It started with trivia nights at the Inn Complete and a mutual fandom of Orange sports and grew into a life filled with Orange pride, campus milestones and a little one who thinks Otto the Orange runs the world.
For Brianna G’20 and Kevin Shults G’20, 鶹ƵUniversity isn’t just where they work—it’s where their love story unfolded, one game day, one degree and one Dome photo at a time.
Brianna is the director of in the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, housed in the . She earned an executive master of public administration degree from the . Kevin is associate director of Career Services in the and holds an M.S. in information management from the .
As part of a summertime series on Orange Love, the Shultses share their story.
Kevin shows off his homemade Otto costume.
Brianna: We were introduced by a mutual friend and quickly bonded over our shared love of adventure, sports, travel and music. At the time, Kevin was already working at SU and we spent many Thursday nights at the Inn Complete playing trivia and getting to know each other. During our dating years, we watched basketball and football games, competed in March Madness brackets and even crafted Kevin’s iconic Otto costume—which he still proudly wears!
Though neither of us were alumni yet, 鶹Ƶalready held a special place in our hearts. Kevin is rarely seen without his 鶹Ƶgear, and we’ve met fellow Orange fans everywhere—even on remote Caribbean islands—because of it. When we got engaged, Kevin was wearing his No. 3 Gerry McNamara basketball jersey.
When planning our wedding, we chose a venue close to campus and took our photos at iconic spots like the Quad. It just felt right.
They brought receipts: Kevin wears his G-Mac jersey while proposing to Brianna on the island of St. John.
Kevin: The first question people always ask is, “Do you drive to work together?”—and it always makes us laugh, because the answer is no!
We work in different schools, which gives us unique perspectives and experiences. Even though we’ve both been here for over a decade, our professional paths only occasionally cross. But there are definite perks: attending campus events together, visiting each other’s offices and showing our son, Everett, why this place is so special to us.
Brianna: One of the biggest advantages is our shared understanding of the academic calendar. We know what each other’s busy seasons look like and can support each other in ways that don’t always need words. We both understand the importance of showing up for the students we serve in our respective roles.
Brianna: It was definitely a juggling act! We both felt strongly about pursuing advanced degrees and supported each other throughout the process, even though our paths looked different. Kevin completed his degree online, while I attended classes on campus.
We coordinated class schedules, worked on papers and projects, decided to start a family and navigated a global pandemic—all while finishing our capstones. It was a busy season, but so worth it!
Kevin: Our graduations looked very different. Mine was delayed by a year, and Brianna’s was entirely virtual, but both were incredibly meaningful. We’re proud to have earned degrees from top-ranked programs and to use what we’ve learned to better serve our students.
Kevin and Brianna pose together in front of the Lincoln statue outside of Eggers Hall once they were both able to (finally!) celebrate their Commencements together on campus. Their son, Everett, plays nearby.
Brianna: So many! Our graduations, introducing Everett to Otto, taking him to his first football game and watching the solar eclipse on the Quad are just a few. But our wedding photos taken across campus—especially on the Quad—are some of our most cherished memories.
Kevin: 鶹Ƶis woven into the fabric of our relationship. Our shared fandom brought us together, and the University has been a constant in our lives ever since.
Brianna: Everett’s favorite color is orange, and he (now age 6) genuinely believes we work at “Otto’s House.” We’ve both been part of this community for many years, and some of our favorite conversations are about the students we’ve supported. Watching them grow and succeed is incredibly rewarding. We truly couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
Kevin and Brianna sit on the legendary Kissing Bench on their wedding day.
Both: The [JMA Wireless] Dome, without a doubt. It’s where we’ve taken countless photos, cheered through unforgettable games and celebrated major milestones. The Dome is full of energy, tradition and community spirit—just like our relationship. And like us, it keeps evolving and getting better with time.
Do you have an Orange Love story that hasn’t been told? Email internalcomms@syr.edu and we may feature you in an upcoming article!
