Student Marshals Lead the Way

Bobby Marie Battle’s decision to pursue a career in education law is driven by a commitment to advancing equity in schools. “Syracuse has given me the tools to name and address educational inequalities when I see them,” says the 2026 recipient of a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award, enabling her to teach English in Spain.

She credits members of the campus community for shaping her journey. The residence hall security guard who was a “steady source of laughter, advice and comfort” when she was homesick. The staff of Syracuse Santiago who facilitated life-changing experiences, like a boat tour through the Chilean Patagonia. And friends and faculty members who encouraged Battle to train for and complete her first half-marathon this spring.

Along the way, she has served on the dean’s undergraduate advisory panel in the School of Education, “championing the student voice in institutional decision-making.”

Battle’s honors thesis, The Miseducation of Black Kids in White Schools, draws inspiration from her favorite hip-hop and R&B artist, Lauryn Hill.

“I examine how her music cultivates critical consciousness among Black students in predominantly white schools,” says Battle, whose project includes lyrical analysis, historical context, autoethnographic reflection and a pre-college curriculum of her own design.

Ambitious yet humble, she advises: “Enter every room believing you are the smartest person there but act as if you are the least.”

Like many of the sports teams he has covered, television production coordinator Steven Labovitch knows how to “trust the process”—a rebuilding philosophy popularized by the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers.

Patience. Resilience. Actions. Results.

This approach has landed him a coveted staff position at IMG, overseeing, coordinating and managing end-to-end production operations of Major League Soccer (MLS) studio programming on Apple TV.

Labovitch is no stranger to the sport. Since his freshman year, he has traversed the country as a freelance match and on-site production coordinator for MLS broadcasts.

“The Newhouse Sports Media Center has made an instrumental impact on me,” says Labovitch, praising its “incredible professional network.” He’s especially indebted to director and professor of practice Olivia Stomski ’01 for her “unwavering belief” in him and to IMG’s Spencer Raymond ’10 for his “years of mentorship and support.”

Accelerated master’s programs are popular in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) because they enable students like Thalia Lee to save money, accelerate their entry into the workforce and increase their earning potential.

There also are personal reasons. “The connections I’ve made thus far are too valuable to leave behind,” says Lee, who is beginning a master’s degree program in mechanical and aerospace engineering on the heels of earning a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering.

A first-generation honors student, Lee considers Syracuse a “Choose Your Own Adventure”-kind of university. Witness her enrollment in ECS’ 4+1 program, where she studies the complex movement of air and pollutants in city environments—research that has huge implications for urban design and planning.

While Lee has amassed many hard, technical skills, she lauds the University for teaching her the importance of the personal touch. “A small gesture can make a big difference in the life of someone else,” says the mathematics minor.

These connections have led to internships at Syracuse-based Trivium Engineering (formerly Peterson Guadagnolo Consulting Engineers) and the University’s Office of Admissions, engineering courses at INSA Strasbourg in France and various student-leadership positions in ECS.

“Stay curious—curious about your classes, your peers, your professors and the opportunities presented to you,” she says. “It will lead to endless adventures and help you grow in so many wonderful ways.”

“Don’t be afraid to try something new,” urges Anna Meehan. “Change that major. Add that minor. Apply to a dual program.”

Such moxie has altered her own trajectory. After graduation, Meehan is moving to Eastern Europe to study traditional Georgian music while working for a global learning company.

A history minor and accomplished violinist, she singles out professors Erika Haber and Ellen Hebden—scholars of Slavic languages and ethnomusicology, respectively—for helping her “build an academic profile” suited to her unique interests.

“Dr. Haber taught me how to push myself in an academic setting and be critical in my research,” says Meehan, who has used her Russian language skills to study abroad in Poland and Georgia. Today, she is a Global Ambassador for Syracuse Abroad.

One of Meehan’s favorite courses examined the link between Russian arts and protest. This led to a groundbreaking paper on the Soviet rock band KINO that appeared in the honors program’s research journal, The Crown.

“I make decisions for myself and take risks—things I hadn’t done before I left my hometown,” says the native Minnesotan. “I couldn’t have done it without Syracuse’s support.”

Anyone familiar with the Syracuse chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) has likely encountered president Ailed Torres Espinosa. Originally from Mexico City, the Houston resident leads an organization that supports students through mentorships, networking opportunities and design competitions.

Torres Espinosa’s involvement with NOMAS and Syracuse’s five-year, professional B.Arch program has sharpened her ability to spark dialogue and curiosity. “I am committed to fostering community and a sense of diversity in everything I do,” she says.

This ethos extends to her service in the School of Architecture, where, as an undergraduate program associate, she has contributed to Architectural Theory (ARC 141) and Architectural Design IV (ARC 208).

Same goes for Torres Espinosa’s architectural design internships at Texas-based Perry Homes (the nation’s largest woman-owned homebuilder) and her position as a resident advisor in the University’s Residential Living office.

“I tell students to explore as many opportunities as possible,” says Torres Espinosa, who minors in French and Francophone studies. “If you never try, you’ll never know what you’re capable of.”