kicks off on Sunday (April 19-25), and to celebrate, we asked , associate professor and program director for the program in the , to share her favorite, lesser known, services and resources that local libraries offer their communities.

“Libraries are so much more than books and audiobooks; though they are two of my favorite perks,” Patin says.

The modern public library, she says, is community infrastructure, as essential to its functioning as roads or schools.

“What strikes me most is that public libraries are one of the few remaining truly public spaces,” Patin says. “Places where you don’t have to buy anything to belong. A teenager doing homework, a job seeker updating their resume, a new immigrant learning English, a senior researching a medical diagnosis, they’re all welcome, and they all get the same quality of professional help.”

The librarians, too, are doing far more than just organizing their collections, Patin says.

“They are trained information professionals who help people find, evaluate and use information in ways that change their lives,” she says. “Librarians don’t just connect people to information: they connect people to each other, to services and to a sense of belonging in their community. That’s not a side function. That’s the whole point.”

Patin says she wants library science students to understand the work they’ll be doing is relational, not just technical, since the best librarians are not just retrieving information. They are building trust, “meeting people where they are, listening deeply and advocating fiercely on behalf of their communities” she says.

Patin says the best way to support your local library and librarians is to use the library “loudly and often.”

“Usage data matters enormously when library budgets are being debated,” Patin says. “Check out books (physical and digital), attend programs, bring your kids, bring your neighbors. Beyond that: advocate. Show up to your local library board meetings. Contact your elected officials and tell them you value library funding.”

Headed into National Library Week, Patin says she hopes people not only appreciate their local library, but take steps to actively protect it, say thank you to a librarian and engage with the materials, programs and services they offer.

Below, Patin shares the five services and resources she wants every community member to know about at their local library.

Park and Nature Passes—Borrowable Like a Book

Cardholders at (OCPL) can to county parks like��Beaver Lake Nature Center, Highland Forest, Jamesville Beach and even the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Library patrons can also get New York State Empire Passes for state parks across the state.

“It’s one of my favorite examples of libraries providing access to experiences, not just information,” says Patin.

If OCPL isn’t your local library, don’t worry. Most public libraries offer similar options to check out passes for cultural or natural resources like museums, parks, zoos, aquariums or even theaters. Ask your local librarian!

Makerspaces and Technology Access

It’s not uncommon now to find access to technological tools and makerspaces—collaborative workspaces that offer access to resources like 3D printing, laser cutters or audio/video equipment—at your local library.

“ give community members access to equipment, from 3D printers to adaptive technologies,��that most people couldn’t afford on their own,” Patin says. “The Central Library also has a Preservation Lab and specialized adaptive technology resources for people with disabilities. You can also record your next album there!”

A ‘Library of Things’—Not Just Books and Media

While libraries have always been in the business of lending, Patin says that idea has expanded in remarkable ways.

“At ������ Libraries, you can borrow laptops, cameras and other tech gear,” Patin says.

Public libraries around the country have taken the “library of things” even further, lending cake pans, seed libraries for gardeners, musical instruments, tools, board games, sewing machines, telescopes and more to patrons.

“The underlying principle is the same one that has always driven libraries: why should everyone have to own something they only need occasionally?” she says. “Access over ownership is a radical and quietly revolutionary idea, and libraries have been living it for over a century.”

Adult Literacy, GED Preparation and ESOL Programs

Public libraries also remain an important lifeline for adult learners offering a range of educational programming, Patin says.

“OCPL offers adult literacy tutoring, GED/TASC preparation, and English for Speakers of Other Languages programming,” she says. “This is workforce development, family stability and community building happening right at the branch level.”

Programming That Brings People Together

“Libraries are community living rooms: places where things happen, not just places where things are stored,” Patin says.

As such, many libraries run seed swaps, art supply exchanges, maker workshops and language learning circles for their communities. OCPL regularly hosts book clubs, storytimes, author talks, art events and technology help sessions.

“This programming serves every age and stage of life, and it’s all free,” Patin says. “That matters enormously in communities where paid entertainment and enrichment are out of reach for many families.”

Micron Technology’s expansion in North Syracuse is expected to generate thousands of high-tech jobs in the coming years, but many Central New York (CNY) workers don’t yet have a clear path into those roles.

A new ������ initiative called Q-SUCCEED-CNY—Quantum and Semiconductor Upskilling for Career Change through Experiential Education Deployment in Central New York—aims to change that. The workforce development program, led by faculty in the , helps adult learners with no prior technical background explore and prepare for careers in semiconductor, photonics and emerging quantum technologies.

“We are trying to tap into a larger community that has no prior technical background and awareness of this field, not those community members who already have tech background or who have already decided to pursue tech careers,” says Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor , who leads the program.

Who It’s For

Q-SUCCEED-CNY specifically targets people who may not have considered the tech sector: blue-collar workers, mid-career professionals in non-technical fields, veterans and individuals without STEM backgrounds. Through industry-aligned workshops, career exploration activities and hands-on experiential learning, participants build foundational technical skills and industry connections. Upon completing the program, participants receive a $2,400 stipend.

The initiative is led by Hasanovic alongside electrical engineering and computer science professors and , with project coordinator Anusha Ghimire managing operations and community partnerships.

How It Works

The program offers structured exposure to semiconductor, optics and quantum technology careers through a combination of educational programming and direct engagement with industry partners. It is supported by a broad network of affiliated organizations committed to regional workforce development, including Micron, Onondaga Community College, Syracuse City School District Adult Education, Westcott Community Center, Manufacturers Association of Central New York, NY CREATES, Cornell University, Toptica Photonics and Jubilee Homes.

How to Apply

Applications are open at . For more information, contact the Q-SUCCEED-CNY team at mhasanov@syr.edu or anghimir@syr.edu.

More than 140 members of the campus community have spent this academic year engaged in the rigorous process of seeking reaccreditation by the  (MSCHE). Guided by a steering committee co-chaired by , associate provost for academic programs, and , associate vice president for research, the vital undertaking ensures ������ meets and exceeds high standards of educational excellence.

Working Groups Produce Reports

The process began a year ago with the completion of a self-study design and a campus visit from an MSCHE representative. Starting last fall, members of seven working groups evaluated large amounts of evidence compiled by the  and other units. From that data, they developed reports that demonstrate the University’s adherence to MSCHE’s .

“The working group members have been the cornerstone of this process, spending an entire semester immersed in data, evidence and analysis,” Hasenwinkel says. “The draft reports they’ve produced reflect not just rigor, but also a genuine investment in understanding who we are as an institution and where we are headed. This self-study is only possible because of their dedication.”

The seven reports were completed in December and submitted to a writing team that includes Hasenwinkel and McDonald as well as Gabe Coleman, director of project management and operations in the Office of the Chancellor; Jerry Edmonds, chief of staff for academic affairs; Laura Harrington, director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness; and Wendy Loughlin, executive director of academic communications in the Division of Communications. That team is now working to review and compile the reports into a single self-study document.

Input on Draft Self-Study

A draft self-study report will be made available to the University community for review beginning Monday, Aug. 3, with the public comment period running through Monday, Sept. 14. Feedback from faculty, staff and students is crucial, McDonald says. “A self-study is only as strong as the perspectives that shape it,” she says. “The insights that come from across our University will strengthen the work of our self-study and ensure it reflects the full breadth of the Syracuse experience and key opportunities to further deliver on our mission.”

Input gathered during the open comment period will be taken into consideration as the self-study is finalized. The report will be submitted to MSCHE in December. In March 2027, a group of peer evaluators from other MSCHE-accredited institutions will visit campus, review evidence and meet with key campus leaders and constituencies. A final determination will be made by MSCHE in June 2027.

For more information about MSCHE reaccreditation, visit .

Shivam Kumar, a first-year Ph.D. student in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Assistant Professor research group, recently��identified��a��security vulnerability in the Linux kernel,��a key��component��of countless computing systems and the largest open-source project in existence.

For many people, the Linux kernel operates invisibly in the background. But its reach is enormous: servers, supercomputers, Android devices, embedded systems and cloud infrastructure all run some variant of it. “From the servers to the cloud, Linux is the silent engine powering virtually the whole internet,” says Hoque.

Working to Reduce Security Vulnerabilities

Kumar is a member of the (SecuritY��of Networked��systEms), led by Hoque. The SYNE Lab works to reduce security vulnerabilities in computer software, developing tools that can automatically detect and repair potential vulnerabilities.

Kumar’s research focuses on a specific component of the Linux kernel: Non-Volatile Memory Express over TCP (NVMe/TCP), a communication protocol that enables data transfer between computing servers and remote storage systems over standard Ethernet networks. Widely adopted in modern data centers, the technology helps boost application performance, particularly in artificial intelligence training workloads and shared storage environments.

“In a desktop or laptop, the disk where data is stored is physically inside the machine,” Kumar says. “In contrast, computing servers often rely on storage located elsewhere—for example, in a remote storage server that houses a large pool of high-performance NVMe solid-state drives. NVMe/TCP is one of the protocols that allows computing servers to access these remote storage pools over a network while delivering performance that is close to having the drives locally attached.”

The SYNE Lab team is working on building an��automated tool that will systematically find vulnerabilities in operating systems. In their preliminary testing, Kumar found a vulnerability that��bad actors could easily exploit.��By sending malicious input from a client machine, an attacker could��crash��a remote storage server, posing��a serious threat to data centers and the infrastructure they support.��Kumar discovered a��missing input validation: the kernel code was not properly checking��incoming data before processing it.

After discovering the vulnerability, Kumar and Hoque contacted the Linux developer team and spent several weeks working back and forth to reproduce the issue and create a fix. The SYNE Lab developed both a proof-of-concept to demonstrate the vulnerability and the patch itself.

Kumar originally came to ������ as a master’s student, but after taking one of Hoque’s courses, his interest in operating systems grew. In 2025, he was accepted into the computer science Ph.D. program and is now a teaching assistant for CSE 486: Design of Operating Systems—the same topic that sparked his interest in pursuing his Ph.D.

“A student from ECS contributing to the security of the Linux kernel is a landmark achievement for the department,”��says Hoque. Kumar’s��patch has now been merged into the main Linux kernel��codebase,��where it will be pushed to all developers building on the platform going forward.

When Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona, home on Feb. 1, investigators turned to the tools of forensic science—fingerprints, DNA and digital evidence from her cell phone and Ring doorbell camera.

More than two months later, the case remains unsolved, but it has put a spotlight on the pivotal role forensic science plays in active investigations, says , executive director of the (FNSSI) in the .

“Everyone wants to be their own forensic scientist, but it’s a very difficult job,” says Corrado, who co-founded the Onondaga County Cold Case Task Force and was director of the Onondaga County Crime Laboratory for more than 20 years. “You’re looking at minutiae for a long time, and you don’t always get that exciting result, something that can help solve the case.”

In the highly technical, ever-evolving field of forensic science, here are five things you may not have known about the work.

1. You Can’t Rush Forensic Science

Thirty years ago, when Corrado first entered the field, she says most people didn’t know about forensic science until the rise of fictional TV shows like “Quincy,” “CSI” and “NCIS,” which brought widespread interest to the field.

Now, with more people listening to true crime podcasts and watching true crime shows, Corrado says the public can feel a misplaced sense of frustration when a case isn’t immediately solved.

“The public may wonder why it takes investigators so long to get back DNA tests or toxicology results, but these things take a while,” Corrado says. “There’s a lot of pressure on forensic scientists to get things done faster, but we need to work meticulously and document everything. The last thing you want to do is rush and make a mistake.”

2. New Advancements Help Solve Cold Cases

New technological advancements have allowed investigators to obtain a profile from a very small amount of DNA. Instead of relying on blood or saliva, Corrado says investigators can gather DNA from items of clothing worn by a suspect or through something they touched.

Corrado says forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) is taking on a larger role, comparing collected DNA samples with publicly available databases��on genealogy websites. FIGG has helped crack such high-profile cold cases as the Golden State Killer attacks, and Corrado says FIGG can be used in active investigations like the Nancy Guthrie case.

“Law enforcement can search these commercially available genealogy databases to expand their search,” Corrado says. “Instead of just looking at convicted individuals in the CODIS national DNA database; we can also search anyone who has contributed DNA to the genealogy database. Once there is a close match in the database which could be a distant relative of the perpetrator, genealogists can build family trees using public records to narrow down a list of candidates. The technology has been a real game changer.”

3. It’s About More Than Connecting a Suspect to a Crime

One of the most common misconceptions she encounters is that forensic scientists are only there to connect a suspect to a crime. Their job is to factually observe evidence, determine what it reveals and present findings to both sides in a criminal or civil case.

“It’s not our job to determine someone’s guilt or innocence,” Corrado says. “While a large amount of the work done by crime labs results in tying someone to the scene of a crime, many times the work we do excludes someone. It’s not just about tying people to a crime; it’s also helping to ensure that people aren’t wrongfully convicted.”

4. Classroom Experiences Range From Crime Scenes to the Courtroom

FNSSI courses include a crime scene analysis class, where students learn how to document potential sources of evidence, including crime scene photography. The class culminates with students examining a mock crime scene.

In the forensic DNA classes, students analyze biological evidence and identify different body fluids. Some courses provide students with experience testifying as a key witness in a mock trial before a prosecutor and defense attorney.

Students also explore the legal issues facing forensic scientists and learn how to maintain quality control when examining potential evidence.

“Forensic science changes rapidly,” Corrado says. “We give our students the foundational knowledge to understand what is going on now in the field, and then we tell them it’s on them to stay up to date on the latest trends by reading journal articles and attending conferences.”

5. Taught by Those Who Do the Work

Many of the full-time and adjunct faculty are either former forensic scientists or currently work as practitioners for agencies like the Onondaga County Center for Forensic Science, the New York State Police Department and the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Other faculty members work with forensic science companies to conduct biological, human and microbial DNA and forensic chemistry research, creating an opportunity for students to learn the most current procedures and technologies while also making connections in the field.

Students are also encouraged to intern with a local crime lab, medical examiner’s office or a federal agency.

“Receiving that exposure to current technologies while making connections is the best way for students to ensure they’re staying current in the field. It can really help them with their future career,” Corrado says.

The FNSSI also collaborates with DNA analysts from crime labs and coroners from across the state, training practitioners on the latest technological advancements in the field.

“These agencies need help bringing new technologies into the field, someone to make sure it works before the crime labs start implementing it,” Corrado says. “We collaborate with these organizations to help further the progress of forensic science.”

Ask what keeps him up at night about artificial intelligence and you won’t get a single answer.

The University’s senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer is tracking several threads at once: how AI can reshape higher education, why the job market isn’t collapsing the way headlines suggest, what it will take to rebuild trust in online content, the need for regulation and where the University’s massive stores of data fit into all of it.

Rubin shared some of his recent thinking as a panelist at a Maxwell School fireside chat on digital transformation and AI in New York state. Here are four takeaways.

������ Chancellor Kent Syverud and Chancellor-Elect J. Michael Haynie today announced the members of the search committee charged with identifying the next dean of , the University’s center for religious and spiritual life. The search comes as Hendricks Chapel approaches its centennial in 2030 and prepares to complete a new strategic plan under incoming leadership.

“Hendricks Chapel touches every corner of campus life,” says Chancellor Syverud. “It is our center for faith and spiritual life, hosts some of our most treasured ceremonies and events, and is home to our world-class choir and music program. And every day, it is a place where students have found connection and belonging. We need a strong leader who will build on what makes Hendricks Chapel special and bring people together in new ways.”

“Hendricks Chapel’s next dean will inherit a remarkable legacy and a profound responsibility,” says Chancellor-elect Haynie. “We are looking for a leader who understands the spiritual, cultural and communal dimensions of this role, who can steward our traditions with care and imagination and who will inspire the next generation of students to find their place within this community. The next dean comes to this role with a clear and exciting charge: complete a new strategic plan and lead Hendricks Chapel toward its centennial in 2030.”

Search Committee Members

The committee is co-chaired by Dawn Singleton, vice president for the student experience, and David Aitken ’94, G’97, chair of the Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board.

Other members of the search committee are:

• Gisele Marcus ’89, voting trustee, Board of Trustees
• Joan Nicholson ’71, G’89, life trustee, Board of Trustees, and member, Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board
• John Papazoglou, senior vice president and chief operations officer
• Ingrid Coutts ’92, member, Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board
• Jillian Juni, executive director, Syracuse Hillel
• Gerry Waterman, Catholic chaplain
• Martha Sutter G’83, teaching professor, Setnor School of Music, and senior associate dean of academic affairs, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Tom Barkley, professor, Whitman School of Management, and advisor, Christian Staff and Faculty Association
• Mian Muhammad Abdul Hamid ’25, graduate student and convener, Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders
• Alana Mitchell ’27, undergraduate student, Christian Outreach member and Hendricks Chapel hospitality associate

Campus Engagement Opportunities

The committee will lead a series of Zoom listening sessions with campus and community stakeholders as follows:

• Friday, April 10, 2:30-3:30 p.m. (open to all constituencies)
• Monday, April 13, 3-4 p.m. (student-focused)
• Wednesday, April 15, 2-3 p.m. (open to all constituencies)

All community members are welcome to for any session that fits their schedule.

Community members can also provide . Both exercises will help the search committee develop a clear picture of what the community needs most from the chapel’s next dean. That input will directly inform the recruitment process and candidate interviews.

The search firm WittKieffer will work with the committee to identify finalist candidates. The committee will engage with each finalist and provide Chancellor-Elect Haynie with input to support his final decision. The goal is to have a new dean in place by the start of the Fall 2026 semester.

Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer today announced the appointment of as the inaugural Provost’s Innovation Fellow at ������.

In this role, Horn will develop a Universitywide academic-industry strategy and support faculty in creating industry partnerships that provide experiential learning opportunities and professional connections for students. He will also work to develop new revenue streams through academic-industry initiatives and regularly assess their progress and success.

“I am excited to welcome Professor Horn into this role and know he is the perfect person to lead this important initiative,” Agnew says. “He has already demonstrated an exceptional ability to build meaningful bridges between academic and industry partners, creating opportunities that benefit our students and bolster experiential inquiry. I can think of no one better positioned to shape this strategy from the ground up and ensure that Syracuse remains at the forefront of academic-industry collaboration.”

The two-year appointment begins Aug.��15, 2026,��and runs through June 15, 2028. Horn will report to Agnew and work closely with the academic affairs leadership team, the Division of Communications, deans and associate deans and faculty and career advisors across campus.

Horn has served as associate dean of strategic initiatives for the since July 2022, and as a professor of practice in public relations since August 2018. Over the last four years, Horn has led the development of numerous academic-industry partnerships for the Newhouse School, ranging from executive education immersion programs for corporations—including Delta Air Lines and Lockheed Martin—to creating collaborative student-focused partnerships with Sony, Spectrum News, CBS News and Stations, Advance Local and American Airlines.

As a professor of practice, Horn has forged partnerships with several global sport organizations and communications firms, resulting in student-supported industry research and international projects. Each June, Horn leads a short-term study abroad course to Switzerland to foster hands-on, experiential learning for students with global organizations.

“Connecting students with innovative industry experiences has been the uniting passion of my work since joining the Newhouse faculty in 2018,” Horn says. “I’m thankful to Provost Agnew for this high honor of serving as the inaugural Provost’s Innovation Fellow, as I’m thrilled to expand on the work we’ve built at Newhouse, thanks to Dean Mark Lodato and his vision. I’m particularly looking forward to developing new relationships across the University to help unlock the potential for unique, meaningful and distinctive experiences for students across industries.”

Prior to joining the Newhouse faculty, Horn spent more than 20 years in communications leadership roles in Major League Baseball and Olympic sport, most notably serving as vice president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and as head of communications for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Horn earned a master’s degree in communications management from the Newhouse School.

G’01, L’01, the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence 2024-2027 at the College of Law, has spent her career teaching at the intersection of constitutional law, disability law, human rights and international security. The Meredith Professorship has given her sustained support to pursue her focus on universal design in higher education, not as an abstract principle, she says, but as a lived challenge institutions are navigating in real time.

As part of her teaching award, she has organized a daylong symposium on April 10 at the College of Law, sponsored by multiple University partners, including the Burton Blatt Institute, Center for Disability Resources, Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and the College of Law’s Disability Law and Policy Program. The event will examine the transformative global impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the evolution of universal design principles in higher education.

That global lens is grounded in True-Frost’s own research. Studying accessibility law at the European Court of Human Rights, she has found that the ADA’s most significant international influence has been conceptual rather than doctrinal: the foundational idea that disability is a rights issue, not a welfare issue and that the burden of accommodation belongs to institutions rather than individuals.

True-Frost hopes the event will prompt a harder look at how higher education institutions approach accessibility.

“Inclusion is not a disability resources office problem,” she says. “It is a campuswide design challenge—and getting it right is how we honor the promise that higher education makes to everyone who comes here seeking to grow.”

Below, True-Frost shares what she hopes students, faculty and administrators take away from the symposium.

As Central New York awakens from the slumber of a brutal winter, the South Campus honeybees are getting back to work.

The University is home to 10 honeybee hives, which are overseen by the department. The University is a , promoting the benefits of pollinators and native plants.

Want to learn more about this unique campus initiative? In celebration of Earth Month, beekeeper Bob Faulkner will present a on Tuesday, April 7, from 3 to 4 p.m. in 500 Hall of Languages. He will discuss how the hives are maintained, the process of harvesting honey and the benefits of pollinators. The session is free and open to all.

Faulkner sat down with SU Today to discuss how the bees work to produce honey and what it takes to maintain the hives.

The University is once again taking part in “,” the long-running celebration of visual arts organized by CNY Arts that spotlights the creative talents of avocational artists across the region. This year marks the program’s 53rd anniversary.

Active, full-time or part-time faculty and staff who paint, sculpt, photograph, weave, weld or create using a number of other media are invited to submit original work for the campus exhibition, “On My Own Time — Celebrating the Artistic Talents of ������ Faculty and Staff.” The show will be on display at Bird Library from May 28-June 11 during regular library hours.

Artists must by May 15 and be able to submit finished pieces on or before May 28. Colleagues are encouraged to visit the exhibition and vote for their favorite piece in the People’s Choice Award.

A selection panel that includes a CNY Arts representative will also choose standout works to advance to the “On My Own Time Grand Finale,” a five-week exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art running Oct. 3-Nov. 8.

A reception for artists, University colleagues, family and friends will be held Oct. 8. Finale tickets will go on sale in September.

If you have questions or would like to volunteer to assist with the exhibition at Bird Library, email��OMOT@syr.edu.

Join Academic Affairs and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at the seventh annual on Friday, April 10, at 1 p.m. in the School of Education Commons in Huntington Hall. The celebration is open to the public.

The event will honor and celebrate faculty and staff for their efforts to examine and enhance student learning and operational success. Awards will be given in five categories:

• IE Champions, recognizing campus community members who advocate for meaningful assessment to enrich the student learning experience and operational effectiveness.
• Outstanding Assessment, recognizing a distinguished academic program, co-curricular program/unit, and functional unit for robust assessment and action planning to support decision-making.
• Best Engagement Strategies, recognizing programs/units for engaging faculty, staff and students in the assessment process.
• Best Use of Results, recognizing an academic program, co-curricular program/unit and functional unit for using assessment results to inform decision-making.
• Collaborative inquiry and Action, recognizing a program/unit that collaborates with others outside of their primary school/college/division to use the assessment process to enhance student learning and campus operations. Sharing data and discussing the story the data tells leads to actions that improve the student

Posters highlighting the work of 2025 Assessment Leadership Institute participants and 2025-26 recipients of the Student Engagement in Assessment grant will also be showcased.

Light refreshments will be served. today.

More than 280 people representing approximately 110 organizations gathered in downtown Syracuse recently for the 2026 Lender Expo. This is the second year the communitywide convening and dialogue has been hosted by the University’s , and the expanded schedule was made possible by a new sponsorship from .

The Lender Center addresses important social issues through interdisciplinary research, community engagement and faculty and student fellowships. The expo is among the most visible expressions of that mission, offering organizations an opportunity to share resources, build partnerships and engage in dialogue about the area’s most pressing needs, says , director.

The program opened with a “State of the Region” panel discussion featuring Syracuse Mayor , Onondaga County Executive , U.S. Rep. and Syracuse City Court Judge .

Also addressing the group was , chief administrative officer and president of health plans at , who discussed the company’s efforts to address community health needs. Workshops covered grant writing, mental health, data collection, legal services, artificial intelligence and conflict resolution. A session, “Where Service Meets Progress,” drew a wide audience on the second day.

The convening also included recognition for , president emerita of InterFaith Works and founding member of the Lender Center Advisory Group, who was honored for her many years of social justice advocacy and community service.

More Event Photos

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

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

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

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

Klotz will hold the fellowship for three years.

Decades of Public Service

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 10th Annual One University Awards Ceremony, an event to honor members of the ������ community who are making a difference through academics, scholarship, creative work and dedicated service, will be held Friday, April 17, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

Two major awards—the Chancellor’s Medal and the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence—will be bestowed. The ceremony will also include the presentation of the Student-Athlete Award, the Seinfeld Scholar Award, the Meredith Professorship for Teaching Excellence, the Meredith Teaching Recognition Award, the Enduring Values Award, the William Pearson Tolley Medal and the Chancellor’s Forever Orange Award.

Emeriti faculty who retired in 2025 and employees who celebrated years of service milestone anniversaries in 2025 will also be recognized. This year’s University Scholars, Senior Class and School and College Marshals, and Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars will also be honored.

All members of the University community are invited and encouraged to attend. A reception will follow in the lobby of the Heroy Geology Laboratory.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided at the ceremony. For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations, contact University and Advancement Events at��UAevents@syr.edu.