Syracuse University Representatives to the Board
Mark J. Lodato
Academic Dean Representative to the Board, 2025 - 2027
Mark J. Lodato was appointed dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 2020 after more than 14 years at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he served as associate dean and associate general manager at Arizona PBS. There, he established new partnerships with leading media corporations and oversaw broadcast news operations, including the national award-winning “Cronkite News.” Under his leadership, Cronkite School broadcast students consistently ranked among the nation’s best in premier journalism competitions.
Tula Goenka
Faculty Representative to the Board, 2025 - 2027
Tula Goenka is a Professor of Television, Radio and Film at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. She is also the graduate program director for her department.
Goenka first came to Syracuse University as an international graduate student in 1984, and received her Master of Science in Television-Radio from Newhouse in 1986. She then moved to New York City to work as a production coordinator for MTV Networks before becoming a film editor for Mira Nair, Spike Lee, and James Ivory, among others.
Alexia Chatzitheodorou
Graduate Student Representative to the Board, 2025–2026
Alexia Chatzitheodorou is a PhD candidate in the Department of Physics at the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research in soft matter physics explores the interplay between geometry and elasticity in soft materials, informing the design of bio-inspired systems. She is an active member of the WiSE-FPP and the BioInspired Institute at Syracuse University.
Ryleigh Peterson
Law Student Representative to the Board, 2025–2026
Ryleigh Peterson is a third-year law student in the College of Law. She currently serves as managing editor of the Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce, Vol. 53, after previously holding the position of Associate Editor for Vol. 52. Additionally, she serves as a law student ambassador at the College of Law.
Anna Mirer
Undergraduate Student Representative to the Board, 2025–26
Anna Mirer is a rising senior in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences, triple majoring in neuroscience, psychology, and policy studies. As a Russian immigrant and longtime New Yorker, she is passionate about using mental health research to drive meaningful, long-term change. Mirer served as Vice President of University Affairs for the Student Government Association, where she worked to elevate student voices.
German Alejandro Nolivos
Undergraduate Student Representative to the Board, 2025–2026
German Nolivos is a Venezuelan first-generation college student from Miami, FL. As a rising senior at Syracuse University, he is pursuing a dual major in Political Science and Public Relations through the College of Arts and Sciences, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Andrea Rose Persin
Staff Representative to the Board, 2025-27
As the Assistant Dean of Budget, Finance, and Administration at Syracuse University’s College of Arts & Sciences, Andrea Rose Persin provides strategic financial oversight to support the goals of the college. She manages all aspects of the College’s budget and directs expenditures to align with actual revenues received. She also has the primary oversight for College’s HR related processes including, but not limited to, annual compensation review and implementation, performance partnerships, and College staffing and organizational planning.