As conflict between U.S. and Israeli forces and Iran intensifies across the Middle East, Syracuse University faculty and staff are available for media interviews. Their names, titles and areas of expertise are listed below. To arrange an interview, contact Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

• , professor in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, is a historian of U.S. foreign relations and the modern Middle East. Khalil is the author of “America’s Dream Palace: Middle East Expertise and the Rise of the National Security State”��(Harvard University Press, 2016). He is frequently featured in the media regarding issues in the Middle East, with the latest being and .
• Retired Vice Admiral is��professor of practice in the Maxwell School and deputy director of the . Previously, Murrett was a career intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy, serving in assignments throughout the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East during his 34 years of service. Murrett also speaks with the media often on international relations, national security and military and defense strategy. In relation to the latest with the war on Iran, Murrett was interviewed by (), ��and .
• is deputy executive director of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families and a U.S. Army veteran. He can speak to the lived experience of ongoing military conflict—particularly the gap between public perception and the reality faced by service members and their families. Toenniessen’s expertise spans long-term support for veterans and Gold Star families, military family resilience during undeclared or low-visibility conflicts and why national commitment to those who serve must be sustained, not situational. He has about the U.S. service members killed in action following news of their deaths.

We want to know how you experience Syracuse University. Take a photo and share it with us:��newsphoto@syr.edu. You might see it featured here!

Members of the University community are invited to serve on the (CRB) and to learn more about the group’s work at an open forum Tuesday, April 21.

The CRB, which consists of 11 individuals in various roles across campus, reviews appeals of civilian complaints regarding Department of Public Safety (DPS) officer conduct, current and prospective DPS policies, procedures and trainings and key community-facing functions of DPS. The CRB is also responsible for issuing an ��of findings and recommendations; the 2025 report will be forthcoming this spring.

Join the CRB

CRB members serve on a rotating schedule. Currently, there are eight open seats for two undergraduate students, one graduate student, one law student, two staff members, one faculty member and one administrator.

To be considered for a seat on the CRB, by Tuesday, April 14, and submit as follows:

• Undergraduate Students: Two undergraduate students will be selected by the Student Government Association (SGA); applications should be submitted to SGA President German Nolivos at sgapresident@syr.edu.
• Graduate Students: One graduate student member will be selected by members of the Graduate School Advisory Council and one law student member will be selected by the executive president of the Student Bar Association, Emery Bielecki, epbaun@syr.edu.
• Faculty: Applications should be submitted to Doug Yung, ptyung@syr.edu, and Joyce Zadzilka, jazadzil@syr.edu, co-chairs of the University Senate Committee on Employee Services, Fiscal Affairs and Operations.
• Staff: The Office of Human Resources will select staff representatives. Submit applications to Interim Human Resources Officer Alex Dietrich at SVPCHRO@syr.edu.
• Administrators: One administrator will be selected by Chancellor Kent Syverud; applications should be submitted to Souher Cosselman, director of engagement in the Office of the Chancellor, at sscossel@syr.edu.

New members will be notified by Monday, April 29, after the review process is completed.

Spring Open Forum

The CRB’s annual spring open forum, where members share information about their work, will be held Tuesday, April 21, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in 228 Schine Student Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences or ask questions related to DPS and policing on campus. The event will also be .

American Sign Language (ASL) and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available. To request additional accommodations, email crb@syr.edu.

Among the topics to be discussed are DPS’s Taser and Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) standard operating procedures. The CRB has initiated a review of these procedures, and the department is engaging in the review process and evaluating feedback as it is received.

After years of podium finishes and back-to-back undergraduate team titles, the in the Falk College of Sport has made winning at the (NCSAC) into a habit. This year, the program didn’t just return to the top—it dominated.

Senior Austin Ambler captured the overall undergraduate individual title, and the team of Ambler, Daniel Griffiths and Daniel Baris claimed the undergraduate team championship, with all three landing in the top 10 ��in overall points.

For the four sport analytics majors who made the trip, Ambler, Griffiths, Baris and Jessica Fackler, the result was the payoff of a disciplined, collaborative preparation process built around one guiding principle: do the work before you ever step in the room.

“Winning the overall undergraduate individual title was incredibly rewarding,” Ambler says. “The competition featured so many talented and high-performing students, so being named first among them is something I’m truly proud of. It validates the hard work, preparation and support system that went into getting to that moment. Representing Syracuse and Falk College means a great deal to me.”

Preparation Was Key

The students’ preparation was shaped by weekly sessions with , who led the group through practice data sets, varied prompt scenarios and repeated five-minute presentation drills in the months leading up to the competition.

“This year’s team had strong analytical skills and was eager to discuss how to improve,” says Rafique. “The students were very engaged in discussing strategies to optimize their points. We had a good plan going into the first day of the championship. However, some delays and obstacles forced us to improvise, and the students did an amazing job of maintaining their composure and persevering throughout the day.”

Rafique’s teaching emphasizes not just technical proficiency, but the ability to communicate findings clearly and persuasively under pressure.

“The weekly preparation sessions with Dr. Rafique completely changed how I think about data storytelling,” Griffiths says. “The check-ins and iterative feedback meant that by the time we got to competition weekend, we weren’t starting from scratch, we were refining. That preparation gave us a massive advantage compared to teams who were building everything last-minute.”

Fackler described a similar transformation in how she approached the competition’s core challenge.

“I originally had a completely different perception of what the competition was about,” she says. “Those sessions made me quickly realize I needed to pivot. They taught me that I needed one simple idea and basically sell it to the judges.

Competition Strategy

Beyond the preparation, the Syracuse team arrived in Nashville with a collective strategy for the competition weekend itself. NCSAC features not only the signature presentation competition but also a series of side events and challenges, and the four students approached each one with intention.

“The team dynamic was both competitive and highly collaborative,” Griffiths says. “We pushed each other internally to be better, but we were also very intentional about optimizing how we worked together.”

For Ambler, the hours of weekly preparation paid dividends from the first moments of competition.

“I immediately felt my preparation click into place once the competition began,” he says. “Elements from my practice presentations translated directly into my final delivery, and having a strong foundation from the practice data, study guide, and weekly prep sessions allowed me to start confidently. This head start let me focus on refining and building upon my presentation rather than starting from scratch, which made a noticeable difference in my performance.”

For Baris, the competition’s most memorable moment came from watching his own growth across rounds. “What stands out the most to me is probably my presentation,” he says. “I felt like it improved every time I presented it as I got more and more comfortable.”

Griffiths found his most striking moment in the broader picture of what NCSAC represents. “The moment that stood out most was realizing, right before my presentation, just how diverse the field of sports analytics really is,” he said. “Seeing 50-plus students compete with backgrounds in marketing, engineering, business, fan engagement, it made the experience feel bigger than just the competition itself.”

“Beyond the win, I hope students leave with confidence that they can tackle complex, real-world problems and compete at a high level,” says Rafique. “Experiences like this build resilience, teamwork and the ability to communicate ideas clearly under pressure. I hope they see themselves not just as students completing a project, but as emerging professionals who can meaningfully contribute to the field of sports analytics.”

Griffiths offered a challenge to the next generation of Falk competitors. “It takes more than just coding and analytical skills to compete at this level,” he says. “It requires determination, adaptability and the courage to make decisions under uncertainty. This competition is designed to identify future leaders in sports analytics. If that mindset excites you, then this is absolutely the competition for you.”

alumnus Thom Powell G’90 has been elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).�� He has received this prestigious honor in recognition of his notable contributions to the advancement of the profession of architecture.

Powell is among 78 member-architects and 11 honorary international members�� recently elevated. will be honored at the AIA College of Fellows Investiture on June 11 in San Diego.

Election to the AIA’s College of Fellows is one of the highest individual honors the institute bestows on members. Out of a total AIA membership of more than 100,000, only 3% carry this distinction.

The elevation to fellowship is conferred on architects with at least 10 years of AIA architect membership and demonstrated influence in at least one of the following areas: promoted the aesthetic, scientific and practical efficiency of the profession; advanced the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of practice; coordinated the building industry and the profession of architecture; ensured the advancement of the living standards of people through their improved environment; made the profession of ever-increasing service to society; advanced the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education and training. Fellows were selected by a nine-member Jury of Fellows.

A Leader in Sustainable Design

Powell is a partner at , a Texas‑based design firm serving municipal and institutional clients statewide. A recognized leader in sustainable design, Powell integrates technical expertise with innovation to advance environmentally responsible practice across Texas.

Powell’s commitment to durability and environmental stewardship was shaped early in his career during Syracuse University’s study abroad program, where he interned with an architectural office in Florence, Italy, contributing to the restoration of 500‑year‑old structures near the Pitti Palace. The experience established principles of longevity, craft and responsible design that continue to inform his work.

Throughout his career, Powell has collaborated on high-profile and landmark projects. His work includes the transformation of Arnold Schwarzenneger’s first gym into a private residence and the offices of the then-Los Angeles Raiders’ team physicians in Beverly Hills. In the Dallas Arts District, he partnered with Allied Works on the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Foster + Partners on Artist Square and the AT&T Performing Arts Center Information Center and Morphosis on the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

After completing his M.Arch II in 1990, Powell founded Gang of Four Design in Los Angeles. He later relocated to Dallas, leading the development of Santa Monica Place along the Santa Fe Trail and designing his residence in the historic Hollywood Heights neighborhood. In 2004, Powell joined GFF Architects as the firm’s first director of sustainable design, establishing its environmental leadership platform. In 2020, he co‑founded BVG4 Architecture as design partner, continuing his commitment to advancing institutional and municipal design through innovation, collaboration and sustainable excellence.

Powell has played a significant leadership role with the AIA and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). He served on the AIA Dallas Board of Directors from 2009-21, contributing to major initiatives including the founding of the Dallas Center for architecture in 2015. Earlier, as chair of the AIA Dallas Committee on the Environment (2008), he launched a sustainability resource website that reached nearly 2,000 visitors across 84 countries and earned him recognition as AIA Dallas Young Architect of the Year. He also chaired the North Texas Sustainable Showcase (2008–12), expanding regional awareness of high-performance design.

Powell served on the USGBC North Texas (2009-15) and the USGBC Texas Chapter (2016-23). As chair of USGBC North Texas in 2014, he led the merger of four regional chapters into a unified USGBC Texas Chapter. He later served as statewide vice chair (2018-19) and chair (2020-21), guiding strategic growth and advancing sustainable design initiatives across Texas.

In 2024, Powell was named a LEED Fellow by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)—the program’s highest distinction—an honor awarded to only 437 professionals globally since 2011. The recognition reflects his sustained leadership, expertise and impact in advancing green building practices.

Purpose Shaped by Pan Am 103 Tragedy

For Powell, election to the AIA College of Fellows carries deep personal meaning. He has long felt, as he describes it, “a deep responsibility to make a meaningful contribution to the profession”—a sense of purpose shaped profoundly by a formative moment early in his life. After studying in Italy, he flew home on Pan Am Flight 103 just one day after the tragedy over Lockerbie on Dec. 21, 1988, having delayed his return to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The narrowness of that circumstance stayed with him, particularly as he realized he was the same age as his grandfather—his namesake—when he died in a tractor accident. Those experiences impressed upon him how fragile and precious time can be. Reaching this milestone, Powell reflects, is a way to honor those who influenced his path and are no longer here.

There was always an extra seat at the table in Jaclinn Tanney’s childhood home.

Raised in a family that emphasized helping those in need—a value shaped in part by her grandparents, Holocaust survivors who emigrated to New York after World War II—Tanney learned early that food could be an expression of dignity and hope.

That belief was tested in early 2020.

The Migrant Kitchen, a newly launched New York City catering business, faced uncertainty at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic—including a canceled order for 1,000 meals that had already been prepared.

The cancellation became the catalyst for a scalable social enterprise. Rather than discard the food, staff donated the meals to a nearby hospital, feeding health care workers treating an influx of critically ill patients. Within days, demand surged.

“We went from serving 1,000 meals to all of a sudden our phones ringing nonstop,” says Tanney, who soon teamed up with The Migrant Kitchen founder Daniel Dorado. “We called upon our restaurant industry friends, many of whom were out of work because of the pandemic, and said, ‘Let’s cook together to get this food out.’”

The surge in demand prompted Tanney and Dorado to formalize what began as an emergency response into an organized, cross-sector operation—partnering with restaurants, government agencies and community organizations to prepare and distribute thousands of meals daily.

Today, Tanney serves as president of JD Meals, part of JD Enterprises, the social impact food company she and Dorado founded in 2020. Through its nonprofit arm, The Migrant Kitchen Initiative, the organization has donated 4 million meals to people in need.

“We are serving thousands of meals daily to people in temporary housing in the New York City shelter system and in emergency sites,” says Tanney, who received a bachelor’s degree in policy studies from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 2005.

She notes that the workforce of roughly 100 is largely composed of immigrants, continuing the founding mission of The Migrant Kitchen. “I am proud to say our team reflects the diversity of the communities we support, and many share the lived experiences of our meal recipients,” she says. “That really strengthens our commitment to providing meals with empathy and dignity.”

Especially important to Tanney is ensuring the menus are culturally relevant to the communities they serve.

In addition to working closely with kitchen staff, Tanney coordinates with government officials, community leaders and other stakeholders to identify needs and align resources where they are most needed.

That coalition-building approach proved critical as JD Meals expanded into Philadelphia this past fall. City leaders turned to Tanney’s team to help strengthen emergency meal distribution for residents experiencing housing instability, part of a broader effort to promote recovery, stability and dignity.

That instinct to build coalitions traces back to her time at Maxwell.

Mission-Driven

As a teenager volunteering with food pantries, Tanney knew she wanted a career focused on creating change, though she wasn’t yet sure what form that would take.

Maxwell’s policy studies program helped translate that passion into practical skills.

Under the mentorship of the recently retired Professor Bill Coplin, founder of the policy studies program, Tanney developed skills in experiential learning, problem-solving and cross-sector coordination.

Tanney soaked up Coplin’s lessons and his mantra: “do good.” She learned about interconnected networks while working with Syracuse youth through Syracuse University Literacy Corps and interning with Home HeadQuarters, the Syracuse nonprofit that supports affordable home ownership and leads an annual neighborhood revitalization effort.

Through a partnership Coplin formed with the New York City Board of Education, Tanney also joined a cohort of Maxwell students working in its schools in the aftermath of 9/11. And, she interned with an international NGO in Hong Kong through the study abroad program.

Coplin says Tanney exemplifies what the policy studies program aimed to achieve. “Jaclinn was her own motivation, a self-starter,” he says. “She possessed the skills and values we emphasized—collaboration, community engagement and hands-on problem-solving. She’s not just running a business; she’s addressing systemic needs with dignity and respect. That’s exactly what we hoped our students would do.”

After earning her undergraduate degree, Tanney held various roles in fundraising and development while pursuing a master of public administration at Baruch College in New York City. Baruch offered another Maxwell connection: Its president at the time was former Maxwell Dean Mitchel Wallerstein ’72 M.P.A.

Fellow Maxwell and Baruch alumna Alys Mann ’06 says Tanney is an “incredibly talented, hard worker and makes it look easy.”

“She is mission-driven and concerned with making the world better,” says Mann, who leads a housing and community development consulting business, Alys Mann Consulting. “I admire her ability to think outside the box. A perfect example of this was her ability to pivot at the start of COVID and figure out how to feed people while the rest of the world retreated to their homes. She makes you want to be part of the solution.”

Tanney has been honored in Crain’s New York Business magazine’s “40 Under 40” list and was named a “Women Culinarians You Should Know” by The Spruce Eats. Other honors include the Organizational Hero Award from the New York City chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Two decades after studying policy studies at Maxwell, Tanney continues to embody the lessons she embraced there. What began with an extra seat at the table—and a canceled catering order—has become a model for feeding communities with dignity.

“My Maxwell experience helped me to understand that individuals can be changemakers,” she says. “I’m so thankful for my education.”

Valentine’s Day puts relationships front and center—from store displays filled with heart-shaped chocolates to social media feeds showcasing romantic gestures. But how can couples use this time to genuinely strengthen their partnerships rather than simply checking a box? And for those who aren’t in romantic relationships, what’s the healthiest way to navigate the cultural emphasis on coupledom?

, assistant professor of marriage and family therapy in the , has insight for everyone—whether you’re in a decades-long marriage, just starting to date someone new or happily single. A licensed marriage and family therapist, Tadros’s research focuses on dating, relationships and how couples build lasting connections.

Tadros shares practical advice that extends far beyond Feb. 14.

Six Central New York businesses that are working to advance semiconductor manufacturing capabilities have received funding of more than $350,000 through the new .

“Syracuse University is an economic engine in Central New York due to our strategic focus on strengthening partnerships, meeting the emerging needs of regional employers and preparing our students for the future,” says��, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation. “The NY THRIVE awards administered by the Collaboration and Commercialization Center are a prime example of how the University is stepping up to build the innovation economy of tomorrow in our community.”

The program provides companies with access to academic research capabilities, specialized equipment and faculty expertise to accelerate the development and commercialization of semiconductor technologies. It’s administered by the Syracuse University-led NY SMART I-Corridor’s , and includes partners Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester and University at Buffalo.

“The NY THRIVE awards exemplify the power of industry-academic partnerships in advancing semiconductor manufacturing innovation,” says , vice president for research and principal investigator of C3. “Syracuse University is proud to serve as a catalyst for technological advancement in New York’s growing semiconductor ecosystem. By connecting companies with world-class research facilities and faculty expertise, we’re helping to build the next generation of manufacturing capabilities that will strengthen our regional economy and position New York as a global leader in semiconductor innovation.”

NY THRIVE recipients are:

TTM Technologies Inc. (Syracuse) will collaborate with the research group led by , professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), to evaluate sintering interface processing for printed circuit board manufacturing, investigating the effects on post-process state to improve interconnect reliability between adjacent layers.

TunaBotics (Syracuse) is leveraging R&D resources (space, equipment and personnel) at Syracuse University through the research group led by , associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in ECS, to test prototypes of compliant robotic grippers for advanced electronics manufacturing applications.

IBEX Materials (Buffalo) will demonstrate the feasibility and effects of repurposing silicon waste from the semiconductor industry as a core feedstock for advanced lithium-ion battery anodes, addressing environmental impact reduction in semiconductor manufacturing.

Menlo Micro (Ithaca) will establish next-generation through-glass via (TGV) solutions for its microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches, which are already in significant commercial use in RF, high-speed digital, quantum compute and AC/DC power applications, including AI data centers, industrial automation and building infrastructure. This award strengthens Menlo Micro’s market leadership and ongoing scaling efforts to advance glass substrate technologies critical for next-generation MEMS and microelectronic solutions.

OWiC Technologies (Ithaca) will scale up manufacturing of small photoelectronic electrochemical synthesizers (SPECS), breakthrough millimeter-scale wireless semiconductor devices for high-throughput electrosynthesis.

Photonect Interconnect Solutions Inc. (Rochester) will review and fabricate components for their prototype PIX-Attach, a first-of-its-kind, laser splicing system for high-volume photonic integration. The project will directly support prototyping, production-level V1 development and testing to enhance durability, precision and thermal stability.

“This first round of THRIVE Innovation Vouchers marks another important step in translating the NY SMART I-Corridor’s vision into tangible results for businesses across Upstate New York,” says Joseph Stefko, regional innovation officer for NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub. “By giving companies direct access to world-class research facilities, advanced equipment and technical expertise, we’re lowering barriers to commercialization and accelerating the growth of a stronger, more competitive semiconductor ecosystem. These vouchers don’t just support individual firms; they strengthen the entire innovation pipeline that is positioning Upstate New York as a national leader in semiconductor manufacturing, innovation and supply chain.”

About NY SMART I-Corridor

The NY SMART I-Corridor is a federally designated Tech Hub with a coalition of over 100 organizations—spanning businesses, higher education, economic development groups and community-based organizations. Together, they are positioning Upstate New York as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, innovation and workforce development.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) , authorized by the , provides funding for regional technology development with matching support from the Empire State Development .

Behind the scenes of every skating routine, ski jump and slalom race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, sophisticated analytics are at work, turning super athletes into record-breakers—and helping fans understand what makes these games extraordinary.

, assistant professor of sport analytics in the , studies how data transforms both athletic performance and sports storytelling. He shares in this SU News Q&A how analytics are changing the Olympic experience for fans and athletes.

Erin Hern, associate professor of political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, recently shared her expertise on how to measure gender discrimination under systems defined by legal pluralism for an international organization as it prepares to update an index widely referenced by researchers and policymakers.

Hern joined a working group of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a Paris-based international group of 38 democracies that works to promote economic growth and trade while setting global standards on issues ranging from tax policy to education and environmental protection. As a lead discussant, she addressed the challenges of determining how to measure gender discrimination in plural legal systems.

Legal pluralism refers to the coexistence of two or more parallel or overlapping legal systems within a country. Hern has researched and written on discrimination in Africa, where most countries are legally plural due to colonialism, religious law and other factors.�� She has maintained that such systems are often doubly bad for women, as they reinforce patriarchal threads in Indigenous practices alongside male-dominated Anglo-European laws.

Referring to the OECD working group, Hern says, “We also discussed how to measure discrimination when women can theoretically opt into a gender-equal legal system, but social and familial pressures might make that impossible for them.”

The panel was held in advance of the OECD’s fifth edition of the , the most widely used measure of international gender inequality in academic and policy work. The index includes measures of gender inequality in countries by looking at discrimination in the legal system, within families, in education, in the economy and physical integrity.

Hern is among a small group of subject area experts who were invited to join the panel to explore challenges related to measurement data. Their feedback and perspectives will influence changes to the methodology and content areas as the organization prepares to release the next edition in 2027. Other invited speakers included academics, topical experts from the United Nations, think tank fellows and representatives from private organizations such as the Clooney Foundation for Justice.

Hern is the author of “When do Women Win in Legally Plural Systems? Evidence from Ghana and Senegal” (Journal of Modern African Studies, 2022) which examines how women navigate complex legal and social systems to claim their rights in courts.

When doctoral student Jamie Gentry G’27 covered politics as a local news reporter for the weekly Navarre Press in northwest Florida, she turned potentially complicated issues into easy-to-understand stories.

But Gentry was amazed at how often people would misinterpret, misconstrue or misremember the information presented in her articles. She overheard many conversations in person and online where citizens, equipped with this misinformation, carried out emotional arguments on a topic using incorrect information.

“I started wondering why I wasn’t able to reach as many people as I could with the actual facts of a story,” Gentry says. “It was frustrating because my job is to give people the best possible information. People need good information to make good decisions, and journalists are supposed to do that. But I found the system wasn’t working.”

Gentry knew there was a disconnect between how political news was being reported and how it was being talked about in her community. She vowed to become part of the solution.

How to Fix a Broken System

Driven by her reporting experiences, Gentry transitioned from journalism to higher education and began pursuing a doctoral degree in mass communications from the .

With a grant from the University’s , Gentry’s ongoing research explores how artificial intelligence (AI) tools used by journalists impact how politics are discussed online and in the real world.

Gentry is comparing how people respond to and discuss a complicated news topic among their communities and on their social media channels under two different scenarios.

Out of 400 online survey respondents, one group is tasked with reading a traditional news story about unemployment, while another digests the information with the help of an AI-generated key takeaways breakout box. Half of the participants are told to share their impressions of the article with someone they know face-to-face, while the other half are tasked with sharing a post about the topic on social media.

At each step, from the journalist sharing their reporting to the survey participant consuming the content to the person receiving the news, there’s an opportunity for the message to change from the original reporting.

“Generally, people tend to accept facts, but we still see arguments over facts online, and we see that people become very polarized,” Gentry says.

An important trend in the political communications research field—combining the study of media and political science—is examining how, in an increasingly polarized country, being divided politically impacts the quality of political reporting.

Especially during this “explosion of media choice” where people have more ways to consume the news, Gentry says this increase in choice means people are opting for stories they want to consume that align with their political ideology.

“That has a real impact on how people engage with politics and how they interpret the news they receive,” Gentry says when identifying an area for future research. “It’s not so much that people are blatantly believing misinformation and don’t care about facts. It’s more that partisanship is impacting how people receive messages and what stories they do and do not see.”

Can AI Be Trusted?

As informers, journalists are charged with breaking down complex topics into digestible content, and they make decisions about what information to include, which sources to interview and which stories to cover.

When she was covering the news, Gentry says it was easy to think she knew what the most important angles were, but as more journalists use AI to produce story summaries, Gentry says it’s natural to wonder whether AI can convey this important information.

“Journalists influence how people learn about and understand a subject matter. Should we be trusting these AI tools to reliably make decisions about what is the most important part of a story?” Gentry says. “Whatever AI decides is the most important snippet of information is being pushed out and that has real implications for how people are getting the news and what they actually know about a story.”

Gentry expects to receive data from her survey participants later this semester. Among her anticipated findings: story summaries make the facts more accessible and easier to process, retain and share.

“My goal is to make journalists better by giving them the tools to better understand how their work impacts the public,” Gentry says. “By sharing data on what works and what doesn’t, hopefully we can make big improvements in the way the news is shared.”

SU Press recently launched a Read New York Challenge, a fun way to learn the history, culture and literature of New York State. The Press is providing a list of 12 books in its New York State and Regional Studies Series to read.

Open to all, readers can sign up to participate in the challenge by emailing jadams23@syr.edu and will receive a free e-book each month, a coupon for 40% off the print edition and a monthly newsletter spotlighting the book of the month. Readers can follow SU Press on social media (, , , , or ) for updates on each month’s selection, author profiles and an opportunity to share your thoughts on the book.

The Read New York Challenge includes:

• January: “” by Timothy W. Kneeland
• February: “” by Stephen J. Riegel
• March: “”�� by Sean Kirst
• April: “”�� by Philip G. Terrie
• May: “” by Marilyn E. Weigold
• June: “” by Peter Lourie
• July: “” by David Gibson
• August: “”�� by Suzanne Hinman
• September: ““ by Roger Sheffer
• October: “”�� by Steven Huff
• November: “”�� by Nina Shengold
• December: “”�� by William Loizeaux

��

How are law firms currently applying Artificial Intelligence in the workplace to maximize client services? What are the ethical implications of using AI in the legal field? How will AI impact the current role of lawyers, and what new jobs may emerge? Should AI be regulated, and, if so, how?

These were just some of the questions addressed during AI and the Virtue of Law, a one-week in-person residency held at the in August designed for students in the , with participation also open to on-campus students. This deep-dive into AI was created and facilitated by��.

“I think AI will significantly transform law school education and the practice of law,” says Graves, noting that he sees AI as a means of more effective information sharing but also recognizes that many are “terrified” thinking that this technology could replace them.

“We have to think about being nimble now because the essential human role today will likely be an AI role in just a few years, and we don’t want to be left behind. Through this residency, I wanted to help demystify generative AI because, used properly, it can be an extraordinary tool,” Graves says.

Graves, who has taught in the JDi program for the past five years, has a unique blend of expertise in design, development and delivery of accessible and legal education in an online learning environment and 21^st century, technology-leveraged law practice.

A graduate of the University of Colorado Law School, Graves taught the technology-leveraged delivery of legal services at the Touri Law Center for 14 years. Before that, he worked in private practice with Chrisman, Bynum & Johnson PC in Colorado, and as a judicial law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals.

First Time Residency a Popular Draw

Logan Gorg L’26 is a JDi student living in Pennsylvania who made the trip to campus to attend the AI residency. She has worked as a paralegal at the law firm of Ross & Ross LLC for the past 10 years and is looking to focus on real estate and probate law upon graduation.

“I learned so much about what AI is, and the information at the residency helped to dispel some of the fears and focus more on where the profession is going,” Gorg says. “Sitting in a room with a group with diverse backgrounds and experiences talking about whether AI was doom or salvation was so interesting. I think the residency showed us that AI is unavoidable, but, if we get out in front of it, we can reap some of the benefits in the legal profession.”

Graves had been contemplating developing a semester-long course in AI for the JDi program, but ultimately he decided that the lightning speed of the technology would be better suited for a short-form, concentrated residency where students with different levels of familiarity could join together to think about being nimble and adapting to technology that is already changing the way the legal field operates.

AI Voice-Driven Technology Used to Teach, Demonstrate Abilities

Coincidentally, the residency took place just as ChatGPT launched Advanced Voice Mode, a significant upgrade that allows for natural, real time conversations using AI. Graves used “Max,” as he named the voice-driven AI technology, to help co-teach the residency and answer students’ questions directly.

“We would have a discussion, and I would say, ‘Max, what do you think?’” Graves says. “At first students were uncomfortable with it, but once Max started responding and asking them questions using the Socratic method, they started to see how fascinating a learning AI tool could be.”

Approach to AI in the Law Resonates With JDi Students

Jenny Cameron L’27, who co-owns VIP Marinas with her husband in Florida, decided to enroll in law school to bring a legal perspective to her family business. She, too, attended the AI residency and walked away amazed.

“Honestly, it was one of those residencies that was life changing,” Cameron says. “Before I attended, I was on the fringes of AI, barely using ChatGPT, but since then I’ve been using AI extensively in some form. Part of law school is practicing and knowing how to use AI better and faster, and what I learned at the residency was eye opening. I commend the College of Law and Professor Graves for taking the lead on this and helping guide us on how we should be approaching this technology.”

Another participant was Bryan Beene ‘26 a high school government teacher from Texas, who is pursuing law school to prepare for a second career once he retires. He hopes to work as a lawyer in the education or church law space.

“I registered for this AI residency for two reasons: one because Professor Graves was teaching it, and he is one of the best professors I’ve ever had; and two, because I had never used AI except for Google searches, and I knew a lack of knowledge around this technology would be a detriment in representing a client,” Beene says.

Beene noted that he enjoyed learning more about the use of the available tools, as well as discussing the legal and ethical issues, and how regulations and the law are often not keeping up with this fast moving technology.

The newly introduced AI and the Virtue of Law residency received “incredible feedback” from students, says Graves, who believes this is a topic that should be revisited once a year.

“This is not a static course, as the technology is changing continuously, but I think the approach resonated well with the students, not only by teaching them skills but by allaying some of their fears while also emphasizing to them that AI technology in the legal field is advancing fast and furiously. So they need to prepare now,” Graves says.