Karen Baris
Director of Advising and Records, School of Architecture, Syracuse University
Karen Baris is the Director of Advising and Records for the School of Architecture, where she leads academic advising and student records operations while serving as a key partner in curriculum management and student success initiatives. As an alum of the Policy Studies program at Syracuse University, Karen has been part of the Syracuse community for many years, including a 13-year career in the School of Architecture. Throughout her career, she has developed expertise in academic advising, enrollment and curriculum management, policy implementation, and strategic problem-solving.
Karen works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and university leadership to navigate complex academic matters, improve processes, and create systems that support both student success and institutional goals. She is particularly passionate about helping students overcome challenges, building high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of empathy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Outside of work, Karen enjoys spending time in her garden, practicing yoga, and cheering on her son, a collegiate golfer entering his junior year.
Sheera Buckley
Claims Specialist, Office of Institutional Risk Management
Sheera Buckley is a Claims Specialist in the Office of Institutional Risk Management, where she has served since 2002. Beginning as the Disability Benefits Coordinator, her role has evolved to include the administration and management of disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, and the University’s captive insurance company.
Throughout her career, Sheera has developed expertise in problem-solving, stakeholder communication, and process improvement. She is passionate about advocating for employee benefits and has led initiatives to eliminate administrative barriers, increase benefit accessibility, and improve outcomes for employees. She also played a key role in developing and implementing a return-to-work program for employees returning from medical leave.
As a participant in Women in Leadership Cohort 6, Sheera hopes to further strengthen her leadership skills and gain new strategies to better support employees and contribute to organizational success.
Outside the University, Sheera volunteers with United Way’s Book Buddies program and has recently become involved in local politics as a community volunteer and engaged citizen. In her free time, Sheera enjoys kayaking and spending time with her grandson.
Alyssa Campbell
Associate General Counsel for Labor, Employment and Immigration, Office of University Counsel, Syracuse University
Since joining Syracuse University in 2018, Alyssa Campbell has become a trusted legal advisor at the intersection of law, policy, and people. As Associate General Counsel for Labor, Employment and Immigration, she brings clarity and strategic insight to complex labor and employment matters, as well as faculty policies and processes, helping guide University leaders through some of the institution's most consequential decisions.
Her expertise spans employee relations, labor law compliance, equal opportunity and anti-discrimination law, workplace accommodations, and employment-based immigration — always with an eye toward building processes that are both legally sound and equitable.
At the heart of Alyssa's work is a commitment to ensuring compliance across every stage of the employment journey — from hiring and onboarding, through promotion and advancement, to retirement or separation — so that faculty and staff are supported with consistency and care at every turn.
Before stepping into her current role, Alyssa served as the University's Director of Equal Opportunity and Inclusion, where she managed the University's Affirmative Action Plan, its Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Equal Opportunity policies, and the Staff and Faculty Title IX process — work that continues to inform her thoughtful, people-centered approach to the law.
A Syracuse native, Alyssa earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — bringing her legal career full circle, back to the city where it began.
Gabby Chapman
Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Syracuse University
Syracuse University runs in Gabby Chapman's family. A third-generation Syracuse student herself, she arrived on campus as a freshman in 1996 and never really left, and today, her children are carrying that legacy forward as fourth-generation Syracuse students and alumni. After earning her B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. in Economics, all from Syracuse, Chapman joined Graduate Enrollment Management in 2004 and moved into the Graduate School in 2007, where she has remained, first as Assistant Dean and then as Associate Dean beginning in 2008, a position she has held for nearly two decades.
As Associate Dean, Chapman leads the Academic Support team, which oversees the processing of graduate student funding, including scholarships, assistantship and fellowship appointments, and financial aid awards more broadly. She brings a distinctive combination of skills to this work: fluency in data systems and analytical tools and an eye for operational efficiency.
Chapman works closely with graduate program faculty, staff, and students to help ensure programs run smoothly, and she often steps in to help resolve difficulties students encounter during their course of study. She was recently elected to Staff Senate, where she serves on the Employee Services, Fiscal Affairs, and Operations Committee.
Giovanna R. Colosi
Librarian for the School of Education & Subject Instruction Team Lead, Syracuse University Libraries
Giovanna R. Colosi serves as the Librarian for the School of Education and Subject Instruction Team Lead at Syracuse University Libraries. In these roles, she provides research support, information literacy instruction, collection development, and faculty collaboration while leading the Libraries' Subject Instruction Team and advancing initiatives that support student and faculty success.
A proud Syracuse native, Giovanna previously worked in academic advising, counseling, student affairs, admissions, and teaching at several colleges and universities before transitioning to librarianship. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Counseling and Human Services from SUNY Oswego, an M.L.I.S. from Syracuse University's iSchool, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Disability Studies from Syracuse University's School of Education.
Giovanna's publications and presentations focus on information literacy, library programming, graduate student engagement, and academic librarianship as a second career. She serves as a reviewer for Choice, Resources for College Libraries, and Educational Media Reviews Online. She is actively involved in national and regional library organizations and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Central New York Library Resources Council (CLRC).
As a first-generation college graduate and the daughter of immigrants, Giovanna is especially passionate about expanding access to higher education and ensuring that all learners have equitable opportunities to succeed. She is committed to creating inclusive learning environments and empowering students with the research and information literacy skills they need to thrive academically and beyond. Her research interests include library outreach and assessment, disability studies, and graduate student success.
Jess Dennison, MPA, CHES
Associate Director, Health Promotion, Barnes Center at The Arch, Syracuse University
Jess brings over a decade of experience in people development and a strong foundation in health education. Wellness, prevention, and leadership have remained constants throughout her professional journey.
Jess currently serves as Associate Director for Health Promotion at Syracuse University's Barnes Center at the Arch. In this role, she oversees areas that promote mental wellness, including the intersection of substance use harm reduction and sexual and relationship health. She manages day-to-day operations, providing direct supervision to professional program staff and indirect supervision to the student employment team. Through assessment of signature programming, Jess also develops strategies to engage students via campus collaborations, advancing mental wellness education and programming.
Jess holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Health and a Master of Public Administration and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Earlier in her career, Jess gained valuable experience in brand and retail management, developing foundational skills in team leadership, people development, forecasting, and operational management — skills that continue to shape how she leads and grows teams today.
Originally from Germany, Jess recently became a United States citizen, a milestone that has deepened her belief in community and belonging. She is committed to fostering inclusion and non-judgmental support that honors each individual's autonomy and lived experience, and to creating environments where both staff and students can thrive.
Rachel Dubrofsky
Professor and Chair, Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies
Rachel E. Dubrofsky is professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies.
Dubrofsky’s research—rooted in a critical/cultural studies tradition and attuned to popular culture (reality TV, television, social media, film, selfies, music videos, news)—emphasizes issues of race and gender with a focus on surveillance, whiteness and authenticity. She is the author of “The Surveillance of Women on Reality Television: Watching ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette,’’’ the co-editor of the collection “Feminist Surveillance Studies,” and the author of “Authenticating Whiteness: Karens, Selfies and Pop Stars.”
A consistent thread in Dubrofsky’s career is a commitment to building equitable and inclusive systems. Through governance, policy development, scholarship, and leadership, working to strengthen organizational culture, accountability, and institutional effectiveness. Her approach is grounded in more than two decades of research examining how communication, culture, and systems shape people, organizations, and communities.
Prior to joining Syracuse University, Dubrofsky served as professor in the University of South Florida’s Department of Communication, chair of the department’s Equity, Social Justice and Accountability Committee, and co-chair of the University’s Faculty Senate Council on Racial Justice.
A sought-after expert on popular culture, Dubrofsky has been quoted in The Atlantic, Glamour, Rolling Stone, Time, The Guardian and The Washington Post, to name a few.
Dubrofsky holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; an M.A. from York University; and a B.A. from Concordia University.
Cristina Hatem
Director of Strategic Planning, Marketing and Communications, Syracuse University Libraries; Adjunct Professor, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
Cristina (DiMarco) Hatem '92 has decades of experience as a strategic marketing communications professional, helping organizations grow and enhance customers' experiences. She thrives at strategic planning, problem solving, identifying opportunities and connections, and communicating brand values with strength, clarity and authenticity. With over thirty years of professional integrated marketing communications and management leadership experience, Cristina has planned, managed and executed strategic customer experiences, research, public relations, advertising, collateral, events, direct and digital marketing.
Whether working with business or consumer clients at full-service marketing agencies, professional services firms, companies or nonprofits, she's collaborated with internal and external teams to deliver results. Her experience includes internal communications, including training and development, and external communications, including vertical niche marketing. She's led rebranding, development of social media platforms and creation of websites. Cristina's specialties include strategic account planning and management, budgeting, media relations, events and seminars, multi-channel communications, branding, crisis communications and community relations.
A 1992 graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a bachelor's degree in public relations, Cristina holds a master's degree in teaching from LeMoyne College. She has taught in the Public Relations Department at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and currently teaches a marketing course at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.
Lisa M. Henty
Senior Director of Budget & Administration, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University
Lisa Henty serves as the Senior Director of Budget & Administration for the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University, a role she has held since April 2024. She is the staff lead for the school's financial and budgetary operations, serving as the primary liaison between Maxwell leadership and university-wide stakeholders on fiscal matters, while also overseeing personnel and HR-related administrative functions.
Prior to joining higher education, Henty built an extensive career in local government budget, finance, and administration. Her work spanned both city and county government across three states. She managed the transformative Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) for Fauquier County, Virginia, and the City of Cortland, New York. Henty developed deep technical expertise in local government budgeting, salary and compensation structures, and cash flow and investment management. She holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Women's Studies from Colgate University and a master's in public administration from Syracuse University.
Born, raised, and educated in Central New York, Henty returned to the region in 2023. She owns a home in the Town of Clay, where she lives with her dog, Phoenix Rose. Henty is an active member of Liverpool Catholic Community. She also enjoys baking, home improvement projects, and gardening as creative outlets.
Soo Yeon Hong
Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Public Relations; Director, Public Relations Graduate Program, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
Soo Yeon Hong is an Associate Teaching Professor and Director of the Public Relations Graduate Program in the Department of Public Relations at Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University. She is the recipient of the 2025–2026 Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor Teaching Award for Continuing Excellence and the 2024 Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award.
As graduate program director, Hong has grown the program significantly, increasing enrollment by 100 percent between 2022 and 2025 and leading three consecutive Silver Anvil Award wins (2024, 2025, and 2026) from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the organization’s top honor for graduate public relations education. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in public relations and multimedia storytelling, and developed STC 348: Principles of DEIA in Communications — recognized with the 2025 Center for Online and Digital Learning Spotlight Award.
Hong holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from Syracuse University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing (Fiction) from Boston University. She is also a published fiction writer: her short stories have appeared in the Santa Monica Review and earned a Pushcart Prize nomination, a semifinalist nod for the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center Fellowship, and second place in the 2021 Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Contest.
Born in Seoul, Hong grew up in Tokyo and Jakarta. Outside of work, she is an avid runner who trains with the Fleet Feet running group in Syracuse and has completed several marathons, training for one each fall. She served as Director of Social Media for the 2026 IKMF Kettlebell World Championships and previously chaired the Communications and Public Relations Committee for the Syracuse Opera Board of Directors. Hong lives in the Strathmore neighborhood of Syracuse with her partner.
Indaria Jones
Program Manager, Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University
Indaria Jones is a Syracuse native and entrepreneurial ecosystem builder with more than a decade of experience advancing business growth and economic development across the public and private sectors. In 2016, she founded Creators Lounge, Central New York's first Black-owned incubator, where she helped entrepreneurs and creators locally and globally launch and grow their ventures. The company was acquired in 2023.
She joined Syracuse University in 2022 and now leads the Couri Hatchery Business Incubator at the Whitman School of Management, where she supports a diverse portfolio of student and alumni founders. Throughout her career, Indaria has helped entrepreneurs secure more than $128 million in funding and is known for building cross-sector partnerships that expand access to opportunity.
Indaria serves as Chair of GenNEXT on Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens' transition team and sits on several community boards, including the Allyn Family Foundation, Central New York Community Foundation, and Say Yes to Education. Her leadership has been recognized by Forbes the Culture, the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus with its Economic Champion Award, Central New York's 40 Under Forty 2018, New York State Senate Commendation in 2019, and named Most Dedicated to Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University by the Whitman School.
Tina Kapral
Executive Director, Corporate Philanthropy, Advancement and External Affairs, Syracuse University
Tina Kapral brings more than 25 years of experience in advancement, administration, and operations, spanning nonprofit, corporate, and higher education environments. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Corporate Philanthropy in Advancement and External Affairs at Syracuse University, a role she has held since December 2024. In this position, she leads the University's corporate engagement enterprise, building and stewarding a substantial portfolio of corporate relationships that drive significant enterprise-wide support annually, and manages a team of Directors of Corporate Philanthropy.
Before her current role, Tina spent 14 years advancing through progressively senior leadership positions at Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. She began as Program Manager, then served as Senior Director of Education & Training, overseeing all veteran and military spouse entrepreneurship programs along with enrollment, advising, and alumni teams, before being appointed Executive Director, Military and Veteran Development, where she led advancement and secured significant gifts and grants supporting military-connected programming. Her path to higher education advancement began in the private and nonprofit sectors, including roles at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central New York, Anaren Microwave, and Gap Inc.
Tina holds a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University, along with Certificates of Advanced Study in Leadership in International/NGOs and Conflict Resolution, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Relations & HR Management from Le Moyne College.
She is an active member of United Way's Women United, the Network of Academic Corporate Relations, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership.
Tina's connection to Syracuse runs deep: in addition to being an alumna, she is a Syracuse University parent, with her son Devin having graduated in 2024. She and her husband live in Syracuse, where she enjoys gardening, reading, and painting.
Laura Kolton
Executive Director of Federal Government Engagement
Laura Kolton is Executive Director of Federal Government Engagement at Syracuse University, where she leads the university's advocacy efforts before Congress and federal agencies. She brings 25 years of experience in higher education, science, and technology policy, including a decade on Capitol Hill working for two congressional committees and three members of the House of Representatives.
Prior to joining Syracuse, Laura held positions at Indiana University Bloomington, the Optical Society, and the American Chemical Society. Her expertise spans policy development, legislative relations, nonprofit leadership, and community outreach. During her time at the Optical Society, Laura was instrumental in the development of the National Quantum Initiative Act, which was signed into law in 2018.
In 2021, Laura led the AAU Council on Federal Relations' Innovation Task Force focused on the National Science Foundation. In 2023, Laura served as President of The Science Coalition, a nonpartisan organization of leading public and private research universities that advocates for federal investment in basic scientific research.
Laura holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Maine and an M.B.A. from the George Washington University School of Business. She is based in Washington, D.C., and her son is a rising junior at Syracuse University.
Marieke Kearns
Director of Experiential Learning and Partnerships, School of Education, Syracuse University
I am excited to have been selected to join Women in Leadership Cohort 6! My career spans 20+ years in public and private education, both in K-12 and Higher Education focusing on student advocacy. Since joining Syracuse University in January 2018 as Associate Director, HEOP, I have worked in myriad capacities of student support, advocacy, and leadership opportunities for students. In my current role as Director of Experiential Learning and Partnerships in the School of Education, I engage with district and community partners to develop avenues through which our students can gain invaluable experiential learning opportunities for degree and certification completion. During my time as Associate Director, Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program, I had the pleasure of working with students from the admissions process through to graduation. Reading graduates names as each crossed the Hendrick’s Chapel stage during our annual Baccalaureate ceremony is a gift I will forever cherish.
I earned my M.S. Ed from SUNY Oneonta and hold New York State permanent certification in K-12 School Counseling. I earned my undergraduate degree from William Smith College. I enjoy modern dance, walks in the woods with the dogs, and time with my family.
As a single-working mom of two daughters, belonging to WiL holds special meaning in illustrating the unique ways in which women build both partnership and leadership styles. I look forward to learning new ways in which to make room at the table for voices to be heard, supported, and valued.
Meghan MacBlane
Director of Budget and Administration, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, Syracuse University
Meghan MacBlane serves as Director of Budget and Administration in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost at Syracuse University, a role she stepped into in 2024. In her current role she provides strategic financial planning, operational oversight, and human resources leadership for the division.
A Syracuse native, MacBlane earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from SUNY Oswego and a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law. Her legal career briefly took her to Dallas, Texas, before she returned home to Syracuse and began what has become a 17-year career at Syracuse University. Along the way, she has held roles in the Office of Sponsored Programs and the iSchool, building expertise across research administration and budget management.
MacBlane lives in her hometown of Liverpool, New York, with her daughter, Maggie, and their two dogs, Gracie and Rosie. Outside of work, she's a proud Orange fan, a regular at Syracuse Stage, and most of all—a devoted Dance Mom.
Jessica L. MacDonald, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Biology; Interim Executive Director of Neuroscience, Syracuse University
Dr. Jessica MacDonald is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, the Interim Executive Director of Neuroscience and the Graduate Program Director for the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Concentration. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard University before joining SU's faculty in 2015.
Dr. MacDonald's research investigates genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that control brain development and how their disruption contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular focus on Rett syndrome. Her lab has identified cellular disruptions that underpin Rett syndrome phenotypes, pointing to new potential therapeutic strategies. Her work is funded by the NIH and the International Rett Syndrome Foundation, among others, and she has authored dozens of peer-reviewed publications and mentored a large cohort of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate researchers.
Beyond the lab, Dr. MacDonald has served as an elected Council Member of the American Society for Neurochemistry, Chair of its Early Career Educational Enhancement Committee, and Focus Group Co-Leader for Mechanics of Development & Disease within SU's BioInspired Institute. She also serves on several journal editorial boards and as a standing member of an NIH grant review panel.
Beth Patin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University
Dr. Beth Patin is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS) program at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies. Patin's path to academic leadership began in the classroom — first as a teacher and then as a school librarian in New Orleans, where she led the rebuilding of her library after Hurricane Katrina, an experience that became the foundation for her pioneering work in crisis informatics. That same commitment to community and empowerment now shapes her research on epistemicide, a term she coined to describe the systematic destruction of knowledge systems, and her leadership within the iSchool and beyond.
Her scholarship has earned national recognition, including an unprecedented three consecutive Best Conference Paper awards from Association for Library and Information Science Education and the 2021 Best Information Ethics and Policy Paper from the Association for Information Science and Technology. She currently serves as Director of Membership on the ALISE Board of Directors, extending her leadership to the national stage.
Beyond the classroom, Patin is Executive Director of Rocket City Civil Rights, a nonprofit preserving Huntsville, Alabama's civil rights history, and co-founder of the Library and Information Investigative Team research collaborative. She also co-hosts the podcast Libraries Lead!, using public scholarship to amplify voices often left out of dominant narratives.
Patin's leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that advancement is never solitary; it is built through mentorship, community, and a willingness to challenge systems that exclude. As she continues to shape the future of library and information science education, she remains committed to opening doors for others.
Jennifer Renée Pluta
Director of Veteran Career Services, Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, Syracuse University
Jennifer Renée Pluta is the Director of Veteran Career Services in Syracuse University's Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, where she leads strategic initiatives that prepare military-connected students for successful careers after graduation. She oversees employer engagement, career programming, career immersion experiences, internships, and strategic partnerships that connect students with employers across the public and private sectors. Her work has contributed to nationally recognized career outcomes and reinforces Syracuse University's commitment to serving veterans and military-connected students.
With more than 20 years of leadership experience in higher education and military service, Jennifer has built a career centered on developing people, building partnerships, and creating opportunities. Her expertise spans career development, talent management, program management, organizational leadership, employer engagement, and strategic planning. She is passionate about helping veterans translate their military experience into meaningful civilian careers while strengthening collaboration among higher education, industry, government, and the military.
Jennifer also serves as a Sergeant Major (SGM) in the United States Army Reserve, where she advises senior leaders, develops noncommissioned officers, and supports organizational readiness. Throughout her military career, she has served in senior enlisted leadership positions, including as a First Sergeant and a Senior Command Career Counselor. Her experience managing personnel, coordinating operations, mentoring leaders, and maintaining accountability across complex organizations brings a practical, mission-focused approach to leadership.
Jennifer is a 2023 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar through the George W. Bush Institute. She holds a Master of Science in Higher Education from Syracuse University, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Alfred University, and professional certifications as a Certified Master of Career Services and Global Career Development Facilitator.
Jennifer and her husband are proud parents of two daughters. Whether serving in uniform or in higher education, she remains committed to developing leaders, expanding opportunities, and helping others discover their next mission.
Bailey Reagan, MAPP, MBA
Director of Administration and Strategic Planning, Advancement and External Affairs, Syracuse University
Bailey Reagan believes the best work happens when strategy, people, and purpose come together. As the Director of Administration and Strategic Planning for Advancement and External Affairs at Syracuse University, she serves as a strategic partner to the Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer, collaborating with AEA senior leadership to align strategy, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and move priorities from vision to execution. Bailey is passionate about organizational culture, leadership development, and creating environments where people feel connected to purpose, empowered to grow, and inspired to do their best work.
Before joining Syracuse, Bailey held leadership roles in philanthropy marketing and communications at Beth Israel Lahey Health and worked across higher education, healthcare, philanthropy, and startups, including positions at Harvard Business School and Ithaca College. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Bentley University, a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor's degree in Communication Management and Design from Ithaca College. Her education and professional experiences sparked a lasting interest in organizational leadership, resilience, and well-being.
Colleagues appreciate Bailey's thoughtful approach, intentionality, and ability to listen before she leads. She enjoys bringing people together, asking good questions, and helping individuals and teams find clarity amid complexity. Bailey believes the best solutions are built through collaboration, curiosity, and a healthy sense of humor.
Outside of work, Bailey and her husband are busy raising two young children who keep life joyful, unpredictable, and full of perspective. They love exploring Central New York, planning family adventures, and simply being together. Bailey also enjoys staying active and is always on the hunt for a great blazer and bold lipstick.
Tracey Reichert Schimpff, Ph.D.
Associate Teaching Professor; Associate Chair, Department of Human Development and Family Science, Syracuse University
Tracey Reichert Schimpff is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science. She currently serves as the Graduate Director for the residential and online Master's degree programs in Marriage and Family Therapy as well as the Associate Chair of Human Development and Family Science.
Dr. Reichert Schimpff is an alumni of Syracuse University's Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program, earning both her Masters and doctoral degrees. After working in a Syracuse non-profit agency for 10 years in clinical and administrative roles, she returned to SU to work as a Clinic Supervisor and Internship Coordinator in 2008. Tracey served as the Director of Clinical Services for 14 years, overseeing the Couple and Family Therapy Center while teaching and supervising students in Marriage and Family Therapy. Tracey moved into a faculty position in 2022, where she taught a variety of graduate courses and became the Program Director for the MFT Master's program.
Tracey is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Fellow of AAMFT, and an Approved Supervisor. Her focus has been on child welfare and the treatment of trauma within family systems, while her investment has been in the education and training of systemic therapists and clinical supervisors. Tracey continues to support collaboration with community agencies and programs in order to advance the field and increase access to mental health care.
Jenna Rodgers
Associate Athletic Director for Football Revenue Generation & NIL Development
Jenna Rodgers was named Associate Athletic Director for Football Revenue Generation & NIL Development in 2025 and currently serves as the strategic lead for external revenue opportunities tied to Syracuse Football’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) initiatives. In this role, she oversees the development and execution of NIL-specific fundraising strategies, corporate partnerships, and marketing engagement.
Rodgers first joined the Syracuse Athletics staff in 2015 as a compliance coordinator before moving into a development role in 2018. During her time with the ‘Cuse Athletics Fund and major gifts team, she managed high-level donor relationships and signature fundraising events while supporting the department’s philanthropic priorities and sports specific giving programs.
A former Syracuse student-athlete, Rodgers was a four-year member and two-year captain of the orange women’s soccer team (2009–12), finishing her career tied for 10th in program history in assists. She earned her undergraduate degree from the College of Arts and Science, and later completed her master’s degree in administration at the University at Buffalo, where she used her 5th year of eligibility to play for the women’s basketball team under current Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack.
A proud alumna and lifelong Orange, Rodgers brings a unique perspective to NIL development through her experience as a student-athlete, compliance professional, and seasoned fundraiser.
Rodgers and her husband met as student athletes at Syracuse. Sam Rodgers ’15, was a football team captain, Remembrance Scholar, Academic All-American, and recipient of the Soladay Award.
Boryana Dragoeva Rossa, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Film and Media Arts, Syracuse University
Boryana Rossa, Ph.D., Professor at the Department of Film and Media Arts, is an interdisciplinary artist and curator who works in the fields of technology and art, film, video, performance, and bio-art. Her work is focused on the influence of technology and science on all fields of human activity.
Rossa's works are shown internationally at such venues as Brooklyn Museum and Exit Art, New York; Kunstwerke and Akademie der Kunste, Berlin; Haifa Museum of Art, Haifa; Museum of Contemporary Art (MUMOK), Vienna; Zacheta Gallery, Warsaw; Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMCA) and National Gallery of Fine Arts, Sofia; First Balkan Biennale, Thessaloniki; Coreana Museum, Seoul; Biennial for Electronic Art, Perth (BEAP), Australia; Foundation for Art and Creative Technologies (FACT), Liverpool; and Society for Art and Technology (SAT), Montreal, among others.
Her works are part of the public collections of the Elisabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Brooklyn Museum; Kontakt. The Art Collection of Erste Bank-Group; National Gallery and Sofia Art Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria; MOMus – Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, among others.
In 2018, together with Professor Heidi Hehnly (Biology, SU), she established The BioArt Research Coalition of Syracuse, a forum at Syracuse University where artists and scientists from different fields meet to share their research and discuss it with representatives of other disciplines. Rossa is a co-founder and leader of the Posthumanities: Arts and Sciences subgroup of the Bioinspired Institute.
She holds a doctorate and an MFA degree in Electronic Arts from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MFA in Mural Painting from the National Academy of Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Amanda Johnson Sanguiliano, M.S.
Associate Director, Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Syracuse University
Amanda Johnson Sanguiliano is an Associate Director in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, where she leads university-wide assessment, accreditation, and program/unit strategic planning efforts. With deep expertise in these areas along with partnership development and data-driven decision-making, Amanda brings a systems-level perspective to the work of student learning, operational effectiveness, and professional development to design transparent and equitable learning experiences. Amanda's professional career includes working in the non-profit sector and varying higher education functional areas such as assessment, fraternity and sorority affairs, Greek life, and service learning. She believes in collaborative, reciprocal, and coordinated efforts to give students the best collegiate experience possible. Amanda's favorite aspect of her current work is connecting faculty/staff across campus who are working toward similar goals in the hopes of breaking down silos and building the kind of cross-campus community that ultimately benefits students.
Amanda is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Higher Postsecondary Education at Syracuse University. Her research is focused on faculty experiences leading equity-minded assessment at the program-level. She has led multiple Institutional Review Board-approved research studies and has presented her work at national conferences including the AACU Conference on General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment; the IUPUI Assessment Institute; and the Student Affairs Assessment Leaders (SAAL) Structured Conversations series. Amanda holds a Master of Science in Higher Postsecondary Education from Syracuse University and dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Women's Studies and English from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work and school, Amanda enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her family.
Andrea Turnbull-Garas
Budget Manager, Department of Physics, Syracuse University
Andrea Turnbull-Garas is the Budget Manager of the Physics Department and has been an SU staff member for eight years. She oversees more than $13 million in federal and private research funding, departmental operating budgets, and faculty accounts, working closely with numerous central offices and other colleges to keep that funding moving smoothly. Colleagues know her as someone who is candid and reliable in fast-paced, high-risk, complex situations. She's a subject matter expert in summer payroll and has trained several budget staff across the College, carrying forward the legacy of her mentor, Patti Ford. She overhauled many of the department's transactional processes, significantly speeding up processing time and easing the administrative burden on staff. Before joining SU, she spent many years in corporate financial operations at The Bank of New York Mellon.
What makes Andrea's perspective distinctive is that she's not just experiencing SU from the staff side. She's also finishing her BA in Architectural History (minor in Architecture) this December, and is a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda honor society. Her original independent research on “Stick” Style houses earned her the Sydney Thomas Prize in 2025, and she has done in-depth research on Sacred Heart Basilica in Syracuse. That fascination with Victorian-era architecture and local preservation history has grown into an idea for a self-published book of local derelict storefronts.
Andrea's leadership reaches well beyond campus: She's a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Polish Home; a former facilitator with Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today; she's currently leading a volunteer effort to install a Little Free Library in Leavenworth Park (of which she is steward); and she's volunteered digitizing handwritten historical records for the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association. In her free time, she is an avid and knowledgeable gardener, film buff, and singer.
Julie Walas
Fellow for Engagement Initiatives; Coach & Program Manager, Otto the Orange, Office of the Chancellor, Syracuse University
Julie Walas has 19 years of progressive experience at Syracuse University, where she has built a reputation as a program builder, brand strategist, and people-centered leader. She currently serves as a Chancellor's Fellow within the Chancellor's Office and as Coach & Program Manager of Otto the Orange, a role she has held since 2007.
Under her leadership, Otto has grown to nearly 1,000 appearances annually, earning ESPN's #1 ACC mascot ranking, Mascot Hall of Fame induction, and the first mascot NIL deal in U.S. history. Julie has built her career across three SU schools and the Chancellor's Office, having also founded signature programs at the iSchool and served as Director of Recruitment, Admissions & Student Engagement at Newhouse, where she co-founded the @NewhouseSU social presence.
Throughout her career, Julie has directly managed rotating teams, coordinated complex multi-stakeholder logistics across Athletics, academic schools, the Chancellor's Office, and the greater community, and has led hiring, training, onboarding, and evaluation systems. She has developed comprehensive strategic proposals that reflect both her operational depth and long-range vision.
A connector and community builder by nature, Julie serves on the Board of Directors of the Mascot Hall of Fame and is a Leadership Greater Syracuse alumna and FELM Fellow. A recipient of the 2018 Chancellor's Citation for Excellence, she holds three degrees from Syracuse University — a BS in Journalism and Policy Studies, an MS in Counseling, and a Certificate of Advanced Study.
Outside of work, Julie's greatest joy is her family. A foster and adoptive parent to two daughters, she is passionate about creating a life full of adventure — whether that means traveling, exploring and discovering, or simply navigating the beautiful chaos of a Syracuse home that is equal parts family residence and student gathering place, with Max the cat and Maple the puppy along for the ride.
Julia M. White, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, School of Education; Principal Investigator, Project IMPRESS, Syracuse University
Julia M. White, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Inclusive Special Education and Disability Studies and a Faculty Associate at the Center on Disability and Inclusion at Syracuse University. She directs the interdisciplinary minor in Atrocity Studies and the Practices of Social Justice and serves on the Executive Board of the International Association of Genocide Scholars. She is Principal Investigator for Project IMPRESS, a $1.4M US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs teacher preparation grant. Prior to entering academia, she was a high school general education English and special education English and Social Studies teacher.
Dr. White's research focus is special educational policy at the national and international levels and inclusive education as a human right, particularly related to Romani students in Central and Eastern Europe and students with significant disabilities. She has published a monograph, Pitfalls and Bias: Entry Testing and the Overrepresentation of Romani Children in Special Education; numerous book chapters; and articles in journals such as Educational Studies, The International Journal of Special Education, Disability Studies Quarterly, Inclusion, and Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities. Her work has been cited in a European Court of Human Rights decision on the misdiagnosis of Romani students, and she has testified on this topic in regional courts in Hungary and the Slovak Republic.
Tanya Williamson, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President, Office of People and Culture, Syracuse University
Tanya Williamson serves as assistant vice president of the Office of People and Culture (OPC), where she leads staff and oversees operations, budget, and project management across several teams. These teams include learning and development, community and connection, disability access, and administrative fellows across the university. In the community, Tanya is also an executive coach and consultant, collaborating with teams and individuals — including managers, faculty, and C-suite executives — to strengthen leadership skills and support workplace success.
Before joining the Office of People and Culture, Tanya held roles including associate director at the Barnes Center at The Arch and staff psychologist in counseling. Before moving into higher education, she spent several years at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where she served as Lead of Psychological Services and provided organizational coaching and psychological services for chronic pain and geriatric care. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Binghamton University and a B.A. in Psychology from Michigan State University.
Tanya's journey into psychology and leadership is marked by a deep devotion to self-growth and service to others. As a first-generation college student, she holds the college experience close to her heart and hopes to leave an impact that encourages and supports others to pursue higher education. Outside of work, Tanya practices gratitude within her faith, spends time with family and friends, and has recently returned to dancing, a joy from her early childhood.
Sarah Workman, Ph.D.
Director of Research Development, Arts & Humanities, Office of Research | College of Arts & Sciences, Syracuse University
Sarah Workman is the Director of Research Development for Arts and Humanities at Syracuse University, where she has served as the inaugural lead for research development in the humanities, arts, and humanistic social sciences for the past seven years. Affiliated with the Syracuse University Humanities Center but situated in the central Office of Research Development, she works across schools and colleges to support federal, foundation, and fellowship submissions and provides strategic research planning for individuals and entities across the university. Prior to joining Syracuse University, she spent three years in instructional design at the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS), Georgetown University’s center for teaching, innovation, research, and excellence. She first encountered grantsmanship while writing proposals for the Adam Institute for Democracy and Peace (Jerusalem), which developed civics curriculum for K-12 students, and subsequently spent three years supporting the Global Economy and Development program at the Brookings Institution.
She holds a PhD in English from UNC Chapel Hill, an MA in English from Georgetown, and a B.A. in English and Spanish from Cornell University. She is the founding co-chair of the Creative Arts, Social Science, and Humanities affinity group for National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP).
She lives with her husband, two children, and dog in the Westcott neighborhood.