During his recent visit to Falk College, sports marketing expert Brandon Steiner (center) visited with sport management students. From left to right, Dashiell Geller, John Mastrangelo, Griffin Goldberg, Grey Gutfreund, Steiner, alumnus Andrew Amell, Erin Moore, Livia McQuade, and Tynan Weathers.

When you combine a great storyteller with a lifetime of great stories, you get . . . Brandon Steiner.

Steiner, who graduated from the University in 1981 and served as founder and chairman of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia for more than 30 years, visited the earlier this fall to speak with students from the Falk College’s Department of Sport Management. Steiner is chair of Falk’s .

From his humble beginnings growing up in a low-income neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, to working his way through ���ϲ�����, to the creation of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia, and to the formation of his current companies, and , Steiner had plenty of colorful stories and business advice to share with the students.

Steiner first met with students from two sport management classes: Assistant Teaching Professor ’ Principles of Sport Management class and David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management ’s Managing the Sports Organization class. Following the classes, Steiner had lunch with eight current sport management students (and one alumnus).

We asked two of those eight students, Erin Moore and Tynan Weathers, to discuss their experience with Steiner. Here’s what they wrote:

During Brandon Steiner’s meeting with sport management students, his “discussion on both the NIL space and women’s sports brought in real world cases of how he viewed issues and solutions,” Tynan Weathers says.

Erin Moore ’25, sport management major, emerging sport enterprise minor

“When given the opportunity to attend a lunch with Brandon Steiner, I couldn’t pass it up! From the moment he walked through the door, his passion for the sports industry was undeniable. Listening to his stories about working with New York Yankees legends like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera was incredible and they showcased his passion for building personal relationships with clients and consistently delivering beyond expectations.

“It was also inspiring to hear how he’s mentoring younger players, like current Yankees infielder Oswaldo Cabrera, to help them develop not just on the field but in their careers beyond it. During the lunch, he stressed the importance of going the extra mile, thinking outside the box, and developing strong relationships—values that have been key to his success in the industry. Overall, I’m incredibly grateful to Mr. Steiner for taking the time to share his insights with us and to Falk College for offering such a unique opportunity.”

Tynan Weathers ’25, sport management major, food studies/business minors

“Talking with Brandon Steiner was certainly an enlightening experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories he detailed to us with subjects ranging from Derek Jeter to Oswaldo Cabrera. Mr. Steiner has a passion for the sports industry as well as a major passion for ���ϲ����� and specifically the sport management program. His discussion on both the NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) space and women’s sports brought in real world cases of how he viewed issues and solutions.

“However, my favorite portion of the discussion is the fact that he seemed genuinely interested in our backgrounds, as he asked questions to learn more about who we are and our areas of interest moving forward. A major piece of advice I took away is the importance of being able to dedicate time and make sacrifices that others aren’t willing to make. That’s what puts you ahead of your competition.”

Steiner Student Support Fund

Last academic year, Steiner worked with the Falk College advancement team and Department of Sport Management to create the Brandon S. Steiner Sport Management Student Support Fund that “supports health, housing, education and overall well-being of ���ϲ����� undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Sport Management in Falk College.”

The Steiner Student Support Fund awards support for a single academic year, and students can apply for funds by completing . A student can’t be awarded funding more than twice.

In addition to the Steiner Student Support Fund, there are other opportunities and awards available to students in the Falk College. Please visit the page on the Falk website for more information on how to apply.

Talithia Williams

Talithia Williams, Ph.D., big data expert, math professor and host of “NOVA Wonders,” will serve as featured speaker at the 39th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 21, in the JMA Wireless Dome.

This year’s theme is “The Reach of the Dream.”

Tickets for the dinner and program .

This annual event is the largest of its kind on any college campus. The program seeks to honor the message and mission of King and is a direct expression of the University’s commitment to advancing academic excellence at a university welcoming to all.

“We are honored and delighted to welcome Dr. Talithia Williams to ���ϲ����� as our featured speaker for the 39th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr event. As we prepare to remember and honor the roots of a dream that continue to inform and inspire, Dr. Williams serves as a living reminder of how far the dream can reach,” says Dean Brian Konkol of Hendricks Chapel. “Through her groundbreaking research and steadfast commitment to community impact, Dr. Williams is transforming the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. At our upcoming event, I am confident that learners of all ages will be left inspired to dream big and strive to make such dreams come true.”

Williams, associate professor of mathematics and Mathematics Clinic director at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, is an innovative statistician, co-host of the PBS series “NOVA Wonders” and a speaker whose popular TED Talk, “Own Your Body’s Data,” extols the value of statistics in quantifying personal health information. Williams demystifies the mathematical process in amusing and insightful ways to excite students, parents, educators and the larger community about STEM education and its possibilities.

Williams graduated from Spelman College and Howard University, and then later received a Ph.D. from Rice University. Her research involves developing statistical models that emphasize the spatial and temporal structure of data and applying them to problems in the environment. She’s worked at NASA, the National Security Agency and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and has partnered with the World Health Organization on research regarding cataract surgical rates in African countries.

At ���ϲ����� Williams’ topic will be “Becoming an Agent of Change for Inclusive Education.” By showing how educational systems are microcosms of our increasingly diverse society, Williams will address how to close achievement gaps and serve as inclusive agents of positive and profound change. In her keynote presentation, Williams hopes to inspire educators and learners or all ages by showing how data can be utilized to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

“As a neurodivergent nontraditional student, I am excited to hear Dr. Williams speak about the importance of diversity and inclusion within education,” says Leondra Tyler ’24, co-chair of the 2024 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. “I believe it is important to shed light on how we can pave the way for future academics and leaders who will bring positive change to our world.”

The 2024 program will include an address from Williams, student and community group performances, and a presentation of this year’s .

The newly introduced art gallery that features works from local Black artists will open at 4:15 p.m. The traditional dinner will open at 5 p.m. Halal/Kosher, gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available. Dinner will be held near the JMA Dome’s west end zone, entry at Gate A. The main program with Williams and performers will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the east side. For program-only attendees, doors open at 6 p.m.

Ticket purchase options are as follows:

• ���ϲ����� staff, faculty and the general public (dinner and program): $30
• Students (dinner and program): $15
• Main program only: Free

Registration is required for all ticket purchase options.

All dinner tickets will be assigned a table number at the time of purchase, which will be included in the mobile tickets. Guests interested in sitting with friends are recommended to purchase tickets together to ensure the same table assignment.

Guests may order up to 10 dinner and program tickets online. To purchase one full table (10 seats), select 10 total tickets and proceed to checkout. To purchase more than one table or more than 10 individual tickets, or if experiencing difficulties, please call the JMA Dome Box Office at 1.888.DOME.TIX (315.443.2121), option four.

All dinner guests will be seated in the 100 level of the stands for the program following dinner. All guests attending the program only will be seated in the 200 level. Seating is general admission in those areas for the program.

Buy tickets online at , in person at the Dome Box Office inside Gate B at 900 Irving Ave. (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or by phone (888.DOME.TIX or 315.443.2121, option four). Tickets will be mobile and will be uploaded directly to your MyCuse account to manage upon purchase. View the for more information.

Free parking is available in the Irving Avenue Garage and in lots west of the JMA Dome. Visit the University’s for maps and directions. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available at the event. Accessible seating is provided on the concourse level of the JMA Dome.

For more information about the MLK Celebration or to request accommodations, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901. Learn more about this and other Hendricks Chapel events by visiting .

Bryan Dewsbury

Dewsbury has a compelling personal narrative about how he fell in love with teaching and became engaged in research about what he terms “deep teaching.” While his field is biology, his approach to engaging all students applies across disciplines, as demonstrated by the recently published “Norton Guide to Equity-Minded Teaching,” which he co-authored, and his 2020 PLOS ONE paper, “.”

Keynote Address

Dewsbury will give a on Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Peter Graham Commons, 114 Bird Library. In this talk, the role that a liberal, inclusive and equity-minded higher education can play in creating and sustaining a socially just society will be reexamined. The behaviors, attitudes, mindsets and strategies that create classrooms where students are prepared to be active participants in an evolving democracy will be considered. Strategies for participants’ own relearning and consideration will also be discussed.

Faculty Workshop

For faculty interested in experimenting with his approach, Dewsbury will lead a workshop the following day. “” will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, in the Lundgren Room, 106 Life Sciences Complex.

About Dewsbury

Bryan Dewsbury is an associate professor of biology at Florida International University where he also is associate director of the STEM Transformation Institute. He is the principal investigator of the Science Education And Society program, where his team conducts research on the social context of education. Dewsbury is a fellow of the John N. Gardner Institute and the RIOS (Racially-Just Inclusive Open Science) Institute.

In addition to co-authoring the book referenced above, Dewsbury is the author of the upcoming book, “What then shall I teach? Rethinking equity in higher education.” He is the founder of the National Science Foundation-funded Deep Teaching Residency, a national workshop aimed at supporting faculty in transforming their classroom to more meaningfully incorporate inclusive practices. Dewsbury conducts faculty development and provides support for institutions interested in transforming their educational practices pertaining to creating inclusive environments and, in this regard, has worked with over 100 institutions across North America, the United Kingdom and West Africa.

Pathways to Deep Learning is a collaboration of the and the as part of the Focus on Teaching and Learning series.

Graduates from the Class of 2023 celebrate around campus. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Graduates, get ready for ! Join in an event-filled weekend to honor your academic accomplishments and celebrate with family and friends and the University community.

���ϲ�����’s Commencement exercises will be held in the JMA Wireless Dome Sunday, May 14, beginning with the degree candidates’ procession at 9:30 a.m.

Donna E. Shalala G’70, H’87, former U.S. secretary of health and human services, will deliver the keynote address.

School and college convocations and Commencement will also be livestreamed. Visit the May 11-14 to view the ceremonies online. The College of Law held its Commencement exercises during a ceremony Friday, May 5.

At Sunday’s Commencement, over 6,000 students are expected to graduate.

���ϲ����� Chancellor and President Kent Syverud will address the graduates and confer degrees. Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter will give the welcome.

The University will award honorary degrees to four distinguished recipients: the late Cerri Banks ’00, G’04, G’06, who served as the University’s vice president and deputy to the senior vice president of student experience; Michael Crow G’85, president of Arizona State University; David R. MacDonald, artist and professor emeritus of ceramics; and Kathleen A. Walters ’73, retired executive vice president of Georgia-Pacific and the first woman to serve as chair of the University Board of Trustees.

Bea González G’04, former vice president for community engagement, special assistant to the chancellor and dean of University College, will serve as mace bearer.

Tadodaho Sidney Hill, of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, will give the ceremonial opening. The Rev. Dr. Brian E. Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, will give the invocation. Ryan McNaughton ’96, president of the ���ϲ����� Alumni Association, will offer a welcome to the newest alumni.

Student Marshals and Scholars

Representing the Class of 2023, Simone Bellot and Michael “MP” Geiss are the senior class marshals and will lead graduates during the ceremony. Bellot, majoring in communication sciences and disorders and neuroscience in the College of Arts and Sciences, is originally from Nassau, Bahamas. She is in the Renée Crown University Honors Program. Geiss, a ���ϲ�����, New York native, is in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in policy studies and physics and minoring in biology and economics. He is also a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

Along with the all-University marshals, 22 student marshals represent the 13 schools and colleges at ���ϲ�����. The marshals will lead the degree candidates of their respective schools or colleges.

Twelve seniors have been designated as ���ϲ����� Scholars. This is the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows. University Scholar Chelsea D. Brown was selected as the student speaker on behalf of the Class of 2023.

Retiring faculty members who have been recommended to receive the title of emeritus by the University Senate to the ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees will be recognized by Jamie L. Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs.

The University Marshal is Shiu-Kai Chin ’75, G’78, G’86, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Associate University Marshal is James K. Duah-Agyeman G’99, director of Multicultural Affairs.

Also during the ceremonies, Army and Air Force ROTC cadets will present the colors.

The ���ϲ����� Wind Ensemble will perform under the direction of conductor Bradley P. Ethington and Timothy W. Diem.

The national anthem will be sung by Madeline McDermott ’23, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Ben O’Connell ’23, College of Visual and Performing Arts, will sing the alma mater.

Get the App

Add the for easy access to Commencement weekend details and to receive immediate notifications for any changes or updates to events taking place during Commencement weekend.

2023 Graduate IG Stickers

Continue the celebration on social media: Add to your Instagram stories with digital swag. Search for the latest ���ϲ����� GIF using the keyword “#SUGrad23.”

Welcome to the Orange Alumni Family

Graduates can check out programming for new alumni as part of —an exclusive welcome to the Orange alumni family.

Go to the Wishing Well

Are you a soon-to-be grad or a friend or family member of someone graduating? Mark the milestone with a gift to the General Scholarship Fund and by May 12 at 9 a.m. for a chance to see it featured on the JMA Dome’s big screens during Commencement.

More information about Commencement 2023 can be found at .