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 Student Awards Spring 2025 Roundup
Learn more about accolades received this spring by students from across Newhouse.
Hearst Journalism Awards
Photography junior Diana Valdivia was named a sixth place finisher in the Photojournalism Picture Story/Series competition of the 2024-2025 Hearst Journalism Awards. Photography minor Kelsey Quinn Leary placed 18th in the contest.
2024-25 Hearst Photojournalism Picture Story/Series Competition Winners Announced
One University Awards
Student-Athlete Award: Charlotte Ebel, Public Relations; German Language, Literature and Culture; Women’s and Gender Studies; Member of Women’s Rowing Team
Seinfeld Scholarship: Claire Ceccoli, Public Relations
University to Honor Those Making a Difference at One University Awards
Associated Collegiate Press
Newhouse students and projects had an impressive showing in the Associated Collegiate Press Clips & Clicks contest for work produced in the Fall 2024 semester. Among the 14 honorees were four First Place winners and a sweep of the entire Broadcast Features category.
Newhouse Students Honored With 4 First Place Wins at ACP Clips & Clicks Contest
Syracuse University Scholars
Charlotte Ebel is one of 12 seniors named as the 2025 Syracuse University Scholars, the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows. Ebel is a public relations major at the Newhouse School, a women and gender studies and German language, literature and culture major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.
2025 Syracuse University Scholars Announced
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
Newhouse students, faculty and projects had a fantastic showing with 17 wins, including five Gold Awards, at the Festival of Visual and Interactive Media contest, sponsored by AEJMC’s VISCOM division for the best in design, interactivity, photos, video and advertising.
Intercollegiate Broadcasting System
Orange Television Network (OTN), NCC News and WAER students secured four of the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s coveted Golden Mic awards including OTN being named as the Best College/University Television Station. Along with these honors announced in New York City, there were also six finalists in the annual contest.
Winners:
Best College/University Television Station – OTN – Orange Television Network
Best Sports Update – “9/25 WAER Afternoon Sports,” Ian Nicholas (WAER)
Best News Report – “Chipped Away,“ Newhouse Spotlight Team, John Perik, Lilli Iannella, Finn Lincoln, Julieanne Gilchrist (NCC News)
Best Sports Play by Play – “No. 1 Pitt/Syracuse Volleyball PxP 10/6/24,” Nico Horning (Syracuse ACC Network Extra)
Finalists
Best Sports Pre-Game/Post-Game Show – “Orange Overtime: UNLV,” Austin Barach (WAER)
Best Sports Program – “Sideline Squeeze,” Lindsay Arons, Victoria Daly (OTN)
Best Comedy Program – “Floor Four: Episode Two: Smoke Out,” Jamie Christensen, Claire McBride (OTN)
Best Variety Program – “Think Tank,” Truman Lapp, Samantha Rodino, Colin Campbell (OTN)
Best Phone App – OTN – Orange Television Network, OTN Staff and the Lightcast Design Team (OTN)
Best Faculty Adviser – Meg Craig, OTN – Orange Television Network (OTN)
Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s Golden Mic Award Winners
Hearst Journalism Awards
Newhouse visual communications student Murphy McFarlane placed fifth in the Hearst Journalism Awards Innovative Multimedia contest for her interactive video project on girls’ ice hockey, “As Tough as Ice,” earning a $1,000 scholarship prize.
Recent magazine, news and digital journalism graduate Annie Labarca placed 14th in the contest for her interactive Erie Canal boat tour produced in MND 505.
Winners
Multimedia Innovation: Fifth Place, Murphy McFarlane ($1,000); 14th Place, Annie Labarca
Broadcast Features: Sixth Place, Moira Vaughan – “Welding with a Purpose” and “Front and Center“
Sports Writing: Eighth Place, Wally McKeon
Multimedia Narrative Storytelling: 13th Place, Jess Van
Photo News and Features: 12th Place, Arthur Maiorella
2024-25 Hearst Multimedia Innovative Journalism Competition Winners Announced
Broadcast Education Association
From 2,285 entries from 300 schools around the globe, Newhouse School students won an incredible 28 awards for their stories and projects at this year’s Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of the Media Arts, one of the top annual college media competitions.
Newhouse Students Set School Record With 28 Wins at BEA Festival of the Media Arts
Graphic Design USA
Eight Newhouse School students have been honored in the annual Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) Design Annual Showcase, winning awards for projects that reflect graphic design’s influence in shaping and serving commerce and culture. The projects were completed in a final capstone course during the students’ senior year.
Eight Newhouse Students, Pixels & Print Team, Honored at GDUSA Design Awards
Surprise! Newhouse NYC Students Join Mike Tirico ’88 on “Today” Show
Newhouse NYC students and Otto the Orange greeted “Today” show guest host and NBC sportscaster Mike Tirico ’88 with a surprise visit Friday as the morning show returned from a commercial break.
Tirico couldn’t stop smiling as a crowd filled with visitors wearing blue and orange cheered while Syracuse University’s effervescent mascot danced around the plaza outside the program’s studio in midtown Manhattan.
At one point, Tirico spoke briefly with Margaret Brown, a public relations major, and Diamonte Giacovelli, an advertising major. The Newhouse juniors are studying for the semester in New York City.
“They are part of the communications school. They come to New York for the semester … and you’re going to take our jobs at some point, right?” Tirico said in a deadpan voice to Brown and Giacovelli. “Yes, they are.”
It was the perfect end to the weeklong hosting stint on “Today” for Tirico, who regularly referred to his alma mater. Tirico sits on the University’s Board of Trustees.
“Don’t tell lies about Otto, because it is … pulp fiction,” Tirico said wryly after introducing the mascot.
University Celebrates Installation of Bruce Strong as The Alexia Endowed Chair at the Newhouse School
Syracuse University celebrated the official installation of award-winning photographer and faculty member Bruce Strong as The Alexia Endowed Chair during a ceremony at the Newhouse School.
With Strong’s family, Newhouse colleagues, industry professionals and students in attendance, the event on Saturday, April 5 in the Newhouse 1 atrium included a medallion presentation for Strong led by Interim Provost Lois Agnew as well as remarks from Chancellor Kent Syverud.
The Alexia began in 1991 as the Alexia Foundation, created with the mission to promote cultural understanding and peace by supporting photographers as agents for change. Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis founded the foundation in partnership with the Newhouse School to honor their daughter, Alexia Tsairis. The 20-year-old photography major was killed in the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, as she was returning home from a semester abroad in London.
The Tsairises sat in the front row during the ceremony, with relatives and family friends also gathered for the celebration, as well as David Sutherland, a professor emeritus and the program’s founding chair.
Since its inception, the program has provided nearly $2 million in funding in support of hundreds of students, professional photographers and filmmakers. In 2021, the program transitioned to the Newhouse School and became The Alexia.
The following year, The Alexia Chair position was endowed in large part through a $2 million gift from Xin Liu, co-founder and president of The Enlight Foundation and an Alexia grant recipient more than 30 years ago. The Enlight Foundation’s gift provides continuous support for grants and fellowships, as well as teaching, research, programmatic and educational opportunities that inspire more impactful storytelling.
The Alexia continues to receive support through generous donations from alumni, friends, professionals and corporate sponsorship.
“Honestly, I do not see this position simply as an honor; I see it as a responsibility,” Strong said. “As The Alexia Endowed Chair, I promise to work tirelessly to build a community that pierces darkness with light—to help others create images that convey understanding, promote meaningful conversation and inspire action.”
“In the end, the true power of documentary photography is not just in what we see. It’s in the voices it amplifies, the beauty it reveals, the perspectives it challenges and the change it ignites,” Strong said.
During the ceremony, Syverud also presented Strong with a gift befitting of the occasion: a signed first edition of “HALFWAY TO FREEDOM: A Report on the New India” by pioneering photojournalist Margaret Bourke-White.
At Newhouse, Strong teaches photography, video, audio and multimedia storytelling to undergraduate, graduate and military students. He has mentored College Photographer of the Year winners and earned a prestigious Meredith Teaching Recognition Award from Syracuse University. He also has been recognized for his teaching by the National Press Photographers Association.
Strong has traveled to nearly 80 countries during a decades-long career. He has worked at newspapers and freelanced for international publications and nonprofits. His images have been published in Time, National Geographic and other magazines.
Strong has also served as a Knight-Wallace Kellogg Public Policy Fellow at the University of Michigan, focusing on the intersection of journalism and the arts in developing community leadership, as well as the Knight Fellow at Ohio University.
Dean Mark J. Lodato also noted Strong’s encouraging demeanor and spirit of collaboration with faculty and staff at Newhouse.
“In my five years as dean at Newhouse, I consider my appointment of Bruce to lead The Alexia program as truly one of my best decisions,” Lodato said. “He truly honors the mission and values of The Alexia program.”
Newhouse Impact: Award-Winning Faculty; Research and Creative Activity Updates
The Newhouse School is proud of the accomplishments of the following faculty members recognized April 11 at the One University Awards Ceremony. The annual event honors member of the University community who make a difference through academics, scholarship, creative work and dedicated service.
- Erika Schneider, assistant professor of public relations, is a 2025 recipient of The Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Teaching Recognition Award for Early Performance.
- Nina Brown, associate professor of communications, is a 2025-28 Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence.
The Meredith Professorship is a prestigious honor that recognizes and rewards outstanding teaching among the faculty. Brown, who has taught at Newhouse for a decade, plans to focus her tenure on creating a comprehensive faculty development program to support the transition and professional growth of new faculty across the University.
Rebecca Ortiz
Rebecca Ortiz, an award-winning associate professor of advertising, has been named the Newhouse Endowed Chair of Public Communications for 2025-28. The position is bestowed to a faculty member whose accomplishments significantly advance the school’s reputation in research and creative activity.
Ortiz’s research explores how media and communication can improve public health and well-being, with a focus on sexual health communication, sexual violence prevention, and youth and young adult audiences.
Newhouse Impact Podcast
A collaboration between WAER and the Newhouse School, the podcast provides another platform to share the research and creative work of students, faculty and staff across a range of topics in media and communications. More recent episodes include:
- “Can media and information literacy help bridge deep political and social divisions?” Newhouse guest: Regina Luttrell and Jason Davis
- “The impact of AI on crisis communications: Trustworthiness vs predicting potential problems” Newhouse guest: Erika Schneider
- “Doula Care Could Help Expectant and New Mothers – if More Knew About it” Newhouse guest: Bryce Whitwam
Recent accolades, highlights and notes
Michael O. Snyder won The Cliff Edom New America Award in the National Press Photographers 2025 Best of Photojournalism competition for his photography project “The Queens of Queen City.”
Alex Richards worked on the investigative series “Ricketts’ Riches” for the Flatwater Free Press. The series won a 2025 A-Mark Prize for Journalism and Investigative Reporting from the Nebraska Press Association.
Roy Gutterman wrote about the AP’s return to the White House for Syracuse.com.
Aileen Gallagher commented on the em dash in artificial intelligence writing.
Shelly Palmer blogged about writing an artificial intelligence agent and new Model Context Protocol technology within AI.
Michael O. Snyder’s upcoming joint show, “Art x Climate,” at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, was highlighted in Smithsonian magazine.
Alex Richards worked on the investigative series “The Tenant Trap” with Injustice Watch. The series won a prestigious IRE Award from Investigative Reporters & Editors.
Celebrating 30 Years of the Shaw Center as a Hub for Academic Community Engagement
Community engagement. Reciprocal learning. Service to others through volunteering.
Those were the principles behind the creation of the Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service in 1994 under the direction of then-Syracuse University Chancellor Kenneth Shaw and his wife, Mary Ann, who also served as the associate of the Chancellor.
The Shaw Center represented Kenneth and Mary Ann’s promise to the University and Central New York community that student learning would hold the highest priority on campus, promoting volunteer service as a fundamental component of the student experience.
For 30 years, the Shaw Center has proudly served as the University’s hub for academic community engagement. By giving back to nonprofits and organizations around Syracuse through service learning and volunteering, the campus community engages in the high impact practice of experiential learning.
When senior Claire Ceccoli ’25 learned that there were children who didn’t have a bed to sleep on at night, she chaired the annual bed-building project that benefits the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Through efforts she spearheaded the last two years, 132 beds have been built and donated to children in need.
“We want to help the community, and we’re also learning from them. It’s a two-way street, doing this work with that reciprocal learning mindset,” says Claire Ceccoli ’25, a Shaw Center leadership intern who is studying public relations in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Derek Wallace ’00 was in the first group of Syracuse University Literacy Corps tutors in the Syracuse City School District during the summer before his sophomore year. He eventually took over as Literacy Corps student manager, planting the managerial and entrepreneurial skills that inspired him to become CEO of Golden Fork Media and founder of the children’s book series and brand, “Kalamata’s Kitchen,” a multimedia property that uses the power of food to help children get excited to experience all that their world has to offer them.
“It’s hard to imagine what I would be doing or where I would be if I wasn’t given those opportunities to do well, do good and create change in the community under the mentorship of [Shaw Center Associate Vice President and Director] Pam Heintz,” says Wallace, who earned dual degrees in policy studies from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and public relations from the Newhouse School.
On April 21, the 30th anniversary of the Shaw Center will be celebrated and ahead of the event, Wallace and Ceccoli discuss how their involvement with the Shaw Center transformed them into leaders in their communities.
Student Spotlight: Danielle Blyn
Newhouse student Danielle Blyn likes to stay busy covering politics.
In the span of a year, Blyn wrote about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley in New Hampshire during the 2024 presidential primary; covered the Democratic National Convention last summer in Chicago; and spent the Fall 2024 semester in the Newhouse DC program, interning in the communications department of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
In between, the junior also became the first Syracuse University student to earn a prestigious White House Correspondents’ Association scholarship and get a taste of life as a White House reporter. The experience allowed Blyn to travel to Washington a year ago to meet with White House correspondents, meet with an advisor to former President Joe Biden in the White House briefing room and even attend the White House Correspondents’ dinner.
“I got to meet with so many people who had unique backgrounds and stories [of how they got] to where they were in their career,” said Blyn, a dual major in magazine, news and digital journalism at Newhouse and political science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
“I also am still using those connections to this day, staying in touch with many of them and making sure I have a sense of what is going on in D.C, even if I am not there.”
Blyn traces her interest in politics back to her childhood growing up in Southern California. She remembers how the 2020 election solidified her decision to write about politics, especially on the local scale.
“I love that I can connect with real people,” she said of local reporting. “I think it’s been really forgotten that the people in politics are also real people, and the things they’re doing affect real people.”
Blyn has also taken advantage of extracurricular opportunities at Syracuse University to hone her writing and expand her skill set. She works as news director for student-run radio station WJPZ (Z89); serves as head writer for “Unpeeled,” a late-night entertainment show on student-run CitrusTV; and volunteers as a journalist for public radio station WAER.
She relies on a simple philosophy to help her take advantage of opportunities.
“I think my biggest thing is don’t say ‘no.’ And I know that’s really cliché, but if someone is offering you something, don’t say no,” Blyn said.
After covering Haley during the New Hampshire primary for The Times and Democrat newspaper of Orangeburg, South Carolina—which is close to Haley’s hometown of Bamberg— Blyn offered to cover the DNC for them.
The paper took up the offer. She said her Newhouse experience and unique love for local politics helped her stand out.
“It was a lot of blind faith in me, and [the editor] saying ‘Well, if [your article] is not good, we just won’t publish it,’ and me being OK with that,” Blyn said. “And just accepting that it might not be perfect, and it’s definitely going to get massive editing.”
But the articles were good. She wrote about eight stories for the paper over the four-day convention, which she attended with other Newhouse students during a reporting trip led by Joel Kaplan, a professor of magazine, news and digital journalism and associate dean of graduate programs at Newhouse.
“I just came [into the DNC] and said, ‘I’m a student, I’m hoping to learn, and I’m not going to be perfect, but I am young, and I do have a different perspective,’” she said. After graduating in May 2026, Blyn hopes to start at small, local publications and later, perhaps cover Congress or the White House.
She has had a taste of life in Washington, after all, through the Newhouse School. When Blyn chose Newhouse in 2022, she knew it was a place that provided opportunities to get real-life journalistic experience as soon as she arrived on campus. A moment at Z89 in her first year reflected what her time at Newhouse would become: saying “yes” to opportunities.
“I think hearing myself on air within the first month of being here… was like, ‘OK, I can actually do this,’ and it’s not like a pipe dream I’m having,” Blyn said. “I felt like I could be a journalist and go and do so many different things.”
Charlotte Price is first-year student in the magazine, news and digital journalism program at the Newhouse School.
Newhouse School Announces Finalists in 2025 Mirror Awards Competition
Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications today announced the finalists in the 2025 Mirror Awards competition, which honors excellence in media industry reporting. Winners will be announced June 9 at an awards ceremony in New York City.
The finalists, selected by a group of journalists and journalism educators, are:
Best Single Article and Story
- Brian Stelter, The Atlantic: “The Real Story of the Crisis at The Washington Post”
- Kyle Paoletta, Columbia Journalism Review: “A New Normal”
- Katie Thornton, Rolling Stone: “Jesus, Take The Dial” (subscription required)
- John Daniszewski, Laura Colarusso, Megan Cattel and Fatma Khaled, Nieman Reports: “Unparalleled and Unprecedented”
Best Profile
- Jack Herrera, Columbia Journalism Review: “La Periodista de Iowa”
- Amaris Castillo, Poynter.org: “In New Orleans, a pioneering nonprofit newsroom ponders a future beyond its founder”
- Aidan McLaughlin, The Spectator World: “Inside the unlikely success of Patrick Bet-David”
Best Commentary
- Jon Allsop, Columbia Journalism Review
- Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker: “Fault Lines” (subscription required)
- Clare Malone, The New Yorker: “Media Writing” (subscription required)
- Jessica Bennett, The New York Times
John M. Higgins Award for Best In-Depth/Enterprise Reporting
- Jason Buch, Texas Observer/palabra/PBS
- Manuel Roig-Franzia and Hope Hodge Seck, The Washington Post (subscription required)
- Ann Cooper, Gabe Bullard and Laura Colarusso, Nieman Reports
About the Mirror Awards
Established by the Newhouse School in 2006, the Mirror Awards are the preeminent competition in the field of media industry reporting. They recognize the reporters, editors and writers who hold a mirror to their own industry for the public’s benefit.
For information about the awards, visit newhouse.syracuse.edu/mirrorawards or email mirrorawards@syr.edu.
Hidden Gems of Syracuse
Let’s take a trip around downtown Syracuse. Between homework and classes, you may find time to embrace the creativity and fun outside of campus life. Downtown Syracuse offers a treasure trove of unique experiences for those seeking creative inspiration and community connection. Let’s explore four distinctive local gems that showcase the city’s artistic spirit and entrepreneurial energy.
Camp Candle Bar: Ignite Your Happy Place
At 191 Walton Street, Camp Candle Bar invites you to create personal scent experiences through the art of candle-making. Open from 3 to 7 p.m., this interactive boutique offers a hands-on creative escape.
The concept is beautifully simple: scent has the power to connect people more deeply. By pre-booking a reservation, you will join fellow guests for a guided candle-pouring session led by the knowledgeable CAMP team. Throughout the process, their fragrance experts help you select from seasonal scents and design a custom blend that speaks to your personal preferences.
Whether you are looking to unwind after classes or seeking a unique outing with friends, Camp Candle Bar provides a sensory experience that soothes the soul while fostering local connections.
Wildflowers Armory: Where Local Creativity Blossoms
Nestled at 217 S Salina Street, Wildflowers Armory is more than just a store—it celebrates regional artistry. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., this multi-vendor marketplace provides a platform for local makers, artists and creators to blossom.
The mission behind Wildflowers extends beyond retail. While you can browse and purchase regionally crafted artwork, Syracuse-inspired apparel and eclectic treasures, the space also serves as a community hub. Available for rent, it hosts workshops, intimate performances and curated gallery exhibitions, creating a dynamic atmosphere that nurtures creativity. As their inspiring motto reminds us: “Like Wildflowers, you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people never thought you would.”
Across the Hall Cafe: A Morning Sanctuary
For early risers needing caffeine and calm before the day begins, Across the Hall Cafe at 258 E Water Street offers a welcoming refuge. Open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., this local cafe provides the perfect setting to enjoy a quality brew, eat good food or simply watch the city come alive.
The Curd Nerd: A Cheesy Adventure
Venture slightly beyond downtown to James Street and discover The Curd Nerd at 2800 James Street. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., this specialty shop celebrates all things cheese with expert knowledge and passion.
Beyond their impressive selection, The Curd Nerd shares inspired recipes on their website, helping customers transform their purchases into culinary masterpieces. For food enthusiasts and curious beginners alike, this shop offers a delicious introduction to artisanal cheese culture.
Downtown Syracuse pulses with creative energy waiting to be discovered. Whether you are crafting a custom candle, browsing local art, enjoying a morning coffee or expanding your cheese horizons, these local businesses invite students to engage with the community beyond campus.
Anne Kosanke is a graduate student in the public diplomacy and global communications program at the Newhouse School.
Forever Orange: Colin Connolly ’24
Syracuse University’s Forever Orange Scholarship provides half of the tuition for students who enroll full-time in a qualifying graduate degree or certificate program at Syracuse University. The scholarship is automatically available to all Class of 2025 graduating Syracuse University seniors who are eligible for admission—no separate scholarship application is needed. Graduating seniors who have already been admitted to a qualifying graduate program are also eligible.
Learn more about recent students like Colin Connolly who have taken advantage of a Forever Orange Scholarship.
Colin Connolly
Undergraduate Program: Communication and Rhetorical Studies, Marketing Minor, Information Management and Technology Minor
Newhouse Master’s Program: Audio Arts
What drew you to Syracuse University for your undergraduate studies?
Originally, Syracuse was not even on my radar as an undergraduate possibility. I attended the University of Pittsburgh my freshman year and began taking intro film courses there. After hearing of the opportunities within the entertainment industry that Syracuse University provided, I decided to transfer over, and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.
What made you want to pursue a master’s degree?
While I was an undergrad, I had a lot of experience with television production with the ACC Network broadcasts, ACC Network studio shows and Citrus TV. I worked with Z89 radio when I was here and began to learn about the music industry. I heard of the audio arts program mixing production experience with the music industry and thought that it was the perfect route for me to go after undergrad.
How did you first hear about the Forever Orange Scholarship and how did it play a role in your decision to attend graduate school?
I have known about the Forever Orange Scholarship since I transferred to Syracuse. The scholarship is single-handedly the most important factor that allowed me to continue my education, and I am extremely grateful for that opportunity. The funding allowed me to continue my education at a higher level and focus on growing my network and developing professional relationships.
What unique features of your Newhouse graduate program made you want to apply?
I chose Newhouse because it is THE school to go to for careers in the entertainment industry. The opportunities at Newhouse are unparalleled, and the professors are some of the most impressive, caring and hardworking people I have met in my life. The audio arts program allowed me to continue down the path of mastering my production skills while maintaining a focus on the music industry and the music business, which is an experience that not many other schools in the country offer.
What moments in graduate school have been the most exciting or defining thus far?
I thoroughly enjoyed our summer sessions (also known as “bootcamp“), where we met with only our cohort and went through six intensive weeks of learning together. By the end of it, we formed great friendships that have lasted all year and are sure to last after this program ends. Through my classes, I have gained valuable insight into the music business from label executives and Newhouse graduates who are in fields that align with my interests. This great network has provided me with the opportunity to finish up my program this summer in New York City, where I will be joining Sony Music Entertainment in their International marketing and digital strategy department.
What advice would you give to students that are in the initial stages of deciding to pursue graduate school?
I have told some of my friends who are graduating this year and are on the fence about continuing their education that if you have gone through the effort to research and start applying to graduate school, it is the path meant for you. The insight and professional skills that I have developed over the last year, coupled with a higher education, are invaluable to me.
For more information on Newhouse School graduate programs, please email nhmasters@syr.edu.
Nina Brown Named 2025-28 Meredith Professor
The associate professor of communications will focus on creating a comprehensive faculty development program during her tenure. The Meredith Professorship is a prestigious honor for Syracuse University faculty.
Nina Brown, an associate professor of communications at the Newhouse School, has been named a 2025-28 Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence, a prestigious honor that recognizes and rewards outstanding teaching among the faculty.
Created in 1995, the Meredith Professorship Program aims to improve the teaching and learning environment on campus and foster campuswide conversations about teaching excellence.
Brown, who has taught at Newhouse for a decade, plans to focus her Meredith Professorship on creating a comprehensive faculty development program to support the transition and professional growth of new faculty across the University. The initiative would provide new faculty with tools, training and mentorship to help them thrive in the classroom, and ultimately enhance student learning outcomes, faculty effectiveness and a sense of belonging.
Brown said she plans to work collaboratively with academic units across campus to tailor to each unit’s needs, instead of taking a “one-size-fits-all” approach. She will be among the honorees to be recognized Friday at the One University Awards Ceremony at Hendricks Chapel.
“This is such a deserving honor for Nina, whose dedication to teaching excellence and helping new faculty succeed is well known at Newhouse,” Dean Mark J. Lodato said.
“I am eager to see the impact she will make across the rest of campus in setting new frameworks for faculty development,” Lodato said. “Nina’s dynamic ideas ultimately will bolster the Newhouse School’s standards of excellence as the nation’s top communications school.”
Also a graduate of the Newhouse School, Brown began her career as a copywriter at an advertising agency, and eventually held roles as director of communications for a startup technology company and associate vice president of brand development at a Fortune 500 company.
Brown then attended Cornell Law School, where she focused her coursework and scholarship on First Amendment and intellectual property law. After several years practicing law, Brown joined the Newhouse faculty to teach courses in communications law. Her academic research focuses on the intersection of media law and technology.