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.

Six more students are taking their interest in social justice to the Southern Hemisphere as in a unique study abroad opportunity that furthers their research skills and broadens their knowledge of an important period in Chilean history.

The students, based at the 性视界 Abroad center in Santiago, are continuing work initiated by two previous student fellows last fall. They are exploring the human rights violations of the Pinochet dictatorship in that country and contributing to work that is underway at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in documenting the stories of victims and creating biographical profiles in their memory. During Pinochet鈥檚 17-year reign, more than 3,000 people died or disappeared, 200,000 suffered exile and over 30,000 were tortured.

The fellows are working with Mauricio Paredes, director of the Santiago center, 听a scholar on Chilean internment camps, nationalism and U.S. involvement in Chilean politics, and are learning skills with the museum鈥檚 archivist and collections manager. The fellows are:

• Madiou Bah ’27, economics () and broadcast and digital journalism (); the media’s role in generating support for the regime.
• Jherlyn Brady ’27, communication and rhetorical studies (); the dictatorship’s impact on education and how institutional reforms, including both explicit and hidden curriculums, were used to implement social control.
• Grant Montonye ’28, international relations (Maxwell School); how the country’s legal system and constitution were used to install and validate authoritarianism.
• Sophia Ortiz-Heaney ’27, economics and international relations (Maxwell School); the dictatorship’s impact on the labor force and unions; forced relocation cases; the neoliberal narrative of individual success.
• Mason Rosenbaum ’27, international relations (Maxwell School); state repression and power and the perception of citizens as threats to the government, with historical comparisons to the current government and police.
• Laila Terrell ’27, international relations (Maxwell School); gender-based violence against conservative and far-right women from a historical perspective, and how gender may be seen as a threat to authoritarian control.

The second group of global fellows broadens the project鈥檚 scope while providing unique research opportunities specifically aligned to students鈥� interests in an abroad setting, says Kendall Phillips, director of the Lender Center for Social Justice. 鈥淭here is such a deep and complex legacy to the dictatorship [period] in Chile that we wanted to engage a wide interdisciplinary perspective.鈥�

The fellows will present their research findings at a symposium held at the museum on Tuesday, May 5, in concert with a planned discussion led by 性视界 University Artist In Residence . Weems will discuss her work around monuments and 鈥淐ontested Sites of Memory鈥� in relation to the projects of the Lender Global Fellows.

Fall Fellows’ Experiences

Ayanna (AJ) Hyatte G ’25 and Ohemaa Asibuo ’27, who were Lender Global Student Fellows in Santiago last fall, 听say their experiences in Santiago and working at the museum provided sobering but valuable knowledge that has informed their views of social justice and impacted their plans for international relations careers. They studied with Paredes and worked with Museum of Memory archivist Rodolfo Ibarra and collections manager Maria Luisa Ortiz.

Hyatte analyzed the museum鈥檚 database for victims not involved in the left-wing politics that typically made people targets of the dictatorship. Those individuals “exemplified how the loss of the rule of law affects everyone,鈥� Hyatte says. 鈥淢ost of our host families and professors had their own firsthand or familial experiences with [the dictatorship] and provided testimonials and that definitely changed how I engaged with the subject … [and] permanently changed how I view historical events.” Hyatte completed a master鈥檚 degree in international relations and is pursuing public policy career options and doctoral programs.

Asibuo, a junior dual major in international relations and Spanish, scoured victim databases to identify how various social groups were affected and categorized them by their ages, jobs and how they died.

“It was pretty heavy to deal with, especially when I came to people who were [my age] or even younger. I motivated myself by remembering that the goal was to spread the victims’ names, not let them be forgotten, and to use commemorative education to prevent these types of things from occurring again. Now, I hope to continue to advocate for using past historical events as warnings to help us navigate how we approach our futures,” she says.

Paredes says the impact of the students鈥� work is clear. 鈥淲ithout a doubt, this research will help Chilean society understand how the loss of democracy and the rule of law affect everyone equally, regardless of political preferences,” he says.

A 鈥淟eading with Distinction鈥� Showcase on Experiential Inquiry will be held Monday, Feb. 23, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at 304 Schine Student Center. .

The event provides the campus community with an opportunity for focused, in-depth discussion about this area of distinctive excellence identified in the University鈥檚 .

The event will feature three breakout sessions:

Breakout 1: Foundations鈥擲upporting Entry-level Opportunities

• Facilitator: , associate provost for academic programs
• Panelists:
  • , professor and director of the Center for Experiential Pedagogy and Practice, School of Education
  • , assistant dean of student success, Newhouse School
  • , associate professor of sport management, Falk College

Breakout 2: Implementation鈥擯utting It Into Practice鈥擬id-level engagement

• Facilitator: , associate professor of magazine, news and digital journalism, Newhouse School
• Panelists:
  • , undergraduate student engagement manager, Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health, Maxwell School
  • , teaching professor and director of the Transactional Law Clinic, College of Law
  • , dean, School of Architecture

Breakout 3: Innovation-Expanding Boundaries Beyond the Classroom鈥� Advanced integration

• Facilitator: , interim dean, Whitman School
• Panelists:
  • , Kenneth and Mary Ann Shaw Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurial Leadership, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • , associate dean of strategic initiatives and research and associate professor in the School of Design, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  • , associate professor of writing studies, rhetoric and composition and Dean鈥檚 Professor of Community Engagement, College of Arts and Sciences

The breakout sessions will be followed by a panel discussion examining the ways experiential inquiry shapes education and career paths:

Transformative Experiences

• Facilitator: Jolynn Parker, director of experiential learning and engagement, Center for Student Excellence
• Panelists:
  • , associate teaching professor and undergraduate director of chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
  • 鈥�26, student, School of Information Studies
  • , employer relations specialist, Career Services

For more information about the event, contact Pamela Young at 315.443.4364 or听pyoung01@syr.edu.

Two showcase events held this academic year will provide the campus community with the opportunity to come together and explore areas of distinctive excellence and priorities outlined in the University鈥檚 academic strategic plan, 鈥�.鈥� Each event will include presentations, breakout sessions and group discussion.

The first showcase, focused on Veterans and Military Families, will be held Monday, Oct. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Schine Student Center, Rooms 228 and 229. Participants should .

, vice provost for faculty affairs, will facilitate and provide introductory remarks, followed by two breakout sessions:

• Incorporating Veterans Into the Curriculum: Panelists include , professor of psychology and director of the Center for Health Behavior Research and Innovation at the College of Arts and Sciences; , managing director for research and evaluation at the D鈥橝niello Institute for Veterans and Military Families; and , professor of writing studies, rhetoric and composition at the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Veterans and Inclusive Pedagogy: Panelists include , executive director of the student experience at the College of Professional Studies; , assistant teaching professor at the School of Education; and , assistant professor of visual communications and co-director of the Advanced Military Visual Journalism program at the Newhouse School.

A closing discussion, featuring School of Education Dean , Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Director and other panelists, will focus on the veteran/student service member experience.

A second showcase on Experiential Inquiry will be held Monday, Feb. 23, at 3 p.m. at 304 Schine Student Center. More details about the event will be posted on the as they become available.

For more information, contact Pamela Young at 315.443.4364 or pyoung01@syr.edu.

A held this semester will facilitate discussion and feedback related to the University鈥檚 academic strategic plan, 鈥�.鈥�

The entire campus community is invited to participate in these four virtual events, which focus on key areas of the plan:

• Monday, Jan. 27, 3 to 4:15 p.m.: , facilitated by , associate provost for strategic initiatives, and听, associate vice president for academic operations
• Monday, Feb. 17, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: , facilitated by , vice president for research,听, associate provost for academic programs, and Dekaney
• Friday, March 21, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: , facilitated by Brown, Eiffe and Hasenwinkel
• Tuesday, April 29, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: , facilitated by Brown and听, professor of women鈥檚 and gender studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and director of the 性视界 University Humanities Center

The town halls are designed to create an inclusive environment that promotes the sharing of diverse viewpoints, opinions and ideas, reflecting the participatory nature of the plan鈥檚 development during the 2022-23 academic year. Following an introductory presentation about the town hall topic, moderators will facilitate conversation centered on five key questions.

鈥淭hese events will allow our community to come together to discuss progress on the plan and what it means for the future of the University,鈥� says Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer in a message to the campus community. 鈥淲e look forward to hearing from all of you.鈥�

All events will be held on Zoom. To register, .

The opening of a new 性视界 University center in Washington, D.C., was celebrated by members of the University community at a special event Sept. 24.

鈥淭his city is a place our students want to be. It鈥檚 a place they want to live. And it鈥檚 a place they want to build their futures and careers after they graduate,鈥� said Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淥ur students studying away here benefit from 性视界鈥檚 academic strength and deep connections in policy, government, media and law.鈥�

The center, located at 1333 New Hampshire Ave. in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, will serve students, faculty, staff and alumni. Building on an already thriving presence in the nation鈥檚 capital, the center will enhance the University鈥檚 global influence and impact.

Mike Tirico 鈥�88, host and play-by-play commentator with NBC Sports, hosted the event. Speakers included Chancellor Syverud, Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew, and Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation J. Michael Haynie.

The centerpiece of the event was a panel discussion examining the changing landscape of collegiate sports and public policy. Margaret Talev, Kramer Director of the 性视界 University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, moderated the discussion. Panelists were James Phillips, commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Felisha Legette-Jack 鈥�89, 性视界 University women鈥檚 basketball coach, and Tirico.

Expanded Opportunities

The Washington, D.C., center houses the and serves as a home base for study away programs offered by the , and , through which hundreds of students live, learn and work in the city every year. Washington is home to more than 15,000 alumni, many of whom connect with students as teachers, mentors and internship supervisors.

The center will support the continued growth of study away programming across the University鈥檚 schools and colleges, as envisioned in the academic strategic plan, 鈥�.鈥�

鈥淲e now begin a new chapter in that already successful story,鈥� Provost Agnew said. 鈥淭his space is more than just a building. It is 性视界 University鈥檚 academic home in one of the most important cities in the world. It will serve as a hub for students, faculty and staff, positioning them as change makers and thought leaders on some of the most important issues of our time.鈥�

The center will also enhance the work of the (IVMF), which has a satellite office in the building. Haynie noted that IVMF has contributed more than 1,750 research publications, engagements and products for public benefit, with much of that work focused on the federal level.

鈥淚 am confident that with a permanent presence in Washington, the institute鈥檚 impact will grow considerably and accrue to the benefit of those who have worn the nation鈥檚 cloth and their families,鈥� he said.

The center includes classrooms, student lounges, conference and interview rooms and a multipurpose space, as well as satellite offices for the and the Division of Advancement and External Affairs. It features the Greenberg Welcome Center, named for alumnus and Life Trustee Paul Greenberg 鈥�65, whose philanthropy supported the 1990 opening of Greenberg House, the University鈥檚 first outpost in Washington.

A delegation from 性视界 University spent two weeks in South Korea recently as one of a continuing series of steps to strengthen academic and cultural collaborations with multiple Korean universities and with 性视界鈥檚 alumni community there.

Meetings were conducted with representatives of the University of Seoul, Ewha Women鈥檚 University, Korea University and Sungkyunkwan University. The discussions were part of an exploration to consider locating a 性视界 University center in South Korea, according to Pamela Young, director of academic strategic plan implementation in the Office of Academic Affairs.

Young says a center there could provide 性视界 and Korean universities with new opportunities for collaborative research, including projects focused on the semiconductor industry and gravitational wave research. It could also facilitate joint faculty and student participation in seminars and workshops, faculty and graduate student exchanges and the development of new partners that support study abroad for 性视界 students in Korea.

The expansion of collaborative efforts in East Asia is an important part of the University鈥檚 strategic vision, says Young.听鈥淭here is great interest among many 性视界 University schools and colleges in partnering with Korean universities to enhance creative activities and the research enterprise, including through faculty and graduate student exchanges. There is also significant space to expand opportunities for 性视界 University students to study abroad and engage in experiential learning outside of Western Europe. Each year many students come from Korea to study and earn degrees at 性视界. Our strong Korean alumni base has many business and industry connections that can provide students with opportunities for experiential learning, too,鈥� she says.

During the trip, the delegation enjoyed dinner with several members of 性视界 University鈥檚 Korean Alumni Association. It also caught up with two School of Architecture students who are studying at Ewha Women鈥檚 University and a group of 性视界 students who were in Seoul as part of a new Maymester design course led by Seyeon Lee, associate professor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

At Sunkyunkwan University, the delegation heard a presentation from Youngseek Kim G鈥�08, G鈥�13, an associate professor who earned master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees at the School of Information Studies. In addition, the trip allowed Architecture Dean Michael Speaks and Daekwon Park, undergraduate program chair, to meet with high school students and their parents regarding program opportunities.

College of Arts and Sciences Dean says he appreciates the opportunity to pursue new partnerships in Korea and strengthen alumni ties.

鈥淚 am confident in the potential of these connections and I am eager to work with my fellow deans at the University to develop new opportunities for student exchange, internships and university and industry partnerships in Korea,鈥� he says.

鈥淲e all look forward to continuing our efforts to develop new opportunities for student exchange, internships and industry collaborations in Korea with the goal of establishing in Seoul a new Asia center for the University,鈥� says Speaks.

性视界 University is a national leader in international education, with a highly ranked study abroad program. The University鈥檚 Academic Strategic Plan, 鈥淟eading With Distinction,鈥� calls for the expansion of study abroad and study away venues and programs and the removal of barriers to make it possible for every undergraduate to participate. In addition to Mortazavi, Speaks, Young and Park, the delegation included Andrew Sears, then-dean of the School of Information Studies; Nicole Collins, director of strategic partnerships and outreach for 性视界 Abroad; and Brian Kim L鈥�19, international engagement specialist, who served as liaison between 性视界 University and the Korean Alumni Association.

Two decades after the launch of its sport management program, 性视界 University today announced that as a result of its significant growth and academic excellence, the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics will become the David B. Falk College of Sport. The first-of-its-kind college will focus exclusively on sport-related disciplines, making the University among the leading academic institutions for preparing students to drive innovation among and lead in sport-related fields and industries.

鈥淔alk College has experienced extraordinary growth, particularly in its renowned sport management program, over the last 20 years, thanks in large part to its innovative faculty and the relentless energy and leadership of former Dean Diane Lyden Murphy,鈥� says Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter. 鈥淲ith the growth of sport participation domestically and globally, there is unprecedented demand for talented practitioners and leaders. The Falk College of Sport will produce hundreds of students every year who are educated across multiple disciplines and well-prepared to lead in the burgeoning sports field.鈥�

Reimagining Falk College

Since launching its sport management program in 2005 and later adding programs in sport analytics and esports communications and management, Falk College has achieved prominent status as a national leader in sport education. This transformation will make Falk College the first standalone college on an R1 campus that specifically focuses on sport through a holistic academic lens.

Dean Jeremy Jordan, who was appointed last July, says this transformation will expand and enrich sport scholarship at 性视界.

鈥溞允咏� University has long been a leader in the development of sport-related programs,鈥� says Jordan. 鈥淔rom creating the first-ever sports analytics program to the recent launch of an esports major, the University and Falk College have demonstrated the value of and important role sport plays in the day-to-day lives of people, and not just elite athletes. This reimagination of Falk College is a bold step in solidifying 性视界 University as the preeminent institution for sport-related academic study in the country.鈥�

The reimagined Falk College of Sport will house academic programs in sport management, sport analytics, exercise science, nutrition and, jointly with the Newhouse School, esports. It will focus on four areas of academic excellence: Sport Business, Human Performance, Sport Technology and Innovation, and Community Sport and Wellness. The college will also launch a new research institute focused on sport, which will leverage an interdisciplinary, cross-campus approach to drive innovation in sport and health outcomes and integrate expertise in business, digital media, and technology, among other areas of academic focus. It may include creating new or expanding partnerships among the University鈥檚 schools, colleges and academic units, such as the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, the Whitman School of Management, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Law and others.

Today鈥檚 announcement follows a months-long exercise during which a Sport Management Task Force, consisting of faculty, staff and academic leaders, was charged with identifying ways to enhance and extend Falk鈥檚 excellence in sport-related programs. The task force, co-chaired by Jeff Rubin, senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer, and Jamie Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs, submitted a report to Provost Ritter earlier this academic year. Recommendations outlined tangible action the University can take to connect, align and integrate teaching and research related to sport across the academic enterprise.

鈥淭he task force concluded that there is a timely opportunity for Falk to build on its strengths and capitalize on relevant marketplace trends,鈥� says Rubin. 鈥淎s someone who has worked in this space for nearly three decades, there is no better time for 性视界 University to take this bold step than now. Organizations across the country and around the globe are looking for career-ready talent. Falk College is poised to meet that need.鈥�

The work happening in Falk College aligns with the University鈥檚 commitment to applying an entrepreneurial and innovative philosophy to elevating sport across the campus. In addition to enhancing sport-related academic opportunities, the University has also taken steps in recent years to widen the availability of esports鈥揳cademically and recreationally鈥攁nd has grown current and created new club sport programs.

Shaping the Future of Human Dynamics

As part of the Falk transformation, 性视界 University will invest in a strategic reimagination of human dynamics academic programs with the goal of positioning them for future success and impact. To support this work, Provost Ritter will convene a Human Dynamics Task Force, consisting of academic leaders, department chairs and program directors, faculty, alumni and community partners. The task force will be charged with reviewing the college鈥檚 human dynamics programs and identifying future pathways for their growth and success. These academic programs include human development and family science, marriage and family therapy, public health and social work. Students enrolled in these programs and beginning at 性视界 University in Fall 2024 will not be impacted by the University鈥檚 reimagination of its human dynamics portfolio.

Provost Ritter says given the increasingly complex public health landscape and the growing global need for health and human services and credentialed professionals, the time is right to reimagine these longstanding academic programs to meet emerging demands in their fields.

鈥淭he Human Dynamics Task Force will determine prospects for expansion, innovation and alignment with the University鈥檚 overall Academic Strategic Plan, 鈥楲eading with Distinction,鈥欌�� says Ritter. 鈥淭hese programs have a deep history at 性视界 University and have had a profound impact on the City of 性视界, Central New York and communities around the globe. The faculty who teach and research in these disciplines will have the opportunity to review, reimagine and shape the future of the programs with the full support of the University.鈥�

Provost Ritter has asked Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Lois Agnew and newly-appointed Associate Dean for Human Dynamics Programs Rachel Razza, associate professor and previously chair and graduate director in the Department of Human Development and Family Science, to lead and guide the reimagination of the human dynamics programs. The task force will be supported by an external consultant to help it execute on its charge. Additionally, given the significant synergy between the programs and the City of 性视界 and Onondaga County, 性视界 Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens and Deputy County Executive for Human Services Ann Rooney have also agreed to serve on the task force.

鈥淚 am grateful to Lois, Rachel, Deputy Mayor Owens and Deputy County Executive Rooney for their willingness to collaborate on this important work, and I look forward to partnering with the other members of the task force,鈥� says Provost Ritter. 鈥淭hese areas of academic excellence are not only central to our University鈥檚 mission but also critical to the communities, particularly those who are currently underserved, that our students will eventually serve as the next generation of social workers, therapists, public health professionals and human services providers.鈥�

The Human Dynamics Task Force will receive its charge from Provost Ritter by the end of the spring semester. It will begin its work in earnest over the summer and submit its findings to the provost by the end of October.

Since childhood, Marco Campos has carved his own path, one that took him from poverty to great success. Today, Campos, together with his sister, Deanna Campos-Miller, are committed to creating opportunities for educational institutions and communities in support of student success through their foundation, .

Through the foundation, Campos, whose son is a third-year student in the , has just pledged $2.15 million to 性视界 University as part of the Forever Orange Campaign. The gift will fund a new student center in the . The student center will offer programming designed to attract underrepresented students to the college and support the academic success of all ECS students. It comes at a time of tremendous growth for ECS. As part of the University鈥檚 Academic Strategic Plan, ECS will grow its enrollment and faculty ranks by 50% by 2028.

鈥淭he Campos Student Center will provide dedicated space for our students with a home for collaboration, community and access to resources that maximize their success,鈥� says ECS Dean . 鈥淭his space will facilitate club activities that enhance the experience of our diverse student body. More than that, it will be a home on campus that is inviting and welcoming to all.鈥�

The Campos Student Center will be housed on the second floor of the Center for Science and Technology.

Marco and his sister grew up in West Denver, Colorado, raised by a single mother with limited resources. Campos-Miller says her brother literally wore the boots in the family. 鈥淢arco got the snow boots, but I didn鈥檛 have any, so when we had to walk to school in the snow, he would walk in front of me and pave the way to school,鈥� says Campos-Miller. 鈥淗e told me, 鈥榃alk right behind me in my footprints.鈥欌��

Today, the siblings are paving the way for student success through the Campos Foundation.

鈥淎s a young teenager, I didn鈥檛 have role models,鈥� says Campos. 鈥淚 sensed there was something bigger, but there wasn鈥檛 a clear path.鈥� He was talented in math but received little encouragement or support until becoming part of a summer bridge program in his senior year of high school. That opened the door to engineering at the University of Colorado in Boulder where, for the first time, his potential was recognized and cultivated. 鈥淚 never loved engineering and math, but I saw the pathway to a career in an engineering degree,鈥� says Campos. 鈥淚t was grueling work, but the perseverance and grind ultimately get you there. You have to be consistent and hold the course.鈥�

Campos-Miller says her brother has never forgotten where he came from. 鈥淢arco wants to elevate as many people as possible, and he can do that by funding the right kinds of programs,鈥� says Campos-Miller. 鈥淕rit, perseverance and compassion are the best ways to describe Marco. He was always a really good dreamer!鈥�

Campos鈥� gift was inspired by a recent visit to campus and by the success of an earlier gift made by his foundation to the University of Colorado in Boulder. He says he saw the geography and the demographics of 性视界 and thought he could make a similar impact. He believes the new student center will be a welcoming and inclusive home where engineering, computer science, and other STEM students can go for academic support, financial advice and career direction. The student center is intended to inspire those who have big hopes and dreams but maybe haven鈥檛 been empowered in the past, he says.

鈥淭his kind of philanthropic support represents a true endorsement of and investment in the vision, mission and strategic planning of the College of Engineering and Computer Science,鈥� says . 鈥淚 am grateful to Marco and Deanna for their commitment to 性视界 University and am confident this center will have an impact on generations of students pursuing career paths in engineering.鈥�

Campos鈥� career began with an internship at Texaco during his college years, and he was hired immediately upon graduation. By age 30, he had accumulated enough work and consulting experience, confidence and wealth to start his own company and start giving back. , established in 2005 with headquarters in Denver, offers engineering, procurement and construction counsel for utility, energy and midstream organizations. The company also offers STEM education initiatives through a community outreach program, while the foundation supports summer bridge programs, scholarships and SmartLabs at primary and secondary schools, among other initiatives.

鈥淲hen I talk about the company, I rarely talk about the business,鈥� says Campos. 鈥淓veryone can engineer. Everyone can project manage, but I want to be known for trying to improve the community and improve quality of life.鈥�

He credits his hard-working employees for their commitment to giving back and driving the success of the Campos Foundation. He notes that the guiding principle of Campos companies is, 鈥淥ur People are our Power,鈥� and the power of philanthropy rests with his employees.

Campos and his sister believe the foundation鈥檚 intensive focus on mission through philanthropy, and the recruitment of specialized talent to lead and manage these kinds of student-centered programs helps universities 鈥渕ove the needle鈥� when it comes to attracting students of all backgrounds to engineering fields. 鈥淭his has become our corporate and social responsibility,鈥� says Campos. 鈥淵ou have to be focused and disciplined and patient in your approach. Working with the University, we set up metrics to make sure the funding is accomplishing our established goals.鈥�

Campos-Miller says the naming of the new student center aligns the hopes and dreams of students with the man who forged an enviable path to success. 鈥淐ampos isn鈥檛 just a name. It鈥檚 the story behind the name. It represents possibilities and pathways to get there.鈥�

鈥淲e all have a sphere of influence and it鈥檚 incumbent on each of us to affect our sphere of influence in the most positive ways we can,鈥� says Campos. 鈥淧utting good out there in the universe brings back good, even more than we put out.鈥�

The University is welcoming our center directors to main campus at the end of this month from Florence, London, Madrid, Strasbourg, Santiago and Wroclaw/Central Europe. From Monday, March 25, through Friday, March 29, students, faculty and staff will have opportunities to meet the directors and student alumni for Coffee & Conversation sessions about the exciting programs, initiatives and experiences available at centers overseas.

鈥淭he Abroad center directors are coming to campus at a very exciting time as the University is beginning to implement the core commitments in “,” the University鈥檚 academic strategic plan,鈥� says Erika Wilkens, assistant provost and executive director for 性视界 Abroad.听鈥淎s leaders within one of the highest ranked study abroad programs in the U.S., the center directors are uniquely positioned to help implement key goals of the plan: ensuring that every undergraduate will be encouraged and enabled to participate in a study abroad or away experience before they graduate; leveraging our robust international assets; and further elevating 性视界 University鈥檚 position as a premier globally engaged academic institution.鈥�听

性视界 Abroad Center Directors Week: March 25-29听

Join 性视界 Abroad staff and center directors to learn about program tracks, exciting new initiatives and updates from our campuses abroad. 听

All students, staff and faculty are invited to join 性视界 Abroad for the following with select Center Directors. This will be an opportunity to get the inside scoop on 性视界 Abroad centers directly from the source. Program alumni will also be sharing their stories about their semesters abroad.听

听

• Monday, March 25 | 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.听
• 性视界Abroad@Bird, Bird Library, Room 002听

• Wednesday, March 27 | 1:45 – 2:45 p.m.听
• Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, Bird Library, Room 114听

• Thursday, March 28 | 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.听
• 性视界Abroad@Bird, Bird Library, Room 002听

• Thursday, March 28 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.听
• Hall of Languages, Room 500听

Meet the Abroad Directors听

Each 性视界 Abroad Center is managed by a director and multicultural staff, who deliver unparalleled academic programs and support services to students studying abroad. Our program directors, who oversee operations at the centers and often teach a number of courses, are experts in their fields and have extensive experience in the countries where they live, work and teach. Our directors include:

• Sasha Perugini, Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello 性视界 University Program in Florence听
• Troy Gordon, 性视界 London听
• Dieter Kuehl, 性视界 Madrid听
• Mauricio Paredes, 性视界 Santiago听
• John Goodman, 性视界 Strasbourg听
• Juliet Golden, Exploring Central Europe听

Learn more about each of the 性视界 Abroad .听

Implementation of 鈥�,鈥� 性视界 University鈥檚 academic strategic plan, is now underway. As with the creation of the plan last year, the implementation process is supported by individuals from all areas of the University community.

Under the direction of Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter, a has been convened to guide the implementation process and ensure accountability in addressing major institutional commitments outlined in the plan. Provost Ritter is the chair of the committee.

In addition, five have been formed to focus on key aspects of the plan: curricular; diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility; research transformation and STEM expansion; enrollment innovation; and veterans. Each thematic group is led by a chair and a lead or co-leads, who also serve on the steering committee.

The steering committee and thematic groups are inclusive of faculty, staff, students and administrators.

鈥溾�楲eading With Distinction鈥� reflects deep engagement from our University community. I am grateful to the individuals who are serving on the steering committee and thematic groups for their continued commitment to the plan and its successful implementation,鈥� Provost Ritter says.

Members of the steering committee and thematic groups are listed on the . The site also includes the full text of 鈥淟eading With Distinction,鈥� and will be updated throughout the implementation process.

More than 400 members of the University community gathered in person and online yesterday for the official launch of “,” 性视界’s new academic strategic plan. The launch of the plan follows more than a year of collaborative and interdisciplinary work to identify the University’s areas of distinction and chart the course for the next five years of advancing academic excellence at a university that is welcoming to all.

Hosted by Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter, the symposium featured speakers from across the University community鈥攊ncluding students Miguel Guzman 鈥�24, as part of a panel discussion on STEM expansion, and Sophie Creager-Roberts 鈥�24, sharing the impact of her study abroad experiences鈥攚ho discussed key elements of the plan and details about implementation. During the event in the K.G. Tan Auditorium, National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello Building, Chancellor Kent Syverud offered welcoming remarks. It was the first of what will become an annual event allowing participants to examine and refine the plan.

“The plan we’ve collectively developed recognizes the University’s distinctive strengths as well as our distinguished history, which is marked by values and commitments to being global, inclusive and diverse, and to cultivating engaged global citizenship,” said Provost Ritter in her remarks. “It is also a plan that responds to the challenges and opportunities of the moment, both broadly in our country, in our world, and locally in Central New York.”

If you weren’t able to attend, a video of the launch symposium is available below.

Following a yearlong planning and development process involving hundreds of members of the campus community, 鈥�,鈥� 性视界 University鈥檚 new academic strategic plan, was unveiled earlier this month.

A launch symposium will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the K.G. Tan Auditorium, National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello Building. In-person attendance is strongly encouraged; a option is available for those not on campus.

will offer welcoming remarks.

will host the event, which is the first of what will become an annual symposium allowing the campus community to examine and refine the plan. Provost Ritter will discuss the process of developing the plan and next steps for implementation.

, David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management in the , will discuss his experience leading a study abroad program at Mount Everest.

, vice president for research, will moderate a panel discussion on the expansion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at 性视界. Panelists include:

• , Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence and chair of the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering in the ;
• Miguel Guzman, a senior biotechnology major and entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises minor in the and the ; and
• Joe Nehme, senior manager of external affairs, Micron Technology.

Sophie Creager-Roberts, a senior dual major in environment, sustainability and policy and history and minor in atrocity studies in the , will share her experience and the ways it impacted her education.

, associate provost for strategic initiatives, will discuss engaged citizenship and public impact in conversation with , Kramer Director of the 性视界 University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, and vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, Barnes Professor for Entrepreneurship, executive director of the and executive dean of the Whitman School.

, director of 性视界 University鈥檚 Los Angeles Academic Semester Program, will speak about the impact of study away opportunities for students.

During the final portion of the program, Provost Ritter, together with Haddix, Brown and , associate provost for faculty affairs, will answer audience questions.

Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) and American Sign Language (ASL) translation will be provided. For more information, contact Pamela Young at pyoung01@syr.edu.

Miguel Guzman 鈥�24, a native of Lima, Peru, is a senior major in the College of Arts and Sciences with an minor in the Whitman School of Management. His research centers on developing bio-enabled protein modification technologies to improve protein-based therapeutics like insulin. Guzman is a Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising-性视界 Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) Young Research Fellow.

At the Sept. 26, Guzman will take part in a panel discussion about the expansion of STEM at 性视界 University. 性视界 University News sat down with him to discuss his research, his future plans and how 性视界 nurtured his interest in the STEM fields.