Marriage & Family Therapy  News

Two decades after the launch of its sport management program, Syracuse University today announced that as a result of its significant growth and academic excellence, the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics will become the David B. Falk College of Sport. The first-of-its-kind college will focus exclusively on sport-related disciplines, making the University among the leading academic institutions for preparing students to drive innovation among and lead in sport-related fields and industries.

“Falk College has experienced extraordinary growth, particularly in its renowned sport management program, over the last 20 years, thanks in large part to its innovative faculty and the relentless energy and leadership of former Dean Diane Lyden Murphy,” says Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter. “With the growth of sport participation domestically and globally, there is unprecedented demand for talented practitioners and leaders. The Falk College of Sport will produce hundreds of students every year who are educated across multiple disciplines and well-prepared to lead in the burgeoning sports field.”

Reimagining Falk College

Since launching its sport management program in 2005 and later adding programs in sport analytics and esports communications and management, Falk College has achieved prominent status as a national leader in sport education. This transformation will make Falk College the first standalone college on an R1 campus that specifically focuses on sport through a holistic academic lens.

Dean Jeremy Jordan, who was appointed last July, says this transformation will expand and enrich sport scholarship at Syracuse.

“Syracuse University has long been a leader in the development of sport-related programs,” says Jordan. “From creating the first-ever sports analytics program to the recent launch of an esports major, the University and Falk College have demonstrated the value of and important role sport plays in the day-to-day lives of people, and not just elite athletes. This reimagination of Falk College is a bold step in solidifying Syracuse University as the preeminent institution for sport-related academic study in the country.”

The reimagined Falk College of Sport will house academic programs in sport management, sport analytics, exercise science, nutrition and, jointly with the Newhouse School, esports. It will focus on four areas of academic excellence: Sport Business, Human Performance, Sport Technology and Innovation, and Community Sport and Wellness. The college will also launch a new research institute focused on sport, which will leverage an interdisciplinary, cross-campus approach to drive innovation in sport and health outcomes and integrate expertise in business, digital media, and technology, among other areas of academic focus. It may include creating new or expanding partnerships among the University’s schools, colleges and academic units, such as the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, the Whitman School of Management, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Law and others.

Today’s announcement follows a months-long exercise during which a Sport Management Task Force, consisting of faculty, staff and academic leaders, was charged with identifying ways to enhance and extend Falk’s excellence in sport-related programs. The task force, co-chaired by Jeff Rubin, senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer, and Jamie Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs, submitted a report to Provost Ritter earlier this academic year. Recommendations outlined tangible action the University can take to connect, align and integrate teaching and research related to sport across the academic enterprise.

“The task force concluded that there is a timely opportunity for Falk to build on its strengths and capitalize on relevant marketplace trends,” says Rubin. “As someone who has worked in this space for nearly three decades, there is no better time for Syracuse University to take this bold step than now. Organizations across the country and around the globe are looking for career-ready talent. Falk College is poised to meet that need.”

The work happening in Falk College aligns with the University’s commitment to applying an entrepreneurial and innovative philosophy to elevating sport across the campus. In addition to enhancing sport-related academic opportunities, the University has also taken steps in recent years to widen the availability of esports–academically and recreationally—and has grown current and created new club sport programs.

Shaping the Future of Human Dynamics

As part of the Falk transformation, Syracuse University will invest in a strategic reimagination of human dynamics academic programs with the goal of positioning them for future success and impact. To support this work, Provost Ritter will convene a Human Dynamics Task Force, consisting of academic leaders, department chairs and program directors, faculty, alumni and community partners. The task force will be charged with reviewing the college’s human dynamics programs and identifying future pathways for their growth and success. These academic programs include human development and family science, marriage and family therapy, public health and social work. Students enrolled in these programs and beginning at Syracuse University in Fall 2024 will not be impacted by the University’s reimagination of its human dynamics portfolio.

Provost Ritter says given the increasingly complex public health landscape and the growing global need for health and human services and credentialed professionals, the time is right to reimagine these longstanding academic programs to meet emerging demands in their fields.

“The Human Dynamics Task Force will determine prospects for expansion, innovation and alignment with the University’s overall Academic Strategic Plan, ‘Leading with Distinction,’” says Ritter. “These programs have a deep history at Syracuse University and have had a profound impact on the City of Syracuse, Central New York and communities around the globe. The faculty who teach and research in these disciplines will have the opportunity to review, reimagine and shape the future of the programs with the full support of the University.”

Provost Ritter has asked Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Lois Agnew and newly-appointed Associate Dean for Human Dynamics Programs Rachel Razza, associate professor and previously chair and graduate director in the Department of Human Development and Family Science, to lead and guide the reimagination of the human dynamics programs. The task force will be supported by an external consultant to help it execute on its charge. Additionally, given the significant synergy between the programs and the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County, Syracuse Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens and Deputy County Executive for Human Services Ann Rooney have also agreed to serve on the task force.

“I am grateful to Lois, Rachel, Deputy Mayor Owens and Deputy County Executive Rooney for their willingness to collaborate on this important work, and I look forward to partnering with the other members of the task force,” says Provost Ritter. “These areas of academic excellence are not only central to our University’s mission but also critical to the communities, particularly those who are currently underserved, that our students will eventually serve as the next generation of social workers, therapists, public health professionals and human services providers.”

The Human Dynamics Task Force will receive its charge from Provost Ritter by the end of the spring semester. It will begin its work in earnest over the summer and submit its findings to the provost by the end of October.

An SU News story originally published on April 15, 2024.

Falk College’s Sudha Raj, Ken Marfilius and Katie McDonald will be honored at the April 19 One University Awards in Hendricks Chapel.

The One University Awards Ceremony, an annual event to honor members of the Syracuse University community who are making a difference through academics, scholarship, creative work and dedicated service, will be held Friday, April 19, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

“Every year, we come together to celebrate the outstanding contributions and tremendous success of our students, faculty, staff and broader community,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “The accomplishments of this year’s recipients reinforce what it means to be Orange. This ceremony also shines a bright spotlight on the work being done around campus, much of which happens behind the scenes. I thank the many members of our community who organized this event and look forward to recognizing this year’s winners.”

Two major awards—the Chancellor’s Medal and the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence—will be bestowed. The ceremony will also include the presentation of the Student-Athlete Award, Judith Seinfeld Scholarship, Meredith Professorship for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Recognition Award, Diversity and Inclusion Award, William Pearson Tolley Medal for Distinguished Leadership in Lifelong Learning and Chancellor’s Forever Orange Award.

Emeriti faculty who retired in 2023 and employees who celebrated years of service milestones in 2023 will also be recognized. This year’s University Scholars, Senior Class and School and College Marshals, and Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars will also be honored.

All members of the University community are invited and encouraged to attend. A reception will follow in the lobby of the Heroy Geology Laboratory.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided at the ceremony. For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations, contact Gabe Coleman at gbcolma@syr.edu.

Award Recipients

The Chancellor’s Medal is the University’s highest honor and is awarded to individuals in honor of their trailblazing and extraordinary contributions to the University, to an academic body of knowledge or to society. This year’s recipient is Shiu-Kai Chin, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The Chancellor’s Citation for Excellencerecognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions in four overarching categories:

• The award for Excellence in Student Research recognizes students who have engaged in collaborative research that has the potential to make a deep and lasting impact on greater society. This year’s recipients are Jingjing Ji, a doctoral candidate in chemical engineering in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (graduate), and Ashtha Singh, an international relations major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School (undergraduate).
• The award for Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives acknowledges faculty and staff who, through their work, enhance the undergraduate experience for students or make invaluable contributions to supporting and advancing the University’s mission and goals. The recipients are Charisse L’Pree Corsbie-Massay, associate professor of communications in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications (faculty); Maureen Casey, chief operating officer for the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (professional staff); Amy Schmidt, program coordinator of citizenship and civic engagement in the Maxwell School (professional staff) and Jolanta Niwelt, events coordinator at Lubin House (support staff).
• The Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction award is intended for faculty members who are collaborators in work of intellectual richness that has the potential for future impact. The work of these nominees offers possibilities for collaboration within the University and outside in partnership with others. This year’s honorees are Wayne Franits, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Art and Music Histories in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Katherine McDonald, associate dean of research and professor of Public Health in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.
• Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence, Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors those who have made extraordinary contributions toward advancing all four pillars of excellence over the arc of their careers while at Syracuse University and beyond. This year’s recipient is Shobha Bhatia, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The other awards to be presented are:

• The Student-Athlete Award recognizes the top female and top male student athletes and are presented to the senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average over the course of their academic and athletic careers. This year’s recipients are Izabela Krakic, an international relations major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences and member of the women’s rowing team, and Julius Rauch, an entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises major in the Whitman School of Management and a member of the men’s soccer team.
• Seinfeld Scholarship: Each year Syracuse University honors the talents of outstanding faculty or students through an award made possible by Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56, a distinguished alumna and member of the University Board of Trustees. Awards are made to those who have been determined by their peers to have made outstanding contributions to the beauty of the world, to have added to human values and to ending human abuse anywhere in the world, and to have demonstrated passion for excellence, creativity and originality in academic or artistic fields. This year, the designation is bestowed upon a faculty member, Rebecca Ortiz, associate professor of advertising in the Newhouse School.
• The Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professorships for Teaching Excellence were created in 1995 to recognize and reward outstanding teaching among faculty. The 2024-27 Meredith Professors are Joon Park, professor in the School of Information Studies, and Cora True-Frost, Bond, Schoeneck and King Distinguished Professor in the College of Law.
• In 2001, the Meredith Professorship Program was expanded to recognize teaching excellence by non-tenured faculty and adjunct and part-time instructors. Awards are given in two categories: Early Performance and Continuing Excellence. This year’s honorees in the Early Performance category are Kelly Leahy, assistant professor of television, radio and film in the Newhouse School; Farzana Rahman, associate teaching professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science; Milton Santiago, assistant professor of visual communications in the Newhouse School; Darwin Tsen, assistant teaching professor of Chinese and Chinese language in the College of Arts and Sciences; and Nina Wilson, assistant professor in the School of Architecture. The two honorees in the Continuing Excellence category are Kenneth Marfilius, assistant dean of online and distance education and associate teaching professor of social work in the Falk College, and Sudha Raj, teaching professor and graduate director of nutrition and food studies in the Falk College.
• The Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes an individual who is integral in helping us achieve academic excellence at a university that is welcoming to all through our investments in a diverse, inclusive, accessible and equitable community. This year’s recipient is Suzette Meléndez, teaching professor in the College of Law and faculty fellow for the Office of Strategic Initiatives and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
• The William Pearson Tolley Medal for Distinguished Leadership in Lifelong Learning is based in the School of Education and honors national or international leadership in support of lifelong learning. This year’s recipient is Rhodia Thomas ’77, executive director of MidPenn Legal Services, adjunct professor of law at Dickinson University and an alumna of the School of Education.
• The Chancellor’s Forever Orange Award recognizes individual students, faculty or staff who—by virtue of extraordinary hard work, good values and commitment to excellence—have come to embody the best of Syracuse University. This year’s recipients are Colleen O’Connor Bench, associate vice president of parent engagement and student experience, and Ian McIntyre, head coach of the men’s soccer team.

Tatiana Warren (left) and Andrea Massop Ramos are the two newest members of the Falk College Advisory Board.

Falk College is pleased to welcome two new board members to the Falk College Advisory Board: Andrea Massop Ramos, MCN, and Tatiana Warren, Ph.D.

The Falk College Advisory Board champions the mission of the college and University to students, alumni, colleagues, and prospective supporters. Board members provide industry perspective and guidance, so Falk students are prepared to enter changing professional fields. They exemplify the values of social responsibility in their citizenship and embody the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“Falk College is in an exciting season of growth,” says Falk College Dean Jeremy Jordan. “Our primary focus is on elevating the student experience—supporting career readiness through the expansion of purposeful experiential learning opportunities for students. Our Advisory Board plays a crucial role in this effort by bringing insights from a variety of professional disciplines and helping forge corporate and community partnerships. I am confident that Andrea Massop Ramos and Dr. Tati Warren will add valuable contributions in these and other influential ways.”

Andrea Massop Ramos, MCN, is an award-winning clinical nutritionist. After a 20-year career with the airlines, she became the operations manager for Metro North Railroad, where she founded Healthy4U, a Corporate Health and Well Being Group. As an adjunct professor of Clinical Nutrition at New York Institute of Technology, Ramos teaches a required nutrition course for all health professionals. She founded Healthy FRIENDZ Nutrition, LLC, which uses a hands-on culinary platform to teach nutrition education to children and families in a fun, interactive setting. She is also a nutrition consultant for CBS Survivor Productions. Ramos earned her master of science degree in clinical nutrition from New York Institute of Technology.

“Andrea is a clinical nutritionist, private health chef, and entrepreneur,” says Falk College Assistant Dean of Advancement Megan Myers. “We are confident that she will help Falk College expand our connections to the wider community, providing our students with hands-on learning experiences, internships, and job opportunities.”

Tatiana Warren, Ph.D., is a distinguished health equity strategist who established Just TATI, a multimedia initiative to inform and disseminate accurate and evidence-based health topics to diverse audiences. She consults health professionals, community-based organization leaders, educators, and community members in the implementation and evaluation of their health programs. As founder of Just TATI, she works on social justice projects with highly capable and driven organizations that don’t have access to the funding or resources they need to deliver impactful and sustainable community outcomes. She does this by providing access to secure funding and focusing on empowering and elevating local communities.

Warren currently serves as lead Social Scientist Evaluator with Veritas Management Group on projects with The Food and Drug Administration Office of Minority Health and Health Equity and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. She also co-leads the Community Engagement and Dissemination Core Advisory Board for the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solution.

“As a health equity expert, consultant, and social scientist, Dr. Warren brings a wealth of knowledge and skills related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,” says Myers. “As a former Syracuse University track and field student-athlete, she brings a unique perspective to diversity issues among athletes.”

Falk College academic degree programs focus on holistic health and wellbeing, human performance, and sport business enterprise. The college’s signature emphasis on experiential learning supports student success through intentional internship requirements, faculty-mentored research projects, immersion travel, and global study abroad. At every stage of their education, Falk College students engage in meaningful work to advance their disciplines and careers.

Meet all members of the Falk College Advisory Board on the Falk College website.

Falk College students with Chinny Nwagbo ’05 (in center of back row) while touring the NFL Players’ Association, where Nwagbo is Director of Player Programs and Engagement. Students learned about athlete representation, sports marketing, and player wellness programs, including nutrition, professional development, mental health, and legal services.

The Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University is a unique college with a diversity of programs from Exercise Science to Social Work to Sport Analytics.

The common denominator is Falk’s focus on experiential learning, and this past fall 27 students representing on-campus and online programs from all departments participated in one of the college’s most immersive experiences: the “Falk in D.C. Career Exploration Trip” hosted by the Office of Career Services.

It was the third Falk in D.C. trip, but the first that included separate tracks for health/human services and sport-related careers, with all attending Falk students joining together for select site visits and panels that represented both health and sport professionals. The students engaged with alumni and employer representatives from 28 Washington, D.C., and Baltimore area organizations through site visits and panels, and even more at the alumni networking reception.

“The combined nature of the trip allowed many students to expand their professional interests and discover the overlap between health and sport professions,” says David Sly, associate director of career services. “Over the course of the trip, all attending students demonstrated new or improved ability and confidence in career skills including networking, industry knowledge, communication, and awareness of professional values.”

Health students met with representatives from the FDA, USDA, CDC, Bread for the City, Urban Institute, and MedStar, among many others. Sport students met with representatives from several organizations, including Under Armour, Big League Advantage, Washington Commanders, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, DC United, and Leveling the Playing Field.

All students participated in visits with the NFL Players’ Association, Washington Nationals, Building Bridges Across the River, Living Classrooms Foundation, and PeacePlayers, International.

“The Falk in D.C. Career Immersion Trip gave me the opportunity to learn about the vast array of options that will be there for me post-graduation in the public health field,” says public health major Brinda Parikh ’26. “Being able to hear firsthand from industry professionals about their experiences throughout their careers was very eye-opening, and this trip helped me grow my network of Syracuse University alums that could help me in my own career in the future.”

Syracuse University alumni participated in the Falk in D.C. Government Service Panel hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. From left to right, Andrew Kelleher ‘09 (clinical reviewer at the FDA’s Office of New Drugs); Cheri Hoffman ’95 (Deputy Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families); Madeleine Williams ’21 (USDA FNS program analyst); Kemba Ford ’02 (Director, Division of Communication, FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health); Melissa Zajdel ’15 (American Association for the Advancement of Science Science and Technology Policy Fellow, NIH); and Kesia Purcell ’11 (U.S. Public Health Service Officer).

When the students returned from D.C., Career Services asked for their reflections of the trip, how it fit into their decision to attend Syracuse University, and their career goals. Here, we’re sharing responses from five students from across the college: master of social work student Nicole Corrente, public health major Tommy DaSilva ’26, health and exercise science major Alexia Harris ’26, sport management major Brianna Nechifor ’26, and sport analytics major Liam Roberts ’27.

Why did you choose Syracuse University and Falk College?

Alexia Harris: I chose health and exercise science because I have always loved studying the way the body works and moves. I chose Syracuse University because its program is amazing and has already set me up for success in my first semester here.

Tommy DaSilva: I chose both of my majors (public health and policy studies) because I wanted to be able to improve the lives of others through government action or nonprofit community work.

Brianna Nechifor: I chose to become a sport management major because I was encouraged to enter the industry by my tennis coaches and friends who saw my burning passion for sports. I chose Syracuse University because of the community and opportunities that are available to me, including the Sales and Marketing Club, Sport Management Club, and WISE (Women in Sports and Events).

Nicole Corrente: I’m a graduate student of social work who’s originally from Syracuse, so choosing Syracuse University was a natural fit.

Liam Roberts: Outside of school my biggest passion has always been sports and in school I always enjoyed math and working with numbers. As a result, the sports analytics major was perfectly catered to what I am interested in and what I want to do in life. The opportunities this major provides, including ones like this D.C. trip, were not available anywhere else and it’s ultimately why I chose to attend Syracuse.

What are your top three highlights so far from your Syracuse University experience and what are your career goals?

Brianna Nechifor: My top three highlights have to be the introduction of the new esports major, a field that I am very passionate about; the Falk in D.C. Exploration Trip; and the Sport Management Charity Sport Auction (shoutout to the Sales Committee!). My ultimate career goal is to work in esports, possibly in event management.

Nicole Corrente: My top three highlights have been my graduate coursework and research; the Falk in D.C. trip; and all the amazing connections I’ve made along the way. In the future, I plan to have a career in anti-trafficking efforts as a therapist for survivors of trafficking.

Alexia Harris: My top three highlights so far are setting up my internship with strength and conditioning in the athletics complex for next semester; being able to go on the Falk in D.C. trip; and all the different campus opportunities available. My ultimate career goal is either to go into athletic training or sports nutrition.

Liam Roberts: My Syracuse experience has only just begun, so my highlights are likely still to come. But so far, my No. 1 highlight would definitely be this trip, while other great experiences are connecting with Professor (Shane) Sanders and participating in the basketball and baseball analytics clubs.

Tommy DaSilva: Highlights of Syracuse so far have been my service-learning work with International Services and the YWCA; the work done by my organization SAPHE (Student Association of Public Health Education); and the professional connections I have been able to make. I don’t have a specific ultimate career goal as I’m open to any opportunities that come my way, as long as they can be used to help someone in some way.

More than 100 students and Syracuse University alumni gathered at the the Mission Navy Yard restaurant for food, photos, and networking fun.

What is your most memorable takeaway from the Falk in D.C. trip?

Liam Roberts: I engaged with and explored exciting opportunities within the sports industry that I would have otherwise never been able to experience, and in a manner that was fun and interesting. This experience was one that I could not see myself getting anywhere else and I’m glad I had the opportunity to join.

Alexia Harris: This trip provided me with exposure to a lot of different employment opportunities and fields that I had never thought about before, as well as connecting me to a wide variety of people.

Tommy DaSilva: This trip gave me insight into potential careers that I would have never thought possible without these face-to-face conversations.

Brianna Nechifor: I was able to interact with a variety of perspectives in the sports industry, even those you may not think you have a connection with them. Everything is in one way connected, and this trip can help shift your opinions on different sectors of the industry. It’s honestly something you shouldn’t be afraid to apply for!

Nicole Corrente: This was an amazing experience! This trip provided me with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet representatives from the CDC, HHS, ACFS, and several nonprofit agencies. Learning about these organizations taught me a lot about the importance of a strong work ethic and an open mind. I look forward to staying connected to the Syracuse University alumni that I met and staying engaged with the work they’re doing in D.C.

Students interested in the “Falk in D.C.” trip in the Fall 2024 semester can watch a video summary of the trip and find Fall 2024 updates on the Falk Careers home page.

More than 250 people–including individuals, couples, parents, and children–attended Trans Support Day in April 2023 at Syracuse University’s Peck Hall in downtown Syracuse.

After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trans Support Day returned in 2023 with an inspiring event hosted by Syracuse University’s Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Trans Team.

More than 250 people–including individuals, couples, parents, and children–attended Trans Support Day in April 2023, and organizer Tristan Martin, Ph.D., LMFT, CST, says the Trans Team is looking to top last year’s turnout at the 2024 event. This year’s Trans Support Day will be held from noon to 4 p.m. March 23 at Peck Hall, 601 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, just north of the Syracuse University campus. The event is free and open to the public.

“I feel like it’s going to be a really powerful community event like it was last year,” says Martin, an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. “This event offers a space filled with hope, positivity, and community support.”

Attendees at this year’s Trans Support Day will have the opportunity to connect with local trans-affirming providers and resources; receive name and gender marker legal support; access free clothing and makeup; get free services from hair, nail, and makeup artists; access trans-affirming products; receive therapeutic support for parents of trans youth; and have a space for youth to connect.

As a new feature, the Trans Team has invited two world-renowned local surgeons to share their expertise with attendees interested in gender-affirming surgery. Other guests will include post-surgical providers from Upstate University Hospital’s Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Program and Hand Rehabilitation Program, and representatives from Sage Upstate, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people in Central New York as they age.

Martin says events such as Trans Support Day are more important than ever as members of the trans community experience societal and legislative discrimination in the United States. According to the Trans Legislation Tracker, more than 500 bills in 41 states have been introduced seeking to block trans people from receiving basic healthcare, education, legal recognition, and the right to publicly exist. Several similar bills were signed into law in 2023.

New York is one of a handful of states where no anti-trans bills have been passed. But accessing resources such as the ones that will be available at Trans Support Day remains an issue for trans people everywhere.

“In my clinical practice I connect with other therapists, and we often collaborate with other local resources and providers,” Martin says. “However, I learned that often clients are not aware of these services and allies available to them in Syracuse.

“I wanted to create an event that brought everyone together in one room,” Martin adds. “Although we have different expertise and resources, we all have one common goal, to improve the wellbeing and support the transgender community.”

Marriage and Family Therapy Associate Professor Deborah Coolhart, Ph.D., LMFT, founded the Trans Team in 2004. The team is part of the Syracuse University Couple and Family Therapy Center in Peck Hall, and students on the team receive specialized training to provide gender-affirmative therapy for transgender people and their families and assist in the readiness process for medical gender transition.

Coolhart says the 2023 Trans Support Day was a huge success thanks to the leadership and efforts of Martin and marriage and family therapy students, faculty, and staff. In the previous Trans Support Day in 2019, the attendance was 40 people, so the event is growing significantly and assisting more members of the trans community.

“The current political landscape for trans folks is threatening and scary, making this event so necessary and special,” Coolhart said after last year’s event. “In a world that often does not welcome trans people, I could see on the faces of the guests the gratitude, validation, and support they felt having a space that was celebrating them and connecting them to the resources they need.”

About MFT

The Department of Marriage and Family Therapy prepares students to work with marginalized populations, at-risk youth, and the LGBQ and Transgender communities. In the Couple and Family Therapy Center, marriage and family therapy students gain supervised, hands-on clinical experience while providing free therapy services to families, couples, and individuals across Central New York.

In 2023, student therapists from the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy in Syracuse University’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics provided a total of 9,134 therapy sessions to 682 individuals. Those free sessions in the Couple and Family Therapy Center at Peck Hall included 3,713 for individuals and 5,412 for couples and families.

Think about those numbers for a minute . . . and the impact the sessions had for those in the community surrounding the Syracuse University campus.

“If not for the hard work of our students and faculty – given the dire state of mental health services in our community and most communities – it’s likely many of these clients would experience long waitlists elsewhere, reduced services due to expense, or go without mental healthcare altogether,” says Tyler Sliker, clinic director at the Couple and Family Therapy Center. “This work is truly critical to our community and beyond as it’s training much-needed therapists and providing much-needed care.”

Indeed, this is a mutually beneficial arrangement as students seeking to earn their master of arts degree or Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy are provided real-life opportunities to hone their craft.

“The thing about studying to be a therapist is that the only way to learn is by doing,” says Kalila Taylor, who’s on track to earn her master’s degree in May. “I was incredibly nervous when I first started seeing clients, but with the support of my colleagues and supervisors, I was able to develop my skills and build my confidence as a therapist.”

Taylor, who’s from Jacksonville, Florida, earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy with a minor in psychology from Florida State University. In researching graduate programs, she discovered Syracuse University and the exceptional reputation forged by the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, which offered the first accredited master’s degree in the country.

“I’ve always wanted to better understand human behavior and have been continuously fascinated by how we relate to one another as people,” Taylor says. “Marriage and family therapy combines a lot of my various interests while also being a field that gives me the opportunity to make a real difference in peoples’ lives.”

Student therapists start seeing clients when they’re enrolled in MFT 760 (Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy), and that’s typically in their second semester of the program. Sliker says their caseload varies depending on client need and the readiness of the student, but ideally students start their clinical work with four to five cases.

Taylor says when she first started seeing clients, she was concerned about managing conflict in the room. But through supervision and experience, she learned how to help her clients navigate conflict in their relationships while also normalizing that conflict for herself.

Eventually, Taylor was providing up to 20 sessions per week.

“I think it can be especially challenging to help a client process an experience that you haven’t worked through yet in your own life,” she says. “Again, that’s why supervision is so important so that you get the opportunity to talk through your own personal obstacles to show up better for your clients.”

To ensure quality training for the student therapists and beneficial care to their clients, the Marriage and Family Therapy faculty and staff provide supervision to the students working with the individuals, couples, and families. In 2023, faculty and staff provided more than 1,800 hours of supervision to 16 students.

The students are supervised on a weekly basis, at minimum, and Sliker says it’s common for student therapists who are just getting started to reach out to on-call supervisors between their regularly scheduled supervision meetings. Marriage and family therapists are only able to see clients unsupervised when they’re fully licensed.

In New York State, that’s roughly two years after graduation, if they’ve been working full-time as a therapist since receiving their graduate degree. If you’re a member of the community who meets with a fully licensed marriage and family therapist, and that therapist is licensed in New York, you can expect your therapist has had about 3 ½ years of supervised clinical experience, including their 1 ½ years of graduate school.

“Students often begin their journey to become a therapist with excitement as well as plenty of anxiety and uncertainty of their ability,” Sliker says. “However, therapy is most effective when there is a strong relationship between therapist and client. For those who find themselves in a Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program, there is often already a strong ability to build relationships and beginning therapists usually have the necessary skills to successfully navigate those initial sessions with clients.

“Then the path to becoming a great therapist, in my opinion, is forged by the therapist’s continued investment in their growth and development, a lifetime connection with supervisors and mentors, and genuine care for the clients they serve,” Sliker adds.

Taylor says there’s an immense feeling of satisfaction when a therapist is able to form relationships with clients, watch them progress in real time, and help them develop skills they didn’t have at the start of therapy. In what may seem like a strange twist to someone outside of the therapy sessions, Taylor says one of her proudest moments occurred when a couple she was working with chose to separate.

“I don’t believe it’s the job of a therapist to tell clients what to do because I think clients should be treated like the experts of their own experience,” Taylor says. “I was proud of this couple for coming to the realization that breaking up was the best thing for both of them because that can be one of the most difficult decisions to make. I remember those clients thanking me for helping them throughout the process, which was such an amazing moment that provided to me a lot of encouragement.”

For Taylor, it was a rewarding moment among many that occur for student therapists every day at the Couple and Family Therapy Center.

“Becoming a therapist is similar to learning a craft or an art: One learns by doing,” Sliker says. “So as much as our community benefits from the services the Couple and Family Therapy Center provides, the students are benefiting just as much.”

The Couple and Family Therapy Center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. The center provides free, confidential sessions in-person and virtually. To inquire about receiving therapy services, call 315-443-3023.

Katherine (Katie) McDonald, Ph.D., has been appointed Senior Associate Dean for Research and Administration in Falk College. As Senior Associate Dean, McDonald is responsible for the oversight of research, administration, and support for faculty; the supervision of the Falk College Office of Research Development; the development and implementation of Falk strategic initiatives; and representing Falk College on University-level committees as appropriate. The office reports directly to Falk College Dean Jeremy Jordan.

“Falk College research spans a wide range of disciplines with impactful, practical applications in individual health and community wellbeing,” Jordan says. “Thanks to Dr. McDonald’s leadership and her team in the Falk College Office of Research Development, the College has experienced steady growth in research activity by every measure, including grant funding, publishing, interdisciplinary collaborations, and student engagement. I am eager to see her influence expand as Senior Associate Dean for Research and Administration.”

McDonald’s new appointment follows a three-year appointment as Associate Dean of Research. During her tenure, McDonald worked collaboratively to establish programming to nurture faculty research, enhance connections on campus to fuel interdisciplinary research, and develop policy to foster research success.

“I am delighted to continue to serve Falk College in this new role,” says McDonald. “Falk College is home to students, staff, and faculty committed to creating and leveraging scientific discoveries to enhance human thriving. It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with so many talented people to co-chart our future.”

McDonald is a professor in the Falk College Department of Public Health, where she also served as chair from 2018 to 2020. She is a fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, chair of Syracuse University’s Institutional Review Board, and a member of the Editorial Board for Autism in Adulthood. At Syracuse University, she holds faculty affiliations in the Aging Studies Institute, the Burton Blatt Institute, the Consortium for Culture and Medicine, and the Disability Studies program.

As a scholar, McDonald uses socioecological theory and community-engaged research to understand and promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities. She has made significant contributions to research in disability, health disparities, community-engaged research, and ethical, legal, and social issues in research. Her research has been supported by grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Education, the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, Rehabilitation Research, and the Patient Centered Outcomes Institute, among others. She is published in leading journals such as the Disability and Health Journal, American Journal of Bioethics, and the American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

She received a B.S. with distinction in human development and family studies with a minor in French from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in community and prevention research psychology with a minor in statistics, methods, and measurements from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

After David Sobczak ’23 enrolled at Syracuse University, he gravitated toward social work and helping others because of the time he had spent in hospitals as a child with cerebral palsy.

“He was in and out of the hospital for extended periods of time, and what he saw were a lot of kids who were in the hospital and literally no one ever came to see them,” says Dee Anna Sobczak, David’s mother. “With his family and friends, David was never alone, and we would embrace kids that were there and bring them into our circle. He realized then and there that he’s very lucky to have a support group and not everybody has that.”

Sobczak wanted to be a football coach, and he earned his undergraduate degree from the School of Social Work in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics because a football team, like society, is made up of people from all walks of life. He wanted to learn how to best communicate with the players, show empathy for their individual situations, and build trust–the building blocks of social work.

Sobczak spent four seasons as offensive student assistant coach for the Syracuse football team, and he recently completed his first season as an offensive assistant coach for the University of Akron. Meanwhile, Sobczak’s younger brother, Danny, played football in high school and he and David told their mother that in both high school and college, many of the student-athletes struggled to pay for day-to-day items.

“What we found is that a lot of the students who were part of the team were on scholarship, but they weren’t funded for school supplies, their computer–all the things that would have set them up to be just as successful as their peers,’’ Dee Anna Sobczak says. “Many of the kids didn’t even have the money to buy lunch.”

As a result of those conversations, Dee Anna, David, and Danny, who graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder last spring, decided to create a fund to help Falk College students who are experiencing financial hardship. Working with Director of Development Megan Myers, who will become Falk’s assistant dean of advancement March 1, they created the Sobczak Family Student Support Endowed Fund that provides mini grants for an academic year.

“A lot of times, these students are trying to fight their way out of whatever situation they came from and start a new life for themselves,” Dee Anna Sobczak says. “This (fund) is to help set them up to be as successful as their peers, and that way everybody is on the same playing field as much as they can be.”

The mini grants are available to meet a wide range of needs and provide access to opportunities. Categories of support include emergency basic needs, fees, and supplies associated with the student’s educational program, and other critical student and human needs. Mini grants range from $100 to $300.

The Sobczak Family Fund is open to graduate and undergraduate students from the following Falk College programs: Exercise Science, Human Development and Family Science, Marriage and Family Therapy, Nutrition and Food Studies, Public Health, and Social Work. In the types of needs it addresses, the fund mirrors the Brandon S. Steiner Sport Management Student Support Fund for students enrolled in Falk’s Department of Sport Management.

Students may apply for assistance from the Sobczak Family Student Support Fund by filling out this application form and including documentation/information about circumstance. A student can’t be awarded funding more than twice.

David Sobczak’s disability is physical, and his challenges are there for all to see. But what his Social Work education taught him and his family is that we don’t know everything that might be going on in a person’s life, and the family fund is for students whose challenges may not be so obvious.

“There are really special people in Social Work,” David Sobczak said in a fall 2022 interview. “When it comes to my career and where it helps me, I’m going to encounter–and I’ve already encountered–people with tough situations in their family lives and you’ve got to be there for them.

“So, you learn about empathy, how to deal with people, and how to communicate, and you also learn that we’re all people,” he added. “You treat people as people and that’s a life skill that will take you further than any education can ever take you.”

In that interview for a feature story that appeared before Syracuse’s bowl game in 2022, David talked about wanting to give back and serve as a role model for those with disabilities who have dreams of their own. The family fund for Falk Students, Dee Anna Sobczak says, is to help students overcome outside challenges to complete their education and realize their dreams.

“We want them to be the best version of themselves they can be, figure out who they want to be and what they want to do, and put a path together to get there,” Dee Anna says. “And also, to realize that nothing is impossible; if you can dream it, you can do it.”

In addition to the Sobczak Family Student Support Endowed Fund, there are other opportunities and awards available to students in Falk College. Please visit the Awards and Scholarships page on the Falk website for more information on how to apply.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience, and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit foreverorange.syr.edu to learn more.

Megan Myers Appointed Assistant Dean of Advancement in Falk College

Megan Myers has been named Falk College Assistant Dean of Advancement effective March 1, 2024. Myers will report to Dean Jeremy Jordan and lead all Falk College advancement efforts working closely with the Syracuse University Office of Advancement and External Affairs (AEA).

Myers joined Falk College’s advancement team as assistant director of development in December 2018 and was promoted to director of development in December 2021. In these roles, Myers successfully managed an assigned donor portfolio, established and managed relationships with Falk College alumni and donors, and collaborated with Syracuse University’s regional fundraising program.

“Megan has an exceptional history of success in creating new strategic partnerships and developing alumni engagement with Falk College,” says Falk College Dean Jeremy Jordan. “From new signature programs to targeted student support funds, Megan’s contributions have meaningfully advanced this College. I am confident that under her leadership we will continue to enrich the student experience.”

Prior to joining Falk, Myers was a development associate in AEA and highly successful as part of the inaugural Development Associate Team established as part of the planning for prospective donor development in the Forever Orange Campaign.

“I am thrilled to have the privilege to support Dean Jordan and advance his vision for the future for Falk College,” says Myers. “I look forward to continuing to build upon the excellent work my predecessor Dave Salanger has already initiated for the College by further developing relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of Syracuse University that create new opportunities for students and faculty.”

Myers previously worked as a development specialist with the Alzheimer’s Association, Nebraska Chapter, where she managed community-based, volunteer-driven events. In her professional career, she held positions with KLKN-TV in Lincoln, Nebraska, serving as a promotions manager and earning recognition as an Emmy-nominated reporter/anchor. She also contributed as an anchor for the weekend news at KEVN-TV in Rapid City, South Dakota, where she played a key role in achieving notable viewer market ratings.

She recently earned a master of public health from Syracuse University and holds a bachelor of arts in broadcast journalism and sociology from The Pennsylvania State University, where she was an Academic All-American and team co-captain for the women’s swimming and diving team.

Myers succeeds David Salanger, who will retire in March 2024. Salanger served 20 years at Syracuse, 18 of those with Falk College. During that time, he made a transformative impact on Falk College through alumni engagement, strategic partnerships, and critical financial gifts.

Among his contributions, Salanger was instrumental in guiding the generous gift from David B. Falk ’72 and Rhonda S. Falk ’74 that named the College in 2011. In addition, he secured the financial support for the renovation of Falk College Complex, previously the College of Law, in 2015. In the course of his service, Salanger raised over $40 million for the University and Falk College.

Mary E. Graham, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Sport Management, has been named Falk College Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs effective Jan. 2, 2024. This newly created leadership position reports to Falk College Dean Jeremy Jordan and is dedicated to faculty development and success. In this role, Graham will guide all Falk College efforts related to faculty development—from hiring to retirement—and work closely with university offices and leadership in Academic Affairs, University Counsel, Equal Opportunity Compliance, Human Resources, and Office of Research.

“I am excited to appoint Dr. Graham to this new role for Falk College,” says Jeremy S. Jordan, Dean of Falk College. “I am very confident that she will be able to further the support and development of our faculty based on her wealth of professional experiences and academic expertise.”

As Falk College Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, Graham will work with department chairs to develop strategic hiring plans for faculty and oversee the successful execution of faculty searches. She will participate in faculty review processes, including recommendations for contract renewals and promotion and tenure, and manage operational aspects of faculty affairs. Together with Falk College leadership, Graham will steer the college towards enhanced faculty research and teaching excellence.

“Falk College has an exceptionally talented, diverse faculty with unparalleled dedication to the student experience and the creation of new knowledge,” says Graham. “I am honored to serve as Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs in service to my faculty colleagues and the linked missions of Falk College and Syracuse University. I look forward to collaborating with our visionary Dean, Jeremy Jordan, and his leadership team on strategic and operational faculty matters.”

Graham joined the Falk College faculty in 2012 and is also affiliated faculty in the Whitman School of Management. She teaches applied courses in organizational behavior and strategic human resource management, as well as diversity in sport organizations at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive levels. An expert in gender disparities in employment, she has conducted numerous American Association of University Women salary negotiations workshops for students since 2009.

In 2022, Graham was named Syracuse University’s faculty athletics representative (FAR) to the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In this capacity she serves as a key advisor to Chancellor Kent Syverud and Provost Gretchen Ritter on policy proposals and issues affecting student-athletes’ academic and overall wellbeing, working closely with Tommy Powell, Assistant Provost for Student-Athlete Academic Development; Athletic Director John Wildhack; and their teams of professionals. Graham chairs the Faculty Oversight Committee on Athletics, which reviews student-athlete academic data and conducts exit interviews of departing student-athletes.

She previously served as a Syracuse University Provost Faculty Fellow from 2018 to 2020, where she worked with the Provost and University Senate to develop and implement campus-wide shared competencies for undergraduate students. Graham has been a University Senator since 2018, and she currently serves on the Senate Committee on Athletic Policy.

Prior to joining Syracuse University, Graham held faculty positions in business schools at Clarkson University, George Washington University, and Georgia State University. She has served as a visiting scholar at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Central University in Taiwan, and at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. She also has prior work experience with several members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Graham has published extensively and has been widely cited in the areas of human resource management (HRM), public policy and employment discrimination, gender in employment and HRM in supply chains. She is currently studying the equal employment opportunity transparency among professional sport teams, and the impact of concussions on player misconduct.

Graham is on the Editorial Board of the journal Human Resource Management (Wiley), where she previously served as an associate editor. Her professional memberships include the Society for Human Resource Management; and the Academy of Management, where she serves on the executive committee of the Research Methods Division.

A former CPA, Graham has a B.S. in Accounting from Le Moyne College and work experience in public accounting and human resource management. Graham earned both her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, specializing in human resource management, organizational behavior, and gender studies.