News

Priscilla Tyree Williams ’86 holds a unique distinction at Syracuse University. She is the first African American woman to have graduated with a civil engineering degree from SU. Today, she oversees the implementation of the capital improvement program for the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, Construction Management Division as the city’s construction projects administrator. And she is an ardent supporter of the College of Engineering and Computer Science—generously giving back to the college for the past 10 years.

But if you had told her when she was an 18-year-old college student that her relationship with the college would eventually be so strong, she would have had her doubts.

“There were times when I did not feel supported during my time at Syracuse. That made it very difficult for me. It made me question if I was even cut out to be an engineer,” says Tyree Williams.

Unfortunately, experiences like hers are all too common for women and minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). While progress has been made, these disciplines have a historically poor track record of inclusion at a societal level. The fact that she earned her degree in the face of these obstacles is due in large part to sheer determination; however, key relationships and occurrences brightened her overall SU experience over time, and eventually inspired her to embrace her alma mater and her calling as an engineer.

Read the full story at SU News.

Appointed by Chancellor Kent Syverud in February, the Ad Hoc Committee on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)/Undocumented Students recently delivered its report to the Chancellor. The comprehensive report includes immediate, short-term and long-term recommendations to enhance support for undocumented students and others with family members who are undocumented.  Read the story at SU News.

Michele G. Wheatly, vice chancellor and provost at Syracuse University, today announced the appointment of Zhanjiang “John” Liu to serve as the University’s vice president for research. Liu’s appointment, which was unanimously approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, is effective on Sept. 1. Read more at SU News.

Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families were among the participants at the George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To summit. The summit, which focused on veteran transition, convened key leaders from government, higher education and the private and philanthropic sectors to outline key priorities and a cohesive action plan to help more veterans and their families thrive. Read the full article at SU News.

Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), in partnership with the School of Hotel Administration, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, has been awarded $1,500,000 by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This is one of two cooperative agreements for Boots to Business (B2B), the entrepreneurial track of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program and the cornerstone of SBA’s provision of transition assistance to America’s military service members and their spouses, both within the United States and overseas. Read more at SU News.

Ryan Gross grew up hearing stories about his grandfathers’ military experiences during World War II, leading tank units through the Battle of the Bulge and serving on a Navy destroyer in the Pacific. Inspired by their service, he accepted a commission in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence officer. After his deployment with an infantry battalion in Baghdad, Gross transitioned from the Army to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), where he leads intelligence analysis.

Gross, a student in Syracuse University’s #1-ranked master of public administration program in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has been named a 2017 Tillman Scholar in a cohort of 61 U.S. service members, veterans and military spouses across the nation. The newly named class, funded by the Pat Tillman Foundation, will receive more than $1.1 million in scholarships to pursue higher education degrees.

Read the full story at SU News.

Recognizing his long-standing advocacy and commitment to the work of Vera House, Barry L. Wells, special assistant to Chancellor Kent Syverud, will be presented the 2017 Sister Mary Vera Award at Vera House’s annual summer luncheon. The Sister Mary Vera Award recognizes an individual who enriches the lives of all people, makes significant contributions to those affected by domestic and sexual violence and performs this work with the humility, gentleness and humanitarian spirit reflected by Sister Mary Vera.

“I am absolutely thrilled that our board of directors unanimously chose Barry Wells as the recipient of this year’s Sister Mary Vera Award.  I believe that Barry truly embodies the spirit of Sister Mary Vera, through his passionate support of our mission, his tenacious pursuit of justice and his refusal to let obstacles sway him from his vision,” says Vera House Executive Director Randi Bregman.

While Wells’ involvement with Vera House spans nearly 15 years, his efforts to combat sexual and relationship violence began in 1990 as an assistant dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, when he served as the college’s liaison to the former University R.A.P.E. Center. This work evolved into years of service on committees and task forces that have advanced the University’s efforts in sexual and relationship violence prevention, adjudication and policies. He brought this same commitment to his then-role as senior vice president and dean of Student Affairs, promoting sexual and relationship violence prevention and education efforts and raising awareness of the ways in which domestic and sexual violence impact individuals and communities. His work today continues today as a member of the Chancellor’s Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence and a steadfast advocate for creating a world free from violence.

“I am grateful for Barry’s continued leadership in sexual and relationship violence prevention and advocacy on this campus and throughout the community,” says Chancellor Syverud. “This well-deserved honor recognizes his dedicated efforts for nearly three decades as an opponent of sexual and relationship violence and an unwavering supporter of the Vera House mission.”

“To receive this award from Vera House, an organization I admire and appreciate so much, makes me grateful,” says Wells. “More importantly, it energizes me to do more to combat sexual and relationship violence in our community.”

Following his decades of involvement in this important work, Wells was eager to bring his commitment, experience and advocacy to Vera House in a leadership capacity in 2003. He served on the Vera House Foundation Board of Trustees for five years, led the White Ribbon Campaign as honorary chair in 2005 and, along with wife Claudette P. McGowan-Wells, served as Home for the Holidays Gala Honorary Chairs in 2006. Under his leadership, not only did fundraising increase, but he also prompted important dialogue across the community. His call to action then and now remains the same: “end the silence about domestic violence.”

Among many honors, he is the recipient of a YWCA Academy of Diversity Achievers Award, a Citizen of the Year Award from Temple Adath Yesharun, a Distinguished Community Service Award from the Department of African American Studies and a Syracuse University Chancellor’s Citation for Distinguished Service. In honor of his outstanding contributions to the institution and its students, Syracuse University named the WellsLink Leadership Program after him.

He currently serves on the board of the Eat To Live Food Cooperative and has served on numerous community boards, including the Dunbar Association, the Salvation Army, the Community Folk Art Center, Syracuse Stage and the Central New York Community Foundation.

Wells has also served as a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators James E. Scott Academy for Leadership and Executive Effectiveness Advisory Board and is a member of several professional organizations, including the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.

Along with the Sister Mary Vera Recognition Award, Vera House will present the Vera House Special Appreciation Awards and the Annette Briggs Memorial Award. Gina Pauline, associate professor and undergraduate director of sport management in Falk College, will receive one of the Special Appreciation Awards for her leadership in the creation of the charity golf tournament with the sport venue and event management graduate program. The inaugural tournament held in 2016, which benefited Vera House, resulted in a $15,000 donation. Final tallies are in progress for the 2017 tournament to benefit Vera House, which was held on May 8.

The Annual Recognition and Celebration Luncheon is June 13. For more information, visit the Vera House website.

Read the original story at SU News.

The 2017 Commencement Address was delivered by Vernon E. Jordan Jr., who urged graduates to continue the battle for equality for all.

Read the original story at SU News.