Jeff Goldstein ’77, president of global theatrical distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, will address graduates at the School of Education (SOE) on Saturday, May 9, at 4:30 p.m. in the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

Goldstein oversees all aspects of Warner Bros. Pictures’ distribution activities worldwide, including filmmaker and exhibitor relations, release dating and patterns, business strategy, sales and administration, and specialty/premium formats.

Additionally, he manages Warner Bros. Pictures’ extensive international distribution network, which includes both affiliate offices and third-party partnerships. Goldstein also partners on marketing, and his team is responsible for distributing a diverse range of films each year, including titles from Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and DC Studios.

A highly respected leader in the distribution field, Goldstein previously served as president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. He began his career at the company as an intern in the Los Angeles office and quickly climbed the ranks, holding various roles across regional sales offices.

Over the years, his leadership and expertise have been instrumental in shaping the company’s distribution strategy and global success.

Goldstein’s work has been central to Warner Bros.’ recent global box office success. In 2025, the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group surpassed $4 billion at the worldwide box office across 11 releases, delivering eight consecutive No. 1 openings (nine with “Wuthering Heights” in 2026) and seven straight debuts over $40 million.

Recent highlights include “A Minecraft Movie” approaching $1 billion worldwide following its record-setting $163 million domestic opening; “Sinners” becoming the highest-grossing original horror film domestically; “Final Destination: Bloodlines” earning the best opening and highest total gross in franchise history; “Weapons” achieving the largest August horror opening; and “The Conjuring: Last Rites” securing the biggest global horror opening ever.

Additionally, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” became Tim Burton’s second highest-grossing domestic release, while “Barbie” crossed $1.4 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros.’ 100-year history.

In a , Goldstein explains that the roots of his career “started in Syracuse,” soon after he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in special education: “I had an uncle who was in the entertainment business. He said, if you are interested, I can get you a summer job at Warner Bros.”

When asked what connects Syracuse University and his School of Education degree to his success as a movie executive, Goldstein says, “I got my entrepreneurial spirit by working jobs in the dining hall, as a residence advisor and in the business affairs office. While at Syracuse, I realized I had a bent for business, as well as the ability to teach others, mentor others, [and] be curious.”

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.

Mike Tirico ’88, acclaimed NBC Sports broadcaster and dedicated alumnus, will deliver Syracuse University’s address Sunday, May 10, in the JMA Wireless Dome. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.

Tirico, who serves as vice chair of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees, has built a career at the center of American sports broadcasting, calling play-by-play for “Sunday Night Football” and “NBA on NBC” and serving as the primetime host for NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympics.

In February 2026, he became the first U.S. broadcaster ever to call the Super Bowl and host a Winter Olympics in the same year—a milestone that capped more than three decades in the profession he first pursued in the studios of WAER-FM, Syracuse University’s public radio station.

“Mike Tirico is the definition of an Orange success story,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “He began his career right here on campus, and has gone on to become one of the most respected voices in sports broadcasting. His deep and lasting commitment to Syracuse University reflects the same values of excellence we hope to inspire in every graduate. We are honored and proud to welcome him home for this milestone celebration.”

“There is no place that has meant more to me than Syracuse University,” says Tirico. “Personally and professionally so much of what has defined my life traces back to SU. It is an incredible honor to be asked to address the Class of 2026 and welcome them to our proud family of Orange alums. I can’t wait to share this special day with the next group that joins our Forever Orange family.”

Broadcast Start

Tirico earned a dual bachelor’s degree in 1988 in political science from the and the and in broadcast journalism from the . He launched his broadcasting career at WAER-FM before joining WTVH-TV in Syracuse as sports director and serving as the play-by-play voice for Syracuse University basketball, football, lacrosse and volleyball.

Tirico joined ESPN as a “SportsCenter” anchor in 1991, eventually becoming the voice of “Monday Night Football” from 2006-15, one of only four play-by-play announcers to call primetime NFL games for at least 10 seasons. Over 25 years at ESPN and ABC Sports, he called the NBA, college football, college basketball, golf’s Masters and The Open, the FIFA World Cup and tennis championships, the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. In July 2016, he joined NBC Sports.

At NBC, Tirico is the play-by-play voice of “Sunday Night Football,” primetime television’s most-watched show for an unprecedented 15 consecutive years, and has served as the network’s primetime host for the PyeongChang, Tokyo, Beijing, Paris and Milan Cortina Olympics. In February 2026, he called Super Bowl LX and then immediately shifted to host the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, an unmatched broadcasting double that drew widespread acclaim. He was named the 2010 Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and has won five Sports Emmy Awards. In the summer of 2025, he was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame by a vote of his peers.

Dedication to the University

Tirico has remained closely connected to the University throughout his career. Elected to the Board of Trustees in 2016, he was elected vice chair in 2025 and serves on the board’s Executive, Advancement and External Affairs and Student Experience Committees. He has served on the board’s search committees, including for the dean of the Newhouse School, the athletics director and, most recently, the chancellor. His University service also includes membership on the Newhouse Advisory Board and the Advisory Board.

He has been recognized with the George Arents Award, the University’s highest alumni honor, in 2005; the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1996; and the Newhouse School’s Marty Glickman Award for Leadership in Sports Media in 2017. He and his wife, Deborah Gibaratz Tirico ’89 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), established the Mike Tirico Scholarship Endowment and supported initiatives across the Maxwell, Newhouse and Whitman schools, WAER and Syracuse University Athletics.

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

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

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

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

Light refreshments will be served. today.

A time-honored celebration of academic achievement, leadership and military history was on full display at the JMA Wireless Dome during the 109th Chancellor’s Review and Awards Ceremony on March 27.

The annual tradition brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni and University stakeholders to recognize the accomplishments and success of cadets from the University’s Army and Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs.

The event is one of Syracuse University’s oldest traditions, originating in 1917 under the direction of then-Chancellor James R. Day. Among the cadets reviewed in that inaugural ceremony was future Chancellor William Pearson Tolley, who would later play a critical role in expanding access to higher education for veterans through his contributions to the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the G.I. Bill.

This year’s ceremony featured a formal inspection of the troops by Chancellor Kent Syverud,  and the presentation of awards recognizing academic, leadership and civic excellence. Both University leadership and representatives from local veteran service organizations were on hand to present awards to the deserving cadets.

“Over the course of time our success is attributed to our military-connected students, and how they achieve their post-graduation goals,” says retired U.S. Army Colonel Ron Novack, executive director of the (OVMA). “Those ROTC cadets who are graduating in five weeks are going to take a very big step in their personal and professional lives. They’re going to go out and lead, they’re going to take the values that they learn from their families, their parents, the values they learn here at Syracuse University, and the values of the Army and the Air Force, and they’re going to go out and lead with distinction.  We couldn’t be prouder of them as they go out and embark on their careers.”

Top Cadets Recognized for Leadership and Academic Excellence

Among the highest honors presented were the General Edward C. Meyer Leadership Award and the Professor John A. and Dean Marion Meyer Scholar Award, given to top-performing cadets in the Army and Air Force ROTC respectively.

This year, the General Edward C. Meyer Leadership Award was presented to Sophia Terlecky ’26, a U.S. Army ROTC cadet, for demonstrating exceptional officer potential and leadership. Terlecky, a Buffalo, New York,  native, is enrolled  in the . She also serves as the cadet battalion commander for the Stalwart Battalion, and will receive a commission in the U.S. Army alongside 24 other Syracuse University Army ROTC cadets in May.

For the Air Force, The Professor John A. and Dean Marion Meyer Scholar Award was presented to Matthew Gratch, a cross-town ROTC cadet from Le Moyne College, for exemplary performance and inspirational leadership. Gratch, who is studying political science at Le Moyne, also serves as the mission support flight commander for Detachment 535 and will commission into the Air Force as an acquisitions manager.

“Being my fourth and final one, it hits a little different than it did in other years,” says U.S. Air Force ROTC Cadet James Hrdy ’26, a senior in the . “This program really challenges you, it’s taught me to appreciate certain things and I’m looking forward to working in the U.S. Air Force.”

The ceremony closed with a formal pass in review, a military tradition symbolizing honor and respect, as the cadets marched in formation across the field in front of their families and University leaders to showcase the military precision of basic unit drill and individual standards of each cadet.

To view a photo gallery of this year’s event, visit the .

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.

A climate finance pioneer. A diplomat who helped evacuate thousands from a war zone. A champion of global school nutrition. A trailblazing scholar of equity in public administration. A leader in the federal inspector general oversight community.These are the five alumni who will be celebrated at the annual Awards of Excellence on Thursday, April 30, in Washington, D.C.

The event, to be held at the Syracuse University Washington, D.C., Center in the heart of Dupont Circle, will also serve as an opportunity for the Maxwell community to reunite and celebrate the school’s enduring commitment to engaged citizenship.

Established in 2022, the Awards of Excellence program celebrates the contributions of the school’s alumni and friends to their fields, communities and society through work that reflects the Maxwell School mission and values. Recognition categories include the 1924 Award, Bridge Award, Charles V. Willie Advocate Award, Compass Award and Spirit of Public Service Award.

“We are honored to welcome members of the Maxwell community to join us for an evening of celebration and reflection,” says Dean David M. Van Slyke. “Each year, this event reminds me of why our mission endures. This year’s honorees have built careers spanning climate finance, diplomacy, food security, public administration and the law—and in every case, they have used their Maxwell education as a foundation for making the world more sustainable, more humane and more just. I look forward to celebrating them and to welcoming our community back to Washington, D.C.”

The five 2026 honorees are Jeff Eckel G’82,  George Farag G’02, G’07, Emily Fredenberg G’16, Susan Gooden G’95, G’96 and Roslyn A. Mazer ’71.

Jeff Eckel—Bridge Award

For his commitment to improving our climate future, Eckel is the recipient of the 2026 Bridge Award, which honors exemplary leadership across sectors while advancing the Maxwell School’s mission of making the world a better place.

Eckel, who earned an M.P.A. from Maxwell, has spent four decades advancing climate-positive investing with the view that climate change is among the greatest challenges of our time. As chair of HASI and its CEO for the previous two decades, he pioneered the use of finance to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon climate solutions in the United States and the developing world.

He developed the HannieMae Trust, a first-of-its-kind investment vehicle for funding energy-conservation projects, oversaw HASI’s 2013 public offering as the first dedicated climate solutions investor, and created CarbonCount, a tool that measures how efficiently capital investments reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

George Farag—Spirit of Public Service Award

Farag is the recipient of the Spirit of Public Service Award, which honors individuals whose work has had widespread global impact and reflects the ideals of the Maxwell School. For more than 25 years, he has worked at the intersection of diplomacy, immigration and national security to advance U.S. interests and protect American lives. Farag earned master’s degrees in public administration and international relations and Ph.D. in anthropology from the Maxwell School.

Inspired by the Sept. 11 attacks, Farag joined the U.S. Department of State as a diplomat and consular officer in 2002. During five years of service in some of the world’s most volatile environments, he helped lead the evacuation of 15,000 Americans during the 2006 Lebanon War and was among the first U.S. diplomats to enter Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2013, he founded Silverline Strategies, a consulting firm whose operations now affect more than 3 million visa applicants each year across 15 countries. Farag received the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award and Meritorious Honor Award.

Emily Fredenberg—Compass Award

Fredenberg, who holds an M.P.A. degree and a master’s degree in international relations, is the recipient of this year’s Compass Award, given in recognition of her exceptional accomplishments and impact as an early-career alumna. In the 10 years since earning her Maxwell degrees, she has built a career dedicated to strengthening food security among some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Fredenberg is currently senior officer of programs and advocacy at the Global Child Nutrition Foundation, where she cultivates global partnerships to advance sustainable school meal programs worldwide. She previously served as a project manager at The Rockefeller Foundation, overseeing grants focused on combating the global food crisis. Before that, she spent six years with the World Food Programme, serving in Lebanon—helping the response to the Syrian refugee crisis—and in Rwanda, where she led communications strategy for the nation’s home-grown school meal initiative.

Susan Gooden—Charles V. Willie Advocate Award

Gooden is the recipient of the Charles V. Willie Advocate Award, which recognizes alumni whose contributions reflect Maxwell’s commitment to creating an environment that is welcoming to all and oriented toward engaged citizenship. The honor recognizes her excellence in leadership, teaching and scholarship advancing inclusive governance and equity in public administration.

Gooden, who earned both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science at Maxwell, is dean and professor of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she co-founded the Research Institute for Social Equity.

She has authored six books and more than 100 academic journal articles and reports and is a founding editor of the Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration. An elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, she is a past president of the American Society for Public Administration, which honored her with the 2025 Dwight Waldo Award recognizing more than 25 years of preeminent contributions to the field.

Roslyn A. Mazer—1924 Award

Mazer is the recipient of this year’s Maxwell 1924 Award, which honors graduates for distinguished and sustained professional or civic leadership in the spirit of the school’s mission.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from Maxwell, Mazer went on to provide vigorous oversight of government programs as inspector general of the Federal Trade Commission, inspector general of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and special investigative counsel in the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Earlier, she served in the Department of Justice, including as deputy assistant attorney general, guiding federal judicial nominees through the confirmation process.

Before entering public service, Mazer was in private law practice specializing in media and First Amendment law. Notably, she represented the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists as friend of the court in Hustler Magazine Inc. v. Falwell, the landmark Supreme Court ruling affirming First Amendment protection of satire. Today, she continues to advocate for cartoonists’ rights and free expression.

Stephen Kuusisto, Urayoán Noel and OlaRose Ndubuisi—three poets whose work embody resilience, identity and the radical possibilities of language—will present their work at the annual poetry reading on

The event, produced by Punto de Contacto/Point of Contact, takes place at the , where the “” spring exhibition, which recognizes artists who live with disabilities, is currently displayed.

“This unique setting provides  much excitement for our Cruel April series this year,” says , the University’s executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community and Point of Contact director. “Just as the exhibition’s artistic expressions expand on ideas of creativity shaped by body, mind, culture and history, the works of the three poets enter into a dialogue across cultures and disciplines. Both forums offer varied perspectives on how artists navigate the world on their own terms.”

The poetry program begins at 5:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Poet and essayist is a University Professor and director of the . Blind since birth, Kuusisto has built a celebrated body of work that redefines understandings of perception and beauty. His poetry collections, “Only Bread, Only Light” (2000) and “Letters to Borges” (2013), along with memoirs including “Planet of the Blind” and “Have Dog, Will Travel,” have established him as one of the most compelling disability voices in American letters. His work has appeared in Harper’s, Poetry and The New York Times Magazine.

is an internationally recognized poet and scholar, an associate professor of English and Spanish at New York University and a defining voice in Latinx and Nuyorican literary traditions. He is the author of the landmark study “In Visible Movement: Nuyorican Poetry from the Sixties to Slam” (2014) and the poetry collections “Buzzing Hemisphere/Rumor Hemisférico” (2015) and “Transversal” (2021), which was a New York Public Library Book of the Year. He is also the winner of the LASA Latino Studies Book Award. His work explores neurodivergence, migration and the politics of language. Cruel April is presented in partnership with the , , , and the .

’29, the 2024–25 New York State Youth Poet Laureate, is a Syracuse student pursuing dual majors in biology and journalism. She is also a Coronat Scholar and Renée Crown honors student and is enrolled in SUNY Upstate Medical University’s B.S./M.D. program. Her poetry draws on her experience with scoliosis, her Nigerian heritage and her commitment to uplifting marginalized communities. A premature birth survivor, she is the founder of The Finding Scoliosis Kindly Project and a Prudential Emerging Visionaries award winner.

Heather Hendry, senior paper conservator at the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, will present at Syracuse University Libraries’ annual Brodsky Series for the Advancement of Library Conservation. Hendry’s hybrid lecture, titled , will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 3–4:30 p.m. in the Peter Graham Scholarly Commons (Bird Library Room 114) and on Zoom. Registration is required for the Zoom webinar and is encouraged for in-person attendees. Interested attendees can .

A on Dacron lining maps will be held the following day, Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. on the 6^th floor of Bird Library in the Antje Bultmann Lemke Seminar Room and the Joan Breier Brodsky ’67, G’68 Conservation Lab. The workshop is limited to 15 people, and advance registration is required. To register for the workshop, please email Max Wagh, SCRC administrative coordinator, at mlwagh@syr.edu.

All events are free to attend and open to the public.

The annual is endowed through a generous gift by William J. ’65, G’ 68 and Joan ’67, G’68 Brodsky. The series features prominent library conservators that promote and advance knowledge of library conservation theory, practice and application among wide audiences, both on campus and in the region.

Hendry specializes in challenging conservation treatments of works of art on paper of all eras. Current projects include conservation of Jacob Lawrence’s Toussaint L’Ouverture paintings; early maps and founding documents of the United States; and a collection of Civil War drawings. She teaches conservation treatment techniques to other conservators, including a “Blackened Lead White” workshop, and has presented and published internationally on conservation of iron gall ink, lead white pigments, historic maps, Asian screens and pressure sensitive tape.

She studied conservation at Queen’s University in Canada, and she has worked as a conservator at the Canadian Conservation Institute, the Yale Center for British Art, the Harvard University Weisman Center and in private practice.  She is a fellow and a professional member of the American Institute of Conservation and will be co-chairing the Art on Paper Discussion Group on “Washing” at the 2026 AIC Meeting.

What does it mean to cultivate a campus welcoming to all? That question sits at the heart of the annual Creating Community Retreat, a one-of-a-kind experience for campus members.

Hosted by the and , the retreat brings together a cohort of faculty, staff and students for an immersive, multi-day, off-campus experience designed to explore connection, community-building and how to cultivate a campus culture that truly welcomes everyone.

Set apart from the rhythms of daily campus life, the retreat gives participants the time and space to engage in meaningful dialogue, collaborate on skills-building activities and reflect on their shared responsibility to one another.

The Creating Community Retreat, which will next be held in the fall of 2026, is centered around the belief that community must be intentionally built, practiced and sustained. It is intended to gather leaders and those looking for community into a shared space.

Through facilitated discussions and interactive activities, participants are challenged to examine their understanding of community, learn from varying perspectives and foster new relationships. “Most importantly, we strive to build a network that cultivates connections during and following the retreat,” says Armando Martinez, director of community and connection in the Office of People and Culture and retreat facilitator.

The most recent retreat was hosted Nov. 7-9, 2025, at Greek Peak Mountain Resort with participation of more than 30 campus members.

For Renee Yu ’26, an undergraduate student participant, the 2025 retreat was one of the most memorable experiences she has had at Syracuse University. “Through storytelling and collaborative activities, we began to see how each of us contributes to building bridges within a community,” says Yu, “and the retreat created a space where people felt safe enough to be vulnerable, to listen deeply and to be heard.” Yu studies policy studies in the | .

The results demonstrate a clear impact: 100% of participants at the 2025 retreat reported that they:

• connected with someone new during the retreat experience;
• learned inclusive practices to foster community in their daily campus roles; and
• expanded their understanding of what it means to make Syracuse University welcoming to all.

Lasting Connections

Aylin Gonzalez, director of belonging and student success in the division, expressed gratitude for the shared vulnerability that was met with affirmation. “I left this retreat feeling seen by students, faculty, and staff I may never have crossed paths with otherwise,” says Gonzalez. “I’m grateful to see these people on campus as a reminder of what we experienced.”

The skills and relationships cultivated at the retreat do not end when participants return to campus. The Creating Community Retreat is designed to send attendees back with concrete tools: practices for cultivating community, frameworks for dialogue and a renewed sense of purpose around shaping a welcoming culture at Syracuse and beyond.

Be a Champion for the Next Retreat

In the spirit of on March 24, the Office of People and Culture is raising funds specifically to support the next Creating Community Retreat. Donations will directly cover the meal, lodging and related costs that make this retreat experience possible, removing financial barriers for participants to sustain this program for years to come.

“Whether you attended the 2025 retreat or simply believe in the value of building a connected community, your contribution directly supports the University’s efforts to create a campus that is welcoming to all,” says Mary Grace Almandrez, vice president for people and culture. .

If you are a student, staff or faculty member interested in attending the next retreat, please email the Office of People and Culture to receive more information as details are finalized.

Story by Rachel Scalisi

 isn’t just about gifts—it’s a global celebration where the Orange community comes together to make an impact!

Tomorrow, March 24, Syracuse celebrates 156 years of Orange pride, and Syracuse Giving Day promises a full day of energy, generosity and campuswide fun. From grabbing giveaways in Schine Student Center to supporting from wherever you are, Giving Day is all about fueling what makes Syracuse extraordinary.

What’s Happening on Campus?

Free Food, Giveaways and Stamp Card Rewards
Schine Student Center | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Energize your day! Make a gift, enjoy treats and earn your way to an Otto straw topper while supplies last. Visit the photo booth or record your own Giving Day video with a branded ring light to help you create your best Orange content. Watch live shows throughout the day for exciting student-created stories.

Goldstein Auditorium | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Discover the incredible work of 41 student organizations! Meet students, learn about their goals and support your favorites. When 150 alumni support any project, $2,100 in additional funding will be split among the top five groups thanks to the generosity of the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board.

Class of 2026 Donor Exclusive Party
Make your class gift, earn your grad cord and join Otto’s After Party from 6 to 8 p.m.

How to Make an Impact

• ! The University’s goal is to inspire 4,444 supporters on Giving Day. When there is at least one donor from every state and the entire map turns orange, $100,000 will go to Syracuse University thanks to our Regional Councils.
• ! You’ll receive an exclusive Syracuse gift wrap set.
• ! Create an account, share your personal link and earn Syracuse keyboard stickers.
• ! Whether it’s your favorite school, college or program, help unlock additional funding that will multiply your impact.

Let’s give Syracuse the best birthday gift: a powerful show of Orange pride and generosity.

Professor Hua Jiang went to the ’s 2026 Symposium curious about what was happening across the University. What she discovered reshaped how she thinks about her own work.

“One of my most significant takeaways from the symposium was the breadth of ways engagement can be enacted across the University—from classroom pedagogy and faculty communication to community storytelling and data accessibility,” said Jiang, a public relations professor and associate dean of community, culture and engagement in the . “The symposium demonstrated that engagement is not limited to a single discipline or approach; rather, it emerges through collaboration, creativity and inclusive communication practices.”

That spirit of discovery defined the 2026 Symposium, a two-day professional development event for faculty and staff hosted by the Office of People and Culture (OPC) in February. Nearly 440 faculty and staff representing 24 units, divisions, schools and colleges participated, with approximately 15% of attendees joining virtually.

The symposium’s theme of “engage” was intended as both an invitation and an aspiration to spark meaningful collaboration and support a university environment welcoming to all.

“To engage is an intentional effort, an openness that invites active participation,” said Mary Grace Almandrez, vice president for people and culture, in her welcome remarks. “The symposium reflects what is possible when people share their expertise, creativity and care for this institution.”

A Rich Program of Sessions and Experiences

The conference-style event offered more than 75 sessions across discussion panels, interactive presentations, express talks, creative works and poster displays. Presenters represented 18 units, divisions, schools and colleges. Livestreams were available for approximately 20% of sessions to accommodate varying work environments and locations.

Among the most well-attended sessions were those focused on meaningful faculty and staff engagement, organizational culture, artificial intelligence and digital tools, innovative pedagogy and productive conflict.

The first day of the symposium closed with a reception featuring remarks from Almandrez and a special performance of Indigenous songs from Adah Shenandoah (Oneida Nation, Wolf Clan, Haudenosaunee Confederacy).

Unique to this year’s symposium was a dedicated wellness block with stations highlighting well-being strategies and practices. Offerings presented in partnership with the Office of Human Resources included nourishment, movement, meditation, recreation, connection to campus resources and a low-stimulation room.

Connecting, Learning and Strengthening Community

For many attendees, the symposium delivered both professional insight and personal renewal. Erin Smith, an internship coordinator with , came away energized by the range of people and initiatives he encountered.

“I walked away feeling more knowledgeable about groups and organizations that are doing some amazing work,” Smith said. “The variety of discussions left me with follow ups and action items that I will look to build on for the rest of the year.”

Jiang found direct connections between sessions and her dual role as a faculty member and administrator. One session explored how communication strategies can strengthen relationships within institutions; another demonstrated how media and culture can engage students in creative ways—both directly applicable to her work at Newhouse.

During her remarks, Almandrez encouraged all attendees to approach their time at the symposium on multiple levels: tending to personal growth and professional renewal; making intentional connections with colleagues across campus; and sharing new insights with coworkers.

“Take what inspires you, what challenges you and what connects you over these two days and bring it back into your teams,” she said. “That is how we transform our community, one intentional step at a time.”

Lasting Impact

In a post-event survey, approximately 95% of respondents agreed the symposium environment fostered open and active participation, that they could apply what they learned directly to their roles, and that they felt more connected to the University community as a result.

The 2026 Symposium planning committee was co-chaired by Carrie Murawski, Ph.D., director of learning and development in OPC, and Gwen Pough, Ph.D., associate dean of strategic initiatives and Dean’s Professor of the Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences. Co-sponsors included the Center on Disability and Inclusion, the College of Arts and Sciences, the David B. Falk College of Sport, Hendricks Chapel, the Office of Faculty Affairs, the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and the School of Education.

OPC hosts its symposium biennially. For updates on professional development opportunities, faculty and staff can sign up for the OPC Monday Memo via the .

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.

A January snowstorm may have forced the cancellation of an in-person event but did little to dampen the spirit of Syracuse University’s 41st Annual .

Organized by the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee and hosted by Syracuse Athletics digital reporter and alumnus Sean Dorcellus ’21, the virtual program brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members from across Central New York and from wherever else they happened to be watching.

This year’s theme, “The Dream Lives Here,” served as both a declaration and a challenge. Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, interim dean of , who opened the program, framed it as a living call to action. “We hope this program leaves you feeling inspired, feeling hopeful and feeling the urgency of Dr. King’s dream,” she said, “not as a distant memory, but as a living call to action right here in our community.”

Chancellor Kent Syverud noted the form of the gathering was changed but not its purpose. “This celebration brings together champions of justice from across Central New York. Your participation and your commitment to serving our community carries forward Dr. King’s vision of a more just society. These ideals align with Syracuse University’s commitment to making our community a more welcoming place to all,” Chancellor Syverud said. “We encourage our talented students, our faculty, our staff, to volunteer their time, their energy and their expertise beyond the borders of our campus. When they do, amazing things happen.”

He recognized keynote speaker Mayor Sharon Owens ’85, a former standout on the track and field team, as a living embodiment of that purpose. Elected with 73.8% of the vote, Owens became the 55th mayor of Syracuse, this year, making history in the city she has called home for more than four decades.

In her keynote address, Mayor Owens reflected on the through-line connecting Dr. King’s legacy to today. Recalling the recent death of Rev. Jesse Jackson, a King protégé, she described how those who came before her instilled in her a drive to serve. “The dream exists,” she said, “and it is multifaceted—across all generations, across all races.”

The celebration also featured the presentation of 2026 Unsung Hero Awards, recognizing those who make a lasting difference without seeking applause. This year’s honorees were Jamie Sterling ’26, Eman Tadros, Pass Da R.O.C.K. and Bettie Graham.

Performances throughout the program gave the celebration its heartbeat. The Hendricks Chapel Choir, Community Choir and Black Celestial Choral Ensemble lifted their voices in song and praise. The Delta Zeta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the same organization King proudly belonged to, offered a powerful tribute accompanied by audio excerpts from King’s 1965 visit to campus. Adanfo, the University’s African drumming and dance ensemble, and Creations Dance Company, founded on campus in 1977, rounded out the program with vibrant performances rooted in culture and community.

The Lunar New Year—also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival—marks one of the world’s most widely celebrated holidays, observed by as many as 2 billion people across Asian cultures. On Feb. 17, the Year of the Snake officially gives way to the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy, enthusiasm and independence in the Chinese Zodiac.

Throughout the remainder of February, opportunities will be offered to celebrate this cultural milestone, giving the University community a chance to experience traditions that have been passed down for generations—from sharing meals and creating crafts to enjoying performances and exchanging red envelopes filled with blessings for the year ahead. Here is what’s planned in the weeks ahead.

Friday, Feb. 13: School of Architecture Lunar New Year Celebration

A will be held in Slocum Hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m., organized by international students in the School of Architecture and Dean Michael Speaks. The Slocum Hall atrium will be transformed into a festival-like atmosphere where students can take a break and engage in such activities as knot tying, calligraphy, fortune scratch-offs and a photo booth.

Food, chocolate coins and traditional candies, and tea with Dean Speaks will be served. A series of short presentations about East Asian culture and architecture, featuring School of Architecture faculty, is also planned to begin at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 16: Asian American Journalists Association Celebration

The Asian American Journalists Association will hold its in 303 Newhouse 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The evening will include fun activities, delicious food and more! All are welcome to attend.

Tuesday, Feb. 17: Lunar New Year Craft Night

The Center for International Services will host its from 5 to 7 p.m. at 310 Walnut Place. Participants can join in crafts, build community and then head to one of three dining centers for a themed dinner celebrating the Chinese New Year.

Tuesday, Feb. 17: Dining Center Dumplings

During dinner service on Feb. 17, at Sadler, Shaw and Ernie Davis Dining Centers, including vegetable, beef and vegetable, edamame, pork shumai, chicken lemongrass and chicken teriyaki flavors.

Saturday, Feb. 21: Chinese United Student and Scholar Association Spring Festival Celebration

The Chinese United Student and Scholar Association will host its from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium. This event is both a talent showcase and a cultural celebration, providing a platform for students to share their cultures and talents with others.

Wednesday, Feb. 25: alpha Kappa Delta Phi Red Envelope and Zodiac Craft Workshop

alpha Kappa Delta Phi will host a from 7 to 8 p.m. in Lyman Hall. Participants can learn about Lunar New Year traditions while decorating red envelopes and creating zodiac-themed crafts. The event celebrates cultural appreciation through hands-on activities and provides a welcoming space to learn, connect and express creativity. Open to all!