Being the first in your family or support system to go to college can be a challenging task. New Student Programs is here to help you define success, pursue your aspirations and reach your goals. Past Welcome Week and throughout your student experience, our team will continue to share helpful resources and host events to help you build community.
First-Generation College Celebration Week
Nov. 4-8, 2024
Join the campus community in celebrating first-generation students, faculty and staff through a variety of events! This celebration is to commemorate the signing of the Higher Education Act (“HEA”) of 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The HEA created federal financial aid programs to aid students’ educations and made key investments in colleges and universities, such as the Federal TRIO programs.
The University’s First-Generation College Celebration Week events are made possible by the collaboration and generous contributions of multiple individuals, offices and units on campus that believe in elevating and celebrating our first generation community of students, faculty and staff.
Occurring each day throughout the week, first-generation college students are invited to participate in the following events. The full schedule can be found below.
- Exploring the First-Gen Student Experience | 1st Floor, Bird Library (in partnership with SU Libraries)
- Sign Your Class Banner! | Intercultural Collective Suite
- VPA Career Services: No Shame November (Resume Review) | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Comstock Art Facility.
- Register for No Shame November! This event is open to all students, including first-years, who are open to critiques on their resume.
- Crafting your Pitch with Career Services | 1:45-2:45 p.m., 104 Tolley Building.
- Lead the Way: A First-Gen Panel Discussion | 4-6 p.m., Peter Graham Scholarly Commons (Room 114), Bird Library.
- VPA Career Services: No Shame November (Resume Review) | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Shaffer Art Building
- Register for No Shame November! This event is open to all students, including first-years, who are open to critiques on their resume.
- Open House with CLASS | 3:30-5:30 p.m., 014 Bird Library
- Connecting First-Gen: An Affinity and Networking Space | 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 132 Schine Student Center (Intercultural Collective Suite)
- VPA Career Services: No Shame November (Resume Review) | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Nancy Cantor Warehouse
- Register for No Shame November! This event is open to all students, including first-years, who are open to critiques on their resume.
- Thriving as a First-Generation Professional: Navigating the Workforce With Confidence | 1:30-3 p.m., 103 Huntington Hall (RSVP required).
- Build Your Professional Network | 4-5 p.m., virtual, register today!
- Research and Funding Opportunities: Open House for First-Gen Students | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 207 and 208 Bowne Hall.
- VPA Career Services: No Shame November (Resume Review) | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Setnor Auditorium, Crouse College.
- Register for No Shame November! This event is open to all students, including first-years, who are open to critiques on their resume.
- VPA Career Services: No Shame November (Resume Review) | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Drama Complex
- Register for No Shame November! This event is open to all students, including first-years, who are open to critiques on their resume.
- First-Gen Resource Fair | 10:30-11:30 a.m., Jacquet Commons, Huntington Hall
- “Living Between Worlds” With Tiana Faye Soto | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Jacquet Commons, Huntington Hall
- 10 Things You Don’t Know You Don’t Know (about Grad School) | 1-2 p.m., virtual (registration required)
Special thanks to the work of the First-Generation Committee, the Student Experience Division, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Student Support Services (SSS), the Kessler Scholars Program, the Intercultural Collective, First Year Seminar, New Student Programs and Syracuse University Libraries. Extended thanks to our academic partners: College of Arts and Sciences, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Whitman School of Management.
Syracuse University First-Generation Faculty and Staff
During their time as college students, the following Syracuse University faculty and staff self-identified as first-generation. Composed of faculty and staff members from various backgrounds and disciplines, this list is a visual representation of their dedication to helping current first-generation students build their personal success networks and their eagerness to help grow a campus of support. Students are encouraged to connect with faculty and staff members, who can then share their personal journeys, insight and support throughout this unique student experience.
Add your name to the First-Generation Faculty and Staff List!
| Name | Title/Role on Campus | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Maricelis Abreu | Staff Therapist, Barnes Center at The Arch – Counseling | Hartford, CT |
| Rachel Allen | Leadership Coordinator, Student Engagement | Syracuse, NY |
| Reighan Alston | Assistant Director of Fitness Programs, Barnes Center at The Arch – Recreation | Bronx, NY |
| Cisem Arda | Fulbright Turkish FLTA, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Edirne, Turkey |
| Peter Astras | Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition | Brooklyn, NY |
| Shelby Bergen | Career Advisor, Career Services for the College of Engineering and Computer Science | Baldwinsville, NY |
| Saedra Blow | Academic Learning Specialist, Center for Learning and Student Success | Jericho, VT |
| Tammy Bluewolf-Kennedy | Assistant Director/Native American Liaison, Undergraduate Admissions | Oneida, NY |
| John Boccacino | Senior Internal Communications Specialist, Division of Communications | Rochester, NY |
| Carrie Brown | Director of Counseling, Barnes Center at The Arch-Counseling | Brockport, NY |
| Ana Caliz Casanova | Monograph Cataloging Librarian, Syracuse University Libraries | Huesca, Spain |
| Colleen Cameron | Professor of Practice, Human Development and Family Science | Buffalo, NY |
| Cara Capparelli | Clinical Case Manager for Barnes Center at The Arch – Counseling | Syracuse, NY |
| Tianna Carrington | Graduate Admissions Specialist, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science | Brooklyn, NY |
| Giovanna R. Colosi | Librarian for the School of Education, Team Lead, Syracuse University Libraries | Syracuse, NY |
| Diane Crawford | Executive Director for Institutional Culture, Whitman School Dean’s Office | Harrisburg, PA |
| Amy Criss | Professor and Department Chair for Psychology | Akron, OH |
| Jessica Cuadra | Intramural Sports Coordinator for Barnes Center at The Arch – Recreation | Miami, FL |
| Harlie Dalfo | Assistant Director, Transfer & Veteran Admissions | Wallacetown, PA |
| Jessica Del Fuoco | Academic Advisor, Newhouse School of Public Communications | Syracuse, NY |
| Tiffany Dennett | Director, Fraternity and Sorority Affairs | Houston, TX |
| Melinda Dermody | Associate Dean for Academic Success, Syracuse University Libraries | Akron, OH |
| Linda Dickerson-Hartsock | Advisor of Strategic Initiatives, Syracuse University Libraries | Wappinger Falls, NY |
| Joseph Ditre | Professor, Psychology | Fairlawn, NJ |
| Nicolette A. Dobrowolski | Director of the Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries | Hopewell Jct., NY |
| Carol Fadda | Associate Professor, Department of English | Beirut, Lebanon |
| Melissa Figueroa | Assistant Director, Newhouse Career Development Center | Yabucoa, Puerto Rico |
| Tiffani-Marie Fite | Coordinator of First-Generation Programs, Intercultural Collective | Oahu, Hawai’i |
| Patricia Ford | Budget Manager, Department of Physics/College of Arts & Sciences | Pompey, NY |
| Amy Friers | Academic Counselor, Falk College Student Services | Syracuse, NY |
| Catherine García | Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Science | Los Angeles, CA |
| Jules Gibbs | Part-Time Instructor, English and Creative Writing | Clarks Summit, PA |
| Karess Gillespie | Assistant Director for Student Living | Oklahoma City, OK |
| Leonard Grant | Assistant Professor of Writing and Rhetoric, Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition | Rahway, NJ |
| Cassaundra Guzman | Doctoral Candidate and Instructor, School of Education, Cultural Foundations of Education | Los Angeles, CA |
| Butch Hallmark | Director, New Student and Transition Programs | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Chandice Haste-Jackson | Associate Dean for Falk College, Student Services & Associate Teaching Professor for Human Development and Family Science | Syracuse, NY |
| Cristina Hatem | Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications, Syracuse University Libraries | Buffalo, NY |
| Shannon Hitchcock Schantz | Director, First Year Seminar | Lowville, NY |
| Thomas Hoang | Academic Advisor, Whitman School of Management | Syracuse, NY |
| Jonathan J. Hoster | Associate Director for Undergraduate Admissions & Recruitment, College of Engineering and Computer Science | Philadelphia, PA |
| James Hougland | Professor, Chemistry and Biology | Rock Island, IL |
| Carrie Ingersoll-Wood | Director, Disability Cultural Center | Manlius, NY |
| Jeanine A. Irons, Ph.D. | Director of Institutional Culture, Syracuse University Libraries | Birmingham, AL |
| Susanne R. Jenemann | Staff Therapist, Barnes Center at The Arch – Counseling | TX, KY, NY, WI, NM, WA, AK |
| Danielle Jimenez | Academic Counselor, Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) | Cicero, NY |
| Drew Johnson | Assistant Director for Curriculum Development, Student Living | Charleston, SC |
| Kiley Jolicoeur | Metadata Strategies Librarian, Syracuse University Libraries | Lovell, ME |
| Mariam M. Kanaan | Access & Success Advocate, Center for Disability Resources | New Haven, CT |
| Mary Kasprzyk | Senior Video Editor, Division of Marketing | Buffalo, NY |
| Marieke Kearns | Director of Experiential Learning and Partnerships, School of Education | New York, NY |
| Lee Kennard | Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics | Wadsworth, OH |
| Krista Kennedy | Associate Professor of Writing & Rhetoric, Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition | North Little Rock, AR |
| Katherine Kidwell | Assistant Professor, Psychology | Powhatan, VA |
| Shannon Klonowski | Academic and Career Advisor, College of Arts & Sciences | Maxwell | Central Square, NY |
| William M. Krueger | Assistant Law Reference Librarian, Syracuse University Libraries | Camillus, NY |
| Anita Kuiken | Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics Librarian, Syracuse University Libraries | Lansdale, PA |
| Gabrielle R.M. Lake | Director, Communications and Marketing in Student Experience | Syracuse, NY |
| Heather Lavender | Assistant Professor, School of Education | Shreveport, LA |
| Katharine Lewis | Professor, Biology | London, United Kingdom |
| David Lind | Director for International Programs, College of Professional Studies | Brooklyn, NY |
| Maria Lopez | Assistant Director of Scholarship Programs, Office of Multicultural Advancement | Bronx, NY |
| R.J. Malabanan | Part-Time Instructor of Asian/Asian American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences | Staten Island, NY |
| Christopher J. Maldonado | Associate Director for Central Career Services | North Bergen, NJ |
| Bria K. Maraia | Custodian, Facilities Services | Bridgeport, NY |
| Armando Martinez | Director of Inclusion and Belonging, Office of Diversity and Inclusion | Camden, NJ |
| Missy Mathis-Hanlon | Director for Parent and Family Services | Binghamton, NY |
| Matthew Maye | Professor and Chair, Chemistry | Binghamton, NY |
| Tim McCoy | Professional Writing Instructor, Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition | Dunlap, IL |
| Moira McDermott | Associate Teaching Professor, Mathematics | Glencoe, IL |
| Georgi McNease | International Program Advisor, Syracuse Abroad | Conroe, TX |
| Dana McQuillan | Director of Operations, Division of Marketing | Newington, CT |
| Rae Ann Meriwether | Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition | Brentwood, NY |
| Shannon Monnat | Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Policy Research; Lerner Chair in Public Health Promotion and Population Health | Lowville, NY |
| Pam Mulligan | Executive Director of Alumni Engagement | Northeast, Advancement and External Affairs | Scranton, PA |
| Gus Nascimento | Academic Advisor, School of Architecture | Santos, Brazil |
| Brenden Navarro | Residence Director, Student Living | Bronx, NY |
| Leonese Nelson | Program Director/Principal Investigator, STEP and CSTEP Programs | Charleston, SC |
| Brice Nordquist | Associate Professor of Writing & Rhetoric, Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition & Dean’s Professor of Community Engagement for Arts and Sciences, Engaged Humanities Network | Wichita Falls, TX |
| Barbara Opar | Librarian for Architecture and French Language and Literature, Syracuse University Libraries | Greensburg, PA |
| Rajendra Panthe | Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Michael Pasqualoni | Librarian for the Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University Libraries | Hicksville, Long Island, NY/San Francisco, CA |
| Samantha Perkins | Digital and Social Media Coordinator in the Student Experience | Allentown, PA |
| Pam Peter | Director/Title IX Coordinator, Student Title IX Case Management | Union, NJ |
| Jessica Petitto | Technical Services Librarian, Law Library | Syracuse, NY |
| Jo Anne Phang | Director of Admissions – Partnership Programs, Office of Admissions | Rosedale, NY |
| Juliette Rawda | Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Research, Office of Research | Syracuse, NY |
| Janet Recchia | Assistant Director of Admissions – Southern California | Valencia, CA |
| Katherine Robinson | Auxiliary Services Supervisor, Food Services | White Hall, AR |
| Linda Rougeau Euto | Associate Director, Research and Evaluation for D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) | North Adams, MA |
| Edward W. Russell | Associate Professor and Advertising Department Chair, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications | Columbus, OH |
| Kenny Sawada | Associate Director, Office of Admissions | Liverpool, NY |
| Seyvion Scott | Student Engagement Librarian, Learning and Academic Engagement | Rochester, NY |
| Tony Scott | Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition | Charlotte, NC |
| Clarise Shelby-Coleman | Residence Hall Operations Coordinator (RHOC), Student Living | Bronx, NY |
| Bethany Silinski | Director of Alumni Engagement, DC, Office of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving | Arlington, VA |
| Leslie Skeffington | Assistant Director for Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention, Barnes Center at The Arch – Health Promotion | Geneseo, NY |
| Erin J. Smith | Internship Program Coordinator for Central Career Services | Detroit, MI |
| Jolisa Smith | Assistant Director, Student Engagement | Albany, NY |
| Luis F. Solano | Administrative Specialist, Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving | North Hollywood, CA |
| Kalpana (Kal) Srinivas | Director for Retention and Student Success | Manlius, NY |
| Kay Stearns Bruening | Associate Professor of Nutrition Science & Dietetics and Associate Dean, Falk Academic Affairs | Syracuse, NY |
| Nick Stines | Senior Program Coordinator for New Student Programs | Dallas, NC |
| Vanessa St. Oegger-Menn | Pan Am 103 Archivist & Assistant University Archivist for the Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries | Paso Robles, CA |
| Eman Tadros | Assistant Professor, Falk College Department of Marriage and Family Therapy | Colonia, NJ |
| Tasha Terzini | Academic Advisor, College of Arts & Sciences | Syracuse, NY |
| Maria Emma Ticio Quesada | Professor of Spanish & Linguistics, Languages, Literatures and Linguistics (LLL) | Madrid, Spain |
| Kristian C. Tirado | Office Coordinator, Human Resources | Syracuse, NY |
| Craig Tucker | Director, Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)/TRIO Student Support Services | Syracuse, NY |
| David Van Slyke | Dean, Louis A. Bantle Chair in Business-Government Policy, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs | Beacon, NY |
| Rachel Vassel | Associate Vice President of the Office of Multicultural Advancement | Brooklyn, NY |
| Zahra Vahedi | Assistant Teaching Professor, Psychology | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Karina von Tippelskirch | Associate Professor of German, Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Greiz, Germany |
| Latasha Wagner | Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Barnes Center at The Arch Health Center | Syracuse, NY |
| Scott Warren | Senior Associate Dean for Research Excellence, Syracuse University Libraries | Millheim, PA |
| Emil Westfall | LAE Evening/Weekend Supervisor, Learning & Academic Engagement | Rochester, NY |
| Caterina Whitacre | Administrative Assistant for the College of Engineering and Computer Science Office of Inclusive Excellence | Syracuse, NY |
| Julia White | Associate Professor, School of Education | Orange Park, FL |
| Elena Williams | Director of First Year Advising, College of Arts & Sciences | Maxwell Advising and Career Services | Tampa, FL |
| Robert Wilson | Academic Counselor for Office of Supportive Services | Rochdale, Lancashire, England |
| Amanda Winkler | Professor of Music History and Cultures, Department of Art and Music Histories | Chillicothe, IL |
| Joshua Wood | Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition | Dallas, TX |
| Michelle Woodhouse | Academic Counselor, Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) & Student Support Services (SSS) | Cicero, NY |
| Sarah Woolf-King | Associate Professor, Psychology | Chandler, AZ |
| Stacey Wright | Professional Writing Instructor, Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition | Clay, NY |
| Havva Zorluel Özer | Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition | Mersin, Türkiye |