College of Arts and Sciences 鈥� 黑料不打烊 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:03:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 Blackstone LaunchPad Announces 2025 Afropreneurship Business Competition Winners /blog/2025/02/21/blackstone-launchpad-announces-2025-afropreneurship-business-competition-winners/ Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:52:46 +0000 /?p=207784 awarded prizes to several student teams as part of its fourth annual Afropreneurship Celebration and Business Competition, held in Bird Library on Feb. 7.

Among the winning team awards:

  • $1,500 to Olutosin Alabi G鈥�25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Diabetech;
  • $1,500 to Anthony H. Smith Jr. G鈥�25 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), Bryson Carter G鈥�25 (Newhouse School), Asha Breedlove G鈥�25 (Newhouse School) and Stacey Collier G鈥�25 (Newhouse School), founders of HBeatzCU;
  • $1,000 to Sydney Moore G鈥�25 (Whitman School), founder of Thrive Insights;
  • $1,000 to Lindy Truitt 鈥�25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Anjaneya Padwal G鈥�25 (School of Information Studies), founders of Safe Sip;
  • $500 to Tony Goncalves 鈥�27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) and Armani Isonguyo 鈥�24 (Engineering and Computer Science), founders of GymIn;
  • $500 to Jasmine Mayers 鈥�26 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), founder of Pressed;
  • $500 to Elizabeth Paulin 鈥�24 (College of Arts and Sciences), founder of Paulin Capital;
  • $500 to Swathi Jacob G鈥�25 (Whitman School); and
  • $250 to Maven Kavan 鈥�28 (Visual and Performing Arts).
The image shows a group of eleven people standing in a room, each holding large ceremonial checks. The checks display various amounts of money, with most showing $1,000. The individuals are dressed in business casual attire. In the background, there is a screen displaying a video call or presentation. This appears to be an award or recognition event.

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

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The Life-Changing Benefits of a Fall Study Abroad Experience (Podcast) /blog/2025/02/19/the-life-changing-benefits-of-a-fall-study-abroad-experience-podcast/ Wed, 19 Feb 2025 14:25:25 +0000 /?p=207653 As part its academic strategic plan, 鈥�,鈥� the University is committed to removing barriers and creating opportunities so that all undergraduates can study abroad or away before they graduate.

A person smiles for a headshot while on the campus of 黑料不打烊.

Nicole Collins

More than 50% of students explore the world through a center, says Nicole Collins, director of strategic partnerships and outreach with 黑料不打烊 Abroad. With over , there鈥檚 a unique opportunity for every student.

While the spring has traditionally been when the majority of students study abroad, Collins says there鈥檚 been a in recent years. Among the reasons why Collins says students should consider studying abroad in the fall:

  • More likely to get into the program and secure the housing type you want.
  • More scholarships and grants available, including $2,000 per student grants for Central Europe and Santiago, Chile.
  • Special fall-only programs and events, including Oktoberfest and Christmas markets.
  • Experiment with locations that aren’t easy to visit later in life.
  • Unique cultural opportunities for food lovers who study in Florence, Italy, including truffle hunting, chestnut harvests and festivals, olive oil harvesting and tasting, grape harvesting, and more.
  • Easier for parents and family members to visit.

鈥淥ur students are realizing the amazing opportunities available in the fall,鈥� Collins says. 鈥淲e have great need-based and merit-based scholarship opportunities available for students in the fall, plus there鈥檚 less demand.鈥�

On this episode of the , Collins and Sophia Moore 鈥�25, who enjoyed a life-changing 黑料不打烊 Abroad experience in the Fall 2023 semester, discuss the many benefits of studying abroad in the fall. A transcript [PDF]听is also available

Thinking of studying abroad in the fall? The is March 15.

The below Q&A spotlights how, through their semesters abroad, students Moore and Anna Meehan 鈥�26 underwent transformative experiences by immersing themselves in a new country.

Sophia Moore 鈥�25

The image shows a person standing in front of the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu, located high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. The background features terraced fields, stone structures, and steep mountain peaks under a partly cloudy sky. The person is wearing a black hat and light-colored clothing.

Sophia Moore visited the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

Academic majors:听Television, radio and film (); sociology ().

Semester Abroad: Fall 2023 at the in Santiago, Chile.

Why was Santiago the destination for you? I figured that I would have an opportunity at some point in my life to be able to travel to Europe, but to travel to South America, that was a rare opportunity. And I really wanted the chance to immerse myself in a culture that I was completely unfamiliar with in a country that I was completely unfamiliar with, with the safety net of doing it through 黑料不打烊 Abroad.

The image shows a person with shoulder-length wavy hair standing outdoors in front of a stone building with arched windows. The person is wearing a white lab coat over a black top. Green plants are visible in the background.

Sophia Moore

What role did your host family play to help you get acclimated? My host family encouraged me to go out and do everything that Santiago had to offer. Every day, my host mom would check in and offer up a couple of places to check out. She was always pushing me to get out of the house and go explore the city because it鈥檚 important to take advantage of every moment. I wouldn鈥檛 have had access to that kind of cultural ambassadorship to Chile if I wasn鈥檛 living with a host family.

How close did you become with your peers in the Santiago program? We lived something so life-changing together, experienced so much culture and were exposed to this lifestyle that’s so different from the U.S. In five months, we all became very close, and that’s something that just is a bond for life.

What did you learn about yourself from your time studying abroad? Studying abroad somewhere where the language spoken is not my first language was a real challenge. Every day, I would wake up and push myself to just do a little bit more, speak in Spanish a little longer, think a little harder and get myself a little more comfortable with the language and with the space. But as time went on, just coaxing myself into doing a little bit more showed me that I have a level of resilience that I wasn鈥檛 aware of before I went abroad.

Anna Meehan 鈥�26

The image shows a person standing in a large, open square with tiled pavement. The person is wearing a blue top and a white skirt, with their hands on their hips and facing away from the camera. In the background, there are two large buildings with classical architecture, separated by a row of trees. A flagpole with a red and white flag stands prominently between the buildings. The sky above is partly cloudy.

Anna Meehan poses at Pi艂sudski Square (Plac Pi艂sudskiego) in Warsaw, Poland.

Academic majors:听International relations (); Russian language, literature and culture, and music history and cultures ().

Semester Abroad: Fall 2023 through the program (based in Wroclaw, Poland). Meehan visited Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany.

Why was Central Europe and Poland the destination for you? My aunt studied abroad in Poland when she was about my age, and after hearing her stories, it just made sense that I study abroad here too. This program covered World War II history. The Holocaust and Judaic studies. The Soviet Union. My research is on the political culture in former Soviet countries, so this was a really good opportunity to go live in and get a great educational experience studying something relevant to my degrees.

The image shows a person with shoulder-length blonde hair standing in front of a dark-colored car. They are wearing a white shirt with red text partially visible, an olive green jacket, and a black strap across their chest. In the background, there is a brown door and a light-colored wall.

Anna Meehan

How did you acclimate and adjust to life in your new home? I remember getting off the bus after flying into Wroclaw and feeling calm and comfortable. Part of that is because I spent so much time in my childhood and at 黑料不打烊 reading about and studying Poland, and I knew one day I would get there. When I did, it just felt right. I had a revelation while I was studying abroad and now my plan is to go back to Poland for the long-term after college.

How close did you become with your peers in the Central Europe program? If you go through the experiences of visiting those three concentration camps like we did, it’s inevitable that you will grow close to these people. Sure, at first we were all shy and getting to know each other, but within the first two weeks, I saw people who didn’t know each other at all before the program supporting each other and helping everyone go through and process these really difficult concepts and emotions from the difficult places we visited. We still keep in touch, and we all got back together for a reunion this fall that was really special.

How did your semester abroad complement your academic goals and aspirations? I wanted to dedicate my studies to understanding the politics and history of Eastern Europe so I could learn more about my field of international relations and Russian language, literature and culture. I thought going to Poland would be a good way to see Eastern Europe in a more modern sense. But when I got there, I saw so many non-governmental organizations who used culture as the basis for healing the tensions of the refugees from Ukraine who have crossed the borders, and how art and music can really play a central role in that process. This drove me to eventually declare my music history and cultures major.

I also ended up going to an entire week of cultural festivals in support of Belarusians who had to flee Belarus and relocated to Poland. I went to plays, gatherings and concerts and left feeling like I understand my mission from a different perspective. I still want to promote how art, music and culture promote healing, but now it鈥檚 on a much more personal level.

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Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Continues to Set New Standards in Research /blog/2025/02/11/department-of-communication-sciences-and-disorders-continues-to-set-new-standards-in-research/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 14:25:24 +0000 /?p=207485

A College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) professor recently received the highest recognition for his exceptional contributions to communication sciences and disorders from the field鈥檚 leading professional organization.

Jonathan Preston

, a professor in the听听at 黑料不打烊, has been named an (ASHA) Fellow, one of the organization’s most prestigious honors. ASHA reserves this lifetime distinction for members who have demonstrated outstanding professional, clinical or scientific achievements that make significant impacts beyond their state and local communities.

As director of the 听at 黑料不打烊鈥檚听, Preston leads research focused on developing and evaluating evidence-based assessments and treatments for speech sound disorders. A certified speech-language pathologist, his research specializes in treating persistent articulation difficulties and childhood apraxia of speech, while exploring the neurobiological foundations of speech sound disorders in children.

Jonathan Preston named ASHA Fellow

Jonathan Preston receives the ASHA Fellow honor.

“Our lab conducts clinical trials to generate generalizable knowledge about treating children’s speech disorders,鈥� Preston says. 鈥淲e explore innovative technologies like ultrasound, acoustic biofeedback, teletherapy and AI to augment speech therapy, with students and staff collaboratively developing creative solutions.”

A quick glance at the statistics underscores the significance of Preston鈥檚 research. One in 12 children between 3 and 17 years old in the United States experiences a voice, speech, language or swallowing disorder. Unfortunately, nearly half of these children have not received intervention services within the past year,听.

Preston’s honor follows听听awarded to him and a team of researchers at 黑料不打烊, New York University and Montclair State University for a project exploring biofeedback technologies that provide children with real-time visual representations of their speech patterns鈥攊nformation they typically cannot perceive on their own. That research will compare the effectiveness of various therapeutic approaches using these technologies while also evaluating AI-based tools that could enable home practice with human oversight.

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Career Readiness Through Local Immersions /blog/2025/02/11/career-readiness-through-local-immersions/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 14:23:51 +0000 /?p=207494
A common question for college students nearing graduation is, “What’s next?” According to a听听by Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab, 68% of college students feel at least “somewhat” apprehensive about life after graduation. To help ease that uncertainty for students in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) | Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the听听has launched CareerReady, a carefully crafted program that leads students through career preparedness objectives, from their first year to graduation.

Networking Locally

One important component of CareerReady is the advising office鈥檚听, where A&S | Maxwell students visit companies to gain insight into a wide variety of industries and work cultures. The immersion program initially consisted of two yearly trips to New York City: The Winston Fisher Seminar, which started in 2007, and the Stocks and Finance Immersion, which started in 2015. Through these experiences, students discover how a liberal arts degree prepares them for success and forge valuable connections with industry leaders and 黑料不打烊 alumni in the finance and business sectors.

Following the high level of engagement and interest in the New York City immersions, the advising office explored ways to involve more students and more industries. They began offering a series of local immersions, where students spend a day visiting various companies within a specific field based in Central New York. These immersions, which are planned by听, director of career advising for A&S | Maxwell, and听, director of employer-alumni relations for A&S | Maxwell, as well as many A&S | Maxwell advisors, offer students perspective on potential career paths and provide them with greater confidence in making decisions about their future because they can hear from actual practitioners about their path to achieving success.

Students sitting at desks listening to person giving presentation

Students listening to a presentation during the Stocks and Finance Immersion in Fall 2024.

In Fall 2024, A&S | Maxwell advising offered three programs in 黑料不打烊: Psychology Immersion (Oct. 18), Stocks & Finance Immersion (Nov. 8) and Pre-Law Immersion (Dec. 6). The reception from students has been resoundingly positive, as over 90% of students surveyed who took part in the local immersions said they gained valuable knowledge about career options through these experiences.

Helping Students Plan Their Future

Diana Bonilla-Prado, a first-generation college student majoring in political science in A&S | Maxwell and minoring in information management and technology in the iSchool, took part in the pre-law immersion and found it both motivating and empowering.

two people standing in a building's lobby

Diana Bonilla-Prado (left) and Sylla Diallo (right) in the lobby of One Lincoln Center in 黑料不打烊, where the law office of Bond, Schoeneck and King, one of the stops during the pre-law immersion, is located.

鈥淭his trip gave me insight on what I鈥檇 like to do, what my liberal arts degree can be used for, and has helped me plan for my future,鈥� Bonilla-Prado says. 鈥淒uring one of our meetings, I met a woman of color who shared a similar ethnic background with me. Being able to make that connection was incredibly inspiring and resonated deeply with me.鈥�

Sylla Diallo, a double major in African American studies in A&S and international relations in A&S | Maxwell, also attended the pre-law immersion. He said hearing from legal professionals and learning about their educational and career paths gave him a better understanding of the commitment and dedication it takes to be successful in that field.

鈥淰isiting each law office, getting to know experienced leaders in the field and being a part of the environment that I鈥檇 like to work in was extremely valuable,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hrough this immersion, I have affirmed that I would like to pursue delivering justice and fairness to members of my community.鈥�

Connecting with Employers

These are exactly the results Aust and Wheeler were looking for when launching the initiative. Like the New York City-based immersion trips, the local immersions provide students with insight and access to employers and career opportunities. Local employers, in turn, benefit by connecting with talented SU students who may become future interns or employees. Alumni have also been eager to get involved, as it allows them to mentor current Orange students and stay connected with the University community and fellow alumni through networking events.

鈥淟ocal immersions allow us to make this all happen in close proximity to the University,鈥� says Wheeler. 鈥淚t strengthens 黑料不打烊鈥檚 connection with the local community and helps students find opportunities, such as internships, near campus.鈥�

Calling All Students

For students interested in participating in an upcoming immersion, here鈥檚 a list of the Spring 2025 offerings, both in 黑料不打烊 and elsewhere:

  • Winston Fisher Seminar in New York City (March 9 鈥� 14) – Applications closed

To sign up, visit the Handshake links above.

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Caribbean Art: Uncovering the Region’s Photographic Heritage Through Contemporary and Historical Works /blog/2025/02/10/caribbean-art-uncovering-the-regions-photographic-heritage-through-contemporary-and-historical-works/ Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:27:24 +0000 /?p=207464 On the surface, viewing a photo from a 1950s travel brochure of a pristine Caribbean beach with palm trees and sunshine might make you dream about a tropical vacation. But if you analyze that image more deeply, it can reveal a much more complicated past, says听, assistant professor of Latinx literature and culture in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) . These stereotypical images of the Caribbean, used to promote the travel industry, are not just innocent portrayals of paradise. “They are part of a larger system of historical and ongoing inequalities,” notes Pardo Porto. Through critical analysis of photography and artwork, images can serve as catalysts for social awareness and change, prompting viewers to reflect on and address cultural inequities.

person standing in front of artwork

A&S Professor Cristina Pardo Porto curated the art exhibition titled听Joiri Minaya: Unseeing the Tropics at the Museum, on display at the SU Art Museum through May 10.

Pardo Porto explains that the history of exploitation dates to the 15th and 16th centuries when Europeans began to colonize the Americas. Settlers illustrated the Caribbean as an exotic and fertile land ripe for extraction, reinforcing ideas of ownership and domination.

鈥淭hese narratives justified the exploitation of the land and its people, laying the groundwork for the contemporary tourism industry,鈥� says Pardo Porto. 鈥淭ourism, in turn, relies on similar fantasies, using idyllic images of beaches, palm trees and smiling locals to market the region as an escape for wealthy foreigners. These visual constructs mask the inequalities and labor exploitation that sustain the industry.鈥�

According to Pardo Porto, the growth and expansion of large hotels and resorts has led to environmental degradation and the displacement of local communities who are forced to relocate within their own country.

鈥淣atural resources are privatized for resorts, and local workers are often paid low wages while a privileged group of tourists reaps the benefits,鈥� she says.

During the spring semester, Pardo Porto is presenting an art exhibition in collaboration with the听听which invites visitors to critically examine historical and contemporary images of tropical regions. Its aim is to help viewers recognize how these representations impact the lives of those living within these communities.

The exhibition, titled听“”听is on view in the SU Art Museum鈥檚 Joe and Emily Lowe Galleries through May 10. The gallery features works by Minaya, a Dominican American artist whose works critique how stereotypical representations, rooted in colonial histories, continue to misrepresent her community and identity. Minaya鈥檚 works are exhibited alongside historical photographs and artwork from the SU Art Museum鈥檚 collections, reflecting on the impact of colonization, tourism and commercialization on the Caribbean. Each artwork features a wall text, available in both English and Spanish, authored by Pardo Porto, which explains the significance of each work.

person looking at postcards

Upon entering the gallery, visitors are invited to take a postcard created by Minaya. These postcards, like the one Pardo Porto is holding above, blend images from actual tourism promotions with layers of stereotypical tropical imagery superimposed on women’s bodies. This artistic approach encourages visitors to confront and challenge the tropes of tropicality that reduce women to mere objects of exotic fascination.

Illuminating Visual Culture of the Caribbean

The idea to bring Minaya鈥檚 award-winning work to campus stems from Pardo Porto鈥檚 longstanding interest in the history of Latin American photography and visual culture. She notes that visual culture encompasses all the images that surround us and shape our daily lives, from archival images, fine art and product advertisements to photos taken with phone cameras and beyond.

While conducting research for her dissertation on artistic photography in and of the Caribbean and Central American regions, she recognized an underrepresentation in the history of photography in Latin America. Since then, much of her scholarship has focused on bringing awareness to this topic.

Pardo Porto is now writing a book manuscript titled “Latent Photographies: A Diasporic Reframing of the History of Photography,” which will present a decolonial history of Latin American photography. She received a 黑料不打烊 听during the Spring 2024 semester to focus on writing her book and other related projects, including the exhibition of Minaya鈥檚 works.

What You Will See

Two works on display at the exhibition are from Minaya鈥檚听Containers听(2020) series, where she uses her own body wrapped in fabric with tropical patterns, in stereotypical and unnatural poses. Pardo Porto notes that this embodies the imagery imposed on both women (the pose) and landscape (tropical print, flowers, etc.).

artwork hanging on wall

Container #3听(left) and听Container #7听(right) by Joiri Minaya; Pigment print; Courtesy of the artist and Praise Shadows Gallery.

鈥淪he draws attention to how tropicality is commercialized and consumed, inviting viewers to reflect on their complicity in perpetuating harmful representations,鈥� says Pardo Porto. 鈥淢inaya not only highlights the absurdity of tropical imagery but also prompts viewers to confront and rethink the ingrained stereotypes they might unconsciously accept and reproduce.鈥�

pieces of art arranged in front of a wall

For the installation titled听#dominicanwomengooglesearch (2016),听Minaya conducted a Google Image search for the term “Dominican women.” Based on the results of that search, she digitally isolated individual body parts, enlarged and printed them on Sintra board, and then hand-cut them after covering the backs with tropical-patterned fabrics. This installation invites viewers to reflect on and challenge the recurring, sexualized poses associated with tropicalized identities.

Student Engagement

Students in Pardo Porto鈥檚 “Contemporary Latinx Art听(undergraduate) and听Theorizing Central American and Caribbean Diasporas Through Art”听(graduate) classes will take part in assignments tied to the exhibition. Students will write about Joiri Minaya鈥檚 work and engage with archival and collection materials from the University鈥檚 Art Museum and Special Collections Resource Center. She says this approach will help them explore the historical dialogue between past and present images.

鈥淢any of our students aren鈥檛 aware of the resources available in our collections and on campus, and this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from an artist whose work is on campus,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 always include these types of cross-campus collaborations, such as with the Special Collections Research Center.鈥�

Pardo Porto hopes that visitors to the exhibition will develop a deeper understanding of how stereotypical images are created and embedded in visual culture. 鈥淢y hope is that students, faculty, staff and the local community will gain the tools to see and acknowledge the pervasive tropes of tropicality and then actively 鈥榰nsee鈥� them鈥攄ismantling these limiting frameworks and fostering new ways of seeing.鈥�

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Innovative Researchers Join A&S In Spring 2025 /blog/2025/02/05/innovative-researchers-join-as-in-spring-2025/ Wed, 05 Feb 2025 15:53:21 +0000 /?p=207341

The College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) has welcomed five new professors for the Spring 2025 semester. According to A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi, this group of innovative researchers brings important expertise to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 largest and oldest college.

鈥淚 am delighted that these new faculty members are joining A&S, bringing their research specializations and teaching excellence to benefit our students and contribute to knowledge in service of the public good,鈥� Mortazavi says. 鈥淭ogether with the rest of our faculty, they will help us further our collective mission of solving the grand challenges we face today.鈥�

Meet the new A&S professors

Li-En Jao, associate professor, biology, affiliated with BioInspired Institute

Li-En Jao, new faculty member

Li-En Jao

Instructional philosophy: I approach teaching in a similar manner as I study the assembly of cellular structures in my research鈥攚hich seeks to understand the genesis of certain diseases such as cancer鈥攁s a systematic process of building knowledge while emphasizing the interconnections that make biology fascinating. Making abstract concepts tangible through clear examples and hands-on experiences helps students grasp both the molecular details and their broader significance in human health.

  • Ph.D., cell and developmental biology, Rutgers University
  • Specializations: cell biology, developmental biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, microscopy, zebrafish genetics, mass spectrometry, CRISPR gene editing, macromolecular assembly, biomolecular condensates, intracellular transport, mRNA metabolism and neurological disorders
  • Previous position: associate professor, Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, UC Davis School of Medicine

Eun-Deok Kim, assistant professor, biology

Eun-Deok Kim, new faculty member

Eun-Deok Kim

Instructional philosophy: I guide students to discover both the fine details and bigger picture of biology, just as I study how plant cells adapt and develop in changing environments, so that people can better understand how plants may adapt in the face of climate change.

I combine fundamental principles with hands-on experience using modern techniques, aiming to nurture students’ natural curiosity about how living things work and change. My goal is to guide them in connecting their knowledge to real-world challenges and crafting personalized pathways for their academic and professional growth.

  • Ph.D., plant molecular biology, University of Texas at Austin
  • Specializations: epigenetics, molecular genetics, plant biology, genomics, developmental biology and biochemistry
  • Previous position: research scientist, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Chih Hung Lo, assistant professor, biology and neuroscience

Chih Hung Lo, new faculty member

Chih Hung Lo

Instructional philosophy: To help prepare the next generation of researchers with the potential to address brain-related illnesses, such as Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, I foster interdisciplinary learning, empowering students to explore biology, engineering and medicine through theory and real-world applications. Through mentorship, I promote critical thinking and innovations, encourage independence and guide students in crafting personalized paths that merge foundational knowledge with practical problem-solving skills.

  • Ph.D., biomedical engineering with minor in management of technology, University of Minnesota
  • Specializations: neurobiology of aging, Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, multiple sclerosis, body-brain interaction, intrinsically disordered proteins, lysosome biology, receptor signaling, protein biophysics, biosensor engineering, nanobiotechnology and drug discovery
  • Previous position: Dean鈥檚 Postdoctoral Fellow, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
  • Key honor/award: 听in Biochemistry & Biophysics (2024)

Heather Meyer, assistant professor, biology, affiliated with BioInspired Institute

Heather Meyer, new faculty member

Heather Meyer

Instructional philosophy: Knowledge is not innate; it is acquired through personal experiences and by systematically testing the relationships between facts and theories. As an educator, my overarching goal is to provide students with the skills to observe and question the world around them and to research, evaluate and refine their own analyses. This way, students can better understand how their knowledge can be applied to help solving real-world challenges.

  • Ph.D., genetics, genomics and development, Cornell University
  • Specializations: plant biology, intrinsically disordered proteins, live cell-imaging, molecular genetics and biochemistry
  • Previous position: senior scientist, Mozza

Caitlin Miller, professor of practice, Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute

Caitlin Miller, new faculty member

Caitlin Miller

Instructional philosophy: My student-centered learning approach emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving, important traits for those entering the forensics field. I aim to create supportive classroom and laboratory environments that foster creativity, inquiry and collaborative learning, helping students build confidence and appreciation for the scientific content.

  • Ph.D., chemistry, 黑料不打烊
  • Specializations: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, aptamer-based technology and biosensing
  • Previous position: chief science officer, AptaMatrix Inc.
  • Key award/honor: Faculty Unsung Hero Award, Le Moyne College (2020)

This story was written by Sean Grogan

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Faculty, Staff to Participate in 2025 ACC Academic Leaders Network /blog/2025/01/29/faculty-staff-to-participate-in-2025-acc-academic-leaders-network/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:33:09 +0000 /?p=207219 Five members of the 黑料不打烊 community have been selected to participate in the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Academic Leaders Network.

head shot

Kevin Adonis Browne

The program is designed to facilitate cross-institutional networking and collaboration among academic leaders while building leadership capacity at participating ACC institutions.

黑料不打烊 members included in the 2025 cohort are:

  • , associate professor of writing studies, rhetoric and composition and chair of the Humanities Council,

    Brad Horn

  • , professor of practice in public relations and associate dean for strategic initiatives,
  • , teaching professor, executive director of clinical education and executive director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic,

    Elizabeth Kubala

  • , assistant dean for undergraduate programs,
  • , assistant provost for arts and community programming, Office of Strategic Initiatives,

    Lindsay Quilty

head shot

Miranda Staats Traudt

The program will kick off with a virtual event on Feb. 7, followed by three on-site sessions at Wake Forest University (March 26-28), the University of Miami (June 23-25) and Georgia Institute of Technology (Oct. 20-22).

The sessions will focus on leadership topics and trends in higher education while promoting leadership growth, awareness and effectiveness.

Participating faculty members from all member institutions have received foundational leadership training and served at least one year in a relevant leadership role.

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Meet 黑料不打烊鈥檚 2025 Alumni Awards Honorees /blog/2025/01/29/meet-syracuse-universitys-2025-alumni-awards-honorees/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:26:58 +0000 /?p=207204 Student performers entertain during the 2024 Alumni Awards celebration.

黑料不打烊 will honor eight distinguished members of the Orange community during the , which is being held on Friday, April 4, in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building (NVRC). All members of the community are invited to attend this complimentary program. Registration will open in February.

This annual event recognizes and celebrates the exceptional accomplishments of alumni and students who exemplify what it means to be Forever Orange.听The honorees were selected by the awards committee of the Board of Directors.听The committee will soon announce the 2025 Outstanding Future Alumni Award, which goes to a most deserving student.

The George Arents Award is 黑料不打烊鈥檚 highest alumni honor and recognizes individuals who have excelled in their fields.听This year鈥檚 honorees are Paul Greenberg 鈥�65, P鈥�03; Melanie Littlejohn G鈥�97; and Judith 鈥淛udy鈥� C. Mower 鈥�66, G鈥�73, G鈥�80, Ph.D.鈥�84.

Chelsea Ransom-Cooper 鈥�15 will receive the Generation Orange Award, which recognizes graduates from the past decade for career success, community engagement and overall commitment to 黑料不打烊.

Jack Kreischer 鈥�65 will receive the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award for his loyalty and service to 黑料不打烊 over the past 50 years.

Jamieson R. Ritter 鈥�19 will posthumously receive the Military/Veteran Alumni Award. Ritter passed away in the line of duty while serving as a police officer in Cleveland, Ohio. This award highlights his bravery and dedication to our country and community.

Kimberly Wolf Price L鈥�03 will be awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award for her commitment to 黑料不打烊 as a volunteer.

The Outstanding Future Alumni Award honoree will be announced in February.

and plan to join us in April for the celebration.

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Lamis Abdelaaty, Collaborators Awarded $2M in ERC Funds for Refugee Law Research /blog/2025/01/29/lamis-abdelaaty-collaborators-awarded-2-million-in-erc-funds-for-refugee-law-research/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:15:05 +0000 /?p=207178 Lamis Abdelaaty, associate professor and director of undergraduate studies for the political science department in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences, is a co-principal investigator on a project that has received a $2 million grant from the European Research Council to study the effectiveness of international refugee law.

Lamis Abdelaaty

Lamis Abdelaaty

The research team for the project titled 鈥淩efLex: Is International Refugee Law Effective?鈥� includes principal investigator Cathryn Costello, a professor of global refugee and migration law at University College Dublin Sutherland School of Law, and fellow co-principal investigator Ashwini Vasanthakumar, an associate professor and Queen鈥檚 National Scholar in Legal and Political Philosophy at Queen鈥檚 University Law School in Canada. The research team will also include two post-doctoral researchers and two Ph.D. students.

The team will use statistical analysis, qualitative methods, case studies and conceptual analysis for their comparative study. They hope to create a new dataset鈥攖he Refugee Protection Index鈥攖o explore the effectiveness of international refugee law in terms of delivering protection for refugees, changing states鈥� behavior and motivating social, political or legal mobilizations by refugees themselves.

鈥淲hether and how international refugee law can be effective are pressing questions for scholars of international refugee politics,鈥� says Abdelaaty. 鈥淚 am looking forward to collaborating with this stellar research team and to extending my previous work on refugee rights and policies through this project.鈥�

The funding is a consolidator grant, which supports scientists and scholars with seven to 12 years of experience as they establish independent research teams. The European Research Council, a public body that funds scientific and technological research, awarded over $700 million to 328 researchers across Europe under the European Union鈥檚 Horizon Europe program.

鈥淭his project will answer important questions about what types of laws can protect some of the most vulnerable people鈥攔efugees,鈥� says Shana Kushner Gadarian, associate dean for research and professor of political science. 鈥淒uring a time of significant change to the international community, Professor Abdelaaty is helping to illuminate where refugees are safe, integrated and adding to their new home countries.鈥�

Previously, Abdelaaty has received support from the Gerda Henkel Foundation for her second book project, 鈥淩efugees in Crisis,鈥� which analyzes the designation of situations as 鈥渞efugee crises.鈥� Her first book, 鈥淒iscrimination and Delegation: Explaining State Responses to Refugees鈥� (Oxford University Press, 2021), received the Distinguished Book Award from the International Studies Association鈥檚 Ethnicity, Nationalism and Migration Studies section and the Best Book Award from the American Political Science Association鈥檚 Migration and Citizenship section.

At the Maxwell School, Abdelaaty is a senior research associate at the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration and the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs. She teaches courses on refugees in international politics, humanitarian action in world politics, international law and human rights.

Story by Michael Kelly

 

 

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黑料不打烊 Symposium Creates Community, Broadens Perspectives /blog/2025/01/27/syracuse-symposium-creates-community-broadens-perspectives/ Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:41:09 +0000 /?p=206934 A key aspect of preparing students to become engaged global citizens is exposing them to new perspectives. According to a study from the听, humanities public programming is one effective way to achieve this, as it 鈥渆quips students with essential skills that are transferable to many areas of life and work, making them more thoughtful, informed and critical individuals.鈥�

罢丑别听听hosts the 黑料不打烊 Symposium, which encompasses a variety of art exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, workshops, musical performances and more. These events, open to 黑料不打烊 students, faculty and staff, along with the local community, inspire critical thinking about current issues and encourage reflection on personal values and beliefs, highlighting how the humanities can be applied in various real-world contexts.

The yearlong Symposium听听with a series of events centered around this year鈥檚 theme, ‘community,’ as selected by the听. Continuing this spring, events will demonstrate how the humanities are essential for helping to create environments in which everyone can thrive, resulting in more inclusive communities and healthier and more just societies. Programming will also spark thoughtful discussions through unexpected juxtapositions, such as how sports and theater are vital to community-building, and how youth storytelling can be brought to life through film, music and dance. Explore the full slate of Symposium events below.

Spring Symposium Events

Sunday, February 2

听–听罢丑别听 (TwMC) collaborative will present a screening of works by 黑料不打烊-area high school students at the Watson Hall Theater. Films were shot using readily available tools like smartphones, illustrating that anyone can create impactful movies, regardless of their resources.

Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8

Resettled refugee youth from the听听will host two storytelling events. On Feb. 7, the fellows听听through poetry set to music by Iraqi composer Ameen Mokdad, performed by Cuatro Puntos musicians and Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet dancers, choreographed by ECB artistic director Elisa Schroth. On Feb. 8, the poets, composer, choreographer, musicians and dancers will facilitate a听.

Narratio Living Stories

Narratio storytelling event (Photo by Edward Grattan)

Wednesday, February 26

听鈥� In this event presented by 黑料不打烊 Stage, former 黑料不打烊 athletes Eric Devendorf (basketball) and Eric Jackson (football) will discuss the role of sports in building community and how it can result in unexpected friendships and lasting Eric Devendorf, Eric Jackson and Javier Maym铆-P茅rez. connections. The panel discussion, in conjunction with the play听,听will be moderated by听, an instructor of Spanish in A&S and former editor at ESPNDeportes.com and ESPN.com.

Thursday, March 6

听–听, associate professor of teacher education and school improvement at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, will explore pathways and possibilities for justice-oriented, community-based and youth-engaged teaching and learning in the context of today鈥檚 polarizing political climate.

Tuesday, March 18

Two related events will spotlight Gertrude Berg, the groundbreaking writer-actress who created the serial comedy-drama听The Rise of the Goldbergs听(1929), later known as听. 黑料不打烊 Trustee Professor听听鈥溾€� viewing series will feature radio and television screenings of Berg鈥檚 work, co-curated by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Emily Nussbaum. Later that day, Nussbaum will use archival letters from the Special Collections Research Center鈥檚 Gertrude Berg Papers to听.

Thursday, April 3 and Friday, April 4

Patricia Spears Jones

Patricia Spears Jones

New York State Poet Laureate听听will host a reading of her works and a craft-focused discussion. On April 3, Spears Jones will听听at the 黑料不打烊 Downtown YMCA鈥檚 Shinder Theater. On April 4, she will听听in conversation with students and fans of poetry in the campus community. Space for that talk is limited. To register, contact听Phil Memmer, executive director of the Arts and Education Branch of the YMCA of CNY, by March 28.

Saturday, April 5

听–听Film director Will Fraser will share excerpts from his two decades of work producing documentaries and films related to the pipe organ. He will also join a panel of organists to discuss the instrument’s future.

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A&S Names New Associate Dean of Research as Professor Emeritus Stephen Maisto Concludes Tenure /blog/2025/01/23/as-names-new-associate-dean-of-research-as-professor-emeritus-stephen-maisto-concludes-tenure/ Thu, 23 Jan 2025 15:07:39 +0000 /?p=207006
Two faculty members pose for photos as part of a composite image.

Stephen Maisto (left) and Jennifer Ross

College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) Associate Dean of Research (ADR) returns to his research program after serving as ADR since October 2023. The ADR’s responsibilities include advancing the College’s mission by collaborating with faculty to increase grant funding and research expenditures and ensuring that the College’s research activities align with the University鈥檚 and A&S鈥� Academic and Strategic Plans (ASPs).

鈥淧rofessor Maisto served as associate dean of research at a critical time as I came up to speed as a new dean,鈥� says Dean Behzad Mortazavi. 鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful for his counsel and expertise during that crucial period, and for helping to position us well as we look to operationalize A&S鈥� new academic strategic plan.鈥�

Stephen Maisto

Since joining the 黑料不打烊 faculty in 1994, Maisto has focused much of his research on assessment and treatment of alcohol and drug use disorders. His cutting-edge work also extends to HIV prevention and intervention. He has authored or co-authored more than 300 publications and secured over $50 million in research funding.

Maisto has held several leadership positions at the University, with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) centers and other professional organizations throughout his career, including serving as director of clinical training and interim department chair of the Department of Psychology. An accomplished professor, mentor and researcher during his nearly three decades at the University, Maisto received the Chancellor鈥檚 Citation Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018 and was awarded emeritus status in 2020.

Prior to joining the University faculty, Maisto taught at Vanderbilt University, Brown University Medical School and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He received an M.A. and Ph.D. in experimental psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed a postdoctoral specialization in clinical psychology in 1985 at George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. Maisto is also Board Certified in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology.

Jennifer Ross

, professor of physics, has assumed the role of Associate Dean for Creativity, Scholarship and Research effective Jan. 1. In this new capacity, Ross will oversee efforts to increase research productivity, applications for funding, prize and award nominations and research expenditures. She will also work to enhance communication among interdisciplinary and convergent groups of faculty, and to ensure that faculty feel more supported and connected to the research mission of their departments and the shared mission of the entire College.

Ross has been a faculty member in the Department of Physics since 2019, serving as chair from 2020 to 2024. An award-winning biophysicist, she researches how cells organize their insides without a manager. By harnessing the fundamental and autonomous physics principles of biological cells, her group is working toward designing and creating next-generation materials inspired and empowered by biology.

Grants from government agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and several private foundations, have funded her research. Ross听has been honored with numerous awards and professional recognitions, including being named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society, a Cottrell Scholar by the Research Corporation, a recipient of the Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award from the Biophysical Society and a recipient of the National Science Foundation INSPIRE Award.

Through her advocacy for diversifying STEM, Ross has been part of the EUREKA! summer program, working with middle and high school girls to teach them about science, health and self-care. She also co-leads the (SUPER-Tech SHIP), which offers paid science internships at the University to students and recent graduates from the 黑料不打烊 City School District.

Prior to joining 黑料不打烊’s faculty, Ross was a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 2007 to 2019. She received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and bachelor鈥檚 degrees in physics and mathematics from Wellesley College in Massachusetts.

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University Announces 2025 MLK Unsung Heroes /blog/2025/01/22/syracuse-university-chooses-5-to-receive-martin-luther-king-jr-unsung-hero-awards/ Wed, 22 Jan 2025 17:43:45 +0000 /?p=206940 Unsung Hero Award winners Andrea-Rose Oates, James Duah-Agyeman, SCORE, Laurence Segal and Jamie Jackson (Posthumous Award)

The 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee is proud to announce the 2025 Unsung Hero Award winners: Andrea-Rose Oates 鈥�26, James K. Duah-Agyeman G鈥�99, Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE), Laurence Segal and Jamie Jackson (posthumously).

The Unsung Hero Award is given to community members, students, faculty and staff who have made a positive impact on the lives of others but are not widely recognized for their contributions. The awards were created to honor Dr. King鈥檚 vision of creating positive change in a troubled world.

The award winners will be recognized at the 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 26, featuring keynote speaker Sarah Willie-LeBreton, president of Smith College. Tickets for the celebration are available听.

The Unsung Heroes are:

Andrea-Rose Oates 鈥�26 (黑料不打烊 student)

Oates, a public relations major in the and policy studies major in the and , has dedicated her life to community service, leadership and social justice. She is the president and founder of 鈥淕irlz Rize,鈥� a nonprofit initiative focused on fighting for girls’ education opportunities.

Through her work last summer with NBCUniversal, Oates amplified underrepresented voices by highlighting community challenges and successes. Her summer internships with Comcast and Hilco Redevelopment Partners demonstrated her ability to translate corporate resources into meaningful community outreach.

Oates鈥� leadership roles at 黑料不打烊 have included serving as president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Iota Upsilon chapter; co-secretary for the Black Student Union; events chair for the Women in Communications Club; a member of the Newhouse Student Representative Committee and an account associate for Hill Communications. She is dedicated to fostering inclusive, collaborative spaces that inspire academic and social growth and sustainable, generational change.

鈥淎ndrea-Rose doesn’t merely identify problems; she acts, empowering others to take part in solutions,鈥� says nominator Diya Gupta. 鈥淗er actions reflect Dr. King’s enduring call to serve others and create a world where equity and justice prevail.鈥�

James Duah-Agyeman G鈥�99 (黑料不打烊 Faculty/Staff)

Duah-Agyeman, former director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and special advisor to the Men of Color Initiative, has a 38-year record of achievement at 黑料不打烊鈥攁s a graduate student, teacher, academic counselor, administrator and leader.

鈥淭here are many who talk the talk of service, inclusion and integrity, but in the context of engagement with the world, Dr. D has walked the walk again and again,鈥� says nominator Barry L. Wells. 鈥淚n the process, he has set a powerful example for students, faculty, staff, and community members in how one person can make a significant difference in the development and expansion of a community that values service and inclusion.鈥�

Duah-Agyeman most recently led Multicultural Affairs in developing programs to advance inclusion on the SU campus by creating best-in-class programs like the WellsLink Leadership Program; Dimensions, a peer mentoring program for women of color; and the Men of Color Initiative. He was instrumental in piloting and introducing the Conversations About Race and Ethnicity (C.A.R.E.) intergroup dialogue programs on campus. He also advocated for inclusion through his community work with Interfaith Works of Central New York and the Ghana Society of CNY.

Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE) (Youth Community Organization)

The Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE) was launched in 2020, after the murder of George Floyd. SCORE harnesses the talent and leadership skills of high school students across Onondaga County to combat oppression and foster equity. It empowers youth, known as SCORE leaders, to educate adults on topics related to race and equity, sharing insights from their unique perspectives as young people.

After completing five weeks of training in equity-based topics and being equipped with the skills necessary to facilitate interactive workshops, SCORE Leaders take on the role of educators, leading workshop sessions for community stakeholders each August. SCORE has provided workshops on implicit bias and Black history to almost 3,000 community members.

鈥淪CORE is a powerful program that not only centers and draws from the creativity and expertise of youth, but it also engages youth in meaningfully powerful professional experience,鈥� says nominator Jenny Dombroske. 鈥淥ur community is fortunate to have this access to the insights of youth and the opportunity to learn some of the hardest lessons from them, so that we may contribute to the future that they want for themselves.鈥�

Laurence Segal (Community Member)

Segal quietly fights every single day for cancer patients, the homeless, the downtrodden and people the rest of society cast aside, says his brother and nominator, Andrew Segal.

Laurence has been known to stop his car and help stranded motorists, using his own AAA card to help them. Through his organization, , he has returned millions of bottles and cans for cancer patients and research and pulled millions of pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of CNY. He hosts multiple every month that impact thousands of people, and he constantly strives to make the world a better place.

This summer, Segal cleaned up trash on city streets and passed out hot meals, cold drinks, sanitizers, masks and first aid kits to people experiencing homelessness. He has spent countless hours with cancer patients holding their hands while they go through chemotherapy, radiation and long hospital stays.

鈥淗e makes a difference constantly, but just chooses to keep it silent,鈥� Andrew Segal says. 鈥淗e is the gem of our family, and a gem in CNY.鈥�

Jamie Jackson (Special Posthumous Recognition)

Jackson, a longtime employee with 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Parking and Transportation Services, was in a unique position to connect with almost every person on campus for over 20 years. He was assigned to the Quad lot outside Hendricks Chapel, where he offered assistance to campus visitors and befriended many members of the campus community. Jackson passed away unexpectedly in September 2024.

He was a graduate of Onondaga Community College and a U.S. Navy and U.S. Army veteran. In his obituary, he was remembered as a 鈥渨onderful son, beloved husband, fantastic father, a devoted veteran, terrific brother, great friend, kind uncle, good outdoorsman, strong record keeper and avid sports fan.鈥�

Dara Harper, communications director at Hendricks Chapel, got to know Jackson well.

鈥淚n my opinion, Jamie’s role on campus was utterly unsung. He, a veteran, a dad, a confidante, a judge, a quiet and constant friend, touched every person on campus,鈥� she says. 鈥淭o tell you that he was the parking attendant limits his story to a singular piece of who he was. And for many of us, he is still just right outside.鈥�

Jackson鈥檚 loss is felt every day on the University campus. 鈥淛amie embodied the kindness, fortitude and patience that we all should strive for in this world,鈥� says Harper. 鈥淗e was a GOOD man, which is just the simplest way of saying that he was a hero.鈥�

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Cultivating Engaged Citizens Through Reimagined Liberal Arts Framework /blog/2025/01/21/cultivating-engaged-citizens-through-reimagined-liberal-arts-framework/ Tue, 21 Jan 2025 20:50:21 +0000 /?p=206916 Rapid technological advancements such as the emergence of AI, entrenched environmental challenges and social injustice present today鈥檚 graduates with complex questions that will demand creative solutions.

The liberal arts offerings through the (A&S) and the have always equipped students with the critical and creative thinking skills needed throughout their lifetimes.

Today, thanks to an important revision of the foundational (LAC), the two schools will offer a reimagined, robust and contemporary curriculum that will prepare students for adaptability and success in a constantly evolving world. The new LAC, slated to be implemented in the Fall 2025 semester, will apply only to those students matriculating beginning in the fall of 2025.

A photo of a snowy 黑料不打烊 campus.

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School will offer a reimagined, robust and contemporary curriculum that will prepare students for adaptability and success in a constantly evolving world.

The LAC is a set of requirements that all Arts and Sciences/Maxwell undergraduate students, as well as those students dually enrolled in Arts and Sciences and the or the ,听need to fulfill for graduation. It guides students through a range of courses across the liberal arts. To better reflect our interconnected world, the new LAC requirements shift from traditional disciplinary perspectives to a more thematic approach. Additionally, students are now required to complete a course that includes a research or experiential learning component. Together, these changes will allow students to take liberal arts courses that establish a foundation relevant to their personal and professional lives.

Courses contributing to the LAC will come from the following areas:

  • global and international perspectives
  • languages
  • arts, literatures and cultures
  • politics, historical perspectives and society
  • natural sciences and the physical environment (one must include a lab component)
  • mind, cognition, ethics and thought
  • quantitative reasoning, data and numerical literacy
  • research and experiential learning

The reimagination of the LAC began in 2020 after leaders in A&S | Maxwell took a broad evaluation of instruction and curricula. The effort was spearheaded by Karin Ruhlandt, dean emerita of A&S, Lois Agnew, 黑料不打烊 interim vice chancellor and provost, and Carol Faulkner, Maxwell senior associate dean for academic affairs. At the time, Agnew was A&S associate dean of curriculum, innovation and pedagogy. Their team determined that an update to the LAC would be appropriate, considering new approaches and developments across academic disciplines and in the larger social, cultural and economic environments.

from the humanities, sciences, mathematics and social sciences evaluated the liberal arts core and recommended changes. Students and alumni also contributed to the LAC update, offering valuable input on what liberal arts students need to succeed today.

A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi recognizes the dedication and forward-thinking leadership of all involved who played a crucial role in improving the curricular experience for students.

鈥淚 want to express my gratitude to Karin, Lois, Carol and the many faculty, alumni and students who shared their valuable ideas, feedback and expertise for this initiative,鈥� says Mortazavi. 鈥淎s we confront complex issues like climate change and human health and well-being, it鈥檚 crucial for students to be ready to face both current and emerging challenges. That鈥檚 why our liberal arts curriculum, which fosters engaged global citizenship, is so important.鈥�

Additional details about the reimagined Liberal Arts Core will be forthcoming.

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Fireworks, Feasts and Family: A&S Professor Talks Traditions Ahead of Lunar New Year /blog/2025/01/21/fireworks-feasts-and-family-as-professor-talks-traditions-ahead-of-lunar-new-year/ Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:11:46 +0000 /?p=207017 Lunar New Year is a vibrant and culturally significant holiday celebrated by an estimated two billion people in East and Southeast Asian communities around the world. This year it takes place on January 29, with celebrations lasting for several days.

Darwin Han-Lin Tsen

Darwin Han-Lin Tsen

is an assistant teaching professor of Chinese at 黑料不打烊鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences. His fields of study include modern and contemporary Chinese and Japanese literature and culture, critical theory and literary theory, film, Asian and Eastern European postsocialism, as well as Asian American literature.

Darwin answers five questions below. He is available for interview and his answers below can be quoted directly.

Q: Can you explain what encompasses Lunar New Year and what makes it so important?

A: Lunar New Year – or more accurately, the lunisolar new year – celebrates the coming of the first new moon according to a lunar calendar.听This is the most important time of gathering and celebration for Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Tibetan communities in their countries of origin and all around the world. Not to mention, a time to feast!

Q: What is the significance of the Chinese zodiac sign? What should be known about the year of the snake?

A: The Chinese zodiacs developed in parallel to the Babylonian zodiacs, basing itself on the “twelve earthly branches”, with each branch corresponding to the astrological signs one can observe within a month. Those signs were then given a unity in the form of twelve animals. The snake signifies wisdom, elegance, and spirituality; translated into modern terms, it indicates intelligence and strategic prowess. And so hopefully in the year of the snake, humanity will find the smarts to solve our common problems.

Q: What are some of the lesser-known celebrations or traditions associated with this event?

A: There are probably countless lesser-known celebrations, since so many people in so many different regions celebrate Lunar New Year! I can only speak to some traditions of Taiwan, where I’m from. In Taipei, apparently, at the end-of-year company dinner before the New Year, if a whole boiled or roasted chicken’s head is staring at you, it means that you might lose your job soon. In Tainan, to the south of Taiwan, there’s this wild event called the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, where folks celebrate the night before Lantern Festival (the 15th听of the Lunar Calendar’s first month) by setting off massive amounts of fireworks. It’s kind of like a mosh pit. ()

Q: For the first time,听. What are your thoughts around the broader observation of the holiday?

A: That’s very cool, and a “better late than ever” sign of recognition for the Asian American community of New York. Traditionally, Lunar New Years gives 3-7 days off, but hopefully our kids will be able to get some rest and recharge.

Q: For those less familiar with the holiday, what is the one takeaway you鈥檇 want them to know about Lunar New Year?

A: I hope everyone knows that it’s a holiday about peace, love, and finding time for oneself and the community. And to not hold back on the eating!

 

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications

M听315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |
news.syr.edu |

黑料不打烊

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Linda Baguma, Alexandria Johnson Selected for Prestigious Rangel and Pickering Fellowships /blog/2025/01/17/linda-baguma-alexandria-johnson-selected-for-prestigious-rangel-and-pickering-fellowships/ Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:13:28 +0000 /?p=206789 Linda Baguma, 2025 Rangel Fellow, and Alexandria Johnson, 2025 Pickering Fellow

A 黑料不打烊 senior and an alumna were recently chosen for prestigious graduate fellowships that prepare students for careers in the Foreign Service.

Linda Baguma 鈥�25, an international relations and political science major in the and , has been named a 2025 Rangel Fellow. Alexandria Johnson 鈥�24, an international relations graduate from the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences, has been selected as a 2025 Pickering Fellow.

The Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State where they can help formulate, represent and implement U.S. foreign policy. The Rangel Program supports fellows through two years of graduate study, domestic and overseas internships, mentoring and professional development activities.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship awards recipients two years of financial support, mentoring and professional development to prepare them for a career in the Foreign Service. Fellows will also complete a domestic internship at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and an overseas internship at a U.S. embassy.

Linda Baguma

Baguma, a 2024-25 Remembrance Scholar, participated in a Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA) at Carnegie Mellon University over the summer. Her interest in the Foreign Service started with her desire to build stronger relationships between the U.S. and Africa, especially in diplomacy and international security.

Baguma was born in Africa and raised in the United States and feels a strong connection to both places. 鈥淕rowing up in a refugee camp and then resettling in the U.S. gave me a unique perspective on the importance of diplomacy in building stronger global relationships,鈥� Baguma says. 鈥淚t helped me understand how important it is to foster cooperation and support across nations and communities to create positive change in the world.鈥�

In addition to her PPIA experience, Baguma spent the Fall 2024 semester studying in South Africa. 鈥淪tudying abroad allowed me to see how international relations works in a country with a very different history and set of challenges. I learned about South Africa鈥檚 policies and how they impact local communities. This experience has made me even more excited about pursuing a career in the Foreign Service, particularly focused on improving U.S.-Africa relations,鈥� she says.

鈥淭he Rangel Fellowship will give me the resources, mentorship and hands-on experience to deepen my knowledge of foreign service and diplomacy. It will provide me with training, internships and access to a network of professionals, all of which will help me develop the skills I need to navigate U.S. foreign policy,鈥� Baguma says. 鈥淭he chance to work in the U.S. Foreign Service will allow me to directly address global issues and contribute to solutions that benefit people around the world. With the Rangel Fellowship, I believe I will be in a stronger position to pursue my goal of working in international affairs, peace and security for Americans and the rest of the world.鈥�

Alexandria听Johnson

Johnson鈥檚 interest in the Foreign Service was sparked in high school in Cleveland, Ohio. 鈥淚 had the privilege to hear from a retired ambassador through the global studies program, which changed my perspective,” Johnson says. “The conversation helped me understand that there are more opportunities beyond my immediate community and it led me to research and learn more about U.S. foreign affairs and the Foreign Service.鈥�

In the summer of 2022, Johnson interned at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, acting as a liaison between visiting professionals and professionals in her local community. 鈥淚 learned a lot more about international relations and diplomacy, multilateral issues such as human rights and rule of law, my own city, and ultimately about myself. It was a challenging experience that I will never forget,鈥� Johnson says.

In the spring of 2023, Johnson studied abroad in Strasbourg, France, where she interned with the Arab Center for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Education. She was also a 2023 Rangel Scholar, which funded a short-term summer program that gave her a comprehensive introduction to professions in U.S. foreign affairs. 鈥淚 was surrounded by a cohort of 14 like-minded peers and I loved my experience. It inspired me to contribute my perspective as a Black woman from the Midwest to the field of diplomacy,鈥� Johnson says. 鈥淭he Rangel Summer Enrichment Program ultimately affirmed my commitment to pursuing a career in the Foreign Service to bridge global divides and advocate for inclusive and impactful diplomacy.鈥�

鈥淎ll of these experiences have taught me about diplomacy in different ways and have allowed me to make an impact. They all speak to a commitment to service in the field, which I will continue to strive for,鈥� Johnson says.

Johnson currently works with the Truman Center for National Policy, a national security think tank in Washington, D.C. There, she focuses on subnational diplomacy and democracy building.

鈥淭he Pickering Fellowship will help me to attain my goal of public service. When I reflected on what I wanted out of a career, it had to be public service first and foremost. Coupled with my passion for foreign affairs, it is a perfect fit,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 hope to make positive change and to bring more awareness to what Foreign Service Officers do.”

Baguma and Johnson worked closely with the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) on their applications and to prepare for their fellowship interviews. Students interested in learning more about the Pickering Fellowship and the Rangel Fellowship should contact CFSA.

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New Members Elected to Provost鈥檚 Advisory Committee on Promotion and Tenure /blog/2025/01/15/new-members-elected-to-provosts-advisory-committee-on-promotion-and-tenure/ Wed, 15 Jan 2025 22:44:39 +0000 /?p=206806 Six faculty members have been elected to serve on the . Elections were held in Fall 2024.

Serving as Universitywide faculty representatives, committee members advise the Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer and work to ensure consistent promotion and tenure processes and promote high academic standards. Members, who must be tenured full professors, serve two-year, staggered terms and are not eligible to serve consecutive terms.

Newly elected committee members are:

  • , William Safire Professor of Modern Letters and University Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  • , director, electrical engineering and computer science graduate program, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • , Marjorie Cantor Professor of Aging Studies, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
  • , associate dean for academic affairs, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
  • , Albert & Betty Hill Endowed Professor, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
  • , Iris Magidson Endowed Professor of Design Leadership and director, School of Design, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Promotion and tenure cases that meet the criteria for review鈥攆or example, those that have substantial disagreement between layers of recommendation or a strong probability of a negative determination鈥攁re taken up by committee members. They offer an advisory vote to the provost but do not issue a formal report or consider appeals.

The committee is convened by Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Jamie Winders. Provost Lois Agnew is chair of the committee, and Vice President for Research Duncan Brown serves in an ex-officio capacity.

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In Memoriam: Leonard Elman 鈥�52 /blog/2025/01/15/in-memoriam-leonard-elman-52/ Wed, 15 Jan 2025 14:46:49 +0000 /?p=206773 Leonard Elman 鈥�52, a longtime supporter of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), died on Jan. 1, 2025.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1931, Elman met his wife, Elise Barnett Elman 鈥�52, while at 黑料不打烊, where he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and history. He went on to receive a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1955 and a master鈥檚 degree in history from New York University in 1970. Elman was the founder of the firm of Stark, Elman, Amron and Rosen in New York City and became a well-respected attorney over his 40-year career. More recently, he worked as a solo practitioner in New York City specializing in real estate law and banking.

Elman was also a member of the New York State and American bar associations and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, and he served as an active duty member of the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General Corps for three years. He was a trustee and board president of the Jewish Child Care Association of New York, as well as co-founder of two American history groups at the Harvard Club.

Always dedicated to his alma mater, he was a charter member of the A&S Board of Visitors, now called the听, for 20 years, where he served as chair of the executive committee, later becoming an emeritus board member. Elman also served on the University鈥檚 National Alumni Board and was chair of the Metropolitan New York Advisory Board. In 1996, he received the University鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Award.

In 1988, he and his wife created the Richard Elman Memorial Fund in Creative Writing Endowment, in memory of his brother, who graduated from A&S in 1955 and became a distinguished author, novelist, poet and professor. The couple also established the Leonard S. and Elise B. Elman Fund for Creative Writing. Both funds allow two distinguished authors to hold a two-day residency at A&S annually as part of the听. Some of the most recent authors include novelist Anelise Chen, poet John Murillo, novelist Katie Katamura, poet Vievee Francis, author Illya Kaminsky and novelist Percival Everett.

“Len was one of the closest friends the creative writing program ever had. Coming from an eminent literary family himself, he wasn’t just generous, he was curious, and he loved to talk books and listen to writers he admired. He’s been one of us for a long time, and the many creative writing faculty who have been here a similarly long time are mourning his loss very personally,鈥� says Associate Professor听, director of the creative writing program.

In 2016, Elman became president of The Phyllis Backer Foundation, Inc., which was supported by the estate of the late Phyllis Backer, a lifelong resident of Queens, New York, who established the foundation to support nonprofit organizations related to medicine or education with an emphasis on Jewish causes. Under Elman鈥檚 leadership, the foundation鈥檚 board voted unanimously in 2017 on a $1.5 million endowment to establish the听听in the College of Arts and Sciences at 黑料不打烊.

At the time, Elman said he hoped the professorship would give students at the College 鈥渢he opportunity to develop a deeper understanding on the interrelationships between ancient and contemporary Judaism through literature, philosophy, politics and language.鈥� In 2020, the first Phyllis Backer Professor of Jewish Studies was hired, and, currently, Assistant Professor听听holds the position.

鈥淭hanks to Len鈥檚 time, dedication and generosity over the years, A&S has been able to bring numerous unique opportunities to our students,鈥� says A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi. 鈥淔rom supporting our creative writing program so that students can learn from the nation鈥檚 top writers, to establishing the endowment for the Phyllis Backer Professor of Jewish Studies, which will help students become more engaged citizens, his influence has been incredibly important. A&S will be forever grateful to Len and Elise Elman.鈥�

According to his obituary, Elman was known for his wry sense of humor, as well as his all-encompassing knowledge and his avid love of history. In his free time, he enjoyed being with family and friends, as well as theater, jazz, tennis, skiing and summers on East Hampton, Long Island. He is survived by his wife, Elise, of 71 years, as well as two children, Michael and Susan; a son-in-law, Joseph Ronson; and four grandchildren. A memorial service was held for Elman on Jan. 5 in New York City.

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A&S Professor Helping Shape Global Environmental Policies /blog/2025/01/13/shaping-global-environmental-policies/ Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:16:12 +0000 /?p=206680

For millions around the world, degradation of their land due to factors like climate change, deforestation, overgrazing and unsustainable farming practices have caused harm to both human health and the environment. Desertification, which is when fertile land turns into desert because of natural and human factors, can lead to food and water scarcity, loss of biodiversity and forced migration. In December 2024, the United Nations hosted a conference in Saudi Arabia, bringing together leading environmental experts and policymakers from around the globe to discuss strategies for combating desertification and safeguarding both the environment and human well-being.

Mariaelena Huambachano (second from left) speaking during one of the panel presentations at the UN Desertification Conference High-Level Interactive Dialogue

(Quechua, Peru), an Indigenous scholar and assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, gave three talks during the 11-day United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Huambachano is among the faculty in A&S鈥� . She teaches courses that include Food Fights and Treaty Rights, Indigenous Food Cosmologies and Reclaiming Indigenous Intellectual Sovereignty.

Huambachano鈥檚 talks came during the UNCCD鈥檚 . An internationally recognized scholar of Indigenous food sovereignty, Huambachano researches and advocates for Indigenous peoples鈥� rights to control their own food systems. In August 2024, she published “” (University of California Press), based on 10 years of fieldwork with the Quechua of Peru and M膩ori of New Zealand. The book explores their philosophies on well-being, food sovereignty, traditional ecological knowledge and sustainable food systems.

four people standing in front of a stage

A&S Professor Mariaelena Huambachano (second from left) was a panelist at the UN Desertification Conference High-Level Interactive Dialogue along with (from left to right) Nichole Barger (University of Colorado), Michael Obersteiner (Oxford University) and Becky Chaplin-Kramer (World Wildlife Fund for Nature).

During the conference, she spoke on the importance of recognizing and integrating Indigenous knowledge into climate change policy development. She also highlighted how Indigenous values foster healthy land, safeguard biodiversity and enhance climate resilience.

鈥淚 provided examples drawn from my years of work on the value of integrating Indigenous science in improving sustainable food systems,鈥� Huambachano says. 鈥淲e have been informed that the policy recommendation we presented has been endorsed by the host country, Saudi Arabia. I am particularly happy to see that Indigenous science, innovation and practices are being recognized internationally.鈥�

This is Huambachano’s fifth distinguished appointment to a United Nations High-Level Panel, showcasing her expertise and commitment to global issues. .

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Art Museum Spring Exhibitions Feature Works Curated by Faculty /blog/2025/01/09/art-museum-spring-exhibitions-feature-works-curated-by-faculty/ Thu, 09 Jan 2025 21:04:08 +0000 /?p=206553 Two spring-semester exhibitions at the will feature works curated by three faculty members.

鈥溾€� features the work of 2024-25 黑料不打烊 Art Museum Faculty Fellows , associate professor of communication and rhetorical studies in the , and , assistant teaching professor of management in the Martin J. . Another exhibit, 鈥�,鈥� is curated by , assistant professor of Latinx literatures and cultures in the .

The works will be on display in the Joe and Emily Lowe Galleries at the Art Museum from Tuesday, Jan. 21, through Saturday, May 10.

The 黑料不打烊 Art Museum Faculty Fellows program supports innovative curriculum development and experiential learning and aims to more fully integrate the museum鈥檚 collection into the University鈥檚 academic life, says , museum director.

Gestures Study

Gratch鈥檚 exhibition, 鈥淧erformance, Gesture and Reflection,鈥� mirrors her performance studies course CRS 314, which explores the social, cultural and political dimensions of performance in various forms, including theater, dance, rituals, everyday life and media. The display features 23 objects that examine the social, cultural and political dimensions of performance, including how human gestures shape identity, power, memory and social relations.

black and white images and wording like headlines in a collage arrangement

This screen print by Robert Rauschenberg is one of the central pieces in Lyndsay Gratch鈥檚 exhibition, 鈥淧erformance, Gesture and Reflection.鈥�

Gratch says the portrayals 鈥渟how gestures as more than isolated movements in a single time and place. Gestures are dynamic, culturally loaded and ever-changing symbols which have a wide range of social, political and historical meanings based on when, where, how, by whom and why a gesture is made and also interpreted.鈥澨鼼ratch says the course and the exhibition illustrate how performance 鈥渋s not necessarily something that鈥檚 theatrical or fake or put on, but actions we do as part of everyday life.鈥�

Culture as Economy

Wimer鈥檚 exhibition consists of a dozen different artistic works that express key ideas regarding the global economy from an African perspective. These include viewing culture as an economic component; how culture is represented by proverbs and sayings passed from generation to generation; and how climate change and health care infrastructure affect people very differently depending on whether they live in the global south versus the global north.

The exhibition was created to complement Whitman鈥檚 required core class for all sophomores, Managing in a Global Setting, to bring a different perspective on key course concepts such as infrastructure, human capital and globalization.

a painting of a yellow dog on a medium blue background in a black wooden frame

A custom pet portrait by a Kenyan artist involved in Elizabeth Wimer’s immersion course is an example of using artwork to create an economic revenue stream.

As an extension of that course, Wimer and students who have applied for and been accepted to Whitman鈥檚 Kenya Immersion Experience undertake a 10-day business immersion trip to Kenya. There, they can see firsthand how creative and artistic works provide paths to financial opportunity for people who live in limited economic situations, while also sometimes meeting the Kenyan artists.

鈥淸They see that] artist creations are not solely artistic expression as a work of art but as works that help them sustain a living. Both have beauty, but the inspiration behind the beauty is very different,鈥� she says.

Tropical Images

Pardo Porto鈥檚 exhibition is a collection of work by acclaimed New York City-based Dominican artist in conversation with selected works from the 黑料不打烊 Art Museum collection. It examines the visual culture of tropicality through stereotypical depictions of landscapes like pristine beaches and sunny skies, as well as racist portrayals of women as exoticized figures, Pardo Porto says.

modernistic collage showing a woman in a swimsuit whose face, body and clothing reflect tropical images such as flowers, beaches, waters and Hawaiin print fabric

A work by Joiri Minaya represents the visual culture of tropicality through combined stereotypes of an exoticized woman who is wearing tropical-themed swimwear.

The exhibition consists of objects including postcards, tourist brochure images, fabric from Hawaiian shirts, posters and photographs, and video and sound performances ranging from the late 19th century to the present. 鈥淭his emphasizes part of my research into how the images surrounding us shape our perception, our thinking and our feelings about places like the Caribbean and how we relate to images in our daily lives,鈥� Pardo Porto says.

The exhibit is being incorporated into two of Pardo Porto鈥檚 courses. An undergraduate course on contemporary Latinx art, conducted entirely in Spanish, uses the Spanish-language artwork labels and tags in the exhibit as part of class lessons. A graduate seminar focuses on theorizing race and diaspora and how an artist like Minaya, who was born in New York City but has Dominican heritage, examines how diasporic identities are constructed and how being separated from community can complicate identity. Pardo Porto says Minaya will visit campus to give a talk, work with students and share interpretations of her art with the community.

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Environmental Experts Weigh In on Growing Wildfires Out West /blog/2025/01/08/environmental-experts-weigh-in-on-growing-wildfires-out-west/ Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:40:04 +0000 /?p=206534 Devastating wildfires in Southern California have prompted widespread evacuations, destroyed more than 1,000 structures and burned thousands of acres. The strong winds and dry conditions have been cited as major contributing factors to the widespread weather event.

Two 黑料不打烊 faculty experts weigh in on the historic natural disaster impacting California this week. Their comments below can be quoted directly. They are also available for interviews.

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Fires burning now cannot be dismissed as anomalous events

portrait of Jacob Bendix, professor of geography and the environment in the Maxwell School

Jacob Bendix

is professor emeritus in the Geography and the Environment Department in 黑料不打烊’s Maxwell School. His research areas include impacts of disturbance (principally fire and floods) on plant communities and media coverage of the environment. He has spoken extensively with journalists about the , and the .

Currently, he is available to answer questions via email.

Bendix says:

鈥淭he fires currently devastating multiple neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area serve to remind us of the impact of climate change. The fires are driven by the infamous downslope Santa Ana winds that become hotter and drier as they descend, creating particularly incendiary conditions. These winds are strongest in the winter, but historically by winter there was enough rain to soak fuels and limit wildfires. Thus, Santa Ana-driven fires were usually concentrated in the fall, when the winds had begun but fuels were still dry.

鈥淭his is where climate change comes in. It is already January, but Southern California remains dry, gripped by drought and high temperatures. Both drought and heat are known to be more likely in the context of human-caused climate change, so the fires burning now cannot be dismissed as anomalous events. We must recognize that such fires are likely to become more common in the future. The news stories each time will fade after a few days or weeks, but the impacts in terms of lost homes and workplaces will last far longer for local residents, and virtually everyone in the region is likely to face escalating insurance costs, or difficulty obtaining insurance at all.鈥�

 

This is the 鈥榥ew reality鈥� for Southern California communities

Tripti Bhattacharya

Tripti Bhattacharya

is an associate professor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department in 黑料不打烊’s College of Arts and Sciences. Her work focuses on understanding the sensitivity of regional rainfall to global climate change.

She is available for interviews by phone, web video conferencing or email.

Bhattacharya says:

鈥淚t鈥檚 really devastating to see what is unfolding.

鈥淚t is a combination of several factors: one is drought, as Southern California has seen very little precipitation this winter, resulting in extremely dry vegetation and soils. On top of that, recent days have seen gusts of dry wind, typically known as 鈥楽anta Ana鈥� winds. These gusts have the ability to cause fire to propagate quickly.

鈥淲e cannot attribute a single event to human-caused climate change per se, but we do know from peer-reviewed scientific literature that the length of the fire season is increasing. Moreover, state of the art models analyzed in peer reviewed studies have shown that climate change is responsible overall for higher temperatures and drier vegetation, amplifying forest fire activity.

鈥淭his is the new reality communities in places like Southern California are facing.鈥�

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications

M听315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

黑料不打烊

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Peptide Drug Advances Being Made on 黑料不打烊 Campus Working to Redefine Obesity, Diabetes Care /blog/2025/01/07/peptide-drug-advances-being-made-on-syracuse-university-campus-working-to-redefine-obesity-diabetes-care/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:56:47 +0000 /?p=206484 Over the past 18 months, , a medicinal chemist and the Jack and Laura H. Milton Professor of in the at 黑料不打烊, introduced two at conferences of the and . He and his collaborators reported that the compounds notably reduce body weight and normalize blood glucose levels without the typical negative side effects experienced by many patients who take currently available GLP-1-based anti-obesity drugs.

Doyle and his fellow researchers have since worked on refining the compounds, GEP44 and KCEM1, and have undertaken lab-animal testing, filed patents, spoken with investors and explored market placement. They believe these drugs, ultimately intended for use in humans, will offer significant advances in how obesity and diabetes are treated in the U.S. and around the world. The researchers have also discovered another highly promising weight-loss compound and new outgrowths that have potential to treat opioid addiction through similar neuroendocrine pathways.

Doyle is also a professor of pharmacology and medicine at . He is working with two primary collaborators on the compounds: , Albert J. Stunkard Professor in Psychiatry at the , and , an endocrinologist at .

Doyle, a medicinal chemist, teaches at 黑料不打烊 and is also on the faculty at SUNY-Upstate Medical University.

Multiple Receptors

GEP44 consists of 44 amino acids that target receptors in the brain, pancreas and liver simultaneously, uncoupling the connection between food intake and nausea and vomiting. 鈥淚t鈥檚 sort of a reboot of the body鈥檚 computer. It鈥檚 the sum of those receptors communicating with each other that is facilitating changes to metabolic behavior like what you鈥檇 see in a lean person or someone post bariatric surgery,鈥� Doyle says.

GEP44 works very well and is a significant improvement over GLP1-based drugs; however, it requires daily injections鈥攁 regimen Doyle acknowledges would be challenging for many patients. That鈥檚 why the researchers are working to reformulate the compound as a long-acting version.

鈥淣ow, we鈥檙e looking at how proteins are changing, what neurons are firing and which genes are changing in response to our drug that aren鈥檛 changing in response to the current therapies,鈥� Doyle explains. 鈥淲e can definitely do a once-a-week injectable, control weight loss, control tolerability as measured by pica (a craving to eat things having no nutritional value). However, we want to create a formulation that has the best tolerability and the highest efficacy before we move into licensing. After all, it is not a trivial thing to take something you鈥檝e optimized to work beautifully well, then go ahead and make it long acting.鈥�

The second compound, KCEM1, was formulated to treat hypothalamic obesity in children, a genetic (as opposed to calorie intake-related) condition. Roth is testing the drug in lab animals and the team is working with the German researchers who discovered the causative gene.

Doyle and Hayes recently produced another 鈥渆xtraordinary compound鈥� that Doyle says is 鈥渧ery exciting and really, really positive for the future.鈥� DG260 targets different mechanisms in the body. In addition to producing weight loss with high drug tolerability and no adverse side effects, it has added health benefits: higher caloric burn and the ability to flush glucose from the blood without needing to increase insulin secretion.

An unexpected outgrowth of this effort has been the team鈥檚 discovery that GEP44 reduces cravings in opioid-addicted lab animals, extending the intervals between periods of drug-seeking behavior. This 鈥減leasant surprise鈥� may lead to new therapies to help reduce human cravings for drugs such as fentanyl, Doyle believes. , a neuropharmacologist and associate professor of psychiatry at听the , is collaborating with Doyle on this work.

On-Site Lab

All compounds are produced in a campus lab at 黑料不打烊’s Center for Science and Technology equipped as a sort of mini pharmaceutical design and manufacturing center. It houses three state-of-the-art, microwave-assisted peptide synthesizers and a fourth robotic system, which allows high throughput peptide synthesis of up to 1,200 peptides in the span of three to four days.

gloved hand examins one of three vials of a substance in a chemistry department lab

Manufacturing of the peptide compounds is done in the University’s state-of-the-art lab, located on campus in the Center for Science and Technology. The facilities allow rapid pivoting based on ongoing test findings.

鈥淲e can get data back, turn it around in days and turn that into a genuine lead in the space of a few weeks. Our setup also lets us manufacture and purify at large scales. That lets us pivot quickly, screen quickly and get back into an in vivo (testing on whole living organisms) setup again quickly. We鈥檙e able to operate at a real cutting-edge, rapid-pivoting capability,鈥� Doyle says.

The sophisticated machinery was acquired in part through a $3 million grant awarded in 2019 by the (DoD) . The team鈥檚 work holds particular promise for military personnel and veterans, for whom obesity and weight-related diabetes rates have steadily increased, according to a from the . Those conditions cost the government $135 billion annually and have negative implications for U.S. military readiness, the report states.

鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 have gotten anywhere near where we are now without that initial DoD grant,鈥� Doyle says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic that we鈥檝e been able to take this all the way through to patentability, have active engagement with investors, get licensed to an existing company and work this as far forward as we have with hopes of seeing its use in people.鈥�

two students in blue lab coats look at a display of peptides on a computer screen

Doyle’s peptides investigation provides robust research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, such as Nick Najjar, left, a third-year graduate student and Lucy Olcott, a senior.

More recently, the researchers鈥� work has been awarded four additional National Institutes of Health grants totaling more than $6 million. The projects also provide important experiential laboratory learning for undergraduate and graduate students and cutting-edge research opportunities for postdoctoral associates.

Looking Ahead

When their work began eight years ago, the researchers aimed to make safety and tolerability a front-and-center focus, Doyle says. 鈥淲e were adamant that nausea, vomiting and indigestion were more of an issue than had previously been put forward. Now, everyone knows that these side effects are a problem and that the existing drugs need to be replaced with ones that are better tolerated. So, the race is on to find new pathways to achieve what we鈥檝e all gotten a taste for鈥攖hese miraculous weight-loss drugs鈥攁nd make them effective in the long term.鈥�

Accordingly, Doyle sees a coming explosion in the development of 鈥渟uper safe, super effective weight-loss medicines.鈥�

鈥淭he market鈥檚 only going to double and triple over the next 20 years. In the next five to 10 years, we may see six, seven, eight new drugs that are well tolerated without the current side effects and that are super long acting. Now, everyone鈥檚 racing toward that. We鈥檙e trying to drive that forward from 黑料不打烊 and Central New York, and we鈥檝e had a good start.鈥�

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Clements Internship Award Helps Students Advance Their Research, Gain Professional Experience /blog/2024/12/16/clements-internship-award-helps-students-advance-their-research-gain-professional-experience/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:01:36 +0000 /?p=206291 A woman speaks to a class of students in Tanzania.

Erica Kiduko self-secured an internship with the Global Peace Foundation to connect and enhance the research in her thesis with a hands-on summer internship.

Erica Kiduko G鈥�25, who grew up in Tanzania, decided to use her 2023-24 to help further her research and promote education around gender-based violence through a nonprofit in the country.

Kiduko, who is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in Pan-African studies in the , was doing her thesis research on the status of women in Tanzania and a National Plan of Action to help prevent violence against women when she decided to expand her work through a Clements Internship.

鈥淚 was working on a project that is my passion, and I applied for an internship that captured my goals and my passions,鈥� Kiduko says.

The Mark and Pearle Clements Internship Awards are now open for juniors, seniors and graduate students of any major who seek to further their career development through undertaking self-obtained unique internship opportunities. The award provides students with financial assistance to help in the pursuit of their unique professional goals.

The award typically provides students with $1,500-$6,000 to assist with internship-related travel, accommodations, required materials or living expenses.

A woman stands and poses for a photo next to a poster reading uniting to end violence against women in football.

Erica Kiduko

Kiduko was working on a thesis titled 鈥淩eckoning an Icon: Exploring Scholarship and Activism of [Kenyan professor] M末cere G末thae M农go,” where she explored the ongoing imbalance women in Tanzania face and why, despite the implementation of the National Plan of Action, many women were still experiencing physical violence.

The action plan focuses on protecting the rights of women and girls, preventing such violent acts from occurring in the future and providing relief to help violence victims recover, but Kiduko says many of the citizens are unaware of the plan and many of the laws in place to protect these girls and women aren鈥檛 strict enough.

Wanting to connect and enhance the research in her thesis with a hands-on summer internship, Kiduko turned to the Clements Internship Award to study the effectiveness of the National Plan of Action through a self-secured internship with the Global Peace Foundation, which was one of the organizations involved in launching the National Plan of Action.

As a program officer, Kiduko worked on the Global Peace Foundation鈥檚 Uniting to End Violence Against Women in Football [soccer] initiative, which focused on both resolving issues of gender-based violence in women鈥檚 soccer and changing the societal norms and behaviors that often prevent victims of violence from reporting these incidents.听Kiduko worked with soccer players ages 16 to 25.

鈥淭he initiative was trying to promote women鈥檚 empowerment by preventing gender-based violence while creating a safe environment for everyone to play their sport,鈥� Kiduko says.

Kiduko helped run workshops where she and her fellow program officers would provide consultations to determine how much they understood about the prevalence and risks of violence while also equipping them with the knowledge of how to proceed should they witness an attack. One of the culminating projects was the release of an app where the players could anonymously report incidents of violence, whether they were the victims or the witnesses to an attack.

A group of people smile while posing for a group photo in Tanzania.

Erica Kiduko (back row, third from the left) turned to the Clements Internship Award to study the effectiveness of Tanzania’s National Plan of Action to help prevent violence against women through a self-secured internship with the Global Peace Foundation.

鈥淚t can be really hard for these players to report these incidents. Soccer could be their entire life and they鈥檙e afraid of being taken off the team for reporting an attack,鈥� Kiduko says.

How will Kiduko apply the critical lessons learned through her internship and apply them to her work once she graduates from 黑料不打烊?

鈥淥nce I graduate, I still plan on exploring this community-driven approach to solving the important issue of gender violence. Now, I can conceptualize the different types of activism, from political and humanitarian activism, and I’m so grateful to have received the Clements Internship Award,鈥� Kiduko says.

Applying for the 2024-25 Mark and Pearle Clements Internship Award

This year鈥檚 application process closes on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. In addition to being responsible for self-securing internships, students interested in applying are also required to include their internship proposal, including outlining the purpose and goals of the internship and how this relates to their educational and career objectives. Interested students also need to secure a faculty or staff sponsor letter by the application deadline. Visit the for complete details.

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Alumnus Ghael Fobes 鈥�22 Selected as 2025 Marshall Scholar /blog/2024/12/16/alumnus-ghael-fobes-22-selected-as-2025-marshall-scholar/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:05:40 +0000 /?p=206311 2025 Marshall Scholar Ghael Fobes

Ghael Fobes 鈥�22, an alumnus of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, has been named a 2025 Marshall Scholar.

The Marshall Scholarship program was created by an Act of British Parliament in 1953 as a living memorial to former U.S. Secretary of State Gen. George C. Marshall and American assistance provided following World War II. The scholarship allows up to three years of fully funded graduate study in any academic topic at any university in the United Kingdom. Fobes is one of 36 students selected from around the country and is 黑料不打烊鈥檚 seventh Marshall Scholar.

鈥淢arshall Scholars continue to represent the very best of American society, dedicating their time and effort to address some of the great challenges of our time, from cyber security and artificial intelligence to advancing our knowledge of the universe,鈥� says Dame Karen Pierce, British ambassador to the U.S. 鈥淭he Marshall Scholarship remains an integral part of the U.K.-U.S. relationship, established through British gratitude to General Marshall at the end of WWII. We are delighted to welcome such a diverse and talented group of students to the U.K. next year as they continue their studies at some of the U.K.鈥檚 top academic institutions.鈥�

Fobes plans to pursue two master鈥檚 degrees鈥攊n data and artificial intelligence (AI) ethics and in future governance鈥攁t the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He began producing for NBC News as an intern in college and is currently an associate White House producer for NBC News in Washington, D.C. In his position, he has a firsthand perspective on the role that AI is playing in journalism today.

鈥淚 think the effects right now are pretty wide-ranging and pose some great opportunities and challenges,鈥� Fobes says. 鈥淔or example, we’ve been using artificial intelligence tools at NBC News to make transcription more efficient and effective. We also use them to help verify the provenance of social media content. As for challenges, I think anybody using social media has seen a flood in content created with generative AI. That presents significant obstacles to journalists’ ability to quickly determine the veracity听of content.鈥�

Building upon his Marshall experience, Fobes hopes to return to NBC News ready to lead an innovation office embedded in the network鈥檚 newsgathering operation. 鈥淢y goal is to develop ethical workflows that enhance our ability to gather and present news, focusing specifically on expanding efforts to combat digital misinformation,鈥� he says.

As an undergraduate, Fobes majored in broadcast and digital journalism in the Newhouse School and minored in political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences. He was a 黑料不打烊 Scholar and Commencement class speaker in 2022, and says he continues to carry his 黑料不打烊 experience with him.

鈥�My coursework and the faculty at Newhouse and Maxwell deepened my technical knowledge of broadcasting, sharpened my storytelling skills, and broadened my understanding of domestic and international politics,鈥� he says.听鈥淲hile a lot听of the learning behind my broadcast degree allowed me to hone my use of a camera, what was truly enriching was learning from Professor Les Rose about the subtleties听of interviewing and story development. It is not just about what catches someone’s eye, but is also about finding ways of introducing your audience to new people, places and perspectives.鈥�

Fobes says his academic experience prepared him for working at NBC News. 鈥淚t gives me a great foundation for approaching my Marshall Scholarship proposal for developing ethical newsgathering workflows with AI,鈥� he says.

鈥�I am especially grateful to 黑料不打烊 for its focus on preparing students with professional development and networking opportunities, and for its satellite campuses in New York City and Washington, D.C,鈥� he says. 鈥淪pecifically, I’m thankful for Professor Cheryl Brody Franklin’s mentorship through the Newhouse NYC program and Professor Charlotte Grimes, who led the Robin Toner Program in Political Reporting, which I was a part of for four years. They opened the door that allowed me to intern at NBC News throughout my time at SU.鈥�

Fobes听also worked for the Daily Orange. He led the newspaper鈥檚 audio department, expanding its footprint as the founder, editor and host of 鈥淭he Daily Orange鈥� podcast.听鈥淚 am grateful to the Daily Orange for giving me the creative space and resources to launch our weekly podcast. Leading the podcast taught me how to pitch and integrate new technologies into the operations of a storied newspaper,鈥� he says.

Fobes worked with the University鈥檚 Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) on his Marshall application.

鈥淕hael鈥檚 extraordinary record of service and leadership in his field鈥攁nd his preparation for and commitment to graduate study in artificial intelligence ethics鈥攎ade him an outstanding candidate for the Marshall Scholarship,鈥� says Jolynn Parker, director of the CFSA.听鈥淲e are thrilled this award will help him achieve his goals.鈥�

Fobes is grateful to Parker and CFSA. 鈥淚 would not have known about, pursued or completed the application, much less gotten the award, without Jolynn鈥檚 encouragement and guidance,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 am also grateful for the professors who took the time to conduct mock interviews with me.鈥�

Students interested in applying for national scholarships that require University endorsement, such as the Marshall Scholarship, should complete an 鈥渋ntent to apply鈥� form with Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising by the end of June 2025 and plan to work with听.

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From Pages to Stages: Arts and Sciences Author Writes Vogue Cover Story, Inspires New Opera /blog/2024/12/13/from-pages-to-stages-arts-and-sciences-author-writes-vogue-cover-story-inspires-new-opera/ Fri, 13 Dec 2024 18:48:05 +0000 /?p=206279 The work of acclaimed writer and professor of English is taking center stage this December and January. The bestselling author wrote the cover story for December鈥檚 issue of Vogue, and her novel, “Eat the Document,” has been adapted into an opera, which will premiere in January in New York City.

A woman smiles while posing with a book outside of the Hall of Languages.

Dana Spiotta

The December Vogue is a special issue guest-edited by fashion icon Marc Jacobs. is a long profile of Kaia Gerber, who in addition to being a well-known model and up-and-coming actress, now has a large following for her online book club, . Spiotta鈥檚 article explores Gerber鈥檚 experience growing up in the fashion world and the challenges of how the world perceives her vs. how she perceives herself.

Along with penning the Vogue cover story, Spiotta鈥檚 book “” is the inspiration for an alternative opera, which will take to the stage Jan. 9-17 as part of the in New York. The prestigious festival is a co-production of , “two trailblazers in the creation and presentation of contemporary, multi-disciplinary opera-theatre and music-theatre works.”

“Eat the Document” follows the intertwined lives of two anti-war activists who come together during the Vietnam era. After a protest they orchestrate goes tragically wrong, they are forced into hiding, adopting new identities to escape their past. The story alternates between the 1970s and the 1990s, delving into themes of identity, memory and the impact of political activism. Spiotta鈥檚 “Eat the Document” was a finalist for the National Book Award and the winner of the American Academy’s Rosenthal Foundation Award in 2007.

The new opera has been in development since 2020 by John Glover (composer), Kelley Rourke (librettist), Kristin Marting (director) and Mila Henry (music director).听.”

A faculty member in the since 2009, Spiotta is one of the University鈥檚 leading fiction writers. She is the author of five novels. Alongside “Eat the Document,” she has written “Wayward,” which was named a best book of 2021 by Vogue and The New York Times, “Innocents and Others,” winner of the St. Francis College Literary Prize and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, “Stone Arabia,” a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and “Lightning Field,” which was a New York Times Notable Book. Spiotta is currently teaching workshop classes in the undergraduate and graduate Creative Writing Program.

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How Trailblazer Kathrine Switzer 鈥�68, G鈥�72, H鈥�18 Uses Running to Motivate and Inspire Women Around the World (Podcast) /blog/2024/12/09/how-trailblazer-kathrine-switzer-68-g72-h18-uses-running-to-motivate-and-inspire-women-around-the-world-podcast/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 15:21:00 +0000 /?p=206096 A woman smiles while holding up her Boston Marathon race bib number 261. In the upper left is an Orange microphone with the words Cuse Conversations, and an Orange block S is in the upper right. The accompanying text reads Episode 172 Kathrine Switzer, using running to motivate, inspire women worldwide.

On this “‘Cuse Conversation,” Kathrine Switzer discusses making history as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, why she鈥檚 never stopped advocating for the inclusion of women in sports and what it means to be a proud alumna.

Instead of wallowing in what could have potentially been the lowest moment of her life, Kathrine Switzer 鈥�68, G鈥�72, H鈥�18 used the adversity she overcame during her historic run at the Boston Marathon as fuel to inspire women around the world.

Switzer, who in 1967 became the first woman to officially run and finish the Boston Marathon when she entered as K.V. Switzer using bib number 261, contended not only with the grueling course and frigid race conditions, but also a physical challenge from race director Jock Semple. Around mile four, Semple leapt out of the photographers鈥� press truck and headed straight for Switzer and her contingent of runners from 黑料不打烊.

A woman is attacked while running the Boston Marathon before her boyfriend pushes the race director out of the way.

Kathrine Switzer (wearing bib number 261) is harassed by Boston Marathon race director Jock Semple (in black) while she is running in the marathon. Switzer’s boyfriend at the time, Tom Miller (wearing bib number 390), delivers a block to Semple that frees up Switzer to continue running. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Herald)

As Semple tried to rip Switzer鈥檚 bib off the front and back of her grey 黑料不打烊 track sweatshirt, Switzer was frightened. Her coach, Arnie Briggs, the University鈥檚 mailman and a veteran runner at the Boston Marathon, tried to convince Semple that Switzer belonged in the race, to no avail. Only after Switzer鈥檚 boyfriend, Tom Miller, a member of the Orange football and track and field teams, blocked Semple, was Switzer free to continue chasing down her pursuit of history.

In that moment, Switzer followed Briggs鈥� advice to run like hell, driven to prove Semple and the other doubters wrong by finishing the race. She hasn鈥檛 stopped running with a purpose since.

A woman smiles while holding up her number 261 Boston Marathon bib.

Kathrine Switzer

鈥淎s I was running, I realized that if these women had the opportunity, just the opportunity, that’s all they needed. And by the time I finished the race I said, 鈥業’m going to prove myself, play by their rules and then change those rules,鈥欌€� says Switzer, an emeritus member of the of Sport and Human Dynamics鈥� .

鈥淔rom the worst things can come the best things and that’s what I tell students whenever I speak to classes. If something is wrong, there’s an opportunity to change it, and we can then reverse it. When you鈥檙e training for a marathon, you鈥檙e out there for hours by yourself. I loved to use that time to take on a problem and solve it,鈥� says Switzer, who earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees in journalism from the and English from the , and a master鈥檚 degree in public relations from the Newhouse School.

After her triumph in Boston, Switzer would complete more than 40 marathons, including winning the New York City Marathon in 1974, and she was instrumental in getting the women’s marathon included in the Summer Olympics. Switzer’s global nonprofit, (an homage to her Boston race bib), has helped thousands of women discover their potential through the creation of local running clubs, educational programs, communication platforms and social running events.

On this 鈥溾€機use Conversation,鈥� Switzer discusses making history as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, why she鈥檚 never stopped advocating for the inclusion of women in sports and what it means to be a proud alumna whose running career was launched as a student on campus.

Check out听 featuring Switzer. A transcript [PDF]听is also available.

How did you use the Boston Marathon experience to create more running opportunities for women?

A woman wins the Boston Marathon, raising her hands up to her head as onlookers cheer her on.

Kathrine Switzer finishes the Boston Marathon in 1975 doing her personal best: 2:51.37. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson)

I was raised by parents who said you know right from wrong, so always go for what’s right. I knew it was going to be time-consuming, but I knew it was important to both correct the error the establishment had made, but more than that, I wanted women to know how great you can feel when you’re running. When I was running, I felt empowered. I felt like I could overcome anything. Running is naturally empowering, it’s a super endorphin high, and I wanted women to experience that.

One of the issues I wanted to solve was getting the women鈥檚 marathon into the Summer Olympics. It came down to opportunities and I wanted to create these opportunities, so [once I was working for Avon Cosmetics] I created the Avon International Running Circuit, a series of races around the world that are for women only, where we could make every woman feel welcome and treat her like a hero.

Eventually, we had 400 races in 27 countries for over a million women around the world. We had the participation, we had the sponsorships, we had the media coverage and we had the international representation. In 1981, by a vote of nine to one, women鈥檚 marathon was voted into the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. That was an incredible feeling.

What has running given you?

Running has given me just about everything. It鈥檚 given me my religion, my husband, travel opportunities, my health and wellness, but the biggest thing it has given me is this听perspective on myself, this empowerment and belief in myself that I can do whatever I set out to accomplish.

What kind of impact has 261 Fearless had in empowering and lifting up other women through running?

We鈥檝e already proved that, regardless of your age, your ability or your background, if you get out there and put one foot in front of the other, you’re going to become empowered. If you want to lift a woman up, show her how to run.

We need to do it at the grassroots level and invite women around the world to have a jog or a walk with one of our more than 500 trained coaches. We鈥檙e working village by village, city by city, country by country to spread the word on the life-changing benefits of running, and we鈥檝e worked with nearly 7,000 women in 14 countries and five continents so far. 261 was perfect for this mission. It became a number that means being fearless in the face of adversity. People have told me that 261 Fearless has changed their lives and that they鈥檙e taking courage from what I did.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

A woman speaks to a classroom full of students in the Falk College.

Kathrine Switzer speaks to students in Falk College Professor Lindsey Darvin鈥檚 Sport Management 鈥淩ace, Gender and Diversity in Sport Organizations鈥� class. (Photo by Cathleen O’Hare)

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A&S Offers More Community Learning Pathways for Arts and Sciences Undergraduates /blog/2024/11/26/as-offers-more-community-learning-pathways-for-arts-and-sciences-undergraduates/ Tue, 26 Nov 2024 20:50:05 +0000 /?p=205825

As the popular adage goes, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” An essential step in preparing students to tackle today鈥檚 pressing challenges, like climate change and social and economic inequity, is immersing them in projects that go beyond the classroom and into communities. A study by the听听notes that students who participate in community-engaged work experience improved learning outcomes and enhanced soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and critical thinking.

Engaged Humanities Network research team

Members of the Engaged Humanities Network research team, including (from left to right, front row, then back row) Chrisy Joshy 鈥�27, Ella Roerden 鈥�27, Olivia Fried 鈥�26, Maeve Ryan 鈥�27, Aamna Khan 鈥�26, Luwam Ghebremicael 鈥�25, Brice Nordquist, Lauren Cooper, Toyin Green 鈥�26 and Justo Triana 鈥�26. (Photo by Kate Hanson)

In the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), undergraduate and graduate students have access to myriad community-based learning opportunities through the听听(EHN). Founded in 2020 by听, Dean鈥檚 Professor of Community Engagement in A&S, EHN has provided support to over 400 faculty, staff and students who participate in publicly engaged work. It has also backed more than 20 community-engaged courses and fostered partnerships with over 35 different community organizations. Nordquist says the goal is to empower students and faculty to utilize their knowledge and skills for the public good while also cultivating relationships of trust and mutual support across communities.

A Structure for Success

 

Support from A&S has enabled EHN to expand its undergraduate research program to offer even more students sustained community-engaged learning opportunities. According to Nordquist, this involves building up a more scaffolded and integrated structure where students receive ongoing mentorship as they advance through EHN programming, culminating in an independent research project.

鈥淓HN has had an undergraduate research program since its inception, but as we grow, we’re working to better integrate with curricula,鈥� says Nordquist. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also striving to create a framework to help participating students move through stages of research collaboration and development, while providing enhanced support through one-on-one and cohort-based research mentorship.鈥�

Here’s how the new EHN undergraduate research program works:

Write Out program students at podium with Lauren Cooper

Lauren Cooper (right) with members of Write Out, a community writing collective in which University students, faculty, local writers and professional authors provide mentorship for 黑料不打烊-area youth. (Photo by Joe Zhao)

Step 1: Engaged Courses –听In their first or second years, A&S students become eligible for EHN Undergraduate Research Assistantships (URAs) by taking select liberal arts courses offered annually in conjunction with signature areas identified in the A&S Academic Strategic Plan and the EHN鈥檚听听program. This program provides funding and cohort-based pedagogical and logistical support to faculty across departments who are integrating community-engaged learning into new and existing courses.

Step 2: Undergraduate Research Placements in Engaged Communities Projects –听In their second or third years, students who have completed Step 1 apply for EHN URA positions. Ten to 12 students receive assistantships and one-year placements into听听interdisciplinary, community-engaged project teams.

Step 3: Independent Project Design and Implementation –听In their third or fourth year, EHN URAs receive research design and proposal mentorship and pursue their own projects within or adjacent to their work in Step 2. URAs receive research grants to be used for local, away or abroad community-engaged projects.

A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi notes that this latest investment will ensure that more A&S students gain the opportunity for sustained hands-on experience, equipping them with the skills to be successful after graduation.

鈥淓HN has seen enormous growth and success in just four years, and we are proud to support its next phase of development,鈥� says Mortazavi. 鈥淭his strategic investment will enable more of our students to significantly contribute to work which directly addresses the world鈥檚 most pressing challenges.鈥�

Helping Local Residents

 

Aamna Khan 鈥�26 is one of the undergraduate students in the EHN URA cohort making a difference in the local community. As part of a research team with professors听听and听听from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES), she is working to install urban stream monitoring stations to investigate how听. By collaborating with individuals in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Valley neighborhood, Khan is tracking the urban watershed to help protect residents and inform policymakers about potential risks to property and health.

The team鈥檚 work is part of EHN鈥檚听听program. By being agents of change, students like Khan are applying the knowledge they learn in class to real-world situations to enhance their civic-mindedness, problem-solving skills and sense of social responsibility.

Members of Engaged Humanities Network research team at a meeting.

Students collaborating with one another during an Engaged Humanities Network research team meeting. From left to right are Toyin Green, Justo Triana, Aamna Khan, Maeve Ryan and Luwam Ghebremicael. (Photo by Brice Nordquist)

鈥淭his opportunity has been amazing for my undergraduate career,鈥� says Khan, who is triple majoring in environmental geoscience, sustainability and policy, and history in A&S | Maxwell. 鈥淪ince the University is so intertwined with the city, being able to have that engagement and work on something that directly affects the people of 黑料不打烊 really teaches you a lot about purpose in what you’re doing.鈥�

Access to Mentors

 

To help students navigate the complexities of their projects, Khan and the other EHN URAs are receiving mentorship from Lauren Cooper, who received a Ph.D. in English from A&S in May 2024. She is one of two inaugural听听at the听, made possible through a partnership between the听听and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Cooper has played an integral role in helping grow EHN over the past several years. She has helped to spearhead numerous EHN initiatives like听, where she and other faculty and students from SU work with 黑料不打烊-area youth to help them improve their writing and storytelling skills. She says that providing undergraduate students structured support and mentorship will ensure that they have the opportunity to thrive as they progress through the more advanced stages of community work.

鈥淔or students in the humanities, community-engaged research helps expand their sense of what kind of future intellectual work might be possible and encourages them to start to think of themselves as scholars, not just as students,鈥� says Cooper.

Hitting the Ground Running

 

Maeve Ryan 鈥�27 was eager to dive into community-engaged work from the time she arrived at 黑料不打烊. As a freshman she joined the EHN鈥檚 educational collaboration with听, a 黑料不打烊-based organization which helps Deaf New Americans develop education, leadership and life skills. She now helps coordinate the CODA (children of Deaf adults) program.

鈥淪peaking sometimes three or four languages 鈥� English, Nepali, Nepali Sign Language and American Sign Language 鈥� these students face barriers to communication within the public school system,鈥� says Ryan, who is a dual major in history and law, society and policy in A&S | Maxwell. 鈥淎s a program leader, I aid them with schoolwork and creating connections to enhance their communication skills.鈥�

This year, Ryan joined the EHN undergraduate research assistant cohort and has found it both motivating and insightful to connect with other like-minded students who are passionate about community-engaged work. She values the regular cohort meetings, where each student shares unique insights and perspectives from their projects, fostering valuable discussions and creative problem-solving.

鈥淏ecoming involved in this program has been such an enriching experience,鈥� says Ryan. 鈥淭he relationships I have developed, not only with the students I tutor, but also the cohort of other undergraduate research assistants, have been incredibly rewarding and opened my mind to new perspectives.鈥�

In addition to support from A&S, undergraduate research assistants like Khan and Ryan are also supported through the EHN鈥檚 partnerships with the听听and the听.

More Opportunities for Engagement

 

With this latest expansion now underway, Nordquist is thinking toward the next opportunity for growth. To bring in more A&S faculty, he would like to see each department offer at least one experiential learning opportunity that could be integrated into EHN鈥檚 programming structure.

鈥淭his could be a way of bringing the College together with shared goals and investments of time, energy and diverse and important expertise around pressing local issues,鈥� says Nordquist.

He would also like to create more opportunities for community-engaged learning at various educational levels. To support this, he hopes to establish a summer academy that unites secondary and higher education teachers in Central New York. This initiative would enable high school teachers to integrate community-engaged elements into their curricula, establishing pathways for students interested in this work to continue their education at 黑料不打烊.

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2024 Student Entrepreneur Impact Prize Winners /blog/2024/11/25/2024-student-entrepreneur-impact-prize-winners/ Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:57:56 +0000 /?p=205799 Blackstone LaunchPad () announced the winners of the 2024 Impact Prize competition for social entrepreneurship, held on Nov. 13 at Bird Library.

A woman smiles while holding up a check.

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鈥� donors. This year鈥檚 winners are:

  • 1st Place: $6,000 awarded to Elizabeth Paulin 鈥�24 () of Paulin Capital.
  • 2nd place: $4,500 awarded to Jordan Pierre 鈥�23, G’24 (), founder of Voice.
  • 3rd place: $3,000 awarded to Olutosin Alabi G鈥�25 (), founder of Diabetech.
  • Runner-Ups: $500 each awarded to Ava Lubkemann 鈥�27 (), founder of ReVamped; Alie Savane 鈥�25 (Arts and Sciences), founder of Beta Kola; and Dylan Bardsley ’26 (Whitman School) and Mark Leaf 鈥�27 (Engineering and Computer Science), founders of Clarity.
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First Year Seminar Peer Leaders: They鈥檙e the Connectors in an Innovative Program /blog/2024/11/25/first-year-seminar-peer-leaders-theyre-the-connectors-in-an-innovative-program/ Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:29:20 +0000 /?p=205736 When members of the Class of 2025 graduate in May, many will have spent four years as instrumental components of a unique program designed to acclimate new students to life at 黑料不打烊.

These seniors have been involved as students taking the course in their first year of college, then as peer leaders for (FYS) for three subsequent years. The one-credit, 15-week required course engages students in听conversations, activities and assignments about making the transition to life on campus. It not only serves as an introductory course to 黑料不打烊, but also actively builds community, connects students to faculty/staff and each other, and encourages a positive transition to a new environment. Within that setting, students explore the topics of belonging, interdependence, wellness, development of identity, socialization, discrimination, bias and stereotypes.

Two students smile while posing for a photo.

First Year Seminar students Amya Jenkins, left, and Luis Gomez at an information table representing the program at Bird Library’s Welcome Fest. (Photo by Jimmy Luckman)

Since the program began in 2021, more than 500 faculty, staff and students have participated in FYS in various roles. They鈥檝e served as听听(faculty, staff and graduate students) or听as 听(undergraduate students). Lead instructors partner with peer leaders to guide seminar discussions for class sections. With some 4,000-plus new students in first-year classes, and with sections capped at 19 students to create an intimate, seminar atmosphere, 225 students were needed to fill the peer leader role in 2024.

Peer leaders are the embodiment of FYS and they are the connectors that are integral to the program, say , FYS director, and Jimmy Luckman, associate director. Peer leaders work in conjunction with lead instructors to guide discussions that are anchored around increasing students鈥� sense of belonging on campus.

鈥淭he program isn鈥檛 advanced only by faculty and staff; peer leaders are a big part of the FYS experience. They are connectors for FYS participants and they鈥檙e conduits who facilitate discussions on many issues while sharing the kinds of University resources that are available. They connect students where students want to be connected. Through discussions, they can transform the classroom experience, providing a space for sometimes difficult conversations, and that鈥檚 been a very strong thing,鈥� Luckman says.

The past four years have been a time of growth for the program, as the previous FYS leaders, Schantz and her team have built 鈥渁 great foundation,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ow, we are looking ahead and seeing how to enrich the peer leader experience.鈥�

In addition to monthly leadership development meetings for peer leaders, Luckman says the team is considering creating a peer leader development model and potentially expanding leadership opportunities for the students. 听They are also conducting focus groups to obtain feedback on the peer leader role and may form a peer leader alumni group. They also hired a coordinator to supervise peer leaders and manage the myriad details of hiring and tracking a 200-plus student workforce.

group of young students packaging food supplies

In addition to working with First Year Seminar classes, peer leaders commit time to community service projects, such as a “Blessings in a Backpack” food initiative to help local school children.

While hundreds of peer leaders are needed each year, Luckman says it has not been difficult to recruit for those roles because students love working with fellow students and they understand the value community-building work adds to their background and experience. Many also recognize the role as a chance to develop leadership skills and want to take advantage of that, Luckman says.

The team asked for peer leader feedback to continue to enhance the position and the co-facilitation model the course follows. Schantz says the responses showed the importance of the lead instructor and peer leader in creating a positive atmosphere in the course. Another factor that influenced peer leaders returning to their roles in subsequent years is the respectful environment that peer leaders form with their students.

Four students who took FYS their first year on campus and then stayed on as peer leaders for the next three years are set to graduate this spring. They shared with SU News their reasons for deciding to remain in those roles and what the program has meant to them since their earliest days at the University.

woman with dark hair slightly smiling

Mariana Godinez-Andraca

Mariana Godinez-Andraca, a dual public relations/psychology major in the and the , is an international student from Mexico City. She likes that FYS embraces 鈥渦ncomfortable鈥� conversations, such as discussions about cultural awareness, microaggressions and learning to have empathy for others, she says.

鈥淲hat I value most is that FYS embraces these conversations wholeheartedly, creating a space where students can open up, challenge their beliefs and grow into more empathetic individuals.鈥� She says she has appreciated 鈥渟haring my experiences and cultural background鈥n a space where we actively listen to each other and where everyone鈥檚 stories and perspectives enrich our understanding, broadening my own cultural awareness while giving me a meaningful platform to share my journey. I hope I leave an impression that encourages others to embrace diversity and engage more thoughtfully with the world around them.鈥�

young man with fringe bangs and thin eyeglasses

Aaron Hong

Aaron Hong, a finance and accounting major in the , credits FYS for helping him overcome difficulty returning to in-person classes after almost two years of virtual learning during COVID. Coming from a mostly white community in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hong says he appreciated the focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. 鈥淎s a person of Asian heritage, those conversations are very important to me. This experience gave me a different lens on diversity. Having the opportunity to have those conversations and to share those experiences is pretty important.鈥�

young woman with glasses and shoulder length dark hair smiling

Adira Ramirez

Adira Ramirez, a library studies and information management and technology student in the , says participating in FYS for four years has helped her become skilled in how to talk to people in different ways, confidently address a public audience and 鈥渂etter understand people and explain to them who I am in a more cohesive way.鈥�

She says learning about the concept of intersectionality鈥攚here everyone has multiple layers of identity that comprise who they are鈥�”has taken me by storm. It鈥檚 our lens. It teaches who your audience is, how we learn things, how we view the world and how the world views us.鈥�

N鈥媏hilah Grand-Pierre, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School, finds the give-and-take between FYS participants and peer leaders invigorating and gratifying.

smiling woman with braided dark hair

Nehilah Grand-Pierre

When FYS participants were offered the opportunity to ask peer leaders any question about any topic, she says one participant asked how to discover one鈥檚 self-worth while in college. 鈥淚 said the best way is to not define your self-worth through other people. I told how studying abroad in London forced me to stop defining myself by the activities and relationships I had on main campus, and instead define myself by my reactions to all the new things I was experiencing. I said what happens to you doesn鈥檛 define you, but how you react to those situations does. I recognized that as a senior, I had so much experience to pull from, and I saw how real experiences helped drive discussions.鈥�

Applications for peer leader positions are now being accepted for the 2025 sessions, says Luckman. Interested students who want to become a peer leader can apply by early December through the Handshake website. More information is available by emailing听 firstyear@syr.edu听or contacting the program office at 315.443.9035.

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Cultivating Community Through Augmentative Communication /blog/2024/11/21/cultivating-community-through-augmentative-communication/ Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:57:57 +0000 /?p=205691 Two people engage in conversation using Alternative Augmentative Communication, which helps individuals express themselves.

Bradford Smith (left) working with Danielle Lanphere (right) during a conversation club meeting at the Gebbie Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic. He and other individuals who use Alternative Augmentative Communication to help express themselves gather weekly to build community and expand their communication abilities.

Verbal communication is one of the most common and fundamental forms of interaction for humans. Whether it鈥檚 conversing with colleagues at work, or chatting with family members around the dinner table, on average, a person speaks around 16,000 words a day. While exchanging thoughts through language is innate to most, for those with speech disorders, the process becomes significantly more challenging.

Clinicians in the College of Arts and Sciences鈥� offer personal, individualized service and support to adults, children and families in need of diagnosis and treatment for a wide variety of speech-language and hearing difficulties. Among the populations they work with are clients who use Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) to help express themselves.

鈥�(AAC) can be used temporarily or long-term to help people with speech and language disorders who are unable to communicate in a more typical way such as talking,鈥� says , assistant teaching professor in the (CSD).

What is Alternative Augmentative Communication?

AAC is available in various forms, ranging from no-tech or low-tech options like pointing to pictures or letters on an alphabet board to spell out words or messages, to high-tech solutions like applications on dedicated speech-generating devices like tablets. Advanced speech-generating devices enable individuals to communicate by choosing vocabulary icons or typing messages, which the device then vocalizes.

At the Gebbie Clinic, faculty like Hammerle and CSD graduate students lead a weekly conversation club for adults who use AAC so they can practice conversational skills and expand their communication abilities.

鈥淎t each meeting, members share stories, thoughts and plans while participating in engaging and fun activities,鈥� says Hammerle. 鈥淭his allows them to grow the complexity of their language, increase efficiency with AAC use, and develop a sense of community and support through interaction with other individuals utilizing AAC.鈥�

People gather in a room during a conversation club meeting.

Michael Theobald (right) uses a Smartbox Gridpad speech-generating device to communicate with others at a conversation club meeting.

Practical Experience

Meetings revolve around a specific theme, and participants take part in various related activities, including games, trivia and guided discussions. Some recent group exercises have included filling out a March Madness bracket, participating in 黑料不打烊 history trivia and planning a cross-country road trip.

Each session is planned and facilitated by graduate students, with oversight from Hammerle and other faculty. Through this experience, students acquire transferable skills that will benefit their careers as speech-language pathologists after graduation. They learn how to:

  • Use different types of high-tech alternative augmentative communication devices;
  • Assist group members with programming and troubleshooting; and
  • Operate various software used by each participant.

Alongside these practical skills, students also build relational competencies through their interactions with group members, allowing them to see AAC users as individuals rather than just focusing on their devices.

鈥淏y spending a semester in the group, they form great relationships with the AAC users that can help inform their empathy and clinical care in the field,鈥� says Hammerle.

Spreading AAC Awareness

To help educate the public about Alternative Augmentative Communication, several organizations came together in 2007 to designate October as AAC Awareness Month. It marks a time to celebrate individuals who utilize AAC for communication and create supportive communities for AAC users. Each October, members of the conversation club create outreach initiatives to express their unique perspectives, and this year they produced a news article. According to Hammerle, the goal was to help make the public aware of what AAC is, provide tips for communicating with AAC users and express what AAC means to them.

Below are excerpts from the team鈥檚 news article, lightly edited for length and clarity:

The Significance of AAC Awareness Month

This month encourages advocacy, education and understanding, helping to raise awareness about the diverse methods of communication available. By promoting AAC, we aim to empower users, foster connections and enhance inclusivity, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to express themselves and be heard.

By raising awareness, we can break down barriers and misconceptions surrounding communication challenges, empowering individuals to express themselves fully. AAC awareness encourages empathy, patience and support from friends, family and the community, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for those who rely on these tools. As we advocate for AAC, we promote not only the right to communicate but also the celebration of diverse perspectives, reminding us that every individual’s voice matters.

The Advantages of AAC for its Users

Mike, an AAC user who comes to the Gebbie Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic for conversation club, says that AAC serves as a vital means of communication for him, as it helps him 鈥済et the thoughts out of [his] head. I don鈥檛 want them going into the ether.鈥�

Shannon, another member of the conversation club, says that while some people may use AAC occasionally, for others, 鈥渋t鈥檚 a lifeline to the rest of the world so we aren鈥檛 so encapsulated in our own heads with our own thoughts.鈥�

Tips for Effective Communication with AAC Users

Brad, a member of the conversation club, says that AAC is 鈥渦npredictable technology. They want to work when they want to work.鈥� Shannon added, 鈥渏ust because I use this to speak doesn鈥檛 mean I don鈥檛 understand what you say and do.鈥� Brad says that AAC is akin to learning a foreign language, and often, the user may be the only person in their family fluent in this form of communication, highlighting the need for patience and empathy from those around them.

The group notes, 鈥淲e want people communicating with AAC users to know that the process can be time-consuming.鈥� Mike says, 鈥淛ust give [us] time to speak. It may take a while, but [we] may have something important to say.鈥�

The group notes that everyone deserves to have the time they need to express themselves fully, so patience is key. Rushing the conversation can lead to missed opportunities for deeper understanding, so allowing for that extra time can make all the difference in fostering genuine communication.

If you use AAC and would like to find out more about the conversation club or learn about the clinic鈥檚 other services, visit the website or contact them at gebbie@syr.edu.

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What Does Seventh-Generation Thinking Mean? /blog/2024/11/20/what-does-seventh-generation-thinking-mean/ Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:23:30 +0000 /?p=205615

When Haudenosaunee gather for a meal or event, they begin with the Thanksgiving Address. 鈥淭oday we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue,鈥� opens this statement of values, translated from the Mohawk version to English. 鈥淲e have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things.鈥�

鈥淭he Thanksgiving Address is a valuable act of remembering, and it is meant to have the opposite effect than taking something for granted,鈥� says听, associate professor and director of the听听(CGIC) at the College of Arts and Sciences.

Creation Story, a mural at 113 Euclid Ave., a gathering space for Native students

鈥淐reation Story,鈥� a mural by Brandon Lazore at 113 Euclid, a gathering space for Native students and home to the Center for Global Indigenous Cultures and Environmental Justice (CGIC).

鈥淚t鈥檚 meant to slow time down and produce mindfulness and keep attention on key values,鈥� he continues. 鈥淲hat does it really mean to pause and give thanks to all of the things that make our lives so much better?鈥�

The answers not only broaden students鈥� cultural literacy, but may help create a more just world as it faces existential questions amid the climate crisis and rampant inequality.

鈥淲e want to support those Indigenous societies that are trying to maintain their traditional values, much of which we now call sustainable practices,鈥� says Stevens, a citizen of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation. (The Haudenosaunee include the Mohawk Nation as well as the Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora nations.)

The center was created as part of a three-year, $1.5 million Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant to strengthen Indigenous studies at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淲e want to make these concepts more understandable to a larger public and show there are intellectual and ethical resources that Indigenous communities offer by reaching back to our values,鈥� Stevens says.

Professor Scott Manning Stevens

Professor Scott Manning Stevens, director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies program and the Center for Global Indigenous Cultures and Environmental Justice.

The center draws broadly from the rich culture of the Haudenosaunee, on whose ancestral land the University is located. Meanwhile, a diverse faculty that includes听, citizen of the Onondaga Nation;听, who is of Cherokee descent;听, Quechua, Peru;听, Suquamish descent;听, citizen of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Nation; and guest speakers share perspectives from a variety of Indigenous communities.

Contributions from diverse Indigenous experts help students get firsthand descriptions of Native communities and their challenges. And the approach reinforces that not all Indigenous people are the same. 鈥淭here are key concepts across cultures, but obviously there are different techniques among different people,鈥� Stevens says. 鈥淲e should be aware that one size does not fit all.鈥�

A New Perspective for Students

The center aims to introduce students to a new way of thinking about broad issues like interconnectedness, equity, responsibility and respect. It then challenges students to apply broad Indigenous concepts to concrete practices, such as those related to climate change, land stewardship and sovereignty.

Ethical Land Use

Take ethical land use, for example. 鈥淎sk permission before taking. Abide by the answer. Never take the first. Never take the last. Take only what you need,鈥� Robin Kimmerer wrote in her bestselling book “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.” Kimmerer, an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, is a SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry professor of biology with an appointment at the center.

鈥淭hat sounds easy enough, but of course that is not the premise of capitalism, which is to take as much as you can and sell it back at a profit,鈥� Stevens says, pointing to practices like fracking and extracting minerals that strip the land. Those actions, he said, typically enrich some people at the cost of irreparably damaging the land and displacing local communities.

鈥淚t is Western capitalist practices that got us in the situation we are in today and Indigenous values that could save us,鈥� Stevens said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not saying we all should be living with so much less, but that there are different ways we can get what we need.鈥�

One example is farming practices. Most Indigenous farmers practice intercropping鈥攇rowing several species of plants together, rather than harvesting just one crop in a field. It鈥檚 not just that corn, beans and squash鈥攖he Haudenosaunee and Cherokee Three Sisters鈥攖aste delicious together, but they鈥檙e grown in a circle rather than a line because that鈥檚 how they grow best.

鈥淭hrough long observation of nature and the way things work best over millennia, they recognized which plants are symbiotic with each other,鈥� Stevens explains. 鈥淲e now know the science that beans structurally pull nitrates out of the air and corn wants a nitro-rich environment and beans are bringing the nutrients. The beans grow up and do not hurt the stalks. The squash is ground cover and provides moisture and protects it from insects.鈥�

Food Sovereignty

Professor Mariaelana Huambachano

Professor Mariaelena Huambachano

The center co-sponsored a conference on food sovereignty in 2023. Stevens explains the concept: 鈥淚f political sovereignty is the recognized right to govern oneself, and linguistic sovereignty is the right to speak your own language, food sovereignty is the right to eat the foods your ancestors did. … We don鈥檛 eat the same way as our ancestors because often we can鈥檛.鈥�

Huambachano, an Indigenous scholar, lived for many years in Aotearoa, the Indigenous name for New Zealand, and teaches courses including Food Fights and Treaty Rights, Indigenous Food Cosmologies and Reclaiming Indigenous Intellectual Sovereignty. Her new book, “Recovering Our Ancestral Foodways: Indigenous Traditions as a Recipe for Living Well,” was just released this past August by the University of California Press.

Food sovereignty 鈥渋s more than meeting caloric needs,鈥� Huambachano says. It encompasses a community鈥檚 autonomy and right to control its food systems, and includes spiritual nourishment, cultural history and long-term health, she says.

鈥淯nfortunately,鈥� she says, 鈥渆nvironmental degradation, the loss of rights to ancestral fishing areas and hunting grounds, and the impacts of climate change and industrial food systems have eroded food sovereignty for many Indigenous communities. They can no longer grow and enjoy our ancestors鈥� gifts鈥攆ood鈥攁nd instead consume processed foods, with harmful effects on their health and well-being.鈥�

Rematriation

Many traditional women鈥檚 roles and authority in Indigenous cultures 鈥渨ere eroded with the patriarchy that came with Christianity,鈥� Stevens says. 鈥淩ematriation鈥檚 goal is to identify and reclaim that identity. It recognizes that our community is made up of all people and all people have something to give.鈥�

In 2023, Huambachano organized “Rematriating Well-Being: Indigenous Foodways, Sovereignty and Sowing Seeds of Hope for Tomorrow,鈥� a symposium that brought together M膩ori, Quechua and Onondaga women leading the Indigenous food sovereignty movement.

Today, the center is collaborating with the Haudenosaunee women-led organization Rematriation to present the symposium Feb. 28-March 2, 2025. Rematriation鈥檚 founder, Michelle Schenandoah G鈥�19, is a traditional member of the Wolf Clan of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and a College of Law adjunct professor affiliated with CGIC. Through film production, digital content creation and community engagement, Rematriation focuses on uplifting Indigenous women鈥檚 voices and reclaiming their place in the world.

The spring symposium鈥檚 theme also parallels CGIC鈥檚 mission: to share principles of Haudenosaunee and Indigenous matrilineal knowledge to address critical global challenges. 鈥淲e acknowledge this moment in our world and the necessity to share what we know about the important role of women to return balance in our connection to Mother Earth and for everyone鈥檚 survival,鈥� Schenandoah says.

For the Seventh Generation

The center鈥檚 focus is timely and relevant as we face the existential threats of climate change, Stevens says. The Western view, rooted in the Old Testament, favors 鈥渄ominion鈥� over the land (Genesis 1:26-28). The Indigenous view generally sees nature and the land as things to live well with, as the Thanksgiving Address reminds us.

鈥淥ur relationship to land has much more to do with responsibility than rights. It鈥檚 not my right to tear it up because I own it, or I own it so I鈥檓 going to frack it. There鈥檚 something about the Western tradition that is very short-sighted: We鈥檙e going to move forward and create progress and if it creates problems, we can fix it with progress.鈥�

The Haudenosaunee concept of the Seventh Generation (considering the welfare of seven generations into the future before taking any action) 鈥渕akes us be responsible,鈥� Stevens says. 鈥淪hould we allow this dam or road to be put in our territory? We have to get together to think: How will this affect the Seventh Generation? It鈥檚 an act of imagination, not research. There is no data. It looks good right now to have that road. If you are in the Seventh Generation, what do you think about our decision?鈥�

He does not expect the center itself to solve the big, ethical questions around land use, technology and environmental degradation. Nor does he want students to see Western and Indigenous practices as binary perspectives completely at odds with each other.

鈥淚 see the passion of our students for a better world,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 want to make sure part of their University experience makes this perspective appealing and knowable and recognize there鈥檚 another way to do business. It can make the business better.鈥�

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Biology Ph.D. Student Awarded Two Prestigious National Scholarships to Study Fungi鈥檚 Role in Forest Health /blog/2024/11/20/biology-ph-d-student-awarded-two-prestigious-national-scholarships-to-study-fungis-role-in-forest-health/ Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:44:59 +0000 /?p=205596 Eva Legge, a first-year Ph.D. student majoring in biology in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), is one of two researchers nationally to be named a Mollie Beattie Visiting Scholar by the听听(SAF). The award honors Beattie, who was the first woman to head the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and its aim is to foster diversity in the natural resource professions.

Graduate student Eva Legge performing research in the forest

Eva Legge has been named a Mollie Beattie Visiting Scholar by the Society of American Foresters and was also awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. (Photo courtesy of Eva Legge)

Legge will receive a $10,000 scholarship to pursue her research on the role mycorrhizae play in boosting forest resilience. Mycorrhizae are fungi that grow on the roots of trees and plants and provide mutual benefits. As a Mollie Beattie Visiting Scholar, she will gain valuable professional development and networking opportunities. In addition to connecting with SAF members across the country, she can also submit her research to an SAF journal and collaborate with staff and partners at the SAF headquarters in Washington, D.C.

This latest award comes on the heels of Legge winning a听听from the National Science Foundation over the summer. Like the Mollie Beattie award, the NSF fellowship includes a stipend and access to professional development opportunities. According to the NSF program, its mission is to 鈥渉elp ensure the quality, vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States.鈥�

Legge is part of A&S biology professor听听Mycorrhizal Ecology Lab and SUNY ESF Professor听听Applied Forest and Fire Ecology Lab. As a member of these teams, she studies how climate-adaptive forest management, such as timber harvest, assisted tree migration and prescribed fire, affects the symbiotic relationship between fungi and forests. Their goal is to devise strategies to safeguard these crucial yet delicate symbioses, ultimately aiding in the development of effective forest management practices.

鈥淐limate change will likely add to the many stressors facing eastern U.S. forests. However, the positive benefits of fungal partnerships with tree roots can, in certain contexts, increase a forest鈥檚 stress tolerance,鈥� Legge said in an听.

With this funding, she will continue her research exploring the connection between forest management, mycorrhizal symbioses and seedling success. She hopes to improve management practices and maximize the advantages mycorrhizae offer to 鈥渇uture-adapted鈥� seedlings, thereby enhancing the resilience of America鈥檚 forests.

Graduate student Eva Legge and team in Huntington Forest

Eva Legge (second from left) and her team have been conducting their latest field research in Huntington Forest, located in the Adirondacks. (Photo courtesy of Eva Legge)

鈥淓va is an exceptionally driven graduate student motivated by addressing critical knowledge gaps in forest ecosystem resilience to global change,鈥� says Fernandez. 鈥淗er research focuses on the crucial role of belowground dynamics in forest resilience, bridging fundamental ecological research with applied forest management. Her multidisciplinary approach promises to advance both basic scientific understanding and sustainable land management practices in a changing world. I am thrilled to see her outstanding work recognized with these prestigious awards.鈥�

Learn more about the听and听.

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LaunchPad Announces Orange Central Student Showcase Winners /blog/2024/11/18/launchpad-announces-orange-central-student-showcase-winners/ Mon, 18 Nov 2024 19:41:45 +0000 /?p=205547 黑料不打烊 Libraries鈥� Blackstone LaunchPad (LaunchPad) hosted its 2024 Student Showcase as part of Orange Central Alumni Weekend Nov. 1 in Bird Library. Alumni were invited to award “‘Cuse Cash” to student founders showcasing their products, with top winners receiving prizes. In total, $3,500 in prizes were awarded.

  • First place ($1,500) was awarded to Celes Buffard 鈥�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鈥�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 鈥�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 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), founder of Chai YEAH, a beverage venture offering authentic Indian chai tea to the U.S. market.
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黑料不打烊 to Reshape the Future of Its Human Dynamics Programs, Reposition Them to Create Academic Synergies and Drive Excellence /blog/2024/11/13/syracuse-university-to-reshape-the-future-of-its-human-dynamics-programs-reposition-them-to-create-academic-synergies-and-drive-excellence/ Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:16:37 +0000 /?p=205356 Following four months of deliberate assessment and cross disciplinary collaboration by members of the Human Dynamics Task Force, 黑料不打烊 today announced a go-forward plan to reshape the future of its human dynamics programs and reposition them for short- and long-term success. The plan includes the consolidation of two departments and relocation of all human dynamics programs from the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics to other schools and colleges with stronger academic synergies.

鈥淔rom the beginning of this process, my priority has been developing and implementing a plan that repositions and strengthens the human dynamics academic programs, research and communitywide impact,鈥� says Lois Agnew, interim vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. 鈥淭his repositioning elevates our human dynamics programs, fosters stronger collaborations across colleges, advances faculty scholarship and better serves our students and the communities we serve.鈥�

In June, task force members began assessing the current state of the human dynamics disciplines, both on campus and at peer institutions, aggregating feedback from key stakeholders and compiling recommendations for how these programs can be positioned for success and growth in the future. As part of the go-forward plan:

  • Marriage and family therapy will merge with human development and family science and become one department within the College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Public health will join the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
  • Social work will be housed in the School of Education.

These changes, informed in large part by task force recommendations, are designed to enhance the academic and community impact of these programs, grow enrollment, drive research excellence and strengthen the University鈥檚 long-standing commitment to preparing professionals to thrive in human, health and social services. They will go into effect July 1, 2025.

鈥淚 am grateful to the members of the task force for their thorough, thoughtful and strategic recommendations. I also extend my appreciation to the many students, faculty and staff who provided feedback along the way鈥攖hrough surveys, engagement sessions and other opportunities for submitting input. Their participation in this process and candid feedback were invaluable,鈥� says Provost Agnew.

Today鈥檚 news follows an April announcement that the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics will become the Falk College of Sport, the first standalone college on an R1 campus that specifically focuses on sport through a holistic academic lens. As part of the Falk transformation, the University convened the Human Dynamics Task Force, co-chaired by Rachel Razza, associate dean for human dynamics, and Peter Vanable, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School. The task force, which consisted of human dynamics faculty representatives elected from each department, staff and community partners, delivered a final report to the provost last month.

“This work required a commitment to collaboration, a willingness to engage in challenging but necessary dialogue and a shared focus on the immediate and long-term future of the human dynamics academic disciplines,鈥� says Vanable. 鈥淎ssociate Dean Razza and I are grateful to our fellow task force members for their time, dedication and outstanding work. We also appreciate the provost鈥檚 commitment to upholding the spirit of our recommendations and look forward to seeing these programs thrive in the future.鈥�

Razza says, 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� has long been a leader in interdisciplinary education. The task force agreed that taking a reimagined approach to the human dynamics programs furthers our mission to provide students with a robust, future-focused education that emphasizes both theory and practice. I believe all members of the human dynamics community鈥攕tudents, faculty, staff and Central New York partners鈥攂enefit from this important realignment.鈥�

Students currently enrolled in these programs will transition to their new schools and colleges effective July 1, 2025. Students enrolling in these programs in fall 2025 will matriculate into the school or college housing their academic program.

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Participants Sought for Speech Therapy Study /blog/2024/11/13/participants-sought-for-speech-therapy-study/ Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:49:35 +0000 /?p=205325 The Speech Production Laboratory in the College of Arts and Sciences is seeking research volunteers for a speech therapy study about treatment schedules for children ages 9-17 who have difficulty with the 鈥淩鈥� or 鈥淪鈥� sounds.

What is involved?

  • Completing online surveys or a phone interview to screen eligibility
  • A speech pathology assessment to fully determine study eligibility (~90 minutes)
  • A session to assess the participant鈥檚 response to teaching strategies (~50 minutes)
  • Sixteen (16) free 60-minute sessions using a treatment called speech motor chaining. Sessions will be delivered by a qualified speech-language pathologist. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to complete either two visits per week for eight weeks, or one week of intensive treatment and the remaining sessions within the next three weeks
  • Completing additional surveys and progress monitoring recordings
  • Total duration of the study is about 11 weeks

Who can take part?

  • Children ages 9-17 who have difficulty pronouncing the 鈥淩鈥� or 鈥淪鈥� sound (or both) relative to peers who speak the child鈥檚 same dialect of American English
  • Speak English as their first language
  • Have normal hearing
  • No oral or facial structural issues, voice disorders, brain injury or developmental disorders

Where will the study take place?

Participants can be seen at 黑料不打烊 or in their homes if they live within 20 miles of one of our research speech-language pathologists. We have multiple speech-language pathologists throughout New York state.

Cost

  • There is no cost to families. Families will be compensated for their participation with an Amazon, Target or Walmart gift card (up to $105) if all visits are fully completed.

Contact

For more information, or if you are interested in the study:

  • Email: SpeechProductionLab@syr.edu
  • Phone: 315.443.1351
  • Web: https://speechproductionlab.syr.edu/
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Veterans Day Spotlight: Student Veterans at 黑料不打烊 /blog/2024/11/11/veterans-day-spotlight-student-veterans-at-syracuse-university/ Mon, 11 Nov 2024 20:01:54 +0000 /?p=205277 Every day might be Veterans Day at 黑料不打烊, but on the official holiday, the (OVMA) is highlighting a group of student veterans who are critical to the growing community of military-connected students on campus.

The Executive Board for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Student Veterans of America are all military veterans, and they’re all full-time students at the University. In addition to their academic responsibilities, many also hold jobs, have families and take on additional responsibilities on and off campus. It is because of their desire to be of service to something bigger than themselves that fuels the time and effort they give back to the campus community.

Get to know these impactful听student veterans.

Leonel 鈥淟eo鈥� Aviles 鈥�26 鈥� U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
School of Information Studies

A man smiles while wearing his military uniform.

Leonel “Leo” Aviles

Leo, as he is affectionately known among friends and the military-connected community, is president of the Student Veterans Organization (SVO) at 黑料不打烊. Originally from Florida, Aviles found 黑料不打烊 through the Warrior-Scholar Project and credits the University鈥檚 admissions staff, along with OVMA’s staff with why he ultimately decided to enroll at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淭he staff at this university has open arms for veterans out there wanting to pursue higher education. The amount of people wanting to help veterans with school is incredible,鈥� says Aviles. 鈥淚 would highly encourage any military-connected student to reach out to the SVO to find out more about what opportunities are available on and off campus.鈥�

Derick Ramos G鈥�26 鈥� U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
College of Arts and Sciences

A man smiles while wearing his cap and gown.

Derick Ramos

Ramos served as a tank crewman in the Marines for four years and is currently the SVO’s vice president. A graduate student, Ramos is pursuing a Ph.D. in physics. One of the biggest reasons why Ramos chose 黑料不打烊 was because of the competitive academic programs available, particularly for doctoral studies.

鈥淲hen transitioning from the service we may believe that we are behind in some instances compared to other students attending college after high school,鈥� says Ramos, 鈥淜eep your head down and work hard, your dreams and goals will come true. Always remember the words of Winnie the Pooh, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.鈥欌€�

Jurgen Baeza 鈥�26 鈥� U.S. Navy Veteran
College of Engineering and Computer Science

A man poses for a headshot outside.

Jurgen Baeza

Baeza discovered 黑料不打烊 while still in high school in San Diego, California. His journey to Central New York required a brief stint in the U.S. Navy, serving as an aviation structural mechanic specializing in the F/A-18 Super Hornet鈥檚 safety equipment.

With an interest in computers starting at an early age, Baeza began teaching himself to code and is pursuing that interest as a computer science major. While trying to adapt to life as a non-traditional college student, Baeza came in contact with other student veterans on campus and quickly got involved with the SVO.

鈥淎s I started going to more events and talking to more of the student veterans, I would talk to them about our similar life experiences and I was able to relate to them a lot easier than those students who are a lot younger than me,鈥� Baeza says.

Savion Pollard 鈥�26 鈥� U.S. Navy Veteran
College of Engineering and Computer Science

A man smiles for a headshot.

Savion Pollard

Pollard served in the Navy for eight years working on board nuclear submarines as a nuclear electronics technician. His time at 黑料不打烊 has been marked by significant accomplishments, including being the first local hire for Micron and being an honored guest of U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer during the 2023 State of the Union Address听from President Joseph R. Biden L鈥�68.

鈥淚 chose to come to 黑料不打烊 because it brought me closer to family, and because of its proclamation as the 鈥楤est Place for Vets,鈥欌€� says Pollard, who is currently studying electrical engineering with a minor in computer science. 鈥淚鈥檝e grown to love the campus community, the 黑料不打烊 city community and the deep connection between the two.鈥�

Pollard has been a member of the SVO鈥檚 executive board for a few years and says his biggest advice for new military-connected students is to 鈥渂uy into the campus culture and to try new things along the way. All of my greatest achievements as a student have been due to being involved and making myself uncomfortable,鈥� Pollard says.

Tojyea 鈥淭J鈥� Matally 鈥�27 鈥� U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
College of Visual and Performing Arts

A man smiles while posing for a headshot.

Tojyea 鈥淭J鈥� Matally

Matally is a sophomore pursuing a degree in communications design, and he served as a combat photographer in the Marine Corps until 2023, when he opted to pursue higher education and found 黑料不打烊 because of its reputation for providing educational opportunities for veterans and military families.

鈥淚 chose to attend 黑料不打烊 because I had heard it was an ideal place for veterans to assimilate into higher education; plus, I wanted to remain in the New York area after being stationed on Long Island for five years,鈥� Matally says.

His advice to other student veterans is to 鈥渂e honest with your limitations and strengths, and enjoy your new transition. It鈥檚 a privilege to pause and invest in yourself for four or more years. Be grateful and lean on your community to support you throughout the journey,鈥� Matally says.

To learn more about the military-connected students at 黑料不打烊 and the programs and services available for student veterans, please visit the .

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Katarina Sako 鈥�24 Works to Help Older Adults Age Well /blog/2024/11/05/katarina-sako-24-works-to-help-older-adults-age-well/ Tue, 05 Nov 2024 15:37:12 +0000 /?p=205009 Growing up in Buffalo, New York, Katarina Sako 鈥�24 was very close to her grandparents.

鈥淪pending time with my grandparents was really an important part of my childhood, and it helped me develop a lot of compassion and respect for older adults in our community,鈥� Sako says.

Katarina Sako '24 speaks with a participant in the recent Age Well Days event

Katarina Sako ’24 speaks with a participant in the recent Age Well Days event (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Sako’s interactions with her grandparents, including more recently as part of her family鈥檚 role in caregiving, planted the seed for her interest in her work assisting older adults through the creation of community programming.

Sako is an volunteer through . As a community organizer, Sako works to improve how older adults get connected to services that can help them thrive.

鈥淚’m able to look at systemic issues in our society and how that impacts older adults and their health,鈥� says Sako, who is also working to strengthen and expand a coalition of aging services organizations. 鈥淏ecause you can’t really address one facet without addressing the model.鈥�

As an undergraduate student, Sako was initially interested in researching memory from a psychology perspective. She joined a lab at SUNY Upstate Medical University, and through that work, Sako decided to focus on neurodegeneration and dementia from a biology perspective.

鈥淲hen you’re talking about dementia, which is my hope to study as a geriatrician, it’s not just focused on the biology鈥攜ou can’t just address things from a biological perspective,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou really need to look at the entire person.鈥�

The skills utilized in her current role took shape during her time on campus, where she majored in biology and neuroscience and minored in Spanish in the .

Katarina Sako demonstrates an apple crisp recipe during a recent Age Well Day event in 黑料不打烊

Katarina Sako demonstrates an apple crisp recipe during a recent Age Well Day event in 黑料不打烊

Sako volunteered as a telehealth consultant over the summer with InterFaith Works. She created a pilot program to help older adults gain the skills needed to navigate telehealth appointments, which gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

鈥淭here are a lot of benefits offered by telehealth, such as not going in person to your doctor’s appointment, which can be especially helpful if you have mobility issues,鈥� says Sako. 鈥淗owever, technology issues can be really challenging for many older adults.鈥�

The AmeriCorps VISTA program is focused on reducing poverty in the community. Sako鈥檚 skills and experience made her the perfect fit for the community organizer role.

Lori Klivak, senior director for the Center for Healthy Aging at InterFaith Works, was Sako鈥檚 supervisor in her telehealth consultant role and later introduced Sako to the community organizer opportunity, where Klivak听continues to be Sako’s supervisor.

One of InterFaith Works’ initiatives is the Greater 黑料不打烊 Aging Services Coalition, which started in 2020 to unite aging services organizations under one umbrella.

One of the ways Sako reaches out and makes connections is through Age Well Days, an event that brings community services together for older adults. During the most recent event, held on Sept. 24 at Park Central Presbyterian Church in downtown 黑料不打烊, attendees were served a healthy lunch (including a salad made by Sako). They heard presentations from community organizations on health, digital literacy, voting and food assistance, while Sako demonstrated how to make a healthy (and tasty) apple crisp. Attendees took home fresh produce.

鈥淭hese are opportunities for lower-income older adults in the community to receive important services. The goal is to have people actively enroll in things,鈥� says Sako. 鈥淔or example, if you need food assistance or you are experiencing food insecurity, let’s enroll you in SNAP. We want to ease this enrollment process because as much as we have these resources available, the number of older adults who are actually enrolled in these programs is low.鈥�

A timeline of Age Well Day events is still being determined, but Sako plans to hold the events at three different locations throughout the community. The Sept. 24 event focused on eating well, and funding was provided by the 黑料不打烊 Onondaga Food Systems Alliance.

Sako believes the project has a lot of longevity. 鈥淵ou could compare it to a resource fair, but it’s really meant to be a more intimate setting where we’re connecting with the participants who are there,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 affirming the dignity of all races, all religions and recognizing the diversity that is 黑料不打烊 and Onondaga County.”

鈥淢y hope is that in forming these connections, we鈥檙e able to build long-term partnerships for the Greater 黑料不打烊 Aging Services Coalition,鈥� Sako says. 鈥淥ur goal is promoting aging well in the community and reiterating that ageism doesn’t have a place here.鈥�

Klivak says that Sako鈥檚 work is helping to fill a critical gap between services and knowledge. 鈥�We have programs, we have support, we have things in place in our community that can help older adults who age better,鈥� she says. 鈥�But there’s a gap between what people understand or know about what we have and actually providing those services. And we don’t have all the services in all the right places.鈥�

鈥淥ur goal is to improve the way that we, as service providers and program providers get information out, connect with communities and build relationships with communities so that they feel comfortable coming to us,鈥� Klivak says.

It鈥檚 also raising awareness about what older people need that goes beyond the conventional wisdom that may focus on food or heat assistance or health care. There are other needs, such as AIDS and HIV prevention, digital literacy and voting issues that are not at the forefront of people鈥檚 minds.

鈥淵ou may think of food or help with heat, but you’re not thinking about how it may not be easy for them to get on a computer or a smartphone and access these resources,鈥� Klivak says. 鈥淲e tend to think about aging through the lens of death, disease and decline, but that’s not the full story.鈥�

Older adults are the number one voting bloc, the number one volunteering demographic and 42% of the local tax base, Klivak says. 鈥淭hese are people who are helping raise their grandchildren, helping their neighbors and who want to communicate with friends who have moved, all sorts of things,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd we want them to thrive.鈥�

Klivak says as more outreach and connections are made, everyone is learning how to move the conversation forward and change the narrative to be more age-positive and age-friendly.

Klivak says that Sako has been a good fit for her role. 鈥淪he is pretty fearless,鈥� she says. 鈥淪he jumps right in, asks really good questions and then just gets to work.鈥�

Her title, community organizer, illustrates her mission to build relationships. 鈥淭his is about making change, and change happens when people trust you,鈥� Klivak says. 鈥淗er primary role is to be out and about in the community, meeting people, learning what’s going on, getting people interested in what we’re doing. And she has taken that seriously.鈥�

Ultimately, Sako believes that, through her work, she is honoring her grandparents. 鈥淚 think my grandparents could also benefit from Age Well days, definitely,鈥� Sako says. 鈥淚 think that they’re happy that I’m trying to make a difference.鈥�

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Lender Center Hosts LA Conversation on Racial Equity in the Entertainment Industry /blog/2024/11/05/lender-center-hosts-la-conversation-on-racial-equity-in-the-entertainment-industry/ Tue, 05 Nov 2024 15:29:37 +0000 /?p=204975 Five 黑料不打烊 alumni鈥攁ll prominent entertainment industry professionals鈥攑articipated in a panel discussion last week regarding racial wealth disparities in American society and the inequities they have witnessed and experienced in that industry.

The event, 鈥淟ender Conversation in Los Angeles: Seeking Racial Equity in the Entertainment Industry,鈥� was hosted by the and was held at the NeueHouse Hollywood. It was attended by about 100 Southern California-area alumni, entertainment industry leaders and other invited guests.

Moderating the panel was journalist and TV host ’99, an alumna of the (VPA) and its Communication and Rhetorical Studies program. Nottingham has worked as a reporter covering national and international breaking news, entertainment and politics. She was joined by four alumni panelists:

  • 鈥�88, president of domestic marketing at Universal Pictures and previous president of domestic theatrical marketing for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Caines is an alumnus of the Newhouse School of Public Communications and an instructor in the school鈥檚 Newhouse LA program
  • 鈥�85, an Emmy-nominated writer for film and television and a VPA alumnus
  • 鈥�07, an actress, writer and producer who graduated from VPA. She is known for her recent comedic role on the hit NBC sitcom 鈥淎.P. Bio鈥�
  • 鈥�20, an associate attorney in the entertainment transactions group at Mitchell Silberberg & Krupp, LLP. She earned her undergraduate degree from VPA鈥檚 Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries.

, Lender Center director, says the conversation 鈥減rovided valuable insights into how racial inequity continues to exist within the entertainment industry, as well as offering promising paths towards reducing these barriers. We hope to use what we’ve learned here to help craft new paths towards closing the racial wealth gap in other industries.鈥�

The Los Angeles event was the fourth in a series of conversations hosted by the Lender Center to bring experts and thought leaders together to improve understanding of and present ideas to help mitigate the racial wealth gap鈥檚 community impacts. Those events and other research initiatives are made possible by a $2.7 million grant from MetLife Foundation. The funding has also supported three research symposia, three postdoctoral scholars and 15 faculty grants for research on the topic.

鈥淟ender Center鈥檚 work with support from MetLife Foundation generated important new thought leadership, boosted awareness of racial wealth equity issues and created valuable new partnerships with key institutions and organizations,鈥� says Phillips. 鈥淲e have discovered many new possibilities for addressing how the wealth gap affects communities, and those ideas have provided worthwhile new understandings.鈥�

These photos show highlights of the event.

panel of five people are introduced to the audience at a large gathering

Lender Center for Social Justice Director Kendall Phillips, far left, who is also a professor in the Communication and Rhetorical Studies program at VPA, introduces the conversation panelists, all entertainment industry executives and alumni of the University. From left are Danielle Nottingham ’99, Lyric Lewis ’97, Rob Edwards ’85, Bryse Thornwell ’20 and Dwight Caines ’88.

man standing and a man and woman seated at a table at a reception

The event drew 100 guests, including numerous alumni and entertainment-听 industry guests. Panelist Dwight Caines ’88, at left, speaks with David Oh G ’00, ’07, now an associate professor of communications at the Newhouse School of Public Communications; and Joan Adler, G’76, assistant vice president of regional programs at the University’s Los Angeles center.

two men speaking at a reception

Jason Poles ’99, the University’s director of advancement for the Southwest region, speaks with fellow alumnus and basketball team player Antonio “Scoop” Jardine G’12.

man has an animated conversation with two others, one to left and one to right

Tari Wariebi ’10, enjoys a reception conversation. The alumnus graduated with dual majors in communication and rhetorical studies from the College of Visual and Performing Arts and writing and rhetoric in the College of Arts and Sciences.

two men, one older on the left and one younger, on the right, are enjoying a reception

The panel provided opportunities for attendees to hear directly from entertainment leaders about their experiences with the racial wealth gap in that industry. Rob Edwards ’85, left, an Emmy-nominated writer and an adjunct instructor for the Newhouse School of Public Communications, spoke with this guest.

man at left meets with two women at a reception, all facing camera

Jason Poles, ’99, left, the University’s advancement director for the Southwest region, chats with alumni attendees Christina Ledo ’11, center, an international relations major at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; and Tiffany Bender-Abdallah ’11, a communication and rhetorical studies major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

four people stand together for a photo, two men on the left and two women on the right

The Los Angeles event brought together faculty, staff, entertainment industry panelists and alumni. Kendall Phillips, Lender Center director, at left, and David Oh G’00, ’07, second from left, an associate professor for the Newhouse School of Public Communications, met with Anna Proulx, Visual and Performing Arts program director for the 黑料不打烊 Los Angeles semester program, and right, Allison Gold ’15, a College of Visual and Performing Arts graduate.

young person asking a question at a speaking event

Tyler Gentry ’25, a 黑料不打烊 student in the 听Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries, spoke during the question segment of the evening’s event. Seated behind him is Tiffany Bender-Abdallah ’11.

seven people gather on stage and pose in a line for a group photo

Posing for a finale photo on the stage as the event concluded are, from left, Leonard Garner Jr., Kendall Phillips, panel moderator Danielle Nottingham and panel members Lyric Lewis, Rob Edwards, Bryse Thornwell and Dwight Caines.

 

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Diving Into an Immersive Experience With Gravitational Waves /blog/2024/11/01/diving-into-an-immersive-experience-with-gravitational-waves/ Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:01:30 +0000 /?p=205017

Science festivals offer a platform for researchers to demystify complex scientific phenomena and help the public better understand the relevance and importance of their work. By making science accessible to broader audiences, it can also inspire future scientists to pursue careers in STEM.

黑料不打烊 postdoctoral researcher Graeme Eddolls (left) and his collaborator Andrew Spencer (right) presenting their research on gravitational waves during the Orkney International Science Festival.

黑料不打烊 postdoctoral researcher Graeme Eddolls (left) and his collaborator Andrew Spencer (right) presenting their research on gravitational waves during the Orkney International Science Festival.

Graeme Eddolls, a postdoctoral researcher in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) who works with the (CGWAA), recently attended the in Scotland. The festival regularly draws prominent scientists, historians and experts who share their research with the public in approachable ways. Notably, when it was founded in 1991, it was the world鈥檚 second ever science festival, following the renowned Edinburgh Science Festival, which was established in 1989. Eddolls and his collaborators, Andrew Spencer, a lecturer at the University of Glasgow, and Leon Trimble, an audiovisual artist and honorary research associate at the University of Birmingham, presented their “Swimming with Gravitational Waves鈥� project, which includes creative and interactive experiences that connect water, sound and gravitational waves. During the week, they also showcased their “Music of Deep Time” project and hosted booths at an Orkney Festival family event as well as a workshop at Kirkwall Grammar School.

About the Project

Leon Trimble performing at the Swimming with Gravitational Waves event.

Leon Trimble performing at the Swimming with Gravitational Waves event.

To a general audience, the concept of gravitational waves may seem complex and challenging to understand. However, as Eddolls explains, gravitational waves follow similar physics principles as those we observe in everyday phenomena like light, water and sound waves.

Gravitational waves are produced in the aftermath of some of the most energetic processes in the universe, like when black holes or neutron stars collide. These events produce 鈥榬ipples鈥� in spacetime, a concept which was first predicted by Albert Einstein in his general theory of relativity. By the time these signals reach Earth, they are extremely faint. To detect them, researchers measure laser interference using detectors known as laser interferometers.

When a gravitational wave passes through a detector, it alters the distance that laser light travels along the detector鈥檚 two arms, changing their interference pattern. This technology, used by some of the most advanced detectors like the (LIGO) in the U.S., helped scientists make the first direct observation of gravitational waves in 2015, a monumental discovery made by an international team of physicists, including several researchers from 黑料不打烊.

Eddolls points out that a fascinating aspect of gravitational waves is that their vibration frequencies fall within the range of human hearing.

The team brought their rubber spacetime demonstrator to the cliffs of Orkney to capture a scenic photo during the festival.

The team brought their rubber spacetime demonstrator to the cliffs of Orkney to capture a scenic photo during the festival.

鈥淲hile we can’t directly hear gravitational waves with our ears, we can take the signal from our detectors and turn it into sound,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou can actually to the converted signal of the first ever gravitational wave detection.鈥�

Participants enter a swimming pool, where they can hear sound waves through speakers positioned above and below the water. This setup creates a unique auditory experience, mimicking how gravitational waves are produced everywhere in the universe. Furthermore, by swimming in the pool, participants can experience water waves through sight which gives the audience a good physical intuition of what waves are, how waves move and how waves interfere when they pass through each other.

A Scotland-黑料不打烊 Connection

Presenting at the prestigious Orkney International Science Festival was a homecoming for Eddolls, who is a native of Scotland. Before coming to 黑料不打烊 in January, he was a postdoc at the University of Glasgow. He also received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in physics (2014) and a Ph.D. in experimental gravitational wave astrophysics (2022) from there as well.

鈥淚t was particularly meaningful for me to be able to return home and give something back in sharing the exciting, cutting-edge research that I get to conduct here at 黑料不打烊,鈥� says Eddolls. 鈥淣ot only does humanizing scientists help better shape the public’s perception of science, but it allows people to see themselves as potential future members of the scientific community, which I hope encourages people of all backgrounds to consider a career in STEM.鈥�

At 黑料不打烊, Eddolls is currently working on Advanced LIGO, an upgraded version of the initial LIGO detector that made the 2015 gravitational wave discovery. Eddolls and other members of CGWAA are designing hardware aimed at minimizing sources of noise in Advanced LIGO鈥檚 detectors, helping to optimize sensitivity. He is also working on a non-gravitational wave project centered around nuclear fusion, where he and other 黑料不打烊 physicists are working on controlling and generating very powerful lasers and applying this to nuclear fusion to help provide a step-change towards the goal of achieving sustained nuclear fusion, potentially supplying the world with limitless energy.

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Veterans Day Guest Speaker Theresa Cross 鈥�99 Reflects on Joining the Orange Family /blog/2024/10/31/veterans-day-guest-speaker-theresa-cross-99-reflects-on-joining-the-orange-family/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 17:01:37 +0000 /?p=204888 On Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, the nation will pause to acknowledge and honor those who have served with the uniformed military services in defense of the United States of America. From coast-to-coast, the country鈥檚 veterans will take part in public celebrations, cookouts, ceremonies and parades; though some may seem significantly smaller than those in years past.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. (Ret.) Teresa Cross '99

U.S. Army Lt. Col. (Ret.) Theresa Cross ’99

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Theresa Cross 鈥�99, who graduated from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in international relations, will be the guest speaker at the University鈥檚 official observance of Veterans Day this year. Cross says that to her, Veterans Day is as 鈥淎merican as apple pie.鈥�

One thing that makes it personally important for her to observe the day is the low percentage of citizens who do choose to serve, 鈥淭he total number of people who have served in military service to our nation is around 6%. To me, that鈥檚 a very small amount of people, and I think it鈥檚 a small amount to pay for the many sacrifices that those people have made for our country,鈥� Cross says.

Cross came to 黑料不打烊 in 1997 on the U.S. Army鈥檚 Green to Gold program, meaning she already had military service prior to coming to campus in pursuit of becoming a commissioned officer. Having obtained the rank of staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, Cross had considerable experience under her belt, including several deployments and having just come off a peacekeeping tour in Bosnia.

鈥淎t the time I was married, I had two children, and I had done my time in the Army. I knew I needed help with the kids to go to school full time, and 黑料不打烊 was a family school,鈥� says Cross.

Teresa Cross '99, center, with her family

Theresa Cross ’99, center, with her family

When Cross calls 黑料不打烊 a 鈥渇amily school,鈥� she means the school runs through her family鈥檚 veins through multiple generations of 黑料不打烊 alumni, including most recently her own daughter, who graduated from the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Education in 2014.

Cross grew up in 黑料不打烊; her mother graduated from the university in 1974, her brother in 1985 and sister in 1994. Cross knew her Orange family was ready to step in and support her in her academic goals. To this day, she鈥檚 grateful for that support and the experiences that it allowed her to have during her studies.

Cross went on to be an intelligence officer and a strategist officer; the latter meaning she helped translate national priorities into military strategies and plans as well as developed solutions for complex problems, encompassing a total of 28 years of service. One of the greatest lessons she carried with her back into military service after graduation was learning just how different things would be as an officer compared to her years of experience as an enlisted soldier.

Theresa Cross, second from left, with her Veteran sorority sisters at a Veterans Day event in Florida in 2023.

Theresa Cross, second from left, with her Veteran sorority sisters at a Veterans Day event in Florida in 2023.

“I had just come off a tour after being a staff sergeant for two years and deploying with the 18th Airborne Corps to Bosnia, so to make that move into the officer corps鈥搃t was different,鈥� Cross recalls. While non-commissioned officers are the experienced enlisted troops who take on a mid-level management and leadership role, commissioned officers (NCOs) are generally the primary decision makers in a unit and responsible overall for the success of that unit鈥檚 mission.

鈥淭he ROTC program helped me make that transition a lot better. We had other NCOs on campus that worked with us through the program, and I think it was just one of the best preparations for my time as an officer; learning those things that I, as an enlisted person, didn鈥檛 know about,鈥� says Cross.

The University鈥檚 celebration of Veterans Day will begin early in the morning on Nov. 11 this year. At 6:30 a.m., the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) will host the annual Veterans Day 5K Fun Run and Walk. Those interested in participating should and plan on arriving a little early to meet fellow runners and warm up for the run.

Afterwards, the doors to the K.G. Tan Auditorium at the National Veterans Resource Center will open for the 2024 Veterans Day Celebration which will start at 11 a.m. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to by the close of business on Friday, Nov. 1.

 

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Lender Center Student Fellows Named, Will Work on Public Health Research Project /blog/2024/10/31/lender-center-student-fellows-named-will-work-on-public-health-research-project/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 16:07:01 +0000 /?p=204835 Image displaying portraits of Lender Center for Social Justice Student Fellows 2024-26, featuring Tommy DaSilva, Adara Hobbs, Jamea Johnson, Sabrina Lussier, and Shreya Poturu against a blue background.

Five students will soon begin a two-year research project examining the potential social justice and public health impacts of living in neighborhoods that have experienced the historical discriminatory practice of redlining. That is a practice where, for decades, financial institutions designated certain neighborhoods鈥攑rimarily Black ones鈥攁s poor credit risks, making it difficult for residents there to own homes or improve their properties.

The students, recently named 2024-26 Lender Center for Social Justice student fellows, will work with Miriam Mutambudzi, assistant professor of public health in the , who is .

They are:

  • Tomiwa (鈥淭ommy鈥�) DaSilva 鈥�26, dual major in public health in the Falk College听and policy studies and citizenship and civic engagement in the
  • Adara (鈥淒arla鈥�) Hobbs 鈥�22 G 鈥�26, a graduate student in Pan African studies in the (A&S)
  • Jamea Johnson 鈥�25, a psychology major in A&S
  • Sabrina Lussier 鈥�26, a triple major in geography, citizenship and civic engagement, and environmental sustainability and policy in the Maxwell School
  • Shreya Potluri 鈥�27, an architecture major in the

DaSilva, from Newark, Delaware, is interested in promoting health equity through health promotion policies and community-based practices. On campus, he has been involved in the Student Association of Public Health Education and Connect 315. In the community, DaSilva has interned with the YWCA of 黑料不打烊 and Onondaga County, ACR Health and the City of 黑料不打烊 Department of Neighborhood and Business Development.

Hobbs, of 黑料不打烊, earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in听communication and rhetorical studies from the . She has worked for more than a decade with the 黑料不打烊 City School District as a teaching assistant, art teacher and as a diversity, equity and belonging building lead.听Hobbs is currently researching the historical and contemporary impacts of redlining on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Black and Latino communities.

Her project, 鈥淭he Past, Present and Future: An Overview of Redlining in the City of 黑料不打烊,鈥� examines the legacy of residential redlining and resident displacement from the 15th Ward and the ongoing I-81 viaduct project. She also contributed to the development of themes and aesthetic elements for the Barner-McDuffie house, the University鈥檚 first Black student center.

Johnson, from Grand Prairie, Texas, has extensive experience in public service, entrepreneurship and community engagement. She is a Congressional intern for New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, working on legislative research, policy development and constituent service. She鈥檚 also founder and chief executive officer of Black Girls Garden, an organization that teaches young Black girls and women in low-income living situations to grow their own food to combat food insecurity and poor nutrition.

She took first place in the 2023 Blackstone LaunchPad Small Business Pitch Contest for that startup and also received the 2023 Black Honor Society’s Community Service Leadership Award. On campus, she is Residence Hall Association president and a member of the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble.

Lussier, from the Washington, D.C., area, is an honors student and Maxwell Leadership Scholar. She is a STOP Bias peer educator, a resident advisor for the MORE in Leadership Living Learning Community and has spent the past year working for the 黑料不打烊 Neighborhood and Business Development Office.

Her research and academic interests focus on how urban planning intersects with community engagement, social justice and sustainability. Her citizenship capstone and honors thesis looks at the effect of freeway demolition on marginalized communities, focusing on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 East Adams neighborhood near I-81 in the historic 15th ward.

Potluri, of Frisco, Texas, is interested in research pertaining to social justice, urban planning and housing. She has researched student learning environments, minority students’ experiences and accessibility to community spaces and facilities in the 黑料不打烊 community, along with how architecture is connected to social justice.

Potluri says she wants to determine how architecture can be used to provide people with opportunities and the agency to combat the consequences of redlining.

woman with hair pulled back and big black eyeglasses

Miriam Mutambudzi

Mutambudzi’s project examines how Black adults who reside in what have been historically redlined neighborhoods can experience a disadvantaged occupational life course and subsequent health consequences. She says that while redlining began in the 1930s, it has resulted in decades of urban decay and poverty for those neighborhoods that has left a legacy of social and economic disadvantage that continues today.

In addition to Mutambudzi鈥檚 role as an assistant professor of public health, she is also a faculty affiliate of the , and at the Maxwell School.

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Future Therapeutic Strategies May Depend on Creative Scientific Approaches Today /blog/2024/10/31/future-therapeutic-strategies-may-depend-on-creative-scientific-approaches-today/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:16:25 +0000 /?p=204911

Before any scientific question can be answered, it must be dreamed up. What happens to cause a healthy cell or tissue to change, for instance, isn鈥檛 fully understood. While much is known about chemical exposures that can lead to genetic mutation, damaged DNA, inflammation and even cancer, what has rarely been asked is how physical stressors in the environment can cause a cell or tissue to respond and adapt. It鈥檚 a piece of the puzzle upon which future medical breakthroughs might depend.

Homeostasis refers to a state of equilibrium; at the cellular and tissue level, any changes in environment will spur a response that balances or accommodates it. 鈥淢ostly people think of chemical changes, exposure to drugs, for instance,鈥� says Schwarz, principal investigator on the project. 鈥淗ere we ask, what if you squeeze a cell鈥攐r a group of cells or tissue鈥攎echanically? Can it still carry out its functions? Maybe not. Maybe it needs to adapt.鈥�

听and , both professors in the 听and members of the听, have been awarded a four-year National Science Foundation grant from Physics of Living Systems, for a project titled “.”

Two headshots of people side by side

From left, Alison Patteson and Jennifer Schwarz

As co-principal investigator Patteson notes, describing the idea this way is a new use of scientific language. 鈥淎s physicists, we are proposing this idea that there is a mechanical version of homeostasis,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e have proposed a framework for that.鈥�

Drawing upon previous collaborations that have examined specific scales (such as chromatin molecules, individual cell motion, and collective cell migration through collagen networks), the investigators will work to build a multiscale model to capture how chromatin remodels from physical stressors at the cell- and tissue-level. They will conduct experiments involving mechanical compression, and working with the听, observe detailed microscopic images of the cells in action.

Fluorescence microscope image of a cell amidst fibrous structures, displaying vibrant colors with a scale bar indicating 50 micrometers.

3D reconstruction of a collection of cells, called a cell spheroid, with individual nuclei in yellow. This is an example of a detailed microscopic image used to study cell motility. (Photo credit: Minh Thanh of the Patteson Lab and Blatt BioImaging Center)

Understanding these mechanisms may have broad implications in health research, shedding light on the causes of and therapeutic treatments for inflammation and potentially, cancer.

鈥淲e know that most cancerous tissues get stiffer,鈥� says Patteson. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how you identify it. There鈥檚 clearly a change in mechanics associated with the development of the disease.鈥�

But much remains to be discovered about the interactions and processes at different scales. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not at therapeutic levels yet,鈥� says Schwarz.

The professors note that creativity is essential to this stage of research鈥攊n imagining what might be possible and what new questions to ask, and in pushing the boundaries of existing scientific language. To that end, they have incorporated broader outreach between the physics and creative writing departments in their project.

In a collaboration with creative writing professors听听and听, along with M.F.A. candidate听, students from both departments will cross over and embed in their respective classes. 鈥淸They鈥檒l see] how a piece of poetry is creative, for example. Then, how a certain experiment is creative,鈥� says Schwarz. 鈥淲e want to get physicists thinking like creative writers, and vice versa.鈥�

The colleagues like to think that students and their work will benefit from the exercise, not only in expanding their ideas of what is possible but also in taking a more thoughtful approach to the language they use. Instead of talking about hierarchy of scales,鈥� says Patteson, 鈥渕aybe we should be talking about coupled things, or partnerships.鈥� A simple shift in perspective, after all, can sometimes put things in a whole new light.

Story by Laura Wallis

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University Celebrates First-Generation Week Nov. 4-8 /blog/2024/10/31/university-celebrates-first-generation-week-nov-4-8/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:30:25 +0000 /?p=204867 National First-Generation College Celebration Week is Nov. 4-8, and provides an opportunity to celebrate first-generation students whose parents have not attended a higher education institution. Around 20% of 黑料不打烊 students identify as first-generation. The campus community is invited to participate in several events throughout the week, including:

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, 鈥淓xploring the First-Generation 黑料不打烊 Experience,鈥� 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), 黑料不打烊 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听 SOURCE, 黑料不打烊 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听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.

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Research Distinction Awards Presented at BioInspired Symposium /blog/2024/10/31/research-distinction-awards-presented-at-bioinspired-symposium/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:50:23 +0000 /?p=204845 The 鈥檚 third annual was held Oct. 24-25, bringing together undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty from 黑料不打烊, SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, along with other regional research and industry partners.

young man in suit shows his poster to two onlookers

Doctoral student Cijun Zhang explains his research to BioInspired Symposium attendees. Zhang studies in the Xiaoran Hu functional organic materials lab.

The event featured poster presentations by 79 undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Several researchers presented 鈥渓ightning talks鈥� on topics such as how and how the human body reacts; fabricating and creating and new technologies to address听problems from clean energy to robotics to medicine. Guest speakers from several universities made special presentations. Awards were presented to recognize researchers in multiple ways.

Three recipients were chosen in the Best Overall Poster category:

  • 鈥�25, a dual mathematics and physics major in the (A&S), for 鈥�.鈥� (Principal investigators are , physics professor, and Antun Skanata, research assistant professor of physics.)
  • , a doctoral student in physics in A&S, for 鈥�.鈥� (Principal investigator is , William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics.)
  • , an M.D./Ph.D. student in cell and developmental biology at SUNY Upstate Medical University, for 鈥�.鈥� (Principal investigator is , associate research professor of biology.)

Two presenters were recognized as Stevenson Biomaterials Poster Award winners:

  • , a biomedical and chemical engineering doctoral student in the (ECS), for her work on 鈥�.鈥� (Principal investigator is , associate professor of .)
  • G鈥�21, a mechanical and aerospace engineering doctoral student in ECS, for 鈥�.鈥� (Principal investigator is , associate professor of .)

Two researchers received awards recognizing Best Lightning Talks:

  • , a doctoral student in chemistry in A&S, whose topic was 鈥�.鈥� Her work involves testing to find an improved diagnostic biomarker听for prostate and other cancers. (Principal investigator is , professor and director of biochemistry.)
  • , a doctoral student in biomedical and chemical engineering in ECS, for her research on bone tissue, described in 鈥�.鈥�(Principal investigator is , professor of biomedical and chemical engineering.)

A project by , 鈥�,鈥� was recognized as having the best commercialization potential. Can is a biomedical and chemical engineering doctoral student in ECS. (Principal investigator is Mary Beth Monroe.)

Receiving honors for her 鈥渟ocial impact鈥� initiative was , G 鈥�22, an assistant teaching professor in the , for her work, 鈥� The project explored an interdisciplinary collaboration between the University鈥檚 Departments of Chemistry and Architecture that aimed to foster societal impact through sustainable innovation in architectural materials.听(Her collaborator was , associate professor of chemistry in A&S.)

man in tan jacket speaks to a young woman presenting her research poster

Winston Oluwole Soboyejo, SUNY Polytechnic Institute President, asks Alexia Chatzitheodorou, a graduate research assistant, about her work on “Shape Morphing of Twisted Nematic Elastomer Shells.” Soboyejo was one of several university representatives to speak at the symposium.

Winner of the People鈥檚 Choice Award was , a biomedical and chemical engineering doctoral student in ECS. His project, 鈥溾€�

His research examines how hemostatic materials with antibacterial and antibiofilm properties can reduce infection rates and enhance the healing of traumatic wounds. (Principal investigator is Mary Beth Monroe.)

Best Publication Awards went to:

  • G鈥�22, a graduate of the applied data science program who is now a doctoral student in bioengineering and biomedical engineering in ECS. He is exploring the use of hiPSC-CMs to study and understand cardiomyocyte biology through biology with artificial intelligence. His paper, 鈥�,鈥� published in Cell Reports Methods in June, presented new methods for investigating the physiological functioning of cardiac organoids using machine learning algorithms.
  • , a doctoral student in bioengineering at ECS, studies wound healing and tissue regeneration. His paper, 鈥�,鈥� was published in the journal ACS Applied Biomaterials in February.
  • , a doctoral student in bioengineering at ECS, received an honorable mention. His paper, 鈥溾€� was published in the journal ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering in June.
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NSF Grant in Biology Aims to Boost STEM Student Retention Through Hands-On Research /blog/2024/10/29/nsf-grant-in-biology-aims-to-boost-stem-student-retention-through-hands-on-research/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:40:56 +0000 /?p=204806

As technology advances, companies face a growing need to hire graduates skilled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). However, finding the ideal candidate can be difficult at times due to a limited pool of applicants. Part of the reason for this is that 1 in 3 students who originally declare as a STEM major change their field of study before they graduate, according to research from the .

three people standing outside building

Professors (from left) Abrar Aljiboury, Heather Coleman and Carlos A. Casta帽eda have been awarded an NSF grant to welcome undergraduate students from around the country to 黑料不打烊 to conduct research over the summer. (Photo by Elise Krespan)

One way to keep STEM students engaged in their major is through hands-on research, where they can apply their theoretical knowledge to address real-world challenges. In 1987, the National Science Foundation launched the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program to help attract and retain STEM students by funding experiential learning opportunities during the summer.

Three biology faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) have been awarded that department鈥檚 first three-year , 鈥�.鈥� , associate professor of biology, serves as the grant鈥檚 principal investigator (PI), with , associate professor of biology and chemistry, and , biology professor of practice, collaborating as co-PIs. The award will fund 10 undergraduate students per year (30 in total) from other institutions to conduct summer research at 黑料不打烊 in biology and biology-affiliated labs alongside faculty.

While this is the first REU site grant in biology at 黑料不打烊, faculty from the department have collaborated on similar programs through the site in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the site in A&S. Other active REU site grants at the University include the and the programs.

According to Coleman, a primary objective of the team鈥檚 project is to promote diversity within the STEM field and offer meaningful hands-on research experiences to students who may not have access to such opportunities at their home universities. They will focus on recruiting domestic students from minority-serving institutions, primarily undergraduate institutions and community colleges.

鈥淪tudents who participate in research are more likely to see themselves as scientists and remain in STEM,鈥� says Coleman. 鈥淭hrough this 10-week summer program, students from diverse backgrounds will have the opportunity to conduct research, join a cohort of summer undergraduate researchers across the university, participate in professional development and present their research.鈥�

Beginning in 2025, REU students will conduct 10 weeks of summer research with one of 14 biology and physics faculty mentors. Research will focus on using microscopy to understand form and function across biological scales. This entails developing insight into the relationship between the shape, size and structure of an organism and exploring how these characteristics enable functions that support the organism’s survival.

鈥淓ach student鈥檚 project will incorporate microscopy into innovative biological research,鈥� says Coleman. 鈥淎ll REU participants will gain exposure to microscopy methods, including fluorescence and super-resolution, using state-of-the-art instrumentation to address questions that cross multiple scales of biological research.鈥�

The team notes that this REU will take advantage of the University鈥檚 strengths in microscopy, and the core facilities and resources, including the (directed by biology professor and managed by co-PI Aljiboury) and the BioInspired Institute鈥檚 (directed by Eric Finkelstein, Ph.D.).

Potential student projects include investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning neurodevelopment; identifying the connections between form, function and environment in animals that interface with and attach to surfaces; examining mechanisms driving plant responses to climate change; elucidating mechanisms of protein quality control to understand the assembly and disassembly of biomolecular condensates; and understanding how cells self-organize and develop.

The will host its first cohort of undergraduates in the summer of 2025. The program will begin accepting applications in November 2024 through the .

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Alexander Maloney Named Inaugural Walters Endowed Professor for Quantum Science /blog/2024/10/29/alexander-maloney-named-inaugural-walters-endowed-professor-for-quantum-science/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 17:41:58 +0000 /?p=204770 , an international leader in quantum information science, joins the (A&S) this fall as the inaugural Kathy and Stan Walters Endowed Professor of Quantum Science.

Maloney, a researcher who investigates fundamental questions in theoretical physics and quantum information theory, comes to 黑料不打烊 from in Montreal.

Alexander Maloney

Alexander Maloney

鈥淚 am delighted by the opportunity to work with the outstanding students and faculty at 黑料不打烊 to help push the forefront of research in quantum science,鈥� Maloney says.

The Walters Endowed Professorship was established by a $2.5 million gift from 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus Kathy Walters 鈥�73 and her husband, Stan 鈥�72. Their gift was made as part of the , which supports the recruitment and retention of high-caliber faculty.

鈥淭he commitment of the Walters family has allowed us to recruit a world-class leader for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 quantum science program,鈥� says , vice president for research. 鈥淧rofessor Maloney will bring together outstanding faculty from the and the and provide new opportunities for our students to engage in cutting-edge research.鈥�

Maloney鈥檚 research focuses on connections between quantum information theory, field theory, statistical mechanics and quantum gravity.

鈥淥ver the last century, advances in our understanding of the quantum world have underlain some of the most important scientific and technical advances that have changed both our society and our understanding of the universe,鈥� Maloney says. 鈥淭his includes deep questions ranging from elementary particle physics and black holes to materials science and engineering. Many of the most exciting current directions lie at the intersection of quantum science and information theory, where a new field of science is being created that may have profound implications, both for our understanding of fundamental physics and for the construction of quantum computers and precision devices.鈥�

A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi notes that health care is another area of promise in quantum information science. 鈥淔or example, we can imagine the potential for much earlier detection of diseases like cancer through quantum sensing, and the creation of highly personalized, more effective treatments for those diseases based on analysis of massive amounts of DNA data,鈥� he says. 鈥淲ith Professor Maloney bringing his internationally recognized expertise to join the other top researchers in A&S physics, we are excited to be on the leading edge of this frontier.鈥�

Maloney鈥檚 previous positions include James McGill Professor of Physics and Sir William Macdonald Chair in Physics at McGill University, where he was honored with the John David Jackson Award for excellence in teaching. He was a member of the in Princeton, New Jersey, and a research associate at the . He was selected as a Simons Fellow in Theoretical Physics in 2013. He earned a Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University and an M.Sc. in mathematics and B.Sc. in physics from Stanford University.

At 黑料不打烊, Maloney will work with four new researchers鈥攏ow being recruited by the University with support from and 鈥攚ho will grow teaching and research in quantum science, providing opportunities for students to advance understanding of nature and design the next generation of quantum technologies.

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Tool to Enhance the Taste and Texture of Sourdough /blog/2024/10/25/tool-to-enhance-the-taste-and-texture-of-sourdough/ Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:33:57 +0000 /?p=204709
Four laboratory yeast culture jars labeled C1, Y1, YL2, and YL43, covered with aluminum foil, on a lab bench.

A team of 黑料不打烊 researchers have published a study exploring how genomic diversity of acetic acid bacteria can alter properties of sourdough. Pictured are sourdough starters grown up from experimental communities (from the left: control [no microbes added], yeast only, yeast plus lactic acid bacteria, yeast plus lactic acid bacteria plus acetic acid bacteria).

When millions of people听went into lockdown听during the听pandemic, they went in search of new at-home hobbies to help cure their boredom. Among them was making sourdough bread. In addition to being sustainable for its use of natural ingredients and traditional methods which date back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, it also is valued for its nutritional benefits. For example, studies have shown that sourdough contains more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants compared to many other types of bread. For people with mild sensitivities to gluten, sourdough bread can be easier to digest since much of the gluten is broken down during the fermentation process. What鈥檚 more, many lactic acid bacteria species, which are foundational to sourdough, are considered probiotics, associated with improved gastrointestinal health.

A Flavor Profile Years in the Making

The process of making sourdough bread begins with a sourdough starter. These starters are created when microbes鈥揷ommunities of bacteria and yeast鈥搒tabilize in a flour and water mixture. Known as a microbiome, this community of wild yeast and bacteria is what makes sourdough bread rise and contributes to its taste and texture. Sourdough notably differs from most bread because it relies on this starter of wild microbes to help it rise instead of baker鈥檚 yeast packets.

Many sourdough starters are preserved over generations, with some samples dating back thousands of years. To maintain a sourdough starter, you extract a sample from a previous dough and mix it into new flour and water. With enough transfers of the sourdough starter, the microbial community will be composed of the yeast, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and acetic acid bacteria (AAB) that are best adapted to the sourdough environment. What makes different sourdough starters unique are the varying strains of yeast and bacteria that produce the distinctive sour flavor.

Testing Genetic Diversity

Advances in sequencing technology have enabled researchers to rapidly profile microbial communities, such as the sourdough microbiome. In the College of Arts and Sciences, members of biology professor听听lab have been studying acetic acid bacteria to determine how genetic diversity of AAB impacts sourdough communities.

Three scientists in lab coats holding petri dishes in a laboratory.

Professor Angela Oliverio (left), Nimshika Senewiratne (middle), a Ph.D. candidate in Oliverio鈥檚 lab, and Beryl Rappaport (right), a Ph.D. student in Oliverio鈥檚 lab, co-authored a study which characterized acetic acid bacteria (AAB) from 500 sourdough starters to better understand how genetic diversity of AAB influences characteristics of sourdough.

While previous research has focused more on lactic acid bacteria and yeast, the ecology, genomic diversity and functional contributions of AAB in sourdough remain largely unknown. Beryl Rappaport, a Ph.D. student in Oliverio鈥檚 group, recently led a paper published in , a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, where she and other sourdough scientists, including Oliverio, Nimshika Senewiratne from the Oliverio lab, SU biology professor听, and professor Ben Wolfe from Tufts University, sequenced 29 AAB genomes from a collection of over 500 sourdough starters and constructed synthetic starter communities in the lab to define the ways in which AAB shape emergent properties of sourdough. The team’s work was supported by a听awarded to Oliverio earlier this year.

鈥淲hile not as common in sourdough as lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria are better known for their dominant roles in other fermented foods like vinegar and kombucha,鈥� says Rappaport. 鈥淔or this study, we were interested in following up on previous findings which stated that when present in sourdough, AAB seems to have a strong impact on key properties including scent profile and metabolite production, which shape overall flavor formation.鈥�

Several Petri dishes with bacterial colonies on a lab bench, labeled with dates and codes.

Plates testing for presence or absence of microbes grown in synthetic sourdough communities.

To assess the consequences of AAB on the emergent function of sourdough starter microbiomes, their team tested 10 strains of AAB, some distantly related and some very closely related. They set up manipulative experiments with these 10 strains, adding each one to a community of yeast and LAB. They kept a separate community of just yeast and LAB to serve as the control.

鈥淪ince we can manipulate what microbes and what concentrations of microbes go into these synthetic sourdough communities, we could see the direct effects of adding each strain of AAB to sourdough,鈥� says Rappaport. 鈥淎s we expected, every strain of AAB lowered the pH of the synthetic sourdough (associated with increasing sourness) since they release acetic acid and other acids as byproducts of their metabolic processes. Unexpectedly, however, AAB that were more closely related did not release more similar compounds. In fact, there was high variation in metabolites, many related to flavor formation, even between strains of the same species.鈥�

According to Rappaport, strain diversity is often overlooked in microbial communities, in part because it is difficult to identify and manipulate levels of diversity due to the vastness of microorganisms within a given community. The human gut biome alone can have roughly 100 trillion bacteria living in it! By zooming into the diversity among closer relatives in the lab, researchers can start to understand key interactions in microbiomes.

To read the full story, .

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Can Folic Acid Supplementation During Pregnancy Help Prevent Autism and Schizophrenia? /blog/2024/10/17/can-folic-acid-supplementation-during-pregnancy-help-prevent-autism-and-schizophrenia/ Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:00:44 +0000 /?p=204395

The neocortex, or 鈥渢hinking brain,鈥� accounts for over 75% of the brain鈥檚 total volume and plays a critical role in humans鈥� decision-making, processing of sensory information, and formation and retrieval of memories. Uniquely human traits such as advanced social behavior and creativity are made possible thanks to the neocortex.

When development in this area of the brain is disrupted, it can result in neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability and schizophrenia. Researchers have not yet identified the precise causes of this atypical development, but they suspect it likely involves a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including maternal nutrition and exposures during pregnancy.

A woman smiles while posing for a headshot outdoors.

Jessica MacDonald

, associate professor of biology in the , has received a two-year grant from the to investigate the effects of maternal folic acid supplementation on neocortex development. According to MacDonald, this study was motivated by past findings indicating that folic acid supplementation during the first trimester can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube closure defects, such as spina bifida, in children. When the neural tube of the fetus does not close correctly, it can lead to improper development of the brain.

鈥淚n countries where cereals and grains have been routinely fortified by folic acid, the incidence rate of neural tube closure defects has dropped 30% overall,鈥� says MacDonald. 鈥淲hether folic acid supplementation prevents a neural tube closure defect likely depends on the cause of the disruption in the first place and whether it is due to a specific genetic mutation.鈥�

In previous studies, researchers tested mice with certain genetic mutations that developed neural tube defects. Mice with a genetic mutation in an epigenetic regulator called Cited2 showed a decrease in the incidence rate of neural tube closure defects from around 80% to around 10% when exposed to higher maternal folic acid during gestation.

MacDonald鈥檚 team will now explore whether maternal folic acid can also rescue disrupted neocortical development in mice as it does for the neural tube closure defect.

鈥淥ur preliminary data are very promising that this will occur,鈥� says MacDonald. 鈥淭here are a growing number of studies indicating that maternal folic acid supplementation at later stages of pregnancy can also reduce the incidence of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders in children, including autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Other studies have shown that too much folic acid, on the other hand, can be detrimental. Again, this likely depends on the genetics of the individual.鈥�

MacDonald will work closely with both graduate and undergraduate students in her lab as they seek new insights into how maternal folic acid supplementation alters neocortical development and how it could tip the balance between typical and atypical neurodevelopment. This project will be spearheaded in the lab by graduate student Sara Brigida.

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University and Community Partners Help WCNY Form New Spanish-Language Radio Station /blog/2024/10/16/university-and-community-partners-help-wcny-form-new-spanish-language-radio-station/ Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:46:40 +0000 /?p=204267 An important resource never before available to the greater Central New York and Mohawk Valley region鈥攁 Spanish-language radio station鈥攈as come to fruition through an initiative shaped by PBS affiliate WCNY and a number of community members, including several faculty and staff at 黑料不打烊.

logo of radio station WCNY Pulso Central

The new station, 鈥�,鈥� is 鈥渁 thrilling and significant breakthrough鈥� for the growing Spanish-speaking community in the area, says , executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community and director of the University鈥檚 . 鈥淭he station is poised to become a vital resource, reflecting the vibrant mix of Hispanic and Latino cultures and effectively engaging these populations like no other local or regional medium does.鈥�

Paniagua and many others at the University were integral to the development of the station. She first got involved in the summer of 2023 when WCNY CEO and President approached her wondering if a Spanish-language radio station was available in the area. When he discovered there wasn鈥檛 one, Gelman asked Paniagua to help him assess the community鈥檚 interest in filling that void.

Gelman formed a community task force, which he co-chaired with Paniagua and WCNY-FM Station Manager . Over many months, more than two dozen task force members planned the station鈥檚 structure, helped developed funding, sought collaborators and generated programming ideas.

woman speaks to two students at an event

Teresita Paniagua, left, the University’s executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community, speaks to students at an event celebrating Hispanic culture. Paniagua was instrumental in spurring community interest in and involvement to help bring about WCNY’s Spanish-language radio station.

Several University faculty members and instructors from the College of Arts and Sciences, including , associate teaching professor of Spanish and Portuguese and Spanish language coordinator, and , Spanish instructor, participated in the task force efforts.

Also involved in other ways were , Spanish department professor and chair; , Spanish professor; , assistant teaching professor of film in the College of Visual and Performing Arts; , development director for 黑料不打烊 Stage; , professor of Spanish at Onondaga Community College; Josefa 脕lvarez Valad茅s, 听Spanish professor at LeMoyne College; and , a Newhouse School of Public Communications alumnus and former radio/TV producer who is an associate professor of communications at SUNY Oswego.

As part of the task force鈥檚 fact-finding, Paniagua enlisted Whitman School of Management students Nicolas Cela Marxuach 鈥�25, Zachary Levine 鈥�25 and Jonah Griffin 鈥�24 to develop and distribute a community interest survey, which the students circulated to several hundred local residents at community events. She says 98% of respondents supported the idea. The survey also provided insights into audience demographics and programming ideas鈥攊ncluding sports, community news, talk shows, music and faith-based content.

There are upwards of 1,000 Spanish-speaking radio stations in the U.S. but Pulso Central is the first of its kind in Central New York. The region is home to some 18,000 Spanish-speaking households, with Spanish-speaking people making up about 10.5% of the area鈥檚 population and comprising a segment of the community that has grown 30% over the past decade, according to research done by WCNY.

A Learning Resource

Pulso Central also provides a unique learning opportunity and 鈥渁n extraordinary new pedagogical tool for experiential education鈥� for the University’s students, says Ticio Quesada.

woman among several students at radio broadcast booth

M. Emma Ticio Quesada, center, a professor in 黑料不打烊’s Spanish department, uses WCNY’s radio station studio as an experiential learning space and resource for her courses.

Five students from her immersive course, Community Outreach: Language in Action, are interning at the station. The students, Lailah Ali-Valentine, Adam Baltaxe, Kimberlyn Lopez Herrera, Nicolas Bernardino Greiner-Guzman and Jade Aulestia recently created their first podcast.

Ticio Quesada says she also expects students in SPA 300: Our Community Voices, an course, to benefit from the same kind of internship opportunity. The course connects native and non-native Spanish speakers, inspires them to contribute to the local community, and promotes inclusion and social justice.

Partnering Results

Miranda Traudt, the University鈥檚 assistant provost for arts and community programming, says the task force is a good example of the positive outcomes that can result when members of the University and local communities work together to achieve specific goals. 鈥淭his project continues La Casita鈥檚 meaningful engagement with Hispanic communities in Central New York and helps fulfill its mission through work in the arts, media, cultural heritage preservation and research adding to the high quality of life,鈥� she says.

four person group in a radio station broadcasting booth

Several dozen community members helped WCNY form and air the area’s first Spanish-language radio station. They included, from left, Mitch Gelman, WCNY president and CEO; M. Emma Ticio Quesada, 黑料不打烊 professor of Spanish; Stephanie Gonzalez Rawlings, content producer; and DJ Lorenz (Renzo Quesada), music host. (Photo by Eric Hayden, WCNY)

Game Changer

Paniagua believes the station 鈥渃an be a game changer,鈥� not only in providing news and information about and for the Latina/Hispanic community but also by 鈥渉elping to change long-established stereotypes and present a whole new world of possibilities for the people of this community,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here are many wonderful stories about people who have established their lives in this community and I hope Pulso Central can be a showcase for those stories.鈥�

Launch Event Oct. 24

An official launch event, 鈥�,鈥� will be held Thursday, Oct. 24, at WCNY studios and La Casita.

鈥淲CNY is thrilled to help launch Pulso Central,鈥� Gelman says. 鈥淥ur goal is to provide a platform that will come alive with music and talk that engages listeners and fosters community connection.鈥�

The station reaches listeners in 19 counties. Pulso Central airs on WCNY 91.3 HD-2 in 黑料不打烊, WUNY 89.5 HD-2 in Utica and WJNY 90.9 HD-2 in Watertown. It is accessible online at and streaming on the Pulso Central app.

 

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Secrets Behind Our Universe鈥檚 Existence Revealed /blog/2024/10/14/secrets-behind-our-universes-existence-revealed/ Mon, 14 Oct 2024 18:23:37 +0000 /?p=204222
Group of students holding Otto the Orange signs in front of a blue banner.

Graduate students from the Experimental Neutrino Physics group with 黑料不打烊-area high school students who took part in the 黑料不打烊 Physics Emerging Research Technologies Summer High School Internship Program in summer 2024.

It takes sophisticated technology to study the behavior of invisible particles like neutrinos and cosmic rays, which pass through our bodies every second before zooming back off into the universe without us even knowing. While they might be tiny, these particles have massive importance, as understanding their interactions could help scientists determine why our universe exists and why all of the 鈥渟tuff鈥� in the universe, including stars, planets and people, are made out of matter and not antimatter. Faculty and students in the 听group in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) are part of an international effort to explore the secrets of neutrinos.

So, what鈥檚 the buzz about neutrinos? Neutrinos and other invisible particles such as cosmic rays are produced by some of the most extreme events in the cosmos, like the Big Bang nearly 14 billion years ago or when massive stars end their life cycles in a blaze of glory known as supernovae explosions. Neutrinos come in three flavors (electron, muon and tau) and have some mysterious characteristics, such as puzzlingly low masses and the ability to oscillate, or change from one type of neutrino to another. Scientists use cutting-edge particle detectors to study the information embedded in neutrinos and make definitive determinations of neutrino properties.

Physics Professors 听and听听are working with undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers on everything from detector construction to operation and analysis, both at 黑料不打烊 and at larger detection sites like听. Fermilab is one of the few places on Earth where a focused beam of neutrinos can be created and aimed at a detector.

Through Fermilab鈥檚听听(DUNE), particle detectors are being constructed one mile underground in a former gold mine in South Dakota right in the path of a neutrino beam originating from Fermilab in Illinois. Once operational, DUNE scientists will be able to study a phenomenon called 鈥渘eutrino oscillation,鈥� which looks at how the three different flavors of neutrinos that make up the Standard Model (electron, muon and tau) change between types as they travel. These insights could reveal why the universe is dominated by matter and whether a fourth type of neutrino (sterile neutrino) exists, which would go beyond the Standard Model, indicating that there is more to the universe鈥檚 fundamental particle makeup than we currently understand.

Prototype Paves the Way

Two workers are installing a large, vertical metal panel into a complex machine setup. Cones and tools are visible around them on the floor, and numerous cables and mechanical components surround the area.

Physics graduate student Tom Murphy (right, in orange hard hat) working on a DUNE prototype. (Photo by Dan Svoboda)

DUNE, currently under construction, will be the most comprehensive neutrino experiment in the world. But before it comes online, scientists have been testing prototype equipment and components in preparation for the final detector installation. Members of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Experimental Neutrino Physics group have been part of the听, which recorded its first听. While the final version of the DUNE near detector will feature 35 liquid argon modules, the prototype has four modules arranged in a square and allows scientists to validate the design.

鈥淥ur group members who are resident at Fermilab, including postdoctoral researcher Luis Zazueta and graduate student Tom Murphy, have helped with final detector construction, installation and operations,鈥� says Soderberg. 鈥淶azueta was the inaugural 鈥渄eputy run coordinator鈥� for the 2×2 effort, which is a leadership role important to the operation of the detector. We are anticipating more involvement in the full-size DUNE detector that the 2×2 is a prototype for.鈥�

Exploring the Cosmos on Campus

Physics Ph.D. student Sierra Thomas is another one of the A&S scientists who has been involved in the DUNE collaboration. She is currently setting up the equipment to make observations of cosmic events at 黑料不打烊 using the new prototype 鈥減ixel鈥� Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber detector. Located on the third floor of the physics building, this hi-tech device allows researchers to make observations about the universe from the comforts of campus. What鈥檚 more, the experiments conducted with this equipment are contributing to the enhancement of larger detectors at Fermilab.

Watch the video below for Sierra鈥檚 take on the detector.

A Search for Oscillation

In addition to the DUNE project, Fermilab also hosts the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program, which is a chain of three particle detectors鈥擨CARUS, MicroBooNE and the Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND). SBND is the near detector for the Short Baseline Neutrino Program and the newest of the three. ICARUS, which started collecting data in 2021, is the far detector. SBND will measure the neutrinos as they were produced in the Fermilab beam and ICARUS will measure the neutrinos after they鈥檝e potentially oscillated. The neutrino interactions collected from these detectors play a critical role in performing searches for neutrino oscillations, which could provide proof of the elusive fourth kind of neutrino.

Illustration of the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program at Fermilab (2024), showing the layout of experiments SBND and ICARUS. Arrows indicate the path of neutrinos from a target through a horn and decay pipe towards detectors filled with argon, with distances labeled in meters.

The Short-Baseline Near Detector and ICARUS are the near and far detectors, respectively, in the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program. (Photo courtesy of Fermilab)

Person smiling at the camera, standing by a railing with an industrial setting featuring large machinery and equipment in the background.

Rohan Rajagopalan standing in the SBND building near the detector.

SBND, the final element that completed Fermilab鈥檚 Short-Baseline Neutrino Program, recently reached a key milestone as scientists identified the detector鈥檚听听earlier this year. Members of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Experimental Neutrino Physics group played integral roles in听constructing and commissioning the detector, whose planning, prototyping and construction took nearly a decade. Current group members Amy Filkins, a postdoctoral researcher, and Rohan Rajagopalan, a graduate student, are currently based at Fermilab and working on SBND, having made major contributions to SBND鈥檚 first operations.

Two individuals in hard hats are inspecting and working on network equipment in a server room.

Amy Filkins (in yellow hard hat) working on the Short-Baseline Near Detector鈥檚 data acquisition rack.

The collaboration will continue operating the detector and analyzing the many millions of neutrino interactions collected for the next several years.

鈥淚’m proud of the work that our team has been undertaking,鈥� says Whittington. 鈥淚 find the process of building, understanding and operating these experiments very engaging, and I’m excited to see them come to fruition over the next few years.鈥�

Students interested in hands-on, international research and exploring the secrets of neutrinos can learn more by visiting the听听group website.

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Grammy-Winning Singer Dua Lipa鈥檚 Book Club Spotlights Professor George Saunders /blog/2024/10/11/grammy-winning-singer-dua-lipas-book-club-spotlights-professor-george-saunders/ Fri, 11 Oct 2024 18:49:31 +0000 /?p=204184
A man poses for a headshot while a woman holds up a copy of a book in a bookstore.

Pop star Dua Lipa (right) holding a copy of George Saunders鈥� book, “Lincoln in the Bardo.” The book is her October book of the month for her 87.5 million followers on Instagram.

Bestselling author and professor of English G鈥�88 has received numerous accolades in his literary career. His book, “Lincoln in the Bardo,” won the 2017 Man Booker Prize; his most recent work, “Liberation Day,” was chosen as one of President Barack Obama鈥檚 favorite books of 2022; and earlier this year, three of his books were included in The New York Times list of .

Now, Saunders鈥� work is reaching an even broader audience as his “Lincoln in the Bardo” takes center stage as Grammy-winning superstar Dua Lipa鈥檚 October book club pick.

Lipa鈥檚 monthly book club is part of her global platform, , which provides fans with a curation of lists, stories, perspectives and conversations with the world鈥檚 most compelling voices. Club members are invited to read a different book each month and engage with content centered around the author, including discussion guides, author Q&As and further reading lists. She amplifies that content to her millions of social media followers around the world.

“Lincoln in the Bardo” was Saunders鈥� first novel and debuted at number one on The New York Times Bestseller List. The book is Saunders鈥� conception of a visit by President Abraham Lincoln to the cemetery where his deceased 11-year-old son, Willie, is buried. The experimental novel explores Abraham Lincoln鈥檚 grief for the loss of his son alongside a cast of narrating ghosts who are in the 鈥渂ardo鈥� 鈥� a limbo state between death and the afterlife.

The global acclaim for “Lincoln in the Bardo” demonstrates the profound impact that creative writing can have in uncovering fresh insights on history, while also nurturing readers’ emotional and intellectual growth.

When asked why she loved the book, Dua Lipa said in an article on , 鈥淭here is no one writing today who can match George Saunders for compassion and empathy. The very last page still replays in my mind. The voices of these spirits 鈥� the wretched and the brave, and the dead boy Willie Lincoln 鈥攚ill stay with me forever.鈥�

Throughout October, the Service95 Book Club will offer exclusive insights, interviews and articles from Lipa and Saunders.

Service95 content includes:

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‘Reflect the People Who Visit鈥�: Arts Education Alumna Helps Make the MOST More Inclusive /blog/2024/10/09/reflect-the-people-who-visit-arts-education-alumna-helps-make-the-most-more-inclusive/ Wed, 09 Oct 2024 20:52:37 +0000 /?p=204122 Since 2008, the Upstate Medical University Life Sciences exhibition at 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) has fascinated millions of visitors. With giant reproductions of human body parts, it allows mini pathologists to explore internal anatomy and organs common to all humans.

person touching sculptured ear as part of exhibition

The MOST’s giant ear exhibition is visited by the author’s daughter, DuRi Kang, in August 2024.

But its depiction of one organ鈥攖he skin鈥攚as not as encompassing as it could be.

Now, the has received a much-needed inclusive makeover, thanks to a professor, ., who also is a dual professor in the and an associated professor in the , and his former student, Karyn Meyer-Berthel G鈥�21.

Preserving art

For close to 30 years, Meyer-Berthel has worked as a professional artist, becoming known for her ability to combine paint colors into perfect matches to any skin tone.

This skill came over time, she says. Her start was painting theater sets.

For theater, she painted backdrops and scenery, primarily for opera and musicals. 鈥淢usical theater was my favorite to paint because it was usually really dramatic and full of character,鈥� Meyer-Berthel says, who had to stop after an injury. 鈥淭hat kind of work is heavy labor鈥攜ou’re carrying five-gallon buckets of paint; you’re standing on your feet all day. I loved it, but having that injury, I had to give it up. So that led to a world of figuring out all these different jobs in the arts.鈥�

A slew of roles followed, including working for three different art material manufacturers, as well as a year as a Mellon intern, where she assisted in the conservation department at the National Gallery of Art.

鈥淭he work I did there was on painting conservation and understanding what materials last a really long time,鈥� Meyer-Berthel explains. She learned not only how to preserve art for future generations but also how museums can protect pieces from the public, learning which materials work best to seal historic treasures, especially from the oils on little fingers that crave to touch them.

According to her former arts education teacher, this notable professional background combined with her art materials expertise made her a perfect fit to help complete a needed update to the MOST鈥檚 human body exhibition.

Rolling鈥攚ho has taught arts education at 黑料不打烊 since 2007 and serves as interim chair of the Department of African American Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences鈥攁lso runs JHRolling Arts, Education, Leadership Strategies, a DEI consultant entity. In his role as consultant, he was tapped to help the MOST make improvements to its exhibitions, with an eye toward equity and inclusion.

Creative placemaking

MOST staff identified models in the Upstate Medical University Life Sciences exhibition as a key area where improvements in representation could be made.

鈥淥ur main objective with this project was to better fulfill our core values by making sure that the models and images in our exhibitions reflect the people who visit them,鈥� says Emily Stewart, Ph.D., senior director of education and curation. 鈥淥ur community is dynamic and diverse, and our exhibitions should be too.鈥�

This led the MOST to Rolling because his consultancy utilizes the concept of 鈥�,鈥� a way of transforming a lived environment so it is accessible, inviting, and representative of the community. 鈥淭hat life sciences exhibition was over 10 years old, and it’s striking that there were no persons of color represented,鈥� Rolling says. 鈥淥ut of all those body parts鈥攏one.鈥�

two sculptured ears as part of exhibition

Karyn Meyer-Berthel G鈥�21 helped transform the MOST body exhibition to make it more inclusive.

The Upstate exhibition explores the science of human anatomy with larger-than-life body parts, including a heart visitors can walk through, a brain that lights up and a giant ear, nose, lips and more.

Rolling immediately thought of his former student, connecting the MOST to Meyer-Berthel, due to her materials and preservation skill, unique background and understanding of inclusivity, .

Perfect balance

Meyer-Berthel and staff settled on the MOST鈥檚 giant ear display to receive the upgrade. 鈥淒ifferent ethnicities have different shape ears, certainly, but this anatomy is a little more streamlined across the globe, so an adjustment with paint can change the representation,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he ear was the clearest choice, because changing the shape of something might actually mean completely rebuilding the object, and that part wasn鈥檛 quite in my wheelhouse.鈥�

But the skill Meyer-Berthel does excel at is combining colors to match skin tone. 鈥淣o matter the ethnicity, every skin tone includes blue, red and yellow,鈥� she explains. 鈥淵ou can often tell by looking at a person’s wrist what their undertones are 鈥� Finding the perfect blend and balance is the joy.鈥�

Because 28% of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 population is African American, the MOST wanted to change the ear to a brown skin tone, but the answer wasn鈥檛 as simple as mixing up a batch of paint and applying it.

Other factors Meyer-Berthel had to consider were the museum鈥檚 lighting and how this would impact the hue, and how well the paint would hold up to being touched. 鈥淭he beauty of this exhibition is being able to touch it,鈥� she says, noting that the paint needed to adhere to the material already coating the ear, the composition of which she and the MOST did not know.

After testing samples under the museum鈥檚 warm lighting, Meyer-Berthel first cleaned the existing model, using a micro sanding product to help her paint layer adhere. She chose acrylic paints, because she finds these to be the most versatile, and utilized Golden Artist Colors, a New Berlin, New York-based manufacturer of professional artist paints best known for its acrylics, where she also worked as a commercial applications specialist for three years.

鈥淲hile house paint is wonderful for painting a house, it鈥檚 not going to be good for a museum because it has too many fillers in it, like chalk,鈥� Meyer-Berthel explains. 鈥淔or a museum model, a piece that needs to be so brilliantly colored, you don’t want much in it besides pigment and resin.鈥�

Lastly, Meyer-Berthel coated the paint with a sealant because of how much the ear is touched, protecting it from absorbing oils and dirt from hands.

鈥淲e are so thrilled with the work she has done,鈥� says Stewart. 鈥淗er thoughtful consideration and expertise helped us to identify the right paint colors, finishes and techniques to give our older anatomical model a new life.鈥�

Story by Ashley Kang 鈥�04, G鈥�11

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50 Years of Advancing Language Proficiency for a Multilingual World /blog/2024/10/09/50-years-of-advancing-language-proficiency-for-a-multilingual-world/ Wed, 09 Oct 2024 14:50:48 +0000 /?p=204101 A vintage film projector with spinning reels casts a beam of light, set against a vibrant background of blue and purple smoke.In 1974, students wearing mood rings and flared pants strode across campus, toting paperback copies of 鈥淛aws鈥� or 鈥淐arrie鈥� while making plans to see 鈥淭he Great Gatsby鈥� or 鈥淭he Godfather Part II鈥� at the local movie theater (where tickets cost less than $2).

They were also witnesses to major political events, such as President Richard Nixon stepping down after the Watergate scandal and President Gerald Ford taking office (and being memorably lampooned the next year on new television program 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥�). At 黑料不打烊, a less known yet still consequential development occurred.

That year, the department that became听听was born.

On July 1, five College of Arts and Sciences departments came together to become 鈥渙ne new department under the chairmanship of Louis W. Roberts,鈥� according to a press release from the time. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures unified the former individual departments of classics, German, linguistics, Romance languages and Slavic languages and literatures to create, as then-Dean Kenneth Goodrich noted, 鈥渁 needed synthesis of the traditional and the progressive in the field of foreign language and literature education.鈥�

Press release from 黑料不打烊 announcing the formation of a new department under Louis W. Roberts. The department will include Classics, German, Linguistics, Romance Languages, and Slavic Languages, starting July 1, 1974.

Excerpt from the 1974 news release creating LLL鈥檚 forerunner (Photo courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center)

The department鈥檚 name was changed under Dean Robert Jensen to 鈥淟anguages, Literatures and Linguistics鈥� in 1995 to recognize the breadth of world languages and cultures being taught and the strength of the linguistics program.

As part of celebrating its 50 years as a multilingual, multicultural department, the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics (LLL) is hosting a film series this semester, including a discussion evening on Oct. 30. 鈥淔ilm is a critical medium through which students can develop cultural and linguistic competencies,鈥� says , professor of Spanish and LLL chair.

The films span genres, cultures and times, reflecting the department’s commitment to global perspectives and the exploration of language through art.

The film series includes the following screenings:

October

  • “” (Italy, 1994)鈥擮ct. 9, 5:30 p.m., Kittredge Auditorium
  • “” (France, 2023)鈥擮ct. 10, 7 p.m., Kittredge Auditorium
  • “” (France, 2011)鈥擮ct. 17, 7 p.m., Kittredge Auditorium
  • “” (Lebanon, 2018)鈥擮ct. 18, 2 p.m., 341 Eggers
  • “” (Italy, 1975)鈥擮ct. 23, 5:30 p.m., Kittredge Auditorium
  • “” (France, 2012)鈥擮ct. 24, 7 p.m., Kittredge Auditorium
  • “” (Taiwan, 2010)鈥擮ct. 28, 7 p.m., 113 Eggers
  • 鈥擮ct. 30, 5:30-10 p.m., Kittredge Auditorium:
    • “There’s Still Tomorrow” (Italy, 2023)
    • “Perfect Days” (Germany, Japan, 2023)

November

  • “” (Germany, 2012)鈥擭ov. 4, 6:45 p.m., Kittridge Auditorium
  • “” (Italy, 2023)鈥擭ov. 14, 6:30 p.m., Kittredge Auditorium
  • “” (Soviet Union, Japan, 1977)鈥擭ov. 21, 11 a.m., 107 Huntington Hall
  • “Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission” (Korea, 2019)鈥擳BD

For more information about the film series, contact听Gail Bulman.

Other events celebrating LLL鈥檚 50th anniversary in 2024 included the annual Wor(l)ds of Love Valentine’s Day poetry festival in February, Women across the World events in March, theater and musical performances, an LLL majors and minors鈥� celebration and the department’s annual Culture(s) on the Quad in April.

Spring 2025 event dates will be announced at a later time.

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Funding Research That Improves Health and Shortens 鈥楤ench to Bedside鈥� Time /blog/2024/10/07/funding-research-that-improves-health-and-shortens-bench-to-bedside-time/ Mon, 07 Oct 2024 19:29:24 +0000 /?p=204020

Doctoral students in clinical psychology听Alexa Deyo 鈥�21 and Alison Vrabec G鈥�23 spent their summer testing a theory that a certain kind of therapeutic technique called motivational interviewing could improve sleep and overall health among adolescents. According to the , sleep problems can impact how people learn, think and get along with others. 鈥淚f teens are sleeping better, their mental health is improved; they are more emotionally regulated and less impulsive,鈥� says听, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, who is supervising the clinical research.

head shot

Kathy Walters

Their research is exactly the kind of promising work that philanthropic alumni听Kathy Walters听鈥�73, H鈥�23 and her husband, Stan 鈥�72, had in mind when they set up the Walters Endowed Fund for Science Research in 2016. According to Kathy Walters, they were hoping to create new opportunities for research that would benefit humanity鈥攁nd they left the door open for the dean and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) to define what those benefits might be.

鈥淩esearchers tend to see things that those of us not immersed in science would never see,鈥� says Walters, a 黑料不打烊 Trustee. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a big believer in telling capable people what they should be researching.鈥� In fact, the funding is to be used to support a vast array of academic inquiry, including 鈥渦ndergraduate, graduate or faculty-led research in the sciences, including departments of biology, chemistry, communication sciences and disorders, Earth science, mathematics, psychology and physics.鈥�

The funding is awarded at the discretion of the A&S dean and associate dean for research to recognize outstanding research faculty. 鈥淩esearch funding is critical to supporting our academic mission,鈥� says A&S Dean听Behzad Mortazavi. 鈥淲ith Kathy and Stan鈥檚 gift, we can invest in more of our stellar faculty and students, so they can contribute their enormous expertise to solving challenges in the areas of the environment and climate, health and wellness, social justice and human thriving.鈥�

Person smiling in a bright purple top, with a voluminous hairstyle, against a light background.

Favour Chukwudumebi Ononiwu

Since the fund was established, it has supported research by graduate students in physics, chemistry, biology and psychology. 鈥淭hanks to the Walters, I was able to spend the summer of 2023 in the lab full-time,鈥� says Favour Chukwudumebi Ononiwu, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in cell biology and is dedicated to figuring out the cellular behavior that governs early development of human tissue. 鈥淭his particular tissue helps the body organize itself. Understanding how that happens is key to understanding developmental defects.鈥�

鈥淏ench to bedside research鈥� like this takes years of toil at the 鈥渂ench鈥� in the lab to reach the 鈥渂edside鈥� where people can benefit. Ononiwu says the funding from the Walters allowed her to spend a lot more time at that bench, reduce some of the costs associated with conducting the research, and speed up the process of discovery. 鈥淚t was also empowering to be in a space where I didn鈥檛 have to worry about my finances and could come into the lab and focus on the experiment. It also helped get my research to the point where I could apply for more grants and fellowships to accelerate the research.鈥�

Ononiwu, who hopes to pursue a job in a biotechnology, pharmaceutical or biomedical company, says the Walters funding was a 鈥渃atalyst for my development as a researcher and a professional.鈥�

Kidwell says her graduate students are deepening their own clinical training through the funded research and positioning themselves to be more competitive for National Institutes of Health grants.

鈥淥ftentimes, teaching assistantships take precedence over research assistantships because of financial need,鈥� says Deyo, a first-year doctoral student in clinical psychology.

Six individuals smiling at a scientific conference, standing in front of posters that discuss health studies. Each person is wearing a badge.

Professor Katie Kidwell (second from left) with members of the Child Health Lab, including graduate students (from left) Toni Hamilton, Alison Vrabec, Lyric Tully, Alexa Deyo and Megan Milligan.

The doctoral students were able to accelerate the launch of their study this past summer, recruit a significant number of teens aged 13 to 17 as study subjects, expose them to the intervention called motivational interviewing and measure the impact on their sleep using a smart watch-type of device called an actigraph.

The intent of their research, of course, is to help teens and college students problem-solve and deal with stressors that impact their well-being. The research aligns with Kathy Walters鈥� sensitivity to the impact of stress on health. 鈥淭he world is moving at such a rapid pace that it鈥檚 difficult for people to prioritize and focus amidst the change and anxiety,鈥� says Walters. 鈥淗elping faculty and students make the most of opportunities to improve health and humanity remains our priority.鈥�

鈥淲e are so grateful to Kathy and Stan for their generosity and vision in establishing this fund,鈥� says John Quigley, A&S assistant dean for advancement. 鈥淲e hope others who are similarly passionate about academic and research excellence at the University will follow suit. An endowment of $100,000 or more provides the kind of annual supplemental support needed by our talented faculty to accelerate the impact of their teaching and research.鈥�

Walters says it鈥檚 important to provide gifts that are not too restricted. 鈥淪tudents are developing the critical thinking skills required to pursue knowledge that answers the big questions facing our world. By supporting research, we are helping them find the answers.鈥�

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Urban Video Project Presents ‘This Side of Salina’ /blog/2024/10/07/urban-video-project-presents-this-side-of-salina/ Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:08:06 +0000 /?p=203964 Light Work鈥檚 Urban Video Project (UVP) is pleased to present the exhibition of “This Side of Salina” by
filmmaker Lynne Sachs, exploring reproductive justice from Oct. 12 to Dec. 21 at UVP’s architectural projection venue on the Everson Museum facade in downtown 黑料不打烊.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Sachs will be joined by members of the feminist filmmaking
group The Abortion Clinic Film Collective and local reproductive justice advocates for
“Communities of Care: Documenting Reproductive Justice in a Post-Roe Country,” a film
screening and panel talk at Light Work (316 Waverly Ave., on the SU campus) on Thursday,
Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m.

About “This Side of Salina”

Four Black women from 黑料不打烊, New York, reflect on sexuality, youthful regret, emotional vulnerability, raising a daughter and working in reproductive health services. In a series of their own choreographed vignettes, each woman thoughtfully engages with the neighborhoods she鈥檚 known all of her life. Two performers flip through classic 1960s titles by Black authors in a bookstore. Others sit in a hat store finding time to pour into each other, as mentors and confidantes. These are businesses that are owned by local Black women, and they know it. In Brady Market, a community grocery, they playfully shop and chat with ease and confidence. They dance to their own rhythms in the outdoor plaza of the Everson Museum of Art. Together they look down at the city from its highest point and ponder how to battle the inequities of the place that they call home.

Sachs is an American experimental filmmaker and poet based in Brooklyn, New York.
Working from a feminist perspective, she has created cinematic works that defy genre through
the use of hybrid forms, incorporating elements of documentary, performance and collage into
self-reflexive explorations of broader historical experience. Her films have screened at the
Museum of Modern Art, Tate Modern, Wexner Center for the Arts, and festivals such as New
York Film Festival, Oberhausen Int鈥檒 Short Film Festival, Punto de Vista, Sundance, Viennale
and Doclisboa. Retrospectives of her work have been presented at Museum of the Moving
Image, Sheffield Doc/Fest, Cork Film Festival, Havana Film Festival, among others. In 2021,
both Edison Film Festival and Prismatic Ground Film Festival at the Maysles Documentary
Center gave her awards for her lifetime achievements in the experimental and documentary
fields. In 2014, she received a Guggenheim Fellowship in the Creative Arts. In 2019, Tender
Buttons Press published her first book of poetry, 鈥淵ear by Year Poems.鈥�

Related Programming

All programs are free and open to the public.

“Living to Tell: Using Filmmaking as a Tool for Reproductive Justice”
Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
Salt City Market Community Room, 484 S. Salina St.
484 S. Salina St.
Free,

“Communities of Care: Documenting Reproductive Justice in a Post-Roe Country”
Thursday, Oct. 17,听 5:30 p.m.
Light Work, Watson Theater, 316 Waverly Ave.

Communities of Care is sponsored by the 黑料不打烊 Humanities Center as part of
黑料不打烊 Symposium 2024-25: Community and by the Lender Center for Social Justice.
at 黑料不打烊. This program is also partnered with the Department of Women鈥檚 and
Gender Studies and the CODE^SHIFT lab in the Newhouse School, both at 黑料不打烊
University.

Living to Tell is co-presented with Engaged Humanities Network, an engaged scholarship
initiative of 黑料不打烊.

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Orange Fan Honors Father With $2M Gift to Fuel Competitive Excellence /blog/2024/10/04/orange-fan-honors-father-with-2m-gift-to-fuel-competitive-excellence/ Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:18:22 +0000 /?p=203975 The dining hall in the One Team Olympic Sports Center will be named for avid Orange sports fan Edward C. Magee Sr. 鈥�33, G鈥�36, thanks to a $2 million pledge from his son. When Edward 鈥淓d鈥� C. Magee 鈥�70, G鈥�72 was contemplating ways to honor his father, he thought about their shared passion for their alma mater.

head shot of person wearing suit

Edward C. Magee Sr.

鈥淢y dad was serious about work, community, country and 黑料不打烊 athletics,鈥� says Magee. The senior Magee died in 1989 at the age of 78. In recognition of his son鈥檚 gift to the John A. Lally Athletics Complex and the Athletics Opportunity Fund, the dining hall will be commonly referred to as Magee One Team Dining.

鈥淢y father was a low-key guy, but I know he would have wanted to help student-athletes and the athletics program in meaningful ways,鈥� says Magee. Both father and son shared an appreciation for the power of sports to enhance the visibility and reputation of the entire University. 鈥淗e turned me into an avid 黑料不打烊 sports fan at a young age,鈥� says Magee. 鈥淲e had football season tickets forever!鈥�

When his father became too ill with congestive heart failure to attend games, he would watch from his recliner chair at home. 鈥淭his was before the internet, and he would create his own score sheets,鈥� says Magee. On the day he died, Magee Sr. was watching the 黑料不打烊 basketball team play Missouri. 鈥淔ive to ten minutes into the game, he took his last breath. My brother Tom, who graduated from 黑料不打烊 College of Law in 1973, still has that score sheet.鈥� Now, Magee Sr.鈥檚 dedication to the Orange is memorialized in a place that honors the dedication of more than 600 student-athletes across 20 sports.

鈥淪ince we launched a dedicated campaign in 2021 to raise $150 million to enhance the student-athlete experience, we鈥檝e been amazed and gratified by the support of donors like Ed,鈥� says John Wildhack, director of athletics. 鈥淭hey truly appreciate the value of student-athlete focused facilities and services in attracting the most talented student-athletes and staff and ensuring competitive excellence in the athletics program.鈥�

person standing in front of stone wall

Edward 鈥淓d鈥� C. Magee

The athletics fundraising goal is part of the $1.5 billion for 黑料不打烊. 鈥淧hilanthropy has always been critical to creating an environment where all our students can thrive, in the classroom and beyond, and in their chosen careers,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淚 am grateful to Ed for recognizing that his gift can elevate the entire student experience, along with the reputation of the entire University.鈥�

Magee graduated from the in 1970 with a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering, and earned an MBA in management data systems from the in 1972. He says he wasn鈥檛 a great athlete or an outstanding student, but he learned from his father and mother, a teacher, the value of hard work and dedication to family, community and country. He signed up for Air Force ROTC while in college, earning a scholarship that 鈥渨ould help out my parents.鈥�

His father, Magee Sr., graduated from the in 1933 and completed a law degree in 1936. He joined the U.S. Army, served with the 84th Infantry Division in the South Pacific and Asiatic theaters, and trained soldiers for combat. He was a reservist for 20 years and retired as a major. He was equally devoted in his professional life, spending 40 years at the Utica Mutual Insurance Company.

Similarly, his son Ed was loyal in service to both country and a corporation that gave him the means to build wealth that could be used in service of others. Magee served four years at Eglin Air Force Base as an officer in the Air Defense Command and, as an air force captain, he designed real-time software to drive the world鈥檚 first phased-array Space Track Radar. Following the Air Force, he devoted himself to PepsiCo, first developing information systems and ultimately rising to the level of Pepsi-Cola International chief information officer. He retired at the young age of 48 and has spent his time since consulting and investing in promising ventures, giving back to community through various charities, and supporting his beloved alma mater.

artist rendering of dining space with tables and chairs

Rendering of dining hall at the One Team Olympic Sports Center

In 2018, Magee established the Edward C. Magee Endowed Scholarship to provide financial assistance to undergraduate students in the and 鈥渉elp students who need a helping hand.鈥� Believing students and student-athletes across all disciplines and sports can contribute to a thriving university and a culture of competitive excellence, Magee targeted his latest gift for the benefit of student athletes who will 鈥渇uel their bodies鈥� at Magee One Team Dining.

About 黑料不打烊

黑料不打烊 is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we鈥檙e a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what鈥檚 possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

Orange isn鈥檛 just our color. It鈥檚 our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit听听to learn more.

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What鈥檚 Driving the Rise in ADHD Diagnosis Among Children and Adults? /blog/2024/10/04/whats-driving-the-rise-in-adhd-diagnosis-among-children-and-adults/ Fri, 04 Oct 2024 15:32:21 +0000 /?p=203959

Graphic for National ADHD Awareness Month, featuring the text 'ADHD' in large white letters, entwined with an orange and yellow awareness ribbon, on a coral background with the word 'October' below.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder in children, and the numbers are only expected to rise. The CDC reported that in 2022, over 7 million (11.4%) U.S. children aged 3鈥�17 years were diagnosed with ADHD, an increase of 1 million compared to 2016. The elevated numbers aren鈥檛 limited to children. According to a听听in the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 8.7 million adults in the U.S. have ADHD.

Portrait of an individual wearing glasses, a light blue shirt, and a striped tie, against a grey background.

Kevin Antshel

ADHD is a chronic condition characterized by difficulty focusing, restlessness and impulsive behavior. If untreated, ADHD can have severe negative consequences on physical and mental health throughout a person鈥檚 life, including low self-esteem, chronic stress, fatigue and higher risk of substance abuse. That鈥檚 why diagnosis during childhood and early intervention are crucial for helping children reach their potential and avoid the potential life-long challenges associated with the disorder. To educate the public with reliable information, reduce stigma and highlight the importance of ADHD diagnosis and treatment, several advocacy groups joined forces to designate October as ADHD Awareness Month.

The College of Arts and Sciences sat down with听, professor of psychology and principal investigator for 黑料不打烊鈥檚听, to discuss the rise in ADHD diagnosis among children and adults, the signs to look out for, and the importance of treatment.

Did the pandemic play a role in the sharp rise in ADHD diagnosis in children from 2016 to 2022, or are other factors at play?

The pandemic played a role. Increased mental health concerns (especially stress, anxiety and depression) were reported by youth, parents and teachers. These mental health concerns led to more diagnostic evaluations which, in turn, led to increased ADHD diagnoses. (Without an evaluation, there is no diagnosis.) In addition, the pandemic was associated with remote learning, frequently observed by parents. Since 2020, our own clinic has seen an increase in evaluation requests by parents who cite their observations of their child during remote learning as the precipitating factor. Thus, in my opinion, the pandemic played a role in the increased ADHD diagnoses.

At the same time, it is not only the pandemic which likely explains the increase in ADHD diagnoses in 2022. Other factors, including better awareness and recognition of ADHD, especially in girls, likely are a contributor to the increased ADHD diagnoses.

What are some of the commons signs that a child might have ADHD?

The core symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Most children demonstrate some of these symptoms occasionally. However, children with ADHD display these symptoms often and across multiple settings (e.g., home, school, sports practice, etc.). In addition, for a child to meet criteria for ADHD, these core symptoms of ADHD must negatively impact the child鈥檚 functioning. Thus, a child鈥檚 functioning, not simply their symptoms, should be the primary variable driving any evaluation considerations.

Why is it important to diagnose and treat ADHD in children?

In children, untreated moderate to severe ADHD is associated with academic, social and emotional difficulties that can interfere with development. Mild ADHD, on the other hand, does not necessarily need to be treated. Instead, a cautious, wait-and-see approach that includes environmental adjustments (e.g., more structure, adjusting instruction to meet their learning style) and other supports that we know are good for children in general (e.g., physical activity, adequate sleep, reduction in screen time, etc.) is often recommended.

Has ADHD diagnosis in adults followed a similar trend?

The prevalence of ADHD in adults is also increasing. This is due to several factors including the pandemic impacts (like children, many adults are diagnosed when they seek evaluations for stress, anxiety and depression concerns), increased awareness and recognition of ADHD extending into adulthood, later diagnoses of ADHD in women (who generally are less hyperactive) as well as the increasing pace of modern life which is frequently replete with distractions.

For adults who have never been diagnosed with ADHD, what are some signs and symptoms that might indicate they should consider being evaluated?

I recommend that functioning, not symptoms, drive any evaluation considerations. In other words, if an adult is restless and has difficulty following through, yet is functioning well, I do not see a need for any evaluation. However, if these symptoms are interfering with their perceived functioning (and/or others around them have indicated as such), then an evaluation might be worthwhile to consider.

Will ADHD diagnosis rates continue to climb in our country?

I believe that ADHD diagnosis rates will continue to increase in the United States. Increased awareness (driven in part by social media), better societal acceptance of neurodiversity and lower resulting ADHD stigma, as well as the fast pace of 21st century life might all contribute to this increase. I also worry that this increased identification will amplify some of the existing inequities that we have currently in ADHD diagnosis (lower rates in historically marginalized populations).

Should people be concerned about the rise in diagnoses (could societal factors cause this?), or is the increase a positive sign because it means more people are receiving the treatment they need?

I think there are reasons to be both optimistic and concerned about the increases in ADHD diagnoses. On the optimistic side, this rise might signal better ADHD awareness and access to ADHD services. The rise may also mean that there is reduced stigma towards ADHD as a mental health condition. Conversely, the increase in ADHD diagnoses might also communicate overdiagnosis due to medicalization of everyday symptoms is occurring – who has not experienced moments of distractibility and a consequent loss of productivity? In addition, the increase in ADHD diagnoses might also mean that the increasing pace of modern life is establishing unrealistic attentional expectations, for which larger and larger segments of our society are unable to attain.

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Students Engage in Summer Research and Study Experiences /blog/2024/09/30/students-engage-in-summer-research-and-study-experiences/ Mon, 30 Sep 2024 21:20:38 +0000 /?p=203798 This past summer, several students engaged in prestigious research and study experiences in the United States and Canada. The students applied for these highly competitive experiences through the University鈥檚 (CFSA).

Below, five students share their experiences; what they did and what they learned.

Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship

Five 黑料不打烊 students were selected as Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship recipients this year. They were Sofia DaCruz 鈥�25, a women鈥檚 and gender studies and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences; (McGill University); Abi Greenfield 鈥�25, a history and political philosophy major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences (University of Victoria); Chloe Britton Naime 鈥�25, a mechanical engineering and neuroscience major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of British Columbia); Kerrin O鈥橤rady 鈥�25, a biomedical engineering and neuroscience major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of Victoria); and Kanya Shah 鈥�25, an aerospace engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of Quebec at Chicoutimi).

Abi Greenfield

Greenfield worked with Penny Bryden, professor of history at the University of Victoria. Greenfield was first research assistant on Bryden鈥檚 Canadian constitutional culture project; she created a dataset of political cartoons about the Canadian Constitution from five periods in Canadian history.

Abi Greenfield

Abi Greenfield

She mined the databases of past editions of four major Canadian newspapers and developed a dataset of approximately 500 cartoons. 鈥淚 then analyzed the cartoons from the 1980-82 period to understand what major themes appeared in relation to the Constitution reform debates during this period and what these themes and metaphors demonstrated about public thought around these topics,鈥� Greenfield says. She produced a report for Bryden analyzing four major themes she identified, along with any regional or temporal variations. Greenfield鈥檚 research will form part of a forthcoming collaborative article on editorial cartoons and Canadian constitutional culture.

Greenfield says this work strengthened her skills in research design, dataset creation and analysis, and analysis of images as historical documents, as well as deepened her knowledge of Canadian political and legal history.

鈥淭his experience has been invaluable in informing the topic and goals of my undergraduate thesis for the Honors program and the Distinction program in History, as well as how I have gone about designing my project,鈥� Greenfield says. 鈥淭he chance to connect with established scholars in my field helped me to understand the breadth of research areas available to me and led me to change my thesis topic from what I had originally planned.听My improved knowledge of Canadian legal history will also help inform my work as a research assistant on the Global Free Speech Repository Project in the Campbell Institute in the Maxwell School, where I work with Canadian free expression decisions, among others.鈥�

After graduation, Greenfield hopes to return to the University of Victoria to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in history under Bryden鈥檚 direction.

Kanya Shah

Kanya Shah '25

Kanya Shah

Shah interned at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC)鈥檚 Anti-Icing Materials Laboratory (LIMA-AMIL), where she worked on the “Evaluating Passive Protection Systems for Solar Panels Against Snow and Ice Accumulations” project. Under the supervision of Research Professor Derek Harvey and with LIMA-AMIL faculty support, she conducted extensive literature review to aid the team in designing a test bench to evaluate the effectiveness of superhydrophobic and icephobic coatings against snow and ice accretion on a solar panel placed in a cold climate chamber.

The freezing rain and snowstorm tests performed honed her laboratory techniques for testing and developing coating application methods to address snow and ice adhesion on solar panels in cold climates.

鈥淭his program provided invaluable international research exposure, solidifying my commitment to advancing sustainable solutions in mechanical and aerospace engineering,鈥� Shah says. 鈥淎s I look ahead, I’m excited to pursue this passion further, either through a master’s program or an industry-related career.鈥�

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI)

Corinne Motl 鈥�25, a physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, engaged in an internship at Argonne National Laboratory this summer through a Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Corrine Motl '25

Corrine Motl

Quantum networks are of significant interest within the commercial and scientific communities as they hold potential for complete information security, as well as connecting dispersed quantum technologies. Quantum memories are a key part of realizing these networks.

Motl worked on simulations to test parameters when designing a nanophotonic cavity to optimize the quality factor of the cavity. 鈥淲hat this means on a larger scale is that we aim to develop quantum memories that are able to get an input, preserve that single then reemit it. This is a critical part in creating technologies such as quantum repeater,鈥� she says.

鈥淭his research involved my simulation work, as well as creating a data analysis software for X-ray detraction (XRD) data. I also worked on creating optical set up as well as alignment and matinee of a separate optical set up,鈥� she says.

Motl says her work at Argonne gave her new skills and helped her develop her problem-solving abilities. 鈥淭he more problems you solve the better you get at solving new ones. I learned to try to find the simplest solution,鈥� she says.

Motl is currently helping to organize a branch of the 2025 conference, which will be held at 黑料不打烊 in January.

Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA)

Four students were selected as PPIA JSI Fellows this year. They were Linda Baguma 鈥�25, an international relations and political science major in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences (Carnegie Mellon); Victoria Knight 鈥�25, a policy studies and economics major (pre-law track) in the Maxwell School (UC-Berkeley); Caroline Ridge 鈥�25 a political science and policy studies major in the Maxwell School (Carnegie Mellon) and Evelina Torres 鈥�25, a political science and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School (Carnegie Mellon).

Linda Baguma

As part of her PPIA experience, Baguma completed rigorous coursework on quantitative methods, economic analysis and policy research, all aimed at addressing real-world public policy challenges. The program also emphasized diversity in public service and leadership development.

Linda Baguma '25

Linda Baguma

Baguma worked on a project analyzing the impact of social policies on low-income communities, using data to evaluate the effectiveness of various poverty reduction programs. 鈥淭his experience directly complements my studies at 黑料不打烊, especially my concentration in international security and diplomacy within the international relations major,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 plan to apply the quantitative analysis skills I gained to my coursework, particularly in areas related to policy design and evaluation, and to further explore how international policies impact African development, which is my regional focus.鈥�

She says her experience was made even more meaningful by the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and apply what she learned to real-world challenges. Baguma contributed to an additional project focused on abandoned mine lands (AMLs) in the Pittsburgh area. 鈥淥ur goal was to analyze the impact of AMLs on surrounding communities, using a variety of data sources to uncover the relationships and effects these sites have on public health, environmental justice and economic outcomes. I even learned how to run regressions to better understand the correlations between AMLs and the well-being of nearby communities,鈥� she says.

Baguma says the PPIA experience gave her a broader understanding of public service. 鈥淚鈥檓 eager to incorporate this perspective into my academic and professional trajectory, and I look forward to continuing this work as I prepare for a career in public policy, particularly in U.S.-Africa relations,鈥� she says.

Victoria Knight

The UC-Berkeley PPIA program offered a law track that gave Knight valuable insights into succeeding at top law schools. She took four courses: Law and Public Policy, Economics for Public Policy, Policy Analysis and Quantitative Methods for Public Policy.

Victoria Knight '25

Victoria Knight

Beyond the classroom, the program provided numerous opportunities to connect with notable alumni and guest speakers, including Dean David Wilson, Robert Reich (former U.S. secretary of labor) and Janet Napolitano (former secretary of Homeland Security and president of the University of California).

鈥淭hese experiences not only prepared me for law school and a master’s in public policy, but also for my final year at 黑料不打烊. I鈥檓 working on my honors thesis, which examines the economic impact of varying abortion laws. The skills I gained through PPIA are invaluable in helping me write a more substantial thesis and better analyze questions at the intersection of law, policy and economics.鈥�

At 黑料不打烊, Knight serves as a task force coordinator for the Skills Win! Coaching Program in the 黑料不打烊 City School District, teaching students critical skills like budgeting, typing and public speaking. 鈥淭hanks to PPIA, I now have the skills to understand better the impact of New York State education laws, enabling me to analyze the data we collect and recommend meaningful program improvements.鈥�

鈥淭he PPIA experience was incredibly eye-opening and rewarding. I鈥檓 grateful for the connections I made with the guest speakers and other participants and for everything I learned during the program,鈥� Knight says. 鈥淚 highly encourage anyone who gets the chance to apply鈥攊t was easily one of the most memorable and impactful parts of my college experience.鈥�

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Professor Eunjung Kim Awarded National Humanities Center Fellowship /blog/2024/09/27/professor-eunjung-kim-awarded-national-humanities-center-fellowship/ Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:13:20 +0000 /?p=203764 , associate professor of cultural foundations of education in the School of Education and of women’s and gender studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been awarded a 2024-25 National Humanities Center (NHC) Fellowship.

During this prestigious fellowship, Kim will work on her new book “Dignity Archives: Accompanying the Dead and Posthumous Care.”

Professor Eunjun Kim

Eunjun Kim

Kim is among 31 fellows from 492 applicants. In addition to working on her research project, she will have the opportunity to share ideas in seminars, lectures and conferences at the HNC, headquartered at Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

Kim’s book project asks what kind of political work the dying and the dead are doing and what kind of connections and disconnections are happening around them.

“The collection of cases includes disabled people who were killed in an institution in Japan; factory workers who became disabled and terminally ill from toxic exposure; and people who died from neglect in an AIDS care facility in South Korea,” explains Kim. “By exploring the ways in which mourning and the demand for justice are intertwined in cultural and political discourses, my book aims to encourage others to rethink the primacy of autonomy, ability and health in the understanding of dignity.”

鈥淭he National Humanities Center is the world鈥檚 only independent institute dedicated exclusively to advanced study in all areas of the humanities,鈥� says , professor and associate dean for research in the School of Education. “NHC is a highly prestigious fellowship and former fellows have gone on win a number of distinguished awards, including the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.”

Additionally, SOE is represented at NHC by , professor of disability studies and a NHC Resident Fellow, who is researching for , “Fermenting Stories: Exploring Ancestry, Embodiment and Place.”

The NHC is the world鈥檚 only independent institute dedicated exclusively to advanced study in all areas of the humanities. Through its fellowships, the center promotes understanding of the humanities and advocates for their foundational role in a democratic society.

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A&S Names Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs /blog/2024/09/26/as-names-associate-dean-for-faculty-affairs/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:45:47 +0000 /?p=203771 Professor Karen Doherty

Karen Doherty

, professor of (CSD) in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), has been named A&S鈥� associate dean for faculty affairs. In this cabinet-level role, Doherty will work closely with department chairs and academic units to develop strategic faculty hiring and retention plans; assist in onboarding new faculty; develop support networks for faculty; and liaise with the Office of Faculty Affairs. She will also support the efforts of the senior associate dean, other members of the cabinet and faculty in the areas of promotion and tenure; managing regular review and leave processes; and assessing college governance and policy documentation, committees, and processes, including serving as a representative of the college at a variety of meetings of councils and committees across campus.

A&S Dean鈥€痵ays that Doherty is the right person for this role. In addition to her being a faculty member at 黑料不打烊 for almost 30 years, she has served as the department chair of CSD and been a successful scholar and teacher, having received external funding for her research and the University鈥檚 Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award.

鈥淚鈥檓 so pleased to welcome Professor Doherty to this new role at A&S,鈥� says Mortazavi. 鈥淚n addition to her experience with faculty mentoring and support as a department chair, she has also served on the College Promotion and Tenure Committee鈥攅xperience that will serve us well as we seek to help our faculty develop their strengths in research and teaching to meet the demands of the academy in the 21st century.鈥�

鈥淚 am honored to join Dean Mortazavi鈥檚 cabinet and work with the outstanding faculty in the college to promote academic excellence, all of whom play a vital role in the mission of 黑料不打烊,鈥� says Doherty. 鈥淚 look forward to collaborating with the A&S department chairs and all faculty to foster a supportive environment where everyone can succeed as a scholar and teacher.鈥�

While carrying out the duties of this part-time cabinet position, Doherty will continue to conduct research and teach courses for the communication sciences and disorders department.

Doherty joined the CSD department in 1996. She has taught courses on hearing aids, hearing science and clinical audiology, and has been an integral member of the neuroscience program and Aging Studies Institute. The focus of Doherty’s research is twofold: studying the effects of age-related hearing loss on people鈥檚 ability to communicate and developing methods to improve older adults鈥� use of hearing aids. Doherty鈥檚 research has been funded by NIH/NIA, NIH/NIDCD, National Organization for Hearing Research and multiple foundations.

She was the chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders from 2014 to 2021, president of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology in 2021 and currently is a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In May 2024, Doherty was named the University of Connecticut鈥檚 Department of Speech Language and Hearing Science鈥檚 Distinguished Alumnus.

Doherty holds a Ph.D. in audiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, M.A. in audiology from the University of Connecticut and B.S. in communicative disorders from the University of Rhode Island.

Her four-year appointment as associate dean began September 1, 2024.

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The Building Blocks of Future Smart Materials /blog/2024/09/25/the-building-blocks-of-future-smart-materials/ Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:04:27 +0000 /?p=203634 How do cells take the shape they do and perform their functions? The enzymes and molecules that make them up are not themselves living鈥攁nd yet they are able to adapt to their environment and circumstances, come together and interact, and ultimately, create life. How exactly all of that happens involves some very big questions, the answers to which will be crucial in paving the way for new biotechnologies and other advancements.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a private, nonprofit grantmaking organization, started its to begin to answer some of them. The program鈥檚 stated goal is 鈥淭o sharpen our scientific understanding of the physical principles and mechanisms that distinguish living systems from inanimate matter, and to explore the conditions under which physical principles and mechanisms guide the complexification of matter towards life.鈥�

To that end, the program awarded (left) and (right), professors in the in the and members of the BioInspired Institute, a three-year grant to explore what they鈥檝e described as a fundamental unanswered question about the functionality of cells and the energy and entropy landscape of cell interiors.

Two women smile while posing for headshots as part of a composite photo.

Jennifer Ross (left) and Jennifer Schwarz, professors in the Department of Physics, received a three-year grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Matter to Life program.

鈥淭here is a lack of quantitative understanding of the principles governing the non-equilibrium control knobs inside the cell,鈥� Ross and Schwarz explained in their proposal. 鈥淲ithout this knowledge, we will never understand how cells work, or how we can replicate them in synthetic materials systems.鈥�

They鈥檝e chosen to focus their work on one very particular aspect of the biology of cells, the concentrations of protein molecules within them known as protein condensates, and specifically their liquid-liquid phase separation, which they describe as the 鈥渒iller app鈥� for the sculpting of energy and entropy in the cell.

鈥淟iquid-liquid phase separation is when two liquids separate, like oil and water,鈥� Ross says. 鈥淭he proteins separate out [into droplets] and make what we think of as membrane-less organelles. We’re interested in how both energy-using systems and entropy-controlling systems can help to shape those organelles.鈥�

They鈥檙e hoping to gain an understanding of how cells self-organize without a 鈥渕anager鈥濃€攊n this case, a membrane to act as a physical containment system鈥攁s well as how they react and adapt to their environment.

鈥淭his droplet formation is so sensitive to temperature and its surroundings,鈥� says Schwarz. 鈥淭he cell knows, ‘A ha!’ The temperature is increasing, so the environment is slightly different. So鈥’m going to adapt.鈥�

Ross is serving as principal investigator, and with graduate student assistance, will be performing reconstitution experiments to explore these processes, while co-principal investigator Schwarz and her team will be delving into the theoretical side of the science using predictive simulations. The three-year grant will also fund a paid undergraduate and two local high school students through summer programs.

The hope is that a better understanding of cell behavior at this level could ultimately lead to breakthroughs in the development of smart synthetic materials. 鈥淚magine a road-paving material that could identify when a pothole develops and heal itself,鈥� Ross says.

It鈥檚 just one example of countless possibilities for learning from biological systems.

Story by Laura Wallis

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