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Voices of Service

30/01/25
A Showcase of Veteran-Focused Research, Curriculum and Programs

exterior view of national veterans resource center

Call for Posters

The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and Academic Affairs invite you to submit poster abstracts for an inaugural event spotlighting diverse and dynamic work related to the interests and needs of veterans and military-connected populations. By showcasing ongoing and planned research projects, curricular innovations, program initiatives, and community engagement, we aim to amplify these efforts and foster new collaborations across our campus and community.

When and Where

  • Date: April 10, 2025
  • Location: National Veterans Resource Center (Syracuse University)
  • Time: 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Who Should Submit and Attend?

  • Syracuse University students (undergraduate, graduate) and trainees (postdocs)
  • Syracuse University faculty and staff
  • Community partners and collaborators in the Central New York region

Topics of Interest

We seek posters that highlight completed, planned, or in-progress research, curricular work, or applied services and programming related to the lived experiences, needs, or interests of veterans and/or military-connected families and individuals. We welcome contributions from all disciplines and fields that intersect with veteran and military-connected topics. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Research Projects and Analyses that are completed, planned, or in-progress
  • Curricular or Course-Related Efforts that focus on or integrate veteran- and military-related content
  • Programs and Services that benefit or support veterans and/or military-connected populations
  • Student Internships or Field Placements involving veteran research, support, outreach, or engagement

Important Dates

  • Abstract Submission (250 words): Due by February 24, 2025
  • Notification of Acceptance: By March 7, 2025
  • Final Digital Poster Email Submission: By April 7, 2025, to Julianna Fitz at jlfitz@syr.edu

Submission Details

  • Submit abstracts to Julianna Fitz at jlfitz@syr.edu
  • Include: Title (up to 150 characters); Author name(s); Affiliation(s); and Email address(es)

Event Schedule

  • 12:30: Welcome and Opening Remarks
  • 12:45 – 2:15: Open Poster session
  • 2:15 – 3:00: Reception (light refreshments) and Closing Remarks
  • Requirements, Process, and Questions

    • All presentations will be in person and posters must be printed.
    • Presenting authors are requested to attend the poster session.
    • Presenters are responsible for printing their own posters.
    • Posters should be no larger than 30″ x 40″ (portrait or landscape).
    • Easels, foam board, and binder clips will be provided.
    • Posters will be accepted based on the quality of the abstract and the order received.
    • For questions, please contact Jamie Winders at jwinders@syr.edu

    ‘A Work in Progress’

    17/01/25
    How to Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick
    women with glasses sitting across from a women with long hair having a conversation

    School of Social Work Professor of Practice Tracey Marchese says “A lot of us enter the new year with high expectations, and oftentimes we’re setting ourselves up for failure. It’s really the small changes that are more attainable.”

    With the arrival of the new year, many people view this as the ideal time to figure out the changes they’d like to make in themselves as part of a new year, new you mentality.

    Instead of making huge, sweeping goals, Tracey Marchese, a professor of practice in the School of Social Work in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, says focus on a few small, implementable changes.

    Tracey Marchese portrait
    Tracey Marchese
    Marchese, a licensed clinical social worker, is a big proponent of the benefits of small tweaks leading to sustainable change when it comes to successfully following through on resolutions.

    “If you are looking to who you want to be, that’s great, but you need to consider who you are and where you are,” says Marchese, whose research explores mind-body wellness. “Realize that you’re a work in progress who is going to be a work in progress your entire life.”

    The challenge is not to compare ourselves to others and accept who we are right now. Marchese encourages people to figure out “what you would want to change about yourself and how can you begin that change?”

    ’Cuse Conversations: New Year’s Resolutions and Self-Care Tips With Tracey Marchese

    On this “’Cuse Conversation,” Marchese offers tips and best practices for sticking to those New Year’s Resolutions, provides tips to help achieve the change you want to see and examines how mental health and well-being impacts overall well-being.

    Read the transcript

    What pointers can you offer up to help people stick with their resolutions?

    A lot of us enter the new year with high expectations, and oftentimes we’re setting ourselves up for failure. It’s really the small changes that are more attainable.

    There’s an old saying that says three weeks is a habit. Many people have weight loss goals. Instead of saying ‘I need to lose this much weight by this time,’ what about my eating could I change? And it can’t be I need to restrict everything that I eat. Let me start with one thing I am going to change. Perhaps it’s what I have for breakfast. Let me focus on that for three weeks or a month, changing the types of food I’m eating and not necessarily the amount of food I’m eating. Maybe it’s snacking throughout the day. What snacks can I change up instead of just trying to diet?

    Being able to set smaller, more attainable goals and then tweak the goal moving forward leads to more satisfaction, and a greater ability to feel proud of an accomplishment because you set a smaller goal instead of this long-term, unattainable goal.

    What are some accountability recommendations to help people reach their goals?

    Because everything is electronic, we can constantly be tracking our goals, and sometimes trackers can be extremely helpful. Other times, they can be harmful. If people are looking at their fitness tracker and thinking they’re a failure because they didn’t get in their 10,000 steps today, that’s not going to be helpful because all it will do is serve to defeat you. What are the things that can serve to motivate you versus defeat you?

    Having a buddy, someone to work on your goals with, is great. It helps keep you accountable and it makes pursuing your goals more fun. Journaling can be super helpful if it’s done in the right context of tracking your progress.

    But you need to cut yourself some slack because there are going to be days where you aren’t able to work on your goals because you weren’t feeling well. And that’s okay.

    How you would define self-care, and what are the different kinds of self-care?

    Self-care can show up in a lot of different ways. Do you feed yourself nutritious food? Do you have a regular sleep routine? Do you exercise your body if you’re able to do so? When we talk about holistic health, there are five parts that make us whole: our physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual parts of self. When there’s a disruption or a problem in one area, it’s going to permeate all of those other areas.

    When it comes to the social piece, do you make time to call or spend time with the people that you care about? Do you do things in your life that give you meaning and purpose? Can you find a work-life balance? For a lot of folks, that’s hard, but not all of this has to be on you. In workplace settings, could we have shared care or communal care that’s going to help everyone’s wellbeing?

    Yes, there are ways that we’re responsible for our self-care, but there are also ways our friends, the agencies and organizations that we work for and our communities can help with our self-care too.

    John Boccacino:
    Hello and welcome back to the ‘Cuse Conversations podcast. I’m John Boccacino, senior internal communications specialist at Syracuse University.

    Tracey Marchese:
    If you are looking to who you want to be, that’s great, but who are you and where are you? And just to look at yourself not as a negative and to say, I’m a work in progress, not that I’m a failure, right? And I have to be better. Hey, I’m work in progress and I’m going to be a work in progress my entire life. So, I think that’s some of the worst problems that we, especially Americans have, is we’re always comparing ourselves to everything and everyone else, some sort of higher level of whatever that we’re supposed to be that society tells us we’re supposed to be, instead of just accepting who we are right now and then saying, okay, and what would I like to maybe change about myself and how can I begin that?

    John Boccacino:
    Our guest on the ‘Cuse Conversations podcast, she is Tracey Marchese, a professor of practice in the School of Social work in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics here at Syracuse University.

    Now, I don’t need to tell our audience, but we’re coming off of a month that was spent celebrating the holidays with our family, our friends, and our loved ones. And with the arrival of the new year, many people view this as the ideal time to figure out the changes they’d like to see in themselves, and make in themselves. You know, new year, new you.

    But as we all know, keeping those resolutions and achieving change is not easy work. It takes commitment and patience and dedication, and it can be easy to fail if instead of focusing on a few small changes, we make these huge sweeping plans for our life in the new year. The reason I wanted Tracy to come on the podcast, she’s a big proponent that small tweaks can lead to sustainable change, and she also is going to help lead this important conversation about self-care and self-help tips for the new year. She’ll also offer up her advice on how you can achieve the change you want to see in yourself in 2025. Tracy, thanks for making the time to join us.

    Tracey Marchese:
    Oh, glad to be here.

    John Boccacino:
    Now, before we get started with our themes of this episode of self-care and self-help, give our audience a little background on yourself. How would you describe your research and your areas of expertise?

    Tracey Marchese:
    So as a professor of practice, I actually come from the practice field. So I’m a licensed clinical social worker, and I’ve been in practice for, oh, I don’t even want to admit it, 31 years. And so, I was in the field for 15 years before starting at SU, and now I’m full-time faculty here, but I still practice. So I have a small private practice on the side, and I actually do some training in a treatment for trauma called EMDR. So my area of expertise is trauma, but I also have always had an interest and always practiced in the area of mind-body wellness as well.

    John Boccacino:
    Where did that interest come from for this line of work in this field of study?

    Tracey Marchese:
    It’s interesting. The mind-body piece actually started in high school. I took a high school yoga class and learned how to meditate, and I said, wow, this is really kind of cool. And then I went to college and some of my coursework, I was a psych major in undergrad, and some of my coursework kind of took me in that mind-body realm again. And then when I went to graduate school for social work, it just kept showing up. And when you move into your practice field, that’s when I started to learn more about trauma because I started realizing how many of my clients experienced, whether we call it Big T or little T, Trauma. And so the big T’s are the big events that happen to people. I don’t want to trigger anyone, but like a car accident or something big.

    The little T’s I think most of us experience. So that could be a bad breakup, it could be a breakup with a friend, it could be the loss of a job, even if it was for a better job, but you still leave behind your colleagues. So there’s big T traumas and little T traumas, but I saw that most of the population experiences that across their lifetime.

    And so, started getting interested in working in trauma. And that’s how I found EMDR because it is a treatment for trauma, and other wonderful techniques to work with trauma as well. And I realized through the research that I was doing, through the trainings that I was doing, that there’s always a connection. Trauma is held in your body.

    And so there was that perfect connection for me because I knew that the mind and body were always working well together. And then, this area of trauma that I became interested in, it shows up there as well.

    And so that everything, all of our experiences are held in our bodies. And so how do we take care of ourselves? How do we heal from the things that have happened to us? How do we maintain when things are going well for us and how do we prevent ourselves from getting Further traumatized in our life?

    John Boccacino:
    It really is fascinating when you think about if you had a problem with your car, you wouldn’t ignore the brake pads needing to get replaced, or your windshield wipers. But when it comes to mental health, we really do seem to still have a bit of a stigma around admitting that, hey, it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to seek help. How have you seen, I guess, since your time working in this field, what kind of progress have we made to maybe chip away at that stigma?

    Tracey Marchese:
    I think there’s been a lot of progress. I think that there is still a stigma. Absolutely. And I think we’ve done a lot to tackle that stigma as well. I think that having celebrities come out in public and talk about their struggles with mental health. Although I’m not a big fan of social media, that we have social media influencers who are coming out and talking about their struggles with mental health. And so that’s making it more okay to not be okay.

    And although I don’t advocate for everybody being able to do something via self-help, I think that some people really do need professional help. So I move away from those places in social media that say, oh, you could just do this and you’ll be fine. And I don’t believe that the whole world needs therapy either. So there’s kind of a fine line in that.

    But I do think that we’ve done a lot, but there’s still more to go. I think that the pandemic really changed things for a lot of us. It made it very obvious for certain people that they needed help. And for others, I think we still have some people who are kind of walking wounded, not even realizing the impact that the social isolation, or the fear of dying when we didn’t know enough about Covid and we didn’t have any vaccines or cures, has really held onto people. It’s really held in their nervous system, held in their bodies. And so, I do believe that there might be people who are still in need of care who haven’t realized that they’re in need of care.

    John Boccacino:
    And you brought up a term. I want to hear in your own words how you would define self-care, and the different types of self-care that are out there that are applicable to our audience.

    Tracey Marchese:
    I think that self-care is a term that gets thrown around a lot. And I think that not everybody realizes what it exactly is. And so I’m really glad that you asked me that question, because I think that self-care for some people is, oh, I have to do it all by myself. I can’t, can’t do anything with other people. It has to be something I do for myself.

    And I think that self-care can show up in a lot of different ways. So the simplest ways are things like, do you feed yourself nutritious food? Hopefully you have access to that. So I’m not making assumptions that we all have access to nutritious food, but if you do, can you feed yourself nutritious food? Can you find regular times to sleep? So in other words, do you have a sleep routine, or do you just kind of wing it and you go to bed at different times every night?

    And so is your sleep a good consistent seven hours, that is the recommended amount, minimal amount of sleep that we need to have in order for our brains and our bodies to function as well as they can. Many people don’t, and they have very disrupted patterns or not even any kind of routines for sleep. Do you exercise your body? Do you move your body, if you are able to do so? And in what ways are you giving yourself your system, your body, the movement that it needs and the exercise that it needs in order to be well?

    When we talk about holistic health, there’s five parts that make us whole, and that’s our physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual parts of self. And so when there’s sort of a disruption or a problem in one area, it’s going to permeate all of those other areas.

    And, so I’m giving you some kind of really concrete physical things, but what about the social pieces? Do you make time to call people that you care about, or to spend time with people that you care about? Do you do things in your life that give you meaning and purpose? That’s the spiritual side. It’s not always about religion. It’s about what gives you meaning and purpose in life.

    And so how do we feed these different areas? Can you find a work-life balance? And that for a lot of folks is really hard, how you find a work-life balance. But not all of that has to be you, you, you, you, you. And you are responsible and you have to do it. Yeah, some of it I think you do, right? But I also think that in settings like workplaces, could we have shared care or communal care that’s going to help everyone’s wellbeing?

    So in other words, if you’re in the workplace, does your work environment, do your supervisors, promote taking your lunch break or does everybody sit at their desk and work through their lunch break? Do you take time off? If you work overtime, because there’s work to be done, not just because you can’t get your work done, but because you’re trying to help out the agency that you work for or the organization that you work for. And are you allowed to get what they call, comp time, or in other words, there’s a day that you have a doctor’s appointment, do you have to take your sick time to do that? Or because you worked overtime that now you can take that time and not have to take days off to just go to your doctor or to pick your kid up from school because they’re sick that day?

    So I think that there’s ways that yes, we are responsible for our self-care, but also that our friends, our agencies and organizations we work for, our community can be helpful in self-care as well.

    John Boccacino:
    I think it’s easy to feel isolated or lonely or even fall prey to comparison syndrome during the holidays and during the new year. Commercials don’t help. The advertising doesn’t help. It’s a complicated minefield. If you did happen to have advice, words of wisdom for people that maybe were feeling like they were battling with comparison syndrome or feeling isolated, what are some ways that people might be able to seek further help or try to pull themselves… Besides of course, the professional piece, which is a very valuable component to this. What’s the best practices you might have for those audience members?

    Tracey Marchese:
    Yeah, I mean, I think especially coming off of the holidays, we have to keep in mind that life is not a Hallmark movie, and it’s not a commercial. And what’s interesting is as a therapist, the holidays are our busiest time of year, because it’s kind of returning to the scene of the crime. So in other words, any family dysfunction or stress or things, you’re going home to see all those folks again. And for many people it’s very stressful. And then if you’re comparing to everybody who’s posting on social media only their best self and, oOh, everything’s wonderful and I have the best holiday and here’s my big family and all this other stuff, you can easily fall prey to comparison. And I think it’s hard sometimes not to recognize, to miss the boat in that people are just putting their best moments on social media and that’s not their whole life.

    And so really just having an honest conversation with yourself about, okay, this isn’t me versus them, and that the reality is that many people struggle during the holidays. And so, what can I do now that we’re past the holidays to move forward? And how do I get myself out of that feeling of, wow, that was a stressful time with so-and-so in my family or friend group or whomever I saw over the holidays. What can I do to kind of move my mindset out of that?

    And I would say that folks are feeling isolated. What are ways that they can feel more connected? And so, do they have some friends at work, even if they’re not their best friends, some people that they can connect with socially? Are there organizations or groups, or even online communities, that could provide just a way of connecting with other people with similar interests?

    Most areas, even some of the rural areas have meetup groups, and that’s a whole website, meetup.com, where you can find just about anything, and find other people that are interested, and they have connections either in person or online, or… So what are some things that you can do that would help you feel more connected? If you went home wherever home is for the holidays and now you’re back in your home, or if you’re a student, it’s a temporary home back on campus, who can you reconnect with that would help you to just feel more connected in the way that you like to feel connected, versus those strained connections that you might’ve felt?

    John Boccacino:
    We are always trying to think of ways to better ourselves, and the natural inclination with, again, the new year, the new you. Let’s focus on some changes for ourselves. From your professional perspective, what do you think are some of the best tips and best practices you can offer for coming up with resolutions that are both achievable and gratifying and sustainable?

    Tracey Marchese:
    What I would say is, I think a lot of us enter the new year with high expectations, and I think that oftentimes we’re setting ourselves up for failure. So it’s really the small changes that are more attainable and sustainable. And so, there’s an old saying that says, three weeks is a habit. And so I would say that if you have this enormous goal for, I’m going to go to the gym five days a week and I’m going to do these kinds of exercises over here and I’m going to make myself do this over there, because I’m going to do this over here, and it’s over committing, over committing to something. What’s one thing that you could start with? Maybe you do have a goal and it’s, I want to go on, I want to run the New York City Marathon, so that’s usually in I think November.

    So okay, do I even run? Am I a runner? So if the first answer to that question is no, it might not be this year that you want to do that. So maybe your goal is next year, and that’s not a bad thing. What could you start doing this year that would then get you ready for your attainable goal to be able to run that marathon? So maybe this year you run a half-marathon, and you do that, you look at what’s available maybe in August or September, so that you give yourself eight, nine months to start training for that. So you see the difference between the pie-in-the-sky kind of goal that I’ve never run before, but I’m going to run a marathon in 10 months. Or could I run a half-marathon in 10 months or nine months? And so think about shifting your goals so that, yes, I still have this long-term goal, but what could I do in the shorter term? So that would get me to that goal. So what do I do now? Well, if I don’t exercise at all, maybe I need to start with walking and maybe not running, at first.

    Ands so what’s an attainable goal? Well, maybe I’ll start with 15 minutes a day, and let me do that for a week. And then let me go to a half an hour a day and see how my body takes to that and then build from there. And there’s my three weeks is a habit. Now I’m walking a little bit every day, but I’m not saying I’m going to walk an hour a day and I’m going to that. And I’m using this, this is kind of a silly example, b,ut think about people have weight loss goals. I want to lose 50 pounds by June. That would be dieting in a very unhealthy way to lose that much weight in six months.

    So instead of saying, I need to lose this much weight, what things about my eating could I change and make different? And it can’t be, I need to restrict everything that I eat. It’s let me start with one thing that I’m going to change. Maybe I could change what I have for breakfast and let me focus on that for three weeks or a month and then let me see about how could I change maybe the types of food that I’m eating and not necessarily the amounts. Or maybe I know that this is my worst time of day for snacking, and so what snacks could I change? If snacking is my biggest problem, then what kind of snacks could I change, instead of let me try this diet. everybody’s going to do the diet and most diets aren’t sustainable. Things like a Weight Watchers might be because that’s more about natural food instead of very restricted, and I’m only going to eat this type and I’m only going to do this and that even a change to a Mediterranean diet, for example, is going to be much more healthy and you’re going to be eating differently, versus let me try this bad diet that I’m probably going to get sick of or it’s going to fail me after the first few weeks.

    Being able to set smaller, more attainable goals, and then tweak the goal moving forward, it really leads to much more satisfaction. It leads to much more ability to feel proud of an accomplishment because you set a smaller goal instead of this long-term unattainable goal.

    John Boccacino:
    And I think it’s really important. I want to hammer home, too, this point, start where you are. It’s not about where you want to be. It’s where you are currently in this moment and what can be done to then find that version, that better self, that happens to be out there.

    Tracey Marchese:
    Absolutely. If you are looking to who you want to be, that’s great, but who are you and where are you? And just to look at yourself not as a negative and to say, I’m a work in progress, not that I’m a failure and I have to be better. It’s, hey, I’m a work in progress and I’m going to be a work in progress my entire life.
    So my work in progress right now is I’d like to do this. What’s the first step in doing this thing that I want? Let me start there. Because that’s really accepting who you are. And I think that’s some of the worst problems that we, especially Americans, have is we’re always comparing ourselves to everything and everyone else, some sort of higher level of whatever that we’re supposed to be that society tells us we’re supposed to be, instead of just accepting who we are right now, and then saying, okay, and what would I like to maybe change about myself? And how can I begin that versus just saying, oh, well, I’m awful the way I am and I have to do, anything will be better than what I’m doing.

    John Boccacino:
    And I think another piece that I want to talk about with you is the accountability component as well, whether it’s keeping a journal, whether it’s an active list of I walked 15 minutes today, five days a week, and you kind of build upon that. What are some recommendations for accountability you can offer up that will help people reach their goals?

    Tracey Marchese:
    Yeah, I think that trackers, because now everything is electronic, either your phone or your Fitbit or whatever, we can track ourselves. And sometimes those things can be extremely helpful. Sometimes they can actually be harmful. So I think that, if people are looking at their fitness tracker and, oh my God, I didn’t get my 10,000 steps in today. Oh, I’m a failure. If we’re into all-or-nothing thinking and we know that about ourselves, that’s not going to be helpful because all it’s going to serve to do is defeat you. And so what are the things that can serve to motivate you versus defeat you? And so maybe, again, each person is going to have to decide that for themselves, but if you find yourself using fitness trackers and then beating yourself up for not being perfect, that’s not helpful. And that will actually, eventually cause to feel so defeated, you’ll probably give up. So for some folks, it’ll work great. For some folks it will not. I think that oftentimes buddying up and having a buddy to do stuff with, that keeps you accountable, and it also makes things more fun.

    Journaling can be super helpful for people, again, if it’s done in the right context to say, hey, I’m just kind of tracking my progress, how I go. And can you allow yourself, well, I had a really bad cold, so I really didn’t do my, whatever my fitness goal today, or whatever I was going to do. Maybe my writing goal today, maybe you promised yourself you were going to journal every day or something like that and you didn’t write because you weren’t feeling well. Can you cut yourself some slack? And maybe when you do eflect on it the next day to say, but taking care of myself and having that extra sleep was my self-care in order to allow myself to heal, so that I could get back to these routines again instead of going into the automatic negative, beat myself up because I didn’t do it all right kind of thing.

    John Boccacino:
    Besides the obvious ones of, I want to lose weight, I want to become more active, what are some other maybe lesser known but still impactful self-care, self-help resolutions that should be focused on maybe in the new year?

    Tracey Marchese:
    Well, something I would love people to focus on is, one of the greatest self-care strategies is a way in which to keep yourself regulated. And how do we do that? We know that life is stressful, and the antidote to stress is the relaxation response, which is different than relaxing, putting your feet on good book, watching a movie, that’s relaxing. I get that. The relaxation response is a response that you can elicit in our own body, and when you do, it literally counteracts the effects of stress. So, stress causes havoc in the body, the stress, when we’re in a stressful situation, the same chemicals that get released in your body during fight or flight are released during stress just in lower amounts, but for longer periods of time. And it’s quite unhealthy for us, not only physically, but mentally as well. And so, one of the greatest things that is available to us that we don’t actually need money to pay for, is using our own bodies to help us relax. And the research that’s been studied, if I told you, you would probably say, and your listeners would probably go, yeah, is she kidding? So here’s what I’m going to tell you. The research says that doing these types of techniques 20 minutes twice a day, and that’s the part that I said, your listeners are going to be like, what is she kidding, is what’s been studied. But I’ll tell you what t shows, and then I’ll tell you what’s realistic, okay?

    So the research shows that people that do these types of things 20 minutes twice a day actually go to the doctor eight times less frequently. And so what we find is that people do better. They do better on wellness scales, scales of general wellness, and depression scales, people who use these techniques. And so, I realized that for the average person who’s feeling stressed and really busy, 20 minutes twice a day sounds absolutely unattainable.

    I can tell you as a therapist, and I can tell you that I know dozens of other therapists who will say the same. If you could do five minutes twice a day, it will make a tremendous difference. And so, anything that you use, and there’s a lot of stuff out there. So, there’s a lot of apps and many of them have free versions. They’re either completely free, or they have a free version, and then you could do a paid version if you want.

    I use YouTube myself, and I just don’t watch what’s on the YouTube. I just close my eyes, and I let somebody guide me through either affirmation, which are positive statements about the self that you just listen to and sort of repeat in your own mind. And they have been shown over time to literally register in your subconscious so that they can actually help raise your self-esteem.

    You could do guided meditation or guided imagery, and you just do simple searches on YouTube, for example, and you’ll find dozens and dozens of YouTube videos. And like I said, just close your eyes and let the person’s voice guide you. I always suggest to people starting out with this, to begin with a minute or two minutes. Because when you’re trying to quiet your mind, which is what meditation is all about, and you’re trying to do it without somebody’s voice guiding you, I’ve been in practice with this for a long time, and I don’t do well without somebody’s voice guiding me, so I own that. So some of us just need that. There’s way too much chatter going on in my head, but when I have somebody’s voice to guide me. And you might have to try out different people’s voices, how frequently they come in or not, but to find something that works for you, you can even just take deep breaths.

    You breathe into your diaphragm, which means all the way down into your belly. And if you’ve never done this before, you can put a hand on your stomach. And when you take that deep breath in, your hand should rise. And then when you breathe out, that hand should fall back down again. And so, that’s how you practice taking some deep breaths. And you might just choose to start your practice by, I wake up in the morning, let me just take 10 long deep breaths. Let me do that to a count of four, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, and then I breathe out to that same count of four, and I do 10 of those. And maybe I do that somewhere later in my day too. And maybe that’s how you start. And so no one’s saying, oh, it’s got to be the five minutes that she said, or it’s got to be the 20 minutes. Anywhere you could find. But what the research shows is that the more you do these things when you don’t need them, when you do and you’re in a stressful situation where you have anxiety about something, you’re going to remember to do them because you’ve been practicing. And then when you start to do it, your body’s going to remember, there’s actually a term for this that’s called, remembered wellness, that our bodies know what it’s like to feel well, and our bodies want to go back to that feeling. So all you need to do is really just start a couple of those deep breaths and your body will go, oh, they’re doing that thing, and your body will start to relax. And so, that to me is one of the most important or most beneficial things that people can take away and start using right away. And it’s just, even if you just do 10 breaths twice a day, that’s easy to fit in.

    John Boccacino:
    I know with the holidays in the rearview mirror, it’s easy to feel bummed out about the conclusion of the holiday period. And that kind of leads into seasonal affective disorder, which we’re prone to here in central New York with our colder temperatures, our snowfall, and our gloomy skies. How would you define seasonal affective disorder, and what are some of the big symptoms, and how prevalent of an issue is this?

    Tracey Marchese:
    Yeah, seasonal affective disorder is real. It happens often in the fall, because our days get shorter. And so what happens is it can start to happen as soon as the days start getting shorter and shorter, and we have less and less sunlight. So we know that the shortest day of the year is the day of the winter solstice, which is December, I think, somewhere around the 21st, and then it’ll start to get lighter again. But during those dark months, we get less sunlight, and it’s believed that sunlight actually helps to trigger serotonin, which is the thing that helps us feel less depressed or feel more happy. And so if we have less production of serotonin, we might have more symptoms of depression. The other thing that’s also being studied is melatonin, which is the sleep hormone. And again, that kicks in when it’s dark out.

    So those combinations of things can really affect our brain chemistry. And so for some folks it mimics it can go from anything from some more mild symptoms, like fatigue, and sort of feeling like I want to sleep more and maybe having trouble getting up in the morning. We may be craving more carbohydrates and maybe eating some more. And those are kind of the symptoms, but you can also have some symptoms of depression.

    And so in the more severe cases, people can go into a full-blown depression that only happens during months where there’s less light. And so I will tell you, I don’t get full on seasonal affective disorder, but I will get fatigue, which will usually set in for me sometime around beginning of February. So I actually take proactive steps to counteract that.

    John Boccacino:
    What are some things people can do proactively to deal with a seasonal affective disorder?

    Tracey Marchese:
    So for me, I actually use something called a light box, and these are, it’s bright light therapy. And so believe it or not, I’m originally from New Jersey and I’ve been using a light box since I lived in New Jersey. Up here, it is a lot darker, a lot more cloudy days thanks to our lake effects snow machine up here. So I use a light box. , light therapy is something that has been shown to help with seasonal affective disorder, especially the folks who don’t go into full-blown depression. And how it works is you would need to get not just turning on some bright lights in your house, there’s actually a special machine that, they’re a lot more accessible than they used to be. So the one that I have is by a company that’s been around for 30 years that specializes in light therapy. And any of the light boxes, but you can get them on Amazon now and they’re about the size of a tablet. The thing that you want to look for is something that has 10,000 lux, L U-X. So the light itself is 10,000 lux. Now, depending upon the size of the machine that you get, is how close you need to sit to it and for how long you need to sit in front of it.

    So I have a very small little machine and I have to sit about 14 inches away from it, so it’s pretty close I have to sit to it. Now, you don’t stare at it or anything like that, but it needs to be shining on, shining near eyes. You can be looking down, that’s perfectly fine. You certainly don’t have to stare at it, but you start with about a half an hour, and you do it every day, because it sometimes takes two or three weeks to start to see the results from it. And so you sit in front of that light or that light box for about 30 minutes a day. For me, I do it during my morning routine, so I might be eating breakfast or putting makeup on, so it’s again, nothing that I have to just sit and do, right? Because who’s got time?
    I get it. But could we have it nearby with our morning routine where you might be able to do that. Certain people will need more time in front of that light box. The thing that’s important if you decide, if your listeners decide, to do this is that you have to do it in the morning. You don’t do this in the afternoon or the evening because it can actually disrupt your sleep cycle. But the bright light therapy has been shown to help. Vitamin D is another important piece. Even if you can just get outside in the light, it can be very, very helpful, especially if it’s a sunny day. But vitamin D is the other piece of this. Vitamin D deficiency is very common up here. Regardless of my routine and such, I have been vitamin D deficient since I’ve lived up here, at least twice in 16 years. So it’s very common in areas where we don’t have a lot of sunlight in the wintertime. And that would be a blood test to go to your doctor and ask to have it tested because you might need vitamin D therapy, particularly in these winter months, and that can deplete your energy as well. So there are ways to navigate that that have been shown. Like I said, both the light therapy and vitamin D, just even getting outside. Some folks will need professional help. And if you say to yourself, but why don’t I feel this way? I’m usually fine. Why am I all of a sudden this way? Well, it might depend. This winter might be worse than other winters or with the lack of sunlight, we’ve had a lot of gray days recently. So that might be a contributing factor.

    And so don’t hesitate to ask for help. And it might be that your doctor tests you for D first before considering doing something like medication. They might suggest you get some therapy first, before they’re going to go run right to medication. But not to say that medication, some people do need it just during those winter months, and then they don’t need it in the spring and summer months.

    John Boccacino:
    There’s a strong connection between how our mental health and well-being impacts our overall well being. It’s not two parts of the house that are separate from each other, they’re codependent. They rely on each other and they feed off each other.

    Tracey Marchese:
    Absolutely. Our mind and body are always working together. And to ignore one is ignoring both, because one will affect the other, regardless.

    John Boccacino:
    It’s really been a fascinating conversation. I hope our audience has enjoyed hearing the insights of Tracey Marchese, Professor of Practice in the School of Social Work. Really appreciate your expertise, sharing some pointers and tips for us on self-care, sticking to New Year’s resolutions, and focusing on the mental health and well-being. Tracey, thank you for the time and best of luck with all your future research and your teachings.

    Tracey Marchese:
    Thank you so much for having me. I hope your listeners get something out of this.

    John Boccacino:
    Thanks for checking out the latest installment of the ‘Cuse Conversations podcast.
    My name is Jon Boccacino, signing off for the ‘Cuse Conversations podcast.


    A Syracuse University News story by John Boccacino originally published on Jan. 13, 2025.


    Welcome Back!

    14/01/25
    Dean Jordan’s Spring Semester Message to Students
    Dean Jordan meets with students around a conference room table

    Dean Jeremy Jordan encourages students to reach out to faculty and staff at any time for support and services.

    Dear Falk College Students,

    Welcome back to Syracuse University! I hope you had a joyous holiday season and an opportunity to relax, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the football team’s convincing win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl!

    I’m excited about the new semester and I look forward to watching all you will accomplish as you pursue your academic and professional goals this spring. As classes begin, I want to remind you of resources at Falk College and on campus that will help you succeed:

    Official Syracuse University Communications

    Syracuse University email is the primary communication method at the University. Your professors and University offices will contact you with important information using your Syracuse University email address (ending in “@syr.edu”), not your personal email address. It’s important to read your University email at least once every day so you’re aware of the latest information that’s essential to you.

    Student Support Services

    Falk College Student Services is an important resource in your support system at Syracuse University. Student Services counselors are here to provide you with academic advising and help you meet your requirements and goals. They are also your resource for private consultation related to student social and emotional concerns. If you have any concerns this semester, please contact Student Services or visit Falk 330, Barclay Suite, in the Falk Complex.

    I encourage you to connect with the staff at Falk Career Services who can help you prepare for life after college through career exploration, internship and job searching, professional networking, and more. They are also located in Falk 330, or you can search for opportunities through Handshake, the University’s job search and professional events portal.

    In addition, you can connect to spiritual life on campus at Hendricks Chapel, and health and counseling services in the Barnes Center at the Arch.

    Student Spaces in Falk College

    The Student Lounge, located in Falk 216, is available to you anytime the Falk Complex is open. The lounge has a microwave, refrigerator, and vending machines for student use. Across the hall from the Student Lounge is Falk Café, which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday starting Jan. 13. Visit the Food Services website for up-to-date operating hours for cafés and dining centers across campus.

    There are several computer labs in the Falk Complex. Falk 113 is a PC lab, and Falk 229 is a quiet study area that has both PCs and Macs available for your use. Both spaces are available to students at any time. Falk 400 and 407 are PC labs that are also used as teaching classrooms. When class is not in session, they are open for student use. You may check their schedule of availability using the 25Live website. You may also use the quick-print stations in Falk 216 and 229 for printing and email. These stations log out automatically after 10 minutes of use.

    Ways to Get Involved

    There are more than 300 student organizations at Syracuse University. Be sure to explore organizations that might be outside your usual interests, too. Remember, this is a great way to meet new people and discover something new about yourself!

    There are many exciting events planned for Spring 2025, starting with the historic 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Jan. 26 at the JMA Wireless Dome and leading to Commencement Weekend May 10-11. You can find more activities and events on campus by visiting the Syracuse University Calendar. For more resources and opportunities to make the most of your Syracuse experience, I encourage you to visit syracuse.edu/life/students.

    I wish you the best this semester and please reach out to us if you’re in need of services and support. On behalf of the Falk faculty and staff, I wish you continued success on your journey here at Falk College and the wider Syracuse University community.

    Go Orange!

    Jeremy S. Jordan, Ph.D.
    Dean
    Falk College


    Helping the Homeless

    29/12/24
    Social Workers United Donation Drive to Benefit We Rise Above The Streets
    Social Work graduate student holding cards in his hand that will be distributed to clients.

    Muhammed Cisse, a second-year graduate student in the full-time Master of Social Work residential program in Falk College, holds cards of encouragement from Social Workers United students that will be distributed to clients from We Rise Above The Streets.

    “If it was not for you Al-amin Muhammad I would not be alive and I would have not been in my own apartment for a year and three months.”

    – Social media post from a client to We Rise Above The Streets founder Al-amin Muhammad

    We Rise Above The Streets Inc. is a Syracuse-based, non-profit organization that “delivers high energy messages that encourage people to live up to their full potential by breaking the cycle of homelessness and criminality,” according to its website.

    In their ongoing efforts to provide essential resources to those in need in the Syracuse community, students from Social Workers United (SWU) selected We Rise Above The Streets as the beneficiary of their annual donation drive that runs through March 10. SWU is comprised of students from the School of Social Work in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, and they’re “dedicated to fostering service projects aligned with the students’ passions,” says SWU member and graduate student Mary Claytor, a graduate assistant in the School of Social Work.

    Here are the details on how you can support individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity through We Rise Above The Streets:

    Needed Items (all items must be new): Food (canned food, granola bars, chips, snacks, water bottles, brown bags, sandwich bags); hygiene products (soap, body wash, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, tampons, pads, lotions, brushes, combs, ChapStick, bandages, face wash, face lotion, baby oil, diapers); and winter essentials (hand and foot warmers, hats, gloves, socks, jackets, scarves, earmuffs, and more for men, women, and children).

    Drop-off Locations: School of Social Work Suite 244 (second floor of White Hall), and donation boxes outside of each department in Falk College. Items can be dropped off through March 10.

    Online Donations: For those unable to drop off donations in person or prefer to shop online, items can be purchased directly through SWU’s Amazon Wishlist.

    Faculty and staff advisors Jennifer Genovese, Nadaya Brantley, and Kristin Esposito advise and support SWU students as they develop service projects, but the students lead the projects.

    “The students of Social Workers United continue to exemplify the core values of social work: service, social justice, human dignity, the importance of relationships, integrity, and competence,” says Genovese, social work associate teaching professor and Master of Social Work Program director. “These key values drive all social workers and can be seen in action in the students of Social Workers United.”

    For more information about the donation drive, please contact the School of Social Work at 315-443-5550 during regular business hours or Genovese at jgenoves@syr.edu.

    U.S. News and World Report ranked the Syracuse University School of Social Work among the “Best Schools of Social Work” in the country. To learn more about the School of Social Work’s academic programs, experiential learning, and career opportunities, visit the Falk College website.


    Falk College FAQs

    14/11/24
    Frequently Asked Questions for the Human Dynamics Go-Forward Plan

    Exterior view of Falk College from Quad parking facing the patio

    On Nov. 13, Syracuse University announced a go-forward plan to reshape the future of its human dynamics programs and reposition them for short- and long-term success. Here are frequently asked questions about the announcement:

    What is the main objective of reshaping Syracuse University’s human dynamics programs?

    The primary goal is to reposition and strengthen these academic programs to ensure their success and growth both in the short- and long-term. By consolidating programs and aligning them with colleges that have stronger academic synergies, Syracuse University aims to enhance the community impact, drive enrollment growth, advance research excellence, and better serve students and the broader communities in human, health, and social services.

    What specific changes are being made to the human dynamics programs?

    The reshaping plan involves the following key changes:

    • Human Development and Family Science will merge with Marriage and Family Therapy, becoming one department (i.e., HDFS) within the College of Arts and Sciences.
    • Public Health will move to the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
    • The School of Social Work will be housed in the School of Education.

    These changes are designed to improve academic collaboration, expand research opportunities, and better align these programs with complementary academic disciplines.

    When will these changes take effect?

    The changes will go into effect on July 1, 2025. Students graduating before July 1, 2025, will participate in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics commencement ceremonies, and students graduating after July 1, 2025, will be participating in the commencement ceremonies of their new school or college. All students impacted by this transition will continue to receive their diploma from Syracuse University that includes their degree.

    How were these changes determined?

    These changes were based on an extensive four-month assessment conducted by the Human Dynamics Task Force, which involved input from faculty, students, alumni, and community stakeholders. The task force analyzed the current state of these disciplines, both on campus and at peer institutions, and provided recommendations, which in large part informed the go-forward plan.

    Will students already enrolled in these programs be impacted by these changes?

    Students currently enrolled in these programs will continue their studies as planned. Starting in Fall 2025, students enrolled in these programs will be placed within the school or college that houses their respective degree program.

    Where will faculty and staff in the human dynamics programs be located after the changes?

    Faculty and staff in the human dynamics programs will remain physically located in MacNaughton and White Halls–and Peck Hall for the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy–for the foreseeable future, even after the programs are realigned with other colleges.

    What are the benefits of these changes for students and faculty?

    For students, these changes will lead to stronger academic programs with greater interdisciplinary collaboration, enhanced research opportunities, and better preparation for future careers in human, health, and social services. For faculty, the realignment fosters stronger collaborations across colleges, supporting faculty scholarship and providing a more robust environment for research excellence.

    Why is Syracuse University making these changes now?

    The changes reflect Syracuse University’s commitment to adapting to the evolving educational landscape and ensuring that its human dynamics programs are positioned for long-term success. This restructuring will allow the programs to better meet the needs of students, faculty, and the communities they serve, while fostering greater academic synergies and promoting growth.

    What role did the Human Dynamics Task Force play in these decisions?

    The Human Dynamics Task Force, co-chaired by Falk College Associate Dean of Human Dynamics Rachel Razza and Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School Peter Vanable, played a central role in assessing the current state of the programs, gathering feedback from stakeholders, and formulating strategic recommendations. Their work involved cross-disciplinary collaboration and was instrumental in shaping the final plan for the realignment of these programs.

    What is the long-term vision for the human dynamics programs at Syracuse University?

    The long-term vision is to create stronger, more integrated programs that foster greater collaboration across disciplines and elevate the university’s impact in fields like human development, public health, marriage and family therapy, and social work. By realigning these programs with other colleges, the university aims to drive enrollment growth, enhance research, and better prepare students for professional careers in the human, health, and social services fields.


    Go-Forward Plan

    13/11/24
    Syracuse University to Reshape the Future of Its Human Dynamics Programs, Reposition Them to Create Academic Synergies and Drive Excellence

    drone view of SU campus

    Following four months of deliberate assessment and cross disciplinary collaboration by members of the Human Dynamics Task Force, Syracuse University today announced a go-forward plan to reshape the future of its human dynamics programs and reposition them for short- and long-term success. The plan includes the consolidation of two departments and relocation of all human dynamics programs from the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics to other schools and colleges with stronger academic synergies.

    “From the beginning of this process, my priority has been developing and implementing a plan that repositions and strengthens the human dynamics academic programs, research and communitywide impact,” says Lois Agnew, interim vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “This repositioning elevates our human dynamics programs, fosters stronger collaborations across colleges, advances faculty scholarship and better serves our students and the communities we serve.”

    In June, task force members began assessing the current state of the human dynamics disciplines, both on campus and at peer institutions, aggregating feedback from key stakeholders and compiling recommendations for how these programs can be positioned for success and growth in the future. As part of the go-forward plan:

    • Marriage and family therapy will merge with human development and family science and become one department within the College of Arts and Sciences.
    • Public health will join the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
    • Social work will be housed in the School of Education.

    These changes, informed in large part by task force recommendations, are designed to enhance the academic and community impact of these programs, grow enrollment, drive research excellence and strengthen the University’s long-standing commitment to preparing professionals to thrive in human, health and social services. They will go into effect July 1, 2025.

    “I am grateful to the members of the task force for their thorough, thoughtful and strategic recommendations. I also extend my appreciation to the many students, faculty and staff who provided feedback along the way—through surveys, engagement sessions and other opportunities for submitting input. Their participation in this process and candid feedback were invaluable,” says Provost Agnew.

    Today’s news follows an April announcement that the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics will become the Falk College of Sport, the first standalone college on an R1 campus that specifically focuses on sport through a holistic academic lens. As part of the Falk transformation, the University convened the Human Dynamics Task Force, co-chaired by Rachel Razza, associate dean for human dynamics, and Peter Vanable, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School. The task force, which consisted of human dynamics faculty representatives elected from each department, staff and community partners, delivered a final report to the provost last month.

    “This work required a commitment to collaboration, a willingness to engage in challenging but necessary dialogue and a shared focus on the immediate and long-term future of the human dynamics academic disciplines,” says Vanable. “Associate Dean Razza and I are grateful to our fellow task force members for their time, dedication and outstanding work. We also appreciate the provost’s commitment to upholding the spirit of our recommendations and look forward to seeing these programs thrive in the future.”

    Razza says, “Syracuse University has long been a leader in interdisciplinary education. The task force agreed that taking a reimagined approach to the human dynamics programs furthers our mission to provide students with a robust, future-focused education that emphasizes both theory and practice. I believe all members of the human dynamics community—students, faculty, staff and Central New York partners—benefit from this important realignment.”

    Students currently enrolled in these programs will transition to their new schools and colleges effective July 1, 2025. Students enrolling in these programs in fall 2025 will matriculate into the school or college housing their academic program.

    A Syracuse University News story originally published on Nov. 13, 2024.


    Recognizing Memory Changes

    16/10/24
    Upstate, Syracuse University Collaborate to Bring Memory Screenings to Area Offices for the Aging

    Residents over the age of 60 in seven Central New York counties¬—Cayuga, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Oswego, and Tompkins—will be able to receive free memory screenings from their local Office for the Aging (OFA) as part of a collaborative project between Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University to assess the benefits of this type of screening in this setting.

    The project is the first step in a plan that could possibly make such screenings available at OFAs across New York.

    Early recognition of memory changes that could indicate an early stage dementia is important in order to help older adults gets the medical attention they need to avoid a crisis.

    “If we are aware of early signs of memory issues, we are able to connect the individual to health care professionals who can begin appropriate treatment, while taking steps to educate and support families to improve the individual’s quality of life,” says Sharon Brangman, MD, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, chair of the Geriatrics and director of the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease. “The ability to easily screen this segment of the population has the potential to significantly benefit the both the individual and their families.”

    Changes that might be caused by an early dementia can include changes in memory, depression, anxiety, aggression or lack of interest, Brangman says.

    Here’s how the program works: Office for the Aging (OFA) case managers in the selected counties have been trained by Upstate staff to administer what is called the “Mini-Cog©,” a three-minute screening tool to assess potential memory loss. The screen can be administered in an individual’s home during a routine visit by OFA staff or at the county office.

    OFA case managers will not make any diagnoses based on the screening results; they will only be administering the screening.

    If the Mini-Cog shows any sign of memory change, the individual will be referred to Upstate University Geriatricians for a comprehensive geriatric assessment.

    Female professor speaks on camera with reporters

    Falk College School of Social Work Associate Research Professor Maria Brown (right) speaks with reporters following the news conference announcing the partnership between Syracuse University and Upstate Medical University.

    To evaluate the merits of this screening approach in community settings, Maria Brown, Ph.D., associate research professor in Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and Aging Studies Institute, will analyze screening information over the yearlong project to identify the number of clients screened, number of clients with scores indicating memory changes, number of clients who receive follow-up comprehensive assessments, and their diagnostic results.

    “We are excited about improving the ability of OFAs to identify older adults across the Central New York region who could benefit from geriatric evaluations and connection to services to address their changing needs,” Brown says.

    Officials say they expect to screen about 3,750 individuals and based on statistical analysis, they project that about 975 will have scores suggesting some memory concerns.

    If results of the evaluation show this screening approach with OFA to be a success, Upstate will create an online training manual and companion videos for use by the New York State Office for the Aging that could be included in the training of OFA staff throughout New York. The training resource also has the potential to be used by Offices for the Aging nationwide that have similar missions, programs, and staffing.

    In an earlier Upstate/SU pilot that looked at Onondaga County residents, Brown found that over a nine-month screening phase, 18 (26 percent) of the 69 mostly African Americans adults over the age of 65 who were screened had scores suggesting cognitive impairment.

    Project officials say OFAs are appropriate entities to participate in this project as they already conduct standard assessments for clients. Called COMPASS, for Comprehensive Assessment for Aging Network Community Based Long Term Care Services, this assessment addresses issues such as housing, nutrition, psycho-social status, medications, daily activities, support network, and health, but it does not currently screen for memory issues.

    Greg Olson, a Syracuse University alum and New York state director of the Office for the Aging, says the opportunity for his agency be part of this process makes sense.

    “Early detection of a memory problem such as dementia is vital for timely medical intervention and, just as importantly, to begin connecting individuals and families to the many community-based supports available through local offices for the aging,” Olson said. “These offices for the aging are ideally suited to support detection efforts because of their experience assessing individuals holistically, screening for targeted areas of concern, and delivering on the services and supports necessary to help a person age in place, whether it’s case management, home adaptations, personal care supports, nutrition, or other programs.

    “I applaud SUNY Upstate Medical University’s Department of Geriatrics and Syracuse University’s Aging Studies Institute for this innovative collaborative effort with offices for the aging in their region,” he says.

    It’s noteworthy that Upstate and Syracuse University have joined forces to address this issue. The Upstate/Syracuse collaboration leverages significant resources and expertise on aging issues. Upstate is home to a Department of Geriatrics and a State Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease (CEAD). CEAD currently has a staff that includes geriatricians who work in conjunction with geriatric nurse practitioners, social workers, and nurses with expertise in geriatrics. Our social workers provide caregiver support with a particular emphasis on older adults at risk, especially those who live alone or with frail caregivers.

    Syracuse University is home to the Aging Studies Institute, which includes dozens of faculty working on age-related research and education issues, including age-based public policy; the causes and consequences of population aging; health and functioning across the life course; family, care work, and intergenerational support; and aging design, engineering, and technology.

    Funding for the Upstate/Syracuse collaboration was made possible by the New York Health Foundation and the Health Foundation of Western and Central New York.

    “The Health Foundation is proud to support this important initiative as part of our ongoing work on behalf of older adults,” says Nora OBrien-Suric, Ph.D., president of Health Foundation for Western & Central New York. “This program will break down barriers to bring earlier screening for memory issues to more people, meaning they’ll have the resources and treatments they need and deserve. Because those barriers to access often occur in communities of color or among people with lower incomes, this is a crucial health equity effort as well.”

    An Upstate Medical University News story originally published on Oct. 15, 2024.


    Innovative Leaders

    27/09/24
    Falk College Promotes 8 Faculty Members for 2024-25 Academic Year

    8 Falk faculty members promoted

    The Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics is proud to announce the promotion of the following eight distinguished faculty members for the 2024-25 academic year:

    Jane Burrell and Mary Kiernan from the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies; Jennifer Genovese and Ryan Heath (with tenure) from the School of Social Work; Bryce Hruska (with tenure) from the Department of Public Health; Rachel Razza and Sara Vasilenko (with tenure) from the Department of Human Development and Family Science; and Patrick Walsh from the Department of Sport Management.

    The departments’ Promotion and Tenure committees, along with the Falk College Promotion and Tenure Committee, recommended the promotions after reviewing the faculty members’ areas of teaching, scholarship, research, and service. Recommendations from the Falk committees and Falk College Dean Jeremy S. Jordan were submitted to the Syracuse University Office of Academic Affairs and the University’s Board of Trustees, which granted the promotions.

    “The recent promotions at Falk College reflect the exceptional caliber of our faculty,” Jordan says. “These individuals have demonstrated outstanding achievements in teaching, scholarship, and service as rigorously evaluated by departmental and college-wide committees and external reviewers. Their advancement is a testament to their significant contributions and the high standards of excellence we uphold at Falk College and Syracuse University.”

    Here’s a look at Falk College’s recently promoted faculty members:

    Jane Burrell portrait
    Jane Burrell

    Jane Burrell

    Full Teaching Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

    Jane Burrell, M.S., RD, CDN, joined Syracuse University as an Instructor of Nutrition in 2009 and became an Associate Teaching Professor in 2018. Burrell teaches a variety of courses exemplifying her value to the Nutrition and Science Dietetics program, and she had taken advantage of resources at Syracuse University and externally to constantly update her courses and pedagogical approaches.

    Burrell received the 2023 Falk College Faculty of the Year Teaching Award, and her student teaching evaluations and peer evaluations are consistently excellent. She has contributed service to her profession, the community, Syracuse University, Falk College and her department in several ways, including as a consultant on nutrition education issues with McGraw Hill Publishing; private consultant with the Syracuse Crunch men’s professional hockey team and the Syracuse University women’s rowing and ice hockey teams; and as a member of the Faculty Senate’s Women’s Concerns Committee.

    From Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Chair and Associate Professor Lynn Brann:

    “Professor Burrell continually seeks new methods for delivering content and engaging with students. She brings her previous clinical practice work into the classroom to provide students with examples of real-life experiences. This is particularly relevant as she teaches courses within the accredited programs of nutrition and students can relate content to their future potential practice.

    “Professor Burrell excels in teaching and has demonstrated effectiveness in teaching smaller graduate seminar courses as well as the large (380 person) introductory nutrition course. She provides leadership in teaching and learning within the nutrition programs and the department. Colleagues see her as a valued resource for sharing teaching methods and techniques for effectiveness. Additionally, Professor Burrell is highly available to students, and she provides a welcoming environment to students in her classes and beyond.”

    Learn more about Jane Burrell.


    Jennifer Cornish Genovese Portrait
    Jennifer Cornish Genovese

    Jennifer Genovese

    Associate Teaching Professor, School of Social Work

    Jennifer Genovese, A.C.S.W., Ph.D., joined Syracuse University as an adjunct instructor in both Child and Family Studies and Social Work in 2010 and became an Assistant Teaching Professor of Social Work in 2018. Genovese is a skilled and versatile instructor who teaches an impressive array of courses central to the Master of Social Work program.

    Genovese’s students clearly enjoy her teaching style and commitment to her profession, and her ability to draw on her professional experience is a consistent theme in her students’ evaluations. She has contributed substantial service during her time at Falk College, including serving as the Master of Social Work Program Director and on several departmental committees; mentoring adjunct faculty; and advising the Social Workers United student group.

    From School of Social Work Chair and Professor Carrie Smith:

    “Jennifer Genovese is a well-respected and highly sought after mental health practitioner in Central New York. She is also an inspiring teacher. We are very pleased with her recent promotion to Associate Teaching Professor and excited about her continued contributions and leadership in our M.S.W. (Master of Social Work) program.”

    Learn more about Jennifer Genovese.


    Ryan Heath Portrait
    Ryan Heath

    Ryan Heath

    Associate Professor with Tenure, School of Social Work

    Ryan Heath, L.C.S.W., Ph.D., joined the Syracuse University faculty in 2018 and quickly established a productive and coherent research and grant agenda. Heath has been successful in securing external funding to support his research program. As of Spring 2024, he had been a part of over $15 million in external grants, with $685,000 being awarded to him directly.

    This early success in securing external funding demonstrates strong potential future accomplishments related to funding. He is also an active early career scholar as evidenced by his 11 peer-reviewed articles, six of which he serves as lead author. Heath publishes in a wide range of journals, demonstrating the interdisciplinary focus of his scholarship.

    From School of Social Work Chair and Professor Carrie Smith:

    “The School of Social Work is very pleased that Ryan Heath was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. Ryan’s research seeks to understand how organized activities during out-of-school time (OST) and community schools promote the healthy development of students from under-resourced backgrounds, students of color, and other historically marginalized youth. His community-engaged research holds great promise for building initiatives that will expand and improve community schools across Central and Western New York. We are proud to have him as our colleague.”

    Learn more about Ryan Heath.


    Bryce Hruska
    Bryce Hruska

    Bryce Hruska

    Associated Professor with Tenure, Department of Public Health

    Bryce Hruska, Ph.D., joined Syracuse University in 2015 as a Post-Doctoral Fellow, advanced to a Research Assistant Professor in 2017, and was appointed as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in 2018. During this time, he has established an effective and innovative curriculum/teaching/advising profile at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He typically teaches courses focused on research methods and data analysis and has reliably received high ratings on course evaluations.

    Hruska has established a productive and coherent research and grant agenda. He has published 38 peer-reviewed articles in quality journals with 18 as lead author, establishing his ability to lead research activities. Hruska has an impressive record of external funding as evidenced by recent success in securing federal NIH (National Institutes of Health) funding.

    From Department of Public Health Chair and Professor David Larsen:

    “I’m very pleased to see Dr. Bryce Hruska earn promotion to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure,” Larsen says. “His research in traumatic stress holds great promise for better understanding and responding to the complex mental health burdens our society faces. I look forward to continuing to work with him, and am proud to have him as a colleague in the Public Health department.”

    Learn more about Bryce Hruska.


    Portrait Mary Kiernan
    Mary Kiernan

    Mary Kiernan

    Full Teaching Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

    Mary Kiernan, M.B.A., worked in events at the then-Carrier Dome starting 2000 and was elevated to Catering Manager before being hired as a Chef Instructor in the Nutrition and Hospitality Management program in 2007. She was appointed as an Associate Teaching Professor of Food Studies in 2018. The breadth of courses that Kiernan teaches across the Food Studies and Nutrition programs exemplifies her versatility and value to the department.

    Kiernan goes beyond educating her students in culinary and food systems and mentors them for careers and life in general. Her many service contributions include serving as the Undergraduate and Minor Director for Food Studies, Co-Chair of the Syracuse University Community Review Board, and Faculty Senator, and being active in her profession with several local and state organizations.

    From Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Chair and Associate Professor Lynn Brann:

    “Professor Kiernan is reflective of what has worked in the classroom and uses this knowledge to improve the experience for students. Many of Professor Kiernan’s courses involve cooking/food labs. These hands-on experiences are where she shines in the classroom. Students’ knowledge, skills, and confidence grow over the course of a semester and often this is a result of much trial and error.

    “In the Farm to Fork class, she guides students to use fresh local produce to create delicious and nourishing meals. In a different course, she leads nutrition students through the process of developing, procuring, and preparing three-course meals that are enjoyed by the campus and community. Professor Kiernan models professional skills and behaviors to students and supports them inside and outside of the classroom to find their passions.”

    Learn more about Mary Kiernan.


    Rachel Razza Portrait
    Rachel Razza

    Rachel Razza

    Associate Dean of Human Dynamics and Full Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Science

    Rachel Razza, Ph.D., joined Syracuse University in 2007 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2015. She is an accomplished scholar who has made significant contributions to the field of human development through peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters, academic presentations, and invited lectures. The research program she has established has been supported by external funding totaling nearly $700,000, with additional grant submissions currently under review.

    Razza has made significant service contributions to the Department of Human Development and Family Science as chair, graduate program director, and member of several departmental and college committees. Her service contributions extend beyond Falk College as she has been a member of numerous University-level committees and an active leader in multiple professional organizations.

    From Falk College Dean Jeremy S. Jordan:

    “Dr. Rachel Razza’s promotion to Associate Dean reflects her exceptional contributions to our college. Her extensive research experience, leadership roles, and service commitments have prepared her well for this new position. As Associate Dean, Dr. Razza will undoubtedly leverage her expertise to further enhance our academic programs and research initiatives, continuing to make a significant impact on our college and the broader field of human dynamics.”

    Learn more about Rachel Razza.


    Sara Vasilenko Portrait
    Sara Vasilenko

    Sara Vasilenko

    Associate Professor with Tenure, Department of Human Development and Family Science

    Sara Vasilenko, M.S., Ph.D., joined the Syracuse University faculty in 2018 and since that time has developed six courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2022, she was nominated by her graduate students to receive the University-wide Excellence in Graduate Education Award, and she was honored with the Falk College 2020 Faculty of the Year in Research Award.

    Vasilenko’s research has been funded by numerous internal and external grants from prestigious sources, including the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and National Institute on Drug Abuse. For an early career academic, Vasilenko has an impressive publication record with 67 peer-reviewed publications and nearly 2,500 citations of her work. Since arriving at Syracuse University, she has published 12 first-authored journal articles and five book chapters.

    From Department of Human Development and Family Science Chair and Associate Professor Matthew Mulvaney:

    “Dr. Vasilenko is both an excellent researcher and transformative mentor in our graduate program. The impact of her work is being felt throughout the field of adolescent health. Her innovative and complex research projects employ cutting-edge methodologies to answer some of the most pressing questions central to adolescent well-being.

    “Her work is consistently published in the highest-ranked journals and widely cited. Dr. Vasilenko also serves as an exemplar of a scholar-mentor, training the next generation of scholars in her lab that will make further advancements to the field. She offers her time and expertise generously in order to train scholars to the very highest level and so has been recognized with the university-wide Excellence in Graduate Education Award. Her students in her classes and lab have the opportunity to make their own unique impact on the field through their own high-level scholarship.”

    Learn more about Sara Vasilenko.


    Patrick Walsh Portrait
    Patrick Walsh

    Patrick Walsh

    Department Chair and Full Professor, Department of Sport Management

    Patrick Walsh, Ph.D., joined Syracuse University in 2014 as Assistant Professor in the Department of Sport Management and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2017. His program of research focused on sport marketing and brand management has resulted in 39 peer-reviewed journal articles, establishing him as a leading scholar in the field.

    Walsh has engaged in noteworthy department, college, university, and professional service activities. At the departmental level, he is coordinator for the Emerging Sport Enterprises Minor and the Sport Revenue Management and Operations Minor. At the college level, he has served on the Falk College Faculty Council, Promotion and Tenure Committee, and Grievance Committee.

    From Falk College Dean Jeremy S. Jordan:

    “Dr. Patrick Walsh’s appointment as department chair marks an exciting new chapter for our Sport Management program. His expertise in sport marketing and brand management, combined with his experience in program coordination and college service, positions him perfectly to lead the department. As chair, Dr. Walsh will undoubtedly enhance our curriculum, strengthen our research profile, and prepare our students for successful careers in the rapidly evolving sports industry.”

    Learn more about Patrick Walsh.


    CBT at Falk

    17/09/24
    Syracuse University Alumnae Headline Falk College Coming Back Together Events
    faculty presenting with screen in background

    From left to right, Syracuse University alumnae Tracey Lewis-Elligan, Chandice Haste-Jackson, and Shauna Harps are introduced by by Human Development and Family Science Endowed Professor Jaipaul Roopnarine at a Falk College Coming Back Together event.

    You can’t reach your goals alone.

    That was a common theme from Syracuse University alumnae during two Coming Back Together events on Sept. 13 at the 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.

    Falk College hosted two CBT alumnae panels: A discussion with three former doctoral students hosted by the Department of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS), and a panel discussion with three sport industry leaders called “Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women in Sport.”

    The HDFS panel included Tracey Lewis-Elligan G ’01, Ph.D., Interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs and Associate Professor of Sociology at DePaul University; Shauna Harps ’99, G’05, Ph.D., Principle Research Associate at Westat in Rockville, Maryland; and Chandice Haste-Jackson ’96, G’13, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Student Services and HDFS Associate Teaching Professor in Falk College.

    In chronicling their academic journeys and career trajectories, each of the three HDFS panelists highlighted the support they received from Syracuse faculty, including HDFS Pearl S. Falk Endowed Professor Jaipaul Roopnarine, HDFS Professor Ambika Krishnakumar, and Norma Bond Burgess, former chair of the Department of Child and Family Studies (now HDFS).

    “The work of the faculty here resonated with me,” Lewis-Elligan said. “Of all my academic journeys, it was the people here who created relationships and invested in us.

    “The work that Jaipaul and Ambika are involved in drive change and uplift society,” she added, “and that’s what we’re all here for.”

    After receiving her undergraduate degree from Syracuse, Harps went to another school for her master’s degree but returned to Syracuse as a doctoral student.

    “I felt very supported here, and when I didn’t get that support (in her master’s program), I came back to Syracuse and picked Ambika as my advisor because I knew she would push me and give me the support I needed,” Harps said. “Having that mentorship, I felt that my growth was important to my professors.”

    The sport panel featured Syracuse women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack ’89, NFL Players Association Director of Player Programs and Engagement Chineze “Chinny” Nwagbo ’05, and award-winning broadcaster Vera Jones ’88, G’91 (all former Syracuse basketball players) and was moderated by Tatiana Warren ’05, G’06, Ph.D., a member of the Falk College Advisory Board.

    Among a variety of topics, the panelists discussed the growth and impact of women’s sports, the impact of mental health on performance, and personal development and empowerment. Watch the complete panel discussion on the Falk College Vimeo page.

    While encouraged about the steady growth of women’s sports, the panelists said there’s more that needs to be done. They referenced the powerful ESPYs speech delivered by South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, who championed pay equity for women.

    “What we have to consider is this: If we’re the same, we’re behind,” Legette-Jack said. “Dawn Staley is the best women’s coach in the world, but until we pay her more than the men’s coach, we have a lot of work to do.”

    “Sports help drive the culture, and we have a responsibility to be that much more vocal, that much more active, because why wouldn’t we want to help drag the culture along, right?” Jones said.

    In sharing very personal experiences that impacted their mental health, the panelists also emphasized the importance of mental health for everyone, not just athletes or those working in the sport industry.

    “Athletes are driven to push, and we never stop,” Jones says. “I did that, and I didn’t think (mental health issues) would ever happen to me.”

    During a question-and-answer session with students at the end of the event, the panelists were asked how women in sports can advocate for themselves in what remains a male-dominated industry. They described the value of the support they’ve received over the years from women and men, and how important it is to make connections that can help get you in the door so you can prove your value.

    “How do you make the person in front of you understand that I’m all in and we’re going to go forward together?” Legette-Jack said. “What does my work say? What kind of character do I bring every day?

    “Judge me on those things,” she added, smiling, “and pay me on those things.”


    Social Determinants of Health

    09/09/24
    Miriam Mutambudzi Chosen as 2024-26 Lender Center Faculty Fellow

    Miriam Mutambudzi

    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.

    Miriam standing in front of public health mural

    Miriam Mutambudzi, assistant professor of public health at the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, with a mural that depicts the College’s public health program history.

    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.

    Miriam sitting at computer smiling

    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.


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