, light, acoustics and thermal properties designed to foster shared experiences and reduce the requirement for extensive private areas.

The design of “The Domestic Nomad” promotes efficient use of resources and energy, enhancing adaptability by allowing domestic activities to shift between indoor and outdoor settings. Sustainability and thermal consideration drive the formal output of the building. Throughout the project, tested building technologies and passive thermal systems that support dynamic living configurations are deployed on different levels, unified by a 22nd-century “hearth,” as theorized by Semper in his “The Four Elements of Architecture,” 1851, that serves as both a heat chimney and a vertical transport system.

Modular, multi-functional ‘creatures,’ a tribute to Hejduk’s “Victims,” 1984, become the catalysts for domestic mobility and community engagement by carrying practical function (sleeping, dining, etc.) and migrating to different levels through the “hearth.” Moving as shared infrastructure between the indoors and outdoors depending on the time and season, these nomadic apparatuses redefine interaction with the neighborhood and challenge the constructed borders of space, enclosure, program and privacy on a domestic scale.

Overall, “The Domestic Nomad” encapsulates a proactive approach to residential architecture by blurring the boundaries between private versus public living. The project invites residents to rethink their interactions with space and aims to set a precedent for how homes can evolve to foster a communal life in the century ahead.

“We wanted to use the Home2124 competition as an opportunity to present our thoughts on the future of living in a communal way and exhibit how novel spatial relationships and technologies could foster alternative forms of a collective domestic life,” says Shen.

After being critiqued by a jury of leading architects, designers and academicians of international repute, the Syracuse University team’s project was selected to receive the competition’s first-place prize. Shen and Zhuo were awarded a certificate of recognition, interviewed by competition organizers, and their project will be included in an upcoming publication.

In addition to winning the Home2124 international award, “The Domestic Nomad” received the overall design prize in the Spring 2024 competition at Syracuse’s School of Architecture competition at Syracuse’s School of Architecture.

“Shen and Zhuo’s project successfully merged creative freedom and real constraints, two critical challenges of my Integrated Design Studio course: it demonstrates an absolute commitment to experimentation and uses constructive imagination to celebrate an unapologetic approach to tectonics,” says Parga. “Their project encourages us to look closely at the dwelling spaces we live in and think deeply about the domestic landscape we would like to see in the future.”

“The Domestic Nomad” was also recently selected for a student design award from the American Institute of Architects Central New York Chapter (AIA CNY), which will be presented to Shen and Zhuo at the event on Friday, Nov. 15.

“We hope “The Domestic Nomad” will be remembered for its legible approach that not only redefines living spaces but also inspires a new generation of architects and students to think critically about the role of design in society’s progression,” says Shen.

The students, led by School of Design Associate Professor��, participated in two teams.��They completed the design proposals as part of their coursework in Spring 2024. The awards were announced in late September.

Surina Archey ’27, Milena Andrade ’26 and Haley Meyer ’26 took the silver award in product and structural design for ��a prescription for eco-anxiety. Arriving in eco-friendly packaging, the prescription provides resources for climate action and education in four capsules.

Offering a calendar of local, environmentally focused events, the action pill encourages community involvement. The giving pill spotlights an eco-organization and contribution opportunities.

The prescription also introduces users to sustainable companies through product discounts and samples in the sustainability pill. It provides a booklet with anti-anxiety practices and a newsletter containing positive climate news through its wellness pill.

Receiving highly commended recognition in , Qizhi Fang ’26, Valeria Chavez ’27, Peter Zejmis ’26 and Jiamin Chen ’26 confronted water accessibility issues. The students designed a water bottle that alerts people experiencing homelessness to the proximity of drinkable water. In partnership with Hydro Flask, the water bottle measures the distance to accessible, clean water sources by color change. The farther from a water source, the redder the bottle turns.

Award winners have their work displayed online and are invited to be a part of the Creative Conscience Community.

Graduate students from the Experimental Neutrino Physics group with Syracuse-area high school students who took part in the Syracuse University Physics Emerging Research Technologies Summer High School Internship Program in summer 2024.

It takes sophisticated technology to study the behavior of invisible particles like neutrinos and cosmic rays, which pass through our bodies every second before zooming back off into the universe without us even knowing. While they might be tiny, these particles have massive importance, as understanding their interactions could help scientists determine why our universe exists and why all of the “stuff” in the universe, including stars, planets and people, are made out of matter and not antimatter. Faculty and students in the ��group in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) are part of an international effort to explore the secrets of neutrinos.

So, what’s the buzz about neutrinos? Neutrinos and other invisible particles such as cosmic rays are produced by some of the most extreme events in the cosmos, like the Big Bang nearly 14 billion years ago or when massive stars end their life cycles in a blaze of glory known as supernovae explosions. Neutrinos come in three flavors (electron, muon and tau) and have some mysterious characteristics, such as puzzlingly low masses and the ability to oscillate, or change from one type of neutrino to another. Scientists use cutting-edge particle detectors to study the information embedded in neutrinos and make definitive determinations of neutrino properties.

Physics Professors ��and����are working with undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers on everything from detector construction to operation and analysis, both at Syracuse and at larger detection sites like��. Fermilab is one of the few places on Earth where a focused beam of neutrinos can be created and aimed at a detector.

Through Fermilab’s����(DUNE), particle detectors are being constructed one mile underground in a former gold mine in South Dakota right in the path of a neutrino beam originating from Fermilab in Illinois. Once operational, DUNE scientists will be able to study a phenomenon called “neutrino oscillation,” which looks at how the three different flavors of neutrinos that make up the Standard Model (electron, muon and tau) change between types as they travel. These insights could reveal why the universe is dominated by matter and whether a fourth type of neutrino (sterile neutrino) exists, which would go beyond the Standard Model, indicating that there is more to the universe’s fundamental particle makeup than we currently understand.

Prototype Paves the Way

Physics graduate student Tom Murphy (right, in orange hard hat) working on a DUNE prototype. (Photo by Dan Svoboda)

DUNE, currently under construction, will be the most comprehensive neutrino experiment in the world. But before it comes online, scientists have been testing prototype equipment and components in preparation for the final detector installation. Members of Syracuse’s Experimental Neutrino Physics group have been part of the��, which recorded its first��. While the final version of the DUNE near detector will feature 35 liquid argon modules, the prototype has four modules arranged in a square and allows scientists to validate the design.

“Our group members who are resident at Fermilab, including postdoctoral researcher Luis Zazueta and graduate student Tom Murphy, have helped with final detector construction, installation and operations,” says Soderberg. “Zazueta was the inaugural “deputy run coordinator” for the 2×2 effort, which is a leadership role important to the operation of the detector. We are anticipating more involvement in the full-size DUNE detector that the 2×2 is a prototype for.”

Exploring the Cosmos on Campus

Physics Ph.D. student Sierra Thomas is another one of the A&S scientists who has been involved in the DUNE collaboration. She is currently setting up the equipment to make observations of cosmic events at Syracuse using the new prototype “pixel” Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber detector. Located on the third floor of the physics building, this hi-tech device allows researchers to make observations about the universe from the comforts of campus. What’s more, the experiments conducted with this equipment are contributing to the enhancement of larger detectors at Fermilab.

Watch the video below for Sierra’s take on the detector.

A Search for Oscillation

In addition to the DUNE project, Fermilab also hosts the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program, which is a chain of three particle detectors—ICARUS, MicroBooNE and the Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND). SBND is the near detector for the Short Baseline Neutrino Program and the newest of the three. ICARUS, which started collecting data in 2021, is the far detector. SBND will measure the neutrinos as they were produced in the Fermilab beam and ICARUS will measure the neutrinos after they’ve potentially oscillated. The neutrino interactions collected from these detectors play a critical role in performing searches for neutrino oscillations, which could provide proof of the elusive fourth kind of neutrino.

The Short-Baseline Near Detector and ICARUS are the near and far detectors, respectively, in the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program. (Photo courtesy of Fermilab)

Rohan Rajagopalan standing in the SBND building near the detector.

SBND, the final element that completed Fermilab’s Short-Baseline Neutrino Program, recently reached a key milestone as scientists identified the detector’s����earlier this year. Members of Syracuse’s Experimental Neutrino Physics group played integral roles in��constructing and commissioning the detector, whose planning, prototyping and construction took nearly a decade. Current group members Amy Filkins, a postdoctoral researcher, and Rohan Rajagopalan, a graduate student, are currently based at Fermilab and working on SBND, having made major contributions to SBND’s first operations.

Amy Filkins (in yellow hard hat) working on the Short-Baseline Near Detector’s data acquisition rack.

The collaboration will continue operating the detector and analyzing the many millions of neutrino interactions collected for the next several years.

“I’m proud of the work that our team has been undertaking,” says Whittington. “I find the process of building, understanding and operating these experiments very engaging, and I’m excited to see them come to fruition over the next few years.”

Students interested in hands-on, international research and exploring the secrets of neutrinos can learn more by visiting the����group website.

This year marks the 36th anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988. The 2024-25 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars have planned events and activities to look back and remember the 270 people who lost their lives in the tragedy, and to educate on the ways they are acting forward.

Remembrance Week, the annual weeklong series of events, will be held Sunday, Oct. 20, through Saturday, Oct. 26. Remembrance Week events are meant to memorialize the victims and further educate the campus community about terrorism. All activities are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit .

Those who require accommodations to fully participate in these events should contact Radell Roberts at��315.443.0221 or��rrober02@syr.edu. The schedule is as follows:

��All Week��

• Empty Seats Display, Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle:��The Empty Seats Display is a visual representation of the Syracuse University students lost aboard Pan Am Flight 103. The exhibition is meant to serve as a reminder of how a loss in the past can inspire positive actions in the present. This year’s Remembrance Scholars will sit in solidarity in the chairs for 35 minutes on Wednesday, Oct. 23, beginning at 2 p.m.
• Pen-and-ink drawings of the Syracuse University study abroad student victims will be on display in Hendricks Chapel.
• Blue and white flags, one for each of the 270 Pan Am 103 victims, will be on display in the area between the Newhouse School and Schine Student Center. Also, the Hall of Languages, Hendricks Chapel and the JMA Wireless Dome will be lit in blue in honor of Remembrance Week.

Sunday, Oct. 20

• “Each Moment Radiant,” Hendricks Chapel 4 p.m.: The Malmgren Concert Series will feature the world premiere of “Each Moment Radiant,” a newly commissioned chamber work by composer Kurt Erickson and poet Brian Turner commemorating the Pan Am Flight 103 air disaster. Setnor School of Music faculty and guest musicians will perform Erickson and Turner’s song cycle “Here, Bullet” and Johannes Brahms’ piano trio in C minor.
• “Healing Trauma Through Poetry and Music,” National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, 5:30 p.m.: Composer Kurt Erickson and poet Brian Turner will lead a reception and discussion on the genesis and creative process behind “Here, Bullet” and “Each Moment Radiant.”

These events are co-sponsored by the Syracuse Symposium, the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, the Society for New Music, the Setnor School of Music and the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars. The commission for “Each Moment Radiant” was made possible through the CNY Arts Grants for Regional Arts and Cultural Engagement regrant program thanks to a New York State Senate Initiative supported by the NYS Legislature, the Office of the Governor and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.

• , Place of Remembrance, 7 p.m.: The Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars will begin Remembrance Week activities with a candlelight vigil to remember the 270 victims of Pan Am 103.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

• “Sitting in Solidarity,” Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle, 2 p.m.: The Remembrance and Lockerbie scholars will sit in the empty chairs on the Quad for 35 minutes.

Thursday, Oct. 24

• Act Forward Symposium, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall atrium (outside Gifford Auditorium), 7 p.m.: The Remembrance Scholars will present posters that share their plans to “act forward” through outreach, research, education and creative projects designed to benefit the community.
• , Gifford Auditorium, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall, 8 p.m.: An evening of music, poetry, art, dancing and more to honor the victims of Pan Am 103 and to celebrate life alongside the victims’ families and the current scholars. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) will be available for this event.

Friday, Oct. 25

• “In The Aftermath: Documenting and Researching Victim Support Groups,” Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, 114 Bird Library, and Zoom (), 10 a.m.: A panel discussion focusing on the collection, preservation and use of important records of the aftermath of tragedies and disasters. Organized by the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at the Special Collections Research Center and moderated by Vanessa St.Oegger-Menn, Pan Am 103 archivist and assistant University archivist. Panelists are Jelena Watkins, co-director of the Centre for Collective Trauma in the United Kingdom and member of the Archiving Disaster Support Group Records project team, and Ezra Rudolph, research associate for Contemporary and Cultural History at the University of Göttingen in Germany. Both will talk about their work and experiences and share insights into the lasting significance and unique challenges of victim support group records in documenting the aftermath of tragic events. A question-and-answer session will follow the moderated discussion. CART will be provided. If you require accessibility accommodations, email Max Wagh at mlwagh@syr.edu by Friday, Oct. 18.
• , Place of Remembrance, 2:03 p.m.: This annual ceremony remembers the 270 people, including 35 students studying abroad through Syracuse University, who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing. The ceremony also honors 2002-03 Lockerbie Scholar Andrew McClune, who died in 2002. American Sign Language interpretation will be available for this event.
• Remembrance Scholar Convocation, Hendricks Chapel, 3 p.m.: ​This annual convocation will honor the 2024-25 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars. ASL interpretation and CART will be available for this event. A reception in the Strasser Legacy Room, 220 Eggers Hall, will immediately follow.

Students studying (Photo by Angela Ryan)

With midterm exams right around the corner and World Mental Health Day on Thursday, Oct. 10, SU News put together a guide for students to help manage their mental health all year long, but especially during the midterm stress.

As you study and prepare for midterms, here are some quick tips to keep in mind to focus on your mental health:

• Create a manageable study plan: Break your study sessions into manageable time blocks, prioritize your tasks and focus on one subject at a time.
• 

  Sound Bathing Immersive Experience at the Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

  Take breaks: Short, frequent breaks can help you stay focused and reduce stress. Try stretching, going for a walk or doing something you enjoy.

• Be active: Physical activity can give a boost to your energy and mood.��Even a short walk or a quick workout can make a big difference.
• Eat healthy: Nutritious food fuels your brain and body.��Try to eat balanced meals and drink plenty of water.
• Prioritize sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.��Quality sleep is important for memory, concentration and overall mental health.
• Connect with others: Talking to friends or family can provide emotional support.
• Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, meditation or yoga can help reduce anxiety and improve focus.
• Use resources at Barnes Center at The Arch: In addition to being a great place to get a workout in, you can also find counseling services, support groups and more which are outlined below.

Resources at the Barnes Center at The Arch

“The Barnes Center is such a rich resource for health and wellness, and we know from our students that mental wellness is most effective when approached from a holistic perspective that focuses on the connection between the mind and body,” says Carrie Brown, counseling director at the .

Mental health is one of the focus areas at the Barnes Center at The Arch. There are numerous resources available to provide support to students while they are away from home and feeling challenges with their mental health.

“Barnes Center Counseling offers therapeutic support through individual and group therapy offerings as well as crisis and emergency support,” says Brown. “We have multiple groups that teach skills and techniques to help manage anxiety and emotional regulation. We also work very closely with our partners in Barnes Center Recreation and Health Promotion to connect students with other health and wellness resources.”

Students can also benefit from creating structure and routine and using the resources highlighted below, as part of a personalized self-care plan.

Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Clinical Support Services

Counseling

: Provides an opportunity to talk confidentially with an objective, caring professional about concerns and gain insights for a better understanding of one’s difficulties. These insights are then used to create a plan of action to carry out in one’s daily living.

: Focuses on developing insight, changing behavior and improving relationship skills. In the group setting, students struggling with similar concerns can share feedback with each other and learn new ways of coping.

: Counseling offers support with off-campus mental health referrals. Off-campus referrals may be provided to students who request a referral, present with an issue best suited for specialized treatment, long-term care or in cases when a student’s schedule is not compatible with our business hours or therapist availability.

Psychiatry services are available on a referral basis from the Barnes Center at The Arch����and����teams. Services are provided jointly between the Barnes Center at The Arch psychiatric provider and the student’s home psychiatric provider. In order to see a psychiatric provider, a student will need to��.

Health and Wellness at the Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Mental Health Activities

In addition to the support services available on campus, the Barnes Center offers various activities to engage in to support mental health, including the following:

With several locations across campus, the Crowley Family MindSpa offers a welcoming, accessible and private space for students to practice and prioritize self-care by providing access to a variety of mindfulness and self-care activities, tools and resources.

Mindfulness and Meditation

: Through science-backed meditation and mindfulness tools, Headspace helps you create life-changing habits to support your mental health and find a happier, healthier you.

: This program teaches the art of paying attention on purpose to the present moment with open and nonjudgmental awareness.

The Barnes Center at The Arch, in partnership with community organizations, offers pet therapy opportunities through the Deborah A. Barnes Pet Therapy Program. Visit the Walters Pet Therapy Room to de-stress and enjoy a pet’s company for free.

Students interact with a therapy dog during a pet therapy session at the Barnes Center at The Arch. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Syracuse University students experiencing a mental health crisis, seeking support for�� or needing urgent medical consultation can receive free confidential services 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling��315.443.8000.

Doctoral students in clinical psychology��Alexa Deyo ’21 and Alison Vrabec G’23 spent their summer testing a theory that a certain kind of therapeutic technique called motivational interviewing could improve sleep and overall health among adolescents. According to the , sleep problems can impact how people learn, think and get along with others. “If teens are sleeping better, their mental health is improved; they are more emotionally regulated and less impulsive,” says��, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, who is supervising the clinical research.

Kathy Walters

Their research is exactly the kind of promising work that philanthropic alumni��Kathy Walters��’73, H’23 and her husband, Stan ’72, had in mind when they set up the Walters Endowed Fund for Science Research in 2016. According to Kathy Walters, they were hoping to create new opportunities for research that would benefit humanity—and they left the door open for the dean and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) to define what those benefits might be.

“Researchers tend to see things that those of us not immersed in science would never see,” says Walters, a Syracuse University Trustee. “I’m not a big believer in telling capable people what they should be researching.” In fact, the funding is to be used to support a vast array of academic inquiry, including “undergraduate, graduate or faculty-led research in the sciences, including departments of biology, chemistry, communication sciences and disorders, Earth science, mathematics, psychology and physics.”

The funding is awarded at the discretion of the A&S dean and associate dean for research to recognize outstanding research faculty. “Research funding is critical to supporting our academic mission,” says A&S Dean��Behzad Mortazavi. “With Kathy and Stan’s gift, we can invest in more of our stellar faculty and students, so they can contribute their enormous expertise to solving challenges in the areas of the environment and climate, health and wellness, social justice and human thriving.”

Favour Chukwudumebi Ononiwu

Since the fund was established, it has supported research by graduate students in physics, chemistry, biology and psychology. “Thanks to the Walters, I was able to spend the summer of 2023 in the lab full-time,” says Favour Chukwudumebi Ononiwu, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in cell biology and is dedicated to figuring out the cellular behavior that governs early development of human tissue. “This particular tissue helps the body organize itself. Understanding how that happens is key to understanding developmental defects.”

“Bench to bedside research” like this takes years of toil at the “bench” in the lab to reach the “bedside” where people can benefit. Ononiwu says the funding from the Walters allowed her to spend a lot more time at that bench, reduce some of the costs associated with conducting the research, and speed up the process of discovery. “It was also empowering to be in a space where I didn’t have to worry about my finances and could come into the lab and focus on the experiment. It also helped get my research to the point where I could apply for more grants and fellowships to accelerate the research.”

Ononiwu, who hopes to pursue a job in a biotechnology, pharmaceutical or biomedical company, says the Walters funding was a “catalyst for my development as a researcher and a professional.”

Kidwell says her graduate students are deepening their own clinical training through the funded research and positioning themselves to be more competitive for National Institutes of Health grants.

“Oftentimes, teaching assistantships take precedence over research assistantships because of financial need,” says Deyo, a first-year doctoral student in clinical psychology.

Professor Katie Kidwell (second from left) with members of the Child Health Lab, including graduate students (from left) Toni Hamilton, Alison Vrabec, Lyric Tully, Alexa Deyo and Megan Milligan.

The doctoral students were able to accelerate the launch of their study this past summer, recruit a significant number of teens aged 13 to 17 as study subjects, expose them to the intervention called motivational interviewing and measure the impact on their sleep using a smart watch-type of device called an actigraph.

The intent of their research, of course, is to help teens and college students problem-solve and deal with stressors that impact their well-being. The research aligns with Kathy Walters’ sensitivity to the impact of stress on health. “The world is moving at such a rapid pace that it’s difficult for people to prioritize and focus amidst the change and anxiety,” says Walters. “Helping faculty and students make the most of opportunities to improve health and humanity remains our priority.”

“We are so grateful to Kathy and Stan for their generosity and vision in establishing this fund,” says John Quigley, A&S assistant dean for advancement. “We hope others who are similarly passionate about academic and research excellence at the University will follow suit. An endowment of $100,000 or more provides the kind of annual supplemental support needed by our talented faculty to accelerate the impact of their teaching and research.”

Walters says it’s important to provide gifts that are not too restricted. “Students are developing the critical thinking skills required to pursue knowledge that answers the big questions facing our world. By supporting research, we are helping them find the answers.”

Jurgen Baeza ’26 at The Atlanta White House during an OVMA Career Immersion trip to Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo courtesy of Jurgen Baeza)

“I didn’t really know what I wanted to major in, so I was balancing out different majors. By the end, I was just running out of funds, and I needed to get my life together. One thing that really intrigued me was how the military would pay for college, which was my main objective because I didn’t want to put my family in debt to pay for me going to school–especially having two younger brothers and how they needed to go to school too,” says Baeza, who wound up enlisting in the U.S Navy.

Baeza is currently enrolled at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, where he majors in computer science, following a passion that began back in high school when he, as he recalls, began dabbling a little bit in coding.

Baeza served as an aviation structural mechanic specializing in the F/A-18 Super Hornet’s safety equipment, but in his off time, he pursued those interests with computers and started taking online courses in other coding languages like Java and Python.

“To me, I thought it was like a puzzle to try and solve. You just piece pieces together and make sure that the code runs smoothly. It’s been really fun and also challenging, but it’s very rewarding when you see your code running and there’s no more bugs or anything,” Baeza says.

From Ejection Seats to Classroom Desks

U.S. Navy portrait of Jurgen Baeza ’26 (Photo courtesy of Jurgen Baeza)

When F/A-18 pilots find themselves in trouble while soaring through the skies at more than 1,300 miles per hour, one of their last options is to eject from the aircraft. Baeza was primarily responsible for ensuring the aircraft’s ejection seat would work when all else failed on the jet aircraft. Using small rockets, the ejection seat separates a pilot from a failing aircraft at speeds up to 52 feet per second. Once the pilot has effectively cleared the aircraft, the ejection seat automatically falls away, leaving the pilot to fall back to Earth under the canopy of a fully deployed parachute.

After serving six years and ten months in the U.S. Navy, Baeza got out in 2022 and soon found himself landing on campus at Syracuse University. Much like pilots orienting themselves with their surroundings after safely ejecting, Baeza had to figure out his own surroundings now that he was once again a full-time college student.

“I made the mistake of thinking that Syracuse was going to be like New York City, and when I got here, it was definitely not. I don’t mind it though, it’s nice, I love it so far,” says Baeza, who also states that he had some problems associating at times with traditional students due to the age difference. While trying to find a community to connect with, he stumbled upon a fellow student veteran who helped connect Baeza with other student veterans on campus.

“The Student Veterans Organization was very welcoming, and I have to give a shout out to Savion Pollard, he was my mentor my first semester here. He kept pushing me to go to events with the SVO,” Baeza recalls. He says he was a little “stand-offish” at first, like many veterans he wasn’t looking to participate with the military culture, he was seeking a new path forward. With Pollard’s encouragement, Baeza began going to some of the SVO’s meetings, where he found most of the student veterans shared similar experiences and, like him, weren’t looking to revive their days in the military but instead help each other in the pursuit of their academic goals.

“It’s nice when you don’t want to go to the library, and you just want to go somewhere to decompress and relax. Everyone in the student veteran lounge is the same way, we’re not looking to talk about the military, or school, but we talk about life and different stuff going on outside of class,” Baeza says.

The student veteran lounge and the student veteran quiet study space are both amenities provided exclusively to military-connected students inside the National Veterans Resource Center at Syracuse University. Serving as locations where military-connected students can unwind, relax or get ready for their next class, the spaces are crucial when other quiet areas are tied up by traditional students on campus, particularly around mid-term and final exams.

New Heights Ahead

With graduation looming on his horizon, Baeza says he’d like to stay in New York to work in software engineering, but going back to the West Coast isn’t off the table either. Additionally, Baeza says he’s interested in several master’s programs that are available through the College of Engineering and Computer Science. While figuring out what the future holds for him, he’s started giving back to the military-connected community on campus.

With a few semesters under his belt, Baeza ran for and was elected to the SVO’s Executive Board, serving as the organization’s secretary. Like many student veterans before him, he not only understands the value of the SVO’s community but also advocates for other military-connected students on campus to check the group out.

“The more students we have involved in our events, the more support we get from the University in terms of funding and opportunities. So, it’s always great to see student veterans coming out to support their community on campus, and I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in supporting veterans to check us out,” says Baeza.

Those interested in learning more about the Student Veterans Organization can check out the SVO’s Website hosted by the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.

Jurgen Baeza ’26 (fourth from left) with other members of Syracuse University’s Student Veterans Organization, including mentor Savion Pollard ’25 (third from left).

The Maxwell School Centennial Celebration will be held in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18. The event will begin with a hors d’oeuvres reception, followed by the presentation of Centennial Scholar Awards to students, Dean’s Centennial Citations of Excellence to faculty and staff, and Changemaker Awards to four alumni.

“As we gather on campus to celebrate a century of service and shared commitment to making the world a better place, it’s my privilege to recognize these stand-out individuals,” says Dean David M. Van Slyke. “Whether through their government, nonprofit or business leadership, or their scholarship, teaching and administrative support, each embodies the spirit of 100 years of Maxwell dedication to engaged citizenship.”

Students to be recognized with scholar awards are:

• Adam Baltaxe ’25, a senior majoring in international relations and Spanish language, literature and culture;
• Jorge Morales ’26, a junior majoring in history and anthropology;
• Anna Rupert ’26, a junior majoring in economics;
• Nathan Torabi ’26, a junior majoring in political science; citizenship and civic engagement; and law, society and policy;
• Mariana Zepeda ’26, a junior majoring in policy studies and environment, sustainability and policy;
• Ferdinand Eimler, who is pursuing a master’s degree in international relations as part of the Atlantis Dual Degree Master’s Program;
• Benjamin Katz, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in political science;
• Julia Liebell-McLean, who is pursuing a dual master of public administration and international relations degree; and
• Kaythari Maw, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in economics.

The following staff will receive Dean’s Citations:

• Sarah McLaughlin ’04 (Arts & Sciences), assistant director of advancement operations;
• Dan Nelson ’04, director of accelerated learning and global engagement;
• Amy Schmidt ’14, assistant director of the Citizenship and Civic Engagement Undergraduate Program; and
• Deborah Toole ’12, administrative specialist for the Geography and the Environment Department. Faculty recipients are:
• Devashish Mitra, professor and chair of the Economics Department and Gerald B. and Daphna Cramer Professor of Global Affairs;
• Jennifer Karaz Montez, University Professor and Gerald B. Cramer Faculty Scholar in Aging Studies;
• Chie Sakakibara, associate professor of geography and the environment; and
• Baobao Zhang, assistant professor of political science.

The four alumni Centennial Changemaker Awards will go to:

• John Mandyck ’89, ’92, chief executive officer of the nonprofit Urban Green Council; City of Syracuse Deputy Mayor
• Sharon Owens ’85;
• H. Lewis “Lew” Rapaport ’59, founder and CEO of the firm Component Assembly Systems; and
• Kathryn Ruscitto ’92, former president and CEO of St. Josephs Health.

The Centennial Celebration caps a year of festivities and events celebrating the school’s founding by Syracuse University alumnus, trustee and entrepreneur George H. Maxwell. Then called the School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, it opened in Slocum Hall on Oct. 3, 1924, and offered an undergraduate citizenship course, a weekly seminar in political science and a one-year graduate program in public administration—the first of its kind in the nation.

In the 100 years since its founding, Maxwell has greatly expanded its footprint: it boasts over 38,000 alumni around the world and is home to more than 3,000 students, 200 faculty and nearly 100 staff who learn and work in 12 departments and 15 research centers and institutes. It offers a range of highly regarded undergraduate, graduate and midcareer degrees and professional programs across the social sciences and public and international affairs—including the nation’s top-ranked public affairs graduate program, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report.

Maxwell has marked its milestone with an array of festivities and initiatives. Several accomplished alumni were honored in May 2024 during a celebration at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Throughout the year, the school has invited alumni to reconnect and share what motivates their work on an created to celebrate the centennial and show Maxwell’s global impact. Those who participate in the map are asked to share what they “ever strive” for—a nod to the opening of the Oath of the Athenian City-State that is inscribed on the wall in the school’s first-floor foyer; it calls for individuals to “transmit this city not only not less but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”

The ever strive theme resonates in another centennial endeavor—a professionally edited that tells the story of the school’s founding with archival photos and videos and narration by alumnus Ronald Taylor ’15.

In addition to the Oct. 18 Centennial Celebration, other upcoming events include:

• An Otey Scruggs Memorial Lecture Featuring historian Maeve E. Kane from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, in room 220, Eggers Hall. Kane will share how Haudenosaunee women used clothing to define and protect their nations’ sovereignty.
• Birthday cake with Otto and the dean from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Eggers Hall Commons.
• State of Democracy Lecture: Election 2024 from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, in room 220, Eggers Hall.
• Talk by Arthur C. Brooks: “How to Get Happier in an Unhappy World,” 5 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the National Veterans Resource Center, K.G. Tan Auditorium. Brooks is a Harvard professor, New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s leading experts on the science of human happiness.
• Phanstiel Lecture: “The People Who Built the Pyramids—How We Know,” 5 to 6:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1, National Veterans Resource Center, K.G. Tan Auditorium. Mark Lehner, director and president of Ancient Egypt Research, will lead the discussion.

For more information, visit the .

Take a look at some of the highlights from this year’s festivities!

So happy to be reunited for Family Weekend. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Instagram)

Taking a photo with Otto the Orange is a time-honored tradition. (Photo courtesy of Falk College’s Facebook page)

Students and their families tour the Barner-McDuffie House. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

There was a festive Celebration of Identity at the Barner-McDuffie House. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Instagram)

There are plenty of great places to stop and catch up, like the Schine Student Center, during Family Weekend festivities. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Falk College hosted students and their families as part of Family Weekend. (Photo courtesy of Falk College’s Facebook page)

For those who love exercise, the weekend even included a fun run. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

The Promenade is always the perfect spot for a photo. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

There was so much fun to be had on the Shaw Quad prior to the football game. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Hugs all around for Family Weekend 2024 (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Coach Fran Brown’s Quad Walk was even a family affair with his son (right) walking with him. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Who doesn’t love a little football on the Quad? (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

It was all smiles during the sold out Syracuse Orange vs. Holy Cross football game. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Facebook page)

Taking time to catch up while being reunited on campus for this fun weekend (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University’s Instagram)

Even some four-legged friends made it to campus for a visit. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Everyone was showing their Orange pride! (Photo courtesy of Falk College’s Facebook page)

There are so many great spots on campus to snap that perfect family selfie! (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

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.

Below, five students share their experiences; what they did and what they learned.

Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship

Five Syracuse University students were selected as Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship recipients this year. They were Sofia DaCruz ’25, a women’s and gender studies and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences; (McGill University); Abi Greenfield ’25, a history and political philosophy major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences (University of Victoria); Chloe Britton Naime ’25, a mechanical engineering and neuroscience major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of British Columbia); Kerrin O’Grady ’25, a biomedical engineering and neuroscience major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of Victoria); and Kanya Shah ’25, an aerospace engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of Quebec at Chicoutimi).

Abi Greenfield

Greenfield worked with Penny Bryden, professor of history at the University of Victoria. Greenfield was first research assistant on Bryden’s Canadian constitutional culture project; she created a dataset of political cartoons about the Canadian Constitution from five periods in Canadian history.

Abi Greenfield

She mined the databases of past editions of four major Canadian newspapers and developed a dataset of approximately 500 cartoons. “I then analyzed the cartoons from the 1980-82 period to understand what major themes appeared in relation to the Constitution reform debates during this period and what these themes and metaphors demonstrated about public thought around these topics,” Greenfield says. She produced a report for Bryden analyzing four major themes she identified, along with any regional or temporal variations. Greenfield’s research will form part of a forthcoming collaborative article on editorial cartoons and Canadian constitutional culture.

Greenfield says this work strengthened her skills in research design, dataset creation and analysis, and analysis of images as historical documents, as well as deepened her knowledge of Canadian political and legal history.

“This experience has been invaluable in informing the topic and goals of my undergraduate thesis for the Honors program and the Distinction program in History, as well as how I have gone about designing my project,” Greenfield says. “The chance to connect with established scholars in my field helped me to understand the breadth of research areas available to me and led me to change my thesis topic from what I had originally planned.��My improved knowledge of Canadian legal history will also help inform my work as a research assistant on the Global Free Speech Repository Project in the Campbell Institute in the Maxwell School, where I work with Canadian free expression decisions, among others.”

After graduation, Greenfield hopes to return to the University of Victoria to pursue a master’s degree in history under Bryden’s direction.

Kanya Shah

Kanya Shah

Shah interned at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC)’s Anti-Icing Materials Laboratory (LIMA-AMIL), where she worked on the “Evaluating Passive Protection Systems for Solar Panels Against Snow and Ice Accumulations” project. Under the supervision of Research Professor Derek Harvey and with LIMA-AMIL faculty support, she conducted extensive literature review to aid the team in designing a test bench to evaluate the effectiveness of superhydrophobic and icephobic coatings against snow and ice accretion on a solar panel placed in a cold climate chamber.

The freezing rain and snowstorm tests performed honed her laboratory techniques for testing and developing coating application methods to address snow and ice adhesion on solar panels in cold climates.

“This program provided invaluable international research exposure, solidifying my commitment to advancing sustainable solutions in mechanical and aerospace engineering,” Shah says. “As I look ahead, I’m excited to pursue this passion further, either through a master’s program or an industry-related career.”

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI)

Corinne Motl ’25, a physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, engaged in an internship at Argonne National Laboratory this summer through a Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Corrine Motl

Quantum networks are of significant interest within the commercial and scientific communities as they hold potential for complete information security, as well as connecting dispersed quantum technologies. Quantum memories are a key part of realizing these networks.

Motl worked on simulations to test parameters when designing a nanophotonic cavity to optimize the quality factor of the cavity. “What this means on a larger scale is that we aim to develop quantum memories that are able to get an input, preserve that single then reemit it. This is a critical part in creating technologies such as quantum repeater,” she says.

“This research involved my simulation work, as well as creating a data analysis software for X-ray detraction (XRD) data. I also worked on creating optical set up as well as alignment and matinee of a separate optical set up,” she says.

Motl says her work at Argonne gave her new skills and helped her develop her problem-solving abilities. “The more problems you solve the better you get at solving new ones. I learned to try to find the simplest solution,” she says.

Motl is currently helping to organize a branch of the 2025 conference, which will be held at Syracuse University in January.

Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA)

Four students were selected as PPIA JSI Fellows this year. They were Linda Baguma ’25, an international relations and political science major in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences (Carnegie Mellon); Victoria Knight ’25, a policy studies and economics major (pre-law track) in the Maxwell School (UC-Berkeley); Caroline Ridge ’25 a political science and policy studies major in the Maxwell School (Carnegie Mellon) and Evelina Torres ’25, a political science and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School (Carnegie Mellon).

Linda Baguma

As part of her PPIA experience, Baguma completed rigorous coursework on quantitative methods, economic analysis and policy research, all aimed at addressing real-world public policy challenges. The program also emphasized diversity in public service and leadership development.

Linda Baguma

Baguma worked on a project analyzing the impact of social policies on low-income communities, using data to evaluate the effectiveness of various poverty reduction programs. “This experience directly complements my studies at Syracuse, especially my concentration in international security and diplomacy within the international relations major,” she says. “I plan to apply the quantitative analysis skills I gained to my coursework, particularly in areas related to policy design and evaluation, and to further explore how international policies impact African development, which is my regional focus.”

She says her experience was made even more meaningful by the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and apply what she learned to real-world challenges. Baguma contributed to an additional project focused on abandoned mine lands (AMLs) in the Pittsburgh area. “Our goal was to analyze the impact of AMLs on surrounding communities, using a variety of data sources to uncover the relationships and effects these sites have on public health, environmental justice and economic outcomes. I even learned how to run regressions to better understand the correlations between AMLs and the well-being of nearby communities,” she says.

Baguma says the PPIA experience gave her a broader understanding of public service. “I’m eager to incorporate this perspective into my academic and professional trajectory, and I look forward to continuing this work as I prepare for a career in public policy, particularly in U.S.-Africa relations,” she says.

Victoria Knight

The UC-Berkeley PPIA program offered a law track that gave Knight valuable insights into succeeding at top law schools. She took four courses: Law and Public Policy, Economics for Public Policy, Policy Analysis and Quantitative Methods for Public Policy.

Victoria Knight

Beyond the classroom, the program provided numerous opportunities to connect with notable alumni and guest speakers, including Dean David Wilson, Robert Reich (former U.S. secretary of labor) and Janet Napolitano (former secretary of Homeland Security and president of the University of California).

“These experiences not only prepared me for law school and a master’s in public policy, but also for my final year at Syracuse. I’m working on my honors thesis, which examines the economic impact of varying abortion laws. The skills I gained through PPIA are invaluable in helping me write a more substantial thesis and better analyze questions at the intersection of law, policy and economics.”

At Syracuse, Knight serves as a task force coordinator for the Skills Win! Coaching Program in the Syracuse City School District, teaching students critical skills like budgeting, typing and public speaking. “Thanks to PPIA, I now have the skills to understand better the impact of New York State education laws, enabling me to analyze the data we collect and recommend meaningful program improvements.”

“The PPIA experience was incredibly eye-opening and rewarding. I’m grateful for the connections I made with the guest speakers and other participants and for everything I learned during the program,” Knight says. “I highly encourage anyone who gets the chance to apply—it was easily one of the most memorable and impactful parts of my college experience.”

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

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

Anne Lombard

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What kind of research should students undertake before joining?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday, Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day (Photo courtesy of )

Calling all coffee lovers! Did you know that Sunday, Sept. 29, is National Coffee Day? Whether you are a diehard coffee enthusiast who celebrates every day or a novice just beginning to try coffee for the first time, SU News has you covered. We put together a list of all the great spots and hidden gems on campus—and locally—to score your favorite cup of Joe.

On-Campus Finds

While there are many different spots on campus to grab your favorite brew, one of the most popular spots, which is in the heart of campus, is . Located on the lower level of Hendricks Chapel, this nonprofit coffee shop offers great food and prices, a cool atmosphere and is run completely by a friendly and outgoing group of students.

SU News caught up with two managers, Vivienne Love ’26 and Kennedy Williams ’25, to learn more about what inspired them to get involved and what are their go-to favorites at People’s Place.

People’s Place coffee shop, located in the basement of Hendricks Chapel, is the perfect spot to grab a reasonably-priced snack and coffee while meeting some of the terrific students who work there. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

What made you want to get involved with People’s Place?

Love: During my freshman year, I only had 8 a.m. classes, and I would come to People’s Place as a reward for going to class. The staff was so welcoming, and I felt appreciated when they started to remember my order over time. It was always nice to have a treat and listen to the music that People’s Place played. At the end of the semester,��I saw they were hiring and I applied! The rest is history.
Williams: Honestly, my friends—everyone I knew loved People’s Place and so did I. When one of my buddies who was a manager at the time asked if I wanted a job there, I couldn’t turn it down.

What is your favorite thing about working at People’s Place?

Love: Definitely the people. What initially drew me to People’s Place is what keeps me coming back. I’m so grateful to have friendships with the staff that have only grown as we’ve worked there over the semesters. Some of my best friends work at “Peeps” and we always make the effort to go in and visit each other during our shifts, even if it’s only for five minutes. Also, I get to choose the syrups we have each week, and I love ordering the weirdest flavors and seeing them sell!
Williams: The longstanding history of it; I love that People’s Place has been around and run by students since the ’70s. I feel like it still holds the same good energy and values when you go to the shop today as it did then.

What is your go-to coffee (or tea) order and favorite treat?

Love: My go-to coffee order is an iced coffee with oat milk and some of the crazy syrup I like to order. My favorite treat we have sometimes around Valentine’s Day is a chocolate cherry��pop tart.
Williams: My go-to coffee order is a mocha java with hazelnut syrup and half and half, while my favorite treat is the plain glazed donut we sell from Geddes Bakery.

People’s Place is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Follow them on for upcoming events, specials and all of their latest tomfoolery.

The many faces of People’s Place (Photo by Angela Ryan)

In addition to People’s Place, tucked all over campus. The locations listed below accept ’CUSE Cash, meal plan dining dollars and credit/debit cards:

• BBBistro: Brockway Hall, Basement
• The Canteen: National Veterans Resource Center
• Gerry’s Café: Eggers Hall, Room 300
• Falk Café: McNaughton Hall, 2nd Floor
• Food.com: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Room 244
• Junction Snack Bar: Flint and Day halls, Basement
• Life Sciences Café: Life Sciences Building, Atrium Level
• Neporent Café: Dineen Hall
• Olsten’s Café: Whitman School of Management, Room 211
• Otto’s Juice Box: Barnes Center at The Arch
• Pages Café: Bird Library, Entrance Level
• Slocum Café: Slocum Hall, Main Floor
• Starbucks West Campus: 150 Henry St.
• The Warehouse Café: 350 W. Fayette St.

Off-Campus Favorites

Heading off campus on an adventure but still looking to get your caffeine fix? Below are some of the most popular spots located not too far from campus:

Cafe Blue (Photo by Coco Boardman)

Café Blue is located at the heart of Syracuse’s Inner Harbor, northwest of campus near Destiny USA.
Address: 720 Van Rensselaer Road, Suite 104B, Syracuse, New York 13204
Hours: Mondays: Closed; Tuesday through Friday: 7 a.m.- 3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Kubal has six locations around the Syracuse area, with the closest to campus near Drumlins.
Address: S2218 E. Colvin St., Syracuse, New York 13210
Hours: Monday through Friday: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Located on the ground floor of The 505 on Walnut, Peaks is located north of campus.
Address: 1200 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, New York 13210
Hours: Monday and Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday through Friday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.��

Recess Coffee (Photo by Coco Boardman)

Located across the street from Syracuse Stage, Phoebe’s brews Recess coffee.
Address: 900 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, New York 13244
Hours: Monday: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday: 4:30-9 p.m.

Recess has three locations in Syracuse, with the closets to campus being in the Westcott neighborhood.
Address: 110 Harvard Place, Syracuse, New York 13210
Hours: Monday through Friday: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Salt City has four locations in Syracuse, with the closest to campus being right off Marshall Street.
Address: 720 University Ave., Syracuse, New York 13210
Hours: Monday through Friday:��7 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday:��8 a.m.-3 p.m.

is a prestigious annual global competition that challenges student entrepreneurs to address the world’s most pressing social issues through innovative startups, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Each year, students from over 120 countries participate, with finalists pitching their solutions to a panel of experts for a chance to win $1 million in funding to bring their idea to life, driving positive global change through social enterprise. Teams can choose the problem they want to solve and develop a business solution to tackle it,

Aditee Malviya will serve as the Syracuse University campus director for the 2024-2025 Hult Prize competition.

As campus director, Malviya will organize the local campus qualifier competition on campus. Winners from the campus qualifiers advance to national competitions, followed by a digital incubator for further refinement. The best teams then join the global accelerator in London, with the top six startups competing in the global finals for the grand prize.

Malviya’s background is in web development, backend systems and process automation. Her work as a research assistant has led to improvements in data management and real-time analysis for financial research projects, while her role as an innovation nentor in the LaunchPad has helped guide numerous student startups to success. She has also served as the comptroller of the Graduate Student Organization at Syracuse, managing significant financial responsibilities.

Syracuse University’s Hult Prize campus qualifier will be held on Feb. 21 in the LaunchPad in Bird Library. Last year’s Hult Prize campus qualifier competition winner was Moody Magazine, founded by Emma Leuders ’24 and Jennie Bull ’24.