OlaRose Ndubuisi ’29 knows from experience that disability looks different for everyone and the challenges a person is facing privately may not always be readily visible to those around them.

The first-year student, who is dual majoring in biology and journalism, has spent the last several years transforming some of the hardest experiences of her life into poetry, advocacy and community. Her poetry, which documented her own journey with scoliosis with raw honesty and hope, earned her the title of New York State Youth Poet Laureate for 2024-2025.

Ndubuisi, who is a Coronat Scholar and in the , is passionate about encouraging others to use creative outlets to positively express their own emotions and challenges. That will be the focus of an April 17 event hosted by the Disability Cultural Center,

Ndubuisi will discuss navigating her own experiences as a student with disabilities, including being born as a one-pound premature infant, having unilateral hearing loss and being diagnosed with severe scoliosis.

Ndubuisi says it means a lot to her to speak during Disability Pride Month.

“After reading a poem about my own scoliosis journey, I’m going to show students how to use creative outlets to positively express themselves, their emotions and how we all can face our own invisible challenges by leading a fun writing and art workshop,” she says.

Resiliency and Creativity After a Diagnosis

As a kid, Ndubuisi thought the medical challenges she experienced from being born prematurely, including unilateral hearing loss in her right ear, a perforated esophagus and weak muscles, would be the hardest experiences of her life.

“Despite all of that, I played the piano and I was able to play tennis despite my hearing loss,” she says. “I’m able to recite poetry, compose my own music.”

But when Ndubuisi was 14, she says her world turned upside down when she went to the doctor for a routine checkup. She wanted to get cleared to play on her school’s tennis team, but when she mentioned to a stand-in doctor that she had been experiencing bursts of pain and that she felt she was shorter than her peers, the pediatrician decided to screen her for scoliosis and ordered an X-ray.

The results showed severe scoliosis—an S-shaped curvature of the spine, with her lower curve measuring in the surgical range. For the next year and a half, she wore a brace 22 to 23 hours a day and attended physical therapy and yoga every week. The pain was constant, and she often felt isolated from her peers.

“I was able to use writing, art and music to positively express my emotions and cope with my pain, turning my pain into something beautiful and relatable,” she says.

At the age of 15, Ndubuisi underwent vertebral body tethering surgery, but complications left her with more pain than before. She used a wheelchair for five months as she recovered from the surgery, and she had to miss the second half of her 10th grade year.

“I’m proud of my resilience and that I was able to work really hard and maintain all A’s, and I was able to go back to school for 11th grade and the rest of high school,” Ndubuisi says.

An occupational therapist recommended a music therapist, who introduced Ndubuisi to music composition software during those difficult times. She now has more than 100 original compositions and has released several on Spotify.

From Personal Pain to Public Advocacy

Her experience with scoliosis inspired her to establish the (FiSK) Project, a nonprofit focused on awareness, education and support. Ndubuisi created an educational survey that has reached more than 25 states and 19 countries, and a T-shirt fundraiser featuring her artwork and lines from her poetry raised more than $5,000 to support free scoliosis screening in underserved communities.

Back home in the Rochester, New York, area, she founded a FiSK Club at her high school, running writing and art workshops, organizing music concerts and creating space for students to talk openly about invisible struggles.

The work Ndubuisi does with FiSK has dovetailed with her advocacy as New York State Youth Poet Laureate. In that role, she has led workshops for young people across the greater Rochester area and has been a featured reader at literary events statewide, including a headlining appearance at a poetry reading tied to artist at the Guggenheim Museum.

She also hopes people learn from her own experiences that the challenges or difficulties you face “don’t have to negatively affect the trajectory of your life.”

“Scoliosis has been a really difficult and painful challenge for me, but it’s also shaped me into who I am,” she says. “It’s definitely made me even more resilient and strong, even more compassionate through meeting other kids with scoliosis and being able to share my story.”

takes place April 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Barner-McDuffie House.

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.

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

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

“Those are chaotic nights. Everybody is working on a project that will end up at one of our partner charities,” says quilting enthusiast Judy O’Rourke ’75, G’10. “It’s nice knowing you’re helping someone out, and it’s nice knowing that something I enjoy doing is giving somebody else comfort.”

O’Rourke is one of 10-15 active members of the Hendricks Chapel Quilters—consisting of students, staff, faculty and community members—who put their love of sewing to good use weekly to produce beautiful quilts.

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

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

Helping Vulnerable People Feel Seen and Valued

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

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

“This reflects what service is all about, investing time and energy to make the world a better place,” Athanas says.

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

“These quilts are an opportunity for individuals and families in our communities, who often feel unseen, to know there are people who care deeply about their well-being,” Prouty says. “The element of them being handmade is a level of intentionality that many clients don’t typically receive.”

Made With Love

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The has announced Charlotte Bingham ’27 as the 2025-26 Luise and Morton Kaish Fellow.

Through the philanthropic gift of Syracuse University alumni and prominent artists Luise ’46, G’51 and Morton Kaish ’49, the Kaish Fellowship program was established in 2021. The program provides funding for undergraduate students from any discipline to undertake original research rooted in the museum’s permanent collection. Fellows work directly with museum staff on exhibitions, scholarly publications and public programming.

Bingham is a junior majoring in anthropology and digital humanities with a minor in museum studies. She is part of the Renée Crown University Honors program and has studied abroad in Strasbourg and Edinburgh.

Bingham has enjoyed exploring the connection between humans and the places they inhabit and sees the fellowship as a unique opportunity to explore how the works in our collection represent and interact with our connection to place. The museum’s current permanent collection exhibition, “Human/Environment: 4,000 Years of Art,” along with other works by Luise and Morton Kaish provide a springboard for Bingham’s research.

“I knew that [the fellowship] would be a great way for me to develop my research interests while also getting to experience work in a museum setting,” Bingham says. “Art and anthropology are very deeply connected. To me, both are trying to reproduce or represent something about human culture … I don’t have a lot of experience interpreting art, so I’m curious to see how I end up analyzing things.”

Over 500 students gathered in Hendricks Chapel Sept. 5 to celebrate the new academic year in the first Assembly of Scholars.

The event consisted of speeches from three students and the interim Director of Honors and Associate Dean for Academic Initiatives and Curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences Laura Machia; Honors core faculty member and School of Information Studies Professor Steve Sawyer; and Associate Director of Honors Allie Heppner. Together, the speakers ushered in a new year of community building, commitment and curiosity.

All students in the program were invited to attend.

During his speech, Sawyer asked students from each school to stand and be recognized, highlighting the various academic disciplines represented.

“When I call out your college or school, please stand. Then, look around and see the community of masters and scholars that you can join,” Sawyer said.

Take Advantage of the Opportunities

The student speakers—Chidera Olalere ’26, Katie Rogers ’26 and Nathan Torabi ’26—shared various stories about community involvement, academic excellence and ambition that served to show how the University experience is what each student makes of it.

Olalere, an international student from Nigeria, emphasized the importance of initiative and self-advocacy when it comes to research and academic success. She encouraged students to take advantage of resources like the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (the SOURCE), labs on campus and faculty who are eager to work with committed students.

“You have so many resources available to you, but you need to choose to use them,” said Olalere. “Take advantage of every opportunity you have and lean on the experiences of those sitting around you.”

Rogers said her “why not” attitude led her to many amazing experiences during her three years at the University.

“In my eyes, the possibility of finding another community or home on campus and making new friends is much more exciting and will override any fear of trying something new,” Rogers said. She said Honors is less about extra requirements and more about exploring and opening doors.

Embrace Honors

Torabi invited students to think about their own unique paths and to embrace the diversity and challenge built into the program.

“Every single one of us will push each other to do more by contributing our own perspectives, pushing boundaries and making the most of our short time here,” Torabi said. He highlighted the personal growth that comes from Honors requirements like the thesis and civic engagement.

While distributing lapel pins to the students at the end of the program, Heppner said, “Not every hour of your college journey will be spent in Honors classes or events, but your identity as an Honors student is something you carry into everything you do … You are not alone. You are part of something larger.”

As the assembly concluded, Machia left the crowd with some words of wisdom. “First, it is okay to change your mind. I do not have the career I first imagined I would. I love my career,” he said. “Second, it is okay to lean into the messier parts of life and learning. Give yourself grace to grow at whatever speed you do, while treating yourself and others kindly.”

Story by Charlotte Bingham

College of Arts and Sciences Dean has announced the appointment of , associate dean for academic initiatives and curriculum and professor of psychology, as interim director of the . In this role, Machia will be responsible for program administration, student advising and support, faculty coordination and curriculum oversight.

“Laura’s commitment to academic excellence for all students is reflected by her willingness to act as interim director of Honors during a key time for this valuable program,” Mortazavi says. “In her full-time role as associate dean for academic initiatives and curriculum, she is instrumental in ensuring that our programs are high-functioning and strategically aligned with college and University priorities. Therefore, I know that the Honors Program will also be in incredibly capable hands.”

Machia’s leadership comes at a pivotal time for the Honors Program. This semester, a working group, convened last spring by Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer , will conduct a comprehensive review of the program. As a member of the working group, Machia will maintain the program’s academic excellence while collaborating with fellow members to develop recommendations for long-term enhancement.

The working group, composed of faculty or dean representatives from the schools and colleges that participate in the Honors Program, is charged with:

• Identifying ways to better link the Honors Program to the areas of distinctive excellence outlined in the , especially experiential inquiry.
• Reviewing the Honors Program curriculum.
• Determining how the Honors Program thesis requirement can better accommodate students in the professional schools and colleges.
• Proposing a governance structure for the Honors Program, including bylaws, a charter or charge, a mission statement and a governing and/or advisory body.
• Suggesting strategies to create more faculty engagement and involvement with the Honors Program.

Working group co-chairs are , associate provost for strategic initiatives, and , vice provost for faculty affairs. In addition to Machia, members are:

• , Edward Pettinella Professor of Finance, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• , dean, School of Education
• , assistant teaching professor, College of Professional Studies
• , associate professor, School of Architecture
• , associate professor and chair of political science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• , associate professor of music, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• , associate professor of advertising, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• , professor, School of Information Studies
• , associate professor of nutrition and food studies, Falk College of Sport
• , teaching professor and biomedical engineering undergraduate program director, College of Engineering and Computer Science

The working group will submit a final report to the provost by the end of the semester.

An alumna and a student have received awards from , the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Charlotte Ebel ’25, who received a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the and in women’s and gender studies and German from the , has been awarded a fellowship worth $8,500 by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She is one of 48 recipients nationwide to receive a PKP fellowship.

Ayla Ray, a junior majoring in biology in Arts and Sciences and in environment, sustainability and policy in the , was awarded a Phi Kappa Phi Pioneer Award, which recognizes outstanding undergraduates for their research and leadership.

Phi Kappa Phi has a long history at Syracuse University. A chapter was established on campus in 1916, the 16th chapter in the nation at the time.��In 2014, reorganizations left the Syracuse chapter without a leader. The chapter was relaunched in the spring of 2024 by the (CFSA). Adam Crowley, scholarship advisor with CFSA, serves as chapter president.

More than 150 members were inducted into Phi Kappa Phi this spring, bringing the total to more than 350 new members in the first two years of the restarted chapter.

Charlotte Ebel

At Syracuse, Ebel was a member of the , a University Scholar, Remembrance Scholar, Newhouse Scholar and Newhouse Marshal. She was also a research assistant in Professor Nick Bowman’s Extended Reality lab and a member of Newhouse’s student-run public relations firm, Hill Communications. She was inducted into the Syracuse PKP chapter in 2024.

Ebel was also a member of the University’s Division I rowing team. As such, she trained 20 hours a week and helped the team win the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship in 2024. She was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for two years and served as vice president in 2024-25.

As a Phi Kappa Phi fellow, she will pursue a master’s degree in politics and international studies at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom beginning in September. She also plans to try out for the Cambridge University Boat Club in hopes of winning a seat in one of their crews in the historic Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford. The race, held on the Thames River, is a major sporting event in the U.K.

At Cambridge, Ebel plans to study sportswashing—the practice of using sports to improve the reputation of a country, organization or individual—within the context of women’s sports. She plans to explore why some countries with extensive recorded histories of women’s rights abuses participate in global women’s sporting events, which are typically associated with progressive ideology and women’s liberation.

“In many cases, these countries are also trying to normalize their extremist governments and establish diplomatic relations,” Ebel says. “I hope to illuminate these connections between global politics, women’s rights and women’s sport through my research, connections that have become more prominent in recent years with the heightened popularity and visibility of women in sport.”

As for the future, Ebel has several avenues she is interested in pursuing, from working for an international sporting organization to the Peace Corps to law school. “I’m hoping that my year at Cambridge will help clarify my passions into a career that best utilizes them,” she says.

Ayla Ray

Ray, who has a minor in Earth sciences, is a member of the Renée Crown University Honors program and the recipient of the 1870 Scholarship. She was inducted into the Syracuse PKP chapter this past spring. In her first semester, she joined the fungal ecology lab of Christopher Fernandez, assistant professor of biology. In the lab, she has designed, received SOURCE () funding for and is actively running an experiment investigating the effects of warming and drought on the productivity and stability of plants and mycorrhizal fungi.

Fungal ecology is a field Ray is deeply passionate about. “I am able to investigate below ground organisms that provide a strong foundation to their ecosystems and host plants,” she says. “The ecological perspective my lab pursues allows me to connect my research with a strong variety of fields. Understanding how our forests are responding to climate change conditions on a microbial level is crucial as we work to support ecosystem resilience and pursue effective restoration efforts.”

Ray is a recipient of the H. Richard Levy Biology Research Award. As a researcher for Fernandez this summer, she has investigated the impacts of pH, soil organic matter and inoculum source on plant productivity and leaf litter decomposition.

A member of the Outing Club, Ray enjoys hiking, backpacking, caving and rock climbing. She is a volunteer for the South Campus Food Pantry and will be a peer mentor for SOURCE this year.

Following graduation, Ray plans to pursue a Ph.D. in ecology and continue research investigating the below ground impacts of climate change��as they relate to host plant and forest productivity

“Receiving the PKP Pioneer Award is an honor, I am proud to be recognized by such a prestigious organization, which prides itself on its value of knowledge,” Ray says. “Beyond this recognition, this award provides meaningful support of my undergraduate research journey, allowing me to focus more fully on my academic and research goals.”

In 1988, alumna Robin Berkowitz-Smith ’83 returned to Syracuse University as a newlywed and a professional ready to work with students. What began as a dual job offer for her and her husband, Jeff, turned into Robin’s 38-year legacy of mentorship, leadership and care for thousands of students and fellow staff members.

“My deepest gratitude goes out to all who supported, challenged and inspired me throughout my 38-year career here,” says Berkowitz-Smith. “It’s been an honor and all will be missed.”

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

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

Building Community and Supporting Students

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

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

Berkowitz-Smith’s care was also felt by her colleagues.

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

“She was an incredible colleague—steadfast, deeply compassionate and absolutely student-centered in everything she did. Her warmth, insight and candor have had such a lasting impact on all of us who’ve had the privilege of working with her,” Kantrowitz says. “Robin always kept it real—always genuine, always grounded, always honest.”

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

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

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

A Move to Academics

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

Four years later, she joined the Renée Crown University Honors Program. It was a shift driven by a desire to return to her passion—working directly with students. “I didn’t want to supervise anymore,” she says. “I wanted to advise and to connect.”

She quickly realized that what students needed most wasn’t a thesis advisor—it was someone who cared. “They just need someone to tell them that they’re doing okay, that they’re enough,” she says.

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

Allie Heppner, associate director of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, says Berkowitz-Smith’s dedication, thoughtfulness and behind-the-scenes leadership shaped the student experience in profound ways. “Robin leaves behind a legacy and a community of staff, faculty and students who are excited to celebrate her next chapter and will long appreciate the positive mark she made,” she says.

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

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

Celebrating a Legacy of Caring

For her retirement, Berkowitz-Smith’s colleagues and former students compiled a 30-minute video filled with messages of gratitude. The words that came up the most? “Caring,” “supportive” and “mentor”—testament to the relationships she built over nearly four decades.

The decision to retire wasn’t an easy one, she says. A Philadelphia native and first- generation college student, she has been working since she was 12. But after her mother’s passing and with her daughter’s wedding approaching, she felt it was time.

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

Jorge Morales ’26, a double major in history and anthropology in the with a minor in English and textual studies in the , has been awarded the highly competitive .

Morales is one of only 20 students nationwide to receive this prestigious award, which supports exceptional undergraduates in their pursuit of graduate studies in the arts, humanities and social sciences.

A and member of the , Morales has distinguished himself through his academic excellence, research achievements and commitment to public scholarship. He has already contributed original research to the field of Caribbean history, focusing on the legacies of colonialism, slavery and resistance in Jamaica and the corresponding implications for the broader Atlantic world.

“I am interested in studying the impacts of colonialism and colonial institutions on the development of Caribbean and Latin American nations, their cultures and their national identities,” says Morales, who is spending the summer conducting research in Puerto Rico to gain insights into the lives of enslaved individuals on Puerto Rican plantations for his senior thesis. “My family being Puerto Rican, I am especially interested in understanding the development of Puerto Rico and of Puerto Rican national identity, and it is this interest, and my experiences working with Dr. Tessa Murphy, which informs my current research.”

As a research assistant to , associate professor of history in the Maxwell School, Morales helped transcribe 19th-century slave registries from Trinidad, working with exceptional attention to detail, timeliness and conscientiousness to transcribe hundreds of pages of handwritten records. His work has been presented at numerous campus symposiums and published in CHRONOS, the University’s undergraduate history journal, where he also serves on the editorial board.

“Jorge is committed to drawing on his personal and professional interest to pursue a Ph.D. and academic career in history,” says Murphy. “His initiative, intellectual rigor and commitment to public history are extraordinary. He is already contributing new knowledge to the field.”

Morales’ application was supported by the (CFSA), where he worked closely with Director Jolynn Parker. “Jorge combines intellectual seriousness with warmth, humility and a deep sense of purpose,” Parker says. “He is exactly the kind of scholar the Beinecke Foundation seeks to support—one who is poised to thrive in graduate school and become a leader in his academic field.”

Morales plans to pursue a Ph.D. in history, with a focus on the Caribbean and Atlantic worlds, and has a long-term goal of becoming a professor or museum professional who brings marginalized histories to broader audiences.

“I am very happy to have been awarded the Beinecke Scholarship because it will provide me with resources that I can use to support my future research,” says Morales. “It will allow me to form connections with other students who are just as passionate about their work as I am.”

The Beinecke Scholarship provides $35,000 in funding toward graduate education as well as significant mentorship. Is is awarded to students who demonstrate superior academic achievement and a commitment to a career in research or the arts.

CFSA offers candidates advising and assistance with applications and interview preparation for nationally competitive scholarships. The nomination process for the 2026 Beinecke application will begin in October. Interested students should contact CFSA at 315.443.2759 or by email to��cfsa@syr.edu��for more information.

Chloe Britton Naime ’25 is about to complete a challenging and rare dual major program in both mechanical engineering from the and neuroscience from the .

Even more impressive? Britton Naime will conclude the rigorous dual major in four years instead of the customary five years, which is “one of the biggest reasons I wanted to attend Syracuse,” says Britton Naime, who will begin their Ph.D. program in neuroscience at Florida State University in the fall.

It’s the latest chapter in Britton Naime’s lifelong love affair with learning. Specifically, studying why their brain functions differently as a neurodivergent individual who struggled to read—Britton Naime was diagnosed as dyslexic at the age of 8. They have also finally been diagnosed with autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

“I remember thinking, ‘why does my brain work differently than everyone else? Why is this task much more challenging for me?’” says Britton Naime, who is graduating summa cum laude and is a member of the .

“I’m interested in how we can improve our diagnostics, but I’m also interested in what treatments or interventions can be done,” Britton Naime says. “Figuring out what can help support meeting this individual’s needs. Figuring out the possibilities and how we can continue to improve the outcomes for neurodivergent people.”

Changing the Narrative

Britton Naime considers themselves honored to have a strong support system, including their mother, Katrina Britton, who encouraged self-advocacy at an early age. But knowing not everyone who is neurodivergent has these advocates has fueled Britton Naime’s career aspirations.

As a peer coach in the physics department, Britton Naime engages with students with an accommodation from the Center for Disability Resources to ensure the student’s needs are being met. If a student needs accommodations but doesn’t have them, Britton Naime will make sure the student understands the resources available to them on campus.

“When I have a place where I can advocate for someone, I take that opportunity. Thankfully, Syracuse University provides a great infrastructure for supporting students with disabilities,” Britton Naime says.

Britton Naime is also an undergraduate research assistant in the —which conducts behavioral and neurophysiological research to understand how typically developing children, children with developmental disabilities and children with autism perceive, process and integrate sensory information.

Through lab studies focused on measuring and recording the brain’s electrical activity, Britton Naime says the CARE Lab’s work represents progress in reducing the historically negative stigma around autistic individuals.

“The CARE Lab focuses on the strengths and capabilities of our autistic population and identifies the reasons why they’re s쳮ding at something. It’s really rewarding work,” says Britton Naime, who also did a Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship at the University of British Columbia in the Baby Learning Lab with Lauren Emberson, Ph.D.

How Syracuse University Laid the Foundation for What’s Next

The technical skills Britton Naime learned through the mechanical engineering program, including as a data processor, helped accentuate their work as a neuroscientist, specifically when it comes to processing and interpreting the neuroimaging data to comprehend how brain activity relates to our behavior, cognition and mental processes.

The foundational nature of the mechanical engineering program also allowed Britton Naime to seek out the aspects they wanted to learn more about as they honed and built up their skills as a researcher.

At Florida State, Britton Naime plans on studying neurodevelopmental and learning differences among individuals with ADHD to better understand how the neurodivergent brain operates.

By gaining a deeper understanding of how neurodivergent brains function—particularly through the use of neuroimaging technology—Britton Naime aims not only to improve quality of life through enhanced diagnosis and tailored interventions, but also to help unlock the full potential of individuals whose strengths may be overlooked in systems built for neurotypical learners. Their research challenges deficit-based narratives and seeks to reframe how success and capability are understood in academic and developmental contexts.

“I hope to be a professor and have my own lab where I can produce quality research related to this topic. But I also want to continue serving as a vocal advocate for my community,” Britton Naime says. “Syracuse prepared me to go to grad school and to go into this industry, which is important because I didn’t know where I wanted to go. I had all these avenues available and received the support I needed to go down this path.”

Thirty-five students have been chosen as the 2025-26 Syracuse University Remembrance Scholars.

The scholarships, now in their 36th 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.

“Remembrance Scholars, through their academic achievements, leadership and contributions to the campus and local communities, exemplify what a Syracuse University education has to offer and represent the promise of the students for whom these scholarships are named,” says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “We are proud to recognize their accomplishments.”

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

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

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

Twelve seniors have been named as the 2025 Syracuse University Scholars, the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows.

The Syracuse University Scholars Selection Committee, a Universitywide faculty committee, selected the scholars using criteria that included coursework and academic achievement, independent research and creative work, evidence of intellectual growth or innovation in their disciplinary field, a personal statement and faculty letters of recommendation.

“We are proud to recognize our University Scholars for their many accomplishments. Not only have they achieved academic success, they have also embraced opportunities—like research and community service—to enhance and expand their undergraduate experience and make the most of their time here. As they prepare to graduate, we are looking forward to celebrating their future accomplishments and success,” says Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew.

The 2025 Syracuse University Scholars are:

• Jonathan Collard de Beaufort, a biochemistry major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Charlotte Ebel, a public relations major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, a women and gender studies and German language, literature and culture major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Abigail Greenfield, a history major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a political philosophy major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Yuming Jiang, a mathematics and physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Sierra Kaplan, a political science major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a health humanities major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Emmy Njue, a finance and business analytics majors in the Whitman School of Management;
• Kerrin O’Grady, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and a neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Morgan Opp, a chemistry and biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Timothy Paek, a computer science major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Skyla Ross-Graham a psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Yifan Shen, an architecture major in the School of Architecture, a music history and cultures major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program; and
• Sophia Znamierowski, a biology and neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

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

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

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

Fancher worked with the University’s on her application. “Julia’s commitment to research in astrophysics since her first semester on campus at SU, combined with her extraordinary publication and presentation record, make her a superb fit for the Astronaut Scholarship,” says CFSA Director Jolynn Parker. “We’re thrilled that she’ll benefit from the program’s tuition support and excellent mentorship and professional development opportunities.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

has awarded nine grants for new faculty research projects that study issues contributing to or helping alleviate the  in the United States.

The awards are funded by a 2022 grant that supports research and community programming over three years to examine the racial wealth gap’s root causes and ideas that may resolve its economic and social inequalities, says , Lender Center interim director. The awards are part of the Lender Center for Social Justice initiative led by the

The racial wealth gap is an ongoing issue that undermines potential economic and social progress and opportunities for members of underserved and underrepresented communities, according to , Lender Center senior research associate and associate professor in the Whitman School of Management.

“These research projects are noteworthy because of their unique courses of inquiry, their highly inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional nature and their close engagements with Syracuse community members and organizations,” says Phillips.

Projects receiving the one-year grants and involved faculty are:

“Addressing the Racial Wealth Gap Through Increasing Decennial Census Self-Response Rates in Marginalized Communities”

This project will test mechanisms to try to increase self-response rates for the 2030 federal census in undercounted communities in New York State. Successful efforts could offset census undercounts that might otherwise reduce federal funding for education, health care, housing, infrastructure and other vital services.

• , , principal investigator
• ,

“Syracuse Futures”

This study looks at Syracuse’s arts and humanities infrastructure and how universities and community organizations can partner in offering arts and humanities programming and college and career support to historically marginalized communities.�� Led by the ’ , the effort involves multiple South Side organizations.

• , College of Arts and Sciences, principal investigator.
• ,
• ,

“Does Military Service Mitigate the U.S. Racial Wealth Gap? Overlooked Pathways for��Underrepresented Minorities in Public Service”

This project explores how military service intersects with racial wealth disparities. Researchers will look at military service as a means of economic advancement and a way to overcome social barriers that may hinder underrepresented minorities who are pursuing post-service career advancement and entrepreneurship.

• , , and , Whitman School, principal investigators
• , (IVMF)
• ,
• , Maxwell School
• , IVMF
• , Lender Center for Social Justice
• , University of Pittsburgh

“From Highways to High-Speed Internet: Leveraging Equitable Infrastructure for the Data Economy”��

Researchers are determining whether access to first-class digital information, services, assets and increased technology training can reduce the racial wealth gap by lessening barriers to digital networks, critical information and data literacy skills. Skills-training workshops are planned with community members.����

• and , (iSchool), principal investigators
• , iSchool
• , iSchool

  

• iSchool
• , College of Arts and Sciences/
• , , Whitman School

“Opportunity Design: Engaging Public Health in Low-Income Communities”

This study leverages interest in ongoing energy retrofit work at 418 Fabius Street in the James Geddes Housing development in Syracuse to generate a more comprehensive examination of social determinants of health through the process of opportunity mapping.

• , , principal investigator
• , College of Visual and Performing Arts, co-principal investigator
• , School of Architecture, co-investigator

“Nourishing Families: Parents as Partners in the Alignment of a Mindful Eating Intervention to Meet the Needs of Low-Income and Marginalized Families With Young Children”

Parent and teacher workshops that include mindful yoga and mindful eating lessons for children are planned to address the nutrition needs of low-income, underrepresented families in Syracuse. Research will explore if better nutrition for vulnerable populations can mean better health for families and more opportunities for their gainful employment, lessening the racial wealth gap.

• , , principal investigator
• , Falk College
• , Falk College

“Addressing Obesity and Hypertension in Refugees through Culturally Relevant Meal Interventions”��

This project looks at obesity and hypertension in diaspora populations and works with African immigrants on post-immigration diets to introduce healthy adaptations while preserving culinary heritage. The goal is to assess whether healthier eating can reduce health issues and boost labor force participation, generating improved socioeconomic status.

• , Falk College, principal investigator
• , Falk College

“Disability as a Critical Element in Exploring the Racial Wealth Gap”

Researchers will identify challenges faced by Black, Indigenous and People of Color individuals with��disabilities and will examine the role of disability in the racial wealth gap. They plan to develop recommendations regarding policies and practices that limit economic inclusion and trap people with disabilities into poverty.

• , College of Law, principal investigator
• , College of Law

“Optimizing Corporate Supplier Diversity Programs and Corporate-Facing Regulations for Addressing the Racial Wealth Gap”��

This initiative examines diversity interactions and legislative interventions in business-to-business aspects of wealth distribution and corporate supplier diversity programs. Researchers will develop guidance on diversity programs and diversity initiatives while enhancing those programs’ potential to level the racial wealth gap.

• , Whitman School, faculty lead
• , Whitman School
• ., Whitman School