Participants in the New York Business Plan Competition, back row left to right, were Anja Padwal, Tosin Alabi, Jonathan “J” Wess, Jack Venerus, Lindy Truitt and student from University of Buffalo. Front row, Carolyn Fernandes and Tony Goncalves.

Carolyn Fernandes G’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), founder of Solace, won $2,000 as second prize winner in the Products and Hardware category. Solace designs fidget products into clothing for neurodivergent people.

Lindy Elizabeth Truitt ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Anjaneya Sanjay Padwal G’25 (School of Information Studies), founders of SipSafe+, also won a $2,000 second place prize in the Food and AgTech track. SipSafe+ uses a ring or stir stick that glows when drinks have been spiked with drugs.

Jack Venerus ’27 (School of Information Studies), founder of WingStat, won a $500 concept stage award. WingStat helps airplane brokers have reliable data about the aircraft they are buying or selling.

���ϲ����� teams received the most awards of any single school in the statewide competition. The NYBPC attracts some of New York state’s best student entrepreneurs. The competition promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for college students from across the state who pitch their business plans to seasoned investors. They also receive the opportunity to engage with mentors and judges from the business community. The finals event connects students with business professionals, provides experiential learning opportunities through competitions, connects entrepreneurs with resources at the Entrepreneurship Expo, and awards up to $100,000 in cash prizes to help seed new ventures.

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• Bird Library
  • Monday, April 28-Thursday, May 8:��Bird Library will be open 24 hours a day

The Libraries is also offering the following at Bird Library during finals:

• Monday, April 28: Donuts with the Dean on the first floor from 4 to 5 p.m.
• Monday, April 28-Tuesday, May 6: Positivity station on the first floor where students can pick up study goody bags containing notes of encouragement, candy, coloring pages and snacks.
• Tuesday, April 29: Reading Day in the Libraries Wellness Room (Room 114) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Students can participate in coloring, Zen boards, guided meditation, chair massage pillows and board games.
• As a reminder, the Libraries’ also have two MindSpa available for reservations, in addition to various .

The Student Library Advisory Board is an opportunity for students to share their ideas, needs and feedback to improve the Libraries’ services, resources, spaces and programming. Members will participate in user experience activities during once-a-month Friday meetings and will serve as ambassadors for the Libraries among their peers.

Members will also gain leadership and skill-building experience, including in areas of information literacy, communication, civic responsibility, research and creative thinking, while helping to improve the Libraries through fun and interactive engagement. Applicants can anticipate a commitment of approximately 3 hours per month. Current library student employees are ineligible to participate.

The Student Library Advisory Board is supported, in part, through a collaboration with . Those with questions can contact sscott17@syr.edu.

Gisela von Dran, widow of Raymond von Dran, served as a judge and handed out RvD iPrize awards.

Winners of the 2025 School of Information Studies’ (iSchool) Raymond von Dran (RvD) Fund for Student Entrepreneurship iPrize competition and the Hunter Brooks Watson (HBW) Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award were announced on April 10 at the Blackstone LaunchPad in Bird Library. The award competition highlights the University’s entrepreneurial focus. Each team received a $2,000 award.

Raymond von Dran, who served as dean of the School of Information Studies from 1995 until his passing in 2007, was a longtime academic, entrepreneur and staunch supporter of student innovation.

The 2025 RvD iPrize winners are the following:

• SipSafe, founded by Lindy Elizabeth Truitt ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Anjaneya Sanjay Padwal G’25 (School of Information Studies)
• Diabetech, founded by Tosin Alabi G’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
• InstaHelp, founded by Mirco Sascha Kunz G’26 (Whitman School)
• Game, founded by Carena Gianna Colo G’25 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
• SOLACE, founded by Carolyn Fernandes G’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
• Pari Beauty, founded by Aarna Taparia ’27 (School of Architecture)
• WW Productions, founded by James Oliver Welch G’28 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Reid Willar G’27 (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
• Palmarati, founded by Tommy Brown G’28 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and School of Information Studies) and Oscar Rune Goranson G’28 (Whitman School)
• RYZYN, founded by Celes Buffard ’27 (School of Information Studies)
• BetaKola, founded by Alie Savane ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences)

The Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award began in 2018 through the Hunter Brooks Watson Memorial Fund and is awarded to students who best exemplify “The Spirit of Entrepreneurship.” Prizes honor the memory of Hunter Brooks Watson, a ���ϲ����� student who died tragically in a distracted driving accident. The 2025 HBW Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award Winners are the following:

• Carolina Aguayo-Pla ’27 (Whitman School and School of Information Studies)
• Waqar Hussain ’25 (Whitman School)
• Isabella Carter G’26 (Newhouse School) and Ava Lubkemann G’26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
• Ziekariba Nonr Diallo G’28 (School of Information Studies)
• Jase M Malloy ’25 (School of Information Studies)

All Libraries’ patrons with overdue circulation fines can reduce their fines by donating healthy, nonperishable food and hygiene items. Donations will be accepted at the circulation desks of Bird, Carnegie, Law, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and King + King Architecture Libraries. All collected items will be donated to the . Fine reductions exclude interlibrary loan and lost book fees. Contributions from people without current fines will also be accepted.

Fines will be reduced by 50 cents for single serve items, and $1 per item for toilet paper, rice, pasta, canned vegetables and beans and single serving oatmeal. Fines will be reduced by $2 per item for liquid soap,�� toothbrushes, canned fruit, canned meats/fish, canned soup, cereal, lip balm and pasta sauce. Fines will be reduced by $3 per item for baked beans, multi-packs of hot chocolate, multi-packs of oatmeal, peanut butter, ramen noodles, shampoo/conditioner, tea and toothpaste. Fines will be reduced by $4 for granola, jelly and lotion. And fines will be reduced by $5 for coffee and deodorant. Contributions should not be open or expired.

For more information about “Food for Fines,” contact Nick Olivieri at naolivie@syr.edu.

Lindy Truitt and Anjaneya Padwal, founders of SipSafe+, at the Hult Prize National Qualifier in Boston, Massachusetts.

Lindy Truitt ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Anjaneya Padwal G’25 (School of Information Studies), founders of SipSafe+, won the campus qualifier and moved on to compete at the nationals in Boston. Although they did not move on to the final round, they received rave reviews from the judges for both their idea and pitch.

Besides Truitt and Padwal, the following students competed in the campus qualifier:

• Alie Savane ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), founder of Beta Kola;
• Carolina Aguayo Plá ’28 (School of Information Studies and Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Frutecho;
• Anthony H. Smith Jr. G’25 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), Bryson Carter G’25 (Newhouse School), Asha Breedlove G’25 (Newhouse School) and Stacey Collier G’25 (Newhouse School), founders of HBeatzCU;
• Aidan Turner ’25 (School of Architecture), Lucas d’Oelsnitz ’26 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), Carolyn Fernandes ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Aphrodite Gioulekas ’25 (Visual and Performing Arts), founders of Solace.

��is a prestigious global business competition started by a partnership between the����and the��. The competition inspires student entrepreneurs to solve the world’s biggest challenges through innovative social enterprises with positive global impact.��Since its inception, over one million students from more than 120 countries have participated in their programs, working to create high-impact startups that address the annual challenge in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Finalists pitch their businesses to a panel of expert judges, and the winning team receives $1 million in funding to make their idea a reality.

This year’s Hult Prize Competition qualifier was (College of Engineering and Computer Science).

The theme of this year’s TEDx ���ϲ����� event invites both speakers and attendees to challenge conventional stories and reshape the way we think about the world. In a time where narratives—whether personal, cultural, or global—often influence perceptions and drive actions, the power to change the narrative holds the potential to unlock transformative change. At its core, changing the narrative is about creating spaces for voices to be heard and sharing stories that shape our lives, our communities and our futures. Five featured speakers will delve into their personal journeys and inspire attendees to take ownership of their own stories as they think critically about how they, too, can be part of changing the narrative in meaningful and positive ways. Attendees can also network, share ideas and engage with ���ϲ�����’s TEDx community.

Ryan Nkongnyu

Co-sponsored by ���ϲ����� Libraries and the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, the event is being coordinated by (College of Visual and Performing Arts), who is majoring in Communications and Rhetorical Studies. Nkongnyu is an Our Time Has Come Scholar, as well as finance board member of the ���ϲ����� Student Association, vice president of the Black Student Union, Mentor for JUMP Nation, and event coordinator for the Black Honors Society. He is also a writer for the Daily Orange and reporter for Citrus TV.

“In today’s world, our media and the messages we share have established narratives that affect the lens through which we all see our society,” notes Nkongnyu. “Changing the Narrative is meant to emphasize the role we all have as catalysts for positive change. Using our voices and platforms to positively influence, we can educate, empower and inspire others with our research, innovation and activism messages.”

Featured speakers and talk titles include:

• ’24, G’25: “Breaking Cycles, Not Ourselves””
• ’25: “Redefine Your Life”
• faculty, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications: “Be A Creator”
• ’24: “The Danger of A Single Narrative Story”
• ’10: “How Teaching Kids Emotional Intelligence Can Change the World”

“SU Libraries is pleased to sponsor TEDx at ���ϲ�����, and we hope it will spark thoughtful conversations and connections that will continue long after the event ends,” says David Seaman, dean of ���ϲ����� Libraries and University Librarian.

For more information about the event, or if special accommodations are needed, please contact Ryan Nkongnyu, rnkongny@syr.edu

���ϲ����� Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) is accepting for the 2026-2027 academic year. The SCRC Faculty Fellows Program provides a $5,000 fellowship payment, pedagogical guidance in centering archival and special collections, and ongoing class support for those interested in providing students with an experiential learning opportunity by incorporating primary source materials as central to their course. Applications are being accepted for the development or revision of a three-credit course to be taught in the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 semester from any discipline on campus.

���ϲ����� Libraries’ SCRC Faculty Fellows Program aims to support innovative curriculum development and foster new ideas about how to transform the role of special collections and archival research in university instruction. During the four-week summer residency, each Fellow receives expert guidance through workshops and training sessions on handling special collections materials, teaching students how to research within and across collections and designing hands-on, individualized, creative and critically minded assignments with rare materials.

SCRC’s primary sources span over 4,000 years–from the 21st century BCE to the 21st century CE–and represent an array of topics, perspectives relevant to the study of human culture and knowledge. They include various formats, including written and printed material, art, architecture and design and music and recorded sound. Engaging with SCRC’s rare and archival collections allows students, faculty and researchers to explore and question historical evidence and testimonies while connecting with the innovative and enduring ways people have communicated, documented their experiences and recorded personal memories throughout history.

For questions or additional information about the SCRC Faculty Fellows Program, contact Jana Rosinski, SCRC Instruction and Education Librarian, at jrosinsk@syr.edu. See .

George Bain G’06, a member of the Library Associates, and William F. Gaske ’72, a member of the Libraries Advisory Board, provided generous gift funding towards the SCRC Faculty Fellows Program. The original funding for the program was made possible through the generosity of the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, which promotes the advancement and perpetuation of humanistic inquiry and artistic creativity by encouraging excellence in scholarship and in the performing arts, and by supporting research libraries and other institutions that transmit our cultural heritage. For more information about how to financially support a faculty fellow for the upcoming academic year and beyond, contact Ron Thiele Assistant Dean for Advancement for the Libraries, at rlthiele@syr.edu or 315.560.9419.

Traci Geisler, Director of Blackstone LaunchPad at ���ϲ����� Libraries, and Bruce Kingma, Professor of Entrepreneurship at the School of Information Studies, co-organizers of the 2024 RvD iPrize and Spirt of Entrepreneurship Award.

Last year, there were . The award competition highlights the University’s entrepreneurial focus. Raymond von Dran, who served as dean of the School of Information Studies from 1995 until his passing in 2007, was a long-time academic, entrepreneur and staunch supporter of student innovation.

The Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award began in 2018 through the Hunter Brooks Watson Memorial Fund and is awarded to students who best exemplify “The Spirit of Entrepreneurship.” Prizes honor the memory of Hunter Brooks Watson, an SU student who died tragically in a distracted driving accident. In 2024, five winners each received $2,000.

Kellan D. L. Head

Kellan D. L. Head, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), was selected as the 2025 winner of the prestigious Mary Hatch Marshall Essay Award for his essay titled “Alienation and Cognitive Subjectivism About Well-Being.” A&S and the ���ϲ����� Library Associates will host a virtual award event and author reading on Tuesday, April 8, at 1 p.m. (EST). Anyone interested in attending can register by emailing libevent@syr.edu by April 4.

Head will receive a $1,000 prize. His essay focuses on well-being concerns and how well a person’s life is going for them. To have a basic grasp of how things like oppression, injustice, individual benefit and individual harm function, we need an accurate understanding of well-being. Cognitive subjectivism��holds that believing that ‘x’ is good for you establishes that ‘x’ is good for you. However, Head argues that cognitive subjectivism is false, because an agent can believe that some ‘x’��is good for them while simultaneously being alienated��by, averse to or estranged by ‘x.’ Subjectivist theories must not allow for alien objects to function as welfare goods for individuals; doing so would eliminate the attractiveness of subjectivist theories in the first place.��Head’s argument relies on two illustrative cases. He considers an objection and concludes by making a positive suggestion about an agent’s relation to their own welfare goods; a more nuanced and complex subjectivism is preferable to cognitive subjectivism. In short, having the belief by itself that something is good for us isn’t enough to make it good for us.

Head’s essay was chosen from those submitted by A&S graduate students currently enrolled in African American studies, English, art and music histories, languages, literatures and linguistics, philosophy, religion and writing studies, rhetoric, and composition.

Head plans to defend his Ph.D. in philosophy during the Spring 2026 semester. His areas of specialization are ethics, epistemology and social�� epistemology. He received his master’s degree in philosophy from Brandeis University and his bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and English: Creative Writing from the University of Rochester.

Professor Mary Hatch Marshall was a founding member of the Library Associates and holds a distinguished place in the college’s history. In 1952, she became the Jesse Truesdell Peck Professor of English Literature —the first woman appointed a full professor in the college— after having joined the faculty four years earlier. Library Associates established the annual Mary Hatch Marshall Award to honor and help perpetuate her scholarly standards and the generous spirit that characterized her inspirational teaching career, which lasted through her retirement in 1993. Members of Library Associates, Marshall’s friends and family, the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation and the Central New York Community Foundation all contributed to the endowment, established in 2004, that funds the award.

Library Associates are a group of dedicated SU Libraries supporters who help to raise funds and accessibility for the Libraries’ special collections, rare books, and manuscripts through opportunities like the Faculty Fellows program. Those wishing to join the Library Associates or make a gift to the Mary Hatch Marshall Award Endowment can contact Ron Thiele, assistant dean for advancement for the Libraries, at rlthiele@syr.edu or 315.560.9419.

Jennifer Hain Teper

Hain Teper’s hybrid lecture, titled “,” will be held on Wednesday, April 2, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Bird Library’s Peter Graham Scholarly Commons (Room 114) and on Zoom. is required for the Zoom webinar and is encouraged for in-person attendees.

A hands-on workshop, titled “,” will occur on Thursday, April 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 6^th floor of Bird Library in the Antje Bultmann Lemke Seminar Room and the Joan Breier Brodsky ’67, G’68 Conservation Lab. The workshop is limited to 15 people and advance registration is required. To register, email Max Wagh, Special Collections Research Center administrative coordinator, at mlwagh@syr.edu.

All events are free to attend and open to the public.

The annual is endowed through a generous gift by William J. ’65, G’ 68 and Joan ’67, G’68 Brodsky. Celebrating its 20^th year in 2025, the endowment has been used to sponsor programs featuring prominent library conservators that promote and advance knowledge of library conservation theory, practice and application among wide audiences, both on campus and in the region.

Antonio (Tony) Goncalves ’27, College of Engineering and Computer Science, used his fall 2024 Orange Innovation Fund grant to build a prototype for his tech startup, Gymin, an IoT device to track gym equipment usage, optimizing operations for health.

���ϲ����� Libraries is accepting spring applications from graduate and undergraduate students for the����grant now through Friday, March 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. Interested applicants can access the����online or e-mail��OrangeInnovation@syr.edu��to request an application package.

Grants up to $5,000 per award will be made, with a total of up to $50,000 per academic year based on the merit of applications. The Orange Innovation Fund supports student research initiatives emerging from campus innovation programs. The grant ‘concept to commercialization’ fund is designed to help move student research or scholarly projects from ideation to proof of concept to commercialization. Initial funding from the program came from a gift to the Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, a member of the University Board of Trustees.

The program is administered through ���ϲ����� Libraries, in collaboration with the University’s research and commercialization programs such as the ���ϲ����� Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE), the Blackstone LaunchPad, Couri Hatchery, Invent@SU, NEXIS, the Innovation Law Center, the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program at ���ϲ�����, Intelligence ++, ���ϲ����� Center of Excellence in Environmental Energy Systems, the Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering at ���ϲ����� (NYSTAR designated Center for Advanced Technology), the Startup Garage at the Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship, and the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Applicants can also come directly through research classes, labs or independent study programs across the University.

Student applicants must identify specific tangible needs related to the product, service or technology they are developing. Grants will support defined projects over a clear period with identified outcomes that will help move a research project or innovative venture toward proof of concept toward commercialization.

Linda Dickerson Hartsock, advisor, Strategic Initiatives, is available to help coach applicants through the process and can be scheduled for sessions on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons by emailing��ldhart01@syr.edu.

An interdisciplinary team of research faculty and alumni experts will review applications. Following the review process, announcements and award letters will be made in mid-April.

Seven students teams were the��Fall 2024 winners of Orange Innovation Fund awards.��Nine student teams were the��

Among the winning team awards:

• $1,500 to Olutosin Alabi G’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Diabetech;
• $1,500 to Anthony H. Smith Jr. G’25 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), Bryson Carter G’25 (Newhouse School), Asha Breedlove G’25 (Newhouse School) and Stacey Collier G’25 (Newhouse School), founders of HBeatzCU;
• $1,000 to Sydney Moore G’25 (Whitman School), founder of Thrive Insights;
• $1,000 to Lindy Truitt ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Anjaneya Padwal G’25 (School of Information Studies), founders of Safe Sip;
• $500 to Tony Goncalves ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) and Armani Isonguyo ’24 (Engineering and Computer Science), founders of GymIn;
• $500 to Jasmine Mayers ’26 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), founder of Pressed;
• $500 to Elizabeth Paulin ’24 (College of Arts and Sciences), founder of Paulin Capital;
• $500 to Swathi Jacob G’25 (Whitman School); and
• $250 to Maven Kavan ’28 (Visual and Performing Arts).

A group photo of the 2025 Afropreneurship Celebration and Business Competition award winners

During “The Ideas Exchange,” students eager to explore the frontiers of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity can engage with experts and resources.

is more than just a networking event—it’s an incubator for ideas, where students can find inspiration, seek guidance and connect with the right resources to bring their projects to life. The event features two simultaneous components: The Resource Emporium and Ask the Experts. Sponsored by SU Libraries, the ���ϲ����� NSF I-Corps and the Orange Innovation Team, this event is for aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators and those simply curious about the creative and startup ecosystem on campus.

At the heart of The Idea Exchange is the Orange Innovation Team, including Orange Innovation Scholars Ava Lubekmann, Jair Espinoza, Aidan Turner and Thomas O’Brien and Intelligence ++ Scholars Isaac Munce and Trey Augliano. These student leaders have curated an experience that fosters collaboration, encourages curiosity and provides direct access to some of the most valuable resources available on campus.

The Resource Emporium: Your Gateway to Innovation

On the first floor of Bird Library, a diverse lineup of organizations will host information tables to provide students with resources to help develop their ideas, start businesses and enhance their creative projects. Whether students are looking to create a prototype, launch a creative idea, secure funding for an idea or learn more about innovation on campus, The Resource Emporium will offer access to the right tools and people to take their ambitions further. Participating groups include:

• Blackstone LaunchPad–Campus hub for entrepreneurship
• CASE–Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering
• Couri Hatchery–Student venture incubation
• D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families
• E-Club–Entrepreneurship student organization
• FADS–Fashion and design society
• Innovation Law Center–Legal guidance for startups
• Intelligence ++–Inclusive design and assistive technology
• Invent@SU–Rapid prototyping and invention resources
• Maker Space–Hands-on creative workshops and prototyping
• NEXIS–Emerging technology research
• NSF I-Corps at ���ϲ�����
• The ���ϲ����� Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE)–Undergraduate research support
• Startup Garage–Early-stage startup mentoring
• ���ϲ����� Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems
• TEDx ���ϲ�����–Platform for innovative ideas and storytelling
• WISE–Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship

Ask the Experts: Conversations That Ignite Ideas

In a format inspired by “Human Library” events, the��Ask the Experts��session will feature more than��20 confirmed peer specialists��and professionals across various fields engaging in small-group conversations. These sessions, held in the��Peter Graham Scholarly Commons (Room 114 in Bird Library), will provide students with the chance to ask questions from student and alumni thought leaders, receive tailored advice and gain valuable insights into the skills needed to thrive in innovation, creation and entrepreneurship.

Each discussion will be an opportunity to learn from expert peers and experienced professionals while sparking innovative ideas through engaging conversations. The curated topics and expert insights are designed to empower students with practical knowledge and the confidence to move forward with their ventures.

The expert insights will be in the areas of content creation, pitching, brand development and many more.

Mix It Up: Networking and Refreshments

To wrap up the event, attendees can mingle and network from 4:30 to 5 p.m. in the Peter Graham Scholarly Commons. Light refreshments will be provided, creating a casual and welcoming environment for students to connect with peers, experts, and resource representatives.

Why Attend The Idea Exchange?

The Idea Exchange presents an unparalleled opportunity for students to tap into the University’s vast network of innovation resources. Whether you have a business idea, a research project, or a creative endeavor, this event will help you take the next step by:

• Gaining access to key innovation resources: Meet representatives from leading campus programs.
• Engage with experts: Learn from professionals who can provide real-world insights.
• Build your network: Connect with fellow students who share your passion for innovation.
• Find inspiration: Discover ideas and opportunities to explore.

For more information, visit Bird Library 123, home of “The IDEA Studio,” or email OrangeInnovation@syr.edu.

The symposium aims to share Indigenous matrilineal knowledge as a powerful framework for addressing critical social and environmental issues. It features a keynote panel discussion with New York Times bestselling author and Potawatomi botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer and Mohawk Bear Clan member Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, filmmaker and actor in “Reservation Dogs” and Marvel’s “What If… Kahhori Reshaped the World” episode.

The symposium’s keynote event will be hosted by Oneida Nation Wolf Clan member Michelle Schenandoah G’19, founder and executive lead of Rematriation.

Panelists also include traditional Haudenosaunee Confederacy leaders, Mohawk Bear Clan Mother “Mommabear” Louise Herne and Onondaga Hawk Clan Chief Ohsgoñ:da’ Spencer Lyons. The evening includes a special presentation on the celestial worldview embedded in Haudenosaunee astronomy by Oneida Nation Wolf Clan member Samantha Doxtator.

“Arising out of seven years of foundational work by Rematriation, the symposium presents Haudenosaunee and Indigenous matrilineal knowledge as a praxis to address critical global challenges,” says Schenandoah. “This is a precious opportunity to engage with Indigenous knowledge holders and allies to understand how Indigenous knowledge can provide sustainable pathways for all peoples and future generations.”

Nicolette Dobrowolski, director of the SCRC, says�� “We look forward to the symposium inspiring deeper reflection, meaningful discussion and innovative research, scholarship and action related to the significance of matrilineality across the ���ϲ����� campus and broader communities. SCRC is truly honored to partner with Rematriation in helping to amplify the voices, stories and influence of Haudenosaunee and Indigenous women.”

For those unable to attend the three-day symposium, the keynote event on Saturday, March 1, from 6 to 10 p.m. is a stand-alone event open to all. To purchase tickets for the keynote event, click .

For more information and to register for the symposium, visit .

Alexander N. Charters

Alexander N. Charters (1916-2018) was an internationally recognized expert in the field of adult and continuing education. Libraries has assembled historical documents and University records, including manuscript, print, visual and media materials related to adult education since 1949.

This material is known collectively as the Alexander N. Charters Library for Educators of Adults, in recognition of Charters’ efforts to promote and expand SCRC’s adult education holdings. Through the generosity of Charters, SCRC offers annual grants to one or more scholars or practitioners wishing to do research using SCRC’s adult education collections with the amount of the award dependent on the scope of the research outlined in the applicant’s proposal.

The panel discussion will be held from 4 to 5:15 pm. Panelists include:

• Brian Brege, Associate Professor, History, ���ϲ�����
• Anna Siebach-Larsen, Director of the Rossell Hope Robbins Library and Koller-Collins Center for English Studies, University of Rochester
• Juilee Decker, Director of the Museum Studies program, Rochester Institute of Technology
• Irene Malfatto, Independent Scholar and Bookseller at Bruce McKittrick Rare Books (Philadelphia)
• Moderators: Samantha Herrick, Associate Professor, History, ���ϲ����� and Irina Savinetskaya, Curator of Early to Pre-20th Century, Special Collections Research Center

Lisa Fagin Davis

The keynote lecture by Lisa Fagin Davis and Q&A will take place from 5:45 to 7 p.m.

“All Western European medieval manuscripts on this continent had to travel thousands of miles to get here. Bringing together experts from academia, libraries, museums, and antiquarian bookselling, the interdisciplinary conference Collecting the Medieval Book in America explores who has been collecting Western medieval manuscripts on this continent and why, and what the past and current collecting practices reveal about the broader perceptions of the Middle Ages in North America,” said Irina Savinetskaya.

The conference is hosted by the Special Collections Research Center in conjunction with the SCRC Spring 2025 exhibition, “The Making of the Medieval Book” and is organized by “Curating the Middle Ages,” a CNY Humanities Working Group. The event is co-sponsored by CNY Humanities Corridor and the Bibliographical Society of America, with additional support from the Department of History, Department of Art History and the Global Premodern Studies Faculty Working Group.

Communication Access Realtime Translation will be provided. If you require an accommodation, use English as a second language, or have dietary needs, please email Max Wagh by February 12 at mlwagh@syr.edu.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to provide feedback on the value of the resources and services offered by the Libraries.

is conducting two awareness and perception surveys: one directed to all ��and one directed to .�� The surveys, launched on Jan. 15, will remain open through Feb. 10.

Both surveys will allow the Libraries to benchmark against results and feedback received in 2020, when similar surveys were implemented. The surveys, which take about 10 minutes to complete, provide a gauge of the University community’s perception of the value of various resources and services offered by the Libraries, and an opportunity to gather open-ended responses about ways the Libraries can meet the changing needs of its users.

Information gathered from the surveys will be shared with the Libraries’ leadership and staff and will inform strategic direction.

“This award is a testament to the Libraries’ and the University’s commitment to creating an environment that is welcoming to all. We are committed to ensuring that our services and resources are inclusive and accessible. This includes our campus surveys that inform our strategy to expand our collections and exhibitions to include previously excluded or underrepresented voices. Such efforts expose Libraries’ users to a multiplicity of life experiences, cultures and viewpoints, and encourages the use of inclusive curricular materials across campus. Receiving this award is external acknowledgement that our actions�� align with our ethos and goals,” says David Seaman, dean of Libraries and University Librarian.

Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine, says “We are proud to honor these college and university libraries as role models for other institutions of higher education.”

The award includes a $1,000 cash prize and a publication contract with ���ϲ����� Uni­versity Press. Manuscripts of high merit not selected for the final award may receive honorable mention.

The Veterans Writing Award was established in 2019 to recognize the contributions of veterans to the literary arts, shine a light on the multivalent veteran experience and provide a platform for unrecognized military writers.

Unpublished, full-length manuscripts are accepted for consideration. This biennial contest alternates between fiction and nonfiction each award cycle, with the 2025 award open to novels and short story collections.

The award is open to U.S. veter­ans and active-duty personnel in any branch of the U.S. military and their immediate fam­ily members. This includes spouses, domestic partners, siblings, parents and children. Women veteran writers, veterans of color, Native American veterans, LGBTQ veterans and those who identify as having a disability are encouraged to submit.

Although work submitted for the contest need not be about direct military experience, original voices and fresh perspectives are sought that will expand and challenge readers’ understanding of the lives of veterans and their families. Posthumous submissions are eligible.

Finalists will be read by writer and veteran of the United States Marine Corps Maurice Decaul, and the winning entry will be announced in November of 2025.

Complete rules and submission guidelines can be found on the .

Kenny will meet with students participating in the and the�� for an informal chat about how neurodiversity is a creative superpower. He will also speak to the broader campus community about his experience growing up in ���ϲ�����, connecting with like-minded creatives and his career trajectory.

Kenny, an award-winning voice actor, has also appeared on HBO’s “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” and has voiced characters on animated shows like “Rocko’s Modern Life,” “The Powerpuff Girls” and “CatDog.” He will share his experience on the skills needed to embark on an entrepreneurial journey and how to find your own creative voice, inspiring a new generation to learn more about content creation, storytelling and audience engagement.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

• 9:30-10:45 a.m.: Visit with Intelligence ++ Class and InclusiveU students. Location: Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, Bird Library. Media may listen to class discussion (please contact media@syr.edu to schedule).
• 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Informal discussion and Q&A (open to the campus community and the media) on “Creative Entrepreneurial Journey,” featuring Tom Kenny and moderated by Oscar Arce (founder of Los Angeles-based Master Talent Agency) and Paul Kozlowski (writer, actor, artist, comedian and founder of the FAKE Gallery in Hollywood and the AKE Gallery in Cortland, New York). Location: Martin J. Whitman School of Management Grand Flaum Hall.

Kenny’s visit is being sponsored by , the Intelligence++ Program, the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education (InclusiveU), the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

The Libraries now offer fifteen read and publish agreements, which expand the reach of researchers’ scholarly contributions by enabling all University-affiliated authors to publish their work open access at no charge to the authors. Open access allows for anyone to use these scholarly works, free of charge and free of most copyright and licensing restrictions for further use, thereby exponentially increasing the reach and impact of the University authors’ works.

• the agreement with Taylor & Francis enables University-affiliated authors to publish their work open in hybrid and fully open access journals, including Routledge titles;
• the agreement with Elsevier allows University-affiliated authors to publish openly in all eligible Core Hybrid journals;
• the agreement with De Gruyter allows University-affiliated authors to publish openly in hybrid, gold open access and subscribe to open titles.

“The expanded disciplinary coverage of these agreements ensures that cutting-edge research across the humanities, sciences and social sciences reaches a global audience, bolstering ���ϲ����� Libraries’ commitment to advancing open scholarship and maximizing the global impact of scholarship produced at SU,” said Dylan Mohr, open scholarship librarian.

More information and instructions on how authors can take advantage of these agreements can be found in the .

Jana Rosinski, SCRC instruction and education librarian, is looking forward to having the fellows bring attention to areas of unique strength in the SCRC collections as follows:

• Brahmbhatt will rework his course The Art of Devotion in South Asia (REL 300), rooted in the . Smith was the first to hold a position in Hindu studies in the religion
  

  Arun Brahmbhatt

  department at ���ϲ�����, a position Brahmbhatt now holds. The poster archive, comprising over 3,500 specimens of visual and print material Smith collected on his many trips to India, serves as a unique lens into South Asian visual culture from the 1950s through the 1980s, offering snapshots of how devotional iconography functioned within the spaces and activities of daily life. With his students, Brahmbhatt will deeply examine the commonalities in these visuals that transcend the boundaries of genre, religious tradition, time and space, while remaining sensitive to the specificities of historical circumstance, to explore how the language of devotional love is used to both uphold and challenge social norms and communal identity. On the significance of the collection to the focus of the course, Brahmbhatt explains, “When we think about religious images, we often focus on works of ‘high art.’ On the contrary, by exploring the Smith archive, students will train their eyes on images that may seem unremarkable from an artistic perspective, but that nonetheless play an outsize role in Hindu devotional lives.”

• Zeke Leonard is re-envisioning his long-standing course Sustainable Furniture and Lighting (DES
  

  Zeke Leonard

  561), a design and build studio in which students create both a lighting and seating object. By making use of hand diagrammatic drawings from draftspersons, along with original captures of the design process in conceptual sketches and material research of designers, Leonard’s students will fully engage with the process of design as functional art and craft. Making use of the papers of iconic mid-20th century industrial designers such as , and , Leonard and his students will explore function and form critically, contextualizing design in response to aesthetic style, cultural movements or moments historically, and the needs of bodies and spaces. Leonard states, “As a design/build class, this class has always been a making class.  However, at its core it is a design class. By accessing process documents from historic standouts in the field, the students will be contemplating and learning from another type of making, that of making ideation drawings, sketches and technical drawings for production.”

���ϲ����� Libraries’ aims to support innovative curriculum development and foster new ideas about how to transform the role of special collections in University instruction. Each fellow receives a $5,000 payment along with guidance on how to provide students with a unique opportunity to research, analyze and interpret SCRC’s primary source materials in their class, and ongoing course support.

George Bain G’06, a member of the Library Associates, and William F. Gaske ’72, a member of the Libraries Advisory Board, provided generous gift funding towards the SCRC Faculty Fellows Program. Original funding for the program was made possible through the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, which promotes the advancement and perpetuation of humanistic inquiry and artistic creativity by encouraging excellence in scholarship and in the performing arts, and by supporting research libraries and other institutions that transmit our cultural heritage.

To learn more about the Faculty Fellows Program or teaching with SCRC, contact Jana Rosinski, SCRC’s Instruction and Education Librarian at jrosinsk@syr.edu. For more information about how to financially support a Faculty Fellow for the 2026-27 academic year and beyond, contact Ron Thiele at rlthiele@syr.edu or 315.560.9419.

• Bird Library (open to all ���ϲ����� and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry affiliates with a valid user ID):
  • Monday through Thursday: 24 hours
  • Friday: Closes at 10 p.m.
  • Saturday: Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Sunday: Reopens at 10 a.m.
• The Special Collections Research Center (located on the sixth floor):
  • Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours Wednesday until 7 p.m.

• The Libraries will operate under reduced hours during Spring Break week (March 8-15) and extended hours during final exams (May 2-4).

As a congressionally designated depository for U.S. government documents, Bird Library is open to the public on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on weekends beginning at 10 a.m.

Yage Huang

Huang recently obtained her doctor of juridical science (SJD) degree from Indiana University Bloomington and holds a master of law degree from China University of Political Science and Law.

Her research interests include criminal procedure law, evidence and human rights. In her position at the Law Library, Huang will provide legal research support, assist with researching and developing law collections, liaise with faculty and provide research instruction to law students, and promote library services to alumni and the local bar.

• “”
  • Thursday, Feb. 27, 5-6:30 p.m. in Bird Library, Room 114
  • Presented by , social science librarian
• “”
  • Wednesday, March 5, 5:30-7 p.m., online via Zoom
  • Presented by , librarian for the Newhouse School of Public Communications
• “”
  • Monday, March 17, 5-6:30 p.m., in Bird Library, Room 114
  • Presented by , assistant teaching professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• “”
  • Monday, March 24, 5-6:30 p.m., in Bird Library, Room 114
  • Presented by , open scholarship librarian, , Physical Sciences Librarian and , IVMF research and digital projects librarian
• “”
  • Tuesday, March 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in Bird Library, Room 114
  • Presented by , associate director for research and collections, College of Law Library, and , information literacy scholar, ���ϲ����� Libraries and reference assistant, College of Law Library
• “”
  • Wednesday, April 2, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in Bird Library, Room 114
  • Panelists include , associate professor and director of graduate studies in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; , associate professor of communications in the Newhouse School of Public Communications; , assistant teaching professor in the College of Arts and Sciences
• “”
  • Thursday, April 10, 6:30-7:45 p.m., Online via Zoom
  • Presented by , librarian in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and , online learning librarian

Sydney Moore

The Blackstone LaunchPad at ���ϲ����� Libraries has awarded one $2,500 Student Start-Up Fund grant, formerly the Innovation Fund, for the Spring 2025 semester. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis to undergraduate and graduate students who need help moving an idea from concept to commercialization.

Sydney Moore G’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Thrive Insights, received the grant. Thrive Insights hosts that informs and supports student-athletes with honest and engaging conversations about student-athlete issues. Sydney Moore, a Division 1 volleyball player, is the host. The podcast launched on all platforms on Dec. 9, 2024. The grant was used to help Moore incorporate the business.

Fund applicants define their need with identified outcomes within a set time. Initial money in the fund was provided by Jeffrey Rich L’67, a partner at Rich Michaelson Magaliff LLP, and a member of the ���ϲ����� Libraries Advisory Board. Rich provided a multi-year pledge of $25,000 per year for five years from 2020 to 2025.

“I wanted to contribute in a way that directly supports student new ventures and removes any obstacles to startup development,” says Jeffrey Rich.

Curated by Irina Savinetskaya, curator of early to pre-20th century, the exhibition showcases SCRC’s collection of predominantly Western European medieval manuscripts from the 13^th to the 16^th centuries, alongside examples of bookmaking from Persia, Japan and Ethiopia. The exhibition also features early printed and modern books inspired by the medieval book.

Medieval manuscripts have long fascinated the public with their hand-painted illuminations and decorated bindings. Often viewed as esoteric, precious works of art, they can seem largely inaccessible to all but specialists. Much more than treasures to be gazed upon, medieval manuscripts are dynamic and unique objects that hold a variety of stories, including about the natural and animal worlds, trade, religious movements and the everyday lives of their makers and owners. By examining how medieval books were made, used and reused by various individuals and communities, along with their place in modern imagination and book design, the exhibition explores the storied history behind the making of the medieval book.

The exhibition’s opening reception is on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 4:30-6 p.m. on the 6^th floor of Bird Library. Those interested in attending the reception can . Communication Access Realtime Translation will be provided at the reception. Those requiring other accommodations can email mlwagh@syr.edu by Jan. 20.

Marianne Donley

Marianne Donley recently joined ���ϲ����� Libraries as the Physical Sciences Librarian in the Department of Research and Scholarship. In this role, Donley will be subject librarian for chemistry, forensic sciences, mathematics, and physics and astronomy.

Prior to joining ���ϲ����� Libraries, Donley worked as a health sciences library intern at Duquesne University while pursuing a master’s in library and information science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Donley received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Villanova University and worked as a research and development scientist at Covestro LLC.

Kelly Delevan, at right, information literacy librarian and recipient of the 2024 Libraries’ Distinguished Service Award, is pictured with David Seaman, dean of Libraries and University librarian.

The award is a three-decade tradition recognizing Libraries’ staff who have made a significant contribution to both the Libraries and the broader University community. A cross-departmental panel of Libraries’ staff judged nomination entries and selected the recipient based on outstanding service to Libraries’ users, excellence in professional skills and significant contributions to the Libraries’ community. The Distinguished Service Award, which is open to all Libraries employees, allows peer recognition based on nominations, a recommendation from the person’s supervisor and recommendations from at least two members of the University community.

Delevan was selected as this year’s winner based on her strong and persistent commitment to excellence in education, mentorship and advancement of the field of library and information science. Delevan rebuilt and revitalized the Libraries’ instruction program, while championing information literacy as a shared competency for undergraduate students. She has fostered a culture of critical thinking while helping undergraduates build research skills and information fluency.

Delevan’s campus collaborations with the ���ϲ����� Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) and First Year Seminar have been incredibly impactful for undergraduate students. She developed workshops for students applying for SOURCE grants that include goal setting and project planning, skills important beyond their SOURCE participation. She also created a customized library research guide for First Year Seminar students that is now has a required assignment in all 200+ sections of the course. Additionally, Delevan created an online library tutorial for more than 90 athletic tutors to complete, which helps them better prepare the University’s student athletes.

Graduate students have also benefited from the Information Literacy Scholars program Delevan created that provides School of Information Studies students with substantive experiential learning opportunities, including instructional design. To date, twenty-four graduate students have benefited directly from Delevan’s knowledge, support and encouragement. learning by example and guidance how to become successful instructors.

Beyond engaging students at all levels, Delevan created a faculty professional development program, Information Literacy and Technological Agility (ILTA), to share with faculty how to incorporate these skills into their syllabi. This successful program is co-sponsored by Academic Affairs.

Collectively, these initiatives have established Delevan as a campus leader and beyond, with her workshops, lectures and writings widely recognized in the field of library and information studies and information literacy.

A past Information Literacy Scholar summarized Delevan’s work in this way: “Everything she does for her IL Scholars, for the students they teach together, and for our library community as a whole, without any expectation of recognition, makes her the perfect candidate for this award.”

The Intelligence++ program is an interdisciplinary initiative that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship to enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. It was established in 2020 in collaboration with the (InclusiveU) and the .

The program features an inclusive entrepreneurship and design curriculum open to students across disciplines which encourages participants to design and develop tangible solutions that address challenges faced by people with intellectual disabilities. Students work in teams to conceptualize and prototype innovations in a hands-on, inclusive approach that blends principles of design thinking, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

Gianfranco Zaccai ’70 H’09 works with students from Intelligence++ program in the Blackstone LaunchPad at ���ϲ����� Libraries.

The program is supported by the Zaccai Foundation for Augmented Intelligence, thanks to a generous donation from Gianfranco Zaccai ’70 H’09. This funding underscores a commitment to translating research and creativity into real-world applications that promote accessibility and empowerment for individuals with disabilities.

“From artificial intelligence to digital technologies and physical products, this field is positioned for rapid growth,” says Zaccai, who hopes the program will attract students from diverse academic disciplines, fostering innovation in accessibility. “Participating students can join the leading edge of innovation.”

, introduced as an extension of the program, provides additional funding and resources to commercialize these ideas, enabling students to take their projects from concept to market-ready solutions. Students from all schools and colleges can apply for the Intelligence ++ Ventures fund, regardless of their participation in the original Intelligence++ course. The applications are rolling and will be reviewed as received. Applications are not limited to students in the Intelligence ++ program; however, applicants who have worked with the program can demonstrate the necessary discovery work with people in the field to validate their invention or innovation.

Applicants must submit a detailed project proposal, along with a scope and budget supported by a business commercialization plan that demonstrates a clearly identified production and sales path. Students must also demonstrate that they have a production or manufacturing partner capable of producing their innovation, and/or a technical team in place to deploy a commercial roll-out. Submissions must be beyond the concept stage and should have the potential to be deployed in the market within six months. If successfully executed, a student may apply for a second grant to introduce a new product line. A maximum of two grants may be awarded through the program.

An interdisciplinary group of faculty with expertise working in the disability field will make up the review team for proposals.

More information about Intelligence ++ is available . An Intelligence ++ application template can be requested by email or by visiting Bird Library Room 123.

Since 1954, ALLUNY has�� brought together law library staff and people interested in law libraries from Upstate New York for professional development, networking and social activities. It is comprised of academic, court and law firm librarians. ALLUNY is a chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), the national organization for law libraries. While other chapters have struggled to keep members engaged, ALLUNY has seen success in participation from its members, in part, due to its compelling strategy around its meetings.

On Oct. 25, ALLUNY held its annual meeting as a hybrid event, both in person at the College of Law and online. Approximately 70 attendees participated in this year’s annual meeting. “Offering the ALLUNY annual meeting as a hybrid event makes it more accessible for everyone,” says Petitto. “While the dialogue and collegiality in person is important, it’s just not practical for those single practitioners who may be the only law librarian at their organization to leave for the day. This way, everyone who wants to participate is able.”

In addition to making the meeting physically accessible, ALLUNY also works to keep it financially accessible. Registration to attend for members is only $30, $35 for nonmembers and $15 for students. Plus, ALLUNY offers several grants and awards to offset member costs. ALLUNY encourages all librarians and library students to attend its annual meetings. In this way, it hopes to build a pipeline for future law library professionals.

For the second year in a row, the topic of the annual meeting centered around artificial intelligence (AI). This year’s theme was “Pioneering AI from Classrooms to Courtrooms.” Presentations, roundtables and discussions included real-life tools, applications and ethical considerations around the use of AI in law schools, law libraries and in the practice of law. Expert speakers were professors, legal professionals and AI experts from law library resource collections. AALL Executive Board Member Andre Davison from Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library, Houston, Texas, spent several days visiting law libraries in the ���ϲ����� area and was the keynote speaker.

This year’s annual meeting sessions included:

• “15 Ways Law Libraries Can Use Generative AI” presented by Ellyssa Valenti Kroski, New York Law Institute
• “AI in Law School” presented by Nina Scholtz, Cornell Law School
• “AI in the Practice of Law – a Paralegal’s View” presented by Brigid Purtell, Bousquet Holstein PLLC
• “The History of AI Ethics” presented by Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, Campbell Public Affairs Institute in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and Mary Szto, College of Law
• Aaron Eberle from LexisNexis and Ryan Groff and Erica Mohai from Thomson Reuters also shared updates around Generative AI developments in legal databases
• “AI Roundtable” led by Teresa Vadakin, Hurwitz Fine PC

“AI is a tool that librarians are in a good position to help users–students, faculty and legal practitioners– make use of in an ethical way,” says Petitto. “Ensuring that our association stays abreast of trends and makes professional development accessible and affordable is important, and I was pleased that the Law Library could play an important role.”

The winner of the ���ϲ����� competition will receive an expense paid trip to compete in the ACC InVenture Prize finals at the end of March at the University of Notre Dame. The televised finals feature one team from each ACC college/university who compete for ��$30,000 in prizes. Teams with generated revenue or venture capital funding of more than $100,000 are ineligible (including funding from both institutional and non-institutional sources such as contests, grants, friends and family, bank loans, etc.).

Katy Arons ’24 (School of Information Studies), founder of Continual Consent LLC, holds an oversize boarding pass for last year’s flight to the ACC InVenture competition in Florida

���ϲ����� student startup teams or researchers are invited to submit�� of a venture idea to participate in the ���ϲ����� campus qualifier along with a five-minute pitch video.�� All campus qualifier finalists will also be invited to apply for LaunchPad Innovation Fund grants as well as , both available through gifts to ���ϲ����� Libraries. Competitive applications typically include technology or research that is being commercialized in areas such as agriculture, biology, life sciences, medical, climate, consumer electronics, education, finance, sports, hardware, software, artificial intelligence, augmented or virtual reality, ��big data, autonomous devices, robotics, advanced materials, Internet of Things, 5G and more. Digital platforms or services should have an underlying novel technology and ideally should be past the idea stage with some customer discovery and design drawings.

The ���ϲ����� ACC InVenture Prize is supported by the Provost’s Office and is hosted by ���ϲ����� Libraries and the .

• Friday, Dec. 13, through Monday, Dec. 16: Bird Library will be open 24 hours a day and Carnegie Library will be open until 11 p.m.

The Libraries is also offering the following destress activities at Bird Library during finals:

• Dec. 4-13: Positivity station on the first floor of Bird Library. Students can pick up study goodie bags, encouraging notes with candy, coloring pages and snacks.
• Tuesday, Dec. 10: Stop by Room 114 for the Libraries wellness room. Destress from finals from 4 to 6 p.m. and participate in coloring, Zen boards, guided meditation, chair massage pillows and board games.
• As a reminder, the Libraries’ have two MindSpa ��available to reserve.

Rebecca G. Johnston

Rebecca G. Johnston recently joined ���ϲ����� Libraries this fall as the social sciences and humanities Librarian in the Department of Research and Scholarship.

In this role, Johnston will be subject�� librarian in the subjects of African American studies, history, language and literature (except French), Latin American studies, Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) studies, Native American studies, philosophy, religion and women’s and gender studies.

Prior to joining ���ϲ����� Libraries, Johnston was a reference librarian at Wells College. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in English and history from the College of Wooster, and master’s degrees in library and information science and history from Simmons University.

Course Highlights

The NSF I-Corps program is nationally recognized for helping researchers bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and commercial applications. Through hands-on activities and expert mentorship, participants will engage in the critical process of customer discovery, learning to identify the best product-market fit for their technology or research project. The program opens the door to government grant programs such as (fund investments of up to $2 million with no equity to help bring research to market), as well as private investments.

The program includes a combination of live virtual sessions and one-on-one meetings offering teams an opportunity to receive additional guidance from the course instructors and refine their discoveries.

Participants will gain:

• Firsthand experience with customer discovery
• Feedback and mentorship from NSF-trained instructors
• A clearer understanding of the product-market fit for their innovations; and
• The potential to be nominated for the NSF I-Corps Teams program, which offers additional resources and support.

Schedule

One-hour virtual class sessions are offered at convenient times for participants. Two days are scheduled for 1:1 mentoring sessions.

• Session 1: Monday, Feb, 17, 2025
• Session 2a: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 — (1:1 mentoring meetings)
• Session 2b: Friday, Feb. 21, 2025
• Session 3: Monday, Feb. 24, 2025
• Session 4: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 — (1:1 mentoring meetings)
• Session 5a: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
• Session 5b: Monday, March 10, 2025
• Session 6: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

NSF I-Corps programming is co-led by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, strategic initiatives advisor at the Libraries; Jeff Fuchsberg, director of the ���ϲ����� Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE); and Cristiano Bellavitis, assistant professor of entrepreneurship in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, who serves as project research lead. Whitman Interim Dean Alex McKelvie serves as principal investigator for the University’s NSF I-Corps grant.

For more information about the upcoming NSF I-Corps course, contact Hartsock at ldhart01@syr.edu or Fuchsberg at jrfuchsb@syr.edu.

About the NSF I-Corps Program

The NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) is a program designed to help researchers in the STEM fields transition from fundamental research to the commercialization of their ideas. Through a national network of training programs and partnerships, I-Corps provides the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate the commercial potential of scientific and technological innovations.

The course is offered through ���ϲ����� as a partner in the��, funded by the NSF, led by Cornell University, with other collaborators, including Dartmouth College, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Buffalo, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rochester, University of Vermont and West Virginia University. The hub is part of the , connecting researchers, entrepreneurial communities and federal agencies to help commercialize research.

Contributions from people without current fines will also be accepted. Fines will be reduced by $1 per item for toilet paper, lip balm, rice, pasta, canned vegetables/fruits/beans and pasta sauce. Fines will be reduced by $2 per item for liquid soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, cereal and canned meats/fish. Fines will be reduced by $3 per item for lotion, oatmeal, canned soup/baked beans, peanut butter/jelly, tea, hot chocolate, ramen noodles and granola. And fines will be reduced by $4 per item for shampoo/conditioner, deodorant and coffee. Contributions should not be open or expired and single-use items are preferred.

For more information about “Food for Fines,” contact Nick Olivieri at naolivie@syr.edu.

Elizabeth Paulin

Student teams pitched their respective social impact ventures for a chance to win a total of $15,000 in prizes, supported by generous donations from Libraries’ donors. This year’s winners are:

• 1^st Place: $6,000 awarded to Elizabeth Paulin ’24 () of Paulin Capital.
• 2^nd place: $4,500 awarded to Jordan Pierre ’23, G’24 (), founder of Voice.
• 3^rd place: $3,000 awarded to Olutosin Alabi G’25 (), founder of Diabetech.
• Runner-Ups: $500 each awarded to Ava Lubkemann ’27 (), founder of ReVamped; Alie Savane ’25 (Arts and Sciences), founder of Beta Kola; and Dylan Bardsley ’26 (Whitman School) and Mark Leaf ’27 (Engineering and Computer Science), founders of Clarity.

The Fall 2024 Orange Innovation Fund award winners are (from left to right): Brianna Gillfillian, Waqar Hussain, Emeka Ossai, Ava Lubkemann, and Tosin Alabi.

���ϲ����� Libraries announced the seven award recipients for the Fall 2024 grant. Each of the following will receive a $5,000 grant to pursue research initiatives emerging from campus innovation programs. Recipients are:

• Angelo Niforatos G’25 (), founded Niffy Drone Solutions LLC, a drone operation and data analysis solution to improve decision-making, for its stage two prototype. “I finally pursued what I’d been discussing for five years thanks to ���ϲ�����,” says Niforatos. “I had no idea ���ϲ����� offered so many opportunities like the Innovation Grant to help me gain enough confidence to take that leap and chase my dream.”
• Ava Lubkemann ’27 (), founded Revamped, an eco-conscious initiative reimagining thrift shopping and waste reduction through a mobile model using an upcycled school bus pop-up and donation platform. “This funding gives me the ability to create a venture that addresses the problem of textile waste, particularly on college campuses,” says Lubkemann. “I am excited to build my proof of concept this spring and become part of the projected $82 billion secondhand retail market,�� meeting the demand for sustainable and affordable fashion.”
• Brianna Gillfillian ’24, G’25 (Engineering and Computer Science), founded STEAMfluence, a Science Technology Engineering Art Math (STEAM) pilot summer program for students of color and students in underserved communities. “With the help of Orange Innovation Fund, I will be able to turn dreams into reality and take steps to make the change I aspire to see in the world,” says Gillfillian. “STEAMfluence is not just a venture, it is a pillar of hope for many young people who think they could not advance in a career in STEAM.”
• Emeka Christopher Ossai G’25 (Whitman), founded CampusLabs, which equips university students in developing economies with critical skills needed for entrepreneurship and work. After successfully piloting CampusLabs Nigeria incubator, Ossai is now focusing on creating a hybrid program to expand participation. “This Orange Innovation Fund allows me to bring to life a startup accelerator that’s the first of its kind for university students in Nigeria, combining virtual learning with a direct residency… now we can finally reach talented university founders who would not have had access before because of where they live,” Ossai says. “It’s a real opportunity to see how this model can work across different regions and make entrepreneurship support more accessible.”
• Tony Goncalves ’27 (Engineering and Computer Science), founded GymIn, a comprehensive hardware and digital platform solution to track the use of gym equipment in real-time, optimizing usage and user experience. Goncalves is collaborating with the Barnes Center on a pilot. “GymIn is revolutionizing the fitness industry by providing a comprehensive hardware and digital platform solution for gym owners and users,” says Goncalves. “This award will help us create our minimally viable product to test with gyms to optimize operations, reduce costs, and enhance the gym experience for members through data-driven insights.”
• Tosin Alabi G’25 (Whitman), founded Diabetech, a smart bandage solution for diabetes wound care. Alabi is working on a prototype that integrates an electronic sensor with mobile application and artificial intelligence analytics to detect diabetic ulcers. Alabi, who lost her father to diabetes at a young age, recently completed the NSF I-Corps program offered by ���ϲ����� and received EB-1 visa status based on her work on Diabetech. The EB-1 visa was issued by the U.S. government to Albert Einstein to extend protections of official residence. Now referred to as the “Einstein Visa,” it recognizes very select researchers with extraordinary talents for their potential to contribute to the American scientific community. “When we prevent a diabetic amputation, we’re not just saving a limb, we’re keeping families walking together longer,” Alabi says.
• Waqar Hussain G’25 (Whitman), founded Iconnic.cloud, an artificial intelligence-driven compute pricing arbitrage platform. “As a dedicated participant in the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, I am grateful for this award to help us build spot compute pricing arbitrage powered by AI,” says Hussain, a Fulbright Scholar.��We are confident that with the support of the Orange Innovation Fund we can revolutionize cloud management services for small and medium-sized businesses.”

The Orange Innovation Fund, a “concept to commercialization” grant fund, is intended to help move graduate and undergraduate student research or scholarly projects from ideation to proof of concept and commercialization. Initial funding came from a gift to ���ϲ����� Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, a member of the ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees. The program is administered through ���ϲ����� Libraries, in collaboration with the University’s research and commercialization programs.

Student awardees submitted comprehensive grant proposals that outlined specific, tangible needs related to prototype development while assessing the product, service or technology they are developing. A multi-disciplinary team of University faculty and alumni founders who helped develop the concept for the fund made the award selections. Awards are tied to milestones associated with defined projects over a clear time with identified outcomes.

The spring 2025 funding round will open in winter 2025, with proposals due by March 28, 2025. For more information, email OrangeInnovation@syr.edu.

Requests received after Jan. 10 will be processed in the order they were received and are not guaranteed to be available by the first week of classes. Reserve requests can include library materials, items to be purchased or faculty’s personal copies. Course reserves are an excellent way to provide students with affordable and accessible course materials.

Libraries’ Collection Materials

For that require the Libraries to purchase a new item not currently in the collection, the Libraries will purchase the eBook version when available. This allows more students to use course material at the same time and provides students with easier access.

Faculty requesting a print copy in course reserves should indicate that in the notes section of the form. The Libraries may require four to six weeks to purchase and receive new physical items. All physical course reserve items will only be available at Bird Library. Please note that the Libraries does not offer course reserves for electronic articles from professional journals.

Faculty Personal Copies

Personal copies of materials on course reserve for student access should also be submitted through the Libraries’ . For faculty requesting that personal copies be picked up from faculty department offices, email reserves@syr.edu with faculty name, course number and number of items/books to be picked up in the email.

Accessible Files

As you compile the resources you will be putting on reserve this coming semester, please remember that these resources may need to be in a format that is accessible for students who need to use screen readers or text-to-speech software to access these resources. If you need an accessible file, please indicate that in the notes section on the or email reserve@syr.edu.

For more information about course reserves, visit the .

The Student Library Advisory Board is an opportunity for students to share their ideas, needs and feedback to improve the Libraries’ services, resources, spaces and programming. Members will participate in user experience activities during once-a-month Friday meetings and will serve as ambassadors for the Libraries among their peers. Members will also gain leadership and skill-building experience, including in areas of information literacy, communication, civic responsibility, research and creative thinking, while helping to improve the Libraries through fun and interactive engagement. Applicants can anticipate a commitment of approximately three hours per month. Current library student employees are ineligible to participate.

The Student Library Advisory Board is being supported, in part, through a collaboration with . Those with questions can contact Seyvion Scott at sscott17@syr.edu.

• First place ($1,500) was awarded to Celes Buffard ’27 (School of Information Studies), founder of Return 2 Reality, an entertainment company focusing on a podcast for entrepreneurs around navigating and getting past the hurdles and challenges throughout the entrepreneurial journey.
• Second place ($1,000) was awarded to Olutosin (Tosin) Alabi G’25 (Whitman School of Management), founder of Diabetech, a med-tech venture for a diabetic foot ulcer wearable.
• Two third-place prizes ($500 each) were awarded to Alie Savane ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), founder of Bete Kola, a health and wellness venture focusing on kola nut food and beverage products; and Mian Hamid ’26 (School of Information Studies), founder of Chai YEAH, a beverage venture offering authentic Indian chai tea to the U.S. market.

Seyvion Scott

Seyvion Scott joined ���ϲ����� Libraries this fall as the student engagement librarian in Learning and Academic Engagement. In this role, Scott will lead user experience and student engagement activities and provide reference, instruction and outreach services.

Prior to joining the Libraries, Scott served as the first-year experience librarian at Monroe Community College in Rochester and Medaille University Library in Buffalo.

Scott received her master’s degree in information science with a concentration in library and information services from the University at Albany (SUNY Albany) and her bachelor’s degree in African and African American Studies from the University of Rochester.

The collections include:

As the has observed in “A Guide to Documenting Latino/Hispanic History and Culture in New York State,” “Historical information is inadequately represented in the documentation of broad areas of Hispanic culture, including the fine arts, popular music and dance forms, and folk and traditional arts.” ��Information pertaining to Hispanic businesses as well as the social, political and religious organizations of the community is also limited, and the historical record has poorly reflected Latine experiences related to immigration, discrimination and access to services.

These nine digital collections will begin to remedy the documentation gap relating to the ���ϲ����� Latine community, supporting further work and study in the fields of anthropology, sociology, art, history and Latine studies. La Casita maintains both its physical and digital objects and collections with support from the Libraries, the , the and in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, as well as from community partners including the , the and other colleges and educational institutions in the region.

“The collaboration between La Casita, ���ϲ����� Libraries, CLRC and the NY Heritage Digital Collections is a wonderful, combined effort that benefits all parties and the greater community, ensuring that these important resources are preserved and discovered by scholars, researchers and community members,” says Elisa Dekaney, associate provost for strategic initiatives.

��includes over 400,000 digitized books, manuscripts, maps, letters, photographs and memorabilia. New York Heritage provides access to stories spanning the history of New York, with contributions from over 430 libraries, museums, archives and other community organizations.

“It is very exciting to see one of La Casita’s long-term goals, to make our Cultural Memory Archive accessible online, finally become a reality,” says Tere Paniagua ’82, executive director of the University’s Office of Cultural Engagement for the Hispanic Community. “This is a project developed by La Casita’s Bilingual Library, one that we have been working on for over a decade. Many graduate students from the University’s have contributed to the project, and now that the platform was created for these first nine collections, we welcome more students to take on the task of building new online collections.”

Déirdre Joyce, head of digital stewardship and the Digital Library, added that “the Digital Library Program supports library, campus and community partnerships that find creative ways to publish and express their unique, local digital output to wider digital audiences. In this case, we were delighted to leverage the Libraries’ membership with CLRC on behalf of La Casita, thereby making this content–and�� and the stories of this diverse, ���ϲ����� community–broadly discoverable in New York Heritage. We look forward to continuing this important collaboration.”

Students present research at SOURCE Explore 2024

The program takes place on Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 7 and Feb. 14, with the final presentation on Feb. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. All cohorts, except “Mapping Stories, Making Change with ���ϲ����� Community Geography” take place from 2 to 4 p.m. The Community Geography cohort will meet on Fridays from noon to 2 p.m.

The six SOURCE Explore programs being offered are:

• “Mapping Stories, Making Change with ���ϲ����� Community Geography:” Learn how maps help us visualize and share pressing stories like the impacts of climate change, the global pandemic, housing inequalities and ongoing racial injustice (among many more).
• “Analyzing Media and Popular Culture Through a Social Justice Lens with Newhouse’s CODE^SHIFT Lab:” Learn how to examine media texts (such as news stories, social media posts, movies, TV shows, music videos or advertisements) from a social justice lens to become more mindful media users.
• “Culture Clubs: Researching Communities of Interest:” Explore traces of human culture, activity and ideas through archival materials like photographs, scrapbooks and diaries, homemade fliers and pamphlets, notes and ephemera to better understand what constitutes “community” from mainstream offshoots to counterculture and subculture groups, to organizations of extreme niche interest. This cohort will be offered through the Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center.
• “3D Printing and Advanced Manufacturing*:” Learn how to utilize computer aided design (CAD) and 3D printers in academic research for precise modeling and rapid prototyping of complex structures.
• “Discovering Connections: Using Graph Theory to Solve Real-World Network Challenges*:” Learn how to model networks as graphs and apply key concepts like shortest paths, network flows and connectivity to explore how mathematical models can help solve real problems.
• “Exploring the Building Blocks of Life*:” Learn how DNA, the building block of life, is a key component of life science research through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a common laboratory technique that amplifies DNA sequences of interest.

The three STEM Explore programs* are offered in partnership with the����program; students meeting the LSAMP����are strongly encouraged to apply.

Of the SOURCE Explore experience in spring 2024, one student shared that they learned “how to be more open-minded and adaptable when doing research,” including “how to navigate looking at archival, first-hand sources.” The student explained, “I didn’t have much experience with this prior, as I mainly used online databases and second-hand sources to complete projects. This led me to a third skill that I developed, which was how to narrow down my search and ask relevant questions.”

Interested students should by Dec. 5.

This is the third time the workshop is being offered, thanks to generous support from the Libraries and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Participants will receive a $500 stipend after successful completion. The workshop is limited to 10 faculty participants and by Dec. 15.

During the workshop, librarians will assist faculty in creating new or adapting existing assignments that will allow students to demonstrate their learning in a way that aligns with the ILTA rubric. The workshop is facilitated by Kelly Delevan, information literacy librarian, and John Stawarz, online learning librarian.

“This workshop was extremely helpful in getting me to re-think this assignment as well as other assignments in this course (and other classes). I plan to incorporate more components that emphasize critical reflection on processes of research and building skills in evaluation of research,” says Christopher Hanson, associate professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Faculty are encouraged to apply if they currently teach a course that has been approved for an ILTA tag, are considering adding the ILTA tag to a course that they teach or are interested in designing or redesigning an assignment that will enable their students to meet the learning outcomes as described in the ILTA rubric.

During the workshop, participants will:

• Revise or create an assignment or learning activity that can be assessed using the ILTA rubric
• Discover learning strategies and pedagogies that enable students to demonstrate their information literacy skills
• Interact with faculty members from outside their discipline to build community
• Learn how the Libraries can support them in enhancing their assignments to incorporate diverse resources
• Share their new/revised assignments to a ILTA assignment repository maintained by the Libraries
• Share what they learned with faculty in their respective departments

“The guide Kelly and John created with the rubric and resources for the ILTA competency was the most helpful aspect. I was able to incorporate the appropriate language into my course assignment and resources that address the ‘inclusivity’ item on the rubric,” says Sevinç Türkkan, assistant teaching professor of writing studies, rhetoric and composition in the College of Arts and Sciences.

For more information on the workshop, contact Delevan at kkdeleva@syr.edu.

���ϲ����� Libraries is seeking feedback from campus users on new electronic resources for possible inclusion in its collections throughout November.

On-campus users are asked to visit the explore the resources under consideration and provide feedback via the embedded form on that page. Any insight on how well the proposed resource works, the quality and relevance of information contained within the resource and how it might be useful will be helpful in the Libraries’ evaluation. Access is limited to members of the ���ϲ����� community and is offered in accordance with the .

Trial resources have been selected by librarians, with a focus on responding to user requests and bringing new types of tools and content to campus for review. This year’s trials include collections related to African history and culture, public health, social work, social justice, data science, foundational business skills and decolonizing research. Additional tools on trial allow for users to interact with content in new ways via Artificial Intelligence powered search and text and data analysis.

���ϲ����� Libraries develops collections in a broad, interdisciplinary, and systematic way to support the teaching, research and creative needs of the campus. Our strategy focuses on three tracks:

• building a core collection through the acquisition of large e-resource packages in multiple disciplines;
• fostering a responsive collection through fulfilling direct requests from faculty and students; and
• curating a specialized collection through the expertise of our subject liaison librarians who work directly with users and anticipate the teaching and research needs of the university.

This approach allows the Libraries to meet individual needs and plan for future needs while building the overall collection.

To suggest a title to explore in the future, please contact your or use the form. For questions about the trial period, contact Anne Rauh, head of collections and research services.

All week:

• Sign your graduating class’s first-generation banner at the Intercultural Collective in the Schine Student Center. The banner will be displayed during graduation season. Participants can also get free first-generation stickers.
• A poster display, “Exploring the First-Generation ���ϲ����� Experience,” featuring campus community members, will be on exhibit on the first floor of Bird Library. Learn about the history of the first-generation identity in higher education, the diverse definitions of “first-generation” and inspiring profiles of current first-generation campus members. A library research guide will offer a wide array of books and resources by and for first-generation individuals, covering themes such as cultural education, memoirs, celebrations and wellness.

Monday, Nov. 4

• • A workshop on “Crafting Your Pitch” will be offered by Career Services and the Kessler Scholars Program from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in Room 104 of the Tolley Humanities Building. The workshop is tailored to the needs of first-generation students, with a special emphasis on undergraduate students. Participants will discover, practice and leave with branding and elevator pitch techniques to support their career journeys.
  • “,” will be held from 4-6 p.m. in the Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, 114 Bird Library. A diverse panel of faculty, staff, students and alumni will share their unique experiences, challenges and advice in navigating college and the professional environments. The discussion and Q&A session will include how to gather support and resources,

Tuesday, Nov. 5

• The Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS), located on the lower level of Bird Library, will hold an open house from 3:30-5:30 p.m. for first-generation students to explore the variety of individual and group academic support services available.

Wednesday, Nov. 6

• Affinity and networking pop-up space for first-generation students, faculty and staff will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Intercultural Collective office in the Schine Student Center. Meet fellow first-generation peers, share your experiences, sign your class banner and enjoy some light refreshments while building a supportive community.
• “Thriving as a First-Generation Professional: Navigating the Workforce with Confidence,” a trauma-informed workshop designed to empower first-generation college students as they prepare to enter the professional workforce, will be held from 1:30-3 p.m. in 103 Huntington Hall. Participants will explore practical strategies for overcoming challenges unique to first-generation professionals, such as navigating workplace dynamics, developing self-advocacy and managing financial independence.

• A on “Building Your Professional Network” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Learn how to unlock life-changing conversations, mentorships, internships and jobs. Connect with members of the vast Orange community. Open to all undergraduate students, regardless of school/college affiliation.

Thursday, Nov. 7

• An open house will be held in 208 Bowne Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for participants to learn about research, fellowship and other resources and opportunities available for first-generation students with the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA), ���ϲ����� Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE), Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) and the Lender Center for Social Justice.

Friday, Nov. 8

• A First-Generation Resource Fair will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Jacquet Commons in Huntington Hall. The fair will feature information from�� SOURCE, ���ϲ����� Abroad, Blackstone Launchpad, the McNair Scholars Program, the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and more.
• A First-Generation Celebration featuring “Living Between Two Worlds” with Tianna Faye Soto will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the��Jacquet Commons in Huntington Hall. Soto will focus on empowering first-generation students to explore their identities, celebrate intersectionality and highlight the unique strength each person holds.

The National First-Generation College Celebration is celebrated annually on Nov. 8 to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The act provides equal opportunity for those from low-income and minority backgrounds. The legislation created grants and loan programs, invested in higher education institutions and started the Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) to facilitate the academic success of first-generation college students.

First-Generation College Celebration Week events are made possible by the collaboration and generous contributions of multiple individuals, offices and units on campus that believe in elevating and celebrating our first-generation community of students, faculty and staff.

New Student Programs maintains the for those who self-identify as first-generation college students. The list serves a visual representation of faculty and staff dedication to helping current first-generation college students build their personal success networks and their eagerness to help grow a campus of support. Students are encouraged to connect with faculty and staff members who can share their personal journeys, insight and support throughout this unique student experience.

The six recipients are the following:

• Dominique Camp ’24 (David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics), founder of clothing brand Camp Collective, will use the funds for the organization’s first collection inventory, photo shoot and mockup designs.
  

  Dominique Camp

• Olutosin (Tosin) Alabi G’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Diabetech, will use the grant to develop a proof-of-concept prototype for the smart sensor/bandage for diabetic foot ulcer monitoring.
• Aidan Turner ’25 (School of Architecture), founder of clothing brand Grater Things, will use the grant for legal services, including project and membership agreements and privacy policy, as well as website development and product research expenses.
• Antonio (Tony) Goncalves ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), founder of fitness app GymIn, will be using the grant to incorporate and other legal business processes.
• Lars Jendruschewitz ’27 (Whitman School and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), founder of Photos by Lars, will use the funds for equipment.
• Ania Kapllani ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), founder of Sunset Music, will use the grant to register as an LLC and to create a logo and website.

Applications must specifically define the need with identified outcomes to be achieved within a set time. Initial money in the fund was provided by Jeffrey Rich L’67, partner at Rich Michaelson Magaliff LLP, and a member of the ���ϲ����� Libraries Advisory Board. Rich provided a multi-year pledge of $25,000 per year for five years from 2020 to 2025. “I wanted to contribute in a way that directly supports student new ventures and removes any obstacles to startup development,” Rich says.

John Olson and David Seaman with the award presented to the Libraries by the GPO.

The library’s website offers a variety of topical tabs on elections, the Constitution and more for users to explore government information. In addition, the website highlights when and how the public can access government information and who to contact for further assistance.

“Congratulations to ���ϲ����� Libraries on its fantastic website, which makes it easy for hundreds of thousands of people in Central New York to access government information,” says GPO Superintendent of Documents Scott Matheson. “On behalf of everyone at GPO, we applaud ���ϲ����� Libraries on helping GPO deliver on its vision of an America informed.”

“���ϲ����� Libraries is proud to be a congressionally designated depository for U.S. government documents,” says David Seaman, dean of ���ϲ����� Libraries and University librarian. “In fact, ���ϲ����� Libraries is the second oldest depository library in New York State and has been a part of the Federal Depository Library Program for more than 140 years. We are extremely grateful to John Olson, our government and geo-information librarian, who developed the online research guide that makes it easy for users to find these important resources, and we are honored to be recognized as the Federal Depository Library Program website of the year.”

The depository collections of ���ϲ����� Libraries serve 23,000 students, staff and faculty of ���ϲ����� as well as the 600,000 people in the central region of New York state. The Government Documents research guide has been viewed and used more than 4,000 times in the past 18 months, more than 220 times per month.

Phloat co-founders Nathan Thor Brekke ’26 (left) and Malak Aljerari ’27 (right) with LaunchPad program manager J Wess (middle)

���ϲ����� Libraries’ Blackstone LaunchPad (LaunchPad) hosted its annual ’Cuse Tank entrepreneurial competition on Friday, Sept. 27, during Family Weekend in Bird Library. More than 35 student entrepreneur teams from various schools and colleges across campus participated in a “Shark-Tank” style business pitch to win $20,000 in cash prizes. The panel of judges consisted of University parents and affiliated family members. The judges selected two first-place teams, which each won $10,000 and two honorable mention runners-up:

• Iconnic.Cloud, founded by Waqar Hussain, G’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), won first place for the second year in a row. Iconnic.Cloud is a fully managed cloud hosting platform, engineered with proprietary software, that crafts tailored hosting solutions.
  

  Iconnic.Cloud founder by Waqar Hussain G’25 (left) with LaunchPad program manager J Wess

• Phloat, founded by College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) students who participated in the 2024 Invent@SU program, Elijah Alexander ’27, Joshua John Varkey ’26, Malak Aljerari ’27 and Nathan Thor Brekke ’26, also tied for first place. Phloat is a phone case that has a super compact, deployable flotation feature that triggers in the event of a phone falling and sinking into deep water.
• Gym-In, another startup from Invent@SU and founded by ECS students Alexander Hamza ’26, Antonio Goncalves ’27, Jack Friedman ’27 and Armani Isonguyo ’25 tied for runner-up. Their invention provides gym users with an app to determine how full a gym is and what machines are being used in live time.
• Papa Box, co-founded by Aleks Djordjevic G’25 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs) and Amos Kiplimo Bungei G’25 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) was also tied for runner-up. The company aims to provide and scale a battery-charging infrastructure through its interoperable PAPA Boxes swapping stations in transportation hot zones in Kenya.

This year’s group of “family” judges included:

• Todd Arky, executive vice president, Sharebite and co-founder/CEO of TipOff Sports
• Anthony Campagiorni ’91, vice president, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Company
• Melinda Dermody, associate dean of academic success, ���ϲ����� Libraries
• Melissa Gwilt ’15, G’22, director of budget and administration, ���ϲ����� Libraries
• Corey Lieblein ’93 , CEO of CP8 Capital
• Ajay Nagpal, president and COO Millenium
• Alice Villafana, retired
• Tonya Villafana, global franchise head, research and development, for Astra-Zeneca
• Mark Wassersug, former COO Intercontinental Exchange

Nearly 100 people registered to watch the competition, many of whom were attendees of Coming Back Together, the Black and Latine triennial alumni reunion on campus.

Student winners of 2024 Ideas Fest include:

• Olutosin (Tosin) Alabi G’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
• Nathan Thor Brekke ’26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
• Nicolas Philippe Courbage ’26 (Whitman School)
• Mario Antonio Escobar Jr. ’26 (Whitman School)
• Aphrodite Ruby Gioulekas ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
• Ania Kapllani ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
• Sandy Lin ’25 (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
• Omar Mohammed ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
• Clara Dorothy Gienapp Olson ’25 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications)
• Emeka Christopher Ossai G’25 (Whitman School)
• Elizabeth E Paulin ’24 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
• Briana Alexis Salas ’27 (Newhouse School)
• Avery Byrd Shelley G’25 (Newhouse School)
• Olivia Venezia Simons ’26 (Newhouse School and Whitman School)

Ideas Fest judges included subject matter experts, many of whom were SU alumni:

• Jacqueline P. Grant ’84, founder and CEO of The Management Academy, LLC and TrainTheTrades, LLC. Grant generously donated five marketing packages from The Management Academy and TrainTheTrades companies to winning student teams;
• Shade Akande, founder and CEO at OneX League;
• Joe Brooks ’87, retired senior banking executive with over 25 years of experience leading sales and service teams at JP Morgan Chase Bank;
• Gina N. Brown ’89, co-founder of myBKlife, a successful “hip” streetwear and lifestyle clothing brand;
• Simone Brown, CBT guest and registered nurse;
• Tyrin Fernandes ’20, food entrepreneur;
• Cristina Hatem ’92, director of strategic planning, marketing and communications at ���ϲ����� Libraries;
• Natalie Hewitt ’84, an independent human resources consultant;
• Kyra A. James ’07, professional food educator, certified cheese professional, and former ���ϲ����� track and field captain and student-athlete president;
• Erika L. Morant ’07, Washington, D.C. area-based project management professional;
• Cydavia Patterson, specialist in cultural competency, content creation and community curation;
• Shamieka Preston ’97, lead business execution consultant and vice president at Wells Fargo;
• Monica Randolph, senior director of merchandising for Barnes & Noble;
• Danielle Shavonne Reed ’98, bilingual event planner, entrepreneur and publicist; and
• Kate Washington ’75, managing partner of Enterprise Solutions International (ESI), a consulting firm that focuses on small and mid-cap business growth.

In addition, Frank Iannella ’92 (College of Arts and Sciences) and Karen (Putney) Iannella ’92 (College of Arts and Sciences and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications) of Danbury, Connecticut, recently joined the Libraries Advisory Board. Frank is chief information officer and senior vice president of digital and technology at Heineken USA. Karen recently retired as vice president, US communications and patient affairs, with Boehringer Ingelheim.

Advisory board co-chairs

Adam is a general partner with Fortify.vc, a venture capital company funding early-stage technology. He also founded concept2creation, LLC, a branding solution company. While at ���ϲ�����, Adam was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Adam ’96 and Amy Fazackerley

Amy graduated from Denison University and holds a master’s of business administration degree from Johns Hopkins University, in addition to a certificate in entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial and small operations from Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business. In her role with Lay-n-Go, Amy has been qualified as a guest host for QVC and has appeared on Good Morning America, Fox and Friends and “Your Business” Elevator Pitch on MSNBC. In 2021, she was named an Enterprising Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women magazine.

“When we asked ���ϲ����� how we could help, we never thought our journey would have started in Bird Library. From our initial interactions with students from the Blackstone LaunchPad and the leadership at ���ϲ����� Libraries, we knew we found a home,” the couple says. “Young entrepreneurs from every school within the University were collaborating with the resources necessary to develop their ideas. Supporting the Blackstone LaunchPad and its community at ���ϲ����� is our way of nurturing the next generation of innovators, creators and entrepreneurs. By mentoring students, acting as a sounding board and investing in program development, we are committed to shaping the future of the library and empowering future leaders. The next decade will redefine what a library can be, and we are excited to see ���ϲ����� lead this global transformation.”

The Fazackerleys are assuming this leadership role with the Libraries Advisory Board from University Life Trustee Judith Mower ’66, G’73, G’80, G’84, who has served on the Libraries Advisory Board since 2007, when it was started, and as chair of the board since 2015. She will remain a valued member of the Libraries Advisory Board.

“I am eternally grateful for Judy Mower’s leadership and expertise,” says David Seaman, dean of libraries and University Librarian. “Judy was at the helm of the Libraries Advisory Board when I was appointed to my role, providing immense counsel, support and advocacy to me and the broad organization. Through her direction and example, the Libraries has excelled. And we appreciate that she will remain an active member of our board.”

“I am so excited to welcome Adam and Amy as our new co-chairs. They have proven to be dedicated and passionate about continuing to support the Libraries’ growth, from their enthusiasm around mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs in the Blackstone LaunchPad, to promoting and supporting the Libraries initiatives around technology, marketing and the multitude of other ways we convene, collaborate, connect and celebrate with our campus and global communities,” says Seaman. “With our strong Libraries Advisory Board, I am confident that we will continue to grow and prosper, leading the way for a 21st century R-1 research institution.”

New board members

Frank and Karen (Putney) Iannella

In his role at Heineken USA, Frank is responsible for enabling digital capabilities in support of the company’s overall business strategy and direction, leveraging the full spectrum of technology services from operational support to digital products. Previously, Frank served as chief information officer at Freshpet, where he led digital transformation efforts within the supply chain. Throughout most of his career he held executive positions at PepsiCo, gaining extensive global experience in driving business results through technology. While a student, Frank was a founding member of the Italian Club at ���ϲ�����.

Karen retired in 2023 after a 25-year career at Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s leading research-driven pharmaceutical companies. While employed at Boehringer Ingelheim, she served in various roles in marketing, business development and ultimately led the U.S. communications function. Additionally, Karen held the role of president of the BI Cares Foundation. Karen was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, WJPZ, the Student Alumni Association and was recognized as a 1991-1992 Remembrance Scholar.

“We are honored to join the ���ϲ����� Libraries Advisory Board and give back to an institution that shaped so much of who we are today,” says Frank. “The Libraries are at the heart of the University’s academic mission, and we look forward to contributing to its growth and innovation in meaningful ways.”

“���ϲ����� has always been a special place for us, not only because it’s where we met, but because of the strong foundation it gave us both personally and professionally,” says Karen. “We are excited to be part of the Libraries’ future, supporting its role in fostering collaboration, intellectual curiosity and community.”

“I am excited that our Libraries Advisory Board is expanding to include two new alumni members, Frank and Karen Iannella, who I know will be excellent new colleagues. They met at ���ϲ����� and are keen to support the Libraries’ strategic initiatives,” Seaman says. “Individually, they each bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that will benefit the Libraries. We are grateful that together they will be supporting the Libraries’ ability to convene, collaborate, connect and celebrate.”

is a prestigious annual global competition that challenges student entrepreneurs to address the world’s most pressing social issues through innovative startups, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Each year, students from over 120 countries participate, with finalists pitching their solutions to a panel of experts for a chance to win $1 million in funding to bring their idea to life, driving positive global change through social enterprise. Teams can choose the problem they want to solve and develop a business solution to tackle it,

Aditee Malviya will serve as the ���ϲ����� campus director for the 2024-2025 Hult Prize competition.

As campus director, Malviya will organize the local campus qualifier competition on campus. Winners from the campus qualifiers advance to national competitions, followed by a digital incubator for further refinement. The best teams then join the global accelerator in London, with the top six startups competing in the global finals for the grand prize.

Malviya’s background is in web development, backend systems and process automation. Her work as a research assistant has led to improvements in data management and real-time analysis for financial research projects, while her role as an innovation nentor in the LaunchPad has helped guide numerous student startups to success. She has also served as the comptroller of the Graduate Student Organization at ���ϲ�����, managing significant financial responsibilities.

���ϲ�����’s Hult Prize campus qualifier will be held on Feb. 21 in the LaunchPad in Bird Library. Last year’s Hult Prize campus qualifier competition winner was Moody Magazine, founded by Emma Leuders ’24 and Jennie Bull ’24.

Traci Geisler

, director of (LaunchPad), presented a keynote address and served as an entrepreneurship competition judge at the first-ever Kenya-USA Global Launchpad Initiative (KUGLi) Innovation Summit, held at Kibabii University in Bungoma, Kenya, Aug. 15-16. The KUGLi Summit was the culmination of a technology innovation and entrepreneurship program focused on fostering multi-national ventures among science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) students to address global issues through entrepreneurship and creative opportunities.

The program was started in Winter 2023 by Churchill Saoke with support from the U.S. Embassy to promote entrepreneurialism and facilitate partnerships between Kenyan universities and ���ϲ�����. Throughout the Winter and Spring 2024, 131 students from Kenya and the United States participated in virtual and hybrid training sessions to identify unexploited areas for micro-multinational ventures using STEAM-focused solutions. ���ϲ����� student entrepreneurs in the LaunchPad partnered with Kenyan student entrepreneurs to advance several Kenyan student ventures. The Kenyan entrepreneurs were also invited to participate in virtual support and services from ���ϲ�����’s LaunchPad, including one-on-one advisory sessions with Traci Geisler, participation in LaunchPad workshops and presentations, and entrepreneurship ideation classes offered by , professor of entrepreneurship in the School of Information Studies.

The culmination of that budding partnership resulted in the invitation to Geisler to deliver a keynote speech, at the Summit in Kenya, to student entrepreneurs from five Kenyan universities. The Summit was also attended by Drew Giblin, the USA cultural attaché in Nairobi; Bungoma County Deputy Governor Jannipher Mbatiany; university officials and faculty from Kabibii University, JKUAT University and Great Lakes University of Kisumu; and other business leaders. Geisler spoke to the entrepreneurs about how to avoid and address cash flow problems, market misalignment, and team communication challenges during the initial growth phase of a startup. Geisler and other Kenyan subject matter experts also participated in the judging panel for the 14 student teams’ business pitches.

“The project is an intensive experience training of U.S. and Kenyan university students to develop micro-multinational ventures that employ entrepreneurial solutions to address and resolve global issues,” said Saoke.

The students’ business venture ideas addressed social impact initiatives and “wicked” problems, such as infant malnutrition, financial illiteracy, plastic pollution, water scarcity, inadequate markets for local produce, teen pregnancy, food insecurity and crime, among others.

Group photo of KUGLi Innovation Summit participants, including Traci Geisler, at Kibabii University in Bungoma, Kenya on Aug. 16.

Anthony J. Thomas and Fatim Cisse

Thomas’ entrepreneurial endeavors include building websites/web design, information security systems and home security systems. He has experience working in retail as a technology associate on both hardware and software.

Cisse’s entrepreneurial experience includes owning Womb’s Yoga, an organization that provides mindfulness workshops and support groups for Women of Color. Cisse is passionate about maternal health care and women’s wellness. She also previously served as a researcher in Health and Wellness Services through the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The Todd B. Rubin Diversity and Innovation Scholars is funded by a multi-year gift from Todd B. Rubin ’04 (School of Architecture) to directly support employment of entrepreneurial students focused on innovation, diversity and inclusion at the LaunchPad. Rubin was the recipient of the University’s 2014 Generation Orange Award for philanthropy and is a member of the ���ϲ����� Libraries Advisory Board. Todd serves as the minister of evolution (president) for The Republic of Tea, founded in 1992 as a premium tea company dedicated to enriching people’s lives through great-tasting premium teas and herbs, education, and innovation.

Aidan Turner

Turner is a fifth-year architecture student minoring in real estate (Martin J. Whitman School of Management). A member of the Blackstone LaunchPad since 2021, Turner’s entrepreneurial endeavor includes a premium garment design and supply company called Grater Things Threads, which supports his two clothing brands. He was awarded Whitman’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2022 and 2024.

The LaunchPad Watson Scholar is a paid position for students passionate about innovation, entrepreneurship and venture development. Funded through a gift from the Hunter Brooks Watson Memorial Fund, the Watson Scholar honors the life, passion and entrepreneurial spirit of Hunter Brooks Watson, who passed away in 2016 after a car accident.

is an innovative, interdisciplinary initiative at ���ϲ����� focused on inclusive entrepreneurship, design and community. It is a partnership between ���ϲ����� Libraries, the School of Design and , a program of the��. Intelligence ++ is supported through a generous donation by Gianfranco Zaccai ’70 H’09 and the��.

Trey Augliano

Augliano is the founder of Flamingo Brands, a global e-commerce company. During the past academic year, he served as an Orange Innovation Scholar for ���ϲ����� Libraries and worked with the and as a tech commercialization specialist. Augliano was a member of the student steering committee for the inaugural program. He previously interned as an angel investment portfolio manager at Shaw Harbor Holdings, a private equity and asset management firm, where he worked alongside the founder and CEO.

As the Intelligence ++ Innovation Scholar, Augliano will assist with , a funding program to help students across campus commercialize products, services and technologies that support people with intellectual disability or who are neurodivergent. The Intelligence ++ Scholar serves as a peer mentor to students from across all disciplines and academic units to help bring their ideas to life and engages with SU alumni who are innovators in this field who can serve as subject matter experts.

• Bird Library
  • Lower level to second floor:
    • Monday through Thursday: 24 hours
    • Friday: Closes at 10 p.m.
    • Saturday: Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    • Sunday: Reopens at 10 a.m.
  • Floors three to five:
    • Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to midnight
    • Friday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    • Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    • Sunday: 10 a.m. to midnight
  • Sixth floor, including Special Collections Research Center:
    • Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesdays to 7 p.m.
• Carnegie Library
  • Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• King + King Architecture Library
  • Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Sunday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• College of Law Library
  • Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: Closed

The Libraries is participating in several Welcome Week activities as students return to campus, including:

• Family Lounge outside of Bird Library (Einhorn Walk side) and Carnegie Library (Shaw Quadrangle entrance) on Wednesday, Aug. 21, and Thursday, Aug. 22, from 12 to 4 p.m. each day. Students, their families and supporters are invited to take a break from moving into the residence halls to learn about the Libraries. Snacks and beverages will be provided, as well as Libraries information. Library tours will be available by request.

• Welcome Fest in Bird Library’s First Floor on Thursday, Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All students are invited to attend this open house-style event with tables highlighting the many offerings of the Libraries, several partners and other campus departments. Students can stop by to participate in raffles, snacks and a “passport” activity encouraging participants to visit all tables.

���ϲ����� Libraries has selected four students as the 2024-25 Orange Innovation Scholars. This prestigious recognition highlights their dedication to innovation and entrepreneurship. These four students exemplify the spirit of innovation and leadership that the Orange Innovation Scholars program seeks to promote. The four Orange Innovation Scholars are:

• Ava Lubkemann ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) is studying environmental engineering with a passion for sustainable construction, design and entrepreneurship. She founded “Sustainable Concepts,” a business that sells upcycled clothing to support environmentally conscious organizations. Additionally, Lubkemann volunteers with STEM Explorer, helping local middle-school students engage in hands-on STEM learning. At ���ϲ�����, she has been a researcher at the Dynamic Sustainability Lab, focusing on carbon capture sequestration. Lubkemann is a recent graduate of the summer accelerator program.
• Jair Espinoza ’25 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) is actively involved in several student organizations, including the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Mexican Student Association, Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity and the ���ϲ����� Men’s Gymnastic Club. Espinoza brings a wealth of experience in organizing large-scale events, securing funding and promoting cultural understanding. As a software developer, his experiences have provided him with valuable insight in full stack development, artificial intelligence and mobile app development. He is a recent graduate of the summer accelerator program.
• Aidan Turner ’25 (School of Architecture), a fifth-year architecture student, is also completing a minor in real estate from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. He is a licensed real estate salesperson in Massachusetts. Turner has been recognized as ���ϲ����� Student Entrepreneur of the Year in both 2022 and 2024. He is the CEO and founder of Grater Things Threads, a premium garment design and supply company dedicated to crafting bespoke, sustainable garments with meaningful designs.
• Thomas O’Brien ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) is an entrepreneur who combines the art of filmmaking with business and marketing. With experience in audience development for music artists and actors combined, O’Brien looks to revolutionize how narrative filmmaking is produced, shared and consumed in the new digital age. His work across all practices has generated millions of views on several social media platforms. He is an Invest in Success Scholar, a member of the ‘CUSE50 steering committee (where he was emcee for last fall’s gala) and a speaker at the ‘CUSE50 student summit.

Orange Innovation Scholars support commercialization programs offered through ���ϲ����� Libraries, including the and the , along with Universitywide entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives such as . They will engage University faculty, post doctorates and Ph.D. students, graduate and undergraduate students engaged in research, technology commercialization, venture development, innovation and entrepreneurship. Orange Innovation Scholars will also engage with SU alumni who are founders and leaders at top innovation companies. Orange Innovation Scholars work across all disciplines and academic units to build a pipeline of innovation and tell success stories.

Xheneta Sopjani (left), Emeka Ossai (center) and Natasha Brao are among the recipients of the Spring 2024 Orange Innovation Fund grant.

���ϲ����� Libraries is accepting fall 2024 applications for the grant now through Friday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m. Interested applicants should plan to attend one of the information and proposal/grant writing workshops on Sept. 10, 11 or 12.

The Orange Innovation Fund supports student research initiatives emerging from campus innovation programs. The grant ‘concept to commercialization’ fund is designed to help move graduate and undergraduate student research or scholarly projects from ideation to proof of concept to commercialization. Initial funding from the program came from a gift to the Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, a member of the University Board of Trustees.

Grants up to $5,000 per award will be made, with a total of up to $50,000 per academic year based on the merit of applications.

The program is administered through ���ϲ����� Libraries, in collaboration with the University’s research and commercialization programs such as the�� (SOURCE), the��,��, ,��, the��, the����at ���ϲ�����,��,��, the����(NYSTAR designated Center for Advanced Technology) and the��. Applicants can also come directly through research classes, labs or independent study programs across the University.

Student applicants must identify specific tangible needs related to the product, service, technology or creative work they are developing. Grants will support defined projects over a clear timeframe with identified outcomes that will help move a research project or innovative venture toward proof of concept toward commercialization.

A prerequisite to applying is attendance at one of the proposal writing workshops being offered by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, advisor, strategic initiatives ���ϲ����� Libraries, and former founding director of the Blackstone LaunchPad. Students should attend one of the following workshops to create a successful application:

• Tuesday, September 10, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Bird Library
• Wednesday, September 11, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Couri Hatchery, Whitman Room 116
• Thursday, September 12, from 3 to 4 p.m. Hybrid in Bird Library or via

Dickerson Hartsock is also available to help coach applicants through the process and can be scheduled for sessions on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons by emailing ldhart01@syr.edu.

Applications are due Friday, September 27, by 5 p.m. to ���ϲ����� Libraries. For a link to the application or to register for a workshop, please e-mail orangeinnovation@syr.edu to indicate your interest in the program.

Following a cross-campus committee review process, announcements and award letters will be made in October.

Nine student teams were the