FALL 2025 | VOL. 14 | NO. 1
 Syracuse Manuscript
 A Legacy in Print
 Celebrating 40 years of 
the Syracuse Manuscript

Carmelo Anthony delivered a 
heartfelt message as the 2025 
Commencement speaker. “Take 
that Orange spirit into the world. 
Be bold. Be kind. Be relentless. 
Live with a purpose. Give back. 
Honor your roots. Chase your 
dreams,” he told graduates.

Syracuse Manuscript
Rachel Vassel ’91, G’21
 Associate Vice President 
Multicultural Advancement and Affinity Fundraising

 Bria Sowell ’14, G’16
 Director of Development
 Multicultural Advancement and Affinity Fundraising

 Monique Frost
 Administrative Specialist
 Multicultural Advancement and Affinity Fundraising

 Angela Morales-Patterson G’24
 Editor-in-Chief

 Renée Gearhart Levy
 Writer/Editor

 George S. Bain G’06
 Copy Editor

 Colleen Kiefer/Kiefer Creative
 Design

 Office of Multicultural Advancement 
and Affinity Fundraising
 Syracuse University
 200 Walnut Place
 Syracuse, NY 13244
 315.443.4556 
F 315.443.2874
 multiculturalalumni.syracuse.edu/
 suma@syr.edu

Opinions expressed in Syracuse Manuscript are those of 
the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies of 
Syracuse University. 

©2025 Syracuse University Office of Multicultural 
Advancement. All rights reserved.

 Manuscript Syracuse
 Forever Orange Campaign Success ...............................3
 Angela Morales-Patterson Retirement .........................10
 Alumni Profiles ................................................13
 Student Spotlights .............................................18
 Campus News .................................................23
 Alumni News ..................................................30
 History Lesson .................................................34
 In Memoriam ..................................................35
 
On the Cover: Celebrating four decades of the Syracuse 
Manuscript as we transition to a new digital storytelling 
platform

SUMMER 2025  |   1   


 EMBRACING CHANGE
 (photo by Alexandria Vassel) Rachel Vassel ’91, G’21

 Hello, Orange Family,
 For many years, Syracuse Manuscript has told the stories that are most important to our 
multicultural alumni community. Articles covering everything from the Coming Back Together 
reunions, regional events and activities, student and alumni success stories, and Orange heroes 
such as Floyd Little ’67, the Syracuse 8, Vanessa Williams ’85 and Kevin Richardson H ’20 have 
filled our pages. 

Manuscript, which was launched in 1985 under the leadership of Robert Hill, has been  
a legacy publication that has helped us to understand how far we’ve come as a community and 
how far we have yet to go. Often, I find during home visits with alumni that Manuscript is a 
valued keepsake on a desk, coffee table or bookshelf. This is because it represents the beauty  
of our deeply connected community at Syracuse University. It’s our history and our voice. 

This digital copy will be the last issue of Manuscript in its current form due to rising printing 
and production costs. However, this fall, we will launch a new storytelling website that will 
continue to share the stories that you enjoy, in a more dynamic and timely format. Please  
ensure that we have your current email address by visiting cusecommunity.syr.edu and clicking 
“Update My Info” on the top right of the home page. You will receive an email notification when 
the new platform is ready to view. 

As you know, Manuscript has changed a great deal over the years (as our cover art illustrates), 
and this latest change represents the power of digital media to expand our capabilities and 
support our mission. I hope you will embrace this new and creative approach to communicating 
all the things that we’ve always celebrated. 

This issue also represents Angela Morales-Patterson’s final issue as editor in chief. I cannot 
 fully express the passion that Angela has brought to this publication or her dedication to the 
communities that Manuscript represents. We owe her our gratitude as she retires after 26 years  
of service at the University (see page 10). Angela was diligent about delivering each copy of 
Manuscript to the University Archives, and we will continue that tradition by cataloging our  
future digital stories as well. 

Additionally, we are grateful that our longtime Manuscript writer, Renée Levy (whom many  
of you may know was hired by Hill, our founding vice president of Program Development), will 
continue to write for us. 

Thank you for your contributions to this important, award-winning magazine and your ongoing 
contributions to our alma mater.  

With Orange Love,
 Rachel Vassel

 2 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

Forever Orange Campaign 
Exceeds $1.5 Billion Goal
 The unprecedented engagement of Black and Latino alumni 
contributed to this historic fundraising success.

 At the Barner-McDuffie House, three students are studying 
in the Brown Favors Quiet Lounge. Another group of 
students is  hanging out relaxing in the Alpha Kappa Alpha 
Iota Upsilon Chapter Social Lounge, while another is using the John 
Gregory Clemons ’76, G’14 Kitchen to bake a batch of cookies. 
In the year it’s been open, the house on Euclid Avenue has 
become constant a hub of community, particularly for students 
interested in Black history and culture.
 The Barner-McDuffie House, and the spaces within it, are 
named for the alumni whose financial support made it possible. 
That includes a $1 million naming gift from Sharon Barner ’79 and 
her husband, Haywood McDuffie, as well as $600,000 raised 
from individual alumni, and members of Delta Sigma Theta and 
Alpha Kappa Alpha sororities to name its rooms. 
The Barner-McDuffie House is significant as the first University 
building on North Campus that was solely funded through the 
philanthropy of Black alumni. 
That fundraising effort is but one tangible outcome of Syracuse 
University’s historic Forever Orange Campaign, which closed Dec. 
31, 2024, after raising an unprecedented $1.59 billion to advance 
academic excellence, transform University facilities and spaces 
and expand access to higher education for talented students.  
“I am grateful to everyone who helped us reach and exceed the 
ambitious goals of the Forever Orange Campaign,” says Chancellor 
Kent Syverud. “The extraordinary generosity of so many is already 
having a profound impact—transforming our campus, driving 
academic excellence and providing life-changing opportunities for 
our students. The Forever Orange Campaign was a catalyst to 
convert big ideas into exciting realities. But none of it would have 
been possible without the passion, support and commitment of 
our Orange community.”
 Launched in 2019, Forever Orange sought to raise $1.5 billion 
in philanthropic support from 125,000 donors and meaningfully 
engage 20% of alumni. Over its five-year run, all three goals were 
exceeded. At campaign close, the Forever Orange Campaign had 
raised a total of $1,590,234,203 from 125,699 individual 
(photo) Alumni members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. present a ceremonial check for $75,000 at  
Coming Back Together in September 2024.
 donors, meaningfully engaging 20.5% of alumni.
 Among Black and Latino alumni, that number is 29.8%.  
The campaign proved a catalyst for philanthropy among Black 
 and Latino alumni, who supported Syracuse University at 
unprecedented levels. Over the last 10 
years, Black and Latino giving has 
increased tenfold, with a high of $6.3 
million in gifts in 2023 up from 
$612,000 in 2014.
 That participation level is due in large 
part to efforts of the Syracuse University 
Office of Multicultural Advancement and 
Affinity Fundraising (SUMA), which plans 
and executes regional events and the on
campus triennial Coming Back Together 
(CBT) reunion, which grew significantly 
during the campaign period. CBT 2024 
sold out last fall with 1,557 registrants and 
many others who returned to campus that 
weekend, growing from approximately 
400 alumni prior.
 Alumni participation translated to 
alumni giving. At the launch of the 
Forever Orange campaign, SUMA  
set out to double the $5 million Our  
Time Has Come (OTHC) endowment 
 to $10 million. When that goal was 
accomplished in 2022, the target was 
raised to $15 million, and by the end of 
the campaign in December 2024, the 
OTHC endowment had reached $16 
million. 
FALL 2025 | 3 

(photo) OUR TIME HAS COME SCHOLARS welcomed students and parents during Family Weekend 2023 at SUMA and Alumni Engagement offices at 200 Walnut Place. 
Left to right: Myla Thomas ’24, G’25, Sofia Rivera ’26, Jamison Brown ’25, Afua Danso Dankwa ’24, Sofia Rodriguez ’24, G’25, Denisse Cruz ’24 and Lizmarie Montemayor ’24, ’G25. Scholarships increased significantly as a result of money raised during the Forever Orange campaign.

 “Our segment significantly contributed to the success of  
the Forever Orange campaign,” says Rachel Vassel ’91, G’21, 
associate vice president of multicultural advancement and affinity 
fundraising. “As a result of their generosity, we’ve increased from 
awarding 62 OTHC scholarships in 2019 at the campaign launch 
to 143 scholarships in the 2024-25 academic year.”
 The ability to support current first-generation and other 
students with unmet financial need is the driving force 
behind the OTHC Program and a major impetus for  
alumni giving. 
Just as football alumni might support athletic facilities or 
journalism alumni give to the S.I.Newhouse School of Public 
Communications, supporting OTHC is a way for many first
generation and other alumni to give back for the financial aid and 
scholarships that they received as undergraduate students.
 “Alumni give to support the things they care about, whether it’s 
their academic program, athletics or supporting scholarships for 
students with an unmet financial need,” says Vassel. 
The important thing is engaging alumni with the University.  
“All of us have multifaceted interests,” says Vassel. “OTHC may  
be the first area of interest for our alumni, but once they are in the 
pipeline, they often go on to support other areas of the University 
they care about as well.”
 Vassel credits the inclusive nature of SUMA fundraising for the 
unprecedented numbers of Black and Latino alumni participating 
in the Forever Orange campaign. 
“We also support collective giving, which allows alumni to 
participate at whatever level they can to support their alumni 
group’s fundraising initiatives,” she says.
 SUMA has tapped into the long history of communities of color 
working together to achieve goals. “We’ve always pooled our 
resources to do more with less,” she says. 
Leading the way is the Kappa Lambda chapter of Delta Sigma 
Theta Sorority Inc., which raised a historic $1.2 million to create an 
endowed scholarship. “The Deltas have set the standard for all of 
our alumni groups,” says Vassel.
 Particularly notable is that 40% of contributors to the Delta 
Sigma Theta endowment were first-time University donors. 
“Either those alumnae weren’t previously asked to give or 
weren’t presented with a giving opportunity that sparked interest,” 
says Vassel. “Or perhaps those first-time donors were compelled 
to give collectively because they could contribute at any level to 
help their group achieve its goal. Whether a donor gave $50 or 
$5,000 to the Delta fund, all members of the collective can 
celebrate the incredible $1.2 million raised by the organization.”
 When SUMA was created as the Office of Program 
Development back in 1982, the goal was to re-engage 
a segment of alumni that had become disconnected 
from Syracuse University. 
Over its 43 years, SUMA became a model for other colleges and 
universities seeking to engage alumni of color, building relationships 
that were critical to the success of the Forever Orange Campaign.
 4   |   SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

Because at the heart of it, fundraising is all about relationships. 
“When we talk about a campaign’s success, we often focus on the 
goals and metrics. But campaigns are really built on relationships, 
trust and a shared belief in one’s mission,” says Tracy Barlok, 
senior vice president and chief advancement officer. “The Forever 
Orange Campaign didn’t begin with a dollar goal; it began with 
people who loved Syracuse University deeply enough to imagine 
its future and then make it real.”
 SUMA’s stellar record of alumni engagement and pipeline 
building during the campaign period has been recognized within 
higher education with six awards from the Council for Support of 
Higher Education since 2021 that recognize alumni engagement, 
targeted fundraising, targeted constituency engagement, 
volunteer involvement of the SUMA Advisory Council and the 
Syracuse Manuscript magazine. SUMA also received the 2024 
Alumni Association Inclusive Excellence Award from Insight into 
Diversity magazine. 
The CBT reunion has been a driving force of alumni engagement 
efforts, evidenced by the increase in participation. In 2014, CBT 
attracted 400 registrants. The 1,557 registrants in 2024 included 
500 first-time attendees. 
Many of those were younger alumni. “It’s important that we 
engage and develop the next generation of philanthropists of color 
by offering compelling reasons and methods of giving,” says 
Vassel. “Alumni support will be critical to fund initiatives important 
to our community. Without it, students will not have as rich an 
experience on campus.”

DONOR PROFILE: OLIVER FERNANDEZ

 GIVING WITH  GRATITUDE
 (photo) Oliver Fernandez
 As a recent college graduate, Oliver Fernandez ’08 renovated  
his first property in Washington, D.C. A neighbor was so 
impressed by the work that he offered Fernandez owner-financing 
so he could purchase and restore the two buildings he owned. 
Launching his own construction company, Fernandez recalls plenty 
of trepidation. “I remember feeling so unsure about my path when I 
first started out. All my friends had these great jobs with salaries, and 
here I was struggling to get my business off the ground,” he says.
 His initial goal was to get to $10 million in annual business, a 
benchmark he reached in under three years. To date, McKenzie 
Construction boasts 100 completed projects with more than 
$200 million construction value. Last fall, Fernandez and 
McKenzie Construction were honored at the 2024 ’CUSE50 
Alumni Entrepreneur Awards as one of the 50 fastest growing 
alumni businesses of the year. His company offices are located in 
the building that housed Syracuse University’s Washington, D.C., 
headquarters for 22 years, which Fernandez and his wife, Leah 
’08, purchased from the University in 2020.
 Fernandez is grateful for the education he gained from Syracuse 
University that has contributed to his success. He made the 
Syracuse University football team as a walk-on, playing linebacker, 
while earning a degree in civil engineering in the College of 
Engineering and Computer Science with financial support from 
the Our Time Has Come Scholarship (OTHC) Program. 
Last year, Fernandez made a gift of $250,000 to the Forever 
Orange Campaign, earmarking $150,000 for OTHC, $50,000  
to the College of Engineering and Computer Science and $50,000 
to the Samuel P. Clemence Scholarship Fund.
 “Juggling my engineering course load with football was initially a 
struggle,” he says. “The support of the OTHC program and of 
Professor Clemence really made a difference. He was one of my 
 first professors and kept encouraging me to keep my head up. I 
ended up getting all A’s and Bs that first semester, which really 
boosted my confidence that I could get through school successfully 
and continue football. Because I was that kid myself, I know how 
important scholarships can be for students who need them.” 
In addition to his financial support of the University, Fernandez 
shares his time and expertise with current students. In the last year, 
he returned to campus to give the 2024 Convocation address for 
the College of Engineering and Computer Science, to share his 
business success with Coach Fran Brown and the football team for 
their preseason speaker series, to network with budding student 
entrepreneurs during the ’CUSE50 Summit, and most recently, to 
speak at an OTHC leadership development program.
 “I’m always invigorated by talking with students about their 
experiences and aspirations,” he says. “I consider it a compliment 
that they are interested in learning from me and my experiences.”
 In addition to giving back, Fernandez says his campaign gift 
serves as inspiration to propel him forward. “As I’m growing my 
business, one of the things that I’ve found is that the more things 
that I have a purpose for, the more motivation I have to dream and 
keep going after bigger things,” he says. “I’m always increasing the 
things that I care for, and Syracuse University is especially 
important for helping lay the foundation that I currently build off.”
 FALL 2025  |   5 

“When we talk about a campaign’s 
success, we often focus on the goals and 
metrics. But campaigns are really built 
on relationships, trust and a shared belief 
in one’s mission. The Forever Orange 
Campaign didn’t begin with a dollar goal; 
it began with people who loved Syracuse 
University deeply enough to imagine its 
future and then make it real.”
 —TRACY BARLOK, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF 
ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

(photo) Sharon Barner at the Barner-McDuffie House Dedication during CBT

 DONOR PROFILE: MARCO CAMPOS
 PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES IN STEM
 (photo) Marco Campos
 Marco Campos P’25 believes in the power of education to 
build a better life. That’s what prompted him and his sister, 
Deanna Campos-Miller, to create the Campos Foundation to 
provide opportunities that support underrepresented students 
through STEM education initiatives.
 As part of the Forever Orange Campaign, the Campos 
Foundation made a gift of $2.15 million to the College of 
Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). 
In February, the Campos 
Student Center opened on the 
second floor of the Center of 
Science and Technology. The 
new community space for ECS 
students is intended as a home 
away from home where any 
student can receive academic 
support, connect to campus 
resources and find a sense of 
community and belonging. 
“Our overarching mission is 
to promote a sense of 
belonging for the breadth of undergraduates who comprise our 
college,” says Abby Fite G’18, director of inclusive excellence at 
ECS.  
The Campos Foundation gift also supports scholarship for 
students in Syracuse’s Summer College, which offers immersive 
programs for high school students to gain practical skills and 
enhance their professional portfolios.
 Campos says he wants to “level the playing field” for first
generation students and offer more opportunities for students  
of all backgrounds. “This program offers students the opportunity 
to have exposure to networking and a college environment,” he 
says. “We want to help move the needle for students in the world of 
STEM.”
 He’s motivated by his own life experiences. Campos and his 
sister were raised by a single mother with limited resources. “As a 
young teenager, I didn’t have role models. I sensed there was 
something bigger, but there wasn’t a clear path,” he says. 
Although talented in math, he received little encouragement 
until becoming part of a summer bridge program in his senior year 
of high school. That opened the door to study engineering at the 
University of Colorado. 
During college, Campos interned at Texaco, where he was hired 
after graduation. At 30, he launched his own company, Campos 
EPC, which offers engineering, procurement and construction 
counsel for utility, energy and midstream organizations. The 
company also offers STEM education initiatives through a 
community outreach program; the Campos Foundation supports 
summer bridge programs, scholarships and SmartLabs at primary 
and secondary schools.
 Campos is the father of Cortez Campos ’25, who studied 
cinematography and film/video production in the College of 
Visual and Performing Arts. It was visiting his son on the Syracuse 
University campus that inspired Campos to make an impact at 
Syracuse as he had with a similar initiative the foundation funded 
at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
 “We all have a sphere of influence, and it’s incumbent on each of 
us to affect our sphere of influence in the most positive ways we 
can,” says Campos. “Putting good out there in the universe brings 
back good, even more than we put out.”

 6 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

DONOR PROFILE: ARTHUR AND CHANDLER JONES
 MAKING AN IMPACT ON AND OFF THE GRIDIRON
 Between 2005 and 2011, brothers Arthur ’09 and Chandler 
Jones ’15 dominated the line of scrimmage for Syracuse 
football. Nearly 20 years later, the Jones brothers added to their 
impact on the Orange football program with a seven-figure 
commitment to support construction of a new Football 
Performance Center at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.
 The gift was announced in October 2022 as part of the Forever 
Orange Campaign. “My father being a pastor, he instilled in my 
brothers and me that it’s always better to give than to receive,” 
says Arthur. “Syracuse University has been a blessing to my family 
and me throughout the years. The impact that SU has made on me 
is priceless, and you can’t put a dollar amount on that. I am a proud 
alumnus of the greatest school in the world.”
 The Football Performance Center, which opened in March, 
includes coaches’ offices, a cafeteria and nutrition space, locker 
room and position meeting rooms. The Jones Brothers Football 
Suite serves as a focal point for the facility’s second level and leads 
into both the coaches’ wing and the administrative wing. 
The Jones brothers grew up in Endicott, New York, each starring 
for the defense during their time at Syracuse.
 A defensive lineman from 2005 to 2009, Arthur was a 
two-time All-Big East First Team selection and was selected in the 
fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He 
Chandler and Arthur Jones 
played for the Ravens from 2010 to 2013, including the team that 
won Super Bowl XLVII in 2013. He then played with the 
Indianapolis Colts from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington 
Redskins in 2017.
 Chandler, a defensive end for the Orange from 2008 to 2011 
and All-Big East First Team selection, was a first-round pick by the 
New England Patriots in the 2012 NFL Draft. During his four years 
with the Patriots, New England won Super Bowl XLIX in 2014. 
From 2016 through 2021, he played for the Arizona Cardinals 
before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 for his final 
season. Chandler has recorded the most sacks and forced fumbles 
of anyone in the league from 2012 to 2022. His 71.5 sacks during 
his first five-plus seasons with the Cardinals (2016-21) ranks 
third in the NFL during that span and first all-time in franchise 
history. A four-time Pro-Bowl selection (2015, 2017, 2019, 
2021), Chandler was named to the NFL 2010’s All-Decade Team.
 “Syracuse football is a great piece of my history that I will 
always cherish,” says Chandler. “It is an honor for me to give back 
and be part of shaping the future of Syracuse football. Together, 
we can continue to build a legacy of excellence on the football 
field and in the classroom. Being able to lift up others to assist in 
accomplishing their dreams is something I look forward to telling 
my children one day.”

 FALL 2025 | 7 

(photo) The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Miron Victory Court was held Nov. 8, 2024.

 Campaign Highlights
 Forever Orange fundraising eclipsed that of Syracuse 
University’s last three campaigns combined. Here are  
some of the other outcomes:
 A The University’s endowment more than doubled to $2.1 billion.
 A University-wide, the amount of financial support available to 
students dramatically increased due to the creation of more 
than 800 new scholarships.
 A Bolstered by the Faculty Excellence Program, 117 faculty 
positions and fellowships were created, advancing Syracuse’s 
status as a top-tier international research university.
 A The Lender Center for Social Justice and the Institute for 
Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship in Washington, D.C., 
were established.
 A The National Veterans Resource Center was created at the 
Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building—the first, best and only 
facility on a college campus dedicated to the well-being of 
veterans, service members and their families. 
A Manley Field House was transformed into the John A. Lally 
Athletics Complex.
 A The Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center was 
revitalized into a vibrant new center for student life with 
centralized student services, contemporary food offerings and 
collaborative gathering spaces and study areas.
 A The JMA Wireless Dome underwent a major renovation, 
including the Miron Victory Court, a space for gathering ahead 
of athletic events.
 A Student health, wellness and recreation services were 
consolidated into the new Barnes Center at The Arch.

(photo) Through Syracuse University’s Dick Clark Los Angeles Program, students have 
opportunities to explore the industries that interest them, expand academically 
and get a taste of life on the West Coast. The 22,000-square-foot center—made 
possible through an extraordinary gift from the Kari and Dick Clark Foundation in 
memory of the legendary entertainer and 1951 graduate—includes state-of-the
art space for offices and classrooms, a studio and a student lounge. 

8 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

(photo) NEW CENTER IN OUR NATION’S CAPITAL A panel discussion featuring Syracuse University Trustee and sportscaster 
Mike Tirico ’88, Women’s Basketball Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack ’89, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips and Margaret 
Talev, Kramer Director of Syracuse’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, marked the opening of the 
University’s Washington, D.C., location in September 2024. 

Champion ’CUSE

 With the Forever Orange Campaign a success, Syracuse University has identified the 
next pressing need: raising money to address sweeping changes across Division I 
athletics. The advent of name, image and likeness (NIL) and the increasing prevalence 
of student-athletes capitalizing on the transfer portal requires universities to develop financial 
resources to attract and retain top talent. 
In February, Syracuse announced the launch of Champion ’CUSE: The Campaign for Syracuse 
Athletics, a three-year $50 million fundraising campaign aimed at leveling up its success across all 
20 of its NCAA Division I programs.
 “In this new era of college athletics, it is abundantly clear that winning programs will be the ones 
that galvanize the support of their campuses, fan bases and communities,” says John Wildhack 
’80, director of athletics. “We are fortunate that the Syracuse University community, our Central 
New York community and Orange fans around the world have demonstrated their passionate 
commitment to our exceptional student-athletes and coaches. Their spirit, passion and support 
are critical for us to compete and win at the highest level.”
 To learn more or to make your contribution today, please visit cuse.com/championcuse .

 FALL 2025 | 9 

From the Heart

 Retiring after 26 years, Angela Morales-Patterson leaves a 
legacy of advocacy and mentorship

 In 2009, incoming Syracuse University student Ana Gabriela 
Urizar ’13 attended a New York City new student send-off 
event, where she met Angela Morales-Patterson G’24, then 
manager of alumni programs in Office of Program Development 
(which evolved over the years into what is now Multicultural 
Advancement and Affinity Fundraising, or SUMA). 
Morales-Patterson asked if she had her work-study assignment 
lined up and offered her a job. Urizar went on to work for SUMA 
throughout her four years at Syracuse and became an Our Time 
Has Come (OTHC) Scholar, an association that made a huge 
impact on her college experience.
 “It wasn’t just money; it was a support system—a ‘mom’ on 
campus in Angela, events, speakers. You really felt like someone 
was watching out for you,” says Urizar. 
Knowing that Urizar, who immigrated from Guatemala, was 
interested in immigration law, Morales-Patterson connected  
her with Sylvia Montan L’94, who would become an important 
mentor. Urizar went on to earn her law degree and is now an 
immigration attorney in New York City, working at the same  
firm as Montan. 
“I’m so proud of the work she’s doing and what she stands for,” 
says Morales-Patterson.
 Urizar is but one example of the hundreds of students Morales
Patterson impacted in her 26 years at Syracuse University. When 
she retired from SUMA in July, she left a legacy as a champion, 
advocate and surrogate mother figure who believed in the potential 
of students who might not always have believed in themselves.
 “It’s always been about the students for me,” Morales-Patterson 
says. “I could relate to their experiences and put 
myself in their shoes. All of the things that we do 
for students are things I wish people had done 
for me: be there for them, support them, because 
a lot of them don’t come from parents with a 
college background and it took a lot for them  
to get here.”
 Herself a first-generation college graduate 
from a Panamanian immigrant family—the only 
one among eight siblings to earn a degree—
 Morales-Patterson brought personal 
understanding to her work with students facing 
similar challenges.
 “The work became more than a job, but a 
passion,” she says. 
Morales-Patterson joined what was the Office 
of Program Development in 1998 as coordinator 
of alumni programs. “At the time, both Evelyn 
Walker [senior director] and I were older  
and felt like we were losing touch with younger 
alumni,” says Larry Martin, former vice president 
for program development. “We thought Angela 
could help us strengthen our outreach with 
younger alumni and with our Latino alumni. She 
had the talent and drive to be successful with 
those efforts.”
 But her impact extended far beyond those 
initial parameters.
 “Angela made many contacts across the 
campus and strengthened our connection to 
other offices that supported students of color. 
She would reach out to them and try to utilize 
their talents and skills as we moved forward with 
our own programs,” Martin says. 

10   |   SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

“Angela made many contacts across 
the campus and strengthened our 
connection to other offices that 
supported students of color. She would 
reach out to them and try to utilize their 
talents and skills as we moved forward 
with our own programs.”
 —LARRY MARTIN, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT FOR 
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

(photo) Evelyn D. Walker, Morales-Patterson, Larry Martin and Carol Melendez
 (photo) Morales-Patterson presents an award to Kevin Richardson H ’20, along with 
Rachel Vassel, Miko Horn ’95, and OTHC Scholars.

 As a result, Morales-Patterson served on numerous University 
committees, including the Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month 
Committee, Black History Month Committee and the Council  
on Diversity and Inclusion.
 Over time, Morales-Patterson assumed responsibility  
for the OTHC Scholarship Program. Under her stewardship,  
the program evolved from simple financial assistance to a 
comprehensive support system. She instituted graduation stoles  
at Commencement to celebrate OTHC graduates, moved 
ceremonies from faculty lounges to the Chancellor’s Residence 
 and added mentorship components based on student feedback.
 The longest-serving SUMA employee, Morales-Patterson 
became the heartbeat of the office’s student-centered mission. 
Many of the students she mentored affectionately called her 
“Mama Morales”—a title that perfectly captured her nurturing yet 
firm approach to guiding them through their academic journeys.
 “When I think of Angela’s commitment to students, I see her as a 
true mother figure,” says Marissa L. Willingham, assistant director 
of Belonging and Student Success. “She carries a strong presence 
but has a soft heart, always wanting the best for students and 
pushing them to succeed. Angela made sure students were  
putting their best foot forward and taking advantage of all campus 
resources available to help them be successful. If a student wasn’t 
doing what they needed to do, she would have an honest and direct 
conversation with them, and students truly appreciated that. I loved 
her approach because it was firm, direct and deeply caring.”
 Similar to Urizar, Anthony Herbert ’15 first met Morales
Patterson at a New York City student send-off event in 2011. Her 
passion for student engagement made an immediate impression.
 “She was adamant that we get involved on campus once we 
 arrived, especially with SUMA,” he recalls. “She inspired me me to 
apply for the OTHC program, and her advising and constant care 
opened many doors. Even during the summers, she was actively 
engaged in keeping us involved and making sure all the students 
she connected with were doing well.”
 Herbert says that connection didn’t end with graduation. “Any 
time I would attend an alumni or prospective student event, I’d look 
to see if Mama Morales would be there,” he says. “Without fail,  
she would be, looking upon the current and previous generation 
proudly while hoping to bring the next generation within the circle.”
 Central to Morales-Patterson’s approach was a simple 
philosophy: treat current students like future alumni.
 “You treat the students like alumni. You lay out the red carpet 
for them, because they’ll remember that when they graduate,” she 
says. “If you treat them right now, they will remember that and be 
more likely to support the University in the future.”
 This viewpoint shaped everything from her daily interactions 
with students to her advocacy for program enhancements. She 

FALL 2025  |   11 

(photo) Morales-Patterson with Arianna Kuhn ’25 at the 2025 OTHC Ceremony
(photo) Morales-Patterson with her husband Eric G’12 and her son Isaiah ’25 at the CBT 
2024 Sneaker Ball

understood that genuine support during college years would 
translate into lifelong institutional loyalty.
 It also helped contribute to the extraordinary growth in SUMA’s 
signature Coming Back Together reunions, which evolved from an 
intimate gathering in the Women’s Building gym to packed events 
at the Oncenter and Marriott Syracuse Downtown, eventually 
requiring the JMA Wireless Dome to accommodate demand.
 In 2019, Morales-Patterson was named director of operations 
and partnerships for SUMA. Passing the OTHC torch to Maria J. 
Lopez ’05, G’12, she turned her focus to assisting associate vice 
president Rachel Vassel ’91, G’21 with expanding income  
streams through major gifts, corporate and foundation gifts and 
endowments, as well as managing operational budgets and external 
communications, including the department website, Shades of 
Orange e-newsletter and Syracuse Manuscript magazine.
 Two years later, the University recognized Morales-Patterson 
with the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence for Outstanding 
Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives.
 “The impact that Angela has made on the success of numbers of 
students during her tenure and her determination to ensure that 
SU is a place that is welcoming to all cannot be celebrated 
enough,” says Vassel.  
“As the longest standing staffer within SUMA, she was the 
person that kept things moving along and kept our community  
top of mind through multiple leadership transitions. Throughout 
her tenure, Angela has been a tireless advocate for multicultural 
alumni engagement and student success. Her leadership has 
shaped the success of impactful programs such as Coming Back 
 Together, our new student send-offs, and the Our Time Has Come 
Scholarship and Leadership Programs. As editor of the award
winning Syracuse Manuscript magazine, Angela has shared the 
stories and successes of students and alumni as well as relevant 
news and information about the University’s commitment to  
being an inclusive campus culture. She will be missed.”
 “Angela has been a driving force at Syracuse University, 
dedicating her time and talents to uplifting students, alumni and 
colleagues,” adds Lopez. “Her unwavering commitment to student 
success was especially evident in her leadership with the Our Time 
Has Come Scholarship, ensuring that alumni remained connected 
and actively involved in mentoring and supporting current 
students. Angela’s passion, compassion and deep care for others 
have left an indelible mark that will continue to inspire and impact 
our community.”
 Morales-Patterson says she feels fortunate to have served  
her Syracuse University career working within the same office to 
fulfill a mission she deeply cared about along side a team equally 
committed to that work. She knows her son, Isaiah Patterson ’25, 
an OTHC Leader who will graduate in December, will be in good 
hands.
 “There are so many of our students who have gone on to do so 
many amazing things,” she says. “I feel blessed to have been part of 
their journey and proud of any small role I played in their success. It 
came from the heart.”

 12   |   SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

ALUMNI profiles

 MICHAEL BARBOSA
 Protecting People’s Rights
 Throughout his 25-plus years as an attorney, Michael Barbosa ’96 has worked in the public 
interest to protect the rights of underserved populations, in many cases those without 
shelter, education or employment opportunities.
 “Growing up very low-income and without a lot of opportunities, 
I always gravitated toward organizations that help people from 
vulnerable populations,” he says. “Providing a voice to people 
seeking assistance, including many from my own family, was 
something that propelled me to go right to law school.”
 For the last nine years, Barbosa has served as assistant attorney 
general in charge of the Brooklyn/Queens region, for the Office of 
the New York State Attorney General. He supervises a team of 
lawyers, advocates and other staff on behalf of Attorney General 
Letitia James to protect the rights of New Yorkers in matters of civil 
rights, economic justice, social 
justice and consumer fraud. 
(photo) Michael Barbosa
 “There’s always more work 
to be done,” he says. “I wake up 
in the morning trying to figure 
out solutions to the various 
problems, and if I’m not upset 
about a particular issue 
happening to folks when I  
go to sleep, then I probably 
need to do something else.”
 Growing up in East Harlem 
and the South Bronx, Barbosa 
had no images of successful 
Black or Latino men. “The 
message we heard was, by  
25 you’ll either be in prison  
or dead,” he says. 
But he found one image  
of a successful young lawyer 
watching Blair Underwood on 
LA Law. In high school, Barbosa joined the mock trial team, where 
he was mentored by the first attorney he’d ever met. 
The first in his family to attend college, he applied to Syracuse 
University sight unseen and was accepted and participated in the 
Student Supportive Services program. Barbosa came to campus 
immediately after his high school graduation to participate in 
Summer Institute. “That opened my world in terms of meeting and 
taking classes with first-generation students from other places,” he 
says. “I learned that I could not only succeed, but enjoy the 
learning process.” 
Barbosa majored in political science and joined Phi Beta Sigma 
Fraternity Inc., serving as vice president and president and as 
president of the National Panhellenic Council. He secured 
internships in Syracuse, working at a law firm and the district 
attorney’s office. While spending a semester abroad in Zimbabwe, 
he interned at the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association.
 After graduation, he landed at American University Washington 
College of Law, which he attended along with several Syracuse 
University friends, including the late Midwin Charles ’95. “Midwin 
was also a first-generation student, and we leaned on each other 
through law school and as chair and vice chair of the Black Law 
Students Association and also served together on the law school’s 
Dean’s Diversity Council,” he says.
 Barbosa began his career at the Legal Aid Society in New York 
City and later worked at the Seton Hall Law School’s Center for 
Social Justice and as general counsel/managing partner of 
BounceU, in addition to the Attorney General’s Office, where he 
earlier spent two years as an assistant attorney general in its Civil 
Rights Bureau. 
He credits his Syracuse University education for his trajectory 
and remains connected as a member and co-chair of the 
Multicultural Advancement Advisory Council. He enjoys  
mentoring Syracuse University students (his daughter, Sasha,  
is a second-year student this year) and has helped launch 
endowments for two Our Time Has Come Scholarships: the Phi 
Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Endowed Scholarship and the Midwin 
Charles Endowed Scholarship. 
In 2005, Barbosa’s youngest brother was shot and killed at  
age 23. Barbosa ran the New York Marathon in his memory to 
raise awareness about gun violence. Sadly, a second younger 
brother was also shot and killed in 2015 at age 36. The 
experience honoring his brothers’ memories stuck, and he’s  
run a marathon nearly every year since. This year will be his  
20th marathon and 12th New York City Marathon. 
“Running marathons is a metaphor for my life and is great 
discipline in terms of completing a task, moving forward and not 
giving up,” he says.
 That’s a lesson that carries over into his work. “There are always 
challenges to different types of protections and threats to people’s 
legal rights,” he says. 
“Thurgood Marshall once said, ‘You do what you think is right 
and let the law catch up.’” 
Barbosa has tried to follow the same model: “Justice is on our 
side. Sometimes the laws change, but it’s important to not get 
discouraged and figure out the best solutions to help people.”

 FALL 2025  |   13 

ALUMNI profiles

 JASMINE BELLAMY

 Culture Transformer
(photo) Jasmine Bellamy
 Jasmine Bellamy ’92 is redefining leadership 
by bringing love into the workplace. As the 
architect of The Loving Leader framework, 
she empowers managers to transform company 
culture from the inside out.
 “I’m a guide for leaders who have decided they don’t want to lead 
like the status quo anymore,” she says. “As a consultant, I help them 
look at the dynamics in their workplace through the lens of love to 
help them see the possibility for new ways of being in their culture.”
 Bellamy—founder of The Loving Leader, Love 101 Ministries and 
host of The Call to Love Experience podcast—stepped into her role 
as a love scholar-practitioner and business culture transformer 
through her own transformational journey after crisis. That journey 
merged with her 30-year career driving merchandising strategies 
for well-known retailers—including Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdale’s, 
Loft, Gap and Reebok—ultimately shaping her belief that love is the 
most powerful force for cultural change in the workplace.
 Her love for retail was sparked as an intern at Macy’s through 
Inroads while a Syracuse University undergraduate. “It was kind 
of like discovering Oz,” she says. “I got to see what goes on behind 
the scenes and why a particular product was chosen to show up at 
my store.”
 A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. who served  
as SU’s undergraduate chapter president, Bellamy changed her 
major to marketing management and launched a career that 
would distinguish her as a top merchandiser, earning an MBA 
from Fordham University in the process.
 In 2019, she joined Reebok as vice president of merchandising, 
planning and allocation, leading the U.S. direct-to-consumer 
business. Then came the pandemic and the murder of George 
Floyd, which tapped into something deeper in Bellamy.
 “The convergence of those factors allowed me to show up as a 
loving leader,” she says. “As a manager of people, that looked much 
less like leaning into hierarchy and much more like being open and 
present to people amplifying their gifts and listening deeply to 
what mattered to them.”
 Bellamy was later tapped to lead change management under 
United Against Racism, a companywide effort to address racial 
inequity. She created Courageous Conversations, a space for 
employees to engage in honest, transformative dialogue about 
race, bias and systemic change. “I originally intended for there to 
be six sessions, but we ended up having 23,” she says.
 She calls that work a “joyful disruption.” 
“It was about helping people find the capacity to be present 
with each other, to be open to hear what others had to say, and to 
 be changed by other people’s stories,” she says. 
Her efforts garnered notice. Bellamy was named among Sports 
Illustrated’s 100 most influential Black women in sports and was 
invited to speak and give workshops on love as a culture 
transformation strategy. When Reebok was sold, it provided the 
impetus to launch a new chapter.
 Bellamy’s current endeavors integrate faith, scholarship and 
strategy to reimagine the marketplace as a space for redemptive 
love and transformation. In addition to coaching and leading a 
learning community, she continues her own evolution as a doctoral 
student in global leadership at Fuller Seminary, where she is part of 
a cohort exploring the redemptive imagination of the marketplace.
 “Part of what I’m doing is examining the fact that capitalism’s 
culture has historically been rooted in lovelessness,” says Bellamy, 
who was honored last year with the Whitman Dean’s Citation for 
Exceptional Service. 
“We can see the fruit of that in the workplace—in people 
struggling with burnout, mental health crises and the impact of 
managerial decisions on well-being. But what if those norms were 
replaced with love? Then what would the fruit be?”
 Bellamy, who serves on the board of Hendricks Chapel, has 
shared her message on campus at the Lender Center Symposium 
in 2023 and in a Matters that Matter conversation with the Rev. 
Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, in 2024. 
“Transforming business was what I did for my whole career, but 
showing up as a loving leader turned me into a culture transformer. 
And in the process, I was transformed too,” she says. “Now, I invite 
leaders to embark on their own journey—one where love becomes 
the foundation of leadership, business and human flourishing.”

 14 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

CHRISTINE JOHNS-HARRIS 
Inclusive Educator
(photo) Christine Johns-Harris
 As an education consultant who travels the country providing professional development 
and instructional and leadership coaching for teachers and administrators, Christine 
Johns-Harris ’94 likes to include an exercise on identity. 
“Who we are shapes the way we 
engage with people in the spaces we’re 
in,” she says.
 She asks participants to list their top 
five identifiers, what they might list on a 
social media profile. “People will say 
things like, ‘Mom, Steelers fan, teacher.’ 
But every single person who comes from 
a marginalized community lists that 
among their top three.”
 In education settings, she says, 
identifiers are often determined by 
those other than the individual. “We put 
identifiers on students in our classrooms 
every day—this is a student with a 
disability; this student is an English 
language learner—and we make decisions 
based on those identifiers without giving those students the 
opportunity to say [for themselves] who they are,” she says. 
 “We’re often so focused on efforts that we think are inclusive that 
we’re not asking students directly what they need to feel like a 
part of their school community and culture.”
 Johns-Harris draws from her own experience growing up in 
Queens and attending the Dalton School on Manhattan’s Upper 
East Side as one of few Black students. “Since I was 12, I’ve thought 
about who gets to belong to a space, particularly when you’re not a 
majority member of that community.” 
As a high school student, Johns-Harris knew exactly the 
profession she wanted to pursue: inclusive education, the practice 
of supporting all students—including those with special needs— 
in the same schools and classrooms, aiming to create a learning 
environment that’s free of barriers and discrimination. She came  
to Syracuse University because it had the only undergraduate 
program in inclusive education in New York state. 
At Syracuse, she found a cohort of students from similar 
cultural backgrounds and enjoyed the ability to “take up space 
unapologetically,” just like any other student. “My friends were 
other first-generation students and students from immigrant 
families who enabled me to feel comfortable and part of the 
community,” says Johns-Harris, who was a member of the 
Caribbean Students Association, Student African American 
Society and contributed to The Black Voice. 
She was a dual major in inclusive 
elementary and special education, and 
African American studies and earned a 
master’s in curriculum and instruction 
from Teachers College at Columbia 
University.
 Johns-Harris began her career in 
preschool and early childhood special 
education, serving communities and 
schools in the Bronx, New York. After 
relocating to Atlanta, she worked as a 
middle school special education teacher 
and special education coordinator before 
transitioning into consulting roles in 
curriculum design and instructional 
coaching for special education.   
In 2018, she established Johns-Harris 
Consulting, which provides professional development facilitation, 
and instructional coaching and leadership coaching for teachers 
and administration. She has worked with organizations including 
Kaplan K12 Learning Services, Achieve 3000, Catapult Learning 
and 3P Learning. For the last six years, she has worked with the 
Children’s Services Council of Broward County (Florida) providing 
training classes for teachers in project-based learning. 
In addition to being an educator, Johns-Harris is an expert baker 
who ran a specialty cake business, not a crumb!, for 20 years. Twice, 
she competed on the Food Network Cake Hunters show, and her 
cakes also made appearances on Love and Hip Hop. “The business 
grew pretty big, but I got tired because I was doing too much at the 
same time,” she says. 
Retired from professional baking, she is a cheerleader for her 
husband’s new venture, Greenwood Whiskey, a Black-owned brand 
named for the Greenwood District, otherwise known as Black Wall 
Street, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. “I’ve learned way more about whiskey 
than I ever thought I would,” she says.
 Both businesses play into Johns-Harris’s love for new experiences 
around food, which often involve travel.
 “There’s not a place that I’ve been, whether for work or pleasure, 
that I haven’t come back changed,” she says. “That feeds back into 
identity. A lot of who we think we are is in relation to who we’re 
around. When you go places and don’t speak the language, you 
learn very quickly how adaptable you really are.”

 FALL 2025 | 15 

ALUMNI profiles
 VAUGHN IRONS 
Building Community
 In the mid-2000s, a group of neighbors in an unincorporated suburb of DeKalb County, east 
of Atlanta, banded together to create a new city. When the bill passed the Georgia Legislature 
in 2017, Stonecrest, Georgia, became the first majority-Black city in the county to form 
through Metro Atlanta’s cityhood movement. 
One of those neighbors was real estate 
developer Vaughn Irons ’93. In his 30  
years working to revitalize blighted 
neighborhoods, Irons came to understand 
that the value of residential communities is 
directly tied to nearby commercial assets 
and the availability of amenities. Seeking 
to protect the home values of Stonecrest, 
he turned his attention to the major 
commercial enterprise at its center, the 
Mall at Stonecrest, which was in decline.
 “I knew that if the mall slid, all of our 
property values would slide,” he says. “I 
took my expertise and experience and 
invested it here in order to be a part of 
the solution to turning that around.”
 In 2018, Irons, CEO of APD Solutions,  
a national community and economic 
development firm, created a commercial 
subsidiary, Stonecrest Resorts, to focus 
on development of ancillary amenities  
to the mall. He’s transformed the former 
Sears building into Priví Stonecrest, a 
destination hub for dining, entertainment 
and cultural experiences. 
In the third year of a 10-year development plan, Priví includes  
a food hall, interactive aquarium and petting zoo, art gallery, spa, 
infrared sauna and MMA fitness facilities and meeting and  
special events space. The next phase will include 13 chef-driven 
restaurants and seven bars. Fulfilling the larger plan includes a 
110-room Wyndham Tryp hotel, pickleball franchise and two 
museums—one focused on hip-hop and the other celebrating 
Black Greek organizations. 
(photo) Vaughn Irons
 Irons says he draws from his Syracuse University policy studies 
education in his work nearly every day in working with local 
governments and investors. “We were expected to take what we 
were learning in the classroom and apply it directly, to do well by 
doing good in the community,” he says. “That philosophy is very 
much embedded in what I’m doing here at Stonecrest and what 
I’ve done in many communities throughout the United States.”
 Long before Irons thought about college, Syracuse University 
was important in his household. His mother worked for the 
University for 34 years, retiring in 
2017. As an undergraduate, Irons 
immersed himself in campus life, 
joining Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., 
serving as features editor for the Black 
Voice, president of the Student 
African-American Society and was a 
member of Chancellor Kenneth Shaw’s 
student advisory committee. 
As a policy studies major, Irons 
served an internship with the Fulton 
County, Georgia, government, which 
hired him after graduation. That led to 
positions at the Consumer Credit 
Counseling Service, working in the 
housing and community economic 
development space, and later, 12 years 
as a senior executive at Freddie Mac.
 When the housing market imploded 
with the 2008 financial crisis, Irons 
created his own firm, APD Solutions, 
to help communities deal with 
development challenges. Initially 
bidding on federal and local 
government contracts, the company has completed projects in 13 
states, now primarily focused on commercial projects in Georgia 
and Florida. The Priví project tops the list.
 In addition to his development role, Irons and his wife, 
Cassandra, own an Original Hot Dog factory franchise. As part of 
his mission to do well by doing good, Irons built into the point-of
sale system the capability to allow patrons to round up their sale 
for charity. Proceeds benefit Syracuse University’s Our Time Has 
Come Program as well as scholarships sponsored by 100 Black 
Men and Top Ladies of Distinction. 
Irons, a member of the Multicultural Advancement Advisory 
Council, is happy to pay back for his Syracuse University 
education, which he believes prepared him for the world and his 
career.
 “We have to invest in creating pathways so that there can be 
more individuals like us in the future tackling these challenges in 
the world,” he says. “I firmly believe that service is the tax we pay 
for success.” 

16 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

LISA ROBINSON 
Behind the Music
 Every time a song is used in the background of a movie, television commercial or streamed 
on platforms such as Spotify and YouTube, the songwriter and music publisher are 
owed royalties. Lisa Robinson ’94 built a career tracking royalty income for major music 
companies, including EMI Music Publishing, the Harry Fox Agency, BMG and Songtrust. 
The business of music publishing was unfamiliar to Robinson 
until she became a part of it. The Queens, New York, native came 
to Syracuse University to study broadcast journalism. “My dream 
was to be on TV in front of the camera,” she says.
 Robinson worked hard at her studies, at the same time building 
lifelong friendships. She joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and 
served as president of the Black Communications Society. 
When she graduated, Robinson landed a year-long traineeship 
at WNYW, the Fox affiliate in New York City, working on the 
production of A Current Affair, anchored by Maury Povich. “It was 
a true hands-on experience, but it also taught me what I didn’t 
want in a career because I was working 15-hour days. I knew I 
wanted a life outside of work and a family at some point.”
 As the year came to a close, Robinson was asked to fill in for an 
employee going on maternity leave who worked in the rights and 
clearances department. “I didn’t know what that was, but quickly 
learned that every time the show used a piece of music or a video 
clip, they had to get permission,” she says. “That’s how I began to 
learn the business of music publishing.”
 Robinson was hooked. She got a job at EMI Music Publishing, 
now Sony, tracking royalties for songwriters such as Lil Wayne, 
Bruno Mars, Quincy Jones and many others. “CDs and digital 
downloads were popular in the beginning of my career and later, 
streaming,” she says. “I needed to make sure the record company or 
digital service provider (DSP) was paying inline with sales as well as 
paying the correct songwriter and share. It’s like a real-time audit— 
determining the royalty amount due to ensure songwriters are 
properly compensated and, if not, proactively pursuing the money.” 
With nearly 30 years in the music industry, Robinson built a 
track record recovering millions in royalties. In 2022, she was 
named the vice president of community and workplace 
engagement at Downtown Music Holdings, a newly created  
role that allowed her to develop programs to foster inclusion  
and belonging and to increase volunteerism and philanthropy  
at the company. 
As a result of successful implementation of those initiatives, 
Robinson was named to Billboard’s Women in Music Executives 
List 2023. Facing a layoff a year later, she embraced the 
opportunity to launch her own venture, Adagio Music Consulting. 
Her services include income tracking for songwriters and 
publishers and fundraising for nonprofit organizations in the music 
industry. “It’s allowed me to combine my professional expertise 
with my love for philanthropy,” she says.
 Robinson serves on the board of Scholarship Plus, which 
provides college scholarships to New York City high school 
students, and Mamas in Music, an organization that supports 
mothers in the industry. She’s also founder of Lisa’s Living Room, 
created as a safe space for women of color to share their personal 
and professional experiences to empower one another.   
Robinson says she’s always been intentional about growing her 
network and having multiple involvements, something she’s 
learned the value of as she’s pivoted her career. “When faced with 
a change such as a layoff, embrace it, because you can leverage 
what you’ve done to what you’re going to do next,” she says.
 That’s a message she passes on to current students. Mindful of 
her example as one of few Black female executives in the business 
of music, Robinson came back to campus last year to speak, both 
to students in the Setnor School of Music and the Our Time Has 
Come Program. 
“We have such a strong Orange network; it’s important for 
students to know the importance of maintaining relationships,” she 
says. “I also tell them to find a purpose and passion that brings 
them joy, and that might lead to something different than they 
originally intended to do.” 
(photo) Robinson visited campus in February to present a Leadership Development 
seminar to OTHC Scholars and Leaders.

 FALL 2025 | 17 

STUDENT spotlights
 JADA MARIE KNIGHT
 Making Opportunities Count
(photo) Jada Marie Knight
 In her four years at Syracuse University, Jada Marie Knight ’25 built an impressive resume filled 
with leadership roles, global experiences and a passion for media and live events.
 Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Knight came to 
Syracuse University as the recipient of a Posse Scholarship, 
excited to study radio, television and film at the S.I. Newhouse 
School of Public Communications.
 But starting college during the height of the COVID-19 
pandemic made it challenging to find community. “I really 
struggled,” she says.
 Over time, Knight immersed herself in campus life, joining 
organizations like the National Association of Black Journalists, 
the Caribbean Student Association and the Calabash Dance 
Troupe. She also became a Newhouse Ambassador, a peer leader 
for the First-Year Seminar and a resident advisor.
 Being an RA was a particularly formative experience. “I’ve only 
ever had first-year students, and I love it,” she says. “You’re 
basically their first impression of college, and I could relate to a lot 
of what they were going through—leaving home for the first time, 
celebrating birthdays away from family, seeing snowfall for the 
first time.”
 But most influential was her involvement with the Our Time Has 
Come (OTHC) Program, which she joined as a first-year student. 
“Outside of Newhouse and Posse, OTHC is the biggest part of my 
Syracuse experience,” she says. “It gave me access to people, 
connections to my peers and amazing mentors. Maria [Lopez ’05, 
G ’12] and the entire team was always looking out for me, inviting 
me to events and introducing me to alumni. Half the time people 
say, ‘Jada, you’re always on the go,’ it’s because of them.”
 Knight’s passion for media has taken her across the globe. In the 
summer after her first year at Syracuse, she landed a social media 
internship at the Cannes Film Festival, working in the American 
Pavilion. “It was surreal,” she recalls. “Before that, I had only been 
to Canada. Now, I was on the other side of the world.” 
Her international experiences continued with a semester 
abroad in London, taking journalism and film classes and traveling 
Europe on weekends. “It was amazing to see how bold British 
media is compared to the U.S.,” she says. As part of a class  
project, she and a friend created a documentary about a Jamaican 
restaurant they frequented, allowing her to blend her cultural 
roots with her media skills.
 Knight’s senior year was a culmination of everything she’s 
worked toward. During summer, she interned at the American 
Black Film Festival in Miami. Back on campus, she served as 
student co-chair of the Coming Back Together reunion, where 
she had the opportunity to interview the cast and crew of the 
television show Bel-Air, an experience that was one of the 
 highlights of her college career. “I had to make sure the questions 
hit, that they were varied and that everyone could engage,” she 
says. “It really tested my journalism skills.”
 In February, she flew to California to participate in a film studies 
program at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. “Only 40 
students nationwide get selected,” she says. “We attended 
workshops, met producers and walked the red carpet. It was 
another chance to make connections before I graduate.”
 Knight would love to combine her interests in social media  
and live event production by working for a company that puts  
on major events. She got a taste of that this summer, interning  
with the AfroFuture music festival in Detroit, where she supported 
the programming team and created graphics for the event.
 Knight says she’s grateful for all she’s experienced at Syracuse 
since that uncertain first year. 
“I’ve been able to grow, to travel and to build a foundation for 
my future,” she says. “Syracuse gave me opportunities I never 
imagined.”
 Lucien Metellus

 18 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

RYAN NKONGNYU
 An Ambassador for Syracuse
 In his journey from Cameroon to Syracuse University, Ryan Nkongnyu ’25 developed the drive 
and people skills that made him a dynamic campus leader. He served as vice president of the 
Black Student Union, coordinator of the Black Honors Society, chaplain of the Black Celestial 
Choral Ensemble (BCCE) and was the student co-chair for Syracuse University’s 2025 Rev. Dr. 
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. He also served as an orientation leader, an ambassador for the 
College of Visual and Performing Arts and a mentor for J.U.M.P. Nation, where he supported at-risk 
high school and middle school students. 
“I’ve been fortunate to help students navigate 
their own journeys and help build their confidence,” 
he says.
 Born in Cameroon, Nkongynu moved to the 
U.S. as a boy, his family eventually settling in 
Delaware. His choice of Syracuse University 
involved a bit of serendipity. While watching 
 the movie Big Daddy, he noticed Adam Sandler 
wearing a Syracuse crewneck. “It looked cool,  
so I thought, ‘Let me check that out,’ and the  
rest is history,” he says.
 It turned out to be a great fit. Nkongynu 
majored in communication and rhetorical 
studies, a field that aligns with his passion for 
media and entertainment. His public speaking 
skills garnered him the Champion Speaker 
Award in the White-Denison Presentational 
Speaking Competition within his major. He was 
also involved with CitrusTV, where he worked 
 as a lifestyle reporter for Unpeeled, covering 
fashion and entertainment. “One of my biggest 
goals at Syracuse has been to amplify student 
voices, particularly students of color,” he says.
 His academic journey took a global turn when he studied abroad 
in London and Florence during his junior summer semester. “It was 
an eye-opening experience,” he says. 
(photo) Ryan Nkongnyu
 “I got to shadow a correspondent at BBC Wales and learn about 
international PR and media networking.” 
He also connected with family members in London. “It added 
such a sentimental touch; it felt like divine alignment,” he says.
 Nkongynu’s college experience was enriched by his involvement 
in the Our Time Has Come Program, where he started as a Leader 
in his sophomore year and became a Scholar in his junior year. “It 
was one of the first places I found community, helping me connect 
with alumni and gain a sense of belonging,” he says. Nkongynu 
acknowledges the challenges he faced adjusting to Syracuse, 
particularly the harsh winters. “Even now, I still haven’t gotten  
used to them,” he says.
 He also found a spiritual home within the BCCE. He was raised 
in a Baptist church with his grandmother and sang in the church 
choir. “Singing has always been a thing for me,” he says. “Through 
BCCE, I found fellowship and a space where I felt grounded.” 
But Nkongynu’s Syracuse University chapter is not over. This 
summer, he began a master’s program in television, radio and film 
at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. His dream 
is to become a television host. “I want to be on the red carpet at 
the Oscars. I love pop culture, entertainment and on-air reporting,” 
he says. “Eventually, I hope to produce my own television show or 
movie.”
 If his undergraduate experiences are any indication, Nkongynu 
is known for getting what he wants. “My biggest takeaway is that 
if you dare to dream and follow your spirit, you can make things 
happen,” he says. 

FALL 2025 | 19 

STUDENT spotlights
 ALIE SAVANE
 Aspiring Physician
 Alie Savane ’25 began his final semester at Syracuse University with a mission trip to 
Guatemala through Syracuse’s Global Medical Brigades Program, setting up clinics in a 
rural area to provide much needed medical, dental, optometry and pharmacy services to 
the community. 
 “Working alongside an incredible team of doctors, dentists and 
fellow students, we served 409 patients, 152 people receiving 
glasses, 85 extractions and 44 child fluoride treatments in four 
days,” says Savane, who plans to pursue medicine. “The impact  
of our work was profound, as many shared that this was their first 
time being treated by doctors.”
 Previously, Savane had volunteered at a psychiatric facility in 
Gambia. “That experience reinforced why I want to be a physician,” 
he says. “I want to make health care more affordable and accessible 
to underserved communities, both here and in my parents’ home 
countries of Gambia and Sierra Leone.”
 Raised in the Bronx, New York, Savane came to Syracuse to 
prepare for that career. Majoring in biology, he made research a 
cornerstone of his undergraduate experience. Under the guidance 
of Sarah Hall, associate professor of biology, Savane studied  
the effects of oleic acid on the model organism C. elegans, a 
microscopic nematode. As a senior, he worked on longevity  
assays. “I started with a control group and tested how long  
they live without oleic acid, using different mutants,” he says.
 As a first-year student, Savane became involved with the Kessler 
Scholars Program, designed to aid first-generation college students. 
“I didn’t even know I was a first-gen student until I got here,” he 
says. “The program gave me a scholarship, academic support and 
mentors who really helped me transition into college life.”
 Savane paid that support forward, mentoring first-year students 
as a junior and senior. “I’ve had people pour into me, so it became 
my turn to do the same for others,” he says.
 He also joined the Men of Color Initiative. “I met a bunch of 
people that looked like me, people from the Bronx, people 
interested in sports and doing smart things,” he says. 
And he grew his community through the Our Time Has Come 
Program. “I met great mentors, attended leadership seminars  
and connected with successful SU alumni,” he says. “It also helped 
financially. Just knowing that people are invested in our success  
is incredible.” 
A Remembrance Scholar, Savane served on the Student Health 
and Wellness Advisory Committee, working with University 
leadership to improve health services. “We give them the student 
perspective on policies,” he says. “For example, we discussed how 
assignment deadlines at midnight force students to stay up late 
and how embedding wellness into academics can help students.”
 He’s also an entrepreneur with a business venture centered 
around the kola nut, a culturally significant product from his West 
African heritage. “I grew up seeing people chew kola nuts for 
energy and medicinal benefits,” he says. His idea, which he worked 
on refining through the University’s Blackstone LaunchPad 
program, earned him recognition in multiple entrepreneurship 
competitions. “I’m still in the customer discovery phase, but I’ve 
won awards like the Impact Prize and placed third in the Orange 
Central Student Showcase.”
 Savane plans to take two “growth years” off before medical 
school and is currently a student in the master of public 
administration program at Syracuse’s Maxwell School of 
Citizenship and Public Affairs. 
His ultimate goal is clear: to diversify the medical field and 
ensure that quality health care reaches those who need it most. 
“We need more physicians of color,” he says. “And I want to be one 
of them.”
 (photo) Alie Savane

 20   |   SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

JOSE ARTURO VENEGAS 
Undergraduate Researcher
 When students go to college, their first concern is often making friends and getting 
acclimated. For Jose Arturo Venegas ’25, that meant diving into engineering 
research.  
Arriving at Syracuse through the Summer Start program, 
Venegas connected with engineering faculty and joined a research 
project on composite materials. His work over three years focused 
on testing the compressive force of a new material through 
computational modeling and real-world testing. “Ultimately, we 
were not able to prove our hypothesis and the project ended, but 
the experience was invaluable,” he says.
 It wasn’t an isolated experience. Venegas, a civil engineering 
major, secured a National Science Foundation-funded Research 
Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University 
of California, Irvine, during the summer after his first year at 
Syracuse. That experience fueled his interest in materials research, 
leading him to another REU program in Switzerland, where he 
worked on photovoltaic solar cells. “That was an amazing and 
solidifying experience,” he says.
 Originally from San Diego, Venegas found his way to Syracuse 
through a scholarship that allowed him to visit colleges on the East 
Coast. “I really liked Syracuse,” he said. “I kind of wanted to 
explore outside of California, and I wanted to experience snow.”
 He had considered joining the Marines out of high school but 
pursued college at the urging of his mother. Nonetheless, his desire 
to serve never faded and Venegas joined ROTC in his junior year. 
After graduation, he began advanced camp at Fort Knox before 
commissioning as an officer in the Army Reserves. He plans to serve 
in the engineering branch while balancing military duties with his 
civilian career. “It will allow me to do the Army part time,” he says. 
At the end of his sophomore year, Venegas was accepted into 
the Department of Defense’s SMART Scholarship program. As 
part of this program, he spent the summer before his senior year 
interning with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Champaign, 
Illinois, working on a project to help military bases become 
self-sustainable in emergencies. “They want to be able to provide 
their own water and energy without any inputs in the case of 
installation lockdowns. We were working on a system that reused 
wastewater and turned it into potable water, as well as providing 
some energy from the methane that was produced,” he says.
 The program also guaranteed a job after graduation and a 
funded master’s degree. He has returned to Champaign to 
continue working on the Corps of Engineers project while 
beginning a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering. “If 
 I really enjoy my research, I might pursue a Ph.D.,” says Venegas.
 Throughout his journey, Venegas received support as a 
Goldwater Scholar, which funded a semester of study in France;  
(photo) Jose Arturo Venegas
 as an LSAMP Scholar and McNair Scholar, which both support 
students in STEM; and as an Our Time Has Come Leader and 
Scholar. “I really appreciate the scholarship support but also made 
a lot of friends and really enjoyed the leadership development 
speakers,” he says. “They helped open my eyes to be proactive and 
take control of what I want in my life, rather than just sitting by and 
letting things happen.”
 And Venegas has clear long-term aspirations. “Ultimately, my 
goal is be to become a NASA astronaut,” he says. “I would really 
like to conduct geotechnical research past Earth, providing 
abundant knowledge for future generations.”

 SUMMER 2025  |   21 

STUDENT spotlights
 KIARA RIVAS
 Guided by Faith
 For Kiara Rivas ’25, coming to Syracuse University launched a time of intense personal growth. 
A first-generation student from Harlem, New York, Rivas was raised in a close-knit family with 
Dominican roots on her father’s side. As the youngest of five siblings, she grew up surrounded 
by love and support but yearned for independence.
 (photo) Kiara Rivas
 Encouraged by a friend and her college counselor, Rivas 
applied to Syracuse University. The decision to move Upstate was 
significant, as none of her siblings had attended college outside of 
New York City. “It was almost a shock that I was going away,” she 
says. “This was all very foreign to my family. I had to figure out all 
the logistics.” 
Rivas entered Syracuse University as a human development 
and family science major but quickly realized that public health 
was a better fit for her aspirations. A big component of the major 
is service learning to gain hands-on experience.
 To that end, Rivas completed multiple internships, including  
work at InterFaith Works and House of Psalms 23, where she 
assisted with therapy sessions for women coming out of the 
criminal justice system. “We conducted therapy circles to dig 
deeper into traumas and people’s current issues,” she says. “That 
helped me as well because I was part of the circles.”
 One of her most impactful experiences was her capstone 
project last semester at the Upstate Family Birth Center. Rivas 
shadowed lactation nurses and doctors, observing the challenges 
faced by non-English speaking refugee families in the health care 
system. The experience culminated in a paper on maternal 
mortality and morbidity rates among women of color in the United 
States and reinforced her passion for maternal health and nursing. 
She now plans to apply to nursing school, hoping to work in a 
public health capacity in her Harlem community until she begins. 
Beyond academics, Rivas immersed herself in extracurricular 
activities that shaped her college experience. She became 
involved with the Black Reign Step Team during her first semester. 
Despite having no experience in stepping, she was encouraged by 
a mentor to try out. As a senior, she proudly served as the team’s 
president, leading practices four times a week and fostering a 
sense of community among members.
 Her involvement in the Our Time Has Come (OTHC) Program 
was another defining aspect of her college life. Through OTHC, 
she gained access to mentorship, networking opportunities and  
a community of successful professionals who inspired her to 
strive for excellence. “Growing up, I struggled to see people who 
look like me excel academically,” she says. “OTHC exposed me  
to many Syracuse alumni from similar backgrounds who have 
faced the same challenges and gone on to do great things. It  
was very motivating.” 
Rivas worked at the Hendricks Chapel Hospitality Desk for 
nearly two years, a role that allowed her to engage with people 
from diverse backgrounds. “I’ve always been curious to learn 
about different people’s culture and beliefs, so this has been a 
good space for that,” she says.
 It’s part of the tremendous self-growth she says she 
experienced during her time at Syracuse. Moving away from 
home was a challenging adjustment, and she initially struggled 
with her identity and sense of belonging. Through introspection 
and faith, Rivas says she found solace and strength in her 
relationship with God, which became a cornerstone of her 
resilience. 
“Mental health challenges in college aren’t talked about, but it’s 
easy to be depressed and slack off if you don’t have faith in 
something bigger than yourself,” she says. “Building a relationship 
with God has not made me perfect but has allowed such an 
imperfect person like me to be more confident, be more grounded 
and, ultimately, have hope in something everlasting.”

 22 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

CAMPUSnews

 University Bookstore Now Run by  
Barnes & Noble College

 Syracuse University has partnered with Barnes & Noble College 
to manage all course materials, retail and e-commerce 
operations for all locations of the University’s campus store. The 
transition occurred last fall, with Barnes & Noble College assuming 
full operation Jan. 1.
 “We are excited to welcome Barnes & Noble College to 
Syracuse University and look forward to our partnership,” says 
John Papazoglou, senior vice president and chief operations 
officer. “Their expertise will be invaluable as the University 
continues to focus on delivering affordable, accessible course 
materials to its students and making sure they have what they 
need to excel in the classroom.”
 The partnership with BNC is a result of massive shifts in 
consumer behavior that began prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 
says Papazoglou. The trend away from traditional brick-and
mortar stores selling physical books has accelerated in the last five 
years. Consumers have come to expect a simple and unified 
omnichannel purchase and service experience, a wide variety of 
apparel and merchandise, and course materials delivered in the 
format of their choosing.
 Through its strategic partnership with Fanatics and Lids,  
BNC offers a large assortment of school apparel and gifts in-store 
and online and via the shop.cuse.com Athletics website, which 
transitioned to the new platform July 1.

 New Residence Halls and Hotel Planned
 Making the way for two new residence halls, Syracuse 

University began the demolition of Marion and Kimmel 
halls and the Comstock Parking Garage. 
The demolition and new construction builds on the recent 
conversions of both the former Sheraton Syracuse University 
Hotel & Conference Center and the apartment complex formerly 
known as the Marshall into residence halls. Orange Hall (formerly 
the Sheraton) and Milton Hall (formerly the Marshall) opened to 
students during the 2024–25 academic year and house 660 
sophomores in total. The new residence halls will be the first  
built since Ernie Davis Hall opened 15 years ago.
 “Prospective students are looking at the total experience when 
determining which university to attend, and that includes housing,” 
says Brett Padgett, senior vice president and chief financial officer.  
“One of the most common pieces of feedback from our 
current students was the desire to have more modern 
living accommodations that offer gathering 
spaces, multipurpose rooms and other 
amenities that support their ability 
to thrive inside and outside 
of the classroom. 
The two new 
residence halls will offer all of that and more and serve Syracuse 
University students for decades to come.”
 In addition to the new residence halls being built at the  
former sites of Marion and Kimmel halls and the Comstock 
Avenue garage, the University will also construct a new residence 
hall at 544 University Place, along Ostrom Avenue, adjacent to 
Thornden Park. This new facility will house approximately 570 
students.
 The University also plans to construct a 200-room, full-service 
hotel with a restaurant and event space at the corner of University 
Avenue and Harrison Street, across from the University Avenue 
garage. Syracuse University has partnered with Graduate by 
Hilton to develop a new hotel that is expected to open in the  
fall of 2027. 
“Graduate is an ideal partner in helping us bring to life a 
distinctive and dynamic space that authentically represents  
the Syracuse University experience,” says Padgett. “This 
collaboration will create a vibrant hub for both our campus  
and the broader Syracuse community, offering a welcoming 
destination during key moments like Orange game days, reunions, 
graduations, campus visits and beyond. We’re thrilled to work 
together to build a space that reflects the unique spirit and 
character of Syracuse University.”

 FALL 2025 | 23 

CAMPUSnews

 University Celebrates the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.:
 Sarah Willie-LeBreton Encourages Mutual Respect

 Sarah Willie-LeBreton, president of Smith College, was welcomed 
back to Syracuse by a stadium filled with nearly 1,200 people for 
the 40th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Jan. 26—
 happy to return to the city she once called home.
 “Although I have not lived here for 50 years, Syracuse, the place 
of my first days, lives in my heart,” she said.
 Willie-LeBreton, the keynote speaker for the event held in the 
JMA Wireless Dome, is the daughter of the late Charles V. Willie 
G’57, H’92, Syracuse University’s first Black full professor, 
department chair and vice president. Willie was a classmate of 
King at Morehouse College and was instrumental in bringing  
King to the University in 1961 and 1965.
 Professor Willie, who left for Harvard University in 1974, 
returned to Syracuse frequently to speak, and was the worship 
service speaker at the first Coming Back Together reunion in 
1986. 
The University’s annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 
Celebration, the largest of its kind on any college campus, honors 
the message and mission of King and is a direct expression of the 
University’s commitment to advancing academic excellence at a 
University welcoming to all. This year’s theme was Living History.
 In his welcoming remarks, Chancellor Kent Syverud noted that 
many freedoms have been won through the work of King’s 
contemporaries and those who followed him.
 “Challenges and injustices persist, but his message urges us to act,” 
Syverud said. “When he spoke last here in Sims Hall in 1965, he said, 
‘The time is always right to do right.’ I think that means now, too.”
 During her address, Willie-LeBreton spoke of the transformation 
of colleges and universities over the past 60 years, and of the good 
that higher education puts into the public space as the country’s 
central economic, medical, artistic, intellectual, scientific and public 
policy engines and most respected export.
(photo of Sarah Willie-LeBreton speaking)
 “The work of higher education is intertwined with the work in which King was engaged, because in the United States, the work of the university campus has always been in 
generative tension with the work of democracy,” Willie-LeBreton told the audience. “The subjects explored in the university quite literally drive us forward as a species.”

 24 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

University Celebrates the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.:
 Sarah Willie-LeBreton Encourages Mutual Respect

 (photo) Members of the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble performed at the MLK Celebration.
 “The work of higher education is intertwined with the work in 
which King was engaged, because in the United States, the work 
of the university campus has always been in generative tension 
with the work of democracy,” Willie-LeBreton said. “The subjects 
explored in the university quite literally drive us forward as a 
species.”
 In current times, she said campuses have been tested. “Those of 
us who are educators must redouble our efforts to cultivate spaces 
that are mutually respectful as much as they are sites of rigorous 
learning,” she said. “We have to be with people who are different 
from us, and we have to stay in relationship with them.”
 Willie-LeBreton challenged audience members to talk with 
people they might not choose as friends. “Find a neutral place, 
your public library branch, a cafe, an empty classroom, a diner,” she 
said. “Bring along two of your friends and two folks you suspect 
have opinions you don’t share, but with whom you have something 
in common.”
 Willie-LeBreton also encouraged the audience to honor 
education as “our human birthright” and cultivate “dignity by 
listening carefully to yourself and to others and then honoring 
what you hear.”
 “If we do these things, we will bring fellowship to each other and 
the world neighborhood of which King spoke,” Willie-LeBreton 
said. “Take the baton and let’s give this lap our all in the relay race 
for justice.”
 The evening’s program included performances by the 
Community Choir and the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble, and 
the presentation of this year’s Unsung Hero Awards.

 FALL 2025 | 25 

CAMPUSnews

 Unsung Heroes Honored at 2025 MLK Celebration
 Syracuse University’s Unsung Hero Awards are presented 
annually to community members, students, faculty and staff 
who have made a positive impact on the lives of others but are  
not widely recognized for their contributions. The awards are 
given at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration to honor 
King’s vision of creating positive change in a troubled world. The 
2025 Unsung Heroes are: 
Andrea-Rose Oates ’26, a public relations major in the S.I. 
Newhouse School of Public Communications and policy studies 
major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has 
dedicated her life to community service, leadership and social 
justice. She is the president and founder of Girlz Rize, a nonprofit 
focused on fighting for girls’ education opportunities. She has also 
served as president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Iota Upsilon 
chapter, co-secretary for the Black Student Union, events chair 
 for the Women in Communications Club, as a member of the 
Newhouse Student Representative Committee and an account 
associate for Hill Communications. An Our Time Has Come 
(OTHC) Scholar, Oates has received both the OTHC Newhouse 
and Alpha Kappa Alpha Scholarships.
 (photo) Chancellor Syverud with James K. Duah-Agyeman
 James K. Duah-Agyeman 
G’99, former director of the 
Office of Multicultural Affairs 
and special advisor to the Men 
of Color Initiative, has a 
38-year record of achievement 
at Syracuse University—as a 
graduate student, teacher, 
academic counselor, 
administrator and leader. Most 
recently, he led Multicultural 
Affairs in developing programs 
to advance inclusion on the 
Syracuse campus by creating 
best-in-class programs like the 
WellsLink Leadership Program; 
Dimensions, a peer mentoring 
program; and the Men of Color Initiative. He was instrumental in 
piloting and introducing the Conversations About Race and 
Ethnicity intergroup dialogue programs on campus. He also 
advocated for inclusion through his community work with 
Interfaith Works of Central New York and the Ghana Society  
of CNY.
 The Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE) was 
launched in 2020, after the murder of George Floyd. SCORE 
harnesses the talent and leadership skills of high school students 
across Onondaga County to combat racism and foster equity. It 
empowers youth, known as SCORE leaders, to educate adults on 
topics related to race and equity, sharing insights from their 
perspectives as young people.
 (photo) Andrea-Rose Oates with University staff and and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 
Inc. members
 After completing five weeks of training in equity-based  
topics and being equipped with the skills necessary to facilitate 
interactive workshops, SCORE leaders take on the role of 
educators, leading workshop sessions for community stakeholders 
each August. SCORE has provided workshops on implicit bias  
and Black history to almost 3,000 community members.
 Community member Laurence Segal quietly works to make the 
world a better place. Through his organization, Bottles for a Cure, 
he has returned millions of bottles and cans for cancer patients and 
research and pulled millions of pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald 
House of CNY. He hosts multiple blood drives every month that 
impact thousands of people, and he strives to make the world a 
better place.
 (photo) Student Co-chair  Ryan Nkongnyu

 26 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

This summer, Segal cleaned up trash on city streets and passed 
out hot meals, cold drinks, sanitizers, masks and first aid kits to 
people experiencing homelessness. He has spent countless hours 
with cancer patients holding their hands while they go through 
chemotherapy, radiation and long hospital stays.
 Jamie Jackson (posthumous), a longtime employee with Syracuse 
University’s Parking and Transportation Services, connected with 
people on campus for more than 20 years. He was assigned to the 
Quad lot outside Hendricks Chapel, where he provided assistance 
to campus visitors and befriended many members of the campus 
community. Jackson passed away unexpectedly in September 
2024.
 Jackson was a graduate of Onondaga Community College  
and a U.S. Navy and U.S. Army veteran. In his obituary, he was 
remembered as a “wonderful son, beloved husband, fantastic 
father, a devoted veteran, terrific brother, great friend, kind uncle, 
good outdoorsman, strong record keeper and avid sports fan.”
 (photo) Attendees enjoy the 2025 MLK Celebration in the JMA Wireless Dome.

 Linda Baguma and Alexandria Johnson Selected  
for Prestigious Foreign Service Fellowships
 Two Syracuse University alumnae were selected 
for prestigious graduate fellowships that prepare 
students for careers in the Foreign Service.
 Linda Baguma ’25, an international relations and 
political science graduate from the Maxwell School  
of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has been named  
a 2025 Rangel Fellow. 
The Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship aims  
to attract and prepare outstanding young people for 
careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department 
of State through two years of graduate study, domestic 
and overseas internships, mentoring and professional 
development activities.
 Baguma, an Our Time Has Come Scholar, was born 
in Africa and raised in the United States and feels a 
strong connection to both places. She participated 
in a Public Policy and International Affairs Junior 
Summer Institute at Carnegie Mellon University  
during summer 2024 and spent the Fall 2024 
semester studying in South Africa. 
(photo) Linda Baguma
 “Studying abroad allowed me to see how 
international relations works in a country with a very 
different history and set of challenges. I learned about 
South Africa’s policies and how they impact local communities.  
This experience has made me even more excited about  
pursuing a career in the Foreign Service, particularly focused  
on improving U.S.-Africa relations,” says Baguma, also a  
2024-25 Remembrance Scholar.
 (photo) Alexandria Johnson
 Alexandria Johnson ’24, an international relations 
graduate from the Maxwell School, was selected as a 
2025 Pickering Fellow.
 Funded by the Department of State, the Thomas  
R. Pickering Fellowship awards recipients two years 
of financial support, mentoring and professional 
development to prepare them for a career in the 
Foreign Service. Fellows will also complete a 
domestic internship at the Department of State in 
Washington, D.C., and an overseas internship at a 
U.S. embassy.
 Johnson works with the Truman Center for National 
Policy, a national security think tank in Washington, 
D.C., where she focuses on subnational diplomacy 
and democracy building.
 As an undergraduate, she interned at the Cleveland 
Council on World Affairs, interned with the Arab 
Center for International Humanitarian Law and 
Human Rights Education in Strasbourg, France, and 
was a 2023 Rangel Scholar, participating in a summer 
program that gave her a comprehensive introduction 
to professions in U.S. foreign affairs.
 “All of these experiences taught me about diplomacy 
in different ways,” she says. “The Pickering Fellowship will help me 
to attain my goal of public service. I hope to make positive change 
and to bring more awareness to what Foreign Service Officers do.”

 FALL 2025 | 27 

CAMPUSnews

 Syracuse Expands Presence in Washington, D.C.,  
and Los Angeles

 In the last year, Syracuse University opened new facilities in Los 
Angeles and Washington, D.C., which serve as centers of activity 
for students spending a semester away from main campus and as 
gathering spaces for alumni. 
In March 2024, Syracuse celebrated the opening of the 
Syracuse University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program in North 
Hollywood, California, which honors the memory of Dick Clark 
’51 through a gift from the Kari and Dick Clark Foundation. The 
new facility, which includes classrooms, offices and studios, 
significantly expands the University’s presence and access to the 
entertainment industry, serving as home to Los Angeles programs 
for the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and 
the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
 (photo) During the March 2 dedication of the new building of the 
Syracuse University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program, former 
Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen 
Ritter, left, speaks about the Clark legacy at the University and 
the importance of such vital programs as the LA program to 
provide students with an immersive study away experience. She 
is joined by Anna Proulx, College of Visual and Performing Arts 
program director, Syracuse University Los Angeles Semester, 
second from left, and Cindy Clark ’86 and RAC Clark, daughter 
and son of Dick Clark ’51, respectively. 
(RICH PRUGH photographer)
 The Syracuse University center in Washington, D.C., opened 
Sept. 24, 2024. Located at 1333 New Hampshire Ave. off Dupont 
Circle, the center houses the Institute for Democracy, Journalism 
and Citizenship and serves as a home base for study away 
programs offered by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public 
Affairs, Newhouse School and College of Law. The center also 
supports study away programming across the University’s schools 
and colleges and includes satellite offices for the D’Aniello Institute 
for Veterans and Military Families and the Office of Government 
and Community Affairs. The Greenberg Welcome Center honors 
Life Trustee Paul Greenberg ’65, whose philanthropy supported the 
1990 opening of Greenberg House, the University’s first outpost in 
Washington.
 (photo) Syracuse University Trustee Mike Tirico ’88 and Newhouse DC Program Director Beverly Kirk (both 
in blue) with Syracuse University students at a reception at the opening of the Syracuse University 
Center in Washington, D.C.

 28 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

Caption: (photo of awards ceremony)

 Fran Brown Honored for First Year Coaching

 Syracuse University head football coach Fran Brown earned 
two national coaching awards for first-year coaches in 
2024: the Paul “Bear” Bryant Newcomer Coach of the Year Award 
and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award.
 Brown led the Orange to its first 10-win campaign since 2018 
and its third double-digit win season since 2000. In the process, 
Syracuse defeated three AP Top-25 teams at the time of their 
meeting, the most in a single season since 1998. 
The Orange saw a program-best 12 players earn All-ACC 
honors in 2024, despite the league having 17 teams for the first 
time in conference history. Quarterback Kyle McCord became the 
first Syracuse player to finish in the top-10 of Heisman Trophy 
voting since Dwight Freeney in 2001 and set an ACC record for 
 passing yards and school bests for completions, yards, touchdown 
passes and total offense.
 Tight end Oronde Gadsden II earned AP All-America honors, 
while being part of a receiving corps that was the only school in  
the country to have four players with 60+ catches, including Trebor 
Pena, Jackson Meeks and LeQuint Allen Jr. Meeks went over 
1,000 yards on the season, while Allen was one of two players 
nationally to have over 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving 
yards. He led the nation in receptions by a running back.
 Defensively, Maraad Watson was named a Freshman  
All-American by 247Sports and Fadil Diggs, Justin Barron 
and Marlowe Wax earned All-ACC honors.

Syracuse iSchool Launches  
Master’s in Artificial  
Intelligence
 Artificial intelligence is the third fastest-growing field in the U.S. 
Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies is poised 
to meet that demand with a new master’s degree program in applied 
human centered artificial intelligence launching in fall 2025. 
“We decided to launch this new AI program to meet the growing 
demand from industry, where many companies, across diverse 
industries, need professionals capable of leveraging generative  
AI. Furthermore, our students have shown significant interest  
in gaining expertise in AI, driven by the industry’s evolving 
requirements and opportunities,” says Jeffrey Saltz, iSchool 
associate professor and program director of the school’s master’s  
in applied human centered artificial intelligence. 
The iSchool’s new program will include a strong emphasis on 
hands-on projects to showcase students’ practical expertise and 
knowledge in the field of AI. “We were one of the first universities 
to offer an applied data science program,” Saltz says. “Recognizing 
the evolving landscape of technology and the increasing 
importance of AI, the iSchool saw a critical need to expand its 
offerings to include advanced AI education.”

(photo) Gabriel Davila-Campos ’25 (right) works with on an AI research project with Jaime 
Banks (center), associate professor of information studies

 FALL 2025 | 29 

ALUMNInews

 Alumni Honored for Exceptional  
Accomplishment and Engagement

 (photo) Melanie Littlejohn
 Melanie Littlejohn G’97 
and Chelsea Ransom
Cooper ’15 were among alumni 
honored at the 2025 Syracuse 
University Alumni Awards 
Celebration held April 4. The 
annual event recognizes and 
celebrates the exceptional 
accomplishments of alumni 
who exemplify what it means 
to be Forever Orange. 
Honorees are selected by  
the Syracuse University  
Alumni Association’s Board  
of Directors. 
Littlejohn, president and 
CEO of the Central New York 
Community Foundation, 
received the George Arents 
Award, which recognizes 
individuals who have excelled 
in their fields and is Syracuse 
University’s highest alumni 
honor.
 Prior to joining the Community Foundation in 2024, Littlejohn 
had a nearly 30-year career at National Grid as vice president of 
customer and community engagement. In that role, she led 
initiatives to drive customer satisfaction, economic development 
and corporate social responsibility, including projects in 
environmental justice and workforce development.
 Previously, Littlejohn served as executive director of the  
Urban League of Onondaga County and held a leadership role in 
international client services with Bankers Trust Co. She earned  
an MBA from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from 
SUNY Stony Brook. Dedicated to civic engagement, Littlejohn 
co-chairs the Micron Community 
Engagement Committee, supports 
Onondaga Community College as vice 
chair of the board and serves on several 
additional boards, including CenterState 
CEO and Pathfinder Bank.
 Littlejohn is also a devoted mentor and 
frequent speaker at Syracuse University.
 Ransom-Cooper, co-founder and chief 
financial planning officer at Zenith 
Wealth Partners, received the 
Generation Orange Award, which 
recognizes graduates from the past 
decade for career success, community 
engagement and overall commitment to 
Syracuse University. 
A certified financial planner, Ransom
Cooper created the financial planning 
and investment advisory firm with a 
mission to create $1 billion in wealth  
for women and people of color by 
providing high-quality and relatable 
financial advice. She specializes in 
working with women founders and in the 
tech industry. She has been recognized by Investment News 40  
Under 40, as one of the 9 Black Financial Influencers to Follow  
by Nerdwallet, and as a Young Advisor to Watch in 2023 by 
Financial Advisor Magazine.
 (photo) Chelsea Ransom-Cooper
 A graduate of the Whitman School of Management, Ransom
Cooper was involved in Alpha Kappa Psi, the WellsLink Leadership 
Program, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, National 
Association of Black Accountants and the FullCircle Mentor 
Program. She chairs the Young Whitman Advisory Council and has 
been instrumental in launching alumni programming at Whitman. 

30   |   SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

Phi Iota Alpha to Mark 31 Years at  
Syracuse with Campus Celebration

 In 1931, Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc. became the first Latin 
American student organization in the United States. Founded on 
the principles of Pan-Americanism, the unification of all Latin 
American countries, the organization provides brotherhood at 82 
colleges across the United States.
 In conjunction with the chapter’s 31st anniversary, the 
Distinguished Dons of the Kappa Chapter at Syracuse University 
will celebrate Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month on campus during 
fall semester.
 “The number 31 is significant because it coincides with the year 
the fraternity was established nationally,” says Derek Polanco ’19. 
The anniversary celebration will include a banquet that features 
Latin cuisine, the presentation of alumni awards and a scholarship 
to a Syracuse University student, followed by a performance by a 
top musical talent.  
“It’s an opportunity to celebrate our founders and our history on 
the Syracuse campus, but also to give back and celebrate Latin 
culture with the entire University community,” says Andres Rivera 
’15, a former National Organization of Latino Fraternal 
Organizations president.
 The fraternity first collaborated with the Syracuse University 
Office of Multicultural Affairs, now known as Belonging and 
Student Success, to host Fiesta Latina in 2014 in conjunction with 
the chapter’s 20th anniversary. “It became something that we 
looked forward to planning, bringing in big-name talent, getting 
dressed up and sharing our culture and cuisine,” says Polanco. 
While the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on that 
involvement, “we plan to continue our collaboration again this year 
to elevate the celebration in a larger way,” says Polanco.
 Historically, the group has raised funds to present a scholarship 
to a high school student within the Syracuse community at Fiesta 
Latina. To commemorate their anniversary, it plans to accomplish 
that on a larger scale to support a current Syracuse University 
student. 
Inspired by the alumni camaraderie at the 2024 Coming Back 
Together reunion, the Kappa Chapter hopes to attract other 
alumni who have been part of their journey over the last 31 years, 
as well as current students, to the weekend anniversary 
celebration. 
“Latino students have made many contributions to the Syracuse 
University campus,” says Rivera. “We want to celebrate our 
fraternity and all it has done for our members, while also 
celebrating Latino culture in the general Syracuse University 
community.”
 For more information about the upcoming anniversary, visit 
kappaversary.org.
(photo) Alumni members of Phi Iota Alpha look forward to celebrating 31 years on the Syracuse University campus this fall.

 FALL 2025  |   31 

ALUMNInews

 Chereé Hicks Honored with Jersey Retirement

 Track and field standout thrower Chereé Hicks ’00 was 
honored by having her jersey retired by Syracuse University 
Sept. 20, 2024. 
Hicks had a decorated collegiate career as a student-athlete at 
Syracuse. She is a six-time Big East Champion thrower, six-time 
All-American and three-time NCAA silver medalist. During the 
2000 season, she finished second in shot put at the NCAA Indoor 
Championships and finished second in both shot put and discus in 
the NCAA outdoor meet. That same season, Hicks set a Big East 
Indoor Championship record in shot put and Big East Outdoor 
Championship records in both shot put and discus. She placed 
fifth at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in 2000 and still 
holds the indoor and outdoor shot put and discus records at 
Syracuse University.
 “To see my jersey hanging in the rafters of a place that 
transformed my life is truly humbling,” says Hicks. “Syracuse 
University didn’t just shape my athletic career; it molded who I am. 
Every opportunity, every challenge, every relationship forged on 
this campus contributed to my journey. I carry the Orange spirit 
with me daily, and I’m deeply grateful to be forever woven into the 
fabric of this extraordinary community.”
 Hicks earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from 
Syracuse in 2000 and completed a master’s degree in liberal 
studies at the University of Miami in 2011.

 Milestones

 Cydney Johnson ’77, G’96  was named deputy 
Onondaga County executive for physical services. 
Johnson formerly served as vice president for community 
engagement and government relations at Syracuse 
University. 
Jennifer Mabry G’91  published her memoir, Fighting to 
Be Seen: A Civil Rights Baby Reflects on Life in Post
Integration America, available online and in-store at 
Politics & Prose Bookstore, Washington, D.C. 
After her time at Syracuse University, Hicks coached for many 
different programs, including stops at Miami, Northern Michigan 
and James Madison University. She serves as senior manager, 
grants and operations, for the United States Golf Association.
(photo) Chereé Hicks
 Mendell Grinter G’23  was named CEO of Wesley House 
Community Services in Louisville, Kentucky. He also 
serves on the board of directors for the Country Music 
Association Foundation, where he recently completed a 
term as chairman.

 32 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

D.C. Orange and Blue Barbecue 
Attracts Record Crowd

 Alumni make surprise donation to Our Time Has Come

 In May 2009, during a visit to Washington, D.C., Eric Watson ’91 
gathered a few Syracuse University friends at his parents’ home 
for an afternoon of reminiscing over a bushel of Maryland crabs.
 Among the guests was Akima Rogers ’93, who remembers the 
conversation that sparked a movement. “We realized that even 
though nearly 15,000 alumni lived in the D.C. area, we kept 
socializing with the same small group,” he says. “We wanted to 
create an event that would bring together more alumni, especially 
those from diverse backgrounds.”
 That August, Rogers and his wife, Pia Rogers ’98, G’01, hosted 
the first D.C. Orange and Blue Summer Barbecue at their home, 
welcoming more than 60 guests.
 “Having had a packed house and many more folks talking about 
it, we knew we had to move it to a larger venue,” says Rogers. 
From that humble beginning, D.C. Orange and Blue has  
grown into an annual tradition that draws alumni from across the 
country—and even overseas. Attendees have traveled from Florida, 
California and even the United Kingdom to be part of it, planning 
vacation schedules around the event. As it’s grown, the barbecue 
has moved from military bases to its longtime home at Rosaryville 
State Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This year, it found a new 
setting at Cedarville Forest Park in Brandywine, Maryland, 
organized by a dedicated 16-member crew led by Rogers, Amber 
Dowtin ’03 and Stacy “Teaspoon” Carter ’95.
 For the organizing crew, it’s a labor of love. “We 
are not an organization but a collective of alumni 
that volunteer to support,” says Rogers. “Our goal 
is simply to have fun and connect.”  
“It’s a lot of work, but something special 
happened during those four years at Syracuse, 
and I love reliving them,” adds Carter.
 That passion pays off. This year’s barbecue— 
the 16th—was the largest yet, with more than 300 
attendees. “We leveled up our outreach with a 
strategic, branded social media presence and 
consistent e-blasts that kept the community 
engaged,” says Carter. “The addition of SB Thee DJ 
[Denasia Lawrence ’13] brought fresh energy, 
attracting current students and recent grads.” Two of 
those students had a special connection: Aidan 
Rogers ’29, son of Akima and Pia, and Dwayne 
Murray II ’27, son of Dwayne ’97 and Alison Murray 
’01, all crew members. Their presence strengthened 
the event’s bridge to today’s campus life.
 The gathering has always had a purpose beyond fun. 
Traditionally, proceeds are used to purchase $250 gift cards for 
incoming Syracuse students who attend the barbecue, and in 
2022, the group raised money to support three holes at the OTHC 
Golf Tournament. This year, the group pooled contributions for a 
$2,500 gift to the Our Time Has Come Scholarship Program. 
“While some of us have given individually before, this was the first 
time we made a significant monetary donation as a group,” Carter 
notes.
 Adding to the excitement, the SyraQues—alumni members of 
the Krazy Kappa Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.—hosted 
a lively Saturday night after-party for the first time.
 The organizers are intentional about keeping the tradition fresh 
and inclusive. 
“We want this to connect with younger alumni and incoming 
students,” says Carter. “It’s important for them to see that being 
part of Syracuse isn’t just about the four years on campus. It’s a 
lifetime in a community that supports you, celebrates you and 
stays connected. The barbecue is one of the ways we make that 
happen.”
 The next D.C. Orange and Blue Barbecue will be held July 25, 
2026, and will be accompanied by a “weekend full of fun,” says 
Rogers.
(photo) More than 300 alumni from across the United States attended the D.C. Orange and Blue Barbecue on 
July 26.

 FALL 2025 | 33 

HISTORY LESSON 

Driving to Succeed

 Andrew Branch helped thousands of Syracusans gain  
independence and transportation through the ability to drive. 
When Andrew Branch ’59 died Sept. 19, 2024, he left a legacy of some hundreds 
of thousands of people who learned to drive through Branch’s Driving School, 
one of the first Black-owned businesses in Syracuse.
(photo) Andrew Branch is credited with helping thousands of Syracusans learn to drive through  
Branch’s Driving School.
 “It was hard to start a business as a minority,” Branch told The 
Post Standard of Syracuse in 2003. “I had no guidance, no role 
model. . . . The day I got my license [to operate a driving school],  
I drove down the street with my sign and I got followed by the 
chief of police.”
 PHOTO BY JOHNATHAN CROYL © POST-STANDARD/SYRACUSE.COM
 Branch’s Driving School with a single car, his 
Ford Falcon.
 He overcame many obstacles, including 
finding an insurance company to cover the 
business.
 Over time, Branch grew Branch’s Driving 
School to have a fleet of seven vehicles and a 
staff of 22 working out of a dozen locations 
across the city. Many of the students were 
older drivers, often widows and immigrants. 
Branch hired a diverse staff that could 
communicate with people from different 
countries and taught himself a smattering of 
basic words so he could communicate in 
Spanish, French, Italian and Arabic. Branch’s 
Driving School also had the contract to teach 
driver’s education at Syracuse high schools for 
several years. The business continues to 
operate, run by Branch’s son, Deraux.
 A track and field star in high school, Branch 
briefly ran at Syracuse until family 
commitments got in the way. In 1989, at age 
56, he competed in the Empire State Senior 
Games and won gold medals in the 100-meter 
and 4x100-meter relay.
 Branch was born July 28, 1933, in Syracuse. At Nottingham 
High School, he excelled in the classroom and in track and field 
and was elected president of his class, a noteworthy achievement 
for a Black student at the time. After graduating, he married his 
high school sweetheart and was drafted into the U.S. Army and 
stationed in Korea.
 After completing his service, Branch attended Syracuse 
University on the G.I. Bill, majoring in microbiology. After 
graduating with a B.S., he worked as a pharmacological research 
technician at what’s now SUNY Upstate Medical University.
 In 1959, Branch’s mother bought a new Cadillac. She didn’t 
know how to drive. Branch taught her, and then his sister. That 
planted a seed. In 1963, while still working at Upstate, he started 
In addition to running a successful business, Branch served on 
the board of directors of Housing Visions and Centro and was 
elected president of the Central City Businessman’s Association. 
He was an active member of Hopps Memorial CME Church and 
served as church treasurer for many years, as well as the Board of 
Stewards and Ministry to Men. In retirement, he moved to South 
Carolina.
 In December 2024, the City of Syracuse renamed a section of 
North Franklin Street in Branch’s honor. For one year, the 200 
block will be known as Andrew W. Branch Way.
 Branch is survived by his wife of 69 years, Fanny; sons Chuck, 
Todd and Deraux; daughter Della; his sisters, Louise Walker, 
Ethelmae Dunham, Mamie Rhodafox and Eva Dixon; nine 
grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two great-great
grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

 34 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

IN MEMORIAM

(photo) Thomas S. Smith Jr. #75
 Thomas S. Smith Jr. ’70 
of Eatontown, New 
Jersey, died June 21.
 Born and raised in 
Asbury Park, New Jersey, 
Smith graduated from 
Asbury Park High School 
in 1966, where he was a 
standout three-sport 
athlete, lettering in 
football, basketball and 
track. His athletic 
excellence earned him a 
scholarship to Syracuse University, where he lettered 
in both football and track and became a member of 
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Through his fraternity, 
he helped establish a tutoring program that provided 
literacy support to local inner-city youth. Smith 
graduated in 1970 with a degree in geography.
 “Tom was a true example of what a scholar athlete 
should be,” says Dana Harrell ’71, G’73. “He was disciplined, 
studious, and seldom, if ever, cut classes. We were teammates on 
the football and track teams, and in the intramural basketball 
league, his Omega Psi Phi team, the Ques, were perennial champs.”
 He continued his education at Rutgers Law School, earning his 
J.D. in 1973. That same year, he was admitted to the bars of New 
Jersey and the U.S. District Court and later to the bars of the U.S. 
Supreme Court and the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. During law 
school, he co-founded a student-run legal aid program to serve the 
residents of Newark and began his association with the New Jersey 
Office of the Public Defender, focusing on juvenile court matters.
 Smith’s professional career spanned more than 35 years, 
including 24 years with the Office of the Public Defender. He 
served in managerial positions, including assistant public defender 
and first assistant public defender. In May 1985, Smith became 
the acting public defender. He served in the role again in 1990, 
briefly holding the dual role of acting public defender and acting 
public advocate.
 On Jan. 27, 1997, Smith was sworn in as a Superior Court judge. 
He was assigned to Burlington County and became the presiding 
judge of the Criminal Division. Smith retired from the bench in June 
2009, having served for 12 years.
 Beyond the courtroom, Smith was an active and engaged 
community leader. He was a member of the 1989 Leadership New 
Jersey Class, served on the editorial board of the New Jersey Law 
Journal, and held board positions at Jersey Shore Medical Center 
and the Boys and Girls Club. He received honors and recognitions 
throughout his career, including his induction into the Asbury Park 
High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
 Smith had an active retirement. He traveled with his wife, 
Dianne, to cruise ports across North America, South America and 
Europe. He enjoyed golfing, swimming, reading, attending sporting 
events, spoiling his grandson and competing (and winning multiple 
times) in his family’s fantasy football league. He also stayed active 
in judicial affairs as a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court 
Advisory Committee on Extrajudicial Activities and as an adjunct 
instructor for a 4th Amendment course at Rutgers University.
 Thomas is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Dianne 
Gibson Smith. He is survived by daughters Kori Smith, Keir Smith 
Martin, and Kaprece Smith; grandson Jordan Leftridge; 
godchildren Karl Crudup II, Brooke Gillespie and Travis Seawright; 
and a host of extended family and friends.
 Ann Marie Smith ’8 6 of Alpharetta, 
Georgia, died Jan. 7, leaving behind a legacy 
of kindness, achievement and adventure.
 Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in 
Queens, New York, Smith excelled in 
academics and athletics at Brooklyn 
Technical High School, where she was 
recognized as a high school all-American track star in indoor and 
outdoor cross country and served as senior class secretary. 
Smith came to Syracuse University to study electrical 
engineering. After earning her degree, she began her career at 
Raytheon Missile Systems as a systems engineer. In 1990, she 
joined Xerox, where she developed strong friendships and held 
numerous leadership roles, including vice president and general 
manager of global document outsourcing. 
Smith earned accolades for her work, including trips through 
Xerox’s President’s Club. While at Xerox, she completed an 
executive development program at the Kellogg School of 
Management at Northwestern University. At the age of 53, she 
retired from Xerox as vice president of business intelligence and 
sales management process to settle in Raleigh, North Carolina, to 
be closer to family.
 Smith’s adventurous spirit led her to explore the world, and she 
enjoyed cruising, often traveling with her mother and close friends. 
Her vibrant personality, contagious smile and kind heart made her 
beloved by all who knew her. Her commitment to excellence 
extended beyond her career, as she was an active member of the 
National Society of Black Engineers and a proud Mary Kay 
representative.
 Smith is survived by her mother, Dorothy; brother, Michael 
Nicholas; niece, Tatiana Nicholas; a beloved aunt, Hariette Smith 
Hinds; a host of extended family; and dear friends, who were her 
chosen family. 
Amanda Lillian Quick ’14, G’16 of New 
York City, died Jan. 18 of metastatic breast 
cancer.
 Born on June 5, 1992, in Kansas City, 
Missouri, Quick showed boundless energy 
and zest for life from day one. She 
embraced a range of passions, including 
singing in the youth choir, serving as an acolyte, acting and 
excelling in sports. Her adventurous spirit was fueled by living in 

FALL 2025 | 35 

IN MEMORIAM

 various places throughout her formative years, including Kansas 
City, Boston and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She graduated from 
Wyoming Seminary Preparatory School, where she played on the 
2008 Pennsylvania state champion varsity field hockey team.
 Quick’s passion for journalism led her to the S.I. Newhouse 
School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, where 
she earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism, 
with minors in marketing and Chinese studies, graduating with 
honors. One of her college highlights was interning for three 
summers with NBC Sports, including the 2012 Olympics in 
London. While at Syracuse, Quick launched her company, The 
Next Zuck, a media outlet dedicated to showcasing college 
founders and entrepreneurship nationwide. She continued her 
academic journey as an SU Fellow, earning a master’s in 
information management.
 Quick spent six years at KPMG, holding various risk 
management/technology assurance roles. She then spent two 
years at American Express in the U.S. Consumer Banking Group. 
Deeply committed to making the world a better place, Quick 
served on the board of directors for The Pink Agenda, contributing 
to education and event committees to raise awareness about 
breast cancer among young professionals and to raise funds for 
research. She also served as an advocate and supporter of the 
Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) and spoke about her 
diagnosis publicly, joining BCRF partners Ann Taylor and Loft in 
their Sisterhood of Strength campaign and sharing her experiences 
on Good Morning America. She was a member of Syracuse 
University’s Generation Orange Leadership Council and the 
Newhouse Emerging Leaders Board. In 2024, she was honored 
with a Generation Orange Alumni Award.
 Quick is survived by her parents, Avalyn and Paul Quick; her 
sister, Lexi; her grandmothers, Bernice Law and Pauline Pendleton; 
and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
 Francis McMillan Parks of Syracuse 
died Jan. 12. She was the former longtime 
director of Students Offering Service and 
African American programs in Hendricks 
Chapel.
 Parks grew up in Odessa, Texas, and 
earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology 
from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After 
graduation, she enrolled in Clark Atlanta University and 
completed a master’s degree. She married Donald R. Parks, whom 
she met while an undergraduate, and for many years they moved 
around the globe as a military family. 
The Parks family settled in Syracuse in 1981 so Donald could 
work on a doctoral degree. Francis also became engaged in the life 
of the University, working as an instructor and advisor. She began 
her tenure in the University’s English Language Institute and then 
served as an academic advisor at University College. In 1992, she 
became director of Students Offering Service (SOS) and of 
African American programs at Hendricks Chapel. In that role, she 
served as a teacher, counselor, leader, activist, volunteer and 
storyteller. 
She created and championed numerous programs through 
SOS—from a blanket drive in the winter to a summer chess camp 
for kids from inner-city Syracuse and participation in Habitat for 
Humanity, International Young Scholars, the CROP Walk for 
Hunger, green-ups and clean-ups, Libba’s Place Coffeehouse, the 
annual Sojourner Storytelling Conference and holiday basket 
drives. She also played a key role in establishing the annual Rev. Dr. 
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the University.
 Parks kept social conscience at the forefront of activities at 
Hendricks Chapel. She was known as a passionate cheerleader for 
students and colleagues alike, providing encouragement and 
nurturing when they needed it. 
After retiring from the University in 2007, she became a Francis 
Perkins Scholar at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, 
Massachusetts. She joined that community as a student, living in a 
residence hall and continuing her research. 
“Francis Parks embodied the spirit and soul of Hendricks 
Chapel, and I am personally grateful for her kindness, wisdom and 
strength,” says the Rev. Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of 
Hendricks Chapel. “We give thanks for all that she did, and we give 
thanks for all that she was, as her peaceful and powerful presence 
will forever be felt throughout our Syracuse University campus 
community and beyond.”
 Parks is survived by her daughters, Stephanie Ellen Parks and 
Suzan-Lori Parks; her son, Donald Parks Jr.; her grandson, Durham 
Xavier; and a large community of family and friends.

 36   |   SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT

FALL 2025  |   3   

(photo) Brisa C. Sanchez ’25 at the 
2025 Our Time Has Come 
Ceremony

Office of Multicultural Advancement 
200 Walnut Place
 Syracuse, NY 13244-5160

 @RANDIBAIRDPHOTO
 (photo) Syracuse University alumni gathered on Martha’s Vineyard Aug. 18 to enjoy 
food, fellowship and networking, joining alumni from Duke and Stanford 
Universities for an ACC meetup.