Ryan Schram, a veteran industry leader and strategic advisor at the intersection of content, commerce and creativity, has been named the inaugural executive director of ������’s Center for the Creator Economy.

A first-of-its-kind academic center on a U.S. college campus, the�� aligns strengths at ������ in entrepreneurship, media, communications, athletics and digital infrastructure, charting how higher education can prepare students for the 21st-century economy. Launched last fall, the center is led jointly by the����and the��—two of the top schools in their respective fields.

Schram, who will start Aug. 3, will guide the center’s growth as it expands its academic programs, research and industry partnerships. His appointment brings a practitioner’s perspective to the University’s trailblazing initiative.

��������������ٳ󲹲԰�������for his vision that created the center.

“Syracuse has done what no other university has: build the first academic center for the creator economy with the ambition of becoming the global authority on curriculum, research and rankings in this space,” Schram says. “As someone who has spent the last decade and a half building businesses in this industry, I see real value in leading it from a practitioner’s vantage point. I am excited for what we will build together in the years to come.”

Schram’s 25-plus year career includes extensive experience across public and private companies. He was recognized as a Top 10 Global Chief Operating Officer at the 2023 OnCon Icon Awards and as a Top 101 COO by Boardroom Media in 2022.

Most recently, Schram worked at Particle Wave, where he was managing partner for the boutique advisory firm that counsels leading companies on navigating the rapidly evolving creator economy. He also spent 13 years, including 12 as president and COO, at IZEA, a global leader in professional services, technology and talent representation.

Before IZEA, he was��group��vice��president at Merkle (formerly HelloWorld/ePrize) and held roles of increasing responsibility at Westwood One and iHeartMedia.

“Ryan brings the vision, industry experience and entrepreneurial mindset needed to lead the Center for the Creator Economy at this pivotal moment,” says , dean of the Newhouse School. “He understands how storytelling, audience development, technology and business come together in today’s media landscape. We are looking forward to working with Ryan to build a vibrant hub at the University that leads across the evolving creative economy.”

“The creator economy represents one of the fastest-evolving sectors of the global economy, and Ryan has spent his career helping organizations navigate that change,” says , interim dean of the Whitman School of Management. “His practitioner perspective, combined with his commitment to innovation and collaboration, will help ensure the Center for the Creator Economy continues to shape how we prepare future business and creative leaders.”

Poised to Flourish��

The Center for the Creator Economy enters its second year with expanding programming and positive momentum. The University is launching a creator economy minor this fall, providing a new path��for students to build careers in content creation, digital entrepreneurship and the��practitioner��ecosystem reshaping how ideas, audiences and businesses are��built��online.

Besides courses from Whitman and Newhouse, the minor includes electives offered by other schools and colleges, including a Name, Image and Likeness class offered from the , and Music Industry Marketing and Media from the .

Programs and academic offerings from the center are available to students from all schools and colleges at the University, and the minor’s interdisciplinary design reflects the scope of the creator economy itself. According to Goldman Sachs Research, nearly 50 million people globally work as full- or part-time creators, and the sector could be worth $480 billion by 2027.

The center’s physical home at the Newhouse School, which opened this past spring, features areas for collaboration and programming, and new podcast production booths are slated to open in the fall.

Eleven ������ students and alumni have been selected as 2026 recipients of awards, with three additional students named as alternates. The prestigious program, which funds English teaching assistantships and study/research grants in more than 140 countries, will send this year’s Syracuse cohort across four continents to teach, conduct research and build cross-cultural connections.

The 2026 recipients are the following:

• Bobby Battle ’26 (School of Education), English Teaching Assistantship (ETA), Spain
• Christian Bevilacqua ’24, G’26 (School of Education, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences), study grant, United Kingdom
• Gabriel Calloway ’26 (Maxwell School and A&S), ETA, Brazil
• Andrew Danik G’23 (Maxwell School), research award, Namibia
• Molly Grow ’26 (School of Education), ETA, South Korea
• Troyesha Parks ’22, G’23 (Falk College of Sport, Maxwell School), ETA, Taiwan
• Maya Philipp (Ph.D. in biology, College of Arts and Sciences), Azores Regional Government Research Award, Portugal
• Sarah Schreiber ’26 (Maxwell School and A&S), ETA, Cambodia
• Iona Volynets ’24 (Maxwell School and A&S), research award, Kazakhstan
• Anya von Wolff ’26 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), Fulbright Combined Award, Austria
• Ernestine Whitaker G’26 (Ph.D. student in anthropology, Maxwell School), study grant, Italy

Three additional students were named alternates: Nathaniel Hasanaj ’25 (Maxwell School and A&S), ETA, Kosovo; Sarah Leonard ’26 (School of Education), ETA, Spain; and Lilyan Minicozzi ’26 (VPA), study grant, United Kingdom.

Two of the recipients—Maya Philipp and Sarah Schreiber—show the two sides of the program up close: one heading abroad to conduct research, the other to teach.

Maya Philipp: Tracking Whales in the Azores

Philipp will spend her Fulbright year in the Azores, working with researchers at the Institute of Marine Science–Okeanos at the University of the Azores to study sperm whale distribution and behavior.

Her project draws on high-resolution biologging tags that capture audio, location and movement data from whales, paired with satellite oceanographic data, allowing her to model where the animals are likely to be and what they’re doing at any given time.

The work will form the third chapter of her doctoral dissertation, which examines how large whales’ movement patterns reveal the “prey landscapes” they navigate in shifting marine environments.

Philipp’s research carries real stakes beyond her dissertation. The Azores sit along one of the busiest shipping corridors connecting the Americas and Europe, and rising vessel traffic has coincided with a growing number of sperm whale injuries and deaths. By predicting where whales will surface and travel, Philipp’s models could help ships steer clear of high-risk zones, reducing collisions while also helping whale-watching operators locate the animals.

Beyond the science, Philipp sees the year as a chance to deepen her Portuguese and immerse herself in local life, serving as a cultural ambassador as much as a researcher.

“By the end of the program, I hope to come away with insights that can help protect sperm whales while serving the local economy, and collaborations that will continue well after my time as a Fulbright researcher,” she says.

Sarah Schreiber: Teaching English in Cambodia

Schreiber says her background in international relations and environmental policy gives her a unique perspective on the English��language learning classroom.

“I have been a language student myself many times, which will aid me in understanding my students’ needs and designing exercises that work best for them,” she says. “My studies at Syracuse taught me the intercultural communication skills necessary to succeed.”

Her interest in Cambodia traces back to an undergraduate paper on women under the Khmer Rouge, which she wrote for a course on atrocity studies. It left her wanting to understand more about how Cambodia has rebuilt itself over the past three decades. She’s spent the months leading up to her departure studying Khmer and connecting with fellow Fulbright grantees headed to the region.

Beyond the classroom, Schreiber plans to volunteer after school hours running English clubs, and possibly a dance club as well, as part of a broader effort to serve as a thoughtful guest in the country and a genuine cultural bridge between Cambodia and the United States.

All students were assisted by the (CFSA) in the preparation of their Fulbright applications. Students and alumni interested in the 2026-27 Fulbright cycle should contact the CFSA at cfsa@syr.edu.

From “Rocket League” and “Valorant” to “Overwatch 2” and “Counter-Strike 2,” it doesn’t matter what game student casters Carson Kass ’28 and Ryan Blankenhorn ’26 are calling.

The play-by-play and color commentary duo has developed an uncanny ability to predict what the other is going to say during a competition. After broadcasting hundreds of matches, Kass and Blankenhorn have formed a back-and-forth rapport and an understanding of what it takes to effectively call esports for Orange fans.

“When I came to Syracuse, [Executive Director of Esports] said he wanted me to bring the broadcast element of what Syracuse could be as an esports program to our broadcasts. Working with Carson has helped me excel in what it means to be a color caster,” says Blankenhorn, who followed Gawrysiak from Shenandoah University to Syracuse and��earned an major from the ��and the��.

Kass brought a traditional background as a sports broadcaster to the esports realm and says he prepares for an esports match with the same attention to detail as if he were calling a baseball or a soccer game.

“You have to get the color commentator involved explaining why something just happened. Ryan and I have called so many games together that we’ve formed this great on-air chemistry,” says Kass, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism from the Newhouse School. “But how we cast a match is different for each game.”

In partnership with CNY Arts, “” delivered a record-breaking exhibition of 70 works of art from 29 faculty and staff members across 19 different University departments. The 53rd annual exhibition returned to Bird Library from May 28 to June 11.

This year, expanded the program’s official selections, giving more artists the chance to showcase their work at future exhibitions. As always, the finalists will be included in the finale exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art. New this year, CNY Arts created a category of recognition for runners-up. These artists will be invited to exhibit their work at Art in the Atrium, July 10-Aug. 2.

The University will once again be well-represented at the upcoming exhibitions with 14 works selected by the panel of judges assembled by CNY Arts.

The following finalists will be featured in the “On My Own Time” finale exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art, Oct. 3-Nov. 8:

• Kelley Parker, ������ Libraries, “The World Within” (photograph);
• Jessica Vangronigen, life sciences program in the College of Arts and Sciences, “Feelin’ Salty” (printmaking);
• Scott Samson, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, “Arctic Abstract” (photograph);
• Dana Cusano, Biology Department in the College of Arts and Sciences, “Panthera Leo” (drawing);
• Zachary Wilkie, Libraries, untitled painting;
• Autumn Wallingford, Division of Communications and Marketing, “Succession of Survival Mode”��(mixed media); and
• Taiwo Ositimehin, Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, “Adaralewa by Twinzy Adire” (fiber art).

The following runners-up will be featured in an exhibition at the Art in the Atrium gallery, 201 E. Washington St. in Syracuse, July 10-Aug. 2. The exhibition is free and open to the public on Fridays, from noon to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 8 p.m.:

• Stuart Rotblat, Information Technology Services, untitled photograph;
• Molly Cavanaugh, Economics Department in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, “The Pride of Lady Eboshi” (fiber art);
• Donna Movsovich, Law Library, “Mountains and Sky”��(fiber art);
• Meghan Murphy, Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, “untitled piece no. 2868” (drawing);
• Margaret Voss, Falk College of Sport, “Good Morning Sunshine” (painting);
• James Beagle, materials distribution, untitled drawing; and
• Meghan Graham, Office of the Chief Operations Officer, “Aurora Borealis Scarf” (fiber art).

In addition to the judges’ selections, visitors to the “On My Own Time” exhibition had a chance to cast ballots for their favorite piece in the exhibition. This year, “Resilience,” a painting by Qingyi Yu from health services, was recognized for the most ballots cast in the People’s Choice category.

“������ was once again a leading employer with our ‘On My Own Time’ exhibition.��For 53 years we’ve partnered with CNY Arts, creating this wonderful opportunity for our faculty and staff to showcase their talents and to connect in meaningful ways as a community,” says Alex Dietrich,��interim chief human resources officer. “If you missed our original exhibition, I would encourage you to experience the amazing artistry of our colleagues who were selected to show their work at the upcoming event at Art in the Atrium gallery and the Everson Museum of Art.”

Seventeen students from ������, including students from the , , and , traveled to Asia in May as part of an 18-day study abroad trip for the �� (SPM 440/SAL 440) class.�� , associate professor of sport management, and�� , professor of sport management, led the trip.

Traveling to Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo, the students learned about local sport ecosystems by visiting the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, Korean Sport Promotion Foundation, K-league, Chinese Soccer League, the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and more. They learned about the globalization strategies of U.S. sport entities by meeting with NFL China, NBA China, MLB Asia and the PGA Tour; and studied the impact of mega sporting events by visiting Seoul’s Olympic Park, Beijing National Stadium (also known as the Bird’s Nest, which played host of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and 2022 Winter Olympic Games) and Japan National Stadium.

The Syracuse students engaged in joint classes with local students from Sungkyunkwan University and the Chinese University of Political Science and Law. They also�� attended local events such as a Korean baseball game at Jamsil Stadium, Chinese soccer at Worker’s Stadium, Nike high school basketball at Wukesong Arena and Japanese baseball at Tokyo Dome.

The trip provided opportunities for cultural immersion, including gaming and esports, screen golf, kung fu and kendo, as well as sightseeing at the Korean National Palace, the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Tokyo Samurai Museum.

“Taking in the beautiful grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace was a one-of-a-kind experience that can’t be expressed in words,” said sport management major Zach Siegel ’27. “You could feel the rich history and culture all around.”

The students kept a of their day-by-day experiences.

“This study abroad program was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We just didn’t just learn about sports management in a classroom, we experienced the culture firsthand,”�� said sport analytics major Jeremy Shatzer ’28.

Story by Margie Chetney

The FIFA World Cup comes to North America for the first time since 1994, with the U.S., Canada and Mexico hosting the 2026 competition. From the economics of global sport to the politics of international competition, faculty experts can offer perspectives across multiple disciplines. All experts are available for print, broadcast and digital interviews.

For media assistance and interview coordination, contact��Keith Kobland via email at kkobland@syr.edu or by calling 315.415.8095.

Sport Economics and Analytics

Rodney Paul | rpaul01@syr.edu

is director of the sports analytics program and a professor in the Department of Sport Management in the David B. Falk College of Sport.

Paul is a sports economist with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and extensive experience consulting for professional leagues and teams. He has been featured on NPR, Forbes and in CFO Magazine on topics ranging from TV rights deals to franchise finances.

Paul can discuss the economics of hosting, including revenue projections, infrastructure costs and whether host cities recoup their investments. He can also explore ticket pricing, broadcast rights and the financial windfall for FIFA and its sponsor brands. Paul is also available to discuss how increased U.S. viewership and a home tournament could accelerate the growth of MLS and professional soccer investment in North America.

Football, Film and African Culture

Vlad Dima | vdima@syr.edu

is a professor of African American studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. Dima is the author of “The Beautiful Skin: Football, Fantasy and Cinematic Bodies in Africa” (Michigan State University Press), a landmark examination of soccer’s cultural meaning across the African continent. His research spans francophone cinema, cultural studies and the politics of sport as spectacle. He was recently interviewed by the Los Angeles Times on soccer’s growing popularity in the United States.

Dima can discuss the importance of soccer as a cultural identity and what the tournament means for African nations and diaspora communities; how media representations of African and Global South players shape narratives of race and nationhood; and the tournament as soft power—how countries use the World Cup stage to project national identity on a global screen.

Geopolitics and International Security

Corri Zoli |��cbzoli@syr.edu

is an associate teaching professor of political science and a senior research scholar in global affairs and international security in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs | College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). Zoli is a scholar of international security, global conflict and the intersection of law and cross-cultural dynamics. Based in the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute, Zoli’s interdisciplinary work addresses how international institutions navigate political tensions, a lens directly applicable to a tournament that brings together nations with competing global interests.

Zoli can speak about the World Cup as a geopolitical arena; how FIFA navigates relations with sanctioned states, contested territories and authoritarian hosts; what goes into security planning and counterterrorism logistics for a multi-city, multination tournament on U.S. soil; the diplomatic stakes when rival nations meet on the pitch; and what sport reveals about the limits of soft power.

Before the first match kicks off, a group of students has already run thousands of simulations to predict who will lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

The has published its , featuring game-by-game forecasts, heat maps and predictions for each group and for each nation.

President Evan Pegorsch ’27, a sport analytics and economics major in the and data analyst for the Orange’s men’s soccer team, and Noah Bair ’28, a sport analytics major, discuss their predictive model, who they think will win it all and the U.S. team’s chances of advancing out of their group and into the knockout stage.

What makes the model stand out?

Noah Bair: We wanted to study those contributing factors to team success at the World Cup—roster quality, previous World Cup experience, how teams have historically performed and whether a team has a veteran or a first-time coach—to think about our predictive model as sports fans rather than analysts. What important characteristics are missing, and how can we add to the research?

Evan Pegorsch: We’re providing the data to back up why we think a team is going to win or lose. We don’t just rely on FIFA rankings. We also factor in how many players each team has on the Ballon d’Or rankings [a list of the top 30 players in the world], how each team performs playing in different temperatures, how long the coach has been with the team and other key indicators. If you just went off the FIFA world rankings, our model overperformed that baseline by 15%.

Who are the favorites to win the World Cup?

Pegorsch: The consensus favorite is Spain, but my number one is France. Their attack is overpowering, they have enough depth in other key areas, and the defense is looking good. Then it’s Spain. Then you must include Messi and Argentina, which has great team chemistry and a willingness to fight for each other. Then I’d go with England and Portugal, which has a talented midfield and a defense that’s on the rise.

Bair: France is my number one, based on what they’ve done historically—they won it all in 2018 and were runners-up in 2022. That historical dominance along with the quality of players is going to take them very far. Then it’s Argentina. Anytime Lionel Messi is on the field you have a chance to win. Then I like Portugal. The quality in their midfield is second to none. England having a new manager is going to help, and this is an invigorated team with a lot of young talent that can bring home the trophy. I’m also high on the Netherlands. They have a deep team and one of the best benches in the World Cup.

What will be the impact of an expanded field and multiple co-host nations?

Bair: For the first time, we have three co-host nations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and 48 participating teams, the largest field in World Cup history. This will create an unexpected challenge. Unlike during their domestic season when matches are centralized and you might be traveling 30-40 miles for matches, these teams will be traveling across countries and for far greater distances than they’re used to, which could definitely impact the matches.

Pegorsch: Travel fatigue is going to be a big factor in this tournament. Teams will have to adapt to added travel and shorter rest times between matches. And adding more teams decreases the likelihood of every single country winning it all in our model. The top teams have a smaller chance of winning it all than they have in the past, because there’s more potential for upsets and more variance.

How far does the model think the U.S. will advance?

Pegorsch: Our model gives them a 4% chance to win it all. Being on home soil helps. I worry about the goalkeeper, which is a huge area of weakness. When you get later into the World Cup rounds, the chances of dealing with either a penalty kick or penalty kick shootout increase, and I don’t trust our goalkeeping there. But there’s a lot of excitement around the U.S. and it’s realistic for them to reach the quarterfinals.

Bair: As tournament hosts, they’ve been given a favorable draw and don’t have a great contender in their group. The U.S. is the favorite to win Group D [88.7% to advance] and make the knockout stage. The talent is there to make it to the quarterfinals, and the U.S. will get a boost playing in front of the home crowd. But realistically, I think the team will lose in the round of 16.

What’s a dark horse country with the talent to make a deep run?

Bair: Ecuador is an up-and-coming team with some quality players who have been on the rise since 2022. Because Ecuador doesn’t have that historic success on the national stage, the data will likely say they’re not going to go very far, but Ecuador has one of the best defenses in the world, and at the World Cup, defense can carry a team.

Pegorsch: The model is high on Norway. They have one of the best players in the world in Erling Haaland, and while Norway is 29th or 30th in the FIFA rankings [at the time the data was collected], we have them with the 11th best odds to win because they have strong attacking options.

Serena Williams made headlines this week with her return to professional tennis at age 44, entering the doubles draw at the HSBC Championships in London after nearly four years away from the sport. But beyond the fanfare, what does her comeback actually demand of her body?

Matthew Armstrong, assistant professor in the Department of Exercise Science in the David B. Falk College of Sport, says the cardiovascular realities of competing at 44 are significant—and measurable.

The most concrete factor, Armstrong explains, is maximum heart rate (HR), which declines approximately 0.7 to 1 beat per minute per year—a rate that holds regardless of sex or training background. Over two-plus decades of a career, that adds up.

“A 20-year-old would be able to achieve a max HR about 24 BPM higher than a 44-year-old Serena,” Armstrong says. “That is a large delta that would make a difference.”

As for the reconditioning process itself, Armstrong says the fundamentals don’t change much at the elite level. “Realistically, the training is the same. It’s just hard work that needs to be done in order to get to a level that you can compete at.”

One key variable, he notes, is how active Williams remained during her hiatus. “If she has done very little training during her break then the comeback will be difficult—but if she has been training consistently, even though it would not be to a pro athlete standard, then this would make it easier.”

Elite athletes do carry certain cardiovascular advantages into later career stages—structural adaptations like enlarged chamber size and increased stroke volume that make the heart more efficient—but those advantages only go so far against the natural decline in aerobic capacity that comes with age.

With the HSBC Championships beginning June 8, Armstrong says the most fascinating question may be one that only time—and performance data—can answer: whether Williams’ speed, power and endurance on court today match what she brought to the game in the past.

Professor Armstrong is available for interview. If you’d like to connect with him, send written questions or learn more, email Daryl Lovell: dalovell@syr.edu.��

In the mid-1990s, a Syracuse radio reporter broadcasting from a helicopter described a line of students stretching from Steele Hall across the Quad to College Place and beyond—all waiting to register for classes. Ann Marie McGinnis was listening on her way to work��as the University’s associate registrar for registration and scheduling.

“As the person who managed the process, I knew it would be a challenging day ahead,” McGinnis recalled years later. “Administrators vowed to never let it happen again.”

It was McGinnis who made sure of that.

McGinnis joined the University in 1977 as a student receptionist in the Registrar’s Office. Over the decades, she rose through eight roles—from data coordinator to manager to director—before landing in her current position, a data analyst in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) | Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs’ .

Her response to that infamous registration logjam became one of her most enduring contributions. McGinnis developed AutoReg, an automated system that built course schedules for incoming first-year students before they arrived on campus. The University has since moved to commercial scheduling tools, but AutoReg established the model still in use today.

She followed that with ePort, a degree-tracking check sheet she built, updated with every curriculum change and emailed to every A&S student before each registration period—something no other office at the University did. A transfer credit database she developed became the foundation for a system later adopted university-wide by the Registrar’s Office. The First Term Enrollment System she built was eventually adapted into the University’s current Qualtrics process.

In her current role, McGinnis designs and maintains Tableau dashboards that give advisors real-time visibility into student enrollment status, holds, credit levels, flags and progress toward degree completion. The tool enables staff to intervene early rather than react too late.

Her degree certification dashboard cut the time required to process approximately 1,000 degrees each spring from six weeks to three. A separate retention tracking system monitors every incoming cohort from first semester through graduation, providing what Stephen LeBeau, director of operations for the Office of Student Success, calls the “gold standard” for understanding and improving student outcomes.

“At 48 years of service, Ann Marie remains on the front line of student success because of the unique way she adapts, modifies and evolves,” says Steve Schaffling, assistant dean for student success. “Without her, our nationally recognized Office of Student Success would not be what it is.”

McGinnis has been recognized with the�� in the category of Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives—one of the University’s highest staff honors. The award caps a 48-year career that has shaped how A&S registers, tracks, advises and graduates its students.

“There isn’t a student or advisor who walks this campus today that hasn’t benefited from Ann Marie’s dedication,” Cindy Zazzara, an assistant director in the Office of Student Success, wrote in a nomination letter.

University Registrar Kelly Campbell, one of several colleagues who submitted letters of support, noted that McGinnis recognized early that effective advising requires both human expertise and the right tools. She spent her career building those tools before the rest of higher education caught up.

“Long before ‘analytics’ and ‘student success dashboards’ were common in higher education, she was designing proprietary tools and early appointment-tracking systems to streamline workflows and improve transparency,” wrote Francesco Riverso, the Falk College of Sport’s director of corporate partnerships and external advancement.

The Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence is presented annually at the��One University Awards Ceremony, recognizing individuals whose work has enhanced the student experience or advanced the University’s mission.

Before the incoming class of sport analytics students take their first class in the��, they receive a life lesson from , chair of the sport analytics department.

Paul, a sports economist, highlights how recent graduates are blazing a trail across the sports landscape. He then tells the newest sport analytics students that they, too, are destined to make a lasting impact as some of the best and brightest minds.

“It can be scary starting off at college, but when they think about all the wonderful things they are going to accomplish in their careers, it’s rewarding seeing how excited students get about their futures,” Paul says. “That’s what keeps me going.”

The message hit home for Gavin Stein ’26 and Jacob Kalamvokis ’26, who assembled the nomination that helped Paul receive the (SOURCE) Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring.

“He’s sharing how sport analytics graduates are taking over the world, and that you’re all going to continue that,” Stein says. “To an 18-year-old freshman who hadn’t even taken a class yet, Dr. Paul’s words left a lasting impression.”

“I was nervous after that speech, because I was just starting here, but I was ready to run through a brick wall. I knew I could do anything I wanted to,” Kalamvokis says.

An Investment in the Next Generation of Leaders

The annual SOURCE Award is based on student nominations, honoring faculty members who provide exceptional guidance to undergraduate researchers. During the ceremony, which was held on March 26, Kalamvokis and Stein presented the award to Paul, reading excerpts from their nominations to those in attendance.

Stein and Kalamvokis say Paul is passionate about supporting student-driven research, and that, through a willingness to lend a helping hand or offer constructive feedback, Paul exemplifies what it means to invest in the next generation of sport analytics leaders.

Paul views his role as part cheerleader, part coach: there to share his expertise and position the students in a place where they can succeed.

“As educators, our end goal is to help our students live out their dreams by working in this industry,” Paul says. “They put their faith in us to help them fulfill those dreams. We encourage them and set them up for success once they graduate.”

Wins on the National Stage

The confidence Paul instilled in them on day one has fueled their growth as researchers.

Competing head-to-head against teams of law school students from across the country, Stein and classmates Liam Roberts ’26 and Sam Otley ’26 became the first team of undergraduate researchers to Tulane Professional Basketball Negotiation Competition in February.

Stein and Kalamvokis have also presented their research at marquee events, including the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Analytics Conference, the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and the Arizona State NBA Trade Deadline competition.

“From freshman year, I’ve known I want to work in the NBA, but I truly couldn’t have imagined back then being in the position I am in now,” Stein says. “The trust and support that Dr. Paul showed in all of us from literally the second we stepped on campus is what has driven all of us to accomplish what we have at Syracuse.”

Kalamvokis and sport analytics Associate Professor presented “Statistical Accuracy of Sports Betting Markets and Their Efficiency” at the 2025 International Association of Sports Economists Conference in Las Vegas.

“Dr. Paul is a huge driving force for what the student researchers can do here. He’s such a special, unique leader,” says Kalamvokis, named an inaugural Class of 2026 Falk College Scholar. “He’s the beating heart of this program, the father of sport analytics on campus, and knowing he’s in your corner gives you freedom and the confidence to go out and pursue your dreams.”

“It’s amazing to see what our students are capable of,” Paul says. “Getting to watch our students grow and evolve, I’m blessed and lucky to be a part of that.”

Three ������ seniors are about to do something no one has done before: graduate with a degree in .

Ryan Blankenhorn ’26, Cole Hilary ’26 and Brianna Nechifor ’26 were drawn to the interdisciplinary program for its blend of sport management, digital media and gaming through classes offered by the�� and the .

They entered with different esports backgrounds—Blankenhorn as an avid gamer, caster and coach, and Hilary and Nechifor producing, directing and supporting the live streaming of varsity esports competitions—and will leave as trailblazers, the first students with an esports degree.

“I came to Syracuse because I wanted to help this esports program grow, which I knew would advance my career at the same time,” says Blankenhorn, who broadcasts Syracuse’s varsity esports competitions. “To be part of the inaugural class that sets the stage for future esports students really means a lot.”

Leading up to Commencement, the trio reflects on making history and shares how the degree will help with their post-graduation career goals.

How special is it to be part of the inaugural esports graduating class?

Ryan Blankenhorn: “I wanted to leave something behind not only as a legacy, but as something that future generations of students can build on what we started. This program required risk-taking, ambition and desire, and while there may only be three of us graduating now, there’s going to be a lot more students graduating in the next four years. I appreciate knowing there are people who are going to continue to grow that foundation.”

Cole Hilary: “This is a conversation starter and will give us a huge leg up. This degree gave all of us so many different skills, from communications to event management and event production, and those skills can easily transfer over to other industries. It’s a valuable degree that will open a lot of doors.”

Brianna Nechifor: “It’s amazing being part of this first class. That’s why I joined, to make a lasting impact. I wanted to take those first steps for students like me who want to make a career out of esports. I wanted to be part of making history. This has been a great experience. I’ll be sad to go but I’m very happy we have left this imprint because esports is a major that offers students so many interesting opportunities.”

How has the esports degree program left a lasting impression on you?

Hilary: “I chose a business focus because I was receiving plenty of hands-on experience on the esports production side and I wanted to balance my skills. The business side has shown me how much I like marketing esports and working with companies to advance esports. Learning how to plan esports events helped me see the field in a different way.”

Nechifor: “When the degree program became a reality, I wanted to gain tangible skills that can carry over to jobs in the fields of sports, esports, traditional entertainment and business management. It has been amazing, building up this program and being part of the first graduating class. I love the direction this program has taken.”

Blankenhorn: “Esports is a relatively new industry. Whether you’re an event organizer, a coach, a student competitor or a caster, you’re constantly going to be changing as the industry evolves. I learned how to become a problem-solver while learning how to stay calm under pressure. This management major helped me understand that things are going to go wrong no matter how thorough your plan is. I’ve learned how to become a leader, someone who knows how to adapt.”

What are your post-graduation plans?

Nechifor: “I’ve accepted a full-time role as a broadcast multi-skilled operator at Gravity Media on assignment with Riot Games. Gravity Media is a remote broadcast center for Riot Games. This is honestly my dream job! I’ll be working in Washington state starting in June, and I cannot wait to make an impact there!”

Blankenhorn: “I’m beginning a master’s in management and human resources program at the University of Tennessee while helping grow Tennessee’s esports program. They’ve had an esports club program for more than a decade, and I want to help Tennessee become the first SEC Division I school to earn varsity esports status.”

Hilary: “I want to run my own production team or serve as a content director for a professional organization. I’ve always enjoyed creating content, and with esports, I love being able to share that content and those stories live with the audience. Being able to tell a story live and use that content to entice and excite people to watch a competition motivates me.”

The Class of 2026 is wrapping up final assignments, studying for exams and gearing up for their next adventure. But the days before Commencement are a chance to take in everything campus has to offer one last time, whether it’s a final cup of coffee at People’s Place in Hendricks Chapel, a farewell slice of pizza at Varsity or a laughter-filled stroll through the Quad with friends.

Eight seniors shared with ������ Today the one thing they need to do before they go.

Daniel Baris, a sport analytics and statistics major in the and the (A&S): “Win a championship in intramural wiffleball. My team has come close in the past, and I feel like this could be our year.”

Caiyan Bass, a communication sciences and disorders major in A&S and a Remembrance Scholar: “Take a trip up the Mount to visit Flint Hall, my freshman year residence hall. Walking through campus and the Quad to get to the top of the Mount steps was something I did every day when I first got to Syracuse. Going back would serve as a fun moment to not only remember that uphill trek, but also to reflect on everything the past four years have taught and given me.”

Juinkye Chiang, an architecture major in the : “I want to build a full-scale mockup of my architectural design, as this will be one of the only opportunities I will ever have to access the advanced fabrication facilities in Slocum Hall.”

Tommy DaSilva, a public health, policy studies and citizenship and civic engagement major in the and a Remembrance Scholar: “Have a movie night with friends. With college ending, I know that there is a very low possibility that I will live so close to all my friends again, so I want to make the most of our last few weeks together through our film nights.”

Janese Fayson, a marketing��and��finance��major in the�� and executive vice president of the (SGA): “Visit every academic building on campus. Somehow, there are still a few I’ve never stepped foot in, and it feels important to experience all the spaces that make up the University before I leave. It’s a way of fully taking in everything Syracuse has to offer while closing this chapter feeling complete.”

Joy Mao, a television, radio and film major in the��, policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a Remembrance Scholar: “I took Fashion and Portraiture with Professor Gregory Heisler my sophomore year. It was an impactful class for my creative brain. One of the photographers we researched was Margaret Bourke-White, the first female photographer for Life magazine and the first female war correspondent. She gave her work to the University after she retired. I would like to visit the in Bird Library prior to graduation.”

Emma Muchnick, a sport management major in the Falk College and a midfielder on the : “Before I graduate, I want to win a national championship. To be able to bring back a national championship to Syracuse with this group would be so special and a perfect way to cap off my time as a student-athlete here. I’m so proud to represent this University and I want to do it on the biggest stage.”

German Nolivos, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S, public relations major in the Newhouse School, SGA president and a Remembrance Scholar: “Visit the chimes in the bell tower in Crouse College. It’s such a meaningful and recognizable part of the University, representing the history and tradition that defines the Syracuse experience. Being able to stand there before graduating feels like a full-circle moment.”

From partnering with students in the classroom to building cross-campus collaboration that led to real-time improvements, the University’s commitment to meaningful assessment took center stage at the seventh annual One University Assessment Celebration on April 10. The event, hosted by Academic Affairs and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE), included awards and poster presentations.

In her opening remarks, Julie Hasenwinkel, associate provost for academic programs, highlighted the importance of celebrating the many ways faculty, staff and students engaged in assessment across the University over the past year.

Awards were given in five categories.

• Institutional Effectiveness Champions: This award honors campus community members who champion meaningful assessment and who have made outstanding contributions to the University’s culture of improvement. The recipients were:
  • Academic programs: Xiyuan Liu, associate teaching professor, Dean’s Faculty Fellow for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Co-curricular programs: Emily Dittman, director, ������ Art Museum
  • Course feedback: Magdelín Montenegro, part-time instructor, Spanish, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Shared competencies: ‘Cuse Works
  • Shared competencies student champion: Fetch Collective magazine
• Outstanding Assessment: This award recognizes a distinguished academic, co-curricular and functional area for overall robust assessment. The recipients were:
  • Academic: Library and information science master’s degree program, School of Information Studies
  • Co-curricular: Disability Cultural Center
  • Functional: Office of Pre-College Programs
• Best Engagement Strategies: This award recognizes the engagement of faculty, staff and students in the assessment process. The recipients were:
  • Faculty engagement: Ash Heim and Vera McIlvain, the biology department, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Staff engagement: Arts at SU
  • Student engagement: Linguistic studies master’s degree program, College of Arts and Sciences
• Best Use of Results: This award recognizes an academic, co-curricular and functional area for how assessment results are used in making decisions. The recipients were:
  • Academic: Bachelor’s of biomedical engineering degree program, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Co-curricular: LGBTQ+ Resource Center
  • Functional: ������ Libraries
• Collaborative Inquiry and Action: This award recognizes a partnership that extends beyond a single school, college, division or unit and uses strong assessment methods and data as a catalyst for improvement. The recipient was:
  • First Year Seminar

Following the awards, 2025 poster presenters were acknowledged for their efforts to collaborate, experiment, reflect and innovate in their areas over this academic year. Assessment Leadership Institute faculty participants included:

• Ben Akih Kumgeh, Xiyuan Liu, Karen Martinez Soto, Anupam Pandey and Mehmet Sarimurat, mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Alex Méndez Giner, film and media arts, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Ash Heim and Vera McIlvain, biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jane Read, geography and the environment, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Nancy Rindfuss, nutrition and food studies, Falk College of Sport

Recipients of the 2025-26 “Student Engagement in Assessment” grant included:

• Civil and environmental engineering: Yilei Shi
• Civil and environmental engineering: Svetoslava Todorova
• Communication sciences and disorders: Charles Nudelman
• Environment, sustainability and policy: Jane Read
• Nutrition science: Claire Cooney, Nikki Beckwith
• Setnor School of Music: Klark Johnson
• School of Social Work: Nadaya Brantley
• The Writing Center: Collie Fulford

Closing the event, Laura Harrington, director of institutional effectiveness, reflected on the deeper meaning of the work: “At its root, the word ‘assess’ comes from Latin, meaning ‘to sit beside.’ This is what it asks of us: to sit beside our work, take stock of what we see, and take action… Assessment isn’t a requirement. It’s a practice,” Harrington said.

Explore photos, award highlights and full poster presentations on the .

Story by A’yla James

Students everywhere commonly dream of gliding straight from a high-profile internship into a job with the same employer. That dream came true for three sport management majors from David B. Falk College of Sport who interned at The Montag Group in recent years.

Based in New York City, The Montag Group represents more than 200 of the nation’s top sports broadcasters, along with coaches, chefs, and entertainers (see accompanying story). Its Founder & President is Sandy Montag ’85, a highly respected 40-year veteran of the sports industry.

Using Falk College Connections

To get her internship, Caroline Johnson ’21 started by connecting with Kate Ruben ’15, who was The Montag Group’s intern coordinator. Today, Ruben is director of brand marketing for Excel Sports Management. She’s also a member of the , a group of Falk College’s most committed young alumni who provide guidance to current students.

Johnson interviewed and got the internship. But disaster hit only a few months before her start date. In March 2020, much of the country began shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Montag Group decided to continue its internships, but to make them remote.

“I was completely remote,” Johnson says, “but I still loved it. They did a great job of making me feel like I was still part of the team.”

The diverse projects helped her see what areas of sport management interested her the most,�� Johnson says.

She interned from June through December 2020, an unusually long time because The Montag Group let Johnson add her capstone project to the normal three-month internship. Then near the end came a surprise: Ruben told Johnson that Sandy Montag was looking for a new executive assistant and asked if she was interested in the job.

“I obviously said yes,” Johnson says.

She says she believes Ruben helped pave the way for her hiring.

Johnson still had to finish her final semester at Falk College, so between classes she had Zoom calls with Montag’s current assistant to learn the job. She started working at The Montag Group immediately after graduating.

The Montag Group was acquired in 2022 by THE·TEAM, and today, Johnson is senior manager of operations for the company’s in-house speaker’s bureau. Once a client signs a contract for a speaking appearance, Johnson takes over to handle all the logistics.

“No two events are the same,” Johnson says, “so it’s a lot of variation day-to-day, which I like.”

Falk College’s sport management program is “completely the reason I am where I am today in my career,” Johnson says.

“The attention you get as a student is just one of a kind, and the professors are so knowledgeable and they have real-world experience,” she says. “They really stressed the importance of putting yourself out there professionally, putting your best foot forward professionally, and making connections as early as possible with people in the industry.”

Johnson made many of those connections through her work with the ������ chapter of , where she served as vice president and then president, and with the . In her junior year, Johnson co-chaired the club’s annual . Her work in both groups gave Johnson many opportunities to connect with Falk College alumni.

Creating His Own Job

As his remote internship at The Montag Group started winding down, Luca Giacobbe ’22 was on a companywide Zoom call when someone said the agency was going to hire a couple of entry-level people.

“I’m the only one on the call that wasn’t working for the company full time,” Giacobbe says, “So my alarm bells start going off. How can I get considered for one of these jobs?”

He told the agency’s internship coordinator that he was “super interested” in staying, and she told him to hang tight because they were early in the process. He continued working hard, both on projects and on developing his colleagues’ trust. Those efforts included spending a week in Manhattan at The Montag Group’s office so he could meet his colleagues in person.

A day or two before his internship ended, a new meeting suddenly appeared on Giacobbe’s calendar. It was with Sandy Montag.

Montag told Giacobbe that he’d done a great job, and a lot of his colleagues had advocated for hiring him. Would he like to be Montag’s executive assistant? After thinking it over, he said yes.

From that start, Giacobbe has risen to become the agency’s communications manager – a new position he created with guidance and support from his colleagues.

“There’s opportunity for our agents and our clients to be out talking about the sports industry and to position ourselves as thought leaders,” Giacobbe says.

Speaking engagements, panel discussions, podcasts, social media, article placements and other outlets all offer opportunities, he says.

At Falk College, Giacobbe remembers that professors and advisors, including advisors specifically dedicated to internships, emphasized networking and connecting students with alumni.

“The biggest thing that I learned from Syracuse was about relationships and building meaningful ones, not just having a call with someone and not talking to them again,” Giacobbe says.