When Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona, home on Feb. 1, investigators turned to the tools of forensic science—fingerprints, DNA and digital evidence from her cell phone and Ring doorbell camera.

More than two months later, the case remains unsolved, but it has put a spotlight on the pivotal role forensic science plays in active investigations, says , executive director of the (FNSSI) in the .

“Everyone wants to be their own forensic scientist, but it’s a very difficult job,” says Corrado, who co-founded the Onondaga County Cold Case Task Force and was director of the Onondaga County Crime Laboratory for more than 20 years. “You’re looking at minutiae for a long time, and you don’t always get that exciting result, something that can help solve the case.”

In the highly technical, ever-evolving field of forensic science, here are five things you may not have known about the work.

1. You Can’t Rush Forensic Science

Thirty years ago, when Corrado first entered the field, she says most people didn’t know about forensic science until the rise of fictional TV shows like “Quincy,” “CSI” and “NCIS,” which brought widespread interest to the field.

Now, with more people listening to true crime podcasts and watching true crime shows, Corrado says the public can feel a misplaced sense of frustration when a case isn’t immediately solved.

“The public may wonder why it takes investigators so long to get back DNA tests or toxicology results, but these things take a while,” Corrado says. “There’s a lot of pressure on forensic scientists to get things done faster, but we need to work meticulously and document everything. The last thing you want to do is rush and make a mistake.”

2. New Advancements Help Solve Cold Cases

New technological advancements have allowed investigators to obtain a profile from a very small amount of DNA. Instead of relying on blood or saliva, Corrado says investigators can gather DNA from items of clothing worn by a suspect or through something they touched.

Corrado says forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) is taking on a larger role, comparing collected DNA samples with publicly available databases on genealogy websites. FIGG has helped crack such high-profile cold cases as the Golden State Killer attacks, and Corrado says FIGG can be used in active investigations like the Nancy Guthrie case.

“Law enforcement can search these commercially available genealogy databases to expand their search,” Corrado says. “Instead of just looking at convicted individuals in the CODIS national DNA database; we can also search anyone who has contributed DNA to the genealogy database. Once there is a close match in the database which could be a distant relative of the perpetrator, genealogists can build family trees using public records to narrow down a list of candidates. The technology has been a real game changer.”

3. It’s About More Than Connecting a Suspect to a Crime

One of the most common misconceptions she encounters is that forensic scientists are only there to connect a suspect to a crime. Their job is to factually observe evidence, determine what it reveals and present findings to both sides in a criminal or civil case.

“It’s not our job to determine someone’s guilt or innocence,” Corrado says. “While a large amount of the work done by crime labs results in tying someone to the scene of a crime, many times the work we do excludes someone. It’s not just about tying people to a crime; it’s also helping to ensure that people aren’t wrongfully convicted.”

4. Classroom Experiences Range From Crime Scenes to the Courtroom

FNSSI courses include a crime scene analysis class, where students learn how to document potential sources of evidence, including crime scene photography. The class culminates with students examining a mock crime scene.

In the forensic DNA classes, students analyze biological evidence and identify different body fluids. Some courses provide students with experience testifying as a key witness in a mock trial before a prosecutor and defense attorney.

Students also explore the legal issues facing forensic scientists and learn how to maintain quality control when examining potential evidence.

“Forensic science changes rapidly,” Corrado says. “We give our students the foundational knowledge to understand what is going on now in the field, and then we tell them it’s on them to stay up to date on the latest trends by reading journal articles and attending conferences.”

5. Taught by Those Who Do the Work

Many of the full-time and adjunct faculty are either former forensic scientists or currently work as practitioners for agencies like the Onondaga County Center for Forensic Science, the New York State Police Department and the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Other faculty members work with forensic science companies to conduct biological, human and microbial DNA and forensic chemistry research, creating an opportunity for students to learn the most current procedures and technologies while also making connections in the field.

Students are also encouraged to intern with a local crime lab, medical examiner’s office or a federal agency.

“Receiving that exposure to current technologies while making connections is the best way for students to ensure they’re staying current in the field. It can really help them with their future career,” Corrado says.

The FNSSI also collaborates with DNA analysts from crime labs and coroners from across the state, training practitioners on the latest technological advancements in the field.

“These agencies need help bringing new technologies into the field, someone to make sure it works before the crime labs start implementing it,” Corrado says. “We collaborate with these organizations to help further the progress of forensic science.”

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.

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management has been rated No. 1 for participation in experiential learning projects in the Poets&Quants 2026 Best Undergraduate Business School rankings.

The recognition reflects one of the school’s most deeply held commitments: that the best way to learn business is to practice it.

Through global immersions, live-client projects, case competitions, the Goodman IMPRESS Program, the WIRE Initiative and the Local Leaders Initiative, Whitman students build real skills in real environments long before graduation.

Every opportunity is organized around four pillars that define what a Whitman graduate looks like: Be Global, Be Innovative, Be Collaborative and Be Prepared.

Those pillars now have a formal home. The recently launched Whitman Experiential Center unites all of the school’s signature experiential programs under one coordinated strategy as part of Transformation 2030, Whitman’s five-year plan to become a Top 25 undergraduate business program by 2030.

“Every Whitman student, regardless of major or background, has access to these opportunities,” says Erin Draper, director of experiential programs. “That is what it means to be prepared at Whitman.”

The No. 1 experiential learning rating is also reflected in Whitman’s broader rise to No. 37 overall in the Poets&Quants 2026 rankings.

Learn more about .

Before the start of the Spring 2026 semester, members of the (GMB), a registered student organization (RSO), traveled to Panama with a shared goal of providing essential medical care and conduct community health research in rural areas.

The expedition offered 37 students a unique opportunity for experiential learning, cultural immersion and leadership development outside the traditional classroom setting.

A Global Effort for Local Impact

Global Medical Brigades is a student-led organization dedicated to providing sustainable health care to under-resourced communities abroad. By mobilizing student volunteers and health care professionals, the chapter works to improve health outcomes and empower local communities through education and medical assistance.

“The Syracuse University chapter of GMB is part of a larger international movement that has facilitated over 1.5 million patient consultations globally over the past 20 years,” says Keona Bukhari-Adams ’27, the newly elected president of the chapter.

During the week-long brigade, students assisted health care professionals in treating over 250 community members who face significant barriers to medical access.

“Global Medical Brigades is a small part of a much larger global effort to assist rural communities with extremely low physician densities,” Bukhari-Adams says. “It has reshaped my understanding of culture and solidarity in ways that challenge traditional perceptions of what it means to live a life of wealth.”

Community-Driven Fundraising

To finance the mission, 37 student volunteers raised a total of $90,000, each with a $2,430 donation goal. Through local partnerships and personal advocacy, students engaged the Syracuse community to fund trip costs and essential medical supplies.

Becky Roby ’26, the chapter’s vice president, raised $2,030, while Ava Mastalir ’28, the vice president of membership and outreach, raised $2,500 through outreach to family and friends.

“This experience alone made me want to fundraise and participate in our next brigade,” Roby says. “Every trip is special in its own way and I was grateful that I was able to have another experience in Panama.”

On campus, the organization hosted several benefit nights where a portion of the proceeds supported the trip, including events at Chipotle, luv handlz and Purple Banana.

Clinical Care, Field Research and Community Engagement

The trip focused on clinical support and patient care. Students took vitals, assisted doctors in dental extractions for children and helped treat older patients who had not received physical checkups in years.

Students also participated in public health research and spent an entire day conducting community health surveys. This research involved interviewing local women about menstrual and sexual health to understand existing education gaps.

Participants sharpened their professional skills by navigating language barriers and learning local dialects to better console and educate patients. The brigade also worked with local leaders to ensure that disease prevention and hygiene education would have a lasting benefit for the community long after the students departed.

“The primary skill I learned in Panama was how to interact with patients who were nervous or confused, and how to care for them even with the challenge of a language barrier,” Mastalir says.

Leadership Opportunities and Friendships

The experience also served as a catalyst for student leadership on campus. Many participants, motivated by previous trips to Guatemala, utilized the Panama brigade to further their commitment to global health. Roby says the trip provides “hands-on experience in global health and service that cannot be replicated in a classroom.”

Beyond clinical experience, the brigade fostered a strong sense of community among the students themselves. For students considering future brigades, participants emphasize the value of stepping outside one’s comfort zone.

“I loved the friendships I built during the trip, and we still constantly stay in touch,” Roby says. “Being part of something so meaningful created a strong sense of community and belonging for me on campus.”

The Syracuse University Global Medical Brigades chapter continues to welcome students of all majors who are interested in global experiences and meaningful service.

Story by Kate Jackson ’26, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

In Jamaica, where track and field stars like Usain Bolt (eight-time gold medalist) and Elaine Thompson-Herah (five-time gold medalist) captured national glory at the Summer Olympics, children grow up wanting to emulate their heroes.

But for every Bolt or Thompson-Herah, thousands of aspiring track and field athletes will never qualify for the Olympics. For them, they compete because they love their sport, not because they envision winning a gold medal.

Recognizing the important role support systems play in the development of teenagers into adults, a team of three students in the built a holistic vision for supporting elite youth athletes in Jamaica during the Grand Final of the fifth annual in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“Our focus was on preparing these students for a future outside of athletics. We wanted to give them the support they needed to succeed where they were at, but also to experience success once they’re done competing,” says Cooper Feldstein ’28, a sport management major.

The Falk students were invited to compete in the undergraduate event at the Grand Final after claiming first place in the semifinals back in December. , assistant teaching professor of sport management, served as the group’s advisor throughout the process.

Helping Athletes Feel Heard and Supported

At the Olympic Museum, Feldstein, Noah Bair ’28 and Angel Rooks Orton ’28 applied the lessons learned through their Falk College classes and presented their solution to a contemporary challenge in sports management.

The group selected Jamaica because of the country’s recognizable brand and success on the global stage, but also because of the national pride its citizens derive from the sport, and because of how many children take up sprinting.

To learn more about Jamaica’s youth track and field landscape, focusing on athletes ages 15 to 18, the students interviewed former Jamaican sprinter Kemardo Tyrell, now an assistant professor of research at Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management. Tyrell spoke to the unique pressures facing Jamaica’s youth athletes.

The group focused on increasing athlete retention (especially among girls), improving academic success and programming, enhancing sport participation and addressing growing mental health challenges.

Knowing most won’t make a successful career in athletics, the Falk team “wanted to help ensure that these elite athletes feel heard and are protected while they are committed to their sport,” Bair says.

“We wanted to look at what the path of a youth athlete looks like, not only in terms of athletic success and accomplishments, but in their academics and their life outside of track,” says Bair, a sport analytics major. “What we found was there are wide gaps in how well students can build a sustainable and enjoyable career in athletics.”

Prioritizing Mental Health and Well-Being

Their research into the trends among Jamaica’s youth track and field competitors showed that if an athlete didn’t develop a positive mindset from an early age, they wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure of competing at the highest level.

“We needed to understand how we could provide them with the stability that they would need to perform to the level that they can actually get to, with how much pressure these kids are facing every day,” Feldstein says.

As one of their cornerstones, the team proposed developing an app as an all-encompassing support system, serving as a communication tool between coaches and their athletes.

Wanting athletes to stay present and in the moment while balancing academics with athletics, the trio came up with weekly mental wellness check-ins where the youths could discuss what’s on their mind.

“These elite athletes are facing a ton of pressure to succeed,” says Rooks Orton, a sport management major. “There are needs we’re trying to meet in Jamaica, and the app can help athletes stay in their program longer, enjoy their sport more and build habits to be successful in sports and in life.”

Leveling the Playing Field

According to research conducted by the group, once a female athlete turns 13, the chances of her quitting her sport are two times greater than those of her male counterparts.

“These females often get discouraged from competing because there isn’t a great support system in place, and because, for many girls, they don’t have examples of successful female athletes to look up to,” Rooks Orton says. “With the app, girls can ask questions, learn from successful women athletes and get the support they need to stay in sports at a high level.”

While the Orange trio didn’t win the Grand Final, the lessons learned from this global experience will stay with them as they prepare for a career in sports.

“This has been a formative experience,” Feldstein says. “The opportunity to work on this high-level professional project will prepare us for the future.”

“It was an honor representing Falk College and Syracuse on the world stage,” Bair says. “We put our best foot forward thanks to the incredible work we’re doing at Falk.”

Rooks Orton agrees. “It’s cool to be in a position where we’re constantly learning about the industry,” she says.

This experience was made possible by the generosity of Jeff and Andrea Lomasky, whose son, Marc Lomasky ’12, is an alumnus of the sport management program.

The has announced that Jeannine Lostritto ’90, a Syracuse University Trustee and member of the School of Architecture Advisory Board, will address graduates at the 2026 Convocation ceremony on Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

Lostritto has parlayed her interest in architecture into her professional, personal and volunteer experiences, most recently through her engagement with the board of trustees of Friends Academy in Locust Valley, New York, an independent Quaker college-preparatory private school serving students from early childhood through 12th grade.

A former Friends Academy parent, Lostritto serves as a member of its Board of Trustees and on its Governance Committee, and helps oversee new building construction, campus maintenance and the stewardship of existing facilities.

After earning an undergraduate degree in architecture from the School of Architecture, Lostritto first took a job as an architectural consultant at Avis Rent-a-Car, working on commercial architecture projects. From 1995 to 1998, she was employed in the civil engineering division at Sear-Brown—an architecture, engineering, planning and construction services firm—where she worked on large highway and expressway projects, such as the renovation of the Queens Midtown Tunnel, as well as drainage and landscape architecture projects.

Lostritto is a former board member of her family’s real estate company, Steel Equities, and serves on the Board of Regents at NYU-Winthrop Hospital. She also helps to manage a food pantry and a faith formation program at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Brookville, New York, where she is a Eucharistic Minister.

Additionally, Jeannine and her husband, Glenn, actively support Syracuse University through contributions to such initiatives as the Lostritto Family Global Experience Scholarship, the Barnes Center at The Arch and the General Supported Scholarship Fund. The Lostrittos were the first donors to support The Syracuse Promise initiative, which aims to significantly expand scholarship support for high-achieving students.

“Jeannine Lostritto is among the school’s most engaged board members and supporters. She is also an active member on the Facilities Committee of the Board of Trustees and has contributed greatly to the positive transformation of our campus over the last several years,” says School of Architecture Dean Michael Speaks. “Perhaps most importantly, Jeannine is a strong advocate and financial supporter for Syracuse Architecture student scholarships, especially those studying abroad in our outstanding Florence program. We are all looking forward to welcoming her as our 2026 Convocation speaker.”

Lostritto lives in Old Brookville, New York, with her husband. They have three children, Domenica “Sunny” L’23, Glenn Jr., and Joseph.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how governments operate, how universities teach and how public institutions make decisions.

That was the central message of a recent fireside chat hosted by the . Dean moderated the conversation which brought together two leaders working at the forefront of AI adoption: , commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services (OGS), and , Syracuse University’s senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer.

“The question before us is not whether AI will transform public life,” Van Slyke said. “It’s whether our institutions are ready to lead that transformation thoughtfully, equitably and effectively.”

Personalizing Learning and Expanding Access

Rubin opened the March 26 event with a claim about the stakes for higher education: AI, he said, has the potential to transform how universities teach in ways not seen in 200 years. “The idea of a professor standing in front of a room, lecturing—and students taking notes and then being assessed through projects, papers and exams—that model has not shifted,” he said. “What AI allows you to do is personalize learning.”

Personalization at scale has long been a challenge because no instructor can simultaneously tailor a course to every student’s pace and needs, he said. AI changes that equation.

Rubin shared how Syracuse has deployed more than 30,000 AI licenses across campus to drive equitable access and data security. Some students had already purchased AI tools on their own, while others could not afford them, he pointed out. Faculty and staff also needed a secure environment for uploading sensitive documents without routing data through commercial platforms.

Rubin also highlighted a less-discussed dimension of the University’s AI work: a private wireless network, built in partnership with JMA Wireless, that supports thermal sensors in academic buildings across campus. The sensors detect occupancy without capturing identifying information, allowing the University to optimize janitorial services, plan building capacity and, eventually, adjust heating and cooling based on actual use patterns.

A Measured Approach to Government AI

Moy noted that the state’s deliberate pace of technology adoption is a necessary safeguard rather than a liability. “I would contend that it’s important that government is risk-averse,” she said. “The information that we hold is really important—Medicaid data, health data, testing information. The importance of that stewardship becomes paramount.”

Her office oversees roughly 30 million square feet of state real estate, manages 1,500 procurement contracts valued at $44 billion and administers a design and construction portfolio of approximately $5.7 billion. Moy described the agency’s AI strategy as a measured approach. It involves first identifying low-risk, high-value applications, then building the data infrastructure to support them, and ensuring legal and operational frameworks are in place before scaling.

Moy said one of OGS’s most tangible AI investments is in procurement search. Agencies and municipalities navigating the state’s contract catalog often struggle to find what they need, undermining the efficiency those contracts are designed to provide. Moy said AI-assisted search is a logical starting point: low risk, no job displacement and an immediate opportunity to test what the technology can do.

The agency is also piloting AI-powered document summarization tools for bid documents and contract histories which are reported to save up to three hours per day.

Moy noted that backlogs present another opportunity, as they are a universal challenge across the public sector. She explained that while AI could help alleviate some of those challenges, agencies must be cautious; they cannot hand out productivity tools to every worker without first creating the right frameworks.

Jobs, Regulation and What Comes Next

Both speakers addressed audience concerns about AI’s impact on jobs—a topic that has gained urgency in New York following Governor Kathy Hochul’s , which is tasked with studying AI’s effects on the labor market.

Rubin cited research suggesting that less than 1% of the 1.2 million layoffs recorded in 2025 were directly attributable to AI, arguing that economic factors and structural business decisions are doing more to reshape the workforce than the technology itself. He expressed confidence that AI will ultimately create more jobs than it displaces, though he acknowledged that every job will change.

“If you don’t know how to incorporate AI into your domain and discipline, you will be at a disadvantage,” he said. “Students need to have the tools and the classes.”

Moy recalled the dot-com era and the transformation of publishing that upended models at institutions like the Brooklyn Public Library, where she once served as chief strategy officer. The fear and exuberance that accompanied those transitions, she said, mirrors what society is experiencing today.

“We want to make sure that we’re thinking about it ethically, that we’re balancing it according to public need,” she said. “And we’re having active conversations about those trade-offs.”

Both panelists returned repeatedly to the theme of transparency in AI systems, government data and institutional communications.

Rubin pointed to Anthropic’s practice of publishing system prompts as a model for responsible AI deployment and noted that Syracuse recently launched an AI-powered course search tool, called , that similarly makes its operating parameters visible. He also raised the challenge of AI-generated media and the difficulty of distinguishing real content from fabricated content online.

An Open and Ongoing Dialogue

The conversation drew questions from the audience.

A first-year Maxwell student and member of the University’s United AI club asked what precedent a recent court ruling holding social media platforms liable for algorithmic harm to minors sets for the future of AI regulation and whether platforms like ChatGPT should face similar oversight.

Rubin was direct: “We made the mistake with social media. These companies should have an obligation to have guardrails.”

Moy pointed to Hochul’s recent policy proposals targeting addictive technology, including requirements for more restrictive default settings on children’s accounts. She acknowledged that government is often a step behind rapid technological change, but argued that intervention becomes necessary when innovation results in public harm.

A second student raised concerns about AI’s potential to enable fraud, including falsified documents and biased algorithms.

“These are very real questions,” she said, emphasizing that OGS is working to understand its uses and risks. She argued that the answer isn’t avoiding AI but understanding it well enough to spot its misuse. “If we don’t understand it, we will fall behind.”

Rubin agreed, framing the detection challenge as both technological and philosophical: As AI becomes embedded in everything from autocomplete to document editing, defining what counts as “AI-generated” becomes increasingly difficult. “My gut is almost every piece of content out there will have some AI piece to it, assisting us,” he said. “So, it’s a technology challenge and a societal challenge.”

Van Slyke closed by noting that Maxwell’s role in preparing students for public service has always meant equipping them not just with technical knowledge, but with the ability to navigate the policy, governance and ethical dimensions that accompany it.

“The question is not what will AI do to our institutions,” he said. “It’s what will we choose to do with it.”

Spectrum News and the are launching a dynamic partnership that will provide students with hands-on experiences and professional development opportunities in journalism and media production.

The new initiative reinforces the Newhouse School’s commitment to working with newsrooms on innovative ways to support local news. Student-produced content will enhance Spectrum News coverage across the country and provide viewers with a look at top issues from the perspective of Newhouse student journalists.

“This collaboration brings real-world experience to the classroom and underscores our commitment to fostering the next generation of journalists,” says , executive vice president of Spectrum Networks. “We’re supporting students as they embark on their journalism careers and providing a pathway to create a sustainable future for local news, supported by these talented emerging reporters.”

Bair and  announced the joint initiative March 23 at the Toner Prizes Celebration in Washington, D.C., an event that honors the best political reporting. More than 40 Spectrum News journalists and executives then traveled to Newhouse for a March 26 panel discussion about the initiative, followed by about a dozen programs to help students better understand the challenges and opportunities of local newsrooms.

Sessions covered topics including investigative journalism, sports reporting, data analytics and building social media brands. Newhouse students also had the exclusive opportunity for reel and resume reviews with members of the Spectrum News team.

As part of the broader initiative, Spectrum News journalists will collaborate with Newhouse faculty to teach production and investigative journalism classes in Syracuse. Students will also have the opportunity to take part in an internship program that would place them in newsrooms across the country.

Organizers are also planning a distinctive field study program that will provide students the chance to report on significant events like the 2026 midterms from Washington, D.C., and coverage in Los Angeles of Major League Baseball and the 2028 Olympics.

“This unprecedented partnership with such a respected media platform will blaze a new trail in how news organizations and universities can work together to serve local communities,” Lodato says.

As part of the initiative, student journalism will be showcased across Spectrum News social media channels, along with web and mobile platforms, starting in the fall.

“Experiential learning has always been at the heart of a Newhouse education,” Lodato says. “This collaboration, which places our students alongside some of the best journalists in the business while reporting for real audiences, is exactly the kind of transformative opportunity that defines Newhouse’s legacy of excellence in journalism education.”

Students will produce local news coverage and an issues-based magazine show for Spectrum News networks, and student reporting will contribute to the Syracuse network’s daily on-air sports coverage. Additional content will be produced as the partnership develops, providing local student perspectives on the important issues of the day to Spectrum News viewers across the country.

“We are building a mutually beneficial partnership with the Newhouse School that supports both the professional development of emerging journalists and our recruiting efforts for Spectrum News,” says Paul Marchand, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Spectrum. “Many Syracuse University alumni have gone on to become leaders and journalists at Spectrum News, and this collaboration will deepen those connections while helping us identify and nurture new talent for our newsrooms.”

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 .

Three Syracuse University students—one researching proteins, one mapping geothermal heat beneath Greenland’s ice sheet and one engineering bacteria-fighting surfaces for medical implants—are recipients of the 2026 Goldwater Scholarship.

They are the following:

• Mallory Brown ’27, a neuroscience and statistics major in the (A&S) and a member of the ;
• Kenna Cummings ’27, a geology major in A&S; and
• Khuong Pham ’27, a biomedical engineering major in the (ECS) and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

�ճ���� was established by Congress in 1986 to honor U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the five-term senator from Arizona. The program provides a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields. The Goldwater Foundation received 1,485 nominations this year from around the country and 454 students were selected for the scholarship.

Each Syracuse University Goldwater Scholarship nominee worked with the (CFSA) to prepare their application. A faculty committee, headed by, professor of chemistry in A&S, selected Syracuse’s nominees for the national competition.

“We are so proud of Kenna, Khuong and Mallory. They each stand to make significant contributions to their respective fields, and society, throughout their scientific careers, and it is exciting to see them honored with this award,” says Melissa Welshans, assistant director of CFSA. “The selection of three Syracuse students this year is a testament to the robust support for undergraduate research and excellent faculty mentorship students receive here.”

Mallory Brown

Pursuing a statistics major turned out to be the decision that defined Brown’s research career. That mathematical foundation gave her an edge in the lab, and she has put it to use across two distinct research environments.

In the lab of , associate professor of biology and chemistry in A&S, Brown works with intrinsically disordered proteins, working to understand their  behavior in live cells and under heat stress. She worked to experimentally quantify the chemical structure of RTL8, a protein known to interact with the UBQLN2 protein.

Brown also performed research with Amanda Cremone-Caira at the BRAiN Lab at Merrimack College, where she applied her statistical skills to a child development study, uncovering meaningful patterns of disagreement between caregiver and teacher assessments of preschool behavior, patterns previously unreported in literature.

Brown is drawn to large, complex data sets and the hidden stories within them. But she is equally motivated by the knowledge that her findings could reshape how researchers understand ALS and early childhood development. In the future, she hopes to conduct research and teach at a university, paying forward the mentorship that shaped her own path.

Kenna Cummings

Cummings came to geophysics with a goal already in mind: a career in geothermal energy. That clarity of purpose led her to the Geophysics Computing Lab of, assistant professor of Earth and environmental sciences in A&S, where she found her research question. Scanning the seismology literature on geothermal gradients beneath Greenland, she noticed that paper after paper overlooked the ice sheet itself, despite its potential as a surficial indicator of ground temperature.

Now, guided by Russell and graduate student Isaac Rotimi, Cummings uses the horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) method to constrain shallow layers like the ice sheet and investigate how elevated geothermal temperatures affect basal conditions that drive melting, icequakes and sliding. The work matters beyond Greenland since accurately distinguishing geothermal from climate-driven ice loss is essential for building better climate models.

For Cummings, the research is inseparable from its real-world stakes. She envisions leading a lab at a geothermal energy company, working at the intersection of science, industry and policy to make geothermal systems more efficient and more widespread. She is equally focused on the risks, such as induced seismicity, heat pollution and impacts on water resources. Earth systems, she says, are complex and interconnected, and responsible innovation demands that researchers understand them fully before intervening.

Khuong Pham

Pham’s research sits at the intersection of chemistry, biology and engineering. Working to design antimicrobial peptoids—synthetic molecules that mimic the infection-fighting proteins our bodies naturally produce–he is helping develop “self-defensive” surfaces for implanted medical devices like joint replacements. His challenge is to engineer peptoids that cluster just enough to withstand the body’s environment yet remain ready to deploy against invading bacteria on contact.

This work builds on a strong computational foundation developed through his research with , Milton and Ann Stevenson Endowed Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering and chair of biomedical and chemical engineering in ECS, where he has honed skills in molecular simulation, Python scripting and high-performance computing, tools that have proven transferable across every research environment he has entered. He has also conducted research at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Germany, in Alena Khmelinskaia’s Protein Design and Self-Assembly Group through the support of a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates.

Pham hopes to one day lead his own research lab as a professor, applying computational tools to design responsive proteins and biomaterial systems that address problems in medicine and biotechnology.

CFSA seeks applicants for the Goldwater Scholarship each fall; the campus deadline is mid-November each year. Interested students should contact CFSA at cfsa@syr.edu.

Gabrielle Knauf ’26 and Hannah Puerta-Carlson ’26—both fifth-year architecture degree students in the School of Architecture—have been selected for , an elite group of architecture and interior design students from the United States and Canada.

Launched in 2021, the award recognizes the top 100 graduating students in North America who, as rising leaders, are defining and reimagining the practice of architecture and interior design. Knauf and Puerta-Carlson are two of only 25 undergraduate architecture students to receive the honor, selected based on the creativity, rigor, skill and professionalism exhibited by their portfolios and nomination entries.

This year’s cohort features an exceptional group of emerging designers who demonstrate a shared commitment to purposeful, research-driven design. Through experimentation, critical thinking and bold creativity, their projects thoughtfully engage community, culture, inclusivity and sustainability with care and conviction, according to Metropolis magazine.

Gabrielle Knauf

���Բ��ܴ�’s demonstrates her innate and intuitive design ability through the use of model-making, hand drawing and digital workflow.

In “YYarehouse,” a project led by instructor Il Hwan Kim, Knauf and her classmate Julia LaRow ’26 explore how to reuse large structural concrete elements from demolished buildings instead of discarding them. Rather than treating buildings as disposable, the project proposes a circular-economy approach, where load-bearing components like double-T slabs and columns are salvaged and repurposed, either in similar roles or reconfigured into new structural systems.

Using concrete components sourced from two nearby buildings slated for demolition, the design experiments with transforming these elements to create a new hybrid structure. The building itself functions as a warehouse and makerspace for material reuse, reinforcing its mission. Architecturally, the project highlights reused materials by making them visible and expressive—from the structural system to the façade. It also integrates sustainable features like rainwater collection and radiant heating.

Overall, “YYarehouse” demonstrates how thoughtful deconstruction, reuse, and design innovation can reduce construction waste while creating functional, expressive architecture.

“Gabrielle is curious and thoughtful, with a natural ability to guide others and explain complex ideas in an engaging way,” says Nimet Anwar, an assistant professor of architecture who nominated Knauf. “She explores new methods and tools with enthusiasm, and her passion and curiosity spark the same energy in those around her.”

Knauf has served as an undergraduate program associate for ten sections of a second-year design studio, supporting students through lectures, tutorials and desk critiques, as well as in a remote summer pre-college architecture course. In 2025, she received an honorable mention for her Integrated Design Studio Prize project and has been named to the Dean’s List every semester since 2022.

“I feel incredibly honored to have been nominated for this award,” says Knauf. “The application process itself was rewarding, giving me the opportunity to reflect on my five years and how much I’ve grown with the support of faculty and friends. Being nominated alongside such talented peers, especially Hannah, is particularly meaningful—we’ve collaborated on projects through both work and studio, and ending this chapter together feels extra special. Being named a Future100 winner makes all the hard work feel worthwhile, and I’m excited to begin my professional career with the support of the Metropolis network.”

After graduation, Knauf plans to work in a full-time position as an architectural designer while working toward licensure.

Hannah Puerta-Carlson

�ʳܱ���ٲ�-�䲹�������Dz�’s demonstrates her intuitive sense of design coupled with clear, purposeful and mature visual communication and creativity.

During her study abroad experience in Florence, Puerta-Carlson collaborated with Knauf and classmate Audrey Delia ’26 on “Grotta Sosta,” which reimagines a former mining site as a park designed for rest, reflection and renewal.

Acknowledging the site’s intense history of extraction, the project defines “rest” as a cycle of protection, recovery and emergence for both visitors and the landscape. Through subtle, non-invasive interventions—such as framing views, filling spaces and creating stepped transitions—the design gently shapes how people experience the site. These strategies separate areas of activity from spaces of calm, guiding visitors through different stages of rest. The park includes flexible, seasonal programs like sitting, swimming, fishing and play, allowing both people and the environment to periodically pause and recover.

Ultimately, “Grotta Sosta” transforms a once-extractive landscape into a serene, regenerative space that supports both human and ecological rest.

“Hannah has excellent ideas, and she can convey them through the architectural and design language,” says Omar Ali, an assistant professor of architecture who nominated Puerta-Carlson. “Her interdisciplinary approach, her ability to translate this into design application, paired with her dedication, position her as a promising leader in the field.”

Puerta-Carlson belongs to Renée Crown University Honors Program and has served on the school’s student mentor squad. She is a recipient of the Syracuse University 1870 Scholarship, Invest in Success Scholarship and the Syracuse University Orange Distinction Award, as well as the Syracuse Abroad Academic Excellence Award (2024). In summer 2025, her project “Evolving an Urban Ecology” was selected for the prestigious national honor of inclusion in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

“Being selected for the Metropolis Future 100 is an incredible honor,” says Puerta-Carlson. “When my professors encouraged me to apply, I was deeply touched by their confidence in me, and being chosen has only strengthened my gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had at Syracuse University. Learning from and designing alongside such inspiring professors and classmates has been truly formative. This recognition makes me even more excited to step into a broader professional network and carry those experiences with me as I begin my career.”

After graduation, Puerta-Carlson hopes to secure a full-time position at an architecture firm—ideally in New York City—where she can begin completing her Architectural Experience Program (AXP) hours toward licensure. After several years of professional experience, she plans to return to academia to pursue a master’s degree in landscape architecture or urbanism.

As part of the Future100 honor, Knauf and �ʳܱ���ٲ�-�䲹�������Dz�’s work has been shared with a global network of architecture and design leaders, offering meaningful exposure to top firms and influential professionals across the industry. Their profiles also appear in a dedicated online feature at and in the magazine’s January/February/March issue.

The full Future100 class of 2026 digital showcase is .

recently announced the spring 2026 recipients of the Orange Innovation Fund, awarding $5,000 grants to a cohort of student inventors and entrepreneurs advancing high-potential ventures across health care, financial technology, consumer products and enterprise software.

The Orange Innovation Fund is designed to accelerate student-led startups beyond the idea stage, supporting founders who have demonstrated meaningful progress through customer discovery, prototyping and early validation.

The fund emphasizes deep research and development work, along with comprehensive proposal development, and recognizes ventures that show strong execution, real-world traction and a clear path toward commercialization. Funding supports critical next steps such as product development, regulatory readiness, pilot testing and go-to-market strategy.

“The Orange Innovation Fund plays a critical role in SU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, enabling student founders to move beyond concept and into execution,” says David Seaman, dean of Libraries and University Librarian. “By supporting ventures at a pivotal stage of development, the fund helps transform promising ideas into scalable businesses with real-world impact.”

Spring 2026 Winners

Celes Buffard ’27 (School of Information Studies) for SecondWave

SecondWave is a financial wellness platform that helps users build personalized roadmaps to manage and grow their finances. The platform combines education, tools and vetted resources to guide users toward financial independence. Funding will support minimum viable product (MVP) completion, user testing, cloud infrastructure and trademark registration, as well as continued customer discovery.

Jayson Bromley (Martin J. Whitman School of Management) for Bromley Bio Med LLC – InDeazy

InDeazy is an integrated incision and drainage device designed to improve efficiency, control and safety in urgent care and emergency settings. Funding will support final design refinement and pilot manufacturing, including engineering updates, simulated workflow testing and Food and Drug Administration pre-submission readiness.

Nicholas Davis ’26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science [ECS]) for Ethyra

Ethyra is an AI-native auto-grading and classroom analytics platform that helps educators save time and better understand student performance. Funding will support MVP completion, a version 1.0 launch and pilot testing at Syracuse University, the University of Washington and Eastside Preparatory School, along with learning management system integration and a study on grading efficiency.

Haley Greene ’26 (Newhouse School of Public Communications) for Miirror

Miirror is a clinically guided, peer-led, tech-enabled platform redefining eating disorder recovery. Offering free, inclusive and stigma-free tools, support circles, crisis resources and therapy matching, the platform connects underserved communities with accessible recovery pathways. Funding will support completion of the MVP, regulatory compliance, technical infrastructure and a campus pilot at Syracuse University.

Ronan Hussar ’26 (Whitman School) for MacroFlow

MacroFlow is an Excel add-in that automates macro creation, saving users significant time and increasing productivity. Funding will support development of secure AI implementation, full local functionality and enterprise-grade validation of macro generation capabilities.

Yasmin Madmoune G ’27 (Whitman School) for Yas Apothecary

Yas Apothecary is a Moroccan-inspired body care brand with a long-term vision of building a cooperative-based production infrastructure. Funding will support equipment upgrades, production scaling, wholesale market entry and supply chain development.

Nathan Brekke ’26 (ECS), G ’27 (Whitman School) and Joshua Varkey ’26 (ECS) for Phloat

Phloat is a magnetically attachable flotation device that deploys to bring a submerged phone back to the surface. Funding will support the first commercial-grade production run, field testing with beta users and development of a scalable manufacturing supply chain. The company has recently filed for a patent.

Jack Venerus ’27 (School of Information Studies) for WingStat

WingStat is a business-to-business platform for aircraft transaction data in the pre-owned business jet market. Funding will support the transition from a no-code MVP to a production-ready platform, including backend infrastructure, authentication systems and automated data workflows.

About the Orange Innovation Fund

The Orange Innovation Fund was initially established through a gift to the Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, an alumna, a member of the Board of Trustees and an operating partner at Silicon Valley Quad (an angel investing syndicate). The program is administered through Syracuse University Libraries as a Universitywide initiative, run in collaboration with multiple campus innovation and entrepreneurship programs. Proposal reviewers include entrepreneurial faculty and staff, along with alumni who have come through the ecosystem and are venture founders or in C-Suite roles at leading innovation companies.

When Tyler Neary ’27and Orion Goodman ’27 scattered flyers across campus last spring advertising a new AI club, they saw a critical need: students needed to be included in conversations about a technology that would fundamentally reshape their futures.

“AI was at the point where it could help people in every single major, in every single profession, in every single job,” says Neary, a civil engineering major who co-founded United AI with Goodman, a biomedical engineering major, both in the (ECS). “We realized this was no longer just a computer science thing.”

What started as a room of 10 people has grown into , a recognized student organization (RSO) with more than 100 members representing every single school and college and most majors. Since its fall semester launch, the club’s focus has been democratizing AI literacy and ensuring students from all disciplines have a seat at the table as this technology transforms society.

The group will host a on Saturday, April 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. in the K.G. Tan Auditorium in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, featuring industry speakers, demonstrations and faculty research showcases.

Why Students Need Leadership in AI Development

For Goodman, the urgency became clear watching rapid AI development. “When I’m going through college, watching AI capabilities escalate, it can be disempowering—and I figured my peers may be feeling the same way,” he says. “It felt threatening because there’s a small group of people making decisions about how the technology is being used, and others feel like they’re being left behind.”

That sense of being sidelined drove the co-founders to create what Neary describes as an empowerment space. “Something that we say a lot in the club is: don’t get used by AI, use AI to your benefit,” he says. “We’re the ones who are going into the workforce leading the charge and determining how we will use this technology now and into the future.”

The message resonated. Within weeks of tabling at campus events, students from ECS, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Newhouse School of Public Communications, the Whitman School of Management and the College of Visual and Performing Arts were showing up to meetings, eager to understand how AI would affect their fields and futures.

Bringing Humanities and STEM Into Conversation

When Alex Kahn ’27, a junior studying citizenship and civic engagement and political philosophy in the | , discovered United AI, he wasn’t looking for coding or technical skills, but was compelled by the policy implications of AI that were dominating news headlines. “AI was in every story, across every industry, and it felt like there was no escaping it and how it will affect you,” Kahn says.

As United AI’s recruitment director last fall, Kahn became instrumental in broadening the organization beyond its engineering roots. His approach focused on relevance rather than technical expertise. The interdisciplinary composition has transformed conversations within the club.

“Having people from different majors and disciplines means having that understanding that everyone’s mind works differently,” Kahn says. “The people who are writing code are not thinking the same way as the person majoring in fine arts, and having that creativity along with those technical skills, you’re able to build and think much differently.”

Goodman appreciates what non-engineering perspectives bring to the table. “As conversations around AI progressed, I began asking, ‘Where are the artists? Where are the policymakers? Where are the humanities majors?’” he says. “A lot of the population was not behind building this technology and still isn’t—but how do we provide a space for them to learn and join the conversation?”

From Concept to Creation: Student Projects Take Shape

United AI goes beyond theoretical discussion to hands-on application. Through four-week project cycles, students receive funding, access to premium AI tools and mentorship to develop their ideas.

Paige Siciliano ’29, a computer engineering major, led a second-place winning project during her first semester on campus. Her team’s AI-powered schedule builder, still under development, helps students manage their time by generating personalized daily plans based on individual learning styles, fixed commitments and flexible tasks.

For Siciliano and her teammates—Neha Redda ’29 and Ria Yagielski ’29—the project provided more than AI experience. “It really helped us find a way into the community of Syracuse, and it helped us feel like we belonged,” she says.

Building Community Around Shared Curiosity

Beyond projects and programs, United AI has cultivated what Kahn describes as “a school of thought on campus.” During a debate night last semester, members discussed everything from business applications to environmental impacts to personal usage philosophy, with some participants there simply to understand the technology rather than use it. “Being surrounded by club members and in this community of lifelong learners, we focus our educational efforts to not just learn the technical side, but also on practical application,” Kahn says.

Siciliano emphasizes the club’s welcoming atmosphere. “We came in as first-semester freshmen, two weeks into school. It didn’t matter if we had no background knowledge in AI or all the knowledge in the world—they create an atmosphere that makes you want to learn about it and continue to grow.”

To join United AI, . To learn more, follow the organization on or .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When students land a job interview or score a spot at a networking event, the last thing wants them worrying about is what to wear.

That’s the idea behind the Career Closet, a virtual professional styling service launched in spring 2025 through a partnership between the University’s career services team and MyCareerCloset. The program gives students access to curated boxes of up to six items of professional clothing shipped directly to their door, with the option to keep what they like at a steep discount or return everything for free.

“This was created to fill a key gap,” says Lindsay Mason, employer relations specialist and the program’s point person. “Many students don’t have access to affordable professional attire for job interviews, career fairs, networking events or immersion programs.”

The need is real and growing. Across U.S. colleges, increasing numbers of students struggle to cover the cost of business clothing on top of tuition, housing and everyday expenses. The Career Closet aims to take that pressure off the table entirely.

How It Works

Students start by visiting the , where they select a style category: masculine, feminine or gender non-conforming. Those who choose the gender non-conforming option can schedule a free 15-minute virtual styling consultation to help match them with the right fit and look.

From there, students complete a short form with their Syracuse University ID, program of study and sizes, then book an appointment with a stylist. Their box of items ships within five to seven business days. Students keep the box for 30 days, then either purchase items at up to 60% off retail or send them back with a prepaid shipping label, no dry cleaning required.

The service costs $60, but students enrolled in a degree-granting program may be eligible for a one-time voucher that covers the full cost of one box. To check eligibility, students can email Career Services at careers@syr.edu with the subject line “Career Closet Voucher.”

Why Virtual?

The partnership with MyCareerCloset was intentional. Planning began in summer 2024 and took a full semester to finalize before the spring 2025 launch. Going digital solved several challenges at once: it eliminated the need for physical inventory space on campus, ensured a wider variety of styles and sizes than a single closet could hold, and kept the selection current.

“They manage all the inventory, which is key when you consider space limitations on campus,” Mason says. “But it also ensures there is a variety of options for all students and the styles stay up to date.”

What’s Next

Career Services is now focused on spreading the word. Mason and her team are partnering with student-facing departments across campus and with school and college career centers to increase awareness.

“We feel strongly this is a worthwhile service that can benefit all students, regardless of background,” Mason says.

For students gearing up for spring recruiting season, a career fair or simply their first professional event, the Career Closet offers a practical starting point—and one less thing to stress about.

To learn more or get started, visit the or contact Career Services at careers@syr.edu.