When Howard G. “Howie” Phanstiel ’70, G’71, H’22 was a student at Syracuse University, the state of the nation was not dissimilar to what it is today. “It was a time when the general public questioned both the capabilities and credibility of government. Were we getting straight answers about the war in Vietnam?” he recalls. “Meanwhile, New York City was under significant financial pressures and ultimately had to be bailed out by the state.”

Phanstiel saw his graduate education in public administration at the as an opportunity to improve the way government—local, state and federal—functioned. “I wanted to show people that it could work, that the trains could run on time, so to speak.” That aspiration drove his early career successes and is the underlying motivation for his continued support of Maxwell, its faculty and students. “Maxwell not only gave me the analytical skills to improve government; it gave me the confidence.” As a 22-year-old, he took a job in Wisconsin and was charged with briefing the governor on legislative issues and defending budgetary decisions. Phanstiel describes that early work in government as being “on the hot seat.”

Honoring a Dean, Endowing a Future

The latest gift from Howie and Louise Phanstiel is intended to ensure that motivated and talented students have the same opportunity to do graduate work at Maxwell and gain the skills and confidence to improve the way governments function. The Phanstiels’ $1 million gift creates the Dean David M. Van Slyke Endowed Scholarship. With an additional $500,000 match as part of The Syracuse Promise scholarship initiative, the fund will provide scholarship support for students for generations to come, and honor the contributions and impact that Dean Van Slyke has had on Maxwell.

“David lives and breathes Maxwell, traveling around the globe to raise funds,” says Phanstiel. “I don’t think there’s anybody in the world more dedicated to maintaining Maxwell’s No. 1 standing as the for public affairs. Louise and I are inspired by his level of commitment.”

“Howie and Louise have demonstrated a deep and lasting commitment to Maxwell, its students and the importance of public service over the nearly 20 years I have known them,” says Van Slyke. “Their generosity will help make a Maxwell education possible for talented students who want to serve the public good and strengthen the institutions our communities depend on. I am deeply grateful for their counsel and support and honored that they would associate my name with a scholarship devoted to those purposes. I hope their example inspires continued investment in the students who will lead and serve in the years ahead.”

“Howie Phanstiel is a rare example of someone whose vision, leadership and commitment to the public good have never dimmed,” says Chancellor J. Michael Haynie. “For decades, he and Louise have invested in Syracuse University, the Maxwell School and our students in ways that have shaped this institution profoundly. This scholarship is a testament to everything they believe in, and it will open doors for Maxwell students and future public servants for generations to come. On behalf of Syracuse University, we are deeply grateful to Howie and Louise.”

Phanstiel envisions that the Van Slyke Scholars, as they will be known, will choose to work in government, non-governmental organizations and charitable organizations, becoming the next generation of strong managers able to deliver on mission and goals in efficient and effective ways. Phanstiel himself moved on from government to leading organizations in both the public and private sectors—in healthcare, banking and finance—and always approached good management as good public service. He led the transformation of PacifiCare Health Systems from a Medicare HMO to a diversified Fortune 150 consumer health company offering affordable consumer-driven health products, including one of the nation’s largest Medicare Advantage plans.

A Lasting Pattern of Giving Back

After retiring from prolific and rewarding careers in the financial and healthcare sectors, Howie and Louise Phanstiel formed a private consulting and investing firm. They found ways to make their work most meaningful, investing in worthy causes, with Syracuse University and its students being major beneficiaries of their philanthropy.  Their historic $20 million gift creating the in 2011 has opened the doors of opportunity to more than 125 students and included community service and civic engagement in the requirements for scholarship recipients. Phanstiel Scholars gain an appreciation for what it means to pay it forward, in time and treasure.

In addition to their own financial support of Maxwell, Syracuse Athletics and other programs, Howie is a life trustee on the Board of Trustees, and Louise is currently a voting member of the board. Howie serves on the Maxwell Advisory Board, and led fundraising campaigns that have inspired thousands of people to support the University.

Phanstiel says their latest gift is an investment in human capital. “For democracies to function successfully, they need citizens who are both informed and engaged,” says Phanstiel. “Our governments need public administrators who are skilled and motivated to make a difference and produce results that benefit others. The Maxwell School produces the kind of people who will do just that. The students I meet today want to make a difference. Louise and I want to make sure the economic pressures on those students are alleviated by scholarship support, to keep them in school so they can make that difference after they graduate and go on to serve the public interest.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Beijing to Syracuse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An Unconventional Path

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Publishing magnate Donald Newhouse H’16, whose family’s philanthropy changed the face of Syracuse University and set the course for generations of communications students, died May 26. He was 96.

“Donald Newhouse was one of the most consequential figures in American media and one of the greatest benefactors this University has ever known,” says Chancellor . “His generosity, leadership and vision have given generations of Syracuse University students the education, preparation and opportunity to pursue meaningful careers in journalism and communications. He built a media empire that pushed the industry forward, embracing the demands of modern storytelling while never wavering in his belief that local journalism is essential to informed and engaged communities. We are deeply grateful for everything he gave to Syracuse University, and our hearts are with the Newhouse family.”

“Donald Newhouse deeply understood Syracuse University—not just its history and mission, but its character,” says Chancellor Emeritus Kent Syverud, who worked closely with Newhouse during his tenure as chancellor. “Over the many years I knew him, I came to appreciate his abiding commitment to the idea that journalism done well is one of the highest forms of public service. Losing him is a profound loss for this university, and personally, for me. I am grateful for every conversation we had and for his great love and care for Syracuse University. My deepest sympathies go to Steven, Katherine, Michael and the entire Newhouse family.”

“Donald Newhouse set a standard for what it means to be a true champion of this university,” says Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jeffrey Scruggs. “As an honorary trustee, he inspired our board not just through his extraordinary philanthropy but through his genuine, tireless advocacy for Syracuse University—the kind that came from someone who believed in this institution with his whole heart and showed up for it in every way. My thoughts are with the entire Newhouse family, especially Trustee Michael Newhouse, as he and his family grieve an extraordinary man.”

Dedicated to Communications Education

The is named for Newhouse’s father, Samuel I. Newhouse, who was born to immigrant parents in a New York City tenement in 1895 and by the time of his death in 1979 had built the publishing empire .

His $15 million gift to the University in 1960 supported the construction of the first two buildings of the Newhouse complex: Newhouse 1, , and Newhouse 2, . In recognition of his philanthropy, the school was named for Samuel Newhouse in 1971.

Donald Newhouse and his brother, Samuel I. “Si” Newhouse Jr., took over Advance Publications following their father’s death. They continued his legacy as shrewd and successful publishers, and as dedicated supporters of communications education at Syracuse.

“Donald Newhouse’s impact on American media, and the school that bears his family’s name, is difficult to put into words,” says Newhouse Dean . “He believed deeply in the core values of journalism, and in the importance of diverse voices in the newsroom as a way of strengthening coverage of the communities we serve. His generosity made it possible for Syracuse University to become home to the country’s top communications programs and train generations of journalists.”

Moving Into the Future

With continued philanthropy in the years following the naming of the school, the Newhouse family—through the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation led by Donald Newhouse—became the University’s largest benefactor. A $15 million gift in 2003 supported the construction of Newhouse 3, .

An $18 million renovation of Newhouse 2, supported in part by the Newhouse Foundation, produced the Newhouse Studio and Innovation Center—featuring Dick Clark Studios, the Alan Gerry Center for Media Innovation and the Diane and Bob Miron Digital News Center—which was dedicated by Oprah Winfrey in 2014. In 2020, a marked the largest-ever gift in University history.

Donald Newhouse visited the school to announce the gift in January of that year. In a full-circle moment, he posed in the Newhouse 1 lobby, just as he had done alongside his father and the rest of his family on the day of the Newhouse 1 dedication. “The Newhouse School resulted from my father’s dream to establish the finest journalism school in the world,” he said. “In this era in which public communications is undergoing continual and radical change, my family and I expect to continue our long-term commitment to ensure that the school my dad helped found almost 60 years ago remains the leading communications school in the world for another generation.”

Lifelong Connection

Donald Newhouse’s vision for the school embraced technology and innovation while honoring the core values of journalism that remained key to its foundation. In this new era, the Newhouse family’s generosity was indeed a cornerstone of the school’s strength. “Without this Newhouse money, the school would not be what it is today,” says Newhouse Dean Emeritus . The foundation’s gift in support of Newhouse 3, he says, “catapulted the school to the very top of communications education.”

Newhouse funds also supported technological advancements, endowed professorships, student scholarships and other areas of need. The Newhouse Dean’s Leadership Fund, established in 2007 with a $10 million matching challenge, provides discretionary funds allowing the dean to leverage opportunities to enhance the educational mission of the school. The , which began in 1994 as a partnership with the Advance-owned Syracuse Post-Standard, was undergirded by Donald Newhouse’s commitment to diversifying news reporting. “Donald recognized that the quality of journalism would only be as good as the people in the newsrooms who produced it,” Rubin says.

The family’s philanthropy touched other areas of the University as well, including , and the , where a gift from the foundation helped establish the Chancellor Kent Syverud and Dr. Ruth Chen Endowed Chair in Applied Artificial Intelligence. Newhouse also gave to the fund for the Marley Building, which is named for the parents of his late wife, . And he and was awarded an honorary degree in 2016.

Throughout his life, Donald Newhouse remained connected to the University, offering his quiet guidance and steadfast support—a presence that was appreciated by numerous deans, Rubin included.

“Despite his wealth and success, he was an idealist, a man devoted to the greater good, a man of warmth and empathy,” Rubin says. “Look around. How many such industry titans does one see who are like him?”

With an extraordinary and unique gift valued at more than $1.2 million, the School of Design in the is likely to become a travel destination for fashion researchers, haute couture designers and sewing enthusiasts worldwide. The school has received thousands of stunning designer garments, books, patterns and accessories that once belonged to an iconic figure in the fashion industry: Claire B. Shaeffer.

Shaeffer’s career path, from aspiring circus performer to couture expert and educator, is fascinating. Her relationship with Syracuse University is equally intriguing, given that it began when she was 80 years old after she reached out to a professor who shared her passion “for reading garments,” including every stitch, hem and buttonhole.

“Claire was all about delving one layer deeper to understand and show how each garment was constructed,” says Jeffrey Mayer, professor of fashion design and coordinator for the fashion design program. Shaeffer reached out to Mayer after seeing a book he co-authored, “Vintage Details: A Fashion Sourcebook,” which documents 160 garments found within the Sue Ann Genet Costume Collection at Syracuse University.

Shaeffer was impressed by the detailed photography, from hems to buttons. She told Mayer she wanted her next book to have similar photography. “That’s what fascinated Claire, how things were created,” Mayer says. “She went down rabbit holes to understand every detail of design.”

A Collection of Garments, Patterns and Books

Shaeffer’s relationship with Mayer blossomed, and when she began to think seriously of where she might want her collection of more than 2,500 garments, patterns and books to end up after her lifetime, she chose Syracuse University, a teaching institution where students could learn from the study of each garment and pattern.

Shaeffer began her own studies in fashion design in the early 1960s after initially exploring the idea of circus performance. Proficient in acrobatics, she enrolled in the circus curriculum at Florida State University after high school. Her broad shoulders and slight build made it difficult to find clothes that fit, so she began to sew her own wardrobe. After realizing that basic patterns just wouldn’t fit her frame, she switched her academic interests and professional pursuits, turning a fascination with detail into a distinguished career.

Throughout her life, Shaeffer collected examples of haute couture and designer ready-to-wear and studied others in museum collections, design workrooms and factories. She excelled at the analysis of garment construction details and sewing techniques.

Shaeffer taught classes at the College of the Desert in Palm Springs, gave workshops, wrote dozens of magazine articles and books, developed instructional videos, had her own , and created the Claire Shaeffer Custom Couture Collection of patterns for Vogue Patterns. She received the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers Lifetime Achievement Award and the American Sewing Guild Sewing Hall of Fame Award.

A Dedication to Precision

Mayer was a former designer of women’s wear himself and a specialist in 20th-century fashion and construction techniques. He knew of Shaeffer’s history and stature, but never foresaw working so closely with this icon of industry. Given his personal history, though, it seemed destined. Mayer was the son of a seamstress.

“I would sneak into my mother’s room and, at the age of 6, I would start cutting out patterns,” Mayer says. When his mother saw him so engaged with very pointy scissors, she told him: ‘If you’re going to do this, you’re going to do this right.’”

Similarly, Shaeffer taught countless students of fashion how to do things right and came to believe that Syracuse University’s program was similarly dedicated.

Before her passing in January 2025, she had shipped close to 1,000 pieces from her collection to the school. Afterward, Mayer and Kirsten Schoonmaker, fashion design collections manager, flew out to Palm Springs and worked with Shaeffer’s sons to pack up another 1,500 pieces.

The gift perfectly matched the mission of the Sue Ann Genet Costume Collection and Research Center: “…to provide the University and broader community with access to exemplary garments and accessories that reflect high standards of craftsmanship, design and stylistic significance. With a sustained focus on the object itself and its material, structural, and aesthetic integrity the collections advance the preservation, study and interpretation of these works.”

Pieces of History

Among the many works that will be available for study is a Chanel suit recognized around the world and a part of American history. It is the “twin” of the suit worn by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

There are dozens of Chanel pieces in the collection, along with pieces by many other iconic designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Givenchy and McQueen, and such American designers as Adrian, Norman Norell, James Galanos, Geoffrey Beene and Bill Blass.

“This collection is a unique gem,” says Michael Tick, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “Its value is truly priceless. I had the pleasure to visit with Claire and her late husband many times in Palm Springs. More than once I expressed to them how excited our students and visitors to the collection will be to learn from her extensive body of work.”

Mayer says that Shaeffer received offers from other academic institutions to house pieces of her collection, but Syracuse University was the one place willing to keep her collection together, including all the clothes, patterns, books and even handbags from her personal closet. That willingness means generations of students will be the beneficiaries of an extraordinary woman’s talents, determination and dedication.

“Our students don’t just design, they learn to actually make things, from concept to garment,” says Mayer. “We fall into that ‘maker space’ in our approach and we are honoring Claire’s commitment to detail, process, research and design.”

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

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

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

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

An Inspired Journey

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

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

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

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

Family Stories

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

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

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

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

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

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

has spent her career studying how the world moves—the migration of people across borders, the evolution of international norms and the political forces that shape both. Now, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs professor of political science has been named the inaugural Heighberger Family Faculty Fellow of Public Service, a recognition of scholarship that has influenced both academic debate and real-world policy.

“Audie’s research on migration and international norms addresses some of the most consequential questions in global politics,” says Dean David M. Van Slyke. “This fellowship recognizes her work and provides resources to support it. We’re thrilled to honor her, and grateful for the generosity that made it possible.”

A specialist in global migration, Klotz has shaped scholarly debates and public understanding of pressing issues in international politics. She has authored five books and contributed to an additional 15. Her work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, the MacArthur Foundation and the Fulbright Program.

Klotz’s many honors include Maxwell’s 2023 Wasserstrom Prize for excellence in teaching and mentoring. She is the incoming president of the International Studies Association, one of the world’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organizations devoted to the study of international and global affairs.

Klotz will hold the fellowship for three years.

Decades of Public Service

The fellowship takes its name from Eric Heighberger, a 1993 graduate of Maxwell’s international relations undergraduate program, and his spouse, Genevieve, whose combined careers span decades of public service. Eric held roles with the White House Homeland Security Council and Senate and House committees on homeland security, before serving as chief of staff at FEMA from 2017-21. He is now senior director of federal affairs for LA28, the organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Genevieve has spent more than 20 years in public sector consulting, focused on FEMA and the local governments it serves.

“Being named the first Heighberger Family Faculty Fellow of Public Service is especially meaningful to me,” Klotz says. “Their careers using expertise in the service of others is how I think of my efforts to foster greater equity in academic communities. I am also grateful to the donors for recognizing the crucial place of public service within a school of citizenship.”

The Heighbergers’ commitment to public service traces back to a pivotal time in their careers. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Eric joined his longtime friend and fellow Maxwell alumnus Stephen Hagerty ’93 M.P.A. at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where their team helped New York City access $8.8 billion in federal recovery funding. Genevieve joined them.

“Working on the World Trade Center recovery efforts gave both of us a sense of professional purpose that has stayed with us ever since,” Eric says. “Genevieve and I are motivated by using our skills in the service of others, and Steve played a big role in shaping that, as a friend and as a mentor.”

The fellowship was established through a gift from Hagerty, a Maxwell Advisory Board member and Syracuse University Trustee, and his spouse and fellow alumnus Lisa Altenbernd ’93 M.P.A. With combined funds from the University’s Forever Orange Faculty Excellence Program, it totals $1 million.

“Neither of us would have had the careers we have had without Steve and Lisa’s friendship and mentorship,” says Eric. “We are so honored by their decision to include us in this gift.  Having our family name on a fellowship at Maxwell is a genuine honor, as the school shaped my professional path in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. To see it given to someone like Audie Klotz—whose work and mentorship embody everything Maxwell stands for—makes it even more meaningful.”

 isn’t just about gifts—it’s a global celebration where the Orange community comes together to make an impact!

Tomorrow, March 24, Syracuse celebrates 156 years of Orange pride, and Syracuse Giving Day promises a full day of energy, generosity and campuswide fun. From grabbing giveaways in Schine Student Center to supporting from wherever you are, Giving Day is all about fueling what makes Syracuse extraordinary.

What’s Happening on Campus?

Free Food, Giveaways and Stamp Card Rewards
Schine Student Center | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Energize your day! Make a gift, enjoy treats and earn your way to an Otto straw topper while supplies last. Visit the photo booth or record your own Giving Day video with a branded ring light to help you create your best Orange content. Watch live shows throughout the day for exciting student-created stories.

Goldstein Auditorium | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Discover the incredible work of 41 student organizations! Meet students, learn about their goals and support your favorites. When 150 alumni support any project, $2,100 in additional funding will be split among the top five groups thanks to the generosity of the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board.

Class of 2026 Donor Exclusive Party
Make your class gift, earn your grad cord and join Otto’s After Party from 6 to 8 p.m.

How to Make an Impact

• ! The University’s goal is to inspire 4,444 supporters on Giving Day. When there is at least one donor from every state and the entire map turns orange, $100,000 will go to Syracuse University thanks to our Regional Councils.
• ! You’ll receive an exclusive Syracuse gift wrap set.
• ! Create an account, share your personal link and earn Syracuse keyboard stickers.
• ! Whether it’s your favorite school, college or program, help unlock additional funding that will multiply your impact.

Let’s give Syracuse the best birthday gift: a powerful show of Orange pride and generosity.

—March 24—is a day to celebrate all that it means to be Orange, to keep beloved traditions alive for students and keep building the community that makes Syracuse University extraordinary.

There are countless ways to support students—through greatest needs and deans’ funds in all of the University’s schools and colleges and through initiatives that benefit students Universitywide, across majors and disciplines.

Here are five unique ways you can make your impact on the Orange in support of experiences, community and traditions:

Since 23 students gathered at Crouse College on Feb. 4, 1901, the Syracuse University Marching Band has grown into one of the most celebrated collegiate bands in the nation. From its first football game appearance that fall to marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and performing at Super Bowl XLVIII, the band has represented the University on some of the world’s biggest stages.

The band earned its iconic nickname, The Pride of the Orange, in 1970, when an announcer introduced the band following its award-winning performance at the World Band Festival in Kerkrade, Netherlands. The name has defined the band ever since.

Today, with nearly 220 members drawn from five Central New York colleges (Syracuse, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Le Moyne College, SUNY Oswego and Onondaga Community College) and more than 80 majors, the band is far more than a performing ensemble. It is a cornerstone of Syracuse University life; it’s a community where students find lifelong friendships and carry the Orange spirit forward.

As the band marks its 125th anniversary, the College of Visual and Performing Arts is raising funds for new uniforms, which will debut at the Sept. 5, 2026, football home opener vs. New Hampshire. A generous donor has pledged an $85,000 matching gift, doubling every dollar contributed to this historic milestone.

Syracuse is home to more than 300 registered student organizations—from performance groups and cultural organizations to service clubs and everything in between—and they’re at the heart of what makes the Syracuse experience special.

On Giving Day, 41 student organizations are competing for a share of $3,500 in bonus funding through the Student Organization Challenge, rallying their communities to give, engage and show up. Winners are determined by unique donor count, social media engagement and on-campus spirit at Schine Student Center, so every gift, like and share genuinely moves the needle. The challenge dollars have been allocated via Senior Vice President Allen Groves and the Student Experience team.

Can’t find a group that speaks to you? A gift to the Student Experience Fund supports small grants that help all Syracuse students fully enjoy campus life. This is your chance to invest in the people and communities that make Syracuse University home.

The Center for the Creator Economy (CCE) is the first academic center of its kind on a U.S. college campus. Led jointly by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, the center reinforces the University’s commitment to bold, forward-looking academic leadership.

By aligning strengths in entrepreneurship, media, communications, athletics and digital infrastructure, the University is charting how higher education can prepare students for the 21st-century economy. The center will serve as a dynamic platform for teaching and learning; workshops and executive education; speaker series and showcases; on-campus incubators and makerspaces; research and thought leadership; and college athletics.

The fund will support many CCE initiatives, including The Vibe, a student-run creative agency providing students real-world experience through working with clients, and the ’CUSE Creator Crew, which will support creator and brand collaborations and hands-on student learning.

Thomas O’Brien ’25, who helped launch the new center, will co-host six live shows from the Schine Student Center throughout the day to showcase Syracuse University creators.

In May, the Hendricks Chapel Choir will perform on the African continent for the first time. The choir travels internationally every four to five years, providing unique experiential learning opportunities to its members. The choir has previously performed in China (2005); Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay (2009); Europe (Poland and Germany, including Auschwitz, 2013); Mexico (2018); and London and Lockerbie and Edinburgh, Scotland (2023). With plans to visit Oceania in 2030, the choir will have performed on every habitable continent by the 100th anniversary of the chapel.

The performances on the South African tour include Johannesburg (performing with the University of Johannesburg Choir); Soweto (Apartheid Museum and Mandela House); Pretoria (University of Pretoria-Tuks Camerata); Drakensberg (performing with the Drakensberg Boys Choir); Pietermaritzburg (UKZN School of Religious Studies) and Cape Town (performing with the St. George’s Cathedral Choir).

“When our graduating seniors consider the most impactful and meaningful moments of their time studying at Syracuse University, international performing tours always top the list,” says Jose “Peppie” Calvar, professor and chair of applied music and performance and director of choral activities in the Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and director of the Hendricks Chapel Choir. “Performing tours forge lifelong friendships and memories within our students. The experience of singing in front of an international audience confirms our shared humanity and our students’ place as citizens of a larger world and stewards of the world they’re shaping.”

Syracuse Giving Day is a great time for fans and alumni to support Syracuse University Athletics. Make a gift to the athletic department’s top priorities through Athletics Competitive Excellence. Your support pushes our 20 varsity athletic programs to compete for championships and elevates the student-athlete experience for more than 550 student-athletes on campus.

Visit the for the complete Giving Day experience.

Syracuse University is now the proud home of a truly unique pipe organ. Crafted in 1994 by renowned organ builder Greg Harrold for scientist Alan Kay, the Harrold Organ made quite the journey from California to its new place in the Syracuse University Catholic Center chapel. Generously donated to the University, this magnificent instrument will enrich both the Catholic community and the University’s organ program for years to come.

The 24-stop organ is modeled on 18th-century building practices and sounds, and is a visually and aurally stunning complement to the Catholic Center’s new St. Thomas More Chapel.

The Malmgren Concert Series will host the dedication of the organ and the first public concert on Sunday, March 29, from 4-5:30 p.m. The Catholic Center is located at 110 Walnut Place in Syracuse. Visit the to register for the concert (required).

University Organist Anne Laver, associate professor in the Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), will perform with the Hendricks Chapel Choir and dancers from the Meagan Woods Collaborative, featuring music by Bach; Buxtehude; Vivaldi; Natalie Draper, associate professor in the Setnor School; and a new work by José “Peppie” Calvar, professor in the Setnor School.

The concert is the culminating event in the third annual Syracuse Pipe Organ Festival, co-sponsored by the Syracuse Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the Setnor School of Music.

Get ready! Tuesday, March 24, marks 156 years since Syracuse University was founded—AND it’s Syracuse Giving Day, a 24-hour burst of Orange spirit, generosity and collective impact. Whether you’re on campus or celebrating from afar, this is your moment to show the world what Orange can do.

Here’s how to be part of #CuseGivingDay:

• to support students, programs and campus life. Every dollar fuels success.
• . We’ll send you an exclusive Syracuse gift wrap set.
• . Create an account and share your personal Giving Day link to rally others and earn Syracuse keyboard stickers.

And if you’re on campus March 24, the celebration gets even bigger:

• Free food and giveaways in Schine from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make a gift, grab treats and fill your stamp card to get an Otto straw topper.
• Student Organization Showcase in Goldstein Auditorium from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet student orgs, support your favorite, earn stamps and win prizes.
• Go behind-the-scenes with student-created stories, live shows and new challenges throughout the day.
• Content Creator Stations in Schine. Record your own Giving Day video or snap a photobooth pic. Grab a branded ring light while you’re at it!
• Support what matters to you. Give to your favorite school, college or program and help unlock challenge dollars.
• Class of 2026 exclusive party. Make your class gift, earn your grad cord and join Otto’s After Party from 6 to 8 p.m.

Give Syracuse a birthday gift and help keep the Orange family thriving!

early and watch the #CuseGivingDay magic unfold!

Gabriel “Joey” Merrin, assistant professor of human development and family science in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been selected as the inaugural Syracuse Association of Zeta Psi Endowed Faculty Fellow.

The fellowship was established with a gift from the Syracuse Association of Zeta Psi under the umbrella of the Forever Orange Faculty Excellence Program and matched by the University to create a $1 million endowment. The five-year, renewable appointment is intended to support faculty members whose scholarly work focuses on men’s mental health and related issues.

“We believe the most meaningful investments in mental health are those that begin early and produce measurable impact across a lifetime,” says Stanley P. Gorski Jr. ’86, president of the Syracuse Association of Zeta Psi and executive director of ZP Gamma Foundation. “By strengthening prevention efforts early on, Dr. Merrin’s work helps build resilience that can change long-term outcomes—especially for those men who face the highest suicide risk later in life. This fellowship supports hard research that aims to not just respond to the crisis, but to reduce it before it begins. The SU alumni brothers of Zeta Psi Fraternity are pleased to be part of this long-term partnership.”

A prevention scientist and applied developmental methodologist, Merrin examines how risk and protective processes interact to shape adolescent development and the transition to young adulthood. His research looks at the influence of individual, peer, family, school and community contexts on developmental pathways related to harassment, victimization, mental health and risk behaviors including substance use and aggression. His work explores how distinct adverse childhood experiences differentially shape peer relationships, mental health and resilience, informing more effective prevention strategies for diverse youth populations.

“I’m deeply honored to be selected as the inaugural Zeta Psi Endowed Faculty Fellow,” Merrin says. “This fellowship will enable me to expand my research on adolescent and young adult mental health during a time when young people’s mental health issues are at historic highs. The support will enable me to develop a new undergraduate course on mental health across the lifespan, launch a longitudinal study of mental health and help-seeking behaviors among college students, and strengthen partnerships with community organizations. I’m grateful for the support to expand research that can make a positive impact on the lives of young people and their communities.”

Merrin is director of the Methodology, Adolescent Development, and Prevention (MAP) Lab, which addresses critical questions about healthy adolescent development. His work employs sophisticated longitudinal analytical approaches to understand when and for whom developmental processes differ, and how empirical findings can be effectively translated into prevention and intervention efforts. The MAP Lab has produced 14 student-led peer-reviewed publications.

Merrin was co-investigator and lead methodologist on a National Institute of Justice-funded multi-site investigation examining bias-based harassment and its prevention in U.S. schools. He has also developed innovative methodological tools, including the CATAcode R package, which advances principled approaches to demographic measurement and analysis in social science research.

Merrin serves on the board of directors at Elmcrest Children’s Center in Syracuse and collaborates with schools and community organizations serving vulnerable youth.

He earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology, an M.E.D. in human resource development and a B.A. in sociology, all from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He joined the Syracuse faculty in 2021.

Rich and Janice Fialka-Feldman have established the Opening Doors Fund for InclusiveU as part of the Center on Disability and Inclusion’s . The fund will provide critical financial support for students in the School of Education’s , ensuring that students with intellectual disability can pursue their college dreams without financial barriers.

The fund’s name carries deep personal significance. When their son, Micah Fialka-Feldman, entered his first-grade special education classroom, he noticed he had to enter through a different door than the rest of the grade. He came home with a simple but powerful request to his parents: “I want to go through the same door as my friends.” That moment when their child sought belonging has become the family’s guiding principle.

Genuine Understanding

With the support of his parents and many others, Micah grew up determined to pave his own path in life. That determination led him to become the first student in the country to win a lawsuit securing access to university housing, at Oakland University, a landmark victory that opened doors not just for himself but for students with disabilities across the nation.

After graduation, his commitment to advocacy only deepened when he accepted a paid internship with Michigan Roundtable, a social justice organization working throughout the state.

It was during this internship that Micah was invited to speak at Syracuse University, where he shared his experiences, advocacy and vision for disability inclusion. The connections he made during that visit were immediate and profound. He felt something different in the room; a genuine understanding that resonated with him.

Micah called his parents with certainty in his voice: “They get me here,” he said, referring to the Syracuse community’s warmth and embrace for exactly who he is. It was a moment that validated his journey and reinforced that he had found a place where he truly belonged.

What began as a peer trainer position has grown into Micah’s current role as outreach coordinator for InclusiveU, as well as a co-teacher for disability studies classes, continuing to champion the same access and inclusion he once had to fight for.

Inspire and Motivate

The Opening Doors Fund for InclusiveU will be administered at the discretion of the , with support for housing, meals, textbooks and other essential expenses that help students to remain enrolled and succeed in the program.

Micah is also the author of ““, published by Inclusion Press, the same organization that supported his parents’ efforts in learning about inclusion when he was born. Co-written with his friend and colleague, Lynn Albee, he tells his story of advocacy, disability pride, circles of support and determination.

The Fialka-Feldmans emphasize that their support for inclusive higher education is more than just rhetoric. They have witnessed firsthand how life-changing it can be, not just for InclusiveU students, but for the University’s matriculated students, faculty and staff, who learn alongside them.

Their hope is that the Opening Doors Fund for InclusiveU will help ensure no student has to leave the program due to financial need, and that their fund will both inspire and motivate others to take action toward making their own gift.

Learn more on the or by visiting Micah’s website at .