Public Health  News

A public health professor whose research focuses on social determinants of health has been selected as the 2024-26 Lender Center for Social Justice faculty fellow.

Miriam Mutambudzi will explore how Black adults who reside in historically redlined neighborhoods can experience a disadvantaged occupational life course and subsequent health consequences. Redlining was a discriminatory practice of designating certain neighborhoods, especially predominantly Black ones, as being poor credit risks.

Mutambudzi is an assistant professor of public health at the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. She is also a faculty affiliate of three centers at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs: the Center for Aging and Policy Studies; the Aging Studies Institute; and the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion.

In addition to Mutambudzi, an interdisciplinary team of student fellows will work on the project. Students from any discipline and background who are excited about community advocacy and social justice are encouraged to apply for the two-year fellowships. Applications are accepted through early October and fellows are chosen before the end of the fall semester. The faculty-student group will present their findings at a community symposium in 2026.

We recently sat down with Mutambudzi to learn more about her project.

Why is this topic important?

This research tackles the ongoing challenges faced by Black communities from the legacy of historical discriminatory housing practices and the subsequent impact of those practices on community members’ employment and health.

While the Fair Housing Act of 1968 was enacted as federal law, it failed to fully dismantle racial discrimination in housing resulting from the practice of redlining. Redlining is a discriminatory practice that began in 1930s America [where] banks and insurance companies refused or limited loans, mortgages and insurance to residents of specific geographic areas—primarily neighborhoods with predominantly Black residents. Residents of redlined areas had limited access to credit and other financial services and were hindered in their efforts to own homes, invest in property or improve their neighborhoods. The results were often urban decay and a perpetuation of poverty in those areas.

While redlining is a historical concept, its effects are very much present today. Its legacy continues to limit many life opportunities, and neighborhoods with predominantly Black residents where that occurred still face social and economic disadvantages.

How do limited employment prospects—or the lack of a good job—affect health issues?

Both employment and discriminatory policies are key factors contributing to racial disparities in health outcomes. Job insecurity, precarity, lower wages and periods of unemployment—which occur more frequently among Black workers—all contribute to income gaps and limit access to good health insurance and quality healthcare.

Young adults from disadvantaged neighborhoods enter the workforce at a significant disadvantage. Job prospects within their communities are scarce, limiting their ability to find work that pays well, offers stability and provides a path for advancement.

This lack of good-quality jobs in their immediate surroundings creates a vicious cycle and the absence of good-quality, stable employment nearby creates a double-edged sword. Not only are opportunities limited, but these young adults also miss out on crucial skill-building and networking chances that come with these jobs. Those factors further restrict their potential, hindering their ability to compete for better opportunities.

In addition, involuntary employment interruptions are more frequent for these young adults and further disrupt their career trajectories. This disparity perpetuates a system where economic mobility becomes nearly impossible for those starting from behind. The cascading constraints imposed by limited job opportunities in disadvantaged neighborhoods have a profound impact on residents’ access to health-promoting resources, creating a cycle that undermines well-being.

For example, limited financial resources often translate to poor housing conditions, which may be overcrowded, poorly maintained and may lack essential amenities. Nutritious and organic foods are generally more expensive and less readily available in “food deserts,” leading to a reliance on cheaper, processed unhealthy foods. The jobs in which Black workers are disproportionately employed may contribute to these health issues, as their work is more likely to be physically and psychologically demanding. All of these factors also combine to contribute to increased risks of health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, respiratory illness and hypertension.

What questions are shaping your research?

There’s much we don’t know about how historically racist policies such as redlining continued to affect the employment trajectories of Black Americans. People can work for 45 years or more in their lives, so it’s essential that we understand the factors that shape occupational trajectories and the subsequent impacts they have on a person’s health.

This project looks at three areas: developing an understanding of historically redlined neighborhoods as predictors of racial disparities in long-term employment trajectories: seeing how employment trajectories may be predictors of chronic health conditions and determining how education might moderate those relationships.

In what ways will the student fellows be involved?

They will contribute to data analysis and management and will conduct literature reviews to gather relevant reports on social and economic disparities and health outcomes. They’ll help synthesize findings to inform the study’s background and contextual understanding. Students will also have opportunities to engage with the local community since my goal is to work with grassroots organizations that are already addressing the adverse effects of redlining in Syracuse.

What do you hope to accomplish with this research?

My goal is to illustrate how the historical discriminatory redlining policy that systematically marginalized Black communities still adversely impacts work and health for those communities today, regardless of residents’ educational attainment.

Ultimately, we want to raise awareness regarding the lasting effects of discriminatory practices as fundamental social determinants of health that require much attention, and inspire policymakers, community leaders and the public to drive meaningful action.

A Syracuse University News story by Diane Stirling originally published on Aug. 16, 2024.

It’s not easy to condense about four years of research into two minutes, but that’s exactly what Syracuse University Public Health Professor David Larsen did during a visit to the White House on Aug. 27.

Larsen, Chair of the Department of Public Health in Syracuse’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, was invited to present to a panel of scientists, policymakers, and policy implementers at an information-gathering event called the “White House Roundtable on Emerging Technologies for Preventing Health Emergencies.” At the onset of COVID in 2020, Larsen spearheaded an interdisciplinary team of experts in coordination with the New York State Department of Health to create a wastewater surveillance system throughout New York State.

As one of many presenters during the three-hour roundtable, Larsen was given two minutes to discuss the merits of testing wastewater for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

“It was quite humbling to receive the invitation,” Larsen says. “I always hope that my work can influence public health, and since COVID-19 I’ve been trying to support the improvement of our infectious disease surveillance systems in New York State and this country.”

Today, the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network is testing for COVID in at least one wastewater treatment plant in all 62 of the state’s counties, covering a population of 15.4 million. The New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network dashboard provides the most recent statistics regarding the network.

Days before Larsen’s trip to Washington, D.C., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named the New York State Department of Health Wastewater Surveillance Program as a new Center of Excellence in the National Wastewater Surveillance System. New York’s system was recognized by the CDC for its exemplary performance in the early detection and monitoring of communicable diseases such as COVID-19, polio, influenza, and more.

This past spring, Larsen received a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to teach and continue his wastewater surveillance research at the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria.

So, Larsen is clearly a leading expert in this field and he received the invitation to speak at the White House from Nicole Fehrenbach, the Branch Chief of the Rapid Response Research and Surveillance Branch of the CDC. The CDC is intimately familiar with Larsen’s work as the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network is a part of the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System.

Larsen had visited Washington, D.C., before Aug. 27 and saw the White House from the outside, but he had never been in the complex until he attended the roundtable hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

“Walking into the Eisenhower Office Building and seeing the offices of the Chief of Staff and other executive officials and the west wing of the White House was a bit surreal,” Larsen says. “It was the culmination of a lot of hard work since March of 2020.”

During his “lightning talk,” Larsen says he emphasized that the functions of infectious disease surveillance are two-fold.

“First, they need to alert us when a community is at increased risk,” he told the panel. “And second, they need to confirm a community is no longer at risk.

“The Covid-19 pandemic showed how inadequately our systems performed in these two functions,” he added. “So, improvements are needed. Wastewater is a great way for both of these, and perhaps one of the most cost-effective ways to confirm a community is not at risk.”

Larsen says his remarks were “well received,” although he can’t share specific reactions because of the privacy guidelines for the roundtable. He’s encouraged that panelists were responsive because of the looming funding needs for wastewater surveillance.

“Right now, wastewater surveillance in the U.S. is largely being funded by COVID-19 emergency funds,” Larsen says. “As the emergency is over, those funds will expire. I hope that future funding will be made available to continue these efforts.”

Those efforts, which started on the campus of Syracuse University and now extend worldwide, will continue at Syracuse with Larsen leading the way.

“Right now, my team at Syracuse is focused on transitioning the operations of the program we’ve built in New York over to the State Department of Health,” he says. “That will allow us to dive deeper into the science and maximize the benefits of the systems.

“With the newly awarded Center of Excellence, we will support other states in the region, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” he adds. “And then globally, the Europeans are leading an effort to coordinate global wastewater surveillance and we’ll continue to support those efforts.”

Knowing first-hand the benefits of mentorship and allyship in breaking barriers for women in all fields of work, Warren will be spending this year’s Coming Back Together weekend giving back to current students during two signature events at Syracuse University’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

Coming Back Together (CBT) is a triennial event for Black and Latino alumni to return to campus and celebrate their accomplishments, meet current students, and remain connected to Syracuse. For this year’s CBT from Sept. 12-15, Warren will participate in a networking event for current students and moderate a star-studded panel discussion called “Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women in Sport.”

“Having mentors and allies who believe in your potential can make a significant difference in one’s career trajectory,” says Warren, a member of the Falk College Advisory Board. “Additionally, creating inclusive environments where diverse voices are heard and valued is essential for driving systemic change. It’s not just about giving women a seat at the table, but also ensuring they have the support and opportunities to thrive.”

Warren, fellow Falk College Advisory Board members Dr. LaTisha Marshall and Andrea Massop Ramos, MCN, and Sport Management Advisory Council member Jasmine Jordan worked together to create the Falk networking and panel discussion events.

Warren earned her Bachelor of Science (’04) and Master of Science in Exercise Physiology (’06) degrees from Syracuse University, and her Ph.D. in public health with a focus on health aspects of physical activity from the University of South Carolina. Affectionately known as “Dr. Tati,” Warren is a distinguished health equity strategist and the founder of Just TATI, a multimedia initiative dedicated to disseminating accurate, evidence-based health information to diverse audiences. Warren consults with health professionals, community leaders, educators, and community members to implement and evaluate effective health programs.

Warren attended CBT for the first time in 2017 and says the weekend “was incredibly nostalgic” for her as she played in the inaugural CBT Celebrity Basketball Classic for former student-athletes.

“I’ve learned that Coming Back Together is a fantastic opportunity to bridge the gap across all generations, especially for Black and Latino communities, and invest in the future Syracuse leaders of tomorrow,” she says.

To that end, Warren, Massop Ramos, and other notable Syracuse University alums will participate in a speed networking event with students from 12-12:45 p.m. Sept. 13 in Room 335 at Falk College. Massop Ramos is a clinical nutritionist, private health chef, and entrepreneur who in 2018 founded Healthy FRIENDZ Nutrition to build independence and confidence in youth, students with disabilities, and the aging.

Warren says networking is a crucial gateway to establishing and advancing your career, and she has a wealth knowledge and experience to share after spending nearly two decades specializing in community engagement and improving health in underserved populations.

“My first job opportunity after completing my doctoral degree in healthcare was at a hospital, and it came about because I was a Syracuse University alumna,’’ Warren says. “I remember that interview being effortless; I simply discussed my experiences at Syracuse, highlighting how being a student-athlete and specifically a student-athlete of color laid the foundation for my commitment to community-based work from an equity perspective.”

The panel discussion featuring Syracuse women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack, NFL Players Association Director of Player Programs and Engagement Chinny Nwagbo, and award-winning broadcaster Vera Jones (all former Syracuse basketball players) will run from 1-1:50 p.m. Sept. 13 in Grant Auditorium at Falk College.

Jones will also be the emcee and announcer for this year’s CBT Celebrity Basketball Classic. “This game is for those who can walk the walk,” Jones says. “I can talk the talk and that’s what I plan to do!”

Warren says the panel topic–Breaking Barries and Empowering Women in Sport–is important to her because she has spent her professional career breaking barriers as often the only woman or person of color serving boards or advisory groups that helped shape the future of health programs for people of color or people from marginalized communities.

“Empowering women in sports is close to my heart; as a former track and field athlete and recipient of the Doris Soladay Award, I understand the unique challenges and triumphs women face in this field,” she says. “This discussion’s theme extends beyond the sports industry as it highlights the broader issues of gender and racial equity, representation, and empowerment in all sectors of society.”

In addition to the networking event and panel discussion, Falk is sponsoring a table at the Sept. 14 “Shades of Orange Sneaker Ball,” a fundraising and alumni awards gala at the JMA Wireless Dome to support the Our Time Has Come Scholarship. Here’s a complete list of CBT events, and visit the Syracuse University website to register through Aug. 31.

Here’s more information about the guests for the Falk College panel discussion:

Felisha Legette-Jack, ’89

Head Coach – Syracuse University Women’s Basketball

“Coach Jack,” a Syracuse University alumna with degrees in child and family studies and psychology, returned to lead the Orange basketball program in 2022. With over 30 years of coaching experience, she has guided three Division I programs to 13 winning seasons, nine postseason berths, and six 20-win seasons, amassing a 343-279 record. Legette-Jack is enshrined in several halls of fame, including the Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame, the Syracuse Urban Sports Hall of Fame and the Syracuse University Orange Plus Hall of Fame. In 2021, she became the first female in Syracuse University history to have her No. 33 jersey retired in the JMA Wireless Dome rafters.

Chineze (Chinny) Nwagbo, ’05

Director of Player Programs and Engagement – NFL Players Association

Chinny Nwagbo, a former Syracuse University women’s basketball standout, graduated in 2005 with a degree in biology. She played professional basketball for 11 years in various countries and represented Nigeria in the 2006 World Championship Games. Post-retirement, Nwagbo has built a successful career in the sports industry with roles at the U.S. Department of State, PeacePlayers International, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and more. She now serves as Director of Player Programs and Engagement at the NFLPA, creating resources to help professional athletes succeed beyond their playing careers.

Vera Jones, ’88, G’91

President. Vera’s VoiceWorks, LLC
Adjunct Professor of Public Speaking. University of North Florida

Vera Jones, is a motivational speaker, communication coach, author, and award-winning broadcaster. She has over 30 years of experience as a women’s basketball analyst and reporter for ESPN, Fox Sports, and NBA-TV. Vera hosts the women’s basketball show “Certified Unscripted” and the motivational podcast “Perseverance Live.” She holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a master’s degree in television, radio, and film from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Matthew Armstrong

Matthew Armstrong, Ph.D., joins the Department of Exercise Science as an assistant professor of exercise science. This August, Armstrong founded the Applied Cardiovascular Physiology Lab at Syracuse University. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Armstrong was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Health and Human Physiology from 2021-24 at the University of Iowa, where he conducted research focused on large artery structure and function. Before moving to the United States, he completed a Ph.D. in Australia at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania.

Learn more about Matthew Armstrong.

William Collins

William “Bill” Collins joins the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies as an assistant teaching professor. He will teach classes in Food Science and Culinary Arts. Prior to this appointment, Collins worked at Syracuse University for 17 years as a Culinary Specialist. Before joining Syracuse University, Collins spent 30 years as an Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Director operating restaurants in Manhattan and across Central New York. He was employed at Montrachet, TriBeCa Grill, Nobu, Reebok Sports Club, MacKenzie-Childs, the Aurora Inn, and his signature restaurant, bc, located in Armory Square in downtown Syracuse.

Learn more about Williams Collins.

Jason DeFreitas

Jason DeFreitas, Ph.D., joins the Department of Exercise Science as chair and professor of exercise science. Prior to joining Syracuse University, DeFreitas was an associate professor and program coordinator of the Health and Human Performance program at Oklahoma State University. He spent 11 years at Oklahoma State, where he primarily taught classes in neuroanatomy and neuromuscular physiology. DeFreitas’ research focuses on how the brain controls movement, and how that control system changes with aging and/or training. His lab utilizes brain stimulation techniques, functional brain imaging, nerve conduction studies, and more. He has a strong applied focus with goals of reducing fall risk in older adults through physical activity interventions and improved diagnostic testing.

Learn more about Jason DeFreitas.

Sue Cornelius Edson

Sue Cornelius Edson joins the Department of Sport Management as a professor of practice. Edson currently serves as chief communications officer for Syracuse Athletics and is responsible for all public relations and media relations functions for the department. A 34-year veteran of Syracuse Athletics, Edson was promoted to her current role in the spring of 2015. Prior to her promotion, she served as associate director of athletics for communications (2006-14), assistant director of athletics for communications (2004-06), and director of athletic communications (1997-2004). Edson previously taught a class in sports public relations as an adjunct professor in Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications from 1994 to 2013.

Learn more about Sue Cornelius Edson.

Brandon Hollie

Brandon Hollie, Ph.D., joins the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy as an online assistant teaching professor. He will primarily teach classes related to theories of Marriage and Family Therapy. Currently, Hollie is the Owner/CEO of Hollie Therapy and Counseling and a researcher at Mathematica Policy Research. Prior to Mathematica, he was a postdoctoral research scholar with the Family Institute at Northwestern University.

Learn more about Brandon Hollie.

Alexia Lopes

Alexia Lopes, Ph.D., joins the Department of Sport Management as an assistant teaching professor. She will teach classes in International Sports Relations and Introduction to Sport Management. Her teaching focus will be on the international business of sport. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Lopes was an assistant professor from 2022-24 at St. Norbert College, where in two years she started two sport management programs (i.e., a minor and a major) in the Schneider School of Business and Economics. Beyond developing the sport management curriculum and teaching business courses, she was actively engaged in the Green Bay community.

Learn more about Alexia Lopes.

Britney Pitts

Britney Pitts, Ph.D., joins the School of Social Work as an assistant teaching professor in the online master of social work program (M.S.W.). Her teaching centers on anti-racism and social justice to support individual, family, and community well-being. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Pitts taught human behavior courses, advanced clinical practice courses, and generalist field instruction at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She supervised M.S.W. and bachelor of social work (B.S.W.) interns and received the 2023 Liaison of the Year Award at VCU. Pitts also taught research courses at Iona University.

Learn more about Britney Pitts.

Kerianne Rubenstein

Kerianne Rubenstein, Ph.D., joins the Department of Sport Management as an assistant professor. She will teach classes in sport Analytics, primarily sport economics. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Rubenstein was an assistant professor from 2021-24 at North Dakota State University, where she taught economics and was a fellow with the Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth, and the Center for the Study of Public Choice and Private Enterprise.

Learn more about Kerianne Rubenstein.

Riley Whiting

Riley Whiting, Ph.D., joins the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy as an assistant teaching professor. He will teach graduate courses for the Marriage and Family Therapy program. Whiting recently completed his doctorate at the Ohio State University, where he nurtured his passion for teaching, clinical work, and research. He enjoys working with individuals, couples, and families in a private practice, and finds satisfaction in seeking to inspire students both in the classroom and through research.

Learn more about Riley Whiting.

Dessa Bergen-Cico, professor and graduate director in the Department of Public Health in Falk College and coordinator of the Addiction Studies Programs at Syracuse University, was recently interviewed by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for its “Prevention Profiles” podcast series that is focused on campus drug prevention.

In the interview, Bergen-Cico speaks extensively about Syracuse University academics and student life and covers the evolution of her more than 25 years addressing substance use prevention. Watch the podcast on the Prevent Profiles website.

Here’s the description of the interview from the website: “During the interview, Dr. Bergen-Cico discusses how prevention in the higher education space has evolved since the early 1990s, how preventing drug use among college students can transcend being seen solely as a student affairs issue to a broader public health issue, some of the challenges faculty members face when it comes to drug use among college students, and more.”

Bergen-Cico is currently leading a research team that’s exploring how to combine an artificial intelligence system with mindfulness-based practices to help people in treatment for opioid use disorder. She co-developed the International Drug Policy Academy, which is one of several unique opportunities for students to obtain global experience that exposes them to new ways of thinking about substance abuse and addictive behaviors.

Bergen-Cico was recently selected as Falk College’s Honors Core Faculty member by a four-person committee in consultation with Falk Dean Jeremy Jordan and Honors Program Director Danielle Taana Smith.

The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and Paralympics are here and representatives from the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University will have an impact on this year’s Games – and, quite possibly, future Olympic Games.

The Falk College representatives who are involved in several unique ways with the Olympics and Paralympics include current Falk students Dan Griffiths and Livia McQuade, Department of Sport Management Associate Professor Jeeyoon “Jamie” Kim, and Falk graduates and former Syracuse University student-athletes Freddie Crittenden III, Kristen Siermachesky, and Lysianne Proulx. Here are their stories:

Student: Dan Griffiths

At Syracuse University and now with the U.S. Track and Field team (USATF), sport analytics major Dan Griffiths ’26 is helping to revolutionize how performance data is collected and analyzed.

When Griffiths started working with the Syracuse track and field and cross country teams before the 2023-24 academic year, the teams weren’t utilizing a data-gathering system. But the student-athletes were using Garmin wearables to track their own data, so Griffiths built his own application and a tool that transported all of their data into his application, which then created spreadsheets he used to analyze that data.

With Griffiths’ help, the Syracuse women’s cross country team won its first NCAA Division I Northeast Regional championship since 2011. Throughout the academic year, Griffiths conducted and presented his research at various national competitions and conferences, including the UConn Sports Analytics Symposium (he was runner-up in sport analytics research), and the inaugural Sport, Entertainment and Innovation Conference (SEICon) last week in Las Vegas.

Griffiths’ success at Syracuse and his interest in track and field led to his connection with USATF, which gave him the freedom to explore his areas of interest. Using a combination of the latest technology, Griffiths helped create three-dimensional models to best understand an athlete’s musculoskeletal forces.

“For throwers (discus, shotput, javelin), my work focused on using a pose estimation model to detect patterns that could be linked to longer, more powerful throws,” Griffiths says. “For sprinters and distance runners, I used pose estimation data to monitor overtraining and track progress throughout the season and before meets.

“I also conducted extensive research for multi-event athletes in the heptathlon and decathlon,” he adds. “This research aimed to understand how fatigue affects scoring in multi-events and how different training sequences can reduce fatigue.”

Griffiths shared his work with the coaches, and at least two of the athletes he analyzed will be participating in the Olympics: javelin thrower Curtis Thompson, and 400-meter runner Alexis Holmes. During his time with USATF, Griffiths traveled to the New York City Grand Prix Meet–the final meet for track and field athletes before the U.S. Olympic Trials–and the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon.

“The thing we think about every morning is ‘How can we win another gold medal today?’” Griffiths says. “Having the opportunity to combine everything I’ve learned and truly be a trailblazer and innovator for USATF and those athletes, especially in a track and field biomechanics context, has made me uber-passionate about the work we are doing at Syracuse and the future of AI/analytics and sports.”

The track and field events run from Aug. 1-11.

Student: Livia McQuade

Livia McQuade ’25 is a sport management major and sport event management minor who has spent this summer in Loveland, Colorado, as an Athlete Relations Intern with Olympus Sports Group. Olympus is a management and marketing agency that provides top sponsorship opportunities and marketing strategies for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

In her role, McQuade has interfaced with athletes from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams and their partners, and with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and other national governing bodies. Her projects have included reviewing contracts, building athletes’ personal websites, and organizing outlines for athletes’ speaking engagements.

“I’ve had a truly incredible experience within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement – during a Games year of all times!” McQuade says. “Through it all, I’ve had the privilege to work with some of sport’s most impactful Olympians and Paralympians, including Apolo Ohno, Jessica Long, Noah Elliott, Sarah Adam, Alex and Gretchen Walsh, Alex Ferreira, and Steve Serio.”

McQuade, the executive vice president of the Sport Management Club in Falk College and co-chair of the club’s 2024 Charity Sports Auction, says she wants to work with the Olympic and Paralympic Movement following graduation and this internship has been an invaluable step in that process. Her experience with Olympus will continue in September, when she’ll attend the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to serve as a resource for U.S. athletes, their families, and their sponsors. The Paralympic Games run from Aug. 28-Sept. 8.

“I could not be more grateful and excited,” McQuade says of her upcoming experience in Paris. “My leadership (at Olympus Sports Group)–Ian Beck and Jessica Leonard ’16–have thrown extraordinary opportunities my way, and they will remain valuable mentors long into my career.”

Faculty: Jeeyoon “Jamie” Kim

Jeeyoon “Jamie” Kim is an associate professor in the Department of Sport Management who studies the long- and short-term social and economic effects of hosting the Games and other major sporting events. Kim is the former manager of the Korean Olympic Committee, and on Aug. 8 she’ll present at the 11th International Sport Business Symposium in Paris.

Kim’s presentation will focus on how the Youth Olympic Games, an Olympic-style event for athletes between 15 and 18 years old, can better impact their host city and support the aims of the Olympic Movement.

“The hope for Olympic sport participation legacy is grounded on the ‘trickle-down effect’ (i.e., watching Olympians compete will inspire youth to participate in sport),” Kim says in a Q&A with Syracuse University News. “For the Youth Olympics, the event can also be a steppingstone for younger athletes to compete on the international stage and grow to become Olympians. Additionally, the Youth Olympics offer many grassroots-level sport opportunities (e.g., sport camps, collaboration with local schools) to encourage the general youth to learn about Olympic sports.”

To combat youths’ dwindling interest in the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee added break dancing, sport climbing, and surfing to the lineup for Paris. Kim says this is a critical time for the future of the Olympics as upcoming Games in Paris, Milan Cortina (2026), and Los Angeles (2028) will be held in traditionally strong sports markets where there are opportunities to increase interest.

“Paris 2024 will be the first Olympics to include breaking in the official program,” Kim says. “We will have to see how the event turns out. But, so far, looking at the Olympics qualifiers series and the ticket popularity, it seems like there is a lot of interest garnered for the sport.”

Kim spent 5 ½ years with Korean Olympic Committee as a member of its International Games, International Relations, and 2018 PyeongChang Olympics task force teams. While in Paris, Kim will conduct research in Korea’s Olympic Hospitality House and share her findings with students in her Olympic Sport Management (SPM 356) and Olympic Odyssey (SPM 357) courses.

And Kim plans to attend the women’s individual finals event of her favorite summer Olympic sport, archery. “Korea has been very strong in the sport historically, and it is always fun to watch a sport where my team does well,” Kim says.

For more about Kim’s research and visit to Paris, read this Olympic Legacy story and watch a video of Kim from Syracuse University’s central marketing team.

Athletes: Freddie Crittenden III, Kristen Siermachesky, and Lysianne Proulx

At the U.S. Olympic Trials in late June, longtime U.S. hurdler Freddie Crittenden III ’17 qualified for his first Olympic Games by running a personal-best 12.96 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles. Crittenden finished second overall to teammate and three-time world champion Grant Holloway, who recorded a time of 12.86.

A public health major at Falk and a former All-American for the Syracuse track and field team, Crittenden just missed a bronze medal at the World Championships last summer and now at age 29, the Olympic Trials may have been his last opportunity to qualify for the Olympics.

“It feels amazing. Honestly, I’m still in shock and I’m trying to figure out what happened,” Crittenden said immediately after his Olympic Trials run. “But it’s an amazing feeling to come out here and accomplish what I’ve been trying to accomplish for the past 17 years. It’s beautiful.”

Two former Falk College sport management majors and Syracuse University student-athletes, rower Kristen Siermachesky ’21 and soccer goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx ’21, are alternates for the Olympics with Team Canada.

Proulx is Team Canada’s third-choice goalkeeper, meaning she will be activated if either the starting or backup goalkeeper is injured. Although she didn’t start at Syracuse until her junior season, Proulx recorded the fourth-most saves (281), second-most saves per game (5.3), and seventh-most shutouts (eight) in program history.

Since graduating from Syracuse, Proulx has excelled in professional leagues in Portugal, Australia, and now in the United States with Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. This past February, Bay FC acquired Proulx from Melbourne City for what Melbourne City described as a record-breaking transfer fee for an outgoing A-League player.

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Proulx represented Canada in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She went to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as Team Canada’s third-choice goaltender behind Kailen Sheridan and Sabrina D’Angelo, who have maintained their positions for the Olympics.

Like Proulx, Siermachesky ’21 will be available to her team if an injury occurs. But unlike Proulx, her path to Canada’s rowing team featured a different sport at Syracuse: ice hockey. She played four years as a defenseman at Syracuse and recorded a black-and-blue inducing 132 blocks in 125 games for the Orange.

After graduating from Syracuse, the native of New Liskeard, Ontario, considered playing ice hockey overseas but decided to pursue her graduate degree in sports administration at North Carolina. She wanted to continue her athletics career, but North Carolina doesn’t have an ice hockey team. Then-Syracuse ice hockey coach Paul Flanagan suggested she try rowing and contacted the Tar Heels’ coach to make that connection.

Siermachesky’s athleticism and potential caught the eye of the Team Canada Development Team, which asked her to move to British Columbia to train with the national team. Just three years into the sport, she is now on the cusp of competing in the Olympics and it’s likely she and Proulx will remain in the mix for the next summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

The rowing competition runs from July 27-Aug. 3, while the women’s soccer tournament started July 24 and runs through Aug. 10.

Editor’s Note: This story does not include all Falk College representatives in the Olympics. If you know of someone who is involved and not mentioned, please email Matt Michael, Falk College communications manager, at mmicha04@syr.edu.

DaSilva sought out the LGBTQ Living Learning Community (LLC) on the fourth floor of DellPlain Hall and the LGBTQ Resource Center in nearby Schine Student Center, where he has worked part time. The center is part of the Intercultural Collective (IC), an umbrella organization in the Division of the Student Experience that fosters inclusion and belonging on campus.

“The LGBTQ Resource Center is great because it works with the IC to provide resources, trainings and programs to students,” says DaSilva, a triple major in public health, policy studies, and citizenship and civic engagement (CCE). “I feel like I’m not alone in my experiences as a student—that there are people I can turn to for support.”

They include Joshua Seguí-Rodríguez (JSR), executive director of intercultural engagement, and Nathan Torabi (NT) ’26, a fellow CCE major also pursuing degrees in political science and law, society and policy.

We recently caught up with them and DaSilva (TDS) to discuss the University’s involvement with Pride Month and its broader commitment to inclusive excellence.

June marks the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a series of events between New York City police and LGBTQ protestors that helped ignite the gay rights movement and Pride Month. What can we learn from these milestones?

JSR: The protestors at Stonewall stood up for their rights to be acknowledged and respected. Their courage and determination sparked a movement that has led to significant advancements in LGBTQ rights. We must learn the importance of actively listening to and addressing the concerns of marginalized communities to foster a more inclusive and equitable society.

I oversee the Intercultural Collective, which builds on the legacy of the Stonewall events by giving space to people from all walks of life, including historically excluded communities. We don’t limit LGBTQ historical education to a single day or month. The IC considers it a year-round celebration. It feels good to come together and be surrounded by people invested in our success.

TDS: For many straight people, Pride Month is a rare opportunity to directly experience queer expression. This kind of awareness-raising, where we learn about the lived experiences of others, is healthy for our community and society.

NT: Through my connections in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, I’ve been CNY Pride’s first intern since January. What I like about the organization [which hosted the first CNY Pride Parade and Festival in 1985] is that it doesn’t have a physical office. I can work for them anytime, anywhere.

While students, faculty and staff have participated in the Pride parade over the years, the University didn’t become officially involved until recently. [CNY Pride Board President] Jimmy Monto and I have been exploring the possibility of a statewide festival and parade, with which the University could play a leadership role. This work also informs my research into LGBTQ advocacy.

In what ways does the IC support the notion of a welcoming campus?

JSR: Because of our location in Schine, we get a lot of foot traffic. Students also like to hang out in our lounge because it’s safe and comfortable—like being at a friend’s house.

The IC supports communities, not programs. We’re currently helping the Barnes Center at The Arch promote the University’s involvement with the CNY Pride Festival and Parade. We also work with them year round to support Trans and Gender Affirming Services. In October, the IC will partner with units like the LGBTQ Resource Center on programming for LGBTQ History Month.

There are many resources on campus and in the community for students exploring gender identity and expression. Students also can update their personal information, such as their preferred name and personal pronouns, within MySlice.

How can students become better LGBTQ allies?

NT: There are a lot of myths and misconceptions that shape public perception of the LGBTQ community. Listening and asking intelligent questions are good first steps.

As cofounder of the campus chapter of NextGen [Next Generation Leadership Corps], I recently attended a summit at Montclair State University, where I spoke about mass incarceration. That experience and my CCE courses got me thinking about how different people view LGBTQ issues. Making mistakes and exhibiting grace are part of the learning process, whether one wants to become an ally or, in my case, an LGBTQ civil litigator.

How do you build community?

NT: Mainly through my research at Syracuse. As a result, I have several people—including Junko Takeda [a professor in the history department and the interim chair of CCE], Amy Schmidt G’14 [assistant director of CCE] and Laura McArdle ’09, G’12, G’16 [director of upper-class advising in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School]—in my corner. They’re huge supporters of my work.

Also, through my involvement with CNY Pride, NextGen and the Student Ambassadors [in Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School], I can find out what’s on the minds of my peers. I get to put my LGBTQ advocacy skills into practice.

TDS: I like Affinity Groups. They’re smaller and less formal than LLCs but also focus on diversity and inclusion. The QTPOC affinity group [for queer and trans students of color] has given me social connections and reassurance that I otherwise wouldn’t have.

I also serve on the Student Association for Public Health Education [in Falk College], the Council on Diversity and Inclusion [CDI], and the First Year Seminar’s student advisory council. I’m using them to help create a more fulfilling environment for queer people of color.

JSR: Cross-campus partnerships are excellent ways to build community. And with the arrival of people like Mary Grace A. Almandrez, vice president for diversity and inclusion [and on whose advisory council DaSilva serves], and Dawn Singleton, vice president of student transition, access and inclusion, the climate on campus is shifting in a positive way. It’s up to us to make others feel heard.

An SU Story by Rob Enslin originally published on June 06, 2024