Give to Falk College

Falk College Dean’s Discretionary Fund

The Falk College Dean’s Discretionary Fund provides a critical pool of money, discrete from annual budget plans, available to help fix, adapt, and supplement wherever needs and opportunities arise. Uses of the Falk College Dean’s Fund are often modest, and yet critically important. These monies allow Falk College leaders to make immediate, precisely targeted decisions that often matter immensely.

A gift to the Dean’s Fund can meet wide range of needs. It helps offset the financial challenges shouldered by–and sometimes defeating–otherwise promising students. Often, it closes the gap for a passionate, capable young scholar whom we’re proud to see through to graduation. It can help an up-and-coming faculty member undertake an important research project or develop a new course. The Dean’s Fund is used as a seed fund for high-potential research and community initiatives. It helps student groups and individuals undertaking extracurricular projects and travel. It supports inspiring ideas our faculty and students generate every day, in scholarship, community service, and professional development.

Department Discretionary Funds

In addition, each Falk College academic department has its own discretionary fund, which provides students with immersion trips, experiential learning, and internship opportunities, the cornerstone of Falk College’s theory-to-practice teaching approach.

• Exercise Science Discretionary Fund
• Food Studies Discretionary Fund
• Human Development and Family Science Discretionary Fund
• Marriage and Family Therapy Discretionary Fund
• Nutrition Science and Dietetics Discretionary Fund
• Public Health Discretionary Fund
• School of Social Work Discretionary Fund
• Sport Analytics Discretionary Fund
• Sport Management Discretionary Fund

Falk College General Scholarship Fund

Falk College students are here because they want to make meaningful, lasting change in the world. They’re here for an education that prepares them to create the future they wish to see in their communities. Scholarships help us bring these dedicated students to Falk College, regardless of their financial circumstances. The Falk College General Scholarship Fund helps make a Falk College education possible for more students by increasing the financial aid we can offer families. The scholarships fund helps students access transformative learning experiences such as study abroad and immersion programs. It also supports student research projects and allows them to present their work at leading conferences and competitions. Your gift helps give dedicated students every opportunity to challenge themselves and achieve their full potential.

Falk College Career Services Fund

Internships, field placements, and thesis projects are critical to students’ post-graduation success. That’s why all of our majors have an experiential learning requirement structured into the curriculum. In these experiences, students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations under the guidance of professional supervisors and faculty mentors. Practicing in these settings prepares students for a seamless transition into their profession, where they will provide critical services in diverse communities while promoting social justice and equity.

A gift to Falk College Career Services helps establish Falk students in the professional world and prepares them for long-term career success. Career Services provides individual career coaching and support services in coordination with University-wide student advising services. Career Services facilitates career development opportunities personalized to each student’s unique interests, from internships to research to service. Career Services also creates signature networking experiences on and off campus, including the Falk Alumni Speaker Series and the Falk Career Immersion Trip to Washington, D.C. Falk College Career Services Fund: Provides Falk students and alumni with career counseling, professional networking, and internship opportunities.

Avalon Gupta VerWiebe G’22, Food Studies

Avalon Gupta VerWiebe was the ideal choice to receive the first Evan Weissman Scholarship, a newly created scholarship fund honoring the late Professor Weissman that supports food studies graduate students. Like Weissman, who passed away unexpectedly in April 2020, Gupta VerWiebe displays a passion for food justice and a commitment to using food as a tool for social change.

Gupta VerWiebe applied to the food studies graduate program because it offered courses that examine the social, political and cultural elements of the food system and gave her the tools to advocate for transformational change. “I hope to one day be able to work towards a more just food system that allows everyone the access to culturally appropriate, delicious, safe and healthy food grown and distributed by just means,” Gupta VerWiebe says.

At Syracuse University, Gupta VerWiebe completed a practicum with the university’s Lender Center for Social Justice. As a Lender Center Fellow, she worked with the Syracuse Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA) and engaged in efforts to create an equity statement for the organization. In addition, she collaborated with the Onondaga Nation and with youth to document food stories of elders.

“Avalon stands out in her deep commitment to social and racial justice in the food system,” says Professor Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern, Gupta VerWiebe’s advisor and the director of the graduate food studies program. “She embodies Professor Weissman’s personal and professional commitments to community-engaged research and creating lasting ties that improve food access and sustainability for all.”

Noelle Rowe ’19, Human Development and Family Science

“As a Falk College student majoring in human development and family science (HDFS), formerly child and family studies, Syracuse University has given me opportunities to learn, grow, and explore my career interests in incredibly meaningful ways. I am fortunate to have served on campus and in the community as a tutor to Southeast Asian refugee students, a teacher’s assistant in general and special education elementary classrooms, and as a peer partner at the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education.

Through the McNair Scholars Program, which provides underrepresented students with resources to pursue graduate education, I completed a preliminary research project on the identity development of transracial adoptees—a project I hope to continue in my graduate studies. I was humbled to be acknowledged for my dedication and aspirations to improving the lives of children and families when I was awarded the Ruth Tolley Award by the Women of the University Community at Syracuse University. This award, along with other gifts and grants, made it possible for me to make the most of every opportunity here.

A gift to Falk College provides students like me with new experiences that foster our personal and professional development and grow us as leaders on campus and in the broader community. But did you know your gift does even more? The dedication my fellow students and I have to improving the lives of others is unmatched. Because of the professions Falk students pursue, your support also impacts the families and communities we will serve well into our careers—enabling us to make great strides in society, together. On behalf of the students at Falk, thank you. Your support means so much.”

Anthony de la Fuente ’19, Sport Management

“The summer following my freshman year, I had the privilege to intern in the Sports Partnerships Division of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in New York City. The internship exposed me to so many valuable lessons through direct, hands-on experiences, from building and maintaining relationships within an organization to mastering the fundamental strategic steps that go into forming sports partnerships. This sort of partnership building is exactly what I envision for my future career, so having the chance to hold this internship position early on was invaluable.

Because my family lives in Houston, it was difficult for me to imagine how I would afford the living and travel expenses of an out-of-state summer internship—at least not without filing for another student loan. I received the Sport Management Summer Internship Scholarship, created by the parents of a senior sport management student. Scholarships like this one and other financial support many of my classmates have received because of generous donors take a crucial financial burden away from all of us. For some students, they are only able to take full advantage of field trips, internships, and immersion programs because of donor support.

Since moving into the new Falk Complex my freshman year where I take the majority of my classes, I have witnessed how donor generosity transforms the opportunities we have in class—and ultimately will have in the field as sport management professionals. I currently have a sport analytics course in the SPM Technology Lab, made possible by the generosity of the parents of a junior sport management student. I am certain the real-world setup in this lab is giving me an edge over students at other universities that will benefit me in the job market.

Whether your interest is in supporting field trips, professional conferences, student competitions, national and international internships, or study abroad opportunities specific to the sport industry, I am hopeful you will consider making a gift. Or maybe you have another idea about how you’d like your gift to make a difference for students. Be assured every gift helps support students like myself. Thank you for your support and for making good things happen for sport management students at Falk College.”

Lori Tarbell, ’17, Social Work

“Before I had the privilege of going on the “Roots of American Social Work” immersion trip to New York City, I knew I wanted to accomplish great things with my social work career, but I wasn’t sure just how. There are so many places that need social workers—but where was the place for me? I left for the immersion trip thrilled for the once in a lifetime opportunity, but I never imagined I would discover the answer there in New York City.

As I visited the agencies spearheading contemporary practice and met with inspiring professionals doing transformative work in their communities, it not only fortified my confidence in my professional ambitions, but it gave me the critical understanding I needed to define where exactly I wanted to take my career: to the hospital setting.

I vividly recall visiting one agency in particular, Mount Sinai Health System, where I witnessed such a strong connection between colleagues working together to effectively deliver much needed care to patients. It opened my eyes to the hospital environment and made me realize it was a place I could see myself thriving. The experience was truly formative in my career, giving me insight that could only be attained by seeing the environment first-hand.

The immersion trip gave me hope for the future and the things I would like to accomplish. It is something I will take with me for the rest of my career, and I have our generous donors to thank.”

Mary Mik ’18, Nutrition

“It’s one thing to receive financial aid through FAFSA or NYS TAP, but earning it is different. As a nutrition major with a minor in marketing, I work alongside Chef Mary Kiernan and diligent nutrition students twice each week through the Susan R. Klenk Assistantship. Together, we think critically, create intentionally, and try repeatedly, perfecting our professional competencies in Falk College’s amazing hands-on culinary facilities.

Over the years, Ms. Klenk asked Chef Kiernan, “what do you need?”, and that is how the Susan R. Klenk Café and Teaching Kitchens and the Klenk Learning Assistantship came about. I often ask a similar question to my students, which always leads to curiosity, experimentation, and discovery. These experiences are difficult to attain simply by looking at lecture slides or jotting down notes. I have such gratitude for Susan Klenk as her support gives me a chance to discover new leadership qualities in myself, working side by side with a lively, insightful, unparalleled mentor—Mary Kiernan—while helping other students expand their minds beyond traditional classroom learning.

If you haven’t already made a gift, I’d ask you to think about doing so today. Your support of any amount will impact nutrition students. As we both know from experience, putting what we’ve learned in class to practical use is valuable as a student and beyond. Thank you for your support.”

Kelsey Montondo ’18, Public Health

“Growing up in a single-parent home with my mom and my sister, my grandfather was a special father figure. The day my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease was a dark one. Darker still was the day he passed away. But sometimes it’s our darkest days that make us who we are, because the journey between those two days is what inspired me to pursue a career in clinical health. That’s why I am here, majoring in public health at Syracuse University’s Falk College.

This fall, I was incredibly humbled to be named a Remembrance Scholar. These scholarships, given to 35 Syracuse seniors each year, honor the 35 Syracuse students who lost their lives in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, alongside 235 others.

During Remembrance Week, October 22-28, I had the privilege to take part in a number of activities that encourage our campus community to “Look Back, Act Forward”: our motto. I was profoundly and forever moved to meet the families of the victims, honor the beautiful individuals who we lost that day, and celebrate that something so terrible, intended to divide us, has created such beautiful unity. I am so very grateful for this scholarship and for the generosity of donors whose financial gifts opened the door to this life-changing opportunity.

In Falk College, I am surrounded by people who are like-minded and want to make a difference in the lives of others through careers in public health, food and nutrition, social work, marriage and family therapy, and human development and family science. A gift to Falk College supports the health of our future by training professionals who are ready to meet the critical needs of individuals, families, communities, and the world.

Whether it be technology, facilities, support for research projects, study abroad
or immersion trips, there are limitless ways to help students become the world-changers
of tomorrow. On behalf of the students at Falk, thank you for the meaningful role
you have in our success.”

Jennifer LoPiccolo G’18, Social Work

“When I began the master of social work (MSW) program at Syracuse University, I wanted to explore working with an organization abroad to bridge my experience counseling refugee students with policy action research. While it is not typical for MSW students to spend an entire semester abroad, Professor Nancy Mudrick, along with the School of Social Work and Syracuse University Abroad, helped me fulfill my graduation requirements, including a semester-long field placement. Something wonderfully unexpected happened through this internship, thanks to support from the Falk College Dean’s Fund.

As a graduate trainee with the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group in Strasbourg, France, I immersed myself in studying the challenges Mediterranean countries face with refugees, substance use, drug networks, and coercion. I was invited to present my research at the International Conference on Refugees and Drugs in Athens, Greece. With support from the Falk College Dean’s Fund, I travelled to the conference, spoke about current research on this topic, and facilitated a workshop. It was the experience of a lifetime!

Working in an office with colleagues from France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and other European countries strengthened my ability to think cross-culturally. Every day was a new opportunity to discuss human rights issues through various backgrounds. This internship ultimately left me feeling more committed to making a social impact in the country I call home. I have since relocated to the Chicago area where, as an evaluation specialist, I lead culturally responsive program evaluations, facilitate community trainings, and manage projects that help organizations bring community to the center of their work. My global study abroad experience helped me develop a critical skillset for the work I do today. I am forever grateful that generous donors of Falk College helped open doors to me that I never imagined possible.”