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Before the day gets started for many, two professors are already putting in the miles.

, associate provost for academic programs and professor of biomedical and chemical engineering in the , and , associate teaching professor and director of undergraduate studies in chemistry in the , both have been running marathons for years.

For long-distance runners, the 26.2-mile race is one of the most iconic challenges in endurance sports, and March 1 saw the start of the 2026 season of the , with the . On April 20, the second world major will take place when thousands of runners depart the starting line of the in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

Both French and Hasenwinkel qualified to run the Boston race this year. It will be Hasenwinkel’s first time running Boston, but she ran her first world major in the fall of 2024 in Chicago. She’s also already qualified to run New York City in November.

“I’m excited about all of it,” she says.

French has run the historic Boston course three times. He was qualified and set on running for a fourth time, but after a challenging winter for training, he decided not to compete this year.

“There is no other race like it,” French says. “The entire course is lined with spectators, the entire city comes out for it.”

Between years of experience and countless miles on the road, both professors have picked up practical insights they can share with fellow runners, including those just starting to take on the distance.

How They Got Started

French ran his first marathon in college, after running competitively in both high school and college. He mostly competed in 5Ks and 10Ks, but on the weekends, would run closer to 16 or 18 miles.

“I ran distance, and just really seemed to enjoy the races more the longer they went,” he says.

His first 26.2-mile race was the Vermont City Marathon, which he ran when a friend who had a bib was injured and French competed instead.

“I had a great time, finished in the top 15, really enjoyed the race, the experience and the city,” French says.

Hasenwinkel found her love of running later in life, after the COVID pandemic when her kids were in college.

“I literally started with a couch to 5K program, built up some endurance and kept going,” she says.

Her first race was Syracuse’s Mountain Goat Run, and she found by the end that not only did she enjoy the race experience, her time was competitive for her age group. She signed up for a marathon shortly after, encouraged by her brother, himself a marathoner and triathlete.

She ran her first 26.2-mile race exactly a year later.

“I love the camaraderie of marathons, and you can get that same kind of camaraderie in other races, but there’s something that’s significantly more challenging about a marathon than even a half or a 10-miler,” she says.

What Training Can Look Like

French runs 70 to 80 miles per week, seven days a week, with one or two hard workouts mixed in—a shorter, faster midweek session or hill workout, and a longer, marathon-paced effort on the weekend. He also tries to bike a couple times a week as a low-impact alternative.

Hasenwinkel’s approach has steadily evolved since she ran her first marathon. She now runs five or six days a week, varying her workouts by distance and effort.

Central New York winters add an extra layer of complexity for spring marathon training, they agreed.

“Safety and avoiding injury is the primary factor,” Hasenwinkel says. “If it’s really icy or dangerously cold, I will throw in the towel and go on the treadmill.”

The Biggest Challenges

Ask either professor what the hardest part of marathon training is, and they’ll give you the same answer: time.

French, who has two young children, notes that a 20-mile run can take more than two hours.

“I might have run 20 miles in the morning but my kids still want to go to the zoo or the Museum of Science and Technology. I might want to just sit on the couch!”

Hasenwinkel, who tries to run two marathons a year, agreed. She says sustaining the energy to train, work and show up for family requires deliberate prioritization, including sleep.

Injury is another constant concern, so knowing when to alter your training to avoid them is important.

Hasenwinkel hurt her foot, which set back her training for Boston.

“I want to give myself the grace to just be able to go and do it for fun and not worry about my time,” she says.

ĚýFinal Words of Advice

French says if you want to take up running marathons, building gradually and being patient is key.

“You can fake your fitness in shorter races,” he says. “You can not fake your way through a marathon. You need to have done the training, you need to be prepared to run the distance and your desired pace. You need to have practiced your nutrition. A lot can change between mile 13 and mile 26.”

If you do it consistently, you can trust your training on race day.

“I’m a big believer that anybody could do this,” Hasenwinkel says. “I feel like my story is living proof of that. I was much older than the average runner when I started. Be persistent and disciplined about training. Gradually build your mileage and have a plan and really stick to it. ”

In 2016, Father Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv., was considering taking the role of Catholic chaplain at Syracuse University. It was not an easy decision, he says.

For starters, he loved his work at Elon University in North Carolina, where he served as Catholic chaplain for 11 years. Syracuse University is a much bigger institution, and he was not crazy about the idea of long, cold winters.

Waterman embarked on a three-day trip to Syracuse in April that year to meet with Chancellor Kent Syverud and other leaders. On an early-morning run on the Onondaga Creekwalk, he asked God to send him a sign.

Waterman stopped in front of a covered iron storm drain embossed with letters and numbers. The letters spelled out his last name and the numbers, 84 and 55, were the year he was ordained and the year he was born, respectively. He had his answer.

The decision to come to Syracuse has been one of his best, Waterman says. Now his Syracuse chapter is coming to a close, as he is retiring from campus ministry after Commencement. A farewell reception will be held on Thursday, April 16, from 5-7 p.m. at the Catholic Center, followed by Mass at 7 p.m.

“It’s bittersweet. I have been doing campus ministry for 21 years—it’s a long time,” he says. “I said it’s time, but there is going to be a huge hole in my heart. I love these kids; they are the salt of the Earth.”

A Spirit and Energy Unrivaled

Waterman has brought an infectious spirit and boundless energy to his role as the University’s Catholic chaplain. During his tenure, attendance for Catholic Masses and activities has exploded. Masses that once saw 20 students now see more than 200. Attendance at the recent Easter Masses was close to 1,100,

With a transformational gift from Daniel ’68, H’20 and Gayle D’Aniello through the Forever Orange campaign, a new chapel was built and renovations done to make the Catholic Center space more conducive to the activities held there. Thursday night Mass and dinner, monthly sandwich-making community outreach and social activities draw record numbers of students. A newly installed organ, a gift from a donor, fills the space with beautiful music.

Waterman’s greatest legacy, though, is the people within the space. He attributes the expanding numbers to the students. “I was able to get the students so comfortable and confident in their faith that they were willing to evangelize their friends,” he says. “That’s how our numbers have grown. Not by me inviting them, by their friends inviting them.”

His Greatest Legacy

The connection with students is what has nourished Waterman over the past decade.

“Father Gerry truly is one of a kind, never have I met such a welcoming priest who somehow knows every student’s name,” says Anthony Iannazzone ’28. “His homilies hit me differently than any other priest that I have listened to; he gets the message across unlike anybody I’ve ever heard. He has had a true impact on my time here at Syracuse.”

Anna Lupardo ’26 tragically lost her dad at age 12, and in the ensuing years stopped going to church. “I remained a spiritual person after I lost my father, but I struggled to find a place for faith in my life,” she says. During her junior year, a couple of friends brought her along to the Catholic Center on a Sunday.

“Father Gerry gave me a big hug and told me he was so excited to have me there,” Lupado says. “I had never felt more welcomed into a community of believers as I did in that moment.”

Lupado began attending Mass weekly. “Father Gerry is somehow always capable of telling me exactly what I need to hear. As someone who never saw a place for my Catholic roots after my father died, Father Gerry showed me that there is always a place for Jesus in my heart, no matter how connected or ready I might feel at the time.”

Mikie Jantz ’28 says Waterman is unique in his ability to help students have their faith be at the center of their life, as opposed to just a part of their life.

“Father Gerry has built such a great community at this school and done so humbly, and with an intent to point everyone to Jesus,” Jantz says, “I have gone to Mass with friends that have been Catholics their whole lives, and friends that are not Catholic at all. In all situations, he has made them feel welcomed and at home.”

“Father Gerry Waterman has provided steadfast and dynamic leadership to the University’s Catholic community, dramatically altering the physical space at the Catholic Center and greatly increasing participation in worship, programs and community service,” says Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, interim dean of Hendricks Chapel. “Father Gerry has also served as a strong and collaborative partner to his fellow chaplains and staff at Hendricks Chapel. We are deeply appreciative of his many contributions to Syracuse University over the past decade.”

Leaving Syracuse With a Full Heart

Waterman calls his new chapter semi-retirement. He will be based in Washington, D.C., but, in the spirit of St. Francis, will go where he is needed and called—covering for vacations, leading spiritual retreats and helping to oversee outreach activities. He also plans to travel; hiking the Camino de Santiago in Europe is one of his bucket list items.

In his time in Syracuse, Waterman learned to live—and thrive—in winter. “Winter never mattered because I have had the warmth and love of so many around me,” he says.

No matter where he goes, memories of Syracuse will always hold a special place in his heart—his students, this campus and, being the foodie he is, Syracuse’s iconic Columbus bread.

No classroom lecture can replicate the experience of being face-to-face with the evidence of genocide. That’s the premise behind a School of Education (SOE) immersion course that brings students to Washington, D.C., to view historical records, talk with experts in human rights law and policy and worldwide atrocities issues, and experience the visual weight of bearing witness to atrocity crimes.

is a one-week, intense examination of those topics. It is both a standalone experiential inquiry excursion and a component of the SOE interdisciplinary minor, .

The course is open to any undergraduate and is led by G’03 G’07, SOE associate professor, scholar in human rights and current secretary of the . It also includes extensive advance readings, a pre- and a post-trip online class and attendance at the , which is supported by SOE alumni Lauri M. Zell ’77 and Jeffrey M. Zell ’77, who also underwrite the D.C. trip.

Multiple Dimensions

Pre-trip, students read about active international court cases, global justice mechanisms and U.S. foreign policy on atrocity prevention. Then, over six days in D.C., they met experts on human rights law and issues, including representatives of the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, Disability Rights International, the Alliance for Peacebuilding, the Syria Justice Accountability Centre, No Business with Genocide, the Simon-Skjodt Center for Genocide Prevention, the Alliance for Diplomacy and Justice and former officials of the U.S. Department of State Office of Global Criminal Justice.

They also toured the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, the U.S. Supreme CourtĚý and the Library of Congress. (VPA) alumna and artist ’81 hosted the group for dinner at her D.C. home and an exhibition of her work around human rights, displacement and the refugee crisis.

At Ground Level

SOE inclusive adolescent education and history major Elijah Burke ’27 calls the experience “one of the most formative weeks of my academic career,” providing “a ground-level understanding of this work unlike what I could learn in a classroom. It clarified the direction I want to take toward documentation, education, and advocacy in the international human rights space.”

Hailey Vanish ’27, a social work (SOE) and psychology major in the (A&S), says the immersion “reshaped how I view my studies and the world by emphasizing the importance of awareness, accountability and global engagement.”

Alexa Price ’28, a political science major, came to understand “not only how atrocities around the world start, but how the U.S. chooses to involve itself … the possibility of human rights work … and a glimmer of hope for a peaceful future.”

Initial Unawareness

Students are often initially unaware of historical atrocities and may not recognize how current events contribute to the potential for atrocities to occur, White says.

“Students are consistently surprised by how much they don’t know about what happened, why it happened, what the aftermath looks like, what reconciliation looks like, and the risk factors that lead individuals to commit atrocities,” White says. “They don’t know because we don’t teach human rights education in this country.”

White says that by participating in the immersion, the students are “really bearing witness to the Holocaust, antisemitism and human rights violations, and becoming aware of what companies do business with countries that are carrying out atrocities, and [recognizing] that they have an obligation not to be silent about these things anymore. It is my hope they come back with the tools to engage with these issues beyond the classroom. This will mean asking harder questions of themselves, their families and friends and their communities … and holding people and institutions accountable and understanding that awareness is meaningless without action.”

Hard, But Rewarding

Facing the intense subject matter head-on is genuinely hard to deal with but also deeply rewarding, White says, and students are fully engaged regarding the information they’ve taken in.

“They talk about this as an amazing trip, how it’s horrible but also kind of invigorating because this is not an abstract idea anymore,” White says. “They are learning from the people who are doing the work and realizing atrocities don’t happen in a vacuum, that there are real, material consequences of decisions that governments and policy makers make. They see that you can do something about this and they’ve been shown ways to participate in atrocity prevention.”

A&S mathematics major Leo Chen ’26 says what he saw at the Holocaust Museum hit home. “Despite being heavy, it serves as an everlasting remembrance of all the lives lost and a forever reminder to future generations of one of the darkest chapters in human history, so that we must do better.”

Those factors also resonated with Destiny Katsitsatekanoniahkwa Lazore Whitebean ’26, a dual major in communication and rhetorical studies in VPA and political science in the Maxwell School | A&S, renewing her long-standing question: “If we recognize the warning signs of genocide happening today but feel powerless or hopeless, what actions can individuals or communities take to help prevent mass atrocities?” She says the week “helped me see the many opportunities to get involved and make a difference.”

Aiden Boyer ’28, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the , says he hopes many more people are able to access the immersion, calling it “a rare opportunity, a program that is a standout in this field.”

As a Minor

The 18-credit provides a more extensive interdisciplinary look at international law, genocide crimes and social justice and human rights issues. Its overall goal is to create awareness of those issues so students can learn how to be responsible citizens in a democratic society.

When President Joe Biden L’68, H’09 first visited the Syracuse University campus in 1965, he knew he wanted to attend law school. So when he had a few hours to spare while waiting for his then-girlfriend and later first wife Neilia Hunter to finish work, he decided to explore the University’s library.

Instead, he ended up walking into the dean’s office.

The 46th president recounted his serendipitous start at Syracuse University to an audience packed into the Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom in the ‘s Dineen Hall Tuesday for the unveiling of his portrait.

“By accident,” Biden said. “I swear to God, I thought I was walking into the library.”

When the woman running the office asked if he was there to see the dean, he told her he didn’t mean to come in but was thinking about law school. Before he knew it, he said she had him talking to the dean, who arranged a financial aid offer and a resident advisor position. An application was filled out before he left.

Syracuse, he told the audience, is where he began to see the pieces coming together that would shape his approach to law and public service throughout his career.

“Syracuse is a place where I began to develop an understanding of the powerful impact the law can have in making the world a better place,” Biden said. “I began to see how values I’ve learned at home, at my kitchen table with my mom and dad, were really reflected in American jurisprudence, in our institutions. As I saw through the torts and contracts and struggled with property law, my favorite course was constitutional law. I heard my parents’ words ringing in my ears, ‘Dignity, Joey, respect, fairness, equity, equality. That’s what America is all about.’”

A Portrait to Honor and Inspire

Celebrating Biden’s life of public service, the ceremonial unveiling of his portrait was witnessed by members of his family; University community members; and state and local officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul ’80.

College of Law Dean Terence Lau L’98 told attendees the University was determined to honor Biden, who has maintained a close connection with the campus, delivering the Commencement addresses four times at the law school and at the University in 2009, in a way that was “impactful, lasting and inspirational.”

The portrait was commissioned by the University and painted by artist , one of America’s foremost portrait artists, whose works hang in the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and the Pentagon.

“Our hope is that this portrait will inspire generations of law students to come, a proud reminder to every student who walks through our library doors of what is possible when you combine a Syracuse law education with the courage to serve something larger than yourself,” Lau said.

Jeffrey Scruggs, chairman of the University Board of Trustees, noted in his remarks that Biden’s connection to Syracuse “runs deep and long” and reflected on the former president’s impact on the community and Central New York though landmark legislation, including the and the .

“President Biden had the will to invest in great cities like Syracuse throughout the nation, and it’s here in Syracuse, at his beloved alma mater, where President Biden’s portrait will hang,” Scruggs said.

Scruggs said in Biden’s portrait, law students will be able to look up and see the face of someone whose life of service started in the same place their own careers will begin.

“To our law students, may that always serve as a reminder that there are no limits to where a Syracuse Law degree can take you,” Scruggs said.

A Lifelong Foundation and Community

Biden’s remarks reflected on the deep impact the University had on him both professionally and personally. He recalled the only head-to-head election he ever lost in his career was the race for class president his first year against classmate and Trustee William “Bill” Brodsky ’65, L’68, who became a close friend.

“Since the time I left Syracuse, life has handed me significant highlights and very low blows,” Biden said. “The Syracuse community has been with me through it all.”

But what Biden said he was most proud of when he talks about Syracuse is his son, Beau L’94, who died in 2015 from brain cancer, and in whose memory the University established a scholarship.

“To be very honest with you,” Biden said. “I assumed one day Beau would be standing here and not me. I give you my word for that. He was more qualified and a hell of a man.”

Both he and his son took the legal grounding they found at Syracuse and carried it with them their entire time in public service, he said.

“Everything I did as an elected official was all an extension of what I learned here at Syracuse,” Biden said.

Biden said studying the Constitution at Syracuse, he began to understand democracy is the soul of the nation.

“Whatever my legacy may be, I hope it will be said that I never stopped striving for the cause of democracy,” he said. “And I hope that long after I’m gone, future classes of Syracuse law students see the portrait and are reminded not of me, but of the greatness and power of our democracy.”

For a second year, the University is hosting Micron Day on campus to showcase the innovation and future of technology education and careers in Central New York.

The event on April 21 will be a full-day celebration of technology, education and opportunity, bringing students, families, educators, industry leaders and community partners together to inspire the next generation of innovators in the region.

Last year’s event focused on Micron’s transformative $100 billion investment in the community with the development of their facility in Clay, New York, and their ongoing partnerships with the University. This year, Micron Day will highlight what is possible when there is strong collaboration between higher education and industry, illustrating the shared commitment between the University and Micron to build sustainable, tech driven pathways and opportunities for young people in Central New York.

“Micron Day represents how universities and industry can work together to create real, tangible opportunity for students while strengthening the regional economic ecosystem,” says Acting Chancellor J. Michael Haynie. “By engaging students early and showing them what’s possible, we’re helping them envision a future for themselves in technology that begins right here in Central New York.”

The centerpiece of the day will be a large-scale technology fair and tech expo in the Ensley Athletic Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., where hundreds of local students in grades 9-12 will be welcomed to explore interactive, hands-on exhibitions alongside University students, faculty, staff and members of the public. Exhibitions in the expo will be designed to spark curiosity and demonstrate how classroom learning connects to real-world applications and future careers.

The exhibitors will include a range of University schools, colleges, clubs and programs, as well as Micron camps and activities, community partner organizations, military and emergency response partners, higher education institutions and local tech employers.

“Micron Day allows us to connect with students and families long before careers begin and show how today’s learning leads to tomorrow’s opportunities,” says Janine Rush-Byers, director of strategic university partnerships at Micron. “The partnership with Syracuse University ensures we’re building a future workforce that reflects the talent, diversity and potential of this community.”

With exhibitions ranging from immersive demonstrations to creative problem-solving activities, the expo aims to meet students where they are and invite them to actively engage with technology.

A scavenger hunt-style experience that encourages students to move through the expo and interact with exhibitions while earning prizes for participation is also planned. Lunch will also be provided to the students; schools must register in advance.

“From hands-on exhibitions to interaction with students and professionals in tech industries, everything about this event is designed to keep students curious, engaged and excited about learning,” says A.J. Florkowski, program operations manager with the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and lead planner for Micron Day at the University.

After the expo, Micron Day will continue into the evening with additional programming focused on the families and caregivers of young people in the region.

From 5 to 6 p.m. in Marley Hall, an esports competition will be held in the University’s new Esports Classroom between Boise State and Syracuse. A town hall will take place afterwards, from 6 to 7 p.m., during which parents and students can learn more about the clubs, campus and programs available at both the University and elsewhere in the region. Exhibitor tables highlighting the different opportunities will be set up from 5 to 8 p.m.

With a focus on hands-on engagement, the goal of Micron Day this year is to reflect the long-term vision of the partnership between the company and University by acknowledging that today’s middle and high school students are the region’s future workforce, leaders and innovators.

“Our goal is to make Micron Day fun, interactive and inspiring—something students remember as the day they realized technology could be for them,” Florkowski says.

Graduate students Jamea Candy Johnson ’25, G’27 and Adara “Darla” Hobbs ’26 are taking their affordable housing research out of the classroom and directly to the landlords, developers and community organizers working to solve one of Syracuse’s most pressing challenges.

Thanks to a revamped partnership with (TMR), a longstanding, community-focused series of events hosted by the , Johnson and Hobbs shared their findings directly with key public housing constituents.

The two students are conducting the research as , alongside three of their peers.

“My research focuses on the intersection of housing and health care, especially as it relates to economic stability, and this experience has only solidified that interest,” says Johnson, who is on a pre-med and pre-law track while pursuing a master’s degree in public health from the .

“We need community-driven solutions to the problems facing Syracuse. This needs to be about bringing people together from different backgrounds and perspectives and seeing what we can collectively do to address and solve the housing issue,” says Hobbs, who in May will earn a master’s degree in Pan-African studies from the .

Research With the Community, Not About It

The collaboration with TMR pushed Johnson to conduct qualitative research after engaging directly with those who provide and build housing in the city, and not just those people who need housing.

“It turned out to be one of the best ways to conduct research,” says Johnson, who works for both the Onondaga County Legislature and at the Salvation Army Women’s Shelter.

Rather than crunching numbers and visualizing datasets, the fellows conducted one-on-one interviews with each panelist before every session. They used those conversations to write discussion questions tailored to each speaker’s expertise, questions designed not just for academic audiences, but for the community members filling seats in the room.

Housing as a Health Issue

When panelists from Housing Visions—which develops large multi-unit complexes—and A Tiny Home for Good—which builds small-scale permanent housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness—described how they partner with Helio Health and Upstate Medical to bring health care directly to residents in their units, it reframed the entire conversation.

“We’re not just talking about giving people housing. We’re talking about giving people health care. Health care plus housing is going to lead to better lifelong solutions overall,” Johnson says.

It’s a point echoed by Hobbs, who was born and raised in Syracuse.

“Access to adequate health care, education and healthy food, that all comes underneath the umbrella of economic mobility,” Hobbs says.

Lived Experience as Expertise

What surprised Hobbs most through the TMR process was being recognized as an expert by many of the community leaders she had long admired and respected.

“I’m not just taking something from the panelists, they’re learning something from me as well. I do know what I’m talking about. I do have something valuable to contribute,” she says.

“Our lived experiences as locals and residents are the experiences that should be the change agents,” says Hobbs, who has spent more than a decade working in the Syracuse City School District.

Sharing Their Research Insights

Johnson and Hobbs will participate in “For Syracuse or With Syracuse? What Lender Student Fellows’ Research Reveals About Housing and Health in Syracuse” during the . The session runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Room 100A of the Nancy Cantor Warehouse Auditorium.

“This research program has really emphasized human connection more than anything, and I think that’s the greatest part,” Johnson says.

“Now, I can bring those collective experiences back to my community and hopefully continue to make a difference,” Hobbs says.

Two Syracuse University students are bringing TEDx back to campus Thursday with a question they want the entire community to wrestle with: What matters next?

, a community-organized offshoot of the popular series, will challenge and inspire attendees to think beyond the present about the research, innovation and technology that will shape our collective futures.

The lineup spans journalism, education, generative AI, mental health and digital storytelling, with speakers tackling everything from what urban classrooms can teach us to the power of true stories and the burdens we carry in silence.

“The tools are in our hands. We are the architects of tomorrow. We are the ones who are going to determine what matters next by what we give our attention to,” says Ryan Nkongnyu ’25, G’26.

Eight speakers, including University students, faculty and alumni, will share their insights into how research, innovation, technology and a creative mindset will shape the future and, hopefully, inspire attendees to “explore the things that matter as we shape our tomorrow,” says Nkongnyu, who earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and rhetorical studies from the and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in television, radio and film from the .

Nkongnyu and Sonia Issa ’24, G’25 are the event co-organizers and emcees who lined up theĚý speakers.

“People are searching for direction, clarity and purpose,” says Issa, who earned an undergraduate degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the . “This is a moment to learn from one another and leave with new ideas that help guide the next chapter of our collective journey.”

This year’s is Thursday, April 16, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. in the K.G. Tan Auditorium in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building. The free event is open to students, faculty, alumni and members of the community and is co-sponsored by and the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation.

Nkongnyu and Issa sat down with SU Today to preview the event and share what attendees can expect.

Dear Syracuse University Community,

I know this is one of the most vibrant and demanding times of the academic year with final exams, end-of-semester celebrations, and the excitement of Commencement just around the corner. I am grateful for a few moments of your time because I want to share something personal with you.

Last week, I wasn’t feeling well, and I sought care at Crouse Hospital here in Syracuse. After further evaluation, I traveled to the University of Michigan to receive additional assessment from their specialists. I want to be straightforward with you: I have been diagnosed with a form of brain cancer.

I am currently undergoing treatment at the University of Michigan. I am where I need to be and I am in excellent hands. The care I have received from the teams at Crouse Hospital and University of Michigan Medicine has been nothing short of remarkable, and I am profoundly thankful. The Syracuse University Board of Trustees and the Michigan Board of Regents have shown me and my family a level of kindness and support that I will never forget. And, I am deeply grateful to Mike Haynie, who will assume all leadership responsibilities of Syracuse University effective immediately.

I am aware that I am one of many, many people who face a diagnosis like this—people who show up each day with courage. I take inspiration from all of them. I want you to know that I am ready to meet this challenge. I am approaching this with optimism, with determination, and with full confidence in the people who are caring for me. I believe in the road ahead, and I intend to walk it with everything I have.

I also find myself reflecting on what this moment has made so vivid to me: the extraordinary gift of great research universities. These institutions, places like Syracuse, like Michigan, exist not only to educate and to discover, but to translate that discovery into care for people when they need it most. I am fortunate, in ways I do not take lightly, to be receiving treatment at one of the finest academic medical centers in the world. That is what research universities make possible. I have spent my career believing in that mission deeply, and I believe in it more than ever now.

Syracuse University is in extraordinary hands, and I look forward to staying connected with this community that means so much to me. I will share updates along the way.

With gratitude and pride in everything this University stands for,

Chancellor Kent Syverud

Four Syracuse University faculty members recently participated in the (ALT) workshop, a prestigious, two-day program designed to prepare mid-career faculty for senior academic leadership roles.

Co-founded by , president of the , the workshop brings together faculty and research leaders in the fields of chemistry, physics and astrophysics with current department chairs, deans, provosts and vice presidents for research from across the country. The program is co-sponsored by the , Research Corporation for Science Advancement and the .

Syracuse University has invested in faculty participation in the program for several years, reflecting a commitment to developing the next generation of national research leaders, says , vice president for research.

“Universities benefit enormously when their faculty are not only experts in their fields but are also well-prepared for the realities of leadership,” Brown says. “The ALT Workshop equips faculty with the strategic mindset and practical tools to be effective in roles that shape the direction of the entire institution.”

Leadership Positioning

This year’s workshop drew participants who are positioned for administrative or team leadership roles within their departments and colleges. Four faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) attended:

• , associate professor of biology and chemistry
• , professor and director of the biochemistry program
• , professor of physics
• , Kathy and Stan Walters Endowed Professor of Quantum Science and director of the Institute for Quantum and Information Sciences

Faculty who participated in recent years include:

• , associate professor of biology and associate director of the BioInspired Institute, A&S
• , associate professor, Samuel and Carol Nappi Research Scholar and biomedical and chemical engineering graduate program director, College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS)
• , Milton and Ann Stevenson Endowed Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering and chair of the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, ECS

, professor of physics and interim dean of ECS, has served the program as a workshop facilitator, a role reserved for experienced academic leaders such as department chairs, deans and provosts.

Curriculum for Leaders

The ALT Workshop builds practical leadership skills not typically covered in traditional academic training. Topics include developing and communicating vision, motivating colleagues and staff, managing up and down within an institution, legal accountability and outreach. Participants complete a 360-degree feedback exercise, engage with panels of experienced academic leaders and participate in mock interviews for such positions as dean, center director and department chair. They leave with individualized leadership plans tailored to their career goals.

Eligible faculty members interested in applying for this program in fall 2026 can contact their department chair or the (resdev@syr.edu). Applications typically open in the fall. More information is available on the .Ěý

kicks off on Sunday (April 19-25), and to celebrate, we asked , associate professor and program director for the program in the , to share her favorite, lesser known, services and resources that local libraries offer their communities.

“Libraries are so much more than books and audiobooks; though they are two of my favorite perks,” Patin says.

The modern public library, she says, is community infrastructure, as essential to its functioning as roads or schools.

“What strikes me most is that public libraries are one of the few remaining truly public spaces,” Patin says. “Places where you don’t have to buy anything to belong. A teenager doing homework, a job seeker updating their resume, a new immigrant learning English, a senior researching a medical diagnosis, they’re all welcome, and they all get the same quality of professional help.”

The librarians, too, are doing far more than just organizing their collections, Patin says.

“They are trained information professionals who help people find, evaluate and use information in ways that change their lives,” she says. “Librarians don’t just connect people to information: they connect people to each other, to services and to a sense of belonging in their community. That’s not a side function. That’s the whole point.”

Patin says she wants library science students to understand the work they’ll be doing is relational, not just technical, since the best librarians are not just retrieving information. They are building trust, “meeting people where they are, listening deeply and advocating fiercely on behalf of their communities” she says.

Patin says the best way to support your local library and librarians is to use the library “loudly and often.”

“Usage data matters enormously when library budgets are being debated,” Patin says. “Check out books (physical and digital), attend programs, bring your kids, bring your neighbors. Beyond that: advocate. Show up to your local library board meetings. Contact your elected officials and tell them you value library funding.”

Headed into National Library Week, Patin says she hopes people not only appreciate their local library, but take steps to actively protect it, say thank you to a librarian and engage with the materials, programs and services they offer.

Below, Patin shares the five services and resources she wants every community member to know about at their local library.

Park and Nature Passes—Borrowable Like a Book

Cardholders at (OCPL) can to county parks likeĚýBeaver Lake Nature Center, Highland Forest, Jamesville Beach and even the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Library patrons can also get New York State Empire Passes for state parks across the state.

“It’s one of my favorite examples of libraries providing access to experiences, not just information,” says Patin.

If OCPL isn’t your local library, don’t worry. Most public libraries offer similar options to check out passes for cultural or natural resources like museums, parks, zoos, aquariums or even theaters. Ask your local librarian!

Makerspaces and Technology Access

It’s not uncommon now to find access to technological tools and makerspaces—collaborative workspaces that offer access to resources like 3D printing, laser cutters or audio/video equipment—at your local library.

“ give community members access to equipment, from 3D printers to adaptive technologies,Ěýthat most people couldn’t afford on their own,” Patin says. “The Central Library also has a Preservation Lab and specialized adaptive technology resources for people with disabilities. You can also record your next album there!”

A ‘Library of Things’—Not Just Books and Media

While libraries have always been in the business of lending, Patin says that idea has expanded in remarkable ways.

“At Syracuse University Libraries, you can borrow laptops, cameras and other tech gear,” Patin says.

Public libraries around the country have taken the “library of things” even further, lending cake pans, seed libraries for gardeners, musical instruments, tools, board games, sewing machines, telescopes and more to patrons.

“The underlying principle is the same one that has always driven libraries: why should everyone have to own something they only need occasionally?” she says. “Access over ownership is a radical and quietly revolutionary idea, and libraries have been living it for over a century.”

Adult Literacy, GED Preparation and ESOL Programs

Public libraries also remain an important lifeline for adult learners offering a range of educational programming, Patin says.

“OCPL offers adult literacy tutoring, GED/TASC preparation, and English for Speakers of Other Languages programming,” she says. “This is workforce development, family stability and community building happening right at the branch level.”

Programming That Brings People Together

“Libraries are community living rooms: places where things happen, not just places where things are stored,” Patin says.

As such, many libraries run seed swaps, art supply exchanges, maker workshops and language learning circles for their communities. OCPL regularly hosts book clubs, storytimes, author talks, art events and technology help sessions.

“This programming serves every age and stage of life, and it’s all free,” Patin says. “That matters enormously in communities where paid entertainment and enrichment are out of reach for many families.”

Micron Technology’s expansion in North Syracuse is expected to generate thousands of high-tech jobs in the coming years, but many Central New York (CNY) workers don’t yet have a clear path into those roles.

A new Syracuse University initiative called Q-SUCCEED-CNY—Quantum and Semiconductor Upskilling for Career Change through Experiential Education Deployment in Central New York—aims to change that. The workforce development program, led by faculty in the , helps adult learners with no prior technical background explore and prepare for careers in semiconductor, photonics and emerging quantum technologies.

“We are trying to tap into a larger community that has no prior technical background and awareness of this field, not those community members who already have tech background or who have already decided to pursue tech careers,” says Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor , who leads the program.

Who It’s For

Q-SUCCEED-CNY specifically targets people who may not have considered the tech sector: blue-collar workers, mid-career professionals in non-technical fields, veterans and individuals without STEM backgrounds. Through industry-aligned workshops, career exploration activities and hands-on experiential learning, participants build foundational technical skills and industry connections. Upon completing the program, participants receive a $2,400 stipend.

The initiative is led by Hasanovic alongside electrical engineering and computer science professors and , with project coordinator Anusha Ghimire managing operations and community partnerships.

How It Works

The program offers structured exposure to semiconductor, optics and quantum technology careers through a combination of educational programming and direct engagement with industry partners. It is supported by a broad network of affiliated organizations committed to regional workforce development, including Micron, Onondaga Community College, Syracuse City School District Adult Education, Westcott Community Center, Manufacturers Association of Central New York, NY CREATES, Cornell University, Toptica Photonics and Jubilee Homes.

How to Apply

Applications are open at . For more information, contact the Q-SUCCEED-CNY team at mhasanov@syr.edu or anghimir@syr.edu.

Show your Syracuse spirit! Students are invited to enter the 2026 Football T-Shirt Design Contest. Submit your design today for a chance to see it featured next season.

The winning designer will receive a gift basket from The Campus Store, Syracuse Auxiliary Services and Syracuse Athletics, filled with merchandise, gift cards and more.

Creative Brief: The Campus Store is looking for a dynamic, athletic design for a shirt that carries the bold spirit of our Syracuse community. The design should highlight staple elements of the Syracuse community that make us who we are, such as notable buildings and traditions, with a tie to the Syracuse football team. Keep in mind that the design will be printed on a shirt and should be easily printable in a maximum of two colors.

The entry must be the original work of the contestant and must not include or derive from preexisting or third-party designs or copyrighted images. The entry may not depict inappropriate images or words and cannot include a recognizable likeness to any person unless given written approval.

How to Enter: Submit your design as a vector file to contests@syr.edu. The file name should include your first and last name and be 25 MB or smaller. Deadline to enter is May 1, 2026. The winner will be notified on May 7.

With any additional questions, email John Cusick, general manager of the Syracuse University Campus Store. Contest rules are .

is offering an end-of-semester opportunity for students to help others while reducing their library fines. “Food for Fines” will run from Monday, April 20, through the end of the spring semester.

All Libraries patrons with overdue circulation fines can reduce their fines by donating healthy, nonperishable food and hygiene items to the . Donations will be accepted at the circulation desks of Bird, Carnegie, Law, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and King + King Architecture Libraries. Fine reductions exclude interlibrary loan and lost book fees. Even those without library fees are encouraged to donate!

Fines will be reduced by:

• $1 per item for canned beans and vegetables;
• $2 per item for soap, canned fish/soup, single serving cereal or oatmeal, lip balm, pasta, sauce, tissue, toilet paper or toothbrush;
• $3 per item for baked beans, cereal, canned meat/fruit, oatmeal, ramen noodles, rice, shampoo/conditioner or toothpaste;
• $4 per item for granola bars, deodorant, jam/jelly, hot chocolate, peanut butter or tea; and
• $5 per item for coffee or lotion. Contributions should not be open or expired and single-use items are preferred.

Bird Library is a donation point for contributions to the Coach Mac Food Pantry year-round to support its mission to serve individuals who experience hunger, food insecurity and a lack of resources. The Libraries will accept any sealed, non-expired and non-perishable food or personal care items at the first floor checkout desk at Bird Library during regular . Visit the for more information. With questions, email circulation@syr.edu.