Dr. Alicia Carroll ’88 was honored with the Arents Award, Syracuse University’s highest alumni honor, during Orange Central weekend 2019. CONTENTS 2 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT “When I got the call inviting me here, I felt 14 all over again. It’s like being reacquainted with a child you haven’t seen for 30 years. I can’t stop grinning.” —Kevin Richardson 4 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT Richardson told the audience about growing up as a Big East basketball fan and his teenage dream to attend Syracuse University. “When I got the call inviting me here, I felt 14 all over again,” he said. “It’s like being reacquainted with a child you haven’t seen for 30 years. I can’t stop grinning.” For good reason “Justice in America” was the culmination of an emotional 36-hour visit designed to honor Richardson and, as much as possible, make up for the experience he missed. It all started when Oprah interviewed the Exonerated Five in June and asked each of the men about their dreams and aspirations before their arrest. Richardson said he’d dreamed of playing the trumpet at Syracuse University. That response made an immediate impact. Efforts were already in the works by the Office of Multicultural Advancement, which had been fielding calls and emails from Black and Latinx alumni asking what they could do. RESILIENCE The reception was a fundraising event for the Kevin Richardson bravery Scholarship, which was launched with a $25,000 lead gift from and perseverance Tara Brown Favors ’95, a member of the Office of Multicultural Advancement’s Alumni Advisory Council. According to Vassel, the goal is to raise $100,000 for the scholarship. Alumni attending—who came from as far away as New York City, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.— universally cited being deeply impacted by the case, as well as the When They See Us dramatization. communityservice One of those was actor Dexter McKinney ’08, G’14, a Syracuse native now living in Brooklyn, who had a role in episode four of When They See Us. “Being part of When They See Us was an incredible experience, both to have the opportunity to act in a production of that caliber and to be involved in telling the story of the Exonerated Five,” says McKinney. “I wasn’t going to miss seeing Kevin honored by Syracuse University.” in the fightfor justice ALUMNI profiles JOANNIE DIAZ-BALBI ’11 Managing Corporate Diversity A s a recent graduate forging a career in finance, Joannie Diaz-Balbi felt a constant push to prove herself as a woman of color. “There were few women in finance, especially when I looked around on the trading floor,” she says. As Diaz-Balbi progressed, she made it a point to mentor female interns and attend recruiting events. At the same time, she and two college friends launched a successful blog called Be Moxie as a platform to help young women of color such as themselves. “We are all first-generation Latinas whose parents had emigrated from other countries,” Diaz-Balbi explains. “We wanted to give back to our communities and share resources so that these women wouldn’t miss out on the same opportunities we didn’t take advantage of because we just didn’t know.” Promoting diversity became a passion, and when an opportunity arose to move into that space professionally, Diaz-Balbi jumped at it. In 2016, she became the first diversity and inclusion program manager at the 200-year-old financial services firm Brown Brothers Harriman. “It was a wonderful opportunity to build the vision of what their program was going to look like, develop the strategy, plan recruiting events and build out the employee resource groups,” she says. In January, Diaz-Balbi moved to a larger financial services corporation as vice president of diversity and inclusion, managing the diversity and inclusion strategy for a 16,000-person global line of business. “The scale is huge and the opportunity is even bigger to drive change. It’s been really exciting,” she says. Working in a company with well-established efforts toward diversity and inclusion, Diaz-Balbi says she has the opportunity to think about the next evolution and how she can bring value to the space. “Diversity and inclusion have evolved far beyond what people think of when they hear ‘diversity,’ which usually means gender and ethnic diversity,” she says. “We’re including the full diversity spectrum from LGBTQ status, veterans, neurodiversity, social economic status and so many others—all equally important to the diversity story.” Diaz-Balbi says her work extends across all human resources practices, beginning with ensuring that the company uses inclusive language in its job descriptions, how and who to recruit, training and leadership development, and pay equity. “I’m really passionate about promoting these initiatives to make sure people feel represented at work so they can bring their best selves,” she says. “My work involves a lot of communication about our mission, about what we can do to make this the best place to work.” As a finance and economics major at Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Diaz-Balbi didn’t know the field of diversity and inclusion existed. “Now it’s becoming the norm to see someone at your company dedicated to diversity and inclusion initiatives,” she says. “It’s a world of difference from when I graduated.” She credits empowering female professors at Whitman for changing the way she thought about corporate America. It was networking with Syracuse University alumni working at JPMorgan Chase that helped her get her first job as a trading analyst. Diaz-Balbi met her husband, Rafael Balbi ’11, at Syracuse University and was an active member of Omega Phi Beta sorority. She remains connected to the group, serving as a mentor to current students on things like professional development. “There is a lot of my personal story that I bring to diversity and inclusion, which I think is important. If you’re working in the human capital space in any capacity, you need to have a passion for people and see them eye to eye,” she says. “I’m trying to be that person people know they can go to to strategize and help them drive change.” \ 8 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT KEISHA-GAYE ANDERSON ’96 Multi-Genre Storyteller L ast summer, Keisha-Gaye Anderson spent six weeks as an artist in residence at the Brooklyn Public Library, where she held open studio hours to engage with the public and share her process. Her residency culminated with a poetry reading and art exhibition that incorporated live music. “It was like a total experience of all of the art forms that I “I started drawing as a way to deal with stress, and it has produce,” says Anderson. “I was very grateful for the opportunity.” become a daily practice,” says Anderson, whose art has been Anderson has penned two new poetry collections. Everything Is featured at pop-up exhibitions in Brooklyn and Manhattan Necessary (Willow Books) was published earlier this year, and will be included in A Spell for Living. Anderson and A Spell for Living (Agape Editions), which considers herself a multi-genre storyteller. ALUMNI profiles YADIRA HARRISON ’02 Brand Ambassador Y adira Harrison is reshaping how consumers interact with brands. For more than 15 years, she has conceived and developed experiences to connect brands with consumers or other business partners. “It’s really about immersing people in the brands by having them engage in a way they never have before,” she says. That could be through events such as pop-ups, conferences and festivals—or content and partnerships. While traditional advertising can evoke emotion, Harrison says the magic is “creating a brand experience through either a physical manifestation or digital interaction.” At her hybrid creative agency/consulting firm, Verb, launched in Los Angeles and New York in January 2018 with business partner Shannon Jones, Harrison works with clients ranging from AMC Networks and Lyft to Amazon Web Services and Nielsen. Recent projects include establishing Coinbase’s presence at the Grace Hopper Celebration to enhance female recruitment, launching a women’s conference for Washington University in St. Louis, and producing denim pop-up shops for retailer Everlane in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. “Our work is all over the place, and consequently, so am I,” Harrison says of her travel schedule. Harrison spent nearly 10 years working in the Parade and Entertainment Division of Macy’s, where she was charged with reinventing annual events that included the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks, Macy’s Flower Shows and a host of other fashion and holiday events. “Those traditions had been around for a very long time, and it was up to me to rethink those experiences to keep them fresh and new.” From Macy’s, Harrison moved to experiential agency Civic Entertainment Group (a Seacrest Global Group company), where she developed and executed activations for eBay and Airbnb, the latter at the time launching in Los Angeles. Her work included cultivating Airbnb’s presence at events such as the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW and the New York City Marathon, as well as creating Airbnb Open, a “festival of hosting” that grew to attract 20,000 people in downtown Los Angeles in 2016. It consisted of an array of panels and talks held in 17 venues, and included a concert featuring Maroon 5 and Lady Gaga. “The newness and freshness of getting to constantly think out of the box was really exciting,” she says. Harrison and Jones worked together on the Airbnb account. She says they created Verb to be able to use “all the tools in our toolbox,” from brand strategy and art direction to digital integration and social media. They focus on developing entire campaigns. “Our work is not about an event, rather how a brand should be experienced or represented,” she says. When Netflix looked to Verb for help on celebrating the final season of Orange Is the New Black, Verb suggested incorporating fan art as part of the series end celebration, which became the Orange Forever key art campaign. Harrison says she’s been attracted to events and marketing since she came to Syracuse University from Texas. “I’ve always been interested in how people experience the world around them,” she says. Harrison majored in speech communication and joined the University Union Concert Board in her first year, an experience that gave her connections for internships with the ICM Talent Agency and Jive Records. She also interned with the Texas Rangers. She was active in residential life and served as a resident advisor at Shaw, Haven and Watson halls. “My time at Syracuse had a major impact on what I’m doing now,” she says. “For me, it was a moment in time that has stuck with me and been a huge part of my story.” \ 10 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT STUDENTspotlights Tyra Jean W hen Tyra Jean ’20 decided to shift her professional aspiration from medicine to public health at the beginning of her junior year, she knew she was going to need some practical experiences to help refine her interests. This past summer, she got a crash course in public policy as one of 30 students selected nationwide to participate in the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute at the University of California Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. The rigorous seven-week program emulates the first semester of a graduate program in public policy and international relations. It’s designed to attract and prepare students from underserved populations to graduate programs in public policy and international affairs and expose them to opportunities for professional careers in public service. “It was an amazing experience,” says Jean, a senior from Charlotte, North Carolina. “We had classes in quantitative analysis, economics and policy, as well as an amazing array of speakers and community activities.” In September, Jean got on another plane and headed to Washington, D.C., to serve as a student ambassador at the 2019 Congressional Leadership Congress held by the Congressional Hispanic Congress Institute through a partnership with Southwest Airlines. “There was an array of panels on topics specific to minority communities, and I focused on public health and environmental issues,” says Jean, who was one of 25 students nationwide selected to participate. Jean says she plans to pursue a joint master of public policy and master of public health degree, with current interests in global health and epidemiology. But first, she wants more on-the-ground experience. She’s applying for postgraduate fellowships, hoping to work on public health issues in a developing country. “Because I just shifted my focus from pre-med last year, I really want to get some work experience to learn and solidify my interests before graduate school,” says Jean, a sociology major with minors in biology and Spanish. She’ll undoubtedly be successful at whatever she pursues. An outstanding student, Jean is a Renée Crown University Honors student, a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and an Our Time Has Come (OTHC) Scholar. She’s also been an active community volunteer at local hospitals and schools. She works with students in the Syracuse City School District through the poetry immersion program M.E.S.H. (Making Expression and Scholarship Heard) and Literacy Corps and serves as a mentor to a local student through J.U.M.P. (Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program) Nation. “I started with her when she was in eighth grade, and she’s now a high school junior thinking about college,” she says. Jean counts the mentoring experiences she’s received as an OTHC Scholar among the highlights of her own college experience. “We’ve had sponsored trips to New York City to get exposure to different fields and employers as well as influential guest speakers who come and share their lives with us,” she says. As a first-generation Haitian American college student, Jean says both the financial support and the programming have been integral to her success. “I was talking with some other OTHC Scholars about this the other day,” she says. “We have no idea how we would have gotten through college if it wasn’t for the support of OTHC.” \ Gifts received for Our Time Has Come from May 11, 2019 – Oct. 1, 2019 GIVING LEVEL OF $10,000 - $24,000 Mr. Vincent H. Cohen Jr. ’92, L’95 and Dr. Lisa S. Cohen Mr. Peter G. Henriques ’80 and Mrs. Jeanne O. Henriques ImpactAssets LinkVisum Consulting Group Mr. Keith A. Moody ’89 and Mrs. Fatimah Moody ’90 Col. Tyrone M. Woodyard ’85 GIVING LEVEL OF $5,000 - $9,999 Mrs. Rosalyn Y. Allman-Manning ’75 Delta Beta Executive Alumni Foundation Mrs. Tara A. Favors ’95 and Mr. Dale Favors Mr. Ernest J. Newborn II and Ms. Josie Stovall-Newborn Strada Education Network GIVING LEVEL OF $1,000 - $4,999 Mr. Michael Askey ’70 Benevity Mr. Jamel M. Canty ’96 Mr. Zhamyr R. Cueva ’93 Mr. Nevil Dhabhar ’90 Mr. Porterfield Davis ’85 and Ms. Caroline Mitchell-Davis ’85 Ms. Shelley M. Davis Mr. Kevin S. Dennis and Mrs. Traci C. Dennis ’90 Mr. William J. Drescher Jr. and Lucinda Drescher Ms. Tina L. Eskridge ’95 Mr. Alonzo M. Etheredge ’85 Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Ms. Tamekia Flowers-Ball ’97 Goldman Sachs & Company Ms. June M. Grant ’87 Mrs. Lynette G. Hall ’89 and Mr. Millard Hall Jr. G’88 Mr. Deryk Hammett ’91 and Mrs. Denise McKnight-Hammett Microsoft Corporation Mr. Freddy Morales ’97 Mr. Anthony Morgan Mr. Oluwaleke A. Osinubi ’01 Ms. Shawn R. Outler ’89 Ms. Vonda M. Patterson Ms. Rachel A. Williams ’04 GIVING LEVEL OF $500 - $999 Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Bristol-Myers Squibb PAC Match Program Miss Candice L. Carnage ’90 Dr. Claude L. Cowan Jr. ’68 and Mrs. Faye C. Cowan Mrs. Stephanie C. Crump-Faber ’86 Mr. Gary Evans Ms. Sharon Cummings Giles and Mr. Columbus J. Giles Mr. Geoffrey A. Johnson ’78, G’83 and Mrs. Avon M. Hart-Johnson Mr. Brian K. Jones ’88 and Mrs. Terri L. Jones Helena Mitchell Lindsey G’78, Ph.D.’87 and Mr. William C. Lindsey Jr. Mr. Floyd D. Little ’67, H’16 and Ms. DeBorah A. Little ’14, G’16 Mr. Luis M. Lozada ’02 Mrs. Shamieka T. Preston ’97 Mr. Jamal M. Salmon ’12 Mr. Charles W. Stevens ’92 and Dr. Jennifer G. Stevens Ms. Andrea Wright Wells Fargo Foundation YourCause GIVING LEVEL OF $100 – $499 Ms. Eileen Arias ’03 Ms. Liza Baird-Appiah Bank of New York Mellon Corporation Mr. Paul Barbosa Jr. ’11, G’12 Ms. Tracey-Ann N. Barclay ’94 Mr. Lawrence I. Barron ’87 Dr. Michael D. Bell ’79 Ms. Shanique W. Bonelli-Moore ’02 Mr. Eric F. Booker G’00 Mr. Godfrey K. Brobbey ’03 Mr. Rahman A. Bugg ’96 Mr. John A. Bursie ’97 Mr. Sean B. Carey ’89 and Lesley Smith Ms. Juliana M. Castro ’12 Mr. James E. Childs ’86 and Frances E. Martin-Childs Mr. Nicholas Coleman Mr. Joshua Collins ’16, G’18 Ms. Anita D’Aguilar Mr. Patrick M. Douglas ’15 Mr. Dalton D. Dupree ’15 Miss Marci N. Edwards ’90 Dr. Frantz E. Felix ’00 Ms. Monique J. Fortune ’82 Mr. Jason B. Fraser ’12 Ms. Kim Gatewood ’89 Mr. Archie L. Gilchrist ’75, G’76 Mr. Harlan Gittin Mrs. Bobbie A. Grant ’89 Mr. Joseph F. Greenidge Jr. ’86 Miss Stacey M. Hamilton ’89 Mr. Ronald A. Harris Mr. Charles E. Hayward III ’02 Ms. Trinace C. Hickson ’08 Mioshi Hill Dr. Charles A. Houston Jr. ’90 and Mrs. Monica E. Houston C.P.A. ’90 Mrs. Robin S. Howard G’76 and Michael Howard Mrs. Barbara N. Ingraldi ’85 Mr. Vaughn D. Irons ’97 Ms. JaNeika N. James G’05 Mrs. Tonya M. Couch-Jenkins ’88 and Mr. Carl T. Jenkins Naja Johnson Mr. Derek A. Jones Ms. Cheryl J. Kagan ’72 Ms. Caryn E. Kuebler ’00 Mr. Edgar J. Lambert ’95 Mrs. Gilda H. Lambert ’69, G’70 Mr. Chester R. Lett ’80 and Ms. Danette Sweeting-Lett Mrs. Sandra R. Mack ’89 and Mr. Oliver J. Mack Sr. ’95 Miss Melissa Marcelle ’81 Clifton E. Marsh ’77 Ph.D. Ms. Lia Martin Mr. Robert L. Mason II Miss Cheryl A. McLeod ’79 Miss Roslyn L. McLin ’93 Rev. Dr. Kevin D. Miller ’88 and Mrs. Myra Y. Miller ’95 Mr. Injil Muhammad ’86 and Mrs. Michele S. Muhammad ’87 Ms. Sade K. Muhammad ’12 Ms. Judith L. King-Murray and Thomas C. Murray Ms. Zenobia Murray-Miro ’80 Ms. Ingrid M. Myrie ’94 and Mr. Taharka K. Farrell ’07 Dr. Dontese J. Nicholson ’97 Mr. Grant E. Palmer ’13 Miss Devika A. Parikh ’88 Mrs. Karen E. Payne Mrs. Lenore C. Pearson ’85 and Mr. Kerwien Pearson ’87 Mr. Roberto A. Peguero ’06 Mr. Jeffrey Peisch Ms. Dominique Pierrot ’13 Ms. Kellie E. Porter ’99 Mr. Crevante A. Proctor Ms. Donna P. Rander ’88 Ms. Justina A. Randolph-Burke ’87 Mr. Reginald A. Raymond ’94 Mr. Lorenzo Rhames ’89 Mrs. Caeresa J. Richardson ’07 and Mr. David J. Richardson ’08 14 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT CAMPUSnews Now and Forever Orange O n Nov. 8, fueled by undeniable momentum and powered The campaign launch was preceded by a week of events, by a fiercely passionate Orange community, Syracuse including Boost the ’Cuse: 44 Hours for Syracuse University, University announced the launch of a historic $1.5 billion a giving marathon on Nov. 5 and 6, benefiting all areas campaign, Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse of the University. Boost the ’Cuse raised more than $2.5 million University. The campaign kicked off as the University celebrates from more than 6,200 donors. As part of this effort, 185 its sesquicentennial, uniting the Orange community as it donors supported the Office of Multicultural Advancement collectively reflects on 150 years of impact and fearless firsts. with gifts of more than $37,000. “Syracuse University is at a pivotal moment,” says Chancellor The Office of Multicultural Advancement has set a goal to Kent Syverud. “Higher education looks vastly different now than raise $2 million from Syracuse University’s diverse alumni in it did at the University’s founding, 150 years ago. Our world is 2020, funds that will support scholarships for its increasingly increasingly complex, and the future diverse student body. “This is the demands ideas, inventions, actions time for all alumni to participate, at “This is the time for all and individuals equipped to meet whatever level they can,” says Rachel these challenges head on. Together, Vassel ’91, assistant vice president of alumni to participate, at we can achieve our vision, impact multicultural advancement. “All gifts lives and improve our world. That’s matter, and together we can support whatever level they can. the Orange way.” future generations of students in The resources generated as part becoming Forever Orange.” \ All gifts matter and together of the campaign will support and For more information on accelerate three equally important we can support future Forever Orange: The Campaign Academic Strategic Plan priorities: for Syracuse University, visit advancing academic excellence, generations of students in syracuse.edu/foreverorange or providing an unsurpassed student contact the Office of Multicultural experience, and creating unique becoming Forever Orange.” Advancement at suma@syr.edu. learning opportunities—particularly in our service to veterans, commitment —Rachel Vassel, assistant vice to diversity and inclusion, and passion president of multicultural advancement for entrepreneurship and innovation— to impact our world in extraordinary ways. The campaign, the most ambitious in Syracuse University’s history, has already raised more than $800 million toward the goal. The University has also set its sights on a total of 125,000 unique donors participating, ultimately demonstrating significant support for and belief in Syracuse University’s position as a top international research university. CAMPUSnewss: Board of Trustees Announces Special Committee; Engages Independent Panel of National Experts to Assess and Advise on University Climate, Diversity and Inclusion I n mid-December, Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees announced the formation of an Independent Advisory Panel— which is working in conjunction with a newly formed Board of Trustees Special Committee on University Climate, Diversity and Inclusion—to assess and provide recommendations regarding programs, policies and initiatives designed to foster and strengthen diversity and inclusion at Syracuse. Composed of nationally prominent experts, the advisory panel, in collaboration with the special committee and Syracuse University leadership, is charged with reviewing the existing framework for diversity and inclusion and making recommendations. The announcement of this panel and the special committee follows commitments made by the University, including those made in recent months after consultation with student leaders. Members of the Independent Advisory Panel are: Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO, The Jewish Federations of North America; former president and CEO, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life; and former chancellor, the Ohio Board of Regents; Karol Mason, president, John Jay College of Criminal Justice; and former assistant U.S. attorney general, Office of Justice Programs; Damon Williams, senior scholar and Innovation Fellow, Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin; founder, Atlanta-based Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership and Social Innovation; and founding member, Journal of Diversity in Higher Education; and Frank H. Wu, the William L. Prosser Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Hastings College of the Law (also former chancellor and dean); former faculty member, Howard University Law School; and former dean, Wayne State University Law School. “With the appointment of this expert panel and the formation of the special committee, the Board affirms its vision and commitment to build on the work that is already underway to foster a campus climate that is safe, diverse, inclusive and welcoming to everyone,” says Board of Trustees Chair Kathleen A. Walters ’73. “The goal of our work is to establish Syracuse University as a leader in higher education and beyond by modeling the values of a diverse and inclusive society on our campus, while fostering a culture at Syracuse University that is supportive and welcoming to all people and preparing our students to be leaders in our diverse world.” As an integral part of this effort, the panel and special committee will directly engage with students, faculty, staff and alumni, including through in-person meetings, surveys and other ways of gathering information. All of this input will be taken into consideration in developing recommendations to build a stronger institutional framework. Collaboration among the Independent Advisory Panel, the special committee, University leadership and others will result in a comprehensive analysis and recommendations regarding policies, programs and other initiatives required to foster a sustainable approach to diversity and inclusion. The advisory panel and special committee will also evaluate successful practices and programs at other higher education institutions and explore how similar initiatives can be introduced and sustained at Syracuse University. “Our unwavering commitment is that Syracuse University is a place where all students, faculty and staff feel included, supported, protected and respected as valued members of this community,” says Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud. “I look forward to the work of the Independent Advisory Panel and the special committee. Our community lending its voice to this important work will be instrumental in creating a stronger Syracuse University for everyone.” The special committee is co-led by Trustees Richard Alexander L’82 and Jeffrey Scruggs, who are joined by the chairs of the Board of Trustees committees governing academic affairs, student affairs, advancement and external affairs, and budget, as well as Board Chair Walters. Interim reports will be made throughout the spring semester with the goal of completing recommendations by the end of June 2020. At the same time, the University will continue to implement previously announced programs and enhancements, including the November 2019 agreements. While the special committee and Independent Advisory Panel continue this important work, students are being encouraged to participate in campus engagement committees, which were created to drive student involvement in collective efforts to support an inclusive, equitable, safe and welcoming campus community. Members of the committees will provide input, constructive feedback and insight into the implementation of the recommendations provided by multiple groups of students over the last several weeks. “As we work to advance the thoughtful, solutions-oriented recommendations offered by our students, we will need additional student input to support the effective implementation of each recommendation. This continued dialogue with students, senior leaders, staff and faculty is essential to our work in strengthening our community,” says Rob Hradsky, vice president for the student experience. \ To learn more about the Campus Commitments and to read about Syracuse University’s initiatives related to diversity, inclusion and campus climate, please visit syracuse.edu/ commitments. 18 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT CAMPUSnews HEOP Marks 50 Years at Syracuse University P erhaps no greater initiative in the history of Syracuse University has had more impact on increasing the diversity of the student body than the University’s Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), now in its 50th year. HEOP was legislated in 1968 by New York State to provide opportunities to economically and educationally disadvantaged students at private colleges and universities in the state. In 1969, Syracuse University became one of the first to enroll students under HEOP. Five students were enrolled; two graduated. Today, HEOP enrolls an average of 50 students annually with a total roster of 218 and boasts a five-year graduation rate of 82.6 percent, which aligns closely with the University’s overall graduation rate of 81.3 (based on the entering Fall 2013 cohort). The program targets students who present an alternative admission profile to Syracuse University’s standard admissions requirements but show the promise to succeed with the proper support. To be considered, students must be New York state residents and fall within specific income guidelines. Many are also first-generation students. “We work very closely with the Offices of Admissions and Financial Aid, as well as with high school guidance counselors, who help steer applications to us for review,” says HEOP Director Craig Tucker. His team reviews those applications holistically. “It may be that the student’s grade point average is lower than the SU norm, or perhaps they did poorly on their standardized tests, but when reviewing the application as a whole, we see potential.” The program works closely with admitted students to help them succeed. “I think the relationships that we build with our students are what make the program special,” says Tucker, but he credits the students themselves for their success. “We’re giving them an opportunity and very often our students surpass our expectations.” Statistics from Fall 2017 show more than half of HEOP students with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher and three students with a perfect 4.0. A third of students in the program were on the Dean’s List. HEOP was launched at Syracuse University under the direction of Robert Boney. He was followed by Horace Smith, who later became vice president and director of the Division of Student Support and Retention. “HEOP was one of the first formal ways we began to look at students’ individual learning needs and styles and developed a system of supportive services that were responsive to both their cultures and academic needs,” Smith has said. In the 1980s, HEOP moved from Ostrom Avenue to its current location at 804 University Avenue. JoAnne K. May was the director through the 1980s and 1990s. In 2007, she left to focus on SummerStart and the Student Success Initiative. Denise Trionfero took the reins of HEOP and was succeeded by Tucker in 2017. In its 50 years, Syracuse University’s HEOP has assisted hundreds of students in obtaining their degrees. “HEOP changes lives,” says Tucker. “It’s not only the students accepted into the program who are impacted, but in many cases their entire families. These students are able to graduate, have successful careers and change the patterns of poverty and inequity for their families. The impact is immeasurable.” \ CAMPUSnews New Faculty Milton Rube´n LauferJoins VPA C oncert pianist and scholar Milton Rubén Laufer joined the Setnor School of Music as its director and an associate professor of music. As director, he will be responsible for the Setnor School’s creative, academic and strategic leadership. Before joining Syracuse University, Laufer served as associate professor and director of Western Carolina University’s School of Music. He previously served as an executive at Florida International University College of Communication, Architecture and the Arts in Miami (2015-17); dean of music at the New World School of the Arts in Miami (2012-14); and was a Fulbright Research Fellow in Madrid (2001-02). J ok Madut Jok has joined the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs as a professor of anthropology. A native of South Sudan, Jok is co-founder and former executive director of the Sudd Institute, an independent research organization dedicated to improving the quality, impact and accountability of local, national and international policy and decision making in South Sudan to promote a more peaceful, just and prosperous society. Jok has held fellowship positions at the United States Institute of Peace, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Rift Valley Institute, and served in the government of South Sudan as undersecretary in the Ministry of Culture and Heritage for three years. He is author of four books and numerous articles covering gender, sexuality and reproductive health, humanitarian aid, ethnography of political violence, gender-based violence, war and slavery, and the politics of identity in South Sudan and Sudan. His most recent book is Breaking Sudan: The Search for Peace (Oneworld Publications, 2017). He has held faculty positions at University of Juba in South Sudan and Loyola Marymount University. Jok earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Alexandria, Egypt; a master’s from American University in Cairo; and a Ph.D. in anthro­pology from University of California, Los Angeles. \ CAMPUSnews Correcting History Syracuse BLAC leads effort to posthumously admit the first African American College of Law graduate to the New York bar. I n 1903, William Herbert Johnson became the first African American to graduate from the Syracuse University College of Law. Although he graduated with honors, gave the valedictorian address at graduation and passed the bar exam, he was unable to gain admission to the New York bar and practice law. “Admission to the bar requires references, and white lawyers were unwilling to sign a statement confirming the good character and fitness of Black graduates,” says College of Law Dean Craig Boise. On Oct. 18, 2019, that injustice was acknowledged in a historic posthumous admission ceremony for Johnson held at the Onondaga County Courthouse in Syracuse, the first posthumous bar admission ever conducted in New York state. “We are going to right that wrong in the only way we can,” said the Hon. Gerald Whalen, presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. Whalen said Johnson’s admission “corrects a historic wrong and provides his family with an official acknowledgment that Johnson had the moral character and intellectual fitness to practice law in this state and should have been admitted over a century ago.” The event was the result of a year-long effort spearheaded by Felicia Collins Ocumarez G’98, L’98, in-house counsel for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, who along with Syracuse University College of Law Professor Paula C. Johnson, had prepared and filed a 100-page petition to the state Court of Appeals on behalf of the Syracuse Black Law Alumni Collective (Syracuse BLAC) in support of Johnson’s posthumous admission. Ocumarez first heard Johnson’s story when she met his grandson at the 50th anniversary celebration of the University’s Black Law Student Association (BLSA), which happened to coincide with her 20th law school reunion in 2018. It was her first time back to campus since earning her degree and triggered a commitment to get involved. Along with a fellow alumnus of her era, J. Christopher Hamilton G’99, L’99, she founded Syracuse BLAC to build a bridge between alumni professionals and the next generation of African American jurists and legal practitioners. Their first initiative was launching a fund drive for a $150,000 endowment to provide need-based scholarships for African American students at the College of Law, called the MCMIII Movement (1903 Movement), in honor of Johnson. But Ocumarez and Hamilton weren’t content simply naming a scholarship in Johnson’s memory. “He was the first. If it weren’t for him, who knows where the rest of us would be,” says Hamilton, assistant professor of television, radio and film at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Ocumarez began making calls to inquire about the possibility of a posthumous bar admission. She quickly learned that had never been done in the state of New York. With no precedent, there was no set procedure. But Ocumarez was undeterred. “Once I connected with the right people and they heard Johnson’s story, they were absolutely committed to helping me navigate the process and making things right,” she says. 24 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT “I nspiration can strike anywhere,” says Kendall Coleman, a 6-foot-3-inch, 253-pound defensive end and member of the Syracuse Orange football team. He’s also a poet. “One time I got off the bus near Crouse College as the sun was setting. The sky was beautiful, with lots of purples, pinks and blues. I had to take a picture, so I could write about what I saw.” Since arriving at Syracuse in 2016, Coleman has written scores of poems about all matter of subjects—love, loss, coming of age, the circle of life and the simplicity of beauty. He uses an app to write and store his work. “It’s nice because I don’t have to scroll as much. I also can call up music and photos on my phone for inspiration,” says the four-year starter and three-time letter winner. Coleman says writing poetry helps navigate emotions and unwind from a long day, which during the summer started at 6 a.m. and included morning conditioning sessions. Whether analyzing an opposing offense or the 5-7-5 structure of a haiku, Coleman relies on instinct. Such proficiency has made him an intrepid pass rusher, teaming with senior Alton Robinson to form the No. 1 sack duo in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with 20 combined quarterback takedowns in the 2018 season. Coleman’s sixth sense also translates into the classroom, where he hopes to parlay his training in human development and family science into a career in coaching or athletic advising. “Everything I do has a little bit of heart and a little bit of gut,” says Coleman, who also is eyeing the 2020 NFL Combine in his hometown of Indianapolis. “You can’t exactly teach intuition, but you can do things to improve it—from studying the stances of your opponent; to listening to your body, if it’s tired or injured; to experimenting with different rhythms and meters in writing.” Coleman wrote his first poem during his senior year of high school. Tasked with writing a term paper or creating a piece of art, he went rogue, insisting that a two-page original poem was “just as artistic” as a painting, photograph or piece of sculpture. Coleman continued writing at Syracuse, while skyrocketing to gridiron success. In 2016, he was the Orange’s first true freshman to start a season opener at defensive end in nearly 20 years. During the 2017 season, Coleman tore his labrum. He says rehabilitation of that shoulder injury forced him to slow down— to become more observant and keenly aware. As a result, poetry began spilling out of him. Ideas that used to take days to develop came together in a matter of hours or minutes. Impressive, considering he’s never taken a creative writing class or attended a poetry workshop. Last year, Coleman recorded a personal best 32 tackles (23 solo), led the ACC in sacks per game (0.83) and tied for second in the conference with 10 sacks. Now, he’s trying to make the most of his senior season. “From top to bottom, this is the most athletic team I’ve ever played on at Syracuse. Competition is high, our work ethic is strong, and everybody wants to win,” he says. “Now that’s something to write about.” \ Mind of the Rich BY KENDALL COLEMAN If it doesn’t make money, it doesn’t make sense. Help the poor? What for? They’re not tryna help me stay rich. Give them a sweepstake instead and let them play rich. Let them see and feel this lifestyle, but never let them get a grip. Knowledge and hope are their biggest weapons. Man, I pray for my sake they never become equipped. 26 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT ALUMNInews Shanel Bailey Hits Broadway W hile every musical theater student dreams of performing on Broadway, most don’t expect to land there within months of graduation. But that’s the good fortune enjoyed by Shanel Bailey ’19, who joined the cast of the hit musical Book of Mormon July 30. Bailey had auditioned for the show shortly after her senior Showcase but never thought she had any possibility of landing a role so pursued other opportunities. She was working in a production at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown when the call came inviting her to join the show. “I had to quickly pack up and head back to New York City to start rehearsals,” Bailey says. “The family I made at Glimmerglass were so encouraging in taking such a huge opportunity, and I can’t thank them enough for their understanding and support,” she says. As an on-stage swing and understudy, Bailey performs every night with the cast and has learned each ensemble part and the female lead role. “This is super cool because I get to sort of walk in everyone’s shoes and do the show from their perspective, which keeps me thinking and keeps things exciting,” she says. A big difference from her college and regional productions is the long-running nature of the show. “I’ve had to learn to build the stamina and creativity to consistently do eight shows a week and also keep it new and exciting for myself while staying true to the blocking.” Bailey says it’s a joy and privilege to watch and learn from veteran performers. “This experience has been an incredible blessing and irreplaceable learning experience so far,” she says. “I’ve accepted a reality I didn’t know was possible for me and in a timeline I could never have expected.” A native New Yorker, Bailey has credits that include Elf, The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins at Syracuse Stage, and Oklahoma! and Porgy and Bess at the Glimmerglass Festival. At Syracuse, Bailey was an Our Time Has Come Scholar and received the 2019 Marcia Mohr Award for outstanding female students in dramatic arts from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. \ IN MEMORIAM Michael Branch ’74, of Brooklyn, New York, died August 30. Branch attended Keystone Junior College for one year, where he played basketball, before transferring to Syracuse University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and was a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity at Syracuse University. Branch spent four years working for the Royal Bank of Canada and then had a 20-year career with the Department of Corrections. He was a member of the Brooklyn Sports Club, where he enjoyed daily activities with friends during retirement. Branch is survived by his wife, Lillian; daughter Michelle; siblings Philip Branch, Maria Branch and Clarence Branch; and a host of nieces and nephews. Beverly D. Simon ’85, of New York City, died July 26. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, Simon worked for many years in promotions, marketing and sales. She was active in her church, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in the Bronx, and was a faithful member of the Joint Usher Board and Missionaries. Classmates, friends and family will remember her radiant smile and kind heart. Her services were attended by Ben Green ’85, Donovan Welsh ’82, Monique Fortuné ’82, Wanda Speight Bridgers ’84 and her roommate Robyn Phillips-McLeod ’83. She is survived by an uncle and several nephews and nieces. Byron Dudley “Zulu” Franklin ’86, of Queens, New York, died September 2. Franklin was a professional mobile, radio and nightclub disc jockey. At age 16, he began rapping, break dancing and spinning records at local house parties all over Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island, and promoted mixers that brought local high schools together for dances. While attending Syracuse University, he became the DJ for many campus organizations and hosted weekly radio mix shows on WAER-FM and WJPZ-FM in Syracuse. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. An ability to play for any crowd afforded him invitations to play on campuses including Albany, Cornell, RPI, Hobart, Utica and Princeton. He rocked the house for huge crowds at events such as the Penn Relays, stepping competitions, pool parties, college reunions and basketball tournaments. After graduating from Syracuse, he returned to New York City and became a top disc jockey, spinning at clubs such as the Tunnel, Roxy and Palladium. After three years, Franklin moved to Baltimore to attend law school. He was given the 8 p.m.-midnight time slot at V-103 FM, doing the “Saturday Night Master-Mix Dance Party,” which rose to No. 1 in the Arbitron ratings. He also played weekly at clubs in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., such as Odells, Cignal, Paradox, The Ritz and Chapter III. After graduating from University of Baltimore School of Law, Franklin became known as the “DJ with a J.D.” and returned to the New York metropolitan area, where he resumed his craft, not only spinning artists’ records, but also acting as their legal advocates. In 2000, he returned to radio on 93.5 FM, and in 2005 he teamed up to DJ for rap legends Chief Rocker Busy Bee, Kool Moe Dee, Reverend Run, Mele Mel, KRS One and MC Shan on a European tour in Germany, France and Hungary. Franklin also worked as an adjunct professor of law at University of Baltimore School of Law and adjunct professor in the schools of business, humanities, and professional studies at Coppin State University. Franklin is survived by his son, Chad, daughter, Anju ’15, G’17, and son-in-law, Padraic Kane ’15, G’16. Erica Branch-Ridley ’87, of West Orange, New Jersey, died September 16. Branch-Ridley came to Syracuse University as a theater major but after two years realized her passion was in producing rather than acting. She changed her major to speech communications and found a creative outlet resurrecting the Black Artists League, where she produced shows. She was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Branch-Ridley was a pioneer in developing diverse children’s television programming. Although she began her producing career on the CBS news show 48 Hours, it was once she transitioned to children’s TV that she made her mark. At BET, she created and produced the award-winning children’s show Storyporch, hosted by poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Next, she moved to Viacom as senior director of TV Land and Nick at Nite Digital, where she oversaw all production, including the launch of its first broadband video channel. She became senior producer at Nickelodeon Online, where she created the first fully interactive experiences for Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer and other notable kids shows. As vice president of production at Sesame Workshop, Branch-Ridley produced educational programming for pre-kindergarteners and earned a Daytime Emmy Award for her digital media work on the relaunch of The Electric Company, based on the popular television show from the 1970s. In 2013, Branch-Ridley joined the Hispanic Information and Television Network, where she led the development of a system of bilingual transmedia resources for Hispanic preschool children under a $30 million U.S. Department of Education Ready To Learn grant. Following the release of the 16 Pocoyo Playset apps, which received Parents’ Choice and Kidscreen awards, she turned her attention to deriving a new line of bilingual preschool learning resources from the grant-funded work. Under her leadership, the initial series of bilingual Cleo & Cuquin Family Fun! math learning kits and apps were developed. Branch-Ridley’s honors include two Emmy Awards, a Multiethnic TV Leadership Award, and Syracuse University’s Arents Award for Excellence in Media and Education. She is survived by her husband, Jonathan; children Nya, Olivia and Jonathan; and her sister, Gabrielle Branch. CBTCOMING BACK TOGETHER SAVE THE DATE | CBT 2020 September 10-13, 2020 Registration now open! The earlier you register, the more you save! Use the registration form in this issue or visit alumni-of-color.syr.edu/events/ Felix E. Cochren Jr., of Syracuse, associate professor of theater design and technology in the College of Visual and Performing Arts Department of Drama, died April 26. A Syracuse native, Cochren joined Syracuse University in 2002. Beloved by his students and colleagues, he was recognized for teaching excellence with the college’s Outstanding Faculty Award in the 2007-08 academic year. A scenic and costume designer, Cochren attended Carnegie Mellon University and was an associate member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829, New York. His New York credits included Broadway productions of Home, Inacent Black and Amen Corner and off-Broadway productions of A Soldier’s Play, A Brief History of White Music and Lotto. Cochren was honored with the Black Theatre Network’s Winona Fletcher Award for Excellence in Design, six St. Louis Black Rep’s Woodie King Awards, seven AUDELCO Awards (New York City), a Cleveland Newspapers Tribute, a Detroit Free Press Award, nominations for Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award and BTAA Award, a shared Obie Award for Black Nativity and the first award for Outstanding Scenic Design from the National Black Theatre Festival. In 2017 he was honored as a “Torch Bearer for Black Theatre” and participated in the Passing of the Torch Ceremony in New York City. 30 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT CBTCOMING BACK TOGETHER Alumni Reunion | September 10-13, 2020 REGISTRATION FORM (For online registration, go to alumni-of-color.syr.edu/events/) Last Name: First Name: Middle Initial: School/College: . Undergraduate/Class Year: . Graduate/Class Year: Home Address: City: State: Zip: Home Phone: Cell Phone: Company: Your Title: Company Address: City: State: Zip: Business Phone: Fax: Email: Guest’s Last Name: First Name: Is your spouse/partner your guest? (check one): . Yes . No If guest is an alumna/alumnus, please provide the following information on the individual: School/College: . Undergraduate/Class Year: . Graduate/Class Year: Company: Guest’s Title: Company Address: City: State: Zip: Business Phone: Fax: Email: Hotel you will be staying at during the reunion: Registration fee (payment in full must accompany this form): Mail-in registration Generation Orange alumni, postmarked by Aug. 14 $215 per person x = (Total) All other alumni: Postmarked by April 1 (early bird package) $250 per person x = (Total) Postmarked April 2 to July 30 $300 per person x = (Total) Postmarked July 31 to Aug. 14 $350 per person x = (Total) On-Site All Registration (Sept. 10–12) All alumni, including Generation Orange $400 per person Graduate student pricing (full-time Syracuse University students): Saturday Night Gala Entree Selection Free for all events with the exception of gala, after parties, CBT Celebrity Classic (One per person registered): Basketball Game, 5K, concert, Syracuse 8 panel discussion PLEASE NOTE: ONCE MADE, ENTREE Your registration fee includes the following:Thursday night after party, SELECTION CANNOT BE CHANGED Friday night entertainment, Friday night after party, Alumni BBQ, Saturday # Chicken and Sunday breakfast, Saturday night gala/dinner, Saturday night after party, # Vegetarian: a $10 nonrefundable processing fee per registration. # Vegan: I would like to make a donation to OTHC scholarships: # Beef: Undergraduate Black or Hispanic Endowed Scholarship $ Due to the large number of guests at the dinner Graduate Black or Hispanic Scholarship $ gala, special dietary restrictions or requests cannot be accommodated. Method of Payment (Check appropriate box): . Money order/personal check Please seat me/us with: (money order/check # ) made payable to Syracuse University. 1. Credit Card: ..Visa # LAST NAME: FIRST NAME: ..MasterCard# 2. LAST NAME: FIRST NAME: Expiration Date (mm/yy): 3. Cardholder’s Signature LAST NAME: FIRST NAME: Please circle any of the following that apply to you (self) oryour alumna/alumnus guest only: FORMER MEMBER (S) OF: African American Male Congress Self Guest Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Self Guest Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Self Guest Latin American Law Students Association Self Guest Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Self Guest Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library Student Staff Self Guest Black and Latinx Information Studies Support (BLISTS) Self Guest Minority/Pre-Professional Management Society Self Guest Black Artists League Self Guest Minority Student Nurses Organization/ALHANA Self Guest BCCE Self Guest National Association of Black Journalists Self Guest Black Communications Society Self Guest National Association of Hispanic Journalists Self Guest Black Law Students Association Self Guest National Association of Negro Business and Black/Minority Graduate Student Association Self Guest Professional Women’s Club Inc. (NAN) Self Guest Black Reign Step Team Self Guest National Society of Black Engineers Self Guest Black Voice Self Guest Omega Phi Beta Sorority Self Guest Coalition of Minority Public Administration Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Self Guest Students (COMPAS) Self Guest Outlaws Dance Troupe Self Guest Collegiate Science and Technology Our Time Has Come (OTHC) Scholarship Recipient Self Guest Entry Program (CSTEP) Self Guest Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company Self Guest Community Folk Art Center Self Guest Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Self Guest Creations Dance Troupe Self Guest Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Self Guest Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Self Guest Raices Dance Troupe Self Guest Friends of Syracuse University Self Guest Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) Self Guest Achievement Program Self Guest Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Self Guest Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Self Guest Kalabash Dance Troupe Self Guest Sigma Iota Alpha Sorority Self Guest Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Self Guest Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Senoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority Self Guest La LUCHA/HAS Self Guest SAS Self Guest Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity Self Guest WellsLink Program Self Guest Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority Self Guest Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Self Guest Lambda Sigma Upsilon Fraternity Self Guest Other: Self GuestLambda Theta Alpha Sorority Inc. Self Guest Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity Self Guest Mail registration form with full payment to: CBT 2020, Office of Multicultural Advancement, Syracuse University, number of tickets for individual events of the reunion are available upon 640 Skytop Road, Second Floor, Syracuse, NY 13244. request for non-alumni guests. Contact the Office of Multicultural Advancement for details and information. Questions regarding registration Mail-in registration will not be honored afterAug. 14, 2020. can be emailed to: suma@syr.edu. If you are paying by credit card, online and faxed registrations will For the most current information on the reunion or hotel information, be accepted through Aug. 14, 2020. Please fax the registration to visit our webpage at alumni-of-color.syr.edu/events/or call 315.443.4556. Office of Multicultural Advancement at 315.443.2874. A limited CBT 2020 Hotel Information The Scholar Hotel (formerly Sheraton Syracuse Courtyard by Marriott Syracuse Embassy Suites Syracuse — the Genesee Grande) University Hotel and Downtown at Armory Destiny USA 1060 East Genesee Street Conference Center Square 311 Hiawatha Blvd. W Syracuse, NY 13210 801 University Avenue 300 West Fayette Street Syracuse, NY 13204 315.476.4212 Syracuse, NY 13210 Syracuse, NY 13202 Room Rates: Room Rates: Double — per night $159* Queen — per night $159* King — per night $159* 315.475.3000 Room Rates: Double — per night $152* Marriott Syracuse Downtown 315.422.4854 Room Rates: Double — per night $179* Queen — per night $179* King — per night $179* One Bedroom (2 Queen) — per night $189 Aloft Syracuse Inner Harbor 310 W Kirkpatrick Street Crown Plaza Hotel 701 East Genesee Street Syracuse, NY 13210 315.479.7000 Room Rates: (formerly Hotel Syracuse) 100 East Onondaga Street Syracuse, NY 13202 315.474.2424 Room Rates: Parkview Hotel 713 East Genesee Street Syracuse, NY 13210 315.701.2600 Syracuse, NY 13204 Room Rates: Queen — per night $129 King — per night $129 Double — per night $169* King — per night $169* Standard Rooms (single or double) — per night $169* Room Rates: Double — per night $169* King — per night $169* * Above rates at all hotels are subject to sales and lodging taxes, per room, per night. Quoted rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Ask for the Syracuse University Coming Back Together (CBT) Rate. 32 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT Generation Orange winner Josh Aviv ’15, G’17 with his fiancee, Samadhi Melania NON PROFIT ORG Manuscript Syracuse US POSTAGE PAID SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY SYRACUSE NY Office of Multicultural Advancement Syracuse University 640 Skytop Rd., Second Floor Syracuse NY 13244-5160