Nearly four decades after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 claimed 35 Syracuse University students, a new cohort of scholars is keeping their memory alive.

The Remembrance Scholarships, now in their 37th year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the students studying in London and Florence through Syracuse University who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students were among the 270 people who perished in the bombing. The scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations.

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

Selection Process

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

“The Remembrance Scholars bring something exceptional to our University: a commitment to learning, to leading and to giving back. Through their accomplishments, they carry forward the legacy of the students for whom these scholarships were created. Recognizing them is both a privilege and a point of deep pride for Syracuse University,” says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer.

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

2026-27 Remembrance Scholars

The 2026-27 Remembrance Scholars, their hometowns, majors and schools and colleges are the following:

• Victoria Alwar of Homa Bay, Kenya, a biology major and neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Madiou Bah of Bronx, New York, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and an economics major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and A&S;
• Sigourney Bell of Birmingham, Alabama, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Nasya Simone Bellard of Concord, North Carolina, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Tyler Branigan of Delhi, New York, a policy studies major and economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S, an environment, sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Teaghan Brostrom of Sacramento, Califorrnia, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Keona Bukhari-Adams of Springfield, New Jersey, a neuroscience major and psychology major in A&S;
• Mason Burley of Webster, New York, an inclusive adolescent education major in the School of Education and history major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Samuel Esteban Cornell of Houston, Texas, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S and finance major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management;
• Eliora Enriquez of Doon, Iowa, a film major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA);
• Quinn Gonzalez of Wantage, New Jersey, a nutrition major in the David B. Falk College of Sport and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Jiya Gumaste of Ashburn, Virginia, a chemistry major and neuroscience major in A&S;
• Shivika Gupta of Rochester, New York, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School;
• Abigail (Abi) Handel of Newton, Massachusetts, a biology major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Alexis Heveron of Rochester, New York, a chemical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS);
• Emily Hunnewell of Chicago, Illinois, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a business management major in the Whitman School;
• Daniella Jacob of Millburn, New Jersey, a health and exercise science major in the Falk College and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Sydney Kincaid of Seattle, Washington, a music education major in VPA and the School of Education;
• Kennedy King of Pasadena, California, an anthropology major and political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S, an art history major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Chloe Anjolie Kiser of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, an advertising major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Carmen Lee-Bennett of Buffalo, New York, a biology major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Aaron Lener of Homer, New York, a linguistic studies major in A&S, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Haonan (Eric) Ma of Beijing, China, a student in the School of Architecture;
• Carter J. Moreland of Dallas, Texas, a political science major and an economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Darren Murphy of San Ramon, California, an applied mathematics major in A&S, an economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Sophia Hoyos Murray of Northborough, Massachusetts, a psychology major and biology major in A&S;
• Matilda Nichols of Fairfield, Connecticut, a chemistry major and forensic science major in A&S;
• Will Parsons of Albany, New York, a chemical engineering major in ECS;
• Alana Ramirez-Velez of Manati, Puerto Rico, a biology major and neuroscience major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Ella Roerden of Syracuse, New York, an anthropology major and international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Sreshtha Thangaswamy of Edison, New Jersey, a political science major and economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Halle Varney of Potsdam, New York, a psychology major in A&S;
• Cara Williams of Greenwood, Indiana, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a political philosophy major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Katie Wood of Clifton, Virginia, a musical theater major in VPA and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program; and
• Chelsea Zhang of Suzhou, China, and Hayward, California, a student in the School of Architecture.

Elle Key ’93, an award-winning film, television and commercial director, writer and producer, will deliver the 2026 convocation address to bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates of the at the college’s convocation ceremony on Saturday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Key earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration from VPA and was a starting goalie for the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team. She was born in New York City and is the co-president and founder of Bigger Picture Media Group.

Key spent her early years working off-Broadway with theater companies such as Malaparte, Naked Angels and the Atlantic Theater Company. She then went into television and film production and has helmed numerous national commercial campaigns as well as several projects for the NFL, the Pro Bowl, NBC Sports, Fox Sports, The Peabody Awards and The Gotham Awards.

She was officially the first female head writer for “The NFL Honors” in 2017. She came back and served as segment director, producer and head writer for “The NFL Honors” in 2021 and 2024. She was an executive producer on “Brain Games” for Disney/Nat Geo and was an executive producer with James Corden for “Game On!” for CBS.

Key is currently in development as creator and show runner for a new scripted streaming comedy series. She has been writing and directing with, and for, her Emmy and Peabody Award-winner partner, Keegan-Michael Key, for over a decade.

In 2022, Key won the Webby Award for Best Podcast Writing for her original Audible series “The History of Sketch Comedy.” Key, and the series that she created, wrote and directed, was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

She then followed her award-winning podcast with the book “The History of Sketch Comedy,” which became a best-seller, garnered rave reviews and quickly reached the No. 1 spot on Amazon’s comedy book list. “The History of Sketch Comedy” made 2023’s Barnes and Noble’s Best Books of the Year list as well as Vulture’s Best Books of 2023.

Key is a member of the Creative Coalition and Women in Film, and she is on the Leadership Council for RFK Human Rights.

When Vincent “Vinny” P. Longhi Jr. ’78 started to consider ways to give back to Syracuse University, he thought about his father, Vincent Sr., and his son, Matteo.

His father died from a massive heart attack in 1960, when Vinny was just 7 years old. Matteo Longhi G’15 followed in his father’s footsteps and spent three graduate years at Syracuse, where he earned master’s degrees in violin performance and music education.

To both honor his father and support students like his son who want to excel as musicians and teachers, Vinny Longhi created the $135,000 Vincent Paul Longhi Sr. Endowed Scholarship for students in the �����Ի�����(������)��.

The Longhi Scholarship is combined with a 50% match through The Syracuse Promise scholarship fundraising initiative, bringing the total amount to more than $200,000.

It was important to Vinny Longhi that the scholarship benefits students who want to become music teachers because he spent his entire career as a special education teacher, and Matteo is now a music teacher in the Syracuse area.

“In both my case and Matteo’s, Syracuse was a place where we fulfilled our potential through some special teachers,” Vinny says. “If it weren’t for Syracuse, maybe it would be a little different story. This is just something to give back.”

Through music education students, the scholarship also will give back to the Syracuse community. , professor of music and director of the , says that through the efforts of , associate professor and former chair of the music education program, and , associate professor and current chair, the program had 100% placement for graduates in recent years. Many of them, like Matteo, are now building renowned music programs in schools throughout Central New York.

“I want to express my gratitude to Vinny and his family for paying it forward because that’s exactly what it is, creating opportunities for students to get fantastic training and have this great experience at Syracuse,” Warren says. “Then they go out into the schools and produce wonderful musicians, but most importantly, wonderful people.”

A Positive Environment

Vinny grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Yonkers, a suburb of New York City. His entire extended family lived in Yonkers, and while he does not have a lot of memories of his father, he does remember that Vincent Sr. was a gregarious man who was the life of the party at their large family gatherings.

“That’s the reason the scholarship is named after my father, because he really didn’t have anything to look back on in terms of recognition of his life,” Vinny says.

His mother supported the family by working as a dental hygienist for the Westchester County dental clinic, and Longhi enrolled at Syracuse University in 1972. He initially wanted to become a journalist, but he had second thoughts after his freshman year and took a few years off before returning with the goal of becoming a teacher.

In the SOE’s groundbreaking special education program, Vinny says he was guided by several prominent mentors, including former Dean Burton Blatt, a pioneer in humanizing services for people with intellectual disabilities and namesake of the ; Blatt’s wife, Ethel D. Blatt G’77, who trained special education undergraduate students; professor and director of special education James F. Winschel, Jr. ’71, G’73, who later became SOE’s associate dean for administration; and professor and Dean Emeritus  G’73, Ph.D.’73.

“Syracuse was a place where we fulfilled our potential through some special teachers,” Vinny says. “It was a very positive environment, and with the people I mentioned along with the special education professors and others, I found them very warm and supportive.”

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Growing up, Matteo Longhi recalls his mother loved music and played guitar and piano, but neither she nor her husband were trained musicians. But they encouraged their children to take music lessons, and Matteo became a talented violinist who honed his skills with the New York Youth Symphony in Manhattan.

After receiving a music degree in violin performance from Ithaca College, Matteo was interested in becoming a teacher, and a friend who was attending Syracuse for violin told him about the University’s .

After graduating from Syracuse, Matteo spent five years leading the grades 7-12 orchestra at Chittenango middle and high schools before joining West Genesee High School in Camillus, where he is director of violin and orchestral studies in a district that has been  among the “Best Communities for Music Education” for 17 consecutive years.

“I had teachers I always liked and respected in high school, and your teacher on your primary instrument is an important figure in your development,” Matteo says. “I think there’s something nice about working with young students and giving them an outlet to participate in music and have this artistic experience.”

No one understands that teacher-student connection more than Vinny Longhi, and with the help of the Vincent Paul Longhi Sr. Endowed Scholarship there will be a new wave of students like Matteo who will leave the music education program to make the world a better place through music.

“I know it’s kind of corny, but it’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Warren says. “It’s the impact on the current students, but it’s also the impact that they’re going to have on their students. And this gift will make that possible.

The (CHB) in the (A&S) has awarded its first round of competitive grants for interdisciplinary and cross-institutional health and behavioral science research projects.

A total of $33,000 in seed funding has been awarded to six separate projects through the and the . The grants are intended to catalyze cross-university collaboration and position investigators for larger external grant submissions.

“The selected proposals span researchers from six Syracuse University colleges and institutes and eight departments, schools and centers, truly reflecting broad institutional engagement and collaboration,” says , director of the CHB and professor in the Department of Psychology in A&S. “The grants also illustrate CHB’s strategic role in seeding interdisciplinary research, strengthening university-Veterans Affairs partnerships, accelerating development of competitive external grant submissions and advancing impactful work across health and behavioral science domains.”

Projects include research on intimate partner violence among veterans, alcohol reduction messaging in Veterans Affairs primary care, heart rate training for entrepreneurs, healthy eating tools for young children, AI support readiness for family caregivers and virtual reality-based voice therapy for pre-service (student) teachers.

Several external partners are also included. Those projects involve researchers at , , and , as well as and industry partner .

Pilot funds were provided to CHB by the College of Arts and Sciences with direct support from Dean , Ditre says. The funds can be used for participant compensation, core facility access, data acquisition, study materials, software and other costs of launching new collaborative research. Projects begin this month and cover a 12-month period.

Researchers receiving grants and their projects are:

Understanding and Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Among Veterans: A Mixed Methods Study of Risk Factors, Experiences and Treatment Preferences

• , assistant professor of psychology, A&S
• , clinical psychology postdoctoral fellow, VA Center for Integrated Healthcare,

Nudge Messaging to Promote Alcohol-Related Behavior Change Among Veterans in Primary Care

• , research assistant professor, CHB/IVMF and clinical research program director, VA Center for Integrated Healthcare
• , research professor and professor emeritus of psychology, A&S

Family Caregiver Well-Being and Readiness for AI-Based Support

• , associate professor of senior research associate, ,
• assistant professor of faculty associate, , Maxwell School

Virtual Reality-Based Voice Therapy for Pre-Service Teachers: Initial Design of a VR Voice Intervention

• , assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, A&S
• , associate professor of industrial and interaction design, ,

A Sweet Texts Add-On to Identify Tailoring Variables and Decision Points for Reducing Energy-Dense Food Intake in Preschool Children

• , assistant professor of nutrition and food studies,
• , assistant professor of psychology, A&S

Physiological Self-Regulation as a Foundation of Entrepreneurial Functioning

• , assistant professor of entrepreneurship,
• , associate professor of entrepreneurship and academic director of the , Whitman School

A group of Syracuse University students has spent months working with Syracuse youth, guiding them through theater, design and media workshops that will culminate in a live public performance this spring.

The students are leading (Theater Workshop), an annual, bilingual creative arts program based at on Syracuse’s Near West Side.

The program, which involves and in addition to La Casita, delivers culturally oriented arts education for community youth, says , the University’s executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community. The workshops build dual-language skills, artistic presentation abilities and stage-presence confidence for children ages 6 and up.

The public performance will be held on Saturday, , at La Casita as part of the annual Arte Joven/Young Art exhibition, a celebration of visual art, music and dance. The event is open to the public.

Mutual Benefits

Taller de Teatro benefits both the students who lead the workshops and the children who participate, Paniagua says. “This program creates meaningful opportunities for University students to engage directly with the community while developing professional skills.”

The structure of the collaboration creates a dynamic environment where students and youngsters learn from one another, she says. “Several of the student instructors are studying drama and they are facilitating workshops alongside students from the creative arts therapy graduate program. Other students are contributing through documentation, photography, video and communications skills. In this way, the program becomes a multidisciplinary learning experience where students apply their training in a real community setting.”

For young actors and for theater students in particular, the chance to gain experience as instructors early in their careers can open important professional pathways, Paniagua says. “They are learning how to guide creative processes, work with children and adapt theater practices to educational and community contexts. Ultimately, the efforts of those involved are tremendous and they allow La Casita to offer high-quality theater programming to local youth.”

Kate Laissle, director of education at Syracuse Stage, says involving Syracuse students as teaching assistants for this program helps inspire and train the next generation of theater educators while providing programming that supports community connections.

‘For Everyone’

“The ability to partner with La Casita and build on our relationship and its well-established programming also helps show that theatre is for everyone,” Laissle says. “Working collaboratively between performance, design and storytelling, students get to experience the depth and breadth of theater. Using multiple capacities of theatrical art-making lets young people use their creativity in ways that serve them best. It is outstanding to see the growth of the students, both school- and college-aged, over the course of this program.”

This year’s student participants, who lead acting workshops and provide media support and documentation, are: GB Bellamy ’27 and Sofia Slaman ’27, acting majors, Department of Drama, VPA; Nashaly Bonilla ’28, major, Department of Drama, VPA; Catie Kobland ’21, G’26, fine arts graduate and master’s candidate in VPA; Iman Jamison G’26, master’s student in , School of Information Studies; Sara Oliveira ’29, film and media arts major, Department of Film and Media Arts, VPA; and Sophia Domenicis ’28, , Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Three Presenting Partners

The program is possible because of a collaboration among three university-connected organizations:

• La Casita Cultural Center is a program of Syracuse University established to advance an educational and cultural agenda of civic engagement through research, cultural heritage preservation, media and the arts, bridging the Hispanic communities of the University and Central New York.
• Punto de Contacto/Point of Contact, celebrating its 50th year, bridges cultures and disciplines through exhibitions, poetry and  a permanent art collection. Its El Punto Art Studio has served youth since 2008.
• Syracuse Stage, the city’s leading professional theater, contributes expertise through acting and playwriting workshops that strengthen University-community connections and support literacy development.

Syracuse junior Flynn Ledoux ’27, an illustration major in the ’ (VPA) School of Art, has been selected as the winner of a VPA student design competition to create the official 40th anniversary poster for the 2026 .

Ledoux, who also majors in environment, sustainability and policy in the , will see his design featured on official 2026 festival materials and will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

In operation since 1982, Syracuse Jazz Fest has become one of the Northeast’s premier free admission music festivals, drawing world-renowned artists and tens of thousands of fans each summer to Central New York. Jazz Fest 40 will take place July 9–12, with hosted across campus and at Beak and Skiff Apple Hill Campus in LaFayette, New York.

The competition was created after Jazz Fest founder and Syracuse alumnus Frank Malfitano ’72 reached out to VPA Dean about holding a student poster design contest in honor of the festival’s milestone anniversary. The college issued a call for entries and received submissions from students across its schools and departments. Representatives of Jazz Fest then reviewed the entries and voted on the winners.

In addition to Ledoux, three other VPA students were recognized by the festival:

• Katerina Anastasopoulos ’26, a senior environmental and interior design major in the School of Design, received second place.
• Kelsey McMillin ’28, a sophomore illustration major in the School of Art, and Hayden Celentano ’26, a senior film major in the Department of Film and Media Arts, tied for third place.

“Jazz Fest has always been about bringing people together through great music, and this year we’re celebrating 40 years of doing just that,” says Malfitano. “Partnering with VPA to put a student’s work at the center of this anniversary felt exactly right—it connects our festival’s future to the next generation of artists.”

“The 40th anniversary of Jazz Fest is a milestone worth celebrating in a meaningful way,” says Tick. “Flynn’s design is a testament to the exceptional talent we have here at VPA, and we’re grateful to Frank for giving our students the chance to be part of this iconic community festival.”

Jazz Fest 40 is presented by Syracuse University with additional support from the New York State-Empire State Development Corporation in association with New York State Assemblyman Al Stripe, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and the Onondaga County Legislature, Visit Syracuse, National Grid, Amazon, JMA Wireless, RAV Properties, CNY Family Care, Empower Federal Credit Union, CNY Arts Council, the Central New York Community Foundation and numerous additional community partners across Central New York.

When Gerry McNamara ’06 walked into the Dome the first time as a highly touted basketball recruit, he knew Syracuse University was the right place to play basketball and win championships.

Twenty-six years later, McNamara has a similar vision, only this time, McNamara is tasked with returning men’s basketball to national prominence as the program’s ninth head coach.

“Anybody that knows me knows why I’m here. I’m here to win. It’s who I am and it’s who I will always be,” McNamara said to more than 2,000 Orange fans who packed Miron Victory Court Monday afternoon for his introductory press conference.

Among those who offered remarks were Chancellor-elect J. Michael Haynie, incoming Director of Athletics Bryan Blair and Director of Athletics John Wildhack ’80, who said McNamara was the perfect candidate because he “epitomizes what Syracuse basketball is [all about].”

“Gerry’s ready for this. We didn’t choose Gerry because he’s an alum, or his number 3 hangs from the rafters in the JMA Wireless Dome,” Wildhack said. “He’s the right person at the right time to lead our program.”

Recognizing that “Syracuse basketball is embedded in the soul of this University,” Chancellor-elect Haynie echoed Wildhack’s sentiment, welcoming McNamara “back where he belongs, back in Orange.”

“What stood out about Gerry wasn’t just his resume, which is impressive. It wasn’t just the results, though they speak for themselves,” Haynie said. “Every person who worked with Gerry, every reference that we talked to said the same thing. They said he makes people better. He holds them to a high standard. He cares about them as people, not just as athletes. That he’s the kind of leader that we would want for our student-athletes.”

McNamara expressed gratitude to return to the place where he starred for four years.

“I can’t even tell you how honored, how blessed I am for this moment to be here. It really is kind of a dream come true for us,” said McNamara, who helped the Orange win the 2003 men’s basketball national championship.

It’s a dream McNamara wasn’t sure he’d ever get after leaving Syracuse in March of 2024. After 14 seasons as an assistant coach and one season as associate head coach, McNamara took over as Siena University’s head men’s basketball coach.

But following two successful seasons, including guiding the Saints into the 2026 NCAA Division I tournament for the first time in 16 years, McNamara is back with the Orange.

“During the four-year stretch of my [undergraduate] experience, my love grew for the people of this city, for the University that gave me the opportunity to showcase my gifts on the biggest stage,” said McNamara.

Get to know McNamara and his message for the Orange community.

Winning Is in G-Mac’s DNA

McNamara’s playing days at Syracuse were defined by wins. Not only did the Orange win the national title in 2003, Syracuse made the NCAA tournament in four consecutive seasons, compiling a 103-32 overall record with two Big East postseason championships.

Winning also matters to Bryan Blair, the Orange’s new director of athletics who was tasked with hiring a new basketball coach. After an initial phone conversation about the job, McNamara sat down for a face-to-face conversation with Blair, who leaned in close, looked him in the eyes and said “I want to win. No matter what, I want to win.”

“That statement from Bryan, for me, was where this went from being like an interview to motivationally aligned,” McNamara said. “We’re lockstep: same mentality, same goals, same direction.”

McNamara told current and future Syracuse students that, as part of their college experience, the basketball team “needs to be good. That should be non-negotiable. … That should be part of your journey as a student. It should be so much fun because the basketball team is so good. … I’m going to do my best to work my rear end off to change it.”

Relationships Stand the Test of Time

McNamara credited his parents, Gerard and Joyce, for teaching him “everything I feel like I am as a person, as a man, as a husband and a father.”

After McNamara was offered the opportunity to take over at his alma mater, one of the first things McNamara did was FaceTime with his parents to let them know “I’m about to sign a contract to be the head coach at Syracuse University. [It was] one of the great things and memories of my life.”

In the name, image and likeness (NIL) age, where student-athletes have agents and eye lucrative sponsorship deals, McNamara emphasized the importance of the relationships he builds.

“For me to truly be at my best, there’s that communication level and relationship building,” McNamara said. “To me, the relationships and the love for a place are always going to stand the test of time.”

G-Mac Learned to Love Basketball From His Dad

Before he set school records for Syracuse University—and before he was the two-time Associated Press Pennsylvania Boys High School Small School Player of the Year and the 2002 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year for Bishop Hannan (now known as Holy Cross)—McNamara was simply a basketball enthusiast.

“I loved basketball, and because I loved it, my father gave me as much of it as I could absorb, [from playing in] different leagues to [getting the] key to the gym at Holy Rosary Parish,” said McNamara, the Orange’s leader in career three-pointers made, free throw percentage and minutes played.

Simple Formula for Success

Between frequent travel for games and recruiting trips and late nights at the office watching game film, the life of a college basketball coach can be complicated.

But at home, surrounded by sons, Gerry and Patrick, and daughters, Maggie and Grace, McNamara says he’s found a simple formula for success. It all starts with his wife, Katie, a fellow Scranton native.

“Going into the last job [at Siena], Katie said, ‘Our happiness is simple’,” Gerry said. “And the way I took that was, ‘Yes, it is. It’s very simple because it’s us.’ It’s always going to be us. We’re in this together always. But as I take this job, it’s not as simple as that. Our happiness is simple because you make it so easy for us to be happy. There’s no one I love and truly admire more than you.”

The has received a significant gift of more than 25 works by 16 artists from the collection of Nancy Delman Portnoy.

A New York-based collector, gallerist and educator, Delman Portnoy’s collection focuses on artists addressing political and social issues across a wide range of media. She has held board positions at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, the Bronx Museum of the Arts and the Vera List Center for Art and Politics at The New School. The gift was facilitated by alumna Elizabeth “Liz” C. Tenenbaum ’98.

The donation transforms the museum’s holdings in lens-based media and broadens its representation in painting and contemporary voices. Highlights of the gift include works by Rashid Johnson, John Waters, Shimon Attie, David Goldblatt and Abel Barroso.

Johnson’s “Green Belt” (2009), a large-scale photograph of the artist’s father wearing a newly awarded taekwondo belt and seated against a bookshelf with a CB radio perched on it, offers a nuanced portrait of a soon-to-be-father’s self-exploration during the social upheaval of the 1970s.

“Rashid Johnson is one of the most incisive artists working today, and this early photograph encapsulates so many of the ideas he has explored throughout his career—Blackness, family, home life, community, literacy and access to sport,” says Art Museum Curator Melissa Yuen. “The wide-ranging conversations that a single work of art can encourage is the hallmark of what we do at Syracuse. We aim to acquire works that spark conversations across disciplines, and this incredible gift further develops our vision for the collection.

The gift also includes eight works by filmmaker and artist John Waters, whose photography draws from and recontextualizes iconic film imagery. The works by Waters present opportunities for collaboration with campus programs in film and media arts.

Other works turn a creative lens on histories that happen on local, neighborhood levels. Shimon Attie’s “Lasers Writing Out (in Yiddish) Jewish Senior’s Sleeping Dream” (1998) is part of his celebrated public art project which used animated laser projection to inscribe the personal and collective memories of immigrant residents onto the architecture of their neighborhood on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

David Goldblatt’s “Sunset over the Playing Fields of Tladi, Soweto, Johannesburg, August 1972,” (1972) photographed during the apartheid era, is a striking example of Goldblatt’s commitment to documenting everyday life in apartheid South Africa. Goldblatt’s photograph is currently on view at the in New York City as part of the exhibition “New In: Recent Acquisitions at the Syracuse University Art Museum” through June 4.

The gift advances the museum’s commitment to a collecting philosophy that fosters interdisciplinary teaching and research across the University, with particular focus on programs and institutions that include and the in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

“This gift is transformative—for our collection, and for the students and faculty who learn with it. When a collector of Nancy Delman Portnoy’s vision chooses to place works at an academic museum, it reflects a deep belief in the power of art to educate,” says Art Museum Director Emily Dittman. “These artists speak directly to the interdisciplinary, socially engaged teaching that defines Syracuse University, and expand our ability to teach across disciplines in meaningful ways.”

The Syracuse University Art Museum stewards a collection of more than 45,000 objects spanning 4,000 years of world art and serves as a teaching laboratory for students, faculty and the broader community. For more information on the museum, including current and upcoming exhibitions and programs, .

Twelve graduating seniors have earned the title of 2026 Syracuse University Scholar—the highest undergraduate honor the University awards—recognized for their academic excellence, independent research and creative work, and contributions to their fields. The scholars were selected by a Universitywide faculty committee.

“It is a great privilege to recognize our University Scholars and all they have accomplished—from academics to research to service—over the course of their undergraduate years,” says Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew. “These graduating seniors have truly distinguished themselves, and I have no doubt that the contributions they make beyond Syracuse will be as remarkable as the ones they have made here.”

The 2026 Syracuse University Scholars are the following:

• Daniel Baris, a sport analytics major in the David B. Falk College of Sport, a statistics major in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Juinkye Chiang, a student in the School of Architecture and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Rylie DiMaio, a health and exercise major in the Falk College and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Julia Fancher, a physics major and an applied mathematics major in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Edward Lu, a music composition major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and a music history and cultures major in A&S;
• Gustavo Madero Carriles, a political science major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and A&S and a public relations major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications;
• Sadie Meyer, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) and mathematics major in A&S;
• Jorge Morales, a history major and anthropology major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Maya Philips, a biology major and communication sciences and disorders major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Nathan Torabi, a political science, citizenship and civic engagement and law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Gianna Voce, a computer science major in ECS and a neuroscience major in A&S; and
• Qiong Wu, a general accounting, finance and business analytics major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management; an economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S; a mathematics major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

The scholars will be recognized at the University’s Commencement ceremony on May 10 in the JMA Wireless Dome. The student Commencement speaker will be chosen from among their ranks.

For spring break, March 9-13, students traveled to perform mission service, immersed themselves in learning experiences, took in new sights and dominated on the field.

Here are some of the ways they spent their spring break:

Allison Hinman G’15, G’16 goes to work every day in a place filled with the historical memory of courageous acts: the Rochester, New York, home of Susan B. Anthony where she fought for women’s right to vote and was arrested for casting a ballot.

As president and CEO of the National  Hinman leads the institution she first interned at while pursuing her dual master’s degrees in museum studies and arts leadership administration in the and . It’s a role that she says set the course of her career.

Going into the internship, Hinman was skeptical she’d learn anything new about the operation of historic house museums, since she’d already interned at the , the historic home of William Henry Seward, who served as a New York State senator, governor of New York, a U.S. senator and secretary of state in the administrations of both Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.

But her time at the Anthony Museum had a profound impact on the way she thought about her path.

“It was such a transformative experience for me with the type of programming the Anthony Museum was doing and how they were creating programming with community, instead of for community,” Hinman says. “That was really influential in how I wanted to move forward with museum education and thinking about how to work with community. ”

Hinman ended up the Anthony Museum in 2021 as deputy director and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2024. She the new president and CEO as of January 2026.

“I work with the absolute best staff and the best volunteers,” Hinman says. “Everybody is so passionate, and it’s just a great environment to work in, and everybody really views it as a team effort in how we make all of the work happen here.”

Currently, Hinman is focused on overseeing and for a that will include a 6,000 square foot self-guided exhibition space to the museum. She says the new building will allow the museum to expand its programming.

For Women’s History Month, the museum is a series of guest lecturers, and Hinman said she’s looking forward to the historic house once again serving as an early voting location for the 2026 election cycle. In 2024, more than 6,000 visitors chose to vote early in Susan B. Anthony’s backyard.

Below, she delves into lessons she learned from her time at Syracuse and what she hopes current students will keep in mind during their own time on campus.

—March 24—is a day to celebrate all that it means to be Orange, to keep beloved traditions alive for students and keep building the community that makes Syracuse University extraordinary.

There are countless ways to support students—through greatest needs and deans’ funds in all of the University’s schools and colleges and through initiatives that benefit students Universitywide, across majors and disciplines.

Here are five unique ways you can make your impact on the Orange in support of experiences, community and traditions:

Since 23 students gathered at Crouse College on Feb. 4, 1901, the Syracuse University Marching Band has grown into one of the most celebrated collegiate bands in the nation. From its first football game appearance that fall to marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and performing at Super Bowl XLVIII, the band has represented the University on some of the world’s biggest stages.

The band earned its iconic nickname, The Pride of the Orange, in 1970, when an announcer introduced the band following its award-winning performance at the World Band Festival in Kerkrade, Netherlands. The name has defined the band ever since.

Today, with nearly 220 members drawn from five Central New York colleges (Syracuse, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Le Moyne College, SUNY Oswego and Onondaga Community College) and more than 80 majors, the band is far more than a performing ensemble. It is a cornerstone of Syracuse University life; it’s a community where students find lifelong friendships and carry the Orange spirit forward.

As the band marks its 125th anniversary, the College of Visual and Performing Arts is raising funds for new uniforms, which will debut at the Sept. 5, 2026, football home opener vs. New Hampshire. A generous donor has pledged an $85,000 matching gift, doubling every dollar contributed to this historic milestone.

Syracuse is home to more than 300 registered student organizations—from performance groups and cultural organizations to service clubs and everything in between—and they’re at the heart of what makes the Syracuse experience special.

On Giving Day, 41 student organizations are competing for a share of $3,500 in bonus funding through the Student Organization Challenge, rallying their communities to give, engage and show up. Winners are determined by unique donor count, social media engagement and on-campus spirit at Schine Student Center, so every gift, like and share genuinely moves the needle. The challenge dollars have been allocated via Senior Vice President Allen Groves and the Student Experience team.

Can’t find a group that speaks to you? A gift to the Student Experience Fund supports small grants that help all Syracuse students fully enjoy campus life. This is your chance to invest in the people and communities that make Syracuse University home.

The Center for the Creator Economy (CCE) is the first academic center of its kind on a U.S. college campus. Led jointly by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, the center reinforces the University’s commitment to bold, forward-looking academic leadership.

By aligning strengths in entrepreneurship, media, communications, athletics and digital infrastructure, the University is charting how higher education can prepare students for the 21st-century economy. The center will serve as a dynamic platform for teaching and learning; workshops and executive education; speaker series and showcases; on-campus incubators and makerspaces; research and thought leadership; and college athletics.

The fund will support many CCE initiatives, including The Vibe, a student-run creative agency providing students real-world experience through working with clients, and the ’CUSE Creator Crew, which will support creator and brand collaborations and hands-on student learning.

Thomas O’Brien ’25, who helped launch the new center, will co-host six live shows from the Schine Student Center throughout the day to showcase Syracuse University creators.

In May, the Hendricks Chapel Choir will perform on the African continent for the first time. The choir travels internationally every four to five years, providing unique experiential learning opportunities to its members. The choir has previously performed in China (2005); Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay (2009); Europe (Poland and Germany, including Auschwitz, 2013); Mexico (2018); and London and Lockerbie and Edinburgh, Scotland (2023). With plans to visit Oceania in 2030, the choir will have performed on every habitable continent by the 100th anniversary of the chapel.

The performances on the South African tour include Johannesburg (performing with the University of Johannesburg Choir); Soweto (Apartheid Museum and Mandela House); Pretoria (University of Pretoria-Tuks Camerata); Drakensberg (performing with the Drakensberg Boys Choir); Pietermaritzburg (UKZN School of Religious Studies) and Cape Town (performing with the St. George’s Cathedral Choir).

“When our graduating seniors consider the most impactful and meaningful moments of their time studying at Syracuse University, international performing tours always top the list,” says Jose “Peppie” Calvar, professor and chair of applied music and performance and director of choral activities in the Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and director of the Hendricks Chapel Choir. “Performing tours forge lifelong friendships and memories within our students. The experience of singing in front of an international audience confirms our shared humanity and our students’ place as citizens of a larger world and stewards of the world they’re shaping.”

Syracuse Giving Day is a great time for fans and alumni to support Syracuse University Athletics. Make a gift to the athletic department’s top priorities through Athletics Competitive Excellence. Your support pushes our 20 varsity athletic programs to compete for championships and elevates the student-athlete experience for more than 550 student-athletes on campus.

Visit the for the complete Giving Day experience.

The in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) is launching ¡Guitarra!, a new recital series that will bring world-renowned classical guitarists to campus for free public performances and master classes for Setnor students.

The inaugural performance of ¡Guitarra! will take place on Thursday, March 19, with by at 8 p.m. in Setnor Auditorium, Crouse College. Recognized as “a young 21st-century virtuoso” (The Guardian), Whittingham’s debut album “My European Journey,” released in 2021, was described as “a superb debut” (BBC Music Magazine) and led to her being chosen as one of Classic FM’s “Rising Star” artists in 2022.

The series will continue on Wednesday, April 1, at 8 p.m. with by , in Setnor Auditorium, Crouse College. Smits, who plays on eight-string guitars and historical instruments, has been praised as “an uncommonly musical guitarist” (The New York Times) and “one of the most sensitive and cultured performers of our time” (Diapason).

¡Guitarra! is generously supported by VPA alumna Ronna B. Erickson ’76, whose love of classical guitar inspired her to establish the series first at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and then at Syracuse University.

“We are beyond grateful for Ronna’s generosity, as it enables us to bring international concert artists and educators to our students and community, for years to come,” says , instructor of guitar in the Setnor School.

Syracuse University is now the proud home of a truly unique pipe organ. Crafted in 1994 by renowned organ builder Greg Harrold for scientist Alan Kay, the Harrold Organ made quite the journey from California to its new place in the Syracuse University Catholic Center chapel. Generously donated to the University, this magnificent instrument will enrich both the Catholic community and the University’s organ program for years to come.

The 24-stop organ is modeled on 18th-century building practices and sounds, and is a visually and aurally stunning complement to the Catholic Center’s new St. Thomas More Chapel.

The Malmgren Concert Series will host the dedication of the organ and the first public concert on Sunday, March 29, from 4-5:30 p.m. The Catholic Center is located at 110 Walnut Place in Syracuse. Visit the to register for the concert (required).

University Organist Anne Laver, associate professor in the Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), will perform with the Hendricks Chapel Choir and dancers from the Meagan Woods Collaborative, featuring music by Bach; Buxtehude; Vivaldi; Natalie Draper, associate professor in the Setnor School; and a new work by José “Peppie” Calvar, professor in the Setnor School.

The concert is the culminating event in the third annual Syracuse Pipe Organ Festival, co-sponsored by the Syracuse Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the Setnor School of Music.

Following a year of research and development, the  in the (VPA) has implemented , the industry-standard casting platform. Launched in the Fall 2025 semester, the platform was used to cast five department productions and this season’s co-production with .

Created in 1971 by Gary Marsh, Breakdown Services is used by casting directors, agents, managers and actors for the audition and casting process in 97% of scripted projects in North America.

For the drama department, the platform centralizes and makes available online casting information and role descriptions for acting and musical theater majors and allows students to submit taped auditions online for review by guest and faculty directors as well as other members of the creative team.

“I’m delighted that the Syracuse University Department of Drama has embraced Breakdown Services for its casting process,” says Bob Hupp, artistic director at Syracuse Stage, who used the platform to cast the upcoming co-production of “.” “As a frequent co-producer with the drama department, the move to Breakdown Services makes the process of casting both student and professional actors much more accessible and consistent with best industry practices. It is a big step forward for students as they enter the profession and for those of us charged with learning all we can about the talented students engaged in our casting process.”

Eleanor Holdridge, professor and chair of the Department of Drama and director for the spring production of “New Works/New Voices,” also participated in the casting process. “Working with Breakdown Services to cast the show was absolutely easy and a great way to work through the auditions and then callbacks in a collaborative way with the music director,” she says. “It was professional and aided in the casting process immensely.”

Acting and musical theater students can also create personal accounts in Actors Access, part of Breakdown Services, gaining audition experience with the system before entering the professional world.

As a result of its successful implementation of Breakdown Services, the drama department is exploring the use of the platform with related programs on campus, with the goal of creating a unified, campus-wide casting process that mirrors industry standards.