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

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

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

Search Committee Members

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

Other members of the search committee are:

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

Campus Engagement Opportunities

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

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

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

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

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

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how governments operate, how universities teach and how public institutions make decisions.

That was the central message of a recent fireside chat hosted by the . Dean moderated the conversation which brought together two leaders working at the forefront of AI adoption: , commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services (OGS), and , ������’s senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer.

“The question before us is not whether AI will transform public life,” Van Slyke said. “It’s whether our institutions are ready to lead that transformation thoughtfully, equitably and effectively.”

Personalizing Learning and Expanding Access

Rubin opened the March 26 event with a claim about the stakes for higher education: AI, he said, has the potential to transform how universities teach in ways not seen in 200 years. “The idea of a professor standing in front of a room, lecturing—and students taking notes and then being assessed through projects, papers and exams—that model has not shifted,” he said. “What AI allows you to do is personalize learning.”

Personalization at scale has long been a challenge because no instructor can simultaneously tailor a course to every student’s pace and needs, he said. AI changes that equation.

Rubin shared how Syracuse has deployed more than 30,000 AI licenses across campus to drive equitable access and data security. Some students had already purchased AI tools on their own, while others could not afford them, he pointed out. Faculty and staff also needed a secure environment for uploading sensitive documents without routing data through commercial platforms.

Rubin also highlighted a less-discussed dimension of the University’s AI work: a private wireless network, built in partnership with JMA Wireless, that supports thermal sensors in academic buildings across campus. The sensors detect occupancy without capturing identifying information, allowing the University to optimize janitorial services, plan building capacity and, eventually, adjust heating and cooling based on actual use patterns.

A Measured Approach to Government AI

Moy noted that the state’s deliberate pace of technology adoption is a necessary safeguard rather than a liability. “I would contend that it’s important that government is risk-averse,” she said. “The information that we hold is really important—Medicaid data, health data, testing information. The importance of that stewardship becomes paramount.”

Her office oversees roughly 30 million square feet of state real estate, manages 1,500 procurement contracts valued at $44 billion and administers a design and construction portfolio of approximately $5.7 billion. Moy described the agency’s AI strategy as a measured approach. It involves first identifying low-risk, high-value applications, then building the data infrastructure to support them, and ensuring legal and operational frameworks are in place before scaling.

Moy said one of OGS’s most tangible AI investments is in procurement search. Agencies and municipalities navigating the state’s contract catalog often struggle to find what they need, undermining the efficiency those contracts are designed to provide. Moy said AI-assisted search is a logical starting point: low risk, no job displacement and an immediate opportunity to test what the technology can do.

The agency is also piloting AI-powered document summarization tools for bid documents and contract histories which are reported to save up to three hours per day.

Moy noted that backlogs present another opportunity, as they are a universal challenge across the public sector. She explained that while AI could help alleviate some of those challenges, agencies must be cautious; they cannot hand out productivity tools to every worker without first creating the right frameworks.

Jobs, Regulation and What Comes Next

Both speakers addressed audience concerns about AI’s impact on jobs—a topic that has gained urgency in New York following Governor Kathy Hochul’s , which is tasked with studying AI’s effects on the labor market.

Rubin cited research suggesting that less than 1% of the 1.2 million layoffs recorded in 2025 were directly attributable to AI, arguing that economic factors and structural business decisions are doing more to reshape the workforce than the technology itself. He expressed confidence that AI will ultimately create more jobs than it displaces, though he acknowledged that every job will change.

“If you don’t know how to incorporate AI into your domain and discipline, you will be at a disadvantage,” he said. “Students need to have the tools and the classes.”

Moy recalled the dot-com era and the transformation of publishing that upended models at institutions like the Brooklyn Public Library, where she once served as chief strategy officer. The fear and exuberance that accompanied those transitions, she said, mirrors what society is experiencing today.

“We want to make sure that we’re thinking about it ethically, that we’re balancing it according to public need,” she said. “And we’re having active conversations about those trade-offs.”

Both panelists returned repeatedly to the theme of transparency in AI systems, government data and institutional communications.

Rubin pointed to Anthropic’s practice of publishing system prompts as a model for responsible AI deployment and noted that Syracuse recently launched an AI-powered course search tool, called , that similarly makes its operating parameters visible. He also raised the challenge of AI-generated media and the difficulty of distinguishing real content from fabricated content online.

An Open and Ongoing Dialogue

The conversation drew questions from the audience.

A first-year Maxwell student and member of the University’s United AI club asked what precedent a recent court ruling holding social media platforms liable for algorithmic harm to minors sets for the future of AI regulation and whether platforms like ChatGPT should face similar oversight.

Rubin was direct: “We made the mistake with social media. These companies should have an obligation to have guardrails.”

Moy pointed to Hochul’s recent policy proposals targeting addictive technology, including requirements for more restrictive default settings on children’s accounts. She acknowledged that government is often a step behind rapid technological change, but argued that intervention becomes necessary when innovation results in public harm.

A second student raised concerns about AI’s potential to enable fraud, including falsified documents and biased algorithms.

“These are very real questions,” she said, emphasizing that OGS is working to understand its uses and risks. She argued that the answer isn’t avoiding AI but understanding it well enough to spot its misuse. “If we don’t understand it, we will fall behind.”

Rubin agreed, framing the detection challenge as both technological and philosophical: As AI becomes embedded in everything from autocomplete to document editing, defining what counts as “AI-generated” becomes increasingly difficult. “My gut is almost every piece of content out there will have some AI piece to it, assisting us,” he said. “So, it’s a technology challenge and a societal challenge.”

Van Slyke closed by noting that Maxwell’s role in preparing students for public service has always meant equipping them not just with technical knowledge, but with the ability to navigate the policy, governance and ethical dimensions that accompany it.

“The question is not what will AI do to our institutions,” he said. “It’s what will we choose to do with it.”

When Gerry McNamara ’06 walked into the Dome the first time as a highly touted basketball recruit, he knew ������ was the right place to play basketball and win championships.

Twenty-six years later, McNamara has a similar vision, only this time, McNamara is tasked with returning men’s basketball to national prominence as the program’s ninth head coach.

“Anybody that knows me knows why I’m here. I’m here to win. It’s who I am and it’s who I will always be,” McNamara said to more than 2,000 Orange fans who packed Miron Victory Court Monday afternoon for his introductory press conference.

Among those who offered remarks were Chancellor-elect J. Michael Haynie, incoming Director of Athletics Bryan Blair and Director of Athletics John Wildhack ’80, who said McNamara was the perfect candidate because he “epitomizes what Syracuse basketball is [all about].”

“Gerry’s ready for this. We didn’t choose Gerry because he’s an alum, or his number 3 hangs from the rafters in the JMA Wireless Dome,” Wildhack said. “He’s the right person at the right time to lead our program.”

Recognizing that “Syracuse basketball is embedded in the soul of this University,” Chancellor-elect Haynie echoed Wildhack’s sentiment, welcoming McNamara “back where he belongs, back in Orange.”

“What stood out about Gerry wasn’t just his resume, which is impressive. It wasn’t just the results, though they speak for themselves,” Haynie said. “Every person who worked with Gerry, every reference that we talked to said the same thing. They said he makes people better. He holds them to a high standard. He cares about them as people, not just as athletes. That he’s the kind of leader that we would want for our student-athletes.”

McNamara expressed gratitude to return to the place where he starred for four years.

“I can’t even tell you how honored, how blessed I am for this moment to be here. It really is kind of a dream come true for us,” said McNamara, who helped the Orange win the 2003 men’s basketball national championship.

It’s a dream McNamara wasn’t sure he’d ever get after leaving Syracuse in March of 2024. After 14 seasons as an assistant coach and one season as associate head coach, McNamara took over as Siena University’s head men’s basketball coach.

But following two successful seasons, including guiding the Saints into the 2026 NCAA Division I tournament for the first time in 16 years, McNamara is back with the Orange.

“During the four-year stretch of my [undergraduate] experience, my love grew for the people of this city, for the University that gave me the opportunity to showcase my gifts on the biggest stage,” said McNamara.

Get to know McNamara and his message for the Orange community.

Winning Is in G-Mac’s DNA

McNamara’s playing days at Syracuse were defined by wins. Not only did the Orange win the national title in 2003, Syracuse made the NCAA tournament in four consecutive seasons, compiling a 103-32 overall record with two Big East postseason championships.

Winning also matters to Bryan Blair, the Orange’s new director of athletics who was tasked with hiring a new basketball coach. After an initial phone conversation about the job, McNamara sat down for a face-to-face conversation with Blair, who leaned in close, looked him in the eyes and said “I want to win. No matter what, I want to win.”

“That statement from Bryan, for me, was where this went from being like an interview to motivationally aligned,” McNamara said. “We’re lockstep: same mentality, same goals, same direction.”

McNamara told current and future Syracuse students that, as part of their college experience, the basketball team “needs to be good. That should be non-negotiable. … That should be part of your journey as a student. It should be so much fun because the basketball team is so good. … I’m going to do my best to work my rear end off to change it.”

Relationships Stand the Test of Time

McNamara credited his parents, Gerard and Joyce, for teaching him “everything I feel like I am as a person, as a man, as a husband and a father.”

After McNamara was offered the opportunity to take over at his alma mater, one of the first things McNamara did was FaceTime with his parents to let them know “I’m about to sign a contract to be the head coach at ������. [It was] one of the great things and memories of my life.”

In the name, image and likeness (NIL) age, where student-athletes have agents and eye lucrative sponsorship deals, McNamara emphasized the importance of the relationships he builds.

“For me to truly be at my best, there’s that communication level and relationship building,” McNamara said. “To me, the relationships and the love for a place are always going to stand the test of time.”

G-Mac Learned to Love Basketball From His Dad

Before he set school records for ������—and before he was the two-time Associated Press Pennsylvania Boys High School Small School Player of the Year and the 2002 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year for Bishop Hannan (now known as Holy Cross)—McNamara was simply a basketball enthusiast.

“I loved basketball, and because I loved it, my father gave me as much of it as I could absorb, [from playing in] different leagues to [getting the] key to the gym at Holy Rosary Parish,” said McNamara, the Orange’s leader in career three-pointers made, free throw percentage and minutes played.

Simple Formula for Success

Between frequent travel for games and recruiting trips and late nights at the office watching game film, the life of a college basketball coach can be complicated.

But at home, surrounded by sons, Gerry and Patrick, and daughters, Maggie and Grace, McNamara says he’s found a simple formula for success. It all starts with his wife, Katie, a fellow Scranton native.

“Going into the last job [at Siena], Katie said, ‘Our happiness is simple’,” Gerry said. “And the way I took that was, ‘Yes, it is. It’s very simple because it’s us.’ It’s always going to be us. We’re in this together always. But as I take this job, it’s not as simple as that. Our happiness is simple because you make it so easy for us to be happy. There’s no one I love and truly admire more than you.”

Three ������ faculty members—, and —have been named fellows of the (AAAS). The highly prestigious designation recognizes extraordinary achievements and contributions to the advancement of science.

Fifteen Syracuse faculty members have been named AAAS Fellows since 2004. This is the first time the honor has gone to three professors in a single year.

“This is one of the most distinguished honors a researcher can receive, and I am incredibly proud that three of our exceptional faculty members have earned this recognition,” says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “Their work reflects ������’s deep commitment to advancing knowledge that matters, both within our fields and for the world at large. We congratulate them on this well-deserved honor and look forward to the continued impact of their scholarship.”

Duncan Brown

Brown, the Charles Brightman Endowed Professor of Physics in the (A&S), has served as the University’s vice president for research since 2022. An internationally recognized leader in gravitational-wave astronomy, he was a founding member of the search for merging black holes that led to the discovery of gravitational waves with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).

His current research focuses on the development of Cosmic Explorer, a proposed next-generation ground-based gravitational-wave observatory, and the use of gravitational-wave observations to explore the nuclear equation of state.

AAAS recognized Brown for “foundational contributions enabling the search for and discovery of gravitational waves from black hole and neutron star coalescences, and for leadership in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Cosmic Explorer.”

Kevin Crowston

Crowston is a distinguished professor of information science in the . His research explores how information and communication technology—particularly the internet and artificial intelligence—changes the way people work. He and his colleagues have explored Free/Libre Open Source Software development, citizen science, data science teamwork and the future of journalism, using a mix of observation, theory-building and tool design. His most recent project, supported by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, examines the impact of generative AI on human skill development and retention, particularly in programming.

AAAS recognized Crowston for “distinguished contributions to information science through groundbreaking research on coordination theory and virtual organizations, exceptional editorial leadership and dedicated service building interdisciplinary communities studying technology-mediated work.”

Lisa Manning

Manning is the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics in A&S. Her research uses computer modeling and physics-based theory to understand how groups of cells behave in living tissue and how materials like glass or sand deform and break down.

Her work has real-world implications for cancer, wound healing, embryonic development and asthma. In 2019, she was named a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), an honor given to just half of 1% of the professional organization’s membership. She served as founding director of the from 2019-23.

AAAS recognized Manning for “distinguished contributions to the theory of mechanical response and adaptation in biological materials.”

Distinguished Group

Brown, Crowston and Manning join 12 other Syracuse faculty members previously named AAAS Fellows: , distinguished professor of physics (2024); , professor of physics and interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (2023); , associate professor of biology (2023); , professor of electrical engineering and computer science (2018); , University Professor of Environmental Systems and Distinguished Professor, civil and environmental engineering (2017); , professor of physics and A&S interim associate dean for creativity, scholarship and research (2016); , dean emeritus and professor emeritus of biology (2013); , professor emerita of physics (2013); , professor emeritus of Earth and environmental sciences (2012); , professor emeritus of biology (2011); , professor of biology (2007); and , professor emeritus of political science (2004).

One of ������’s most celebrated alumni is coming home. The University today announced that Gerry McNamara ’06, a member of the 2003 National Championship-winning team, has been named head coach of the . A Scranton, Pennsylvania, native, McNamara returns to lead the storied program where his legendary career began, following two seasons as head coach at Siena University where he engineered one of the most dramatic turnarounds in Division I basketball. His appointment, effective immediately, was approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

“I love this place. I love what Syracuse means: to the fans, to the players who have worn this jersey, to the people of Central New York. This program has given me everything, and I am ready to give everything back to it,” says McNamara. “College basketball has changed. How you build a program, recruit talent, compete for resources and win looks different than it did even five years ago. I know that. I’m ready for it. What hasn’t changed is what Orange Nation expects, and what this place deserves. We are going to build something special here.”

McNamara spent 14 seasons as an assistant coach on Jim Boeheim’s staff before serving as associate head coach under Adrian Autry in 2023-24, then departing for Siena in March 2024. In his first season leading Siena, he guided the Saints to a 14-18 record, a 10-win improvement over the previous season that ranked among the top 10 turnarounds nationally and earned him recognition as one of 16 finalists for the CollegeInsider.com Joe B. Hall Award, presented annually to the nation’s top first-time Division I head coach. He opened his tenure with three consecutive victories, becoming the first Siena coach to start with three straight wins in more than four decades.

“Gerry McNamara is who our storied basketball program needs at this important moment,” says Bryan B. Blair, incoming director of athletics. “In every conversation, his competitive fire and passion was undeniable—it’s simply part of his DNA. He returns to Syracuse as a proven Division I head coach who led a program through a turnaround and back to the NCAA Tournament. At every stop in his playing and coaching journey, he has elevated those around him—student-athletes, staff and the broader community—through his energy, his standards and his ability to connect. While Gerry’s deep connection to Syracuse is meaningful, it’s simply a bonus to what he brings as a coach and leader. He honors our past, but he is driven to build for the future. This is a critical moment for Syracuse basketball, and it will take all of us—everyone connected to ������, Syracuse Athletics and Central New York—locking arms and supporting this program like never before. We welcome Gerry home and can’t wait to see where he takes our program.”

“Gerry is a leader who brings out the best in people,” says John Wildhack, outgoing director of athletics. “I watched him for years as an assistant: in the gym, on the road recruiting and in conversations with players and their families. What has always distinguished him is the trust he builds. He has proven in a short time as a head coach that he knows how to build a program. I am proud that this was among the final pieces of work I had a hand in, and I have no doubt that he will make Syracuse and all of Orange Nation proud.”

A four-year starter from 2002-06, McNamara is the program’s all-time career leader in made three-pointers (400), free throw percentage (.888) and minutes played (4,799) and ranks among the all-time leaders in assists, steals and scoring. He was part of the 2003 National Championship team, earning All-Final Four honors after hitting six three-pointers against Kansas in the title game as a freshman. As a senior in 2006, he earned Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American honors and was named the Dave Gavitt Award winner as tournament MVP after leading Syracuse to the Big East Championship. His No. 3 jersey was retired by the University in March 2023. Following his collegiate career, McNamara accepted an invitation to Utah Jazz training camp and played professionally in Europe before returning to Syracuse to begin his coaching career.

As an assistant at Syracuse, McNamara was a cornerstone of the program’s recruiting operation for 15 seasons, helping guide the Orange to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including Final Four runs in 2013 and 2016. He was a primary mentor for NBA players, including Michael Carter-Williams, Dion Waiters and Tyler Ennis, as well as Buddy Boeheim, Cole Swider, Michael Gbinije and Elijah Hughes.

“Gerry McNamara’s story is as authentically Syracuse as they come,” says Chancellor-elect J. Michael Haynie. “He came here from Scranton with something to prove and became one of the greatest players this program has ever seen and one of the most trusted coaches to sit on our bench. Now he’s coming home with a singular mission: to return Syracuse basketball to where it belongs, among the elite programs in the country. His coaching, recruiting and fundraising prowess, his passion and talent, and his deep belief in what it means to be Orange are exactly what we need. I could not be more excited to welcome Gerry, Katie and their family back to the Hill, and I can’t wait for the tip-off of the 2026-27 season.”

McNamara brings to the role deep and proven recruiting relationships, having spent well over a decade as the primary contact for elite guards and perimeter players nationally. During his time as an assistant, he was widely credited with building the pipeline of backcourt talent that kept Syracuse competitive at the highest level. Student-athletes who have played for McNamara consistently point to his accessibility, his direct communication style and his commitment to preparing players for life beyond basketball as hallmarks of his approach.

McNamara graduated from Syracuse in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in speech communications. He earned two AP Pennsylvania State Player of the Year honors at Bishop Hannan High School and finished seventh all-time in Pennsylvania high school scoring history. He is a gold medalist with the United States national team at the 2005 World University Games. McNamara and his wife, Katie, have four children: sons Gerry and Patrick and daughters Maggie and Grace.

Bryan Blair spent his college years studying history, and he knows a storied program when he sees one. His job now is to build on the proud winning tradition of ������ Athletics.

“Seeing the heights this university had over time, seeing the constant brand and how it speaks to the entire country. Everybody knows when they see that block S that it means something special,” Blair, the school’s 12th athletics director, said Thursday morning during his introductory press conference inside the Miron Victory Court.

“How do we harness that history, that excellence and the other intangibles we have?” Blair said. “We want to wake this sleeping beast … and take control of our destiny and make sure the world knows that ������ is one of the top 10 brands in all of college athletics and we’re here to stay.”

Before coming to Syracuse, Blair served as vice president and director of athletics at the University of Toledo. He will officially take over as director of athletics on July 1.

Get to know Blair and his message for the Orange community.

No Silver Bullet for Success

In the ever-changing college athletics landscape, Blair admits there’s pressure for Syracuse to “win, and we’ve got to win a lot.” But those lofty expectations come with the job, and Blair said he is embracing this latest challenge in his career.

Tapping into curiosity, one of his five core values, Blair is looking forward to challenging everything when it comes to leading the athletics department.

“Nothing is an easy silver bullet,” he said. “Because this place is unique, it’s going to take a unique solution, unique collaboration and unique energy to pull this thing together to do what we collectively want to do and really leverage those unique assets.”

Blair says he plans to “modernize our enterprise,” “attack revenue generation and NIL,” because “NIL is one of the most, if not the most important aspects of what we do.”

5 Core Guiding Values

Besides curiosity, Blair shared his core values that guide and shape how he runs an athletics department.

• Family: “My family means the world to me.” (More on that below.)
• Passion: “I will match the passion and the energy of this fan base, and of our alumni and our supporters.”
• Integrity: “We’re going to do things in a way that always makes this university proud.”
• Curiosity: “Everything we do can get better, it can be challenged, it can be thought of differently. Now is the time to lead from the front and think outside the box in terms of what [college athletics] should look like.”
• Servanthood: “I am the fullback of the athletic department, the guy … empowering somebody else’s success; doing the dirty work to clear the way.”

“If we keep the student-athletes as that North Star, we’ll be really successful and will also produce future leaders of this country from ������,” Blair said.

Drawing Inspiration From Family

Blair says you’ll see his 7-year-old daughter, Brielle, and 5-year-old son, William (Beau), around the office. That’s because he believes in blending family with work.

“They’re my everything, they are my inspiration,” Blair said.

Blair draws strength and inspiration from his family, especially his wife, Jenna, who he refers to as his “ride-or-die.”

“[Jenna is] that person who speaks that power and that vision into you for you to make it possible. You’d love to say that you’re bulletproof and nothing bothers you, but all of us have those days, all of us need that support, that inspiration,” Blair said.

A Learned Work Ethic

Growing up in the small town of Bennettsville, South Carolina, Blair learned firsthand from his parents the important lessons of finding success both on the football field and in the classroom.

His parents, Dannie and Woodrow, insisted that Blair had to earn all As on his report card if he wanted to play football.

After playing Division I football and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history from Wofford College in 2007, Blair went on to earn a law degree from the University of South Carolina in 2010. He credits his successes to his parents, the biggest influences in his life and the hardest-working people he knows.

“You cannot escape the work. You have to put in the time and the effort and even when it gets hard, you work harder,” says Blair, who paused with emotion when talking about his parents.

Creating the Dome as an Experience

One of the best draws for the Orange is playing home games inside the raucous JMA Wireless Dome, or the Loud House. Blair got his first glimpse inside the JMA Dome with Chancellor-elect J. Michael Haynie, and the JMA Dome left an immediate and lasting impression.

“We can build a unique, immersive experience that’s unlike anything you see in this country outside of [Las] Vegas,” Blair said. “We’re going to think outside the box [about] what that experience looks like. How do we create that home court advantage for all our teams?”

One of the nation’s rising stars in intercollegiate athletics will soon take the helm of ������ Athletics. Chancellor-elect J. Michael Haynie today announced the appointment of Bryan B. Blair as the University’s next director of athletics. Blair has served as vice president and director of athletics at the University of Toledo since 2022. He is widely regarded as one of the most creative and accomplished leaders in college athletics: a builder of championship programs, a generator of innovative revenue strategies and a genuine believer in the transformative power of higher education. His appointment has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

“Bryan Blair is the athletics leader for this moment and for the future of ������,” says Haynie. “He is a fierce competitor who knows how to build winning programs, a visionary who approaches the business of college athletics with genuine creativity and ingenuity, and a leader of exemplary character who understands that athletics exists to serve students and the broader University mission. He is exactly the right person to lead the new era of ������ Athletics.”

Fierce Fundraiser and Innovative Revenue Generator

Blair has built a reputation across the industry for finding new and creative ways to grow programs, generate revenue and create experiences that connect athletics to its surrounding community. Under Blair’s leadership, the University of Toledo has accomplished the following:

• grew fundraising by 282% since FY22, including securing the second-largest gift in school history;
• built the Mid-American Conference’s most sophisticated NIL ecosystem, securing national partnerships with Powerade and pioneering auto-lease arrangements for women’s basketball;
• launched the 1923 Society, generating more than $13.6 million with nearly 50% first-time major gift donors;
• achieved 71% growth in Rocket Fund with more than $1 million-plus gifts in 13 months than the previous decade combined;
• secured KeyBank as the inaugural title sponsor of women’s athletics and launched the Venture Visionary Courtside Club, two transformational corporate partnerships that elevated the Toledo brand and increased revenue generation;
• established a departmentwide data and analytics initiative focused on “Data Excellence,” integrating advanced analytics and AI to drive decision-making, revenue growth and student-athlete support;
• partnered with Vu Technologies to create the first digital studio of its kind in college athletics and converted dormant facilities into active revenue and corporate activation assets;
• launched “Glass City Live,” the program’s first football stadium concert in more than 30 years, drawing 18,000 fans and establishing a new revenue stream;
• added rowing as a varsity sport through a novel partnership model projected to generate more than $1 million in annual net tuition; and
• led the development of a $75 million facilities master plan.

Blair says he looks forward to bringing his big ideas and bigger energy to ������.

“������ is one of the most iconic programs in college athletics, with a proud championship history, world-class academics and an incredibly passionate fan base,” says Blair. “The opportunity to lead Orange Athletics at this moment is incredibly exciting because the potential ahead is extraordinary. With the clear alignment and shared ambition of Chancellor Haynie, the Board of Trustees, our campus leadership, coaches, student-athletes, alumni and the entire Central New York community, we will build a modern athletics enterprise that competes for championships, elevates the Orange brand and positions Syracuse as a national leader in the future of college athletics. The best days of Syracuse Athletics are ahead of us, and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the program to new levels of excellence.”

Blair also thanked the search committee for its work.

“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Steve Ballentine for his leadership as chair of the search committee, to Mike Tirico, vice chair of the Board of Trustees, and to the entire committee for the time, care and thoughtfulness they invested throughout the process. Their passion for Syracuse was palpable throughout the process, and I’m excited to work together to move Syracuse Athletics forward.”

Building Cultures of Success

During his tenure at Toledo, Blair built an unprecedented culture of success. He led Toledo to three consecutive MAC Cartwright Awards as the conference’s top overall athletics program and 16 conference championships in less than four years—more than the program had won in the previous decade combined. His tenure included a MAC football title, two bowl wins, two championship game appearances and historic victories over Mississippi State and Pitt. Toledo’s football program also produced consecutive Top-65 NFL Draft picks and multiple AP Top-25 appearances, while leading all Group of Six programs in 2026 NFL combine invites. Toledo Athletics led the nation in combined football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball conference wins from 2022–24 with 76, and finished second nationally in the Excellence in Management Cup. In the same year, Toledo became the first program in school history to win both the MAC’s Reese Trophy for top men’s programs and the Jacoby Trophy for top women’s programs. Toledo also secured the program’s first-ever volleyball championship, while nearly doubling attendance.

Search Committee Chairman Steve Ballentine ’83 says Blair’s vision and track record combined with his business acumen position him to hit the ground running.

“Bryan is an impressive leader who stood out in a pool of high-caliber candidates from across college athletics, professional sports and other relevant industries,” says Ballentine. “He is an innovator who finds opportunities others don’t see, a competitor who builds championship cultures and a leader who brings out the best in every member of his team. He is going to do big things at Syracuse, and I am thrilled to welcome him to the Orange Nation.”

Track Record of Success

Prior to Toledo, Blair served as deputy athletic director and chief operating officer at Washington State University (WSU), where he helped guide a Power Five program through one of the most visible periods in its history. While at WSU, the program:

• doubled annual fundraising to more than $30 million and secured an $11 million naming rights agreement;
• secured a Top-10 national finish and the program’s first 11-win season in football;
• made NCAA tournament appearances in six sports;
• had 35 All-Americans; and
• and accomplished record academic achievement.

Blair played a key role in hiring two future Power Four head coaches, including Kyle Smith, now at Stanford, and Jake Dickert, now at Wake Forest. He directed the program’s NIL strategy, including assisting in the recruitment of future No. 1 NFL Draft pick Cam Ward, who played two seasons at Washington State before transferring to the University of Miami. Before Washington State, Blair spent four years at Rice University as a senior associate athletics director, where he helped the department win 16 conference championships across nine sports, grow its annual fund by 73% and secure a record $3 million partnership with the Texas Medical Center. He also held a compliance role at the University of South Carolina, working closely with Dawn Staley’s Top-10 women’s basketball program during a formative period that included the recruitment of the nation’s top prospect and future WNBA star, Aja Wilson.

Commitment to the Academic Mission

What distinguishes Blair as much as his competitive and business record is his commitment to the mission of higher education. A lifelong learner with a law degree and a background as a Division I student-athlete, he has consistently integrated athletics into the academic and civic life of the institutions he has served. At Toledo, he co-chaired the search process for the university’s executive vice president and provost, a role rarely assumed by an athletics director. Student-athletes excelled in the classroom during Blair’s tenure producing 11 consecutive semesters above a 3.3 department GPA. Blair’s “Team Toledo” movement created a unified identity across the athletics department, the broader university and the Northwest Ohio region, aligning partners, fans and institutions around a shared mission and purpose.

In 2024, Blair was named to the Sports Business Journal (SBJ) Forty Under 40, one of only two MAC athletic directors ever to receive the honor. The SBJ Forty Under 40 is one of the sports industry’s premier executive honors, with previous alumni that include Adam Silver (NBA commissioner), Kevin Plank (founder, Under Armour), Brett Yormark (Big 12 commissioner) and Brian Rolapp (CEO, PGA Tour). Blair is also a member of the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions, and formerly served on the Steering Committee of the National Sports Forum, one of the largest gatherings of revenue generation executives from a diverse array of teams, leagues, agencies and brands. Blair holds a juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a bachelor of arts in history from Wofford College, where he was a Division I football student-athlete.

Blair and his wife, Jenna, have two children, daughter Brielle and son Beau.

“I love ������.” In this video, Chancellor-elect J. Michael Haynie reflects on his nearly 20 years at the University, his commitment to every member of the Orange family and what he’s ready to build together.

On the morning of March 3, members of the ������ community gathered in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building—a building that itself stands as a testament to J. Michael Haynie’s impact on the University—to celebrate Haynie’s appointment as the University’s 13th chancellor and president.

The official announcement, made by Board of Trustees Chairman Jeffrey M. Scruggs, was met with a standing ovation. Haynie, who has been a member of the University community for nearly 20 years, will assume his new responsibilities on July 1.

Search Committee Co-Chair Elisabeth “Lisa” Fontenelli ’86; Student Government Association President German Alejandro Nolivos ’26, who was also a search committee member; and Scruggs each addressed the crowd before Haynie took the podium.

In his first remarks as chancellor-elect, Haynie was direct and personal: “I do love ������. I love this community, I love our people and I am so proud and so ready to serve as your 13th chancellor and president.”

Haynie currently serves as vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the . He is the founder and executive director of the and a 14-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. In 2021, he received the University’s highest honor, the Chancellor’s Medal.

Browse photos from the announcement celebration, below.

When Kaden Buford ’28 sets a goal, he moves toward it with intention.

The sophomore�� major in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), who plans to attend medical school and pursue dermatology, has been named one of just 12 scholars nationwide selected for the .

The highly competitive, two-summer experience combines full-time internships with intensive leadership development, an opportunity designed to prepare exceptional college men for lives and careers of impact. Buford is only the third Syracuse student to be selected for the program, which was established in 2003.

Below,�� Buford discusses the honor and how it fits into his journey toward medicine.

The ������ Board of Trustees today announced the appointment of J. Michael Haynie as the 13th chancellor and president of ������. Haynie, who currently serves as vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the , will assume his new responsibilities on July 1. Today’s announcement follows a recommendation of the search committee and a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees, where members affirmed the unanimous recommendations of the Board’s Executive Committee.

“Few people have demonstrated a deeper commitment to ������ than Mike Haynie, and he is exceptionally well-positioned to carry it forward with the dedication and vision this moment demands,” says Jeff Scruggs, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “For more than two decades, he has poured himself into this institution, expanding its reach, deepening its impact and championing the students and communities it exists to serve. His record of leadership is extraordinary, and the Board has great confidence in the future of ������. We are proud to welcome him as our 13th chancellor and president.”

Haynie has been a member of the ������ community for more than two decades and a senior member of the University’s leadership team for more than 10 years, including in his current role as vice chancellor and executive dean of the Whitman School. He is the founder and executive director of the , the nation’s first interdisciplinary academic institute chartered to advance the policy, economic and wellness concerns of America’s veterans and military-connected families. In 2018, he was named University Professor, the most senior and selective academic distinction awarded to ������ faculty, and in 2021, Haynie received ������’s highest honor, the Chancellor’s Medal, for his leadership of the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“������ is not just an institution to me. It is home. It is a community that has shaped me, challenged me and gave me the privilege of doing the most meaningful work of my life,” says Haynie. “I am humbled and energized by the trust this community has placed in me, and I carry that trust as both an honor and a responsibility. The foundation we stand on is strong. Our best days are ahead, and I’m ready to get to work alongside our remarkable students, world-class faculty and passionate alumni in service to our highest purpose—academic excellence. Working together we will ensure ������ remains a place where great ideas catch fire, where students discover their purpose and where bold ambition is matched by an equally bold commitment to the world beyond our walls.”

A Search Defined by Partnership and Shared Purpose

The search process launched following the announcement that Chancellor Kent Syverud would step down from his role at ������ in June. It engaged the full spectrum of the Orange community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, local community members and elected officials, through listening sessions, a community survey and broad committee representation. At the heart of the search committee’s charge was ensuring the next leader remained focused on elevating the student experience and advancing the University’s academic mission.

“This was a search process defined by genuine partnership and shared purpose,” says Shelly L. Fisher ’80, co-chair of the search committee and member of the Board of Trustees. “Our community showed up with wisdom, generosity and a clear sense of what this university needs to thrive. Time and again, that guidance led us toward a leader with a proven record of impact here, an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep commitment to our students and academic mission. Mike Haynie embodies all of that and more.”

“Throughout the search process, amazing faculty, staff, students, alums, trustees, elected officials and community members generously shared their views on what they love about ������ and what they hope for its future,” says Elisabeth “Lisa” Fontenelli ’86, co-chair of the search committee and member of the Board of Trustees. “From those conversations, a portrait emerged of a leader who would dedicate themselves to our mission, our people and our future, who would sustain tradition as well as create and transform, whose entrepreneurial instincts and decisive leadership will help ������ to navigate the challenges and realize the opportunities of this moment. Mike Haynie is that leader. We are confident he will carry this institution forward with distinction.”

A National Leader for Veterans and Military Families

Under Haynie’s leadership, ������ has established itself as one of the premier destinations in American higher education for veterans and military-connected students. His vision and sustained commitment transformed a promising program into a nationally recognized ecosystem of support, opportunity and advocacy.

At the center of that transformation is the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, a facility Haynie championed and helped bring to life on campus. A first-of-its-kind hub dedicated to veteran and military-connected student success, the NVRC offers comprehensive academic, wellness, career and community resources under one roof and has become a model for institutions across the country.

Haynie also oversaw significant growth in veteran and military-connected enrollment, making Syracuse a destination of choice for servicemembers, veterans and their families. That growth reflects both the strength of the University’s programs and the national reputation Haynie has built through research, advocacy and public service. The D’Aniello Institute has become a significant driver of the University’s research enterprise, producing scholarship that advances policy, economic and wellness outcomes for veterans and military families, contributing directly to Syracuse’s standing as an R1 research institution.

Central to that reputation is his work forging partnerships with corporations, government agencies and nonprofits to create new pathways for veterans and their families. Through the D’Aniello Institute, Haynie has collaborated with leading employers on veteran hiring initiatives, workforce transition programs and entrepreneurship pipelines, while working closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor to shape national policy.

The scope of that work brought Haynie to national attention. His approach to veteran support was featured in a “60 Minutes” profile in 2013, and in 2020, Time magazine named him one of 16 individuals working toward creating a more equal America.

A Record of Scholarship, Service and Leadership

A widely recognized scholar in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation and strategy, Haynie has served on the editorial boards of the field’s most prestigious academic journals and as an appointee to the CNBC Disruptor 50 Council. His public service record is equally distinguished. In 2013, he was appointed chairman of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Federal Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment and Training, and in 2015, the White House appointed him vice chairman, and later chairman, of a presidential task force charged with setting the course for long-term reform at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Before joining the ������ faculty, Haynie served for 14 years as an officer in the United States Air Force. He holds a Ph.D. in entrepreneurship and business strategy from the University of Colorado at Boulder, an MBA from the University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Delaware.

Haynie and his partner, Kevin, reside in Cazenovia with their two dogs.

When Sgt. First Class Andrew Zellar began basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, on June 6, 2006, he thought he knew what his career in military service would look like.

Twenty years later, as he moves on from years as a military science instructor at ������ and prepares to retire later this year from the New York Army National Guard, he reflects on a career that took unexpected turns and allowed him to impact hundreds of lives in ways he never imagined.

“The most unexpected part was the chance to have the assignment at ROTC. I had a vague understanding of what I would be doing, but my experience was a lot more rewarding than I expected,” Zellar says. “The thing I am most proud of is seeing past soldiers and cadets performing in the Army and in life.”

Zellar’s journey began like many of his generation, shaped by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Fresh out of high school in 2004, the Cazenovia native wanted to serve, but his parents encouraged him to pursue college first.

After two years, the pull toward service won out. He enlisted in the Army National Guard as a military police officer, initially planning to combine service with the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

When plans to deploy overseas did not materialize, Zellar found himself in limbo—until an opportunity emerged that would define his career.

Finding His Calling in Recruiting

In 2007, during one of the most challenging periods for military recruiting, Zellar stepped into a role that would test every interpersonal skill he possessed. The economy was collapsing, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were intensifying, and the National Guard needed people who could connect with potential recruits and their families.

“Most people that join the military always have a desire to do it,” Zellar says. “It’s just that the opportunity to do it has to intersect with the motivation.”

He saw this firsthand at career fairs, where he met not teenagers but 25- and 30-year-old adults with impressive resumes who simply had no jobs. The 2008 economic crisis had created both challenges and opportunities for recruiting.

His approach was simple but demanding: show up.

“I probably failed more than I succeeded in a lot of things, but I would just show up,” he says. That first year, he worked every single day, meeting potential recruits whenever and wherever they needed—late nights, weekends, holidays.

His work in St. Lawrence County, located along New York’s northern border, juxtaposed recruiting Clarkson University, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Canton and St. Lawrence University with the county’s rural residents.

One memory stands out in particular. Zellar visited a young man living in dire poverty—a home heated with wood pallets, with essentially nothing. “You need this. You got to get out of here,” he remembers thinking. The National Guard gave the young man a path forward.

The rural assignment taught Zellar invaluable lessons, sharpening his skills and deepening his understanding of how people struggle.

Preparing the Next Generation

In 2018, Zellar was chosen for a new role with the New York Army National Guard. He joined ������ as a military science instructor with the Army ROTC program, a position that joined his recruiting expertise with a deeper mission of developing young leaders.

Over the next eight years, he worked with more than 325 cadets and contributed to the commissioning of 215 Army second lieutenants.

“The thing I’ll look back on and enjoy the most is watching them achieve what they’re capable of achieving,” Zellar says. He remembers helping a cadet, an Iraqi refugee, obtain her citizenship, presenting her with a pocket Constitution at the ceremony.

His teaching philosophy challenges students to expand their perspectives.

“Whatever news source you get, whatever stuff you like to read, read the opposite,” he tells first-year students. “Just for no other reason than to see something a little bit different.”

His advice extends beyond tactics and strategy. “Swing at the pitch. If you get an opportunity, you can strike out. I’ll deal with it. We will figure it out. But nothing’s worse than watching the pitch go by,” he says.

A Legacy Beyond the Uniform

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zellar and his ROTC colleagues proved indispensable, running testing sites and helping keep the University operational. It exemplified what he values most about service: being there when it matters.

As Zellar retires from military service later this year, he leaves behind more than statistics. He leaves young officers commissioned and ready to lead, recruits who found purpose and opportunity, and countless individuals whose lives changed because one person was willing to show up every time, without fail.

As he moves forward, Zellar will continue to pursue his real estate career. And he is looking forward to spending more time on what matters most: his wife Gloriann, daughters Audrey and Gabriella, and son Andrew Jr.

������ Director of Athletics John Wildhack ’80 today announced he will retire on July 1, 2026, concluding a distinguished 46-year career, including 10 years at the helm of and more than 36 years at ESPN.

“It has been the greatest honor of my career to lead Syracuse Athletics,” says Wildhack. “������ shaped the trajectory of my life, and to spend nearly a decade serving my alma mater has been an extraordinary privilege. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished: championship-caliber facilities, record academic achievement and student-athletes excelling on and off the field. I came here with a tremendous sense of responsibility and leave with profound gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the place that gave me so much.”

Wildhack, a 1980 graduate of the , returned to Syracuse in 2016 after nearly four decades at ESPN, where he rose from production assistant to executive vice president for programming and production. At Syracuse, he oversaw significant investment in athletics facilities. These include the reimagination and renaming of the JMA Wireless Dome as well as the transformation of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, a state-of-the-art academic and athletics village serving all 20 ������ teams and more than 600 student-athletes.

“From the moment John returned to his alma mater in 2016, he has been relentless in his pursuit of excellence across all facets of Syracuse Athletics,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “John has supported our student-athletes as competitors and scholars, he has transformed our athletics facilities. He has been a vital leader in the work of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and he has navigated the rapidly evolving college athletics landscape with expertise and vision. I am deeply grateful to John and wish him and his family the very best as he begins this well-deserved retirement.”

Under Wildhack’s leadership, Syracuse student-athletes achieved unprecedented academic success, with the University posting its highest Academic Progress Rate scores since tracking began. Beyond campus, Wildhack has been a leading voice on the future of college athletics. In May 2025, the Atlantic Coast Conference appointed Wildhack to the prestigious NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, where he currently serves as the ACC’s representative. He has also served as chair of ACC Athletic Directors and been instrumental in advancing discussions around student-athlete welfare, revenue sharing and the sustainable growth of college sports.

“I am incredibly proud of the competitive and academic success our programs have had over the last decade,” says Wildhack. “I appreciate Chancellor Syverud, our Board of Trustees and our athletics staff for their passion, dedication and unwavering support of our student-athletes. To our fans, donors and Syracuse Nation, thank you for your commitment to Orange Athletics and thank you for supporting our teams in our pursuit of excellence.”

������ has deep personal significance for the Wildhack family. His father, brother, sister and two nephews are graduates, and his sons Tommy ’26 and James ’27 are current students.

“Orange runs deep in my family,” says Wildhack. “I will always be a proud alum, a proud parent and passionate supporter of ������ and Syracuse Athletics. I will always be forever Orange.”

Details about the search to identify Wildhack’s successor are forthcoming.

Standing before the at , surrounded by his peers in the 10th annual class of , Ray Toenniessen ’06 felt clarity, focused by the stillness and weight of sacrifice around them.

In that moment, three of his classmates and the program’s retiring co-director Mike Hemphill—all fellow veterans—laid a wreath at the tomb. Watching them, the deputy executive director of the felt the lessons of everything he’d learned, questioned and wrestled with throughout the program—and through lectures and meetings with two former presidents—coalesce into one realization. Leadership is about responsibility.

“It’s hard to put into words, but it was a very deep moment of connection and reflection amongst the class,” he says.

The�� cemetery visit was made during the six-month program’s final module. During a block of free time, Toenniessen and the handful of other veterans in the cohort arranged to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

But the entire class ended up joining the group.

With the evidence of the ultimate sacrifice made in service around them, following months of lessons on leadership, Toenniessen says everyone was overcome with emotion.

“We had all formed deep connections, deep relationships by this point,” he says. “Arlington and the tomb, to many of us who served, holds a very personal meaning. And so seeing the class gathered around the tomb was really powerful.”

What It Was Like Participating

Over the course of program, Toenniessen and his 57 classmates gathered for six modules, starting in Philadelphia and ending in the nation’s Capitol, visiting the participating presidential centers in-between: the , the , the and then the .

During each module, the class went through the lessons and learnings from the presidents.

“We did a lot of reading around that specific president, key legislation, oftentimes key speeches, looking at their actions,” Toenniessen says. “Then when you were on site, you were really looking at, ‘Well, what led them to those decisions? Why did LBJ need to be so persuasive? Why was it important to President Bush to build coalitions and partnerships? How is President Clinton such an effective communicator?”

In College Station, , who served as George H.W. Bush’s secretary of transportation and later as George W. Bush’s chief of staff, gave a firsthand account of 9/11, telling the scholars about the moment he about the attacks.

In Dallas, the scholars heard Bush speak, then they heard from both President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in Little Rock. The talks were followed by dinners, closed to the press, where participants could talk candidly with the former presidents.

“That part of the program is just hands-down one of those experiences that you’ll probably never get again,” Toenniessen says.

Learning also happened outside the focus on the former presidents, Toenniessen says.

The class was composed of people from all walks of life, different industries and backgrounds, and outside the lectures and program events, the scholars took the opportunity to get to know one another and learn from each other’s experiences.

“We clicked as a cohort very early,” Toenniessen says. “You’re able to lean on folks, not just for things going on in the program, but things that might be happening in your work or professional life.”

The Lessons on Leadership

Toenniessen says one of his biggest takeaways from the program is that with humility and intention—through listening, compromise, courage—it is possible to bridge divides to serve your community.

“In an environment that seems so politically hostile, how do you bring people together with differing views, differing backgrounds and get them to a place where it’s OK to disagree,” Toenniessen says. “But how do we do it from a place of respect and civil discourse and still even be able to maintain friendships and relationships through it.”

Humility was also touched upon by General Peter Pace, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“He spoke a lot about starting with humility and not going in guns blazing, but really taking this stance of humility as you’re speaking truth to power,” Toenniessen says.

It’s a lesson from the program that made clear to Toenniessen that real leadership is about showing up, quietly and consistently in service to something greater than oneself.

In a Linkedin post, Toenniessen reflected on his experience in the program, saying it deepened his understanding of leadership.

“​​It reshaped how I want to lead,” he wrote. “With humility. With intention. And with a commitment to showing up when it matters.”

������ today announced the appointment of Dan Dillon as senior vice president for business development. In this role, Dillon will lead efforts to expand the University’s business development portfolio, with an emphasis on growing ������ Global and the University’s online and post-traditional education offerings. He will report directly to Chancellor Kent Syverud and serve as a member of the Chancellor’s executive team. Dillon’s appointment is effective Oct. 20 and was approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

“Dan is an exceptional leader whose experience building world-class online programs, cultivating new revenue streams and strengthening university brands is unmatched,” says Chancellor Syverud. “He will play a critical role in helping ������ grow its online portfolio to meet the needs of today’s learners, including undergraduate students who were raised with a device in the palm of their hands, professionals seeking continued learning opportunities, and corporate partners eager for upskilling and reskilling programs. His appointment underscores the University’s commitment to innovating across all areas of our academic operations and adapting to today’s market demands.”

Dillon brings more than three decades of experience in marketing, business development and higher education leadership. He most recently served as vice president for marketing at the University of South Carolina. Prior to that, Dillon was vice president for marketing and senior advisor to the president at the University of Florida.

Earlier in his career, Dillon held senior leadership roles at Arizona State University (ASU), including chief executive officer of ASU Enterprise Partners and senior vice president and chief marketing officer. At ASU, he was instrumental in scaling ASU Online into a national leader, generating nearly $900 million annually in revenue and serving as a model for digital higher education. He also built and led outcome-driven, high-performing teams at major corporations, including Coca-Cola, Ruby Tuesday, H.J. Heinz and ConAgra.

Dillon says he was drawn to ������’s reputation for academic excellence and the unique opportunity to expand its global reach.

“It is rare in a career to step into a role at a university with such a premium, well-established brand and powerhouse reputation,” says Dillon. “I am excited to work with Chancellor Syverud, Provost Agnew, Vice Chancellor Haynie, the Board of Trustees, deans and campus leaders, all of whom are deeply supportive of building a more robust and sustainable revenue center through ������ Global and beyond.”

In his new role, Dillon will lead the transformation of ������ Global into a centralized, high-performing hub for online and post-traditional academic programming. He will oversee all facets of operations for ������ Global, including enrollment, marketing and course development. Dillon will collaborate with College of Professional Studies Dean Michael Frasciello, who has been instrumental in building the University’s online platform and portfolio.

“I want to extend my deep appreciation to Dean Frasciello,” adds Chancellor Syverud. “His relentless commitment to shaping the future of our online presence and his stewardship of our online academic programs has positioned the University to scale up our offerings, strengthen our portfolio and take ������ Global to the next level. He has built the strong foundation that exists today.”

Dillon will also work closely with the provost, deans and faculty leaders across the University to identify and launch market-responsive academic programs, develop corporate education partnerships and capitalize on new revenue-generating opportunities.

“������’s faculty are extraordinarily talented and widely recognized as thought leaders in their disciplines,” says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “I look forward to working with Dan to create new opportunities for learners everywhere to benefit from their expertise. By expanding our online portfolio, we can broaden access to the knowledge and innovation our faculty bring to the world.”

Looking ahead, Dillon emphasized the scale of the opportunity that sits before Syracuse.

“The ingredients are all here—an outstanding faculty, a strong brand, momentum across the University and a leadership team committed to innovation. I am energized by the chance to expand Syracuse’s online capabilities, generate revenue to support its mission and create programs that deliver real value to students and University partners,” Dillon says.

Over the span of his career, Dillon has transformed how universities and brands approach marketing, branding and revenue generation. As he makes the move from the University of South Carolina to Syracuse, Dillon noted that universities have enormous potential to grow their online portfolio to the benefit of the traditional learner as well as lifelong learners.

“First, there is tremendous demand from students for flexible learning options to incorporate into their academic journeys. Second, in the post-COVID era, online education has proven its efficacy and is now widely accepted by students, families and employers,” Dillon says. “������ has the momentum—and the intestinal fortitude—to build a gold-standard online portfolio and platform.”