The welcomed more than 100 researchers, practitioners, students and community partners for Voices of Service 2026, the second annual showcase of veteran-focused research, curricula and resources.

The event was co-organized by the , the (IVMF) and the , led by U.S. Navy veteran .

The event drew presenters and attendees from across campus and Central New York for an afternoon of conversation, connection and shared purpose.

Sixty-two poster and table presentations demonstrated the breadth of work underway at the University in support of veterans and the military-connected community. Topics covered behavioral health, legal services, community programs and more. The IVMF contributed 11 presentations across its research and evaluation, community insights and impact and digital library teams.

“I loved seeing students, faculty, staff and researchers from on and off campus taking time to connect, share and discuss the ways that we here in 性视界 are supporting鈥攁nd can continue to support鈥攚ork that improves the lives of service members, veterans and military-connected individuals,鈥� says , managing director of research and evaluation at the IVMF.

The event reflected the depth of collaboration that has taken shape around veteran-focused work at the University. Representatives from the and other regional veteran service organizations were among those in attendance, underscoring the NVRC’s role as a regional hub where the veteran support ecosystem comes together across institutional lines.

IVMF scholars shared findings from several active projects examining how coordinated care networks serve the military-connected community. One study, led by a team including IVMF research associate Zachary Bridgewater, examined factors influencing whether service referrals made through the AmericaServes coordinated care model were successfully resolved.

The findings suggest that network-level factors, including the accuracy of referrals and the adequacy of available resources, play a more significant role in outcomes than client demographics alone. Researchers noted that this points to the equitable design of the AmericaServes model, while also identifying areas where investment in network capacity could improve access.

Additional research addressed the state of veteran services coordination in New York and New Mexico, the potential for deeper collaboration between AmericaServes networks and VA Medical Centers, and the development of a shared data standard aimed at improving interoperability across coordinated care platforms.

Rosalinda Vasquez Maury, the director of applied research and analytics, presented findings on military spouse employment that put a sharp point on one of the community’s most persistent economic challenges. Military spouses relocate 3.6 times more often than civilian families, and the earnings gap between those who moved in the past year and those who remained in place was 32 percent. The research demonstrates that the problem is not job access but career continuity.

Student researchers were also among the presenters. Paul Sagoe, a Ph.D. candidate in the and a two-time recipient of the , presented work on a nanoparticle-based therapeutic system designed to treat arthritis, a condition that affects veterans at a disproportionate rate.

“One in three veterans has arthritis, which is five times more compared to the civilian population,” says Sagoe, who was recently awarded the 2026 Chancellor鈥檚 Citation for Excellence in student research. 鈥淭hat calls for a clinical need to really look into how we can bring about a cure.”

Sagoe鈥檚 research focuses on using a nanoparticle-based delivery system to target macrophages, the key cells driving arthritis progression in the joint.

The event also highlighted work extending beyond the IVMF. Kenneth Marfilius ’07, a U.S. Air Force veteran and director of the (ORP), spoke to the value the showcase holds for veteran-serving organizations across the region.

“Events like the Voices of Service Symposium are critically important for the continued growth and visibility of the ORP,” Marfilius says. “This year, I was especially encouraged by the strong second-year response and the notable increase in posters, which truly reflected the breadth and depth of the work being done across campus in support of veterans and military-connected individuals. The symposium creates a space where research, practice and lived experience come together, reinforcing our commitment to innovation, collaboration and impact.”

Marfilius also highlighted the event’s value for external organizations looking to connect with the University’s veteran-focused ecosystem.

“For veteran-serving organizations and nonprofits, attending Voices of Service offers a meaningful opportunity to connect directly with students, faculty and interdisciplinary partners who are actively engaged in this work,” says Marfilius. “It allows organizations to identify emerging talent, build partnerships and gain insight into innovative programs and research that can inform and strengthen their own services.”

The ORP is currently advancing its partnership with the VA’s Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program, a federal initiative designed to enhance student veterans’ access to healthcare, mental health services and academic support. Additional initiatives include work on veteran transition and reintegration, workforce development pathways into military and veteran-serving professions, and an interdisciplinary legal-social work partnership aimed at reducing barriers to care.

The IVMF Digital Library, now in its fourth year, also showcased its newly launched SU Research Collection, which aggregates the University鈥檚 research publications related to veterans and military-connected populations.

The posters from this year鈥檚 event can be seen in the .

From partnering with students in the classroom to building cross-campus collaboration that led to real-time improvements, the University鈥檚 commitment to meaningful assessment took center stage at the seventh annual One University Assessment Celebration on April 10. The event, hosted by Academic Affairs and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE), included awards and poster presentations.

In her opening remarks, Julie Hasenwinkel, associate provost for academic programs, highlighted the importance of celebrating the many ways faculty, staff and students engaged in assessment across the University over the past year.

Awards were given in five categories.

• Institutional Effectiveness Champions: This award honors campus community members who champion meaningful assessment and who have made outstanding contributions to the University鈥檚 culture of improvement. The recipients were:
  • Academic programs: Xiyuan Liu, associate teaching professor, Dean鈥檚 Faculty Fellow for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Co-curricular programs: Emily Dittman, director, 性视界 University Art Museum
  • Course feedback: Magdel铆n Montenegro, part-time instructor, Spanish, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Shared competencies: ‘Cuse Works
  • Shared competencies student champion: Fetch Collective magazine
• Outstanding Assessment: This award recognizes a distinguished academic, co-curricular and functional area for overall robust assessment. The recipients were:
  • Academic: Library and information science master’s degree program, School of Information Studies
  • Co-curricular: Disability Cultural Center
  • Functional: Office of Pre-College Programs
• Best Engagement Strategies: This award recognizes the engagement of faculty, staff and students in the assessment process. The recipients were:
  • Faculty engagement: Ash Heim and Vera McIlvain, the biology department, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Staff engagement: Arts at SU
  • Student engagement: Linguistic studies master’s degree program, College of Arts and Sciences
• Best Use of Results: This award recognizes an academic, co-curricular and functional area for how assessment results are used in making decisions. The recipients were:
  • Academic: Bachelor’s of biomedical engineering degree program, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Co-curricular: LGBTQ+ Resource Center
  • Functional: 性视界 University Libraries
• Collaborative Inquiry and Action: This award recognizes a partnership that extends beyond a single school, college, division or unit and uses strong assessment methods and data as a catalyst for improvement. The recipient was:
  • First Year Seminar

Following the awards, 2025 poster presenters were acknowledged for their efforts to collaborate, experiment, reflect and innovate in their areas over this academic year. Assessment Leadership Institute faculty participants included:

• Ben Akih Kumgeh, Xiyuan Liu, Karen Martinez Soto, Anupam Pandey and Mehmet Sarimurat, mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Alex M茅ndez Giner, film and media arts, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Ash Heim and Vera McIlvain, biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jane Read, geography and the environment, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Nancy Rindfuss, nutrition and food studies, Falk College of Sport

Recipients of the 2025-26 鈥淪tudent Engagement in Assessment鈥� grant included:

• Civil and environmental engineering: Yilei Shi
• Civil and environmental engineering: Svetoslava Todorova
• Communication sciences and disorders: Charles Nudelman
• Environment, sustainability and policy: Jane Read
• Nutrition science: Claire Cooney, Nikki Beckwith
• Setnor School of Music: Klark Johnson
• School of Social Work: Nadaya Brantley
• The Writing Center: Collie Fulford

Closing the event, Laura Harrington, director of institutional effectiveness, reflected on the deeper meaning of the work: “At its root, the word 鈥榓ssess鈥� comes from Latin, meaning 鈥榯o sit beside.鈥� This is what it asks of us: to sit beside our work, take stock of what we see, and take action鈥� Assessment isn鈥檛 a requirement. It鈥檚 a practice,” Harrington said.

Explore photos, award highlights and full poster presentations on the .

Story by A鈥檡la James

Orange Success 2.0, an upgraded student success platform that will give 性视界 University faculty, staff and advisors a more powerful, intuitive set of tools to help students thrive, is set to launch Monday, May 18. The platform is powered by , a prominent higher education student success management system.

鈥淥range Success 2.0 is a key part of 性视界 University鈥檚 ongoing investment in the infrastructure, people and culture that make student success possible,鈥� says Tommy Powell, assistant provost for academic programs in the Office of Academic Affairs.

What Is Orange Success 2.0?

The current has long served as a cornerstone of the University鈥檚 student support infrastructure. Building on that foundation, Orange Success 2.0 leverages the Navigate360 platform to offer stronger advising tools, improved early alert capabilities and clearer visibility into student engagement and progress. It integrates student data and advising workflows into a single, unified experience and allows faculty and advisors to coordinate support across academic and student service offices.

The rollout is coordinated through the (CSE), housed at 100 Sims Drive, which consolidates 14 student-facing departments under one unified structure serving more than 14,000 students.

Comprehensive, on-site training for Orange Success 2.0 was offered this semester, with more than 200 faculty and staff members participating. The sessions were tailored to meet the needs of different campus audiences, including academic advisors, faculty members and frontline student support staff, and covered platform features, advising best practices and strategies for using data to support students more effectively, among other topics.

鈥淭he breadth of participation across schools, colleges and departments reflects how seriously our community takes its responsibility to every student on campus,” 听Powell says. 鈥淲e are set for a strong launch on May 18.鈥�

Over the coming month, CSE will continue to onboard users, gather feedback from early participants and refine the configuration of Orange Success 2.0 to meet the evolving needs of the campus community.

Following the launch, users will continue to access the platform through MySlice. A knowledge base featuring step-by-step guides, instructional videos and FAQs will also be available to support users throughout the transition, and additional training sessions will be held in the fall.

For more information about Orange Success 2.0., call 315.443.2005 or email orangesuccess@syr.edu.

On Friday, April 17, 性视界 University paused to say thank you to students, faculty and staff at its annual One University Awards ceremony.

Two major awards鈥攖he Chancellor鈥檚 Medal and the Chancellor鈥檚 Citation for Excellence鈥攚ere bestowed. The ceremony also included the presentation of the Student-Athlete Award, Seinfeld Scholarship, Meredith Professorship for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Recognition Award, Enduring Values Award, William Pearson Tolley Medal, Chancellor鈥檚 Award for Innovation and the Chancellor鈥檚 Forever Orange Award.

Emeriti faculty who retired in 2025 and employees who celebrated years of service milestones in 2025 were . This year鈥檚 University Scholars, Senior Class and School and College Marshals and Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars were also .

Award Recipients听

罢丑别听Chancellor鈥檚 Medal听is the University鈥檚 highest honor and is awarded to individuals in honor of their trailblazing and extraordinary contributions to the University, to an academic body of knowledge or to society.

This year鈥檚 recipients are , senior vice president and chief student experience officer, and , senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

罢丑别听Chancellor鈥檚 Citation for Excellence听recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions in four overarching categories:

• The award for听Excellence in Student Research听recognizes students who have engaged in collaborative research that has the potential to make a deep and lasting impact on greater society. This year鈥檚 recipients are Paul Sagoe, doctoral student in biomedical and chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (graduate), and Sadie Meyer 鈥�26, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and mathematics major in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S).

• The award for听Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives听acknowledges faculty and staff who, through their work, enhance the undergraduate experience for students or make invaluable contributions to supporting and advancing the University鈥檚 mission and goals. The recipients are听, teaching professor, director of clinical education and director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic in the College of Law (faculty);听, data analyst for advising and career services, A&S (professional staff); and , office manager for the Intercultural Collective in the Student Experience division (support staff).
• 罢丑别听Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction听award is intended for faculty members who are collaborators in work of intellectual richness that has the potential for future impact. The work of these nominees offers possibilities for collaboration within the University and outside in partnership with others. This year鈥檚 honoree is , professor of psychology in A&S and director of the Center for Health Behavior Research and Innovation.
• Chancellor鈥檚 Citation for Excellence, Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors those who have made extraordinary contributions toward advancing all four pillars of excellence over the arc of their careers while at 性视界 University and beyond. This year鈥檚 recipient is听, professor in the School of Art, College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Other Awards Presented

罢丑别听Student-Athlete Award听recognizes the top male and female student athletes and presented to the senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average over the course of their academic and athletic careers. This year鈥檚 recipients are Ruben Rojas Betanzos 鈥�26, a bioengineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, an MBA student in the Whitman School of Management and member of the men鈥檚 cross-country team; and Nora Radke 鈥�26, a biology major and neuroscience major in A&S and member of the women鈥檚 rowing team.

Seinfeld Scholarship: Each year the University honors the talents of outstanding faculty or students through an award made possible by Judith Greenberg Seinfeld 鈥�56, H鈥�25, a distinguished alumna and member of the University Board of Trustees. Awards are made to those who have been determined by their peers to have made outstanding contributions to the beauty of the world, to have added to human values and to ending human abuse anywhere in the world, and to have demonstrated passion for excellence, creativity and originality in academic or artistic fields. This year, the designation is bestowed upon , associate professor and Dean鈥檚 Professor of Community Engagement in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Composition in A&S.

罢丑别听Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professorships for Teaching Excellence听were created in 1995 to recognize and reward outstanding teaching among faculty. The 2026-29 Meredith Professors are , Milton and Ann Stevenson Endowed Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, and chair of biomedical and chemical engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and , associate professor and chair of visual communications in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. The 2023-26 Meredith Professors, and , and a 2019-22 Meredith Professor, , were also recognized.

In 2001, the Meredith Professorship Program was expanded to recognize teaching excellence by non-tenured faculty and adjunct and part-time instructors. Awards are given in two categories:听Early Performance听补苍诲听Continuing Excellence.

This year鈥檚 honorees in the Early Performance category are , assistant professor in the School of Architecture; , assistant professor of political science in the Maxwell School; , assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in ECS; , assistant professor of anthropology in the Maxwell School; , assistant teaching professor of electrical engineering and computer science in ECS; , assistant professor of visual communications in the Newhouse School; and , assistant professor of writing, rhetoric and composition in A&S.

The two honorees in the Continuing Excellence category are , Distinguished Professor of Photography in the Newhouse School, and , associate teaching professor and graduate director of public relations in the Newhouse School.

罢丑别听Enduring Values Award recognizes an individual who is integral in helping students achieve academic excellence at a university that is welcoming to all. This year鈥檚 recipient is , associate dean of community and engagement and professor of public relations in the Newhouse School.

罢丑别听William Pearson Tolley Medal for Distinguished Leadership in Lifelong Learning听is based in the School of Education and honors national or international leadership in support of lifelong learning. This year鈥檚 recipient is Alice Kendrick 鈥�70, G鈥�79, G鈥�93, retired superintendent of the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District.

The Chancellor鈥檚 Award for Innovation is bestowed upon an individual who advances academic and technical excellence through the introduction and implementation of extraordinary new methods and ideas to benefit the 性视界 University community. This year鈥檚 recipient is , senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer.

罢丑别听Chancellor鈥檚 Forever Orange Award听recognizes individual students, faculty or staff who鈥攂y virtue of extraordinary hard work, good values and commitment to excellence鈥攈ave come to embody the best of 性视界 University. This year鈥檚 recipient is听 鈥�80, director of athletics.

Seven faculty members will leverage 性视界 University鈥檚 for research and program development this summer, supported by funding from the .

The initiative, launched this year, provides full-time faculty members with $10,000 for high-impact summer projects based in Los Angeles, New York City or Washington, D.C.

鈥淭hese faculty members will chart new territory, using study away sites to push disciplinary and interdisciplinary research forward, forge partnerships across sectors and reimagine how students learn,鈥� says , associate provost for strategic initiatives. 鈥淲e are excited to see the new initiatives that grow out of these summer projects.鈥�

Los Angeles

, assistant professor of fashion design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts鈥� School of Design, will conduct a one-week research 鈥渟print鈥� investigating adaptive apparel needs for disabled performing artists, a population that is largely overlooked in existing research. Through interviews with disabled performers, Jiang will examine pain points around range of motion, quick changes, heat management, assistive device interfaces and aesthetic expression. The project will conclude with an Inclusive Performancewear Listening Session and the development of an Inclusive Adaptive Performancewear Design Requirements Toolkit.

Following the summer project, Jiang will bring VPA faculty and students into the research as stakeholders and collaborators and focus on developing prototype garment directions informed by the toolkit. She plans to return to LA next summer to engage in wear trials, follow-up interviews with original participants and the creation of a refined toolkit.

, associate professor of sport management, and , senior associate dean and professor of sport management in the David B. Falk College of Sport, plan to develop two new interdisciplinary courses and advance a growing research agenda. The first course, Sport Business, Hip Hop and Fashion, will examine the commercial and cultural intersections of sport, hip hop and the global fashion economy, using LA鈥檚 streetwear ecosystem and athlete-driven enterprises as living case studies. The second, Venue Hospitality: Sport Facilities as Engines of Experience, will use LA鈥檚 facility landscape鈥攊ncluding the Intuit Dome, SoFi Stadium and Crypto.com Arena鈥攖o explore the idea of modern sport venues as hospitality enterprises. The pair will meet with venue directors and industry professionals to generate curriculum content, confirm guest lecturers and support Falk College鈥檚 newly funded research partnership with a leading stadium technology company.

The courses, which Pauline and Tainsky plan to launch next spring, will be designed for sustained industry engagement through recurring guest speaker infrastructure and applied student projects, while the relationships developed in LA will be expanded into internship and capstone opportunities for sport management undergraduates.

New York City

, assistant professor of sport analytics in Falk College, will begin building the groundwork for a repeatable women鈥檚 sports analytics study away program that will be centered on the city鈥檚 concentrated women鈥檚 professional sports ecosystem and emphasize city-specific partnerships, hands-on student experiences and exclusive data access. She will conduct exploratory meetings with leadership at organizations including WNBA headquarters, NWSL headquarters, Gotham FC, the New York Liberty and the New York Sirens, as well as with sports analytics firms and women鈥檚 sports media companies.

Rubenstein plans to establish relationships with multiple organizational partners, secure letters of intent or MOUs, complete a feasibility report and develop a draft curriculum and syllabus informed directly by industry input. She envisions the program generating a network of industry partners committed to ongoing data sharing for research, internships and classroom collaboration, with findings integrated into coursework. The program also has potential as a student recruitment tool, and as a pathway for faculty research through sustained engagement with the New York study away site.

, associate professor of public administration and international affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will build a sustained, credit-bearing study away program centered on peacekeeping and global governance. He will conduct archival research at the United Nations Dag Hammarskj枚ld Library and think tank collections to support ongoing work on multilateral diplomacy and peace operations. He will also cultivate relationships with alumni, practitioners and New York-based NGOs working on human rights, peace building and sustainable development; these organizations will serve as sources of guest speakers, internship opportunities and potential research collaborators for Maxwell students.

The project is designed as a catalyst for a repeatable, on-site intensive course offered at the 400/600 level and open to undergraduate students in international relations, political science and policy studies as well as master鈥檚 candidates in international relations. That would bring Maxwell students into direct engagement with the UN, international NGOs, think tanks and global financial institutions, while partnerships with New York organizations would potentially generate collaborative projects that connect scholarly analysis to real-world advocacy and program design.

, assistant professor in the School of Education and VPA鈥檚 Setnor School of Music, will deepen partnerships with K-12 schools that are leading the way in modern band and popular music pedagogy. DeAngelis will meet with music educators and administrators at current and prospective partner schools, with a particular focus on programs that blend modern band and contemporary music approaches with traditional models. These efforts will broaden field placement opportunities for University music education students pursuing New York State K-12 certification.

Two high-visibility events will result from the project: a Fall 2026 professional development day at the Fisher Center featuring workshops and a panel discussion on contemporary music pedagogy with New York City-based educators and leaders in this field; and a Spring 2027 NYC music workshop that will bring partner school students to the Fisher Center for collaborative jam sessions, ensemble coaching and songwriting. These initiatives aim to create a sustained 鈥渇eedback loop鈥� between the University鈥檚 music education program and New York City schools and students, strengthening and expanding New York-based field placements, elevating 性视界鈥檚 profile as a leader in contemporary music education, attracting prospective students and ultimately extending the School of Education鈥檚听听student teaching program to include music education.

Washington, D.C.

, teaching professor and executive director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic in the College of Law, will utilize the University鈥檚 Washington, D.C. site as a sustained hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, alumni engagement and experiential learning in military and veterans law, administrative practice and public policy. She plans to formalize relationships with federal agencies and adjudicative bodies central to military and veterans law and host a reception for stakeholders in these areas. The event will serve to convene agency leaders, alumni and faculty, and engage University government relations and alumni affairs colleagues to build a coordinated institutional strategy and durable programming infrastructure.

The project will include early-stage development of an interdisciplinary speaker series in collaboration with that explores issues at the intersection of military and veterans policy, federal administration and institutional reform. Looking ahead, Kubala aims to establish a three-credit intersession residency course in Washington, serving both residential J.D. and hybrid-online JDi students, with a companion speaker series and alumni event to deepen professional networks. This will position the D.C. campus as a recurring convening hub that integrates academic programming, alumni relations, collaborative research and sustained federal partnerships across the College of Law and the broader University.

In its inaugural year, the Study Away Summer Awards drew 20 applications from faculty across eight schools and colleges. A review committee evaluated proposals based on five key areas: site engagement, research and creative merit, sustained impact, strategic alignment with the priorities outlined in the University鈥檚 academic strategic plan, 鈥�,鈥� and strength of partnerships.

Recipients will participate in a Universitywide showcase during the 2026-27 academic year, helping establish best practices and inspire broader faculty engagement with the University鈥檚 study away sites.

For more information about the awards, contact Dekaney at 315.443.0768听or听emdekane@syr.edu.

When almost 6,000 first-year and transfer students filled out their 听(FYS 101) course feedback over the previous two years鈥攁 response rate of nearly 72%鈥攖he University listened.

The result was a revamping of FYS 101 for fall 2025听that puts student voices at the center of one of the most important transitions in a young person鈥檚 life.

The 15-week, one-credit course brings together all first-year and transfer students for a weekly 55-minute seminar built around discussion, experiential activities and written reflection on what it means to become part of a new community. Each section of the course is co-taught by a (faculty/staff/graduate students) and a (undergraduate students).

The course, established in 2021, was meaningfully redesigned based on direct student feedback.听鈥淭he changes we made weren鈥檛 driven by assumption,鈥� says听, who directs the program through the University鈥檚听. 鈥淪tudents told us what was working and what wasn鈥檛, and we built from there.鈥�

The redesigned course follows a deliberate content arc鈥斺�淪elf, Campus, Community鈥濃�攖hat guides students through an inward-to-outward journey over the semester. New case studies and structured group work have been woven into the curriculum, giving students framework to process their experiences together rather than in isolation.

Last fall鈥檚 cohort showed marked gains on most of the course outcomes, Schantz says. And last week, the curriculum revision received the Collaborative Inquiry and Action award at the . That event recognizes faculty and staff for examining and enhancing learning and operational success, highlighting exemplary assessment efforts and showcasing impactful initiatives that enhance teaching, learning, operations and the student experience.

Lead Instructors Sought

, assistant director of new student programs in , has served as a lead instructor. 鈥淢y highest satisfaction in teaching FYS 101 is seeing students grow into themselves socially, academically and personally over such a short period of time,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 love watching students who walked in feeling unsure, quiet or overwhelmed begin to participate more, build confidence and recognize that they belong at 性视界.鈥�

That sense of belonging鈥攕ometimes elusive in a student鈥檚 first weeks on campus鈥攊s the driving purpose behind FYS 101, Schantz says. Now shaped by the students it serves, the course is stronger than ever.

Applications Due April 24

for Fall 2026 FYS 101 lead instructors. The role is open to faculty, staff and graduate students without assistantships. Curriculum, course guides, rubrics and Blackboard infrastructure are already in place, so instructors facilitate rather than build from scratch. Instructors receive a stipend of $2,500 per section.

The application deadline is Friday, April 24. For more information, email firstyear@syr.edu or call 315.443.9035.

More than 140 members of the campus community have spent this academic year engaged in the rigorous process of seeking reaccreditation by the鈥��(MSCHE).鈥疓uided by a steering committee co-chaired by , associate provost for academic programs, and鈥�, associate vice president for research, the vital undertaking ensures 性视界 University meets and exceeds high standards of educational excellence.

Working Groups Produce Reports

The process began a year ago with the completion of a self-study design and a campus visit from an MSCHE representative. Starting last fall, members of seven working groups evaluated large amounts of evidence compiled by the鈥�痑nd other units. From that data, they developed reports that demonstrate the University鈥檚 adherence to MSCHE鈥檚 .

鈥淭he working group members have been the cornerstone of this process, spending an entire semester immersed in data, evidence and analysis,鈥� Hasenwinkel says. 鈥淭he draft reports they’ve produced reflect not just rigor, but also a genuine investment in understanding who we are as an institution and where we are headed. This self-study is only possible because of their dedication.鈥�

The seven reports were completed in December and submitted to a writing team that includes Hasenwinkel and McDonald as well as Gabe Coleman, director of project management and operations in the Office of the Chancellor; Jerry Edmonds, chief of staff for academic affairs; Laura Harrington, director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness; and Wendy Loughlin, executive director of academic communications in the Division of Communications. That team is now working to review and compile the reports into a single self-study document.

Input on Draft Self-Study

A draft self-study report will be made available to the University community for review beginning Monday, Aug. 3, with the public comment period running through Monday, Sept. 14. Feedback from faculty, staff and students is crucial, McDonald says. 鈥淎 self-study is only as strong as the perspectives that shape it,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he insights that come from across our University will strengthen the work of our self-study and ensure it reflects the full breadth of the 性视界 experience and key opportunities to further deliver on our mission.鈥�

Input gathered during the open comment period will be taken into consideration as the self-study is finalized. The report will be submitted to MSCHE in December. In March 2027, a group of peer evaluators from other MSCHE-accredited institutions will visit campus, review evidence and meet with key campus leaders and constituencies. A final determination will be made by MSCHE in June 2027.

For more information about MSCHE reaccreditation, visit .

Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer today announced the appointment of as the inaugural Provost鈥檚 Innovation Fellow at 性视界 University.

In this role, Horn will develop a Universitywide academic-industry strategy and support faculty in creating industry partnerships that provide experiential learning opportunities and professional connections for students. He will also work to develop new revenue streams through academic-industry initiatives and regularly assess their progress and success.

鈥淚 am excited to welcome Professor Horn into this role and know he is the perfect person to lead this important initiative,鈥� Agnew says. 鈥淗e has already demonstrated an exceptional ability to build meaningful bridges between academic and industry partners, creating opportunities that benefit our students and bolster experiential inquiry. I can think of no one better positioned to shape this strategy from the ground up and ensure that 性视界 remains at the forefront of academic-industry collaboration.鈥�

The two-year appointment begins Aug.听15, 2026,听and runs through June 15, 2028. Horn will report to Agnew and work closely with the academic affairs leadership team, the Division of Communications, deans and associate deans and faculty and career advisors across campus.

Horn has served as associate dean of strategic initiatives for the since July 2022, and as a professor of practice in public relations since August 2018. Over the last four years, Horn has led the development of numerous academic-industry partnerships for the Newhouse School, ranging from executive education immersion programs for corporations鈥攊ncluding Delta Air Lines and Lockheed Martin鈥攖o creating collaborative student-focused partnerships with Sony, Spectrum News, CBS News and Stations, Advance Local and American Airlines.

As a professor of practice, Horn has forged partnerships with several global sport organizations and communications firms, resulting in student-supported industry research and international projects. Each June, Horn leads a short-term study abroad course to Switzerland to foster hands-on, experiential learning for students with global organizations.

鈥淐onnecting students with innovative industry experiences has been the uniting passion of my work since joining the Newhouse faculty in 2018,鈥� Horn says. 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful to Provost Agnew for this high honor of serving as the inaugural Provost鈥檚 Innovation Fellow, as I鈥檓 thrilled to expand on the work we鈥檝e built at Newhouse, thanks to Dean Mark Lodato and his vision. I鈥檓 particularly looking forward to developing new relationships across the University to help unlock the potential for unique, meaningful and distinctive experiences for students across industries.鈥�

Prior to joining the Newhouse faculty, Horn spent more than 20 years in communications leadership roles in Major League Baseball and Olympic sport, most notably serving as vice president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and as head of communications for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Horn earned a master鈥檚 degree in communications management from the Newhouse School.

Join Academic Affairs and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at the seventh annual on Friday, April 10, at 1 p.m. in the School of Education Commons in Huntington Hall. The celebration is open to the public.

The event will honor and celebrate faculty and staff for their efforts to examine and enhance student learning and operational success. Awards will be given in five categories:

• IE Champions, recognizing campus community members who advocate for meaningful assessment to enrich the student learning experience and operational effectiveness.
• Outstanding Assessment, recognizing a distinguished academic program, co-curricular program/unit, and functional unit for robust assessment and action planning to support decision-making.
• Best Engagement Strategies, recognizing programs/units for engaging faculty, staff and students in the assessment process.
• Best Use of Results, recognizing an academic program, co-curricular program/unit and functional unit for using assessment results to inform decision-making.
• Collaborative inquiry and Action, recognizing a program/unit that collaborates with others outside of their primary school/college/division to use the assessment process to enhance student learning and campus operations. Sharing data and discussing the story the data tells leads to actions that improve the student

Posters highlighting the work of 2025 Assessment Leadership Institute participants and 2025-26 recipients of the Student Engagement in Assessment grant will also be showcased.

Light refreshments will be served. today.

性视界 University undergraduates are getting their moment to shine this spring, presenting original research and creative work to peers, faculty and the broader campus community across a series of symposia and showcase events running through the end of the semester.

鈥淔or a researcher, learning how to effectively present their work is a crucial part of the research process. Whether a student is sharing a completed project with conclusions, or a work-in-progress still in development, the dialogue and conversation with a broader audience is always clarifying,” says Kate Hanson, director of the (SOURCE). “Our undergraduates do incredible research, guided by dedicated faculty mentors, and our campus community is warmly welcomed to engage with and celebrate this work.鈥�

The SOURCE Spring Showcase includes the following:

Thursday, March 26

Lundgren Room, 106 Life Sciences Complex, 4-6 p.m.
The event will feature four 鈥淭ED-style鈥� student research talks and a presentation of SOURCE and Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) awards.

Friday, March 27

Life Sciences Complex Atrium, 2-4 p.m.
This interdisciplinary event will feature more than 100 students presenting research and creative activity.

The entire campus community is invited to attend the events.

A complete list of programs in March, April and May with event and registration details can be found on (check back for updated information).

Other symposia and research-related events this spring include:

• , Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m.-2:45 p.m., Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center
• , Saturday, March 28, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Life Sciences Complex Atrium
• , Friday, April 3, 9:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m., 608 Bird Library
• , Friday, April 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Collegian Hotel and Suites, 1060 E. Genesee St.
• , Thursday, April 16, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Nancy Cantor Warehouse, Auditorium, Room 100A
• , Friday, April 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Milton Atrium, Life Sciences Complex
• , Friday, April 17, 10 a.m., 101 Newhouse 1
• , Tuesday, April 28, 3-5 p.m., 220 Eggers Hall
• , Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Hall of Languages, multiple locations (complete schedule will be available on the after April 8)

Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness (IE) are pleased to announce a call for nominations for听.听 will be accepted through Friday, March 20.

Nominations are requested for individuals, programs and units whose exceptional efforts have contributed to a culture of improvement at the University.

The assessment awards recognize faculty, staff and students for their efforts to examine and enhance learning and campus operations. The event will showcase meaningful and sustainable practices undertaken to provide students with an unsurpassed learning experience.

鈥淭he One University Assessment Awards highlight the vital connection between assessment and student success,鈥� says Julie Hasenwinkel, associate provost for academic programs. 鈥淚’m eager to recognize the thoughtful, evidence-based approaches our faculty and staff are taking to enhance learning outcomes and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to academic excellence. This work exemplifies how we continuously refine our programs and services to better serve our students.鈥�

The seventh annual One University Assessment Celebration will be held Friday, April 10 at 1 p.m. in the School of Education Commons in Huntington Hall. Awards will be announced in the following categories:

• Institutional Effectiveness Champions, featuring two new awards: Student Champion for Shared Competencies and Course Feedback Champion
• Outstanding Assessment in an Academic, Co-Curricular and Functional Program/Unit
• Best Student, Faculty and Staff Engagement
• Best Use of Results
• Collaborative Inquiry and Action

Visit the for more information about the nomination process, award descriptions, past recipients, and prior event photos. If you have any questions, please contact the Assessment Working Team.

There鈥檚 warmth emanating from the Noble Room in the lower level of Hendricks Chapel every Monday night whenever classes are in session.

Every sewing machine buzzes and hums as the members of the make handmade quilts that will keep vulnerable Central New Yorkers warm during the winter months.

鈥淭hose are chaotic nights. Everybody is working on a project that will end up at one of our partner charities,鈥� says quilting enthusiast Judy O鈥橰ourke 鈥�75, G鈥�10. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice knowing you鈥檙e helping someone out, and it鈥檚 nice knowing that something I enjoy doing is giving somebody else comfort.鈥�

O鈥橰ourke is one of 10-15 active members of the Hendricks Chapel Quilters鈥攃onsisting of students, staff, faculty and community members鈥攚ho put their love of sewing to good use weekly to produce beautiful quilts.

The common threads that keep members coming back? A love of quilting, a desire to find connection and a willingness to give back to the community.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a real camaraderie around this group,鈥� says George Athanas, the associate director for the Center for Learning and Student Success, who first joined the club 21 years ago. 鈥淭his reminds me of what quilting circles and quilting guilds used to be like, folks coming together to engage with their community, meet new people and learn along the way.鈥�

Helping Vulnerable People Feel Seen and Valued

Quilts are most frequently donated to the local chapter of , which builds beds for children in the community, to chaplains at SUNY Upstate Medical University, who deliver the quilts to terminally ill patients, and to food pantries who partner with听 on their community outreach efforts.

During last year鈥檚 weekly meetings, the Hendricks Chapel Quilters produced 59 quilts that were donated. Each finished product is signed with a tag noting that the quilt was created with love by the Hendricks Chapel Quilters. O鈥橰ourke says nearly 95% of the fabric, sewing machines and other materials used have been donated by generous community members.

鈥淭his reflects what service is all about, investing time and energy to make the world a better place,鈥� Athanas says.

Besides the added source of warmth, Jennie Prouty, InterFaith Works鈥� community engagement manager, says the recipients are often touched by the kindness and generosity of strangers who make time to create and then donate these intricate quilts.

鈥淭hese quilts are an opportunity for individuals and families in our communities, who often feel unseen, to know there are people who care deeply about their well-being,鈥� Prouty says. 鈥淭he element of them being handmade is a level of intentionality that many clients don鈥檛 typically receive.鈥�

Made With Love

In the fall, students in Liz Lance鈥檚 one-credit honors class, Quilting for Fun and Community, learn how to quilt alongside the Hendricks Chapel Quilters, who provide support and offer advice to the novice quilters.

鈥淭his is a unique offering,鈥� says Lance, who started teaching the course in the Fall 2024 semester. 鈥淭he average age of quilters is older and retired, but here, we have 20-, 21- and 22-year-old college students learning alongside our quilting guild. Spanning that age gap and bringing these people together is the most special part about this because it represents intergenerational learning, which can be hard to find.鈥�

O鈥橰ourke, who started sewing in childhood, picked up quilting in 1998 as the advisor to that year鈥檚 cohort of Remembrance Scholars. Those students wanted to make a Remembrance Quilt to honor the 35 性视界 University students who died in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

Current Remembrance Scholar Joy Mao 鈥�26 had no prior experience quilting or sewing, so she was nervous when she walked into the Noble Room for her first class last fall.

Those nerves quickly melted away. On the first night, students were introduced to their sewing machine, which they would use throughout the semester. Mao learned about the tools she鈥檇 be using鈥攔anging from a needle and thread to a seam ripper and cutters鈥攁nd became more familiar with her machine as the course progressed.

Starting with four-by-four-inch quilting squares, Mao and her classmates are tasked with identifying the colors and patterns that will tell the story of their quilt. Each square consists of nine patches, and each finished quilt consists of 81 total squares. If time allows, students add borders, known as sashes, as filler between the squares.

During their last class, students stand before their peers and present their quilt, knowing their finished product will provide warmth to someone in need.

“You get to make with your hands and give with your hearts, and these quilts are all made with love,鈥� says Mao, who is studying television, radio and film in the and policy studies in the . 鈥淚t was great knowing we were creating something that would have an impact on and give back to the greater 性视界 community.鈥�

The hold meetings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday evenings when classes are in session. No previous sewing experience is required, and all materials, as well as access to a sewing machine, are provided during the club鈥檚 weekly meetings. For more information about joining or donating fabric or sewing machines, please contact Judy O鈥橰ourke.

A new Lockerbie Fellows program, established through a recently signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) between 性视界 University and the in Lockerbie, Scotland, will bring 10 Lockerbie students to campus each year to participate in Remembrance Week.

The program is designed to foster continued academic and cultural collaboration and exchange between the two institutions, whose longstanding relationship began in the aftermath of the 1988 over Lockerbie. The tragedy claimed the lives of 35 性视界 University students who were returning home after a semester abroad.

鈥淭his partnership reflects our enduring commitment to honoring the memory of those we lost while cultivating a meaningful, living connection between our two communities,鈥� says , vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer at 性视界 University. 鈥淲elcoming Lockerbie students to campus each year ensures that the bonds forged in the wake of tragedy continue to inspire acts of service, scholarship and shared humanity.鈥�

The Lockerbie Fellows program will begin in Fall 2026. Accompanied by two of their teachers, the fellows will visit campus in October and take part in Remembrance Week activities commemorating Pan Am 103 victims and promoting acts of service. During their visit, fellows will also have multiple opportunities to engage with University students and faculty.

Fellows will be selected by Lockerbie Academy administrators, ensuring that participants demonstrate academic excellence and a deep understanding of the Pan Am 103 tragedy and its significance to the 性视界 and Lockerbie communities.

Six Central New York businesses that are working to advance semiconductor manufacturing capabilities have received funding of more than $350,000 through the new .

鈥溞允咏� University is an economic engine in Central New York due to our strategic focus on strengthening partnerships, meeting the emerging needs of regional employers and preparing our students for the future,鈥� says听, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. 鈥淭he NY THRIVE awards administered by the Collaboration and Commercialization Center are a prime example of how the University is stepping up to build the innovation economy of tomorrow in our community.鈥�

The program provides companies with access to academic research capabilities, specialized equipment and faculty expertise to accelerate the development and commercialization of semiconductor technologies. It鈥檚 administered by the 性视界 University-led NY SMART I-Corridor鈥檚 , and includes partners Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester and University at Buffalo.

鈥淭he NY THRIVE awards exemplify the power of industry-academic partnerships in advancing semiconductor manufacturing innovation,鈥� says , vice president for research and principal investigator of C3. 鈥溞允咏� University is proud to serve as a catalyst for technological advancement in New York鈥檚 growing semiconductor ecosystem. By connecting companies with world-class research facilities and faculty expertise, we鈥檙e helping to build the next generation of manufacturing capabilities that will strengthen our regional economy and position New York as a global leader in semiconductor innovation.鈥�

NY THRIVE recipients are:

TTM Technologies Inc. (性视界) will collaborate with the research group led by , professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), to evaluate sintering interface processing for printed circuit board manufacturing, investigating the effects on post-process state to improve interconnect reliability between adjacent layers.

TunaBotics (性视界) is leveraging R&D resources (space, equipment and personnel) at 性视界 University through the research group led by , associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in ECS, to test prototypes of compliant robotic grippers for advanced electronics manufacturing applications.

IBEX Materials (Buffalo) will demonstrate the feasibility and effects of repurposing silicon waste from the semiconductor industry as a core feedstock for advanced lithium-ion battery anodes, addressing environmental impact reduction in semiconductor manufacturing.

Menlo Micro (Ithaca) will establish next-generation through-glass via (TGV) solutions for its microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches, which are already in significant commercial use in RF, high-speed digital, quantum compute and AC/DC power applications, including AI data centers, industrial automation and building infrastructure. This award strengthens Menlo Micro鈥檚 market leadership and ongoing scaling efforts to advance glass substrate technologies critical for next-generation MEMS and microelectronic solutions.

OWiC Technologies (Ithaca) will scale up manufacturing of small photoelectronic electrochemical synthesizers (SPECS), breakthrough millimeter-scale wireless semiconductor devices for high-throughput electrosynthesis.

Photonect Interconnect Solutions Inc. (Rochester) will review and fabricate components for their prototype PIX-Attach, a first-of-its-kind, laser splicing system for high-volume photonic integration. The project will directly support prototyping, production-level V1 development and testing to enhance durability, precision and thermal stability.

鈥淭his first round of THRIVE Innovation Vouchers marks another important step in translating the NY SMART I-Corridor鈥檚 vision into tangible results for businesses across Upstate New York,鈥� says Joseph Stefko, regional innovation officer for NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub. 鈥淏y giving companies direct access to world-class research facilities, advanced equipment and technical expertise, we鈥檙e lowering barriers to commercialization and accelerating the growth of a stronger, more competitive semiconductor ecosystem. These vouchers don鈥檛 just support individual firms; they strengthen the entire innovation pipeline that is positioning Upstate New York as a national leader in semiconductor manufacturing, innovation and supply chain.鈥�

性视界 NY SMART I-Corridor

The NY SMART I-Corridor is a federally designated Tech Hub with a coalition of over 100 organizations鈥攕panning businesses, higher education, economic development groups and community-based organizations. Together, they are positioning Upstate New York as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, innovation and workforce development.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) , authorized by the , provides funding for regional technology development with matching support from the Empire State Development .