Carol Faulkner, Maxwell School history professor, shares her insights on the historical themes of the Declaration of Independence.

In June 1776, from a rented room in Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson penned the first draft of the document that would forge a nation. The stakes were high, amidst the ongoing war with the British, to find the right words to argue the absolute necessity to break from the Crown.

Now, nearly 250 years after its adoption by the Second Continental Congress, the Declaration of Independence remains a stirring treatise that set forth individual rights and rebuked a tyrant king. It still stands as an inspirationalā€”and aspirationalā€”document for the United States and for people around the world.

In anticipation of Americaā€™s Semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026, how has the Declaration of Independence stood the test of time?

In this Q&A with SU News, , senior associate dean and history professor in the , shares her insights on the historical themes of the document, our evolving understanding of that period of U.S. history and what she is looking forward to in this anniversary year of commemorations.

For any media who wish to schedule an interview with Faulkner, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

Q: In this year leading up to the Semiquincentennial, what do you think are the most significant historical themes we should reflect on?

A: As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, I believe both scholars and the public will be focused on the high ideals of the foundingā€”liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, democracy, a perfect unionā€”and the nationā€™s struggle to live up to them.

The most glaring example of this gap between ideals and reality, of course, was slavery, which took the Civil War, and approximately 750,000 deaths, to abolish. American women did not gain full political equality until the 19th Amendment (1920) and the Voting Rights Act (1965). Native Americans gained citizenship in 1924, but they continue to fight to overcome a history of U.S. violence and displacement.

Q: Does the Declaration of Independence and its aspirations still hold up to the test of time?ĢżWould Thomas Jefferson and the Continental Congress have been thinking about its longevity?

A: Certainly, the opening of the Declaration of Independence remains inspiring. The rest of the Declaration of Independence lays out their (long!) list of grievances against King George III and Great Britain, and some of these can be quite unclear or puzzling to current readers. It certainly reflected that specific moment in time as Jefferson sought to justify independence.

The Declarationā€™s impact can be seen in the , which set out the goals of womenā€™s rights activists for political, civil and legal equality. And abolitionist Frederick Douglass also took inspiration from the Declaration for his famous speech ā€œWhat to the Slave is the Fourth of July?ā€ I think these Americans took it beyond what might have been imagined by the founders.

Q: How has our national understanding of the American Revolution evolved over time, and what new perspectives/research are historians bringing to light?

A: Historians now view the American Revolution as part of a broader age of revolutions (for example, the Haitian and French revolutions) with its impact reverberating throughout the western hemisphere and Atlantic world. University historian ā€™s prizewinning book ā€œ,ā€ which examines British and French imperial goals in the Caribbean, is one example of this new scholarship.

In addition, historians have also focused more on the impact of the American Revolution on Native American Indians. Alumnus Michael Oberg Gā€™94, a professor of history at SUNY Geneseo, for example, has written an important book on the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua between the Haudenosaunee and the U.S. called ā€œ.ā€

Q: What are some lesser-known or overlooked events or figures from the founding period that deserve more attention during the Semiquincentennial?

A: There are so many interesting people from this period! Elizabeth ā€œMumbetā€ Freeman was an enslaved woman who sued for her freedom and helped end slavery in Massachusetts in 1783. And, while most Americans know who Betsy Ross is, her life as a Quaker and skilled seamstress is fascinating beyond the fact that she sewed the flag.

Closer to central New York, Joseph Brant and his sister Molly, leading members of the Mohawk nation, were allied with the British. The Marquis de Lafayette, after whom so much is named in this area, was an important ally and military leader for the American Revolutionaries and became an influential figure in the broader age of revolutions into the 19th century.

Q: As a historian, what are you looking forward to as we revisit the founding of the United States and celebrate the nationā€™s 250th anniversary?

A: I was 7 years old in 1976, so I donā€™t have many memories of the bicentennial, but I will be interested to see what celebrations occur, and how these celebrations might be contested.

While anyone would be hard pressed to say the U.S. has achieved true equality, freedom or democracy, the country has made significant, if incomplete, efforts. Iā€™d like to see events and festivities that reckon with this complicated history.

Iā€™m also looking forward to a class that Maxwell colleagues and I will be teaching in spring 2026 on the ā€œUSA @ 250,ā€ which will focus on key issues in U.S. history, society and politics from the Revolution to the present.

A recent gift by Tracey and Ken Pontarelli ’92 endows the Pontarelli Professorship in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Ken Pontarelli ā€™92 credits the University for changing his life, opening up opportunities to pursue his passions and achieve professional success that allows him to focus on the public good. In return, he and his wife, Tracey, are paying it forward by supporting Syracuse students pursuing meaningful careers in the vital field of sustainability. Their recent gift endows the Pontarelli Professorship in the . It builds on their years of support that have helped position the University as a thought leader in sustainability. As part of the Forever Orange Faculty Excellence Program, the University has committed additional funds to support teaching and research activities in environmental sustainability, finance and public policy.

ā€œOur goal is to build a sustainability program that ties together distinctive strengths from across the University, allowing business, policy and environmental science to work together to solve problems and tackle global challenges,ā€ says Pontarelli. They are well on their way, thanks to previous support from the Pontarellis that a five-year funded professorship in 2019 and a scholarship fund in the , and helped create a unique master of science joint degree from the Maxwell and Whitman schools in sustainable organizations and policy, and the .

ā€œWhen I (in 2022), ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ was ranked No. 11 nationally for environmental policy and management by U.S. News & World Report,ā€ says Jay Golden, Pontarelli Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Finance. ā€œEach year our rankings have increased, and the most recent 2024 rankings have us tied with Harvard for No. 6. Certainly, our goal is to continue to rise in the rankings through the recognition of our peers of all the great programs we have going on at Maxwell and the other colleges at Syracuse.ā€

Growing Interest in Sustainability

Pontarelli graduated from the University with a bachelor of science in finance from the Whitman School and in economics from the Maxwell School. He immediately began what became a long career at Goldman Sachs, initially focusing on energy markets. ā€œWe made one of the first large-scale investments into renewable power back when few such investments were being made,ā€ says Pontarelli. ā€œAs I gained more understanding of the field, I realized how critical private capital is, together with government policy, in addressing environmental issues. The business case for investing in sustainability is incredibly strong.ā€

In an interview with Private Equity International (November 2023), Pontarelli pointed out that sustainability was just a niche market with $20 billion of assets under management just 10 years ago and ballooned over the decade to more than $270 billion of assets under management.

At Goldman Sachs, where Pontarelli is partner and managing director, he leads the firmā€™s private equity impact investing efforts within the Asset Management Division. He was appointed to the Universityā€™s Board of Trustees in 2021, serves on the Whitman Advisory Council and, last year, was awarded the for Sustainability by Maxwell. His investments in academic and experiential programs are designed to ensure that environmental policy research is well-grounded in an understanding of markets and financial mechanisms.

ā€œThis is a pivotal time,ā€ says Pontarelli. ā€œT³ó±šre are so many things that could be done if we donā€™t get caught up in political issues. Everyone would agree that these are common sense business things to do.ā€ He cites the example of one recent investment in a company that provides control panels to big data centers to manage power generation usage. The product can reduce usage by 10% for the average data center. ā€œIā€™m focused on pragmatic solutions.ā€

Thatā€™s why Pontarelli is so impressed with the work being done by students in the which, according to Golden, is ā€œa nonpartisan think tank and research lab focused on examining sustainability imperatives at the nexus of industry and government.ā€ The lab launched in 2021 with just six students.

ā€œFrom that early start we have maintained every semester 40 to 50 paid undergraduate and graduate sustainability research fellows spanning almost every college across the University,ā€ Golden says. ā€œIn fact, we have more students interested than we can currently financially support or mentor with our current staffing levels. Not a week goes by that I donā€™t receive numerous emails from students interested in joining the lab.ā€

Inspiring More Philanthropic Support

It’s easy to see why students are so interested. They are doing what Pontarelli calls ā€œeye-popping workā€ in partnership with industry or government, and he hopes to inspire more philanthropic support so that more students can participate. Golden cites a few examples:

• Students from the Maxwell School, Whitman School and are doing research in energy systems, biotechnologies and carbon capture technologies for various industrial sectors. This includes providing technical, finance and policy insights to develop recommendations for government agencies, policymakers and business leaders that would benefit the U.S. economy and the environment.
• Students are working with Thomson Reuters as well as the global footwear and apparel industries researching innovative best management practices and policies that can eliminate the utilization of forced labor in the global supply chain.
• A team led by Golden and School of Architecture Assistant Professor Nina Wilson is working with architects, engineers, design/build firms, insurance, government and finance on developing innovative strategies, policies and professional practices for resiliency in the built environment.ĢżThey are holding workshops throughout New York state.
• Students have developed an energy dashboard to quantify and visualize energy consumption on campus, by buildings and by energy source, that is continuously updated while also modeling economic impacts and opportunities for the University to manage energy consumption and other environmental impacts. This also involves working with Campus Dining to quantify food wastes across the campus and modeling the economic and greenhouse gas opportunities by implementing new strategies.

Preparing Future Leaders for the Public Good

The new joint masterā€™s degree from Maxwell and Whitman, supported by the Pontarellis and directed by Golden, offers an intensive professional sustainability consulting course each spring through the lab, in which students work in project teams to provide high-level research and consulting to public and private organizations, including Fortune 500 global companies and smaller start-ups domestically and globally.

ā€œI am grateful to Ken and Tracey for continuing to promote the values of high-quality teaching, experiential learning, evidence-based research, engaged citizenship and public service impact, which we hold dear at the Maxwell School,ā€ says Dean David M. Van Slyke. ā€œThis professorship, endowed in their name, will make certain their commitment to climate, energy and environmental sustainability and working across levels of government and sectors of the economy continues to be a hallmark of the instruction and scholarship the Maxwell School pursues in preparing future leaders that seek to promote the public good.ā€

Golden says that ā€œwe have an incredible job placement rate for students even before they graduateā€ with organizations as diverse as Morgan Stanley, KPMG, the State of New York and the Department of Defense. ā€œT³ó±šy stand out in the job market because they have learned to take theory from the classroom and apply it in the real world, with plenty of opportunities to do the work thanks to Ken and Tracey Pontarelli,ā€ Golden says.

ā€œWe want students to get excited about careers in the sustainability field,ā€ Pontarelli says. ā€œItā€™s purposeful, meaningful work as they become problem-solvers who can change the world.ā€

Marianne Hanley, preservation librarian, provides book repair instruction in the Preservation Lab.

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Librariesā€™ Department of Access and Resource Sharing received a Central New York Library Resources Council Catalyst Grant for $2,000 to provide train-the-trainer workshops on book repair to local school district media specialists. Preservation librarian Marianne Hanley submitted the grant after successfully offering similar workshops to public libraries in northern New York and Florida.

The one-day workshop will be offered at Bird Library in August. Attendees will learn various methods to repair books and will receive a take-home kit with tools and supplies to repair books at their school libraries after the workshop.

Interest in the workshop is so high that Onondaga-Cortland-Madison County BOCES has offered to fund a second one-day workshop in August that will be promoted through its professional development offerings later this summer.

ā€œStudents love books, sometimes a little too much. Library books are expensive, and this all-day workshop will give school library media specialists the training and tools they can bring back to their districts to repair damaged books instead of having to withdraw or replace them,ā€ says Hanley. ā€œWeā€™re thrilled to share our knowledge on how to extend the life of beloved books.ā€

Those interested in learning more can contact Hanley at mhanley@syr.edu.

Cayuga County

Auburn

The Syracuse Orchestra will perform at Emerson Park (6877 E. Lake Road) at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, with fireworks to follow.

Cortland County

Preble

Cortland County’s will be held on Saturday, July 5, at Dwyer Memorial Park (6799 Little York Lake Road). The fun starts at 2 p.m. with fireworks at dusk.

Madison County

Cazenovia

Fireworks will be held on Friday, July 4, at 9 p.m. at Lakeland Park (Forman Street and Albany Street) after a . Music by the Maria DeSantis Orchestra will precede the fireworks from 7 to 9 p.m.

Onondaga County

Brewerton

will be held on Thursday, July 3, at dusk.

East Syracuse

The is Saturday, July 12, at 9:30 p.m. on the East Syracuse Elementary School (230 Kinne St.) field. Music by Faded Vinyl will precede the fireworks from 6:15 to 9:15 p.m.

Manlius

The Village of Manlius’s includes food trucks and entertainment (1 Arkie Albanese Drive), with a parade at 5 p.m. and fireworks at dusk.

Syracuse

An Independence Day Celebration and fireworks display will follow the at NBT Bank Stadium, on Friday, July 4. Game time is 6:35 p.m. Fireworks will also be held after the games on the following dates: July 5, 11-12 and 25-26, Aug. 8-9 and 22-23, and Sept. 12-13.

Oswego County

Oswego

Fireworks will go off over the Oswego River on Sunday, July 6, at 9:45 p.m. activities, including a parade, block party and music, will take place during the day.

Today, his eagerness and enthusiasm are stronger than ever as he again walks through the halls of the law school with the same sense that a rare opportunity has come his way. In August 2024, Lau began his role as the College of Law’s 13th deanā€”and the first alumnus to lead the college in its 130-year history.

Terence J. Lau, the 13th dean of the College of Law (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

The Foundations for a Career

Prior to applying to law schools, Lau was training to be a commercial airline pilot, but without the funds to continue, he needed a new plan. So Lau set his sights on the law. Syracuse Law not only offered him a scholarship but gave him the foundations for a successful career in law and higher education.

ā€œAttending Syracuse Law changed the trajectory of my life,ā€ says Lau. ā€œI enrolled sight unseen, and it became my home for the next three years. Iā€™m eternally grateful for the education and career opportunities the law school gave me. Returning to serve as dean is a true full circle moment.ā€

Lau stands out not only as an alumnus, but also for his unconventional path to becoming a law school dean. While he was a practicing attorney early on, much of his career has been in higher education, particularly in the business school space, giving him a distinct perspective in his new role.

Pivoting to Business in Academia

After receiving his J.D., Lau joined Ford Motor Corp. as an attorney, working in transactional, distribution and international trade practice. In 2006, he became a fellow for the U.S. Supreme Court assigned to the Office of the Administrative Assistant to Chief Justice John Roberts.

Lauā€™s career quickly pivoted to a more business-oriented path when he joined the University of Daytonā€™s School of Business Administration, first as a professor of business law and then as director of international business programs, department chair of management and marketing, and, eventually, associate dean of undergraduate programs. In 2017, he spent a year in China serving as executive director of academic and corporate relations for the University of Dayton China Institute.

The following year, he returned to the United States to take on the role of dean of the College of Business at California State University Chico, a position he stepped down from just before coming to Syracuse.

Dean Lau poses at his desk at Fordā€™s offices in Bangkok, Thailand.

Building a Long-Lasting Foundation

Taking on the role of dean at Syracuse Law has given Lau a chance to reflect on where he started and the path he took to get here today.

ā€œI have great memories of law school, and I was also fortunate to experience the campus life of the greater University because, as part of my scholarship, I lived in the dorms as an employee of the Office of Residential Life for undergraduates,ā€ he says.

He says many of the best moments from law school revolve around the faculty. ā€œWhen I run into other alumni, it seems everyone will talk about a specific faculty member who had a lasting impact on them,ā€ Lau says. ā€œAnd itā€™s that incredibly student-focused faculty who are a very integral part of what makes Syracuse Law much different from what you get elsewhere. They are practical and solution-oriented individuals who come to us having had a tremendous impact on the law through their scholarship and work experiences.ā€

Lau has his own list of faculty who made a lasting impression, including Professor of Law Emeritus Travis H.D. Lewin and former Dean Daan Braveman, now a distinguished lecturer in Syracuse Lawā€™s .

ā€œI was Professor Lewinā€™s research assistant, and he also coached me on the trial team. When we went into competitions, he would say, ā€˜Go to war; return in peace,ā€™ā€ says Lau. ā€œDean Braveman taught Civil Procedures my first year and told us, ā€˜You have to pass the ā€œlook yourself in the mirror every morningā€ test,ā€™ referring to conducting yourself within the ethical and legal limits of the law. Both of these lessons have stuck with me as I navigated my career.ā€

A Personal Desire to Give Back

When Lau heard that Dean Craig Boise was stepping down, he offered his insights as a board member to the search committee, helping to shape the qualities they should seek in the next dean. His passion for Syracuse Law and his thoughts on new leadership clearly made an impression, as not long after, the search committee approached Lau to see if he was interested in the position.

The timing seemed right, as Lau was looking for another opportunity. Where better to further his career than his alma mater?

ā€œTerence has a passion for the Law School and credits this place for a lot of his success,ā€ says Professor of Law Todd Berger, co-chair of the Deanā€™s Search Committee. ā€œFor him, joining us as dean didnā€™t seem to be just the next step in his career. It was a very personal desire to give back to a place that truly impacted his life and his profession.ā€

According to Berger, the search committee was impressed by Lauā€™s background in higher education, particularly in a business school environment, as well as his foundation as a lawyer. ā€œIt gave an insider-outsider quality that made him a very intriguing candidate,ā€ Berger says.

Nina A. Kohn, the David M. Levy Professor of Law, also co-chaired the search committee. ā€œI think Terence brought a really sophisticated understanding of higher education and a sense of his vision of how the law school fits into the big picture of a research university,ā€ she says. ā€œAnd he has an outstanding ability to connect with a very broad and diverse group of stakeholders here, which is so important to our success.ā€

ā€œI think itā€™s wonderful that he comes to us as an alumnus with a deep history of the College of Law,ā€ Kohn adds. ā€œHe cares about the school in a very personal way, and I think it says a lot about how we value our students and about our confidence in the education we provide.ā€

Richard Alexander Lā€™82, chair of the Syracuse Law Board of Advisors and partner and chair emeritus at Arnold & Porter, also admires the qualities Lau offered to the college.

ā€œDuring the search process, Terence demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the Law School in the current environment,ā€ says Alexander. ā€œHe impressed us with his enthusiasm and energy, as well as his commitment to driving success at the ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ College of Law.ā€

From First-Year Student to First-Year Dean

Now that Lau has settled into his position as dean, he is solidifying his goals to retain the history and excellence of the school, while also working to see Syracuse Law reach its full potential.

Lau acknowledges that going from the dean of a business school to that of a law school is not the most common path. ā€œBeing a dean is largely the same skillset, but being a dean of a business school is not a natural step for a lawyer,ā€ he says. ā€œHowever, this dual path has allowed me to become familiar with the study and operations of business such as management and budgeting, which are as necessary to running a law school as knowing the law. And it has allowed me to make decisions from both perspectives, which I believe will be a real benefit.ā€

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Invent@SU participants, judges and audience members are pictured outside Link Hall.

On June 18, the teams gave their final pitch presentations to a panel of expert judges. The audience included College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Cole Smith and program supporter Mike Lazar. The event kicked off with poster presentations that allowed teams to showcase their inventions and answer questions.

This yearā€™s competitors were:

WashSentinel (First place)

Team members: Andy Rivera ā€™28 (computer science), Luzceleste Delgadillo ā€™28 (computer science), Mikel Aizpurua ā€™28 (mechanical engineering) and Peter Slabaugh ā€™28 (mechanical engineering)

WashSentinel earned first place for a laundry security device that detects unauthorized washer or dryer access.

WashSentinel is a laundry security device that detects unauthorized washer or dryer access, sends phone alerts and prevents theft with a built-in alarm.

KidKlamp (Second place)

Team members: Alexis Herveron ā€™27 (chemical engineering), Darika Djusupova ā€™28 (computer science), Jared Murtha ā€™26 (mechanical engineering) and Mark Short ā€™25 (aerospace engineering)

KidKlamp offers an easy, accessible way to securely install infant car seat bases with minimal effort, reducing misuse and providing clear feedback for proper installation.

SAFEINITY (Third place)

Team members: Diego Malonado ā€™27 (computer science), Santiago Sanabria ā€™26 (mechanical engineering), Ari Spinoza ā€™28 (electrical engineering) and Owen Wilson ā€™27 (mechanical engineering)

SAFEINITY is a discreet wearable that sends emergency alerts with location and user info via Wi-Fiā€”no smartphone neededā€”with backup eSIM and Bluetooth for added reliability.

VentIQ (Fourth place)

Team members: John Carpio ā€™27 (mechanical engineering), Suraj Parida ā€™27 (computer engineering) and Joshua Persaud ā€™27 (computer science)

VentIQ is an easy-to-attach dryer connector with a built-in manometer that monitors lint buildup.

GripSync

Team members: Gavin Lesk ā€™27 (mechanical engineering), Barrett Lathrop ā€™26 (aerospace engineering) and Joshua Edwin Limjuico ā€™26 (biomedical engineering)

GripSync is a smart grip trainer that gives real-time feedback on grip pressure and swing tempo, helping golfers improve technique through app-based comparisons to professional swing data.

replACE

Team members: Maya Alva ā€™28 (aerospace engineering), Jonah Blanchard ā€™26 (aerospace engineering), Nana Okrah ā€™27 (electrical engineering) and Austin Salmonds ā€™27 (biomedical engineering)

replACE is a mechanical, pedal-operated golf tee system that lets players load balls without bending, ideal for older or less mobile golfers.

Third Eye

Team members: Alexander Delgado ā€™27 (computer engineering), Angelo Fernandez ā€™27 (computer engineering) and Stanley Gao ā€™27 (computer engineering)

Third Eye is a clip-on wearable that detects people approaching from behind and sends directional audio alerts, enhancing safety and awareness for commuters and the hearing impaired.

AdapTurf

Team members: Felipe Zuluaga ā€™27 (aerospace engineering), Juan Jose Quintero ā€™26 (aerospace engineering), Cameron Mensah ā€™28 (computer science) and Alsime Gaye (undecided)

AdapTurf team members study a pair of athletic shoes.

AdapTurf is an outsole system that lets athletes safely switch footwear for different sports and turfs using a secure dual locking and screw-in design.

Invent@SU was made possible by program sponsors Michael Lazar and Kim and Michael Venutolo ā€™77, partner sponsor the Lyons Family Foundation and prize sponsors Rajive Dhar G’90 and Anita Choudry. A special thank you to Bill and Penny Allyn for sponsoring multiple years since 2017.

ā€œInvent@SU pushes students to apply the full rigor of their engineering educationā€”mechanics, electronics and designā€”to create real-world solutions under tight deadlines. Itā€™s an intense, hands-on extension of the classroom that challenges and transforms them,ā€ says Kenneth and Mary Ann Shaw Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Invent@SU Director Alexander Deyhim.

2024 ā€™CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Award winners (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

Did you cultivate your entrepreneurial skills as a student at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ and either founded or currently own your own business as an Orange alumnus?

If so, youā€™re encouraged to apply for the Universityā€™s third annual , which celebrates 50 of the fastest-growing global businesses owned or led by Orange alumni.

In the first two years of the ā€™CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Awards, honorees have included the heads of global investment firms; the co-founder of a market leader in sustainability impact measurement; an inventor who created smiley-faced sponges for a worldwide cleaning product company; the managing partner of global operations for a leading distributor of high-quality, fresh flowers; and many others.

Applications for theĢżĢżare being accepted through July 13.

J. Michael Haynie

ā€œT³ó±š is proud to be home to one of the nationā€™s first academic entrepreneurship programs, and for decades weā€™ve championed the ambitions of Orange innovators,ā€ saysĢż, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the Whitman School. ā€œNow in its third year, the ‘CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Awards continue to celebrate the success of our alumni founders while creating meaningful connections between past and presentā€”between the entrepreneurial leaders of today and the students who will shape tomorrow.ā€

Alumni of any school or college, graduates of the Universityā€™s executive education programs and alumni of entrepreneurship programs operated by theĢżĢżare eligible to apply.

Tracy Barlok

ā€œT³ó±š ā€™CUSE50 awards have become one of my favorite Syracuse traditions, because they exemplify our mission to support the academic pursuits and successes of our entire campus community,ā€ saysĢż, chief advancement officer. ā€œWeā€™re recognizing the innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of our alumni who honed their talents at Syracuse and are eager to return and share their knowledge with a new generation of students. Itā€™s a wonderful ā€˜full-circle momentā€™ and an excellent learning opportunity for budding entrepreneurs.ā€

The ā€™CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneurship Awards ceremony will occur on campus on Thursday, Nov. 13, in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle Dā€™Aniello Building. The next day, during the ā€™CUSE50 Student Summit, honorees will share insights with current students as part of a series of campus engagement sessions held at the Whitman School.

Rob Long

As the executive director of Uplifting Athletesā€”a nonprofit organization that uses the power of sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseasesā€”Rob Long ā€™12, Gā€™14 says it was a thrill for his organization to share the stage with ā€œsuch an inspiring group of Orange alumni who are leading with purpose and impactā€ during last yearā€™s awards ceremony. He encourages his fellow Orange business owners and entrepreneurs to apply for this yearā€™s competition.

ā€œBeing part of the ā€™CUSE50 Awards last year was a truly positive experience and an awesome opportunity to return to campus,ā€ says Long, a former punter on the ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ football team. ā€œIt was a meaningful recognition of the work Uplifting Athletes is doing, and a great opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and changemakers in the Syracuse community.ā€

Ready to Join the Third Annual Class of ā€™CUSE50 Awardees?

Review the for the ā€™CUSE50 awards.

The deadline to apply for recognition isĢżSunday, July 13. To learn more about the ā€™CUSE50 awards and nominate your company for recognition, visitĢż or send an email to cuse50@syr.edu. Past ‘CUSE50 applicants, including previous winners, are encouraged to apply again.

Students engaged with ā€™CUSE50 honorees during last year’s Entrepreneurship Summit. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

The Universityā€™s own student jazz ensemble, Orange Juice, will be performing Friday at the Syracuse International Jazz Fest.

Get ready for the sweet summer sounds of jazz in the city and on campus. The University is again a sponsor of the , a five-day celebration of world-class jazz music and community spirit, taking place June 25-29 at venues across the city, including a special final event at .

The 2025 Syracuse International Jazz Fest continues its tradition of bringing legendary performers and rising stars to Central New York. This yearā€™s lineup includes such internationally acclaimed artists as Trombone Shorty, The Spinners, Gunhild Carling and Todd Rundgren, along with the Universityā€™s own student jazz ensemble, Orange Juice.

The grand finale of the Syracuse International Jazz Fest, ā€œReturn to Community: A Sunday Gospel Jazz Service,ā€ will be held on Sunday, June 29, at Hendricks Chapel. The Spelman College Glee Club will perform, along with the Universityā€™s , the alumni group of the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble and a community choir composed of Syracuse-area residents.

Orange Juice Jazz Combo

Among the festivalā€™s featured performers is the jazz combo, a standout student ensemble of instrumental and vocal performers from the Setnor School of Music. They will perform at 4 p.m. Friday, June 27, on the Jazz Fest Main Stage, Clinton Square.

The ensemble performs regularly in concerts on campus and at community events throughout the year. This will be the ensembleā€™s third appearance at the Syracuse Jazz Fest under the musical direction of John Coggiola, director of jazz and commercial music in the .

Group members are the following:

• Luke Brady, bass;
• Catherine Cosenza, vocalist;
• Giulianna Iapalucci, drums;
• Ania Kapllani, vocalist;
• Sawyer Kidd-Myers, saxophone;
• Xaden Nishimitsu, trumpet;
• Owen Wernow, guitar; and
• Kai Wong, keyboard.

The ensemble will perform music from legendary artists Wayne Shorter, Thelonius Monk, Michel Legrande, Nate Smith, Vincent Youmans, Victor Schertzinger and Gene DePaul.

Fusing Gospel and Jazz

Members of the Spelman College Glee Club will perform at Hendricks Chapel June 29, the finale of the Syracuse International Jazz Fest.

Wrapping up the festival, Hendricks Chapelā€™s ā€œ program will offer a unique blend of spiritual inspiration and musical artistry. The event will begin at 3 p.m., with a pre-event outdoor community luncheon on the Quad from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Both events are free to attend.

Reverend Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel, invites the community to this uplifting inclusive experience that fuses and celebrates gospel and jazz music, highlighted by special guests, , now in its 100th year.

ā€œTo host the Sunday Gospel Jazz Service on the campus of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ is a joy and honor, as the Syracuse International Jazz Fest is widely known and respected, and we at Hendricks Chapel hope to contribute in ways that are memorable and meaningful,ā€ Konkol says. ā€œT³ó±š Spelman College Glee Club, students and alumni of the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble, and Syracuse-area Community Choir will unite to provide a wonderful experience that acclaims the splendor of gospel and jazz music, sparks spiritual renewal and blesses our beloved community.ā€

All Syracuse International Jazz Fest events are free and open to the public.

For the full schedule and artist lineup, visit .

• Retired Vice Admiral is a professor of practice at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and serves as the deputy director of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ā€™s Institute for Security Policy and Law. His areas of expertise include national security, international relations, military and defense strategy, and leadership.
• is an adjunct professor at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and Army veteran. McFate is an expert on 21st century war and changing international relations.
• is a history professor at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. His areas of expertise include U.S. foreign relations, modern Middle East, Cold War, and Arab-Israeli conflict.
• Tetiana Hranchak is a Ukraine native and visiting research scholar in the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½. Her expertise is in Russia politics and relations, media literacy, countering misinformation and propaganda and the role of libraries in the politics of memory.
• is professor of supply chain management in the Whitman School of Management and is keeping an eye on possible shipping slowdown/stoppages in the Strait of Hormuz. Penfield says “20% of global oil and gas pass through this area and China, India and Japan import over 80% of their oil and gas supplies from this region. If we saw any stoppage with oil and gas supplies we would see a similar supply chain shock that we saw with COVID, and tariffs.”

University Professor Sean O’Keefe (fourth from the right) poses with his family (and Otto) during a retirement celebration at the Maxwell School. (Photo by Amy Manley)

For most of his time as a public servant, Sean Oā€™Keefe Gā€™78 adhered to a few guiding principles: Step up when someone calls upon you to serve. Be open to anything. Challenge yourself.

Those values helped Oā€™Keefe navigate a career as a public administrator, national security expert, financial manager and aerospace industry executive, including leadership positions in the U.S. government, higher education and industry.

Fifty years ago, Oā€™Keefe applied those principles for the first time, with life-changing ramifications.

Sean O’Keefe

As a political science student at Loyola University of New Orleans, Oā€™Keefe was drawn to public service through the example set by his parents. But instead of politics, Oā€™Keefe wanted to devise, implement and administer public policies that impacted citizens. Stan Makielski, a political science professor, encouraged Oā€™Keefe to apply to the public administration program in the .

ā€œI had never heard of the Maxwell School, but Professor Makielski told me Maxwell is the place that founded the new public administration movement, a modern interpretation, understanding and parameters of what public management and public leadership is all about, and thatā€™s where you need to be,ā€ Oā€™Keefe says. ā€œIt was a leap of faith, but it turned out to be a wise choice.ā€

Upon his retirement from the University, Oā€™Keefe shares why public service matters and reflects on the lessons learned from a decades-long association with the University and the Maxwell School, from graduate student through numerous faculty roles and affiliationsā€”including the highest faculty rank conferred, University Professor.

Fundamentals of Leadership

Oā€™Keefe says his time as a Maxwell graduate student taught him the importance of employing a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, examining the wide range of possible outcomes and identifying what success looks like.

ā€œIt was a remarkable experience. Every choice I made, every public service challenge I encountered, the fundamentals were introduced to me at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ and the Maxwell School,ā€ says Oā€™Keefe, the Howard G. and S. Louise Phanstiel Chair in Leadership and senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Oā€™Keefe is shown on Feb. 8, 2003, thanking the community of Lufkin, Texas, for its support and honoring Columbiaā€™s fallen crewmembers. He was NASAā€™s administrator at the time of the Columbia accident. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

While Oā€™Keefe always leaned on his Maxwell education, he drew strength from the lessons learned during the most difficult times. Challenges like investigating and correcting what caused the Columbia shuttle to break apart while returning from a space research mission, killing seven astronauts in 2003 when Oā€™Keefe was the head of NASA.

Or navigating the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated Louisiana while Oā€™Keefe was the Chancellor of Louisiana State University, a campus which became the first stop for thousands of displaced residents who fled New Orleans.

Or leading organizational culture change in the aftermath of the ā€œTailhookā€ incident during his service as Navy secretary. Or addressing resource and management challenges at the Pentagon and later at the White House as the Cold War ended and after the tragedies of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Through it all, Oā€™Keefe embodied a thoughtful leader who always kept an open mind.

ā€œI learned the best thing you can do in a leadership capacity is to gather folks with different skills in the same room talking together and coming up with a mutually agreeable solution,ā€ says Oā€™Keefe, a 2023 inductee into Government Executive magazineā€™s Government Hall of Fame.

ā€œI donā€™t know everything about a particular discipline, but I have confidence that if you can motivate a diverse collection of people to attack a problem thatā€™s larger than their singular disciplinary focus areas, you have a higher probability of achieving a successful solution.ā€

Impact of a Presidential Management Fellowship

Oā€™Keefeā€™s service includes four presidential appointments in two administrations: as U.S. secretary of the Navy, administrator of NASA, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget and comptroller and chief financial officer of the Department of Defense.

O’Keefe shares stories from his career in public service. (Photo by Amy Manley)

The program that launched Oā€™Keefeā€™s career came about by chance. Standing in front of a poster in Maxwell Hall promoting the inaugural Presidential Management Fellow program to recruit promising scholars dedicated to federal public service, Anne Stewart, Maxwellā€™s then-director of career and alumni services, told Oā€™Keefe to apply.

Oā€™Keefe scoffed, saying ā€œI donā€™t have a snowballā€™s chance in hell,ā€ to which Stewart replied, ā€œyouā€™re right. If you donā€™t apply, you have no chance of getting in.ā€ He applied, and to his surprise, he was selected as one of the 250 recipients in 1978.

ā€œThat program accelerated my professional development. In two years, I spent time in an agency within the Department of the Navy and worked in the Pentagon dealing with the Secretary of Defenseā€™s financial management staff. I understood the workings of the Office of Management and Budget, and for the last six months I was placed with Senator J. Bennett Johnston from Louisiana, who exposed me to Capitol Hill and the processes behind how appropriations bills are passed,ā€ Oā€™Keefe says.

ā€œLater, I was recruited to join the staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee and worked for the chair of the defense subcommittee, Senator Ted Stevens of Alaskaā€”an extraordinary, selfless public servant who became a mentor, counselor and friend who guided me through many chapters of my career.ā€

Training the Next Generation of Public Servants

Oā€™Keefe taught graduate courses in the Public Administration and International Affairs Department. Beloved by his students, his courses included public management, public finance and budgeting, national security policy, technology management, leadership and participation in executive education programs.

Oā€™Keefe stressed understanding the principle of the issue, identifying each stakeholderā€™s primary goals and objectives, figuring out the challenges and obstacles to achieving the goal and understanding the tools available to solve the issue.

In the end, Oā€™Keefe urged students to always search for different solutions, realizing public servants will never make everyone happy.

ā€œT³ó±š Maxwell School taught me everything I know about management and leadership. I always felt an obligation to teach those lessons to my students,ā€ Oā€™Keefe says. ā€œIt has been an honor and a privilege to teach here.ā€

During O’Keefe’s (second from left) retirement celebration, he was joined by current Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke (left), University Professor and Dean Emeritus John Palmer (second from right) and former Maxwell Dean James Steinberg (right). (Photo by Amy Manley)

Beth Kubala (center) meets with two student lawyers with the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic.

On Thursday, June 12, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Soto v. United States, marking a significant victory for U.S. combat veterans seeking disability compensation.

The 9-0 opinion, authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, held that the six-year statute of limitations under the Barring Act does not apply to claims for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). The Court found that the CRSC statute includes its own internal settlement mechanism and therefore is not subject to the same limitations as other federal claims.

Seth M. Owens, a veterans health and disability law fellow and program manager of the LSV-H Program at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ College of Lawā€™s Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC), along with several VLC students, played a major part in this win, along with other schools.

The National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium submitted a Brief of Amicus Curiae on behalf of Veteran Sotoā€™s position, and on behalf of all combat veterans who would qualify for special compensation under the CRSC statute. Counsel for the brief were Katie M. Becker, Esq. (University of Missouri Veterans Legal Clinic), Meghan E. Brooks, Esq. (University of South Carolina Veterans Legal Clinic), and ĢżOwens.

ā€œCredit is due to the teams of students from three different law schools who each took a role in preparing this brief,ā€ says Owens. ā€œIt is truly an honor to collaborate with such talented veterans law practitioners and have an opportunity to show our students how their advocacy can have a real-world impact on a large scale. They not only advocated for Veteran Soto to prevail in this case, but for the rights of all combat veterans to receive the full disability benefits they deserve under the law.ā€

For media inquiries, please contact Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu

A behind-the-scenes shot of the Orange Juice jazz combo performing in Clinton Square during the 2025 Syracuse International Jazz Fest. (Photo by John Coggiola)

We want to know how you experience ¹ū¶³“«Ć½. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience by sending them directly to ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ at newsphoto@syr.edu. You might see it featured here.

Students in the Newhouse School’s summer program in New York City joined ABC’s “Good Morning America” team as the program moved to a new studio in Hudson Square. (Photo courtesy of )

Members of the University community walked in the Central New York Pride Parade in celebration of Pride month. (Photo courtesy of )

Otto marched alongside a contingent of the University community in the Central New York Pride Parade on June 21. (Photo courtesy of )

Rainbows and joy were abundant at the Central New York Pride Parade. (Photo by CoCo Boardman)

Men’s lacrosse coach Gary Gait ’90 throws out the first pitch during the annual SU Day at Yankee Stadium. (Photo courtesy of the )

It was a beautiful day at the ballpark when Orange students, faculty, alumni and friends met up to watch the New York Yankees take on the Baltimore Orioles during SU Day at Yankee Stadium. (Photo courtesy of )

Eleven Falk College students traveled to Cusco and Machu Picchu, Peru, with Exercise Science Professor Tom Brutsaert as part of the course, “Peru and the Human Adaptive Response to Altitude.” (Photo by Isabella ā€œEllieā€ Petros)

Falk College students take in the sights in Peru as part of Exercise Science Professor Tom Brutsaert’s course, ā€œPeru and the Human Adaptive Response to Altitude.” (Photo by Isabella ā€œEllieā€ Petros)

Orange flowers are in bloom in front of the Hall of Languages on a summer day. (Photo courtesy of the )

Officially in a summer state of mind. (Photo courtesy of )

Faculty and staff winners from this year’s “On My Own Time” art exhibition. Pictured clockwise from top left: Ronald Thiele, Scott Samson, Richard Breyer, Joseph Stoll, Kathleen Pascarella, Erin Beiter, Meghan Graham and Marie Luther. Their works were selected by an independent panel of artist judges to be displayed in the finale exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art from Oct. 4-Nov. 9.

A reception was held for the 27 employees who participated in this yearā€™s art exhibition. Clockwise from top left: faculty and staff artists who attended the reception; ā€œSunrise or Sunset Shawlā€ (fiber art) by Megan Graham; ā€œOrchid Wailā€ (mixed media) by Jaime Banks; and ā€œT³ó±š Middle Wayā€ (porcelain and glass) by Marie Luther.

Employees participate in a “Get Outdoors” event on the Quad, sponsored by the Wellness Initiative for faculty and staff in partnership with Outdoor Recreation. (Photo by Amy Manley)

Friends and iced coffee on the Quad make for a pretty good summer day. (Photo by Amy Manley)

The womenā€™s rowing team placed 12th during the 2025 NCAA Womenā€™s Rowing Championship, the programā€™s fifth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance. (Photo courtesy of the )

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

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

Student inventors with Invent@SU work on their prototypes during a recent open house. (Photo courtesy of the )

Libraries staff delivered donated food and hygiene items gathered during the “Food for Fines” collection program to the Coach Mac Food Pantry at Hendricks Chapel. (Photo courtesy of the )

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Libraries marked Memorial Day with an “In Remembrance on Memorial Day 2025” exhibition in Bird Library. (Photo by Amy Manley)

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

The menā€™s lacrosse team poses after clinching a spot in Championship Weekend with a thrilling 19-18 win over Princeton in the NCAA quarterfinals. The Orange secured the program’s 27th appearance in the Final Four, third most in Division I history. (Photo courtesy of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Athletics)

Members of the men’s lacrosse team celebrate after holding off the Princeton Tigers to secure a spot in the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Championship. (Photo courtesy of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Athletics)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Boghosian Fellowship at the School of Architectureā€”established in early 2015 in memory of Harry der Boghosian ā€™54 by his sister Paula der Boghosian ā€™64ā€”is a one-of-a-kind program designed to give emerging independent creatives the opportunity to spend a year developing a body of design research based on an area of interest while teaching at the School of Architecture.

Fellows play a significant role at the school by enhancing student instruction and faculty discourse while supporting both research and the development of research-related curriculum valuable to architectural education and the discipline.

Tiffany Xu

During the 2025-26 school year, Xu will teach an architecture studio and two professional electives focused on researching North American contemporary construction cultureā€”emphasizing architecture as a layered system consisting of a skeletal frame and built-up finishes, materials based on standardized dimensions and a product-like treatment of components. Students will explore conventional framing as an area of opportunity for codification and experimentation and study how medium specific tendencies and internal conflicts might yield new approaches to design.

ā€œT³ó±š composite character of todayā€™s construction departs from traditional architectureā€™s valorization of permanence and mass, and the modernistsā€™ penchant for transparency and truth,ā€ says Xu. ā€œInstead, this system finds its integrity in fulfilling a localized set of objectives and rules, anchored by pragmatism, vernacular references and supply chain constraints.ā€

Xuā€™s year-long investigation will foreground material and tectonic expression, with particular attention to patterns and transitions, positioning contemporary architecture as a new medium with a flexible set of values and objectives grounded in everyday practices.

Like the nine previous Boghosian Fellows, Xu will work closely not only with faculty and students at the School of Architecture but will also explore interdisciplinary collaborations within the University and its various centers and colleges, while also continuing her research into Central New Yorkā€™s relationships with modernity and material.

Prior to joining Syracuse Architecture, Xu was the 2024-25 Peter Reyner Banham Fellow at the University of New York at Buffalo, where her work explored conventions of light timber framing, culminating in the spring installation, ā€œ.ā€ Xu has taught architectural representation at Northeastern University and was a practicing architect at the offices of Spiegel Aihara Workshop, David Jaehning Architect, and Jim Jennings Architecture. Her designs and writing have been published in , San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, CITE Journal and Architectural Record. She has held editorial positions at the and .

Xu received a Master of Architecture from Rice University where she was the recipient of the William D. Darden Thesis award, and a Bachelor of Science from University of California, Berkeley. She is a registered architect in the state of California.

ā€œFrom this fellowship I hope to further develop my skills in pedagogy, whether at the fundamental and core curriculum level or a more experimental seminar setting, while maintaining a close relationship to building,ā€ says Xu. ā€œMy intent is to contribute to a current discourse that strives to merge the gap between design thinking and construction and questions the polarity between everyday pragmatism and abstract study.ā€

The Boghosian Fellowship has helped the School of Architecture attract the best and the brightest emerging professors. Previous fellows include Maya Alam (2016-17), Linda Zhang (2017-18), James Leng (2018-19), Benjamin Vanmuysen (2019-20), Liang Wang (2020-21), Leen Katrib (2021-22), Lily Chishan Wong (2022-23), Christina Chi Zhang (2023-24) and Erin Cuevas (2024ā€“25).

To learn more about the Harry der Boghosian Fellowship, visit the .

Jorge Morales ā€™26, a double major in history and anthropology in the with a minor in English and textual studies in the , has been awarded the highly competitive .

Morales is one of only 20 students nationwide to receive this prestigious award, which supports exceptional undergraduates in their pursuit of graduate studies in the arts, humanities and social sciences.

A and member of the , Morales has distinguished himself through his academic excellence, research achievements and commitment to public scholarship. He has already contributed original research to the field of Caribbean history, focusing on the legacies of colonialism, slavery and resistance in Jamaica and the corresponding implications for the broader Atlantic world.

ā€œI am interested in studying the impacts of colonialism and colonial institutions on the development of Caribbean and Latin American nations, their cultures and their national identities,ā€ says Morales, who is spending the summer conducting research in Puerto Rico to gain insights into the lives of enslaved individuals on Puerto Rican plantations for his senior thesis. ā€œMy family being Puerto Rican, I am especially interested in understanding the development of Puerto Rico and of Puerto Rican national identity, and it is this interest, and my experiences working with Dr. Tessa Murphy, which informs my current research.ā€

As a research assistant to , associate professor of history in the Maxwell School, Morales helped transcribe 19th-century slave registries from Trinidad, working with exceptional attention to detail, timeliness and conscientiousness to transcribe hundreds of pages of handwritten records. His work has been presented at numerous campus symposiums and published in CHRONOS, the Universityā€™s undergraduate history journal, where he also serves on the editorial board.

ā€œJorge is committed to drawing on his personal and professional interest to pursue a Ph.D. and academic career in history,ā€ says Murphy. ā€œHis initiative, intellectual rigor and commitment to public history are extraordinary. He is already contributing new knowledge to the field.ā€

Moralesā€™ application was supported by the (CFSA), where he worked closely with Director Jolynn Parker. ā€œJorge combines intellectual seriousness with warmth, humility and a deep sense of purpose,ā€ Parker says. ā€œHe is exactly the kind of scholar the Beinecke Foundation seeks to supportā€”one who is poised to thrive in graduate school and become a leader in his academic field.ā€

Morales plans to pursue a Ph.D. in history, with a focus on the Caribbean and Atlantic worlds, and has a long-term goal of becoming a professor or museum professional who brings marginalized histories to broader audiences.

ā€œI am very happy to have been awarded the Beinecke Scholarship because it will provide me with resources that I can use to support my future research,ā€ says Morales. ā€œIt will allow me to form connections with other students who are just as passionate about their work as I am.ā€

The Beinecke Scholarship provides $35,000 in funding toward graduate education as well as significant mentorship. Is is awarded to students who demonstrate superior academic achievement and a commitment to a career in research or the arts.

CFSA offers candidates advising and assistance with applications and interview preparation for nationally competitive scholarships. The nomination process for the 2026 Beinecke application will begin in October. Interested students should contact CFSA at 315.443.2759 or by email toĢżcfsa@syr.eduĢżfor more information.

This past January, Executive Director of Esports Joey Gawrysiak (left) and Gen.G CEO Arnold Hur announced a multi-year partnership designed to enhance student engagement opportunities with such events as the Campus Takeover in September.

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ and global esports and gaming organization have opened general registration at for its first Campus Takeover Sept. 20-21. The two-day conference will bring students and administrators to Syracuse to highlight career opportunities within the esports industry and various ways in which students can use esports for project-based learning within the careers of their choice.

Campus Takeover will offer diverse programming headlined by the first-ever national Esports Business Case Study Competition for undergraduate students interested in esports, traditional sports and gaming. The event will also feature daily keynote presentations, industry panels for collegiate esports professionals, career panels for students interested in working for the esports industry and daily networking events. Campus Takeover will feed into the Universityā€™s from Sept. 22-26 hosted by .

ā€œWhen we announced our multiyear partnership with Syracuse in December, we committed to enhancing student engagement opportunities,ā€ says Gen.G CEO Arnold Hur. ā€œCampus Takeover will provide that opportunity for anyone interested in esports and gaming to learn more about our industry and build an impactful career.ā€

Executive Director of Esports Joey Gawrysiak addresses the audience at the grand opening of the Gaming and Esports Center in the Schine Student Center.

ā€œWeā€™re absolutely thrilled to bring Gen.Gā€™s award-winning Campus Takeover event to ¹ū¶³“«Ć½,ā€ says Executive Director of Esports . ā€œThis partnership represents more than just a high-profile esports eventā€”itā€™s an opportunity for students, faculty and staff across disciplines and institutions to come together.

ā€œCampus Takeover will showcase what makes esports such a powerful connector in education,ā€ Gawrysiak adds. “We canā€™t wait to have everyone on our campus as we offer dynamic programming that focuses on professional development, competition and collaboration.”

Gen.G and Syracuse have also partnered on the, which offers students the opportunity to take part in an intensive, three-week program to study in South Korea. This programming complements the innovative at the University offered jointly by the Ģżand the , which on July 1, 2025, will launch as the first college on a high-research activity campus to focus on sport-related disciplines.

The esports program includes three tracks: esports business and management, esports communications, and esports media and design. It prepares students for an exciting career in esports and related industries through classes in event management and marketing, broadcasting/production, communications, content creation, entrepreneurship, strategic communications and esports experience and design.

2025 AWESOME Excellence in Education Scholarship winners Deedra Samuel ā€™26 (left) and Odette Sherk ā€™26 (center) pose with Supply Chain Professor Julie Niederhoff.

For the first time in the 12-year history of the program, both nominees from the have been selected as recipients of the 2025 AWESOME Excellence in Education Scholarship, a prestigious honor awarded to top-performing undergraduate women in supply chain management.

Each year, the AWESOME (Achieving Womenā€™s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management and Education) organization selects 20 students nationwide for the award. Nominees are chosen from 35 leading supply chain programs across the country, with each school submitting two candidates.

This yearā€™s honorees from Whitman are supply chain management majors Odette Sherk ’26 and Deedra Samuel ’26, who have both demonstrated leadership inside and outside of the classroom.

The scholarship provides winners with an all-expenses paid trip to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP)ĢżEDGE Conference and the AWESOME Symposium, plus long-term career support through mentorship, retreats, webinars and professional networking.

Professor Johan Wiklund meets with a student at the Whitman School. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

The Distinguished Professor Johan Wiklund was recently listed as one of the most prolific business and economic research scholars globally, according to ā€œWhat We Know ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ the Science of Science in Business and Economics? Insights From the Top 50 Journals, 2008-2022,ā€ published in . Wiklund was ranked No. 32 with a total of 42 papers published on a select list based on theĢżĢżTop 50 (FT50) academic and practitioner journals.

ā€œBeing named to this list is always nice, and publishing in top journals is something we all endeavor,ā€ says Wiklund. ā€œItā€™s extremely difficult, and it does indicate that Iā€™m succeeding in something that most academics strive forā€”publishing our research. Iā€™m very proud to represent the Whitman School and also be recognized on a list that includes many friends and colleagues furthering interesting research in the various areas of business around the world.ā€

Wiklund, the AI Berg Chair, joined the Whitman Schoolā€™s Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises in 2008. His research interests focus on entrepreneurship, neurodiversity and mental well-being. He is considered a leading authority in his field with over 100 articles published in leading journals and more than 60,000 citations to his research, as well as a number of international awards and honors. This spring, he was named a Distinguished Professor at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½.

ā€œThis is not the first time Professor Wiklund has been recognized among the most prolific business scholars, but this time his ranking has risen, reaffirming his research productivity and its quality for the second time over a long period,ā€ says Michel Benaroch, Whitmanā€™s associate dean for research and Ph.D. programs. ā€œ The Whitman School is proud to have Johan among its ranks, and I trust we will hear more about his research leadership and accomplishments in the future.ā€

Katsitsatekanoniahkwa Destiny Lazore, a rising senior communication and rhetorical studies major in the and political science major in the and (with a minor in Native American studies) and a member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, has been named as a 2025 recipient of a prestigious in the field of Tribal Public Policy.

The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment. Lazore is one of 55 students nationwide selected this year. She and her fellow Udall Scholars will engage in an orientation in August to meet one another and program alumni; learn more about the Udall legacy of public service; and interact with community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care and governance.

Lazoreā€™s goal is to work as a curriculum and policy consultant for Indigenous-serving schools. ā€œI want to create educational standards that help students succeed while preserving Native traditions, history and languages,ā€ she says.

After graduating, she plans to pursue a masterā€™s degree in educational leadership at Hawaii Pacific University and return to her community to expand Kanienā€™kėha (Mohawk) language immersion programs with students across all age groups. She also wants to integrate cultural practices, such as ceremonies, storytelling, traditional ecological knowledge and bushcraft, into everyday learning.

ā€œElders and community leaders must have a stronger voice in shaping curriculum and school policies, ensuring that education aligns with Haudenosaunee values,ā€ Lazore says. ā€œI aim to incorporate the natural world and hands-on, project-based Haudenosaunee learning approaches to foster high standards of literacy, critical thinking and quantitative skills, empowering Native students for success. An educated Native person is a powerful one. Knowledge is a form of resistance and self-determination.ā€

As a first-generation college student who attended underfunded and under-resourced schools, Lazore often found that getting ahead was up to her. ā€œI would go to the library after school and read, and if there was a word I didnā€™t understand, Iā€™d look it up in the dictionary,ā€ she says. When high school teachers were less than encouraging, she worked harder to prove them wrong. When she came to ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ with her mom for an interview, she says she knew this is where she belonged. When she was accepted, she was over the moon. In her first semester, she eagerly engaged in academic and campus life.

Lazore has been making the most of her Syracuse experience through many research and outreach opportunities. She has worked as a research assistant to , associate professor of geography and the environment in the Maxwell School, on her National Science Foundation-funded grant, Indigenous Northern Landscapes, Visual Repatriation and Collaborative Knowledge Exchange. Lazore traveled with Sakakibara to Japan, where she engaged with Indigenous communities and visited museums and archives to document environmental justice issues and foster transnational Indigenous alliance-building.

In 2022, as a first-year student, Lazore built a database composed of 40 resources for the Universityā€™s Bird Library focusing on Indigenous authors and topics such as Indian residential schools, decolonization methods, oral traditions and Native American literature. The inspiration for the project came from the idea that Indigenous history extends beyond the Euro-centric narrative often presented. ā€œI focused on including authors affiliated with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and other Native American tribes to empower Native scholars and community members reclaiming sovereignty over their narratives,ā€ she says.

Lazore has been very involved with and served as director of Indigenous Affairs for the . She has also engaged in outreach beyond campus. In the summer of 2024, she organized a series of workshops at Tewatohnhiā€™saktha in KahnawĆ :ke to empower Indigenous students through education, culture and financial literacy.

ā€œDestinyā€™s academic success, significant research experiences, commitment to campus and public service, and clear focus on a future career dedicated to serving Native American communities made her a truly outstanding candidate for the Udall Scholarship,ā€ says Jolynn Parker, director of the (CFSA). Lazore worked with CFSA on her application materials and to receive campus endorsement as a Udall candidate.

Lazore will study abroad in London in the fall 2025 semester. There, she hopes to visit libraries, museums and archives and engage in research on Indigenous communities.

Looking to the future, Lazore envisions working in her community with studentsā€”as a mentor, an advocate and a counselor on the college application process.

ā€œI have flourished from all the support from my professors, my academic advisors and especially the ,ā€ Lazore says. ā€œI’m glad I have never stopped believing in myself. And I want other people, other Indigenous students, to feel the same way.ā€

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ the Udall Foundation

Established by Congress in 1992, the Udall Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships and internships for study in fields related to the environment and to Native Americans and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and tribal public policy; provides funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy to conduct policy research and outreach on the environment and related themes and to the Native Nations Institute for research, education and outreach on Native American and Alaska Native health care issues and tribal public policy issues; and provides assessment, mediation, training and other related services through the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution.

The Udall scholarship honors the legacies of Morris Udall and Stewart Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources. Universities may nominate up to eight students for the Udall Scholarship each year. The Udall selection process at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ is administered by CFSA. Interested students should contact CFSA in November. Applications are due in mid-March.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Norma Slepecky Undergraduate Research Prize and Memorial Lecture honors the memory of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Professor Norma Slepecky, a distinguished auditory neuroanatomist and member of the Institute for Sensory Research. A founding member of WiSE, this award was endowed in hopes that her legacy for undergraduate research mentorship would continue. The annual prize is awarded to undergraduate researchers in their junior or senior year who demonstrate excellence in research based in the full range of applied biological and engineering sciences.

Since 1999, ¹ū¶³“«Ć½’s Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) has championed the success and advancement of women in STEM and their allies of any gender, sex or other identity through inclusive, research-based programming and mentorship. Serving 18 departments across six schools and colleges, WiSE fosters a supportive community that empowers undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs and faculty alike to persist and excel in their academic and professional journeys. Led by experienced faculty and staff, WiSE promotes equity, builds networks and equips participants with tools for leadership, resilience and success in STEM fields.

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

Mark Brockway

, assistant teaching professor of political science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Focusing on course redesign, Brockway will provide faculty with resources and support to help them foster in-class student engagement. Brockway plans to develop a database of materials for workshops that engage individuals and groups in active learning related to course concepts. The database will provide instructors with adaptable instructional templates that can help minimize the cost of course redesign and facilitate impactful teaching approaches. Resources will be posted on the CTLE website.

Zach Huitink

, associate teaching professor of public administration and international affairs, Maxwell School

Huitink will focus on online teaching and pedagogy with activities including the development of online teaching and onboarding programs for faculty; the establishment of an online teaching affinity group for community building and knowledge transfer; and the creation of an online teaching resource library. Huitinkā€™s work will support faculty in transitioning to, and advancing in, online teaching.

Douglas Yung

, associate teaching professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Yung will work with CTLE staff and faculty across campus to develop instructional guidance and resources. These include workshops and modules to help faculty incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into instruction and assessment with a focus on ethics, inclusion and accessibility; online and hybrid teaching strategies that foster the development of community and connection; strategies for continuous improvement in course design; and interdisciplinary co-teaching modules. Yung plans to lead interactive programming, develop resource libraries and organize peer learning circles.

ā€œI am thrilled to welcome the inaugural cohort of Meredith Professor Faculty Fellows,ā€ says , associate provost for academic programs. ā€œT³ó±šir innovative and impactful projects will undoubtedly enrich our teaching and learning community, elevating the educational experiences we offer. These initiativesā€”spanning course redesign, online pedagogy and the integration of AI in teachingā€”are critical areas for faculty support and development, and I look forward to seeing the transformative effects of their work on our faculty and students.ā€

Launched by an interdisciplinary ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ team in 2023, affecting college students’ adjustment to campus life, with an emphasis on both risk and protective factors that influence psychological well-being.

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

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

Born to THRIVE

The labā€™s interdisciplinary approach brings together researchers from counseling, public affairs and policy.

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

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

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

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

Data-Driven Support

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

ā€œMany research projects conducted within the lab aim to offer a holistic view of the integrated health and wellness of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ students,ā€ Yu says. ā€œT³ó±š primary goal is to better understand the predictors and protective factors that influence students’ overall well-being, providing valuable insights into the areas that need the most attention for improving student health and wellness.ā€

The labā€™s pilot study used two yearsā€™ worth of data to examine the association between studentsā€™ engagement in wellness activitiesā€”such as physical exercise, the Ģżand the ā€”and their mental health outcomes. This research identified wellness activities as predictors of reducing depressive symptoms among students.

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

ā€œAll our studies provide data-driven support for strategic planning within the Universityā€™s health and wellness initiatives,ā€ Yu says, ā€œensuring that resources are allocated effectively and addressing the most critical factors influencing studentsā€™ well-being.ā€

Clear Intentions

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

Litt contributed to the project addressing international studentsā€™ help-seeking behaviors, which became one of Lab THRIVEā€™s .

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

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

Lab THRIVEā€™s research pipeline also complements student support programming at Syracuse. “Our findings are helping the Barnes Center understand what worksā€”and what doesnā€™tā€”when it comes to supporting student well-being,” Liu says. ā€œWe may not see a whole lot of products now, but what is most important is the development of a solid pipeline and clear intentions about every project we initiate.ā€

Sense of Belonging

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

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

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

Yu adds, ā€œT³ó±šse conversations provide rich qualitative data that helps us better understand how students find community and feel a sense of belonging at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½.ā€

Building a Legacy

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

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

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

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

Yu says another exciting direction is expanding the labā€™s interdisciplinary collaborations: ā€œWe are actively seeking partnerships with researchers from other fields to examine how emerging areasā€”such as artificial intelligenceā€”can contribute to a deeper understanding of students’ mental health.ā€

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

Story by Ashley Kang ā€™04, Gā€™11

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

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

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

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ faculty and staff participate in the 2025 Syracuse WorkForce Run.

Oren Lyons Jr. (left) and Roy Simmons Jr. were honored with the Alfie Jacques Ambassador Award for preserving the Native origins of their sport, educating current and future generations of players about the proud connection between lacrosse and Indigenous communities.

Oren Lyons Jr. ā€™58, Hā€™93 and Roy Simmons Jr. ā€™59, Hā€™14 formed a lifelong friendship that stems from their days starring for the ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ menā€™s lacrosse team from 1955-58.

Recently, Lyons and Simmons were honored with the Alfie Jacques Ambassador Award, which intends to ā€œkeep the legacy of the Onondaga stick maker alive, to promote the gameā€™s sacred Indigenous roots and to honor members of the larger community who share Alfieā€™s love of lacrosse and his commitment to its growth,ā€ according to a press release issued by the .

The dynamic duo captured multiple All-American honors playing for the Orange and have remained friends through their shared experiences with the lacrosse program.

Roy Simmons (left) and Oren Lyons

Interwoven with their passion for Syracuse lacrosse, Lyons and Simmons have advocated to preserve the Native origins of their sport, educating current and future generations of players about the proud connection between lacrosse and Indigenous communities.

Both players excelled under head coach Roy Simmons Sr. during their Syracuse careers, with Lyons twice earning All-American honors as a goalie and Simmons Jr. twice claiming All-American honors at attack as a potent goal scorer. They helped the Orange go undefeated during the 1957 season, the programā€™s first unbeaten season since 1924.

Lyons is one of the first Native Americans to have attended ¹ū¶³“«Ć½, earning a degree in fine arts from theĢż. He remains one of the most talentedĢżĢżin program history and was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1992 and received the prestigious Spirit of Tewaaraton Award in 2015. As a Faithkeeperā€”one of the spiritual leaders of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nationā€”Lyons advocates for environmental protections and the rights of Indigenous people. In 1983, Lyons co-founded the Iroquois Nationals, a team that represents the Haudenosaunee in international field lacrosse competitions.

Oren Lyons Jr.

Simmons was a lifelong friend of Jacques who often invited the stick maker to speak to his Syracuse teamsā€”which featured many standout Iroquois playersā€”about the history and Native connections to lacrosse. Simmons was the first coach in the NCAA Division I history to win five national championships and ranks sixth all-time with his six national titles. His teams posted a record of 290-96 during his 28-year coaching career. Simmons was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1991, received the Spirit of Tewaaraton Award in 2009 and was inducted into the Ģżon Feb. 20, 2022.

ā€œ[Their] lives and legacies stand as profound representations of what the game of lacrosse is about. Both Lyons and Simmons have walked alongside Alfie Jacques for decades, as advocates and storytellers. They have lived lives that reflect the deep spiritual and communal roots of the game,ā€ the release said about their ties to Jacques, a master lacrosse stick maker and member of the Onondaga Nationā€™s Turtle Clan.

Lyons and Simmons will receive their awards during the 2025 Wooden Stick Festival in Syracuse, to be held Sept. 12-14.

For more information about the Alfie Jacques Ambassador Award and past recipients, visit .

Katie McDonald

, professor of public health and senior associate dean for research and administration in the , will join ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ā€™s in a new role as associate vice president for research, effective July 1. The announcement was made today by Vice President for Research .

In this new role, McDonald will focus on supporting faculty research, improving faculty mentoring, growing extramural research and identifying strategic opportunities for research growth in areas aligned with the Universityā€™s mission and vision.

ā€œKatie has the right combination of research and leadership experience to make a real impact in the Office of Research,ā€ Brown says. ā€œI look forward to working with her to help create and sustain an environment that promotes scholarship and, in partnership with the faculty, to expand and strengthen the research and creative enterprise at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½.ā€

McDonald is a widely-published researcher who uses socioecological theory and community-engaged research to understand and promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Her current research focuses on ethical, legal and social implications in research with adults with developmental disabilities, and using community-engaged research to study and address disparities experienced by people with disabilities.

ā€œI am delighted to begin a new role at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½,ā€ McDonald says. ā€œI am grateful for the nurturing environment Syracuse has provided for my own research, and for the opportunities I have to pay forward that support. The generation of new knowledge that has the potential to positively impact society is a cornerstone function of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½, and I look forward to working in partnership on this shared endeavor.ā€

McDonald joined the Syracuse faculty as an assistant professor in 2011 and previously served as department chair. She is a faculty fellow at the , the , the and in , and a research affiliate at the . She is also a fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and a member of the editorial board for Autism in Adulthood.

McDonald has served as chair of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ā€™s Institutional Review Board since 2016. , professor of sociology in the , will assume the role July 1.

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

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

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

Dean, Faculty and Staff Appointments

Mark Lodato, Academic Dean Representative, 2025-27

Mark Lodato

Appointed dean of the Newhouse School in 2020, Lodato came to ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ from Arizona State Universityā€™s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He serves on the Carnegie-Knight Initiative on the Future of Journalism Education and represents the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication on the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

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

Under Lodatoā€™s leadership, Newhouse partnered with the to launch the ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ in Washington, D.C. He spearheaded plans to launch a new esports communications and management bachelorā€™s program in partnership with the . He also led Newhouse as the school formulated a five-year strategic plan that focuses on how engaged digital citizenship will drive the future of journalism and mass communications.

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

As academic dean representative, he participates, ex officio, on the boardā€™s Academic Affairs Committee.

Tula Goenka, Faculty Representative, 2025-27

Tula Goenka

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

Born and raised in India, Goenka first came to ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ as an international graduate student in 1984, and received a master of science in television-radio from Newhouse in 1986. Ten years later, she joined the Newhouse faculty. She created the SU Bollywood program offered through ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Abroad, and has taken more than 50 Newhouse students to Mumbai for the monthlong immersion.

She served on the Chancellorā€™s Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence and founded and co-directed the annual ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Human Rights Film Festivalā€Æand Digital Witness Symposium.

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

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

Andrea Rose Persin, Staff Representative, 2025-27

Andrea Persin

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

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

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

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

Student Appointments

Anna Mirer ā€™26, Undergraduate Student Representative, 2025-26

Anna Mirer

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

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

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

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

German Nolivos ā€™26, Undergraduate Student Representative, 2025-26

German Nolivos

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

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

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

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

Alexia Chatzitheodorou, Graduate Student Representative, 2025-26

Alexia Chatzitheodorou

Chatzitheodorou is a Ph.D. candidate in theoretical soft matter physics in the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research has focused on the geometry and elasticity of soft materials, specifically liquid crystal elastomers, and she is most interested in biomechanics. She is an active member of the Future Professionals Program and the at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½.

Originally from Greece, Chatzitheodorou earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in physics from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom, where she served as the student representative of physics undergraduates and a physics student ambassador, and was actively involved in outreach activities. At ¹ū¶³“«Ć½, she has continued her commitment to science advocacy through teaching, mentorship and outreach. In addition, she has served in the Physics Graduate Organization and the Physics Colloquium Committee (2023-24), and as a co-organizer of the 2025 Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Driven by a mission to bridge science and societal impact, Chatzitheodorou has developed a growing interest in science policy.

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

Ryleigh Peterson Lā€™26, Law Student Representative, 2025-26

Ryleigh Peterson

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

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

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

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

ā€œWe are honored to recognize six outstanding alumni, corporate supporters and friends who have demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment to the Whitman School, ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ and its students. But this is also an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of all of our alumni and other supporters, many of whom are here to share this celebration with us. So many have made, and are continuing to make, valued and impactful contributions to Whitman, ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ and our students,ā€ said McKelvie at the event. ā€œT³ó±š success of our students and the trajectory of the Whitman School is highly correlated to how well we can leverage the Orange family and help expose students to career prospects, share career success, answer questions, connect students with internships or full-time opportunities and support Whitman through philanthropy. We are deeply appreciative of the many ways that our dedicated alumni, corporate partners and friends contribute to helping our students and the mission of the Whitman School.”

Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award

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

Present is a member of the ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Board of Trustees and chairs the Board’s Finance Committee. He sits on the Whitman philanthropy and engaged volunteer leadership committees. He also serves on the Whitman Advisory Council (WAC). Present has shared his vast expertise with students, including at a masterā€™s program residencies held in New York City. He and his wife, Susan, are generous financial supporters of various initiatives at the Whitman School and Hendricks Chapel, including a significant seed gift to the Whitman Student Opportunity Fund, which enables students to fully participate in various Whitman experiences by contributing to expenses not covered by financial aid.

Whitman Deanā€™s Citation for Exceptional Service

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

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

Marcus-Thomas is the vice dean of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis. She previously worked for Accenture, AT&T and Thermo Fisher Scientific, improving financial performances and enhancing operational efficiencies. Marcus-Thomas was selected for this award for her service as a ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Trustee and her significant involvement with the Lender Center for Social Justice as a contributor to the centerā€™s annual consortium and academic conference presentations. She has also been philanthropically engaged with the Whitman School, including establishment of the Gisele A. Marcus Endowed Scholarship Fund and support of the Delta Sigma Theta Endowed Scholarship Fund. And she was recognized for her regular interaction with Whitman students through specialty programming and the Whitman Women in Business organization.

The Orange Ovation Award

Warren Johnson ā€™20 and Tyler Newman ā€™20 were each presented with the Orange Ovation Award for setting a positive example to Whitman students through their professional successes and service to the Whitman/¹ū¶³“«Ć½ community. Recipients of this award must have graduated from the University within the past 15 years.

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

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

The Whitman Impact Award

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

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

This story was written by Caroline Reff

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Bao-Ding ā€œBobā€ Cheng

Bao-Ding ā€œBobā€ Chengā€™s journey to ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ in pursuit of graduate education in the 1960s was long and arduous. He didnā€™t have the means for air travel, so he voyaged more than 5,000 nautical miles by boat from his home in Taiwan to the Port of Seattle, Washington, where he boarded a bus to Syracuse, New York, travelling another nearly 5,000 miles. That trip would set the stage for an extraordinary future and the ability to help countless others achieve the American dream.

Cheng Gā€™67, Gā€™69 passed away in 2020. Through the Jatain Charitable Foundation he had established in 2002, his family expressed their gratitude to the University with a $1.3 million gift to fund the Bao Ding Cheng Endowed Professorship of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences.

ā€œWhen he arrived in Central New York, it was the first time my father had traveled outside of Taiwan. He had never even seen snow before. But he felt truly welcomed by ¹ū¶³“«Ć½,ā€ says his son George. It was 1965, two years after Cheng had graduated from National Taiwan University with a degree in chemical engineering. He was the first in his family to go to college, the oldest son and one of nine children in a family with little means.

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ offered Cheng a scholarship to study in America. He earned a masterā€™s degree and Ph.D. in chemistry in just four years. Besides the scholarship support, there were people who helped him thrive. ā€œOne advisor, Dr. Harry Brumberger, was a mentor to him, treating him like family, inviting him over for Thanksgiving. They kept in touch over the years,ā€ recalls George.

While Cheng was studying, he was also developing a relationship by mail with a young woman in Taiwan who would become his wife. Jean Cheng says they were introduced to each other by her grandmotherā€™s friend. She recalls Bob writing to her about his enthusiasm for football and the support he was receiving from professors. After they married in Taiwan in 1970, Jean had to wait nearly six months before being able to join her new husband and meet his mentor at the University. ā€œHe and his wife were so kind to both of us,ā€ she says.

Unwavering Support

The kindness the Chengs received is reflected in their giving back to the University. Their gift is part of the Forever Orange Faculty Excellence Program in which the University matched a portion of the gift to fully endow the professorship. ā€œItā€™s our way of recognizing the impact of a professor on students,ā€ says George. ā€œT³ó±š program elevates the impact of philanthropyā€”my father would have appreciated that.ā€

ā€œWe are very thankful for the Cheng familyā€™s unwavering support,ā€ says Mathew Maye, professor of chemistry and department chair. ā€œWe are thrilled to have this endowed position in the memory of one of our most distinguished Ph.D. alumni. Future faculty with this title will no doubt train generations of students who will go on to publish many papers and patents and become leaders in industry, just like Dr. Cheng did.ā€

Entrepreneurial and Philanthropic

George and Jean both noted that Bob was both entrepreneurial and philanthropic. He was especially impressed with investor and philanthropist Warren Buffetā€™s commitment to use his vast wealth for good. Over time, Cheng accumulated enough resources to give back in substantial ways, to community organizations doing good work and especially to organizations dedicated to Taiwanese American culture and recognizing the contributions of Taiwanese Americans.

ā€œMy husband was always working hard and helping others,ā€ says Jean. He took on private tutoring jobs and was a teaching assistant, earning income for himself and helping others understand the power of education. After graduating from the University, Cheng went to work for Colgate Palmolive as a researcher, focused on removing dangerous phosphates from detergents. After a decade, he and some friends started a company to produce high-quality display products (LCD displays). His friends ultimately dropped out of the venture, and Cheng was left on his own to develop the company that would eventually become FEMA Electronics.

ā€œMy father had the grit to stick it out and build the business,ā€ says George, who is currently CEO of FEMA Electronics. Meanwhile, the family opened a small grocery store in New Brunswick, New Jersey, near their home, and Jean worked 12 hours a day with help from her sons to pay the bills and support the familyā€™s dream. Eventually, they relocated the business headquarters to Irvine, California, where FEMA Electronics grew rapidly. Still, they never forgot their East Coast roots.

ā€œMy husband remained a humble man throughout his lifetime,ā€ says Jean. His philanthropy was never about promoting himself, but always about promoting the Taiwanese American community and providing opportunities for others to succeed.

ā€œBy ensuring that we can continue to attract and retain gifted researchers and teachers through this endowment, we are impacting generations of students and graduates,ā€ says College of Arts and Sciences Dean Behzad Mortazavi. ā€œDr. Cheng appreciated the value of his Syracuse education and experience, and with this gift from the family foundation, he is smoothing the path for others who are pursuing the American dream.ā€

Ashley Prow-Fleischer

In the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), Ashley Prow-Fleischer Gā€™25 (Ph.D.) is taking the lead in a brand new area of paleontology that could unlock vital information toward this global effort by using the past to predict the future.

The Devonian Period took place around 400 million years ago and was a critical time in evolution when plants began to appear and four-legged creatures like amphibians emerged from the sea. Even before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, present day New York is believed to have been located 20 degrees south of the equator with a tropical environment covered in inland seas.

Scientists believe that the late Devonian Period brought on extinction events marking a significant time of environmental change, which might offer information about climate changes happening today.

Approximately 40% of the rocks found in New York today were formed during the Devonian Period, and hidden in these rocks are clues to understanding the relationship between the terrestrial and marine biospheres that created this transition, hopefully extrapolating the timing and the rate to modern environmental changes.

ā€œPaleontology is a multidisciplinary field that combines different aspects of biology, chemistry, geology and math. However, geochemistry, which is a subdiscipline of paleontology, is my specialty,ā€ says Prow-Fleischer.

Microfossils May Help Predict Future Changes

One aspect of Prow-Fleischerā€™s research concentrates on extinct marine plankton abundant in many rocks in this region. As the base of the food web, variations in the body sizes or distribution of plankton can be used to reconstruct past environmental changes on ecosystem structure and predict ecosystem response under modern day climate change.

Too small to be seen by the human eye, the plankton must go through a special process to be separated from the rock, while still maintaining its shell integrity. Unfortunately, standard techniques use corrosive and carcinogenic chemicals, but Prow-Fleischer has developed a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative.

Using a method that includes soaking the rock to allow water to seep into cracks and then repeatedly freezing to create pressure in the rock and then thawing, the process weakens the rock matrix, causing it to split the cracks around the microscopic fossils.

Prow-Fleischer has also been experimenting with various surfactants (soaps) that can gently and safely remove dirt from the uncovered fossils. Interestingly, she discovered that the most effective surfactants are actually Calgon and sodium carbonate found on grocery store shelves. This method increases the rate of extraction in a way that is safer for humans, giving greater access to the information these fossils may hold.

A microscope view of Devonian-era dacryoconarid microfossils reveals a wide range of sizes. These size differences offer valuable insights for reconstructing ancient environmental conditions and forecasting how ecosystems might respond to modern climate change.

This technique has allowed Prow-Fleischer to extract enough fossils to survey their body sizes across a warming interval in the late Devonian Period, which showed they became smaller over time. This is significant in that it demonstrates the implication for energy transfer in food webs today. If oceans warm, then plankton get smaller, negatively impacting fish stocks .

Coral Used as History Book of the Environment

Another area of her research focuses on coral, which Prow-Fleischer calls ā€œthe history book of the environmentā€ because some can live for thousands of years. Coral grows by accretion of layers, like the rings of a tree, which tell a story of the conditions of the ambient sea water that existed around the time each was formed.

This research has moved forward thanks, in part, to facility access she had at A&S to a novel iodine-to-calcium proxy developed for geochemistry by her advisor, Professor , in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES).

ā€œT³ó±š goal is to be able to apply this proxy specifically to fossilized or subfossilized corals, so we can target areas of the world that might be susceptible to oxygen depletion via climate warming, or even be able to extend reconstruction as far back as the last Ice Age, which is something Iā€™m exploring,ā€ she says.

She has also been able to perform her work using a laser available at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry labs, which is a unique tool in her coral research.

A Passion for the Mystery of Paleontology

While Prow-Fleischer came to A&S to complete a Ph.D. in geochemistry, she quickly pivoted to paleontology, something she was always interested in but didnā€™t pursue until she realized the opportunities ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ could give her for a viable career in this field.

Prow-Fleischer has been so devoted to her work that she published four papers before defending her dissertation, something that generally doesnā€™t happen. She has collaborated with others with similar interests, including Lucy Weisbeck ’24 (SUNY ESF) and Caroline Underwood ā€™23, both co-authors on ā€œExtraction of calcareous dacryocaonarid microfossils from limestones and mudrocks by surfactants paired with freeze-thaw processing,ā€ in Marine Microplantology, as well as her primary EES mentors, Thonis Family Associate Professor and Professor .

ā€œAshley is fearless in the face of a challenge, diving into the deep end even when in unfamiliar territory,ā€ says Ivany. ā€œShe has mastered some fairly beefy coding and statistics in her time here and done the same with a powerful Earth system model that has quite a steep learning curve, all of which have been brought to bear in her research.ā€

After receiving a Ph.D. in May, Prow-Fleischer accepted a position as a post-doctoral researcher at the Payne Paleogeology Lab at Stanford University. Joining as a geochemist, she will work with other experts in the hopes of further exploring options to help mitigate climate warming.

ā€œI love the mystery of paleontology and what you might discover. The work Iā€™ve been able to achieve at the College of Arts and Sciences has been rewarding,ā€ says Prow-Fleischer. ā€œOverall, I plan on a career in academics where I can continue to explore the biological effects on climate change and use my curiosity and skills to contribute further to the collective betterment of society.ā€

ā€‹ signifies an agencyā€™s ongoing commitment to excellence and state-of-the-art performance in every aspect of its operations. The standards guide the recruitment, selection, training and professional development of agency personnel and overall agency operations. In order to receive the accreditation, DPS had to demonstrate to outside, impartial experts its compliance with national best-practice standards in the profession.

ā€œAchieving IACLEA Accreditation is another significant milestone that reflects the dedication and professionalism of every member of our team,ā€ says Chief Craig Stone. ā€œThis recognition affirms our commitment to national best practices and continuous improvement as we work to provide the highest standard of safety and service to the ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ community.ā€

ā€‹Among the many benefits of accreditation are increased accountability from agency personnel and the agency as a whole and a commitment to continuous improvement to maintain excellent operations.

ā€‹DPS prepared for the onsite assessment by updating policies and procedures, ensured the campus community had the opportunity to provide comments to the outside assessors and hosted assessors on-site. The agency will seek re-accreditation in four years.

Pankaj K. Jha in the Quantum Technology Laboratory (Photo by Alex Dunbar)

Detecting single photonsā€”the smallest unit of lightā€”is crucial for advanced quantum technologies such as optical quantum computing, communication and ultra-sensitive imaging. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) are the most efficient means of detecting single photons and these detectors can count many photons rapidly, have few false counts, and provide precise timing. However, most of these detectors operate only at very low temperatures.

Pankaj K. Jha, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the , has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to develop single-photon detectors using iron-based superconductors that can operate at higher temperatures. The single-photon detectors he is developing will make these devices smaller, easier to access and more scalable.

ā€œT³ó±š generation, manipulation and detection of single photons lies at the heart of optical quantum technologies. Losing a photon means a loss of information, whether that information is encoded in a photonic qubit or represents an image of a distant satellite,ā€ Jha says.

These high-temperature SNSPDs will also advance the field of quantum technology, enabling photon-starved deep-space imaging, on-chip quantum photonics and optical quantum computing, as well as applications in biomedical research. The development of these single-photon detectors supports the goals of the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018 and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, both of which aim to promote the advancement of quantum technologies.

The project will also focus on enhancing science education and training for the future workforce, offering hands-on research opportunities in quantum technology to students from K-12 through undergraduate levels.

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

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

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

Trey Augliano

ā€œI wanted to create something that cut through the noise,ā€ Augliano says. ā€œT³ó±šre are too many beauty products making bold claims without data to back them up. Utopia Beauty stands for a future where science meets self-care.ā€

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

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

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

ā€œTrey embodies the spirit of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Libraries and the community we built here with the help of students scholars and innovators like him. It is entrepreneurial, collaborative and deeply driven,ā€ says Linda Dickerson-Hartsock, founder and retired director of Blackstone LaunchPad. ā€œNow heā€™s launching a company that could set a new standard in the beauty industry.ā€

For Augliano, the intersection of wellness, entrepreneurship and science is more than just a brand. Itā€™s personal. ā€œIā€™ve always loved building things that have a purpose,ā€ he says. ā€œSyracuse gave me the platform, the mentors and the community to do that at a higher level.ā€

Story by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, strategic initiatives advisor, ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Libraries

Noah (left) and Ian Eagle on the broadcast set at NBC

Thereā€™s a new father-son sportscasting team on the national scene, one with a decidedly Orange background: Ian ā€™90 and Noah Eagle ā€™19.

Ian finished his second year as the lead announcer for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and has crafted an award-winning career calling NFL, NBA and college basketball games on a variety of national broadcast networks. Heā€™s also the longtime Brooklyn Nets TV announcer for the YES Network.

Noah is a rising star, working the Super Bowl and serving as the voice of Team USA basketball at the Olympics, the radio voice of the Los Angeles Clippers, and broadcasting French Open tennis and countless primetime college football and basketball games.

ā€œWhen Noah was calling Team USA basketball games at the Summer Olympics, I was watching as a fan but also as a proud father and as a broadcaster who studies what the broadcaster is saying and what information theyā€™re using in the moment,ā€ Ian says. ā€œI was blown away by Noahā€™s calls, his coverage and his choice of words in the moment. He crushed it, and he’ll always have that moment for the rest of his life.ā€

Noah Eagle (left) served as the voice of Team USA basketball at the Summer Olympics.

Growing up, Noah always saw how excited his dad was calling games and thought it could be a fun career option to pursue.

ā€œI see it’s possible and knew what to expect with this job and what comes with it, but I didnā€™t do anything with that until I got to Syracuse,ā€ Noah says. ā€œBy the time I got there as a freshman, I was singularly focused and really had a feeling of what I wanted to do so I could attack it.ā€

The Eagles were both nominated for a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Play-by-Play, and on June 30, Ian will receive the National Sportscaster of the Year Award from the National Sports Media Association.

Ian Eagle (far left) wrapped up his second season as the lead announcer for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Sportscasting and a love for ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ runs in the Eagle family. Ian earned a broadcast journalism degree and Noah earned a broadcast and digital journalism degree from the . Ianā€™s wife, Alisa (Terry) Eagle ā€™90, earned a retailing degree from what is now the , and his daughter, Erin ā€™21, earned an advertising degree from Newhouse.

In honor of Fatherā€™s Day, the Eagles stopped by the ā€œā€™Cuse Conversationsā€ podcast to discuss their special bond and reflect on the important role ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ has played in their lives.

Check outĢż featuring Driscoll. A transcript [PDF]Ģżis also available.

How special is it to share a profession with Noah?

Ian Eagle: The pride that you have as a dad that your child is interested in what you do and interested at a level that they want to pursue it, and they want to make it their life’s workā€”itā€™s been more than I could have ever expected.

The conversations we now have are nuanced, because it’s not just dad and kid, it’s someone that fully understands what I’ve done, and now I’m living vicariously through him as he goes through navigating those experiences.

How would you describe your relationship with him?

Noah Eagle: He’s meant everything to me. The best thing he’s done was to stay as hands-off as possible unless I came to him and really wanted help. But for the most part, he let me learn for myself and enjoy everything else that comes with this job by myself.

He was always there as a sounding board. I’m incredibly thankful that we’re in the position right now where we’re both doing great events and we both get to share those experiences together.

What are some of your lasting memories of raising Noah?

Ian Eagle: Sports is the connection weā€™ll always have. He was really into sports at a young age, which was very similar to me. When he was 6 or 7 years old, he was studying the stats and learning the names and backgrounds of athletes. Thatā€™s a bond any sports fan can share.

But the more important part for our relationship was his love for TV, movies and music. We watched all the classic movies of the 1970s and 1980s that shaped me as a person, from ā€œAnimal House,ā€ and ā€œStripes,ā€ to ā€œBlues Brothers,ā€ and ā€œCaddyshack.ā€ That he has so much love and appreciation for that and can quote lines from my favorite movies is probably more at the core of our relationship than sports.

What are some of your favorite memories of growing up with your dad?

Noah Eagle: We had a lot of great games that I got to go to with him and those are memories that stick out forever. There were certain times on birthdays where he would take me on trips, including the first time I ever got to fly by myself was meeting him going to a Duke basketball game when I turned 14. Itā€™s more so the little moments in the house or going out to dinner to California Pizza Kitchen. Those are the memories that stick out the most.

What does it mean to be an alumnus of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½?

Ian Eagle: It is the backbone of what I do. I showed up and had nothing other than a dream of what I wanted to do. Everything I learned was based on that school and that experience and the people I came in contact with and the people that took me under their wing. I never would have met my wife, my soulmate, without Syracuse. For our kids to go there and experience Syracuse is so special.

Noah Eagle: My mom best described it when we went to visit. The sun was shining, everyone was smiling and you could feel this kinetic energy around campus. My mom and I walk onto the Quad and she says, “This is my happy place.” I asked why she said that, and she said, “You’ll understand one day if you come.” She was right. Every time I come back, the special memories flood your brain.

Ian and Noah Eagle shared a special moment in February of 2018 when Ian was calling the Syracuse vs. Miami menā€™s basketball game for CBS and Noah was broadcasting for WAER-FM.

Note: This conversation has been edited for brevity.

Several key moments in Earthā€™s history help us humans answer the question, ā€œHow did we get here?ā€ These moments also shed light on the question, ā€œWhere are we going?,ā€ offering scientists deeper insight into how organisms adapt to physical and chemical changes in their environment. Among them is an extended evolutionary occurrence over 2 billion years ago, known as the Great Oxidation Event (GOE). This marked the first time that oxygen produced by photosynthesisā€”essential for the survival of humans and many other life formsā€”began to accumulate in significant amounts in the atmosphere.

If you traveled back in time to before the GOE (more than 2.4 billion years ago), you would encounter a largely anoxic (oxygen-free) environment. The organisms that thrived then were anaerobic, meaning they didnā€™t require oxygen and relied on processes like fermentation to generate energy. Some of these organisms still exist today in extreme environments such as acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents.

The GOE triggered one of the most profound chemical transformations in Earthā€™s surface history. It marked the transition from a planet effectively devoid of atmospheric oxygenā€”and inhospitable to complex lifeā€”to one with an oxygenated atmosphere that supports the biosphere we know today.

Sedimentary rocks from South Africa, which the team sampled for this study. (Photo courtesy of Benjamin Uveges)

Scientists have long been interested in pinpointing the timing and causes of major shifts in atmospheric oxygen because they are fundamental to understanding how complex life, including humans, came to be. While our understanding of this critical period is still taking shape, a team of researchers from ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ and Massachusetts Institute of Technology is digging deepā€”literallyā€”into ancient rock cores from beneath South Africa to unearth clues about the timing of the GOE. Their work provides new insight into the pace of biological evolution in response to rising oxygen levelsā€”and the long, complex journey toward the emergence of eukaryotes (organisms whose cells contain a nucleus enclosed within a membrane).

The study, published in the journal, , was led byĢż ā€™18, Ph.D., who completed the project as a postdoctoral associate at MIT and collaborated with ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Earth Sciences Professor Ģżon the chemical analyses.

Answers Embedded in Rock

To step back in time, the research team analyzed sedimentary rock cores collected from several sites across South Africa. These locations were carefully selected because their rocks, dating back 2.2 to 2.5 billion years, fall within the ideal age range for preserving evidence of the GOE. By analyzing stable isotopic ratios embedded in these rocks, the team uncovered evidence of oceanic processes that required the presence of nitrateā€”an indicator of more oxygen-rich conditions.

To analyze the ancient sediment, Uveges worked with Junium, an associate professor of Earth and environmental sciences at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½. Junium specializes in studying how past environments evolved to better understand future global change. His state-of-the-art instruments were essential for obtaining accurate readings of trace nitrogen levels.

ā€œT³ó±š rocks that we analyzed for this study had very low nitrogen concentrations in them, too low to measure with the traditional instrumentation used for this work,ā€ says Uveges. ā€œChris has built one of only a handful of instruments in the world that can measure nitrogen isotope ratios in samples with 100 to 1,000 times less nitrogen in them than the typical minimum.ā€

An essential component of the Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer is called the cryotrapping/capillary-focusing module. This equipment, which played a critical role in enabling the nitrogen isotope analyses presented in the paper, is housed in Juniumā€™s lab at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½. (Photo by Christopher Junium)

In Juniumā€™s lab, the team analyzed nitrogen isotope ratios from South African rock samples using an instrument called an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS). The samples were first crushed into powder, chemically treated to extract specific components, then converted into gas. This gas was ionized (turned into charged particles) and accelerated through a magnetic field, which separated the isotopes based on their mass. The IRMS then measured the ratio of Ā¹āµN to Ā¹ā“N, which can reveal how nitrogen was processed in the past.

Researchers from ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ and the United Kingdom found chemical clues in ancient South African sediments linking past atmospheric shifts to droughts that mirror Cape Townā€™s Day Zero crisis. Recent droughts have brought water sources like the Theewaterskloof Dam (pictured above) in South Africa dangerously close to drying up. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

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

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

ā€œBut a model is not the real world,ā€ saysĢż, Thonis Family Associate Professor in ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ā€™s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES). ā€œSo we looked back in time.ā€

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

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

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Librariesā€™ Blackstone LaunchPad welcomed new members of the Founders Circle from the Class of 2025.

welcomed 34 graduates of the Class of 2025 as new members of the Founders Circle. They were selected in recognition of launching or leading ventures at the University while students, as well as contributing to building the Blackstone LaunchPad. The Founders Circle is a group of dedicated LaunchPad alumni entrepreneurs and innovation professionals, who plan to continue to be mentors and role models for current students. They exemplify the Universityā€™s spirit of entrepreneurship.

ā€œThis group of LaunchPad graduates were unbelievably driven and proactively looked for and leveraged every opportunity and connection to move the needle forward with their respective ventures,ā€ says Traci Geisler, director of the LaunchPad. ā€œBy the time they graduated, some of these students had ventures in market generating revenue, some started their next venture, some raised thousands of dollars in capital and some have hired employees. Weā€™re excited to see whatā€™s next for them and how they will continue to change their communities for the better.ā€

• Adam Thomson, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Aditee Malviya Gā€™25, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Adya Parida, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Aidan R Turner, School of Architecture
• Alie Savane, College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Anjaneya Padwal Gā€™25, School of Information Studies
• Anthony Smith, Newhouse School
• Anthony Thomas, School of Information Studies
• Asha Breedlove, Newhouse School
• Bakary Darboe, Maxwell School
• Bryson Carter, Newhouse School
• Cesar Sassoon, School of Information Studies
• Dhwani Vora Gā€™25, School of Information Studies
• Dominique Camp Gā€™25, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Donovan Capdeville, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Elizabeth Paulin, College of Arts and Sciences
• Emily Santiago, School of Information Studies
• Fatim Batrou Cisse Gā€™25, Falk College
• GraceĢż Conturso, School of Information Studies
• Julie Gross, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Kathryn Kelley, Newhouse School
• Lindy Truitt, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Megan Kane, Newhouse School
• Mian Hamid, School of Information Studies
• Nicholas Panetta, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Oliver Raycroft, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Paula Ibelings, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Skylar Takac, Whitman School and Newhouse School
• Stacy Collier, Newhouse School
• Sydney Moore G25, Whitman School
• Thomas O’Brien, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Tosin Alabi Gā€™25, Whitman School
• Tyler Marma Gā€™25, Newhouse School
• Waqar Hussain Gā€™25, Whitman School

concludes its 2024-25 season with the world premiere production of ā€œT³ó±š National Pastime,ā€ a provocative psychological thriller about state secrets, sonic weaponry, stolen baseball signs and the father and son relationship in the middle of it all.

Written by acclaimed playwright and University alumnus Rogelio Martinez ā€™93, ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ is directed by Johanna McKeon and will run June 11-29 in the Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage, located at 820 E. Genesee St. in Syracuse.

ā€œCreating new work is both a vital and essential aspect of our mission,ā€ says Artistic Director Robert Hupp. ā€œWeā€™re delighted that Central New York audiences will be the first to experience Rogelio Martinezā€™ thrilling new drama. We commissioned ā€˜The National Pastimeā€™ in 2021; it is as timely and engaging as any work weā€™ve done this season. If youā€™re a fan of spy thrillers or insider baseball or a great evening of theatre, then this production is for you.ā€

In New York, Josemaria is questioned by the CIA as he travels from Cuba to see his son, Yuri, who defected to play Major League Baseball. In Havana, American ā€œcultural liaisonā€ Val is experiencing debilitating symptoms that develop after mysterious sounds bombard the embassy halls. And in Houston, the Astros are developing a code that will ultimately help their batters clinch a World Series win. These intertwining stories play out in the lingering shadow of the Cold War as the two nations continue their dangerous, decades-long dance, begging the question: When the national pastime is corrupt, what comes next?

ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ was commissioned by Syracuse Stage and first premiered as a reading in the 2022 Cold Read Festival of New Plays. This year, Cold Read becomes the Julie Lutz New Play Festival, with events surrounding the world premiere production of ā€œT³ó±š National Pastime.ā€ Festival curator and Syracuse Stage Associate Artistic Director Melissa Crespo and Resident Playwright Kyle Bass will join ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ playwright Rogelio Martinez for a talkback, discussing the playā€™s journey from conception to fully staged world premiere, immediately following the 7:30 p.m. performance on Thursday, June 12.

The cast for ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ includes Erick GonzĆ”lez (ā€œNative Gardensā€) and Joe Cassidy, John J Concado, Cherrye J. Davis, Jorge SĆ”nchez DĆ­az, Alejandro Hernandez and Frank RodrĆ­guez, all making their Syracuse Stage debuts.

The design team includes sets by Andromache Chalfant, costumes by Andrea Lauer, lighting by Christopher Brown, sound design by Tony Award-winner Cody Spencer (Broadway ā€œT³ó±š Outsidersā€) and video design by Stephen Stivo Arnoczy.

All evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. while all matinee performances begin at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $30 with discounts available for students and groups. Tickets may be purchased online at , by phone at 315.443.3275 or in person at the Syracuse Stage Box Office. Pay-What-You-Will performances for ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ are June 11-15 inclusive; prologue conversations, three pre-show discussions that take place one-hour before curtain, are on June 15, 21 and 26; the Post-Show Talkback will take place on Sunday, June 22, after the 7:30 performance. Syracuse Stage has its open-captioned performances scheduled for June 18 and 29 at 2 p.m. and June 24 and 28 at 7:30 p.m., as well as an audio-described performance on Sunday, June 28, at 2 p.m. and an ASL interpreted performance on June 21 at 2 p.m. The Sensory Friendly/Relaxed performance of ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, at 7:30 p.m.

Trivia Night for ā€œT³ó±š National Pastime,ā€ hosted by ā€œJeopardy!ā€ champion Dillon Hupp, will be held on Thursday, June 12, at 6 p.m. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance are required to participate. Pre-registration at is recommended.

Support for the 2024-25 season includes season sponsors the Slutzker Family Foundation, the Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation and Advance Media New York. Special thanks go to presenting sponsor George S. Bain and show sponsors NBT Bank and the Syracuse Mets. The community partner for ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ is La Casita.

, is a member of the Onondaga Nation Eel Clan. He is the son, grandson and brother of legendary lacrosse players. Powless picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time at age 2. He played in his first game at age 4; his older brothers had to improvise with his uniform and protective gear as what they had been given was too big.

Neal Powless, top row second from left, is pictured with fellow inductees into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame and First Americans Museum Award recipients. (Photo courtesy of the First Americans Museum)

Powless played all throughout his childhood, high school and his undergraduate years at Nazareth College in Rochester. He was a three-time All American and played professionally for several years; he was a member of the Rochester Knighthawks of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League when the team won its first title in 1997. Today, he is the coach of the Netherlands National Box Lacrosse Team and, at age 50, still plays the game for Oneida in the North American Box Lacrosse League.

To honor his dedication and many contributions to the game of lacrosse, Powless was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame, located at the in Oklahoma City, on May 2. He was one of four athletes inducted this year, and one of five from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy who have been inducted since the Hall of Fameā€™s inception.

On Display

An exhibition, featuring items from each of the inductees, was on display at the museum for a month around the time of the induction ceremony. Items from Powlessā€™s career that were displayed included cleats that Nike created for the Haudenosaunee Nationals in 2006; his Buffalo Bandits stick, his Syracuse Smash jersey and five championship rings. The museum is working on expanding the exhibition to the digital space.

Items from Neal Powless’ career were on display in an accompanying exhibition, including a lacrosse stick, cleats and jersey. (Photo courtesy of the First Americans Museum)

Powless is no stranger to Hall of Fame inductions. He has been inducted into several, including the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame, the USLacrosse Hall of Fame (Upstate Chapter and Greater Rochester Chapter) and Nazareth College Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Rochester Red Wings Walk of Fame. This feels different, though, he says. Many of the inductees are from major sports leagues, such as the National Basketball Association, Womenā€™s National Basketball Association and National Football League.

ā€œYou love your sport, and when that love and commitment is acknowledged it is amazing,ā€ Powless says. ā€œIt is really humbling to be in a space like that First Americans Museum, which is the premier Indigenous museum in the country.ā€

Through the years, Powless has balanced lacrosse with his career at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½. He has been the University ombuds since 2019. In this role, he serves as a confidential, neutral and independent resource for faculty, staff and graduate students. Previously, he was a counselor with the Center for Career Services and assistant director of the Native Student Program in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Newhouse School, where his research is centered on Indigenous imagery in contemporary film.

He and his wife, Michelle Schenandoah, founded Indigenous Concepts Consulting to serve Indigenous communities and to incorporate Indigenous perspective into mainstream business and media paradigms.

Life Lessons

Lacrosse still remains a passion, and the longevity gene for the game runs throughout his family. His grandfather, Irving Powless Sr., played competitively into his 60s, his brother into his 50s and his father, Chief Irving Powless Jr., played his last competitive game at age 40 (Neal played his last competitive game at age 41). The love of the game developed over time for Neal, and the recreational league he plays in now continues to fuel that passion.

ā€œThis honor is not so much about the numbers and stats, but more about what the game means to me and the role it has played in my life,ā€ he says.

Lacrosse has provided Powless with a number of lessons that he has applied in other areas of his life. When coachingā€”and for himselfā€”he has non-negotiable rulesā€”show up, give your best effort, be open to learn and have fun.

ā€œWhether it’s here at work, at presentations or trainings, whether it’s sitting with an individual or consulting, I’m going to show up. I’m going to do my best. I’m going to do my best to be open and learn from that other person, and I’m going to have fun doing it,ā€ he says.

The success he has found, and the lessons he imparts in his job, has just as much foundation in the losses he has endured on the field and the mistakes he has made.

ā€œWhatā€™s not in those record books or written down on paper are all the losses that teach a person how to be successful,ā€ Powless says. ā€œI’ve been willing and open to learn from them.ā€

ā€œT³ó±š awards, trophies and rings (and Hall of Fame inductions) are amazing, but what I carry with me every day are the lessons that I know will help me succeed,ā€ Powless says.

During his formative years, Powless was a bit smaller than his fellow lacrosse players and had to work hard to overcome some of the obstacles that created. He also learned a lot about respect and peace; although he faced competitors on the field, they ceased to be competitors when the game was finished.

ā€œThat’s probably one of the biggest lessons that I use every day here in my work as an ombuds, is to show everyone that walks into my office, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter what you’ve experienced, you’ll get my respect and you’ll get my ear and I’ll listen to everything that you’ve gone through,” Powless says. “I am going to shake your hand and welcome you.ā€

College of Arts and Science Assistant Teaching Professor Darwin H. Tsen, an expert in Japanese culture, sees the decision as part of a broader cultural pattern.

ā€œJapanese society often allows for private indulgences, whether in art, food or fashion, until tradition reasserts itself through regulation,ā€ Tsen says. ā€œNames, however, are more than just personal choices. Theyā€™re part of what Michel Foucault called ā€˜biopower,ā€™ which are tools the state uses to track and manage its population.ā€

The crackdown, Tsen says, is not entirely surprising. But it is disappointing. ā€œT³ó±šre could have been a middle ground,ā€ he adds. ā€œA system that evaluates names individually, rather than banning creativity outright.ā€

For media inquiries or to speak with Tsen, please contact ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ā€™s media relations team.

Jack and Laura Milton

Growing up, Stacey Milton Leal ā€™75 and Chris Milton heard countless stories about how ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ brought their parents together in what would turn out to be a fairy tale romance with a happy forever ending. So it was no surprise that Jack and Laura Milton would become benefactors to the University throughout their lives and beyond. Their estate gift of more than $20 million is one of the largest unrestricted gifts in University history.

ā€œT³ó±šir education at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ was a fundamental foundation for their success in business and in life,ā€ Chris says. His sister Stacey agrees. ā€œT³ó±šy took advantage of everything the school had to offer, from classes to Greek life to football, and then they gave back,ā€ Stacey says. ā€œItā€™s a great legacy to know that the money you earned went to a cause that you believe in and will have impact for generations.ā€

Indeed, Jack Milton ā€™51 and Laura Hanhausen Milton ā€™51 have left a legacy that will continue to impact ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ students and faculty for years to come with significant gifts funding such diverse offerings as the first year experience for arts and sciences students, an endowed professorship, an atrium for students to gather and, most recently, a residence hall. ā€œMy fatherā€™s service to the Board of Trustees gave him an opportunity to see the inner workings of the University and gave them both confidence that their gifts would be used wisely,ā€ says Stacey.

A Chance Meeting

The inspiration behind the Miltonsā€™ generosity was simple. It began during their freshman convocation in Hendricks Chapel. Complete strangers, Jack and Laura were seated near each other and met by chance.

Chris says his Dad never really wanted to be in college; he wanted to join his own father working in the heavy equipment industry at a Caterpillar dealership. ā€œMy grandfather told my mom that Dad had to stay in school, so she helped him with his class assignments,ā€ Chris says.

Stacey says her mother was more studious, better at taking tests and writing papers. ā€œOne of Momā€™s stories was about how Dad got an A on a paper she wrote for him, and she got a B on her own paper!ā€ They were married at the end of their junior year.

Laura graduated with a degree in French from the College of Arts and Sciences. With his business degree from the School of Business Administration (now the Martin J. Whitman School of Management) in hand, Jack first went to serve in the U.S. Army, and then worked for his father at Perkins Machinery Company in Massachusetts. He later co-founded Jordan-Milton Machinery in Concord, New Hampshire, which in 1991 acquired Southworth Machinery to become Southworth-Milton, Inc. The office headquarters moved to Massachusetts. In 2004, Southworth-Milton Inc acquired Syracuse Supply and adopted the trade name Milton CAT. Today, Chris is CEO of Milton CAT, a $1.5 billion business with nearly 2,000 employees.

ā€œT³ó±š success of the business created opportunities for my parentsā€™ philanthropy and community engagement,ā€ says Chris. When they lived in Concord, New Hampshire, Laura was active on the boards of Child and Family Services, YMCA, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Parks and Recreation, Junior Service League, the Concord Hospital Association and the New Hampshire Hospital Association; in Boston, she served on the Emerson Hospital board.

Service and Philanthropy

Jack and Laura remained active alumni and Orange fans, especially during the time Stacey attended their alma mater and graduated with a degree in fine arts in printmaking from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. As their wealth grew, so did their service to the University and their philanthropy. Jack was elected to the ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Board of Trustees in 2000, the same year Laura became a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors. Jack also served on the Whitman School of Management Advisory Council.

They supported many institutional priorities within the College of Arts and Sciences and the Whitman School of Management. The Jack and Laura Milton Room on the fourth floor of the Whitman Building and the Jack and Laura Milton Atrium in the Life Sciences Complex acknowledges multiple million-dollar gifts over the years. More recently, their estate funded the Jack and Laura H. Milton Professorship in the College of Arts and Sciences, now held by Robert Doyle, a renowned medicinal chemist with an interest in pharmaceutical drug development. Further acknowledging the impact of their estate gifts, the former apartment complex known as The Marshall at 727 S. Crouse Ave. has been fully modernized and renamed Milton Hall. Itā€™s a 287-bed residence hall, primarily home to second-year students.

ā€œLaura often said that the University was a gift to Jack and herself because they met there, but their union ultimately turned into transformative gifts to the University,ā€ says Chancellor Kent Syverud. ā€œT³ó±š fact that most of their estate gift is unrestricted demonstrates their deep love and devotion to their alma mater, their past dedication to service, and their trust in the future vision for the University.ā€

The siblings saw their parentsā€™ commitment to the University and the tangible impact it had on campusā€”and how important it was to them. ā€œMy parents recognized that their good fortune began at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½, and they just wanted to give back,ā€ says Chris.

ā€œWhile they were alive, they got to see how the University used their funds wisely,ā€ says Stacey. ā€œThatā€™s why they were so confident in leaving behind a gift for future generations. They trusted that the school would use the funds in the right ways.ā€

Ian Shapiro

The smoke from more than 100 Canadian wildfires is reaching many regions within the U.S., including as far south as Georgia. Air quality is deteriorating in the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast, prompting health advisories in many cities. In Canada, more than 25,000 residents across three provinces have been evacuated due to the worsening air conditions.

The ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy SystemsĢż(SyracuseCOE) is advising residents to take simple steps to protect indoor air quality and personal health in the event of increased smoke levels.

, professor and associate director of building science and community programs at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½, provides air quality recommendations below which can be quoted directly. He is also available for interview.

“Get ready ahead of time by purchasing or borrowing a HEPA air cleaner and/or a higher-efficiency furnace filter, and masks for going outdoors.” ā€” Professor Ian Shapiro, ¹ū¶³“«Ć½

Recommendations include:

1. Use Air Cleaners With HEPA Filters:ĢżPortable air cleaners equipped with HEPA filters can significantly reduce airborne particulate concentrations within minutes.

2. Run HVAC Fan Continuously:ĢżIf your home has a forced-air heating or cooling system, locate the thermostat setting labeled ā€œFanā€ and switch it from ā€œAutoā€ to ā€œOn.ā€ This will continuously circulate indoor air through the systemā€™s filter, removing particulates. This practice is safe and effective year-round. This is significantly more effective if your system has a high-efficiency filter, such as a filter rated “MERV 13” or higher. If not, consider at least installing a filter rated “MERV 11”, instead of a standard efficiency filter.

3. Close Windows and Doors:ĢżKeep all windows and doors shut to minimize the entry of outdoor smoke into your home during smoky conditions.

4. Limit Use of Exhaust Fans:ĢżWhile bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans remove moisture and cooking fumes, they also pull outdoor air into the house. During wildfire smoke events, limit their use to reduce the intake of contaminated air.

5. Wear a Mask Outdoors: When spending time outside, especially if air quality worsens, wear a well-fitting mask to help filter inhaled particles.

The ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Center of Excellence, led by , conducts cutting-edge research on indoor and outdoor air quality. The center is currently monitoring air quality across multiple locations in downtown Syracuse and continues to provide science-based guidance to the community.

To learn more or to set up interviews, contact:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
University Communications
MĢż315.380.0206

Robert Thompson

Newhouse School and University Professor Bob Thompson was for his long-running lecture series that uses classic television to bridge generational divides and spark important conversation. The segment, produced by NBCā€™s Brian Cheung ā€™15ā€”a University alumnus and University Scholarā€”highlights Thompsonā€™s ā€œTuesdays with Bleier.ā€

For 18 years, this weekly gathering has brought together students, faculty and staff to watch and discuss unedited television broadcasts from decades pastā€”from ā€œHowdy Doody,ā€ ā€œT³ó±š Flying Nunā€ and ā€œT³ó±š Brady Bunch,ā€ to early YouTube clips. The weekly luncheon discussion explores how television has shaped and reflected American culture, while fostering intergenerational dialogue through shared media experiences.

NBCā€™s coverage emphasized the emotional and educational impact of the class. One student shared how a clip from ā€œHowdy Doodyā€ helped him connect with his grandmother, who was in the late stages of dementia. Another noted how the class gave her new ways to relate to her parents through pop culture references, while another brought his mom and dad to one of Thompsonā€™s discussions.

Thompson told NBC, ā€œIf you want to understand the country we live in, you have to understand its presidencies, the wars its fought, its political parties. But you also have to understand its lawn ornaments, its love songs, and its sitcoms.ā€

Tuesdayā€™s at Bleier take place in Thompsonā€™s office in Newhouse 3, every Tuesday at noon, and are open to all.

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

The student team comprised of art director Meiling Xiong and copywriter Maggie Mallon won a Silver Clio Entertainment Award for their campaign ā€œReal Housewives of Duolingoā€ at the Los Angeles Entertainment Clio Award Show in November 2024.

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

The Clio Sports Awards celebrate the best in global sports advertising. Only five winners worldwide were selected in the student category, andĢżā€œOne Eagles Nationā€Ģżwas one of them, earning a Bronze Award. It also won a second Bronze in the student category, where only eight winners were recognized globally. Additionally, it won a Shortlist Award in the category, among only three winners worldwide.

View the Bronze Award-winning campaign in a two-minute case study video: ā€œ.ā€

Print ad for “One Eagles Nation” ad campaign

Through their research, Wojtowicz and Kraker found that Philadelphia football fans are fiercely passionate, but with 34% living outside the U.S., their chants donā€™t always reach the Philly stadium. The studentsā€™ campaign uses Duolingoā€™s platform to connect international Eagles fans with those in Philadelphia.

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

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

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

ā€œT³ó±š best ideas combine two things that donā€™t initially seem like theyā€™d fit togetherā€¦like Philadelphia Eagles fandom and learning a foreign language. But the creative team found the sweet spot where those two elements intersect and the result is an idea you never saw coming,ā€ says Wojtowicz and Krakerā€™s creative mentor, Bruce Jacobson ’92, group creative director at VML and Newhouse creative advertising alumnus, when praising their idea.

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

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

The Clio Entertainment Awards celebrate excellence in entertainment advertising. Xiong and Mallonā€™s ā€œReal Housewives of Duolingoā€ campaign made its mark at the Entertainment Clio Awards, winning a Silver Clio in the category. This team was announced as just one of 11 winners in this category.

View the Silver Award-winning campaign in a two-minute case study video: ā€œ.ā€

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

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

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

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

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

ā€œWhat better way to get someone interested in learning a language, which can be a difficult and cumbersome process, than by adding something as flavorful as theĢżReal HousewivesĢżto the mix? Tapping into a fandom means truly tapping into culture, and that can be a powerful way to connect an audience to a brand. And they nailed it,ā€ White says.

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

Story by Molly Egan

ILC is a diamond open-access publication by and for students and early career professionals that fosters critical conversations about reflective and ethical information practices within a variety of learning environments. Diamond open-access is a publication model in which journals and platforms do not charge fees to either authors or readers. Student involvement is one of the Information Literacy Scholarsā€™ strongest guiding values, so ILC encourages submissions by current students and early career professionals in the field of library and information science to develop their skills in scholarly communications and open access publishing.

The first issue includes the following:

• Welcome from the Information Literacy Librarian, by Kelly Delevan
• Letter from the First and Second Editors-in-Chief, by Olivia Russo Haven and Emily Warfield
• Reflection Experience as a New Information Literacy Instructor, by Joel Carpenter
• Interview with Early Career Librarians Marianne Donley and Rebecca Johnston, by Grace Suhadolnik
• Interview with Early Career Librarian Seyvion Scott, by Rebecca McCall

ā€œWhen we began the IL Scholars program in 2019, we wanted to focus primarily on training graduate students to become strong library instructors,ā€ says Kelly Delevan, information literacy librarian and head of information literacy at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Libraries. ā€œIn 2023, two of our colleagues at the SU Libraries, Dylan Mohr, open scholarship librarian, and Grace Swinnerton, digital project librarian (and a former information literacy scholar) suggested that a journal on information literacy could be a great project for the IL Scholars to work on. Fast forward to today, and we are delighted to publish the first issue.ā€

Submissions will be accepted each fall and can include informational studies, instructional lessons, traditional academic papers, case studies, book reviews, editorials and literature reviews. For more information, visit .

During their visit to the United Talent Agency and KLUTCH Sports Group in Atlanta, 11 sport management students pose for a group photo below a famous saying from early 20th-century Atlanta educator and orator Booker T. Washington.

The city of Atlanta is home to professional sports franchises in major leagues: Atlanta United FC (Major League Soccer), the Braves (Major League Baseball), Dream (WNBA), Falcons (NFL), and Hawks (NBA). Atlanta also features professional teams in lacrosse, rugby, and volleyball, along with a rich tradition of Division I collegiate sports with Georgia Tech and Georgia State.

In addition, Atlanta has hosted the biggest events in sports, including the Summer Olympics in 1996, four Super Bowls, and the NCAA Final Four womenā€™s and menā€™s basketball championship, and it will be one of 11 U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Over the course of three jam-packed days in March, 11 female students from ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ā€™sĢżĢżvisited Atlanta to meet with numerous sports organizations and female executives from several sectors of the sport industry. The group also attended a Braves game at Truist Park.

Jake and Suzanne Doft have sponsored the trip for the past four years in honor of their daughter, Class of 2022 Sport Management graduateĢż.

The students on the trip included Jordan Boron ā€™25, Kate Bradley ā€™26, Emily Gilbert ā€™27, Maggie Grejda ā€™27, Aryssa Hopps ā€™25, Janet Ji ā€™26, Lexi Katz ā€™27, Anna McDonald ā€™26, Claire Patin ā€™26, Brooke Siket ā€™25, and Tess Wright ā€™27. The studentsā€”all members of the Ģż(WISE) Club from theĢżā€”were accompanied by Falk College Director of Development , Sport Analytics Program Manager and former Internship Placement Coordinator Beth Perez, whoā€™s now working for the University as an assistant director of development, leadership annual giving and discovery.

Falk College students visited with numerous sports organizations in Atlanta during a Spring 2025 immersion trip.

We asked Siket and Bradley to share their favorite experiences from the Atlanta immersion trip:

Brooke Siket (sport management major, marketing minor)

Brooke Siket

ā€œAs someone passionate about working in live sports and event management, this trip was everything I hoped for and more.

ā€œOver three packed days, we met with representatives from the Atlanta Dream, Hawks, Falcons, United, Braves, Overtime Elite, United Talent Agency (UTA) and KLUTCH Sports Group, FanDuel and the Atlanta Sports Council. Each organization gave us a behind-the-scenes look into their operations, shared advice about breaking into the industry, and emphasized the importance of relationship-building. Hearing from so many strong women in leadership roles made the experience even more empowering.

ā€œOne moment that stood out to me was our visits to UTA and KLUTCH Sports. While few of us initially had a strong interest in the agency side of sports, the insight they offered into athlete representation, contract negotiation, and brand building was an incredible and eye-opening experience.

ā€œT³ó±š WISE community created an environment where I felt encouraged to ask questions, connect with professionals, and see firsthand what a career in this industry could look like. This trip reminded me why I chose Syracuse and Falk; itā€™s the real world opportunities and constant support that have helped me grow and feel prepared for a career in sports. This trip solidified my goals and expanded my network, and Iā€™m so thankful to WISE, ¹ū¶³“«Ć½, the Doft family, and everyone we met in Atlanta for making it possible.ā€

During her time at Syracuse, Brooke Siket was an athletics facilities and game management intern, a Falk College peer advisor and ambassador, a Sport Management Club member who worked on the annual Charity Sports Auction and a WISE Club member. Sheā€™s currently working as a stadium operations intern for the Savannah Bananas baseball team.

Kate Bradley (sport management major, emerging sport enterprises minor)

Kate Bradley

ā€œI joined WISE during my first week on campus, and it immediately became a meaningful community for me. Surrounded by driven, like-minded women who share a passion for working in sports, Iā€™ve found lasting friendships, valuable networking opportunities, and unforgettable professional experiences through this organization.

ā€œOne of the most impactful aspects of being in WISE has been participating in immersion trips across the country. These trips provide unique opportunities to engage directly with industry professionals and Syracuse alumni. Our recent trip to Atlanta was particularly special, as it allowed us to explore a sports market outside the Northeast.

ā€œWhile in Atlanta, exposure to a wide range of organizations gave us a well-rounded understanding of Atlantaā€™s sports industry from team operations to agency representation and beyond. Additionally, visiting Atlanta was an amazing opportunity because the FIFA 2026 World cup is coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and we heard from multiple organizations about their unique perspective on the event and what role they will play in planning and executing it.

ā€œT³ó±šse immersion trips are more than just site visits; theyā€™re hands-on learning experiences that give us a real sense of what working in different sectors of the sports industry is like. In an increasingly virtual world, having the chance to build face-to-face connections is invaluable. Iā€™m incredibly grateful to be a part of WISE and for the opportunities it has provided to grow both personally and professionally. Thank you to everyone who met with us on this trip, and to everyone who made this adventure possible.ā€

Kate Bradleyā€™s extracurricular activities in Falk College include WISE Club communications chair, Sport Management Club community outreach chair, Sport Management Club Charity Sports Auction public relations chair for the 2023 and 2024 auctions, research assistant for Assistant Professor Lindsey Darvinā€™s NIL project, publishing assistant for David B. Falk Endowed Professor Rick Burton, and vice president of partnerships for the Syracuse Sport Group. Sheā€™s currently interning for the Wasserman sports marketing and talent management agency in the Brand and Properties department.

Visit the to learn more about experiential learning, academic programs, and career opportunities in the Department of Sport Management and the sport analytics program at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½.

Cathy DaicoffĢżGā€™79

Daicoff has been on the advisory board for more than 25 years, serving as its vice chair since 2019. She succeeds Ron Oā€™Hanley ā€™80, who had served as chair since 2015 and is the chairman and chief executive officer of State Street Global Advisors. Oā€™Hanley will continue as a member of the board.

ā€œI want to thank and congratulate Cathy on becoming the new advisory board chair and thank Ron for his many years of leadership and sound counsel,ā€ says Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke. ā€œBoth have made and continue to make immeasurable contributions to the school, its community and its mission, and I look forward to more accomplishments ahead under Cathyā€™s board leadership.ā€

Van Slyke also expressed his gratitude to Nate Shanok ā€™98, who succeeds Daicoff as vice chair. ā€œIā€™ve no doubt he will serve us well in this role,ā€ he says. “Since he joined the board in 2017, Nate has generously offered his time and expertise in support of our students and key initiatives.ā€

Comprised of alumni and friends of Maxwell, the advisory board meets in person twice a year and provides counsel to the dean and senior leadership on broad matters of policy and planning within the school, and guidance in areas such as fundraising, alumni relations and communications. Its members represent a range of experience and expertise, enriching Maxwellā€™s programmatic activities.

Daicoff says she is thrilled to serve as chair.

ā€œItā€™s always an honor to give back to the school that helped me acquire the tools, knowledge and networks needed to be successful in my career in the financial world,ā€ says Daicoff. ā€œI am excited to work with this talented advisory board as we help the Maxwell School grapple with the challenges of today and prepare the leaders of tomorrow.ā€

Nate Shanok ’98

Daicoff was honored in the spring of 2024 with a Centennial Steward Award for her significant engagement, volunteer service and philanthropic support that have supported Maxwellā€™s continued excellence. Van Slyke says her giftsā€”including her $1.2 million endowment to establish the Marguerite Fisher Faculty Research Fund and a major gift for the creation of the Daicoff Faculty Scholars awardā€”have helped the school attract and retain world class faculty.

In addition, Daicoff has regularly shared her expertise in domestic and international finance with the board and as a trusted career advisor to students and alumni interested in the field. She retired in 2016 as a managing director at Standard & Poorā€™s Ratings Services after 38 years with the company. Her career spanned management responsibility in U.S. domestic operations, Canada, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and global positions. She was the companyā€™s first senior policy officer and director of policy training for Ratings Services, and she served for more than 20 years on the firmā€™s Analytics Policy Board.

Shanok is senior managing director and co-head of Global Equity Capital Markets for Tishman Speyer, a global real estate investment manager and developer with a portfolio that includes iconic assets such as Rockefeller Center in New York City, The Springs in Shanghai, TaunusTurm in Frankfurt and Mission Rock in San Francisco. He established the Shanok Family Endowed Scholarship in 2019 and was previously on the Syracuse Abroad board and served on the board of the High School for Leadership.

Michael J. Bunker

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

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

ā€œWe are thrilled to welcome Mike Bunker to the ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ community,ā€ says Groves. ā€œHis innovative leadership, commitment to contemporary safety practices and deep understanding of the evolving needs of campus communities make him uniquely qualified for this critically important role. I look forward to working closely with him to enhance the safety our campus community and emergency preparedness across the University.ā€

ā€œI am honored to join ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ and lead a dynamic team dedicated to creating a safe, supportive and welcoming campus environment,ā€ says Bunker. ā€œI look forward to quickly engaging with our community and partnering with students, faculty, staff and stakeholders to strengthen our emergency preparedness, foster transparency and ensure every member of our Orange community feels safe and is safe.ā€

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

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

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

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

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

For more information about Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½, visit .

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

ā€œEver since Kyle Bass founded the Cold Read Festival, Syracuse Stage has proudly upheld our commitment to the development of new work,ā€ says Crespo. ā€œItā€™s an honor to continue that legacy with the Julie Lutz New Play Festival and provide an essential pipeline for play development.ā€

Majid, community engagement and education coordinator at Syracuse Stage and instructor with the ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Department of Drama, will present a reading of her play ā€œMilkā€ on Saturday, June 14, at 5:30 p.m., with a talkback immediately following. Directed by Crespo, the reading will feature Awni Abai-Bahri, Hend Ayoub, Salma Mahmoud and Neagheen Homaifar. Tickets for the reading of ā€œMilkā€ are free of charge but must be reserved in advance at or by calling the Box Office at 315.443.3275.

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

The Julie Lutz New Play Festival surrounds a fully staged world premiere production, Rogelio Martinezā€™s ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ (June 11-29), which was commissioned and incubated as part of the Cold Read Festival in 2022. Martinez will be joined by Crespo and Syracuse Stage Resident Playwright Kyle Bass for a talkback immediately following the 7:30 p.m. performance of ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ on Thursday, June 12. The talkback is included in the purchase of a ticket to the June 12 performance of ā€œT³ó±š National Pastime.ā€

The Julie Lutz New Play Festival continues Cold Readā€™s commitment to supporting and developing new work at Syracuse Stage, including six recent world premieres: Bassā€™ ā€œPossessing Harriet,ā€ ā€œSalt City Bluesā€ and ā€œTender Rain,ā€ and the world premiere productions of ā€œThoughts of a Colored Man,ā€ ā€œSomewhere Over the Borderā€ and ā€œHow to Dance in Ohio.ā€ Next season, Syracuse Stage will produce the world premiere of Rae Binstockā€™s boxing drama ā€œRelentless.ā€

ā€œIn this time of aggressive cuts to longstanding government funding for the arts, audience support of new work for the theatre is more vital than ever,ā€ says Bass.

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

Audiences are invited to spend the day enjoying new work at Syracuse Stage by pairing the reading of ā€œMilkā€ on June 14 with tickets to ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ at 2 p.m. Boxed lunches may be purchased in advance and will be available immediately following ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ performance. Tickets for ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ and boxed lunch add-on are available at . (Must be reserved by June 3.)

FESTIVAL EVENTS SCHEDULE

ā€œT³ó±š National Pastimeā€ Talkback
Thursday, June 12, immediately following the 7:30 p.m. performance
Presented in the Archbold Theatre

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

ā€œMilkā€
By Zizi Majid
Directed by Melissa Crespo

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

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

Ģż

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

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

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

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

Timur Hammond

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

Hammond is a senior research associate in the Middle Eastern Studies Program and a research affiliate in the South Asia Center and the Center for European Studies. His research specialties include cultural and urban geography, geographies of memory, Turkey and the Middle East. In 2022, he received the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Teaching Recognition Award for Early Career Performance at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½.

This story was written by Michael Kelly

Beginning in the Fall 2026 semester, two students from Lockerbie Academy will be selected each year to receive the Lockerbie Scholarship. Recipients will be chosen by a joint committee of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ and Lockerbie Academy representatives, using elevated selection criteria based on rigorous academic standards. The selected students will demonstrate academic excellence and a deep understanding of the Pan Am Flight 103 tragedy, which continues to shape both communities.

ā€œThis new and revitalized partnership with Lockerbie Academy honors the memory of those lost in the terrorist attack, while also supporting the educational aspirations of Lockerbie students,ā€ says Lois Agnew, interim vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. ā€œOur new approach preserves the programā€™s most cherished traditions while ensuring we bring students to campus who are prepared to fully engage with the academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities Syracuse offers.ā€

Brian Asher, headteacher at Lockerbie Academy, says: ā€œ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ has, since the terrible events of Dec. 21, 1988, held a special place in the heart of Lockerbie. We re-forge our bond in honor of all those who were lost that night. We act forward in their memory. I am excited to work with our ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ colleagues on behalf of the Academy as we build on our shared past, towards a shared future.ā€

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

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

ā€œT³ó±šir visit will both commemorate Remembrance Week and celebrate the strong and ongoing bond between Lockerbie and ¹ū¶³“«Ć½,ā€ Agnew says.

“Yesterdayā€™s report that the Air Forceā€™s plans to take on the challenge of transforming a Qatari plane into Air Force One (known as the VC-25B) for President Trumpā€™s travel this year, there is little more the Air Force can do besides a paint job and installation of an updated communications suiteā€”both of which would fall dangerous short of the known communications, security, and survivability requirements of a presidential jet.

Even the painting scheme (known as livery) serves a purpose, as dark blue color of Trump preferred livery was assessed to absorb added heat compared to the traditional Air Force One colors, and that such heat could disrupt certain commercial components and thus require additional certification and testing.

For normal presidents, such an aircraft would be retrofitted to provide similar capabilities to the White House situation room, along with an aerial refueling capability, hardened communications, and equipment designed to resist nuclear radiation and transmit classified information at the highest possible level. That doesnā€™t even include defensive countermeasure modifications not needed for a commercial aircraft. Given the regular maintenance costs, it seems like the Qataris couldnā€™t afford to keep the plane themselves and thus gifting it to Trump was a way to get it off their hands.

Given this administrationā€™s cavalier treatment of security protocols surrounding highly classified information as evidenced by the Signal fiasco, itā€™s likely that the Air Force will be asked to cut corners and modify security and survivability requirements to allow Trump to fly in the garish gold-plated luxury he so desperately seeks. But Americans are going to have to foot the bill to provide even these minimal upgrades to Trumpā€™s ā€œBribery Classā€ airlift requirements while heā€™s in office. And with reports that the jet will be gifted to a Trump presidential library potentially before he leaves, it sure seems like heā€™s planning to stiff taxpayers the same way he ripped off plumbers, painters, and bartenders at his clubs when he was in business.

What makes this saga even more inexplicable is that the VC-25B Boeing replacement contract is the one Trump personally intervened in to negotiate in his first term and that earlier this year, an Air Force official noted that with some modifications to requirements, the VC-25B presential jet could be delivered by 2027.”

Malcolm Taylor ’26 prepares to embark on a 2,000 mile trip on Route 66 to get to LA Newhouse program. (Photo by Malcolm’s dad Garland Taylor.)

ā€œIf you ever plan to travel west, travel my way, take the highway that’s the best.ā€ Itā€™s been nearly 80 years since Nat King Cole uttered the now famous lyrics, ā€œGet your kicks on Route 66,ā€ but still to this day long distance drivers are enjoying the ride along this historic byway. The trip was recently (and safely) completed by Newhouse student Malcolm Taylor ’26, a rising senior majoring in photography with a minor in art photography from Chicago, the terminus of Route 66.

The Arch of St. Louis as Taylor passed through Missouri on the second day of his journey.

Taylor is in Los Angeles this summer taking part in the and decided to take the 2,000 mile drive in his silver 2018 Buick Regal to get there. Taylorā€™s field of study created a great photographic opportunity, and he shared some of the images with ¹ū¶³“«Ć½.

According to Taylor, “It was dark by the time I got to Tulsa. But as the sun set, I was astounded by Oklahomaā€™s multicolor sunset. One of the prettiest Iā€™ve seen!”

ā€œThis trip was much more than transportation to LA,ā€ says Taylor, who comes from a family of road trippers. ā€œMy dad is a self-described nomad. Weā€™ve driven to Maine, Florida, New Orleans, there and back again, and I loved every minute of it. Iā€™ve always dreamed of completing the Route 66 drive, Chicago to LA, solo. Itā€™s been my goal ever since I was a kid. This trip is the culmination of all of those hours spent in the car watching my dad not just transport us, but show me the real America.ā€

As Taylor notes, “arriving in Amarillo, Texas, I was floored by the beauty of the sunlight pouring through my hotel window. I used to opportunity to create a mysterious self-portrait.”

During his journey, Taylor made a stop in New Mexico to visit his high school art teacher who is building a home in the desert.

In New Mexico, Taylor met up with his high school photography teacher Benjamin Jaffe. For the past two years Jaffe has been building a home in the middle of the New Mexico desert.

The side trip allowed him to capture incredible photos of the other worldly landscape.

Taylor visited his high school art teacher along the way. “After telling me stories of rattlesnakes and mice with the Hantavirus, Jaffe took me up to a beautiful vista where I made this portrait of a rock face at dusk.”

His trip overall was ā€œfilled with trials and tribulations,ā€ including a needed tire repair on day one and a slight wrong way turn on day two, but overall Taylor described the drive and stops along the way as an incredibly rewarding experience.

A roadside stop along Route 66 in New Mexico at sunset.

ā€œHonestly, I wouldnā€™t change a thing,ā€ he says, adding that ā€œIā€™m proud of overcoming these obstacles and learning from them.ā€ A true sign that this trip was about the journey as much as the destination.

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

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

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

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ remains committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need. Financial aid packages typically include a combination of Syracuse-funded scholarships and grants, federal and state aid, private scholarships, federal student loans and work-study opportunities.

“The Archive as Liberation”

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

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

ā€œT³ó±š artists included in this publication and exhibition are engaged in resilience, ancestral
understanding, counter-memory, translation, activism, tension, narrative and critique. Through
their artistic gestures, they illustrate freedom in the Archive,” says Turner.

2025 Light Work Grants in Photography

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

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

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

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

The inaugural SEICon event in 2024 featured this large contingent from the Falk College and ¹ū¶³“«Ć½. Representatives will once again play prominent roles during SEICon II July 8-10 in Las Vegas.

The second annual Sports, Entertainment and Innovation Conference (SEICon)ā€”named by Zoomph as one of the ā€”will be held from July 8-10 at MGMā€™s iconic Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

SEICon is a partnership between and the , in collaboration with the Las Vegas-based guest experience agency , and it serves as a platform for professionals to discuss strategies and innovations shaping the future of the sports and entertainment industries.

SEICon II will bring together industry leaders from the public and private sectors and academia and feature fully catered lunchtime keynotes, insightful panel discussions and curated networking opportunities focused on emerging trends, digital transformation, and the future of fan engagement, media rights, sponsorships and entertainment technology.

All-inclusive registration for SEICon II is now open. Visit the to register and to find more information about SEICon II and satellite 2025-26 SEICon events in Houston, London and Atlanta. ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ alumni will receive $200 off the cost of registration by using the code SU ALUMNI.

ā€œThis is your chance to connect with industry leaders, share insights and explore the latest innovations in sports and entertainment,ā€ says alumnus and Circle CEO Shawn Garrity ā€™86. ā€œWeā€™re thrilled to build upon last yearā€™s momentum, bringing together thought leaders for another unforgettable experience. Expect compelling content, intimate connections and top-notch hospitality that only Vegas can offer.ā€

Building on the success of its inaugural year, SEICon is moving to the legendary Bellagio Hotel, which is known for its fountains and world-class amenities. This yearā€™s event will focus on key emerging areas within the industry, including women in sports and entertainment, motorsports and golf.

ā€œWe are incredibly proud and excited to host SEICon II at the prestigious Bellagio,ā€ says Jay Vickers, COO of UNLV Sports Innovation Institute. ā€œReturning to Las Vegas and partnering with such an esteemed venue, alongside the invaluable support of our partners, underscores SEIConā€™s growing influence and our commitment to providing an unparalleled experience for our invited guests.ā€

Vickers, Garrity, and Falk College of Sport Dean Jeremy Jordan appeared on the in late May to discuss the partnership between Falk College, UNLV Sports Innovation Institute, and Circle, and the present and future of SEICon.

SEICon will include nearly 30 panel conversations and two keynote speaker events. One keynote is with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, who in June will become president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The second keynote features two Syracuse alumni, veteran news and media executive Chris Licht ā€™93 and New York Post CEO Sean Giancola ā€™90, along with a representative from Gannett/USA Today, the presenting sponsor of SEICon II.

Several faculty members will lead panels, including David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management (The World Cup and the Rise of MLS: A New Era for Soccer); Assistant Teaching Professor of Sport Management (Women in Racing); Sport Analytics Undergraduate Director and Professor (Get with the Program: Entreprenuership); and Professor of Sports Law (Post Houseā€“The Future of College Athletics).

Growing Partnership

The connections between the Falk College and UNLV Sports Innovation Institute continue to grow beyond the annual SEICon event.

SEIConā€™s Business of Sport conference for the Australian National Rugby League featured Falk College faculty members Rodney Paul (middle row, left), Rick Burton (middle row, right) and Alexia Lopes (first row, second from right).

This past March, the National Rugby League (NRL) from Australia with menā€™s and womenā€™s games at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. In advance of those games, SEICon hosted a Ģżconference for the NRL at the UNLV Sports Innovation Institute that included the signing of a partnership between SEICon and the . Burton, Lopes and Paul attended the conference, and Paul served as the moderator for a discussion on The Tech Playbook: Innovations for Shaping the Future of Sports.

ā€œWe are excited about the growing collaborations with UNLV Sports Innovation Institute and Circle for SEICon and the opportunities for our faculty to share their work and research from the programs in the new College of Sport: sport management, sport analytics, esports, exercise science, and nutrition,ā€ says Paul. ā€œWe are most excited, however, to show off our greatest asset, our students, and provide them with an unparalleled experience in one of the most dynamic sports and entertainment markets in the world.ā€

Analysts predict the global sports market to reach $2 trillion, which is 2% of the $100 trillion world economy, bolstered by an influx of money from new sources, emerging technologies and growing demand. Already the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas has become an emerging sports destination and is perfectly positioned to host an annual conference focused on the intersection of sports, entertainment and innovation.

The inaugural SEICon in 2024 included 775 attendees and 183 speakers ranging from presidents and founders to venture capitalists and government officials. Visit the to learn more about the inaugural 2024 event and whatā€™s planned for 2025 and beyond.

David B. Falk College of Sport

On July 1, 2025, ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ will make history by launching the David B. Falk College of Sportā€”the first college on a high-research activity (R1) campus dedicated exclusively to sport-related disciplines. Named after visionary benefactor and legendary sports agent David B. Falk, this new college stands at the intersection of academic excellence and industry innovation. The college will unite our distinguished programs in sport management, sport analytics, exercise science, nutrition and esports (offered jointly with the prestigious Newhouse School of Public Communications) under one dynamic academic umbrella.

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

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

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

Derek Oā€™Brien, BiOrbic executive director, says, ā€œWe are delighted to deepen our collaboration with the Dynamic Sustainability Lab and ¹ū¶³“«Ć½. The challenges we face as a society today are not confined within borders and it is only through collaboration and partnership that we can build a better and sustainable future. The circular bioeconomy presents a significant opportunity for economic growth in Ireland and the United States. The bioeconomy is the part of the economy which uses renewable resources from agriculture, forestry and the marine industry to produce food, feed, materials and energy, while reducing waste, in support of achieving a sustainable and climate neutral society.”

Three linguistic studies students, Loretta Awuku (left), Sylvia Page (center) and Johnson Akano, pose with their presentation at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ā€™s One University poster session.

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

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

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

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

ā€œT³ó±š participants felt more comfortable sharing their perspectives with their peers and the project has revealed a number of insights around which important faculty discussions and program innovations will follow,” Brown says of the benefits of engaging with students in the assessment.

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

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

Page was pleasantly surprised by the amount of responses they received to the survey. ā€œT³ó±šir engagement showed they were invested in the program even though they had completed it and they actually wanted their voices to be heard,” Page says.

The students presented their research at the 9th Annual TESOL/Applied Linguistics/Foreign Languages (TALFL) Conference and ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ā€™s this semester.

ā€œItā€™s a great experience to present at a conference to different people from across the country and build the skills needed to communicate data collection and analysis,”ĢżAwuku says, highlighting the presentation skills she developed through these opportunities.

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

Story by Naimah Rahman

Members of the Spelman College Glee Club will perform at Hendricks Chapel June 29.

As the grand finale of the 2025 Syracuse International Jazz Fest, the Spelman College Glee Club of Atlanta will perform at on Sunday, June 29.

The Spelman College Glee Club, now in its historic 100th year, is the oldest collegiate choir of African American women in the United States. Directed by Kevin P. Johnson, D.M.A., since 1999, the Glee Club has achieved national and international acclaim, performing at the White House, Carnegie Hall, the Vatican and across Europe. With the motto “to amaze and inspire,” the Spelman College Glee Club uplifts audiences with artistry rooted in tradition and shaped by innovation.

will feature performances by The Spelman College Glee Club, of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ and a community choir composed of Syracuse-area residents.

Following highly successful events in 2023 and 2024, the 2025 Syracuse International Jazz Fest finale at Hendricks Chapel will once again offer a dynamic and inclusive spiritual experience that fuses and celebrates gospel and jazz, includes a pre-event welcome luncheon, and seeks to spark and sustain renewal in our local community and beyond. The program and luncheon are both free of charge and open to the first 1,000 attendees.

Return to Community: A Sunday Gospel Jazz Service Details

• Date: Sunday, June 29, 2025
• Program: 3 p.m.
• Pre-Event Luncheon: 12:30-2:30 p.m.
• Location: Hendricks Chapel
• There is no fee to attend the program or lunch. All are welcome.
• Attendance Capacity: 1,000 with overflow seating available outdoors

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Spelman College Glee Club

Since 1924 the Spelman College Glee Club has served as Spelman Collegeā€™s premier performance organization, representing the college with excellence through a wide-ranging repertoire of classical masterworks, Negro spirituals, world folk music and commissioned works by African American composers. Led by Johnson since 1999, the Glee Club has achieved national and international acclaim. Johnson is a composer, conductor and educator whose work lies at the vibrant intersection of music, culture and spirituality. He is associate professor of music at Spelman College and leads the Glee Club into a new century of musical excellence and innovation. Having earned a doctorate in musical arts, Johnsonā€™s compositionsā€”including seven complete mass settings and over 300 psalm arrangementsā€”are sung across the United States, especially in Black Catholic communities. His recent works include Hip-Hop Mass, commissioned by the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute, and Music Everywhere Chorus America. Johnson is also director of music at the Lyke House Catholic Center and founder of Lion and Lamb Publishing.

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ The Black Celestial Choral Ensemble (BCCE) of ¹ū¶³“«Ć½

Founded in 1977 by Rev. Seretta C. McKnight ā€™80 to provide a spiritual home for Black students at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½, the BCCE ministers through gospel music that fosters and supports academic excellence at a university welcoming to all. Led by student director Joshua Garvin ā€™25 and supported through The Alumni Group of the BCEE (TAG-BCCE), the choir has performed at numerous venues throughout the United States, including the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta), the spiritual home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and currently led by Rev. Raphael Warnock, a United States Senator.

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Gospel Jazz Community Choir

To honor the Sunday gospel jazz service theme of ā€œReturn to Community,ā€ a diverse community choir composed of Syracuse residents will once again be led by Cora Thomas, known locally as ā€œSyracuseā€™s First Lady of Gospel Music.ā€ Born and raised in Syracuse, Thomas serves numerous community organizations and hosts ā€œSunday Morning Gospelā€ on of the Newhouse School of Public Communications. All interested in participating in the community choir may contact Cora Thomas at cathomas@syr.edu or Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901.

Pre-Event Outdoor Welcome Luncheon

To celebrate the ā€œReturn to Communityā€ theme, a pre-event outdoor welcome luncheon, featuring free food and refreshments, will take place on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle from 12:30-2:30 p.m. At 2:30 p.m, the first 1,000 guests will be ushered into Hendricks Chapel for the 3 p.m. service.

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ Syracuse International Jazz Fest

For additional information on the 2025 Syracuse International Jazz Fest, please visit .