From the looks of it, our University community members sure enjoyed themselves over the summer months. From big adventures around the world to relaxing family getaways, take a look at the fun they had.

Ryan Schram, a veteran industry leader and strategic advisor at the intersection of content, commerce and creativity, has been named the inaugural executive director of Syracuse University’s Center for the Creator Economy.

A first-of-its-kind academic center on a U.S. college campus, the�� aligns strengths at Syracuse University in entrepreneurship, media, communications, athletics and digital infrastructure, charting how higher education can prepare students for the 21st-century economy. Launched last fall, the center is led jointly by the����and the��—two of the top schools in their respective fields.

Schram, who will start Aug. 3, will guide the center’s growth as it expands its academic programs, research and industry partnerships. His appointment brings a practitioner’s perspective to the University’s trailblazing initiative.

��������������ٳ󲹲԰�������for his vision that created the center.

“Syracuse has done what no other university has: build the first academic center for the creator economy with the ambition of becoming the global authority on curriculum, research and rankings in this space,” Schram says. “As someone who has spent the last decade and a half building businesses in this industry, I see real value in leading it from a practitioner’s vantage point. I am excited for what we will build together in the years to come.”

Schram’s 25-plus year career includes extensive experience across public and private companies. He was recognized as a Top 10 Global Chief Operating Officer at the 2023 OnCon Icon Awards and as a Top 101 COO by Boardroom Media in 2022.

Most recently, Schram worked at Particle Wave, where he was managing partner for the boutique advisory firm that counsels leading companies on navigating the rapidly evolving creator economy. He also spent 13 years, including 12 as president and COO, at IZEA, a global leader in professional services, technology and talent representation.

Before IZEA, he was��group��vice��president at Merkle (formerly HelloWorld/ePrize) and held roles of increasing responsibility at Westwood One and iHeartMedia.

“Ryan brings the vision, industry experience and entrepreneurial mindset needed to lead the Center for the Creator Economy at this pivotal moment,” says , dean of the Newhouse School. “He understands how storytelling, audience development, technology and business come together in today’s media landscape. We are looking forward to working with Ryan to build a vibrant hub at the University that leads across the evolving creative economy.”

“The creator economy represents one of the fastest-evolving sectors of the global economy, and Ryan has spent his career helping organizations navigate that change,” says , interim dean of the Whitman School of Management. “His practitioner perspective, combined with his commitment to innovation and collaboration, will help ensure the Center for the Creator Economy continues to shape how we prepare future business and creative leaders.”

Poised to Flourish��

The Center for the Creator Economy enters its second year with expanding programming and positive momentum. The University is launching a creator economy minor this fall, providing a new path��for students to build careers in content creation, digital entrepreneurship and the��practitioner��ecosystem reshaping how ideas, audiences and businesses are��built��online.

Besides courses from Whitman and Newhouse, the minor includes electives offered by other schools and colleges, including a Name, Image and Likeness class offered from the , and Music Industry Marketing and Media from the .

Programs and academic offerings from the center are available to students from all schools and colleges at the University, and the minor’s interdisciplinary design reflects the scope of the creator economy itself. According to Goldman Sachs Research, nearly 50 million people globally work as full- or part-time creators, and the sector could be worth $480 billion by 2027.

The center’s physical home at the Newhouse School, which opened this past spring, features areas for collaboration and programming, and new podcast production booths are slated to open in the fall.

Thirty-two graduates will earn dual degrees: a master of business administration degree from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and an executive master of public administration degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Founded in 1952, the DCP prepares military and civilian financial leaders from across the U.S. Department of Defense through an intensive graduate education in business, public administration and defense resource management. Since expanding to serve all branches of the armed services and defense agencies in 2006, the program has continued to develop leaders responsible for managing complex financial and organizational challenges across the defense enterprise.

The commencement celebration follows the program’s annual awards and Beta Gamma Sigma induction ceremony on Thursday, July 23. This year, six students will be inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society: Raleigh Audette, Jennifer Berry, Joonki Hong, Morgan Hood, Jared Michael McClish and Xiaobin Wu.

During the awards ceremony, Robert Unger, director of resources and analysis for U.S. Central Command, will receive the James F. McCall Award. Bruce Miller, auditor general of the U.S. Army Audit Agency, will receive the Leonard F. Keenan Memorial Award. The David Laychak/Rhonda Rasmussen Award, selected by the graduating class, will be presented to Nickkole Daniels, and the LTC Thomas P. Belkofer Award, recognizing the program’s highest-ranked student, will be presented to Xiaobin Wu.

The 32 graduates of the Class of 2026 are:

Raleigh Audette

Joshua Baker

Jennifer Berry

Trenton Betts

Anthonio Black

Briana Brown

Edgar Carrasquillo

Yu Feng Chao

Nickkole Daniels

Boren Du

Angelica Dy

Tania Gonzalez

Deuntae Greenfield

Joonki Hong

Morgan Hood

Eui-Suk Jung

Monica Lorenzetti

Michelle Ma

Jared Michael McClish

Tatiana McCook

William Meindl

Kiandra Moore

Tan Nguyen

Benson Njoroge

Emilio Obregon

Andrea Pena

Kevin Pollard

Elia Ramirez

Ashley Solorzano

Katelyn Voss

Xiaobin Wu

Wei Ye

Grocery prices have remained a persistent strain on household budgets, and according to a supply chain expert in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, that pressure isn’t expected to ease before the end of the year.

Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice, says a combination of rising costs across the supply chain is driving food prices higher. A shrinking cattle supply is compounding the problem, pushing up the cost of beef and other proteins.

The data backs him up. Grocery (food-at-home) prices rose for the fifth time this year in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the projects food-at-home prices will climb 2.8% for all of 2026—faster than the 20-year historical average.

Beef is a standout: farm-level cattle prices were up nearly 17% in May compared to a year earlier, and wholesale beef prices were up nearly 16%, driven by a cyclical contraction in the U.S. cattle herd.

Food prices are expected to keep climbing through the rest of 2026,” Penfield says. “[Fuel, fertilizer, trucking and transportation, packaging materials and labor costs are] key pressures pushing prices higher across the supply chain… With farmers now heading into the start of harvest season, these elevated input costs are expected to work their way through the supply chain and translate into higher prices for consumers by the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2026.”

Penfield notes that until these underlying cost pressures ease, shoppers shouldn’t expect meaningful relief at the grocery store in the near term.

About Penfield

, professor of supply chain practice and director of executive education, teaches and researches supply chain management, procurement and logistics.

Media Contact

Reporters interested in speaking with Professor Penfield about grocery prices, supply chain disruptions or related topics may contact:

Daryl Lovell
Syracuse University Media Relations
M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu��|

Are you a Syracuse University alumnus who turned your entrepreneurial drive into your own business or nonprofit?

If so, you’re encouraged to apply for the University’s fourth annual��, which celebrate 50 of the fastest-growing global businesses and nonprofit ventures owned or led by Orange alumni.

In the first three years of the ’CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Awards, honorees have included the heads of global investment and advertising firms; the co-founder of a market leader in sustainability impact measurement; the president and CEO of a national nonprofit that advances evidence-aligned reading instruction; an inventor who created smiley-faced sponges for a worldwide cleaning product company; the managing partner of global operations for a leading distributor of high-quality, fresh flowers; and many others.

Applications for the����are being accepted through July 27.

Alumni of any school or college, graduates of the University’s executive education programs and alumni of entrepreneurship programs operated by the����are eligible to apply.

“The ‘CUSE50 Awards have become one of my favorite Syracuse traditions, and this fourth year feels more exciting than ever,” says��Lauren Villanueva, vice president of .��“These awards celebrate the innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of alumni who honed their talents at Syracuse and are eager to come back and share what they’ve learned with the next generation of Orange innovators. Watching that ‘full-circle moment’ unfold on campus never gets old. It’s inspiring for our students, and it’s a powerful reminder of just how far a Syracuse education can take you.”

The ’CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Awards ceremony will occur on campus on Thursday, Nov. 12, in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building. Earlier in the day, during the ’CUSE50 Student Summit, honorees will share insights with current students as part of a series of campus engagement sessions held at the Whitman School.

“What makes the ’CUSE50 celebration so special is what happens in the room before the awards are handed out,” says , interim dean and professor of entrepreneurship in the . “Our students get to sit down with alumni entrepreneurs and hear about what goes into building a successful business. That kind of access is one reason why so many of our students leave the summit already thinking differently about what’s possible for them.”

Ready to Join the Fourth Annual Class of ’CUSE50 Awardees?

Review the����for the ’CUSE50 Awards.

The deadline to apply for recognition is��Monday, July 27. To learn more about the ’CUSE50 Awards and nominate your company for recognition, visit����or send an email to��cuse50@syr.edu. Past ’CUSE50 applicants, including previous winners, are encouraged to apply again.

When the Orange women’s basketball team earned its spot in the NCAA Tournament this spring, head coach ’89 wasn’t expecting company from incoming Chancellor J. Michael Haynie on Selection Sunday.

“I’m not thinking anyone is going to come over to our party,” Legette-Jack says of the appearance by Haynie, who had just been named the University’s 13th president and chancellor a week and a half earlier. “And not only did he come, but he stayed almost to the very end. He celebrated with the team and the fans.”

For Legette-Jack, the moment said something about who Haynie is. “He’s a listener. He’s an enthusiast. He’s very intelligent,” she says. “I sense that he’s going to see all of us and our goodness, and if we have struggles, he’s going to be an ear to listen.”

That leadership instinct—to show up, pay attention and treat people like they matter—runs through the accounts of students, faculty, community leaders and national figures who have worked alongside Haynie during his nearly two decades at Syracuse University.

He Meets People Where They Are

When , professor and director of the in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and a member of the chancellor search committee, invited Haynie to tour the Nancy Cantor Warehouse earlier this spring, she noticed something right away: he came alone.

“There was no driver, no ‘handlers,’ no entourage of any kind,” Stokes-Rees says. “It feels like he really prioritizes doing things himself and taking the time to make personal connections.”

As they walked through the fashion design studio on the seventh floor, Haynie recognized the first student they encountered, by name. He knew her sorority and that he was having dinner with them the following Tuesday.

“This little moment is a perfect example of who he is,” Stokes-Rees says. “Truly student-focused, super friendly and energetic with everyone he meets. He brings a genuine desire to be actively involved in all aspects of University life.”

Legette-Jack sees the same quality in how Haynie communicates. “He can come to your level of communication,” she says. “You don’t feel like you’re speaking to somebody way above you.”

He Listens First, Then Acts

Thomas O’Brien ’25, a VPA film program alumnus and project coordinator with the , traces his working relationship with Haynie to a single moment.

As a junior, O’Brien was invited to speak at New Student Convocation in the JMA Wireless Dome. Afterward, in the green room, Haynie handed him a neon sticky note with his email address and two words: “Let’s talk.”

“I still have the sticky note to this day,” O’Brien says.

Within two weeks, O’Brien was in Haynie’s office discussing his social media business. Over the following year, their conversations shifted. It was no longer about O’Brien’s venture, but explored a bigger question: How could Syracuse University meaningfully explore the creator economy?

That exchange helped lay the groundwork for the Center for the Creator Economy, a joint initiative between the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, where O’Brien develops programming for student creators as the center’s first full-time employee.

“He saw me, heard me and wanted me to succeed. He gave me a shot, and I took it,” O’Brien says. “That’s what university leaders should always aim to do.”

Leonel “Leo” Aviles ’26, a recent graduate of the , Marine Corps veteran and outgoing president of the , experienced a similar pattern of connection leading to opportunity.

After getting to know Aviles through veteran events and regular meetings with the organization’s executive board, Haynie introduced him to Erik Smith, president and CEO of Saab’s U.S. operations, during a Syracuse football game where Aviles was honored as a Hometown Hero. That introduction led to Aviles securing a position as a cyber analyst at Saab after graduation.

“He did this simply because he wanted to help,” Aviles says. “He saw potential in me and took the initiative to create an opportunity without expecting anything in return.”

He Has the Record to Match

Haynie’s reach extends well beyond campus. Bob McDonald, who served as U.S. secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) from 2014-17 and is the former chairman and CEO of Procter & Gamble, first sought out Haynie as a leader in the veterans space. McDonald asked him to serve as vice chair of the VA’s external advisory committee. When the chair stepped back for family obligations, Haynie became the de facto leader.

“He deserves credit for the transformation of the VA, raising trust among veterans from 47% to near 80%,” McDonald says. “He knows how to lead and is great at building strategic partnerships and robust systems that deliver results.”

That reach is visible in the work Haynie built at Syracuse and championed nationally. Megan Andros, director of workforce and veterans at The Heinz Endowments, has worked alongside Haynie for more than a decade through the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), which he founded.

What stays with her is his knack for seeing challenges before others do. Years ago, she was invited to a meeting Haynie convened with the U.S. Department of Defense, bringing higher education and the military together to collaborate—rather than compete—in the face of shared recruiting and enrollment pressures, long before those pressures became the crisis confronting universities today.

“He recognizes the most important issues early, and he gets the right people in the room to work on them before they become crises,” Andros says. “That combination of foresight, conviction, and the ability to move people toward a shared goal for the greater good is exactly what Syracuse needs as it steps into its next chapter.”

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon witnessed Haynie’s steady, guiding hand during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recruitment of Micron Technology to the Central New York region.

“I think certainly his military background played out during the pandemic as the JMA Wireless Dome turned into essentially one of the largest healthcare testing facilities,” McMahon says of Haynie’s track record of leading the University’s COVID response. “Being able to get the school open, and have it stay open, with the rigorous regulatory environment that we were in was a testament to his leadership.”

McMahon sees that same steady hand at work as the region positions itself around Micron’s planned semiconductor investment. “This next chapter is one where the University has real opportunities to grow in disciplines that maybe historically they weren’t competing in,” he says. “He understands the opportunity at hand.”

Back on campus, Stokes-Rees sees a university positioned to meet the moment.

“At a time when higher education faces real disruption, Syracuse needs a leader who leans into innovation rather than away from it, and that is exactly who Mike Haynie is,” she says.

When prominent content creators met with U.S. policymakers earlier this summer during Creator Row, a first-of-its-kind content creator gathering organized by the , Syracuse University was the only higher education institution represented on Capitol Hill.

Thomas O’Brien, project coordinator for the (CCE), was part of the University delegation invited to help inform and educate lawmakers on the unique challenges content creators face and learn more about potential legislative priorities involving creators.

O’Brien met face-to-face with elected U.S. representatives, content creators and employees from leading platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Meta, Patreon, Substack, Adobe and Rumble, to help advance the conversation around the creator economy as a growing economic sector.

“We’re the first school to create an academic resource center entirely focused on social media content creation and the revenue streams that exist within that industry, so it was fitting and a great honor to be able to represent both Syracuse and the Center for the Creator Economy at these events,” O’Brien says. “We’re paving a path forward and it’s an exciting time for content creators.”

It was the perfect opportunity for O’Brien and the University delegation—consisting of Carrie Welch, CCE launch director, and Cameron MacPherson, senior director of operations and government affairs with the —to share how the CCE helps students build real-world skills in media, entrepreneurship and digital strategy.

The CCE,��a joint initiative between the and the , is a first-of-its-kind academic initiative dedicated to preparing students for careers in the creator economy.

Through meetings with elected representatives, the University’s delegation learned why support for the creator economy has become a priority at the local, state and federal levels, and how Congress is addressing the growing gap between what content creators need to be successful with potential overregulation of this emerging industry.

“The room was full of some of the biggest names shaping the creator economy, from tech companies and platforms to creators themselves, and it’s great that Syracuse University was in it,” MacPherson said of the event. “All in all, it couldn’t have gone much better for the University. It was a fantastic, dynamic event for us to participate in.”

The Creator Row event was organized and hosted by U.S. Reps. Beth Van Duyne of Texas and Yvette Clark of New York.

University researchers with groundbreaking ideas in semiconductors, microelectronics or advanced materials are invited to apply for an entrepreneurship-focused hybrid course offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program through Syracuse University this fall. The virtual course, which runs through September and October, includes an opportunity for an in-person immersion experience at SEMICON West, North America’s premier microelectronics conference, in San Francisco in October.

Interested working individual researchers and innovators .

The course provides hands-on entrepreneurship training and one-on-one coaching tailored to researchers working in far-reaching sectors that are critical to the next generation of semiconductor innovation. Successful applicants will be researchers working on solutions to enhance the performance and efficiency of electronic devices with applications to semiconductors across industries including big chip fabrication projects, consumer electronics, automotive, telecommunications, healthcare, artificial intelligence hardware and high-power materials.

Applications might range from 3D integrated circuits, system-on-chip integration and computing chips for tasks like pattern recognition, learning and sensory processing. Big data and machine learning innovations are also of interest, as well as conventional semiconductor design and manufacturing applications. The course benefits anyone interested in being part of the research, design, commercialization and supply chain associated with these industries.

Offered jointly by Syracuse University and Cornell University as part of the Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub (IN I-Corps), this NSF-sponsored course is open to faculty, postdocs, Ph.D. and master’s students, undergraduates and community-based startups working on semiconductor-related technologies with commercial potential.

Syracuse’s NSF I-Corps program is a partnership between and . The Syracuse Center of Excellence () serves as tech scout for the program.

The course opens for pre-course work on Monday, Sept. 21, and will follow this schedule:

Virtual:

Session 1: Monday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon

Session 2a: Wednesday, Sept. 30 (individual mentoring sessions)

Session 2b: Friday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. to noon

Session 3: Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon

Session 4: Wednesday, Oct. 7 (individual mentoring sessions)

In-person at SEMICON West in San Francisco:����

Tuesday, Oct. 13, through Thursday, Oct. 15

Virtual wrap-up:

Session 6: Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon

Teams selected to participate may receive up to $5,000 in travel reimbursement, enabling participants to conduct in-person customer discovery interviews and attend specialized workshops during SEMICON West. Participation in this conference provides unmatched exposure to global industry leaders, cutting-edge technologies and potential collaborators or customers. Conference attendees include executives, engineers, startups and policy leaders shaping the future of chips.

Participants who complete regional courses may be eligible to receive lineage and a letter of recommendation for the�� which includes a $50K grant).��Learn more about courses here: and .

For questions about this SEMICON course, contact Linda Dickerson Hartsock, advisor for strategic initiatives for Syracuse University Libraries, at ldhart01@syr.edu

The recently announced the of as chair of the Department of Finance. Weinbaum, who is professor of finance and Harris Fellow at Whitman, has served as department chair since 2023 and will continue in the role for an additional term.

Under Weinbaum’s leadership, the finance department has seen significant growth and momentum. During his tenure, the department launched 12 new courses, including a financial literacy course available to students across the University. Three new faculty members have joined the department, the master of science in finance and master of science in real estate programs have been revised and strengthened and the department’s doctoral program has grown to seven students in residence.

“David’s leadership of the finance department has been transformative,” says Whitman Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. “The growth and innovation we have seen in our faculty, our educational programming and our Ph.D. program reflect his vision and his commitment to excellence. He has done an outstanding job in this role and in collaborating with the faculty. We are fortunate to have David continue as department chair.”

Weinbaum’s research focuses on empirical asset pricing and derivatives, with work published in leading academic journals in finance, economics and accounting. His research has been featured in the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal and U.S. News and World Report. He teaches investments at the undergraduate level and has taught managerial finance and valuation in the online MBA program. He also teaches a finance course at the Ph.D. level.

Before joining Whitman, Weinbaum was a member of the faculty at the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, where he received the Globe Award for excellence in teaching. He previously worked as a swap trader at BNP Paribas and earned his Ph.D. at New York University’s Stern School of Business. In 2016, he received the Whitman School faculty teaching award.

The Office has recognized two volunteers for outstanding service in helping to maintain academic integrity standards and policies across the University.

Recipients of the 2026 Academic Integrity Outstanding Service Award are , assistant teaching professor in the and , associate director of the Experiential Center in the .

Dunham and Henderson exemplify the ��identified by the as essential to academic integrity work, says Kate Marzen, director of the Academic Integrity Office. Their handling of academic integrity cases and their visible support of the process make them exemplary models as volunteers, she says.

Dunham was recognized for managing academic integrity cases with thoroughness and precision, engaging fully in the process and embodying fairness without letting the complexities of cases hamper his focus on required procedures.

“His approach illustrates that the strength of the academic integrity process depends on faculty who take it seriously and implement it ethically,” Marzen says. “He supports students involved in the process, using hearing time to express his care for them, explain his thought process and ensure students know they can and will be successful. This approach reflects the understanding that academic integrity is educational and not punitive in its purpose.”

Henderson was honored for conducting her work in a meaningful way that illustrates the reliability of the academic integrity process, and for being one of the office’s most genuine and effective ambassadors, Marzen says.

“She brings a clear understanding of why academic integrity matters beyond the immediate classroom, demonstrating both institutional trust and care for students. She approaches every training, faculty conversation and academic integrity-related connection with openness about the office and positivity about the work. She repeatedly helps us build relationships and creates opportunities to engage with the campus community,” Marzen says. “That kind of peer advocacy is so valuable because it is often small moments made meaningful by role models like her that help build confidence in the academic integrity process.”

Henderson served as the Whitman School’s academic integrity coordinator for several years before moving into her current role and has continued volunteering as a hearing chair.

The Academic Integrity Outstanding Service Awards were launched last year;�� inaugural recipients were , associate dean for academic affairs in the , and , assistant teaching professor of in the .

The Office of Academic Integrity promotes and facilitates campus policies and best practices for integrity through educational initiatives for students, staff and faculty. For more information visit the Academic Integrity Office .

Seventeen students from Syracuse University, including students from the , , and , traveled to Asia in May as part of an 18-day study abroad trip for the �� (SPM 440/SAL 440) class.�� , associate professor of sport management, and�� , professor of sport management, led the trip.

Traveling to Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo, the students learned about local sport ecosystems by visiting the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, Korean Sport Promotion Foundation, K-league, Chinese Soccer League, the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and more. They learned about the globalization strategies of U.S. sport entities by meeting with NFL China, NBA China, MLB Asia and the PGA Tour; and studied the impact of mega sporting events by visiting Seoul’s Olympic Park, Beijing National Stadium (also known as the Bird’s Nest, which played host of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and 2022 Winter Olympic Games) and Japan National Stadium.

The Syracuse students engaged in joint classes with local students from Sungkyunkwan University and the Chinese University of Political Science and Law. They also�� attended local events such as a Korean baseball game at Jamsil Stadium, Chinese soccer at Worker’s Stadium, Nike high school basketball at Wukesong Arena and Japanese baseball at Tokyo Dome.

The trip provided opportunities for cultural immersion, including gaming and esports, screen golf, kung fu and kendo, as well as sightseeing at the Korean National Palace, the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Tokyo Samurai Museum.

“Taking in the beautiful grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace was a one-of-a-kind experience that can’t be expressed in words,” said sport management major Zach Siegel ’27. “You could feel the rich history and culture all around.”

The students kept a of their day-by-day experiences.

“This study abroad program was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We just didn’t just learn about sports management in a classroom, we experienced the culture firsthand,”�� said sport analytics major Jeremy Shatzer ’28.

Story by Margie Chetney

The ��community 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.