The Chancellor’s Medal
This medal was first presented in 1967 as the Centennial Medal on the occasion of Chancellor William P. Tolley’s 25th anniversary as chancellor. The Centennial Medal, given to recognize service to higher education and society, was presented in the years 1967-1971. The name of the award was later changed to the Chancellor’s Medal in 1972. In the decades since, the medal has been given to “extraordinary individuals, whose career success and philanthropic contributions have had a significant impact on society and the University.”
Chancellor’s Medal recipients for 2021 are a group of University and community leaders honored for their extraordinary leadership during the pandemic, working as a team and as individuals to help guide the University community through an unprecedented and challenging time.
University Leaders
- Lisa Dolak, senior vice president and secretary to the Board of Trustees
- Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, executive director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, and Barnes Professor of Entrepreneurship
- Robert Hradsky, vice president for the student experience
- Candace E. Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff
- Gwenn Judge, interim senior vice president and chief financial officer
- John Liu, vice president for international programs
- Ramesh Raina, interim vice president for research
- Pete Sala, vice president and chief facilities officer
- John Wildhack, director of athletics
- Brittany Grimes Zaehringer, senior associate vice president of operations and strategy, enrollment and the student experience
University Public Health Team
- Urvashi Bhattacharya, director of strategic initiatives and project management for the Division of Business, Finance and Administrative Services
- Kathleen Coughlin, director of health center operations and administration at the Barnes Center
- J. Florkowski, operations program manager with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF); Haynie
- Adam Hepburn, executive director of operations in the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation
- Joseph Hernon, former director of emergency management and business continuity planning
- Pruthvi Kilaru, program manager in the Department of Public Health in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
- Brittany Kmush, assistant professor of public health in the Falk College
- David Larsen, associate professor of public health in the Falk College
- Madeline Mackowski, lab supervisor in the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation
- Karen Nardella, University medical director
- Mandy Patti, project manager, Enterprise Process Support, Information Technology Services
- Deepjyoti Singh, postdoctoral researcher, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
Community Leaders
- Indu Gupta, Onondaga County health commissioner
- Mantosh Dewan, president of SUNY Upstate Medical University and a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Psychiatry
- Ryan McMahon, Onondaga County executive
- Ann Rooney, Onondaga County deputy county executive
Chancellor’s Award for Public Engagement and Scholarship
First presented in 1992, the award is given annually to an undergraduate student and a graduate student who have been significantly engaged in their community as part of a dynamic learning experience.
Lia Chabot ’21, College of Arts & Sciences
Yusuf Abdul-Qadir ’11, G’20, G’21, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
More about the award recipients
Meredith Professorship of Teaching Excellence
A substantial bequest from the estate of Dr. L. Douglas Meredith, a 1926 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, allowed Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw to create the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professorships in 1995, to recognize and reward outstanding teaching at Syracuse University.
Melissa Chessher, professor and chair of magazine, news and digital journalism in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Elisa Macedo Dekaney, associate dean of research, graduate studies and internationalization in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and professor of music education in VPA and the School of Education.
Tina Nabatchi, Joseph A. Strasser Endowed Professor in Public Administration and professor of public administration and international affairs in the Maxwell School
Margaret Voss, associate professor of nutrition and food studies in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.
Meredith Teaching Recognition Awards
Lamis Abdelaaty, assistant professor of political science in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Tripti Bhattacharya, Thonis Family Professor: Paleoclimate Dynamics and assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences
Jonathan French, assistant professor of chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences
Michael Fudge, professor of practice in the iSchool
Shannon Gardner, teaching professor in the College of Law
Carolyn Hedges, assistant professor of communications in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Brittany Jakubiak, assistant professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences
Beth Myers, Lawrence B. Taishoff Professor of Inclusive Education and executive director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education in the School of Education
Beth Patin, assistant professor in the iSchool
More about the award recipients
Provost’s Award for Contributions to Human Values Award
Camelo Bonilla ’21, graphic design, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; information management and technology, School of Information Studies
Natalie Petryk ’21, bioengineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
More about the award recipients
The Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence
This award was first presented in 1979 in recognition of outstanding achievement in teaching, scholarship, and creative work. Over time, the focus of the awards has changed to reflect new priorities and institutional directions.
Excellence in Student Research
Shreyas Pathreeker, fourth-year doctoral student conducting research on energy and sustainability in the College of Engineering and Computer Science
Francesca Ortega, master’s student in the media studies program in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Bailey Felix, senior majoring in bioengineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science
Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives
Angela Morales-Patterson, Director of Operations and Partnerships in the Office of Multicultural Advancement
Wesley Whiteside, associate director of recruitment and diversity in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Candy Brooks, academic advisor and graduate coordinator in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences
Kira Reed, associate professor of management in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and a provost faculty fellow
Outstanding Group Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives
Syracuse University Public Health Team
For their invaluable contributions, extraordinary work and selfless efforts to ensure a safe, healthy and rewarding residential experience for our students, faculty and staff in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic: Urvashi Bhattacharya, Kathleen Coughlin, A.J. Florkowski, Adam Hepburn, Joseph Hernon, Pruthvi Kilaru, Brittany Kmush, David Larsen, Madeline Mackowski, Dr. Karen Nardella, Mandy Patti, Ramesh Raina and Deepjyoti Singh.
Syracuse University Academic Continuity Team
For their extraordinary and unflagging efforts to facilitate the university’s transition to online and mixed delivery teaching modalities in the face of the many challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic: Nicholas Bennett, Martha Diede, Eric Ferguson, Michael Frasciello, Jenny Gluck, Jeanine Irons, Michael Morrison and Michael O’Mara.
Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction
Jason Fridley, professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences
Brooks Gump, Falk Family Endowed Professor of Public Health in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
Merril Silverstein, Marjorie Cantor Professor of Aging Studies, in the College of Arts and Sciences and professor in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Lifetime Achievement Award
Mark Monmonier, distinguished professor of geography in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Student-Athlete Scholar Awards
The Student-Athlete Scholar Award recognizes the student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point averages.
Claire Cooke ’21, human development and family science major in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and a member of the field hockey team
Anicet Mundundu ’21, psychology major and philosophy minor in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the men’s rowing team
More about the scholars (video)
Diversity and Inclusion Award
Paula Possenti-Perez, director, Center for Disability Resources
Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars
The Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars lead the Syracuse University community in the remembrance of the 270 people, including 35 Syracuse University students, who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Tolley Medal
As one of the nation’s pre-eminent leaders in higher education, William Pearson Tolley served as Syracuse University’s chancellor for 27 years. The University established the Tolley Medal in 1966 to recognize outstanding contributions by national and international leaders in what was then known as adult education.
Don McPherson, former Syracuse Football All-American and a College Football Hall of Fame inductee and long-time advocate for the prevention of gender-based violence
Chancellor’s Forever Orange Award
The Chancellor’s Forever Orange award recognizes individuals who embody the spirit of Syracuse University through academic excellence, exemplary leadership, and selfless service to the entire Orange community, on campus and beyond.
Diane Lyden Murphy, dean, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
Judith Greenberg Seinfeld Scholar Award
Honoring the talents of outstanding faculty or students through a program made possible by a generous gift from Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56, this award highlights excellence, creativity and innovation and encourages future contributions to society.
Shobha Bhatia, professor of civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
More about the award recipients
Provost’s Award for Contributions to Human Values Award
Camelo Bonilla ’21, graphic design, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; information management and technology, School of Information Studies
Natalie Petryk ’21, bioengineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Faculty, Librarians Honored With Emeriti Status
Thirty-four faculty members and librarians received emeritus status in May 2020.
Syracuse University Scholars
Twelve seniors have been named as the 2021 Syracuse University Scholars, the highest undergraduate honor that the University bestows. Criteria includes coursework and academic achievement, independent research and creative work, evidence of intellectual growth and/or innovation in their disciplinary field, a personal statement and faculty letters of recommendation.
2021 Syracuse University Scholars
2021 Commencement Student Marshals
View list of student marshals who will represent the Class of 2021 at the University’s 167th Commencement ceremony on May 23.
Milestone Years Recognition of Service
Members of the University community are recognized for achieving Years of Service milestones in academic year 2020-21.
60 Years
Dorothy “Dottie” Russell, Schine Dining
55 Years
Thomas Fondy, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
W. Henry Lambright, Department of Public Administration and International Affairs, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs