After years of podium finishes and back-to-back undergraduate team titles, the in the Falk College of Sport has made winning at the (NCSAC) into a habit. This year, the program didn’t just return to the top—it dominated.

Senior Austin Ambler captured the overall undergraduate individual title, and the team of Ambler, Daniel Griffiths and Daniel Baris claimed the undergraduate team championship, with all three landing in the top 10 Ìęin overall points.

For the four sport analytics majors who made the trip, Ambler, Griffiths, Baris and Jessica Fackler, the result was the payoff of a disciplined, collaborative preparation process built around one guiding principle: do the work before you ever step in the room.

“Winning the overall undergraduate individual title was incredibly rewarding,” Ambler says. “The competition featured so many talented and high-performing students, so being named first among them is something I’m truly proud of. It validates the hard work, preparation and support system that went into getting to that moment. Representing Syracuse and Falk College means a great deal to me.”

Preparation Was Key

The students’ preparation was shaped by weekly sessions with , who led the group through practice data sets, varied prompt scenarios and repeated five-minute presentation drills in the months leading up to the competition.

“This year’s team had strong analytical skills and was eager to discuss how to improve,” says Rafique. “The students were very engaged in discussing strategies to optimize their points. We had a good plan going into the first day of the championship. However, some delays and obstacles forced us to improvise, and the students did an amazing job of maintaining their composure and persevering throughout the day.”

Rafique’s teaching emphasizes not just technical proficiency, but the ability to communicate findings clearly and persuasively under pressure.

“The weekly preparation sessions with Dr. Rafique completely changed how I think about data storytelling,” Griffiths says. “The check-ins and iterative feedback meant that by the time we got to competition weekend, we weren’t starting from scratch, we were refining. That preparation gave us a massive advantage compared to teams who were building everything last-minute.”

Fackler described a similar transformation in how she approached the competition’s core challenge.

“I originally had a completely different perception of what the competition was about,” she says. “Those sessions made me quickly realize I needed to pivot. They taught me that I needed one simple idea and basically sell it to the judges.

Competition Strategy

Beyond the preparation, the Syracuse team arrived in Nashville with a collective strategy for the competition weekend itself. NCSAC features not only the signature presentation competition but also a series of side events and challenges, and the four students approached each one with intention.

“The team dynamic was both competitive and highly collaborative,” Griffiths says. “We pushed each other internally to be better, but we were also very intentional about optimizing how we worked together.”

For Ambler, the hours of weekly preparation paid dividends from the first moments of competition.

“I immediately felt my preparation click into place once the competition began,” he says. “Elements from my practice presentations translated directly into my final delivery, and having a strong foundation from the practice data, study guide, and weekly prep sessions allowed me to start confidently. This head start let me focus on refining and building upon my presentation rather than starting from scratch, which made a noticeable difference in my performance.”

For Baris, the competition’s most memorable moment came from watching his own growth across rounds. “What stands out the most to me is probably my presentation,” he says. “I felt like it improved every time I presented it as I got more and more comfortable.”

Griffiths found his most striking moment in the broader picture of what NCSAC represents. “The moment that stood out most was realizing, right before my presentation, just how diverse the field of sports analytics really is,” he said. “Seeing 50-plus students compete with backgrounds in marketing, engineering, business, fan engagement, it made the experience feel bigger than just the competition itself.”

“Beyond the win, I hope students leave with confidence that they can tackle complex, real-world problems and compete at a high level,” says Rafique. “Experiences like this build resilience, teamwork and the ability to communicate ideas clearly under pressure. I hope they see themselves not just as students completing a project, but as emerging professionals who can meaningfully contribute to the field of sports analytics.”

Griffiths offered a challenge to the next generation of Falk competitors. “It takes more than just coding and analytical skills to compete at this level,” he says. “It requires determination, adaptability and the courage to make decisions under uncertainty. This competition is designed to identify future leaders in sports analytics. If that mindset excites you, then this is absolutely the competition for you.”

Eight Íű±ŹĂĆ students and alumni were named as 2025 recipients of awards through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Five students were also chosen as alternates.

The Ìęfunds a range of awards that include English teaching assistantships (ETA) and study/research grants in over 140 countries.

The 2025 recipients are the following:

• Phoebe Ambrose ’22 (food studies in the former David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and citizenship and civic engagement in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), study grant, United Kingdom
• Sofia DaCruz ’25 (citizenship and civic engagement in the Maxwell School, selected studies in the School of Education and women’s and gender studies in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S)), English teaching assistantship (ETA), Slovak Republic
• Alexandria Johnson ’24 (international relations in the Maxwell School and A&S), ETA, Belgium
• Morgan Meddings ’25 (inclusive elementary and special education in the School of Education), ETA, Madagascar
• Jessie Norton ’25 (Spanish language, literature and culture and Spanish education in A&S and the School of Education), ETA, Spain
• Kerrin O’Grady ’25 (biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and neuroscience in A&S), study grant, United Kingdom
• Zoe Prin, a graduate student in international relations in the Maxwell School, ETA, Moldova
• Virginia Walker ’25 (international relations and policy studies in the Maxwell School), ETA, Mongolia

The 2025 alternates are the following:

• Yesmine Chikha ’25 (communications design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA)), ETA, Spain
• Sacha Norton ’25 (selected studies, School of Education), ETA, Kenya
• Katarina Sako ’24 (biology and neuroscience in A&S), study grant, United Kingdom
• Lindy Truitt ’25 (communications design in VPA), study grant, United Kingdom
• Neha Tummalapalli ’23 (architecture in the School of Architecture), study grant, Italy

Phoebe Ambrose

Ambrose was a 2021-22 Lender Center Fellow. She contributed to several projects in the areas of food security, justice and sovereignty, including a Farm to School initiativeÌęwith the Syracuse City School District and the creation of a Food Justice Atlas. She also was an active volunteer with Pete’s Giving Garden.

After graduation, Ambrose joined the AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program. She was based in Key West, Florida, and worked with the Star of the Sea Foundation (SOS), the largest hunger-relief nonprofit in the Florida Keys. As an agricultural specialist, she created hands-on curriculum for local elementary schools on sustainable agriculture using an in-classroom aeroponic Tower Garden and built and managed the SOS Eco Farm, an urban aeroponic farm comprising 60 nine-foot-tall Tower Gardens.

SOS was awarded an Urban Agriculture Innovative Production grant in 2023 to bring local agriculture to the Florida Keys, as the environment there does not support traditional in-ground agriculture. In addition to growing 15,000 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs annually, Ambrose conducted farm tours, community events, school field trips and mini-agricultural lessons, and worked with a partner nonprofit to build agricultural skills and knowledge for adults with disabilities. “It was an absolute joy to be part of a powerhouse organization that made such a profound impact on the community,” she says.

In her Fulbright experience, Ambrose will attend Royal Holloway, University of London, to pursue a master’s degree in Global Health: Food Security, Sustainability and Biodiversity. The program partners with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which conducts leading botany research and has the world’s largest plant conservation program.

“I’m excited to build on my knowledge of plants/agriculture and explore emerging agricultural technologies and practices,” Ambrose says. “For my dissertation, I plan to study crop wild relatives (plants that are closely related to our current crops but have evolved naturally and therefore contain more resilient traits and qualities), specifically corn’s crop wild relative, teosinte and its impact on soil health.”

Morgan Meddings

Meddings was a member of the RenĂ©e Crown University Honors Program and completed an award-winning thesis on how book banning of children’s literature is affecting classrooms. She also worked as a substitute teacher in the Syracuse City School District after completing her student teaching.

After spending the spring 2024 semester in Strasbourg, France, she knew wanted to teach abroad in a French-speaking country after graduation.

“I also wanted to find an experience outside of the westernized classrooms I had already been exposed to,” she says. Meddings will be an English teaching assistant at Le Centre National d’Enseignement de la Langue Anglais (CNELA) in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital city, and engage with the community through additional engagement and service projects. She is especially eager to engage with initiatives that promote literacy in Madagascar—an interest she developed while volunteering for her local library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“I am beyond excited to bring my passion for teaching abroad and cannot wait to learn from the teachers and students I will be working with in Madagascar,” she says.

Students interested in applying to the Fulbright program should contact the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising at 315.443.2759 or cfsa@syr.edu.

, professor of public health and senior associate dean for research and administration in the , will join Íű±ŹĂĆ’s in a new role as associate vice president for research, effective July 1. The announcement was made today by Vice President for Research .

In this new role, McDonald will focus on supporting faculty research, improving faculty mentoring, growing extramural research and identifying strategic opportunities for research growth in areas aligned with the University’s mission and vision.

“Katie has the right combination of research and leadership experience to make a real impact in the Office of Research,” Brown says. “I look forward to working with her to help create and sustain an environment that promotes scholarship and, in partnership with the faculty, to expand and strengthen the research and creative enterprise at Íű±ŹĂĆ.”

McDonald is a widely-published researcher who uses socioecological theory and community-engaged research to understand and promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Her current research focuses on ethical, legal and social implications in research with adults with developmental disabilities, and using community-engaged research to study and address disparities experienced by people with disabilities.

“I am delighted to begin a new role at Íű±ŹĂĆ,” McDonald says. “I am grateful for the nurturing environment Syracuse has provided for my own research, and for the opportunities I have to pay forward that support. The generation of new knowledge that has the potential to positively impact society is a cornerstone function of Íű±ŹĂĆ, and I look forward to working in partnership on this shared endeavor.”

McDonald joined the Syracuse faculty as an assistant professor in 2011 and previously served as department chair. She is a faculty fellow at the , the , the and in , and a research affiliate at the . She is also a fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and a member of the editorial board for Autism in Adulthood.

McDonald has served as chair of Íű±ŹĂĆ’s Institutional Review Board since 2016. , professor of sociology in the , will assume the role July 1.

welcomed 34 graduates of the Class of 2025 as new members of the Founders Circle. They were selected in recognition of launching or leading ventures at the University while students, as well as contributing to building the Blackstone LaunchPad. The Founders Circle is a group of dedicated LaunchPad alumni entrepreneurs and innovation professionals, who plan to continue to be mentors and role models for current students. They exemplify the University’s spirit of entrepreneurship.

“This group of LaunchPad graduates were unbelievably driven and proactively looked for and leveraged every opportunity and connection to move the needle forward with their respective ventures,” says Traci Geisler, director of the LaunchPad. “By the time they graduated, some of these students had ventures in market generating revenue, some started their next venture, some raised thousands of dollars in capital and some have hired employees. We’re excited to see what’s next for them and how they will continue to change their communities for the better.”

• Adam Thomson, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Aditee Malviya G’25, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Adya Parida, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Aidan R Turner, School of Architecture
• Alie Savane, College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Anjaneya Padwal G’25, School of Information Studies
• Anthony Smith, Newhouse School
• Anthony Thomas, School of Information Studies
• Asha Breedlove, Newhouse School
• Bakary Darboe, Maxwell School
• Bryson Carter, Newhouse School
• Cesar Sassoon, School of Information Studies
• Dhwani Vora G’25, School of Information Studies
• Dominique Camp G’25, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Donovan Capdeville, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Elizabeth Paulin, College of Arts and Sciences
• Emily Santiago, School of Information Studies
• Fatim Batrou Cisse G’25, Falk College
• GraceÌę Conturso, School of Information Studies
• Julie Gross, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Kathryn Kelley, Newhouse School
• Lindy Truitt, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Megan Kane, Newhouse School
• Mian Hamid, School of Information Studies
• Nicholas Panetta, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Oliver Raycroft, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Paula Ibelings, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Skylar Takac, Whitman School and Newhouse School
• Stacy Collier, Newhouse School
• Sydney Moore G25, Whitman School
• Thomas O’Brien, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Tosin Alabi G’25, Whitman School
• Tyler Marma G’25, Newhouse School
• Waqar Hussain G’25, Whitman School

“I think the Rolls-Royce of Falk College, undoubtedly, is the analytics program,” said David Falk, benefactor of the , to a room of senior sport analytics students and their families during their capstone poster presentations. “We’ve won virtually every analytics competition for the last few years.”

That was certainly true during the Spring 2025 semester, when sport analytics students were victorious at multiple analytics and research competitions and presented findings at several highly regarded conferences around the country. Below is a recap of the semester’s highlights.

SABR Analytics Conference

Sport analytics students Owen St. Onge ’26, Payton Smith ’26, Andrew Diamond ’27, Jonah Soos ’25 and Jacob Kalamvokis ’27 won their room in the Diamond Dollars Case Competition, during which teams compete by preparing an analysis and presentation of a baseball operations decision similar to what a team’s general manager and staff would do in Major League Baseball.

Two students, Nathan Backman ’25 and Brett Cerenzio ’25, took part in the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Analytics Conference research competition, with Backman winning best student presentation for his research titled .

Íű±ŹĂĆ Football Blitz

Sport analytics students won every room of the , including one room of entirely first-year students, while also being named winners of the overall competition.

The Football Analytics Blitz tasks students with a current football analytics prompt. They are given a week to put together a presentation for football analytics professionals. The competition brought together students from 25 different universities and judges from eight NFL teams.

The winning Falk College students were:

• Room 1: Charlie Maddux ’26, Jonah Soos ’25, Nathan Backman ’25, Austin Ambler ’26 and Zach Seidel ’26
• Room 2: Nick Wolfe ’27, Jameson Bodenburg ’27, Jacob Kalamvokis ’27 and Jessica Fackler ’27
• Room 3: Noah Bair ’28, Jimmy Roberto ’27, Carter Pointon ’28, Alex Percey ’28 and Braden Hines ’28

MIT Sloan Research Paper Competition

Research conducted by major Alivia “Ava” Uribe ’25, a member of the University’s women’s soccer team, with sport analytics professors and about the location of penalty kicks at the prestigious MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. Their paper won over thousands of entrants and six other finalists, and Uribe became the first female lead author in the conference’s 19-year history to capture the competition.

Connecticut Sports Analytics Symposium

Sport analytics students Danielle Napierski ’26, Dan Griffiths ’26 and Brett Cerenzio ’25 were named runners-up in the Major League Baseball Data Challenge at the Connecticut Sports Analytics Symposium (CSAS).

Alivia Uribe ’25 and Shane Sanders also presented their penalty kick research at CSAS.

American Soccer Insights Summit

Sport analytics students ’27 and Theo Schmidt ’26 presented their work, .

NFLPA Analytics Case Competition

Sport analytics students Christopher Marfisi ’25, Evan Vassilovski ’25, Walker Oettl ’25 and Ryan Severe ’25 were named finalists for their work on the given prompt and traveled to Washington, D.C., to present their findings.

National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championships

Falk College student Jonah Soos ’25 individual championship, while the undergraduate team of Soos, Hunter Geise ’25, Piper Evans ’25 and Maddy Forster ’25 finished second in the team competition. Two graduate students, Andrew Odnoralov G’25 and Owen Brown G’25 , also competed—a first for representatives from the Falk College’s graduate programs.

At this event, students gave five-minute presentations based on analysis of provided data related to brands, teams and athletes. Judges chose a winner based on statistical analysis, data visualization, actionable insights, communication and integrity.

Cincinnati Reds Hackathon

Teams were tasked with modeling a projection system that predicted total plate appearances and batters faced for Major League Baseball players in the 2024 season based on their past data. Sport analytics students Dan Griffiths ’26, Ben Resnic ’26, Hunter Cordes ’26, Jared Weber ’27 and Josh Davis’27 won the Hackathon, with two other teams from the Falk College being named finalists.

To learn more about the college’s academic programs, experiential learning and career opportunities in sport analytics and sport management, visit the Falk College .

With the 30th anniversary of Major League Soccer (MLS) fast approaching, it’s obvious MLS has come a long way from its modest beginning in 1996. Once considered an underdog in the American sports landscape, the league has grown into a global player. MLS now draws international stars, record-breaking crowds and major media deals.

It’s also become home to a number of former Syracuse student athletes, with Kamal Miller, Deandre Kerr, Alex Bono and Miles Robinson all suiting up for MLS teams. But behind the headlines and highlight reels is a deeper story.

“There’s a long history of failed soccer leagues in North America,” says Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics Professor Rick Burton, who has spent years studying the evolution of MLS. “Many investors, owners and even players lost a lot of money before MLS finally found its footing. That context is important—it shows just how remarkable the league’s success really is.”

This success has taken 30 years to grow. The league started in 1996, with professional soccer returning to the states for the first since 1984, when the North American Soccer League ceased operations.

“What amazed us was just how much MLS had evolved,” Burton says. “When the Apple deal was announced and Inter Miami signed Lionel Messi, the numbers—attendance, rising team values, internationality of players—really stood out.”

Burton, along with Norm O’Reilly, a professor at the University of New England, have studied the rise of soccer’s popularity in the United States, specifically MLS, one of the most diverse leagues on the planet, O’Reilly says. “It’s been that way for years, and that diversity is a huge part of its appeal both domestically and internationally,” he says.

That success is the focus of a new book, “The Rise of Major League Soccer,” co-authored by Burton and O’Reilly and released this week. It offers a comprehensive and research-driven look at how MLS has grown into one of the world’s most dynamic sports leagues, drawing on a wide range of sources, including exclusive demographic data provided by MLS itself.

Both Burton and O’Reilly have also explored how the league has strategically positioned itself for long-term success. Soccer-specific stadiums, a global media partnership with Apple and the arrival of global icons like David Beckham and Lionel Messi have all played a role in reshaping how MLS is perceived.

With the U.S. set to host the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 and the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the timing for MLS couldn’t be better. “MLS is no longer just a league with potential,” says Burton. “It’s a case study in how vision, strategy and persistence can build something truly global.”

“There are key takeaways, learnings and best practices that sport business professionals can apply in their own work,” says Burton. “We wanted this to be both a compelling story and a useful resource.”

Olympic gold medalist and visionary executive says it has been her lifelong mission to help people win gold medals in business—and in life.

“My gold medal is the gift that keeps on giving,” Fitzgerald Mosley says. “I am forever grateful, so I want to pay that gift forward.”

To get there, Fitzgerald Mosley highlights five “Olympic rings” to help people achieve their goals: Have a good start, set high goals, run your own race, power through hurdles and have a strong finish.

“You have to ask yourself, why not me?’’ Fitzgerald Mosley says. “Why can’t I be the best in the world at what I do?”

From becoming the first African American woman to win the 100-meter hurdles at the 1984 Olympics to her current role as chief executive officer of Multiplying Good, Fitzgerald Mosley has persistently broken barriers and advanced the idea that sport has the power to inspire and change the world.

Her enormous impact as a results-oriented leader in the Olympic, non-profit, and corporate worlds is why Dean asked Fitzgerald Mosley to be the keynote speaker at the Convocation at 12:30 p.m. May 10 in the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

“Benita’s ‘why not me?’ message encourages us to challenge societal expectations and embrace our potential, while Multiplying Good is helping people bring about positive change and inspiring them to do more,” Jordan says. “The life lessons and insights that Benita will share May 10 will provide valuable inspiration to our graduates and all of us.”

Using Fitzgerald Mosley’s five Olympic rings, here is her remarkable story:

Have A Good Start

Fitzgerald Mosley often uses a quote from former American politician and motivational speaker Les Brown, who said, “You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.”

Fitzgerald Mosley’s parents, Fannie and Rodger Fitzgerald, were both educators and they encouraged Fitzgerald Mosley to get started in as many extracurricular activities as possible in their hometown of Dale City, Virginia. By participating in gymnastics, softball, majorettes and track, and learning the piano, violin, flute and piccolo, Fitzgerald Mosley discovered what she loved and was good at and where to focus her attention.

“They were very supportive and stood by me in every aspect of my life,” Fitzgerald Mosley says of her parents. “They celebrated my every achievement, large and small, and I loved to make them proud.”

While she became the first chair flute for the Gar-Field High School symphonic band, Fitzgerald Mosley says she wasn’t very good at softball and grew too tall to be a gymnast. But middle school physical education teacher, family friend and gymnastics coach Gwen Washington was also the coach of the track team and when it became obvious that Fitzgerald Mosley had outgrown gymnastics, Washington suggested she join the track team because she had seen Fitzgerald Mosley outrun the boys in gym classes.

“So I went out for the track team and started winning races from the very beginning,” Fitzgerald Mosley says. “It wasn’t until I was 12 years old and in the seventh grade that I even discovered my athletic prowess.”

Set High Goals

As a high school freshman sprinter and hurdler, Fitzgerald Mosley helped the track team win its fourth consecutive Virginia state championship. She was a teammate of senior Paula Girven, who represented the United States in the high jump in the 1976 Olympics and qualified for the team in 1980. Their high school track coach, Anne Locket, also led the girl’s gymnastics and basketball teams to state championships.

“Coach Locket said to me, ‘You know, you can be an Olympian someday just like Paula,’ and I looked at her like she was from Mars,” Fitzgerald Mosley says, smiling. “But having a coach believe in you and say that to a youngster at 14 years old, it set me up for great things to come.”

By 1980, Fitzgerald Mosley was 18 and already a track star—and an industrial engineering major—at the University of Tennessee, where she would become a 14-time All-American and four-time NCAA hurdles champion. Like Girven, she made the 1980 Olympic team but didn’t participate because the United States led a boycott of the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Fortunately for Fitzgerald Mosley, she was still in college and had the benefit of having access to coaching, training equipment and the highest level of competition in college. This was a time when Olympic athletes were strictly amateurs who couldn’t make money off their athletic achievements, and many athletes who qualified for the 1980 Games, like Girven, weren’t able to return for the 1984 Games.

“At that point, people didn’t have these long careers spanning three and four and five Olympic Games that started with my generation because they started to allow us to make money while we were competing,” Fitzgerald Mosley says. “The two other hurdlers that were on the Olympic team with me in 1980 didn’t make it again in 1984, so that was their one and only chance to be an Olympian.”

For the complete story, please visit the .

Íű±ŹĂĆ Libraries recognized its student employees with an awards celebration on April 23.Ìę The Libraries typically employs around 150 undergraduate and graduate students each year to contribute to the safety of Libraries’ spaces, the quality and repair of collections, and service support to patrons and student entrepreneurs. Supervisors nominate student employees who have demonstrated dedicated service over time and significant contributions that have made a lasting impact on the Libraries.

The Libraries recognize these students through the generous support of Kathy and Stanley Walters, the family of Patricia Kutner Strait and the many donors to the Libraries Dean’s Fund.

“As dean of the Libraries, I am continually reminded of the vital contributions our student employees make. Across Bird, Belfer, Carnegie, Law and the King+King Architecture Libraries, plus the SU Press, our students help safeguard our facilities, support the growth and care of our collections and uphold our commitment to exceptional service—both in person and online,” says David Seaman, dean of Libraries and University Librarian.

2025 student award recipients and their respective Libraries departments are:

ÌęKathy and Stanley Walters Student Employee Scholarship Awards

• Sophia Fiumano G’25 (School of Information Studies), Information Literacy
• Dyana Gales ’25 (Newhouse School of Public Communications), Access and Resource Sharing
• Mian Hamid ’25 (School of Information Studies), Facilities and Security
• Ainsley Hoemann ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), Law Library
• Megan Noba ’25 (Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics), Facilities and Security
• Elizabeth Paulin ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), Blackstone LaunchPad
• Coral Silver G’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), Special Collections Research Center
• Ella Whicker ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), Special Collections Research Center

Patricia Kutner Strait Student Scholarship Awards

• Taylor Chen ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School), Facilities and Security
• Brian Chiao ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), Facilities and Security
• Aditee Malviya G’25 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), Blackstone LaunchPad
• Rebecca Mejia-Garzaro ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), Access and Resource Sharing
• Rumini Nguyen ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), Access and Resource Sharing
• Amira Salihovic ’25 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), Facilities and Security
• Kiley Smith G’25 (School of Information Studies), Access and Resource Sharing
• Jeremy Wollman G’25 (School of Information Studies), Special Collections Research Center

Dean’s Commendations Awards

• Anneisha Anorbaah ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), Facilities and Security
• Nana Camara ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), Facilities and Security
• Kayla Fyock G’26 (School of Information Studies), Access and Resource Sharing
• Gentry Huddleston G’26 (School of Information Studies), Access and Resource Sharing
• Emma MacDowell G’25 (School of Information Studies), Special Collections Research Center
• Anjaneya Padwal G’25 (School of Information Studies), Blackstone LaunchPad
• Telly Sow ’25 (School of Information Studies), Facilities and Security
• Emily Warfield G’25 (School of Information Studies), Information Literacy

Honorable Recognitions:

• Carolina Aguayo-Pla ’27 (School of Information Studies), Blackstone LaunchPad
• Celes Buffard ’27 (School of Information Studies), Blackstone LaunchPad
• Alexandro Frimpong ’25 (School of Information Studies), Facilities and Security
• Antonio Goncalves ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), Blackstone LaunchPad
• Meagan Gregg G’26 (School of Information Studies), Access and Resource Sharing
• Lars Jendruschewitz ’27 (Newhouse School), Blackstone LaunchPad
• Renee Kurie ’26 (Newhouse School), Blackstone LaunchPad
• Alexander Schulz ’26 (School of Information Studies), Learning and Academic Engagement and Information Literacy
• Aidan Turner G’25 (School of Architecture), Blackstone LaunchPad
• Mary Visco G’25 (College of Arts and Sciences), Special Collections Research Center

Over the past two months, students from the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, under the guidance of Sport Management Assistant Teaching Professor , Ph.D., collaborated with the Integrated Community Alternatives Network () to host a campus visit for middle and high school students from the Utica City School District. The April 18 event aimed to introduce higher education as a future path, while also showcasing the .

A panel of Íű±ŹĂĆ student-athletes shared insights into the opportunities and challenges associated with playing sports at the collegiate level (both club and NCAA). The event emphasized experiential learning through the lens of sport for development, highlighting the potential of sport to drive positive social change and empower youth in the local community.

ICAN, a nonprofit organization based in Utica, provides an array of support services to meet the needs of students. Services include a comprehensive program providing behavioral and mental health support within special education classroom settings.

More than 25 Utica students took part in the event, where they enjoyed lunch, games and tours across campus, and even had a photo opportunity with Otto the Orange.

Sport management majors and co-led the class project.

“We spent months working with Dr. Lopes to make this event a success,” Feldstein says. “I’m also incredibly thankful for (ICAN Director) Jesenia Wright for her inspiring work and tireless effort in bringing this vision to life. This event was so special, and I’m excited to see how this partnership grows in the future.”

Graduate School Marshal Qingyang Liu will graduate on May 11 with a doctoral degree in human development and family science. She was honored recently at the One University Awards with the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Graduate Research. Below, she talks about her five years at Syracuse—what she has accomplished and what her next step will be.

What attracted you to come to Íű±ŹĂĆ to complete your doctorate?

I was drawn to Íű±ŹĂĆ by its strong emphasis on rigorous research and the opportunity to work with Dr. Rachel Razza (associate dean of human dynamics in the Falk College and a professor of human development and family science), a nationally recognized scholar in self-regulation research. Her pioneering work deeply aligned with my own interests in how early poverty shapes children’s self-regulation. From the beginning of my application process, I was intentional about finding a program and mentor that supported both high-quality scholarship and meaningful community impact, and Syracuse offered the ideal environment to pursue both.

Tell me about your area of study within human development and family science in the Falk College.

As a developmental scientist, I adopt a lifespan perspective and use a strength-based approach to understand how children develop self-regulation throughout childhood, especially in the context of early poverty-related stressors. I study how these stressors interact with family dynamics and broader social environments, particularly among racially and ethnically minoritized families living in poverty. As an applied quantitative methodologist, I use advanced statistical methods, such as growth mixture modeling and latent profile analysis, on large-scale national and community-based datasets. These methods help identify critical periods in development when tailored interventions can make the greatest impact for vulnerable populations.

You were recently honored with the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Research at the One University Awards and have appeared in 25 peer-reviewed publications. What can you share about your research and how it has developed during your time at Syracuse?

I developed a research program focused on how early poverty-related adversities, such as material hardship, parenting stress and household chaos, shape children’s self-regulation from early childhood into adolescence. My three-paper dissertation, supported by the Graduate School Summer Dissertation Fellowship and the Dean Edith Smith Endowed Dissertation Grant, uses advanced longitudinal methods to examine how the timing, co-occurrence and chronicity of material hardship influence behavioral self-regulation development.

Across 25 peer-reviewed publications, including six first-authored papers in leading journals, I’ve drawn on large-scale national datasets (e.g., Future of Families and Child Well-being Study, Early Head Start) and community-based mindfulness intervention data to investigate self-regulation pathways among underserved children and youth. At the University, I received rigorous methodological training from faculty mentors, which enabled me to apply person-centered approaches to capture developmental heterogeneity and inform the design of targeted interventions.

What has been most meaningful is how Íű±ŹĂĆ has fostered my interdisciplinary and community-engaged scholarship. I collaborated with faculty across human development and family science, social work and education, contributed to research-practice partnerships and supported local preschool mindful eating workshops, translating findings into actionable insights for families facing adversity. Íű±ŹĂĆ has provided the mentorship, research training and collaborative environment that shaped me as a developmental scientist and applied quantitative methodologist.

What does it mean to you to be the Graduate School’s Class Marshal?

It is a huge honor and a deeply meaningful recognition of the past five years of dedication, perseverance and growth. This milestone reflects the collective support that has carried me through, from the steadfast mentorship and community within to the Graduate School’s commitment to graduate student success. I am incredibly grateful for those who have believed in me along the way. I carry this honor with pride and renewed motivation to continue advancing research, equity and community well-being.

What is next for you after graduation?

I will begin a postdoctoral scholar position at Arizona State University, where I’ll continue my research on poverty-related adversity and children’s self-regulation development. I’m excited to expand my methodological training, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and work closely with community partners to develop research that informs equitable interventions for children and families. I carry the mentorship, training and values I gained at Íű±ŹĂĆ with me into this next chapter.

The number of school districts considering banning cell phones during the school day is on the rise nationwide.

At least eight states have banned smartphones in public school classrooms, while in New York, a proposed “bell-to-bell” is going to the State Legislature for a full vote. Additionally, 27 other states have proposed a ban on student smartphone usage, while other states are exploring a variety of ways to limit cell phone usage.

Proponents argue that students need to have their undivided attention focused on classroom lessons; parents feel strongly about being able to contact their child in an emergency.

, associate professor and department chair of human development and family science in the , looks at the impact of cell phone use on children as a researcher and also has firsthand knowledge as the parent of a 14-year-old.

“I’ve always been interested in this field and this research of looking at mobile technology and how it might impact kids, especially now with my daughter being immersed in the world of cell phones and social media,” says Mulvaney, a parenting researcher whose focus is on how parents and families support optimal child development.

, an assistant teaching professor in the counseling and human services department in the and a licensed mental health counselor, looks at process addictions (including cell phone usage) in children and adolescents and recognizing when behaviors become problematic.

Butler sees both sides of the debate and suggests ways to find the balance.

“Parents have a legitimate concern about the safety of their child, and it would be difficult to enforce no cell phones in schools,” says Butler, whose research focuses primarily on process addictions in children and adolescents. “Plus, a lot of kids use tablets or Chromebooks in the classroom. We can’t just take technology completely out of the classroom. How do we ensure they’re not distracted by social media or games while they’re supposed to be learning?”

Mulvaney and Butler sat down with SU News to discuss cell phone bans and limits in schools and what steps can be taken to help children liberate themselves from their phones.

What are your thoughts on limiting the use of cell phones in school and the impact of cell phone use on adolescent development?

Sabrina Butler: Coming from a harm reduction lens, we want to put limits and boundaries on cell phone usage. And while there isn’t research that necessarily supports that cell phone usage is causing depression and anxiety, what we do know is that our cell phones are like other addictions out there. If you have individuals that are already experiencing anxiety, depression or self-esteem issues, being on your phone and on social media is going to exacerbate that.

Matthew Mulvaney: Kids functioned for a very long time in schools without cell phones. More people are starting to be concerned about cell phone use. Parents see the changes their kids are going through and they want them to not be so tied up with their phones.

There’s a psychologist, Jean Twenge, who published a book in 2017 that showed the impact of cell phone usage and social media on this generation. Around the age of 11, 12 or 13, children, particularly girls, experience this mental health cliff where their well-being drops off suddenly, and how much time they spend on their phones and on social media is closely correlated and negatively associated with their mental health.

How is being on your cell phone a process addiction?

Butler: Process addictions hack and utilize the same brain mechanisms as other addictions, like nicotine. With cell phones and social media, we’re pairing these positive emotions with external stimuli, which is the behavior. That’s where it can become problematic, wiring those two things [phones and social media] together that make me feel good or less stressed. It’s that feeling that we’re getting addicted to and we’re associating with that behavior.

How young is too young for a child to get a cell phone? To be active on social media?

Mulvaney: The later you can wait, the better. Kids will say not having one cuts them off from their social networks and that all their friends have phones, but there are few developmental benefits to having one early on. As for social media, researcher Jonathan Haidt studies the impact of social media on adolescent mental health, and he suggests 16 for starting off on social media.

What can we do to help alleviate the addictive impact of cell phones?

Mulvaney: I see a lot of parallels with cigarette smoking. Smoking was commonplace when I was growing up, but smoking cigarettes has basically gone away from the adolescent experience because of how bad it was for our kids. It took a collective understanding, a collective will to say, “we’re not going to have spaces for kids to smoke.”

I think schools will adopt a phone-free policy from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and that will have a significant impact on changing the expectations of being on your phone all the time. If we come to this shared understanding that being on your phone all the time is really bad, we can make changes in the same way we did with smoking.

Butler: It goes back to limits and an age barrier. Some parents take away phones at night because they don’t want their child up all night on their phone. Others turn off the Wi-Fi after a certain point. Those parental control measures are really helpful because they lead into how we monitor usage among children.

We need to get back to engaging with each other, having family dinner without looking at our phones. Getting children active through activities and sports are great because they get kids out playing, interacting and connecting with their peers.

To request interviews, contact:

Chris Munoz
Media Relations Specialist
cjmunoz@syr.edu

The important work and contributions of teaching assistants were recognized yesterday at a ceremony hosted by the .

The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award is given to teaching assistants who have demonstrated excellence in the role through activities such as classroom teaching, laboratory or studio instruction, leading recitation or discussion sections or assisting senior faculty members with high-enrollment courses.

“Teaching assistants are vital to the undergraduate experience,” says Graduate School Dean Peter Vanable. “They bring energy and important insights to their academic disciplines and are dedicated to the students with whom they work. I thank this year’s award winners for their contributions to the University’s academic mission.”

The 2025 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awardees, representing the top 3.5% of the TA workforce, are:

• Agathe Baggieri, languages, literatures and linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Karisa Bridgelal, writing studies, rhetoric and composition, College of Arts and Sciences
• Caroline Capuano, physics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Yu-Wei Chang, psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jing Cheng, mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Gargi De, civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• AyƟenur Değer, political science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Julie Harnett, teaching and curriculum, School of Education
• Tori-Ann Haywood, sociology, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Elise Hegarty, languages, literatures and linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Elana Israel, mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Benjamin Kaufman, mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Harneet Kaur, social science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Pyeonghwa Kim, information science and technology, School of Information Studies
• Hannah Kimbrell, mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Amanda Kingston, cultural foundations of education, School of Information Studies
• Connor Knowlan, communication and rhetorical studies, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Megan Koch, earth and environmental sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
• Elise Krespan, biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Gabriella Larson, psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Adarsh Raghuram, geography and the environment, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Abhishek Samlodia, physics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Hector I. Sanchez, history, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Victor Sholl, philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
• Nathalie Uwamahoro, electrical engineering and computer science, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Josiah van Egdom, political science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Ying Xu, human development and family science, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

Awardees are nominated by their departments and must present a teaching portfolio as part of the review process.

Ten Íű±ŹĂĆ faculty members were honored with the Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award at a campus ceremony April 24. The award, given annually by the , honors professors who have had a significant impact on graduate education through teaching, service and research or creative activities.

This year’s awardees, chosen by an interdisciplinary committee of graduate students, are the following:

• , associate professor of communications, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• , assistant professor of human development and family science, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• , assistant professor of exercise science, Falk College
• , associate professor of sociology, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• , professor of mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• , assistant professor of biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• , associate professor and associate chair of psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
• , mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• , assistant professor of marriage and family therapy, Falk College
• , professor of higher education, School of Education

“We know that talented faculty members are the cornerstone of a quality graduate education,” says Peter Vanable, dean of the Graduate School. “This awards program gives us an opportunity to hear directly from our students, as well as from faculty, staff and alumni, about which professors have had a significant positive influence on their studies. We are delighted to recognize these ten individuals for their dedication and contributions to the University.”

The Summer Funding Competition provides dissertation fellowships to late-stage doctoral students to facilitate progress to degree and dissertation completion. The $4,500 awards are given annually by the .

This year’s recipients are:

• Jeffrey Adams, English,
• Akshay, computer and information science and engineering,
• Erika Arias, political science,
• Seok Wun (Shiila) Au Yong, cultural foundations of education,
• Bruce Baigrie, geography, Maxwell School
• Erin Bisesti, sociology, Maxwell School
• Eric Cochran, mathematics, Arts and Sciences
• Xiaoyu Fu, human development and family science,
• Jessica Fundalinski, teaching and curriculum, School of Education
• Michael Kelly, geography, Maxwell School
• Shanel Khaliq, sociology, Maxwell School
• Hyojeong Kim, public administration, Maxwell School
• Minseok Kim, philosophy, Arts and Sciences
• Amanda Kingston, cultural foundations of education, School of Education
• Elise Krespan, biology, Arts and Sciences
• Akit Kumar, information science and technology,
• Sanggu Lee, philosophy, Arts and Sciences
• Jinfen Li, information science and technology, Information Studies
• Tyler Logie, earth and environmental sciences, Arts and Sciences
• Abigail Long, composition and cultural rhetoric, Arts and Sciences
• Desiree Martin, mathematics, Arts and Sciences
• Fasika Melese, instructional design, development and evaluation, School of Education
• Arda Ozyenginer, English, Arts and Sciences
• Henry Potts-Rubin, mathematics, Arts and Sciences
• Samuel Santiago, English, Arts and Sciences
• Dustin Satterfield, sociology, Maxwell School
• Mahder Serekberhan, political science, Maxwell School
• Paige Spencer, religion, Arts and Sciences
• Elina (Ruiqi) Sun, social psychology, Arts and Sciences
• Benjamin Valen, social psychology, Arts and Sciences
• Jenna Walmer, social psychology, Arts and Sciences

Ten graduate students competed in this year’s (3MT) competition on April 4. The annual event, sponsored by the , provides participants with the opportunity to share highlights of their research and scholarship in pithy, engaging presentations lasting no longer than three minutes.

, a doctoral student in social psychology at the ,Ìęwon the competition with her presentation, “.” She received 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 and a one-year membership in the , the professional organization of her choice.

“The clichĂ© is that academic research is both impenetrable and pointless,” says Glenn Wright, executive director of professional and career development at the Graduate School. “The 3MT really challenges graduate students to tackle that perception head-on, explaining quickly and clearly what their research is and why it makes a difference. That’s a great skill when engaging the public, and highly useful in academia, too.”

The other 3MT contestants were:

• Nimisha Krishnan (Ph.D., physics, ): “How Cells Move Cargo: Learning from Nature’s Tiny Transport System”
• Bramsh Khan (Ph.D., social science, Maxwell School): “Politics of Gendered Infrastructure Violence in Balochistan, Pakistan”
• Mary Theresa Pagan (Ph.D., sociology, Maxwell School): “Older Recent Widows and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Investigation of the Roles of Care Work and Social Support”
• Sarah Nahar (Ph.D., religion, Arts and Sciences): “Closing the Poop Loop: An Everyday Way to Heal the Planet”
• Ratnakshi Mandal (Ph.D., chemical engineering, ): “Decoding Alzheimer’s: Putting Together the Puzzle of Memory Loss”
• Abigail Helen Long (Ph.D., composition and cultural rhetoric, Arts and Sciences) “‘Stuck’ Together: Identifying Writing Teachers’ Access Needs”
• Nghia Le Ba Thai (Ph.D., bioengineering, Engineering and Computer Science): “PorousX: A Novel Artificial Matrix for Treating Chronic Wounds”
• Paul Sagoe (Ph.D., biomedical engineering, Engineering and Computer Science): “Small but Mighty: Therapeutic Nanoparticles, the Tiny Heroes Fighting Arthritis”
• Qingyang Liu (Ph.D., human development and family science, ): “When and Where to Invest: Early Material Hardship and Children’s Self-Regulation.”

Wright moderated the event. Judges were Matthew Carr, chief financial officer at Manlius Pebble Hill School; Davoud Mozhdehi, associate professor of chemistry at the College of Arts and Sciences; and Sylvia Sierra, associate professor of communication and rhetorical studies in the .

was first developed at the University of Queensland in Australia and is now held at colleges and universities around the world.