Awards Archives | Syracuse University Today https://news-test.syr.edu/topic/awards/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 21:20:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 /wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cropped-apple-touch-icon-120x120.png Awards Archives | Syracuse University Today https://news-test.syr.edu/topic/awards/ 32 32 ’CUSE50 Honoree Matt Tarullo ’04 Lifts Up Student Entrepreneurs /2026/10/16/cuse50-honoree-matt-tarullo-04-lifts-up-student-entrepreneurs/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:37:37 +0000 /?p=344914 The former football standout and two-time ’CUSE50 honoree will share lessons on business and giving back during this year’s Student Summit and Alumni Entrepreneur Awards Nov. 12.

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Business & Entrepreneurship ’CUSE50

Matt Tarullo is honored by Chancellor J. Michael Haynie with a 2025 'CUSE50 Award.

’CUSE50 Honoree Matt Tarullo ’04 Lifts Up Student Entrepreneurs

The former football standout and two-time ’CUSE50 honoree will share lessons on business and giving back during this year’s Student Summit and Alumni Entrepreneur Awards Nov. 12.
John Boccacino Oct. 16, 2026

As a four-year member of the offensive line for the Syracuse University football team, prided himself on being a team player, someone who would do the little things every day to help the Orange succeed on the field.

That selfless strategy helped Tarullo become a starter for the final 36 games of his career, including earning First-Team All-Big East honors during his senior season.

That same approach guided Tarullo’s entrepreneurial career as partner, financial advisor and vice president of recruiting and sales for , part of Cetera Investors.

For the second straight year, Tarullo is being recognized during the University’s fourth annualÌý, which on Nov. 12 will celebrate 50 of the fastest-growing global businesses and nonprofit ventures owned or led by Orange alumni.

A
Matt Tarullo

“I’m very honored,” says Tarullo, who earned dual degrees in psychology and communications and rhetorical studies from the . “It’s a phenomenal event showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit our alumni have, and I strongly encourage other alumni to be a part of this celebration.”

While he’s looking forward to the awards ceremony, Tarullo says he’s equally excited to impart his business acumen to student entrepreneurs at the ’CUSE50 Student Summit, when honorees will share insights with students at the .

Over the summer, Tarullo’s company hosted several current students for internships. Tarullo plans to use this year’s Student Summit to emphasize the importance of giving back to future students.

“It’s beneficial for students to hear stories of success, but also how we overcome problems. I tell students how important it is to have a niche, a passion that motivates your work,” Tarullo says.

for the ’CUSE50 Student Summit and Alumni Awards Ceremony.

The Student Summit runs from noon to 3 p.m. in the Flaum Grand Hall in the Whitman School, with Chancellor J. Michael Haynie and Whitman Dean Alex McKelvie delivering remarks. Latavius Murray G’20, a retired NFL running back, community builder and entrepreneur will serve as the keynote speaker, followed by two panel discussions featuring ’CUSE50 alumni entrepreneurs and a “Five for Five” pitch competition, where five student startups will compete for a winner-takes-all $5,000 prize judged by the ’CUSE50 honorees in attendance. To support student entrepreneurs, consider a gift to the which makes the student prize money possible.

The Alumni Entrepreneur Awards Ceremony begins with check-in and light refreshments at 5 p.m., followed by the awards at 5:30 p.m. in the K.G. Tan Auditorium and a reception starting at 6:45 p.m. in the Bisignano Grand Hall. All events occur in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building.

Tarullo sat down with Syracuse University Today to preview the ’CUSE50 Alumni Awards.

Dozens
The ’CUSE50 Student Summit and Alumni Entrepreneur Awards ceremony is Thursday, Nov. 12. (Photo by Amy Manley)
Q:
What are the leadership similarities between playing football for the Orange and leading Iron Tree Financial?
A:

Matt Tarullo: On the football field, I had great teammates who had my back and were working together for a goal. We were part of something bigger than ourselves. That’s how I looked at business. We had to create something special that would help people reach their goals. The joy for me is giving people the opportunity to be successful and finding those people that want to be part of something that’s bigger than yourself.

Q:
How surreal is it to think of yourself as an entrepreneur?
A:

Tarullo: I love the word entrepreneur, but I like the word coach better. I’ve always tried to coin myself as the money coach. When I sit down with clients or corporations, I always tell them that I’m their head coach, but they’re going to own the team because it’s their money we’re investing, it’s their future. I’m only going to be as good as you let me be. I want to make sure we give them a phenomenal experience, that’s why I pride myself on doing the little things right, taking care of the small, mundane details that lead to success.

Q:
How do you learn from the students during the summit?
A:

Tarullo: Last year, through conversations with some talented students, I learned more about the importance of having a well-thought-out social media presence. Being active on social media is huge for our business, and many are missing out because they don’t understand what they need to be doing on social.

Q:
What’s the lesson you want to emphasize to students this year?
A:

Tarullo: Once you become successful, your goal should be to give back and do something to inspire those around you. There’s this critical concept of reaching down, which means when you’re successful in your career, you should elevate those around you, pull them up with you and help make them better. In turn, those people will usually do the same, which means we’re all getting better as we’re all improving. It’s a great team mentality.

Matt
Matt Tarullo poses with his wife, Christine, and their children.

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A person smiles while holding up a 'CUSE50 Award while standing next to Chancellor Haynie.
$3M in New C3 Vouchers Fuels 21 Business-University Tech PartnershipsÌý /2026/10/15/3m-in-new-c3-vouchers-fuels-21-business-university-tech-partnerships/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:32:10 +0000 /?p=344940 The second round of awards is more than eight times the size of the first, and Syracuse University faculty are research partners on seven funded projects.

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Syracuse University Impact $3M

The Syracuse company TTM Technologies Inc., a first-round voucher recipient, is collaborating with the College of Engineering and Computer Science research group led by Quinn Qiao, second from left, William T. Frantz Endowed Chair in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

$3M in New C3 Vouchers Fuels 21 Business-University Tech Partnerships

The second round of awards is more than eight times the size of the first, and Syracuse University faculty are research partners on seven funded projects.
Diane Stirling Oct. 15, 2026

Twenty-one new business-university research projects are underway across Upstate New York, backed by $3 million in innovation vouchers from the (C3).

That is a big step up from February’s first round of funding, which delivered $350,000 to five companies. C3 has since built a pipeline of 60 engagements with regional tech firms, says , vice president for research and principal investigator for C3.

C3 is the “front door” for companies across the Syracuse-Rochester-Buffalo corridor that need university expertise and equipment to develop and commercialize semiconductor technologies. Syracuse University leads C3 and administers its voucher program on behalf of partners including the University at Buffalo, Rochester Institute of Technology, Cornell University, University of Rochester and Alfred University. C3 is part of the $40 million NY SMART I-Corridor award from the .

Companies in Syracuse Labs

Syracuse faculty are research partners on seven of the 26 C3 projects funded so far.

“These partnerships put real industry problems inside Syracuse labs, and that opens doors for our students. They can work on technology companies are taking to market and graduate with the experience and the connections that employers across this region are hiring for. That is what research should mean for a Syracuse education,” Brown says.

Faculty Partnerships

Five new projects pair companies with (ECS) faculty:

  • works with Distinguished Professor and Professor , both of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The company combines AI, bioacoustics and behavioral science to decode how wildlife communicates.
  • partners with , assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, to test BQPhy QuantumNOW, software that uses AI to speed up and improve chip manufacturing.
  • and , assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, are testing whether a ceramic component from Shi’s lab can help Conamix’s lithium-sulfur batteries last longer.
  • provides plant-based raw materials to , assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, whose lab is turning them into filters that clean wastewater from chip production.
  • Syracuse-based ., which designs and prototypes a low-power, energy-saving, higher-speed chip that keeps memory and processing functions together, is working with four ECS faculty: Distinguished Professors and , and Professors and

Two first-round partnerships with ECS faculty continue:

  • , a soft-shell robotic gripper startup co-founded by , associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering; the company tests prototypes of tunable soft robotic grippers for advanced electronics manufacturing.
  • , a global manufacturer of mission systems, radio frequency components and microwave/microelectronic assemblies, partners with , William T. Frantz Endowed Chair in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. TTM is a manufacturer of technology products, including mission systems, radio frequency components, RF microwave/microelectronic assemblies and technologically advanced interconnect products.

The Micron Effect

Many of the companies seeking C3 funding are positioning for the wave of chip-industry demand they expect from Micron Technology’s $100 billion , now under construction in Clay, just north of Syracuse, Brown says. Micron says the site will be the most advanced memory manufacturing facility in the world, built to meet AI-driven demand.

“Micron’s investment is bringing new companies and new federal funding into the region. Our job is to make sure Syracuse researchers and students are part of that work, whether we are administering the program or partnering on the research,” he says.

The NY SMART I-Corridor is a federally designated Tech Hub of more than 100 businesses and higher education, economic development and community-based organizations positioning Upstate New York as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, innovation and workforce development.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration was established by Ìýthe and provides funding for regional technology development with matching support from the .

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In a research lab, a woman in a blue lab coat and gloves handles wired equipment while a man in glasses and three others watch closely.
Graduate Student Awarded Child-Centered Play Therapy Scholarship /2026/10/13/graduate-student-awarded-child-centered-play-therapy-scholarship/ Tue, 13 Oct 2026 14:10:30 +0000 /?p=344481 Coco Wing Yun Wong G’27, a clinical mental health counseling master’s degree student in the School of Education and former graduate student employee in Health Promotion at the Barnes Center at the Arch, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Charles Schaefer Play Therapy Scholarship.
The award is given to just one student nationally each year by the Foundation for Play Therapy. Named in memo...

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Arts & Humanities Graduate

Coco Wing Yun Wong

Graduate Student Awarded Child-Centered Play Therapy Scholarship

Coco Wing Yun Wong, a clinical mental health counseling master’s degree student in the School of Education, is the recipient of an award given to just one student nationally each year by the Foundation for Play Therapy.
Martin Walls Oct. 13, 2026

Coco Wing Yun Wong G’27, a clinical mental health counseling master’s degree student in the and former graduate student employee in Health Promotion at the Barnes Center at the Arch, has been named the 2026 recipient of the .

The award is given to just one student nationally each year by the Foundation for Play Therapy. Named in memory of Dr. Charles Schaefer, a co-founder of the Association for Play Therapy, the scholarship provides $5,000 toward training and supervision as Wong works toward a registered play therapist credential.

Wong’s path to the field began in high school in Macau, China, where a single picture—of a colorful room full of toys, a child and a play therapist—stuck with her long before she had any formal training.

That interest carried her through an undergraduate degree in psychology at Peking University, a gap year that included two months as a full-time volunteer supporting children and adolescents with developmental disabilities in Yunnan, China; two full-time jobs in Macau (one in a residential setting for adults with substance use disorders; one as a pre-school counselor); and, eventually, a weekly ferry commute from Macau to Hong Kong, the closest place she could find training in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT).

In this interview, Wong talks about the scholarship’s importance, what play therapy is (and is not), her experience studying with the School of Education and her future goals.

Q:
What does this scholarship recognition mean to you?
A:

Play therapy is one of my biggest passions, so this means a lot. Pursuing a career in play therapy has not been easy, and the term was not widely understood in Macau.

When I needed to complete my practicum there, I had to fight against all odds to coordinate with the agencies to secure a space for play therapy, find my own clients and handle everything myself.

There were a lot of challenges, so this scholarship is validating. The acknowledgment of all that effort and sacrifice means the most to me.

Q:
How would you describe play therapy to someone who has never heard of it?
A:

When most people picture counseling, they imagine two people sitting in chairs, talking. Talk therapy works well between adults, because adults can use words, which are abstract symbols, to express feelings.

But young children, typically between the ages of 3 and 12, are not developmentally ready for that. You cannot expect a young child to sit in a chair and use words to talk through all their stresses and concerns. CCPT is a counseling approach where the therapist provides developmentally appropriate materials that let the child freely express themselves and direct their own play.

As Garry Landreth—one of the most important figures in the field of Child-Centered Play Therapy—put it: toys are children’s words, and play is their language. It is the most natural medium of communication for them. Children directly “play out” their experiences and feelings that cannot be expressed at a verbal level. Within that safe relationship, children move toward more self-enhancing ways of being.

Q:
What does a typical play therapy session look like?
A:

The room is full of different, developmentally appropriate toys, and every toy is chosen with a purpose. We ask, “Would this toy help a child express themselves?” We do not just fill the room with everything.

There are really three main categories. First, there are real-life and nurturing toys, such as animal families, baby dolls, furniture, play kitchens and pretend play materials like medical kits and blocks. These allow children to act out different roles within family contexts and meet nurturing-related needs.

Second, there are aggressive and scary toys. Aggressive toys—such as toy guns, knives, handcuffs or army figures—help children fully express anger and other difficult, intense feelings. Scary toys, such as sharks and snakes, help them express and process fears and anxiety. We also have a stand-up punching or bop bag, which we sometimes call a “Bobo.” Children will play with it in many ways, not necessarily just aggressively.

Parents sometimes worry these toys might make children more aggressive. However, when children are provided a safe space to freely release and process these intense feelings in the playroom, they often have less need to act them out in their daily lives because their needs are met during the play therapy session.

Third, there are creative and expressive toys, which include various art materials. These are used to express both positive and negative emotions. Children are often very creative and will use any of these toys to express feelings in ways you cannot always predict.

In a first session, we introduce the child to the room as a place where they can play with the toys in lots of ways. Some children are hesitant or nervous; others are comfortable right away.

As the therapist, I take a non-directive, empathetic and reflective stance rather than directing the play, although I will join in if the child invites me to. It is less about passively following the child and more about “being with” them, genuinely feeling and understanding what they are expressing, matching their affect, staying attuned to their nonverbal cues and letting my presence communicate that I am fully here with them.

Read the full story on the School of Education website:

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ECS Faculty to Be Honored by the Technology Alliance of Central New York /2026/10/07/ecs-faculty-to-be-honored-by-the-technology-alliance-of-central-new-york/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:34:06 +0000 /?p=344405 The three professors will be recognized at the group's 26th Celebration of Technology Awards next month.

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ECS Faculty to Be Honored by the Technology Alliance of Central New York

The three professors will be recognized at the group's 26th Celebration of Technology Awards next month.
Alex Dunbar Oct. 7, 2026

Three professors from the University’s will be honored next month by the Technology Alliance of Central New York at its 26th Celebration of Technology Awards.

The banquet is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Drumlins Country Club in Syracuse.

Changmin Shi, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, will receive the Young Technologist of the Year Award. The award goes to a Central New York resident age 35 or younger who has made recent outstanding contributions in a STEAM field. Shi’s work includes electrochemical material systems for batteries and optically tunable materials for thermal energy regulation.

John Trimmer, an assistant teaching professor of civil and environmental engineering, will receive the College Educator of the Year Award. The honor recognizes an educator who has made outstanding contributions to STEAM education at the college level in Central New York. Trimmer’s humanitarian work on water systems has taken him around the world.

Charles Driscoll, an Emeritus University and Distinguished Professor of civil and environmental engineering, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Driscoll is one of the world’s leading experts on acid rain, mercury and the effects of air pollution and climate change on forests and lakes.

“These three faculty members reflect the very best of our college, from an emerging researcher advancing energy technologies, to an educator who prepares students to serve communities around the world, to an engineer and scientist whose career has shaped our understanding of the environment,” says Interim Dean Julie Hasenwinkel. “We are proud that TACNY is recognizing their contributions to Central New York and beyond.”Ìý

The College of Engineering and Computer Science has a strong record at the event. Last year, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Senem Velipasalar won Technologist of the Year and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Yiyang Sun won the STEAM Outreach, Individual award.

For more information about the awards banquet,

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3 Postdoctoral Researchers Honored for Impactful Research /2026/10/02/3-postdoctoral-researchers-honored-for-impactful-research/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:31:43 +0000 /?p=344153 The scholars were recognized for innovation and excellence in research and creative work in veteran health, speech therapy and ocean science.

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3 Postdoctoral Researchers Honored for Impactful Research

The scholars were recognized for innovation and excellence in research and creative work in veteran health, speech therapy and ocean science.
Diane Stirling Oct. 2, 2026

Three postdoctoral researchers were honored for the quality and impact of their research and creative activity at this year’s Postdoctoral Appreciation Awards dinner.

The and the co-host the annual celebration to honor the postdoctoral community and recognize the scholars, who are joined by their guests, faculty mentors and University leaders. Each recipient received a $750 award and presented a research summary at the event.

In honoring them, Vice President for Research said the University’s 80 postdoctoral scholars are a crucial component of its research enterprise.

“Our postdoctoral scholars are central to Syracuse’s research mission,” he said. “They create new knowledge, mentor our graduate and undergraduate students in cutting-edge research and creative work and empower our faculty. The scholars we recognize this year reflect the ambition and rigor that exemplify Syracuse University’s research and creative enterprise.”

Honorees are:

Emily Rabinowitz, “Trauma, Health, and Recovery: Advancing Veteran Behavioral Health Research at Syracuse University.” ( (CHB), . Faculty mentor: , professor of psychology and director, CHB)

Rabinowitz’s research explores how physical injury during military deployment shapes service members’ psychological health. She found those who experienced a traumatic injury hadÌýgreater psychological distress than both those exposed to trauma without injury and those with no injury.ÌýHer project is part of a larger program of research examining factors related to military and veteran well-being.

Taylor Snodgrass, “Beyond the Current Error: What a Child’s Speech History Reveals About Treatment Success.” (, (A&S). Faculty mentor: , professor of communication sciences and disorders)

Snodgrass examines why children with residual speech errors (sound errors that persist past the typical age of mastery) respond differently to treatment based on their developmental history. She finds that children with an early, broader speech history and children with weaker phonological awareness skills (the ability to hear and work with the sound structure of spoken language) show smaller treatment gains than those identified later, a pattern consistent across different treatment formats. The findings suggest that speech-language pathologists should consider both developmental history and phonological awareness in setting treatment expectations.

Xubin Wang, “Decoding Earth’s Breathless Past to Predict Our Marine Future.” (, A&S. Faculty mentor: , Thonis Family Professor, earth and environmental sciences)

Wang’s research looks hundreds of millions of years into the Earth’s past to understand how oceans respond to dramatic climate change and what that history says about their future.Ìý His findings challenge a long-held assumption that severe deoxygenation—the loss of life-supporting oxygen from oceans—is mainly a feature of global warming; he showed it also recurred during some of Earth’s most severe ice ages. He also uncovered how changes in continental weathering reshaped ocean chemistry and helped enable the evolutionary rise of animals with mineralized skeletons. In addition, Wang developed a new geochemical “redox ladder,” a powerful way for scientists to reconstruct oxygen levels in Earth’s ancient oceans.

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Graphic titled "2026 Postdoctoral Excellence Awards" showing three award recipients, Emily Rabinowitz, Taylor Snodgrass and Xubin Wang, each holding a glass award, against a navy background with an orange bar.
Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence Nomination Deadline is Dec. 4 /2026/09/30/chancellors-citation-for-excellence-nomination-deadline-is-dec-4/ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:27:38 +0000 /?p=344050 The award recognizes students, staff and faculty who have made invaluable contributions to the foundational commitments of the University.

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Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence Nomination Deadline is Dec. 4

The award recognizes students, staff and faculty who have made invaluable contributions to the foundational commitments of the University.
Wendy S. Loughlin Sept. 30, 2026

The annually recognizes members of the campus community who have made invaluable contributions to the foundational commitments of Syracuse University through research excellence, outstanding student experiences, impactful change and innovation and commitment to veterans and military-connected families. This year’s nomination deadline is Dec. 4.

“This award provides the opportunity to recognize and celebrate excellence in nearly any member of our teams,” says , vice provost/faculty affairs. “Our campus community is full of people who go above and beyond every day in their scholarship, their work with students and their commitment to making our university and our world a better place. The Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence is a great way to recognize those efforts.”

Faculty, staff and students may be nominated in one of four categories:

  • Award for Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction (faculty)
  • Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives (faculty, staff or team)
  • Award for Excellence in Student Research (doctoral, master’s and undergraduate students)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award (faculty)

is available online. Questions may be directed to Amanda Latreille at 315.443.5413 or arlatrei@syr.edu.

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Newhouse Alumni Pick Up Wins at Emmy Awards /2026/09/18/newhouse-alumni-pick-up-wins-at-emmy-awards/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:50:21 +0000 /?p=343393 Jason Blumenthal ’90 earned a Creative Arts Emmy as an executive producer for “DTF St. Louis” at Monday's ceremony.

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Communications, Law & Policy Newhouse

The Dick Clark Studios in the Newhouse 2 building is the home for hands-on Newhouse classes in television, radio and film, and broadcast and digital journalism.

Newhouse Alumni Pick Up Wins at Emmy Awards

Jason Blumenthal ’90 earned a Creative Arts Emmy as an executive producer for “DTF St. Louis” at Monday's ceremony.
Genaro Armas Sept. 18, 2026

Two alumni have earned Creative Arts Emmy Awards, with Jason Blumenthal ’90 joining Janique Robillard ’08 as winners of golden statues this year.

Blumenthal picked up the honor at theÌýÌýceremony Monday night in Los Angeles as one of the executive producers for HBO Max’s “,” which won for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.

Robillard earned her award during theÌýÌýon Sept. 5. She was a producer for “,” which won Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking. In 2025, Robillard also received anÌýÌýfor Best Documentary Short Film for “Death by Numbers.”

Another Newhouse graduate, Monica Levinson ’90, was nominated as an executive producer for FX’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” also in the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series category.

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Architecture Students Awarded Prize in AISC/ACSA Steel Design Competition /2026/09/14/architecture-students-awarded-prize-in-aisc-acsa-steel-design-competition/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:21:09 +0000 /?p=343158 Bruno Yeh ’27 and Yanwen (Gareth) Pang ’27 won second place in the Community Dance Center category.

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Arts & Humanities Architecture

Bruno Yeh (left) and Yanwen (Gareth) Pang

Architecture Students Awarded Prize in AISC/ACSA Steel Design Competition

Bruno Yeh ’27 and Yanwen (Gareth) Pang ’27 won second place in the Community Dance Center category.
Julie Sharkey Sept. 14, 2026

A student team from the was recently announced as a prize winner in the .

Administered by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the 26th annual Steel Design Student Competition challenged undergraduate and graduate students to explore a variety of design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction.

This year’s competition offered architecture students the opportunity to compete in two separate categories. In Category I, students were challenged to design a community dance center and address how it can contribute to the community as an integral part of the civic fabric. Category II presented students with the option to select a site and building program of their choice, using steel as the primary material.

The eleven winning projects were selected for their innovative designs using structural steel and their design responses to local contexts. For each category, the jurors chose first, second and third-place winners, along with additional honorable mentions.

Bruno YehÌý ’27 and Yanwen (Gareth) Pang ’27 won second place in the Community Dance Center category for their project, , which stems from the idea that everyone is a participant in a performance; from staff to students and visitors.

As part of the fourth-year undergraduate integrated design studio (ARC 409), Yeh and Pang worked under the direction of their faculty sponsor Ryan Doyle, a part-time instructor at the School of Architecture, to develop a design that challenges the programmatic hierarchies commonly found in performance centers. Their proposal elevates the experience of support spaces while giving guests a glimpse into the processes integral to putting on a show.

Modern
A rendering of The Dance

The structure is streamlined to be achievable using local recycled steel. The building’s entire primary steel structure can be constructed using the equivalent of one block of the Syracuse I-81 Viaduct, transforming a historically divisive element of the city into a new local hub of connection and gathering.

“The Dance is recognized for the methodically developed design, demonstrating careful consideration of structure, sustainability, materiality and building performance,” noted the jurors. “The expressive steel system, featuring an extended fly-tower and spanning trusses, establishes a strong architectural framework that supports both the spatial experience and the project’s narrative of revealing the performance process. The clear sectional studies and detailed axonometric drawings effectively communicate the design’s technical execution.”

“I’m humbled to have been part of a winning project that bridged my learning between school and professional practice,” says Yeh. “It was especially meaningful to work alongside Gareth after we began our Syracuse Architecture journey together in the same ARC 107 studio during our first semester. Throughout the process, I learned a tremendous amount from both Gareth and Professor Doyle and grew as a designer and collaborator.”

“This recognition is an important milestone for Bruno and me as emerging architects,” said Pang. “The success of our project encourages us to continue challenging ourselves as designers and to deepen our contributions to the field of architecture.”

Winning students and their faculty advisors will each receive a cash prize along with the opportunity to have their projects exhibited at the 2027 ACSA Annual Meeting and the 2027 AIA National Convention, as well as published in a competition summary publication.

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Two people standing in front of architecture presentation boards displaying building renderings, diagrams, and design plans.
Engineering and Computer Science Student Advising Model Wins National Recognition /2026/09/01/engineering-and-computer-science-student-advising-model-wins-national-recognition/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:45:35 +0000 /?p=342599 NACADA honored ECS's holistic, team-based approach for driving measurable gains in student retention and career outcomes.

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Campus & Community Engineering

From left to right: Career advisor Britton Inglehart, student success advisor Savonne Proctor, student success advisor Gabriela Bermudez, student success advisor Malea Perkins, career advisor Shelby Bergen, career services associate director Jenn Fazio, student success advisor Taylor Larsen and student experience director Sarah Mack.

Engineering and Computer Science Student Advising Model Wins National Recognition

NACADA honored ECS's holistic, team-based approach for driving measurable gains in student retention and career outcomes.
Alex Dunbar Sept. 1, 2026

The student success and career advising team in the (ECS) has been selected to receive a 2026 Outstanding Advising Program Award from the Global Community for Academic Advising (NACADA).

The advising teamÌýÌýThe model pairs every undergraduate student in the college with three advisors: a student success advisor, a career advisor and a faculty advisor.

The model is designed to give students dedicated support across every aspect of the college experience and prepare them for strong career outcomes.

Since its launch, the model has driven measurable gains in student retention and academic recovery. First-year retention climbed from 87.1% before the model to 95.3% for the first fully served cohort and has remained well above pre-model levels ever since (+90%), significantly outpacing the national average for comparable institutions, which is 82%.

“This national recognition is a direct reflection of the excellent work ECS does in support of our students,” says Michelle Blum, associate dean for student affairs. “This recognizes the impactful advising model the faculty and staff of ECS have built and sustained together, and the countless hours the success, career and faculty advisors spend supporting our students, and the genuine care everyone brings to this work.”

“Congratulations to our advising team on this well-deserved recognition,” says Julie Hasenwinkel, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “This award reflects the dedication our success, career and faculty advisors bring to our students every day, and I’m proud of the culture of support they’ve built across the college.”

NACADA is an international professional association focused on student success and quality academic advising in higher education. Its Outstanding Advising Program award is presented annually to institutions that demonstrate excellence in areas including innovation, creativity, institutional commitment and measurable impact on student outcomes.

The award will be presented Monday, Oct. 5, at NACADA’s Awards Ceremony during the organization’s Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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The ECS advising staff pose beneath an orange balloon arch spelling "welcome."
AI Cybersecurity Work Nets Ph.D. Student 2 Awards From Amazon /2026/08/24/ai-cybersecurity-work-nets-ph-d-student-2-awards-from-amazon/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:28:42 +0000 /?p=341650 Shwetha Srikanta's AI systems help detect and stop sophisticated automated attacks, earning her top honors at Amazon's global intern recognition event.

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STEM AI

Shwetha Srikanta

AI Cybersecurity Work Nets Ph.D. Student 2 Awards From Amazon

Shwetha Srikanta's AI systems help detect and stop sophisticated automated attacks, earning her top honors at Amazon's global intern recognition event.
Alex Dunbar Aug. 24, 2026

Shwetha Srikanta, a computer science Ph.D. student in the , won two top honors at Amazon’s global intern recognition event for her work developing artificial intelligence systems to detect and stop sophisticated automated attacks.

Srikanta received the Global Top EXPO Award and the Global Top People’s Choice Award for her project during an internship as an applied scientist at Amazon. Her project focused on building AI systems designed to identify and mitigate advanced automated attacks, technology that could help safeguard billions of customer interactions.

“It has been an exciting technical challenge and a meaningful opportunity to contribute to AI systems operating at an incredible scale,” says Srikanta. “This recognition reflects the support, mentorship and collaboration of many exceptional people.”

Srikanta says the recognition will motivate her continued research into AI systems aimed at solving large-scale, real-world problems.

“I’m deeply thankful to my mentors, advisor, and everyone who has supported me along the way,” says Srikanta. “This recognition inspires me to continue building AI systems that solve challenging real-world problems and create meaningful impact.”

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3 Syracuse Faculty Earn STEM Under 40 Awards from the MOST /2026/08/21/3-syracuse-faculty-earn-stem-under-40-awards-from-the-most/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:29:56 +0000 /?p=342101 Atanu Acharya, Zhenyu Gan and Angela Oliverio are recognized for research shaping Central New York’s growing STEM economy.

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Professor Zhenyu Gan working with robotics in Link Hall.

3 Syracuse Faculty Earn STEM Under 40 Awards from the MOST

Atanu Acharya, Zhenyu Gan and Angela Oliverio are recognized for research shaping Central New York’s growing STEM economy.
Wendy S. Loughlin Aug. 21, 2026

Three Syracuse University faculty members—, and —have been named to the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology’s (MOST) list, presented by Micron Technology. The annual list recognizes early-career professionals whose work is advancing STEM in the region.

The recognition comes as Central New York is poised to become a major hub for semiconductor manufacturing with Micron’s planned multibillion-dollar investment in the region, including a $100 billion manufacturing campus in suburban Syracuse.

“These three faculty members represent exactly the kind of talent that makes Syracuse a magnet for world-class researchers,” says Vice President for Research . “While their work spans computational chemistry, robotics and microbial ecology, each is training the scientists and engineers our region will need as Central New York’s technology economy grows.”

Atanu Acharya

Person
Atanu Acharya

Acharya, an assistant professor of chemistry at the (A&S), is a computational chemist who uses quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics and machine learning to solve biochemical puzzles, ranging from the respiration of “metal-breathing” bacteria to controlling biochemical reactions with light to understanding how microplastics and nanoplastics get through cell membranes.

His research depends on high-performance computing and simulations, as if he is using a “computational microscope,” a term often used to describe the field. Similar computational tools underlie material design, giving his students skills directly transferable to the region’s growing STEM-focused industries.

Zhenyu Gan

Professional
Zhenyu Gan

Gan, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the , directs the Dynamic Locomotion and Robotics Lab, studying how animals shift fluidly between gaits and applying those principles to legged robots that can adjust their posture, leg length or shape depending on the task. Gan also studies robotic exoskeletons designed to reduce injury and fatigue in physically demanding jobs.

His research in robotics, controls and automation sits squarely in fields central to advanced chip fabrication, where precision robotics keep cleanroom production lines running, allowing Gan’s students to develop the engineering skills valued by companies like Micron.

Angela Oliverio

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Angela Oliverio

Oliverio, assistant professor of biology at A&S, studies the ecology and evolution of microbes—from geothermal amoebae that survive near the boiling point of water to synthetic microbial communities that she builds in the lab. She and her students investigate “community coalescence,” or what happens when separate microbial communities merge, with implications for agriculture, medicine and biotechnology.

That data-intensive approach to biology mirrors the data science techniques increasingly used in semiconductor fabrication, giving her students large-scale data analysis skills that translate well beyond biology.

The trio will be honored at an Nov. 5 at the MOST.

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Biology Professor Wins National Teaching Award /2026/08/14/biology-professor-wins-national-teaching-award/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:06:43 +0000 /?p=341143 Jason R. Wiles, a biology professor in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), has wonÌýthe 2026 Outstanding Undergraduate Science Teaching Award, the top honor given by the Society for College Science Teaching (SCST).
Jason Wiles
The organization, founded in 1979, announced the award at the National Science Teaching Association’s annual conference in Anaheim, California. The award recog...

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Biology Professor Wins National Teaching Award

The Society for College Science Teaching honored Jason Wiles, a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, with the Outstanding Undergraduate Science Teaching Award.
Sean Grogan Aug. 14, 2026

, a biology professor in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), has wonÌý, the top honor given by the Society for College Science Teaching (SCST).

Head-and-shoulders
Jason Wiles

announced the award at the National Science Teaching Association’s annual conference in Anaheim, California. The recognizes teaching colleagues who have enhanced the profession as outstanding teachers of science, according to the society. Judges weigh three criteria: teaching excellence, scholarship and service, with attention paid to course innovation, publications and presentations, as well as contributions to science education beyond the classroom.

SCST describes Wiles’ teaching as a “dynamic, student-centered approach” built on active learning, critical thinking and open dialogue. His courses often take on science topics that are well-established among researchers but contested in public conversation. His course “Political” Science has become a favorite among Honors students, science and non-science majors alike.

“Dr. Wiles dedication to undergraduate science education in the classroom and his research focus on improving teaching science at the college level make him well deserving of this award,” saysÌý, professor and chair of the Department of Biology.

Beyond the classroom, Wiles contributes to national efforts to improve science education, including faculty development workshops. ThroughÌý, he also works with high school science teachers to bring university-level biology curricula to college-bound students.

The award adds to a lengthy list of national and international honors for Wiles, including being among the elite cohort of Syracuse professorsÌýelected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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4 Faculty Earn Prestigious NSF Early CAREER Awards /2026/08/06/4-faculty-earn-prestigious-nsf-early-career-awards/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:00:52 +0000 /?p=341484 One of four faculty NSF Early CAREER award winners is Mirna Mihovilovic Skanata (second from left) pictured with graduate student researchers in her physics lab, (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

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Researchers observe fruit fly larvae brains by recording neural activity as the larvae navigate their environment. Working with Assistant Professor Mirna Mihovilovic Skanata (second from left) are graduate students Seongjin Park (at left) Derick Ramos and Yiming Xu. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

4 Faculty Earn Prestigious NSF Early CAREER Awards

Faculty in the engineering, physics and mathematics departments earned National Science Foundation research awards in 2026 totaling almost $2.8 million.
Diane Stirling Aug. 6, 2026

Four faculty members in the early stages of their research careers have earned recognition and funding from the (NSF) this year through its award program.

The CAREER program is among the most prestigious awards NSF offers. It supports early-career faculty who show promise as both researchers and teachers and who weave education into their scientific work.

“CAREER awards are among the most competitive NSF offers, and they give a researcher’s work real momentum at a pivotal stage,” says Duncan Brown, vice president for research. “They tell the national scientific community that innovative work is happening here, and because the program values teaching as much as discovery, students can be confident they’re learning from faculty at the leading edge of their fields. Earning four awards in a single year speaks to the caliber of faculty joining, and at, Syracuse—and to what our students gain from learning alongside them.”

Headshot
Zhenyu Gan

Receiving awards this year are:

, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the ($611,222)

Gan received the grant for his project “A Systematic Framework for Morphological Adaptation and Control of Transformable Legged Robots.” Most robots have a fixed shape; Gan is building one that doesn’t. His legged robot can change its own body—adjusting leg length, posture or shape—to walk, jump, crawl or carry a load. His work develops the math and controls that let a machine reshape itself as the task changes, with possible uses in search and rescue, disaster response and space exploration.

The award also builds a robotics pipeline for students at every stage: middle schoolers will program small four-legged robots, high schoolers will take on a self-driving racecar challenge, and Syracuse undergraduates will help teach them and carry the research into the classroom.

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Nidhi Pashine

, assistant professor of physics in the (A&S) ($770,516).

Pashine received funding for “Adaptability of Soft Deformable Granular Materials.” She studies granular materials—think sand or a bag of beads—but with a twist: her particles can bend, grip and change their size, shape and stiffness. Using custom-built robotic particles, she traces how the behavior of single grains adds up to how the whole material acts—whether it flows or holds firm. The goal is “programmable” matter that can be tuned to respond in specific ways.

Her project also brings physics to a wider audience. With a Syracuse colleague in mathematics and education, she is designing an algebra-based “meaningful physics” course for non-majors that ties the material to students’ everyday lives.

Undergraduate researchers will build interactive demonstrations in her lab that then travel to K-12 classrooms, creating a chain of hands-on science engagement.

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Josh Pollitz

, assistant professor of mathematics in A&S ($400,000)

Pollitz received the funds for his project “Applications of Koszul Duality to Local Algebra.” He works in areas of mathematics that study number-like systems called rings and the patterns in how their parts fit together. He focuses on rings with “singularities”—points where the structure turns irregular and is hard to pin down.

His main tool is Koszul duality, which recasts a hard problem in a friendlier setting to tame calculations that would otherwise run on forever. Teaching sits at the center of the award: Pollitz will run week-long masterclasses and immersive summer schools—modeled on European programs—that bring students and researchers together for intensive, hands-on work and build a wider community around the field.

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Mirna Mihovilovic Skanata

, assistant professor of physics in A&S ($1,007,943).

Mihovilovic Skanata’s award advances her research on how a brain turns what it senses into what an animal does. Her model is the fruit fly larva, simple enough to study almost neuron by neuron. Her five-year project, Lessons From a Simple Brain, asks how neural circuits weigh competing signals and settle on a response.

Her interdisciplinary lab spans physics, neuroscience, engineering and computer science. The team builds its own instruments—including a microscope that follows a larva and records its brain activity as it moves freely—to watch the brain at work in real time.

The award also opens the lab to students. It funds an intensive “NeuroBootCamp,” a six-week summer research program for high schoolers run with the Syracuse City School District, and public science events such as “Ask a Scientist” at the Museum of Science & Technology.

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Four researchers in white lab coats work at an optics table filled with lenses, mirrors and cables in a physics laboratory
Researcher Earns National Clinical Award /2026/07/28/researcher-earns-national-clinical-award/ Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:52:21 +0000 /?p=341154 Emily P. Rabinowitz, postdoctoral researcher in the College of Arts and Sciences, earned a recognition from Division 38 of the American Psychological Association.

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Researcher Earns National Clinical Award

Emily Rabinowitz, postdoctoral researcher in the College of Arts and Sciences, earned a recognition from Division 38 of the American Psychological Association.
Sean Grogan July 28, 2026
Head-and-shoulders
Emily Rabinowitz

Emily Rabinowitz, a postdoctoral researcher with the Ìýand theÌý, has received aÌý, presented by Division 38 of the Ìýduring a ceremony on June 10.

The award recognizes outstanding early-career contributions to clinical health psychology and is among the most competitive honors the society confers on postdoctoral researchers. Rabinowitz was one of only six recipients selected nationally this year. This award supports Rabinowitz’s efforts to become a clinical scientist, with a focus on trauma and behavioral medicine.

Rabinowitz conducts her work under the supervision of Joseph W. Ditre, professor of psychology and director of the Center for Health Behavior Research and Innovation.

The Society for Health Psychology promotes the science and practice of health psychology across research, clinical practice, education and public policy.

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Meet the iSchool Professor Honored as Undergrad Teacher of the YearÌý /2026/07/20/ischool-professor-alexander-corsello-undergrad-teacher-of-the-year/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:46:15 +0000 /?p=340618 Alexander Corsello spent three decades in the corporate world before finding his calling in the classroom.

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Campus & Community Meet

Alexander Corsello (Photo by Amy Manley)

Meet the iSchool Professor Honored as Undergrad Teacher of the YearÌý

Alexander Corsello spent three decades in the corporate world before finding his calling in the classroom.
Dialynn Dwyer July 20, 2026

spent nearly 30 years climbing the corporate ladder, working his way up to a director-level role that took him traveling the world.

So, when he arrived at the University’s in 2011, he found himself learning the rhythms of academia from a new post in the iSchool’s IT department.

And when, a decade into that role, he was asked to teach a course, he was initially hesitant to accept.ÌýThat one iSchool course soon became two, and before he knew it, he was teaching full time.

His industry background saw him become the professor of record for project management, the discipline he now oversees for the iSchool, alongside a capstone course built around real-world case studies with companies like Accenture and IBM.

His experience and his passion for teaching has resonated with students.

This year, Corsello, an assistant teaching professor, the Undergraduate Jeffrey Katzer Professor of the Year, nominated by students for his approach to bringing real-world experience to the classroom and fostering a supportive, but challenging, environment for students focused on practical application and professional development.

The impact of his relationship-driven teaching style is evident well beyond graduation: many former students return years later for career advice, and alumni consistently volunteer to help with his capstone case studies when he asks.

“I love the students,” he says. “Getting the award, it confirmed I’m doing the job I want to be doing.”

Below, Corsello shares more about his approach in the classroom and why he loves teaching undergraduates.

Q:
How does it feel to receive the iSchool’s Undergraduate Jeffrey Katzler Professor of the Year award, which comes from student nominations?
A:

Totally grateful. Awed. I was at a loss for words, which was kind of crazy for me. You go to class every day and you really try. I have three children who went through college, and I have some grandchildren in college. I understand what it’s like from their perspective. It’s not an easy thing, so I try to be a human being. I try to be flexible. There’s certain rules that I have to follow, but I try to be a human being too.

Q:
What do you love about teaching undergrads?
A:

I like to get to know them. Oftentimes they’ll come to me with a problem. It could be a course-related problem, it could be related to them looking for a position, but I really try to make myself available and accessible.

I like that I can help them go through their college career, and at the end, I see them as seniors and they’ve grown up into men and women. It’s just an enjoyable thing.

Grad students are different. They’re older, some of them have been in school for a few years, and they have different goals. Undergrads—they’re anxious, they want to learn.

I love teaching undergraduates too, because it keeps me current in the IT world. There are things that if I wasn’t involved with the undergrads that I wouldn’t even be aware of anymore, Bitcoin, things that are out today that would pass me by. My grandsons say to me, “Oh, Pop, do you know about Bitcoin?” Of course, I know about all that, because I teach it. I see it every day.

Q:
One of the student nominators said that you share knowledge that “truly prepares students for the corporate world.” Can you talk a little bit more about your approach in the classroom?
A:

Working in corporate for 30 years, I saw the good, the bad, the ugly. And I rose up to a director level, so I had a lot of people working for me over the years, and it was mostly always in the IT area. So what I do in all my classes, in the conversations and lectures, is I give them my real-world experiences. I’ve had some very positive things happen to me, and I’ve had some very negative things happen to me. I try to alert them to certain things they could face.

We talk about case problems working in the corporate world. For example, having a manager and maybe they’re only worrying about themselves and they’re using you to get up the ladder of success and don’t really care about you at all. Then you have to really make that work for yourself or get out of that situation. So I try to give them those things to look for when they get out there, where you have to kind of watch out for yourself and do all the things that you need to do to keep yourself current.

Q:
Is there anything that you’ve learned from your students over the years that has informed your approach to the classroom?
A:

I learn every day. They don’t even realize that they’re teaching me as well as I’m teaching them. I’ve learned a lot from them in the sense of what’s going on today in the world. In IT, it changes hourly, so we have to keep up.

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