Attending college was not on Leondra Tyler’s ’24 mind when persistent bullying and harassment forced her to drop out of high school in the tenth grade. The same was true for Omnia Shedid L’24, who grew up chasing chickens and running through her grandparents’ corn fields on a small, rural village in Banha, Egypt. Yet when Syracuse University holds …

What does it mean for Syracuse University to invent and demonstrate cutting-edge sustainability initiatives? It means reducing the University's environmental impact in a responsible manner by identifying, promoting, and implementing practices that will meet our current needs without compromising the needs of future generations. And it includes redu…

When more than 5,500 international students begin their Syracuse University journeys, they face different challenges from their domestic counterparts. Besides leaving behind their families, their friends and everything they’ve ever known, for many international students, the first time they step foot on campus is often the day they arrive to embark…

If you’re writing a dissertation, it’s likely you’re incorporating at least some material that is under copyright and thus requires permission to reproduce. In this episode, Dr. Dylan Mohr, Syracuse University’s Open Scholarship Librarian, discusses copyright issues that dissertation-writers are likely to encounter, including identifying, approachi…

Amir Durić knew he was meant to serve as a faith leader when he was a child and his grandfather called upon him to lead his family’s daily prayers during the holy month of Ramadan, a time when observant Muslims around the world come together in hopes of increasing their consciousness, self-awareness and empathy through fasting daily from dawn to su…

Jon “JAG” Gay ’02 is the founder and owner of “JAG in Detroit,” a successful podcasting business that helps companies and non-profits share their stories through original audio content. He launched his podcasting business after a 15-year career in radio because he understands the compelling and intimate nature of audio storytelling. Gay talks about…

Margaret Talev covered American politics and the White House for 30 years, including working the campaign trail for presidential elections in 2008, 2012 and 2016 as a White House correspondent for Bloomberg News and McClatchy Newspapers. As Talev watched the events of Jan. 6, 2021, unfold, she wondered how thousands of her fellow citizens could sta…

I'm joined today by Maren Wood, PhD, CEO and Director of the Center for Graduate Career Success. A longtime friend of Syracuse University, Dr. Wood has created a platform, Beyond Graduate School dedicated to preparing Master's students for their careers after graduation, from career exploration, to networking, to resume prep, to closing the deal in…

Syracuse University has a proud and storied tradition of honoring Black History Month through a series of engaging and thought-provoking student-run programs, events and discussions occurring through March 3 on campus. Student leaders like Dylan France ’24 and Andrea-Rose Oates ’26 are among the many passionate and talented Black student leaders wh…

I recently sat down with my new collegue, Claire Perrott, PhD, Professional Development Postdoctoral Fellow in Syracuse's Office of Research, to learn about her transition from her doctoral program and from tenure track roles she held to higher education administration. Claire offered an honest, unsparing picture of her transition, and I think you'…

The founder and owner of the consultancy Data Dozen, Erin Waldron leverages her expertise in data analytics to help grad students, postdocs and faculty communicate their research with compelling visualizations. Erin discusses her career path, reviews the state of play with data visualization, and gives a preview of her two upcoming workshops, “Data…

Syracuse University has developed into an outstanding and accomplished research institution. As Syracuse's Vice President for Research, Duncan Brown supports and empowers Syracuse's internationally recognized creative and scholarly excellence, advancing centers and institutes that are global leaders in their fields. In this role, Brown oversees $15…

Roosevelt "Rick" Wright G'93 had a front-row seat as the Civil Rights movement took off across the American South in the late 1950s and early 1960s, participating in the sit-ins and demonstrations as a teenager in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. At the heart of the movement were the non-violent, civil disobedience teachings of the late Dr. Martin L…

Despite growing up on Cayuga ancestral lands, one of the six nations that make up the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of Native Americans in New York, Lorna Rose ’11, G’21 never really identified with her Native heritage. She was raised Italian American and always thought of her Italian roots when it came to her cultural heritage. But that perspective ch…

Adrian Autry ’94 came to Syracuse University from New York City as a talented men’s basketball recruit, a McDonald’s All-American who etched his name in the school’s record books as a prolific passer and tremendous defender during his four years on campus. Following a successful playing career that included stints in Europe and across North and Sou…

Ariel Ash-Shakoor, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineer at FDA in their Cardiovascular Devices division, sits down with me to talk transitions from her PhD program in Bioengineering to her role in the federal government. Along the way, Ariel shares about her experience in building community at Syracuse University, making hard decisions in choosing the right …

"Look back. Act forward." Those words influence how Syracuse University's Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars honor and celebrate the lives of the people who were killed during the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the bombing, which claimed the lives of 270 people, including 35 Syracuse students who wer…

Nneka Eke, PhD, a graduate of Syracuse's Political Science department and a current Research Associate at SEIU Local 721, joins us to discuss her career exploration journey. From a graduate to doing great work outside of academic, Nneka's experience is instructive for us all.

One of the most impactful and influential examples of how the University is leading the way in research excellence is the BioInspired Institute, an interdisciplinary institute whose members examine complex biological systems, developing and designing programmable smart materials to address global challenges in health, medicine and materials innovat…

Moving away from home and embarking on your Syracuse University journey can be a difficult time as students leave behind their families and friends and start a new chapter in their lives. On top of that, social anxiety among college students is at an all-time high. The mental health and well-being of Syracuse's students is a top priority for Carrie…

As Dean’s Professor of Community Engagement in the SU College of Arts & Sciences, Brice Nordquist created and directs the Engaged Humanities Network, which “seeds, supports, and fosters exchanges across publicly engaged research, teaching, and creative projects” connecting the University with communities in Syracuse and across Central New York. In …

What does a recruiter do? How can a recruiter help you in your job search, if at all? Natalie Schmitt, a recent Career Associate in the Graduate School and a former staffing agency recruiter, has lots of great insights into the many applicants she met over the course of her time in that role and what a candidate can do to maximize their chances on …

In June, the Supreme Court decided to undo decades of judicial precedent by reversing rulings that allowed race-conscious admissions programs, preventing colleges like Syracuse University from considering race as one of many factors in deciding which qualified applicants are admitted. As the University’s vice president for diversity and inclusion, …

Today, Mary Idzior of the Center for International Services (CIS) takes us through their Top 10 Tips for international students to take advantage of the resources that CIS offers. If you had questions about CIS but haven't wanted to ask, this episode is for you!

In May, Danielle Koppenaal ’17 was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. She is 28 years old. In this ’Cuse Conversation, Koppenaal shares her approach to battling cancer by taking it day-by-day. She talks about how she leans on her support system, her efforts to stay active and her commitment to raising awareness about cancer – particularly the inc…

In our first "Careers In" episode of the semester, we are joined by Vinnie Ustach, PhD, a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at GeneDX. Join us as Vinnie talks about his sometimes-circuitous path to his current role, his experiences--good and bad--in graduate school, and offers excellent advice on finding the right job for you.…

Anish Shroff ’04 is the only minority radio play-by-play voice of a National Football League (NFL) team, but the landscape is changing, and Shroff feels proud when he looks around the sportscasting landscape and sees a plethora of talented South Asian broadcasters working for ESPN, MLB Network, Fox Sports, TNT and other national media outlets. It's…

Leo Lambert is president emeritus of Elon University in North Carolina and a nationally prominent advocate of student-centered higher education. But back in the 1990s he was associate dean of the Syracuse University Graduate School and a driving force in the establishment of SU’s highly reputed Future Professoriate Program. In this episode, Dr. Lam…

Melissa Welshans, Ph.D., of the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising, joins Dan Olson-Bang, Ph.D., to discuss the collaboration between the Graduate School and the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) to support the many types of fellowships and scholarships for graduate students and postdocs.…

Living in a residence hall on North Campus or an apartment on South Campus is more than just a place to rest your head at night for students. They find friendships, build community and develop relationships that can sometimes last a lifetime. Residential learning impacts a student's holistic development, a place to learn, thrive and develop into le…

The Syracuse University family is expanding, as more than 4,000 first-year students will move into their residence halls during Syracuse Welcome, the University’s annual new student orientation program, running Aug. 24-27. Syracuse Welcome represents the first steps in a student’s Syracuse journey, and the week-long orientation is filled with progr…

Syracuse University’s iconic mascot Otto the Orange is a Hall of Famer! Otto is part of the Mascot Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. This special ’Cuse Conversations podcast explores Otto’s history, Otto’s impact on the University and Central New York communities and the significance of this honor with Julie Walas ’07, a former Otto and the current coa…

Ryan Smith '92 anchors ESPN’s flagship "SportsCenter" program, and he's a Sports Emmy-winning host of ESPN’s "Outside the Lines" and "E60." Smith also serves as a legal analyst for ESPN and ABC News. But his path to journalism was unorthodox. After earning his political science degree from the Maxwell School, Smith went on to earn his law degree fr…

Back in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused worldwide angst and turmoil, a show debuted on Apple TV+ that emphasized the importance of hope and believing in yourself. “Ted Lasso,” which recently concluded its third season, has been a feel-good television hit from the first episode. Early in the third season, the show introduced a new character, Z…

From an early age, Erykah Pasha ’24 has been driven to provide a voice for those who have been systematically oppressed and suppressed in her hometown of Syracuse, and she always knew Syracuse University was where she wanted to study. Enrolling in the dual degree political science and sociology program in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Publi…

Electronic sports, or esports, has seen a remarkable spike in popularity over the years, with a recent study from Pew Research finding that 90% of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 play video games. Seeking to both capitalize on the tremendous popularity of esports and continue to innovate, expand career options in emerging fields and deliver…

Instead of feeling pride over being the first member of his family to earn a college degree, Ruchatneet Printup '23 felt trapped in a dead-end job that lacked purpose, meaning and fulfillment after earning a biomedical computing degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1988. More than three decades later, after embarking on an unconventiona…

The United Kingdom is about to hold the country’s first elections where voters are required to show ID when they vote. The reason behind the policy change is a growing mistrust in the election process, and the new laws closely follow those in the U.S. Gretchen Coleman '22, who is currently pursuing a master's degree in political science, democracy …

Extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and droughts are becoming more frequent in many places and more severe. These events can cause widespread damage and displacement, and they can be very difficult to recover from. On this episode, Elizabeth Carter, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineer…

April is a time for the Syracuse University community to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. This year’s theme is “Community Coming Together: Strength in Unity," representing the University's diverse AAPI community uniting across our differences to demonstrate they are a strong voice that can face challenges togethe…

Beginning as early as the 15th century, the lives of more than 12.5 million men, women and children of African descent were forever altered as they were forced into the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Wanting to capture the important details found in these registries, Tessa Murphy, associate history professor in the Maxwell School, collaborated with Mi…

Bob Costas '74 grew up idolizing New York Yankees' Hall of Fame outfielder Mickey Mantle, and he loved listening to baseball on the radio. When he arrived at Syracuse University in the fall of 1970, Costas just wanted to one day land a radio play-by-play job in baseball. Little did Costas know he would one day wind up in Cooperstown as a Major Leag…

Brianna Sclafani L’23, G’23 is a 3L law student in Syracuse University’s College of Law, graduate student in the Maxwell School’s master of public administration program, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Global Rights and Organizations/Impunity Watch and chair of the University’s inaugural Community Review Board. The Community Review Board (CRB) w…

Like most children, Thomas Wilson '23 grew up watching television. But his preferred shows weren't cartoons. Rather, he loved watching the local and national newscasts, dreaming of one day being a reporter. A senior studying broadcast and digital journalism in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and political science in the Maxwell Sc…

Feb. 24, 2023 marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Professor Sean McFate teaches classes at Syracuse University's Maxwell School and Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. On this ‘Cuse Conversations podcast episode, McFate, one of Syracuse University's faculty experts on the war in Ukraine, discusses the anniversary of the war …

For the last 19 years, the WellsLink Leadership Program has transformed the lives of first-year students of color at Syracuse University through mentoring and a series of structured academic, social and cultural enrichment activities. Scholars like Josh Ortega '25 and Sophia Moore '25 achieve success and develop into leaders on campus through their…

Tom Coughlin '68, G'69 is a two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach of the New York Giants who won 170 games during his NFL coaching career. A successful front office executive, Coughlin has a new book out, "A Giant Win," describing how, in Super Bowl 42, his Giants shocked the football world by knocking off Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in…

Ian McIntyre took over the Syracuse University men’s soccer program in 2010, and the Orange won five matches combined over his first two years. But from the moment he assumed the role of head coach, McIntyre has been building up the program, and on Dec. 12, his team reached the pinnacle, claiming Syracuse's first national championship thanks to a t…

Emma Rothman '21 was 12 years old when she had a heart transplant. It’s easy to understand why Emma is still working to process everything that’s happened in her life to this point. In this ’Cuse Conversation, Emma talks about her health journey, her Syracuse University experience and how writing her book, "Things My Therapist Doesn't Want Me to Sa…

For the last 25 years, the School of Education has offered aspiring inclusive education teachers a unique opportunity to hone their skills as student teachers in New York City through the Bridge to the City program. It's an immersive, semester-long experience where student teachers are placed in partner schools in urban neighborhoods to learn under…