The former television anchor and reporter returned from a three-week Fulbright Specialist experience in Kosovo, where he trained journalists at the country鈥檚 public service broadcaster, Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK), as part of the New Trends in Communication project.

Adornato, associate professor and chair of broadcast and digital journalism in the , went into the field with reporters, covering a variety of stories, and led sessions on social media and audience engagement.

鈥淚t was such a rewarding experience,鈥� Adornato says. 鈥淚 was welcomed with open arms and felt right at home at RTK.鈥�

Below, he reflects on the experience and his continued collaboration with RTK.

Please tell us a little about RTK.

Ilire Zajmi, at left, director of training for RTK, and Anthony Adornato, center, watch the work going on in the RTK control room.

RTK was established after the Kosovo War (February 1998 to June 1999) and operates both radio and television platforms. As Kosovo鈥檚 national broadcaster, RTK plays a vital role in delivering news across the country. Its services are available through both terrestrial and satellite networks, reaching not only people in Kosovo but also members of the significant Kosovar diaspora who left the country after the war.

RTK provides programming in both Albanian and Serbian, reflecting the country鈥檚 linguistic diversity. While it is primarily funded through the state budget, this financial structure has raised ongoing concerns about editorial independence and long-term sustainability.

What kind of training did you give, and what are some of the trends and best practices that you shared with the journalists?

Anthony Adornato, at right, with RTK journalist Q毛ndresa Duraku Xharra

I worked closely with both the social media and website teams, as well as with journalists in the main newsroom. I had the chance to go into the field with journalists to cover a variety of stories, including a court case involving a politician and the environmental effects of a polluted river on a local neighborhood. These stories were featured in RTK鈥檚 national evening news.

In addition to fieldwork, I led hands-on sessions focused on mobile journalism, multimedia storytelling and social media strategy. The social media team quickly applied new Instagram approaches we developed together, aiming to offer followers more meaningful content and interaction. We also explored such current trends as solutions journalism and audience engagement tactics鈥攁pproaches that help news organizations build trust and connect more deeply with their communities.

Kosovo is a young democracy. How critical is RTK鈥檚 work there?

RTK鈥檚 role is absolutely critical. Witnessing efforts to build democratic systems, particularly a free press, was incredibly impactful. As a public broadcaster, RTK is central to informing citizens, promoting transparency and contributing to a shared national identity in a post-conflict society.

It also plays an important role in countering disinformation from foreign actors. Russia鈥攁nd to some extent Serbia鈥攁re known to push disinformation in Kosovo as part of broader regional strategies in the Balkans. These narratives often aim to undermine Kosovo鈥檚 independence and state institutions and promote anti-democratic sentiment.

What similarities/differences have you seen between media in Kosovo and the United States?

One of the most striking similarities is the shared passion for journalism. In both countries, journalists are deeply committed to truth-telling and serving the public interest. While Kosovo鈥檚 media sector operates with more limited resources and infrastructure, the core values of journalism鈥攁ccuracy, accountability and integrity鈥攁re clearly present.

Anthony Adornato, center, is pictured with, from left, Gjergj Anton Filipaj (RTK), Nora Nimani Musa (program coordinator, American Councils for International Education, Kosovo), Ilire Zajmi (RTK) and Bekim Shehu (RTK).

RTK journalists work under challenging conditions, with outdated equipment, staffing shortages and low wages. Despite these hurdles, they remain dedicated to providing reliable information to the public. The challenges they face highlight the resilience and determination of those working in public media.

RTK faces significant challenges common to public media in transitional democracies, including threats to editorial independence, given that it is government funded, and lack of sustainable funding. Currently, RTK is navigating a severe financial crisis due to the failure of institutions to allocate the legally approved budget. The International and European Federations of Journalists, along with the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, have urged authorities to ensure stable funding for RTK.

Will your collaboration with the RTK journalists continue into the future?

We ended my stay by discussing future visits and ongoing collaboration. I see this Fulbright Specialist experience as just the beginning of a long-term partnership. Now that I understand RTK鈥檚 internal operations and have developed strong relationships with many of the journalists, we鈥檙e brainstorming ways to continue knowledge-sharing and training well beyond this initial visit.

What would you say to fellow faculty who might be interested in pursuing a similar Fulbright experience?

A Fulbright鈥攚hether through the Specialist Program or the U.S. Scholar Program鈥攊s personally and professionally enriching in ways that exceeded my expectations. It offers a unique opportunity to share your expertise while also learning from colleagues abroad.

Fulbright experiences often lead to longer-term collaborations. For example, in 2021 I was a Fulbright Scholar in Italy. After teaching a mobile and social media journalism course to Italian master鈥檚 students in Milan, I鈥檝e been invited back each year, and the course is now a regular part of the curriculum. If you are applying for a Fulbright Scholar, you鈥檒l want to time that with a sabbatical because these are typically a minimum of a semester. The Fulbright Specialist program is shorter-term, so even those who are not eligible for a sabbatical could easily make this work.

Look at the required application materials. That will give you an idea of the time commitment. Also, chat with those who have taken part in the Fulbright program. There is a CNY Fulbright Chapter that could be of help too鈥攖he members have taken part in some type of Fulbright and include professors and practitioners.

“My deepest gratitude goes out to all who supported, challenged and inspired me throughout my 38-year career here,鈥� says Berkowitz-Smith. 鈥淚t’s been an honor and all will be missed.鈥�

Robin Berkowitz-Smith with Otto the Orange

Berkowitz-Smith鈥檚 connection to 麻豆频道started long before her professional tenure began. As an undergraduate, she was a resident advisor in Sadler Hall and worked in Food Services. After graduating in 1983 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nutrition management, she pursued a master鈥檚 degree in higher education administration at Kent State, where she met her future husband. The couple returned to 麻豆频道in 1988, newly married and eager to begin their careers in higher education.

Her early years were spent in residence life, where she initially served as a residence director (RD) in Flint Hall. Her husband was the RD in Day Hall, and they split their time between two apartments on Mount Olympus.

Building Community and Supporting Students

Over the years, Berkowitz-Smith climbed the ranks, becoming a coordinator on South Campus, then assistant director and eventually associate director, overseeing all of the residence halls on North Campus (which at the time housed more than 5,000 students).

The most challenging parts of the job were helping students navigate roommate issues and assisting students dealing with personal struggles. 鈥淚 really learned to mediate and to listen, and to collaborate with others to provide the support that students needed,鈥� she says.

Berkowitz-Smith鈥檚 care was also felt by her colleagues.

Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, associate dean at Hendricks Chapel, says Berkowitz-Smith helped smooth her transition to the University when she arrived in 2002 as the director of the Office of Residence Life.

鈥淪he was an incredible colleague鈥攕teadfast, deeply compassionate and absolutely student-centered in everything she did. Her warmth, insight and candor have had such a lasting impact on all of us who鈥檝e had the privilege of working with her,鈥� Kantrowitz says. 鈥淩obin always kept it real鈥攁lways genuine, always grounded, always honest.鈥�

Every year on opening weekend, Berkowitz-Smith would walk every floor of every residence hall before move in, checking to make sure resident advisor door tags and bulletin boards were up and welcoming.

鈥淭hat level of care sent such a strong message to staff, students and their families:听You matter, and how you’re welcomed matters,鈥� says Kantrowitz.

Berkowitz-Smith was also invested in her students鈥� social and leadership development. She was instrumental in launching such programs as Orange After Dark, and initiated and implemented the first overnight retreat to build community among honors students.

A Move to Academics

In 2018, after three decades in residence life, Berkowitz-Smith transitioned to the academic side of the University, joining the College of Arts and Sciences as an academic advisor.

Four years later, she joined the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program. It was a shift driven by a desire to return to her passion鈥攚orking directly with students. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to supervise anymore,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 wanted to advise and to connect.鈥�

Robin Berkowitz-Smith, center back, with Ren茅e Crown Honors Program colleagues, from left, Danielle Smith, Allie Heppner and Niki Swackhamer

She quickly realized that what students needed most wasn鈥檛 a thesis advisor鈥攊t was someone who cared. 鈥淭hey just need someone to tell them that they鈥檙e doing okay, that they鈥檙e enough,鈥� she says.

鈥淥ver the years, Robin has made invaluable contributions to the honors program. As an academic advisor, her love for students played a major role in ensuring that honors students had meaningful student experiences and thrived academically,鈥� says Danielle Smith, professor of African American studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program. 鈥淩obin taught the honors sophomore seminar, and students learned so much from her about conducting research, doing community service, preparing for internships and other professional opportunities. Her guidance has been instrumental for the growth of students.鈥�

Allie Heppner, associate director of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program, says Berkowitz-Smith鈥檚 dedication, thoughtfulness and behind-the-scenes leadership shaped the student experience in profound ways. 鈥淩obin leaves behind a legacy and a community of staff, faculty and students who are excited to celebrate her next chapter and will long appreciate the positive mark she made,鈥� she says.

Berkowitz-Smith鈥檚 daughters, Brianna 鈥�13 and Alea 鈥�14, G鈥�15, were greatly impacted by their mom鈥檚 tenure at the University. They lived in a South Campus apartment when they were small and grew up on campus, attending ORL picnics and student events.

When it came time for college, their parents took them to look at other colleges and universities, but they both gravitated back to Syracuse. Both were resident advisors during their time here. 鈥淭hey bleed Orange too,鈥� says their mom. Both are now elementary school teachers in the Liverpool Central School District.

Celebrating a Legacy of Caring

For her retirement, Berkowitz-Smith鈥檚 colleagues and former students compiled a 30-minute video filled with messages of gratitude. The words that came up the most? 鈥淐aring,鈥� 鈥渟upportive鈥� and 鈥渕entor鈥濃€攖estament to the relationships she built over nearly four decades.

The decision to retire wasn鈥檛 an easy one, she says. A Philadelphia native and first- generation college student, she has been working since she was 12. But after her mother鈥檚 passing and with her daughter鈥檚 wedding approaching, she felt it was time.

Retirement for Berkowitz-Smith, however, doesn鈥檛 mean slowing down. She is already enrolled in a class on ancient China, intends to return to ceramics and is planning for a trip to Japan and China with her husband. She also looks forward to spending more time in her garden. 鈥淚 am not saying I won鈥檛 work again,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut right now, I want to find me again.鈥�

Founded by the Mercury 7 astronauts, the foundation awards scholarships to students in their junior or senior year who are pursuing a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) degree with intentions to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their degrees. Astronaut Scholars are among the best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity and excellence in their chosen field.

The Astronaut Scholarship includes funding of up to $15,000 toward educational expenses, a paid trip to the ASF Innovators Week and Gala in Houston in August, and lifelong mentoring and engagement opportunities with astronauts, Astronaut Scholar alumni, industry leaders and the ASF.

鈥淢y Astronaut Scholar experience so far has been amazing,鈥� Fancher says. 鈥淚 have met so many new people, and they have been a wonderful support system both in terms of research and general life advice. My Astronaut Foundation mentor has always been willing to help with scientific writing and similar skills, which I greatly appreciate.鈥�

Fancher became immersed in research as a first-year student at Syracuse. She joined the high-energy astrophysics lab of Eric Coughlin, assistant professor of physics. Under Coughlin鈥檚 guidance, Fancher researches tidal disruption events (TDEs), astrophysical transients that occur when a star is destroyed by the tidal field of a black hole. She uses a combination of numerical simulations and analytical methods to accurately model TDEs, which reveal properties of distant galaxies. She has published and presented nationally, and her work could have implications for how observational data from TDEs is interpreted and could lead to new insights into distant black holes and stellar populations in galactic centers. She submitted a new paper last week (as first author) detailing her continued research on TDEs conducted with Dr. Coughlin, and she intends to begin a new project in the near future.

After graduating from Syracuse, Fancher plans to enroll in a doctoral program that focuses on computational and analytical astrophysics, with the goal of joining a research university or national laboratory to conduct research in theoretical high-energy astrophysics.

鈥淚 aim to build my own astrophysics lab focusing on discovering possible mechanisms of observed astrophysical transients through a combination of analytical methods and computational modeling,鈥� Fancher says.

Created in 1984, ASF awarded its first seven scholarships in honor of the Mercury 7 astronauts鈥擲cott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil 鈥淕us鈥� Grissom, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton. Seven students received $1,000 scholarships. To fundraise and support future scholarships, the founders 潭 which included the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts, Betty Grissom (Gus鈥檚 widow), Dr. William Douglas (the Project Mercury flight surgeon) and Henri Landwirth (an Orlando businessman and friend) 潭 began donating proceeds from their speaking engagements. The incredible efforts of these legends have shaped ASF鈥檚 mission to support and reward exceptional college students pursuing degrees in STEM. Forty years later, more than $9 million has been awarded to more than 800 college students.

As a university partner of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, 麻豆频道University can nominate two students for the Astronaut Scholarship each year. Interested students should contact CFSA for information on the nomination process (cfsa@syr.edu; 315.443.2759). More information on the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation can be .

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.

Lazore鈥檚 goal is to work as a curriculum and policy consultant for Indigenous-serving schools. 鈥淚 want to create educational standards that help students succeed while preserving Native traditions, history and languages,鈥� she says.

After graduating, she plans to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in educational leadership at Hawaii Pacific University and return to her community to expand Kanien鈥檏臈ha (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.

鈥淓lders and community leaders must have a stronger voice in shaping curriculum and school policies, ensuring that education aligns with Haudenosaunee values,鈥� Lazore says. 鈥淚 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.鈥�

As a first-generation college student who attended underfunded and under-resourced schools, Lazore often found that getting ahead was up to her. 鈥淚 would go to the library after school and read, and if there was a word I didn鈥檛 understand, I鈥檇 look it up in the dictionary,鈥� she says. When high school teachers were less than encouraging, she worked harder to prove them wrong. When she came to 麻豆频道University 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 麻豆频道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 University鈥檚 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. 鈥淚 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,鈥� 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 Tewatohnhi鈥檚aktha in Kahnaw脿:ke to empower Indigenous students through education, culture and financial literacy.

鈥淒estiny鈥檚 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,鈥� 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 students鈥攁s a mentor, an advocate and a counselor on the college application process.

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

麻豆频道 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 麻豆频道University is administered by CFSA. Interested students should contact CFSA in November. Applications are due in mid-March.

, 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 Fame鈥檚 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 Powless鈥檚 career that were displayed included cleats that Nike created for the Haudenosaunee Nationals in 2006; his Buffalo Bandits stick, his 麻豆频道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, Women鈥檚 National Basketball Association and National Football League.

鈥淵ou love your sport, and when that love and commitment is acknowledged it is amazing,鈥� Powless says. 鈥淚t is really humbling to be in a space like that First Americans Museum, which is the premier Indigenous museum in the country.鈥�

Through the years, Powless has balanced lacrosse with his career at 麻豆频道University. 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.

鈥淭his 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,鈥� he says.

Lacrosse has provided Powless with a number of lessons that he has applied in other areas of his life. When coaching鈥攁nd for himself鈥攈e has non-negotiable rules鈥攕how up, give your best effort, be open to learn and have fun.

鈥淲hether 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,鈥� 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.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 not in those record books or written down on paper are all the losses that teach a person how to be successful,鈥� Powless says. 鈥淚’ve been willing and open to learn from them.鈥�

鈥淭he 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,鈥� 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.

鈥淭hat’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.鈥�

Alumna Dara Drake 鈥�23 has been named as a 2025 Knight-Hennessy Scholar, the first from 麻豆频道University.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary, multicultural graduate scholarship program at Stanford University. Each Knight-Hennessy scholar receives up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford while engaging in experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous and collaborative leaders who address complex challenges facing the world.

鈥淥ur world has never been in greater need of leaders to address a wide range of challenges,鈥� says John L. Hennessy, Stanford University president emeritus and the Shriram Family Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. 鈥淥ur scholars are ready to think boldly, act wisely and humbly, and lead with purpose, helping build a better future for all of us.鈥�

Drake, from Highland Park, Illinois, earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in policy studies from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences in 2023. At Stanford, she will enroll in a dual master鈥檚 degree program in policy, organization and leadership studies in the Graduate School of Education and public policy in the School of Humanities and Sciences.

She is passionate about addressing inequities that lie at the intersection of education, technology and government. She co-founded Skills Win!, which brings 鈥渟kills coaches鈥� to schools and nonprofits across New York state. Her research on student voice and empowerment has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented to global audiences, including twice at the United Nations.

Drake joined KPMG after graduating from 麻豆频道and works as an education strategy consultant and national education operations lead. In that role, she is engaged to address complex challenges and answer difficult questions that schools struggle to resolve. 鈥淚 love being in schools and talking to teachers and students, deans and principals,鈥� she says.

As the national operations lead, Drake sets the processes and policies for the KPMG education team. She oversees research and thought leadership on issues from trends in education to the role of AI in education. Her team includes almost 700 people who serve 300 clients around the country.

At Stanford, Drake is seeking more formal training in leadership and to build her problem-solving skills through different perspectives. She worked with the University鈥檚 Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) to prepare her application and for her interviews. 鈥淒ara鈥檚 clear goals and incredible record of leadership make her a wonderful fit for the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship,鈥� says Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA. 鈥淚t was a joy to work with her on this application, and we can鈥檛 wait to see what she鈥檒l do with this opportunity.鈥�

鈥淚t is an honor to be the first 麻豆频道student to receive this scholarship. I hope that I am the first of many more,鈥� Drake says.

Her first year at Stanford, in policy organization and leadership studies, will help her build leadership skills. Most of the year will be spent in a field study in a school. Her second year, in public policy, will help her build her quantitative skills.

鈥�The first year I’ll be thinking about creating, navigating and scaling effective changes in schools,” she says. 鈥淚n the second year, I can think about the feasibility of that change and evaluate whether policies are working in the schools or, if they’re not, what about them needs to change.鈥�

Drake says she is also looking forward to engaging with the Knight-Hennessy Scholar community. 鈥淚 will have access to this really amazing group of people. They’re all super passionate about a specific problem,鈥� she says.

Drake says that, in the field of education, problems are often very interconnected. 鈥淪chools are a place where almost all of the problems that we deal with as a society come together. If you don’t address them as a package deal, students are left behind,鈥� she says. 鈥淚’m really excited to have this community and to get to learn how to better pitch my ideas.鈥�

鈥淚’ve talked to some of the scholars who have gone on and graduated, and they all cite this program as a launch pad,鈥� she says. 鈥淢any of them say they changed over the course of their program because of the people they were introduced to, the way their thoughts were challenged and the resources and support that they accessed.鈥�

At Syracuse, Drake was a University Scholar, a Maxwell | Arts and Sciences Scholar, and a Remembrance Scholar. She worked on solving problems both on campus and in the community.

鈥溌槎蛊档纖as so instrumental and gave me all the experiences that I needed to match what I was learning in the classroom,鈥� Drake says. 鈥淚 was really lucky to have several professors and 麻豆频道staff that were on my team.鈥�

Mentors such as Bill Coplin, professor of public policy in the Maxwell School, talked Drake through problems that she wanted to solve. 鈥淭here were all kinds of experiences that I had as an undergraduate that enabled me to be successful in my job and prepared me to join a community like Knight-Hennessy,鈥� she says.

In the first few weeks of her freshman year, a professor gave Drake advice she says she still holds in her heart. She told her, 鈥淲ithin measure, say yes to everything, even the things no one else wants to do.鈥�

Drake鈥檚 long-term goal is to be a leader in education through a position at a government agency. And she will still follow that advice.

As the University鈥檚 celebrates 30 years, Heintz, associate vice president and the center鈥檚 founding director, is preparing to retire from the career that has been her passion. Looking back on the past three decades鈥攁nd the legacy she is leaving鈥攆ills her with pride, awe and gratitude.

Pamela Kirwin Heintz (Photo by Amy Manley)

Heintz brought a trove of lived experience to the reboot of her educational journey鈥攁s a mom, a real estate agent, a community volunteer and an elected member of her town鈥檚 planning board. She met with Bea Gonz谩lez, former dean of University College (now the ) and an advisor at the time, who told her policy studies might be a better fit for her than the economics studies she had started at Smith. Gonz谩lez connected Heintz with Bill Coplin, professor of policy studies in the . Heintz remembers being the only adult student in Coplin鈥檚 PAF 101 class.

鈥淚 loved the work,鈥� Heintz says. 鈥淚t gave me an academic framework around the actual work I’d been doing, and it helped me understand much more how to think about doing this kind of work.鈥� Under Coplin鈥檚 mentorship, Heintz finished her degree and continued to dive deeper into community-focused work.

Planting Roots for Community Work

Around the same time, Kenneth and Mary Ann Shaw came to 麻豆频道as Chancellor and associate of the Chancellor. In a for a recent 30th anniversary celebration, Mary Ann Shaw said there was a feeling on campus that students and faculty wanted to be involved in work that extended into the community.

鈥淢y husband and I knew we needed to corral this initiative and desire,鈥� she said. The students needed to be involved in something that was meaningful and something that would contribute to their growth and learning as students but also prepare them for a world that was quickly changing.

The Shaws soon found the right person to lead this new initiative. 鈥淚 then had the great opportunity to meet Pam Heintz. I just thought, 鈥榯his is the woman,鈥欌€� Shaw said. 鈥淭he center would not be what it is today without Pam Heintz. She really made it happen and developed this legacy.鈥�

The early years were filled with strategic work, building collaborations with faculty members and community organizations to incorporate service learning into coursework. Over the years, the center has worked with as many as 70 courses and collaborated with the to pair teaching faculty with undergraduate student consultants for an exchange of perspectives on teaching and learning in a particular course.

The first Shaw Center cohort, which engaged in literacy work in the community, numbered 13. Currently, the Shaw Center has 351 student tutors and volunteers who work more than 10,000 hours with two thousand students in 麻豆频道city schools. The center also supports 96 community organizations, collaborates with 150 campus partners and coordinates student volunteers connected to 17 service-learning courses.

Outreach includes literacy initiatives; Balancing the Books, a Whitman School of Management collaboration that teaches students financial literacy; a STEM initiative; and a nutrition initiative. Public relations and service-learning interns work collaboratively to build connections between the Shaw Center, the University and the community.

Since 1993 the University, through Parking and Transit Services, has collaborated with the Shaw Center to support a detailed daily transportation network to get all 麻豆频道students to their tutoring and community placements. In 1993, the service transported 15 students and in 2024 transported 875 students.

To make this all happen takes a strong leader who can think strategically and find solutions. At the 30th anniversary celebration, Chancellor Kent Syverud said Heintz has led the Shaw Center quietly, effectively and loyal to the values of the University. 鈥淚 think Pam has been a treasure to this university,鈥� said Syverud, who chose Heintz as this year鈥檚 recipient of the Forever Orange Award, which she received at the One University Awards ceremony on April 11.

Fostering a Sense of Belonging

In addition to building and guaranteeing the quality and efficacy of Shaw Center programming, Heintz has played a huge role in nurturing the center鈥檚 interns and tutors.

Maria J. Lopez 鈥�05, G鈥�12, assistant director of scholarship programs in the Office of Multicultural Advancement, served as a leadership intern at the Shaw Center during her undergraduate years. As such, she supported the entire office.

鈥淚t was there that I first learned what it meant to work in a place with real purpose,鈥� Lopez says. 鈥淭he Shaw Center provided me with an invaluable window into how civic engagement, nonprofit organizations and public policy intersect to influence educational access. Through my work, I had the opportunity to meet community leaders, build relationships with local organizations and gain a deeper understanding of the 麻豆频道community.鈥�

Lopez says Heintz and the Shaw Center staff were instrumental in fostering her sense of belonging on campus.

鈥淔or nearly 25 years, Pam Heintz has remained a mentor, advocate and supporter,鈥� Lopez says. 鈥淪he spoke my name in important rooms and fought for me when my financial aid package was insufficient to keep me enrolled. Pam believed in the Shaw Center as a living-learning classroom where, if students are given the space to develop their ideas, they will thrive.鈥�

As a mentor, Heintz always reminds her students that they will never truly know the impact they are having on the children they work with.

鈥淲e’re just doing it one kid at a time鈥攁nd that’s all you can do,鈥� she says.

What鈥檚 next for Pam Heintz? She is still deciding that. But you can be sure that whatever it is, it will involve making the community a better place.

In case you missed it: Check out episode #176 of the “鈥機use Conversations” podcast, “Celebrating 30 Years of the Shaw Center Being the Hub for Academic Community Engagement.” In the , former Shaw Center volunteer Derek Wallace 鈥�00 and current student volunteer Claire Ceccoli 鈥�25 discuss how their involvement with the Shaw Center transformed them into leaders in their communities.

What attracted you to come to 麻豆频道University to complete your doctorate?

Qingyang Liu (Photo by Amy Manley)

I was drawn to 麻豆频道University by its strong emphasis on rigorous research and the opportunity to work with Dr. Rachel Razza (associate dean of human dynamics in the Falk College and a professor of human development and family science), a nationally recognized scholar in self-regulation research. Her pioneering work deeply aligned with my own interests in how early poverty shapes children鈥檚 self-regulation. From the beginning of my application process, I was intentional about finding a program and mentor that supported both high-quality scholarship and meaningful community impact, and 麻豆频道offered the ideal environment to pursue both.

Tell me about your area of study within human development and family science in the Falk College.

As a developmental scientist, I adopt a lifespan perspective and use a strength-based approach to understand how children develop self-regulation throughout childhood, especially in the context of early poverty-related stressors. I study how these stressors interact with family dynamics and broader social environments, particularly among racially and ethnically minoritized families living in poverty. As an applied quantitative methodologist, I use advanced statistical methods, such as growth mixture modeling and latent profile analysis, on large-scale national and community-based datasets. These methods help identify critical periods in development when tailored interventions can make the greatest impact for vulnerable populations.

You were recently honored with the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Research at the One University Awards and have appeared in 25 peer-reviewed publications. What can you share about your research and how it has developed during your time at Syracuse?

Qingyang Liu receives the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Graduate Research from Chancellor Kent Syverud at the One University Awards on April 11. (Photo by Amy Manley)

I developed a research program focused on how early poverty-related adversities, such as material hardship, parenting stress and household chaos, shape children鈥檚 self-regulation from early childhood into adolescence. My three-paper dissertation, supported by the Graduate School Summer Dissertation Fellowship and the Dean Edith Smith Endowed Dissertation Grant, uses advanced longitudinal methods to examine how the timing, co-occurrence and chronicity of material hardship influence behavioral self-regulation development.

Across 25 peer-reviewed publications, including six first-authored papers in leading journals, I鈥檝e drawn on large-scale national datasets (e.g., Future of Families and Child Well-being Study, Early Head Start) and community-based mindfulness intervention data to investigate self-regulation pathways among underserved children and youth. At the University, I received rigorous methodological training from faculty mentors, which enabled me to apply person-centered approaches to capture developmental heterogeneity and inform the design of targeted interventions.

What has been most meaningful is how 麻豆频道University has fostered my interdisciplinary and community-engaged scholarship. I collaborated with faculty across human development and family science, social work and education, contributed to research-practice partnerships and supported local preschool mindful eating workshops, translating findings into actionable insights for families facing adversity. 麻豆频道University has provided the mentorship, research training and collaborative environment that shaped me as a developmental scientist and applied quantitative methodologist.

What does it mean to you to be the Graduate School’s Class Marshal?

It is a huge honor and a deeply meaningful recognition of the past five years of dedication, perseverance and growth. This milestone reflects the collective support that has carried me through, from the steadfast mentorship and community within to the Graduate School鈥檚 commitment to graduate student success. I am incredibly grateful for those who have believed in me along the way. I carry this honor with pride and renewed motivation to continue advancing research, equity and community well-being.

What is next for you after graduation?

I will begin a postdoctoral scholar position at Arizona State University, where I’ll continue my research on poverty-related adversity and children鈥檚 self-regulation development. I鈥檓 excited to expand my methodological training, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and work closely with community partners to develop research that informs equitable interventions for children and families. I carry the mentorship, training and values I gained at 麻豆频道University with me into this next chapter.

Thirty-five students have been chosen as the 2025-26 麻豆频道University Remembrance Scholars.

The scholarships, now in their 36th year, were founded as a tribute to鈥攁nd means of remembering鈥攖he students studying in London and Florence through 麻豆频道University who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students were among the 270 people who perished in the bombing. The scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations.

Significant support for the Remembrance Scholarships has been provided by Jean Thompson 鈥�66 and 麻豆频道University Life Trustee Richard L. Thompson G鈥�67 in memory of Jean Taylor Phelan Terry 鈥�43 and John F. Phelan, Jean Thompson鈥檚 parents; by Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven Barnes 鈥�82 and Deborah Barnes; by The 麻豆频道Association of Zeta Psi in memory of Alexander Lowenstein; and by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation.

Selection Process

Remembrance Scholars are chosen in their junior year through a competitive selection process. Applicants submitted an essay and a reflective response in multimedia, artistic, musical or written format as part of a comprehensive application. The application evaluation committee is composed of University faculty and staff and current Remembrance Scholars. The $5,000 scholarships are awarded on the basis of community impact, leadership, creativity and thoughtful academic inquiry.

鈥淩emembrance Scholars, through their academic achievements, leadership and contributions to the campus and local communities, exemplify what a 麻豆频道University education has to offer and represent the promise of the students for whom these scholarships are named,鈥� says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. 鈥淲e are proud to recognize their accomplishments.鈥�

The Remembrance Scholars plan the Remembrance activities held at the University each year, and the cohort will be recognized during a convocation in the fall.

The 2025-26 Remembrance Scholars, their hometowns, majors and schools and colleges are the following:

• Ellie Allen of Newton, Massachusetts, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• Jacqueline Arbogast of Warwick, New York, a television, radio and film major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications;
• Rohan Bangalore of Sterling, Virginia, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School;
• Caiyan Bass of Aurora, Colorado, a communication sciences and disorders major in A&S;
• Michael Capous of Wantagh, New York, a nutrition science major (pre-med track) in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics;
• Belinda Chan of Brooklyn, New York, a social work major in the Falk College;
• Tommy DaSilva of Newark, Delaware, a public health major in the Falk College; a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S, and a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School;
• Nick Dekaney of Syracuse, New York, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School;
• Ava Downey of Newport Beach, California, a linguistics major in A&S, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• Leah Farrell of New Milford, Connecticut, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School and policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• Abbey Fitzpatrick of Pacific Grove, California, a history and political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Olivia Fried of Clinton Corners, New York, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S and magazine, news and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School;
• Tanishka Gajula of Chicago, Illinois, a biology major (pre-med track) in A&S;
• Olutoyin Green, of Long Island, New York, a health humanities and political philosophy major in A&S, a law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School, and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• Alani Henderson of Syracuse, New York, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a law, society and policy major the Maxwell School;
• Nico Horning of El Dorado Hills, California, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School;
• Wafiq Khondkar of New Hyde Park, New York, a biotechnology and philosophy major in A&S and member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• Edward Lu of Robbinsville, New Jersey, a music composition major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA);
• Joy Mao, of Cary, North Carolina, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a television, radio and film major in the Newhouse School, and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• Valeria Martinez-Gutierrez of Laredo, Texas, a geography and sociology major in the Maxwell School and A&S; an environment, sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School, and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• German Nolivos of Miami, Florida, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a public relations major in the Newhouse School;
• Luiza Owour of Kisumu, Kenya, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS);
• Marc Pantano of Newington, Connecticut, a marketing and supply chain management major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management;
• Annaliese Pillitteri of Babylon, New York, a film major in VPA;
• Savion Pollard of Queens, New York, an electrical engineering major in ECS and a U.S. Navy veteran;
• Zachary Setzkorn of Overland Park, Kansas, a geography and history major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a social studies education major in the Maxwell School and School of Education, and member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• Ethan Shavelson of Parkland, Florida, an acting major in VPA;
• Taylor Stubitsch of Arlington Heights, Illinois, a biochemistry and forensic science major in A&S and member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• Candace Tabb of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, a civil engineering major in ECS;
• Nathan Torabi, of Visalia, California, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S; a citizenship and civic engagement and law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School, and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• Jacquelyn Trotman of Edison, New Jersey, a retail management major in the Whitman School, an advertising major (creative track) in the Newhouse School, and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• Anya Von Wolff of San Francisco, California, a fashion design major in VPA;
• Logan Wagner of Great Falls, Virginia, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S, an environmental sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School and a history of music and cultures major in A&S;
• Gillian Weltman of Rochester, New York, a communications sciences and disorders and neuroscience major in A&S; and
• Ethan Yankey of Roseau, Dominica, a design studies major in VPA.

Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer, was the emcee for the afternoon.

The One University Awards, an annual event to honor members of the 麻豆频道University community who are making a difference through academics, scholarship, creative work and dedicated service, was held April 11 in Hendricks Chapel.

Some scenes from the event:

The Hendricks Chapel Choir performed “I Was Glad” under the direction of graduate student conductor Ben O’Connell. (Photos by Amy Manley)

Mace Bearer Bea Gonz谩lez prepares to pass the charter mace to incoming Mace Bearer Samuel Clemence, professor emeritus in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Chancellor Kent Syverud offered opening remarks.

Incoming Mace Bearer Samuel Clemence is pictured during the ceremony.

Emma Klein, a member of the women’s soccer team, was one of three honored with the Student-Athlete Award.

James “Jimmy” Taylor Jr., a staff member in Facilities Services, was honored for 50 years of service.

Bill Coplin, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of policy studies in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, acknowledges congratulations from the audience upon the announcement of his 55 years of service to the University.

Craig Tucker, director of Higher Education Opportunity Program and Trio Student Support Services programs, receives the Enduring Values Award.

Howard G. Adams G’79 (center), founder and president of H.G. Adams & Associates Inc., and an alumnus of the School of Education, received the Tolley Medal from Chancellor Syverud (left) and Kelly Chandler-Olcott, dean of the School of Education.

Qingyang Liu, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, received the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Student Research (graduate).

Emma Karp, operations assistant in Campus Dining and Catering, received the Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives (support staff).

James Clark, professor and program coordinator for theater management in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, received the Chancellor’s Citation Lifetime Achievement Award.

Cydney Johnson, deputy county executive for physical services for Onondaga County and the University鈥檚 former vice president for community engagement and government relations, received the Chancellor’s Medal from Chancellor Syverud.

Bill Coplin, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of policy studies in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, received the Chancellor’s Medal from Chancellor Syverud.

Students (from left) Yifan “Ivan” Shen, Mason Romero, Joshua Garvin, Jennifer LaMonica and Ryan Myers led the alma mater to conclude the program.

鈥淭oday is more than just the event. It’s about building a future, a future where innovation thrives, where opportunities abound and where our community prospers,鈥� said Jeff Rubin, senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer, during his welcoming remarks. 鈥淎nd at the heart of the future is the powerful synergy between 麻豆频道University and Micron.鈥�

A Micron Day participant tries on a virtual reality headset. (Photo by ana gil studios)

As part of Micron鈥檚 $100 billion plan to transform the Central New York听(CNY) community into the nation鈥檚 leading producer of semiconductor fabrications, the University is a key collaborator in building and training the workforce for Micron鈥檚 leading-edge memory megafab in Clay, New York.

Micron Day brought together hundreds of University faculty, staff and students; community members; local high school students and Micron employees to explore the collaboration between the University and Micron Technology and learn about the opportunities Micron is bringing to Central New York.

The day included a number of panel presentations and exhibitions featuring University programs and degrees and community organizations. One of the day鈥檚 highlights was the announcement by Micron and the University鈥檚 D鈥橝niello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) that 90 transitioning servicemembers, veterans and military spouses have achieved a certificate of completion in semiconductors through IVMF鈥檚 Onward to Opportunity program.

Alumni Contribute to Micron鈥檚 Mission

An alumni panel, moderated by Sarah Newton-Klitz, Micron鈥檚 director of strategic workforce programs, was composed of three University alumni: Kim Burnett 鈥�91 (Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics), Micron鈥檚 lead for K-12 STEM education outreach; Joe Nehme 鈥�11 (Whitman School of Management), senior manager of external affairs; and Savion Pollard 鈥�25 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), equipment engineer. Pollard, a U.S. Navy veteran, was Micron鈥檚 first Central New York hire.

Micron Day alumni panelists Kim Burnett ’91, Savion Pollard ’25 and Joe Nehme ’11

Burnett鈥檚 education includes child development, industrial and labor relations, business and science education, including a long career as a teacher. Nehme works with stakeholders to advocate for the company as federal, state and local governments begin to take a more active role in reshoring semiconductor manufacturing. Pollard is a current senior in ECS, majoring in electrical engineering with a minor in computer science. That, combined with his experience in the U.S. Navy, has helped him build skills that prepared him well for the semiconductor industry.

鈥淵ou can see here that this is just a sampling of the different job opportunities that Micron has available,鈥� said Newton-Klitz. 鈥淎nd when I think about even the experience at Micron, it really is a little city that has a variety of jobs that we need.鈥�

Burnett has experienced the power of a good job has on the experience of a family. 鈥淚 want to be sure that folks, particularly children, have an opportunity for a good paying job,鈥� she says.

Nehme is an Upstate New York native and has seen the manufacturing that has been lost in the region over the years. 鈥淭o work for a company that is committed to reshoring semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States, in my hometown, I saw no better opportunity,鈥� he said.

All of the panelists said their time at 麻豆频道prepared them well for their roles at Micron. 鈥淪o much of my time in Whitman was built around working in teams, collaborating with others; to troubleshoot and solve problems,鈥� Nehme said. 鈥淎nd those are all things that I deal with and that we look at every day in my role here at Micron.鈥�

Their advice for students? Focus on your passion and the things that you like out of the activities that you do. Continue to invest in yourself, be open, curious and coachable.

Fireside Chat on What鈥檚 Ahead

J. Michael Haynie (center), the University鈥檚 vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the Whitman School of Management, moderated a discussion with Scott Gatzemeier, Micron鈥檚 corporate vice president for front-end U.S. expansion, and April Arnzen, Micron鈥檚 executive vice president and chief people officer and president of the Micron Foundation. (Photo by ana gil studios)

To close out the day, J. Michael Haynie, the University鈥檚 vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the Whitman School of Management, moderated a discussion with April Arnzen, Micron鈥檚 executive vice president and chief people officer and president of the Micron Foundation, and Scott Gatzemeier, Micron鈥檚 corporate vice president for front-end U.S. expansion, to talk about what鈥檚 ahead.

The future for the semiconductor industry, Gatzemeier said, is in artificial intelligence. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what’s driving huge amounts of demand for our product and also customization and collaboration with a number of partners in our space that we’re very, very excited about watching this growth continue,鈥� he said.

That growth requires a workforce of epic proportions throughout the industry. 鈥淲e started partnering early,鈥� said Arnzen. 鈥淲e know it is going to be a challenge, and so scaling up existing pathways鈥攅ngineering, science and math programs鈥攊s going to be very important. Creating new pathways and opportunities for people to access these careers is part of our strategy as well.鈥�

The University is one of four nationwide university networks that Micron works with to modernize the curriculum and create hands-on learning opportunities to build a talent pipeline.

Arnzen said one of the differentiating factors for Central New York region and the University was the commitment to veterans and those transitioning from military service. 鈥淲e knew that this ecosystem existed and the know-how existed as well,鈥� she said.

Haynie talked about the role of community, alluding to a previous reference as the Micron project as Central New York鈥檚 鈥淓rie Canal moment.鈥�

鈥淲e know that a healthy and thriving community is important for a healthy and thriving business,鈥� Arnzen said. 鈥淭his is definitely an Erie Canal moment, both for this community and frankly, for Micron too. We have the opportunity to do this well, to do it right and make sure that this lasts for decades to come.鈥�

Students work on building bed frames under the guidance of Sleep in Heavenly Peace volunteers. (Photos by Angela Ryan)

More than 200 members of the University community came together on Feb. 21 at the Skybarn on South Campus to build 88 beds for children in the local community. The space was a hive of activity, as volunteers sanded, tapped, drilled and assembled wood bed frames under the watchful guidance of SHP volunteers.

SUVO, which is supported by the Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service, collaborated with seven campus student groups to raise more than $16,500 to cover the cost of all materials needed. In addition, SUVO partnered with the Student Association鈥檚 鈥淪pring Into Action Community Service Initiative,鈥� which funded an additional $5,500. Each bed costs $250 to produce.

The seven student groups that contributed to the fundraising efforts included Alpha Phi Omega, Delta Sigma Pi, Franklin Supply Chain Club, Kappa Theta Pi, Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, Oxfam and the Winnick Hillel Center. Members of those organizations, along with many other student organizations, participated in the build.

Odette Sherk, vice president of the Franklin Supply Chain Club, said the build was the perfect opportunity for the club to give back to the 麻豆频道community while also learning more about their area of study.

Students drill boards during the build.

鈥淚n class we learn a lot about assembly lines and the challenges that can arise when working on an assembly line,鈥� said Sherk, a junior supply chain management and marketing management major in the Whitman School of Management and an environment, sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Sherk is also a Shaw Center intern. 鈥淧articipating in the bed build gave our student volunteers real life experience on an assembly line where we could witness some of these things we learned about in class occurring.”

Thousands of Beds

SHP is a national nonprofit organization with the mission of 鈥淣o Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town.鈥� The 麻豆频道chapter of SHP delivers an average of 30 beds a week and delivered its 6,000th bed in the community last weekend. There is still a list of more than 400 applicants in the area waiting for a bed.

Dave Hoalcraft 鈥�85, a University retiree, is co-president of the 麻豆频道chapter of SHP. On Friday, he was orientating new volunteers to the build and making sure that things were running smoothly.

鈥淚 grew up one mile from here,鈥� Hoalcraft said on Friday as he looked out over the build. 鈥淭his is what it鈥檚 all about 鈥� community. Students giving back to our town. It鈥檚 amazing.鈥�

‘Building the Build’

Ceccoli, a senior dual public relations and psychology major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the College of Arts and Sciences, said the process of 鈥渂uilding the build鈥� was challenging. She had to pivot and find new ways of raising funds this year. As the project developed, a wave of support from students materialized on both logistics and fundraising. 鈥淚’ve been so impressed by the way the students have stepped up and rallied around this because it takes a village,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople I barely knew were reaching out to me saying 鈥榟ow can I help?鈥� I’m just so grateful to go to a university with others who step up in this way.鈥�

A student sands a board during the bed build.

Volunteer spots were filled quickly, mainly by word-of-mouth. 鈥淎s soon as sign-ups went out, everyone was jumping in to sign up, which is such a great problem to have,鈥� she said.

Ryan Edwards, a junior computer science major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and a Shaw Center intern, moved lumber from a truck to the building space. He also participated in last year鈥檚 build. 鈥淧eople forget that a bed is a basic necessity, and some kids don鈥檛 have that,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 am happy to be here helping to make a difference.

Dayton Kandrovy, a sophomore in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, is philanthropy chair for the rugby club team and arranged for some of his teammates to volunteer. 鈥淚 received only positive feedback on the event and everyone was wondering when the next one is,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 will definitely be seeking out more ways to volunteer and create more opportunities for my team to give back.鈥�

Purpose-Driven Work

A year and a half ago, Ceccoli had not heard of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Now, after leading the last two bed builds, she plans to be engaged in nonprofit work after graduation. 鈥淢y whole life, I’ve been searching for purpose-driven, mission-driven work. I want something where I’m able to use the gifts that I have to help and empower others and bring communities together,” Ceccoli said. “The Shaw Center has really helped me learn how to do that and given me the leadership skills to take on an event like this.鈥�

鈥淭he most important thing to me is I want students to walk away from this with a positive experience because I want to show them that volunteering is fun and they can do it and it’s accessible,鈥� she said.

Ceccoli has been on deliveries and sees the excitement of children when they see their bed鈥攁nd bedding鈥攆or the first time. She keeps a wood chip in her pocket, taken from one of the builds, to remind her of the importance of this work.

鈥淲hen I reach in my pocket, I feel that wood. It鈥檚 a reminder of the privilege I have, and the work that still needs to be done and is happening in this community,” Ceccoli said. “It’s just really, really powerful.”

To volunteer for a bed build, bed deliveries, donate bedding or make a monetary donation, visit .

Seventeen students from the University were selected for Fulbright research, study and teaching awards for academic year 2024-25 to Andorra, Argentina, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Tajikistan and the United Kingdom.

The Fulbright competition is administered at听. This is the fifth time鈥攁nd third year in a row鈥攖he University was named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution. The University was previously recognized for the 2012-13 cohort (under campus Fulbright advisor and professor emerita Susan Wadley) and the 2019-20, 2022-23 and 2023-24 cohorts (under CFSA).

Thirty-eight faculty and staff members from across the University served on the campus Fulbright committee supporting the 2024-25 applicants. The committee is convened by CFSA; members interview applicants, provide feedback and complete a campus endorsement for each applicant. 鈥淧reparing our students to be strong Fulbright applicants, and supporting them through the application process, is an all-campus effort. Faculty and staff are crucial,鈥� says Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA.

Alec Rovensky 鈥�21, a School of Architecture alumnus, received a research/study grant to Germany. He has been pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in architecture typology at the Technische Universit盲t Berlin. There, he is researching Berlin鈥檚 urban restructuring efforts through the adaptive reuse of buildings as a strategy to address the city鈥檚 housing crisis, with a focus on housing migrants and refugees. He is working with the Habitat Unit, a research center developing new approaches for urban change processes.

Alec Rovensky ’21, an alumnus of the School of Architecture, received a research/study grant to Germany in the 2024-25 Fulbright cycle.

Rovensky鈥檚 architecture cohort consists of students from all over the world, and his school offers courses that explore urban issues in a variety of global locations, including courses focused on Arab urbanisms and hand-crafting techniques in China. Next week, Rovensky will participate in a seminar hosted by Fulbright in Luxembourg and Brussels, where he and his cohort will visit the headquarters of the European Union and NATO.

He is also embracing life in Berlin. 鈥淚 have been using the past seven months to explore my new home city鈥檚 museums, cafes and cultural centers. Berlin is one of the most bikeable cities I鈥檝e ever visited, and I鈥檝e been using my bike as much as I can to explore around. I鈥檝e also been learning more about the many layers of history in Berlin, and visiting sites like the Berlin Wall Memorial to get a glimpse into what life was like in a formerly divided city.鈥�

Rovensky says his Fulbright experience has also been a time of much personal growth.鈥淏y challenging myself to move to an unfamiliar place, meeting people with diverse perspectives, and embracing the differences in culture and attitude, I鈥檝e placed myself in a position where I am learning and growing every day,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his experience has been eye-opening and will help me become a more well-rounded and globally aware designer and researcher in the future.鈥�

Students apply for Fulbright awards in the fall and awards are made in the spring. In the current competition for the 2025-26 cohort, 29 of the University鈥檚 44 applicants have been named as semifinalists. Awards will be announced this spring.

Fulbright is the U.S. government鈥檚 flagship international educational exchange program. It is also among the largest and most diverse exchange programs in the world. Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 participants from all backgrounds and fields鈥攊ncluding recent university graduates, teachers, scientists, researchers, artists and others, from the United States and over 160 other countries鈥攈ave participated in the Fulbright Program. Fulbright alumni have returned to their home countries to make an impact on their communities thanks to their expanded worldview, a deep appreciation for their host country and its people, and a larger network of colleagues and friends.

Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors and the world and have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 78 MacArthur Fellows and countless leaders and changemakers who carry forward the Fulbright mission of enhancing mutual understanding.

More information about the听.听 Students and alumni interested in applying for a Fulbright award in the next cycle should contact CFSA at cfsa.syr.edu.

Francis Parks holds a statue of American Folk musician Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten. (Photo by Stephanie Ellen Parks)

Parks grew up in Odessa, Texas. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was there that she met her future husband, retired Col. Donald R. Parks, a fellow student who was enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). After graduation, Francis enrolled in Clark University in Atlanta, Georgia, and completed a master’s degree. She and Donald married and she joined him for his military assignment in Germany. For many years they moved around the globe as a military family. During that time, Francis was a faculty member with the University of Maryland’s distance learning program.

The Parks family settled in 麻豆频道in 1981 so that Donald could work on a doctoral degree. Francis also became engaged in the life of the University, working as an instructor and advisor. She began her tenure in the University’s English Language Institute and then served as an academic advisor at University College. In 1992, she became director of Students Offering Service (SOS) and of African American programs at Hendricks Chapel. In that role, she served as a teacher, counselor, leader, activist, volunteer and storyteller. Her childhood during the start of the Civil Rights Movement shaped her as an activist, volunteer and constant promoter of social justice.

The programs she created and championed through SOS鈥攆rom a blanket drive in the winter to a summer chess camp for kids from inner-city Syracuse, resembled the fabric of the quilts that she so lovingly worked to create, both individually and through the Hendricks Chapel Quiltmakers. Among the other programs that students participated in through SOS were Habitat for Humanity, International Young Scholars, the CROP Walk for Hunger, green-ups and clean-ups, Libba鈥檚 Place Coffeehouse, the annual Sojourner Storytelling Conference and holiday basket drives.

Parks also played a key role in establishing the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the University.

Parks always kept social conscience at the forefront of activities at Hendricks Chapel. She was known as a passionate cheerleader for students and colleagues alike, providing encouragement and nurturing when they needed it. And her connections with others were most often made in person.

Rachael Gazdick, CEO of New York Edge, met Parks 35 years ago. She served as assistant director of SOS and as director of Hendricks Chapel鈥檚 Office for Community Engagement and Integrative Learning. 鈥淔rancis Parks taught all of us how to live passionately, love deeply, to cross boundaries, to listen to each other鈥檚 stories, and in so doing recognize that we are honoring each other鈥檚 humanity,鈥� she says. 鈥淔or almost two decades, the programs she developed challenged local, national and global injustices.鈥�

鈥淢rs. Parks knew what it took to create a more just and caring society. She called all of us to tap into our gifts and talents and put them to good use in taking on our world鈥檚 most pressing issues,鈥� Gazdick says.

After retiring from the University in 2007, she became a Francis Perkins Scholar at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. She joined that community as a student, living in a residence hall and continuing her research. 鈥淚 always imagined being a pupil; one is a continuous learner,鈥� Parks said in an interview with SU News in 2007 as she began her new journey.

“Francis Parks embodied the spirit and soul of Hendricks Chapel, and I am personally grateful for her kindness, wisdom and strength,” says Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel. “We give thanks for all that she did, and we give thanks for all that she was, as her peaceful and powerful presence will forever be felt throughout our 麻豆频道University campus community and beyond.”

Parks is survived by her daughters, Stephanie Ellen Parks and Suzan-Lori Parks (Christian Konopka); her son, Donald Parks Jr.; her grandson, Durham Xavier, and a large community of family and friends.

Calling hours will be held Saturday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon at All Saints Church, 1340 Lancaster Ave. in Syracuse. A funeral Mass will follow at noon. A celebration of life will be held in Hendricks Chapel in October.

Donations in her memory may be made to the at Hendricks Chapel.

On Jan. 7, wildfires erupted in the greater Los Angeles area. Two fires in particular鈥攖he Palisades fire and the Eaton fire鈥攂urned for more than three weeks, destroying thousands of homes and causing billions of dollars in damages.

Newhouse Los Angeles Program Director Robin Howard and students Emily Schultz, Eli Katz and Jarod Struminger at a donation center

The nearly 70 麻豆频道University students in Los Angeles were safe throughout the situation. 鈥淲e were quite far from both of the fires, so we were fortunate in terms of both where the center is and where the students were living,鈥� says Anna Proulx, visual and performing arts program director for the Dick Clark Los Angeles Program.

Although it was an unsettling time, the students were amazed and moved by how local communities came together to support each other鈥攁nd they wanted to be a part of that. Students and staff were soon working alongside community members in the wildfire recovery efforts.

Lending a Helping Hand

Donation centers began popping up around the community, collecting clothing, diapers and baby items, pet supplies, furniture and other things that families would need to reestablish a home. Proulx and Newhouse LA Program Director Robin Howard had already discussed ways students could help, especially since community engagement and volunteering is an important part of the LA experience for students.

Student Tommy Tyree assists at a donation center

鈥淲e’ve always, since the beginning, made community engagement a requirement of the program,鈥� says Howard. 鈥淪tudents have to give back to the city, and they choose what they want to do. In the past, they’ve read to kids, cleaned up beaches and put boxes together for military families. It’s in the DNA of what we do here. It was not a far reach to mobilize and help these families.鈥�

Proulx took a group of students to work at a donation center. The amount of donations was overwhelming, so the first step was to help organize the donations into categories and then develop a cohesive distribution system.

Howard then took a group to a follow-up event where families came to choose items they needed. Students acted as personal shoppers, helping to carry and organize the items. Beyond offering physical help, they provided emotional support, too鈥攁 reassuring smile for those impacted by the tragic fires. Students also volunteered at another donation event on Jan. 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Reflecting on the Experience

Emily Bosco, a junior television, radio and film major from Verona, New Jersey, says the fires made the first few days of her LA semester a little concerning. 鈥淐oming from the East Coast, I had never experienced wildfires before and did not really have any knowledge of how fast they spread,鈥� she says.

Students Emily Bosco and Isabella Giacoppo ready to lend a helping hand

鈥淚 volunteered because I wanted to be able to give back to the community in which I am living for the next few months,鈥� Bosco says. 鈥淲hile I was fortunate enough to not be impacted, I knew that many people in the area were, and I wanted to help out in any way that I could.鈥�

In her volunteer work, Bosco managed a bag station, where she helped organize and sort handbags, purses, backpacks and tote bags. She also worked as a personal shopper.

鈥淚 will carry this experience forward with me,鈥� Bosco says. 鈥淚t felt really good to be able to help people who were in need and help to make their day a little bit easier when they were already going through so much. I will always try to volunteer to help others in need in the future.鈥�

Isabella Giacoppo, a junior television, radio and film major from Long Island, New York, volunteered to better understand the situation and learn how she could assist those impacted.

鈥淚 wanted to help because people lost everything, so it was the least I could do,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檒l carry this experience forward with me by being more grateful for the things I have. As I have seen through this experience, everything can be lost in an instant.鈥�

Howard and Proulx say the recovery from the fires will stretch well into the future, and they will continue to look for ways for students in the LA program to be involved. They are proud of how the students succeeded in their academic studies and internships while simultaneously showing care and concern for their adopted community.

鈥淎 few of the students have mentioned it brought them together as a community. I think it will be a defining experience for this semester for them. Obviously, it鈥檚 been a defining experience for us as a city,鈥� Proulx says. 鈥淟os Angeles has a beautiful, wonderful community and this has highlighted that for sure. The students have seen and felt that.鈥�

Howard agrees, noting how students saw a need and were inspired to support their new community. 鈥淚t’s really a tribute to our students, their resilience and their kindness,鈥� Howard says.

The keynote speaker for the 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration was Sarah Willie-LeBreton, a sociologist and president of Smith College. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

Sarah Willie-LeBreton, president of Smith College, was welcomed back to 麻豆频道by a stadium filled with nearly 1,200 people for the 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Sunday鈥攁nd she was happy to return to the place she had called home.

鈥淎lthough I have not lived here for 50 years, Syracuse, the place of my first days, lives in my heart,鈥� she said.

Willie-LeBreton, the keynote speaker for the event held in the JMA Wireless Dome, is the daughter of the late Charles V. Willie G鈥�57, H鈥�92, 麻豆频道University鈥檚 first Black full professor, department chair and vice president. Willie was a classmate of King at Morehouse College and was instrumental in bringing King to the University in 1961 and 1965.

Chancellor Kent Syverud gave the welcoming remarks. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

The University鈥檚 Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, the largest of its kind on any college campus, seeks to honor the message and mission of King and is a direct expression of the University鈥檚 commitment to advancing academic excellence at a university welcoming to all. This year鈥檚 theme was 鈥淟iving History.鈥�

In his welcoming remarks, Chancellor Kent Syverud noted that many freedoms have been won through the work of King鈥檚 contemporaries and those who followed him.

鈥淐hallenges and injustices persist, but his message urges us to act,鈥� Chancellor Syverud said. 鈥淲hen he spoke last here in Sims Hall in 1965, he said, 鈥楾he time is always right to do right.鈥� I think that means now, too.鈥�

Cultivating Spaces of Mutual Respect

During her address, Willie-LeBreton spoke of the transformation of colleges and universities over the past 60 years, and of the good that higher education puts into the public space as the country鈥檚 central economic, medical, artistic, intellectual, scientific and public policy engines and most respected export.

鈥淭he work of higher education is intertwined with the work in which King was engaged because in the United States, the work of the university campus has always been in generative tension with the work of democracy,鈥� Willie-LeBreton said. 鈥淭he subjects explored in the university quite literally drive us forward as a species.鈥�

Guests enjoy dinner prior to the program. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

In current times, she said campuses have been tested. 鈥淭hose of us who are educators must redouble our efforts to cultivate spaces that are mutually respectful as much as they are sites of rigorous learning,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e have to be with people who are different from us, and we have to stay in relationship with them.鈥�

How to Honor Dr. King鈥檚 Legacy

Willie-LeBreton offered two ideas for how to honor King鈥檚 sacrifice.

First, she said, resist the narratives that assail our educational institutions. 鈥淭he needs of our schools are great and our goals for them are greater,鈥� she said.

Her second suggestion is to talk with people you might not choose as friends. 鈥淔ind a neutral place, your public library branch, a cafe, an empty classroom, a diner,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ring along two of your friends and two folks you suspect have opinions you don’t share, but with whom you have something in common.鈥�

Willie-LeBreton encouraged the audience to honor education as 鈥渙ur human birthright鈥� and cultivate 鈥渄ignity by listening carefully to yourself and to others and then honoring what you hear.鈥�

鈥淚f we do these things, we will bring fellowship to each other and the world neighborhood of which King spoke,” Willie-LeBreton said. “Take the baton and let’s give this lap our all in the relay race for justice.鈥�

The evening鈥檚 program also included performances by the Community Choir and the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble, and the presentation of this year鈥檚听Unsung Hero Awards.

The Community Choir performs a selection. The Black Celestial Choral Ensemble also performed during the evening. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

The 2025 Unsung Hero Award recipients were honored at the event. They included from left to right, Andrea-Rose Oates ’26, James K. Duah-Agyeman, Isaiah Pollard from the SCORE organization and Laurence Segal. Rodney Jackson, far right, accepted a posthumous award on behalf of his brother, Jamie Jackson. (Photo by Amelia Beamish)

A 麻豆频道University senior and an alumna were recently chosen for prestigious graduate fellowships that prepare students for careers in the Foreign Service.

Linda Baguma 鈥�25, an international relations and political science major in the and , has been named a 2025 Rangel Fellow. Alexandria Johnson 鈥�24, an international relations graduate from the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences, has been selected as a 2025 Pickering Fellow.

The Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State where they can help formulate, represent and implement U.S. foreign policy. The Rangel Program supports fellows through two years of graduate study, domestic and overseas internships, mentoring and professional development activities.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship awards recipients two years of financial support, mentoring and professional development to prepare them for a career in the Foreign Service. Fellows will also complete a domestic internship at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and an overseas internship at a U.S. embassy.

Linda Baguma

Baguma, a 2024-25 Remembrance Scholar, participated in a Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA) at Carnegie Mellon University over the summer. Her interest in the Foreign Service started with her desire to build stronger relationships between the U.S. and Africa, especially in diplomacy and international security.

Baguma was born in Africa and raised in the United States and feels a strong connection to both places. 鈥淕rowing up in a refugee camp and then resettling in the U.S. gave me a unique perspective on the importance of diplomacy in building stronger global relationships,鈥� Baguma says. 鈥淚t helped me understand how important it is to foster cooperation and support across nations and communities to create positive change in the world.鈥�

In addition to her PPIA experience, Baguma spent the Fall 2024 semester studying in South Africa. 鈥淪tudying abroad allowed me to see how international relations works in a country with a very different history and set of challenges. I learned about South Africa鈥檚 policies and how they impact local communities. This experience has made me even more excited about pursuing a career in the Foreign Service, particularly focused on improving U.S.-Africa relations,鈥� she says.

鈥淭he Rangel Fellowship will give me the resources, mentorship and hands-on experience to deepen my knowledge of foreign service and diplomacy. It will provide me with training, internships and access to a network of professionals, all of which will help me develop the skills I need to navigate U.S. foreign policy,鈥� Baguma says. 鈥淭he chance to work in the U.S. Foreign Service will allow me to directly address global issues and contribute to solutions that benefit people around the world. With the Rangel Fellowship, I believe I will be in a stronger position to pursue my goal of working in international affairs, peace and security for Americans and the rest of the world.鈥�

Alexandria听闯辞丑苍蝉辞苍

Johnson鈥檚 interest in the Foreign Service was sparked in high school in Cleveland, Ohio. 鈥淚 had the privilege to hear from a retired ambassador through the global studies program, which changed my perspective,” Johnson says. “The conversation helped me understand that there are more opportunities beyond my immediate community and it led me to research and learn more about U.S. foreign affairs and the Foreign Service.鈥�

In the summer of 2022, Johnson interned at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, acting as a liaison between visiting professionals and professionals in her local community. 鈥淚 learned a lot more about international relations and diplomacy, multilateral issues such as human rights and rule of law, my own city, and ultimately about myself. It was a challenging experience that I will never forget,鈥� Johnson says.

In the spring of 2023, Johnson studied abroad in Strasbourg, France, where she interned with the Arab Center for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Education. She was also a 2023 Rangel Scholar, which funded a short-term summer program that gave her a comprehensive introduction to professions in U.S. foreign affairs. 鈥淚 was surrounded by a cohort of 14 like-minded peers and I loved my experience. It inspired me to contribute my perspective as a Black woman from the Midwest to the field of diplomacy,鈥� Johnson says. 鈥淭he Rangel Summer Enrichment Program ultimately affirmed my commitment to pursuing a career in the Foreign Service to bridge global divides and advocate for inclusive and impactful diplomacy.鈥�

鈥淎ll of these experiences have taught me about diplomacy in different ways and have allowed me to make an impact. They all speak to a commitment to service in the field, which I will continue to strive for,鈥� Johnson says.

Johnson currently works with the Truman Center for National Policy, a national security think tank in Washington, D.C. There, she focuses on subnational diplomacy and democracy building.

鈥淭he Pickering Fellowship will help me to attain my goal of public service. When I reflected on what I wanted out of a career, it had to be public service first and foremost. Coupled with my passion for foreign affairs, it is a perfect fit,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 hope to make positive change and to bring more awareness to what Foreign Service Officers do.”

Baguma and Johnson worked closely with the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) on their applications and to prepare for their fellowship interviews. Students interested in learning more about the Pickering Fellowship and the Rangel Fellowship should contact CFSA.

The inaugural event, 鈥�Life Together: A Community Conversation for Election Season and Beyond,鈥� was held on campus on Oct. 22. Hundreds of University community members, including students, staff and faculty representing diverse backgrounds and perspectives, engaged in facilitated dialogue on important issues related to democracy, civic engagement, economic opportunity and the political climate. The event featured a moderated discussion among experts, followed by small group conversations led by trained facilitators who also were members of the campus community.

University community members engage in conversation during the October 2024 Life Together event (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

The Life Together initiative is led by Gretchen Ritter, vice president for civic engagement and education; Margaret Talev, Kramer Director of the ; and Tina Nabatchi, director of the Maxwell School鈥檚 (PARCC).

This next phase of the Life Together initiative includes several events planned for the Spring 2025 semester:

• Life Together Leadership Fellows: Ritter, in collaboration with PARCC, will lead a four-part training session for students, faculty and staff interested in developing the civic skills needed to promote democratic engagement in a diverse community. There will be four, two-hour required training sessions that focus on active listening, critical reasoning, inclusive advocacy and advancing the common good. for the Life Together Leadership Fellows program and are due by Jan. 31.
• 鈥淐ivic Stories鈥� Digital Storytelling Project: The project will collect and share personal and community-driven stories in the form of short video and audio recordings and reflective writing. 鈥淐ivic Stories鈥� aims to deepen our understanding and practice of civic engagement by humanizing complex issues, promoting empathy and connection, amplifying voices from marginalized communities, challenging assumptions and stereotypes, encouraging reflective dialogue, highlighting shared goals and collective action, and building civic identity and agency.
• Life Together Online Community Conversations Modules: Building on the fall鈥檚 facilitated community conversation, and in collaboration with PARCC and the College of Professional Studies, online modules will be developed that can be used to facilitate community conversations for members of the 麻豆频道community who are not in residence in Syracuse. The modules can also be used by instructors in various settings, such as part of the First Year Seminar curriculum for non-residential first-year students.
• Life Together Lecture Series: The series will bring speakers to campus who will deepen campus conversation and understanding around the initiative鈥檚 four critical civic engagement skills. Four colloquiums are expected to be offered in the spring.

听Further details on how the University community can participate will be shared early in the spring semester.

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

For 10 seasons, 麻豆频道football coach Richard 鈥淒ick鈥� MacPherson (Coach Mac) led his team on the gridiron鈥損ropelling 麻豆频道Football back to the national powerhouse it once was. But it was the legendary football coach鈥檚 commitment to faith, family and the Orange that left an indelible mark on the 麻豆频道University community and the City of Syracuse. Although Coach Mac passed away in 2017, his legacy lives on at 麻豆频道University and in the former student-athletes and students whose lives he touched.

Last month, members of the 麻豆频道University community, Coach Mac鈥檚 family and loved ones, former student-athletes and alumni gathered to celebrate the dedication of the at Hendricks Chapel. The devout Catholic and dedicated family man was born in 1930 amid the Great Depression, the eleventh of 12 children. Like so many families during that time, putting food on the table wasn鈥檛 easy. That鈥檚 an experience Coach Mac never forgot. And that鈥檚 why it is only fitting that nearly a century later, the food pantry at Hendricks Chapel, at his beloved 麻豆频道University, now bears his name.

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

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

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

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

鈥淲e decided the food pantry would be the right place, the perfect place to honor Coach Mac and his life of compassionate care and service to others,鈥� McDonough said. 鈥淚n the place where faith is nourished and where people of many beliefs come to grow deeper in their faith.鈥�

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

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

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

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

Chancellor Syverud recalled the first time he met Coach Mac, sharing breakfast together at the Chancellor鈥檚 House shortly after his arrival in 麻豆频道in 2014.

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

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

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

Alison Murray, the chapel鈥檚 assistant dean for student assistance, is reminded daily of the importance of the food pantry. 鈥淲henever someone supports the work of the pantry, they are directly supporting our students,鈥� she said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

鈥淕hael鈥檚 extraordinary record of service and leadership in his field鈥攁nd his preparation for and commitment to graduate study in artificial intelligence ethics鈥攎ade him an outstanding candidate for the Marshall Scholarship,鈥� says Jolynn Parker, director of the CFSA.听鈥淲e are thrilled this award will help him achieve his goals.鈥�

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

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

Joe Sidoni, associate director of Drumlins food and beverage, carves a turkey as students look on (Photos by Chuck Wainwright)

The University鈥檚 International Thanksgiving Celebration marked its 40th anniversary on Nov. 21 in the Schine Student Center鈥檚 Goldstein Auditorium. The beloved University tradition is believed to be the only celebration of its kind on a college campus in the United States.

Students David Ojo and Stephanie Hua served as the evening’s emcees

The seed for today鈥檚 celebration was planted in 1965 when T.E. Koshy left his home in India and came to 麻豆频道to pursue a doctoral degree in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. With no family in Syracuse, no car and few resources, he found himself homesick, recalls his son, Jay Koshy.

鈥淗e was in his room one day, probably feeling a little bit lonely, and came up with an idea. God was speaking in his heart, telling him to reach out to fellow international students and be a blessing,鈥� Koshy says.

T.E. Koshy, who later became the University鈥檚 Evangelical Christian chaplain, started serving free meals to international students, a practice that continues to this day through the Evangelical Christian chaplaincy at Hendricks Chapel, which Jay Koshy now leads.

T.E.鈥檚 wife, Dr. Indira Koshy, joined him in ministry to the campus community. They decided to start offering a free Thanksgiving meal to international students. 鈥淚t was a great opportunity to provide a blessing to students, most of who had not experienced an American Thanksgiving meal and who could not go home for the holidays,鈥� says Jay Koshy.

In the early years, the meal was offered in Rockefeller Church in the University鈥檚 eastern neighborhood. There, the Koshys and Indira鈥檚 mother, Dinah Perry, provided a sense of family and community for international students. In subsequent years, the celebration moved to campus.

Evangelical Christian Chaplain Jay Koshy, back row center, has been to every dinner since its inception and has been a table host for many years. His father, the late T.E. Koshy, began the tradition, Jay’s son, Josh Koshy ’24, stands next to him.

The Nov. 21 celebration was sponsored by the Chancellor鈥檚 House and the Center for International Services. Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Juan Tavares, director of the Center for International Services, serve as co-hosts. Stephanie Hua, an undergraduate student in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and David Ojo, a Ph.D. student in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, served as the evening鈥檚 emcees.

This year鈥檚 event was attended by more than 600 people. During dinner, table hosts鈥攆aculty, staff and community members鈥攅ngaged attendees in conversation and answered questions about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. It鈥檚 also an opportunity for those attending to learn about different cultures. Jay Koshy, who has attended every celebration since its inception, offered the invocation and served as a table host. His son, Josh Koshy 鈥�24, also attended.

Regina Jones and Neal Powless delivered the Native Thanksgiving Address

The Native American blessing was given by Regina Jones, member of the Oneida Nation Turtle Clan and retired assistant director of the University鈥檚 Native Student Program, and Neal Powless, member of the Onondaga Nation Eel Clan and University ombuds.

Food Services prepared and served traditional Thanksgiving fare: 600 pounds of turkey, 15 gallons of gravy, 250 pounds of mashed potatoes, 200 pounds of corn and 135 pies. Kosher and Halal turkey and vegetarian options were also served. Vendors from the greater 麻豆频道area donated the food, linens and table decorations.

A highlight of the evening was the ceremonial carving of the turkey on the Goldstein Auditorium stage. Students, with camera phones in hand, eagerly crowded around Associate Director of Drumlins Food and Beverage Joe Sidoni as he carved the turkey.

A musical performance was given by Ania Kapplani, Catherine Cosenza and Kai Wong, jazz and commercial music studies students in the Setnor College of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The evening closed with a benediction by Christian Protestant Chaplain Devon Bartholomew.

Michael Tick, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, serves to students at his table

“It was my honor to co-host the 40th Annual International Thanksgiving Celebration,” says Tavares. “I really enjoyed sharing this time at the table with nine students from different countries. I am especially grateful for the Chancellor and Dr. Chen鈥檚 continued support of this tradition.”

Tula Goenka, professor of television, radio and film in the Newhouse School, attended the first dinner 40 years ago. She was an international student studying for a master鈥檚 degree in the Newhouse School. She attended with her housemate, who was also an international student.

After years as a filmmaker, Goenka returned to the Newhouse School to teach. She has served as a table host at the celebration for many years. As the Newhouse Dean鈥檚 Leadership Fellow, one of her charges is outreach to international students.

鈥淲hen I realized it had been 40 years since that first dinner, it was a full-circle Thanksgiving for me. I have been fortunate to not only teach hundreds of students over the years, but also help create a sense of belonging,鈥� she says.

Chancellor Kent Syverud hosted a table and gave welcoming remarks at the celebration

Jedidiah Koubiessi, a first-year student from Monrovia, Liberia, attended for the first time. This was her first experience with the traditional American Thanksgiving.

鈥淚t was a good way to bond and celebrate together,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hanksgiving as a whole is very meaningful to me, as it is always good to reflect and see how far I have come, and be thankful for my journey so far.鈥�

Jay Koshy says his parents, who have both passed away, would be proud to see the tradition that they established and nurtured continues to flourish today. 鈥淭hey would be thrilled that it is continuing and would be thrilled to see the care they have for their international students during Thanksgiving,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 am so thankful to Dr. Chen and Chancellor Syverud and to all who are involved. I know international students are thankful and blessed to be able to experience this.鈥�

Students enjoy the celebration

鈥淪pending time with my grandparents was really an important part of my childhood, and it helped me develop a lot of compassion and respect for older adults in our community,鈥� Sako says.

Katarina Sako ’24 speaks with a participant in the recent Age Well Days event (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Sako’s interactions with her grandparents, including more recently as part of her family鈥檚 role in caregiving, planted the seed for her interest in her work assisting older adults through the creation of community programming.

Sako is an volunteer through . As a community organizer, Sako works to improve how older adults get connected to services that can help them thrive.

鈥淚’m able to look at systemic issues in our society and how that impacts older adults and their health,鈥� says Sako, who is also working to strengthen and expand a coalition of aging services organizations. 鈥淏ecause you can’t really address one facet without addressing the model.鈥�

As an undergraduate student, Sako was initially interested in researching memory from a psychology perspective. She joined a lab at SUNY Upstate Medical University, and through that work, Sako decided to focus on neurodegeneration and dementia from a biology perspective.

鈥淲hen you’re talking about dementia, which is my hope to study as a geriatrician, it’s not just focused on the biology鈥攜ou can’t just address things from a biological perspective,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou really need to look at the entire person.鈥�

The skills utilized in her current role took shape during her time on campus, where she majored in biology and neuroscience and minored in Spanish in the .

Katarina Sako demonstrates an apple crisp recipe during a recent Age Well Day event in Syracuse

Sako volunteered as a telehealth consultant over the summer with InterFaith Works. She created a pilot program to help older adults gain the skills needed to navigate telehealth appointments, which gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

鈥淭here are a lot of benefits offered by telehealth, such as not going in person to your doctor’s appointment, which can be especially helpful if you have mobility issues,鈥� says Sako. 鈥淗owever, technology issues can be really challenging for many older adults.鈥�

The AmeriCorps VISTA program is focused on reducing poverty in the community. Sako鈥檚 skills and experience made her the perfect fit for the community organizer role.

Lori Klivak, senior director for the Center for Healthy Aging at InterFaith Works, was Sako鈥檚 supervisor in her telehealth consultant role and later introduced Sako to the community organizer opportunity, where Klivak听continues to be Sako’s supervisor.

One of InterFaith Works’ initiatives is the Greater 麻豆频道Aging Services Coalition, which started in 2020 to unite aging services organizations under one umbrella.

One of the ways Sako reaches out and makes connections is through Age Well Days, an event that brings community services together for older adults. During the most recent event, held on Sept. 24 at Park Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Syracuse, attendees were served a healthy lunch (including a salad made by Sako). They heard presentations from community organizations on health, digital literacy, voting and food assistance, while Sako demonstrated how to make a healthy (and tasty) apple crisp. Attendees took home fresh produce.

鈥淭hese are opportunities for lower-income older adults in the community to receive important services. The goal is to have people actively enroll in things,鈥� says Sako. 鈥淔or example, if you need food assistance or you are experiencing food insecurity, let’s enroll you in SNAP. We want to ease this enrollment process because as much as we have these resources available, the number of older adults who are actually enrolled in these programs is low.鈥�

A timeline of Age Well Day events is still being determined, but Sako plans to hold the events at three different locations throughout the community. The Sept. 24 event focused on eating well, and funding was provided by the 麻豆频道Onondaga Food Systems Alliance.

Sako believes the project has a lot of longevity. 鈥淵ou could compare it to a resource fair, but it’s really meant to be a more intimate setting where we’re connecting with the participants who are there,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 affirming the dignity of all races, all religions and recognizing the diversity that is 麻豆频道and Onondaga County.”

鈥淢y hope is that in forming these connections, we鈥檙e able to build long-term partnerships for the Greater 麻豆频道Aging Services Coalition,鈥� Sako says. 鈥淥ur goal is promoting aging well in the community and reiterating that ageism doesn’t have a place here.鈥�

Klivak says that Sako鈥檚 work is helping to fill a critical gap between services and knowledge. 鈥�We have programs, we have support, we have things in place in our community that can help older adults who age better,鈥� she says. 鈥�But there’s a gap between what people understand or know about what we have and actually providing those services. And we don’t have all the services in all the right places.鈥�

鈥淥ur goal is to improve the way that we, as service providers and program providers get information out, connect with communities and build relationships with communities so that they feel comfortable coming to us,鈥� Klivak says.

It鈥檚 also raising awareness about what older people need that goes beyond the conventional wisdom that may focus on food or heat assistance or health care. There are other needs, such as AIDS and HIV prevention, digital literacy and voting issues that are not at the forefront of people鈥檚 minds.

鈥淵ou may think of food or help with heat, but you’re not thinking about how it may not be easy for them to get on a computer or a smartphone and access these resources,鈥� Klivak says. 鈥淲e tend to think about aging through the lens of death, disease and decline, but that’s not the full story.鈥�

Older adults are the number one voting bloc, the number one volunteering demographic and 42% of the local tax base, Klivak says. 鈥淭hese are people who are helping raise their grandchildren, helping their neighbors and who want to communicate with friends who have moved, all sorts of things,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd we want them to thrive.鈥�

Klivak says as more outreach and connections are made, everyone is learning how to move the conversation forward and change the narrative to be more age-positive and age-friendly.

Klivak says that Sako has been a good fit for her role. 鈥淪he is pretty fearless,鈥� she says. 鈥淪he jumps right in, asks really good questions and then just gets to work.鈥�

Her title, community organizer, illustrates her mission to build relationships. 鈥淭his is about making change, and change happens when people trust you,鈥� Klivak says. 鈥淗er primary role is to be out and about in the community, meeting people, learning what’s going on, getting people interested in what we’re doing. And she has taken that seriously.鈥�

Ultimately, Sako believes that, through her work, she is honoring her grandparents. 鈥淚 think my grandparents could also benefit from Age Well days, definitely,鈥� Sako says. 鈥淚 think that they’re happy that I’m trying to make a difference.鈥�

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

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

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

听All Week听

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

Sunday, Oct. 20

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

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

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

Wednesday, Oct. 23

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

Thursday, Oct. 24

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

Friday, Oct. 25

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

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

Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship

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

Abi Greenfield

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

Abi Greenfield

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

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

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

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

Kanya Shah

Kanya Shah

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

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

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

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI)

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

Corrine Motl

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

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

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

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

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

Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA)

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

Linda Baguma

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

Linda Baguma

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

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

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

Victoria Knight

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

Victoria Knight

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

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

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

鈥淭he PPIA experience was incredibly eye-opening and rewarding. I鈥檓 grateful for the connections I made with the guest speakers and other participants and for everything I learned during the program,鈥� Knight says. 鈥淚 highly encourage anyone who gets the chance to apply鈥攊t was easily one of the most memorable and impactful parts of my college experience.鈥�

A native of Missouri, Phillips earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in agriculture from Northwest Missouri State University in 1957. He earned a master鈥檚 degree in theology from Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, in 1960 and became a Methodist minister.

Phillips and his wife, Ethel, then moved to Syracuse. Phillips served as associate minister at University United Methodist Church while teaching and working on advanced degrees at 麻豆频道University. He earned a master鈥檚 degree in religious education in 1963 and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology and curriculum and school programs in 1965.

After earning a Ph.D., Phillips was a member of the faculty of Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas, from 1966-75 and director of the St. Louis-based American Youth Foundation from 1975-81.

Portrait of Richard “Dick” Phillips that is displayed in the narthex of Hendricks Chapel

Phillips was installed as the fourth dean of Hendricks Chapel on April 10, 1981, during the chapel鈥檚 50th anniversary year. His installation signaled a new era at the chapel. Up until that time, the chapel鈥檚 deans had served as the preacher of the chapel鈥檚 main service on Sunday mornings, which was a Protestant service. Phillips鈥� role became one of being chief administrator of the chapel, rather than being affiliated with one particular worshipping community. A report written by the late religion professor James Wiggins after a committee study of Hendricks redefined the relationship of the chapel鈥檚 dean as a representative of the whole.

Phillips worked to expand Hendricks鈥� role in the community, telling the 麻豆频道Herald-Journal at the time of his installation, 鈥淲e have to be out in the community doing relevant things.鈥�

The 麻豆频道Post-Standard reported that during his installation address, Phillips removed his shoes and placed them next to the podium as he talked about Moses and the biblical story of the burning bush.

鈥淕od instructed Moses to take the shoes off from his feet, because the ground upon which he was standing was holy ground,鈥� Phillips said. 鈥淭heologically and vocationally, I believe the ground on which I am standing is holy ground. 鈥� You, the learners and the teachers and friends and neighbors from far and near are the sacred ground upon which I stand.鈥�

鈥淚 think the thing to think about in Hendricks is that even though Dick operated under the new formalized structure, Hendricks Chapel really during that time came even closer to its full mission, because it was always built as an interfaith space,鈥� says Thomas V. Wolfe, dean emeritus of Hendricks Chapel who succeeded Phillips in 1999 and served in the role until 2012. 鈥淓ven in the 1930s, when mainline Protestantism was in its heyday, the chapel was always making space, as was the University, for the array of people of different faiths. Dick鈥檚 tenure was the first that had that array as part of their work. He was tasked with enriching and developing that strategy.鈥�

Phillips was integral in the establishment of the University鈥檚 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on campus in the mid-1980s, a signature, communitywide event, which to this day continues to be one of the largest University celebrations of Dr. King in the nation.

Phillips was dean when 35 麻豆频道University students were killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December 1988, and he was key in planning the January 1989 service held in the then-Carrier Dome. He took a two-year leave of absence from the chapel to serve as director of the 麻豆频道Abroad center in Strasbourg, France, from 1995-97.

鈥淚 am profoundly grateful that I got to work with him,鈥� Wolfe says. 鈥淭here are many of us that have appreciated his faithful presence to both 麻豆频道as an institution and to continuing to strengthen the tradition of meaningful interfaith relationships. The chapel has always stood in the middle of the Quad to represent that.鈥�

“Dean Phillips was widely regarded as a faithful and fruitful leader, both on and off campus, and we give thanks for his remarkable life and legacy,鈥� says Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel. 鈥淎s we reflect upon his profound impact and the countless ways he enriched our campus community, I believe we are reminded that Hendricks Chapel is far more than a beautiful building, as Hendricks Chapel is鈥攁nd always will be鈥攁bout wonderful people such as Dick Phillips. May the Phillips family and all who grieve his passing receive the fullness of comfort and strength.”

In retirement, Phillips wrote 鈥淗endricks Chapel: Seventy-five Years of Service to 麻豆频道University鈥� (麻豆频道University Press, 2005), a comprehensive look at the chapel鈥檚 history, and another book on Methodist theologian Harvey Pottoff.

Phillips was predeceased by his wife, Ethel, in June 2023. He is survived by their children, Cindy and Ken.

Donations in Phillips鈥� memory may be made to .

鈥淲e are very excited to welcome over 5,700 family members and supporters to campus to celebrate Family Weekend,鈥� says Missy Mathis-Hanlon, director of . 鈥淲hile Family Weekend is a tradition that dates back to the 1950s, we hope that today鈥檚 programming illustrates for families how focusing on the student experience both inside and outside the classroom is a winning combination for success throughout their student鈥檚 life.鈥�

Otto joins a family for the celebration of 2023 Family Weekend. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Family Weekend 2024

A wide variety of activities will be held throughout the weekend; registered families should check in at the tent in the Skytop parking lot. We’ve included some of the event highlights below; visit the for the complete list of activities.

• Study Abroad Fair, Friday, Sept. 27 from 1-3 p.m., Milton Atrium, Life Sciences Building.
• Student Experience Showcase, featuring a wide range of topics such as Career Services, Getting Involved and Greek Life, Friday, Sept. 27, 3:30-5 p.m. Visit the for times and locations of specific sessions.
• Celebration of Identity, Friday, Sept. 27, 5-7 p.m., Barner-McDuffie House, 113 Euclid Ave., and Native Student Programs, 113 Euclid Ave.
• An A Cappella Evening, Friday, Sept. 27, 8 p.m., Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center.
• Schine Takeover, Friday, Sept. 27, 9-11 p.m., Schine Student Center
• School and College Welcomes, Saturday, Sept. 28, 9-10:30 a.m. Visit the for times and locations of specific sessions.
• 麻豆频道Orange vs. Holy Cross football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, noon, JMA Wireless Dome (game is sold out).
• Drive-In Movie at Skytop, 鈥淚nside Out 2,鈥� Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 p.m., Skytop parking lot.
• Family Weekend Fun Run, Sunday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m., Inn Complete, South Campus (must be registered to participate).
• South Campus Showcase, Sun., Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., with self-guided tours of the Goldstein Student Center, South Campus apartment tours at 321 Winding Ridge Road and a session on apartment and off-campus living at noon at the Skybarn.

University community members gather with InclusiveU students and their families in Huntington Hall to make signs for game day.

Download the OrangeNow Mobile App to Plan Your Weekend

OrangeNow, the official 麻豆频道University mobile app, includes a Family Weekend guide for parents and families that provides convenient, on-the-go access to:

• check-in, parking and shuttle information; and
• the events calendar for the weekend, which can be used to plot out a customized schedule by favoriting the events you want to attend.

Download OrangeNow on the or and you鈥檒l be ready to make the most of your weekend on campus!

Allen Groves

The Gold Medal, which dates to 1940, is presented for lifelong service to the interfraternal community and is the highest interfraternal honor the NIC bestows.听In an NIC press release announcing the award, Groves was called an 鈥渁rdent supporter of the fraternal experience.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e always believed the fraternity and sorority experience can be a very positive part of a student鈥檚 involvement outside the classroom when it鈥檚 undertaken consistent with each organization鈥檚 expressed values and the host institution鈥檚 policies,鈥� says Groves. 鈥淚 know it was a transformative experience for me as a student and I formed many strong friendships that have lasted a lifetime.鈥�

鈥淎llen has provided encouragement, comfort, wise counsel and at times tough love to more fraternity men than one could possibly remember. In my over 25 years working with fraternities and fraternity men, there are very few men who match both the experience, character and intellect of Allen Groves,鈥� says Justin Buck, Pi Kappa Alpha executive vice president and chair of the NIC Governing Council.

Groves was initiated into Pi Kappa Alpha鈥檚 (PIKE) Delta Upsilon chapter at Stetson University in 1979. Following graduation, he spent time on the PIKE staff and served as executive director from 1984-87. Groves holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Following his tenure with PIKE, he embarked upon a 16-year career as a litigation attorney, in which he was nationally recognized for his work.

After retiring from his legal career, Groves transitioned back to student affairs at the University of Virginia, where he served as the university鈥檚 dean of students for 14 years. In 2021, he became 麻豆频道University鈥檚 senior vice president and chief student experience officer. In his role, he oversees more than 20 operational units dedicated to the student experience.

Groves鈥� service spans 10 years on Pi Kappa Alpha鈥檚 International Fraternity Supreme Council, including as international president from 2004-06; six years on the NIC Board of Directors, serving as board chairman from 2012-14; the Virginia鈥檚 Governor鈥檚 Task Force on Combating Campus Sexual Assault from 2014-15; and Stetson University College of Arts and Sciences Board from 2013-18; among other affiliations.

Richard N. McKaig, retired vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students at Indiana University, was also named a Gold Medal honoree.

Kathryn Bradford, right, greets a new student and her family at Day Hall. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Bradford, a budget analyst with the SyracuseCoE, has volunteered with Welcome Week for the past six years. In her role as a move-in captain, she is one of the first people that eager first-year students鈥攁nd their parents and families鈥攅ngage with as they begin their journey at 麻豆频道University.

It鈥檚 a role that Bradford鈥攁 27-year employee of the University鈥攔elishes. For the first 20 years of her tenure at the University, Bradford worked in the textbook division of the Campus Store. The nature of that job, with the busiest times being at the start of each semester, meant that she wasn鈥檛 able to break away to volunteer.

Her most recent job at the Shaw Center, where she oversaw operations of the center, supervised the leadership internship program and directly coached and mentored more than 25 undergraduate interns, gave her that chance.

鈥淭he Shaw Center gave me the opportunity to join Welcome Week,鈥� she says. Her Shaw Center colleagues Pamela Kirwin Heintz, associate vice president and director; Carla Ram铆rez, assistant director; and Laurel Morton, coordinator, provided the support for her to be out of the office for Welcome Week. 鈥淭hey saw the importance of me being involved in this,鈥� she says.

Kathryn Bradford confers with Welcome Week student volunteers (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Bradford was at Day Hall for three days last week, sun-up to sundown. 鈥淚 love the interaction with the students and helping them get the best start possible,鈥� she says.

In her role as move-in captain, she is the go-to person to smooth out any problems that arise. 鈥淎ll of the faculty and staff volunteers check in with me to get an overview of what鈥檚 happening and what the system is, to make sure we are collaborating with the Department of Public Safety and Parking and Transportation Services staff on site; to make sure that we are all on the same page,” she says.

Bradford is there to keep the staff in the residence hall apprised of what is happening outside, and support the orientation leaders and Goon Squad volunteers, who she describes as 鈥減henomenal.鈥�

One of the biggest challenges during move-in, she says, is keeping things moving. Cars are unloading in building fire lanes, which means a licensed driver who is in possession of the car keys must remain with the vehicle at all times. It鈥檚 a mix of logistics and people skills to gently guide families through this process, being sensitive to emotions and respecting the family experience while keeping the well-oiled machine moving forward, Bradford says.

Kathryn Bradford (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

One important part of the move-in experience for Bradford is to let students and families know she is a resource. 鈥淚 always have my business cards on me, and I encourage students and families to contact me if I can help in any way.鈥� As a parent, she knows that a little reassurance often goes a long way. The students she has helped to move in have often crossed paths with her later on as orientation leaders or Goon Squad volunteers or in her work with the Shaw Center.

She also is happy to connect with campus faculty and staff that she otherwise may not have met. 鈥淭here are many people from across campus that I maybe wouldn鈥檛 have met, and we can stay connected and collaborate simply from going through that move in experience,鈥� she says.

Bradford plans to continue volunteering for Welcome Week well into the future. 鈥淚 love interacting with families and assuring them that their student is in good hands. It鈥檚 just fun鈥攖he excitement, the energy 鈥� anytime you can spend a couple days smiling all day long and just being happy 鈥� bring it on.鈥�

“I am by no means an expert on the topic of joy, but I do recognize that our personal and professional lives are intimately intertwined, and I do wonder about how to be joyful even in the midst of challenging circumstances,” says Hendricks Chapel , who leads the online session. “I suppose one of the reasons the workshop has become popular is that each participant is welcomed as an authority of their experience, together we discover how to perceive those experiences in different ways, and together we discern how professional achievement and personal joy can best grow together.”

When talking about how to find joy in professional life, Konkol begins with the image of an old-school thermostat.

Konkol uses a thermostat metaphor to teach about joy.

鈥淚 think it’s a powerful image and recognizes that each and every one of us鈥攁s leaders, as professionals鈥攁re thermostats,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 thermometer only takes the temperature, but a thermostat is about changing the conditions that offer an environment by which you and others can thrive. It’s about putting your hand on the dial and changing the temperature, to create the conditions that move a couple of degrees towards joy.鈥�

Konkol offers one-hour virtual workshops for members of the campus community鈥攆rom faculty and staff to alumni鈥攐n how to find joy in the work they do each day. He will offer the workshop again on from noon to 1 p.m. (in partnership with the Office of Human Resources) and in January (in partnership with the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Through the teachings of various leaders, such as the Dalai Lama and the late Desmond Tutu鈥檚 collaboration on “The Book of Joy,” Konkol shows the difference between happiness and joy, and how joy can be embraced and shared even during the storms of personal and professional life. When speaking to the specifics of a workplace environment, Konkol says, 鈥淗appiness is often temporary and based on something happening to you, while joy is about sustained purpose and meaning, including the meaning we can find during difficulties. I suppose happiness is a moment and joy is more of a movement.”

During his most recent workshop, Konkol offered participants five steps for finding professional joy:

1. Stop hoping for a better past. 鈥淪o many of us, including me, have watched the ‘Back to the Future’ movies and ever since have been praying for the time machine to show up, take us back in time and undo that really stupid thing we did! Because, wow, we wish we could do that over. I have yet to receive that time machine and I have found that hoping for a better past has generally been a waste of time. We can learn from our past, but we can’t change it. We can receive insights from our past while not being trapped by our past.”

2. Choose to be kind, anyway. 鈥淚 think the most important part is ‘comma, anyway.鈥� We cannot control how others act, but we can control how we respond, and if we are only kind to those who are kind to us, then we are thermometers and not thermostats. I have come to believe that kindness, while often seen as weakness, actually requires a great deal of strength, and I think that one of the ways that we experience joy in our lives is through the choice to be kind.”

Brian Konkol

Konkol tells the story of Steve Wilkinson, the legendary tennis coach at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. Wilkinson built a whole philosophy around tennis and developed a camp called Tennis and Life. 鈥淗e wraps all these messages around the game, and one of them is ‘you can’t control what people serve to you, but you can control what you return,'” Konkol says. He also references the given by , professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, at 麻豆频道University鈥檚 2013 Commencement, which attracted global attention. 鈥淣ever underestimate the strength of kindness,鈥� Konkol says.

3. Replace 鈥渂ut鈥� with 鈥渁nd.鈥� Here, Konkol envisions an old-school gumball machine. 鈥淚 think about the colors of the different gumballs representing all the different things that we experience on a given day. Things that are happy, things that are sad, things that are wonderful, things that are terrible. People that are kind, that are cruel, communities that are divided, communities that are united. Every one of those colors on those gumballs represent life,鈥� he says.

When he counsels people who are struggling, Konkol offers this advice: 鈥淭here’s no 鈥榖ut,鈥� it’s 鈥榓nd.鈥櫶� We can experience a whole menu of emotions all at once. We can have joy when we stop apologizing for whatever it is that we’re feeling, and instead learn how to best embrace what we are feeling and explore how to use all we are feeling to create and sustain something good for us and for others,鈥� he says.

鈥淚f you stand on the main stage of Hendricks Chapel and look toward the front door, you see text on the rim of the chapel鈥檚 ceiling. If you look immediately to your right, there is an ampersand, the symbol for 鈥榓nd.鈥� And if you look immediately to your left, there is also an ampersand. When you stand at the center of the stage looking outward, you literally physically stand in between the 鈥榓nds,鈥欌€� he says. 鈥淧aradox is quite remarkable. Instead of either/or, we can embrace both/and. Division and unity, happiness and sadness, joy and despair. We can exist with the fullness of our humanity,鈥� he says.

4. Be a role model, not a role mirror. 鈥淗ow do we model the type of world we want to live in and not mirror the world that we do live in? Model, not mirror. Thermostat, not thermometer. I think it’s important for us to consider our habits and ask ourselves, how are they working for us? How are we impacting others? Part of the way we experience joy professionally is modeling, not mirroring, how to exist in community. I’m convinced in our professional lives when we’re role models and not role mirrors, when we’re thermostats and not thermometers, it creates positive change, not just for a moment but for a movement,鈥� Konkol says.

5. Call people in instead of calling people out. 鈥淚nstead of pointing a finger at someone, why not use those fingers to wave people in? One of the ways I think we experience joy is by welcoming people into the conversation, especially those with whom we disagree. Oftentimes we think about people we disagree with, kind of like we think about trash, and we just want to throw them out. What I appreciate about that metaphor is, you never actually throw anything out, we only throw it out of sight. It’s never actually gone. It’s the same with people. They’re there, so why not call people into a conversation, into a relationship? Empathy is important here. Where we can engage with curiosity rather than judgment, where we can listen to understand instead of respond,鈥� Konkol says.

鈥淚 find that these five steps are in many ways like turning a dial of joy in our professional lives,” Konkol says. “So many people are dealing with so much in their lives. I am convinced that seeking joy is one of the ways we can actually make the world a far better place, especially for those who are struggling.”

At the conclusion of his presentation, Konkol suggests not writing out a 鈥渢o-do鈥� list, but a 鈥渢o-be鈥� list. 鈥淲rite out five things that say 鈥榳ho must I be today?鈥� Perhaps I can say I’m going to be energetic, I’m going to be kind, I’m going to be strong, I’m going to be strategic,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 鈥榯o-be鈥� list allows us to live with a sense of intention and provides us with the opportunity to see that joy is not about waiting for the rain to stop, but it’s about learning to dance in the rain. It is saying 鈥榟ere’s who I’m called to be today.鈥� Regardless of what the temperature is, it’s saying ‘This is how I choose to show up in the world. This is who I choose to be.'”

鈥淚’m convinced that each and every person, in their own way can turn that dial. You can be a thermostat and not a thermometer, and bring some joy to your life, bring some joy to your world,鈥� Konkol says. 鈥淪o that all those around you can change the dials of their professional lives and turn them just a couple degrees towards joy.鈥�

Presenters and attendees at the 2023 SOURCE Symposium

Hua, a nutrition science major in the , has investigated the effects of fish oil on paternal obesity and its impact on offspring muscle function. Ross, a neuroscience and psychology major in the , has studied the impact of Cited2 excision and maternal folic acid supplementation among mice on neurodevelopment. And Lu, a music composition major in the (VPA), has worked with music ensembles and experienced the premieres of two of his original compositions.

They are among the more than 250 students who have actively participated in research this summer鈥攂oth in-person and remotely鈥攖hrough initiatives of the 麻豆频道Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) and other programs, including the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP); Chemistry, iSchool, and BioInspired Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs; the SUNY Upstate Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program; the McNair Scholars Program; the psychology SPARC and STAHR programs; Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program; Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)-supported students and others.

As a culmination of their experiences, the 鈥攁 poster session featuring more than 110 undergraduate research students, will be held Thursday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Schine Student Center鈥檚 Panasci Lounge. A picnic will follow on the patio of Huntington Beard Crouse Hall. .

Some of the posters that will be presented include:

• Mercury Release From Alaskan Permafrost
• The Role of the Kit Tyrosine Pathway in Primordial Follicle Formation and Cyst Breakdown
• The Effects of the Post-Mating Immune Response in Drosophila on Female Fecundity
• 麻豆频道Policy Legacy Project
• Testing the Hydropathy of Synthetic RNA
• Polyurethane Foams for Hemorrhage Control
• Supporting Healthcare Outcomes and Access for Refugees
• Effects of I-81 Highway Construction on Freshwater Streams in the Valley Neighborhood of Syracuse
• Role of Rab GTPase-Mediated Ciliary Cargo Transport in Cilia formation and Cellular Polarity
• Validating Hydraulic Flood Control Risk Assessment Using High Resolution Satellite Imagery

鈥淪ummer research students make great strides in their research skill-building during these few short months; they explore fascinating topics, engage with existing work, try new methods and techniques and experience deep immersion and focus in their work,鈥� says SOURCE Director Kate Hanson. 鈥淲e are thrilled to learn about research at the Summer Symposium and grateful to the mentors that have supported them.鈥�

Xuezhu (Stephanie) Hua 鈥�25

Stephanie Hua

Hua鈥檚 research is inspired by the obesity epidemic. 鈥淥besity is a growing concern, with two in five people in the U.S. affected. It not only diminishes quality of life but also has lasting effects on the health of future generations,鈥� Hua says. 鈥淚n our research explores the potential of fish oil supplementation in mitigating the detrimental, we focus on using fish oil as a dietary intervention for obese fathers.”

Hua and her colleagues have found that a father’s high-fat diet during the preconception period significantly impacts the muscle health of their offspring, potentially decreasing muscle function. Conversely, when the father follows a low-fat diet during the preconception period, the offspring鈥檚 muscle health is more influenced by their own diet. 鈥淢oving forward, I will employ an analysis of variance test to determine if fish oil supplementation can reverse the adverse effects of a father鈥檚 high-fat diet on offspring,鈥� she says.

鈥淚 would like to express my gratitude to the SOURCE, Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program and WiSE for sponsoring my research. This invaluable experience has allowed me to ask scientific questions, grapple with challenges and find solutions,鈥� Hua says. 鈥淲hat drives me is the potential impact of my research on people’s lives. To me, research is about serving the community. This experience has been instrumental to me in preparing for my Ph.D. studies in obesity and metabolism.鈥�

Hua鈥檚 faculty mentor is , assistant professor of nutrition and food studies in the Falk College.

Edward Lu 鈥�26

Lu says his music composition research this summer has provided him with some of the most artistically fulfilling experiences in his career. He attended the Connecticut Summerfest and the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival at the Juilliard School as a part of their Emerging Composers Program.

Edward Lu (photo by Isaac Schwalbe)

鈥淏oth of these festivals were incredible, and they each provided a diverse array of insights into the business of composition and chamber music,鈥� Lu says.

He traveled to Connecticut in June for a week of lectures, presentations, rehearsals, concerts and recording sessions. 鈥淚 was paired with ~Nois, a saxophone quartet based in Chicago, who were an absolute joy to work with,鈥� Lu says. 鈥淭hey premiered my piece, 鈥楲eaf Litter,鈥� and we also shot a separate professional video/audio recording with the Kinsmen Sound Studio. I loved how much creative liberty I was given during this process, and how much they valued my artistic input. Additionally, I enjoyed getting to know the other ensembles-in-residence.鈥�

In July, Lu spent 10 days in New York City, attending lectures and masterclasses with Imani Winds and the composer-in-residence, Jessica Meyer, as well as other visiting composition faculty. 鈥淚 was paired with Nimbus Winds, a student wind quintet, and we spent the week rehearsing and workshopping my piece 鈥楥loud Shapes,鈥� which was premiered at Juilliard鈥檚 Morse Recital Hall on Aug. 3.” He also had the opportunity to present 鈥淟eaf Litter鈥� in a masterclass and share his work from Connecticut Summerfest, bringing his summer research full circle.

鈥淎t both festivals, I met a lot of amazing people and built lasting and meaningful relationships while learning important skills such as outreach and finding my musical voice and message,鈥� Lu says. 鈥淎dditionally, I now have two new pieces and recordings to add to my portfolio. Most importantly, I鈥檝e made colleagues and friends in the field of chamber music that will last my entire lifetime. I鈥檓 eternally grateful to SOURCE for making these experiences possible for me.鈥�

Lu鈥檚 faculty mentor is , associate professor and chair of music composition, theory and history in VPA’s Setnor School of Music.

Kaniya Ross 鈥�25

Ross鈥檚 project is specifically investigating the impact of Cited2 excision and maternal folic acid

Kaniya Ross

supplementation among mice on neurodevelopment. Loss of Cited2 (knockout) has been known to cause disruptions in brain development such as neural tube defects, reduced cortical thickness that can lead to microcephaly, and heart and lung defects.

鈥淏ased on preliminary research, prepartum folic acid supplementation has been linked to a reduction in听 neural tube defects like exencephaly. It has also been linked to rescuing reductions in cortical thickness seen with Cited2 knockout,鈥� says Ross. Her team uses immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis and cell counting to measure whether reduced cortical thickness is due to increased cell density or decreased cells overall following Cited2 knockout and maternal folic acid supplementation. As microcephaly is linked to learning and memory deficits, they also do novel object recognition testing to measure changes in both following maternal folic acid supplementation.

鈥淭his project is deeply connected with my future endeavors as a pediatric neurologist who will continue doing research on neurodevelopmental disorders as well as providing affordable care and treatments in my own private practice,鈥� Ross says.

Ross has worked with faculty mentor , associate professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, and graduate student Sara Brigida.

Additional events featuring undergraduate research include the 2024 McNair Summer Research Symposium, which will be held Aug. 9 from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. in 331 Sims Hall. The Psychology SPARC-STAHR & iSchool REU Program Symposium was held on July 25.

What does the world鈥檚 attention, and huge influx of visitors, mean for these grand architectural sites? Jess Myers, assistant professor in the , looks at the issue through an urban planning lens. Myers lived in Paris in 2012 when the Summer Olympics were held in nearby London.

While hosting the Games is a huge coup for the host city, it is also a huge challenge, particularly regarding infrastructure.

鈥淗osting the Olympics is a big deal, but it can also be an urban development disaster for cities if they’re not careful about it,鈥� Myers says. 鈥淭he danger is that you build up a lot of new infrastructure, then don’t end up using it afterward in everyday urban life, or those things end up being abandoned where they could have been repurposed into housing, a new subway line or something to that effect.鈥�

In the case of London, much of the main Olympics infrastructure was located around the periphery, so the city center was not tied up with the security mechanisms that accompany the Games. 鈥淵ou could still walk around and experience the city鈥檚 iconic architecture,鈥� Myers says.

This year鈥檚 Games鈥攁nd Paris鈥攑resent different challenges. Conflict around the world has resulted in extraordinary security at the Olympics. As some events are happening at the landmarks鈥攂each volleyball at the Eiffel Tower and equestrian events at Versailles for instance鈥攖he experience of these landmarks is affected.

Jess Myers (Photo by Farideh Sakhaeifar)

鈥淭he beautiful, fabulous thing about Parisian monuments is that they’re very much integrated into the urban fabric of the city,鈥� Myers says. 鈥淵ou can take a casual free walk down the river Seine and see incredible things. You see the Eiffel Tower, you see the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais. You see the Invalides, you see the beautiful Pont Alexandre III. There is a continuity in the urban fabric. With the security mechanisms put in place, all of that linearity, the way that Paris is a walking city, gets truncated and split up. So rather than seeing the monuments as things that are flowing within an urban fabric, you see them as these objects through security fencing.鈥�

Bringing the events into the city has taken the focus off the periphery, which is where immigrant communities have historically made their home. 鈥淭hese spaces are also beautiful, and people who live there are proud of these places,鈥� Myers says. 鈥淏y not celebrating the periphery, you lose out on being able to celebrate what all of those communities have brought to Paris, which is so much cultural and political energy and modernization.鈥�

Holding events at historic landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and Versailles is a great celebration of Paris (think of medal winners posing for photographs at these grand sites), but restricts access to these sites to ticketholders.

鈥淵ou don’t have that very Parisian happening, that idea that you are walking and just stumble upon something that’s quite striking,鈥� Myers says. 鈥淭hose are excellent images for tourism, but the downside is also for small businesses who experience a drop in foot traffic.鈥�

Not only do these iconic landmarks serve as locations and backdrops for Olympic events, they will live on after the Games have ended on medals and commemorative coins.

鈥淭he Eiffel Tower is a commercial symbol of Paris, and it’s one of those things that’s often more celebrated internationally than it necessarily is in the everyday life of the city,鈥� Myers says. 鈥淚t is used to represent France in a way that is quite general and doesn’t necessarily get to the specificity of what the city is. This is the nature of trying to put together a unified national vision instead of celebrating the quirks and the specificities of Paris.鈥�

鈥淚t seems like while there is a celebration of these beautiful Parisian monuments, there’s also a desire to almost remove them from their context as if they’re hovering just above the city. And that feels to me like a missed opportunity,鈥� Myers says.

What will Myers, a former track runner, be watching during these Paris Games? 鈥淚 love [U.S. athlete and women鈥檚 100-meter competitor] Sha’Carri Richardson. Also, the women’s Jamaican track team is incredible. I hope we’ll see some very special efforts in track this year,” Myers says.

More about Myers’ experience in Paris can be found in her podcast, “.”

Professors Karin Ruhlandt, Shobha Bhatia, Eleanor Maine and Suzanne Baldwin participate in a Women in Science and Engineering panel discussion this past spring.

Four women STEM faculty members, all longtime members of the University community, have recently retired with emerita status, but they leave behind a significant legacy鈥攁s valuable researchers, dedicated teachers and inspiring mentors to the next generation.

Suzanne Baldwin, Shobha Bhatia, Eleanor Maine and Karin Ruhlandt are renowned in their respective science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. They were key leaders in establishing the University鈥檚 Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) initiative and growing it into the strong support network it is today.

In the spring, they were celebrated for their distinguished careers during a WiSE reception and panel discussion.

鈥淭hese four women are an inspiration to us all,鈥� says Kate Lewis, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence and professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淭hey have had, and are continuing to have, a tremendous impact on their respective fields and STEM in general, here at 麻豆频道University and also internationally鈥攖hrough their research, their mentoring of students and colleagues and their work for diversity, equity and inclusion.鈥�

Below, the four faculty members reflect on their careers and the importance of mentoring younger faculty members to help them reach their fullest potential.

Suzanne Baldwin, Thonis Family Professor Emerita: Thermochronology and Tectonics, Department of Earth Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

Baldwin retired in January after 24 years as a faculty member. The roots of her career in STEM were planted during her college years, when she had to make a decision whether to pursue a dance major or science major.

Suzanne Baldwin

鈥淭hey are certainly very different fields,鈥� Baldwin says. 鈥淚 always loved science, so I took a bunch of science courses鈥攑hysics, math, chemistry and biology鈥攁nd didn’t really settle on any one science. I ended up taking a geology course and then I was hooked.鈥�

Baldwin loved field trips and being outdoors, working to find out how the Earth evolved. 鈥淚t was really my curiosity and passion that led me down this path,鈥� she says. 鈥淚’ve never looked back.鈥� She earned an M.Sc. degree and a Ph.D. at the State University of New York University at Albany.

Her research has focused on how the Earth鈥檚 plate boundaries evolve over time, in particular around the Pacific Rim. That research has led to a number of discoveries in Papua New Guinea, for example. Baldwin has conducted field work globally, including in Antarctica. 鈥淭he Earth is my lab,鈥� she says.

Along with her research group, Baldwin built the internationally recognized 麻豆频道University Noble Gas Isotopic Research Laboratory (SUNGIRL), which she directed for 23 years. Baldwin and her team studied noble gases in minerals from Earth and lunar samples to reveal their thermal histories. She is proud of the research community she built, providing opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty and visiting researchers.

She is also proud of the community that has been built through WiSE, especially her role in leading the Faculty Peer Mentoring Committee. Her desire to help and mentor other faculty comes from challenges she experienced throughout her career.

There were times when, because of her responsibilities, Baldwin was not able to be as active in WiSE as she wanted. But she always made sure that her students, post docs and lab manager, attended and benefited from WiSE programs. 鈥淲e’ve seen over the years that many of the programs started in WiSE have expanded to help the entire University community,鈥� Baldwin says. 鈥淪o that’s been very gratifying.鈥�

Baldwin was elected a fellow of the Geological Society of America in 2005 and was the inaugural Marie Tharp Fellow at the Earth Institute of Columbia University in 2006. She was awarded 麻豆频道University’s Chancellor’s Citation in 2010. She was appointed the inaugural Susan G. and Michael T. Thonis Professor of Earth Sciences in 2014.

In retirement, she continues to conduct research and mentor students, and is returning to writing projects. In June 2025, she will co-convene an international conference on her research specialty (eclogites) in Sonoma, California. It will be the first time the International Eclogite Conference will be hosted in the United States.

鈥淏asically, I’m doing everything that brings me joy,鈥� she says. 鈥淚’m proud of so many things that I’ve accomplished. I’m not done yet.鈥�

Shobha Bhatia, professor emerita of civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Bhatia, who retires in August, has been a member of the faculty for 42 years. As a child, she had a natural affinity for math and science. When it came time to choose a path for college, she decided she did not want to follow in the footsteps of her older sister, who was in medical school.

Shobha Bhatia

鈥淚 made the decision to carve my own path,鈥� she says, and she chose engineering. Her uncle was a civil engineer and took her to his work sites. 鈥淚 like working with soil; I thought this is a great profession. And so I chose civil engineering, following his path,鈥� she says.

After completing undergraduate and master鈥檚 degree studies in India, Bhatia worked for two years at an earthquake engineering research institute on projects with a nuclear power plant and an oil refinery. 鈥淎t the time, I didn’t realize how important those projects were and the kind of training and experience I got,鈥� she says.

Bhatia came to Canada in the late 1970s as a Commonwealth Scholar at the University of British Columbia. She worked in a lab with six research scientists from Japan; she was the only student. Instead of being intimidated, she formed good, collaborative working relationships with the others in the lab. 鈥淭hey were wonderful mentors,鈥� she says.

鈥淪ince joining Syracuse, I have a chance to work on many exciting projects with my students and with colleagues, and I am very proud of what we have been able to produce,鈥� she says. Bhatia received a Chancellor鈥檚 Citation for Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction and designation as a Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence, and this past April, received the Chancellor鈥檚 Citation Lifetime Achievement Award during the One University Celebration.

There have been challenging times for Bhatia early in her academic career, particularly in being the first female full professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. 鈥淚 didn’t know who to talk to, who to really go to for advice, so it was a very isolating experience,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 now have wonderful colleagues here in engineering and in the STEM disciplines across campus.鈥�

That was the impetus to start WiSE in 1999. At the time, Bhatia was department chair of civil and environmental engineering. She worked with Cathryn Newton, dean emerita of the College of Arts and Sciences and then professor and chair of Earth sciences, to write the grant proposal for funding and get WiSE off the ground.

鈥淣ow, after 25 years, WiSE is a vibrant community of extraordinary faculty, post-docs, graduate and undergraduate students. Not only have we maintained that community, but it has grown,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t’s ever evolving because there are so many people involved. It remains really vibrant.鈥�

As she reflects on her career, she is proud of what she helped to build. 鈥淚 feel this is my university. I’m not just coming to work, I’m contributing to something that is mine. And I think if you create that kind of network of students and colleagues around you, work becomes a pleasure,鈥� she says.

While Bhatia will greatly miss her students and colleagues, she says it鈥檚 time to move on to the next phase of her life. 鈥淚t has been a wonderful experience, but I think it is time to give the baton to other people who can run with it. I need to move on to the next phase of my life.鈥�

In retirement, Bhatia and her husband, Tej Bhatia, who has also just retired from his faculty position in the College of Arts and Sciences, plan to continue working on projects they have underway. She will be presenting the first of four keynote lectures at Geotechnical Frontiers in March 2025 and will start her work as a consultant for a World Bank-funded project with the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India, in 2025.

Eleanor Maine, professor emerita of biology, College of Arts and Sciences

Eleanor Maine

Maine retired in May after a 34-year career on the faculty. As a child, she was drawn to the natural world, and both of her parents had science backgrounds. She found her passion in her introductory biology class in college. 鈥淭he first thing we studied was animal development, and I just loved it,鈥� Maine says. She didn鈥檛 start her college journey aiming to be a professor, but that is where her path led her after earning a Ph.D. at Princeton and postdoctoral fellowships at Princeton and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Her research interests include genetic regulation of development, cell-signaling, germline development and RNA silencing, and the Maine lab鈥檚 research team studied how cells and tissues form during animal development. Beyond the successes realized in her lab and the publications she got out, one of her greatest joys has been working with students, 鈥渏ust seeing them blossom,鈥� she says.

One of her greatest challenges was the social side of being a professor. 鈥淚 had zero training in teaching, so I really had to become a more outgoing person,鈥� she says. It was all about a delicate balance of nurturing students who felt that they could do everything themselves to those who needed constant reassurance, and everyone in between. 鈥淭hat was a big challenge,鈥� Maine says. 鈥淢ost of the time it worked out, and I am proud of that.鈥� Maine was the 2022 recipient of the William Wasserstrom Prize for the Teaching of Graduate Students.

鈥淚 think for me, the important thing is building community,鈥� Maine says. 鈥淚’d been here many years when WiSE was founded, but still it was so helpful to meet women scientists in engineering and other departments in arts and sciences.鈥�

鈥淚 was also very much wanting to foster an easier, more welcoming atmosphere for new faculty in general,鈥� Maine says. 鈥淚t’s helpful to talk with other people about these things, like difficult conversations with people.鈥�

For many years, Maine was one of three women in the biology department. She says that over the years, she has seen silos come down. 鈥淚 feel that there鈥檚 more acceptance of different research and teaching styles than when I came here,鈥� Maine says. 鈥淎nd also more acceptance of ongoing outside obligations that some people have.鈥� She has also witnessed more collaboration between departments and schools and colleges.

In retirement, Maine will continue to work on projects. Once a professor, always a professor.

Karin Ruhlandt, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Chemistry and Dean Emerita, College of Arts and Sciences

Ruhlandt was a member of the faculty for 31 years before retiring in May.

Karin Ruhlandt

A native of Germany, Ruhlandt grew up being fascinated by nature. What she loved even more, though, was art history and literature. She found resistance from her father in pursuing that passion. 鈥淓ven finishing high school, he said, 鈥榃hy are you doing this? You’re going to get married anyway, why bother?鈥� Ruhlandt found support from her mother in pushing back. When it came time to enter university, her father relented somewhat鈥攗nder the condition that Ruhlandt pursue a field that he felt would keep a roof over her head and fed. To him, that was not art history and literature.

鈥淪o I became a chemist, it was really that. I must admit that I struggled with it a lot,鈥� she says. At the time, there were a few other fellow female students but no role models in the professoriate. All courses were taught by men.

After earning a Dr. rer. nat. (the Ph.D. equivalent) in chemistry from Philips University in Marburg, Germany, she came to the United States to pursue postdoctoral work at the University of California, Davis. It was in her research that Ruhlandt began to truly find her passion for chemistry. She found a supportive advisor in California who gave her the independence within his lab to pursue the research she wanted to do. That freedom also had a downside. While she and her advisor were incredibly productive, publishing more than 30 papers together, she did the experimental work and data collection. 鈥淲hen I became a faculty member I regretted it, because there were certain aspects of the job I never learned. I had never written in my life a paper before,鈥� she says.

Ruhlandt鈥檚 research specialty is the chemistry of highly reactive metals and their applications in such areas as computer memory and bone therapeutics. In 2009, she was appointed Distinguished Professor鈥攖he only female on campus to receive such an honor in the sciences鈥攁nd chair of the Department of Chemistry, the latter of which she held until 2014. Named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2015, Ruhlandt led A&S until 2022.

She is proud of the work she did as dean to enhance the student experience in A&S. Her accomplishments that are evident today in the retention of international students and students winning nationally competitive scholarships and awards, as well as gains in research, funding and admissions. Ruhlandt also laid the groundwork for a program in Madrid to allow science students to study abroad.

When she started at the University in 1993 as an assistant professor, she was the only woman faculty member in the department for eight years.

As with the other professors, Ruhlandt鈥檚 work as a co-founder of WiSE has been very important to her. 鈥淚 find it incredibly important to show young scientists what is possible despite the obstacles. That is what I’m really passionate about,鈥� she says.

Mentorship, she says, is also about showing young faculty members how to navigate through their careers. 鈥淭hat, I think, is what really is ultimately driving my passion for WiSE, and also making sure that they don’t feel isolated. 鈥� That there is a support network and that they see it’s not just them doing what they’re doing and that there are others who share their values and their passions,鈥� Ruhlandt says.

Ruhlandt is proud that the support network that she and her colleagues built 25 years ago is still strong today. 鈥淚’m incredibly proud of the women we have hired over the last few years. They are incredibly successful in bringing in funding and writing really high-profile research publications,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he caliber of the papers produced is astonishing. We have hired incredibly good women, and they need to be nurtured and supported.鈥�

Ruhlandt began a new position as vice principal, academic and dean at the University of Toronto at Scarborough on July 1. In her new role she will oversee the building of a medical school on campus.

Angelina Lim 鈥�25, a film major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), has been named a recipient of a 2024 Beinecke Scholarship. Lim is the fourth Beinecke Scholar in 麻豆频道University鈥檚 history.

The award provides graduate funding and mentorship for juniors in the arts, humanities or social sciences. The Beinecke Scholarship seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students of exceptional promise to pursue graduate study in these fields. The Beinecke Scholarship works with approximately 135 participating institutions. Each school may nominate one candidate per year; the campus nomination process is highly competitive. This year, the Beinecke Scholarship Program selected 19 scholars.

Below, Lim talks about her studies as an aspiring cinematographer and her future plans.

Thakur is one of in the United States to receive the award, which the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation calls the largest and most prestigious award for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences addressing questions of ethical and religious values.

Funded by the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation, the fellowship was created in 1981 and has supported nearly 1,300 doctoral candidates. Newcombe Fellows have gone on to be noted faculty at domestic and foreign institutions, leaders in their fields of study, Pulitzer Prize winners and more.

Thakur鈥檚 dissertation, 鈥淩iver song: Riverine ethics and autonomy on the Brahmaputra floodplains,鈥� focuses on the ethical actions shaping the lives of people inhabiting the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India, as they build a future amidst socio-economic, political and environmental precarity.

When Thakur began preliminary research in 2017, she followed the flows of the Brahmaputra River and its many tributaries in upper and central Assam. 鈥淭his helped me understand how a mobile approach to land and life allows local communities across the Brahmaputra floodplains to deal with the uncertainties posed by climate change and infrastructures upstream,鈥� Thakur says. 鈥淚 specifically focus on how place-based ethics and ancestral values centering an autonomous mode of life emerge in narratives about a future for riverine communities living in small river islands on the Brahmaputra River鈥檚 northern bank.鈥�

From 2021-22, Thakur explored riverine communities鈥� relationships with the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries through songs, stories and participation in everyday life while living in the river island region. She also interviewed activists and community leaders to understand their perspectives around development infrastructures that adversely impact community access to land and resources. She also conducted research at several archives in India.

鈥淣imisha鈥檚 research is fascinating, timely and important, and I enjoyed working with her to hone her application materials,鈥� says Daniel Olson-Bang, director of professional and career development in the Graduate School. 鈥淚鈥檓 so pleased that such a deserving researcher will have this opportunity.鈥�

Thakur鈥檚 research was supported by the American Institute of Indian Studies Junior Dissertation Fellowship from 2021-22. She also received support from the Department of Anthropology and the Moynihan South Asia Center in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the Education Model Program on Water-Energy Research, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Traineeship Program at 麻豆频道University.

Julia Fancher, a rising junior majoring in physics and mathematics in the and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program, has been named a 2024-25 Astronaut Scholar by the .

Founded by the Mercury 7 astronauts, the foundation awards scholarships to students in their junior or senior year who are pursuing a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) degree with intentions to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their degrees. Astronaut Scholars are among the best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity and excellence in their chosen field.

The Astronaut Scholarship includes funding of up to $15,000 toward educational expenses, a paid trip to the ASF Innovators Week and Gala in Houston in August, where Fancher will receive the award, and lifelong mentoring and engagement opportunities with astronauts, Astronaut Scholar alumni, industry leaders and the ASF.

Fancher worked with the University鈥檚 on her application. 鈥淛ulia鈥檚 commitment to research in astrophysics since her first semester on campus at SU, combined with her extraordinary publication and presentation record, make her a superb fit for the Astronaut Scholarship,鈥� says CFSA Director Jolynn Parker. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled that she鈥檒l benefit from the program鈥檚 tuition support and excellent mentorship and professional development opportunities.鈥�

鈥淔or 40 years, ASF has been at the forefront of nurturing the next generation of STEM leaders and fueling their passion for exploration and innovation,鈥� says Caroline Schumacher, ASF president and CEO. 鈥淓ach year, it鈥檚 thrilling to see the exceptional talent and dedication each new scholar brings to the ASF community. We welcome the 2024 class and look forward to supporting them in their quest to make their unique mark on our society.”

Fancher, who is also minoring in computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, was recently named a 2024 Goldwater Scholar. When she was in middle school, her aunt gifted her Nathalia Holt鈥檚 2016 book 鈥淩ise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars.鈥�

鈥淚 was captivated by the stories of these women, and they inspired me to pursue STEM research,鈥� Fancher says. She now plans a career researching theoretical high-energy astrophysics.

As a first-year student at Syracuse, she joined the high-energy astrophysics lab of Eric Coughlin, assistant professor of physics. Under Coughlin鈥檚 guidance, Fancher researches tidal disruption events (TDEs), astrophysical transients that occur when a star is destroyed by the tidal field of a black hole. She uses a combination of numerical simulations and analytical methods to accurately model TDEs, which reveal properties of distant galaxies. 鈥淚 want to continue contributing to our understanding of the sources of astrophysical transients and expand our knowledge of the universe,鈥� she says.

Fancher鈥檚 research has overturned previously held convictions about the physical effects of shocks during the disruption of a star in a TDE and established the importance of self-gravity for understanding how stellar debris behaves once a star has been destroyed. She published this research as first author in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in December 2023. She is now testing a new model developed by Coughlin and Chris Nixon, associate professor of theoretical astrophysics at the University of Leeds, and she is creating a library of PHANTOM stars with realistic structures that will be publicly available for future TDE research.

With support from Syracuse鈥檚 undergraduate research office (SOURCE) and a Young Research Fellowship, Fancher presented her work at the 243rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society and was a finalist in the Chambliss poster competition. She has presented posters at SOURCE research fairs and at the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics at West Point. She is second author on a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters in January 2024. Her publications and presentations have implications for how observational data from TDEs is interpreted and could lead to new insights into distant black holes and stellar populations in galactic centers.

Fancher supports local 麻豆频道high school students through the 麻豆频道University Research in Physics (SURPh) program during the summer and mentors students through the Society of Physics Students. She also volunteers for Friends of Inkululeko, through which she works with learners in South Africa. 鈥淚 want to ensure that students from a variety of backgrounds have the opportunity to explore their interests and are encouraged to pursue careers in STEM just as I was,鈥� she says. Outside of the classroom and lab, she plays alto saxophone in the 麻豆频道Marching Band and completed a half marathon last fall.

Fancher plans to enroll in a doctoral program that focuses on computational and analytical astrophysics, with the goal of joining a research university or national laboratory to conduct research in theoretical high-energy astrophysics.

鈥淚 aim to build my own astrophysics lab focusing on discovering possible mechanisms of observed astrophysical transients through a combination of analytical methods and computational modeling,鈥� Fancher says. 鈥楾he mentoring that the ASF provides will be invaluable as I work towards a career in research, and I am excited to meet the other scholars in my cohort as well. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join this community.鈥�

Created in 1984, ASF awarded its first seven scholarships in honor of the Mercury 7 astronauts鈥擲cott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil 鈥淕us鈥� Grissom, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton. Seven students received $1,000 scholarships. To fundraise and support future scholarships, the founders 潭 which included the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts, Betty Grissom (Gus鈥檚 widow), Dr. William Douglas (the Project Mercury flight surgeon) and Henri Landwirth (an Orlando businessman and friend) 潭 began donating proceeds from their speaking engagements. The incredible efforts of these legends have shaped ASF鈥檚 mission to support and reward exceptional college students pursuing degrees in STEM. Forty years later, more than $9 million has been awarded to more than 800 college students.

As a university partner of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, 麻豆频道University can nominate two students for the Astronaut Scholarship each year. Interested students should contact CFSA for information on the nomination process (cfsa@syr.edu; 315.443.2759). More information on the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation can be .

Hareeta Printup ’24 with some of her designs (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Growing up, Yegunahareeta (Hareeta) Printup 鈥�24 was immersed in the tradition and beauty of Indigenous culture.

Printup, a fashion design major in the , a 2024 VPA Scholar, a Haudenosaunee Promise Scholar and a member of the Tuscarora Nation鈥檚 Beaver Clan, was born and raised on the Onondaga Nation, where her maternal grandmother was a faithkeeper. Printup鈥檚 parents raised her in the nation鈥檚 longhouse in a very traditional way. 鈥淚 have a lot of memories growing up there,鈥� she says.

She was especially drawn to the music and dance performed during ceremonies to honor their Creator. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the heart and soul of what we do,鈥� Printup says. Although she was an artistic child, her dreams of the future included a range of possible careers, including being a marine biologist.

After graduating from Niagara-Wheatfield High School near Buffalo, New York, she went to community college and dealt with some health challenges. Printup spent some time working, including in Florida, but several circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic, made her think about changing her life鈥檚 direction.

Intricate beadwork on a skirt (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

鈥淚t really was a blessing in disguise for me because I don’t think I would’ve applied to SU if I didn’t have that moment to reconsider my life,鈥� Printup says. 鈥淚 was not happy with what I was doing at all.鈥�

Another influence in her decision to go back to school was her dad, Ruchatneet Printup 鈥�23, who decided to return to school and earn a film degree from VPA following nearly three decades in the workforce. 鈥淒ad said, 鈥楴ow鈥檚 the time, you really should come back to school.鈥� I really didn鈥檛 think I was ever going to do it.鈥�

Hareeta wasn鈥檛 sure what she wanted to pursue but realized fashion design was an option. 鈥淚 thought to myself, 鈥楾his is really something I could do,鈥欌€� she says. 鈥淚’ve always had an interest in clothes, I just never considered it a career path before. It was like all the pieces fell together.鈥�

While clothing with meaning is often seen at Indigenous ceremonies, it is not often seen in everyday life. Printup wants to bring design elements and historical details used and worn by her ancestors and incorporate them into modern and contemporary designs.

鈥淲e express ourselves a lot through the jewelry,鈥� Printup says. 鈥淏ut if we had more clothing that had tribal prints, or beadwork or images that reflect us, if we had more options, I think we would lean into that more.鈥�

Hareeta Printup, right, and her dad, Ruchatneet Printup ’23, at this spring’s Senior Fashion Show at the Nancy Cantor Warehouse (Photo courtesy of Hareeta Printup

Printup draws heavily on inspiration from the natural world in her designs. Through her work, she hopes to bring visibility to the Indigenous community. 鈥淎s Indigenous people, we often find ourselves dressing every day in a manner that does not reflect our Indigenous identities,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 aspire to create clothes that bring comfortability to my community members and allow them to show up as themselves.鈥�

While Printup found her calling within her studies, adapting to college life during the pandemic was challenging. 鈥淚t was isolating,鈥� she says of her first year on campus when social distancing was in effect and social activities were restricted. As an older student, she had moments of self-doubt. 鈥淚 just needed to believe that I could do it,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 really have treated these four years like they’re my life’s work.鈥�

Printup found a great deal of support from her dad, as the two shared an off-campus apartment during her time at Syracuse. 鈥淗onestly, it was awesome. My dad and I are so much alike. We do a lot of the same things, so it really worked out.鈥� As both were engaged in creative studies, dad and daughter often bounced ideas off each other. And dad stepped in to provide support and sage advice when needed.

Hareeta Printup with some of her designs (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

The success Ruchatneet Printup, a University Scholar and VPA Scholar in 2023, enjoyed on campus also inspired his daughter to succeed academically. 鈥淚 know how great he is, but it was wonderful to see him get the recognition he so deserved,鈥� Hareeta says.

Printup will return to the Buffalo area after graduation. She is excited to see where her journey takes her next. For now, her next big endeavor is becoming a mom. Printup and her partner are expecting their first child鈥攁 girl鈥攊n August.

鈥淢y end goal is to run my own business, to have my own line of clothing,鈥� Printup says. 鈥淚 really enjoy working with my hands, so as long as I can find something that fulfills me in that way, I鈥檒l be happy.鈥�

What also makes Printup happy is seeing someone wear clothing that she has poured her heart and soul into. 鈥淚t brings me so much joy, in all honesty. It’s finding myself in the community in a way. Growing up, I was a dancer. I was never the best dancer, but I was out there,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ow I’m realizing that maybe that’s not my place in the circle. Maybe my place is creating the clothes for the dancer. We all have our places in community, and so I think this is just me making that shift of finding where I belong.鈥�

Steve Ruge, left, of 麻豆频道Haulers, and Joe Lore from Facilities Services hold the missing passport they located on Monday.

The University鈥檚 Facilities Services team is known for working behind the scenes鈥攚ithout fanfare鈥攖o make University operations run smoothly and to handle unique situations. This past weekend, the team, together with local contractor 麻豆频道Haulers, pulled off a miracle of epic proportions.

The team鈥檚 weekend dispatcher, Seamus Moran, received a call from a student that they had accidentally put their passport in with items that they recycled. Moran notified the team鈥檚 weekend supervisor, Macky MacPherson, who in turn contacted Joe Lore, supervisor of facility maintenance and project services.

Lore immediately reached out to Steve Ruge, his contact at 麻豆频道Haulers, and asked that they put a hold on removing the contents of the recycling truck that had come from the University that day. Lore told Ruge he would be at the company鈥檚 East 麻豆频道facility at 7 a.m. on Monday morning to begin looking for the passport.

Lore did not hesitate to begin the search, even though he knew it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.听For him, dad mode kicked in. 鈥淚 realized it was next to impossible,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 kept thinking if it were my son or daughter though, I would at least want somebody to have looked for the passport, even if they did not find it.鈥�

Lore and Ruge searched through more than three tons of recycling and garbage to find the missing passport

麻豆频道Haulers placed the contents from the truck that had picked up the University鈥檚 recycling on Sunday into a large bay at their facility. Early Monday morning, Lore and Ruge began the search for the passport through more than three tons of recycling. 鈥淲hile we were looking, I said a prayer to St. Anthony, who is the patron saint of finding lost belongings,鈥� Lore says.

Ruge found the passport 45 minutes later, and Lore was able to return it later that morning to the grateful student.

鈥淩egardless of the task, the team always steps up and gets the job done鈥攖hat is what we do,鈥� says Pete Sala, vice president and chief campus facilities officer. 鈥淲e are stewards of this campus, and our job is to help the students, faculty and staff, no matter what the challenge may be.鈥�

Lore says this is the strangest request that he has ever seen during his time in Facilities Services. And he was glad he could help a student in need.

Not all superheroes wear capes.

Two 麻豆频道University students have been named as student cultural ambassadors through the U.S.-UK Fulbright Commission鈥檚 UK Summer Institute program.

They are Keona Bukhari-Adams 鈥�27, a psychology and neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Adalys Sanchez 鈥�26, an earth sciences major and women and gender studies minor in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program.

The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are fully funded three- to four-week summer study programs for first- and second-year U.S. undergraduates. The Summer Institutes are made possible through generous donations from private individuals and through partnerships with some of the top universities in the UK. Participants are selected based on leadership skills, academic achievement, character, adaptability and ambassadorial qualities, as well as demonstrated interest in the UK and its culture.

Selection is highly competitive; only 36 students from the U.S. were chosen as recipients this year. The first two 麻豆频道students to receive Fulbright UK Summer Institute awards studied in the UK in 2016 and 2017. Four students received the award in 2018.

鈥淭he Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program is one of the most competitive programs to which Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) helps first- and second-year students apply,鈥� says Melissa Welshans, assistant director of CFSA. 鈥淎dalys and Keona were selected because they embody the academic excellence and ambassadorial spirit that this program seeks to cultivate among emerging leaders. We are so proud of them and know they will be excellent representatives of 麻豆频道and the U.S. during their time in the UK.鈥�

Bukhari-Adams will study at the Glasgow School of Art and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, in a focused on technology, innovation and creativity.听 Sanchez will study at the University of Exeter in England in a focused on global sustainability and climate change issues.

During the summer institute, Bukhari-Adams hopes to explore the intersection between medicine and technology. 鈥淚 want to learn how these two industries have collectively revolutionized global medicine,鈥� she says. Bukhari plans to attend medical school and embark on a career as a neurosurgeon or pediatric oncologist. 鈥淚 hope that this experience will serve as a stepping stone in achieving the extraordinary and pushing the boundaries for greatness in the world of medicine,鈥� she says.

Bukhari-Adams is also excited to make her first international trip and to learn more about a different culture. She developed an interest in anthropology after taking a class with Professor Azra Hromad啪i膰 in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. 鈥淚 am very excited to explore Scotland from an anthropological perspective,鈥� she says.

Sanchez is passionate about the intersection of environmental justice and marginalized communities. 鈥淭hrough my academic journey, I want to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate for environmental justice as a lawyer,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 hope attending this program in Exeter helps me learn how to do this from a diverse perspective.鈥�

She plans to explore the UK’s climate change research and sustainability practices and to integrate these insights into initiatives back in the U.S. 鈥淚 am also looking forward to sharing my past research experiences with coastal communities and water quality with experts in Exeter who do similar work,鈥� Sanchez says. 鈥淚 think that participating in this program will help me become a better advocate for a healthier planet, an advocate who is aware of the major impact of climate change and practices sustainability in a way that creates social equity.鈥�

This will also be Sanchez鈥檚 first time traveling internationally. 鈥淚’m excited for the experience as a whole鈥攖he opportunity to see all the historical sights of Exeter, being in Central London for the first week of the program and just getting to explore and meet new people.鈥�

罢丑别听听funds a range of awards that include English teaching assistantships (ETA) and study/research grants in over 140 countries.

The 2024 recipients are:

• Caroline Barraco G鈥�24, a history master鈥檚 degree student in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, English teaching assistantship (ETA), Spain
• Olivia Budelmann 鈥�23 (mathematics; environment, sustainability and policy; and Spanish language, literature and culture in the College of Arts and Sciences), ETA, Andorra
• Jaemon Crosby 鈥�24, an acting major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), study award, United Kingdom鈥擫ondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA, classical acting)
• Avital Datskovsky, a Ph.D. student in anthropology in the Maxwell School, research award, India
• Jessica Hogbin, a Ph.D. student in history in the Maxwell School, research award, Italy
• Lindsey Kernen 鈥�23 (psychology in A&S and citizenship and civic engagement in the Maxwell School), study award, United Kingdom鈥擴niversity of Strathclyde
• Yasmin Nayrouz 鈥�24, an English and textual studies major in A&S, a public relations major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program, study award, United Kingdom鈥擴niversity of Sussex
• Anthony Ornelaz G鈥�24, a creative writing M.F.A. student in A&S,听ETA, Poland
• Alec Rovensky 鈥�21 (School of Architecture), study award, Germany鈥擳echnische Universit盲t Berlin
• Adriana Rozas Rivera G鈥�21 (magazine, news and digital journalism, Newhouse School), ETA, Spain
• Zelikha Shoja G鈥�24, an art video student in VPA, research award, Tajikistan
• Julianne Strauss 鈥�23 (inclusive elementary and special education, School of Education) G鈥�24 (literacy education), ETA, Spain
• Elizabeth Vanek G鈥�24, a clinical mental health counseling student in the School of Education, ETA, Mexico
• Ciara Young 鈥�24, an international relations and anthropology major in the Maxwell School | A&S and linguistics major in A&S and member of the Ren茅e Crown Honors Program, ETA, Korea

The 2024 alternates are:

• Huleymatu Barrie 鈥�22 (international relations in the Maxwell School | A&S, ETA, Ghana
• Ian Ferguson, a Ph.D. student in history in the Maxwell School, research award, Kenya
• Liam Goff, a senior broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School, ETA, Germany
• Mary Matthews, a senior international relations major in the Maxwell School | A&S, ETA, Estonia
• Laura Roman Lopez G鈥�24, a master鈥檚 degree student in magazine, news and digital journalism in the Newhouse School, ETA, Argentina

Jaemon Crosby

Crosby, while studying at LAMDA, hopes to bring a new perspective and diversify the world of classical acting, as classical texts and acting historically have been written for and performed by white men.

Jaemon Crosby

鈥淪ome of these texts, for example Shakespeare, convey a bigger message and an experience that is not unique to just one race or gender, but to everyone,鈥� Crosby says. 鈥淭here has been a big revamp in the use of classical texts and bringing them to modern eyes, and I want to be a part of that. 鈥� I have always been very drawn to language, rhetoric and the power of listening. I hope this training will help me bring that into works that are performed today and give me a new perspective and interpretation of texts to bring into auditions as I begin my acting career.鈥�

Crosby hopes he can be a role model for younger Black kids in that they may see themselves in classical texts. 鈥淩epresentation is very important in television, theatre and film,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 want to act and play roles that go against stereotypes of what a Black man is and show what we can be and the power in our Blackness.鈥�

He also hopes that in the future, the connections he makes during his time in the U.K. will aid him in producing shows both in the United States and the U.K. 鈥淚n my time during my previous semester abroad in London (through 麻豆频道Abroad), I saw so many beautiful, specific and bold plays that are telling important stories that all should see,鈥� Crosby says. 鈥淭heatre should tell stories that allow people to see themselves in them and relate, tell untold stories, educate and make people feel less alone. Everyone should have access to that. There are amazing shows I think should be brought to the U.S., and their messages shared with everyone. I want to be a part of that, and this training and the connections I make will help me get there.鈥�

Jessica Hogbin

Jessica Hogbin

During her Fulbright year in Italy, Hogbin will conduct research for her dissertation, which studies how melancholy鈥攁 now-defunct medical category from humoral theory鈥攚as used and abused by Renaissance scholars and physicians to express and explain mental health and the mind. Her project, 鈥淚nnumerable Melancholies: Medicine, Mental Health and Human Nature in Renaissance Italy, 1450-1650,鈥� engages with the deeply interconnected relationship between medicine, narratives around mental health and politics in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Hogbin will conduct research in several archives and libraries in the Veneto region of Italy, including the Historic Archive of the University of Padua, the Marciana Library, and the State Archives of Padua and Venice.

鈥淭hrough this study, I aim to explore the increasing presumption that it was a patient鈥檚 responsibility to care for their own mind and body, along with stereotypes that claimed certain people were more likely by birth and social status to be victims of melancholy, concepts that continue to affect how mental health is imagined to this day,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 am greatly looking forward to spending this Fulbright year building my dissertation project, conversing with Italian scholars and eating plenty of gelato.鈥�

Hogbin plans to transform her dissertation into a book project in the future. 鈥淚 hope to take everything that I learn during my Fulbright year, both academically and culturally, back into the classroom, where I am looking forward to sharing this information with my students and allowing the content that I find to shape my lessons.鈥�

Lindsay Kernen

During her Fulbright year, Kernen will pursue a master’s degree in work and organizational psychology at the University of Strathclyde Business School in Glasgow, Scotland.

Lindsay Kernen

Her research will focus on interpersonal relationships in organizations and how diverse groups have the power to produce creative, innovative and profitable outcomes as opposed to conventional top-down management styles.

鈥淚 hope to bridge theory and practice, promoting the importance of community involvement in psychological research. I鈥檓 looking forward to partnering with an organization in Glasgow to improve employee well-being and satisfaction,鈥� she says. 鈥淚’m so excited to have a year dedicated to community-based learning and I hope this leaves me exposed to many diverse perspectives in the psychology field and beyond.鈥�

Beyond her Fulbright year, Kernen plans to embark upon a career dedicated to connecting psychological research that informs employee wellbeing with organizational practices and to raise awareness of the benefits of inclusive group dialogue for innovative workplaces. 鈥淭his experience will allow me to dig deep into these topics while providing many opportunities to collaborate with local organizations to implement these strategies while learning from the local community and diverse cultures,鈥� she says.

In addition to her studies, Kernen plans to attend meetings for worship at the local Quaker meetinghouse and enjoy Glasgow’s vibrant music and arts scene.

Julianne Strauss

Julianne Strauss

During her Fulbright year, Strauss will be an English teaching assistant in the La Rioja region of Spain. 鈥淚 hope to find ways to promote inclusive education within the classrooms I teach in and in the school community,鈥� says Strauss. 鈥淚 also want to instill a love of reading in my students and use inclusive children鈥檚 literature that I read in my own U.S. classrooms to promote English learning.鈥�

Strauss, who studied in Madrid during her junior year through 麻豆频道Abroad, hopes to grow as a Spanish speaker and immerse herself in Spanish culture. 鈥淚 have not had the chance to visit this region previously, so I want to explore all of my new home,鈥� she says.

She plans to use this Fulbright year as a chance to expand her teaching experiences to students who are learning English as a second language. 鈥淚 want to bring this experience home and draw upon it to support my future students in the Central New York or New York City region,鈥� she says.

Students interested in applying to the Fulbright program should contact the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising at 315.443.2759 or cfsa@syr.edu. The campus deadline for the 2024-25 application cycle is Sept. 10.

Three 麻豆频道University students have been awarded prestigious graduate research fellowships through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), and two students have been recognized with honorable mentions.

The fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in the U.S. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000 and a $16,000 educational allowance.

The 2024 recipients of the NSF GRFP are the following:

• Edward (Cole) Fluker, a senior chemical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). Fluker will be joining the Ph.D. program in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania upon graduation.
• Dan Paradiso, a second-year Ph.D. student in physics in the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Melissa Yeung, a first-year Ph.D. student in mechanical and aerospace engineering in ECS.

听Edward (Cole) Fluker

Fluker, who was recently named a University Scholar, initially got involved in research in his sophomore year and took on his first significant research project the following summer. Through the University鈥檚 Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, he worked under Ian Hosein, associate professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, analyzing a gel polymer electrolyte system as an alternative to liquid electrolytes in calcium-ion batteries. The research resulted in a paper, on which Fluker was first author, in the American Chemical Society鈥檚 Journal of Physical Chemistry.

That experience led him to pursue more research opportunities in energy storage. In summer 2023, he completed the Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture REU at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied the power and energy performance of aluminum air batteries (AABs) with Ag-based cathodes.

鈥淏y the end of the project, I had successfully fabricated cathodes that resulted in power performance of 70% of the commercial option at less than 1/4,000th of the cost,鈥� Fluker says. 鈥淚 was especially interested in creative efforts to improve efficient agricultural practices, and I hope to continue contributing to them while at UPenn.鈥�

Fluker says the NSF GRFP will give him financial resources to help broaden his research to be more sustainable and inclusive. 鈥淭here is a severe underrepresentation of Black students pursuing advanced degrees, and I believe this program will help me launch a pipeline program for African American students to support their advanced degree aspirations,鈥� he says. 鈥淥n top of my research goals committed to next generation energy storage, I want to pave a path for underrepresented students that opens doors they never thought were meant for them.鈥�

Dan Paradiso

Paradiso鈥檚 research is focused on the deaths of massive stars in the universe, known as core-collapse supernovae. These stars, which have masses of around 10 to 100 times the mass of the sun, end their life in a cataclysmic and explosive death that produces light that can be detected with ground and space-based telescopes. Decades of research, however, suggests that not all stars that undergo core-collapse result in a successful explosion and instead the star can continue to implode until a black hole is formed. These events are referred to as failed supernovae, and it is estimated that approximately 20-30% of stars that undergo core-collapse result in a failed supernova.

鈥淚n my research I focus on the dynamics of shockwaves, which are ubiquitous with core-collapse supernova physics, using analytical and numerical methods to understand these failed supernova explosions,鈥� Paradiso says. 鈥淚 then use these techniques to make predictions about observable properties of failed and sub-energetic explosions.鈥�

鈥淎s a second-year graduate student, the generous support from the GRFP is very welcome, and I am excited to continue my research with this support,鈥� he says.

听Melissa Yeung

Yeung works in the fluid dynamics lab of Yiyang Sun, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, where she focuses on supersonic jet engines.

High noise levels have always been associated with supersonic aircraft, restricting their flight range to over sea. 鈥淭he goal of my work is to alleviate the undesired features through strategically placed small micro-jets of air. I am currently focused on optimizing these micro-jets such that they can continuously modulate themselves to adapt to various flight conditions. By doing so, the flow can be controlled even in off-design conditions and with minimal energy input,鈥� Yeung says. 鈥淯nderstanding these complex flow physics is vital for the development of next-generation high-performance aircraft. Successfully controlling this flow can improve upon the aircraft鈥檚 performance and ensure the safety of nearby workers or civilians. This work is one of many steps in pushing supersonic flight for commercial use.鈥�

Yeung says the GRFP fellowship will allow her more flexibility in her research direction, fund her research activities and allow her to attend more conferences.

Yeung also notes the tremendous amount of support she received from Sun, Professor Emeritus Mark Glauser and Gina Lee-Glauser, retired vice president for research, throughout the application process. 鈥淭heir guidance has been crucial to my success and without them I would have not have the honor of being an NSF GRFP recipient, she says.

Nicholas Rubino and Elizabeth Su

Two students also received honorable mentions in this year鈥檚 NSF GRFP competition. Nicholas Rubino, a second-year Ph.D. student in mechanical and aerospace engineering in ECS who is researching robotic devices for physical rehabilitation, and Elizabeth Su, a senior graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in bioengineering and neuroscience from the College of Arts and Sciences. Su will pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Purdue University, researching enhanced visual prosthetics.

The CFSA will hold an the week of June 10-14. The bootcamp is for rising seniors and first- and second-year graduate students who are eligible for and plan to apply for the NSF GRFP this fall.

Students interested in learning more about or applying for the next NSF GRFP award cycle or any other nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships should visit the听听or email听cfsa@syr.edu听for more information.

Five 麻豆频道University students have been selected as recipients of the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), through which they will immerse themselves in intensive language study this summer.

The recipients and the languages they will study are:

• Christian Bevilacqua 鈥�24, a social studies education and geography major in the , and , studying Urdu;
• Kathryn Bratt-Pfotenhauer G鈥�24 a creative writing master’s of fine arts (M.F.A.) student (poetry) in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying Russian;
• Anthony Ornelaz G鈥�24, a creative writing M.F.A. student in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying Turkish;
• Chelsea Sato, a Ph.D. candidate in mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying Korean; and
• Ciara Young 鈥�24, an international relations and anthropology major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and linguistics major in A&S, studying Korean.

The CLS program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities. Traditionally, some 550 students spend eight to 10 weeks abroad studying one of 14 languages鈥擜rabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish or Urdu. The program is fully funded and includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains.

CLS, a program of the U.S. Department of State, is part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity.

Christian Bevilacqua

Bevilacqua will study Urdu in Lucknow, India. This is his second time participating听in the CLS program; he studied Hindi in Jaipur, India, in 2022.

鈥淧articipating in the CLS Urdu program is an exciting opportunity for me to further my language skills and expand my cultural understanding of South Asia,鈥� he says.

Bevilacqua will be an incoming first-year master’s student in geography in the Maxwell School in the fall, and he looks forward to learning Urdu to better prepare himself for future research projects.

鈥淚 am interested in studying the experiences of South Asian migrant workers in urban cities of the Arabian Peninsula,鈥� says Bevilacqua. 鈥淟earning Urdu as a lingua franca will enable me to connect with their stories, experiences, feelings and expressions of art and memory, which is crucial for understanding how transnational migrant workers construct and navigate a sense of home and community.鈥�

Kathryn Bratt-Pfotenhauer

As a child of former Foreign Service officers, being named a recipient of a CLS in Russian is incredibly meaningful to Bratt-Pfotenhauer.

鈥淭he importance of language as a means of communication and cooperation has been impressed upon me since birth,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 am proud to continue in my parents’ footsteps helping to foster connection between nations.鈥�

Through her CLS experience, Bratt-Pfotenhauer hopes to gain a more complete view of Central Asia through her studies in Kyrgyzstan and a better understanding of how the Russian language operates in a country that was once part of the Soviet Union.

鈥淎fter completing the CLS program, I hope to continue my studies of language and literatures through pursuing a doctorate in comparative literature,鈥� she says.

Anthony Ornelaz

Ornelaz, a U.S. Air Force veteran and , served in the Middle East nearly a decade ago. 鈥淚 feel I still have the ability to serve through the Foreign Service, which starts, for me, from the language up,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 would love to translate Turkish poetry into English while studying the Turkish poetic style.鈥�

He is looking forward to his CLS experience in Ankara, Turkey. 鈥淭his is a wonderful opportunity to build meaningful relationships while experiencing Turkish culture, food and understanding of the world,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 hope whatever I experience will be distinctly and organically Turkish from beginning to end.鈥�

Ciara Young

During her time at Syracuse, Young has maintained a deep commitment to the study of Korean language and affairs, particularly in the context of contemporary political developments and social movements. 鈥淚n this way, being awarded CLS is the perfect culmination to my four years at SU, and the perfect beginning to my professional pursuits,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 am eager to meet my cohort and continue to immerse myself in Korean language and culture alongside them. I am especially looking forward to the time I will spend with my language partner around Gwangju.鈥�

Following her CLS experience, Young will apply the linguistic and cultural insights she gains, as well as the intercultural communication, critical thinking, and teamwork skills she develops, to enhance her research pursuits and language studies in graduate school, focusing on foreign policy, security studies and听issues that impact U.S.-Korean relations.

鈥淎s I work towards my professional goal of becoming a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. State Department, the cross-cultural competence and Korean language skills I will develop during my time in Gwangju, a city renowned as the birthplace of Korean democracy and the May 18^th听Democratic Uprising, will be truly invaluable,鈥� she says.

Five 麻豆频道University students have been selected for the 2024 Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate scholarship awarded in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics in the U.S. This is the first time 麻豆频道has had five students selected for the cohort and the third consecutive year the University has had at least three scholars selected in one year.

The recipients are:

• Julia Fancher, a sophomore physics and mathematics major in the (A&S) and a member of the ;
• Sadie Meyer, a sophomore biomedical engineering major in the (ECS) and mathematics major in A&S;
• Kerrin O鈥橤rady, a junior biomedical engineering major in ECS and neuroscience integrated learning major in A&S;
• Serena Peters, a junior chemistry major in A&S; and
• Gianna Voce, a sophomore computer science major in ECS and neuroscience Integrated learning major in A&S.

鈥淭he fact that five students from 麻豆频道were selected as Goldwater Scholars this year is a testament to our University鈥檚 robust support for undergraduate research and the high quality of faculty mentoring here.鈥� Jolynn Parker, director, Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising

All five are research grant recipients from the .

罢丑别听听was established by Congress in 1986 to honor U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the five-term senator from Arizona. The purpose of the program is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields.

The Goldwater Foundation received 1,353 nominations this year from around the country and 438 students were selected for the scholarship.

Each 麻豆频道University Goldwater Scholarship nominee worked with the (CFSA) to prepare their application. A faculty committee, headed by James Spencer, professor of chemistry in A&S, selected Syracuse鈥檚 nominees for the national competition.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so proud of Julia, Sadie, Kerrin, Serena and Gianna. They are exceptional young scientists and it is gratifying to see them honored with this award,鈥� says Jolynn Parker, CFSA director. 鈥淭he fact that five students from 麻豆频道were selected as Goldwater Scholars this year is a testament to our University鈥檚 robust support for undergraduate research and the high quality of faculty mentoring here.鈥�

Julia Fancher

Fancher, a physics major, is also minoring in computer science and draws on those skills to create effective theoretical models of astrophysical phenomena.

鈥淚 have always loved space, and I now get to use physics and math to learn more about distant galaxies and black holes,鈥� she says.

As a first-year student, Fancher joined the high-energy astrophysics lab of Eric Coughlin, assistant professor of physics. With Coughlin鈥檚 guidance, Fancher researches tidal disruption events, which occur when a star is destroyed by the tidal field of a black hole.

Fancher has published two papers in national journals on this topic and presented her research at the local Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics and the national American Astronomical Society conference in January 2024, and was a finalist in the undergraduate AAS Chambliss poster competition. She participated in the “Education and Inclusion in Post-Apartheid South Africa” program through 麻豆频道Abroad last summer.

Fancher plans to enroll in a doctoral program that focuses on computational and analytical astrophysics, with the goal of becoming a professor at a research university to conduct research in theoretical high-energy astrophysics.

鈥淚 aim to build my own astrophysics lab focusing on discovering possible mechanisms of observed astrophysical transients through a combination of analytical methods and computational modeling,鈥� Fancher says.

Sadie Meyer

Meyer grew up surrounded by research with widespread impacts on healthcare and recognized the importance of such work early on. She developed a strong purpose to advance new approaches to women’s health and infertility, specifically with a biomedical engineering perspective.

In her first semester on campus, wanting to get more involved with research, Meyer joined the laboratory of James Henderson, professor of biomedical and chemical engineering and director of the . The lab specializes in functional shape-memory materials and biocompatible platform development.

Meyer has learned material synthesis and combined mathematical approaches with experimental design to conduct characterizations of programmed shape memory polymer topography to serve as a dynamic cell culture substrate. Her current project analyzes bacterial response to shape-memory actuated 3D silk wrinkled surfaces as a strategy for biofilm prevention. Meyer is third author on a manuscript published in February 2024 in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute journal, “Polymers.”听She will present her research at the 50th Northeast Bioengineering Conference on April 4 at the Stevens Institute of Technology. This summer, she will participate in a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Northwestern University鈥檚 Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental Resource Facility. There, she will study the ultrastructure of yeast mitochondria, working toward a better understanding of cellular function, health and evolution.

Meyer plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program with strengths in regenerative medicine, biomaterials and mechanobiology. 鈥淎fter earning my Ph.D., I will pursue a faculty position where I can oversee a lab of my own and conduct research to address challenges in fertility and reproductive health,鈥� she says.

鈥淏eing selected for the Goldwater Scholarship encourages and supports my ambitions for further inquiry in my fields and makes a tremendous difference to my development as a researcher,鈥� she says.

Kerrin O鈥橤rady

In high school, O鈥橤rady volunteered at a camp for neurodivergent children and adults. 鈥淚 have seen the need for adaptive and customizable everyday devices for individuals with impaired motor control,鈥� she says.

She is now pursuing degrees in biomedical engineering and neuroscience, with a minor in philosophy. 鈥淎s a bioengineer, I am eager to support communities that may not have the same opportunities I have been afforded,鈥� she says.

O鈥橤rady has engaged in research in the Henderson Lab since the beginning of her sophomore year. There, she has focused on creating silk-wrinkled topographies on 3D shape-memory polymeric scaffolds and optimizing the attachment and proliferation of mammalian, specifically neuronal, cells on the scaffolds. Her current work focuses on using silk-wrinkled shape-memory polymeric conduits to aid in peripheral nerve injury repair.

O鈥橤rady plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program in biomedical engineering, focusing on neuro-engineering. After completing her Ph.D., she aims to pursue a career focused on neural engineering research, working closely with the neurodivergent and physically disabled communities.

鈥淚 want to lead experiments and to create devices and repair in vivo damage, similar to the work that Argonne National Laboratory is conducting on repairing spinal cord damage by injecting a treatment directly into paralyzed mice,鈥� she says. O鈥橤rady will continue this work at the University of Victoria this summer through a Fulbright MITACS research internship. There, she will work in a lab on 3D bioprinting neural tissues from stem cells.

鈥淭he Goldwater Scholarship will help me in a financial sense and will provide me with a community of dedicated students who have similar passions and goals as me,鈥� she says.

Serena Peters

Peters is pursuing a major in chemistry because of her interest in applications for environmental sustainability. She has contributed to a research project with Professor Jonathan French quantifying students鈥� sense of belonging in general chemistry courses. Currently, in Professor Timothy Korter鈥檚 lab, she is using high-complexity experimental and computational techniques to study the polymorphism of two antiviral compounds, acyclovir and ganciclovir.

Peters purposefully chooses assignments that allow her to delve deeper into the realm of sustainable chemistry. 鈥淲hether presenting on how zeolites can be employed for nuclear waste cleanup or writing a paper on innovative carbon capture strategies, I consistently integrate environmental chemistry into my academic pursuits,鈥� she says.

Peters plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry with a concentration on applications for environmental sustainability. Her career goal is to work in aquatic cleanup as a research professor at a university.

鈥淚 aspire to guide undergraduates who, much like myself, may harbor uncertainties about venturing into the field of research. I hope to continue researching in the field of environmental chemistry, specifically using different forms of spectroscopy to analyze water contaminants. My goal is to foster a research environment that demonstrates that research is an inclusive pursuit open to anyone, regardless of their background or identity,鈥� she says.

鈥淭he Goldwater Scholarship has helped me build my confidence. I long wondered if research was for me, partially since it’s such a male-dominated field. However, receiving this scholarship has shown me that I am capable and I deserve to be a researcher as much as anyone else,鈥� Peters says.

Gianna Voce

Voce has always loved the problem-solving of computer science and its endless possibilities to intersect with other fields. 鈥淐omputer science was originally inspired by the human brain and continues to be influenced by neuroscience, so seeing the parallels between my two majors is fascinating to me,” she says. “I love seeing the ways two seemingly disconnected fields interact and discovering new ways for them to do so.鈥�

Voce transferred to 麻豆频道from Clarkson University; she has sought out research opportunities since the summer before her freshman year, when she participated in a PreFrosh Summer Research Experience through Clarkson鈥檚 Honors Program. There, she studied the effects of commonly used fluorescent dyes on tendon mechanics, research that was published in the Journal of the Mechanics of Biomedical Materials.

In the summer of 2022, she participated in an REU at Texas State University focused on cybersecurity in connected vehicles. She helped create a reinforcement learning algorithm that could successfully identify which vehicles had been compromised by a cyberattack for networks that were more than 90% corrupted. She published and presented this research at the Association for Computing Machinery REUNS 2023 conference in Washington, D.C., and at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ International Conference on Consumer Electronics 2024 in Las Vegas. She will be studying abroad in Florence this summer through 麻豆频道Abroad.

After transferring to Syracuse, Voce joined the lab of Qinru Qiu, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, where she researches algorithms for neuromorphic computing. Her team focuses on developing software and artificial neural networks to run on Intel chips.

Voce plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science or neuroscience with a concentration in computational neuroscience. After obtaining her degrees, she plans to take a research position within the tech industry, working as either a computational neuroscientist or a machine learning engineer. 鈥淚 aim to contribute novel insights toward the development of artificial intelligence systems that mimic the qualities of biological neural networks with the goal of increasing efficiency and accuracy in AI learning,鈥� she says.

鈥淭he Goldwater Scholarship is an incredible honor that will not only assist me in my education but provide the opportunity to be a part of an amazing network of researchers that offer inspiration to pursue this career path,鈥� Voce says.

CFSA seeks applicants for the Goldwater Scholarship each fall; the campus deadline is mid-November each year. Interested students should contact CFSA at听cfsa@syr.edu.

On Thursday, April 4, family, friends and supporters of the program will in downtown 麻豆频道to celebrate the program, the largest and most inclusive program of its kind in the nation. Among the scheduled speakers at the anniversary gala are 麻豆频道University Chancellor and President ; State Sen. Rachel May (D-48); Captain , JAGC, USN (Ret.), benefactor of the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education; and , Lawrence B. Taishoff Associate Professor of Inclusive Education and executive director of the Taishoff Center in the School of Education.

Andrew Benbenek at 麻豆频道Welcome 2017

Founded in 2014, InclusiveU offers real opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in every aspect of 麻豆频道University campus life. Students take , on and off campus鈥攁nd as far away as 鈥攋oin in , and in Albany, New York and Washington, D.C. Currently, the program hosts more than 100 students with intellectual or developmental disabilities from across the country.

InclusiveU and the Taishoff Center are both part of the School of Education’s . Together, CDI programs and initiatives demonstrate SOE’s global leadership and in disability and inclusion.

Sharing anniversaries with InclusiveU in 2024 are SOE’s first-in-the-nation program (1994) and “” (1984), a summer study abroad program that invites students to immerse themselves in Italy’s inclusive schooling.

“It鈥檚 hard to believe that we have reached our 10th year of serving students at 麻豆频道University through InclusiveU,鈥� says Myers. 鈥淭he milestones of our program鈥攕tudents in campus residence halls, InclusiveU Remembrance Scholars and Unsung Heroes, and full participation in all that our campus has to offer鈥攔emind us of the ways our program continues to make a profound impact in our community.鈥�

Chloe Payne, left and a friend attend a game in the JMA Dome

Inclusion initiatives, such as dual enrollment with the 麻豆频道City School District and partnership with a community agency, predated the establishment of InclusiveU in 2014 but did not provide a fully integrated campus experience. Receipt of a federal grant got the program off the ground, and it started with 14 students. 鈥淲e started our internship program, and a few years later were able to have students live in residence halls and really build out pieces of the program,鈥� says InclusiveU Director Brianna Shults.

Since its establishment, more than 320 students have accessed nearly 300 classes based on interest across most of the University鈥檚 colleges and schools. The last year of the four-year program is focused on internships and employment, building skills and connecting theory they learned at in the classroom and applying it to their resumes. Beyond the necessary skills, the program helps to instill confidence in students as they prepare for careers beyond college. Students receive a certificate upon completion of the program.

In addition to classes, students are fully immersed in the social life of the University. While students have a mentor to help with class needs and facilitation, social interaction happens organically through peers. 鈥淪ocially, the Peer-2-Peer program is the piece that many students access,鈥� says Shults. InclusiveU and matriculated students connect for whatever events are on campus. A lot of this is natural support.鈥� Students attend Orange After Dark activities, speakers, athletic events and holiday events such as Diwali. 鈥淭his happens through natural peer support that every other student can access on campus,鈥� Shults says.

Bobby Pangborn, center, celebrates his graduation with his parents

And this interaction is good not just for the InclusiveU students, says Shults. 鈥淗aving our students around makes their peers better friends, better employees down the road, better neighbors,鈥� Shults days. 鈥淚t makes them better people all around because our students are here and they are all working together.鈥�

Andrew Benbenek 鈥�21 enrolled in InclusiveU after graduating from Bishop Grimes High School in East Syracuse. He was the first InclusiveU student to access classes in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and was the second InclusiveU student named as a Remembrance Scholar, one of the University鈥檚 highest student honors. He was involved in lots of activities on campus including OttoTHON and Camp Kesem.

鈥溌槎蛊档纖as where I had wanted to be since I was a kid,鈥� Benbenek says. Peers helped him to get involved. He joined Z-89 and Citrus TV, which he says 鈥渋s a big part of how I got to where I am. Once I joined, felt like this could be a career for me.鈥� He also did a full-year internship in the Newhouse Sports Media Center with Professor Olivia Stomski.

Benbenek now works for Galaxy Communications as a board operator for SU games. 鈥淚nclusiveU gave me the knowledge I needed to be successful and helped me discover what I really wanted to do,鈥� he says.

Chloe Payne 鈥�22, studied human development and family science and now works at Little Luke鈥檚 Daycare and Preschool in DeWitt. During her time at Syracuse, Payne immersed herself in her classes and campus life, including becoming a member of a belly dancing troupe. InclusiveU was the best thing I have ever done,鈥� she says.

Bobby Pangborn 鈥�20, graduated from Nottingham High School in 麻豆频道and studied drama through InclusiveU. He has brought his skills to many local productions through the years for both the Redhouse and Front Row Players and will play Sir Robin in a local production of 鈥淪pamalot鈥� in late June. He also participates in Special Olympics, where he has won several medals downhill in skiing events.

Pangborn interned at the Whitman School of Management during his time with InclusiveU, and now works there full-time as an assistant In the mailroom, Pangborn does the jobs that people don鈥檛 see but that are critical to the smooth function of the school鈥檚 operations. He completes copy jobs, sorts and distributes mail, distributes student paychecks, sends package notifications and makes sure that supplies are stocked, organized and labeled. He is also a mentor for student employees.

鈥淎s an alumni, Bobby has been active in participating in various conference panels and employment events to share his experience while he was on campus and how that helped to shape what he is doing now that he has graduated,鈥� says Shults.

When InclusiveU first started, there were about 30 post-secondary programs across the country鈥攏ow there are little more than 300. And while that number seems large, it鈥檚 still pretty small, Shults says. 鈥淭here are a lot of students who want to access education beyond high school. We are seen as a model, trying to support other programs at other schools starting to do what we are doing. It鈥檚 important that students have a choice and are able to pick the program that is best for them,鈥� she says.

鈥淭here is such a rich history of disability work here at 麻豆频道University,鈥� says Shults. 鈥淭he fact that InclusiveU is here and is seen as a leader is really important in being able to push this work forward and in being thoughtful and innovative with what we are doing. 鈥� This is the first generation of students with disabilities to go to college and have this opportunity, and having this program here in 麻豆频道is a really big deal.鈥�

The society, the nation鈥檚 oldest and most selective, is unique in that it comprises both undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines, making it a good fit for Syracuse.

In 2014, reorganizations left the 麻豆频道chapter without someone to lead it. But that is changing, as the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) is currently in the process of restarting the chapter. Invitations have recently been sent to eligible students, says Adam Crowley, fellowships advisor with CFSA and president of the University鈥檚 chapter. An induction ceremony for the new members will be held on campus on Wednesday, March 27.

A 1916 telegram from Penn State congratulating 麻豆频道University on receiving enough votes to establish a Phi Kappa Phi chapter (Photo courtesy of 麻豆频道University Archives)

鈥淭his is the perfect time to relaunch our Phi Kappa Phi chapter,鈥� Crowley says. 鈥淧hi Kappa Phi recognizes academic excellence in all disciplines, including professional schools. As the University emphasizes the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, this felt like the right opportunity to build a forum bringing together outstanding students in diverse fields.鈥�

Initiation into the organization is limited to the top 7.5% of juniors based on academic standing, Crowley says. Seniors and graduate students in the top 10% based on academic standing are also eligible.

There are currently 325 active chapters in the country. From 2010-14, 545 students were inducted into the 麻豆频道chapter.

Crowley says membership in the organization opens up new opportunities for students, including scholarships, networking and attendance at a national conference. As the chapter grows, Crowley envisions bringing in speakers and developing opportunities for community service.

鈥淥ne of our first priorities is recruiting student officers to help identify programming that will appeal to all of our members,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to working with our student leaders to find ways that our new members can collaborate with each other.鈥�

Crowley will be assisted in the administration of the chapter by Robert Wilson, associate professor of geography and the environment in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs (vice president) and Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA (secretary).

Members of Phi Kappa Phi across the nation have served in the White House, in Congress and the Supreme Court, and have won Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes and other national and international awards for service and achievement in their chosen fields.

Eleven students from the University were selected for Fulbright research and teaching awards for academic year 2023-24 to the Czech Republic, France, Germany (three awards), Mexico, Oman, Poland, Spain (two awards) and Tajikistan.

鈥淔ulbright鈥檚 Top Producing Institutions represent the diversity of America鈥檚 higher education community. Dedicated administrators support students and scholars at these institutions to fulfill their potential and rise to address tomorrow鈥檚 global challenges. We congratulate them, and all the Fulbrighters who are making an impact the world over,鈥� says Lee Satterfield, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs.

The Fulbright competition is administered at听. This is the fourth time鈥攁nd second year in a row鈥攖he University was named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution. The University was previously recognized for the 2012-13 cohort (under campus Fulbright advisor and professor emerita Susan Wadley) and the 2019-20 and 2022-23 cohorts (under CFSA).

Twenty-six faculty and staff members from across the University served on the campus Fulbright committee for the 2023-24 cohort. The committee is convened by CFSA; members interview applicants, provide feedback and complete a campus endorsement for each applicant. 鈥淔aculty and staff investment in our Fulbright candidates is crucial; our Fulbright work is an all-campus effort,鈥� says Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA.

Kiana Khoshnoud ’23 with some of her students in a classroom in Tajikistan (Photo courtesy of Kiana Khoshnoud)

Students apply for Fulbright awards in the fall and awards are made in the spring. In the current competition for the 2024-25 cohort, 31 of the University鈥檚 39 applicants have been named as semifinalists. Awards will be announced this spring.

Kiana Khoshnoud 鈥�23 majored in public relations with a minor in environment and society at Syracuse. She is currently engaged in an English teaching assistantship in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan. She frequently travels to smaller villages outside of Dushanbe as well to work with Afghan refugee students.

She says her Fulbright experience has been life changing. 鈥淏ecoming an educator has brought so much challenge and joy into my life. Tajik students are incredibly respectful, and I have been able to connect with hundreds of students,鈥� she says. 鈥淢oreover, on the weekends, I get to pursue one of my passions, horseback riding.鈥�

The classes Khoshnoud teaches are free and open to all, so each class has different students of various ages and English levels. She teaches 20 individual classes a week on a variety of subjects, including writing, basic English, public speaking, diversity and inclusion, critical thinking, filmmaking, magazine-making, current events, short stories, a book club, English conversation, the United States, art classes, geography and more.

Kiana Khoshnoud ’23 on horseback in Tajikistan (Photo courtesy of Kiana Khoshnoud)

鈥淢y goal as a teacher here is to bridge cultural gaps between Tajiks and Americans. As one of the first or only Americans many people here meet, it is important to provide the students with as much diverse knowledge about the United States as I can,鈥� she says.

Khoshnoud鈥檚 grant includes a language stipend, and she has studied the Cyrillic alphabet and the Tajik language. She is now focused on mastering her Farsi language skills and attempting to learn a bit of Russian. 鈥淢any people in Tajikistan are bilingual and speak Tajik and Russian,鈥� she says. 鈥淎lso, I have been learning a new way of life. Tajikistan is a very unique country. I have learned how to adopt new cultures, and that is quite amazing.鈥�

Khoshnoud says she will never forget her time in Tajikistan for many reasons. 鈥淭he people here have been so welcoming,鈥� she says. 鈥淎s a new teacher, I have learned so much about how to manage classes with 40-50 students of different ages and levels. And I have become more confident in myself. I have had to rely on myself to face challenges head-on, and I am becoming a stronger person because of it.鈥�

Fulbright is the U.S. government鈥檚 flagship international educational exchange program. It is also among the largest and most diverse exchange programs in the world. Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 participants from all backgrounds and fields鈥攊ncluding recent university graduates, teachers, scientists, researchers, artists and others, from the United States and over 160 other countries鈥攈ave participated in the Fulbright Program. Fulbright alumni have returned to their home countries to make an impact on their communities thanks to their expanded worldview, a deep appreciation for their host country and its people, and a larger network of colleagues and friends.

Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors and the world and have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 78 MacArthur Fellows and countless leaders and changemakers who carry forward the Fulbright mission of enhancing mutual understanding.

CFSA and the Office of Research will hold a Fulbright Day on Wednesday, March 20, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Shaffer Art Building Atrium.

Fulbright Day will introduce the campus community to the range of opportunities funded through Fulbright. Attendees can learn about Fulbright opportunities available to faculty, students, alumni and staff, and will hear from campus administrators and program alumni about the application process and Fulbright experience.

More information about the听.

Brett Jakubiak

How does affectionate touch benefit relationships? Brett Jakubiak, associate professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, looks at whether affectionate touch can help people maintain intimacy and offer responsive social support.

Jakubiak focuses on interpersonal support processes that regulate stress, encourage autonomous goal pursuit and enhance relationship quality across the lifespan.

Jakubiak received a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation in 2022 for 鈥溾€澨齮o study how affectionate physical contact鈥攁part from verbal expressions of affection鈥攊mpacts individuals psychologically.

For Valentine鈥檚 Day, Jakubiak spoke with SU News about his research and offered some tips to foster both individual and relationship well-being.

Ryan St. Jean 鈥�24, an international relations major in the and the , has been named a 2024 Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellow. He is one of only 45 recipients chosen from hundreds of applicants from around the nation for this prestigious honor.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Washington Center, the Pickering Fellowship awards recipients two years of financial support, mentoring and professional development to prepare them for a career in the Foreign Service. Fellows also complete a domestic internship at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and an overseas internship at a U.S. embassy.

“Ryan’s academic accomplishments, internship experiences and impressive understanding of foreign affairs make him an excellent fit for the Pickering Fellowship and a career in the Foreign Service,” says Jolynn Parker, director of the (CFSA).

鈥淩yan is extraordinarily thoughtful and passionate about the issues facing the United States abroad. I have no doubt that he will be an outstanding representative of our country during his service in the State Department,鈥� adds Adam Crowley, an advisor with CFSA who assisted St. Jean with his application.

A member of the , St Jean recently participated in the Maxwell in Washington program during the fall 2023 semester, where he served as a White House intern in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. This past summer, he served as an intern with Freedom House in New York City, an organization that supports and defends democracy around the world. There, he supported Juneteenth and Disability Pride Month events and facilitated international operations through support in field office staffing, logistics and related activities.

St. Jean studied abroad in Strasbourg, France in the fall of 2022, working with Collectif pour l鈥檃ccueil des solliciteurs d鈥檃sile de Strasbourg to design and implement English language instruction for asylum seekers. He also served as an intern with the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and as a peer mentor with 麻豆频道University鈥檚 International Student Success Program.

Among his many honors, he is a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship and is a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. He is president of the University鈥檚 chapter of Sigma Iota Rho, a member of the Board of Directors (Class of 2024 representative to the National Board) and a deputy chief justice with the Student Association Supreme Court. St. Jean previously served as a member of the University鈥檚 Student of Color Advisory Committee.

Get to know what inspires St. Jean, how the Pickering Fellowship will help him achieve his goals, and more!

Founded in 1953, the Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a graduate degree at an institution in the United Kingdom in any field of study. Volynets was one of 51 students selected from around the country and is 麻豆频道University鈥檚 sixth Marshall Scholar.

Volynets is minoring in museum studies in the听 and Russian in the College of Arts and Sciences. They are a Coronat Scholar and a member of the听.

鈥淭o me, being a Marshall Scholar means having an incredible opportunity that I am so grateful for. It means that I get to be a citizen ambassador to the U.K.,鈥� Volynets says. 鈥淭he U.K. has a very different approach to heritage management than the U.S. does, which I’m very excited to learn from鈥攁nd I’m looking forward to seeing all of the U.K.’s really interesting heritage sites.鈥�

Volynets plans to pursue a career in safeguarding Ukrainian cultural heritage. They are applying to Oxford University鈥檚 master of philosophy program in visual, material and museum anthropology. They plan to write their thesis on the role that Ukrainian cultural institutions have played in the fight for Ukrainian independence.

鈥淥xford is such an amazing fit for this goal, because of its very active Ukrainian Student Society (including the Oxford-Kharkiv association), work being done by professors to preserve Ukrainian cultural heritage amidst the war, its new Ukrainian archives and the fantastic Slavonic studies department, which hosts weekly open discussions,鈥� they say.

鈥淚n addition, the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford is doing sector-leading work in museum decolonization, and I’d really love to get involved. Pursuing these opportunities will help me get the skills, experience and knowledge to prepare me to work at an institution safeguarding Ukrainian and other threatened cultural heritages,鈥� Volynets says. 鈥淚 can’t express how excited I am to become involved with these communities and opportunities next fall.鈥�

鈥淚ona鈥檚 extraordinary record of service and leadership in the field of managing and safeguarding cultural heritage made them an outstanding candidate for the Marshall Scholarship,鈥� says Jolynn Parker, director of the (CFSA), which worked with Volynets on their application. 鈥淭he U.K. is a global leader in heritage management. The opportunity to pursue a master鈥檚 at Oxford in this field will position Iona superbly for the career they plan.鈥�

In October 2022, Volynets was named one of three 麻豆频道recipients of the Voyager Scholarship: the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, a new award for juniors committed to public service funded by the Obama Foundation. In April, they were named a 2023 Truman Scholar in recognition of their leadership, service, academic accomplishment and commitment to a career of public service.

In recent months, Volynets studied Russian for eight weeks in Tbilisi, Georgia, on the Critical Language Scholarship. They also visited six other post-Soviet states through the Voyager Scholarship to conduct research for their senior thesis on the diversity of national memory in post-Soviet states. They visited around 70 museums between their Voyager Scholarship and time in Tbilisi.

Volynets recently completed their time as a Lender Center Fellow, where they and other fellows were engaged in a project focused on migrant women鈥檚 wellness in the Northside neighborhood. They presented their work on culturally appropriate food bank services at the Environmental Design Research Association conference in Mexico City last June and are working to get funding to expand their research on food banks to other neighborhoods next semester.

Volynets has also served as a service-learning intern at the University鈥檚 Shaw Center. 鈥淚’ve continued working with the Environmental Design class, which this semester has meant learning a lot about Syracuse’s Southside and the history of the 15th Ward,鈥� they say. 鈥淚’ve also been researching how to identify and prevent volunteer burnout so that we can update our volunteer and service-learning guides.鈥� Volynets has also been working in the archives at the Onondaga Historical Association, creating finding guides for their Underground Railroad and Zonta Group collections.

Additionally, they were an intern with Save the Children and the Council of Europe and a Teen Council member for the Smithsonian Galleries of Asian Art. During winter break, they will be working for Save the Children’s Disability Inclusion department again.

Students interested in applying for national scholarships that require University endorsement, such as the Marshall Scholarship, should complete an 鈥渋ntent to apply鈥� form with Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising by the end of June 2024 and plan to work with听.

Emcees David Ojo and Qingyang Liu welcomed members of the University community to the 39th Annual International Thanksgiving Dinner. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

More than 700 first-year international students and members of the University community recently came together to celebrate the University鈥檚 39th Annual International Thanksgiving Celebration. A beloved University tradition, it is believed to be the only celebration of its kind on a college campus in the United States.

The event, sponsored by the Chancellor鈥檚 House and the Center for International Services, was held in the Schine Student Center鈥檚 Goldstein Auditorium on Nov. 16. Ph.D. students Qingyang Liu and David Ojo served as the evening鈥檚 emcees.

鈥淭hanksgiving is a time to cherish, a time to reflect on the things we are grateful for and a time to share warmth and joy with friends and family,鈥� said Liu. 鈥淲hile the historical origins of Thanksgiving are well-known, tonight we want to focus on the values that make this day extraordinary.鈥�

Bailey Tlachac, a member of the Oneida Nation Bear Clan, and Regina Jones, a member of the Oneida Nation Turtle Clan, offer the Native American Blessing. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

鈥淭hanksgiving transcends borders and backgrounds; it’s a universal celebration of gratitude. No matter where we come from, we can all appreciate the value of being thankful for the blessings in our lives,鈥� Ojo said. 鈥淲e’re thankful for the opportunities we’ve been given, for the support of our friends and family, and for the friendships that connect us despite our diverse backgrounds.鈥�

Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, co-hosted the event with Center for International Services Director Juan Tavares. 鈥淚 am thankful our international students are part of the Orange family. You bring your culture, language and traditions with you,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e learn from you, just as you learn from your professors and fellow students.鈥�

Students gather around Associate Director of Drumlins Food and Beverage Joe Sidoni as he carves the turkey. (Photo by Charles Wainright)

Started by the University in the 1980s by then-Evangelical Chaplain Rev. T.E. Koshy, the celebration is intended to introduce new international students to the American Thanksgiving experience. For nearly four decades, the event has served as a celebration of cross-cultural friendship, international community and fellowship. Koshy鈥檚 son, Jay, the University鈥檚 Evangelical Chaplain, offered the invocation, and his grandson, Josh 鈥�25, was also in attendance.

The Native American blessing was given by Bailey Tlachac, program coordinator of the Native Student Program and member of the Oneida Nation Bear Clan, and Regina Jones, member of the Oneida Nation Turtle Clan, who retired last year as assistant director of the University鈥檚 Native Student Program.

Dinner is served (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Food Services prepared and served traditional Thanksgiving fare: 750 pounds of turkey, 20 gallons of gravy, 300 pounds of mashed potatoes, 200 pounds of stuffing, 150 pounds each of corn and sweet potatoes and 160 pies. Kosher and Halal turkey and vegetarian options were also served. Vendors from the greater 麻豆频道area donated all the food, linens and table decorations.

During dinner, table hosts鈥攆aculty, staff and community members鈥攅ngaged attendees in conversation and answered questions about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving.

A highlight of the evening was the ceremonial carving of the turkey on the Goldstein Auditorium stage. Students, with camera phones in hand, eagerly crowded around Associate Director of Drumlins Food and Beverage Joe Sidoni as he carved the turkey鈥攁n annual tradition at the event.

The Hendricks Chapel Choir performed 鈥淓l Nacimiento鈥� from 鈥淣avidad Nuestra鈥� by Ariel Ramirez and 鈥淥ye鈥� (Trad. Ghanaian) arranged by James Varrick Armaah to close the evening. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

The Hendricks Chapel Choir performed 鈥淓l Nacimiento鈥� from 鈥淣avidad Nuestra鈥� by Ariel Ramirez and 鈥淥ye鈥� (Trad. Ghanaian) arranged by James Varrick Armaah to close the evening. Christian Protestant Chaplain Devon Bartholomew gave the benediction.

Leytisha Jack, a first-year doctoral student from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, attended the dinner last year and again this year. 鈥淚 was even more excited about this year’s Thanksgiving dinner because our table’s host has Caribbean roots like my own. There was laughter, wholesome rapport and learning of new things because we were all open with each other.鈥�

鈥淭he Thanksgiving dinner allows us to forget about the academic settings and responsibilities (momentarily) and helps us to appreciate this festive, rich and unique American culture,鈥� Jack says. 鈥淚t’s one of the events that I truly think is most organized, relevant and impacts international students in a profound way. 鈥� This dinner is where friendships are formed, and students are reminded that there is a great group of SU faculty and staff who represent home and who support us.鈥�

Table host Maggie Washburn, administrative specialist with the Barnes Center at the Arch health promotion team, and her guests take a selfie. (Photo by Maggie Washburn)

Maggie Washburn, administrative specialist with the Barnes Center at the Arch health promotion team, hosted a table for the first year. 鈥淢y coworker, Vicente Cuevas, encouraged the rest of our office to consider this opportunity as he has done it before and found it very rewarding. I heeded the call and was not disappointed,鈥� she says.

The students at her table were primarily from India. 鈥淲e had a lovely conversation about traditions and food. Even better for me, the students spoke with me about the Cricket World Cup happening that weekend between India and Australia and how they would gather in the wee hours of the morning to watch the match together,鈥� Washburn says. 鈥淭hey were very excited, and I truly enjoyed hearing their excitement and discussing food and sports with them. We did not part before taking pictures and a selfie!鈥�

Following a meal and time for interfaith conversation, the students traveled to the East 麻豆频道headquarters of the We Rise Above The Streets Recovery Outreach nonprofit organization, where they worked together to fill bags with hygiene items, warm socks and snacks to be distributed during the organization鈥檚 Thanksgiving outreach event that would be held later that week.

Students and Hendricks Chapel chaplains and staff members engage in interfaith dialogue. (Photo by Micah Greenberg 鈥�26)

The idea for an interfaith day of service and learning started this past summer with the Muslim Student Association and 麻豆频道Hillel, due in part to the strong relationship of Rabbi Ethan Bair and Imam Amir Duri膰. While the original plan was for a Muslim and Jewish partnership event, over the past weeks Bair, Duri膰 and their respective student leaders felt it was important to broaden the event to include more than the Muslim and Jewish campus communities.

鈥淭o share the experience with other groups was, in my view, a most wonderful idea,鈥� says Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol. 鈥淲e then invited all 25 religious and spiritual life groups associated with Hendricks Chapel to attend, and the Interfaith Day of Service and Learning was supported by representatives of various traditions and identities.鈥�

During the luncheon conversation in the Hendricks Chapel Noble Room, students gathered into smaller groups of three to four people for discussion, including things about others鈥� faith traditions that they admire. 鈥淚t was a wonderful way to embrace connections by embracing conversations,鈥� Konkol says.

Finished bags packed by students from Hendricks Chapel. (Photo by Micah Greenberg 鈥�26)

When the students arrived in East Syracuse, they were warmly welcomed by Al-amin Muhammad, founder and executive director of We Rise Above The Streets. The nonprofit organization provides assistance to the unhoused and underrepresented in the community, particularly through its 鈥淪andwich Saturday鈥� program and other initiatives.

Muhammad shared his personal experience of being unhoused for a decade. He was able to turn his life around, embrace his faith and graduate from college. He is now a full-time advocate and activist, and, since moving to 麻豆频道in 2015, has led outreach efforts to thousands of individuals and food-insecure families.

In speaking with the students about his experiences and his work, Muhammad encouraged them to 鈥渁ttach empathy鈥� to all that they do.

Krutartha Nagesh 鈥�25, a computer science major in the , identifies with the Hindu tradition. 鈥淭he culture and tradition that I come from places Mukti (liberation) as the highest goal in one鈥檚 life,鈥� Nagesh says. 鈥淭he ancient yet timeless wisdom of the Rishis (enlightened beings) recognizes Karma Yoga as one of the paths to achieving this ultimate goal. It is the path of service and selfless action for the upliftment and well-being of all life.鈥�

Participants in the Interfaith Day of Service at We Rise Above the Streets gather for a group photo. (Photo by Micah Greenberg ’26)

Nagesh says the day was a chance for all of those participating to walk the path of Karma. 鈥淚t allowed me to keep myself aside; my likes and dislikes, my identifications and biases, to do something that will positively impact the local 麻豆频道area. I got to experience how seva (selfless action) can not only make a difference in the community but can also bring people from diverse backgrounds together.”

鈥淎ttaching empathy to everything that we do, in my opinion, can only happen when our sense of inclusion expands. To have an expanded sense of inclusion, we need to keep our differences aside and see how we can relate with each other,鈥� Nagesh says. 鈥淭o me, Al-amin Muhammad is a Karma Yogi. I wish to be one myself and also hope to inspire others around me to also take up the responsibility of selflessly serving others so this planet can thrive.鈥�

Julia Ronkin 鈥�24, an inclusive elementary and special education major in the , identifies with Jewish tradition. She took part in the day of service mainly for two reasons. 鈥淭he first being that I believe interfaith work is so important for students on campus to take part in. In a time where there is so much divide, we as young people can show that there is unity and support for one another on our campus. My second reason for participating is the positive impact of connecting with other students in the broader context of the 麻豆频道community,鈥� she says.

Mian Muhammad Abdul Hamid 鈥�25, an information management and technology major in the , is of the Muslim tradition. He participated in an interfaith community service event last year with Hillel packaging diapers.

鈥淚 know we all share a common interest and goal; to serve the community for the greater good. 鈥� During and after the event, I was thinking in my head, 鈥榯his seems like something I can do.鈥� Just packaging items for the community whilst having a conversation with a peer from another faith was definitely a fun way to bond and was therapeutic.鈥�

Al-amin Muhammad鈥檚 encouragement to 鈥渁ttach empathy鈥� to all that they do struck a chord with Hamid. 鈥淚 was thinking of packaging everything with love and care. 鈥楾he juices I was packing in every bag are going to someone who will really enjoy it鈥攕omeone who is in need,鈥� I thought,鈥� Hamid says. 鈥淗ence, whilst packaging every item, I made sure to be packaging everything with love and for the sake of God. In my faith, 鈥楽adaqah鈥� or charity, is a notable act that one can do to increase the consciousness of God. Moving forward, I am thinking about ways to help the community鈥攏ot just from a faith standpoint, but to those who are less fortunate.鈥�

The day was also an important one for the chaplains who participated. 鈥淚 was grateful to serve our community alongside my friends. I admire the work that each of our chaplains puts into supporting and mentoring their faith communities,鈥� says Christian Protestant Chaplain Devon Bartholomew. 鈥淭his service opportunity gave me time reflect on the incredibly important work that I get to be part of at 麻豆频道University.”

Konkol was inspired by watching the students engaging in service and learning. 鈥淚 believe the students chose to model the type of world they wish to live in, rather than mirror the type of world they currently live within, and in doing so they are indeed an example for others to follow,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey showed that one can be both committed and compassionate, devout and curious, faithful and hospitable. Once again, I am left honored to witness such outstanding students choosing to lead in service to our common good through religious and spiritual life.鈥�

The offers study abroad awards of up to $5,000 to undergraduate students in good standing who are U.S. citizens and Pell Grant (federal financial aid) recipients, and up to $8,000 for undergraduates studying abroad and learning critical need languages (such as Mandarin Chinese or Arabic).

Yasmin Nayrouz in London

The opportunities that the Gilman Scholarship provides align well with the University鈥檚 newly released academic strategic plan, 鈥�.鈥�

鈥溌槎蛊档繳niversity has long prioritized study abroad as fundamental to our mission of preparing students to be globally engaged citizens. We are also committed to increasing the diversity of our study abroad cohorts and to making international education an option for all of our students, regardless of their financial circumstances. The Gilman Scholarship sits at the intersection of these goals,鈥� says Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer .

The University has prioritized the Gilman Scholarship as it supports meaningful international experiences for students and allows the University to increase equity in global programs. 鈥溌槎蛊档繳niversity is honored to be recognized for our work with the Gilman Scholarship. This award has allowed even more of our students to have deep鈥攁nd often life-changing鈥攇lobal experiences,鈥� Ritter says.

Gilman applications are a collaborative effort between the University鈥檚 (CFSA) and offices. 麻豆频道Abroad is dedicated to helping students choose study abroad programs that align with their academic and cultural interests, and CFSA has taken the lead on planning outreach to eligible students and working with Gilman applicants through writing workshops and one-on-one advising meetings to review drafts of their application materials.

Nayrouz on a hike in Scotland

“Studying abroad provides students with unparalleled opportunities to advance their studies, personal growth and professional skills in ways that help them to thrive in diverse local and global communities and workplaces,鈥� says , assistant provost and executive director of 麻豆频道Abroad. 鈥淗elping students apply for prestigious scholarships like the Gilman is one way to advance our commitment to making international study available to all students.”

鈥淭he Gilman application process provides students an opportunity outside of the classroom to strengthen their writing skills and refine their academic and professional interests,鈥� says Adam Crowley, scholarship advisor with CFSA.听 鈥淪upporting our Gilman applicants is a campuswide effort. We are proud of the success of our students and honored by this recognition.鈥�

Yasmin Nayrouz 鈥�24, an English major in the and public relations major in the , received a Gilman Scholarship and studied abroad in London in the Fall 2022 semester.

鈥淚t was the best semester I鈥檝e ever had. I got to take such interesting courses and immersed myself in the city,鈥� she says. Nayrouz took a Shakespeare class; a class about multicultural London, where she learned about the city鈥檚 diverse history and neighborhoods; a class about America from a foreign perspective; and a class about race and gender in British media.

On weekends, Nayrouz took the opportunity to visit other countries. 鈥淢y semester abroad also opened my eyes to how the U.K. and other European countries have helped refugees, as I spoke and volunteered with some. This reinforced my interest in helping migrant populations,鈥� she says.

Eligible students interested in the Gilman Scholarship should reach out to CFSA at cfsa@syr.edu. The deadline for spring applications is March 7, 2024.

Members of the 麻豆频道University Wind Ensemble and Hendricks Chapel Choir perform at St. Paul’s Church in London. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

These performances had a special meaning for the musicians and their directors鈥攖hey were a way to pay tribute to the 270 people lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie on Dec. 21, 1988. Among those lost were 35 students returning home after a semester abroad through 麻豆频道University鈥檚 Division of International Programs Abroad (now 麻豆频道Abroad).

The tour, planned by the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) in the lead up to the tragedy鈥檚 35th anniversary, was meant to honor those who were lost in the bombing, strengthen the bonds that have grown between 麻豆频道and Scotland in the ensuing years, and give the student musicians the experience of an international tour.

Milton Laufer, associate professor and director of the Sentor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, offers welcoming remarks prior to the Wind Ensemble concert at St. Paul’s Church in London. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

Planning and curating the remembrance tour began in the summer of 2021 with a conversation between Milton Laufer, associate professor and director of VPA鈥檚 Setnor School of Music, and Bradley Ethington, professor of applied music and performance (conducting) and Timothy Diem, assistant professor of applied music and performance (conducting), about meaningful performance experiences for the wind ensemble.

鈥淭hey suggested curating a performance centered around the 35th anniversary of the Flight 103 bombing during 2023鈥攖hat the numeric significance of the year and the number of students we lost that fateful day should be memorialized somehow,鈥� Laufer says.

Anne Laver, associate professor of applied music and performance (organ) in the Setnor School and University organist, and Joseph-Ossei Little, Hendricks Chapel Organ Scholar, rehearse at the organ at St. Paul’s Church in London. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

After conversations with college and University leadership and with Hendricks Chapel Choir Director Jose 鈥淧eppie鈥� Calvar and Dean Brian Konkol, and extensive planning by Setnor School administrators Michelle Taylor and Megan Carlsen, the tour was born. The trip was made possible with the support of Chancellor Kent Syverud; Vice Chancellor Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter and Trustee Judith Greenberg Seinfeld 鈥�56.

Student musicians and Michael Tick, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, pose for a photo outside of Buckingham Palace in London. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

鈥淭wo concurrent tours of two distinct ensembles; six concerts in three cities at five venues culminating in Lockerbie over the course of eight days. After nearly two years of planning, the day finally came for us to depart,鈥� Laufer says. 鈥淚 was overcome with emotions throughout the trip鈥攆rom hearing these incredible students perform beautifully in venues of historical consequence to experiencing the Remembrance Garden alongside them. It was one of the most deeply personal and beautiful, gratifying experiences of my life. I could not have been prouder.鈥�

The Hendricks Chapel Choir, 35 members strong, was led by Calvar, associate professor of applied music and performance (conducting) and assistant director of choral activities in the Setnor School. The Wind Ensemble, 65 members strong, was directed by Ethington and Diem. Anne Laver, associate professor of applied music and performance (organ) and University organist, and Joseph Ossei-Little, a graduate student and Hendricks Chapel Organ Scholar, provided organ accompaniment to the choir.

Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, was the guest preacher at Tundergarth Church prior to the Hendricks Chapel Choir performance.

Laufer; Michael Tick, dean of VPA; Dean Konkol; Elisa Dekaney, professor of music education and VPA associate dean for research, graduate studies and internationalization; and Taylor, assistant director for operations in the Setnor School and 鈥渢our mom,鈥� also accompanied the group. Travel arrangements were facilitated by Kipling Tours.

The musical selections performed on the tour were carefully chosen. 鈥淓nergy and Light,鈥� a celebration of and a reflection on life, was specifically composed for the Wind Ensemble by Natalie Draper, assistant professor of music composition, history and theory in the Setnor School. The St. Paul鈥檚 performance was the piece鈥檚 European premiere.

鈥淪uch Splendor,鈥� performed by the choir, was created by U.K.-based composer Cecilia McDowall, based on a poem written by Pan Am 103 victim and 麻豆频道student Nicholas Vrenios.

Peppie Calvar, associate professsor of applied music and performance (conducting) in the Setnor School and Hendricks Chapel Choir director, leads the choir performance at Tundergarth Church. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

鈥淭he text happens to evoke significant meaning when contextualized with Pan Am 103,鈥� says Calvar. 鈥淲e are grateful to Elizabeth Vrenios, Nicholas鈥� mother, for her graciousness in allowing us to use this text. We hope the piece and our performance serve as a lasting monument to the Remembrance Scholars Program mission to 鈥楲ook Back and Act Forward.鈥欌€�

鈥淎ngels Rising,鈥� a piece commissioned by the Setnor School and performed by the Wind Ensemble, was composed by prominent American composer Frank Ticheli.

鈥淭his work is composed as a deeply moving tribute to the memories of those whose lives were lost on that tragic day in 1988,鈥� says Ethington. 鈥淚t is a work of sorrow and of hope, a transcendent musical portrayal of the human condition and the beauty and fragility of life itself. This remarkable work will be forever associated with 麻豆频道University as it is performed around the world in the years to come.鈥�

Bradley Ethington, professor of applied music and performance (conducting) in the Setnor School of Music, offers remarks prior to the Wind Ensemble performance at the Lockerbie Town Hall. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

鈥淪uch Splendor鈥� and 鈥淎ngels Rising鈥� were performed by the Hendricks Chapel Choir and Wind Ensemble, respectively, at the annual Remembrance Scholar Convocation, held in Hendricks Chapel on Oct. 20.

For Ronald Ditchek 鈥�23, a member of the choir, the trip was especially poignant. Ditchek was one of three Remembrance Scholar alumni, including Micayla MacDougall 鈥�22, G鈥�23 and Tyler Youngman 鈥�20, G鈥�21, a Ph.D. student in the School of Information Studies, who performed as part of the Hendricks Chapel Choir (MacDougall also played the bassoon with the Wind Ensemble). During his year as a Remembrance Scholar, Ditchek represented Nicholas Vrenios and continues to do so.

A piper plays outside the Remembrance Room at Tundergarth Church in Lockerbie, Scotland. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

One of Ditchek鈥檚 best memories of the trip is signing the book that was kept in a dedicated Remembrance room at Tundergarth Church. 鈥淪igning it meant so听much to me because it represented how a piece of me was left in Lockerbie. It signified a vow as to my commitment to looking back and acting forward for the 270 lives lost on Pan Am Flight 103,鈥� he says.

Ditchek says visiting the Pan Am Flight 103 memorial in Dryfesdale Cemetery in Lockerbie was another major moment. 鈥淚 saw a new way of remembering. I was able to lay stones for people who were just like us and learn new stories about the SU students and other passengers who were on the flight,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen I paid tribute to the victims at the garden, I did everything: said prayers for the lives lost, told stories to other SU students about those who were on the flight and thought about how my experiences in Lockerbie should be told to others, so the legacies of those on the flight are not lost.鈥�

Student musicians outside Edinburgh Castle (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

Ben O鈥機onnell, a graduate student in choral conducting in the Setnor School, says the trip left him speechless. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 put to words the kindness and embrace we experienced from the people in Lockerbie. It is truly inspiring how welcoming and gracious the people are after all these years,鈥� he says. 鈥淪eeing the memorials in person in the environment where the tragedy occurred put a true humanistic aspect that was missing from my experience with Remembrance Week, one that I wish all people could experience.鈥�

O鈥機onnell even found a personal connection to one of the victims, Colleen Brunner, who grew up in the same town as his mom.

Alie Fitt, an oboist in the Wind Ensemble, says she gained a deep appreciation for Remembrance Week and for the 麻豆频道students who represent the lives that were lost.

鈥淲hen Dr. Ethington and Dr. Diem were preparing us to go abroad, we had many conversations about the importance of why we were going and the impact that this had on the 麻豆频道community. The true weight of the attack, though, didn鈥檛 really hit me until I was standing in front of the memorial in Lockerbie,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n that moment, I realized that these victims were the same age as me, enjoying college life and friends, and had goals and dreams just as I do. 鈥� Taking part in this Remembrance Tour was such a moving experience and one I will never forget.鈥�

Peppie Calvar leads the choir at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

Joseph Ossei-Little, graduate student, Hendricks Chapel Organ Scholar and member of the Hendricks Chapel Choir, says the trip connected him on a personal level with the incident that happened nearly 35 years ago.

鈥淪inging in Tundergarth Church, which overlooks the field where the nose cone of the plane fell that day, signified a true connection for me. I was able to share in their grief and comfort everyone present with my voice and music,鈥� he says. Performing 鈥淪uch Splendor,鈥� he says, brought him to tears.

鈥淚t gave me that resolve, in my heart, that never again should such acts of violence be allowed to happen and how I, can in my small way, share kindness and love to make the world a better place,鈥� Ossei-Little says.

Ben Vermilyea, a graduate student, trombonist and graduate associate conductor with the Wind Ensemble, says the whole week was an extremely powerful and moving experience. 鈥淚 was fortunate enough to conduct one of the pieces at the concert in the Lockerbie Town Hall. It was amazing to feel the connection between the students and the audience in the room,鈥� he says. 鈥淓ven though we had never met before, we were bonded by the music being made in remembrance to the events of 35 years earlier. I have never had as powerful of a music making experience than I had performing in the Lockerbie Town Hall, particularly when we performed 鈥楢ngels Rising.鈥欌€�

Timothy Diem, assistant professor of applied music and performance (conducting) in the Setnor School and Michelle Taylor, assistant director of operations in the Setnor School and “tour mom,” are pictured with members of the Wind Ensemble in St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.

The trip was the first experience of traveling outside of North America for percussionist听 and graduate student Alex Talerico G’24.

鈥淭he thing that stood out to me the most was just how accepting and friendly the people of Lockerbie were when we visited. The positive relationship between the town and the University was palpable and I was approached and accepted with open arms despite being a stranger to every person I met,鈥� he says. 鈥淧erforming musical works in Lockerbie Town Hall听specifically dedicated to the tragedy was incredibly poignant and evoked feelings I’m not sure I’ll ever experience again.鈥�

Allison Pasco, a graduate student in orchestral conducting and music education and a flutist, has long felt a connection to Remembrance. She grew up in Oswego, New York, with Remembrance Scholar alumnus Tyler Youngman. 鈥淭he trip was one of the most special and memorable opportunities throughout my years at Syracuse,鈥� she says.

Pasco had two prominent solos in 鈥淎ngels Rising.鈥� 鈥淚t made me think of all of the Remembrance Scholars I have known throughout the years and of Lynne Hartunian and Colleen Brunner, the two SUNY Oswego students who were victims in the tragedy,鈥� Pasco says.

鈥淭he 麻豆频道University Wind Ensemble鈥檚 concert tour of the United Kingdom with the Hendricks Chapel Choir was a remarkable and memorable experience for our students,鈥� says Ethington. 鈥淭he concerts in London, Lockerbie and Edinburgh were once-in-a-lifetime performances before enthusiastic audiences.鈥�

鈥淥ur hosts in Lockerbie were gracious and welcoming, and our shared history in remembering the tragic events of December 1988 resonates from generation to generation,鈥� he says.

Video by Nick Dekaney 鈥�26, a broadcast journalism major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Hendricks Chapel Choir

A Goon Squad member helps a student move into Sadler Hall in fall 2022. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Lauren Murphy, director of residence life, says it’s good to strategize with your roommate in advance to avoid duplication of items. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need two televisions, for example,鈥� she says. One of the most unique things Murphy has seen: a pop-up steam tent/sauna. That鈥檚 definitely not allowed; it鈥檚 important to keep in mind that you are sharing a limited space with another person or people.

Bring along things that will make your room feel like home and will make you comfortable, such as pictures, stuffed animals and d茅cor. 鈥淚t鈥檚 those little things that make a difference,鈥� Murphy says.

Rachel Adelakun, a senior international relations major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences and president of the Residence Hall Association, advises making lists to keep track of what you need and what your roommate is bringing. She also suggests some practical items you might not think of, such as reusable shopping bags and a professional outfit.

Some examples of what to bring:

• Bedding, including XL twin sheets (for residence halls, full sheets for South Campus) and a mattress pad
• Clothing for multiple seasons. Remember, 麻豆频道is hot in late August and winter weather arrives just a few short months later. It鈥檚 important to have a warm coat, boots, gloves/mittens and a hat as you traverse campus.
• A fan
• Storage containers and Command strips
• Power strips with surge protection
• Personal hygiene items, shower shoes and a bathrobe
• Laundry basket/bag and detergent
• Umbrella and rain jacket
• Cleaning supplies and toilet paper (for South Campus apartments)

Examples of what not to bring:

• Large appliances, including air conditioners (only refrigerators less than 5 cubic feet and microwaves less than 1,000 watts are permitted)
• Fire safety hazards, including space heaters, candles and incense
• Cooking appliances, such as air fryers, toasters and grills
• Wall-mounted televisions
• Large furniture items
• Pets (service or emotional support animals must be approved)
• Expensive or irreplaceable collectibles or jewelry

Lists of both suggested and prohibited items can be found on the .

And it is important to remember, don鈥檛 panic. If you need something you left behind, stores are nearby!

罢丑别听, organized by the (SOURCE), celebrates the culmination of undergraduates鈥� summer efforts and the array of topics they examined through many research and creative programs across campus.

A student gives a poster presentation during the 2022 event. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

The University community is invited to attend two presentation events. Nine students are presenting their work virtually on Wednesday, Aug. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Zoom. Another 100 students will present in a poster session Thursday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Panasci Lounge in Schine Student Center. A celebration picnic will follow on the Huntington Beard Crouse patio.

Students include participants in SOURCE initiatives as well as other programs, including the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP); Chemistry and BioInspired Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs; the SUNY Upstate Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program; Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program; Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)-supported students and others.

Most of the presenters are undergraduates at Syracuse, although visiting students from other colleges who have worked with 麻豆频道University or SUNY Upstate faculty through several programs will also share their summer work, says Kate Hanson, director of the SOURCE. Over 225 students across all the campus programs were research-active this summer, working both in-person and remotely.

Participating students are from a variety of disciplines, primarily STEM fields. Among the topics undergraduates have been examining this summer are:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences and Substance Abuse: A Literature Review and Future Directions
• A Frequency Feedback and Color Transfer Approach to Improved Coherence in Video Style Transfer With Diffusion Models
• Functional Characterization of Systemic RNA Interference in C. elegans
• Media Coverage of Sickle Cell Disease and Hydroxyurea Use, Access, Side Effects and Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Content Analysis
• Solid State Solar Collector for Electricity Generation in Concrete Sidewalks
• The Role of the KIT Tyrosine Pathway in Primordial Follicle Formation in Neonatal Mouse Ovaries

鈥淭he SOURCE Summer Research Symposium brings together students working with mentors and programs across the University to share and celebrate their summer research work,鈥� says Hanson. 鈥淏y engaging in research and creative activity during the summer months, students truly focus on their projects and make immense strides while developing valuable skills and building strong relationships with faculty mentors.鈥�

Student Researchers

Catherine Solis, a senior biology and neuroscience major in the , has been researching the behavioral and cognitive effects of early life adversity in adolescent CD-1 mice through maternal separation with , associate professor of psychology. 鈥淚 am focusing on how spatial and working memory deficits develop over time in the mice to adulthood in order to correlate how early life adversity in humans (neglect, abuse and the foster care system) affect human children in real life,鈥� Solis says. 鈥淯ltimately, our lab aims to understand the environmental and social factors leading to the development of such cognitive disorders as ADHD [attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder].鈥�

Catherine Solis

Solis has also worked on projects in the lab studying the effects of both pharmacological and nonpharmacological solutions, and plans to begin drug studies to determine the difference in environmentally induced early life adversity mouse models and drug induced models.

She is a participant in the LSAMP program, which promotes educational opportunities for students from underrepresented communities to study and pursue careers in STEM fields.

鈥淚 have been with LSAMP for a year now and I’m excited to continue with it for my senior year; the program has greatly contributed to my professional development in college so far and preparation for graduate school applications,鈥� Solis says. 鈥淟SAMP has allowed me to grow as a student and researcher, participate in and present at two national conferences and has led me to realize I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience after my undergraduate studies.鈥�

Mrigayu Ghosh, a sophomore biomedical engineering and biochemistry major at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, has engaged in research with , associate professor of biomedical and chemical engineering and Samuel and Carol Nappi Research Scholar in the , through the program. Shikha Nangia, the program’s director, played a pivotal role in securing funding for the grant.

Mrigayu Ghosh

Ghosh, a seasoned researcher through previous opportunities, has been working on the purification and characterization of extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells for applications in tissue regeneration.

鈥淚’ve wanted to research stem cell biology for a long time, so I’m really fortunate to have this experience,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 love the potential of stem cell research and am looking forward to bringing back what I’ve learned to UT and continuing my research in Dr. Aaron Baker’s lab, which studies the mechanobiology of stem cells.鈥�

After graduating from UT, Ghosh plans to pursue a Ph.D. and embark on a career as a professor. 鈥淚’m grateful to have enhanced my research, writing and presentation skills throughout this program as all the skills I’ve acquired will be highly relevant in my academic and professional career moving forward,鈥� he says.

Quinn Carletta, a sophomore graphic design major in the , has been working with fellow students Michaela Fry and Mattea Vecera and , assistant professor of television, radio and film, on research for a documentary film through the . Carletta has worked to creating slide and presentation decks and social media content.

鈥淲orking with Professor Hamilton has given me a new perspective on how I can work with clients in the future,鈥� Carletta says. 鈥淪imilarly, it has impacted how I approach working on new projects since I have a better grasp on the questions to ask before starting a design request now.鈥�

Other Presentations

The Summer REU fellows and their mentors spent the summer working on 12 cutting-edge computational social science research projects. They shared their findings during an interactive poster session on July 28.

Also on Thursday, Aug. 10, five McNair Scholars will present their summer research beginning at 1 p.m. in 241 Sims Hall. The University community is invited to attend.

The new unit was supported by University administrators, including Dr. Vincent Lamparella, then director of health services; Peter Baigent, vice president for student affairs and Dr. Bruce Baker, a local orthopedic surgeon who worked with the athletics department. The 10 charter members of the organization received 20 hours of in-house training and operated with rudimentary medical equipment, including a used ambulance.

Members tend to a victim at an accident scene (Photo courtesy of SU Ambulance)

鈥淭he medical crisis unit was thought of as just a bunch of kids playing ambulance up on the Hill,鈥� says Steve Busa 鈥�83, an architect and EMT in the Skaneateles community who served in leadership roles with the medical crisis unit from 1976-83.

The late 1970s were years of uncertainty鈥攖he unit almost folded in 1977 because of the condition of the ambulance. Help came through from the Student Association and Health Services. By the end of that year, the unit was fully operational and began providing 24/7 coverage for the campus community.

The unit officially became known as 麻豆频道University Ambulance (SUA) in 1978. The rebranding was a major milestone, with increased emphasis on recruitment, EMT training and new vehicles. Its membership鈥攁nd reach鈥攇rew steadily over the years. When the Carrier Dome opened in 1980, SUA was at the forefront of providing critical coverage for events that brought thousands of fans to campus.

Calls for Service

Today, SUA has nearly 100 members, first-year through graduate students, responding to emergencies ranging from minor to life threatening. The organization operates under the umbrella of Health Care at the Barnes Center at The Arch and has been led by Paul Smyth, emergency services manager and a veteran paramedic, for the past decade. Smyth is assisted by five student field supervisors. SUA exceeded 1,200 calls for emergency service this academic year.

A dispatcher in the early years (Photo courtesy of SU Ambulance)

Membership in SUA requires a significant commitment. It is open to all regardless of prior experience, and those interested go through an application and interview process. If selected, they undergo in-house training and testing, followed by the 150-hour New York State emergency medical technician class.

鈥淥ur members devote an extraordinary amount of time and effort to serving the campus community,鈥� says Smyth. 鈥淚 am proud of the dedication that they all have to living out SUA鈥檚 mission and values, and to providing a critical service here at 麻豆频道University.鈥�

SUA is strongly supported by Chancellor Kent Syverud and Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Chancellor Syverud offered remarks at SUA鈥檚 recent anniversary banquet, which drew over 200 current members and alumni.

Chancellor Syverud spoke of his pleasant surprise in coming to 麻豆频道and finding scores of students running their own ambulance service, providing virtual 911 service to the campus and vicinity and at sports events and concerts.

鈥淎nd the students ran it all, with their own leadership and planning. And they come from every school and college, every race and background and creed. And they like each other and they talk to each other, including all night shifts when they are helping others,鈥� he said. 鈥溾€� 麻豆频道University is better because of SU Ambulance.鈥�

SUA operates with two New York State basic life support ambulances as well as a University supervisor鈥檚 vehicle. SUA staffs all major events on campus, including athletic events in the JMA Wireless Dome. The organization maintains a medical support unit used for large campus events and serves as mutual aid to city/county agencies for multiple casualty incidents. SUA also provides critical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Stop the Bleed trainings for members of the community.

Through the years, the medical crisis unit and later SUA have answered calls across a spectrum, ranging from sports injuries to diabetic emergencies to full cardiac arrests. They have included the April 9, 1978, University Avenue fire that claimed the lives of four 麻豆频道firefighters and a 1982 incident in the Dome in which a 麻豆频道cheerleader was badly injured. In 1984, SUA members delivered the baby of a University staff member.

By 1993, SUA members were required to be New York State-certified emergency medical technicians. The next year, the organization, which had been student run since its inception, moved under the umbrella of then Health Services. Also in 1994, SUA was named a New York State Emergency Medical Services Agency of the Year.

Life Lessons

Crucially, SUA has served as an important training ground for students, providing life lessons and experience that has served them in their careers and in service to their communities.

Alumnus Howard Riesel ’76 was a member of the medical crisis unit from September 1974 through May 1976. 鈥淢y time spent riding the ambulance at 麻豆频道resulted in changing career paths from television production to the field of mental health and substance abuse treatment,鈥� he shared on Facebook.

Alumna Dr. Kate Bunch 鈥�15, a resident neurosurgeon at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, joined SUA in spring 2012. She became a field supervisor, personnel supervisor, training supervisor, field training officer and secretary, earned her EMT-B and dispatcher certifications and was certified as a basic life support/CPR instructor.

Her time at SUA included her first time performing CPR and her first mass casualty incident鈥攁 bus accident on Interstate 81. 鈥淲hat made these calls a bit more memorable was that they were introductions to incidents I see as a physician and surgeon now,鈥� she says.

Bunch says that her experience at SUA gave her valuable life lessons. 鈥淲hat SUA taught me was far less about medicine (although I certainly learned some) and was far more about leadership, communication and patient advocacy,鈥� she says.

Dr. Anthony Schramm 鈥�16 joined SUA in his first year in spring 2013. He was one of four field supervisors during his senior year.

Schramm鈥檚 first call as a newly appointed crew chief was for a fall from an unknown height. 鈥淯pon arrival, we quickly realized it was more critical than we expected. Being able to care for your peers during some of the worst days of their lives is something I did not take for granted; it was truly special,” he says.

SUA members pictured following an event in the JMA Wireless Dome. SUA provides coverage for Dome events.

Schramm is now chief resident at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center in the Department of Anesthesiology. 鈥淭o excel at SUA one must learn how to think critically, communicate effectively, triage and anticipate next steps. These skills are invaluable to a young professional beyond our years at 麻豆频道University,鈥� Schramm says.

SUA alumnus Chris Jennison 鈥�12, G鈥�16 is an attorney with the Federal Aviation Administration. He also serves his community in Maryland as an EMT.

鈥淢y experience as a college EMT definitely influenced my decision to pursue a career in law. I often encountered situations where patients’ needs were impacted by legal and regulatory barriers, and this made me realize the importance of advocating for policy changes that could improve patient outcomes,鈥� he says.

As an employment attorney, Jennison works to navigate the complex web of employment laws and regulations.听 鈥淲hether I’m working with an individual manager to address a specific issue or advocating for policy changes at a higher level, my experience as a college EMT continues to influence my work and inspire me to make a positive difference in people’s lives,鈥� he says.

SUA members Ryann Washington and Kayina Ross

Caring for the Community

For Ryann Washington, a sophomore biology and forensic science major in the College of Arts and Sciences, SUA has given her the opportunity to pursue her passion for health care and make a difference in her community.

鈥淎s an EMT, I have been able to provide vital care to patients and improve my knowledge of the health care profession. Being a Black woman in this field is essential, as representation is crucial to ensure patients feel comfortable and receive proper treatment,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 joined SUA not only to obtain my EMT license but to be an advocate for all students of diverse backgrounds so that they receive the care and attention they deserve in a hospital setting.鈥�

Washington says her work with SUA has helped her learn the value of teamwork. 鈥淚 hope to inspire other students of color to pursue careers in health care and to feel empowered to take on leadership roles in their communities,鈥� Washington says.

Abby Presson, a junior from Arlington, Virginia, majoring in magazine, news and digital journalism in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, joined SUA in fall 2020 as a first-year student. She came to SUA as a fully certified EMT, joining her dad in service. She continues to be an active member of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax, Virginia, and works shifts for the VVFD when she is home.

Presson is a field supervisor. In addition to her academic schedule, she works one to two 15-hour shifts and a rotating 24-hour weekend shift.

鈥淛oining SUA not only gave me a space where I could grow without fear of judgement, but it gave me a supportive network of friends who have been there for me every step of the way,鈥� she says. “I鈥檓 forever going to be grateful to SUA for giving me this environment and support network, and for trusting me to help lead the organization and pass down all the knowledge that was given to me over the years.”

While SUA鈥檚 early beginnings were filled with challenges, the performance of its crews over the years have made it into the professional and trusted resource for the University community that it is today.

鈥淚t used to bother me that SUA was thought of as ‘just a bunch of kids playing ambulance up on the Hill,’鈥� says Busa. 鈥淭oday I am proud to say we are still just a bunch of kids up on the hill, providing superior EMS services to the 麻豆频道University community and beyond as alumni.鈥�

The scholarships, now in their 34th year, were founded as a tribute to鈥攁nd means of remembering鈥攖he students studying in London and Florence through 麻豆频道University who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students were among the 270 people who perished in the bombing. The scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations.

Significant support for the Remembrance Scholarships has been provided by Jean Thompson 鈥�66 and 麻豆频道University Life Trustee Richard L. Thompson G鈥�67 in memory of Jean Taylor Phelan Terry 鈥�43 and John F. Phelan, Jean Thompson鈥檚 parents; by Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven Barnes 鈥�82 and Deborah Barnes; by The 麻豆频道Association of Zeta Psi in memory of Alexander Lowenstein; and by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation.

Selection Process

Remembrance Scholars are chosen in their junior year through a competitive selection process. Applicants submitted an essay and a reflective response in multimedia, artistic, musical or written format as part of a comprehensive application. The selection committee is composed of University faculty and staff and current Remembrance Scholars. The $5,000 scholarships are awarded on the basis of scholarship, leadership and service to the community.

Additionally, two students from Lockerbie come to 麻豆频道each year for one year of study through the Syracuse-Lockerbie Scholarships, also in their 34th year. The scholarships are jointly funded by 麻豆频道University and the Lockerbie Trust. Joshua Halliday and Tristan Woolley were recently selected as the 2023-24 Lockerbie Scholars.

鈥淭he Remembrance Scholars represent the future while honoring the past, which is both a great privilege and a great responsibility,鈥� says Vice Chancellor and Provost Gretchen Ritter. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 students, who have demonstrated strong leadership skills and a commitment to service, are up to the task. As with those who were tragically lost nearly 35 years ago, we are proud that these students are members of our University community.鈥�

The Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars plan the Remembrance activities held at the University each year. The scholars will be recognized during a convocation in the fall.

The 2023-24 Remembrance Scholars, their hometowns, majors, and schools and colleges are the following:

• Nicole Aponte of Franklin Square, New York, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
• Christian Bevilacqua of Norwich, Connecticut, a social studies education major in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and School of Education, a geography major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and A&S and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program.
• Nina Chen of Palo Alto, California, a fashion design major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA).
• Dominic Chiappone of Miami, Florida, a history major in the Maxwell School and A&S and broadcast journalism major in the Newhouse School.
• Sophie Creager-Roberts of Charlottesville, Virginia, an environmental, sustainability and policy major and history major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Daniela Dorado of Bogot谩, Colombia, an advertising major in the Newhouse School and creative writing major in A&S.
• Mia-Marie Fields of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS).
• Guerdyna Gelin of Westchester, New York, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Alison Gilmore of South Abington Township, Pennsylvania, a sport analytics major in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.
• Miguel Guzman of Lima, Peru, a biotechnology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Ka鈥檃i I of Nu鈥檜anu, Hawaii, a policy studies and international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S.
• Benjamin Nicholas Johnson of Stafford, Virginia, a computer engineering major in ECS and a member of the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps.
• Kyle Joseph Kalmar of Fort Collins, Colorado, a student in the School of Architecture.
• Beizhou Li of Jiangsu, China, a political science and economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S.
• Lucio Maffei of West Orange, New Jersey, a political philosophy and ethics major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Grant Maxheimer of Linden, Michigan, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Mitchell Mazza of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a neuroscience and psychology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Aiden McGorry of New York, New York, a student in the School of Architecture.
• Jovanni Mosca of Corinth, New York, a computer science major in ECS and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Aidan O鈥機onnell of Manchester, New Hampshire, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S.
• Motolani Oladitan of Lagos, Nigeria, a psychology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Sofia Rodriguez of Miami Gardens, Florida, a communication and rhetorical studies major in VPA.
• Emily Saad of Allentown, Pennsylvania, a finance major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, a creative advertising major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Katarina Sako of Buffalo, New York, a neuroscience and biology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Elliot Salas of Houston, Texas, an electrical engineering major in ECS.
• Mary Schieman of Mentor, Ohio, an environmental engineering major in ECS.
• Emily Jo Shuman of Durham, New Hampshire, a human development and family science major in the Falk College.
• Hannah Skelton of North Caldwell, New Jersey, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School.
• Hannah Starorypinski of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, a political science major in Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Otto Sutton of Corning, New York, a political science, history and political philosophy major in the Maxwell School and A&S.
• Anna Terzaghi of Sydney, Australia, an anthropology and international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Madison Wallace of Bedford, New Hampshire, a biochemistry and neuroscience major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Emily M. Weaver of Mount Morris, New York, an Earth and environmental sciences and forensic science major in A&S, an anthropology major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Xibo Xu of Jiangsu, China, an applied data analytics major in the School of Information Studies and an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S.
• Zhiyun (Alita) Zhang of Shanxi, China, a psychology and linguistic studies major in A&S.

Organizers in the iSchool partnered with the group, based in the , to challenge participants to use generative artificial intelligence (AI), specifically the text-to-image AI , to create eight to 10-page comic books. Teams were asked to focus on the notion of how we may live with and around artificial intelligence. Teams competed for $3,000 in cash prizes and were judged by a panel of faculty experts.

鈥淚nformation plays a role in so many dimensions of human life鈥攆rom the arts and social life to medicine and sports,鈥� says associate professor Jaime Banks, who organized the event. 鈥淭he aim of the iDare series is to help highlight some of these intersections and how our students can think critically and creatively about them.鈥�

Graphic from CODE^SHIFT comic

鈥淲hen Jaime approached me to partner with the iDARE challenge, I immediately said yes. Innovative ideas emerge when people work collaboratively. AI is something that can be mysterious and even scary for those not familiar with it,鈥� says Srivi Ramasubramanian, professor and Endowed Chair in the Newhouse School and founder and director of .听鈥渋DARE’s 鈥榝uture justice鈥� theme听helped students reflect on the challenges and benefits of AI in a fun and creative way.鈥�

The participants included students from the iSchool, College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), Newhouse School, Whitman School of Management, College of Arts and Sciences, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and ranged from undergraduates to Ph.D. students.

And this challenge wasn鈥檛 your typical student study project. The 45 participating students, divided into 10 interdisciplinary teams, were sequestered in Hinds Hall from 9 a.m. on a Saturday to 2 p.m. on Sunday to work on the challenge. This, says Banks, provided the perfect environment for collaboration.

Graphic from IcyIce comic

鈥淥ver 29 hours of the competition, the 10 teams came up with some really thoughtful, compelling and creative interpretations of the theme,鈥� Banks says. 鈥淚t was definitely a hefty undertaking for everyone involved鈥攁nd the feedback from student challengers is that it was difficult, frustrating 鈥� and totally fun.鈥�

The awards, presented on that Sunday evening, included technical composition (how well the team performed in creating what they envisioned, told a cohesive story and leveraged the formal features and conventions of comics as a medium); theme engagement (how well each diverse team came together to creatively interpret notions of future justice in life with AI); and challenger鈥檚 choice (the participants鈥� pick for the most outstanding comic).

Winners were Team CODE^SHIFT (technical composition); Team RiskRush (theme engagement) and Team IcyIce (challenger鈥檚 choice). All of the final comics .

Chelsea Brown, a television, radio and film major in the Newhouse School and a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School, says her iDare experience听was filled with lots of learning and motivation. She was on the CODE^SHIFT team comprised of Newhouse, Whitman and VPA students.

鈥淣one of us knew anything about AI, but we did know how to create an impactful story,鈥� she says. Going into the challenge, Brown thought the 29-hour timeframe seemed excessive. 鈥淲e ended up falling asleep in Hinds at 3 a.m., woke up at 7 a.m. and submitted the assignment five minutes before the deadline,鈥� she says.

Brown served as the team leader. In that role, she planned out the 29 hours, delegated tasks and made sure are images were consistent with the theme of the story.

Graphic from RiskRush comic

Her team’s story, 鈥淣ot So Distant Future,鈥� was a commentary on the potential effects recent legislation surrounding book banning and curriculum restrictions in Southern states can have on students鈥� understanding of American history. The team won the $1,000 prize in the technical composition category, which measured the consistency of its characters/aesthetics, image composition, alignment to texts and visuals, and structure/conventions for storytelling.

鈥淭he biggest lesson I learned from this experience is that you don鈥檛 need to be a coder or an iSchool major to understand AI. I believe that AI is going to be a critical part in the future of storytelling and should be included in all of the colleges鈥� curricula,鈥� she says.

Keisha Rorimpandey, a senior civil engineering major in ECS, collaborated on the team with three other women who were data science master鈥檚 degree students. 鈥淚 enjoyed the IDare challenge. I am a creative person and use AI daily (ChatGPT, etc.) but really don鈥檛 know much about it. I wanted to see how I can create art with it,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he challenge really did allow me to be creative but also surprisingly trained me how to utilize the right words for descriptions. AI is a technology that uses words to understand what the user wants, and my team members and I were not prepared for that. I learned a lot from this experience, but mostly how important it is to be able to communicate with the AI bot with clear, descriptive English words.鈥�

Banks says the event was a success. 鈥淣ot only did the challengers show up, but they showed up. Every team that competed actually finished (which is a feat in itself), but each finished comic was remarkably thoughtful, creative and represented how they mastered the complexity of this information challenge. All of the teams learned how to productively communicate with a generative AI.鈥�

鈥淭hrough this practical and collective experiential learning opportunity, students from a variety of backgrounds learned to work together across differences. As an organizer, I am really proud of the absolutely amazing final presentations by all the teams,鈥� says Ramasubramanian, who also served as a judge. 鈥淭o hear them talk through their interpretation of the theme, the ways in which they overcame difficulties and the learnings that came out of their involvement was heartwarming.鈥�

The next iDare challenge will be held in Spring 2024. Watch for announcements this fall for details.

Four | juniors have been selected to participate in highly competitive and prestigious public affairs experiences this summer.

Isabella Brown and Madelin DeJesus Martinez, both policy studies majors, will attend the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) at Carnegie Mellon University.

Alexandria Johnson, an international relations major with the topic concentration in security and diplomacy and a regional concentration in Africa, will participate in the summer enrichment program through the .

Erykah Pasha, a political science and sociology major, will participate in the .

PPIA fellows are rising seniors interested in pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in public policy or international affairs and a professional career in public service. The program hosts summer training institutes focused on public policy and international affairs at universities across the country. It promotes the inclusion of underrepresented groups in public service and supports students who demonstrate involvement in working to improve historically underserved or underrepresented communities. The program provides full tuition at a Junior Summer Institute (JSI), GRE preparation, a $5,000 scholarship at a PPIA graduate school (PPIA fellows often receive scholarships beyond this amount) and application fee waivers to graduate programs in the PPIA consortium.

The PPIA applicants received support on their applications from Michelle Walker, director of community programs for the policy studies program in the Maxwell School; Melissa Welshans, assistant director of the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA); and Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA.

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program at Howard University designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers. Students attend classes and participate in a variety of programs with foreign affairs professionals at Howard University and at diverse locations around Washington, D.C. The program covers the costs for tuition, travel, housing and meals, and provides a stipend of $3,300.

SROP at the University of Michigan (U-M) strives to support diverse students in their preparation for graduate studies. Through intensive mentorship, active learning and enrichment activities, SROP fosters a community of scholars who increase social and cultural capital and networking while mastering research skills.

Isabella Brown

Brown, from Scranton, Pennsylvania, is a Coronat Scholar and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program. She will pursue the data analytics track during the PPIA experience. 鈥淚 am hoping to learn how I can effectively use technology to advance the public interest and bolster socioeconomic opportunity in smaller cities and rural areas,鈥� she says.

In the future, Brown plans to work to promote strong, interdependent communities through grassroots organizing and participatory local government. 鈥淎s an incoming PPIA fellow, I intend to develop my skills as a data analyst and put those skills into action,鈥� she says.

Madelin De Jesus Martinez

Martinez, of Washington Heights, New York City, is a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program.

She plans to take advantage of PPIA鈥檚 GRE preparatory course, networking events and alumni network, and hopes to achieve a deeper understanding of the intersection of public policy and data analytics. 鈥�I want to build a career where I use data science to analyze and suggest policies that ensure equal access amongst different communities in the U.S. public service system, from healthcare to policing,鈥� Martinez says. 鈥淧PIA will immerse me in an environment with students who are eager to gain necessary skills to tackle complex societal problems and give me the opportunity to further develop and apply my quantitative, analytical, policy analysis and leadership skills.鈥�

听Alexandria Johnson

Alexandria Johnson, from Cleveland, Ohio, is a McNair Scholar and is minoring in French and Francophone studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.

During her Rangel Scholar experience, she hopes to engage in meaningful conversations with inspirational people in the U.S. foreign affairs community. 鈥淚 hope to gain a deeper understanding of myself as I prepare to make the transition from an academic career to a professional one. I am also incredibly excited to travel to D.C. and become a representative for others in my immediate community! I am eager to meet other like-minded scholars to encourage conversations about bringing more diversity to the field.鈥�

Johnson is considering a career in international politics focusing on defense policy and diplomacy. 鈥淚 think dialogue is increasingly important among nations as concepts of defense are changing,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he Rangel summer enrichment program will help me in my future career goals by giving me a unique support system that will provide insights into the people, institutions and processes crucial to international affairs.鈥�

Erykah Pasha

Pasha is from Syracuse, New York, and is a McNair Scholar. During her summer experience, she will assist Lydia Kelow-Bennett, assistant professor of Afroamerican and African studies at the University of Michigan, on a book proposal on Black women in popular culture. 鈥淚 hope to use this work, as well as the resources provided through the SROP, to broaden my research knowledge and skills,鈥� Pasha says.

Pasha aims to become a professor in the future. 鈥淚 hope this experience at the University of Michigan will assist me in narrowing down my own research interests and give me a better idea of what I want in a Ph.D. program,鈥� she says.

麻豆频道University junior Iona Volynets has been named as a 2023 recipient of the Truman Scholarship.

Volynets, of Washington, D.C., is a history and international relations major in the and with a museum studies minor in the , a Coronat Scholar and a member of the . In October 2022, Volynets was named as one of three 麻豆频道recipients of the Voyager Scholarship: the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, a new award for juniors committed to public service funded by the Obama Foundation.

The Truman Scholarship was awarded this year to 62 exceptional college juniors in recognition of their community service, academic accomplishment and commitment to a career of public service.听Volynets was among 199 finalists selected from more than 705 candidates nominated by schools and colleges from around the country.

The was created by Congress in 1975 to be the nation鈥檚 living memorial to President Harry S. Truman. Since its creation, the Truman award has become the premier graduate scholarship for aspiring public service leaders in the United States. The scholarship seeks to fund students who possess the leadership skills, intellect and passion that will make them 鈥渃hange agents鈥� for the public good in any field. Recipients receive $30,000 to fund up to three years of graduate education leading to a career in public service. Truman Scholars also benefit from a network of other scholars and the opportunity to participate in professional development programming to help prepare them for careers in public service leadership.

Volynets is the 14^th Truman Scholar from 麻豆频道University since the program鈥檚 inception in 1975, and the first named since 2018. They worked with the听听(CFSA) on their application and in preparing for their interview.

鈥淚ona鈥檚 outstanding academic record, thoughtful community engagement, and leadership skills made them an excellent candidate for the Truman Scholarship,鈥� says Jolynn Parker, director of the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising. 鈥淭hey are poised to become exactly the kind of change agent the Truman Foundation seeks to recognize. I can鈥檛 wait to see what they do with this award.鈥�

Volynets plans to work at the intersection between the arts and public service in the field of cultural preservation. 鈥淭his is a field that requires a high degree of skills, knowledge and expertise. I would like to be the best possible public servant, and gaining a graduate degree will allow me to be a more informed, better prepared leader.鈥�

They would like to change the field, making it more diverse, participatory and accessible. They also hope to dedicate their career to specifically focus on former Soviet, and especially Ukrainian, heritages.

鈥淭he skills, connections, experience and knowledge I will gain not only from a graduate degree, but from the support, guidance and opportunities offered by the Truman Scholarship will help me enter this field,鈥� they say. 鈥淚 can’t express how grateful I am for the opportunity. I hope to spend many years expanding my knowledge, so that I may one day be a truly impactful, humble and informed leader in the field. The Truman Scholarship provides opportunities to pursue this path, and I am so fortunate to have been given this incredible opportunity.鈥�

Volynets is a current Lender Center Fellow, working under the guidance of Lender Faculty Fellow Seyeon Lee and with fellow students Ana Aponte Gonz谩lez, Aaishanni Agny and Rose Hodg, and researcher Yash Shimpi. The group鈥檚 overarching project was focused on migrant women’s wellness in the Northside neighborhood. Volynets chose to work on access to culturally appropriate fresh produce, based both on past focus groups with women in the area and inspiration from organizations doing great work in their hometown of Washington, D.C. They spoke with nonprofits, farmers, gardeners and food security experts in the 麻豆频道area and secured a partnership with the Central New York Food Bank, who provided culturally sensitive produce to the YMCA throughout the Fall 2023 season.

In addition, they conducted surveys at the nearby Northside Vineyard Church food pantry and surveyed the female refugee participants. Through these surveys, they determined which produce these women took and used, which produce they desired and whether they wanted access to feminine hygiene products. In addition, they collected information about their nationality and family size.

鈥淔rom our data collection, we were able to learn more about how to provide culturally appropriate produce to the diverse Northside community,鈥� they say. Volynets will continue this work in the fall to better determine which produce should be provided in specific neighborhoods of Syracuse.

鈥淢y work as a Lender Center Fellow has been an exceptional and life-changing opportunity,鈥� Volynets says.

Volynets has also served as a Service Learning Intern at the Shaw Center, as an intern with Save the Children and as a Teen Council member for the Smithsonian Galleries of Asian Art.

Volynets is currently spending the semester in Strasbourg, France, through 麻豆频道Abroad. 鈥淚 hope to one day be a polyglot, and practicing my French is one important step on that path,鈥� they say. 鈥淚n addition, being able to intern at the Council of Europe is an incredible and unique opportunity. I am so grateful to be able to work there, and have learned much from my time there. In addition, Strasbourg has a lot of fascinating history and art, making it a wonderful place for me to be.鈥�

This summer, Volynets will travel to six former Soviet countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan). They will visit historic art museums and analyze the different ways these countries and regions portray their histories with the Russian empire, the USSR and the aftermath of the collapse of the USSR. 鈥淚 am interested in national memory and the diverse and varied experiences in the USSR. I hope to turn this research into a distinction thesis in history, as well as an honors thesis,鈥� they say.

Three 麻豆频道University students鈥擬atthew Snyder, Cody VanNostrand and Jose Arturo Venegas鈥攈ave been selected for the 2023 Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate scholarship awarded in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics in the United States. This is the second consecutive year that 麻豆频道University has had three scholars selected in one year.

• Snyder, a junior, is a psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and a member of the Ren茅e Crown University Honors Program;
• VanNostrand, a junior, is an aerospace engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), a physics minor in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program; and
• Venegas, a sophomore, is a civil engineering major in ECS.

The was established by Congress in 1986 to honor U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the five-term senator from Arizona. The purpose of the program is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields.

The Goldwater Foundation received 1,267 nominations this year from around the country and 413 students were selected for the scholarship.

Each of the 麻豆频道University Goldwater Scholarship nominees worked with the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) to prepare their application. A faculty committee, headed by James Spencer, professor of chemistry, selected Syracuse鈥檚 nominees for the national competition.

鈥淢atthew, Cody and Arturo benefited from excellent mentorship and guidance from faculty here at the University. The strong research profiles they have built, combined with their exceptional academic records and clear professional goals, made them outstanding Goldwater candidates,鈥� says Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA. 鈥淭hey are among the next generation of leaders in innovation in STEM.鈥�

Matthew Snyder

Snyder says his passion for studying psychology is driven both by a strong and genuine intellectual curiosity for the subject, as well as his belief in the unique capacity for work in this field to uplift human well-being. 鈥淚 feel very fortunate that the field of study that has most tightly gripped my curiosity is one in which I feel there is a tremendous opportunity to conduct research ultimately aimed at helping others,鈥� he says.

During Summer 2022, as an intern in the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Summer Research Internship Program, Snyder worked with Lisham Ashrafioun, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester, on a study assessing the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for loneliness in treating opioid use disorder (OUD) in individuals suffering from clinically significant loneliness.

Under the mentorship of Brett Jakubiak, assistant professor of psychology in A&S, he conducted an independent study assessing the role of attachment orientation in the support-seeking strategies used by anxiously attached individuals within their close relationships. And he has joined the laboratory of Katie Kidwell, assistant professor of psychology in A&S, and has begun working on his Honors thesis assessing the role of attachment in physical health behaviors under her mentorship. Laura Machia, associate professor and associate chair of psychology in A&S, has also been an important mentor.

Following graduation, Snyder plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology that will support research at the intersection of pediatric health behaviors and addiction. He plans a research career focused on expanding the scientific understanding of pediatric health behavior.

鈥淭he financial assistance offered by the Goldwater Scholarship is very meaningful to my family and me and will allow me to enter graduate school with a greater degree of financial comfort. Being recognized as a Goldwater Scholar is an important recognition of my research achievements thus far, helping me to further my education and research,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 am incredibly grateful for the support that I have received from each of my research mentors, CFSA, and my friends and family.鈥�

Cody VanNostrand

VanNostrand鈥檚 drive to study aerospace engineering comes from his desire to benefit society, specifically through improving transportation and aerospace vehicle capabilities. 鈥淲hether it be the upcoming urban air mobility industry, fluid-traversing robots or new types of space propulsion, a more mobile society will be able to better collect information and respond to the challenges it will face,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he aerospace field is one that is forward-looking, always with new ideas, technologies and challenges just around the corner, and I am excited to help create new ideas and solve such challenges.鈥�

His study abroad experience in Florence, Italy, confirmed his intended path of study. 鈥淚 was able to visit museums in my free time featuring the original instruments of scientists and engineers such as Galilei, DaVinci and even Bernoulli. Seeing the original instruments and how they directly related to the fundamental concepts of my coursework was both humbling and inspiring,鈥� he says.

VanNostrand has seized opportunities for research since his first year in college. In Spring 2021, he joined the Aerospace Computational Methods Lab (ACML) of John Dannenhoffer, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. That summer, he participated in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program in which he and a partner remotely coded and developed two models of balsa planes. In Summer 2022, as part of an REU program, he joined the Combustion and Energy Research Lab (COMER) of Jeongmin Ahn, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, where he learned how to design and make a testing procedure for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). He is second author on a paper published in the Proceedings of the Nineteenth International Conference on Flow Dynamics. Last year, he was selected to participate in the L鈥橲PACE NASA workforce development program. The experience he has gained in writing proposals, using quad charts, science traceability matrices, solicitation reviews and team-based research has helped to prepare him for a career in the space industry.

VanNostrand is currently working on his Honors thesis project investigating the fin oscillations of the manta ray via a model of his design, under the mentorship of Kasey Laurent, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. He plans to obtain a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering and pursue research and development in aerospace robotics at NASA鈥檚 Jet Propulsion Laboratory or in the private space industry.

鈥淭he Goldwater Scholarship is an amazing opportunity that will not only financially support the beginning of my career, but will also open me up to a network of scholar alumni that offer mentoring and advice; this will be immensely useful as I begin looking at graduate school,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 am incredibly honored to have been selected for this scholarship, and I am thankful for all the guidance I’ve received from the mechanical and aerospace engineering department and CFSA, and especially for continuous support from my friends and family.鈥�

Jose Arturo Venegas

Venegas鈥� long-term goal is to aid as many people as possible while improving the conditions of the natural environment. 鈥淐ivil engineering provides me with an avenue to improve the natural integration of infrastructure and utilities we use on a daily basis, while incorporating my passion for sciences, math and sustainability. I appreciate the career flexibility and hands-on field work that civil engineering allows,鈥� he says.

Even before getting to the 麻豆频道University campus, Venegas began conducting research in the multiscale material modeling lab of Zhao Qin, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. He developed an independent research project focused on verifying whether a structurally complex fiber-reinforced composite expressed a real-world negative Poisson鈥檚 ratio during compression. Through this research, Venegas has used classical lamination theory to identify a baseline of mechanics for composite structure variations. He has also utilized computer-aided modeling and finite element analysis to support the elastic data predicted in in-situ imaging experiments.

Venegas gained additional research experience participating in a National Science Foundation REU program in materials science research at the University of California-Irvine in Summer 2022. He worked on two projects–one in an all-solid-state battery lab and another in a grain boundary (GB) characterization lab. 鈥淓ach project provided me with insights into electrochemistry and materials science,鈥� he says. Venegas was a part of the program in fall 2022.

Venegas plans to earn a Ph.D. in civil engineering and pursue research on ecologically sound building material composites, with the goal of revolutionizing sustainable infrastructure in the U.S.

鈥淭he Goldwater Scholarship supports my commitment to materials research to expand energy infrastructure globally. I鈥檓 also excited to get involved in the Goldwater Ambassadors program to provide STEM mentorship to other students. I am honored to be recognized and could not have done it without the support of my research mentor, Dr. Zhao Qin, the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising, my family and friends and many more,鈥� says Venegas.

CFSA seeks applicants for the Goldwater Scholarship each fall; the campus deadline is mid-November each year. Interested students should contact CFSA at听cfsa@syr.edu.