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More than 140 members of the campus community have spent this academic year engaged in the rigorous process of seeking reaccreditation by the  (MSCHE). Guided by a steering committee co-chaired by , associate provost for academic programs, and , associate vice president for research, the vital undertaking ensures Syracuse University meets and exceeds high standards of educational excellence.

Working Groups Produce Reports

The process began a year ago with the completion of a self-study design and a campus visit from an MSCHE representative. Starting last fall, members of seven working groups evaluated large amounts of evidence compiled by the  and other units. From that data, they developed reports that demonstrate the University’s adherence to MSCHE’s .

“The working group members have been the cornerstone of this process, spending an entire semester immersed in data, evidence and analysis,” Hasenwinkel says. “The draft reports they’ve produced reflect not just rigor, but also a genuine investment in understanding who we are as an institution and where we are headed. This self-study is only possible because of their dedication.”

The seven reports were completed in December and submitted to a writing team that includes Hasenwinkel and McDonald as well as Gabe Coleman, director of project management and operations in the Office of the Chancellor; Jerry Edmonds, chief of staff for academic affairs; Laura Harrington, director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness; and Wendy Loughlin, executive director of academic communications in the Division of Communications. That team is now working to review and compile the reports into a single self-study document.

Input on Draft Self-Study

A draft self-study report will be made available to the University community for review beginning Monday, Aug. 3, with the public comment period running through Monday, Sept. 14. Feedback from faculty, staff and students is crucial, McDonald says. “A self-study is only as strong as the perspectives that shape it,” she says. “The insights that come from across our University will strengthen the work of our self-study and ensure it reflects the full breadth of the Syracuse experience and key opportunities to further deliver on our mission.”

Input gathered during the open comment period will be taken into consideration as the self-study is finalized. The report will be submitted to MSCHE in December. In March 2027, a group of peer evaluators from other MSCHE-accredited institutions will visit campus, review evidence and meet with key campus leaders and constituencies. A final determination will be made by MSCHE in June 2027.

For more information about MSCHE reaccreditation, visit .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nearly four decades after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 claimed 35 Syracuse University students, a new cohort of scholars is keeping their memory alive.

The Remembrance Scholarships, now in their 37th year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the students studying in London and Florence through Syracuse University who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students were among the 270 people who perished in the bombing. The scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations.

Significant support for the Remembrance Scholarships has been provided by Jean Thompson ’66 and Syracuse University Life Trustee Richard L. Thompson G’67 in memory of Jean Taylor Phelan Terry ’43 and John F. Phelan, Jean Thompson’s parents; by Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven Barnes ’82 and Deborah Barnes; by The Syracuse Association of Zeta Psi in memory of Alexander Lowenstein; and by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation.

Selection Process

Remembrance Scholars are chosen in their junior year through a competitive selection process. Applicants submitted an essay and a reflective response in multimedia, artistic, musical or written format as part of a comprehensive application. The application evaluation committee is composed of University faculty and staff and current Remembrance Scholars. The $5,000 scholarships are awarded on the basis of community impact, leadership, creativity and thoughtful academic inquiry.

“The Remembrance Scholars bring something exceptional to our University: a commitment to learning, to leading and to giving back. Through their accomplishments, they carry forward the legacy of the students for whom these scholarships were created. Recognizing them is both a privilege and a point of deep pride for Syracuse University,” says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer.

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

2026-27 Remembrance Scholars

The 2026-27 Remembrance Scholars, their hometowns, majors and schools and colleges are the following:

• Victoria Alwar of Homa Bay, Kenya, a biology major and neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Madiou Bah of Bronx, New York, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and an economics major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and A&S;
• Sigourney Bell of Birmingham, Alabama, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Nasya Simone Bellard of Concord, North Carolina, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Tyler Branigan of Delhi, New York, a policy studies major and economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S, an environment, sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Teaghan Brostrom of Sacramento, Califorrnia, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Keona Bukhari-Adams of Springfield, New Jersey, a neuroscience major and psychology major in A&S;
• Mason Burley of Webster, New York, an inclusive adolescent education major in the School of Education and history major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Samuel Esteban Cornell of Houston, Texas, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S and finance major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management;
• Eliora Enriquez of Doon, Iowa, a film major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA);
• Quinn Gonzalez of Wantage, New Jersey, a nutrition major in the David B. Falk College of Sport and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Jiya Gumaste of Ashburn, Virginia, a chemistry major and neuroscience major in A&S;
• Shivika Gupta of Rochester, New York, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School;
• Abigail (Abi) Handel of Newton, Massachusetts, a biology major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Alexis Heveron of Rochester, New York, a chemical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS);
• Emily Hunnewell of Chicago, Illinois, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a business management major in the Whitman School;
• Daniella Jacob of Millburn, New Jersey, a health and exercise science major in the Falk College and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Sydney Kincaid of Seattle, Washington, a music education major in VPA and the School of Education;
• Kennedy King of Pasadena, California, an anthropology major and political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S, an art history major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Chloe Anjolie Kiser of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, an advertising major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Carmen Lee-Bennett of Buffalo, New York, a biology major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Aaron Lener of Homer, New York, a linguistic studies major in A&S, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Haonan (Eric) Ma of Beijing, China, a student in the School of Architecture;
• Carter J. Moreland of Dallas, Texas, a political science major and an economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Darren Murphy of San Ramon, California, an applied mathematics major in A&S, an economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Sophia Hoyos Murray of Northborough, Massachusetts, a psychology major and biology major in A&S;
• Matilda Nichols of Fairfield, Connecticut, a chemistry major and forensic science major in A&S;
• Will Parsons of Albany, New York, a chemical engineering major in ECS;
• Alana Ramirez-Velez of Manati, Puerto Rico, a biology major and neuroscience major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Ella Roerden of Syracuse, New York, an anthropology major and international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Sreshtha Thangaswamy of Edison, New Jersey, a political science major and economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Halle Varney of Potsdam, New York, a psychology major in A&S;
• Cara Williams of Greenwood, Indiana, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a political philosophy major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Katie Wood of Clifton, Virginia, a musical theater major in VPA and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program; and
• Chelsea Zhang of Suzhou, China, and Hayward, California, a student in the School of Architecture.

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.

Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud and Chancellor-Elect J. Michael Haynie today announced the members of the search committee charged with identifying the next dean of , the University’s center for religious and spiritual life. The search comes as Hendricks Chapel approaches its centennial in 2030 and prepares to complete a new strategic plan under incoming leadership.

“Hendricks Chapel touches every corner of campus life,” says Chancellor Syverud. “It is our center for faith and spiritual life, hosts some of our most treasured ceremonies and events, and is home to our world-class choir and music program. And every day, it is a place where students have found connection and belonging. We need a strong leader who will build on what makes Hendricks Chapel special and bring people together in new ways.”

“Hendricks Chapel’s next dean will inherit a remarkable legacy and a profound responsibility,” says Chancellor-elect Haynie. “We are looking for a leader who understands the spiritual, cultural and communal dimensions of this role, who can steward our traditions with care and imagination and who will inspire the next generation of students to find their place within this community. The next dean comes to this role with a clear and exciting charge: complete a new strategic plan and lead Hendricks Chapel toward its centennial in 2030.”

Search Committee Members

The committee is co-chaired by Dawn Singleton, vice president for the student experience, and David Aitken ’94, G’97, chair of the Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board.

Other members of the search committee are:

• Gisele Marcus ’89, voting trustee, Board of Trustees
• Joan Nicholson ’71, G’89, life trustee, Board of Trustees, and member, Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board
• John Papazoglou, senior vice president and chief operations officer
• Ingrid Coutts ’92, member, Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board
• Jillian Juni, executive director, Syracuse Hillel
• Gerry Waterman, Catholic chaplain
• Martha Sutter G’83, teaching professor, Setnor School of Music, and senior associate dean of academic affairs, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Tom Barkley, professor, Whitman School of Management, and advisor, Christian Staff and Faculty Association
• Mian Muhammad Abdul Hamid ’25, graduate student and convener, Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders
• Alana Mitchell ’27, undergraduate student, Christian Outreach member and Hendricks Chapel hospitality associate

Campus Engagement Opportunities

The committee will lead a series of Zoom listening sessions with campus and community stakeholders as follows:

• Friday, April 10, 2:30-3:30 p.m. (open to all constituencies)
• Monday, April 13, 3-4 p.m. (student-focused)
• Wednesday, April 15, 2-3 p.m. (open to all constituencies)

All community members are welcome to for any session that fits their schedule.

Community members can also provide . Both exercises will help the search committee develop a clear picture of what the community needs most from the chapel’s next dean. That input will directly inform the recruitment process and candidate interviews.

The search firm WittKieffer will work with the committee to identify finalist candidates. The committee will engage with each finalist and provide Chancellor-Elect Haynie with input to support his final decision. The goal is to have a new dean in place by the start of the Fall 2026 semester.

The University’s needs a touch-up.

The granite Kissing Bench, located outside the Hall of Languages and donated as a senior class gift by the Class of 1912, is undergoing some minor repairs beginning on Monday and lasting for approximately three weeks.

The area around the bench, on the west side of the Hall of Languages, will be fenced off and the bench will be inaccessible while the repairs are ongoing.

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

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

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

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

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

Broadcast Start

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

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

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

Dedication to the University

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

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

Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer today announced the appointment of as the inaugural Provost’s Innovation Fellow at Syracuse University.

In this role, Horn will develop a Universitywide academic-industry strategy and support faculty in creating industry partnerships that provide experiential learning opportunities and professional connections for students. He will also work to develop new revenue streams through academic-industry initiatives and regularly assess their progress and success.

“I am excited to welcome Professor Horn into this role and know he is the perfect person to lead this important initiative,” Agnew says. “He has already demonstrated an exceptional ability to build meaningful bridges between academic and industry partners, creating opportunities that benefit our students and bolster experiential inquiry. I can think of no one better positioned to shape this strategy from the ground up and ensure that Syracuse remains at the forefront of academic-industry collaboration.”

The two-year appointment begins Aug.��15, 2026,��and runs through June 15, 2028. Horn will report to Agnew and work closely with the academic affairs leadership team, the Division of Communications, deans and associate deans and faculty and career advisors across campus.

Horn has served as associate dean of strategic initiatives for the since July 2022, and as a professor of practice in public relations since August 2018. Over the last four years, Horn has led the development of numerous academic-industry partnerships for the Newhouse School, ranging from executive education immersion programs for corporations—including Delta Air Lines and Lockheed Martin—to creating collaborative student-focused partnerships with Sony, Spectrum News, CBS News and Stations, Advance Local and American Airlines.

As a professor of practice, Horn has forged partnerships with several global sport organizations and communications firms, resulting in student-supported industry research and international projects. Each June, Horn leads a short-term study abroad course to Switzerland to foster hands-on, experiential learning for students with global organizations.

“Connecting students with innovative industry experiences has been the uniting passion of my work since joining the Newhouse faculty in 2018,” Horn says. “I’m thankful to Provost Agnew for this high honor of serving as the inaugural Provost’s Innovation Fellow, as I’m thrilled to expand on the work we’ve built at Newhouse, thanks to Dean Mark Lodato and his vision. I’m particularly looking forward to developing new relationships across the University to help unlock the potential for unique, meaningful and distinctive experiences for students across industries.”

Prior to joining the Newhouse faculty, Horn spent more than 20 years in communications leadership roles in Major League Baseball and Olympic sport, most notably serving as vice president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and as head of communications for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Horn earned a master’s degree in communications management from the Newhouse School.

When Vincent “Vinny” P. Longhi Jr. ’78 started to consider ways to give back to Syracuse University, he thought about his father, Vincent Sr., and his son, Matteo.

His father died from a massive heart attack in 1960, when Vinny was just 7 years old. Matteo Longhi G’15 followed in his father’s footsteps and spent three graduate years at Syracuse, where he earned master’s degrees in violin performance and music education.

To both honor his father and support students like his son who want to excel as musicians and teachers, Vinny Longhi created the $135,000 Vincent Paul Longhi Sr. Endowed Scholarship for students in the ��and����(SOE)��.

The Longhi Scholarship is combined with a 50% match through��The Syracuse Promise��scholarship fundraising initiative, bringing the total amount to more than $200,000.

It was important to Vinny Longhi that the scholarship benefits students who want to become music teachers because he spent his entire career as a special education teacher, and Matteo is now a music teacher in the Syracuse area.

“In both my case and Matteo’s, Syracuse was a place where we fulfilled our potential through some special teachers,” Vinny says. “If it weren’t for Syracuse, maybe it would be a little different story. This is just something to give back.”

Through music education students, the scholarship also will give back to the Syracuse community.��, professor of music and director of the , says that through the efforts of , associate professor and former chair of the music education program, and��, associate professor and current chair, the program had 100% placement for graduates in recent years. Many of them, like Matteo, are now building renowned music programs in schools throughout Central New York.

“I want to express my gratitude to Vinny and his family for paying it forward because that’s exactly what it is, creating opportunities for students to get fantastic training and have this great experience at Syracuse,” Warren says. “Then they go out into the schools and produce wonderful musicians, but most importantly, wonderful people.”

A Positive Environment

Vinny grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Yonkers, a suburb of New York City. His entire extended family lived in Yonkers, and while he does not have a lot of memories of his father, he does remember that Vincent Sr. was a gregarious man who was the life of the party at their large family gatherings.

“That’s the reason the scholarship is named after my father, because he really didn’t have anything to look back on in terms of recognition of his life,” Vinny says.

His mother supported the family by working as a dental hygienist for the Westchester County dental clinic, and Longhi enrolled at Syracuse University in 1972. He initially wanted to become a journalist, but he had second thoughts after his freshman year and took a few years off before returning with the goal of becoming a teacher.

In the SOE’s groundbreaking special education program, Vinny says he was guided by several prominent mentors, including former Dean Burton Blatt, a pioneer in humanizing services for people with intellectual disabilities and namesake of the��; Blatt’s wife, Ethel D. Blatt G’77, who trained special education undergraduate students; professor and director of special education James F. Winschel, Jr. ’71, G’73, who later became SOE’s associate dean for administration; and professor and Dean Emeritus ��G’73, Ph.D.’73.

“Syracuse was a place where we fulfilled our potential through some special teachers,” Vinny says. “It was a very positive environment, and with the people I mentioned along with the special education professors and others, I found them very warm and supportive.”

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Growing up, Matteo Longhi recalls his mother loved music and played guitar and piano, but neither she nor her husband were trained musicians. But they encouraged their children to take music lessons, and Matteo became a talented violinist who honed his skills with the New York Youth Symphony in Manhattan.

After receiving a music degree in violin performance from Ithaca College, Matteo was interested in becoming a teacher, and a friend who was attending Syracuse for violin told him about the University’s��.

After graduating from Syracuse, Matteo spent five years leading the grades 7-12 orchestra at Chittenango middle and high schools before joining West Genesee High School in Camillus, where he is director of violin and orchestral studies in a district that has been ��among the “Best Communities for Music Education” for 17 consecutive years.

“I had teachers I always liked and respected in high school, and your teacher on your primary instrument is an important figure in your development,” Matteo says. “I think there’s something nice about working with young students and giving them an outlet to participate in music and have this artistic experience.”

No one understands that teacher-student connection more than Vinny Longhi, and with the help of the Vincent Paul Longhi Sr. Endowed Scholarship there will be a new wave of students like Matteo who will leave the music education program to make the world a better place through music.

“I know it’s kind of corny, but it’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Warren says. “It’s the impact on the current students, but it’s also the impact that they’re going to have on their students. And this gift will make that possible.

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.

The University continues to strengthen its commitment to the safety of minors (children under the age of 18 who are not matriculated University students) who are invited to campus or participating in programs operated, controlled or sponsored by the University.

The Office of Institutional Risk Management is issuing a reminder to all campus departments regarding the University’s official��. As the summer months tend to be filled with youth programming on campus, this is a key time for departments to ensure they are adhering to the policy’s registration and reporting requirements.

The policy, which was implemented by the University’s Board of Trustees in May 2019, requires all programs and events that serve minors under the age of 18 (who are not matriculated University students) to����for approval.

The policy applies to any in-person, virtual or hybrid programming. The programs must be registered with the Office of Institutional Risk Management��at least 30 days in advance��of their start dates.

Anyone with questions should contact Sarah Cappella, youth programs compliance coordinator, at��cappella@syr.edu��or visit the����of the Risk Management website for more information.

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.”

As Central New York awakens from the slumber of a brutal winter, the South Campus honeybees are getting back to work.

The University is home to 10 honeybee hives, which are overseen by the department. The University is a , promoting the benefits of pollinators and native plants.

Want to learn more about this unique campus initiative? In celebration of Earth Month, beekeeper Bob Faulkner will present a on Tuesday, April 7, from 3 to 4 p.m. in 500 Hall of Languages. He will discuss how the hives are maintained, the process of harvesting honey and the benefits of pollinators. The session is free and open to all.

Faulkner sat down with SU Today to discuss how the bees work to produce honey and what it takes to maintain the hives.