Syracuse University’s Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement (ACE) announces the newest members of the Syracuse University Alumni Association (SUAA) Board of Directors and the Generation Orange Leadership Council (GOLC).

These passionate alumni began their terms on July 1. Under the guidance of SUAA President Alonna Berry ’11 and VP/President-elect Katie Walpole ’12, they will work in partnership with the ACE to foster connections within the Orange community and advance the mission of Syracuse University.

New Members of the SUAA Board of Directors

James Balducci G’69

Generation Orange Leadership Council

The Generation Orange Leadership Council (GOLC) welcomes several enthusiastic new members, all of whom are graduates from the last 10 years. The council strives to nurture relationships and encourage lifelong engagement among the University’s young alumni through programming and communications that are uniquely tailored to their own needs and perspectives.

Dana Casullo ’20

Casullo earned a degree in broadcast and digital journalism from the Newhouse School. Based in Stoneham, Massachusetts, she is a communications and public relations professional with experience as a television news reporter and boutique agency marketer, including representing a New England Patriots player. She currently volunteers with the Audax Charitable Foundation and is passionate about mentoring young alumni.

Sam Cestari ’21, G’23

Cestari earned a master’s degree in public diplomacy from the Maxwell School after majoring in finance in the Whitman School with minors in economics, psychology and sport analytics as an undergraduate. Based in Washington, D.C., Cestari works in government affairs and brings professional experience in media relations and AmeriCorps service. He aims to grow the University’s D.C. presence and enhance young alumni career development resources.

Kelsey Davis ’19, G’20

Davis earned a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the Whitman School after graduating with television, radio and film and innovation design degrees from the Newhouse School. Based in Bentonville, Arkansas, Davis is a product designer at Walmart, working on global associate communications. She is also an adjunct professor and a former LaunchPad entrepreneur who scaled a national creator-brand platform.

Megan Edenfeld ’25

Syracuse University Libraries’   has announced that the have been processed and are now open for research. The archival collection measures 103 linear feet and documents the remarkable life and career of the trailblazing marathoner, broadcast journalist, author, sports and social advocate, and Syracuse alumna.

Switzer ’68, G’72 made history in 1967 when she became the first woman to officially register for and run in the Boston Marathon. Her perseverance in the face of a race official’s attempt to physically remove her from the course became one of sport’s most iconic moments and a beacon for women’s rights and equality in sport. Switzer went on to win the 1974 New York City Marathon.

She originated and developed the Avon International Running Circuit, a landmark global women’s running program instrumental in securing the inclusion of the women’s marathon in the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, and earned an Emmy Award for her sports broadcasting work. Switzer was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2011 for creating positive global social change and was part of the inaugural class of the National Distance Running Hall of Fame. This past February, the University honored Switzer by raising her iconic running bib, number 261, to the rafters of the JMA Wireless Dome during a women’s basketball game.

The Switzer Papers have grown substantially through a series of donations beginning in 2005. The collection includes extensive photographic material, news clippings, speeches, correspondence, scrapbooks and memorabilia. A major addition to the collection, pre-inventoried by Jenny Smith G’25, Switzer’s personal archive assistant, was transferred to the SCRC in July 2025. This addition significantly expanded the holdings with a substantial body of audio and video recordings documenting Switzer’s decades of broadcast journalism work, global Avon Running Circuit events, Olympic coverage, interviews, speeches and appearances on programs ranging from the Oprah Winfrey Show to network morning news. In total, the Kathrine Switzer Papers fill a meaningful gap in the archival record of women’s athletics and Title IX-era activism.

“The Kathrine Switzer Papers offer an extraordinary window into the history of women in sport and the tireless advocacy that transformed it,” says Nicolette A. Dobrowolski, director of the SCRC. “With the significant addition of media and photographic materials in 2025, this collection is now an even richer resource for research in athletics, gender history, broadcast journalism and social change.”

The processing of the collection was completed this past spring. Students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to explore materials supporting research in women’s and gender studies, journalism, sports history, communication, public policy, sociology and activism.

“Women’s running has created one of the greatest social revolutions of the last century. Millions of women now run for the empowerment it brings them, changing forever their sense of limitation and power. Being a major part of making that happen has been relentless work, but also the greatest honor and privilege,” says Switzer. “I am deeply grateful to SCRC for making the documentation of this historic achievement available for broad research and engagement.”

To learn more about the collection or arrange a research visit, contact  SCRC at scrc@syr.edu.

When the students in Orange Juice perform at the this summer, they won’t just be playing a set—they’ll gain the full festival experience.

Based in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ (VPA) , Orange Juice will take the stage at Jazz Fest for the fourth consecutive year on Friday, July 10, at 5 p.m. at Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette, New York. The jazz combo features Griffen Beebe ’27 and Gianna Moore ’27 on vocals, Mason Manteau ’26 and William Angus ’26 on saxophone, Kai Wong ’27 on piano, Owen Wernow ’26 on guitar, Robert Wilhelm ’27 on bass and Vito Vetere ’26 on drums. While the competitive ensemble is open to all Syracuse University students by audition, the current members are music industry or sound recording technology majors in Setnor.

“Jazz Fest allows our students to not only perform at a high level in a professional setting, but experience all of the performances, meet the artists and go behind the scenes,” says John Coggiola, who directs the ensemble and is an associate professor of music education and area coordinator of jazz and commercial music (JCM) in Setnor. “It’s an incredible opportunity for students who plan to work in the music industry.”

Coggiola credits Frank Malfitano ’72, Jazz Fest’s founder, for supporting the students and providing them with the opportunity to be part of a major music festival. “He always makes sure they are treated like professionals,” Coggiola says.

Preparing for the festival performance is its own form of professional development. Although the members of Orange Juice aren’t physically together on campus, they are working to curate a diverse 55-minute set that draws from across the jazz spectrum, including original compositions by Manteau and Angus. The ensemble’s vocalists also allow the group to reach into contemporary popular music for selections to perform.

The group discusses which pieces to include, who will solo and how arrangements should be tailored to the specific strengths of the musicians. Two weeks before the full ensemble comes together to rehearse, individual members prepare their own parts and improvisations independently. Full rehearsal days are scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9, in Shaffer Art Building—just before the group heads to watch the U.S. Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note kick off the festival that Thursday evening.

“The whole thing unfolds organically,” says Coggiola. “The students take each piece they want to perform and make it their own—reshaping the style, form, melody, harmonic progression and arrangement until it becomes something they’re ready to put on stage. Through this process, they’re developing real skills: how to make creative decisions under pressure, how to build a performance structure and how to work within it as they craft their final set list.”

The result is a show the students genuinely own and have the confidence to perform. “Orange Juice is special because we are quite involved compared to other school ensembles,” says Vetere. “We get to arrange, compose and integrate ourselves rather than read charts straight down. It feels more personal and creative, which is what I think making music should always feel like.”

“Orange Juice has helped me come out of my shell both in a personal and musical sense,” says Moore. “It has been such an amazing experience working with such talented musicians and learning to deeply connect with the music we make.”

For a group that is accustomed to performing at major campus events—most recently the University’s Board of Trustees dinner and VPA’s convocation ceremony in May—Jazz Fest represents something larger: a place in the ongoing story of jazz.

“So many talented musicians have played here before us, and many more will play in the years to come,” says Angus. “I’m glad I can be a contributor to a tradition that is keeping jazz music alive.”

Syracuse University is a proud sponsor of the Syracuse International Jazz Fest, a four-day celebration of world-class jazz music and community spirit, taking place July 9-12 at Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette, New York, and on the Syracuse University campus. All Jazz Fest events are free and open to the public. For the full schedule and artist lineup, visit .

The presents “John Thompson ’72: Infinite Variation” at the Bernard and Louise Palitz Gallery in New York City through Sept. 29. Featuring works that span Thompson’s entire career, from his roots at Syracuse University to his most recent prints, the exhibition examines his distinct approach to nature and printmaking.

Traditional printmakers create custom matrices for each new print, whereas Thompson re-uses existing matrices as building blocks, recombining and reimagining them across compositions. It’s an approach rooted in the studio culture he encountered at Syracuse as a student, where, as he puts it, the message was “experiment, experiment, experiment.”

The practice, which inspired the exhibition’s title, surfaces a sustained, close observation of nature. Notably, Thompson highlights the waving grasses, vertiginous stalks, and rippling ponds seen throughout the natural world, but specifically in the gardens—including his own—that he loves.

“To think about a world without gardens and flowers and art and music—why bother?” says Thompson. ”There’s an enduring quality in creating artwork … it provides hope for society.”

The exhibition holds a particular significance for the Art Museum, which presents the work of an alumnus on a New York City stage. “Many printmakers treat the matrix as a means to an end. John treats it as a collaborator,” says curator Melissa Yuen. “Each new composition is in dialogue with everything he has made before.” Thompson received a B.F.A. from Syracuse’s in 1972 and the exhibition traces the arc of his career which began here and has since earned international recognition.

Thompson holds additional degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (M.A.), Babson College (MBA) and Massachusetts College of Art and Design (M.F.A.), where he has also taught.

He maintains studios in Waltham, Massachusetts, and Harpswell, Maine, and collaborates with master printers Peter and James Pettengill at Wingate Studio in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, and Susan Oehme at Oehme Graphics in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

His work is held in public collections, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Center and Mt. Auburn Hospital, and has been exhibited at Adelson Galleries, Childs Gallery and the Sunshine Museum in Beijing, among venues nationally and internationally.

Reflecting on the opportunity to share his work in New York, Thompson returned to a theme that has guided his practice: generosity. “A successful piece of art on the wall should be thought about the same way we do concerts and things,” he says. “It’s something to be shared amongst many, not to be hidden away.”

The Syracuse University Art Museum stewards a collection of more than 45,000 works spanning 4,000 years. Located in the Shaffer Art Building on the Syracuse University campus, the museum serves as a museum-laboratory for teaching, research and community engagement and provides free admission for all. The museum’s Bernard and Louise Palitz Gallery in New York City extends that mission to a wider audience. For more information and gallery hours, please visit .

The night Dan Zhang G’11 arrived in the United States, she slept on the floor of her empty apartment, dreaming of a new life.

She had $500 to her name—no safety net, no family nearby and she spoke only conversational English. She had an acceptance letter from the , a paying job as a teaching assistant, and an unshakeable belief that she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

“I still remember that night when I was doing research on Maxwell,” Zhang says. “I told my dorm mate: ‘Only if I can get into Maxwell, I think I will be the luckiest person in the whole world.’”

She got in, and she completed a master’s degree. Today, Zhang—the chief financial officer of ClickUp, an AI productivity platform with more than 1,000 employees and clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies—is making sure the next generation of students has the support she once needed.

Zhang made a financial gift to the Maxwell School, jump-starting the which provides help to undergraduate and graduate students facing urgent needs including emergency travel, food, housing, visa issues and tuition.

The emergency fund relies on donor support, and Zhang is hoping fellow Maxwell alumni will join her in contributing to it. “Every gift, no matter the amount, can keep a student’s dream alive,” she said.

From Beijing to Syracuse

Zhang grew up in China, earned an undergraduate degree in sociology in Beijing and worked briefly as a journalist before deciding she wanted more. She was drawn to questions about gender inequality, organizational structure and how societies work, and she believed graduate study in the U.S. was the path forward.

Zhang received a string of rejection letters before the Maxwell School saw in her the skills and qualities other institutions overlooked. “That was really life changing because at the time I felt stuck and I was ready to give up,” she says, adding that the acceptance letter signaled, “‘We’re willing to take a chance on you—arms wide open.’”

The early days in the U.S. were challenging beyond the financial constraints.

“I came to this country like a blank canvas,” she says. “I had to figure out the culture, the values, the way everything works.”

People made all the difference, she said. At Syracuse and Maxwell, she said she easily found mentors like professors , and who offered moral support at critical moments, put American culture into context with her studies and encouraged her critical analysis.

One professor, , knew exactly what Zhang was facing. Ma had walked a similar path a decade earlier, coming from Nanjing University to study sociology in the U.S. Zhang says Ma told her, “‘The right support at the right moment changes everything. My door is always open.’”

Across campus, staff helped Zhang navigate systems she didn’t yet understand. The patience, she says, was everything.

“The faith they put in you—it’s like, ‘You’re going to do great, and you just need a little help and a little nudge to get you on the ramp,’” she says.

An Unconventional Path

With the encouragement of faculty, including math professor , Zhang pursued master’s degrees in sociology and applied statistics. The interdisciplinary combination raised eyebrows but proved transformative. While studying at Maxwell, she audited courses at the , chasing curiosity wherever it led.

“Maxwell encouraged students to branch out,” she says. “Every advisor, every mentor embraced that belief—to develop full-brain students and future leaders.”

After earning her degree in 2011, Zhang set out to build what she calls her own path. She joined Amazon as an entry-level financial analyst. Then she moved to an online travel company to study brand-building, then to Zynga, where she got her first taste of fast-paced Silicon Valley culture. Soon after came another opportunity, to join the “software as a service” (SaaS) industry.

Along the way, she earned another degree—a master of science in finance from the University of Illinois.

Then she did something that surprised even her colleagues: she left finance entirely.

Recognizing that she needed to understand the business from the inside out, Zhang spent three years in global sales strategy, traveling with top sales teams and learning how deals actually get made. It was unconventional for someone with her background, and exactly the kind of move she said Maxwell had trained her to make.

“I’m not building my resume,” she says. “I’m building my own path.”

The �����dz����ܲԾ��ٲ� on May 21 for the annual Awards and Appreciation Event to honor the vital network that fuels student success.

The evening served as a thank you to the dedicated alumni, corporate partners and friends who invest their time and resources into mentoring, hosting student trips and providing critical philanthropic leadership. By bridging the gap between the classroom and the professional world, this exceptional network continues to create invaluable networking opportunities and pathways for the next generation of Whitman business leaders.

“The alumni and partners we recognize tonight represent the very best of what it means to be part of the Whitman community,” said Whitman Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. “Their careers, their service and their continued commitment to our students have a real and lasting impact on the strength of our network, on the opportunities available to our graduates and on the culture of this school. We are incredibly proud to call them our own.”

Thanks to the dedicated support of the school’s alumni and partners, the 2025–26 academic year was a resounding success, driving significant progress toward Whitman’s Transformation 2030 goals as it advances toward becoming a top 25 undergraduate business school. Some notable successes from the year include:

•  Improving its Poets&Quants undergraduate business school ranking by two spots to No. 37
• 555 internships completed in the 2025-26 academic year
• 98.1% full-time placement within 180 days of graduation for the Class of 2025
• 87 employers participating in recruiting events
• 260 alumni and friends serving in volunteer leadership roles over the past academic year

While the event celebrated the collective power of the Whitman network, the evening also shone a spotlight on the exceptional individuals leading the charge. A select group of alumni and partners whose extraordinary contributions set the standard for the entire Whitman community were honored. The following awards were presented:

Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award: David Panasci ’80

The Holtz Award was established in 1986 by Jonathan J. Holtz ’78 to recognize alumni for their professional accomplishments and service to Syracuse University. The highest honor given to graduates of the Whitman School, the Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award was presented to David Panasci ’80, founder and president of DHP Consulting LLC.

For years, Panasci has been a fixture in the Whitman School community. His exceptional mentorship and continued support have left an indelible mark on the student community. Through his longstanding involvement with the Panasci Business Plan Competition and his creation of the Panasci Local Leadership Initiative, he has helped establish unique experiential learning opportunities that distinguish the school’s programmatic offerings on a national level.

The Panasci Local Leadership Initiative is offered by Whitman in collaboration with Leadership Greater Syracuse. The program was launched in fall 2023 to cultivate the next generation of Central New York’s leaders and encourage Whitman students to explore and consider a future career in CNY.

One student participant reflected, “my experience in the Panasci Local Leadership Initiative was amazing … I know so much more about the community and all the wonderful things the leaders are doing to keep it going and improving it. The program allows us to build a deeper connection with our mentors. I was given the space and time to immerse myself in a community and truly understand how to build a solution-oriented mindset.”

The Panasci Business Plan Competition is a marquee annual entrepreneurship event offered by the Whitman School. The annual competition offers students across the  University community to present their entrepreneurial ventures and compete for $40,000 in start-up funding.

Prior to launching DHP Consulting, Panasci served as president and COO of Fay’s Incorporated, where the company achieved more than $1 billion in sales. With more than 40 years of executive and management experience spanning sales, marketing, real estate, mergers and acquisitions and turnaround scenarios, Panasci has consulted with organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies as well as local and regional nonprofits. He also serves as an adjunct assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the University at Buffalo.

Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service: Barbara Ashkin ’74, G’77

The Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service recognizes members of the Whitman community who exemplify a significant commitment to helping prepare and place future business leaders. Barbara Ashkin ’74, G’77 is a distinguished business leader whose career helped shape the economic and civic landscape of Central New York. She began in public accounting with Coopers & Lybrand before playing a pivotal role in the development of Carousel Center, now Destiny USA. She later joined CXtec (formerly CABLExpress) as vice president and CFO, helping grow the firm into a global provider of sustainable technology solutions.

As a dedicated alumna mentor, Ashkin engages with career exploration trips, on-campus panels and the Panasci Local Leadership Initiative, consistently investing her expertise in the next generation of Whitman students.

“Mentors like Barbara Ashkin, who actively share insights, provide guidance and help students build meaningful connections, create a much more impactful experience,” said one Whitman student.

Dean’s Citation for Exceptional Service: Jennifer Kreischer ’88

Jennifer Kreischer ’88 is a seasoned financial advisor with more than 35 years of experience in operational and financial due diligence. She began her career in the audit practice of what became PwC before becoming a partner in PwC’s Deals practice, guiding buyers and sellers through complex transactions. She also helped shape PwC’s approach to internal controls for power and utilities clients following the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Today, she leads teams at Kreischer Miller, helping institutional investors assess and manage operational risk.

Since graduating from Syracuse, Kreischer has remained actively involved with the Whitman School, including serving as chair of the Lubin School of Accounting Advisory Board, hosting student interns and participating in career exploration events. As a third-generation Syracuse University graduate, Kreischer exemplifies what it means to “Be Orange.”

Orange Ovation Award: Margo Konugres ’12

The Orange Ovation Award is presented to young alumni who set a positive example to Whitman students through their professional success and service to the Whitman/Syracuse University community. Recipients of this award must have graduated within the past 15 years.

Margo Konugres ’12 began her career at IBM after interning there between her junior and senior years at the University. Over the past 13 years, she has grown into a strategic leader driving client engagement, alliances and large-scale business transformation across global organizations.

A proud alumna of the Whitman School, Konugres has demonstrated a sustained commitment to giving back as a founding member of the Young Whitman Advisory Board, former engagement chair and current member of the Marketing Management Engagement Board. Through monthly mentorship, classroom engagement and involvement with student organizations, she actively supports the next generation of Whitman leaders.

Three of Central New York’s most prominent champions for veterans, including Syracuse University ,  were honored May 28 at Madison County Distillery in Cazenovia, as WCNY launched its first “Mission: Honor Our Heroes”—an event raising funds to keep local veterans’ stories on the air.

Chancellor Haynie, Col. F. William (Bill) Smullen III, U.S. Army (Ret.), a Syracuse alumnus and former director of the University’s national security studies program, and Rear Admiral John Paddock, co-founder of Honor Flight Syracuse, were honored by WCNY.

The event secured funding for continued production and distribution of “Honor Flight Syracuse,” ensuring the voices and experiences of local veterans reach audiences across the region.

“‘Mission: Honor Our Heroes’ reflects �°䱷��’s deep commitment to telling the stories of those who have served our country and our community,” said Mitch Gelman, president and CEO of WCNY. “We are honored to recognize these extraordinary individuals while bringing our community together to celebrate their leadership, sacrifice and lasting impact.”

“I am humbled to be recognized as an advocate for Honor Flight Syracuse and Central New York veterans,” says Chancellor Haynie. “I have always believed that the debt we owe to those who have served and sacrificed for our nation’s defense can never be repaid, but it certainly can and should be acknowledged and honored. That’s what has driven Syracuse University to be a leader in veteran education, and that’s why I’m so proud to be a supporter of Honor Flight Syracuse.”

An influential researcher and scholar, Haynie assumed the chancellorship of Syracuse University on May 11. He is the founder of the and has an extensive record of national public service.

His advocacy for service members and veterans also includes serving as chairman of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Federal Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training and Employer Outreach; vice chairman and later chairman of a White House Presidential Task Force on long-term reform at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); and membership on the George W. Bush Institute Advisory Council and the VA’s Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education. Before entering academia, Haynie served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force for 14 years.

Smullen G’74 is a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Army and U.S. State Department for more than 32 years. His last assignment on active duty was special assistant to the 11th and 12th Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral William J. Crowe Jr. and General Colin L. Powell. He served as director of Syracuse’s in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs from 2003-21 and taught in the . He is the former CEO of Clear Path for Veterans.

“For so many years WCNY has been a partner in amplifying the Honor Flight mission, in telling the stories of Central New York veterans and in helping our community understand the contributions of those who have served,” Haynie says. “Today we’re working to ensure that mission can continue so every veteran who wants to be part of the Honor Flight experience has not only that opportunity but the chance to share their story through WCNY.”

The University’s honored five of its alumni on April 30  ,  the school’s signature alumni recognition event. Held at the Syracuse University Washington, D.C., Center, the evening brought together members of the Maxwell community—alumni, faculty, advisory board members and friends of the school—for a lively, standing-room only celebration of careers that have spanned climate finance, diplomacy, food security, public administration and the law.

Dean David M. Van Slyke welcomed guests and set the tone for the evening with remarks that acknowledged both the weight of the current moment and the enduring relevance of Maxwell’s mission.

“We are gathering tonight at a moment when the ideals that animate this school—free inquiry, rigorous evidence, the willingness to engage across differences—remain under considerable pressure,” Van Slyke said. “Taken together, these five careers span climate, diplomacy, food security, equity and the law, but they share something more fundamental: a willingness to engage the hardest problems of our time with rigor, integrity and a genuine sense of public responsibility. That is what Maxwell prepares people to do, and these honorees have done it at the highest levels.”

Emily Fredenberg | Compass Award

The evening’s first honoree was Emily Fredenberg G’16, recipient of the Maxwell Compass Award, which recognizes an early-career alumna for professional accomplishments and impact. As senior officer of programs and advocacy at the Global Child Nutrition Foundation, Fredenberg has spent the decade since earning her M.P.A. degree and a master’s degree in international relations at Maxwell working to ensure that the world’s most vulnerable children have access to school meals—serving with the World Food Programme in Lebanon and Rwanda before moving to her current global role.

Reflecting on her time at Maxwell, Fredenberg credited not only her education but the community it gave her. She also offered a personal note: her husband, Sean Mills, a Syracuse University College of Law graduate, was at home in Alaska caring for their five-month-old son, Rhys.

“Becoming a new mom, this past year has made my work feel even more urgent,” Fredenberg said. “Holding my infant son, I feel the weight—and the hope—of the world he will grow up in which continues to motivate me. Maxwell helped shape my compass. It’s the place that taught me that service is not just a career path. It’s a lifelong journey.”

Susan T. Gooden | Charles V. Willie Advocate Award

Susan T. Gooden  G’95, G’96, who received a master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science from the Maxwell School, was awarded the Charles V. Willie Advocate Award, named for the late Maxwell scholar and community activist. The award honors individuals whose contributions reflect Maxwell’s commitment to an environment that is welcoming to all and oriented toward engaged citizenship. Gooden is dean of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, a founding editor of the Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration, and a past president of the American Society for Public Administration.

Accepting the award, Gooden reflected on what the honor meant in the context of its namesake’s legacy—and of what citizenship demands.

“Maxwell instilled in me the belief that scholarship must engage the world it seeks to improve, and that it must inform policy, strengthen institutions and expand opportunity,” she said. “I accept this award with gratitude and with a continued commitment to advancing a public service that is thoughtful, engaged, grounded in equity and worthy of the communities it serves.”

Jeff Eckel | Bridge Award

Jeff Eckel G’82, founder and longtime CEO of HASI, received the Maxwell Bridge Award, which honors outstanding, transformative leadership in business with a commitment to advancing the public good. Eckel, who earned an M.P.A. from Maxwell, pioneered the use of finance as a tool for accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy, including overseeing HASI’s 2013 public offering as the first dedicated climate solutions investor and developing CarbonCount, a tool for measuring how efficiently capital investments reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In his remarks, Eckel drew a direct line from his Maxwell education to the investment philosophy that has guided his career.

“The Maxwell School instilled in me the idea that the public and private sectors do not have to be opposing forces,” he said. “Our investment thesis is that in a world increasingly defined by climate change, we will make superior returns investing in climate solutions—that you can do well by doing good, and that capital can be a powerful tool in the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

On Jan. 2, Justin Dalaba’s phone rang.

It was his former professor, , who teaches photojournalism, documentary photography, filmmaking and visual storytelling at the , with a question.

Did Dalaba G’25 want to come with him on assignment for National Geographic to photograph turtles under the Canadian ice? Before he could second-guess himself, Dalaba said yes.

“It was definitely a rare opportunity,” Dalaba says. “Those kinds of stories don’t just happen in that way. And he pretty much said, ‘Well, we’ve got to leave in about an hour. So are you ready to go?’”

Luckily, Dalaba had his go-bag ready and the batteries for his cameras were charged. Later that day, the Newhouse graduate was driving to Canada with his former graduate advisor.

Peering Under the Ice

The January assignment Snyder brought Dalaba onboard for is part of work he’s been doing for the last three years for the Preserving Legacies project. The organization funded by the National Geographic Society highlights how World Heritage Sites, along with cultural heritage and natural heritage sites, can be adapted to climate change. Working on a long-term grant, Snyder tells the stories of communities working to adapt and preserve the sites.

One of the stories he was assigned to work on was about how biologist Grégory Bulté is studying a . The creatures are one of the world’s northernmost reptile species in the system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that runs from Ottawa to Lake Ontario. During the winter months, the turtles live underwater and bring their body temperatures down to near-freezing. They don’t eat, breathe or mate, waiting under the ice until they can emerge in the spring.

Bulté, who has been studying the turtles for 20 years, has observed when ice thins during the winter, principally because of climate change, it allows river otters to slip under and eat the turtles. In 2022, he documented 10% of the turtle population in Ontario’s Opinicon Lake died, likely because of otters.

“Because they can’t move, it’s a free snack,” Snyder says.

In 2025, Snyder went up to do a story on Bulté and his work, but a blizzard prevented him from getting the images he needed.

For the return trip in January, Dalaba helped Snyder design a rig system to capture the images of the turtles under the ice. Not only was it freezing and underwater with low visibility, but they had to be sensitive to the turtles and avoid disturbing them.

“They’re not supposed to move very much,” Snyder says. “You have this tiny window to operate.”

The videos and photos they captured were published as part of a in National Geographic, one of the publication’s most-viewed stories of the month. The images may also be the first-ever published of turtles under the ice.

What Went Into the Shoot

Snyder says the recent Newhouse grad proved “instrumental” in helping him get video and photographs on the shoot.

“He’s both incredibly technically capable and he’s a very, very good image maker and storyteller,” Snyder says. “He can do that across platforms with photo, design, video, and that’s super, super important.”

The shoot required them to get up at 4 a.m. and trek through the snow, pulling their gear on a sled across the frozen lake. At one point, the equipment got too cold and the mount they were going to use to submerge the camera broke, so they had to remount their gear on the fly.

The pair also had to work closely and build trust with Bulté, listening when the scientist expressed concern about the impact on the turtles if they pushed the shoot longer.

“That’s a powerful learning opportunity for someone working in the documentary space to understand—it’s not all about you, it’s not even all about the image,” Snyder says. “At the end of the day, it is about the ethics that underlie this practice. It is about relationships, and it is about doing the maximum amount of good with the work you’re doing.”

He says Dalaba had the ability to be adaptive, not just with the changing weather around them and the physical demands of the assignment, but to be collaborative and responsive to the other people and species involved.

“Both the practice and the product of documentary work is relationship building,” Snyder says. “You need to be highly relational. It’s a soft skill in a lot of ways, and he has this aplomb.”

Dalaba and Snyder both came to photojournalism and documentary work with science backgrounds. Dalaba previously worked as a wildlife biologist in conservation, while Snyder is a geologist and climate scientist by training.

For Dalaba, working on the assignment felt like the culmination of his path as a wildlife biologist turned storyteller.

“Seeing that come together went beyond the personal gratification and more of that deep hearted feeling of this is what a collaboration feels like,” he says. “It was a collaboration between two storytellers, scientists, multiple climate custodians who are working to adapt their heritage in Canada.”

The experience also resulted in additional work for Dalaba with Preserving Legacies. The former wildlife biologist says he’s excited to continue that work, telling stories of hope and resilience related to climate change.

has called Super Bowls, NBA Finals, the Olympics and the Kentucky Derby from broadcast booths around the world. On Sunday, he returned to where it all started to send Syracuse University’s Class of 2026 off with a challenge: keep chasing your dreams, and “don’t leave your childlike wonder behind.”

“All of you have a Syracuse story,” Tirico told the approximately 6,679 graduating students inside the JMA Wireless Dome. “Here, you formed a foundation of resiliency. You learned to deal with the curves that the road ahead provides. I hope in years to come, when you tell your Syracuse story, it involves your dreams and it’s eventually going to include how you kept chasing them.”

Tirico, who serves as vice chair of the , is the of “Sunday Night Football” and “NBA on NBC,” and serves as the primetime host for NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympics. He has interviewed such elite athletes as Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, four-time NBA champion LeBron James, and Olympic gold medalists Michael Phelps, Simone Biles and Lindsey Vonn.

Tirico compared the graduates to those world-class athletes, encouraging them to draw on the same traits that carried them through Syracuse to achieve professional success.

“They thrived because of their minds, their strength and their ability to out-plan, to outthink and to withstand the scrutiny,” said Tirico, a member of the . “They share a commonality [with you]. They loved what they did and love what they do. Go out and find what you love. Go find what makes you happy and let that fuel you to your future.”

With his mother, Maria, and his wife, Deborah Gibaratz Tirico ’89, in attendance, Tirico took a moment to celebrate the moms who were cheering on their graduating students. Tirico asked the Class of 2026 to get out of their seats and give the moms a round of applause and a big wave while wishing them a happy Mother’s Day.

Tirico recalled growing up in a single-parent household, crediting the support he received from “a village of amazing family members” with helping him become a first-generation college student. Tirico earned dual bachelor’s degrees in political science from the  and the , and in broadcast journalism from the .

He emphasized maintaining the strong relationships the Class of 2026 formed with their friends and professors while on campus.

“Many of you are surrounded right now by your closest friends and you’re sitting with your crew. Forty years after starting the journey, for me, my life is still filled with my day ones from Syracuse. The people I met in that very first class at Newhouse. The people who I called games with on ,” Tirico said. “Many of those people are going to be your people for the rest of your life.”

Tirico closed by welcoming the newest members of the Syracuse University alumni network, consisting of more than 250,000 alumni worldwide.

“Since I live in the space of sports, today is one of the best game days of the year because we get a few thousand new teammates,” Tirico said. “You are now part of the Syracuse alumni team, and it’s the best team in the world.”

Caps off, Orange! has arrived! It’s time to celebrate your academic accomplishments with family, friends and the entire University community.

The University’s Commencement exercises will be held in the JMA Wireless Dome Sunday, May 10, beginning with the degree candidates’ procession at 9:30 a.m.

Mike Tirico ’88, NBC Sports broadcaster and vice chair of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees, will deliver the Commencement address.

School and college convocations and Commencement will be livestreamed. Visit the to view the ceremonies online.

At Sunday’s Commencement, around 6,679 students are expected to graduate.

Syracuse University Acting Chancellor J. Michael Haynie will address the graduates and confer degrees. Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew will give the welcome.

The University will recognize six honorary degree recipients:

• Ruth Chen, a professor of practice in biomedical and chemical engineering in the ;
• Mantosh Dewan, president, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and the Alan and Marlene Norton Presidential Chair at Upstate Medical University;
• Clifford J. Ensley ’69, ’70, G’71, founder and chief executive officer of Leisure Merchandising Corporation;
• Linda M. LeMura G’83, G’87, president of Le Moyne College;
• Joanne M. Mahoney ’87, L’90, president of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry; and
• Chancellor Kent Syverud, the 12th chancellor and president of Syracuse University.

Sam Clemence, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor Emeritus, is mace bearer.

Tadodaho Sidney Hill, of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, will give the ceremonial opening. Fr. Gerry Waterman, Hendricks Chapel chaplain, and advisor, Catholic Association, Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, will give the invocation. Alonna D. Berry ’11, president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association, will welcome the newest alumni.

Student Marshals and Scholars

Representing the Class of 2026, Chidera Olalere and Silke Pion are the senior class marshals and will lead graduates during the ceremony.

Along with the all-University marshals, 23 student marshals represent the 13 schools and colleges at the University. The marshals will lead the degree candidates of their respective schools or colleges.

Twelve seniors have been designated as Syracuse University Scholars. This is the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows. University Scholar Sadie Shaula Meyer, College of Engineering and Computer Science and College of Arts and Sciences, was selected as the student speaker on behalf of the Class of 2026.

Retiring faculty members who have been recommended to receive the title of emeritus by the University Senate to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees will be recognized by Jamie L. Winders, vice provost for faculty affairs.

The University Marshal is Kira Reed, associate professor of management, Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Associate University Marshal is Tula Goenka G’86, professor and graduate program director, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Also during the ceremonies, Army and Air Force ROTC cadets will present the colors.

The Syracuse University Wind Ensemble will perform under the direction of conductors Timothy W. Diem and Bradley P. Ethington.

The national anthem will be sung by Bridget Backer ’26, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Catherine Grace Cosenza ’26, College of Visual and Performing Arts, will sing the alma mater.

Security and Other Important Information

To ensure a safe and enjoyable event, all guests and degree candidates will go through , including metal detection, prior to entering all Convocation and Commencement venues. The University has a , which will be in effect for Commencement weekend.

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Download the and choose the “Commencement Experience” for easy access to Commencement weekend details and to receive push notifications related to the weekend’s events.

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Congratulations, Class of 2026! You’re Forever Orange, and the team wants to stay in touch with you. It’s especially important to so we can reach you!

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Stay Connected

Check out more ways to stay engaged with the Orange family in this .

Class of 2026 Giving Campaign

 before Friday, May 8, to receive special orange, white and silver cords to wear at Commencement!

Fill up the Wishing Well!

Are you a soon-to-be grad or a friend or family member of someone graduating? Mark the milestone with a gift in honor of the Class of 2026 and to have it featured on our Wishing Well website!

More information about Commencement 2026 can be found at .

Syracuse University Libraries’ LaunchPad hosted an inaugural Athletes for Data Sovereignty (A4DS) Summit and Pitch Competition, in partnership with UMiEconomy through its Charitable Foundation, , on April 24. The pitch competition was open to student-athletes, student-athlete alumni and student entrepreneurs with sports-related ideas. Winners of the pitch competition were:

• Gabriel Josefson ’28 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of XCHKR, won the grand prize of $2,000.
• Zach Richter ’26 (College of Arts and Sciences) and Taran Singh ’26 (Whitman School), founders of Wavelength, tied for second place, winning $750.
• Edouard Agbor G’27 (School of Information Studies), founder of GritGateway, also won $750 for second place.
• Marissa Johnson ’26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), founder of Gymify, won $250.
• Dylan McKinley ’26 (Newhouse School), founder of DylanDoesBasketball, won a Tier 1 Marketing Package from UMiEconomy.
• Jase Malloy ’27 (School of Information Studies), founder of ErgoCraft, won a Tier 2 Marketing Package from UMiEconomy.
• Ethan Barone ’26 (Whitman School), founder of CaneCLamp, won a Tier 1 Intellectual Property Legal Package
• Jonathan “Jack” Wren ’26 (Whitman School) and John “Trey ” Adams III ’26 (Whitman School), founders of Happy Duck, won a Tier 2 Intellectual Property Legal Package

In addition to the pitch competition, the summit included interactive games and workshops around the importance of data in industries such as sports, healthcare, media and finance, and how startups can build long-term value beyond short-term deals.

For many students, the path from a degree to a career can feel uncertain. Over spring break, 16 A&S | Maxwell undergraduates traded that uncertainty for firsthand experience in seeing exactly how their liberal arts education gives them an edge.

This spring, a cohort of students from the and the traveled to New York City for the 18th Winston Fisher Seminar, one of the A&S | Maxwell Office of Student Success’s signature .

This year’s group visited top firms in finance, law, sports, media, publishing and the arts, such as Fisher Brothers, Latham & Watkins, the National Basketball Association, AlphaSights, BBDO, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, WeWork, Teach For America, Penguin Random House, Morgan Stanley and Bloomberg. These experiences allowed students to gain exposure to the many different directions their degree can take them.

The weeklong experience gives undergraduate students from across all majors the opportunity to explore how a liberal arts education translates into real-world career success in the business world. Students spend their time developing and presenting business plans, meeting with industry leaders and building critical networking skills alongside Syracuse University alumni.

Founded in 2006 by Fisher Brothers partner, AREA15 CEO, Dean’s Advisory Board member and Life Trustee Winston Fisher ’96, the seminar has for nearly two decades connected students with a wide range of professional environments, helping them see the breadth of opportunities available to them after graduation.

“The Winston Fisher Seminar proves that a Syracuse liberal arts education opens doors,” says, director of employer and alumni engagement. “Students gain direct access to accomplished alumni and top employers in the world’s most competitive city. It builds connections that launch careers and a mindset that helps students thrive. For 18 years, Winston has delivered something no classroom can replicate—proof that a liberal arts education is a professional advantage.”

Take a peek at scenes from the 2026 Winston Fisher Seminar below.

John Riley was just 16 years old when he set foot on the Syracuse University campus. It was a dream come true for the young man of modest means, the first in his family to go to college. He was awarded a scholarship that allowed him to get a degree, but he couldn’t afford to live on campus, commuting all four years by bus from his family home on Syracuse’s North Side.

“John missed out on that total student experience, because he didn’t live on campus,” says his wife, Diane.  “He couldn’t join a fraternity or participate in sports.” That’s why Diane decided that the best way to pay tribute to her late husband, who passed away on June 1, 2024, was with an extraordinary legacy gift to the Orange Hall Facilities Fund that ensures residential housing in the center of campus for generations of students.

In recognition of her generosity, Orange Hall will be renamed H. John Riley Hall. A dedication event is planned for Saturday, May 9, during Commencement Weekend. “John believed that Syracuse University gave him the education and opportunities to be successful,” says Diane. Riley graduated in 1961 with a degree in industrial engineering from the . “I think he would be proud—and humbled—to have his name on this beautiful building that provides a home to the students he loved to serve.”

“John was all about service to his alma mater, always looking for ways to provide opportunities that would position our students for personal and professional success,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “He was an engaged alumnus, a dedicated trustee and, along with Diane, a most generous and thoughtful benefactor.”

An Inspired Journey

Riley’s own journey from university graduate to successful businessman was inspiring, taking him from his first job in the mail room at Crouse-Hinds, the electrical products manufacturing company, to the executive suite as CEO of Cooper Industries, the multi-billion-dollar parent of Crouse-Hinds.

Riley was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2004 and served as a voting trustee until 2016, chairing the Student Experience Committee from 2008 to 2012. He continued his service as a life trustee and, at the time of his passing, was tri-chair of the National Campaign Council Executive Committee for the University’s Forever Orange Campaign, which achieved its fundraising goal of more than $1.5 billion.

Over the years, the Rileys targeted their philanthropy to improving the student experience, both inside and outside the classroom. A 2017 endowed gift established the H. John and Diane M. Riley Dual Engineering/MBA Program Endowed Fund designed to give students a distinctive edge, allowing them to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering along with an MBA in just five years. When the Rileys recognized the need for a new home for the University’s School of Management, they endowed a classroom in the state-of-the-art building, helping prepare future business leaders. They supported many other initiatives at the University, including Syracuse University Athletics and the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life.

“John and I had been discussing what form our next gift should take, but he died before we could make a decision,” says Diane. She says it was Chancellor Syverud who proposed the idea for Riley Hall. “I felt incredibly honored and was so touched by his enthusiasm.” She took the idea to the family who ultimately decided that it was “a no brainer” and a fitting way to honor their father.

Family Stories

Son Patrick “Pat” E. Riley ’90, who graduated from the Newhouse School, says their father’s name will no doubt live on in the stories future students will tell about life in Riley Hall. That’s especially meaningful for the Riley family, which made many of its own memories at that same site when it was the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center. “I think I had my first drink there when I was a senior and my sister came to visit and stayed at the hotel,” Pat says. “It was always the place where our family socialized.” The Sheraton was closed in 2024 for extensive renovations and transformation into a modern residence hall.

Diane also remembers gathering at the Sheraton bar and restaurant with the spouses of other board members while John was attending trustee meetings. And it was the place to stay when visiting their grandchildren who attended Syracuse University (Megan graduated in 2024; Tristan will graduate this year; and John will attend in the fall.).

“The location of Riley Hall at the center of campus is such a fitting tribute to John,” says Allen Groves, senior vice president and chief student experience officer. “As a trustee, John was always focused on how best to meet the evolving needs of students. He was both a visionary and a passionate champion for students.”

At his memorial service, Riley’s daughter Beth talked about the values her father taught to his family, values that clearly shaped his commitments to Syracuse University. “He was a rock of stability, good judgment, fun and common sense,” Beth said at the service. “My dad had a no-nonsense way about him that cherished truth over fanfare, responsibility over impulsiveness, long-term value over short-term gain.” Son Tom said, “He was a great executive, leader, servant. Along the way, he always had mom by his side.” Son Pat recalls his father reassuring his family that no matter what challenges they faced, “You’ll always make it through. You’ll all be OK.”

Recently, Diane and all the children and grandchildren (Beth, Marcus, Tom, Lizabeth, Pat, Beatrice, Emma, Charlotte, Matthew, Megan, Tristan, John and Connor) completed a trip to Egypt that John had been planning for them before his passing. “He was so detailed in his planning, and we carried out many of them on the trip,” says Pat. “As in life, here was Dad behind the scenes, telling us what to do…and how to do it right!”

Diane says that the life of Riley was defined by “doing things right the first time and doing the right things.” Riley Hall is one of those right things done right.