Class of 2020 Commencement events to be held Sept. 17-19

Syracuse University will host a Commencement ceremony—delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic—and other celebratory events for the Class of 2020 during the weekend of Sept. 17–19.  

Commencement will be held Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Stadium. This University-wide ceremony, where Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud will formally confer degrees, is for all undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates. Doors open at 8 a.m.

Following Commencement, all 2020 Newhouse graduates and their families are invited to join Dean Mark J. Lodato and the faculty and staff for a celebratory reception. The event will include a dean’s welcome, recognition of participating graduates and an opportunity to reconnect with faculty. A precise time and location will be announced soon; stay tuned for details.

For more information about Commencement activities for the Class of 2020, see the event listing.

Newhouse Faculty, Doctoral Students Awarded Internal Funding for Research Projects

Five faculty members and two doctoral students are the recipients of funding through the Newhouse School’s internal grants program. The program, administered by the Office of Research and Creative Activity under the leadership of Senior Associate Dean Regina Luttrell, establishes a foundation for a dynamic research and creative culture. It not only creates a vibrant learning environment for students and faculty, but also contributes to advancements in media and communication fields with broader impacts.

By prioritizing a direct and impactful approach, the program emphasizes Newhouse’s commitment to cultivating a robust culture in innovation and advancing knowledge across the public communications landscape.

The recipients:

Lauren Bavis, faculty fellow, magazine, news and digital journalism
Erika Schneider, assistant professor, public relations

Title: Both Sides of the Podium: A Media Briefing Workshop for PR and Journalism Students

Erika Schneider and Lauren Bavis will develop a workshop to facilitate students’ skills in hosting and participating in media briefings, an essential part of the public relations and journalism professions. The workshop will involve conversations with experienced media professionals and a hands-on learning workshop in which public relations students serve as mock executives during crisis scenarios and journalism students serve as breaking news reporters covering the crisis for broadcast and text platforms. This workshop will demonstrate the intersection of PR and journalism and how these events serve as an example of collaboration and relationship building.

Arien Rozelle, assistant teaching professor, public relations

Title: Communicate, Agitate, Motivate: The Role of PR in the Fight for Women’s Rights

Through proposed strategic partnerships with the National Susan B. Anthony House and Museum (Rochester, NY), the Matilda Joslyn Gage Center (Fayetteville, NY) and the Women’s Rights Hall of Fame (Seneca Falls, NY), this project will present a dynamic series of seven lectures across Central and Western New York. This lecture tour, accompanied by a traveling exhibit exploring the critical role of public relations and media in the women’s suffrage movement, will visit our proposed partner sites, who are pivotal locations on the New York Women’s Heritage Trail, as well as colleges/universities in four cities that served as locations for a New York State Women’s Suffrage Association (NYSWSA) convention: Geneva, Utica, Syracuse, Ithaca. Through a combination of lectures in historic suffrage locations, a traveling exhibit of PR and media artifacts, and a curated website with digitized artifacts and a teaching toolkit, this project aims to inspire activism and raise awareness of the historic struggle for women’s suffrage in upstate New York and the vital role of communication throughout the movement.

David Peters, doctoral candidate, mass communications

Title: Virtually Present in the Vastness: VR’s Pathway to Awe and Appreciation 

Virtual reality (VR) offers unique opportunities to evoke profound emotional responses by immersing individuals in experiences that transcend everyday reality. This study investigates how spatial presence and perceived vastness in VR environments contribute to the elicitation of awe and enhance media appreciation. Understanding these responses is critical as VR increasingly shapes the way media is experienced, from education to entertainment and beyond. Participants will engage with custom-built virtual reality environments while playing a game that positions them as nature photographers. This immersive experience is designed to examine how VR can create meaningful media interactions and foster emotional engagement. This research aims to provide valuable insights for VR designers and media creators, offering strategies to craft more impactful and emotionally resonant VR experiences. This work underscores VR’s potential as a transformative medium for storytelling, education and entertainment.

Bruce Strong, associate professor, visual communications

Title: Call to Me, Balkans: Impressions of a Place and its People

“Call to Me, Balkans” is a curated photographic exhibit that captures the rich, diverse and interconnected cultures of the Balkans, specifically Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Slovenia. This collection of monochromatic images, taken during a four-month journey, reflects Bruce Strong’s exploration of a more intimate documentary style, utilizing only a smartphone to push creative boundaries and test the limits of accessible technology.

The “Call to Me, Balkans” exhibit celebrates the resilience, diversity and beauty of a region heavily impacted by the conflicts of the 1990s following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. By showcasing these photographic impressions in Central New York, especially in Utica where there is a large Bosnian community, we aim to foster dialogue between immigrant communities and the broader population. This project has already received international acclaim, with work from the exhibit awarded by the Sarajevo Photography Festival and featured in China as a solo exhibition at the Pingyao Photo Festival in September 2024. Bringing “Call to Me, Balkans” to New York will help strengthen cultural connections between the Balkan community and the local area, furthering the university’s mission of global diversity and inclusion.

Jason Webb, assistant professor, visual communications

Title: Non-Verbal Communication in VR

This pilot research project is designed to qualitatively evaluate participants’ emotions and interactions in social virtual reality spaces when face, body and eye tracking are used. This project aims to increase presence in VR by assessing how participants communicate nonverbally in VR and whether the uncanny valley causes uneasiness in the avatar’s motion during social VR interactions. 

Bixuan Ren, doctoral student, mass communications

Title: Exploring Stakeholder-Based AI Ethics Strategies for PR professionals

With the widespread adoption of AI by PR professionals and the availability of numerous AI tools, it is essential to identify the stakeholders emerging alongside these technologies, including both formal and informal AI regulators. Grounded in principles of fairness, transparency and responsibility, this research examines the ethical implications of AI in shaping relationships with diverse stakeholders. Using semi-structured interviews, the study seeks to offer practical guidelines and theoretical insights to promote the responsible use of AI in public relations.

My Syracuse University Story: Sean Branagan ’80 and A Passion for Helping Student Entrepreneurs at the Newhouse School 

Sean Branagan ’80 describes himself as a serial entrepreneur, interactive marketer and “evangelist” for innovation and startups. Before joining the Newhouse School, he spent his career in media and technology—fields in which he is still active.  

Now, Branagan serves as the director of the Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship at Newhouse and teaches courses in media entrepreneurship and innovation.  

“Entrepreneurial spirit—it’s about fearlessness about doing the work,” he said. “If you really want this and you’re passionate about it—let’s go!”  

Learn more about why Branagan is so eager to help students at his alma mater reach their entrepreneurial goals by watching his My Syracuse University Story video.  

Supporting Our Students from Southern California

Dear Newhouse Community:

The scenes from the southern California wildfires are devastating, and I know this is a very distressing time for our students and their families from the Los Angeles area.

I am also aware that many students spending the spring semester at Newhouse LA have just arrived in southern California. First and foremost, I hope all our students are safe.

For students impacted by the wildfires, I realize you are dealing with so much right now, and that the start of the spring semester may be the least of your concerns. If you don’t feel you can make it back to campus in the coming days, you can contact Karen McGee, the assistant dean for student success at Newhouse, at kmcgee@syr.edu, or the Newhouse advising office at nhadvise@syr.edu. Since the semester does not begin until Monday, they can help contact your professors.

If you’re a Newhouse LA student and have not yet arrived in Los Angeles, please contact Newhouse LA director Robin Howard at rshoward@syr.edu if your travel plans have been disrupted.

Additional resources are available from the University to help. The Office of Student Outreach and Retention has a team that can coordinate services such as counseling at the Barnes Center, financial aid, and parent and family services. The office can be reached at 315-443-4357 and via email at studentsupport@syr.edu. There is also 24-hour crisis support through the Barnes Center Counseling Center at 315-443-8000.

Note the Film at Syracuse University Showcase event and Newhouse/VPA reception scheduled for tonight in Los Angeles have been canceled. Organizers will send an update if/when those events are rescheduled.

Please know that you can always reach out to me, too, even if you just need to talk. Just contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Dean Lodato

Explore the Newhouse Sports Media Center 

Between midterms and finals last semester, it was an incredibly busy time. There was internship planning, holiday planning, planning for finals and planning on how to survive Black Friday for those of us who work retail. When the chaos was closing in on me, I found some solace in the new Newhouse Sports Media Center (SMC) space, which is just around the corner from Food.com on the second floor of Newhouse 3.   

The SMC expansion officially opened on Sept. 27. It is a collaborative space for students to do schoolwork, work on extracurriculars and projects, have production meetings, socialize and much more.  

There are several computers for writing and editing, as well as meeting spaces and a full production set with cameras, control boards and all the other bells and whistles you might need when it comes to broadcasting and communications work. But it is not just the technological offerings that are there to help students; the SMC is meant to be a comfortable, fun space. There are large televisions, reading material, couches and game tables including foosball, air hockey and teeny-tiny billiards. 

My favorite part might just be the massive wall of windows. As it gets colder, I know I will enjoy watching the snowfall or the sunset from above. And our Newhouse professors have told us many times that if you want to go inside and use the space just to nap on one of the couches, please do so. 

It can be a bit chaotic when production meetings are happening for things like 44Films or a show is being broadcast or many Newhouse students are using the space, but sometimes you might be the only one there. Use that time to find your peace or spot of comfort. Pull up the automatic shades (it is the second to last button on the light switch) and watch the sunset even for just a few minutes.  

For those not in the sports media program, do not fret. While the center is locked for those not in that program, it is not meant to keep anyone out. If you want to check it out, find a sports media friend or classmate, or just try knocking on the door.  

Newhouse Alumni Connections: A Gateway to Networking, Career Success for Students 

The Newhouse School’s Career Development Center (CDC) has launched the Newhouse Alumni Connections database, a platform for Newhouse students designed to facilitate networking, job advice and mentorship opportunities with alumni. 

Newhouse Alumni Connections replaces the Newhouse Network alumni database, improving user experience and modernizing a system initially created 30 years ago. As with the previous database, access to Newhouse Alumni Connections is limited to Newhouse seniors and graduate students who have completed the CDC’s job hunt training series. This ensures that users have the necessary skills to engage with potential employers. 

Alumni who previously signed up through the older platform are asked to register on the new Newhouse Alumni Connections site to continue the valuable work of guiding the next generation of Newhouse graduates. Information could not be transferred over because the previous system was outdated.  

“We are so grateful to all the Newhouse alumni who have volunteered their time to assist Newhouse seniors and graduates over the years,” said Bridget Lichtinger, director of the Career Development Center.  

“Once you register, alumni will be able to easily select how they would like to give back, whether that’s through networking, career advice, mentorship or more,” Lichtinger said.  

For three decades, the CDC has been providing Newhouse students and alumni with a robust network of services and resources that prepare them for career success after graduation.

Lichtinger said Newhouse continues to evolve offerings for students. For instance, this year, the CDC began showing students how to use artificial intelligence to conduct proactive searches for internships or jobs. 

This past fall, alumni Samantha Bash and Samuel Schneider also launched the Newhouse Trailblazer Career Committee in collaboration with the CDC. Both 2023 graduates, Bash and Schneider said the mentorship initiative aims to connect emerging talent with professionals and bridge the gap between college and the professional world. 

The committee already has more than 40 alumni mentors, with over 100 students signing up to take part for 2024-25. Alumni seeking to become mentors in 2025-26 or looking for more information are asked to email nhtrailblazercareercommittee@gmail.com. 

Newhouse School Mourns Passing of Audra Weiss ’89 

Audra Weiss ’89 played a pivotal role in building the global health innovation company Real Chemistry. She gave back to Syracuse University as a benefactor for initiatives and projects that equipped communications students with the digital skills and expertise needed to succeed in the workplace. 

When Weiss was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, she became a passionate advocate for early cancer detection and diagnosis, and holistic care. Weiss died Tuesday. She was 57.

Her husband Jim Weiss ’87 and their two children, Ethan and Emily, were at her side. “Audra was a quiet yet powerful force who walked through life exuding grace, strength and class,” the family said.  

Audra Weiss graduated from the Whitman School of Management, while her husband graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Newhouse. Jim Weiss founded Real Chemistry in 2001.  

In 2012, a gift from Audra and Jim Weiss established the Weiss Center at the Newhouse School. The Weiss Center’s goal is to ensure students are immersed and educated in the digital world as they prepare for careers across the communications industries.  

Nine years later, the Weisses returned to Newhouse for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new, state-of-the art classroom established by a gift from Real Chemistry. The Emerging Insights Lab is a social media command center that serves as a central hub for the interfacing of digital media monitored and studied by students and faculty.

“Audra Weiss’ support meant so much to Syracuse University. She will always be remembered at Newhouse for her dedication to helping our students succeed, collaborating with Jim on mentorships, career advice, classroom visits or the many other ways they gave back big and small,” Newhouse Dean Mark Lodato said.

“We mourn her passing and extend our deepest condolences to Jim, Ethan, Emily and the rest of the Weiss family.”

Born and raised on Long Island in Coram, New York, Audra Weiss worked in healthcare communications after graduating from Whitman. She connected with Jim through a mutual friend—they worked in the same field and shared a love for Syracuse University, though they never met while at school. They were married for nearly 25 years.  

“She knew from the get-go that she’d happily trade in her stellar professional career for a lifelong role of motherhood.  She welcomed Ethan and Emily into the world and devoted herself to her calling,” her family said.  

“Audra’s intellect and brilliance shined in the backdrop of Jim’s entrepreneurial quest to build a leading global communications firm,” the family said.  “As an advisor and confidant, Audra made her mark on the business that would become Real Chemistry. To her, success was a vehicle to do good—giving back through the ‘Weiss Family Office.’” 

After being diagnosed with cancer, Weiss became a staunch advocate for the care of those living with cancer. She shared her wisdom about her cancer journey and connected with the Dempsey Center, joining the board of the organization founded by actor Patrick Dempsey. The Dempsey Center provides personalized and comprehensive cancer care at no cost. 

The Weiss family said it would continue to advocate for early cancer detection and diagnosis, as well as advocating for treating cancer “holistically, not just with pharmaceuticals but with wraparound care that makes the journey a much better experience for patients and their families.” 

Services will be held Jan. 8 in San Francisco. The family has said donations in Weiss’ memory can be made to the Dempsey Center, Family Reach, Hope Lodge and the Cancer Research Institute.   

How An Enhanced Focus on Journalism Could Reduce Illegal Doping in Sports

Are you familiar with performance enhancing drugs—doping—in sports? Perhaps you remember steroids in baseball, Lance Armstrong caught doping or the entire Russian Olympic team banned for illegal drugs. Such scandals come out in the media. But could better, in-depth journalism do more to make sports clean and fair?

In this episode of “Newhouse Impact,” Brad Horn, Newhouse associate dean of strategic initiatives, makes the case for journalism training that would prepare reporters to recognize the signs of cheating. He’d further like to see the stories told of those who lost out on a championship, a match or race victory, or a medal to those who were skirting the rules on performance enhancing drugs. Sports leagues and governing bodies would also be held more accountable.

Horn has experience at the US Anti-Doping Agency and the Baseball Hall of Fame, so he’s seen the impacts firsthand. Newhouse Impact is a production of WAER and the Newhouse School of Public Communications, with support from the office of Senior Associate Dean Regina Luttrell.

Newhouse in the News

Nick Bowman, Communications

• 20 Years of Orcs, Guilds and Memes in World of Warcraft (The New York Times-subscription required)

Margaret Talev, Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship

• Hear what swing voters think about Trump, RFK Jr., and Elon Musk (CNN)
• Syracuse/Ipsos poll: Majority of Republicans have doubts about some of Trump’s picks (Bay News 9 Tampa Bay)

Robert Thompson, Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture

• Whatever You Do, Don’t Review This (The New York Times-subscription required)
• Rupert Murdoch loses battle to control succession to his media empire
  (The Guardian)

Roy Gutterman, Magazine, News and Digital Journalism

• DC Circ. Ruling Far From Last Word On Looming TikTok Ban (Law360-subscription required)
• Trump sues Des Moines Register, vows to pursue more defamation claims (Reuters)
• Trump’s $15m settlement with ABC shook the First Amendment’s foundation. It’s just the beginning (The Independent)

Shelly Palmer, Advanced Media Management

• Teen’s Suicide After Falling in ‘Love’ with AI Chatbot Is Proof of the Popular Tech’s Risks, Expert Warns (People)

Joshua Darr, Communications

• The Blue State Where Republicans Scored Their Biggest Gains (Governing)
• 1 in 5 Americans get their news from social media influencers (CNBC)

Austin Kocher, Office of Research and Creative Activity

• Fact Check: Did Trump Deport More Migrants Than Biden? (Newsweek)

Anthony D’Angelo, Public Relations

• Omnicom-IPG merger marks ‘digital revolution’ for comms industry (PR Daily)
• United Healthcare’s Crisis Response Backfires (MediaPost)
• The PR Week Podcast (PR Week)

2024 in Review: Newhouse School Events Highlighted by 60th Anniversary Celebration

The Newhouse School is celebrating its 60^th anniversary in 2024-25. Students, alumni, faculty and staff kicked off festivities during the first week of school in August by welcoming Donald Newhouse and his family back to campus.

The dedication of the Newhouse Family Plaza highlighted another busy year full of events. For more updates, visit the Newhouse news page.

Photo Gallery: Newhouse School Cheers to 60 Years

The Aug. 28 celebration included a special luncheon, a tour of the complex and a ceremony on the plaza, where Chancellor Kent Syverud and Newhouse Dean Mark J. Lodato unveiled the new name of the outdoor space that connects the three Newhosue buildings.

Photo Gallery: 2024 Newhouse Convocation Ceremony

Weijia Jiang G’06, senior White House correspondent for CBS News, delivered the keynote address.

Renowned Editor Marty Baron Speaks to Next Generation of Journalists

The former editor of The Washington Post and Boston Globe was the featured speaker at Newhouse’s Gitner Storytelling Symposium.

Photo Gallery: Newhouse at Coming Back Together Reunion

The Newhouse School hosted an alumni luncheon and speed networking session on Sept. 13, as part of Syracuse University’s Coming Back Together (CBT) reunion.

Grammy-Winning Artist Laufey Highlights LA Launch Party for University’s New Bandier Music Business Master’s Program

A scholarship announced in Laufey’s name will support students of the new music business program.

2024 in Review: Newhouse Alumni Stories

The Newhouse School boasts a dynamic alumni network and encourages connectivity between graduates and current students. Here, we look back at some alumni stories over the past year, including graduates making their mark at the Olympics, Academy Awards, or on stage.

For more stories, visit the Newhouse news page.

Calling Team USA Basketball at the Olympics a ‘Special Honor’ for Noah Eagle ’19

In the ever-competitive field of sports broadcasting, what Eagle accomplished in his six-year professional career is quite impressive. 

Artist and Activist Imani Wallace ‘16 Uses Her Poetry to Communicate Injustices and Advocate for Change

While a student at Syracuse University, Wallace—the internationally acclaimed and award-winning spoken word artist known also by her stage name, Lyrical Faith—found her voice and launched on her path as an artist, activist and educator.

Newhouse Alumna Honored with Academy Award Nomination for Producing Film “Nimona”

Karen Ryan ‘06 and her fellow producers earned a nomination for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2024 Academy Awards.

Syracuse University’s Trailblazers

Alumni entrepreneurs, including the Newhouse School graduates Michelle Schenandoah G’19 and Rob Long G’14, were recognized by the University for shaping their industries and communities.

A Newhouse Education Can Lead to Success in a Variety of Fields

Learn more about the career arc of Paul Marchand ’91 from advertising student to a top executive at Charter Communications.

Success Through Syracuse

Amanda Quick ’14 shares how her journey of opportunity and connection led to a dynamic career.