Celebrating Academic Excellence 
OurTime Has Come graduates record number of Scholars and Leaders 

CONTENTS 




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Khadi Babou 

THEIR TIME HAS COME Three new OurTime Has Come Scholarships awarded for the first time in 2022-23 illustrate the breadth of student support provided 
by the program. 

THE KEVIN RICHARDSON SCHOLARSHIP 

P
erhaps no one is more excited about the presence of Kevin Richardson Scholars on the Syracuse University campus than Kevin Richardson H’20 himself. “I’ve been blessed with many things in my life, but to have my name attached to students at Syracuse University for generations, that’s legacy,” he says. In 1989, Richardson was one of five teenagers wrongly accused and later convicted in the infamous Central Park jogger case. In 2019, his story was fictionalized in the widely viewed Netflix series When They See Us, leading to an interview with Oprah Winfrey. 
That interview, when Richardson talked about his thwarted desire 
to study music at Syracuse University, captured the hearts and 
minds of Syracuse’s diverse alumni. 
Within months, Tara Favors ’95 made the lead $25,000 gift 
to establish the Our Time Has Come (OTHC) Kevin Richardson 
Scholarship. Richardson, who had been invited to campus for a 
visit by the Office of Multicultural Advancement, was surprised 
with the announcement at a reception in his honor. “I still remember 
the tears in his eyes and in his wife’s eyes,” Favors says. 
A year later, Richardson became the recipient of the first 
undergraduate honorary degree given in Syracuse University 
history. “To be on stage when they called my name and to receive 
all that love is something I’ll never forget,” he says. 

Richardson’s most recent pinnacle moment came last fall, when he came to campus for the Night of Black Excellence Gala and had lunch with the inaugural Kevin Richardson Scholars, Khadi Babou ’23 and Ashley Romero ’24. “It was kind of surreal,” he says. 
For Richardson, it was important to let the young women know he was more than just a name. “I’m totally approachable 



“The Syracuse Black Law Alumni Collective x William H. Johnson Endowed Scholarship advocates for civil and human rights in pursuit of social justice in honor of the first Black Syracuse College of Law graduate, William Herbert Johnson. The University must continue to honor its commitment to advancing social impact through OTHC 


scholarships.” 
globally,” she says. “My goal is to use the journal to give voice to 
the voiceless.” 
Acquan spent last summer interning with Syracuse City Court 
Judge Vanessa Bogan and presently interns with both the Federal 
Public Defenders Office and the City of Syracuse’s Bureau of 
Administrative Adjudication, which ensures that property owners 
comply with building codes. “Its goal is to create a safe and healthy 
environment for Syracuse residents,” she says. “I like being an 
advocate and resource for people.” 
Being part of the OTHC program has provided a new avenue 
for that. “This scholarship is about alumni giving back to support 
underrepresented law students like me, but it’s also allowed me 
to give back and mentor undergraduate students interested in 
pursuing law,” she says. “That gives me joy.” 
After establishing the scholarship, Collins Ocumarez and 
Syracuse BLAC played a major role in correcting a historical 
injustice by successfully petitioning the New York State Bar 
Association for the posthumous admission of Johnson to the bar, 
something he was denied after his law school graduation because 
no local attorneys at the time would write supporting letters on his 
behalf due to racism. He was admitted in 2019. 
“His strong will carried him through the slap in the face he was 
dealt when he wasn’t admitted to practice law, but that didn’t stop 
him from fighting to help other African Americans obtain jobs, to 
seek justice and earn respect from the Syracuse community,” says 
his grandson Tom Johnson ’75. He believes his grandfather would 
be humbled by the scholarship in his name. “That’s the kind of man 
he was, letting his actions speak for themselves,” he says. 
Syracuse BLAC continues its involvement at the College of Law 
sponsoring programs and panels, but began with the endowment, 
“because the financial need was so great,” says Collins Ocumarez. 
“The Syracuse Black Law Alumni Collective x William H. Johnson 
Endowed Scholarship advocates for civil and human rights in 
pursuit of social justice in honor of the first Black Syracuse College 
of Law graduate, William Herbert Johnson. The University must 
continue to honor its commitment to advancing social impact 
through OTHC scholarships,” she says. 

THE COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP 

I
n May 2020, the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police sparked outrage across the United States, prompting reexamination of racial injustices and reflection on systemic racism and unconscious bias. At the same time, a nationwide pandemic spurred the popularity of online lectures, forums and courses. 
—FELICIA COLLINS OCUMAREZ 
It was in this context that the College of Professional Studies launched Voices Matter: Why You Should Talk About Race, a six-week virtual course in the Spring 2021 semester. Formerly known as University College, the College of Professional Studies is Syracuse University’s part-time division, offering degree and certificate programs, as well as noncredit courses. 
Voices Matter was designed to stimulate dialogue and empower participants to take action regarding U.S. and global racial issues. The course was taught by Jeff Mangram ’88, G’89, G’06, associate professor in the School of Education, and Candice Haste Jackson, associate teaching professor in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and now associate dean of student services. 
The course was also initiated with a goal to make a difference. Tuition proceeds from the course were used to establish a scholarship for students with financial need studying through the College of Professional Studies, with preference to students from underrepresented groups. 
“Traditionally, scholarships were only for full-time enrolled students,” says Jeffry Comanici ’88, executive director of post traditional advancement. “By establishing this scholarship through the OTHC program, we now have a dedicated scholarship for students pursuing part-time degrees.” 
Comanici raised additional funds from donors, allowing the fund to grow to the necessary level to pay out a scholarship. Leondra Tyler became the inaugural recipient this semester. 
Tyler, from Cicero, New York, began studying part time at Syracuse University in 2018, typically taking two courses per semester. She earned her associate degree last year. She’s now working toward a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and psychology, with a goal to attend graduate school and conduct psychology-based research. 
Despite her status as a part-time student, Tyler has worked hard to be an active member of the University community. She began working at Hendricks Chapel in 2020, and for the last 18 months, has run the food pantry there. “I really want to be involved on campus and take advantage of everything SU has
 to offer,” she says. 
That includes study abroad opportunities. A student in the part-time Higher Education Opportunity Program, Tyler says her tuition and books are mostly covered. Receiving the College of Professional Studies Scholarship helped cover the additional expenses associated with traveling abroad. This semester, she’s a full-time college student for the first time, studying at Yonsei University in South Korea. “I wanted a very different cultural experience,” says Tyler, whose Korean language study will fulfill her elective requirements. 
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SUJEIRY SANTOS 





Fostering Community
J
.U.M.P. Nation (the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program) is a student mentorship organization that works with Syracuse City high schools to curb the student dropout rate. “Mostly, the Syracuse students are people of color, first generation or from low-income backgrounds,” says Sujeiry Santos ’23. “We go into schools to connect with students through conversations about the difficulties they face and motivate them to pursue post-secondary pathways.” 
A policy studies, and citizenship and community engagement (CCE) double major, Santos drew from those experiences for her CCE capstone project. She built a website for J.U.M.P. to provide resources for high school students beyond the talk sessions, including links to scholarship opportunities, internships, professional development and mental health resources. 
Santos hopes to continue similar work professionally, working for a nonprofit that helps marginalized communities obtain post-secondary goals. Although a senior, Santos is enrolled in an accelerated master of public administration program, allowing her to earn an M.P.A. in one year. “I’m currently finishing my undergraduate degree while also taking graduate classes,” she says. “I earn my B.A. this semester and continue with graduate classes this summer and next year. I earn my M.P.A. in May 2024.” 
A native of the Bronx, Santos came to Syracuse University through the Trio Student Support Services (SSS) program and now serves as an SSS ambassador, helping to mentor first-year students. This year, she was president and treasurer of La Lucha, which raises cultural awareness of the Latino/a community and heritage. 
“In both cases it’s about helping students build a community and feel seen,” she says. 
Santos says she’s benefited from her association with the Our Time Has Come (OTHC) program. She joined as a Leader in her sophomore year and received an OTHC scholarship as a junior. “With Syracuse being a predominantly white institution, it can be hard for students of color to feel heard and have our accomplish­ments celebrated,” she says. “OTHC is a space where Black and Latinx students are connecting through their success with other students, alums and professionals. It’s allowed me to build my community, and professional skills, while also lifting some of my financial burdens.” 
Since coming to Syracuse, Santos has worked as a transportation intern in the University’s student jobs office, where she helps plan and organize bus schedules for students volunteering off campus. “We help transport hundreds of University students across the city,” she says. 
Beyond logistics, she is proud to help facilitate students to get involved off campus. “SU physically and metaphorically lives on a hill,” she says. “A lot of students aren’t aware of the issues occurring outside of campus, especially with Syracuse being one of the poorest cities in the U.S. There are a lot of ways SU students can be involved within the community,” she says. 
During her final undergraduate semester, Santos conducted her policy studies capstone project working at La Casita Cultural Center on Syracuse’s Near West Side as a communications and program intern. “I have volunteered there before and wanted to continue working there to build a connection with La Casita to further build cultural awareness,” she says. 
“When I first came to Syracuse University, there was a cultural shock that often led to me feel like I had to continuously prove myself,” she says. “But because I was very involved on campus, I was able to find diverse spaces and build those communities for myself.” 
Sujeiry Santos 
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ALYSSA GRIFFIN 



Engineering Social Justice 
A
s a high school student in Boston, Alyssa Griffin ’23 did a research project that examined redlining policies as a social justice issue. “It was something I knew about abstractly but seeing it firsthand in Syracuse—how they split an entire community with the I-81 highway—really fueled my passion to make a difference.” 
Griffin, a civil engineering major, plans to pursue a master’s degree in structural engineering so she can influence future decision making and design with an eye toward equitable and sustainable communities. “I want to work at the intersection of infrastructure and social justice,” she says. 
Griffin understands how important her viewpoint is to the field; she is the only Black female in the civil engineering program in her class year. Last summer, she interned at Nitsch Engineering in Boston, a female-founded firm. “I’ve never been more inspired by the presence of women in leadership roles within engineering,” she says. “Witnessing their remarkable accomplishments and contributions was truly empowering.” 
She obviously made a positive impression. Griffin was selected to represent the firm at a day-long workshop with Harvard University Housing on the interaction among design, building materials and human health. “I was able to contribute ideas and participate in brainstorming,” she says. “I was just an intern, but the others were people in charge of an entire expansion project.” 
Griffin hasn’t shied away from experiences that make her the only Black woman in the room. Having attended a predominantly Black high school, she purposely chose Syracuse for its greater diversity. Last year, she joined Syracuse’s Club Ski Race Team. “The ski team was a bit of a culture shock, but I never felt excluded,” she says. “Skiing makes me happy.” 

Griffin grew up skiing, a pastime none of her peers shared. “My parents actually met skiing as part of a Black ski club in Boston,” she says. “During the winter, we would drive up to New Hampshire every Sunday to ski at this little mountain called Pats Peak.” 
But just because she’s willing to put herself out there, doesn’t always make it easy. “Sometimes I do feel isolated,” she says. While her parents have been a great support, she’s also found encouragement through participation in the WellsLink Leadership Program, WISE Women of Color in STEM and as an Our Time Has Come Scholar. 
“It is an amazing feeling to be engaged in meaningful discussion with intelligent and diligent Black students,” she says. “We actually talk about how it feels to walk into a room when you’re one of the 
only Black students. Such 
conversations help me know I’m not alone in my experiences.” 
Griffin is also grateful to her OTHC mentor, Gisele Marcus ’89, a Syracuse University Trustee, with whom she is in regular contact. “Seeing a Black woman who has had success at such a high level is hugely inspirational. She’s also been a great support.” 
Griffin is somewhat of a mentor herself, serving as a peer career coach for the College of Engineering and Computer Science, helping students craft resumes and cover letters and prepare job applications. “I am always open to trying new things and being challenged,” she says. 


Alyssa Griffin 
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ADORE ELLIS 



From Streetwear to Couture 
A
s a high school senior, Adore Ellis ’23 created her first piece of streetwear— a hand-painted denim jacket. “Everybody loved it, and I started customizing clothing for people at my school,” she says. 
Now a senior fashion design major at Syracuse University, Ellis continues making clothing for classmates and beyond. She is the creator of the clothing brand LAVE, which stands for “Love Adore’s Versions of Everyone,” urban streetwear—hoodies, sweatpants, stacked jeans and graphic T-shirts—that she hopes make people feel good about themselves while wearing. 
“What attracts people is that each piece is unique,” says Ellis, who has sold out four pop-up shops on campus. “You’re not going to see anyone else wearing it, which also makes the pieces collectible.” 
LAVE is on hold while Ellis prepares for the Senior Fashion Design Show, the culmination of her four years of study. She’s taking her inspiration from The Wiz, creating six looks inspired by characters from the show, in confluence with locations meaningful to her in Harlem. 
“This is me paying homage to where I’m from,” she says. Her favorite piece is a men’s suit inspired by the flying monkey, which will be representing the Apollo Theater. “If you perform at the Apollo Theater, that means you’ve made it,” says Ellis. “This is started with a cohort of 20 students in her first year. Eight remain. “In the beginning, it was very intimidating. I’ve always felt the pressure to stand out,” she says. 
Outside of fashion, Ellis works part time as a student lead for the Office of Student Engagement at the Schine Student Center, is a member of the Caribbean Students Association and an Our Time Has Come Scholar. “Financially, the scholarship has been a tremendous help to my parents, but the program has also provided so many opportunities,” she says. “I’ve made great friends and done things I never would have, like sit in the front row at a basketball game.” 
When Ellis interned at Levi Strauss in San Francisco, she was given names of area alumni who might serve as resources should she need them. “The program is a great support system,” she says. 
Ellis will return to San Francisco after graduation as an assistant designer at Levi Strauss. “I’m looking forward to what I’m sure will be a great learning experience,” she says. “I hope to end up in Europe as creative director for a famous fashion house.” 



CAMPUSnews 

Honoring Unsung Heroes 

A 
highlight of Syracuse University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration is the presentation of Unsung Hero Awards. The award, created to honor King’s vision of creating positive change in a troubled world, is given 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. This year’s honorees include: 
Candice Ogbu is a senior double majoring in neuroscience and psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Our Time Has 
Come Scholar was honored for her efforts to promote diversity and inclusion on campus as well as her work as a health advocate. 
During her tenure as chair of the Student Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Ogbu created multiple programs and hosted events, including a panel of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Syracuse professionals to visit with Syracuse University and Nottingham High School students about pushing beyond their perceived limitations and seeking bold opportunities. 
Ogbu served internships working as a peer health advocate (PHA) at Planned Parenthood and as a COVID-19 impact analyst with the City of Syracuse. As a PHA, she helped develop a mental health retreat hosted by Planned Parenthood that is now used as a model for other Syracuse organizations hosting mental health retreats. She also developed a free citywide resource list, to fulfill needs she saw in the Syracuse area, and is working to create a campus organization called PP Generation, focusing on student leaders looking to advocate for sexual, reproductive and gender rights. In her work with the city, she helped implement a COVID-19 testing system for essential city workers. 
“I am beyond grateful to have been selected for such a prestigious award,” says Ogbu. “For me, this award is about shining a light on organizations like Planned Parenthood and the Syracuse COVID Office, who have been vital to the Syracuse community.” 
Nichole Henry is director of admissions and recruitment for the College of Professional Studies. In her 20-year career at Syracuse University, Henry has helped hundreds of students gain access to higher education because of her persistence to learn more about supporting post-traditional students and empowering them to continue their quest of lifelong learning. In addition to her work in admissions, Henry has devoted time, energy and her doctoral research to the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). She has balanced work and life responsibilities along with her advocacy efforts of supporting those from marginalized backgrounds both through academic studies and her everyday experiences. She is also a lead instructor of First-Year Seminar and a mentor in the fullCIRCLE program, which promotes academic success, identity development, community leadership and social responsibility among students from underrepresented backgrounds. 
Outside of work, Henry serves as a dialogue facilitator for InterFaith Works and is president of the Delta Alpha Gamma Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., of which she is a charter member. 
Thomas Wilson, is a member of the InclusiveU program dual majoring in broadcast and digital journalism and political science. Wilson’s ability to connect with people and share stories is a remarkable resource for the Syracuse University community. Wilson immerses himself into campus life through internships and his work at Schine Student Center. He often shows his support of and interest in the community by showing up. He cares enough to take the time to learn. 
Wilson is a news anchor at Citrus TV, where “he loves to deliver the news.” Through an internship with Orange Television Network, he is also executive producer and show creator of Thomas on the Town, a show where he goes “into the field” interviewing Syracuse University community members on a wide variety of topics. 
Wilson is highly involved with the Syracuse University Catholic Center. At Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday Masses in the Catholic community, both at Hendricks Chapel and at the Catholic Center’s St. Thomas More Chapel, he puts the books away and makes sure all is set for the next scheduled Mass. After Thursday Mass at the Catholic Center, at its Community Night Dinner, Wilson’s engaging personality and kind, attentive presence are frequently sought out at whatever table he chooses to sit. 
Additional honorees include local high school students Trinity Brumfield and Camille Ogden and community educator and activist Oceanna Fair. 





CAMPUSnews 

Omega Psi Phi Celebrates 100 Years at Syracuse University 
O
n Feb. 18, 1922, Omega Psi Phi became the first historically Black Greek-letter fraternal organization to be chartered at Syracuse University. On the weekend of April 22-24, 2022, brothers representing five decades reconvened in Syracuse to celebrate the Kappa chapter’s 100 years of brotherhood, scholarship and service to Syracuse University and the surrounding community. 
“The opportunity to celebrate your chapter’s centennial is a monumental occasion,” says David L. Jackson ’17, who chaired the weekend’s events with Ronald Harvey ’12. “The fraternity provided me a lot of opportunities and support in terms of academics and great friendships, so helping to organize this celebration was a way to pay homage to the brothers who made it possible for me to be part of the legacy.” 
Jackson says the legacy of the Kappa chapter includes extensive community service. He points to a backpack drive that supports students at Van Duyn Elementary School and canned food drives for multiple community centers. “Our legacy is not just that we’ve turned 100 years old, but that as a campus organization, we’ve worked to make an impact on the Syracuse community over those decades.” 
Despite concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 120 Kappa chapter Ques descended on Syracuse from all over the United States, including Jackson from Miami, Harvey from Dallas, Zaire Franklin ’17 from Indianapolis, Michael Blackshear ’91 from 
Members of the Omega Psi Phi Kappa chapter during their anniversary celebration 
Atlanta and Vincent Cohen Jr. ’92, L’95 from Washington, D.C., the latter two members of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees. 
The centennial weekend kicked off on Friday evening with a welcome reception and after party. 
On Saturday, the focus turned more introspective, beginning with a chapter rededication ceremony that morning, led by Omega Psi Phi Grand Basileus Andrew Ray, “a tremendous honor to have his presence and participation,” says Jackson. 
“During that ceremony, the brothers retook the oath that affirmed them to the principles and ideals of Omega,” says Benjamin Jeffers ’74, graduate advisor to the Kappa chapter. “To see 120-plus brothers return to the place where their Omega experience began was a great and truly unique experience.” 
After the ceremony, the brothers held a leadership workshop for undergraduate men, Black Men Build, at the Hall of Languages. “We have some notable members within our ranks, so this was our attempt to share our experiences and knowledge, to talk about what manhood means today,” says Jackson. 
The day culminated with the Centennial Banquet held at the Syracuse Marriott that evening. For Jackson, who served as chapter basileus while an undergrad, one of the highlights was the viewing of a video created for the event to capture the chapter’s history. “I had an opportunity to speak to brothers who joined a fraternity in the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s,  up to 2000,” he says. “Hearing voices of individuals that paved the way and about 


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 “Our legacy is not just that we’ve turned 100 years old, but that as a campus organization, we’ve worked to make an impact on the Syracuse community over those decades.” 
— DAVID L. JACKSON 
what the chapter was like during their time on campus was something that resonated deeply in my heart because they are the reason those that followed are here.” 
In conjunction with the Centennial weekend, Kappa Chapter alumnus Joseph Edwards ’83 brought his nationally acclaimed one-man show, Fly, to Syracuse, with four performances at the Redhouse Arts Center between April 20 and 23. “This was a way to showcase some of the talents of the individuals within our chapter and our fraternity,” says Harvey. 
According to Edwards, the centennial weekend was an occasion to reflect on the chapter’s 100-year legacy. “We have been a force fighting for social justice and inclusion all these years,” he says. “We didn’t have the phrase ‘safe space,’ but Omega Psi Phi has been creating a safe space for Black and Latino students on our campus for 100 years, while at the same time being scholars and serving our community.” 
The weekend left a lasting imprint on all those who attended. “I’m still riding the wave,” says Jackson, a month after the event. 
For Warren Dixon ’24, the Kappa chapter’s most recent initiate, the weekend was a profound illustration of what makes the fraternity so special. “The greatest moment during this beautiful weekend was when brothers from multiple eras stood on the Quad and shared songs, pictures and marches,” he says. “I am overjoyed I was able to attend this event, and more importantly, to be one of the newest pieces of Kappa Chapter of Omega Psi Phi.” 
Post-celebration, the chapter continues to cement its Syracuse legacy through the Omega Psi Phi endowment within the Our Time Has Come Scholarship Fund. “Our goal is for continued growth and expansion of the principal base amount, so that we can increase the level of financial support to underpresented students attending Syracuse University,” says Blackshear. “The cost for higher education is increasingly rising and becoming, for some, cost prohibitive. We have to find creative and innovative ways to support students’ journey in pursuing a higher education, so that they may have a firm foundation in life and professional success. We hope our endowment, along with other similar endowments, may assist with providing such a foundation.” 





CAMPUSnews 



Rev. Phil Turner, pastor of Syracuse’s Bethany Baptist Church, spoke about civil rights history in the City of Syracuse. 
Jessica McGee (center) connects with a community member at the 2023 MLK Celebration in Club 44 of the JMA Wireless Dome. 
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CAMPUSnews 

OTHC Scholars Honored at Chancellor’s Home 
O
n March 30, Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud and his wife, Dr. Ruth Chen, hosted graduating Our Time Has Come (OTHC) Scholars and Leaders and their families at their home for a recognition ceremony and reception. 
The Chancellor’s House event, a highpoint of the OTHC senior-year experience, was also attended by members of Syracuse University leadership. “This ceremony and reception is a special opportunity to recognize our graduating seniors, commemorate their experience at Syracuse University and recognize their successes,” says Maria J. Lopez ’05, G’12, assistant director of scholarship programs in the Office of Multicultural Advancement. “Receiving this recognition in the presence of the Chancellor and other senior leadership is very meaningful for our Scholars, many of whom are first-generation students or have overcome other obstacles and worked very hard to earn their Syracuse University degrees.” 
At the ceremony, students were presented with OTHC stoles to wear at 

 “To be recognized among my peers, advisors and administration leaves me feeling proud that as a first-generation student, I am continuously on the path of accomplishing my parents’ dreams, and most importantly, my dreams.” 
— NADIA NELSON 
Commencement. This year, 57 OTHC Scholars and Leaders were to graduate from Syracuse University, the largest cohort to date. “These graduates are testimony to the generosity of our alumni,” says Lopez. “Due to their continued support, we have been able to increase the number of scholarships we can provide and the number of students we can support through leadership development and mentoring opportunities.” 
The keynote address was given by Aisha N. Thomas-Petit ’98, a magna cum laude graduate of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, who earned a degree in marketing. Thomas-Petit is chief people and diversity officer of AMC Networks, responsible for overseeing AMC Networks’ people and culture strategy, including global talent acquisition, leadership development, employee engagement, compensation, and the company’s benefits and rewards programs as well as fostering a culture that attracts and retains the industry’s best leaders and storytellers. 

Our Time Has Come Scholars and Leaders gathered at the Chancellor’s House for the annual ceremony honoring graduating seniors and award recipients. 

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Barbier shared his experience as the child of Haitian and Cuban immigrants coming to Syracuse. “During my time at SU, I shadowed CEOs, studied in South Korea, Italy and Spain, lived in Los Angeles, wrote television pilots, even had a movie audition . . . moments I wouldn’t trade for the world, Barbier said. “I dare you to dream of the life you wish to live and seize it.” 
In addition to graduating seniors, the ceremony recognized OTHC Scholars with exceptional academic standing, regardless of class year. Nine scholars were honored for GPAs of 3.9 or above: Olivia Henderson ’23, Nadia Nelson ’23, Brandon Richards ’23, Tashakee Ledgister ’24, Kaura Reyes ’24, Sofia Rodriguez ’24, Myla Thomas ’24, Arianna Kuhn ’25 and Jacquelyn Trotman ’25. 
“The OTHC program has been instrumental in my academic success,” says Nelson, who majored in policy studies and political science with a minor in sport management. “Knowing that there are advisors, students and alumni who believe in my academic and professional dreams enough to provide me support and resources has motivated me to excel academically. To be recognized among my peers, advisors and administration leaves me feeling proud that as a first-generation student, I am continuously on the path of accomplishing my parents’ dreams, and most importantly, my dreams.” 
Thomas-Petit began by sharing remarks she’d made 25 years earlier as a speaker at the School of Management graduation. “To all my brothers and sisters in the audience today, I represent you. For some see us as an exception to the rule, but I can tell you that we, as educated women and men of color, have contributed to becoming the norm.” 
While people of color have more presence within the corporate world today, Thomas-Petit said that her experiences being a “first” or “only” over her 25-year career brought opportunity to inspire, enlighten and empower. “The human-to-human connection made the difference,” she said. 
Thomas-Petit challenged students to have the confidence to know who they are and to share who they are. “Bring your full self into every space and watch its power,” she said. “One of the reasons we don’t make more progress in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts is because we are too busy grooming people to be the same. I tell executives all the time, especially on the topic of allyship, if you don’t know me, I mean really know me, how can you advocate for me? 
“I am here because more than a few people said my name and spoke of my contributions when I wasn’t in the room,” she said. “Someone put in a vote of confidence in who I am. Someone saw me being my whole, ‘supposed to be here’ self.” 
Remarks were also made by OTHC Scholars Ashley Bruce ’23 and David Barbier ’23. 
Bruce credited the OTHC program for contributing to her professional development and self-discovery. “I have been able to identify capabilities within myself that I wasn’t aware of,” she said. “I learned how to advocate for my individuality and honor my own contributions and achievements.” 





CAMPUSnews 

Tracy Barlok Named Interim Chief Advancement Officer 

T
racy Barlok has been named interim chief advancement officer. Barlok joined Syracuse University in September 2022 as special assistant to the Chancellor for advancement and external affairs and was named to her current post in December. Before joining the University, Barlok served as the vice president for advancement at the College of the Holy Cross, a position she held from July 2012 to July 2022. Barlok has more than three 
decades of experience working in the field of higher education. 
During her tenure at Holy Cross, the college raised more than 
$510 million for a range of initiatives, including new and 
renovated building projects, faculty and student support, financial aid and athletics. She led the design and execution of the largest and most successful fundraising campaign in Holy Cross history, which raised more than $420 million for strategic priorities, including four transformational building projects. 
In her last 18 months at Holy Cross, Barlok facilitated the launch and successful completion of the college’s $40 million Hope + Access Campaign for financial aid, which secured 90 new endowed scholarships and raised $56.3 million to support students. 
Barlok began her career in advancement at her alma mater, Colgate University, where she served as director of alumni affairs, director of special gift programs and special assistant to the president. At Skidmore College, she served as director of leadership gifts, director of the college’s successful $200 million campaign and associate vice president. 
Barlok succeeds Matt Ter Molen, who led Syracuse University’s fundraising and alumni engagement efforts for more than seven years. Ter Molen assumed the role of vice president for institute advancement at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in January. 


Suzette Meléndez Named Faculty Fellow 

for Diversity and Inclusion 
S
uzette Meléndez, a longtime teaching professor in the College of Law, has been named Faculty Fellow for the Office of Strategic Initiatives in Academic Affairs and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. 
As faculty fellow, Meléndez will undertake several Universitywide initiatives associated with both offices, as well as various aspects of the University’s Academic Strategic Plan. She will be involved in the research and preparation of policy and recommendation reports on DEIA priorities and topics and will support development and facilitation of programming for faculty of color recruitment and retention initiatives. She will also lead and guide the University’s strategy for collaborations and partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. 
Meléndez has been at the College of Law since 2002. In 2021, she was named its first associate dean for equity and inclusion. She chaired the College of Law’s Inclusion Council and co-chaired the implementation of a two-credit DEIA student requirement for fall 2024. In her capacity as associate dean, she was responsible for developing a program for the Inaugural Consortium Summer Residency for 22 students from the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of four historically Black colleges and universities, that successfully took place in Syracuse in May. She also assessed bias reporting processes and provided professional development opportunities for faculty and staff. 
Meléndez chairs the University Senate’s Race, Ethnicity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and has been faculty advisor to the Latin American Law Student Association and the Family Law Society for most of her time as a faculty member. She is also a coach for the annual appellate advocacy competition of the Hispanic National Bar Association. 
“I’m honored and pleased to receive this appointment, and I am excited to work on new projects and continuing objectives with the Office of Strategic Initiatives and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the University level,” Meléndez says. “This is such an important focal point for the University. I look forward to contributing to the momentum to advance equity and inclusion efforts designed to dismantle biased systems that act as barriers to learning, belonging and engagement on our campus and beyond.” 


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CAMPUSnewss: 

NSF Grant Supports Syracuse Program to Increase Diversity in Astrophysics 
S
yracuse University is helping create a new research and education program intended to diversify the field of gravitational-wave astrophysics, specifically to increase the number of Hispanic and Latino/a students to the field. 
Through a five-year, $937,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Partnerships in Astronomy and Astrophysics Research and Education program, the program builds on an existing collaboration between California State University Fullerton (CSUF), a primarily undergraduate Hispanic-serving institution, and three Ph.D.-granting partners: Syracuse University, Northwestern University and Washington State University. 
This new program will develop a pathway for CSUF students to enter doctoral programs at the three partner universities, including financial and academic support as they transition. The program intends to provide students with a long-term roadmap for their STEM careers and ensure that admitted students complete the Ph.D. degree and facilitate their becoming leaders in gravitational-wave astrophysics by providing sustained mentoring and actively fostering partnership opportunities. 
Principal investigators at Syracuse University are Stefan W. Ballmer, professor of physics, and Georgia Mansell, assistant research professor of physics, both integrally involved with the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, which provided the first direct observation of gravitational waves in 2015. 
“Diversifying astrophysics is critically important to enable scientists and enrich the field,” says Mansell. “It’s easy to say these things, but what’s most important is doing something. I’m grateful to be part of a team that puts in the work when it comes to DEI and happy that the NSF is investing in this initiative.” 



CAMPUSnewss: 

2023 University Scholars Named 
C
helsea Brown ’23, Julianna Mercado ’23, Ruchatneet Printup ’23 and Savannah Stocker ’23 are among 12 students named 2023 Syracuse University Scholars, the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows. 
The Syracuse University Scholars are selected based on coursework and academic achievement, independent research and creative work, evidence of intellectual growth or innovation in their disciplinary field, a personal statement and faculty letters of recommendation. 
“Syracuse University Scholars take advantage of all the educational, experiential and personal growth opportunities Syracuse has to offer and make the most of their time as students,” says Vice Chancellor and Provost Gretchen Ritter. “We are proud to recognize their achievements and grateful for their contributions to the University.” 
Brown, an Our Time Has Come Scholar, is a television, radio and film major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. A Posse Scholar from Miami, she studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, during the Fall 2022 semester. She has served as a marketing intern at the Community Folk Art Center and a student mentor for J.U.M.P. Nation, a student organization that works with at-risk Syracuse high school students. Brown was selected to represent the University Scholars by speaking at Commencement. 
Mercado is a biochemistry and forensic science major in the College of Arts and Sciences. An EMT, she is the founder of UpSkill, a nonprofit organization designed to support educational equity through accessible academic resources. 
Printup is a film major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and a Haudenosaunee Promise Scholar. He studied abroad in Italy during the summer of 2022. Stocker is an inclusive education and special education major in the School of Education and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program. 



JAMAL SALMON 



Data Driven 

J
amal Salmon ’12 plays a major role in the motion picture industry. He’s not a Hollywood star, director or producer, but he’s influential when it comes to understanding audiences and 
promoting blockbusters. 
As the senior vice president of global data analytics at Paramount Pictures, Salmon infuses data and information into studio executives’ decision-making process on movies. Whether questions focus on advertising and marketing, targeting specific audiences or even adjusting trailers to amplify a movie’s appeal, he provides data-driven guidance that shapes a film’s fate. “My role is to help inform everything—from is this the right ad to run on Monday Night Football, to is this the right audience to advertise to for a film, to everyday questions of should we be making more or less of this type of movie?” says Salmon, an alumnus of Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. 
Salmon’s work has helped propel the success of such box office smash hits as A Quiet Place and Top Gun: Maverick. With the proliferation of streaming services and changing viewer habits, Hollywood has had to adjust accordingly—and embracing data analysis is a key part of that shift. According to Salmon, who joined Paramount in 2017, incorporating data as part of the business strategy is relatively new for the film industry. “My favorite thing about my role is that I’m often tasked with trying to come up with solutions for problems that didn’t exist even two years ago,” he says. “I’m always solving new challenges in a space where people are watching movies at home and in the theater, and that pattern changes every single day.” 
Salmon previously held analytics positions at Netflix and Google. But he forged his foundation in analytics in the sports world. After earning a bachelor’s degree in sport management, he joined Bloomberg Sports as a basketball/baseball analyst and then became a senior research analyst at ESPN, where he’d interned in college. He draws comparisons between the evolution of analytics in the sport and film industries. “For me, the biggest parallel is they’re both environments that historically haven’t had strong data representation,” he says. 
Growing up in Queens, New York, Salmon spent a lot of time watching ESPN’s SportsCenter and feasting on box scores and stats. 
“My connection to sports has always been through numbers,” he says. “I could quote batting averages, league leaders and many different stats for baseball and basketball.” And when he realized there were careers in the sport industry for a numbers guy like him, he looked to explore that path in college. 
He says his Syracuse University experience was transformational. He built strong relationships with Falk College faculty advisors, who provided both academic and career guidance, and his career 
Jamal Salmon 
vision began to take shape. Among his fondest campus memories are playing basketball, especially intramural league battles. 
“The friendships I made at Syracuse have supported me not only in my personal life, but also in my career,” he says. “Friends have shared opportunities, and I’ve been able to do the same for them. The opportunity, almost by chance, to meet them on this campus has changed my life.” 
Last October, Salmon was honored during Orange Central Weekend with the 2022 Generation Orange Award, which honors alumni within 10 years of graduation who have made an impact on campus and in their communities through their volunteer work and philanthropy on behalf of Syracuse University. Salmon supports the University as a member of the Office of Multicultural Advancement Advisory Council and through the Our Time Has Come Scholarship program. 
“When I think about the opportunity to give to Syracuse University, it’s through the lens of, ‘What if I didn’t have those four years, what would that mean to me?’” he says. “I know that a lot of opportunities are provided by giving back to the University. Contributing to the Our Time Has Come Scholarship gives that opportunity to so many students, especially students of color.” 
26 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT 



NOELIA DE LA CRUZ 



Ready to Tell Her Own Stories 
M
any people dream about taking a break in life to reassess professional goals and consciously reflect on their next steps. Noelia de la Cruz ’11 is doing just that. After a decade working in publicity at HBO, de la Cruz left her position as vice president of streaming communications in January, planning to take a year to reset. 
“I’ve loved my time at HBO and am really grateful and proud of everything I’ve accomplished, but after a fulfilling 10 years, it seemed like a good opportunity to close one chapter and begin another,” she says. “I’m excited to see how the next year will unfold.” 
Part of her motivation is an acknowledgment that her career path happened more by “happy accident” than intent. 
de la Cruz came to Syracuse University as an undergraduate to become a magazine journalist. “I really loved long-form storytelling,” she says. 
She served as managing editor of Medley magazine and as an editor of The Onondagan yearbook and contributed to The Daily Orange. She spent two summers interning at parenting magazines and, during a study abroad semester in Florence, interned for an English-language newspaper. 
After graduation, she interned at numerous publications to get a foot in the door: Money, Business Insider and New York. She landed a freelance editorial assistant role working at Parents, developing stories for the website and managing the magazine’s social media. “It was a good experience but they didn’t have the 
Noelia de la Cruz
budget to bring me on full time,” she recalls. 
Looking for more stable work with benefits, de la Cruz saw a listing for a communications assistant at HBO for someone with experience in digital and social media. “I wasn’t planning on working in TV, but joining a team that would promote groundbreaking storytelling felt like a great way to start my career,” she says. 
She was right. Over 10 years, de la Cruz took on positions of increasing responsibility with HBO/HBO Max, helping to launch shows such as Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Vice, launching the PR Twitter and Instagram accounts, plus editing a blog and producing an employee podcast. Her most recent role focused on promoting the general innovation and marketing for HBO and HBO Max programming, helping prepare executives for panels, conferences and interviews, and helping communications teams expand their reach beyond traditional print and broadcast platforms. 

de la Cruz also became increasingly involved with VAMOS, the company’s business resource group for Latino/a employees, becoming co-chair in 2022. “I’m passionate about my culture and am dedicated to helping others in my community succeed and level up,” she says. 
One of her priorities for her time off was to spend more time with loved ones. She spent the first two weeks of March with her family in the Dominican Republic, meeting elder members of the family for the first time whom she and her mother discovered through the ancestry website 23andMe. “It was a privilege to meet them and learn more about my family through their stories,” she says. 
Next, de la Cruz plans to nurture her love of writing, beginning with a writer’s retreat in Sicily in May. “I’ve been working adjacent to storytelling for so long, I’m looking forward to exploring that 
passion myself again,” she says. 
An avid reader, she maintains a blog of book recommendations, noeliasophiareads.com. Recent reads include A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, by Syracuse University creative writing professor George Saunders G’88, in which four Russians give a master class in writing, and 
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, a perfect segue into her sabbatical. 
de la Cruz believes she might have a book of her own in her future and is looking forward to exploring other writing avenues beyond journalism. “Working with the creators of these fantastic shows on the network opened my mind up to the possibilities of what I could do with my skills,” she says. “I don’t know yet what the medium will be, but I definitely have stories to tell.” 


RAFAEL BALBI JR. 



Helping Tech Companies Grow 
R
afael Balbi Jr. ’11 came to Syracuse University as a computer science major but after one semester decided the field wasn’t a good fit, switching to a degree in economics. Nonetheless, he’s spent the last 12 years working in technology, helping numerous 
startups grow their business. 
“Economic thinking is all about looking at the world in terms of very large models and variables,” he says. “Being able to view technology trends through the lens of an economist who is seeing how macro and micro factors are influencing one another, and then being able to have a strategic view on the future, is one of my superpowers that I’ve developed over time.” 
He joined Vimeo, a video hosting company, as a product manager in April 2020, shortly after the onset of the pandemic. “The pandemic really accelerated the world towards video-first solutions creating unprecedented demand,” says Balbi, who became director of product management in February 2022. “The world continues to virtualize, and companies are looking to cut costs with more people working from home, so there’s continued potential that’s really exciting.” 
No doubt Balbi is passionate about entrepreneurism and drawn to new and developing technologies. As a recent college graduate, he secured venture capital from 

In his current role at Vimeo, Balbi works with researchers and designers on various engineering teams to develop products that will meet the needs of its end users. “There’s a lot of cross-functionality in terms of defining strategy or broader impact.” 
And he continues to share his knowledge to help others succeed. From 2014-18 he co-taught the online product management course through General Assembly and, for the last year, has taught product management through the executive education program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. 
Balbi came to Syracuse as a first-generation college student. He was a member of Raices dance troupe and Lambda Sigma Upsilon Fraternity Inc., and helped transition what was then a campus governing body for the Latino/a Greek organizations to become part of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), serving as the first NALFO president 
at Syracuse. 




DEANA CONCILIO-LENZ 



Creative Visionary 
D
eana Concilio-Lenz ’92 has a natural eye. From producing music videos and live concerts to curating designer homes, her talent has always centered around the visual. 
For the last eight years, Lenz has been creating new home environments for interior decor clients, combining vintage and handcrafted furnishings to create her signature modern, timeless look with a touch of the eclectic. 
“If you have a talent, it can be used in multiple ways,” she says. “The only thing that holds you back is fear.” 
This new direction expands on Concilio-Lenz’s 20-year career as a successful producer and creative director, which began creating and directing stylized content, music videos and biographical pieces for Sony Music Entertainment, where she served as director of the Creative Services Department for seven years. She then joined Clive Davis as a producer when he started J Records. 
She drew from those experiences to start her own company, DCL Media, in 2001, producing and directing content for music, fashion, digital and nonprofit clients, including Columbia Records, Make-A-Wish International, Marlo Thomas, Novartis, RCA Records, Recording Academy/Grammys, Save The Children, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and the U.S. Ski Team. During this period, she also served twice as head of the production at AOL Studios. 
“My forte is marrying ideas, substance and art together to create content that achieves my client’s vision and then finding platforms to monetize that content,” she says. 
But Concilio-Lenz doesn’t like to be kept in a box. In 2010, she began a master’s program in decorative arts and architecture at Parsons School of Design. After completing her degree in 2012, she launched Deana Lenz Interiors. While her decor clientele differs from her media clients, she says she draws from the same skill sets, using her honed eye and creative thinking to help people live in beauty. 
As a director, Concilio-Lenz always worked with a mood board on set to help guide her in achieving the desired effect. She does the same when designing a room or entire home. 
Like most of her career moves, Concilio-Lenz says the business developed organically. She started the master’s program to feed her own interests and the design firm unfolded from that. “To be honest, my kids were at an age that I was tired of getting on a plane all the time. Production budgets were shrinking. I wanted to try something new,” she says. 
Concilio-Lenz credits her Syracuse University education for allowing her to explore her varied interests. Although she majored in English and textual studies, she took a variety of electives, from film to women’s studies. “I was able to dabble in a lot of different interests that I was developing,” she says. 
Deana Concilio-Lenz 
Concilio-Lenz interned at MTV as a production assistant during the summer after her sophomore year, which she was able to continue through college over holiday breaks. 
After graduating, she worked freelance for MTV, before landing a job at CNN. She wanted to be an on-air reporter but was told she was “too ethnic looking,” so ended up as an assistant producer on Showbiz Today. Frustrated by the lack of creativity, she moved to Sony Music Entertainment as a producer/creative director, where she worked with numerous artists creating original music content. 
Concilio-Lenz launched her Manhattan-based interior design firm with the assistance of a friend in the business who referred smaller projects her way. Over time, she developed her own reputation, designing apartments across New York City, homes in the Hamptons and in Telluride, Colorado. “I’ve had four meetings with a potential client about doing a hotel and restaurant,” she says. “We’ll see if that comes to fruition.” 
Regardless of the genre, she loves being an entrepreneur. “Going from working as a producer to interior design was confusing to some people, but I really am fulfilled being a multi-hyphenate creator,” she says. 
Geoffrey Johnson with his wife, Avon Hart-Johnson 
ALUMNInews 



Gisele Marcus Leads Delta Sigma Theta to Hit $1 Million Endowment 
I
n September, the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. will celebrate 50 years on the Syracuse University campus. If all goes according to plan, the chapter will also celebrate the achievement of raising $1 million toward its Our Time Has Come Scholarship endowment, closing out a 10-year fundraising goal. 
“Education is expensive, and we are proud to help close the gap for students who receive our scholarships,” says Gisele Marcus ’89. “We are also thrilled to have our organization play a leadership role in institutional support at Syracuse University.” 
The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. endowment is significant in many ways. Not only is it the largest group endowment created at Syracuse University, but its benefactors are predominantly Black women, including many first-time philanthropists. “We’ve created a lot of new donors to the University,” says Marcus, a successful business executive who is professor of practice in the MBA program at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. 
“The alumnae of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Kappa Lambda Chapter, have worked incredibly hard to deliver the largest OTHC endowed scholarship established by a donor group,” says Rachel Vassel ’91, G’21, associate vice president of multicultural advancement. “Their legacy of giving is especially meaningful this year when the chapter cerebrates 50 years on
 the campus of Syracuse University. We are so proud of these dedicated and generous women whose commitment will support OTHC Scholars for many generations to come.” 
The money has been raised solely through individual gifts or bequests, rather than events or specialty fundraisers. “In fundraising, there’s a tenet that people give to what they believe in. Those initiated into our organization are passionate about the sorority’s mission and believe giving back with time, talent and treasure is a lifetime commitment, beyond the collegiate experience,” says Marcus. 
Their endowment supports female students from underserved groups attending Syracuse, with priority given to Delta Sigma Theta members. Since the 2014-15 academic year, the scholarship has supported 35 students. This year, eight OTHC students are supported by DST scholarships, two of whom are members of the sorority. 
It all started back in 2013, when Delta Sigma Theta became the first Black Greek organization at Syracuse to create an endowment fund, setting a goal to raise $100,000 by CBT 2014. “It was a smarter investment vehicle than making an annual scholarship gift each year and then starting over from scratch the next year,” Marcus said at the time. “We wanted to leave a legacy.” 
When the group came close to meeting that goal, Marcus started crunching numbers and challenged her sorority sisters to up the ante. “When I first proposed raising $1 million, it seemed like too lofty of a goal. But when I shared a mathematical formula per sorority sister, per year, they could see it was an attainable goal,” she says. 
With almost 400 Deltas who were initiated through the Kappa Lambda chapter, Marcus mapped out how a $250 pledge per member for 10 years could raise the money. At CBT 2014, the current and alumnae members agreed to establish an endowment of $1million by 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of the chapter with the gift. 
The group set an annual target of $100,000, establishing fundraising captains for each intake period. Marcus created detailed reports, tracking giving over 34 separate intake periods for almost 10 years. “It’s has been a significant labor of love to provide the necessary reporting needed at the fundraising captain level,” she says. “To date, more than 1,200 transactions have been processed manually to create reporting metrics to fuel the engine of our grassroots campaign.” 
In April 2021, a strategic planning committee was formed to focus on the race to the finish line. The committee consists of Lori Britton ’92, Candice Carnage ’90, Pat Jenkins Hurlock ’85, Marcus, Fatimah Moody ’90, Shawn Outler ’89 and Shannel Parker ’99. At that time, the group had raised $450,000 with 37% participation. 
With the endowment currently at $912,000, Marcus says the final push is on to meet the goal by August 2023. “We’d love to have 100% participation of our membership in this effort. We currently stand at 52%, participation, exceeding the national alumni giving average at U.S. colleges of 23.2 %,” she says. “We ask that each member gift a minimum of $22 in honor of the 22 Founders of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Inc. 
According to Vassel, the Deltas’ fundraising has made an impact beyond their own scholarship. “They have served as an example and have inspired other organizations to step up and start their 
32 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT 
ALUMNInews 



Michael Blackshear Honors His Father’s Legacy by “Paying it Forward” 
A
s a Syracuse University undergraduate, Michael Blackshear ’91 always wanted to study abroad. But the necessity of having to work part time during the school year and summer made that impossible. “Not having that experience has always 
been a regret,” he says. 
Last year, Blackshear created a $100,000 scholarship endowment at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management to support future generations of underrepresented students and increase diversity in the field of finance and business. He hopes the scholarship funding will open opportunities for students that he couldn’t realize himself. 
The gift was a tribute to his father, the late Honorable Cornelius Blackshear, who died in 2021 and had instilled in him the concept of “paying it forward.” Blackshear also recently created an endowment at Fordham Law School (which his dad attended and where he is an adjunct professor) in his father’s name for $100,000 to support future generations of underrepresented students and increase diversity in the field of law. 
When Blackshear was a child, his father worked as a police officer, attending John Jay College, and later Fordham Law, at night. He became the first African American to be appointed as a U.S. trustee and was a distinguished bankruptcy judge for the Southern District of New York for more than 20 years. Those who knew Judge Blackshear well would say that he lived a life of service, purpose, conviction and passion. 
“If it wasn’t for my father, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” says Blackshear, chief compliance and privacy officer and head of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for Ryan Specialty. “My father gave me so much in my life but didn’t want anything in return. What he expected was for me to give to others, pay it forward, be a servant leader and always lean into the storm. This is my way to honor him, but also my journey to grieve and mourn his passing.” 
Over 30 years, Blackshear has built a career in the field of compliance and risk management, mostly in the insurance industry. He joined his current company, Ryan Specialty, in 2019 and in summer 2022 added responsibilities as head of DEI, a new function within the company. 
“I’m trying to operationalize an inclusive and belonging culture so that in five or six years, there will no longer be a need for this role. I am optimistic and leaning into the storm,” he says. 

“If it wasn’t for my father, I wouldn’t be where I am today. My father gave me so much in my life but didn’t want anything in return. What he expected was for me to give to others, pay it forward, be a servant leader and always lean into the storm. This is my way to honor him, but also my journey to grieve and mourn his passing.” 
—MICHAEL BLACKSHEAR 
One of his biggest areas of focus is education and awareness. “What I’m finding in the DEI space is that some people feel that the status quo is OK—that the world is supposed to be segregated and not integrated,” he says. “We all sometimes gravitate to what we’re comfortable with. Sometimes it takes meeting someone that looks and thinks differently from them to change that thinking.” 
Blackshear’s passion comes from his own experiences. As a Syracuse University undergraduate, Blackshear was one of only two Black finance graduates in 1991. “Not only were there few peers of color, there were also very few professors of color that I could connect with or mentors or sponsors for me to engage with,” he says. “I felt isolated in my chosen field of study.” 
As an alumnus, Blackshear has committed himself to changing the experience for current students. A longtime member of the Management Advisory Council at the Whitman School, he became an inaugural member of the Office of Multicultural 
34 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT 
ALUMNInews 



Shanel Bailey Lands Roleon New Grease-inspired Television Series 
I
n the new television series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Shanel Bailey ’19 plays Hazel, a newcomer to Rydell High School. Bailey says acting the role didn’t feel like much of a stretch when she arrived on the Vancouver, British Columbia, set a month into production. 
“Because my character is a new student to school, she’s not in the first couple episodes,” Bailey says. “By the time I arrived, everyone else knew each other and the routine. I’m not sure I was acting so much as I was genuinely terrified,” she jokes. 
But it didn’t take long for Bailey, a graduate of Syracuse University’s B.F.A. musical theater program and a Broadway veteran, to settle in. Conceived as a prequel to the iconic 1978 movie Grease, the new television series is a musical production. “My favorite days on set were the big ensemble musical dance numbers,” she says. “That felt like home.” 
Bailey came to the series straight from performing in Book of Mormon on Broadway. She was originally cast in the musical in July 2019, only two months after graduating from Syracuse University, performing as an on-stage swing and understudy to the principal character, Nabulungi. Nine months into her run, COVID-19 hit, and Broadway shut down for more than a year. 


Bailey was back home with her mom in Queens, New York, babysitting to make ends meet. When television productions restarted, she began auditioning for TV roles and landed episodes of The Equalizer, The Good Fight and That Damn Michael Che, before being invited back to Book of Mormon when rehearsals resumed in August 2021. 
With COVID a continuing threat to Broadway, Bailey continued auditioning for TV roles, including Rise of the Pink Ladies in November 2021. One morning she awoke from a dream that she’d received a call back for a final audition, only to receive a message from her agent with that exact news. But there was no additional audition. They were calling to let her know she had the part of Hazel. Two months later, she was on a plane to Vancouver, where the series shot over seven months. 
Bailey loved her time with Book of Mormon and had the opportunity to play the lead role nearly 20 times during her tenure. Working in television has stretched her skills in new ways. “It’s an entirely different animal,” she says. “Theater is very communal. The cast and crew are all working together from start to finish over a three-hour period. Television is done in short bursts over long days. You do your part and trust that it’s all going to come together.” 
Rise of the Pink Ladies premiered on Paramount+ April 6. Aside from the song and dance, Bailey says it’s a show about teenagers navigating social issues, relationships and the transition into adulthood. She describes her character as somewhat of an outsider. “She’s not only new to school, but a young Black woman in the 1950s. She’s smart, kind of a science nerd, but she’s trying to stay under the radar and find her place,” she says. “I think the show does a good job of acknowledging that life wasn’t peachy keen for everyone without being preachy.” 
While waiting for the show to air, Bailey was back in New York performing in the Lynn Nottage play Crumbs from the Table of Joy, where she also played a young woman in the 1950s. Her performance earned accolades from The New York Times and other reviewers. 
Bailey has high hopes for Pink Ladies. “We’re hopeful for a second season,” she says. 



Remembering Carlmon Jones, Syracuse University’s First Black Coach 
I
n August 1970, Carlmon Jones G’74 integrated the Syracuse University football coaching staff when he was hired as offensive coordinator, news that made both The New York Times and Jet magazine. Jones was the first Black coach at Syracuse University in any sport and one 

of very few Black coaches in Division I football. 
It was an unlikely appointment for a recent college graduate with no coaching experience, but the circumstances of Jones’ hiring were anything but typical. 
Four months earlier, a group of Black Syracuse football players boycotted the team over grievances with the program, becoming known as the Syracuse 8. After several meetings between the players and Chancellor John Corbally—facilitated by their faculty advisors John L. Johnson and Allen R. Sullivan G’66, G’70— Chancellor Corbally directed Coach Ben Schwartzwalder and Athletic Director James Decker to hire a Black coach. 
By mid-June, Decker reported to the Chancellor that they couldn’t find any qualified Black coaches. But the Chancellor had been prepped for such a response by Johnson and Sullivan. He told Decker, “If you really want to find a Black coach, you must go where they are: the HBCUs.” 
Schwarzwalder reached out to legendary Florida A&M football coach Jake Gaither and asked him to recommend a coach. Gaither suggested Jones, a tackle and captain of the 1969 FAMU Rattlers, who had just graduated. Schwartzwalder hired Jones as assistant freshman coach based solely on that recommendation. 
But the Syracuse 8 were concerned that Jones had no coaching experience. The University paid the cost for player Dana “DJ” Harrell ’71, G’73 and Sullivan to fly to Tallahassee, Florida, where they had been invited to Gaither’s home to meet Jones. 
More than 50 years later, Harrell vividly remembers the “teachable moment.” 
“We told Coach Gaither we thought an experienced coach would be better suited for what was sure to be a challenging, racially charged environment, and he stopped us right there,” Harrell recalls. 
“No experienced coach who is trying to build a career is going to stick his head into that mess up at Syracuse,” Gaither told them. “What you need is a young man who will be willing to stick it out for two or three years in exchange for having a DI program like Syracuse on his resume, and what you get is integration now.” 
The message struck a chord. Jones came to Syracuse, and although Harrell never returned to the team to play for him, he remembers him as a fine man. Jones won the respect of not only the Syracuse 8, but also the white football players. In 2008, the Syracuse University Football Club awarded him its Zunic Award for his courage, character and commitment to Syracuse football. 
After his first year, Jones assisted the varsity team from 1971-73, earning a master’s degree in education in the process. 

He returned to Florida, where he coached varsity football at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg for several years, before moving into school administration in the Pinellas County School System. He had a 35-year career in education, serving as an assistant principal. 
After he died Jan. 12, 2023, he was remembered warmly by former Syracuse players. 
“Carlmon was a man of utmost integrity [who] knowingly came into a very difficult situation, which he handled with dignity, class and maturity well beyond his years,” says Paul Paolisso ’70. 
“Coach Jones added an element of fun to every practice, always ready with a wonderful smile, and it was a pleasure to have had him be a part of my life at Syracuse,” adds Karl Lombel ’72. 
Jones’ son, Carlmon, says his father was extremely appreciative to both Gaither for recommending him and to Schwartzwalder for the opportunity at Syracuse. He credits his dad for getting him involved in football at a young age, helping him secure a football scholarship to North Carolina Central University and inspiring his own career as a school principal. 
Jones was a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., the National Rattler F-Club and the Florida A & M University Sports Hall of Fame. He was a member of Traveler’s Rest Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg. 
He is survived by his wife, Pamela Robinson Jones; son, Carlmon Justin Jones; daughter, Phaedra Jones Best; grandson, Jayden Best; and a host of other relatives and friends. 
38 | SYRACUSE MANUSCRIPT 


IN MEMORIAM 

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES 
Jim Brown ’57, of Los Angeles, California, 
died May 18, 2023. Considered one of the 
greatest athletes of all time, Brown was also 
well known as an activist, actor and 
community leader. 
Brown was born on St. Simons Island, 
Georgia, and grew up in Manhasset, Long Island. A standout high school athlete across multiple sports, he was recruited to Syracuse University to play lacrosse. 
At Syracuse, Brown was a four-sport letterwinner in football, lacrosse, basketball and track and field.  During his senior football season, he was a unanimous All-American and finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. That year, he set the SU record for highest rush average in a season (6.2), most rushing touchdowns in a game (6) and most points scored in a game (43).  He ran for 986 yards—third-most in the country despite Syracuse playing only eight games—and scored 14 touchdowns. His career at Syracuse started the legacy of the number 44. 
A two-time lacrosse All-American, Brown was the nation’s second leading scorer as a senior (43 goals in 10 games). As a sophomore, he was the second-leading scorer for the basketball team and earned a letter on the track team. In 1955, he finished in fifth place in the National Championship decathlon. 
In 1957, the Cleveland Browns selected Brown with the sixth overall pick in the National Football League Draft. During his nine-year NFL career, Brown earned NFL Rookie of the Year honors, was a two-time league MVP and was selected for the Pro Bowl in every season. The Browns retired his number 32 jersey. 
Following his football career, Brown pursued acting and broadcasting, and was social activist. He appeared in several films throughout the late 1960s and 70s and served as an analyst in football and boxing. In 1988, he founded the Amer-I-Can Program, which focuses on working with at-risk and high-risk youth in underserved schools and juvenile detention facilities and has had a significant impact with adult incarceration and reentry programs. 
Brown is survived by his wife, Monique; their children, Aris and Morgan; his daughter, Kim; and his sons, Kevin and James Jr. 
News of Brown’s death came as this magazine was going to press. More coverage of his life and legacy will be included in our next issue. 

Roslyn Pope G’74, of Arlington, Texas, died Jan. 18, 2023. 
Pope is best known for writing “An Appeal for Human Rights” while a senior at Spelman College, a manifesto that was published in three Atlanta newspapers and 
later was reprinted in The New York Times, The Nation and The Harvard Crimson. New York Sen. Jacob K. Javits had it read into the Congressional Record. 
“Every normal being wants to walk the earth with dignity and abhors any and all proscriptions placed upon him because of race or color,” Pope write. “In essence, this is the meaning of the sit-down protests that are sweeping this nation today.” 
Pope was born in Atlanta and excelled both musically and academically from an early age, performing as a pianist with the Atlanta Symphony while in high school. 
At Spelman, Pope was president of her class all four years. After her junior year, she was awarded the Merrill Scholarship, which funded students to go anywhere of their choosing to participate in the study of their choice. Pope went to Paris to study under Nadia Boulanger, the renowned French music teacher and conductor who taught many of the leading musicians and composers of the 20th century. 
In Paris, Pope experienced feeling like an equal human being for the first time and returned with a new-found determination to fight discrimination. She was among the founders of the Atlanta Student Movement that staged lunch counter protests and in 1960, she penned her famous Appeal. 
Pope graduated from Spelman in 1961 with a major in music and minors in English and French. She continued her education at Georgia State University, where she earned a master’s in English. She was later awarded a grant to attend Syracuse University and earned a doctorate in humanities. 
Pope accepted a faculty position at Penn State University, where she taught in the Department of Religious Studies and was head of the music department. In 1976, she relocated to Dallas, where she became chairperson of the humanities department at historically Black Bishop College. She retired from teaching in the early 1980s after accepting a position in advertising with Southwestern Bell, where she excelled in sales and remained for 20 years until retirement. 
Pope is survived by her daughters, Rhonda and Donna Walker; her brother, Webster R. Pope; grandchildren; and other relatives. 

Walter Broadnax G’75, of Jamesville, New York, died Dec. 2, 2022. He was Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and International Affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and a Life Trustee of Syracuse 
University. 
Born in Star City, Arkansas, Broadnax grew up in Hoisington, Kansas. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, a master’s degree from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D. in political science from Syracuse University. 
Throughout his career, Broadnax alternated between executive jobs in public service and teaching and administrative positions in some of America’s finest institutions of higher education, shaping a career that led him to be considered one of America’s most respected scholar-practitioners in the field of public policy and management. He served as deputy assistant secretary for what was then the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare during the Carter administration and as deputy secretary in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the Clinton administration; president of the Center for Governmental Research Inc. in Rochester, New York; president of the New York State Civil Service Commission; and director of Children, Youth and Adult Services for the state of Kansas. 
Before joining the Syracuse University faculty in 2008, Broadnax’s academic posts included serving as professor of public policy and management in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland, where he directed the Bureau of Governmental Research; dean of the School of Public Affairs at American University in Washington, D.C.; and president of Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, a position he held for six years. 
“As a teacher, scholar and lifelong public servant, Walter has always been an inspiration,” says Maxwell School Dean David M. Van Slyke. “Walter’s humility, intellect and commitment to making a positive difference could be seen in the magnanimous ways he interacted with people from all walks and stations in life and treated them with dignity, respect and compassion.” 
Broadnax was elected to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees in 1999. In 2001, he received the George Arents Award, the University’s highest alumni honor, for excellence in public service. After his retirement in 2017, he and his wife, Angel, established an endowment fund to provide scholarship and financial assistance to a graduate student or students at the Maxwell School. 
Broadnax is survived by his wife, Angel; his daughter, Andrea 
A. Broadnax-Green; and several nieces and nephews. 
Those who wish to contribute to Broadnax’s memory may give to the Walter D. and Angel W. Broadnax Endowed Scholarship Fund at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. 

Harlan London G’76, of Syracuse, died Dec. 19, 2022. 
London was a teaching faculty member at Syracuse University for 24 years and a former chair of the Department of Child and Family Studies in the College of Human 
Development (now the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics). He worked with his wife, Arcenia Phillips London G’72, G’75, a Syracuse city school teacher, on instructing teachers how to teach with an emphasis on diversity. When he retired in 2006, London was advisor to the University’s vice chancellor and provost on diversity in the curriculum. 
A native of Ethel, Arkansas, London was an active member of the choir in high school, which led to a music scholarship to attend Philander Smith College (PSC), a historically Black college in Little Rock, Arkansas. There, he sang with the internationally renowned PSC choir. 
Before moving to Syracuse in 1961, London earned a bachelor’s degree in social science at PSC, a bachelor of divinity degree at Gammon Seminary in Atlanta, and a master’s degree in counseling at Boston University. He earned a Ph.D. in social science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. 
London was a skilled researcher and a respected scholar who loved teaching undergraduate students above all other work. His research and publications focused on urbanization, family structure, social class, ethnicity and education. He maintained affiliation and leadership in national organizations of family studies over a span of his career. He was also a leader in the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity’s mentoring program for high school male students as they transition to college. 
“He was a gentle giant who taught some of the early courses on diverse family systems,” says Jaipaul Roopnarine, Pearl S. Falk Professor of Human Development and Family Science who worked with London as a young faculty member. “Above all, he was a very kind and caring person who always displayed humility and compassion.” 
London and his family belonged to Rockefeller United Methodist Church for more than 50 years. He returned to singing Negro spirituals after retirement and was a frequent soloist at many churches across the Syracuse community. 
London was predeceased by his wife, Arcenia; brothers Ernest, Marian, Robert Jr. and Marvin; sister, Rosemary; and son, Doran. He is survived by his children, Judy London Palmer and David Harlan London; his grandchildren, David Palmer and Jaren Palmer; his siblings, Dorothy London Ross and Mel London; and other family. Derek M. Terrell ’94, of New York City, died Dec. 1, 2022. 

Terrell graduated from Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities in New York City and attended SUNY Morrisville before Syracuse University. 
A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., he was known for his infectious personality, laughter and enthusiasm for life. He worked as a paralegal aide for the New York City Police Department and was presented with an NYPD flag at his memorial service. 
Terrell is survived by his wife, Nina; and daughters Laila and Olivia. 

Dorcas MacDonald, of Syracuse, died May 7, 2022. 
MacDonald was born in Newport News, Virginia. She attended Hampton University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music teacher education and met her husband, David MacDonald, whom she married in 1967. 
They attended graduate school at the University of Michigan where Dorcas earned a master’s degree in library information science while David earned an M.F.A. in ceramics. They both joined Syracuse University in 1971, Dorcas as a librarian and David on the art faculty. 
Dorcas retired from Syracuse University in 2012 and was named librarian emerita. A longtime quilter, she began taking on a small number of consignments each year. She was also active in her church and volunteered with several community programs. 
She is survived by her husband, David; her children, Joseph, Jennifer and Jeffrey; grandchildren Kharee, Joseph and Diego; siblings Timothy, Robin, Hazel and David; and many nieces and nephews. 




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