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Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer

October 14, 2025 by Catalina Irigoyen

Smiling man wearing a light blue button-down shirt, posed against a gray background. The design includes a blue border with the Empire State University torch emblem in the top left corner and the text ‘5 Minute Feature’ in the bottom right.

Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now!

What led you to your career path?

I’ve been in higher education for about 27 years now with 15 of those right here at Empire State University, and I’ve had the chance to wear a lot of different hats along the way. When I first started, cybersecurity wasn’t really a thing yet. Over time, as technology became a bigger part of how we work, I found myself more and more interested in how we could keep that environment safe. One opportunity led to another, and before long, I was in the information security field as an information security officer.

What’s kept me in it is the purpose behind the work—protecting the systems that make remote learning possible for our students and faculty. And, during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s a great reminder of how important it is for all of us to stay informed and engaged in keeping our virtual campus secure.

What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire?

What I love most about SUNY Empire is how effortlessly it embraces remote learning. The university has created an incredibly flexible and accessible environment where students can thrive no matter where they are. It’s amazing when education adapts to fit our lives, rather than the other way around. As someone in cybersecurity, I’m proud to safeguard these virtual spaces so students can focus on their studies without worrying about digital safety.

What’s one moment in your career you’re especially proud of?

I am proud to have led initiatives that strengthened the university’s cybersecurity posture while simplifying online security for students and staff. I’m proud to be part of building a culture where individuals feel confident their data is protected. Each time someone reports a phishing email instead of clicking on it, that’s a win.

Based on your observations, what are the biggest cybersecurity threats the university is facing, and how is ITS evolving to address them?

The most significant cybersecurity threats we face today are not purely technical but human. Phishing, social engineering, and data breaches often begin with someone being deceived into clicking on a malicious link or sharing sensitive information. As technology advances, so do the attackers, making higher education a prime target due to the vast amount of valuable data we possess.

At Empire State University, we are proactively addressing these challenges. Our Information Technology Services (ITS) department employs a layered security approach, integrating advanced tools like threat detection and multi-factor authentication with robust user education. During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we emphasize the importance of awareness and training, helping everyone understand their crucial role in safeguarding our digital community.

Ultimately, cybersecurity is not just about firewalls and passwords; it’s about people, culture, and collaboration. We continuously evolve to stay ahead of threats while empowering our campus community to be the first and most vital line of defense.

Can you share your favorite quick and easy tip for internet safety?

Pause before you click. It sounds simple, but it’s one of the most powerful habits you can build. Most cyberattacks start with something that looks routine: an email, a link, or a message that feels urgent. Taking just a few seconds to slow down, verify the sender, and think before you click can stop a major security issue before it starts.

 Cybersecurity isn’t about being an expert—it’s about staying alert, asking questions, and looking out for one another online.

  • 2026

    • September
      • Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
      • A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both
      • Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy
      • ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 
      • Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2026
    • August
      • Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 
      • How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy
      • Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month
      • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education
      • Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost
    • July
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2026
      • Scholars Across the University Look Back on 2025-2026 Term
      • Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
      • Empire State University Partners with Premier Medical Group 
    • June
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May/June 2026
      • Five-Minute Feature: Michele Lee, Program Aide 
      • Alexander Yin to Join Empire State University as Vice President for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tara Clark, Admissions Advisor 
      • Prepared for the Future: Meet Public Health Student Ritzy Kisel 
      • Empire State University Honors Trailblazing Journalist Melba Tolliver With Honorary Degree 
      • Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students 
      • Albany Commencement Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma on Dispelling Self-Doubt
    • May
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony 
      • Spring Graduate Joseph Caroselli Is Building a Career on His Own Terms
      • Empire State University and TAVS USA Launch Skilling Partnership for Veterans and First Responders 
      • Three Empire State University Employees Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Empire State University Graduates Second Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Celebrating Spring 2026 Dual-Degree Graduates and Partnership Renewal with UNAPEC
      • Roadmap to Success: Meet Spring 2026 Graduate and Employee Gabby Damis
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
      • Commencement Corner: Elahni Ocean, Spring 2026 Graduate 
      • Student Speaker Robyn Guzman: Sowing, Growing, and Flowing at Empire State University
      • Rochester Student Speaker Jakeith Mosley: “What I’m Building Isn’t Just for Me Anymore”
      • Meet Tatiana Spikes, ABA Program Graduate 
      • Commencement Corner: Mizuho Johnson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: LaRoy Nelson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Director of CAARES and Associate Professor Noor Syed Shares Her Personal Journey to Advocacy
      • A Deep Dive with Noor Syed, Director of CAARES and Associate Professor
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Commencement Corner: Stephen Bernhardt, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: Brittany Stansfield, Spring 2026 Graduate 
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2026
      • CAARES and SSPL Partner to Create Welcoming Spaces in Local Community
      • Behind the Scenes with SUNY Empire’s Online Library
      • A Passion for the Planet: John L. Turner ’85
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor
      • Four Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Human Resources
      • Mother Works 84 Hours a Week While Earning Degree (in Spanish): “At SUNY Empire, It’s Possible”
      • Five-Minute Feature: Aley O’Mara, Program Associate and Training Coordinator for CAARES
      • Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Empire State University 
      • CAARES Helps Launch New Training to Support Neurodivergent SUNY Students 
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kristina Papa, Academic Learning Coach and Opportunity Programs Academic Support Specialist
      • Empire State University Student and Professor Co-Publish Article 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Five-Minute Feature: Griffin Fuetsch, Office Assistant 2 for the Office of Opportunity Programs
    • March
      • Laughing Matters: Professor Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams on Funny Women Inciting Change
      • Empire State University Announces Partnership with National Institute of Public Safety 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams, Professor of English and Author
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2 for the Office of Communications 
      • Cindy Bradley’s Chihuahua Inspired Research That Could Change Treatment for Epileptic Dogs
      • Empire State University Alum Wins Norman R. McConney Jr. Award 
      • Empire State University Educator Spotlights Multilingual Learners in New Children’s Book
      • Empire State University Student Leads Dancing Club for Older Adults 
      • Ginger Alvarez’s “Suitcase Full of Dreams”
      • Empire State University Partners with AMAT Healthcare Institute to Support Healthcare Workforce Development 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cherrelle Hall, Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
    • February
      • Behind the Scenes with the B.S. in Biology
      • Five-Minute Feature: Derrick Siler, President of the Black Male Initiative
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • The Public Affairs Playlist: Meet Professor Nadine Wedderburn
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Nadine Wedderburn, Professor of Public Affairs and Policy
      • Dentist Goes Back to School to Learn the Business Side: Angélica Farfan on Finding the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Winnie Yu, Director of Communications for Advancement and Community Engagement
      • SUNY Chancellor King Visits Empire State University to Highlight SUNY Military Tuition Rate Program  
      • Two Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Building Bridges Grant
      • Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
      • Get to Know Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Dean of the College of Education
      • A Deep Dive With Doug Gruse, Chief Marketing Officer
      • Behind the Scenes with Special Events 
    • January
      • Chief Marketing Officer Doug Gruse Talks Creativity Culture
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2026
      • Vjosa Musliu ’08: Growing Up in War
      • Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
      • Behind the Scenes with the Center for International Education
      • New Associate Provost Is Dedicated to Student Success
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
      • Empire State University Joins FutureReadyNYC Healthcare Pathway Accelerator to Create New Career Pathways for NYC Students 
      • Get to Know Julie Gedro, Dean of the College of Business
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Rumpf, Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education
      • Spanish BBA: One Year In
      • Empire State University Prioritizes Student Health Through Partnership with TimelyCare 
      • Get to Know Gina Torino, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Five-Minute Feature: Laurie Stanley, Assessment Specialist for the Office of International Education
  • 2025

    • December
      • Emmy-Winning Journalist Earns Degree at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s Most Notable Moments of 2025 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Jeremy Qvick ’22, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff
      • How University Photographer Joe O’Dea’s Calling Came Into Focus
      • A Deep Dive with Joe O’Dea, University Photographer
      • Five-Minute Feature: Taylor Allen, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • SUNY Empire and SUNY Orange Receive High-Needs Nursing Grant
      • Creating Positive Change: Grad Student Earns Degree in Social and Public Policy 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: December 2025
      • Empire State University Community Commemorates Wreaths Across America 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Joanna Succi, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Lauren Gaskins ’18, ’22: A Grandmother’s Inspiration
      • Learn More About College of Health and Human Services Dean Carol DeNysschen
      • Five-Minute Feature: Darryl Dangerfield, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Empire State University Foundation Acquires Historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs 
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 Winter Graduates in Albany Ceremonies 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of the Registrar
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Johanna Correa-Berry, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Meet Empire State University’s Winter 2025 Student Commencement Speakers 
    • November
      • A Deep Dive with Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: November 2025
      • Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center Honors Student Veterans During Veteran and Military Families Month 
      • Empire State University to Offer Scholarship for Firefighters 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Anne Sweet, Associate Director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto
      • Empire State University Announces Bluebird Award Recipients 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tom Wiese, Assistant Professor of Analytics
      • Empire State University’s Basic Needs Program Supports Students During SNAP Benefit Shortage  
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Veterans Business Council Scholarships 
      • Adam Grinvalsky ’21: Honoring New York’s Capital Region Veterans
      • Leading the Way in AI Literacy: Associate Professor Diane Shichtman
      • Five-Minute Feature: Matt Quinn, Veteran and Military Resource Center Manager
      • Golden Opportunity: Meet Bilingual Communications Specialist Catalina Irigoyen
    • October
      • Behind the Scenes with Information Technology Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025
      • Building Blocks: Libby Tsibulsky Talks Health and Wellness at SUNY Empire 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kevin Bane, Lead Digital Media Specialist
      • Adjunct Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cortés Pérez Reflects on the Spanish BBA
      • Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Andrew Hurd: From the Field to the Classroom
      • A Deep Dive with Andrew Hurd, Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity
      • SUNY Empire Honors 4 Outstanding Alumni  
      • Empire State University’s April Simmons Launches Text Campaign, Workshops to Motivate Students
      • Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cathy Coffinger, Technical Support Coordinator
      • Some Streams Connect Us All: Meet Adjunct Professor for the Spanish BBA Cristian Salazar
      • Empire State University Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Panel Discussions
      • Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer
      • A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes
      • Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology
      • Behind the Scenes: Digital Accessibility at SUNY Empire 
      • Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 
      • SUNY Empire Expands Military Grant to Include Veteran Spouses, Leads SUNY System in Military Support 
      • SUNY Empire Announces 2025 Alumni Award Winners 
    • September
      • Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach
      • SUNY Empire Alumni Gather for Second Lectures on Tap Event
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 
      • Faculty Expertise: Assistant Professor Njoki Mwarumba Shares Insights on Disaster Preparedness 
      • SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs
      • Behind the Scenes with Empire Online
      • Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 
      • Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths
      • ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Daniel Fogarty, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
      • Mindy Kronenberg Talks Writing, Brooklyn, and Taking Risks
      • A Deep Dive with Mindy Kronenberg: Poet, Editor, and Professor
      • Meet Luis Camacho, Academic Coordinator of the New Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 
      • Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain
      • Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Monaghan, Assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources
    • August
      • Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Mateo Carrera, Graphic Designer
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025
      • Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 
      • Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 
      • “Practicing What We Preach”: Empire State University professor launches free social justice textbook
      • Andrea Piazza and Pam Doran Talk NeuroDiverse Collective Employee Affinity Group
      • Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language
      • Behind the Screen: Bilingual Multimedia Technologist Irene Oramas Sosa
      • Reason & Respect Unplugged: National Civility Month 
      • Eight Empire State University Students Receive Inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship 
    • July
      • National Intern Day: The Latest on Career Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
      • Empire State University Hosts Alumni Day at the Races
      • Travel as a Cultural Gateway: Meet Kendra Elie, Bilingual Financial Aid Advisor
      • University Communications: Your Guide to Existing Platforms and Recent Changes
      • Empire State University and Brentwood High School Launch Groundbreaking Spanish-Language Initiative for High School Students
      • Empire State University Honors International Students in Series of Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Outgoing Scholars Across the University Look Back on a Year of Community Engagement 
      • Bridging Culture: Bilingual Student Support with Armando Flores
      • Ann Marie Scheidegger to Join SUNY Empire as Vice President for Administration and Finance
      • Discipline and Dedication: Carlos Aleman on Bilingual Empowerment
      • Veterans Tuition Award Opens Up New Possibilities for Veteran Students 
      • ODEI Explores Universal Design in Honor of Disability Pride Month
      • Empire State University Launches New Colleges, Welcomes Deans
    • June
      • Tzvi Simchon ’24: Keeping History Alive on Film
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025
      • Empowering New York: Empire State University’s Bold Academic Expansion
      • Empire State University Set to Launch Nine New Academic Programs This Fall 
      • In Spanish, Online, and On Your Time: Ronnie Rivera’s Trajectory as Spanish BBA Specialist
      • Empire State University Student Wins Best of SUNY Art Award 
      • Associate Professor Jim Robinson Reflects on 50 Years at Empire State University
      • Support and Advocacy: How Employee Affinity Groups Enrich Our University Community
      • Introducing the 2025-2026 Scholars Across the University 
      • ODEI Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with Stories from Empire State University Community
      • Empire State University Student Named Director of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
      • Love of Language: Perla Zamitiz on Being a Linguist and the Spanish BBA
    • May
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony 
      • Nominate an Outstanding Empire State University Graduate for an Alumni Award
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025
      • President Vollendorf Named Trailblazer in Higher Education For Second Consecutive Year
      • Finding Balance: Brittany Leibenguth’s Path to Graduation at Empire State University
      • Charting a New Course: A Graduate Student Discovers His Niche in Higher Ed
      • Perspective Shift: One Graduate’s Journey Through the ABA Program
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Kasie Roach: Navy Veteran and Victim Advocate Graduates from Empire State University
      • Seizing Opportunities: An Addiction Studies Grad Brings Her Skills to State Government
      • Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program
      • Clinic and Classroom: Meet Libby Miranda, ABA Program Graduate
      • ODEI Celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day with New Reason & Respect Format
      • Where Care and Career Intersect: Sara Luna’s Journey at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s New VP of HR Works to Uplift Employees
      • Five Empire State University Employees Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
      • Kamelyn Báez Peña on Empire State University’s Dual Degree Program and Keeping Your Culture Close
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Albany Ceremony 
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact
      • “New Inspiration”: A Transfer Student Finds Her Footing at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Graduates its First Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Committed to Care: Khavel Smith-Martin’s Journey in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
      • Alka Merlin ’08: Helping Others Find Their Way After Finding Her Own
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025
      • Empire’s Zeeva Bukai Explores Identity, Displacement, and Compassion in Debut Novel
      • Meet Zachary Madding, Empire’s New Capital Program and Sustainability Manager 
      • Meet Empire State University’s Inaugural AI Fellows 
      • Office for Advancement Hosts Earth Day Walk
      • Building Relationships: A Look at CAARES’ Peer2Peer Student Connection Program 
      • Empire State University Dual Degree Program Hosts Residency in the Dominican Republic
      • Breaking Language Barriers with Machine Translation at Empire State University
      • Phylisha Villanueva ’23: A Poet With Purpose
      • Empire’s Textbook Affordability Initiative Boosts Student Success
      • Empire’s Civil and Revolutionary War Residencies Bring History to Life 
      • Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning
      • CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community 
      • Four Empire State University Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Liv Thygesen on Equitable Education at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Named a School of National Service
      • Alumni Demonstrate SUNY Empire Pride at Annual Meeting
      • SUNY Empire Alumna Raises Awareness of Huntington’s Disease
    • March
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025
      • Professor Emeritus Dorothy Burnham Celebrates 110th Birthday
      • Claire Ziamandanis on Loving Linguistics and Empire State University’s Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University Student Wins 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 
      • VMRC Intern Stephen Szczurko-Walton Creates Community for Military-Affiliated Students
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda
      • ODEI Launches Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program
      • Paul Muccigrosso ’12: A Lifetime of Helping Veterans
      • International Women’s Day Event Celebrates Empire’s Zülal Balpinar
      • Meaningful Marketing: Get To Know Empire State University’s Brenda Manra
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Receives Women of Excellence Award 
      • Raul Manzano Honored at College of the Sequoias Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • A Deep Dive with Raul Manzano: Featured Artist Honored at Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • Empire State University’s Associate Degree Initiative Uplifts Student Goals
    • February
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025
      • Gedro Receives R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award 
      • President Vollendorf Named to Board of Directors for Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
      • Culture and Community: Meet Bilingual IT Specialist Lyanne Garcia-Boswell
      • ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse
      • SUNY Empire Partners with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to Empower Emerging Managers and Leaders 
      • María Vega on Language as a Launchpad for Connection
      • OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access
    • January
      • Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement
      • Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs Named College of Education Dean 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025
      • Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 
      • 1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion
      • Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  
      • Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 
      • Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University
      • Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 
      • Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  
      • Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish
  • 2024

    • December
      • Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review
      • Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights
      • SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America
      • Center for International Education Hosts Residency for Students in Turkey and Lebanon
      • Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing Completes Pilot of Management and Leadership Training Program
      • Empire State University starts NeuroDiverse Collective support group  
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2024 in Winter Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Michele Paterson explores a career of helping others through applied behavior analysis program
      • SUNY Empire graduate works as disability advocate and volunteer
      • Meet Htein Naing: Graduate Balancing Space Force Service, Studies, and Family 
      • SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students
      • SUNY Empire grad combines education with work experience to make most of degree
      • Empire State University graduate finds new purpose in military service  
      • Side by Side to Success: Twin sisters achieve bachelor’s degrees at 19 
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction 
      • Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  
      • Empire State University launches new merch site  
      • Empowering Future Educators: Teacher Opportunity Corps Strengthens Pathways for Teacher Recruitment  
    • November
      • Vollendorf Named to Presidents Forum Governing Board
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Nov. 2024
      • Meet Lorraine Williams: Empire State University’s 100,000th alum  
      • Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni 
      • SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center marks one year at SUNY Empire 
      • Panel highlights international connection through virtual programming  
      • Graduate Student published in Confluence for hiking research 
      • SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs see largest enrollment on record 
      • SUNY Empire student premiered docuseries on breast cancer and healthcare inequity  
      • Empire State University Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Veterans Tuition Awards Program
      • 76-year-old student embraces military and veteran opportunity program to earn degree
      • Empire State University welcomes students at Fall Student Conference  
      • Ed.D. student invited to White House, highlighting National Partnership for Student Success  
      • Empire State University honors heroes in Veteran’s Month event 
    • October
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024
      • President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast
      • Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  
      • SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  
      • Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  
      • Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 
      • Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 
      • Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 
      • Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  
      • President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum
      • Regalia provided to students through Student Activity Fund  
      • Fall Academic Conference focuses on artificial intelligence in education 
      • Labor Professor named external faculty associate of Global Labor Research Center
      • Second Blue Mascot available to SUNY Empire Community
      • AI Awareness Week brings artificial intelligence to forefront of higher education
      • President Lisa Vollendorf featured on Look Media This Week
      • Associate Professor publishes book on Indigenous dispossession in US history
      • Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 
      • Empire State University to host talk with Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
    • September
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Sept. 2024
      • Professor, students team up for study on Cameo and fan-celebrity relationships
      • Blue Bird Award nominations now open
      • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado speaks to university community ahead of election 
      • School of Nursing Dean to deliver keynote speech for New York Community College Trustees Conference
      • Empire State University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Professor Tom Mackey to keynote XI Simposio Internacional
      • Chief Diversity Officer named to board of National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
      • 88-year-old student embraces love for filmmaking in pursuit of college degree
      • Charles Biasiny-Riviera ’90: Remembering a Photographer Who Documented Latino Life
      • Alumnus, adjunct professor’s academic journey puts justice, equity, and inclusion at the forefront
      • President Vollendorf featured on Presidents Forum
      • Assistant Professor to partner with Strong Museum for Dungeons & Dragons exhibit opening
      • CAARES holds Neurodivergent in College series
      • Assistant Professor teaches AI risks, scam awareness to Malta seniors
      • SUNY Empire Dean offers insight in new book with “Vanderpump Rules” star
      • SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018
      • Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon
      • Empire State University’s Center for International Education awarded grant for DEI Education in Lebanon
      • Labor Professor publishes new book on U.S. labor and foreign policy
    • August
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Aug. 2024
      • Professor featured in Billboard, discusses fan-artist relationships
      • An Era of Service and Scholarship: Alan Mandell retires after 50-year career at SUNY Empire
      • SUNY Empire President highlights university’s bright future in State of the University
      • SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
      • Melissa Wells featured in The Academic Minute
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
      • Edwin Lee Gibson ’12: Finding fame on “The Bear”
      • Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange
      • Assistant Professor of addiction studies featured on Academic Minute
      • Charles Infurna named Empire State University’s 2024-25 PRODiG+ Fellow
      • Educational Studies Department Chair awarded SUNY/New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development Grant
      • “Fandoms in the Classroom:” Transforming education through student interests
      • Professor publishes book on immigrants and refugees in German universities
      • Herbert Covington Co-Authors Study Unveiling the Epigenetic Impact of Stress on Antidepressant Response
    • July
      • Empire State University recognized by SUNY for promoting student success
      • 15-year-old SUNY Empire student aims to shape education for next generation
      • Textbooks for Students Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
      • Ed.D. student researches what contributes to Latinx student experience
      • School of Business professor honored with award from International Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce U.S.
      • SUNY Empire mourns alumnus who founded feminist arts school
      • Meet the 2024-2025 Scholars Across the University
      • Empire State University students graduate from international programs
      • Maureen Kroning named interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health
      • Empire State University launches new SUNY Empire News website
      • SUNY Empire’s innovative nursing partnership featured on News10 ABC, Hudson Valley Press
      • 2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research
      • Empire State University launches 2+2 Nursing Program with Rockland Community College
      • Empire State University to host 9th annual Learning with Innovative Technology Conference
      • Labor professor interviewed on Business Insider
      • Empire State University closes Hartsdale location, moves to Westchester Community College
      • Unlocking history: Inside the Empire State University archives
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Prague
      • Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in higher education
    • June
      • Breaking the mold: Meet SUNY Empire’s 77-year-old graduate
      • Assistant Professor receives National Science Foundation award for SUNY Empire-led research initiative
      • President Lisa Vollendorf recognized by City & State, named Trailblazer in Higher Education 
      • Empire State University’s annual Juneteenth event is a success
      • School of Human Services holds DEIBSJ retreat in Albany
      • In the News: Labor professor interviewed on Marketplace about university strikes
      • Unions support Communities Across New York through Empire State University
      • Professor’s research sheds light on missing LGBTQ+ people across Europe
      • Empire State University students graduate at Fort Drum
      • Nursing professor to be published in Nursing Research
    • May
      • Behind the ink: Inside the Empire State University print shop
      • Empire State University announces SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients
      • First cohort of Applied Behavior Analysis program graduates
      • Meet Julianna Merendino: Criminal justice graduate at Empire State University
      • Empire State University President featured on EdUp Xcelerated Excellence Podcast
      • Empire State University honors Class of 2024 in Manhattan ceremony
      • A Dedication to Public Service: Rhon Glasgow’s Journey At Empire State University
      • “Sometimes later is greater:” Jawana Carter-Richardson’s Decade of “Mastery”
      • In the News: Dean of School of Labor Studies featured in Non Profit Quarterly
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Manhattan Commencement Platform Party
      • Empire State University graduate recognized at Best of SUNY Art Exhibition
      • Director of Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning featured on Higher Ed Podcast
      • NYC Corrections Captain Graduates While Continuing to Serve and Inspire
      • Students from Dominican Republic to graduate in Manhattan
      • Empire State University honors class of 2024 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Taking experience to heart: Ashley Simms’ SUNY Empire story
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Rochester Commencement Platform Party
      • Following in her footsteps: Mace bearer and alumna to lead the way as daughter crosses the stage
      • “You don’t need sight to take flight:” Turning adversity into opportunity at Empire State University
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Albany
      • Meet Melissa Massari: Firefighter, EMT, and graduate at Empire State University
    • April
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Albany Commencement Platform Party
      • In the News: Veteran and Military Resource Center featured on CBS6
      • Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub
      • Inaugural Empire State University student awarded Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Empire State University’s Neurodiversity Club expands with teen group
      • Ask5: Opening career paths and changing the conversation
      • SUNY Empire alumnus killed in weekend shooting near Syracuse
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hosts eclipse viewing and presentation
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda induction
      • Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students
      • Four Empire State University students receive Bluebird Award
      • Raising Hope: Supporting children with autism through Bluepath
    • March
      • In the News: Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship featured on News10 ABC
      • Empire State University hires Hitesh Rai Kathuria as provost
      • Four Empire State University students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award
      • Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving
      • SUNY Empire announces Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship
    • February
      • Empire State University Announces Day of Giving, GO HIGHER FOR EMPIRE, On MARCH 21
      • Empire State University Hosts 47th Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
      • Empire State University Launches Innovative Virtual Food Pantry
      • SUNY Empire’s Xiomara Giordano Named To National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education
      • SUNY touts Empire State University’s success in interview
    • January
      • Empire State University awards prestigious Richard Porter Leach fellowships
      • SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term
      • Bessie Walker celebrates 50 years at Empire State University
      • Long Island Business Institute to cease operations; SUNY Empire offers teach-out

A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes

October 10, 2025 by Catalina Irigoyen

Close-up of several golden-brown arepas cooking on a griddle. The image is framed with blue and gold SUNY Empire branding, and text in the corner reads ‘SUNY Empire News’ with the university’s torch emblem above.

Foreword by Silvia Mejía, director of Spanish language programs.

The recipes gathered in this celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month read like stories. Rather than emphasizing exact quantities or the appearance of the final dish, these tales revel in the process, in the ways that, through preparing and sharing meals, we bond with people, places, and cultures; we grow; and we create memories forever tied to a particular texture, aroma, or taste. Some of these stories are epic accounts of elaborate holiday dishes that demand, quite literally, an assembly line of family and friends, several days of preparation, and children darting in and out of the kitchen, chasing chickens or each other. Others, by contrast, turn the making of an everyday staple into a meditation on food as a vessel of connection, identity, and belonging. Taken together, they remind us that some recipes are not just a list of instructions, but a path that brings us home, no matter where we are.

Arepas panameñas | Shared by Claire Ziamandanis, linguist.

This recipe is from my dear friend, Aurea Torrijos, in our day known as “Baby.” She was the youngest sibling of Omar Torrijos, who wrestled the Panama Canal back from the U.S.

Baby, at 60 years old, after a long career as an actress, decided to enroll in the graduate program in Madrid, OFINES, linguistics and literature taught in weekly conferencias, [or conferences,] by some of the greatest thinkers of the time.

Baby came over to our apartment one day for the midday meal and taught us how to make arepas. She was not afraid to take on anything new in life. She is still alive now, too, showing up often in one of her daughter’s Facebook posts. Every time I have a warm arepa it brings me back to that kitchen, the laughs as we worked together, with a nice glass of Rioja on the side.

 The recipe:

  • Refined, precooked corn meal flour.
  • Equal portions of corn meal flour and water.
  • Boil the water.
  • Add the water little by little to the corn meal flour, mixing as you go.
  • Add thin-sliced or shredded cheese and some butter.
  • Knead till mixed well.
  • Fry in oil.

Arroz con gandules, pernil, ensalada de papa, arroz con dulce y coquito | Shared by Irene Oramas Sosa, bilingual multimedia technologist.

A Taste of Tradition: Christmas at My Grandparents’ Table

When I was little, I lived with my mom, my sister, and my mom’s parents. Every Christmas, our home was transformed by the different aromas that would fill every corner of the house, and the kitchen was always alive with energy. I remember that at 6 a.m. my step-grandfather would gather all the ingredients for the pork seasoning. Meanwhile, my grandmother would prepare the arroz con gandules (she used to soak the gandules my sister and I gathered from the patio in water), arroz con dulce (she would soak the rice grain overnight), the ensalada de papa, and the coquito drink.

It is a memory I will never forget, because all of us had to wake up early to help around the house, either by cleaning… or cleaning! Once the meal was ready (not lunch, but dinner at 5 p.m.) you could hear the rhythms of the “seis chorreao” and “trova” music that my grandpa used to like. They would sound in the background of our family gatherings when playing dominoes, while my sister, cousins, and I ran through the house in our holiday clothes playing hide-and-seek until we were breathless and reluctant to let the night end.

Looking back, I realize that my grandparents gave us more than a meal—they gave us a legacy. A reminder of the importance of family, tradition, and culture. So, for me, these dishes will always be more than food. They are a tradition that I continue to practice every holiday. With the exception of the pork—I do rotisserie chicken!

The recipes:

Arroz con Gandules (Rice with Pigeon Peas)

  • 2 cups medium-grain rice
  • 1 can (15 oz) gandules (pigeon peas), drained
  • 3 tbsp sofrito y recaito
  • 2 tbsp tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp corn oil
  • 2 cups chicken broth (or water)
  • 1 packet sazón with azafrán
  • 1–2 tbsp olives, optional
  • Salt to taste

Heat oil in a caldero, or deep pot. Add sofrito, tomato sauce, sazón, and olives, cooking until fragrant. Stir in gandules and rice, coating well. Add broth, stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook until rice is tender (about 25–30 minutes). Fluff with a fork before serving.

Ensalada de Papa Puertorriqueña (Puerto Rican Potato Salad)

  • 5 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 medium apple (red or green), peeled and diced
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup of diced Spam
  • 2 tbsp diced red bell pepper (the one in the glass containers that has juice from the pepper)
  • Salt to taste

Boil potatoes with salt to taste until fork-tender, then drain and cool slightly. In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, Spam, and bell peppers in their juice. Fold in potatoes, eggs, and apples gently until well-combined. Chill before serving.

Coquito (Nonalcoholic Puerto Rican Eggnog Drink)

  • 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
  • 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 can (15 oz) cream of coconut
  • 1 can of coconut milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • 3–4 star anise

Prepare a tea of star anise, cloves, and cinnamon. Once it’s ready, with a brownish color, let it chill. Blend all other ingredients until smooth.  Then add the tea to the blend. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Shake well and serve in small glasses. Garnish with cinnamon on top.

Arroz con Dulce (Sweet Rice)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup medium-grain rice (soaked overnight)
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 can evaporated milk
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 stick cinnamon, 4–6 cloves
  • ½ cup raisins (soaked in water 4 hours before)
  • Pinch salt, ground cinnamon to garnish
  • 3-4 star anise

Prepare the same tea from the coquito drink. While heating the coconut milk, evaporated milk, and condensed milk, strain the tea and add it to the mixture. When the mixture is boiling, add the rice and the pinch of salt over medium-low heat, stirring until the rice is tender and creamy (approximately 30 min). Then, add the raisins and cook in low heat for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve warm or chilled.

Holiday chicken-chasing | Shared by Carlos Aleman, bilingual student accounts coordinator.

Apparently, Irene [Oramas Sosa] and I eat the same meals during the holidays. I don’t cook much, so thank you for including some of the recipes here, Irene.  I do eat a bit of pernil, but not so much.  I do also eat arroz con gandules, ensalada de papa, arroz con dulce y coquito. The coquito is my favorite, for sure.

I remember my mother and eldest sister starting to get everything ready for cooking early in the morning. It was 5 a.m. and everyone took on a different task, so that by dinner time, everything was ready. 

I never took part in the cooking; I was too busy running around outside the house trying to catch one of our chickens.  We had a lot of chickens running around and a gallo, or rooster, as well. Some of my uncles knew how to play some instruments, including the cuatro, [the national instrument of Puerto Rico,] and we always gathered around them so they could play and entertain us with their awesome rhymes. I lived with both my parents and my two sisters.  My grandparents lived across the street.

Ceviche de Pescado Jipijapa (Ecuadorian Fish Ceviche, Jipijapa style) | Shared by Claudia Lovegrove, assistant professor for the Spanish BBA

A recipe for when I am feeling homesick.

It’s not unusual to find fish ceviche on the table during the weekend in any Ecuadorian household. Since I’m from Manta (a coastal city known for having some of the freshest fish in the country), it’s a must in our kitchen. Fresh, vibrant, and full of flavor, ceviche is perfect for sharing with family and friends.

Here’s how  we make it at home, where we like to add our own twist to everything. And yes, that usually includes peanuts.

The recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound of mahi-mahi, cut into small cubes
  • Juice of 10 to 12 limes
  • Salt to taste

Toppings:

  • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tomato in cubes
  • Avocado in cubes
  • A handful of chopped cilantro
  • Ketchup
  • Yellow mustard
  • Ground roasted peanuts or natural peanut butter for making it Jipijapa style
  • Chifles (thin green plantain chips)

Preparation:

  1. Place the mahi-mahi in a bowl with the lime juice and a pinch of salt. Let it marinate for at least an hour, until the fish turns opaque and firm. I usually cut the mahi-mahi in cubes while it is still frozen, that makes it easier. 
  2. Add the toppings. Mix gently and adjust salt to taste. When it comes to adding mustard and ketchup, I don’t really measure. I usually draw a smiley face with the yellow mustard and a circle with the ketchup right on top of the ceviche. That’s how I know I’ve added just the right amount. It might not be exact, but it always turns out delicious.
  3. There are many places in Manabí where, for a more traditional touch, people blend a bit of the ceviche juice with ground peanuts or natural peanut butter, then mix it back into the ceviche. This adds a creamy, savory flavor—just make sure the peanut butter contains only peanuts and no sugar, or it will make the ceviche taste sweet.

Chifles (green plantain chips)

Ingredients:

  • 2 green plantains
  • Oil for frying
  • Salt

Preparation:

  1. Peel the plantains and slice them very thinly using a sharp knife or mandoline.
  2. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the plantain slices in small batches until golden and crispy.
  3. Remove and drain on paper towels. Add salt while they’re still hot.

Chifles are the perfect crunchy companion to ceviche. Serve them on the side or crumble a few into the bowl if you like texture.

Pair your ceviche with an ice-cold Coca-Cola or a cold beer, whichever you prefer. It’s the kind of simple pleasure that makes weekends in Ecuador feel just right.

Pasteles | Shared by Maria Vega, bilingual student success coordinator.

If there’s one dish that captures the spirit of Puerto Rican Christmas, it’s pasteles. Along with music, dancing, and dominoes, pasteles are a holiday essential. They aren’t just food—they’re tradition, family, and culture wrapped in a banana leaf.

Making them is an event. Families and friends gather and everyone has a role: peeling guineos verdes (green bananas), grating yautía (taro), seasoning the pork, or tying up the pasteles with string. It’s time-consuming and messy, but it’s also a great time with family. At Christmas, New Year’s, and Día de Reyes, families make them in bulk, freezing extras to share whenever loved ones stop by. Each one is a gift of effort, patience, and pride.

Pasteles symbolize abundance and togetherness, reflecting the blend of Taíno, African, and Spanish influences that shape Puerto Rican food and identity. For me, sharing this recipe isn’t just about food. It’s about inviting you into the heart of Puerto Rican tradition, the joy of Christmas gatherings, and the pride we feel in passing down these recipes from generation to generation.

The recipe:

Ingredients

Masa (batter):

  • 5 lbs white taro root (yautía blanca) – peeled
  • 5 lbs Puerto Rican pumpkin or kabocha squash (calabaza) – peeled
  • 40 green bananas (guineos verdes) – peeled
  • 2 green plantains – peeled
  • 2 cups annatto-infused oil (aceite con achiote)
  • 5 cups pork broth (caldo de cerdo) – may not need all of it
  • Salt to taste

Pork filling:

  • 2–3 lbs pork shoulder (pernil) – cut into small cubes
  • ½ cup sofrito (onion, pepper, garlic, cilantro, culantro blend)
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 6-8 white potatoes – cut into small cubes
  • 1 packet sazón with annatto
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1 large onion – chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper – chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic – minced
  • ½ cup olives – sliced
  • 2 tbsp capers (alcaparras)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Wrapping:

  • Banana leaves (hojas de guineo) – softened and cut into 12-by-12-inch squares or parchment paper
  • Kitchen string

Directions

  1. Make the pork filling:
    • Heat olive oil in a pot and sauté onion, pepper, garlic, and sofrito.
    • Add pork, sazón, oregano, salt, and pepper. Brown well.
    • Boil potatoes, add salt to taste.
    • Stir in tomato sauce, olives, potatoes, to meat. Cover and simmer until the pork is tender and sauce thickens.
  2. Prepare the masa:
    • Grate bananas, plantains, yautía, and calabaza with a grater or food processor.
    • Mix everything together in a large bowl until smooth.
    • Add achiote oil, pork broth, and salt. Adjust until the masa is moist but firm, like a heavy batter.
  3. Prepare the banana leaves:
    • Pass each leaf quickly over an open flame or hot skillet to soften.
    • Brush with achiote oil. Place each leaf on top of parchment or foil to make folding easier.
  4. Assemble pasteles:
    • Spread 2–3 tbsp of masa in the center of the leaf or parchment paper.
    • Add 1–2 tbsp of pork filling. Cover with another spoonful of masa.
    • Fold tightly into a rectangle and tie with string.
  5. Cook:
    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
    • Add pasteles in batches and boil for about 1 hour.
    • Drain and serve hot.

Pupusas Revueltas | Shared by Lyanne Garcia-Boswell, bilingual IT support specialist.

Here’s a recipe for pupusas revueltas! I, like many of my relatives, love to cook. I also don’t write recipes down, even though I should… So, I nabbed one from a Salvi [or Salvadoran] abuelita (grandmother) that looks really similar to what I do! They are a Salvadoran classic. Any time I leave my rural New York area, I’m instantly on the hunt for some pupusas. Mixtas, con loroco, con ayote, etc.

Pupusas are something I don’t think I’ve ever not known how to make. I remember being five or six years old in the kitchen with my aunts, and being made to assemble the masa, [the dough] and form the little balls to be stuffed (the “easy” technique to stuff). Eventually, I graduated to actually stuffing the balls of masa and forming the pupusas themselves.

It could be Christmas Eve, New Years, or any given Sunday, pupusas were being made in an assembly line to feed anyone who was around. They are also very easily adjustable for a variety of dietary needs—gluten free, vegetarian, dairy free, etc., so they tend to be a favorite of mine to serve when I’m hosting a large group!

The recipe:

Ingredients (makes 18 pupusas)

Curtido:

  • ½ head green cabbage, cored and shredded
  • 1 small white onion, sliced
  • 2 medium carrots, grated
  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup distilled white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

Chicharrón:

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 lb boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch (2-cm) cubes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 medium tomato, diced
  • ½ green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 small white onion, diced

Pupusa Dough:

  • 4 cups masa harina (flour)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 3 cups cold water

Filling:

  • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese (not the pre-shredded kind)
  • 1 cup refried beans, cooked
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, for frying

Preparation

  1. Make the curtido: In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, onion, and carrots. Pour the boiling water over the vegetables and toss. Let sit for 10 minutes, then drain.
  2. In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, combine the vinegar, oregano, and salt. Pour over the slaw and toss to coat. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer the curtido and any leftover liquid in the bowl to an airtight jar or container.
  3. Chill for at least 20 minutes in the refrigerator, or chill overnight for best results.
  1. Make the chicharrón: Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the pork shoulder and salt. Cook for 15 minutes without disturbing. If the pork is browning too quickly, reduce the heat to medium. Turn the pork over and let cook on the other side for 10 minutes more, or until crispy and golden brown.
  2. Transfer the pork to a food processor and add the tomato, green bell pepper, and onion. Pulse until a thick paste forms. The mixture should not be watery. Set aside.
  1. Make the pupusa dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the masa harina and salt, then add the water. Use your hands to mix until the dough comes together with a clay-like texture.
  2. Fill a small bowl with water and a bit of oil and set near your workstation. You’ll wet your fingers with the mixture as you work to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
  3. Take a golf ball-sized portion of dough and roll into a ball, then flatten into an even round.
  4. Fill the dough round with ½ tablespoon chicharrón paste, 1 teaspoon refried beans, and 1 teaspoon mozzarella cheese. Fold the dough over the filling until it’s completely sealed. Then, pat out the ball between your hands until flat. If the pupusa cracks, patch it with a bit of dough and a little oil. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
  5. Heat a large pan or griddle over medium heat. Brush with vegetable oil, then place 2-3 pupusas on the pan and cook for 2-4 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown. Flip and cook on the other side for 2-4 minutes more, until golden brown and warmed through. Repeat with the remaining pupusas.
  6. Serve the pupusas with curtido. Enjoy!

Pastelón de Carne | Shared by Stephanie Santos-Nieves, administrative assistant for the Office of Alumni Engagement.

Pastelón de plátano maduro always takes me back to my abuela’s kitchen. She doesn’t need a holiday to make it feel like one—pastelón is her signature dish, and for us, it’s always a celebration. Her version was layered like lasagna, sweet from ripe plantains. I usually add some cream cheese to enjoy its melted texture throughout the dish. Serve it with white rice, and enjoy every bite.

The recipe:

Ingredients

  • 6 ripe plantains (yellow, but firm)
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 green or red bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp sofrito
  • 4 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 cups of shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, and or any good melting cheese)
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • Salt, pepper, and adobo to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the plantains: Peel the ripe plantains and slice them. Fry them in hot oil until golden, but not too crispy. Remove and place them on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
  2. Cook the meat filling: In a large skillet, sauté the onion, garlic, and bell pepper until tender. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Stir in the tomato sauce and sofrito. Season with salt, pepper, and seasoning to taste. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture is well cooked and thickened.

Tortilla Española (Spanish tortilla) | Shared by Melissa Fiori, digital accessibility instructional designer.

La tortilla española isn’t just any dish. It’s a connection to a time, to places, and to people that took me in and nurtured my bilingualism. The ingredients are so simple—potatoes, eggs, onions, olive oil, and salt, but the memories and sense of connection and comfort it offers feels bigger than that. From the versions my host family prepared in León, to the late-night bocadillos, or bites, de tortilla that I had in Madrid, to the version that I now make for my friends and family, the tortilla represents togetherness. It is a slice of Spain itself, a piece of home, and a reminder that the simplest things often carry the deepest meaning.

The recipe:

  • Blanch about 5-6 peeled potatoes in salted, boiling water (about 10 minutes).
  • While the potatoes are blanching, cook a small, chopped onion on low heat until clear (or caramelized, depending on your preference).
  • Cut the potatoes into chunks or slices and combine with the onions in a pot of olive oil.
  • Bring to a simmer, stirring off and on, until the potatoes are cooked through.
  • Remove from the olive oil and let cool.
  • Once cooled, add 2 beaten eggs and some salt to the potato and onion mixture.
  • In a round pan, put in the mixture and heat through, flipping once or twice to be sure the eggs cook through. Enjoy!

Pollo Guisado (Chicken Stew) | Shared by George Lopez, assistant director of Opportunity Programs.

I recently learned the term “no sabo kid“ from one of my Latino students, and it stopped me in my tracks. The phrase refers to second- or third-generation Latinos who didn’t grow up speaking Spanish fluently. It comes from the incorrect “no sabo” instead of “no sé” (“I don’t know”), and while it’s often used playfully—or sometimes critically—it perfectly named something I’ve carried my whole life: the tension of being deeply Puerto Rican, yet unable to fully access my culture through language.

I remember visiting Puerto Rico at 14, surrounded by cousins, aunts, and uncles I couldn’t speak to. And yet, I was wrapped in this incredible embrace that made the connection undeniable. It was almost nonsensical how deeply I felt tied to them despite the barrier, and it gave me what I jokingly call a kind of delusional optimism—a belief that we can always find ways to build connection, even across seemingly impossible roadblocks.

Food became my bridge. In my adulthood I learned to make pollo guisado—Puerto Rican chicken stew—not just because it’s delicious, but because it carries the same hope. When I cook it, I’m transported back to my grandmother’s kitchen, her hands guiding mine even though she’s no longer here. Much of my family has passed on, but in the steam rising from the pot and the aroma filling my kitchen, they are present again. Every layer of sofrito, every slow simmer, is its own act of remembrance and connection.

It’s also sneakily healthy—balanced carbs, good fats, and protein. My millennial twist is using organic sofrito, sazón, adobo, and bone broth. I can almost hear my grandmother yelling at me for wasting money, but in my own way, it’s how I honor both tradition and my current values. More than feeding my body, though, this dish grounds me. The ritual of making it creates an anchor in a world where I’ve often had to navigate connection beyond words.

For me, pollo guisado isn’t just a stew—it’s history, identity, and resilience in a pot. It’s proof that love and memory can be shared one meal at a time, even when language falls short.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken thighs (skin removed)
  • Sazón, Adobo, salt, black pepper, onion, garlic, and cumin (until the spirits say so)
  • 1–2 tbsp olive oil (or preferred cooking oil)
  • 1 cup mirepoix mix (onion, carrot, celery – pre-cut is fine)
  • 1–2 cups fajita-style vegetable mix (pre-cut bell peppers and onions)
  • 1 tbsp crushed garlic
  • 2 tsp tomato paste (or adjust to taste)
  • 2 tbsp sofrito (homemade or store-bought)
  • 4 cups organic bone broth
  • 1 tsp Better Than Bouillon (chicken flavor)
  • 1–2 bay leaves
  • 2–3 medium sweet potatoes, or 2 cups butternut squash (peeled and cubed)
  • 2026

    • September
      • Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
      • A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both
      • Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy
      • ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 
      • Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2026
    • August
      • Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 
      • How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy
      • Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month
      • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education
      • Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost
    • July
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2026
      • Scholars Across the University Look Back on 2025-2026 Term
      • Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
      • Empire State University Partners with Premier Medical Group 
    • June
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May/June 2026
      • Five-Minute Feature: Michele Lee, Program Aide 
      • Alexander Yin to Join Empire State University as Vice President for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tara Clark, Admissions Advisor 
      • Prepared for the Future: Meet Public Health Student Ritzy Kisel 
      • Empire State University Honors Trailblazing Journalist Melba Tolliver With Honorary Degree 
      • Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students 
      • Albany Commencement Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma on Dispelling Self-Doubt
    • May
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony 
      • Spring Graduate Joseph Caroselli Is Building a Career on His Own Terms
      • Empire State University and TAVS USA Launch Skilling Partnership for Veterans and First Responders 
      • Three Empire State University Employees Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Empire State University Graduates Second Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Celebrating Spring 2026 Dual-Degree Graduates and Partnership Renewal with UNAPEC
      • Roadmap to Success: Meet Spring 2026 Graduate and Employee Gabby Damis
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
      • Commencement Corner: Elahni Ocean, Spring 2026 Graduate 
      • Student Speaker Robyn Guzman: Sowing, Growing, and Flowing at Empire State University
      • Rochester Student Speaker Jakeith Mosley: “What I’m Building Isn’t Just for Me Anymore”
      • Meet Tatiana Spikes, ABA Program Graduate 
      • Commencement Corner: Mizuho Johnson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: LaRoy Nelson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Director of CAARES and Associate Professor Noor Syed Shares Her Personal Journey to Advocacy
      • A Deep Dive with Noor Syed, Director of CAARES and Associate Professor
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Commencement Corner: Stephen Bernhardt, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: Brittany Stansfield, Spring 2026 Graduate 
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2026
      • CAARES and SSPL Partner to Create Welcoming Spaces in Local Community
      • Behind the Scenes with SUNY Empire’s Online Library
      • A Passion for the Planet: John L. Turner ’85
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor
      • Four Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Human Resources
      • Mother Works 84 Hours a Week While Earning Degree (in Spanish): “At SUNY Empire, It’s Possible”
      • Five-Minute Feature: Aley O’Mara, Program Associate and Training Coordinator for CAARES
      • Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Empire State University 
      • CAARES Helps Launch New Training to Support Neurodivergent SUNY Students 
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kristina Papa, Academic Learning Coach and Opportunity Programs Academic Support Specialist
      • Empire State University Student and Professor Co-Publish Article 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Five-Minute Feature: Griffin Fuetsch, Office Assistant 2 for the Office of Opportunity Programs
    • March
      • Laughing Matters: Professor Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams on Funny Women Inciting Change
      • Empire State University Announces Partnership with National Institute of Public Safety 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams, Professor of English and Author
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2 for the Office of Communications 
      • Cindy Bradley’s Chihuahua Inspired Research That Could Change Treatment for Epileptic Dogs
      • Empire State University Alum Wins Norman R. McConney Jr. Award 
      • Empire State University Educator Spotlights Multilingual Learners in New Children’s Book
      • Empire State University Student Leads Dancing Club for Older Adults 
      • Ginger Alvarez’s “Suitcase Full of Dreams”
      • Empire State University Partners with AMAT Healthcare Institute to Support Healthcare Workforce Development 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cherrelle Hall, Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
    • February
      • Behind the Scenes with the B.S. in Biology
      • Five-Minute Feature: Derrick Siler, President of the Black Male Initiative
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • The Public Affairs Playlist: Meet Professor Nadine Wedderburn
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Nadine Wedderburn, Professor of Public Affairs and Policy
      • Dentist Goes Back to School to Learn the Business Side: Angélica Farfan on Finding the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Winnie Yu, Director of Communications for Advancement and Community Engagement
      • SUNY Chancellor King Visits Empire State University to Highlight SUNY Military Tuition Rate Program  
      • Two Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Building Bridges Grant
      • Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
      • Get to Know Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Dean of the College of Education
      • A Deep Dive With Doug Gruse, Chief Marketing Officer
      • Behind the Scenes with Special Events 
    • January
      • Chief Marketing Officer Doug Gruse Talks Creativity Culture
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2026
      • Vjosa Musliu ’08: Growing Up in War
      • Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
      • Behind the Scenes with the Center for International Education
      • New Associate Provost Is Dedicated to Student Success
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
      • Empire State University Joins FutureReadyNYC Healthcare Pathway Accelerator to Create New Career Pathways for NYC Students 
      • Get to Know Julie Gedro, Dean of the College of Business
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Rumpf, Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education
      • Spanish BBA: One Year In
      • Empire State University Prioritizes Student Health Through Partnership with TimelyCare 
      • Get to Know Gina Torino, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Five-Minute Feature: Laurie Stanley, Assessment Specialist for the Office of International Education
  • 2025

    • December
      • Emmy-Winning Journalist Earns Degree at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s Most Notable Moments of 2025 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Jeremy Qvick ’22, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff
      • How University Photographer Joe O’Dea’s Calling Came Into Focus
      • A Deep Dive with Joe O’Dea, University Photographer
      • Five-Minute Feature: Taylor Allen, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • SUNY Empire and SUNY Orange Receive High-Needs Nursing Grant
      • Creating Positive Change: Grad Student Earns Degree in Social and Public Policy 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: December 2025
      • Empire State University Community Commemorates Wreaths Across America 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Joanna Succi, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Lauren Gaskins ’18, ’22: A Grandmother’s Inspiration
      • Learn More About College of Health and Human Services Dean Carol DeNysschen
      • Five-Minute Feature: Darryl Dangerfield, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Empire State University Foundation Acquires Historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs 
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 Winter Graduates in Albany Ceremonies 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of the Registrar
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Johanna Correa-Berry, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Meet Empire State University’s Winter 2025 Student Commencement Speakers 
    • November
      • A Deep Dive with Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: November 2025
      • Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center Honors Student Veterans During Veteran and Military Families Month 
      • Empire State University to Offer Scholarship for Firefighters 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Anne Sweet, Associate Director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto
      • Empire State University Announces Bluebird Award Recipients 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tom Wiese, Assistant Professor of Analytics
      • Empire State University’s Basic Needs Program Supports Students During SNAP Benefit Shortage  
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Veterans Business Council Scholarships 
      • Adam Grinvalsky ’21: Honoring New York’s Capital Region Veterans
      • Leading the Way in AI Literacy: Associate Professor Diane Shichtman
      • Five-Minute Feature: Matt Quinn, Veteran and Military Resource Center Manager
      • Golden Opportunity: Meet Bilingual Communications Specialist Catalina Irigoyen
    • October
      • Behind the Scenes with Information Technology Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025
      • Building Blocks: Libby Tsibulsky Talks Health and Wellness at SUNY Empire 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kevin Bane, Lead Digital Media Specialist
      • Adjunct Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cortés Pérez Reflects on the Spanish BBA
      • Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Andrew Hurd: From the Field to the Classroom
      • A Deep Dive with Andrew Hurd, Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity
      • SUNY Empire Honors 4 Outstanding Alumni  
      • Empire State University’s April Simmons Launches Text Campaign, Workshops to Motivate Students
      • Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cathy Coffinger, Technical Support Coordinator
      • Some Streams Connect Us All: Meet Adjunct Professor for the Spanish BBA Cristian Salazar
      • Empire State University Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Panel Discussions
      • Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer
      • A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes
      • Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology
      • Behind the Scenes: Digital Accessibility at SUNY Empire 
      • Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 
      • SUNY Empire Expands Military Grant to Include Veteran Spouses, Leads SUNY System in Military Support 
      • SUNY Empire Announces 2025 Alumni Award Winners 
    • September
      • Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach
      • SUNY Empire Alumni Gather for Second Lectures on Tap Event
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 
      • Faculty Expertise: Assistant Professor Njoki Mwarumba Shares Insights on Disaster Preparedness 
      • SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs
      • Behind the Scenes with Empire Online
      • Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 
      • Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths
      • ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Daniel Fogarty, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
      • Mindy Kronenberg Talks Writing, Brooklyn, and Taking Risks
      • A Deep Dive with Mindy Kronenberg: Poet, Editor, and Professor
      • Meet Luis Camacho, Academic Coordinator of the New Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 
      • Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain
      • Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Monaghan, Assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources
    • August
      • Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Mateo Carrera, Graphic Designer
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025
      • Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 
      • Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 
      • “Practicing What We Preach”: Empire State University professor launches free social justice textbook
      • Andrea Piazza and Pam Doran Talk NeuroDiverse Collective Employee Affinity Group
      • Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language
      • Behind the Screen: Bilingual Multimedia Technologist Irene Oramas Sosa
      • Reason & Respect Unplugged: National Civility Month 
      • Eight Empire State University Students Receive Inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship 
    • July
      • National Intern Day: The Latest on Career Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
      • Empire State University Hosts Alumni Day at the Races
      • Travel as a Cultural Gateway: Meet Kendra Elie, Bilingual Financial Aid Advisor
      • University Communications: Your Guide to Existing Platforms and Recent Changes
      • Empire State University and Brentwood High School Launch Groundbreaking Spanish-Language Initiative for High School Students
      • Empire State University Honors International Students in Series of Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Outgoing Scholars Across the University Look Back on a Year of Community Engagement 
      • Bridging Culture: Bilingual Student Support with Armando Flores
      • Ann Marie Scheidegger to Join SUNY Empire as Vice President for Administration and Finance
      • Discipline and Dedication: Carlos Aleman on Bilingual Empowerment
      • Veterans Tuition Award Opens Up New Possibilities for Veteran Students 
      • ODEI Explores Universal Design in Honor of Disability Pride Month
      • Empire State University Launches New Colleges, Welcomes Deans
    • June
      • Tzvi Simchon ’24: Keeping History Alive on Film
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025
      • Empowering New York: Empire State University’s Bold Academic Expansion
      • Empire State University Set to Launch Nine New Academic Programs This Fall 
      • In Spanish, Online, and On Your Time: Ronnie Rivera’s Trajectory as Spanish BBA Specialist
      • Empire State University Student Wins Best of SUNY Art Award 
      • Associate Professor Jim Robinson Reflects on 50 Years at Empire State University
      • Support and Advocacy: How Employee Affinity Groups Enrich Our University Community
      • Introducing the 2025-2026 Scholars Across the University 
      • ODEI Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with Stories from Empire State University Community
      • Empire State University Student Named Director of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
      • Love of Language: Perla Zamitiz on Being a Linguist and the Spanish BBA
    • May
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony 
      • Nominate an Outstanding Empire State University Graduate for an Alumni Award
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025
      • President Vollendorf Named Trailblazer in Higher Education For Second Consecutive Year
      • Finding Balance: Brittany Leibenguth’s Path to Graduation at Empire State University
      • Charting a New Course: A Graduate Student Discovers His Niche in Higher Ed
      • Perspective Shift: One Graduate’s Journey Through the ABA Program
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Kasie Roach: Navy Veteran and Victim Advocate Graduates from Empire State University
      • Seizing Opportunities: An Addiction Studies Grad Brings Her Skills to State Government
      • Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program
      • Clinic and Classroom: Meet Libby Miranda, ABA Program Graduate
      • ODEI Celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day with New Reason & Respect Format
      • Where Care and Career Intersect: Sara Luna’s Journey at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s New VP of HR Works to Uplift Employees
      • Five Empire State University Employees Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
      • Kamelyn Báez Peña on Empire State University’s Dual Degree Program and Keeping Your Culture Close
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Albany Ceremony 
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact
      • “New Inspiration”: A Transfer Student Finds Her Footing at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Graduates its First Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Committed to Care: Khavel Smith-Martin’s Journey in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
      • Alka Merlin ’08: Helping Others Find Their Way After Finding Her Own
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025
      • Empire’s Zeeva Bukai Explores Identity, Displacement, and Compassion in Debut Novel
      • Meet Zachary Madding, Empire’s New Capital Program and Sustainability Manager 
      • Meet Empire State University’s Inaugural AI Fellows 
      • Office for Advancement Hosts Earth Day Walk
      • Building Relationships: A Look at CAARES’ Peer2Peer Student Connection Program 
      • Empire State University Dual Degree Program Hosts Residency in the Dominican Republic
      • Breaking Language Barriers with Machine Translation at Empire State University
      • Phylisha Villanueva ’23: A Poet With Purpose
      • Empire’s Textbook Affordability Initiative Boosts Student Success
      • Empire’s Civil and Revolutionary War Residencies Bring History to Life 
      • Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning
      • CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community 
      • Four Empire State University Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Liv Thygesen on Equitable Education at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Named a School of National Service
      • Alumni Demonstrate SUNY Empire Pride at Annual Meeting
      • SUNY Empire Alumna Raises Awareness of Huntington’s Disease
    • March
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025
      • Professor Emeritus Dorothy Burnham Celebrates 110th Birthday
      • Claire Ziamandanis on Loving Linguistics and Empire State University’s Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University Student Wins 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 
      • VMRC Intern Stephen Szczurko-Walton Creates Community for Military-Affiliated Students
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda
      • ODEI Launches Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program
      • Paul Muccigrosso ’12: A Lifetime of Helping Veterans
      • International Women’s Day Event Celebrates Empire’s Zülal Balpinar
      • Meaningful Marketing: Get To Know Empire State University’s Brenda Manra
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Receives Women of Excellence Award 
      • Raul Manzano Honored at College of the Sequoias Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • A Deep Dive with Raul Manzano: Featured Artist Honored at Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • Empire State University’s Associate Degree Initiative Uplifts Student Goals
    • February
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025
      • Gedro Receives R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award 
      • President Vollendorf Named to Board of Directors for Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
      • Culture and Community: Meet Bilingual IT Specialist Lyanne Garcia-Boswell
      • ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse
      • SUNY Empire Partners with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to Empower Emerging Managers and Leaders 
      • María Vega on Language as a Launchpad for Connection
      • OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access
    • January
      • Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement
      • Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs Named College of Education Dean 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025
      • Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 
      • 1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion
      • Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  
      • Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 
      • Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University
      • Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 
      • Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  
      • Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish
  • 2024

    • December
      • Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review
      • Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights
      • SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America
      • Center for International Education Hosts Residency for Students in Turkey and Lebanon
      • Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing Completes Pilot of Management and Leadership Training Program
      • Empire State University starts NeuroDiverse Collective support group  
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2024 in Winter Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Michele Paterson explores a career of helping others through applied behavior analysis program
      • SUNY Empire graduate works as disability advocate and volunteer
      • Meet Htein Naing: Graduate Balancing Space Force Service, Studies, and Family 
      • SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students
      • SUNY Empire grad combines education with work experience to make most of degree
      • Empire State University graduate finds new purpose in military service  
      • Side by Side to Success: Twin sisters achieve bachelor’s degrees at 19 
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction 
      • Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  
      • Empire State University launches new merch site  
      • Empowering Future Educators: Teacher Opportunity Corps Strengthens Pathways for Teacher Recruitment  
    • November
      • Vollendorf Named to Presidents Forum Governing Board
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Nov. 2024
      • Meet Lorraine Williams: Empire State University’s 100,000th alum  
      • Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni 
      • SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center marks one year at SUNY Empire 
      • Panel highlights international connection through virtual programming  
      • Graduate Student published in Confluence for hiking research 
      • SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs see largest enrollment on record 
      • SUNY Empire student premiered docuseries on breast cancer and healthcare inequity  
      • Empire State University Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Veterans Tuition Awards Program
      • 76-year-old student embraces military and veteran opportunity program to earn degree
      • Empire State University welcomes students at Fall Student Conference  
      • Ed.D. student invited to White House, highlighting National Partnership for Student Success  
      • Empire State University honors heroes in Veteran’s Month event 
    • October
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024
      • President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast
      • Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  
      • SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  
      • Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  
      • Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 
      • Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 
      • Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 
      • Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  
      • President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum
      • Regalia provided to students through Student Activity Fund  
      • Fall Academic Conference focuses on artificial intelligence in education 
      • Labor Professor named external faculty associate of Global Labor Research Center
      • Second Blue Mascot available to SUNY Empire Community
      • AI Awareness Week brings artificial intelligence to forefront of higher education
      • President Lisa Vollendorf featured on Look Media This Week
      • Associate Professor publishes book on Indigenous dispossession in US history
      • Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 
      • Empire State University to host talk with Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
    • September
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Sept. 2024
      • Professor, students team up for study on Cameo and fan-celebrity relationships
      • Blue Bird Award nominations now open
      • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado speaks to university community ahead of election 
      • School of Nursing Dean to deliver keynote speech for New York Community College Trustees Conference
      • Empire State University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Professor Tom Mackey to keynote XI Simposio Internacional
      • Chief Diversity Officer named to board of National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
      • 88-year-old student embraces love for filmmaking in pursuit of college degree
      • Charles Biasiny-Riviera ’90: Remembering a Photographer Who Documented Latino Life
      • Alumnus, adjunct professor’s academic journey puts justice, equity, and inclusion at the forefront
      • President Vollendorf featured on Presidents Forum
      • Assistant Professor to partner with Strong Museum for Dungeons & Dragons exhibit opening
      • CAARES holds Neurodivergent in College series
      • Assistant Professor teaches AI risks, scam awareness to Malta seniors
      • SUNY Empire Dean offers insight in new book with “Vanderpump Rules” star
      • SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018
      • Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon
      • Empire State University’s Center for International Education awarded grant for DEI Education in Lebanon
      • Labor Professor publishes new book on U.S. labor and foreign policy
    • August
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Aug. 2024
      • Professor featured in Billboard, discusses fan-artist relationships
      • An Era of Service and Scholarship: Alan Mandell retires after 50-year career at SUNY Empire
      • SUNY Empire President highlights university’s bright future in State of the University
      • SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
      • Melissa Wells featured in The Academic Minute
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
      • Edwin Lee Gibson ’12: Finding fame on “The Bear”
      • Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange
      • Assistant Professor of addiction studies featured on Academic Minute
      • Charles Infurna named Empire State University’s 2024-25 PRODiG+ Fellow
      • Educational Studies Department Chair awarded SUNY/New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development Grant
      • “Fandoms in the Classroom:” Transforming education through student interests
      • Professor publishes book on immigrants and refugees in German universities
      • Herbert Covington Co-Authors Study Unveiling the Epigenetic Impact of Stress on Antidepressant Response
    • July
      • Empire State University recognized by SUNY for promoting student success
      • 15-year-old SUNY Empire student aims to shape education for next generation
      • Textbooks for Students Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
      • Ed.D. student researches what contributes to Latinx student experience
      • School of Business professor honored with award from International Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce U.S.
      • SUNY Empire mourns alumnus who founded feminist arts school
      • Meet the 2024-2025 Scholars Across the University
      • Empire State University students graduate from international programs
      • Maureen Kroning named interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health
      • Empire State University launches new SUNY Empire News website
      • SUNY Empire’s innovative nursing partnership featured on News10 ABC, Hudson Valley Press
      • 2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research
      • Empire State University launches 2+2 Nursing Program with Rockland Community College
      • Empire State University to host 9th annual Learning with Innovative Technology Conference
      • Labor professor interviewed on Business Insider
      • Empire State University closes Hartsdale location, moves to Westchester Community College
      • Unlocking history: Inside the Empire State University archives
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Prague
      • Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in higher education
    • June
      • Breaking the mold: Meet SUNY Empire’s 77-year-old graduate
      • Assistant Professor receives National Science Foundation award for SUNY Empire-led research initiative
      • President Lisa Vollendorf recognized by City & State, named Trailblazer in Higher Education 
      • Empire State University’s annual Juneteenth event is a success
      • School of Human Services holds DEIBSJ retreat in Albany
      • In the News: Labor professor interviewed on Marketplace about university strikes
      • Unions support Communities Across New York through Empire State University
      • Professor’s research sheds light on missing LGBTQ+ people across Europe
      • Empire State University students graduate at Fort Drum
      • Nursing professor to be published in Nursing Research
    • May
      • Behind the ink: Inside the Empire State University print shop
      • Empire State University announces SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients
      • First cohort of Applied Behavior Analysis program graduates
      • Meet Julianna Merendino: Criminal justice graduate at Empire State University
      • Empire State University President featured on EdUp Xcelerated Excellence Podcast
      • Empire State University honors Class of 2024 in Manhattan ceremony
      • A Dedication to Public Service: Rhon Glasgow’s Journey At Empire State University
      • “Sometimes later is greater:” Jawana Carter-Richardson’s Decade of “Mastery”
      • In the News: Dean of School of Labor Studies featured in Non Profit Quarterly
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Manhattan Commencement Platform Party
      • Empire State University graduate recognized at Best of SUNY Art Exhibition
      • Director of Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning featured on Higher Ed Podcast
      • NYC Corrections Captain Graduates While Continuing to Serve and Inspire
      • Students from Dominican Republic to graduate in Manhattan
      • Empire State University honors class of 2024 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Taking experience to heart: Ashley Simms’ SUNY Empire story
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Rochester Commencement Platform Party
      • Following in her footsteps: Mace bearer and alumna to lead the way as daughter crosses the stage
      • “You don’t need sight to take flight:” Turning adversity into opportunity at Empire State University
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Albany
      • Meet Melissa Massari: Firefighter, EMT, and graduate at Empire State University
    • April
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Albany Commencement Platform Party
      • In the News: Veteran and Military Resource Center featured on CBS6
      • Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub
      • Inaugural Empire State University student awarded Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Empire State University’s Neurodiversity Club expands with teen group
      • Ask5: Opening career paths and changing the conversation
      • SUNY Empire alumnus killed in weekend shooting near Syracuse
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hosts eclipse viewing and presentation
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda induction
      • Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students
      • Four Empire State University students receive Bluebird Award
      • Raising Hope: Supporting children with autism through Bluepath
    • March
      • In the News: Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship featured on News10 ABC
      • Empire State University hires Hitesh Rai Kathuria as provost
      • Four Empire State University students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award
      • Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving
      • SUNY Empire announces Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship
    • February
      • Empire State University Announces Day of Giving, GO HIGHER FOR EMPIRE, On MARCH 21
      • Empire State University Hosts 47th Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
      • Empire State University Launches Innovative Virtual Food Pantry
      • SUNY Empire’s Xiomara Giordano Named To National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education
      • SUNY touts Empire State University’s success in interview
    • January
      • Empire State University awards prestigious Richard Porter Leach fellowships
      • SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term
      • Bessie Walker celebrates 50 years at Empire State University
      • Long Island Business Institute to cease operations; SUNY Empire offers teach-out

Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology

October 7, 2025 by Catalina Irigoyen

Smiling woman wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat takes a selfie at the Grand Canyon, with colorful layered cliffs and deep canyons in the background. A graphic in the corner reads ‘5 Minute Feature’ with a torch emblem above.

Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now!

What led you to teach the subject you’re teaching?

Growing up in Puerto Rico ignited my passion for the environment and the forces that shape our planet. Due to its geographic location, Puerto Rico is not only exposed to hurricanes but also to geological hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, and flooding. The island experiences small tremors almost daily due to its location on an active tectonic boundary, and it sits near the volcanic islands of the Lesser Antilles.

I learned early, firsthand, the power and complexities of Earth’s interconnected systems. I wanted to understand the “why” and the “how” of mountains, earthquakes, volcanoes, and the coastal landscape. Following a series of post-quake newscasts with the same seismologist, it became clear: at the age of 13, I decided to study geology. I was aware it meant entering a male-dominated field, but with my parents’ support, I was ready. Ironically, my later geology work focused less on seismology and more on how surface processes shape Earth and other terrestrial planets, particularly Venus and Mars. I love helping students explore geologic processes and natural hazards and understand how human actions can influence them.

What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire?

Seeing our students, many of whom are balancing work and family, cross the stage is my favorite thing about Empire State University. The commencement ceremonies bring together students, families, and the university community to celebrate their hard-earned achievements. Commencement is the clearest expression of SUNY Empire’s mission. It celebrates access to affordable, flexible, and high-quality education. Each graduate is a living example of that mission in action. This is the joy that has anchored my career at SUNY Empire.

What’s one moment in your career you’re especially proud of?

My proudest moment is the message that says, “I got in” or “I got the job.” It reflects the impact of personal connection, advocacy, and mentoring beyond my faculty role, especially for first-generation and historically underrepresented students who are looking for someone who looks like them in higher education. I listen, share my path, and connect them to opportunities. I’m humbled by how a genuine, personal connection can make a real difference in a student’s path. I’m honored to write letters for graduate study or serve as a job reference, and hearing back with good news is deeply rewarding. Watching their confidence grow as they claim their space and achieve their educational and career goals fills my heart and guides my teaching and leadership.

What is your “catchphrase”?

I don’t have a catchphrase, or at least I don’t think I have one. But, if I must choose one, it would be: “Equity is the bedrock.” (See how I did that?)

If you could time-travel to any era just for one day, where would you go?

My geological heart says: Earth just before the dinosaur extinction, the early carving of the Grand Canyon, or the time when the current continents were one supercontinent known as Pangea, although something tells me that’s not quite the type of “era” this question is about. If we’re staying with human eras, I would pick 1969, when curiosity, vision, collective effort, and tension and excitement took us (and the world) to the Moon. Besides its scientific significance, it demonstrates how leadership can turn vision into reality and bring a community together.

  • 2026

    • September
      • Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
      • A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both
      • Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy
      • ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 
      • Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2026
    • August
      • Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 
      • How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy
      • Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month
      • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education
      • Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost
    • July
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2026
      • Scholars Across the University Look Back on 2025-2026 Term
      • Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
      • Empire State University Partners with Premier Medical Group 
    • June
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May/June 2026
      • Five-Minute Feature: Michele Lee, Program Aide 
      • Alexander Yin to Join Empire State University as Vice President for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tara Clark, Admissions Advisor 
      • Prepared for the Future: Meet Public Health Student Ritzy Kisel 
      • Empire State University Honors Trailblazing Journalist Melba Tolliver With Honorary Degree 
      • Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students 
      • Albany Commencement Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma on Dispelling Self-Doubt
    • May
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony 
      • Spring Graduate Joseph Caroselli Is Building a Career on His Own Terms
      • Empire State University and TAVS USA Launch Skilling Partnership for Veterans and First Responders 
      • Three Empire State University Employees Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Empire State University Graduates Second Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Celebrating Spring 2026 Dual-Degree Graduates and Partnership Renewal with UNAPEC
      • Roadmap to Success: Meet Spring 2026 Graduate and Employee Gabby Damis
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
      • Commencement Corner: Elahni Ocean, Spring 2026 Graduate 
      • Student Speaker Robyn Guzman: Sowing, Growing, and Flowing at Empire State University
      • Rochester Student Speaker Jakeith Mosley: “What I’m Building Isn’t Just for Me Anymore”
      • Meet Tatiana Spikes, ABA Program Graduate 
      • Commencement Corner: Mizuho Johnson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: LaRoy Nelson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Director of CAARES and Associate Professor Noor Syed Shares Her Personal Journey to Advocacy
      • A Deep Dive with Noor Syed, Director of CAARES and Associate Professor
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Commencement Corner: Stephen Bernhardt, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: Brittany Stansfield, Spring 2026 Graduate 
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2026
      • CAARES and SSPL Partner to Create Welcoming Spaces in Local Community
      • Behind the Scenes with SUNY Empire’s Online Library
      • A Passion for the Planet: John L. Turner ’85
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor
      • Four Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Human Resources
      • Mother Works 84 Hours a Week While Earning Degree (in Spanish): “At SUNY Empire, It’s Possible”
      • Five-Minute Feature: Aley O’Mara, Program Associate and Training Coordinator for CAARES
      • Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Empire State University 
      • CAARES Helps Launch New Training to Support Neurodivergent SUNY Students 
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kristina Papa, Academic Learning Coach and Opportunity Programs Academic Support Specialist
      • Empire State University Student and Professor Co-Publish Article 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Five-Minute Feature: Griffin Fuetsch, Office Assistant 2 for the Office of Opportunity Programs
    • March
      • Laughing Matters: Professor Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams on Funny Women Inciting Change
      • Empire State University Announces Partnership with National Institute of Public Safety 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams, Professor of English and Author
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2 for the Office of Communications 
      • Cindy Bradley’s Chihuahua Inspired Research That Could Change Treatment for Epileptic Dogs
      • Empire State University Alum Wins Norman R. McConney Jr. Award 
      • Empire State University Educator Spotlights Multilingual Learners in New Children’s Book
      • Empire State University Student Leads Dancing Club for Older Adults 
      • Ginger Alvarez’s “Suitcase Full of Dreams”
      • Empire State University Partners with AMAT Healthcare Institute to Support Healthcare Workforce Development 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cherrelle Hall, Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
    • February
      • Behind the Scenes with the B.S. in Biology
      • Five-Minute Feature: Derrick Siler, President of the Black Male Initiative
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • The Public Affairs Playlist: Meet Professor Nadine Wedderburn
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Nadine Wedderburn, Professor of Public Affairs and Policy
      • Dentist Goes Back to School to Learn the Business Side: Angélica Farfan on Finding the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Winnie Yu, Director of Communications for Advancement and Community Engagement
      • SUNY Chancellor King Visits Empire State University to Highlight SUNY Military Tuition Rate Program  
      • Two Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Building Bridges Grant
      • Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
      • Get to Know Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Dean of the College of Education
      • A Deep Dive With Doug Gruse, Chief Marketing Officer
      • Behind the Scenes with Special Events 
    • January
      • Chief Marketing Officer Doug Gruse Talks Creativity Culture
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2026
      • Vjosa Musliu ’08: Growing Up in War
      • Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
      • Behind the Scenes with the Center for International Education
      • New Associate Provost Is Dedicated to Student Success
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
      • Empire State University Joins FutureReadyNYC Healthcare Pathway Accelerator to Create New Career Pathways for NYC Students 
      • Get to Know Julie Gedro, Dean of the College of Business
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Rumpf, Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education
      • Spanish BBA: One Year In
      • Empire State University Prioritizes Student Health Through Partnership with TimelyCare 
      • Get to Know Gina Torino, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Five-Minute Feature: Laurie Stanley, Assessment Specialist for the Office of International Education
  • 2025

    • December
      • Emmy-Winning Journalist Earns Degree at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s Most Notable Moments of 2025 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Jeremy Qvick ’22, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff
      • How University Photographer Joe O’Dea’s Calling Came Into Focus
      • A Deep Dive with Joe O’Dea, University Photographer
      • Five-Minute Feature: Taylor Allen, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • SUNY Empire and SUNY Orange Receive High-Needs Nursing Grant
      • Creating Positive Change: Grad Student Earns Degree in Social and Public Policy 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: December 2025
      • Empire State University Community Commemorates Wreaths Across America 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Joanna Succi, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Lauren Gaskins ’18, ’22: A Grandmother’s Inspiration
      • Learn More About College of Health and Human Services Dean Carol DeNysschen
      • Five-Minute Feature: Darryl Dangerfield, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Empire State University Foundation Acquires Historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs 
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 Winter Graduates in Albany Ceremonies 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of the Registrar
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Johanna Correa-Berry, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Meet Empire State University’s Winter 2025 Student Commencement Speakers 
    • November
      • A Deep Dive with Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: November 2025
      • Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center Honors Student Veterans During Veteran and Military Families Month 
      • Empire State University to Offer Scholarship for Firefighters 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Anne Sweet, Associate Director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto
      • Empire State University Announces Bluebird Award Recipients 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tom Wiese, Assistant Professor of Analytics
      • Empire State University’s Basic Needs Program Supports Students During SNAP Benefit Shortage  
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Veterans Business Council Scholarships 
      • Adam Grinvalsky ’21: Honoring New York’s Capital Region Veterans
      • Leading the Way in AI Literacy: Associate Professor Diane Shichtman
      • Five-Minute Feature: Matt Quinn, Veteran and Military Resource Center Manager
      • Golden Opportunity: Meet Bilingual Communications Specialist Catalina Irigoyen
    • October
      • Behind the Scenes with Information Technology Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025
      • Building Blocks: Libby Tsibulsky Talks Health and Wellness at SUNY Empire 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kevin Bane, Lead Digital Media Specialist
      • Adjunct Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cortés Pérez Reflects on the Spanish BBA
      • Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Andrew Hurd: From the Field to the Classroom
      • A Deep Dive with Andrew Hurd, Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity
      • SUNY Empire Honors 4 Outstanding Alumni  
      • Empire State University’s April Simmons Launches Text Campaign, Workshops to Motivate Students
      • Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cathy Coffinger, Technical Support Coordinator
      • Some Streams Connect Us All: Meet Adjunct Professor for the Spanish BBA Cristian Salazar
      • Empire State University Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Panel Discussions
      • Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer
      • A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes
      • Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology
      • Behind the Scenes: Digital Accessibility at SUNY Empire 
      • Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 
      • SUNY Empire Expands Military Grant to Include Veteran Spouses, Leads SUNY System in Military Support 
      • SUNY Empire Announces 2025 Alumni Award Winners 
    • September
      • Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach
      • SUNY Empire Alumni Gather for Second Lectures on Tap Event
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 
      • Faculty Expertise: Assistant Professor Njoki Mwarumba Shares Insights on Disaster Preparedness 
      • SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs
      • Behind the Scenes with Empire Online
      • Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 
      • Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths
      • ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Daniel Fogarty, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
      • Mindy Kronenberg Talks Writing, Brooklyn, and Taking Risks
      • A Deep Dive with Mindy Kronenberg: Poet, Editor, and Professor
      • Meet Luis Camacho, Academic Coordinator of the New Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 
      • Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain
      • Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Monaghan, Assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources
    • August
      • Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Mateo Carrera, Graphic Designer
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025
      • Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 
      • Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 
      • “Practicing What We Preach”: Empire State University professor launches free social justice textbook
      • Andrea Piazza and Pam Doran Talk NeuroDiverse Collective Employee Affinity Group
      • Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language
      • Behind the Screen: Bilingual Multimedia Technologist Irene Oramas Sosa
      • Reason & Respect Unplugged: National Civility Month 
      • Eight Empire State University Students Receive Inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship 
    • July
      • National Intern Day: The Latest on Career Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
      • Empire State University Hosts Alumni Day at the Races
      • Travel as a Cultural Gateway: Meet Kendra Elie, Bilingual Financial Aid Advisor
      • University Communications: Your Guide to Existing Platforms and Recent Changes
      • Empire State University and Brentwood High School Launch Groundbreaking Spanish-Language Initiative for High School Students
      • Empire State University Honors International Students in Series of Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Outgoing Scholars Across the University Look Back on a Year of Community Engagement 
      • Bridging Culture: Bilingual Student Support with Armando Flores
      • Ann Marie Scheidegger to Join SUNY Empire as Vice President for Administration and Finance
      • Discipline and Dedication: Carlos Aleman on Bilingual Empowerment
      • Veterans Tuition Award Opens Up New Possibilities for Veteran Students 
      • ODEI Explores Universal Design in Honor of Disability Pride Month
      • Empire State University Launches New Colleges, Welcomes Deans
    • June
      • Tzvi Simchon ’24: Keeping History Alive on Film
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025
      • Empowering New York: Empire State University’s Bold Academic Expansion
      • Empire State University Set to Launch Nine New Academic Programs This Fall 
      • In Spanish, Online, and On Your Time: Ronnie Rivera’s Trajectory as Spanish BBA Specialist
      • Empire State University Student Wins Best of SUNY Art Award 
      • Associate Professor Jim Robinson Reflects on 50 Years at Empire State University
      • Support and Advocacy: How Employee Affinity Groups Enrich Our University Community
      • Introducing the 2025-2026 Scholars Across the University 
      • ODEI Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with Stories from Empire State University Community
      • Empire State University Student Named Director of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
      • Love of Language: Perla Zamitiz on Being a Linguist and the Spanish BBA
    • May
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony 
      • Nominate an Outstanding Empire State University Graduate for an Alumni Award
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025
      • President Vollendorf Named Trailblazer in Higher Education For Second Consecutive Year
      • Finding Balance: Brittany Leibenguth’s Path to Graduation at Empire State University
      • Charting a New Course: A Graduate Student Discovers His Niche in Higher Ed
      • Perspective Shift: One Graduate’s Journey Through the ABA Program
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Kasie Roach: Navy Veteran and Victim Advocate Graduates from Empire State University
      • Seizing Opportunities: An Addiction Studies Grad Brings Her Skills to State Government
      • Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program
      • Clinic and Classroom: Meet Libby Miranda, ABA Program Graduate
      • ODEI Celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day with New Reason & Respect Format
      • Where Care and Career Intersect: Sara Luna’s Journey at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s New VP of HR Works to Uplift Employees
      • Five Empire State University Employees Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
      • Kamelyn Báez Peña on Empire State University’s Dual Degree Program and Keeping Your Culture Close
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Albany Ceremony 
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact
      • “New Inspiration”: A Transfer Student Finds Her Footing at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Graduates its First Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Committed to Care: Khavel Smith-Martin’s Journey in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
      • Alka Merlin ’08: Helping Others Find Their Way After Finding Her Own
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025
      • Empire’s Zeeva Bukai Explores Identity, Displacement, and Compassion in Debut Novel
      • Meet Zachary Madding, Empire’s New Capital Program and Sustainability Manager 
      • Meet Empire State University’s Inaugural AI Fellows 
      • Office for Advancement Hosts Earth Day Walk
      • Building Relationships: A Look at CAARES’ Peer2Peer Student Connection Program 
      • Empire State University Dual Degree Program Hosts Residency in the Dominican Republic
      • Breaking Language Barriers with Machine Translation at Empire State University
      • Phylisha Villanueva ’23: A Poet With Purpose
      • Empire’s Textbook Affordability Initiative Boosts Student Success
      • Empire’s Civil and Revolutionary War Residencies Bring History to Life 
      • Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning
      • CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community 
      • Four Empire State University Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Liv Thygesen on Equitable Education at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Named a School of National Service
      • Alumni Demonstrate SUNY Empire Pride at Annual Meeting
      • SUNY Empire Alumna Raises Awareness of Huntington’s Disease
    • March
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025
      • Professor Emeritus Dorothy Burnham Celebrates 110th Birthday
      • Claire Ziamandanis on Loving Linguistics and Empire State University’s Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University Student Wins 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 
      • VMRC Intern Stephen Szczurko-Walton Creates Community for Military-Affiliated Students
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda
      • ODEI Launches Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program
      • Paul Muccigrosso ’12: A Lifetime of Helping Veterans
      • International Women’s Day Event Celebrates Empire’s Zülal Balpinar
      • Meaningful Marketing: Get To Know Empire State University’s Brenda Manra
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Receives Women of Excellence Award 
      • Raul Manzano Honored at College of the Sequoias Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • A Deep Dive with Raul Manzano: Featured Artist Honored at Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • Empire State University’s Associate Degree Initiative Uplifts Student Goals
    • February
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025
      • Gedro Receives R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award 
      • President Vollendorf Named to Board of Directors for Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
      • Culture and Community: Meet Bilingual IT Specialist Lyanne Garcia-Boswell
      • ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse
      • SUNY Empire Partners with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to Empower Emerging Managers and Leaders 
      • María Vega on Language as a Launchpad for Connection
      • OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access
    • January
      • Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement
      • Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs Named College of Education Dean 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025
      • Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 
      • 1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion
      • Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  
      • Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 
      • Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University
      • Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 
      • Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  
      • Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish
  • 2024

    • December
      • Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review
      • Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights
      • SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America
      • Center for International Education Hosts Residency for Students in Turkey and Lebanon
      • Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing Completes Pilot of Management and Leadership Training Program
      • Empire State University starts NeuroDiverse Collective support group  
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2024 in Winter Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Michele Paterson explores a career of helping others through applied behavior analysis program
      • SUNY Empire graduate works as disability advocate and volunteer
      • Meet Htein Naing: Graduate Balancing Space Force Service, Studies, and Family 
      • SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students
      • SUNY Empire grad combines education with work experience to make most of degree
      • Empire State University graduate finds new purpose in military service  
      • Side by Side to Success: Twin sisters achieve bachelor’s degrees at 19 
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction 
      • Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  
      • Empire State University launches new merch site  
      • Empowering Future Educators: Teacher Opportunity Corps Strengthens Pathways for Teacher Recruitment  
    • November
      • Vollendorf Named to Presidents Forum Governing Board
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Nov. 2024
      • Meet Lorraine Williams: Empire State University’s 100,000th alum  
      • Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni 
      • SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center marks one year at SUNY Empire 
      • Panel highlights international connection through virtual programming  
      • Graduate Student published in Confluence for hiking research 
      • SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs see largest enrollment on record 
      • SUNY Empire student premiered docuseries on breast cancer and healthcare inequity  
      • Empire State University Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Veterans Tuition Awards Program
      • 76-year-old student embraces military and veteran opportunity program to earn degree
      • Empire State University welcomes students at Fall Student Conference  
      • Ed.D. student invited to White House, highlighting National Partnership for Student Success  
      • Empire State University honors heroes in Veteran’s Month event 
    • October
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024
      • President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast
      • Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  
      • SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  
      • Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  
      • Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 
      • Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 
      • Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 
      • Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  
      • President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum
      • Regalia provided to students through Student Activity Fund  
      • Fall Academic Conference focuses on artificial intelligence in education 
      • Labor Professor named external faculty associate of Global Labor Research Center
      • Second Blue Mascot available to SUNY Empire Community
      • AI Awareness Week brings artificial intelligence to forefront of higher education
      • President Lisa Vollendorf featured on Look Media This Week
      • Associate Professor publishes book on Indigenous dispossession in US history
      • Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 
      • Empire State University to host talk with Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
    • September
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Sept. 2024
      • Professor, students team up for study on Cameo and fan-celebrity relationships
      • Blue Bird Award nominations now open
      • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado speaks to university community ahead of election 
      • School of Nursing Dean to deliver keynote speech for New York Community College Trustees Conference
      • Empire State University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Professor Tom Mackey to keynote XI Simposio Internacional
      • Chief Diversity Officer named to board of National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
      • 88-year-old student embraces love for filmmaking in pursuit of college degree
      • Charles Biasiny-Riviera ’90: Remembering a Photographer Who Documented Latino Life
      • Alumnus, adjunct professor’s academic journey puts justice, equity, and inclusion at the forefront
      • President Vollendorf featured on Presidents Forum
      • Assistant Professor to partner with Strong Museum for Dungeons & Dragons exhibit opening
      • CAARES holds Neurodivergent in College series
      • Assistant Professor teaches AI risks, scam awareness to Malta seniors
      • SUNY Empire Dean offers insight in new book with “Vanderpump Rules” star
      • SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018
      • Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon
      • Empire State University’s Center for International Education awarded grant for DEI Education in Lebanon
      • Labor Professor publishes new book on U.S. labor and foreign policy
    • August
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Aug. 2024
      • Professor featured in Billboard, discusses fan-artist relationships
      • An Era of Service and Scholarship: Alan Mandell retires after 50-year career at SUNY Empire
      • SUNY Empire President highlights university’s bright future in State of the University
      • SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
      • Melissa Wells featured in The Academic Minute
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
      • Edwin Lee Gibson ’12: Finding fame on “The Bear”
      • Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange
      • Assistant Professor of addiction studies featured on Academic Minute
      • Charles Infurna named Empire State University’s 2024-25 PRODiG+ Fellow
      • Educational Studies Department Chair awarded SUNY/New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development Grant
      • “Fandoms in the Classroom:” Transforming education through student interests
      • Professor publishes book on immigrants and refugees in German universities
      • Herbert Covington Co-Authors Study Unveiling the Epigenetic Impact of Stress on Antidepressant Response
    • July
      • Empire State University recognized by SUNY for promoting student success
      • 15-year-old SUNY Empire student aims to shape education for next generation
      • Textbooks for Students Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
      • Ed.D. student researches what contributes to Latinx student experience
      • School of Business professor honored with award from International Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce U.S.
      • SUNY Empire mourns alumnus who founded feminist arts school
      • Meet the 2024-2025 Scholars Across the University
      • Empire State University students graduate from international programs
      • Maureen Kroning named interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health
      • Empire State University launches new SUNY Empire News website
      • SUNY Empire’s innovative nursing partnership featured on News10 ABC, Hudson Valley Press
      • 2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research
      • Empire State University launches 2+2 Nursing Program with Rockland Community College
      • Empire State University to host 9th annual Learning with Innovative Technology Conference
      • Labor professor interviewed on Business Insider
      • Empire State University closes Hartsdale location, moves to Westchester Community College
      • Unlocking history: Inside the Empire State University archives
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Prague
      • Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in higher education
    • June
      • Breaking the mold: Meet SUNY Empire’s 77-year-old graduate
      • Assistant Professor receives National Science Foundation award for SUNY Empire-led research initiative
      • President Lisa Vollendorf recognized by City & State, named Trailblazer in Higher Education 
      • Empire State University’s annual Juneteenth event is a success
      • School of Human Services holds DEIBSJ retreat in Albany
      • In the News: Labor professor interviewed on Marketplace about university strikes
      • Unions support Communities Across New York through Empire State University
      • Professor’s research sheds light on missing LGBTQ+ people across Europe
      • Empire State University students graduate at Fort Drum
      • Nursing professor to be published in Nursing Research
    • May
      • Behind the ink: Inside the Empire State University print shop
      • Empire State University announces SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients
      • First cohort of Applied Behavior Analysis program graduates
      • Meet Julianna Merendino: Criminal justice graduate at Empire State University
      • Empire State University President featured on EdUp Xcelerated Excellence Podcast
      • Empire State University honors Class of 2024 in Manhattan ceremony
      • A Dedication to Public Service: Rhon Glasgow’s Journey At Empire State University
      • “Sometimes later is greater:” Jawana Carter-Richardson’s Decade of “Mastery”
      • In the News: Dean of School of Labor Studies featured in Non Profit Quarterly
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Manhattan Commencement Platform Party
      • Empire State University graduate recognized at Best of SUNY Art Exhibition
      • Director of Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning featured on Higher Ed Podcast
      • NYC Corrections Captain Graduates While Continuing to Serve and Inspire
      • Students from Dominican Republic to graduate in Manhattan
      • Empire State University honors class of 2024 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Taking experience to heart: Ashley Simms’ SUNY Empire story
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Rochester Commencement Platform Party
      • Following in her footsteps: Mace bearer and alumna to lead the way as daughter crosses the stage
      • “You don’t need sight to take flight:” Turning adversity into opportunity at Empire State University
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Albany
      • Meet Melissa Massari: Firefighter, EMT, and graduate at Empire State University
    • April
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Albany Commencement Platform Party
      • In the News: Veteran and Military Resource Center featured on CBS6
      • Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub
      • Inaugural Empire State University student awarded Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Empire State University’s Neurodiversity Club expands with teen group
      • Ask5: Opening career paths and changing the conversation
      • SUNY Empire alumnus killed in weekend shooting near Syracuse
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hosts eclipse viewing and presentation
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda induction
      • Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students
      • Four Empire State University students receive Bluebird Award
      • Raising Hope: Supporting children with autism through Bluepath
    • March
      • In the News: Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship featured on News10 ABC
      • Empire State University hires Hitesh Rai Kathuria as provost
      • Four Empire State University students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award
      • Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving
      • SUNY Empire announces Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship
    • February
      • Empire State University Announces Day of Giving, GO HIGHER FOR EMPIRE, On MARCH 21
      • Empire State University Hosts 47th Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
      • Empire State University Launches Innovative Virtual Food Pantry
      • SUNY Empire’s Xiomara Giordano Named To National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education
      • SUNY touts Empire State University’s success in interview
    • January
      • Empire State University awards prestigious Richard Porter Leach fellowships
      • SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term
      • Bessie Walker celebrates 50 years at Empire State University
      • Long Island Business Institute to cease operations; SUNY Empire offers teach-out

Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships

September 30, 2025 by Catalina Irigoyen

Smiling man in glasses and blue blazer against gray background, next to SUNY Empire 5 Minute Feature logo.

Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now!

What led you to your career path?

My career in higher education began out of a desire to replicate the support I received as an undergraduate student. The admissions team at my alma mater was instrumental in my transfer process as I moved from Guatemala to NYC, and their personalized assistance showed me the potential for institutions to profoundly impact individual lives. I was motivated to become that same source of support for others. I began working in admissions that same year and have since had different roles advancing the promise of higher education.  I’ve enjoyed direct contact with students as an instructor or advisor and the behind-the-scenes work supporting the systems that maintain universities running.

What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire? 

My favorite aspect of Empire is its profound commitment to recognizing and valuing the full humanity of every learner, drawing from their diverse experiences beyond the classroom. This means actively seeking out their real-world experiences, be it from work, military service, volunteering, or independent study, and intentionally crafting pathways to convert that learning into academic credit—making space for the full humanity of our students. Our policies and culture do not just open doors, but meet students where they are, allowing their lived experiences to accelerate and enrich their degree journeys.

What’s one moment in your career you’re especially proud of? 

Some of my proudest moments stem from serving as a mentor for five years at Empire. This past spring term, I had the privilege of congratulating my final mentee on earning his bachelor’s degree. The path to his degree was challenging; over several years, he balanced a heavy course load, earned multiple allied health licenses and got credit for them, raised two children, and had to stop enrollments because of work for two semesters. My role was to offer consistent encouragement and guidance. While his success was driven by his immense hard work, my role was to serve as a voice of support, helping him navigate challenges and find a way forward, and stay focused on his long-term goals. The most rewarding outcome was seeing his journey culminate in a bachelor’s degree and the pride it brought to his family as he became a first-generation graduate. This solidified my commitment to higher education and reinforced my passion for empowering students to overcome personal and academic hurdles to achieve their goals. 

If you could swap lives with a celebrity for a week, who would you choose? 

For a week, I would swap lives with the cellist Yo-Yo Ma. My interest goes beyond his fame. It is about his extraordinary artistry and profound connection to the music. As a former cello student, I’ve always admired his career and the way he communicates through his instrument. For a week, I would love to experience that level of mastery and simply enjoy the music from his unique perspective, without the pressure of his public performances.

What’s a book, movie, or show you’ve recently enjoyed—and why? 

This summer, I read “First, Break All the Rules”, by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, that explores how exceptional leaders diverge from traditional management techniques. The book is based on extensive research by Gallup and highlights the importance of rejecting conventional wisdom to focus on what truly drives organizational success. It was especially enjoyable and thought-provoking as it made me reflect on effective leaders I’ve known (and work with) and consider how to better apply those principles in my own professional role.

  • 2026

    • September
      • Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
      • A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both
      • Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy
      • ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 
      • Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2026
    • August
      • Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 
      • How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy
      • Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month
      • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education
      • Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost
    • July
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2026
      • Scholars Across the University Look Back on 2025-2026 Term
      • Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
      • Empire State University Partners with Premier Medical Group 
    • June
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May/June 2026
      • Five-Minute Feature: Michele Lee, Program Aide 
      • Alexander Yin to Join Empire State University as Vice President for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tara Clark, Admissions Advisor 
      • Prepared for the Future: Meet Public Health Student Ritzy Kisel 
      • Empire State University Honors Trailblazing Journalist Melba Tolliver With Honorary Degree 
      • Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students 
      • Albany Commencement Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma on Dispelling Self-Doubt
    • May
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony 
      • Spring Graduate Joseph Caroselli Is Building a Career on His Own Terms
      • Empire State University and TAVS USA Launch Skilling Partnership for Veterans and First Responders 
      • Three Empire State University Employees Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Empire State University Graduates Second Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Celebrating Spring 2026 Dual-Degree Graduates and Partnership Renewal with UNAPEC
      • Roadmap to Success: Meet Spring 2026 Graduate and Employee Gabby Damis
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
      • Commencement Corner: Elahni Ocean, Spring 2026 Graduate 
      • Student Speaker Robyn Guzman: Sowing, Growing, and Flowing at Empire State University
      • Rochester Student Speaker Jakeith Mosley: “What I’m Building Isn’t Just for Me Anymore”
      • Meet Tatiana Spikes, ABA Program Graduate 
      • Commencement Corner: Mizuho Johnson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: LaRoy Nelson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Director of CAARES and Associate Professor Noor Syed Shares Her Personal Journey to Advocacy
      • A Deep Dive with Noor Syed, Director of CAARES and Associate Professor
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Commencement Corner: Stephen Bernhardt, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: Brittany Stansfield, Spring 2026 Graduate 
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2026
      • CAARES and SSPL Partner to Create Welcoming Spaces in Local Community
      • Behind the Scenes with SUNY Empire’s Online Library
      • A Passion for the Planet: John L. Turner ’85
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor
      • Four Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Human Resources
      • Mother Works 84 Hours a Week While Earning Degree (in Spanish): “At SUNY Empire, It’s Possible”
      • Five-Minute Feature: Aley O’Mara, Program Associate and Training Coordinator for CAARES
      • Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Empire State University 
      • CAARES Helps Launch New Training to Support Neurodivergent SUNY Students 
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kristina Papa, Academic Learning Coach and Opportunity Programs Academic Support Specialist
      • Empire State University Student and Professor Co-Publish Article 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Five-Minute Feature: Griffin Fuetsch, Office Assistant 2 for the Office of Opportunity Programs
    • March
      • Laughing Matters: Professor Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams on Funny Women Inciting Change
      • Empire State University Announces Partnership with National Institute of Public Safety 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams, Professor of English and Author
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2 for the Office of Communications 
      • Cindy Bradley’s Chihuahua Inspired Research That Could Change Treatment for Epileptic Dogs
      • Empire State University Alum Wins Norman R. McConney Jr. Award 
      • Empire State University Educator Spotlights Multilingual Learners in New Children’s Book
      • Empire State University Student Leads Dancing Club for Older Adults 
      • Ginger Alvarez’s “Suitcase Full of Dreams”
      • Empire State University Partners with AMAT Healthcare Institute to Support Healthcare Workforce Development 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cherrelle Hall, Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
    • February
      • Behind the Scenes with the B.S. in Biology
      • Five-Minute Feature: Derrick Siler, President of the Black Male Initiative
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • The Public Affairs Playlist: Meet Professor Nadine Wedderburn
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Nadine Wedderburn, Professor of Public Affairs and Policy
      • Dentist Goes Back to School to Learn the Business Side: Angélica Farfan on Finding the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Winnie Yu, Director of Communications for Advancement and Community Engagement
      • SUNY Chancellor King Visits Empire State University to Highlight SUNY Military Tuition Rate Program  
      • Two Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Building Bridges Grant
      • Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
      • Get to Know Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Dean of the College of Education
      • A Deep Dive With Doug Gruse, Chief Marketing Officer
      • Behind the Scenes with Special Events 
    • January
      • Chief Marketing Officer Doug Gruse Talks Creativity Culture
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2026
      • Vjosa Musliu ’08: Growing Up in War
      • Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
      • Behind the Scenes with the Center for International Education
      • New Associate Provost Is Dedicated to Student Success
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
      • Empire State University Joins FutureReadyNYC Healthcare Pathway Accelerator to Create New Career Pathways for NYC Students 
      • Get to Know Julie Gedro, Dean of the College of Business
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Rumpf, Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education
      • Spanish BBA: One Year In
      • Empire State University Prioritizes Student Health Through Partnership with TimelyCare 
      • Get to Know Gina Torino, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Five-Minute Feature: Laurie Stanley, Assessment Specialist for the Office of International Education
  • 2025

    • December
      • Emmy-Winning Journalist Earns Degree at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s Most Notable Moments of 2025 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Jeremy Qvick ’22, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff
      • How University Photographer Joe O’Dea’s Calling Came Into Focus
      • A Deep Dive with Joe O’Dea, University Photographer
      • Five-Minute Feature: Taylor Allen, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • SUNY Empire and SUNY Orange Receive High-Needs Nursing Grant
      • Creating Positive Change: Grad Student Earns Degree in Social and Public Policy 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: December 2025
      • Empire State University Community Commemorates Wreaths Across America 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Joanna Succi, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Lauren Gaskins ’18, ’22: A Grandmother’s Inspiration
      • Learn More About College of Health and Human Services Dean Carol DeNysschen
      • Five-Minute Feature: Darryl Dangerfield, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Empire State University Foundation Acquires Historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs 
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 Winter Graduates in Albany Ceremonies 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of the Registrar
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Johanna Correa-Berry, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Meet Empire State University’s Winter 2025 Student Commencement Speakers 
    • November
      • A Deep Dive with Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: November 2025
      • Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center Honors Student Veterans During Veteran and Military Families Month 
      • Empire State University to Offer Scholarship for Firefighters 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Anne Sweet, Associate Director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto
      • Empire State University Announces Bluebird Award Recipients 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tom Wiese, Assistant Professor of Analytics
      • Empire State University’s Basic Needs Program Supports Students During SNAP Benefit Shortage  
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Veterans Business Council Scholarships 
      • Adam Grinvalsky ’21: Honoring New York’s Capital Region Veterans
      • Leading the Way in AI Literacy: Associate Professor Diane Shichtman
      • Five-Minute Feature: Matt Quinn, Veteran and Military Resource Center Manager
      • Golden Opportunity: Meet Bilingual Communications Specialist Catalina Irigoyen
    • October
      • Behind the Scenes with Information Technology Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025
      • Building Blocks: Libby Tsibulsky Talks Health and Wellness at SUNY Empire 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kevin Bane, Lead Digital Media Specialist
      • Adjunct Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cortés Pérez Reflects on the Spanish BBA
      • Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Andrew Hurd: From the Field to the Classroom
      • A Deep Dive with Andrew Hurd, Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity
      • SUNY Empire Honors 4 Outstanding Alumni  
      • Empire State University’s April Simmons Launches Text Campaign, Workshops to Motivate Students
      • Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cathy Coffinger, Technical Support Coordinator
      • Some Streams Connect Us All: Meet Adjunct Professor for the Spanish BBA Cristian Salazar
      • Empire State University Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Panel Discussions
      • Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer
      • A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes
      • Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology
      • Behind the Scenes: Digital Accessibility at SUNY Empire 
      • Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 
      • SUNY Empire Expands Military Grant to Include Veteran Spouses, Leads SUNY System in Military Support 
      • SUNY Empire Announces 2025 Alumni Award Winners 
    • September
      • Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach
      • SUNY Empire Alumni Gather for Second Lectures on Tap Event
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 
      • Faculty Expertise: Assistant Professor Njoki Mwarumba Shares Insights on Disaster Preparedness 
      • SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs
      • Behind the Scenes with Empire Online
      • Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 
      • Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths
      • ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Daniel Fogarty, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
      • Mindy Kronenberg Talks Writing, Brooklyn, and Taking Risks
      • A Deep Dive with Mindy Kronenberg: Poet, Editor, and Professor
      • Meet Luis Camacho, Academic Coordinator of the New Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 
      • Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain
      • Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Monaghan, Assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources
    • August
      • Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Mateo Carrera, Graphic Designer
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025
      • Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 
      • Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 
      • “Practicing What We Preach”: Empire State University professor launches free social justice textbook
      • Andrea Piazza and Pam Doran Talk NeuroDiverse Collective Employee Affinity Group
      • Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language
      • Behind the Screen: Bilingual Multimedia Technologist Irene Oramas Sosa
      • Reason & Respect Unplugged: National Civility Month 
      • Eight Empire State University Students Receive Inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship 
    • July
      • National Intern Day: The Latest on Career Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
      • Empire State University Hosts Alumni Day at the Races
      • Travel as a Cultural Gateway: Meet Kendra Elie, Bilingual Financial Aid Advisor
      • University Communications: Your Guide to Existing Platforms and Recent Changes
      • Empire State University and Brentwood High School Launch Groundbreaking Spanish-Language Initiative for High School Students
      • Empire State University Honors International Students in Series of Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Outgoing Scholars Across the University Look Back on a Year of Community Engagement 
      • Bridging Culture: Bilingual Student Support with Armando Flores
      • Ann Marie Scheidegger to Join SUNY Empire as Vice President for Administration and Finance
      • Discipline and Dedication: Carlos Aleman on Bilingual Empowerment
      • Veterans Tuition Award Opens Up New Possibilities for Veteran Students 
      • ODEI Explores Universal Design in Honor of Disability Pride Month
      • Empire State University Launches New Colleges, Welcomes Deans
    • June
      • Tzvi Simchon ’24: Keeping History Alive on Film
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025
      • Empowering New York: Empire State University’s Bold Academic Expansion
      • Empire State University Set to Launch Nine New Academic Programs This Fall 
      • In Spanish, Online, and On Your Time: Ronnie Rivera’s Trajectory as Spanish BBA Specialist
      • Empire State University Student Wins Best of SUNY Art Award 
      • Associate Professor Jim Robinson Reflects on 50 Years at Empire State University
      • Support and Advocacy: How Employee Affinity Groups Enrich Our University Community
      • Introducing the 2025-2026 Scholars Across the University 
      • ODEI Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with Stories from Empire State University Community
      • Empire State University Student Named Director of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
      • Love of Language: Perla Zamitiz on Being a Linguist and the Spanish BBA
    • May
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony 
      • Nominate an Outstanding Empire State University Graduate for an Alumni Award
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025
      • President Vollendorf Named Trailblazer in Higher Education For Second Consecutive Year
      • Finding Balance: Brittany Leibenguth’s Path to Graduation at Empire State University
      • Charting a New Course: A Graduate Student Discovers His Niche in Higher Ed
      • Perspective Shift: One Graduate’s Journey Through the ABA Program
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Kasie Roach: Navy Veteran and Victim Advocate Graduates from Empire State University
      • Seizing Opportunities: An Addiction Studies Grad Brings Her Skills to State Government
      • Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program
      • Clinic and Classroom: Meet Libby Miranda, ABA Program Graduate
      • ODEI Celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day with New Reason & Respect Format
      • Where Care and Career Intersect: Sara Luna’s Journey at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s New VP of HR Works to Uplift Employees
      • Five Empire State University Employees Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
      • Kamelyn Báez Peña on Empire State University’s Dual Degree Program and Keeping Your Culture Close
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Albany Ceremony 
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact
      • “New Inspiration”: A Transfer Student Finds Her Footing at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Graduates its First Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Committed to Care: Khavel Smith-Martin’s Journey in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
      • Alka Merlin ’08: Helping Others Find Their Way After Finding Her Own
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025
      • Empire’s Zeeva Bukai Explores Identity, Displacement, and Compassion in Debut Novel
      • Meet Zachary Madding, Empire’s New Capital Program and Sustainability Manager 
      • Meet Empire State University’s Inaugural AI Fellows 
      • Office for Advancement Hosts Earth Day Walk
      • Building Relationships: A Look at CAARES’ Peer2Peer Student Connection Program 
      • Empire State University Dual Degree Program Hosts Residency in the Dominican Republic
      • Breaking Language Barriers with Machine Translation at Empire State University
      • Phylisha Villanueva ’23: A Poet With Purpose
      • Empire’s Textbook Affordability Initiative Boosts Student Success
      • Empire’s Civil and Revolutionary War Residencies Bring History to Life 
      • Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning
      • CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community 
      • Four Empire State University Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Liv Thygesen on Equitable Education at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Named a School of National Service
      • Alumni Demonstrate SUNY Empire Pride at Annual Meeting
      • SUNY Empire Alumna Raises Awareness of Huntington’s Disease
    • March
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025
      • Professor Emeritus Dorothy Burnham Celebrates 110th Birthday
      • Claire Ziamandanis on Loving Linguistics and Empire State University’s Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University Student Wins 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 
      • VMRC Intern Stephen Szczurko-Walton Creates Community for Military-Affiliated Students
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda
      • ODEI Launches Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program
      • Paul Muccigrosso ’12: A Lifetime of Helping Veterans
      • International Women’s Day Event Celebrates Empire’s Zülal Balpinar
      • Meaningful Marketing: Get To Know Empire State University’s Brenda Manra
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Receives Women of Excellence Award 
      • Raul Manzano Honored at College of the Sequoias Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • A Deep Dive with Raul Manzano: Featured Artist Honored at Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • Empire State University’s Associate Degree Initiative Uplifts Student Goals
    • February
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025
      • Gedro Receives R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award 
      • President Vollendorf Named to Board of Directors for Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
      • Culture and Community: Meet Bilingual IT Specialist Lyanne Garcia-Boswell
      • ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse
      • SUNY Empire Partners with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to Empower Emerging Managers and Leaders 
      • María Vega on Language as a Launchpad for Connection
      • OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access
    • January
      • Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement
      • Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs Named College of Education Dean 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025
      • Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 
      • 1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion
      • Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  
      • Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 
      • Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University
      • Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 
      • Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  
      • Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish
  • 2024

    • December
      • Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review
      • Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights
      • SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America
      • Center for International Education Hosts Residency for Students in Turkey and Lebanon
      • Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing Completes Pilot of Management and Leadership Training Program
      • Empire State University starts NeuroDiverse Collective support group  
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2024 in Winter Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Michele Paterson explores a career of helping others through applied behavior analysis program
      • SUNY Empire graduate works as disability advocate and volunteer
      • Meet Htein Naing: Graduate Balancing Space Force Service, Studies, and Family 
      • SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students
      • SUNY Empire grad combines education with work experience to make most of degree
      • Empire State University graduate finds new purpose in military service  
      • Side by Side to Success: Twin sisters achieve bachelor’s degrees at 19 
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction 
      • Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  
      • Empire State University launches new merch site  
      • Empowering Future Educators: Teacher Opportunity Corps Strengthens Pathways for Teacher Recruitment  
    • November
      • Vollendorf Named to Presidents Forum Governing Board
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Nov. 2024
      • Meet Lorraine Williams: Empire State University’s 100,000th alum  
      • Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni 
      • SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center marks one year at SUNY Empire 
      • Panel highlights international connection through virtual programming  
      • Graduate Student published in Confluence for hiking research 
      • SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs see largest enrollment on record 
      • SUNY Empire student premiered docuseries on breast cancer and healthcare inequity  
      • Empire State University Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Veterans Tuition Awards Program
      • 76-year-old student embraces military and veteran opportunity program to earn degree
      • Empire State University welcomes students at Fall Student Conference  
      • Ed.D. student invited to White House, highlighting National Partnership for Student Success  
      • Empire State University honors heroes in Veteran’s Month event 
    • October
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024
      • President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast
      • Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  
      • SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  
      • Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  
      • Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 
      • Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 
      • Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 
      • Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  
      • President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum
      • Regalia provided to students through Student Activity Fund  
      • Fall Academic Conference focuses on artificial intelligence in education 
      • Labor Professor named external faculty associate of Global Labor Research Center
      • Second Blue Mascot available to SUNY Empire Community
      • AI Awareness Week brings artificial intelligence to forefront of higher education
      • President Lisa Vollendorf featured on Look Media This Week
      • Associate Professor publishes book on Indigenous dispossession in US history
      • Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 
      • Empire State University to host talk with Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
    • September
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Sept. 2024
      • Professor, students team up for study on Cameo and fan-celebrity relationships
      • Blue Bird Award nominations now open
      • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado speaks to university community ahead of election 
      • School of Nursing Dean to deliver keynote speech for New York Community College Trustees Conference
      • Empire State University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Professor Tom Mackey to keynote XI Simposio Internacional
      • Chief Diversity Officer named to board of National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
      • 88-year-old student embraces love for filmmaking in pursuit of college degree
      • Charles Biasiny-Riviera ’90: Remembering a Photographer Who Documented Latino Life
      • Alumnus, adjunct professor’s academic journey puts justice, equity, and inclusion at the forefront
      • President Vollendorf featured on Presidents Forum
      • Assistant Professor to partner with Strong Museum for Dungeons & Dragons exhibit opening
      • CAARES holds Neurodivergent in College series
      • Assistant Professor teaches AI risks, scam awareness to Malta seniors
      • SUNY Empire Dean offers insight in new book with “Vanderpump Rules” star
      • SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018
      • Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon
      • Empire State University’s Center for International Education awarded grant for DEI Education in Lebanon
      • Labor Professor publishes new book on U.S. labor and foreign policy
    • August
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Aug. 2024
      • Professor featured in Billboard, discusses fan-artist relationships
      • An Era of Service and Scholarship: Alan Mandell retires after 50-year career at SUNY Empire
      • SUNY Empire President highlights university’s bright future in State of the University
      • SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
      • Melissa Wells featured in The Academic Minute
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
      • Edwin Lee Gibson ’12: Finding fame on “The Bear”
      • Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange
      • Assistant Professor of addiction studies featured on Academic Minute
      • Charles Infurna named Empire State University’s 2024-25 PRODiG+ Fellow
      • Educational Studies Department Chair awarded SUNY/New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development Grant
      • “Fandoms in the Classroom:” Transforming education through student interests
      • Professor publishes book on immigrants and refugees in German universities
      • Herbert Covington Co-Authors Study Unveiling the Epigenetic Impact of Stress on Antidepressant Response
    • July
      • Empire State University recognized by SUNY for promoting student success
      • 15-year-old SUNY Empire student aims to shape education for next generation
      • Textbooks for Students Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
      • Ed.D. student researches what contributes to Latinx student experience
      • School of Business professor honored with award from International Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce U.S.
      • SUNY Empire mourns alumnus who founded feminist arts school
      • Meet the 2024-2025 Scholars Across the University
      • Empire State University students graduate from international programs
      • Maureen Kroning named interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health
      • Empire State University launches new SUNY Empire News website
      • SUNY Empire’s innovative nursing partnership featured on News10 ABC, Hudson Valley Press
      • 2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research
      • Empire State University launches 2+2 Nursing Program with Rockland Community College
      • Empire State University to host 9th annual Learning with Innovative Technology Conference
      • Labor professor interviewed on Business Insider
      • Empire State University closes Hartsdale location, moves to Westchester Community College
      • Unlocking history: Inside the Empire State University archives
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Prague
      • Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in higher education
    • June
      • Breaking the mold: Meet SUNY Empire’s 77-year-old graduate
      • Assistant Professor receives National Science Foundation award for SUNY Empire-led research initiative
      • President Lisa Vollendorf recognized by City & State, named Trailblazer in Higher Education 
      • Empire State University’s annual Juneteenth event is a success
      • School of Human Services holds DEIBSJ retreat in Albany
      • In the News: Labor professor interviewed on Marketplace about university strikes
      • Unions support Communities Across New York through Empire State University
      • Professor’s research sheds light on missing LGBTQ+ people across Europe
      • Empire State University students graduate at Fort Drum
      • Nursing professor to be published in Nursing Research
    • May
      • Behind the ink: Inside the Empire State University print shop
      • Empire State University announces SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients
      • First cohort of Applied Behavior Analysis program graduates
      • Meet Julianna Merendino: Criminal justice graduate at Empire State University
      • Empire State University President featured on EdUp Xcelerated Excellence Podcast
      • Empire State University honors Class of 2024 in Manhattan ceremony
      • A Dedication to Public Service: Rhon Glasgow’s Journey At Empire State University
      • “Sometimes later is greater:” Jawana Carter-Richardson’s Decade of “Mastery”
      • In the News: Dean of School of Labor Studies featured in Non Profit Quarterly
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Manhattan Commencement Platform Party
      • Empire State University graduate recognized at Best of SUNY Art Exhibition
      • Director of Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning featured on Higher Ed Podcast
      • NYC Corrections Captain Graduates While Continuing to Serve and Inspire
      • Students from Dominican Republic to graduate in Manhattan
      • Empire State University honors class of 2024 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Taking experience to heart: Ashley Simms’ SUNY Empire story
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Rochester Commencement Platform Party
      • Following in her footsteps: Mace bearer and alumna to lead the way as daughter crosses the stage
      • “You don’t need sight to take flight:” Turning adversity into opportunity at Empire State University
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Albany
      • Meet Melissa Massari: Firefighter, EMT, and graduate at Empire State University
    • April
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Albany Commencement Platform Party
      • In the News: Veteran and Military Resource Center featured on CBS6
      • Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub
      • Inaugural Empire State University student awarded Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Empire State University’s Neurodiversity Club expands with teen group
      • Ask5: Opening career paths and changing the conversation
      • SUNY Empire alumnus killed in weekend shooting near Syracuse
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hosts eclipse viewing and presentation
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda induction
      • Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students
      • Four Empire State University students receive Bluebird Award
      • Raising Hope: Supporting children with autism through Bluepath
    • March
      • In the News: Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship featured on News10 ABC
      • Empire State University hires Hitesh Rai Kathuria as provost
      • Four Empire State University students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award
      • Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving
      • SUNY Empire announces Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship
    • February
      • Empire State University Announces Day of Giving, GO HIGHER FOR EMPIRE, On MARCH 21
      • Empire State University Hosts 47th Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
      • Empire State University Launches Innovative Virtual Food Pantry
      • SUNY Empire’s Xiomara Giordano Named To National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education
      • SUNY touts Empire State University’s success in interview
    • January
      • Empire State University awards prestigious Richard Porter Leach fellowships
      • SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term
      • Bessie Walker celebrates 50 years at Empire State University
      • Long Island Business Institute to cease operations; SUNY Empire offers teach-out

SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025

September 30, 2025 by Catalina Irigoyen

SUNY Empire Spotlight Logo.

The latest news on research efforts, awards, grants, and media appearances from Empire State University faculty, staff, and leadership.    

CAARES staff (Director Noor Syed, Assistant Director Lauren Allen, Training Coordinator Aley O’Mara) appeared on Talk of the Town, Radio Catskill, CNY Central, WENY News, and NNY 360 to discuss recent conversations about autism in the news.

Mindy Kronenberg, visiting assistant professor, performed poetry at Bradstock XXXI, a two-day, multi-stage music and arts festival in Moriches, NY, on August 31. Festival proceeds were donated to local Long Island charitable organizations, including Camp-Pa-Qua-Tuck, a summer day camp for children with special needs. Kronenberg was also a featured reader at “Conversations on the Sacred,” a program celebrating poetry across several cultures hosted at All Souls Church in Stony Brook, NY, on September 6. On September 14, she will join writers from across the nation in reading from “What Unites Us” — an anthology examining US history and the persistence of the American spirit, at the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association. The event is held in honor of Constitution Day, and is a fundraiser for the WWPA.

Ian Reifowitz, SUNY distinguished professor, was featured in France24’s news coverage, “Trump wants to push the boundaries, expert says as Chicago troops deployment confirmed,” on September 2. On September 17, he appeared on Political Pulse in Rochester discussing the prosecution of hate speech. He also published a report with The Liberal Patriot on September 18. On September 24, he appeared on 13 WHAM ABC’s Political Pulse to discuss President Trump’s recent remarks on international conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. On September 30, he appeared at an author event for his book, “Riling Up the Base,” coauthored by Anastacia Kurylo.

Jason Russell, professor, has been appointed editor in chief of the Journal of Canadian Studies, published by the University of Toronto Press.

Diane Shichtman, associate professor of computer science and technology, was named to SUNY’s Inaugural Class of AI for the Public Good Fellows. This program will serve as a resource to SUNY campuses by providing targeted support to faculty and staff who are incorporating AI literacy into their courses.

Gayle Stever, professor, explained the psychology of parasocial relationships through the lens of Charlie Kirk in a Cronkite News article.

Noor Syed, assistant professor and director of CAARES, was a featured panelist at the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit from September 13-15. Her panel, “Beyond Accommodations: Inclusivity and Advocacy for Neurodivergent Students in Higher Education,” focused on how higher education institutions can foster inclusion and belonging for neurodivergent students.

Liv Thygesen, bilingual disability specialist and current Ed.D. student, has been accepted to the Student Veterans of America Leadership Institute in Washington D.C.

Nan Travers, director of the Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning, is the recipient of this year’s CAEL’s Morris T. Keeton award, which recognizes significant contributions to the field of adult and experiential learning.

Lisa Vollendorf, president of Empire State University, joined JP Novin, podcast host, on the Plexuss Presidential Podcast to discuss how the university serves as the innovation hub of the SUNY system. Topics included the institution’s growth, commitment to AI readiness, flexible online learning, and initiatives that reduce barriers for diverse student populations while preparing them for the evolving workforce.

  • 2026

    • September
      • Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
      • A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both
      • Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy
      • ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 
      • Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2026
    • August
      • Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 
      • How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy
      • Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month
      • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education
      • Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost
    • July
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2026
      • Scholars Across the University Look Back on 2025-2026 Term
      • Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
      • Empire State University Partners with Premier Medical Group 
    • June
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May/June 2026
      • Five-Minute Feature: Michele Lee, Program Aide 
      • Alexander Yin to Join Empire State University as Vice President for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tara Clark, Admissions Advisor 
      • Prepared for the Future: Meet Public Health Student Ritzy Kisel 
      • Empire State University Honors Trailblazing Journalist Melba Tolliver With Honorary Degree 
      • Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students 
      • Albany Commencement Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma on Dispelling Self-Doubt
    • May
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony 
      • Spring Graduate Joseph Caroselli Is Building a Career on His Own Terms
      • Empire State University and TAVS USA Launch Skilling Partnership for Veterans and First Responders 
      • Three Empire State University Employees Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Empire State University Graduates Second Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Celebrating Spring 2026 Dual-Degree Graduates and Partnership Renewal with UNAPEC
      • Roadmap to Success: Meet Spring 2026 Graduate and Employee Gabby Damis
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
      • Commencement Corner: Elahni Ocean, Spring 2026 Graduate 
      • Student Speaker Robyn Guzman: Sowing, Growing, and Flowing at Empire State University
      • Rochester Student Speaker Jakeith Mosley: “What I’m Building Isn’t Just for Me Anymore”
      • Meet Tatiana Spikes, ABA Program Graduate 
      • Commencement Corner: Mizuho Johnson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: LaRoy Nelson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Director of CAARES and Associate Professor Noor Syed Shares Her Personal Journey to Advocacy
      • A Deep Dive with Noor Syed, Director of CAARES and Associate Professor
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Commencement Corner: Stephen Bernhardt, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: Brittany Stansfield, Spring 2026 Graduate 
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2026
      • CAARES and SSPL Partner to Create Welcoming Spaces in Local Community
      • Behind the Scenes with SUNY Empire’s Online Library
      • A Passion for the Planet: John L. Turner ’85
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor
      • Four Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Human Resources
      • Mother Works 84 Hours a Week While Earning Degree (in Spanish): “At SUNY Empire, It’s Possible”
      • Five-Minute Feature: Aley O’Mara, Program Associate and Training Coordinator for CAARES
      • Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Empire State University 
      • CAARES Helps Launch New Training to Support Neurodivergent SUNY Students 
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kristina Papa, Academic Learning Coach and Opportunity Programs Academic Support Specialist
      • Empire State University Student and Professor Co-Publish Article 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Five-Minute Feature: Griffin Fuetsch, Office Assistant 2 for the Office of Opportunity Programs
    • March
      • Laughing Matters: Professor Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams on Funny Women Inciting Change
      • Empire State University Announces Partnership with National Institute of Public Safety 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams, Professor of English and Author
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2 for the Office of Communications 
      • Cindy Bradley’s Chihuahua Inspired Research That Could Change Treatment for Epileptic Dogs
      • Empire State University Alum Wins Norman R. McConney Jr. Award 
      • Empire State University Educator Spotlights Multilingual Learners in New Children’s Book
      • Empire State University Student Leads Dancing Club for Older Adults 
      • Ginger Alvarez’s “Suitcase Full of Dreams”
      • Empire State University Partners with AMAT Healthcare Institute to Support Healthcare Workforce Development 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cherrelle Hall, Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
    • February
      • Behind the Scenes with the B.S. in Biology
      • Five-Minute Feature: Derrick Siler, President of the Black Male Initiative
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • The Public Affairs Playlist: Meet Professor Nadine Wedderburn
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Nadine Wedderburn, Professor of Public Affairs and Policy
      • Dentist Goes Back to School to Learn the Business Side: Angélica Farfan on Finding the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Winnie Yu, Director of Communications for Advancement and Community Engagement
      • SUNY Chancellor King Visits Empire State University to Highlight SUNY Military Tuition Rate Program  
      • Two Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Building Bridges Grant
      • Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
      • Get to Know Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Dean of the College of Education
      • A Deep Dive With Doug Gruse, Chief Marketing Officer
      • Behind the Scenes with Special Events 
    • January
      • Chief Marketing Officer Doug Gruse Talks Creativity Culture
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2026
      • Vjosa Musliu ’08: Growing Up in War
      • Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
      • Behind the Scenes with the Center for International Education
      • New Associate Provost Is Dedicated to Student Success
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
      • Empire State University Joins FutureReadyNYC Healthcare Pathway Accelerator to Create New Career Pathways for NYC Students 
      • Get to Know Julie Gedro, Dean of the College of Business
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Rumpf, Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education
      • Spanish BBA: One Year In
      • Empire State University Prioritizes Student Health Through Partnership with TimelyCare 
      • Get to Know Gina Torino, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Five-Minute Feature: Laurie Stanley, Assessment Specialist for the Office of International Education
  • 2025

    • December
      • Emmy-Winning Journalist Earns Degree at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s Most Notable Moments of 2025 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Jeremy Qvick ’22, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff
      • How University Photographer Joe O’Dea’s Calling Came Into Focus
      • A Deep Dive with Joe O’Dea, University Photographer
      • Five-Minute Feature: Taylor Allen, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • SUNY Empire and SUNY Orange Receive High-Needs Nursing Grant
      • Creating Positive Change: Grad Student Earns Degree in Social and Public Policy 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: December 2025
      • Empire State University Community Commemorates Wreaths Across America 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Joanna Succi, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Lauren Gaskins ’18, ’22: A Grandmother’s Inspiration
      • Learn More About College of Health and Human Services Dean Carol DeNysschen
      • Five-Minute Feature: Darryl Dangerfield, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Empire State University Foundation Acquires Historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs 
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 Winter Graduates in Albany Ceremonies 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of the Registrar
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Johanna Correa-Berry, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Meet Empire State University’s Winter 2025 Student Commencement Speakers 
    • November
      • A Deep Dive with Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: November 2025
      • Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center Honors Student Veterans During Veteran and Military Families Month 
      • Empire State University to Offer Scholarship for Firefighters 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Anne Sweet, Associate Director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto
      • Empire State University Announces Bluebird Award Recipients 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tom Wiese, Assistant Professor of Analytics
      • Empire State University’s Basic Needs Program Supports Students During SNAP Benefit Shortage  
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Veterans Business Council Scholarships 
      • Adam Grinvalsky ’21: Honoring New York’s Capital Region Veterans
      • Leading the Way in AI Literacy: Associate Professor Diane Shichtman
      • Five-Minute Feature: Matt Quinn, Veteran and Military Resource Center Manager
      • Golden Opportunity: Meet Bilingual Communications Specialist Catalina Irigoyen
    • October
      • Behind the Scenes with Information Technology Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025
      • Building Blocks: Libby Tsibulsky Talks Health and Wellness at SUNY Empire 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kevin Bane, Lead Digital Media Specialist
      • Adjunct Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cortés Pérez Reflects on the Spanish BBA
      • Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Andrew Hurd: From the Field to the Classroom
      • A Deep Dive with Andrew Hurd, Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity
      • SUNY Empire Honors 4 Outstanding Alumni  
      • Empire State University’s April Simmons Launches Text Campaign, Workshops to Motivate Students
      • Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cathy Coffinger, Technical Support Coordinator
      • Some Streams Connect Us All: Meet Adjunct Professor for the Spanish BBA Cristian Salazar
      • Empire State University Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Panel Discussions
      • Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer
      • A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes
      • Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology
      • Behind the Scenes: Digital Accessibility at SUNY Empire 
      • Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 
      • SUNY Empire Expands Military Grant to Include Veteran Spouses, Leads SUNY System in Military Support 
      • SUNY Empire Announces 2025 Alumni Award Winners 
    • September
      • Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach
      • SUNY Empire Alumni Gather for Second Lectures on Tap Event
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 
      • Faculty Expertise: Assistant Professor Njoki Mwarumba Shares Insights on Disaster Preparedness 
      • SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs
      • Behind the Scenes with Empire Online
      • Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 
      • Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths
      • ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Daniel Fogarty, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
      • Mindy Kronenberg Talks Writing, Brooklyn, and Taking Risks
      • A Deep Dive with Mindy Kronenberg: Poet, Editor, and Professor
      • Meet Luis Camacho, Academic Coordinator of the New Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 
      • Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain
      • Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Monaghan, Assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources
    • August
      • Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Mateo Carrera, Graphic Designer
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025
      • Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 
      • Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 
      • “Practicing What We Preach”: Empire State University professor launches free social justice textbook
      • Andrea Piazza and Pam Doran Talk NeuroDiverse Collective Employee Affinity Group
      • Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language
      • Behind the Screen: Bilingual Multimedia Technologist Irene Oramas Sosa
      • Reason & Respect Unplugged: National Civility Month 
      • Eight Empire State University Students Receive Inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship 
    • July
      • National Intern Day: The Latest on Career Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
      • Empire State University Hosts Alumni Day at the Races
      • Travel as a Cultural Gateway: Meet Kendra Elie, Bilingual Financial Aid Advisor
      • University Communications: Your Guide to Existing Platforms and Recent Changes
      • Empire State University and Brentwood High School Launch Groundbreaking Spanish-Language Initiative for High School Students
      • Empire State University Honors International Students in Series of Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Outgoing Scholars Across the University Look Back on a Year of Community Engagement 
      • Bridging Culture: Bilingual Student Support with Armando Flores
      • Ann Marie Scheidegger to Join SUNY Empire as Vice President for Administration and Finance
      • Discipline and Dedication: Carlos Aleman on Bilingual Empowerment
      • Veterans Tuition Award Opens Up New Possibilities for Veteran Students 
      • ODEI Explores Universal Design in Honor of Disability Pride Month
      • Empire State University Launches New Colleges, Welcomes Deans
    • June
      • Tzvi Simchon ’24: Keeping History Alive on Film
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025
      • Empowering New York: Empire State University’s Bold Academic Expansion
      • Empire State University Set to Launch Nine New Academic Programs This Fall 
      • In Spanish, Online, and On Your Time: Ronnie Rivera’s Trajectory as Spanish BBA Specialist
      • Empire State University Student Wins Best of SUNY Art Award 
      • Associate Professor Jim Robinson Reflects on 50 Years at Empire State University
      • Support and Advocacy: How Employee Affinity Groups Enrich Our University Community
      • Introducing the 2025-2026 Scholars Across the University 
      • ODEI Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with Stories from Empire State University Community
      • Empire State University Student Named Director of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
      • Love of Language: Perla Zamitiz on Being a Linguist and the Spanish BBA
    • May
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony 
      • Nominate an Outstanding Empire State University Graduate for an Alumni Award
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025
      • President Vollendorf Named Trailblazer in Higher Education For Second Consecutive Year
      • Finding Balance: Brittany Leibenguth’s Path to Graduation at Empire State University
      • Charting a New Course: A Graduate Student Discovers His Niche in Higher Ed
      • Perspective Shift: One Graduate’s Journey Through the ABA Program
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Kasie Roach: Navy Veteran and Victim Advocate Graduates from Empire State University
      • Seizing Opportunities: An Addiction Studies Grad Brings Her Skills to State Government
      • Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program
      • Clinic and Classroom: Meet Libby Miranda, ABA Program Graduate
      • ODEI Celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day with New Reason & Respect Format
      • Where Care and Career Intersect: Sara Luna’s Journey at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s New VP of HR Works to Uplift Employees
      • Five Empire State University Employees Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
      • Kamelyn Báez Peña on Empire State University’s Dual Degree Program and Keeping Your Culture Close
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Albany Ceremony 
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact
      • “New Inspiration”: A Transfer Student Finds Her Footing at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Graduates its First Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Committed to Care: Khavel Smith-Martin’s Journey in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
      • Alka Merlin ’08: Helping Others Find Their Way After Finding Her Own
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025
      • Empire’s Zeeva Bukai Explores Identity, Displacement, and Compassion in Debut Novel
      • Meet Zachary Madding, Empire’s New Capital Program and Sustainability Manager 
      • Meet Empire State University’s Inaugural AI Fellows 
      • Office for Advancement Hosts Earth Day Walk
      • Building Relationships: A Look at CAARES’ Peer2Peer Student Connection Program 
      • Empire State University Dual Degree Program Hosts Residency in the Dominican Republic
      • Breaking Language Barriers with Machine Translation at Empire State University
      • Phylisha Villanueva ’23: A Poet With Purpose
      • Empire’s Textbook Affordability Initiative Boosts Student Success
      • Empire’s Civil and Revolutionary War Residencies Bring History to Life 
      • Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning
      • CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community 
      • Four Empire State University Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Liv Thygesen on Equitable Education at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Named a School of National Service
      • Alumni Demonstrate SUNY Empire Pride at Annual Meeting
      • SUNY Empire Alumna Raises Awareness of Huntington’s Disease
    • March
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025
      • Professor Emeritus Dorothy Burnham Celebrates 110th Birthday
      • Claire Ziamandanis on Loving Linguistics and Empire State University’s Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University Student Wins 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 
      • VMRC Intern Stephen Szczurko-Walton Creates Community for Military-Affiliated Students
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda
      • ODEI Launches Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program
      • Paul Muccigrosso ’12: A Lifetime of Helping Veterans
      • International Women’s Day Event Celebrates Empire’s Zülal Balpinar
      • Meaningful Marketing: Get To Know Empire State University’s Brenda Manra
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Receives Women of Excellence Award 
      • Raul Manzano Honored at College of the Sequoias Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • A Deep Dive with Raul Manzano: Featured Artist Honored at Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • Empire State University’s Associate Degree Initiative Uplifts Student Goals
    • February
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025
      • Gedro Receives R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award 
      • President Vollendorf Named to Board of Directors for Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
      • Culture and Community: Meet Bilingual IT Specialist Lyanne Garcia-Boswell
      • ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse
      • SUNY Empire Partners with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to Empower Emerging Managers and Leaders 
      • María Vega on Language as a Launchpad for Connection
      • OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access
    • January
      • Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement
      • Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs Named College of Education Dean 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025
      • Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 
      • 1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion
      • Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  
      • Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 
      • Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University
      • Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 
      • Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  
      • Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish
  • 2024

    • December
      • Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review
      • Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights
      • SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America
      • Center for International Education Hosts Residency for Students in Turkey and Lebanon
      • Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing Completes Pilot of Management and Leadership Training Program
      • Empire State University starts NeuroDiverse Collective support group  
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2024 in Winter Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Michele Paterson explores a career of helping others through applied behavior analysis program
      • SUNY Empire graduate works as disability advocate and volunteer
      • Meet Htein Naing: Graduate Balancing Space Force Service, Studies, and Family 
      • SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students
      • SUNY Empire grad combines education with work experience to make most of degree
      • Empire State University graduate finds new purpose in military service  
      • Side by Side to Success: Twin sisters achieve bachelor’s degrees at 19 
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction 
      • Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  
      • Empire State University launches new merch site  
      • Empowering Future Educators: Teacher Opportunity Corps Strengthens Pathways for Teacher Recruitment  
    • November
      • Vollendorf Named to Presidents Forum Governing Board
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Nov. 2024
      • Meet Lorraine Williams: Empire State University’s 100,000th alum  
      • Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni 
      • SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center marks one year at SUNY Empire 
      • Panel highlights international connection through virtual programming  
      • Graduate Student published in Confluence for hiking research 
      • SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs see largest enrollment on record 
      • SUNY Empire student premiered docuseries on breast cancer and healthcare inequity  
      • Empire State University Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Veterans Tuition Awards Program
      • 76-year-old student embraces military and veteran opportunity program to earn degree
      • Empire State University welcomes students at Fall Student Conference  
      • Ed.D. student invited to White House, highlighting National Partnership for Student Success  
      • Empire State University honors heroes in Veteran’s Month event 
    • October
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024
      • President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast
      • Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  
      • SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  
      • Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  
      • Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 
      • Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 
      • Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 
      • Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  
      • President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum
      • Regalia provided to students through Student Activity Fund  
      • Fall Academic Conference focuses on artificial intelligence in education 
      • Labor Professor named external faculty associate of Global Labor Research Center
      • Second Blue Mascot available to SUNY Empire Community
      • AI Awareness Week brings artificial intelligence to forefront of higher education
      • President Lisa Vollendorf featured on Look Media This Week
      • Associate Professor publishes book on Indigenous dispossession in US history
      • Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 
      • Empire State University to host talk with Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
    • September
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Sept. 2024
      • Professor, students team up for study on Cameo and fan-celebrity relationships
      • Blue Bird Award nominations now open
      • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado speaks to university community ahead of election 
      • School of Nursing Dean to deliver keynote speech for New York Community College Trustees Conference
      • Empire State University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Professor Tom Mackey to keynote XI Simposio Internacional
      • Chief Diversity Officer named to board of National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
      • 88-year-old student embraces love for filmmaking in pursuit of college degree
      • Charles Biasiny-Riviera ’90: Remembering a Photographer Who Documented Latino Life
      • Alumnus, adjunct professor’s academic journey puts justice, equity, and inclusion at the forefront
      • President Vollendorf featured on Presidents Forum
      • Assistant Professor to partner with Strong Museum for Dungeons & Dragons exhibit opening
      • CAARES holds Neurodivergent in College series
      • Assistant Professor teaches AI risks, scam awareness to Malta seniors
      • SUNY Empire Dean offers insight in new book with “Vanderpump Rules” star
      • SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018
      • Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon
      • Empire State University’s Center for International Education awarded grant for DEI Education in Lebanon
      • Labor Professor publishes new book on U.S. labor and foreign policy
    • August
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Aug. 2024
      • Professor featured in Billboard, discusses fan-artist relationships
      • An Era of Service and Scholarship: Alan Mandell retires after 50-year career at SUNY Empire
      • SUNY Empire President highlights university’s bright future in State of the University
      • SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
      • Melissa Wells featured in The Academic Minute
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
      • Edwin Lee Gibson ’12: Finding fame on “The Bear”
      • Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange
      • Assistant Professor of addiction studies featured on Academic Minute
      • Charles Infurna named Empire State University’s 2024-25 PRODiG+ Fellow
      • Educational Studies Department Chair awarded SUNY/New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development Grant
      • “Fandoms in the Classroom:” Transforming education through student interests
      • Professor publishes book on immigrants and refugees in German universities
      • Herbert Covington Co-Authors Study Unveiling the Epigenetic Impact of Stress on Antidepressant Response
    • July
      • Empire State University recognized by SUNY for promoting student success
      • 15-year-old SUNY Empire student aims to shape education for next generation
      • Textbooks for Students Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
      • Ed.D. student researches what contributes to Latinx student experience
      • School of Business professor honored with award from International Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce U.S.
      • SUNY Empire mourns alumnus who founded feminist arts school
      • Meet the 2024-2025 Scholars Across the University
      • Empire State University students graduate from international programs
      • Maureen Kroning named interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health
      • Empire State University launches new SUNY Empire News website
      • SUNY Empire’s innovative nursing partnership featured on News10 ABC, Hudson Valley Press
      • 2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research
      • Empire State University launches 2+2 Nursing Program with Rockland Community College
      • Empire State University to host 9th annual Learning with Innovative Technology Conference
      • Labor professor interviewed on Business Insider
      • Empire State University closes Hartsdale location, moves to Westchester Community College
      • Unlocking history: Inside the Empire State University archives
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Prague
      • Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in higher education
    • June
      • Breaking the mold: Meet SUNY Empire’s 77-year-old graduate
      • Assistant Professor receives National Science Foundation award for SUNY Empire-led research initiative
      • President Lisa Vollendorf recognized by City & State, named Trailblazer in Higher Education 
      • Empire State University’s annual Juneteenth event is a success
      • School of Human Services holds DEIBSJ retreat in Albany
      • In the News: Labor professor interviewed on Marketplace about university strikes
      • Unions support Communities Across New York through Empire State University
      • Professor’s research sheds light on missing LGBTQ+ people across Europe
      • Empire State University students graduate at Fort Drum
      • Nursing professor to be published in Nursing Research
    • May
      • Behind the ink: Inside the Empire State University print shop
      • Empire State University announces SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients
      • First cohort of Applied Behavior Analysis program graduates
      • Meet Julianna Merendino: Criminal justice graduate at Empire State University
      • Empire State University President featured on EdUp Xcelerated Excellence Podcast
      • Empire State University honors Class of 2024 in Manhattan ceremony
      • A Dedication to Public Service: Rhon Glasgow’s Journey At Empire State University
      • “Sometimes later is greater:” Jawana Carter-Richardson’s Decade of “Mastery”
      • In the News: Dean of School of Labor Studies featured in Non Profit Quarterly
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Manhattan Commencement Platform Party
      • Empire State University graduate recognized at Best of SUNY Art Exhibition
      • Director of Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning featured on Higher Ed Podcast
      • NYC Corrections Captain Graduates While Continuing to Serve and Inspire
      • Students from Dominican Republic to graduate in Manhattan
      • Empire State University honors class of 2024 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Taking experience to heart: Ashley Simms’ SUNY Empire story
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Rochester Commencement Platform Party
      • Following in her footsteps: Mace bearer and alumna to lead the way as daughter crosses the stage
      • “You don’t need sight to take flight:” Turning adversity into opportunity at Empire State University
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Albany
      • Meet Melissa Massari: Firefighter, EMT, and graduate at Empire State University
    • April
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Albany Commencement Platform Party
      • In the News: Veteran and Military Resource Center featured on CBS6
      • Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub
      • Inaugural Empire State University student awarded Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Empire State University’s Neurodiversity Club expands with teen group
      • Ask5: Opening career paths and changing the conversation
      • SUNY Empire alumnus killed in weekend shooting near Syracuse
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hosts eclipse viewing and presentation
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda induction
      • Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students
      • Four Empire State University students receive Bluebird Award
      • Raising Hope: Supporting children with autism through Bluepath
    • March
      • In the News: Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship featured on News10 ABC
      • Empire State University hires Hitesh Rai Kathuria as provost
      • Four Empire State University students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award
      • Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving
      • SUNY Empire announces Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship
    • February
      • Empire State University Announces Day of Giving, GO HIGHER FOR EMPIRE, On MARCH 21
      • Empire State University Hosts 47th Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
      • Empire State University Launches Innovative Virtual Food Pantry
      • SUNY Empire’s Xiomara Giordano Named To National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education
      • SUNY touts Empire State University’s success in interview
    • January
      • Empire State University awards prestigious Richard Porter Leach fellowships
      • SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term
      • Bessie Walker celebrates 50 years at Empire State University
      • Long Island Business Institute to cease operations; SUNY Empire offers teach-out

Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach

September 29, 2025 by Catalina Irigoyen

Collage of three women smiling in professional headshots. The top row shows two women side by side, and the bottom row shows one woman centered. In the lower-right corner, a graphic reads ‘Behind the Scenes.’ A blue background with a white torch emblem appears on the left.

Learn more about the Office of Student Support and Outreach, the impact of their care on student lives, and how their work sustains the student life cycle at the university.

Qu’ran Bell, director of Student Support and Outreach, Maria Vega, bilingual student success coordinator, and Taia Younis, student success coordinator, shed light on the inner workings of the office. Bell ’21, ’22, a two-time alumna of Empire State University, has been with the office for approximately four years; Vega joined the team a year and a half ago, and Younis slightly over two years ago.

How would you define what your office does for the university?

Bell: I always describe us as a student’s person. We take a holistic approach to working with students and their mentors to get them to graduation. We offer generalized support and non-academic help for all undergraduate students.

Younis: I think of us as filling in gaps for a student, whether it’s information they don’t have or a resource they don’t know exists. It depends on what the student needs, but we’re meeting them where they are, figuring out what their barriers are, and giving them resources and support so they can get past those and continue to be successful academically.

Vega: What I tell my students is that we are their personal navigators of the different systems and resources within the university, navigating processes or policy for the student, explaining it to them, and facilitating those conversations or that process.

What does a workday look like for you?

Younis: My day always starts with an assessment of where I’m at and what is on my plate. I’m a paper person, so every day, this list gets made and it includes my schedule, the students I have to connect with, and any other to-do items.

Because we are a team that is very involved with other things around the university, we get pulled into a lot of internal and external meetings. In between those … we’re mostly responding to student needs and concerns. If they have something that’s complex, we encourage them to meet by phone or virtually so we can have more of a robust discussion about it. We communicate all day long.

Vega: We’re also in a number of committees or task forces, have staff meetings, and sometimes, as colleagues in our team, if we have a complex case we’ll jump on a call and walk through how we can resolve that particular issue, or we have case resolution meetings. If a student has a grade appeal, grievance, or mentor reassignment, those cases come to us, and we facilitate the process by presenting it to the deans and department chairs.

Qu’ran and I were part of a National Student Parent Month event series that we do with the Office of Student Engagement and the Student Parent Collective affinity group. Taia and I are in another group, “Operations Pod,” which is collaborative and internal to our department—so there are all these other meetings to arrange among the other conversations and meetings we’re having with students.

Bell: It’s really just collaborating. This office, the coordinators, collaborate probably with more offices and divisions than any other department here. With faculty, and with other departments—we’re always doing engagement activities. A lot of our work overlaps with what others in the institution are doing.

Even the case resolutions that Maria talks about, it’s a way for us to work one-on-one with deans and department chairs to really help students. On the outside, it looks like tons of meetings, calls, but it is an effort to work collaboratively with other people within this institution to help students.

Vega: We also do programming. We have workshops every week—whether it’s during lunch hour or in the evening—on different topics. We have a first-term community group tailored to provide information for students who are coming in.

What is something you wish people knew about the work that you do?

Bell: As someone who leads the team, I wish people knew about what [the coordinators] do in general. This is a new position to the institution—when I started, it was a very new position—there were four coordinators at the time. We have expanded to 13, which is a testament to how much enrollment has grown in this university, and how much it is starting to see the need for student support teams. The [student success] coordinators are probably the most steady person that the student works with from the time they enter the institution to the time they graduate.

Younis: That we are ambassadors. And yes, we help students, but we help our staff and our faculty in taking care of students’ needs that would be on their plate if we didn’t step in. We’re doing that front line work, which is saving them a tremendous amount of time doing all of that communicating that students would do directly with them if they did not have this liaison to field that.

We have a strong impact on retention because students have somebody that cares, and half the time, that’s really all they need to know—that someone cares, that there is someone available if they need them.

What is an obstacle that you often coach students through?

Bell: Time management. That is the biggest thing. They are students with competing priorities—how do you make school work when you’re working? Or you’re a parent, a caregiver…

Vega: Asking for help. When [students] do end up asking for help, it’s really late sometimes, and then you’re trying to retroactively solve the problem. If a student asks to meet with me, we’ll discuss ‘what are some of your competing priorities right now?’ Those are factors that we cannot remove, so let’s find pockets within the time that you do have that we can turn into small wins. We are constantly adapting to the students that we’re serving, and no one approach fits all.

Younis: Sometimes students come into online [learning] thinking they are going to be able to complete it faster because it’s flexible, and they might have to adjust their goals and timeline. In online education, you have to create your own structure … a lot of the students who are successful are setting themselves up for success by building an academic routine that will get them through.

What is a valuable resource that you wish more students knew of?

Younis: We have a really robust, generous academic support service for students. They can work one-on-one with a learning coach once or twice a week at no additional cost. That, and not just our library, but our librarian staff. These are the people that are going to teach students who have never done online education how to be an online student, how to do research online.

Vega: Basic Needs is a group within our division that provides personal resources. If a student is struggling financially, we have some emergency grants that they manage. They are connected with different community resources. They are the ones who coordinate the Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative, and we also have a virtual pantry that they coordinate. They do more of that social work piece.

Bell: This group. Student Success coordinators are a hidden resource within the institution. You can find every single resource we been mentioning.

What is the most fulfilling part of your work?

Bell: I am proud of every one of the 13 coordinators that we have and the work that they do with students. It’s amazing to see the growth of this department—and that is from being a coordinator [myself] all the way up to leading the department.

I will, without hesitation, say that those [retention] numbers that continue to increase, this team has a big part in that. They are literally getting students across the finish line, and that is something to be proud of. We have great faculty and wonderful programs—I am a proud product of this institution. But the work that each of the coordinators does is so vital to the student lifecycle.

Younis: For me, it’s interactions with students. It’s that moment where a student says, ‘I feel so much better now.’

Vega: When that lightbulb goes off and it’s like ‘Oh, now I get it,’ or ‘I see what you mean, thank you for explaining that to me,’ we were able to make an impact for that one student. The other big piece, which is kind of what we all want to see our students do, is graduation.

I went to my first commencement this year … all the staff and faculty were on the sidelines, students were processing in between, and we were all clapping and cheering them along. It’s a good feeling that you played a role in that student getting there. It really does make the work worthwhile.

  • 2026

    • September
      • Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
      • A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both
      • Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy
      • ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 
      • Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2026
    • August
      • Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 
      • How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy
      • Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month
      • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education
      • Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost
    • July
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2026
      • Scholars Across the University Look Back on 2025-2026 Term
      • Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
      • Empire State University Partners with Premier Medical Group 
    • June
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May/June 2026
      • Five-Minute Feature: Michele Lee, Program Aide 
      • Alexander Yin to Join Empire State University as Vice President for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tara Clark, Admissions Advisor 
      • Prepared for the Future: Meet Public Health Student Ritzy Kisel 
      • Empire State University Honors Trailblazing Journalist Melba Tolliver With Honorary Degree 
      • Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students 
      • Albany Commencement Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma on Dispelling Self-Doubt
    • May
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony 
      • Spring Graduate Joseph Caroselli Is Building a Career on His Own Terms
      • Empire State University and TAVS USA Launch Skilling Partnership for Veterans and First Responders 
      • Three Empire State University Employees Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Empire State University Graduates Second Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Celebrating Spring 2026 Dual-Degree Graduates and Partnership Renewal with UNAPEC
      • Roadmap to Success: Meet Spring 2026 Graduate and Employee Gabby Damis
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
      • Commencement Corner: Elahni Ocean, Spring 2026 Graduate 
      • Student Speaker Robyn Guzman: Sowing, Growing, and Flowing at Empire State University
      • Rochester Student Speaker Jakeith Mosley: “What I’m Building Isn’t Just for Me Anymore”
      • Meet Tatiana Spikes, ABA Program Graduate 
      • Commencement Corner: Mizuho Johnson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: LaRoy Nelson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Director of CAARES and Associate Professor Noor Syed Shares Her Personal Journey to Advocacy
      • A Deep Dive with Noor Syed, Director of CAARES and Associate Professor
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Commencement Corner: Stephen Bernhardt, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: Brittany Stansfield, Spring 2026 Graduate 
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2026
      • CAARES and SSPL Partner to Create Welcoming Spaces in Local Community
      • Behind the Scenes with SUNY Empire’s Online Library
      • A Passion for the Planet: John L. Turner ’85
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor
      • Four Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Human Resources
      • Mother Works 84 Hours a Week While Earning Degree (in Spanish): “At SUNY Empire, It’s Possible”
      • Five-Minute Feature: Aley O’Mara, Program Associate and Training Coordinator for CAARES
      • Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Empire State University 
      • CAARES Helps Launch New Training to Support Neurodivergent SUNY Students 
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kristina Papa, Academic Learning Coach and Opportunity Programs Academic Support Specialist
      • Empire State University Student and Professor Co-Publish Article 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Five-Minute Feature: Griffin Fuetsch, Office Assistant 2 for the Office of Opportunity Programs
    • March
      • Laughing Matters: Professor Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams on Funny Women Inciting Change
      • Empire State University Announces Partnership with National Institute of Public Safety 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams, Professor of English and Author
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2 for the Office of Communications 
      • Cindy Bradley’s Chihuahua Inspired Research That Could Change Treatment for Epileptic Dogs
      • Empire State University Alum Wins Norman R. McConney Jr. Award 
      • Empire State University Educator Spotlights Multilingual Learners in New Children’s Book
      • Empire State University Student Leads Dancing Club for Older Adults 
      • Ginger Alvarez’s “Suitcase Full of Dreams”
      • Empire State University Partners with AMAT Healthcare Institute to Support Healthcare Workforce Development 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cherrelle Hall, Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
    • February
      • Behind the Scenes with the B.S. in Biology
      • Five-Minute Feature: Derrick Siler, President of the Black Male Initiative
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • The Public Affairs Playlist: Meet Professor Nadine Wedderburn
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Nadine Wedderburn, Professor of Public Affairs and Policy
      • Dentist Goes Back to School to Learn the Business Side: Angélica Farfan on Finding the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Winnie Yu, Director of Communications for Advancement and Community Engagement
      • SUNY Chancellor King Visits Empire State University to Highlight SUNY Military Tuition Rate Program  
      • Two Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Building Bridges Grant
      • Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
      • Get to Know Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Dean of the College of Education
      • A Deep Dive With Doug Gruse, Chief Marketing Officer
      • Behind the Scenes with Special Events 
    • January
      • Chief Marketing Officer Doug Gruse Talks Creativity Culture
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2026
      • Vjosa Musliu ’08: Growing Up in War
      • Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
      • Behind the Scenes with the Center for International Education
      • New Associate Provost Is Dedicated to Student Success
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
      • Empire State University Joins FutureReadyNYC Healthcare Pathway Accelerator to Create New Career Pathways for NYC Students 
      • Get to Know Julie Gedro, Dean of the College of Business
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Rumpf, Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education
      • Spanish BBA: One Year In
      • Empire State University Prioritizes Student Health Through Partnership with TimelyCare 
      • Get to Know Gina Torino, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Five-Minute Feature: Laurie Stanley, Assessment Specialist for the Office of International Education
  • 2025

    • December
      • Emmy-Winning Journalist Earns Degree at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s Most Notable Moments of 2025 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Jeremy Qvick ’22, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff
      • How University Photographer Joe O’Dea’s Calling Came Into Focus
      • A Deep Dive with Joe O’Dea, University Photographer
      • Five-Minute Feature: Taylor Allen, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • SUNY Empire and SUNY Orange Receive High-Needs Nursing Grant
      • Creating Positive Change: Grad Student Earns Degree in Social and Public Policy 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: December 2025
      • Empire State University Community Commemorates Wreaths Across America 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Joanna Succi, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Lauren Gaskins ’18, ’22: A Grandmother’s Inspiration
      • Learn More About College of Health and Human Services Dean Carol DeNysschen
      • Five-Minute Feature: Darryl Dangerfield, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Empire State University Foundation Acquires Historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs 
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 Winter Graduates in Albany Ceremonies 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of the Registrar
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Johanna Correa-Berry, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Meet Empire State University’s Winter 2025 Student Commencement Speakers 
    • November
      • A Deep Dive with Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: November 2025
      • Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center Honors Student Veterans During Veteran and Military Families Month 
      • Empire State University to Offer Scholarship for Firefighters 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Anne Sweet, Associate Director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto
      • Empire State University Announces Bluebird Award Recipients 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tom Wiese, Assistant Professor of Analytics
      • Empire State University’s Basic Needs Program Supports Students During SNAP Benefit Shortage  
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Veterans Business Council Scholarships 
      • Adam Grinvalsky ’21: Honoring New York’s Capital Region Veterans
      • Leading the Way in AI Literacy: Associate Professor Diane Shichtman
      • Five-Minute Feature: Matt Quinn, Veteran and Military Resource Center Manager
      • Golden Opportunity: Meet Bilingual Communications Specialist Catalina Irigoyen
    • October
      • Behind the Scenes with Information Technology Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025
      • Building Blocks: Libby Tsibulsky Talks Health and Wellness at SUNY Empire 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kevin Bane, Lead Digital Media Specialist
      • Adjunct Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cortés Pérez Reflects on the Spanish BBA
      • Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Andrew Hurd: From the Field to the Classroom
      • A Deep Dive with Andrew Hurd, Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity
      • SUNY Empire Honors 4 Outstanding Alumni  
      • Empire State University’s April Simmons Launches Text Campaign, Workshops to Motivate Students
      • Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cathy Coffinger, Technical Support Coordinator
      • Some Streams Connect Us All: Meet Adjunct Professor for the Spanish BBA Cristian Salazar
      • Empire State University Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Panel Discussions
      • Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer
      • A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes
      • Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology
      • Behind the Scenes: Digital Accessibility at SUNY Empire 
      • Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 
      • SUNY Empire Expands Military Grant to Include Veteran Spouses, Leads SUNY System in Military Support 
      • SUNY Empire Announces 2025 Alumni Award Winners 
    • September
      • Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach
      • SUNY Empire Alumni Gather for Second Lectures on Tap Event
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 
      • Faculty Expertise: Assistant Professor Njoki Mwarumba Shares Insights on Disaster Preparedness 
      • SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs
      • Behind the Scenes with Empire Online
      • Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 
      • Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths
      • ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Daniel Fogarty, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
      • Mindy Kronenberg Talks Writing, Brooklyn, and Taking Risks
      • A Deep Dive with Mindy Kronenberg: Poet, Editor, and Professor
      • Meet Luis Camacho, Academic Coordinator of the New Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 
      • Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain
      • Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Monaghan, Assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources
    • August
      • Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Mateo Carrera, Graphic Designer
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025
      • Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 
      • Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 
      • “Practicing What We Preach”: Empire State University professor launches free social justice textbook
      • Andrea Piazza and Pam Doran Talk NeuroDiverse Collective Employee Affinity Group
      • Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language
      • Behind the Screen: Bilingual Multimedia Technologist Irene Oramas Sosa
      • Reason & Respect Unplugged: National Civility Month 
      • Eight Empire State University Students Receive Inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship 
    • July
      • National Intern Day: The Latest on Career Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
      • Empire State University Hosts Alumni Day at the Races
      • Travel as a Cultural Gateway: Meet Kendra Elie, Bilingual Financial Aid Advisor
      • University Communications: Your Guide to Existing Platforms and Recent Changes
      • Empire State University and Brentwood High School Launch Groundbreaking Spanish-Language Initiative for High School Students
      • Empire State University Honors International Students in Series of Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Outgoing Scholars Across the University Look Back on a Year of Community Engagement 
      • Bridging Culture: Bilingual Student Support with Armando Flores
      • Ann Marie Scheidegger to Join SUNY Empire as Vice President for Administration and Finance
      • Discipline and Dedication: Carlos Aleman on Bilingual Empowerment
      • Veterans Tuition Award Opens Up New Possibilities for Veteran Students 
      • ODEI Explores Universal Design in Honor of Disability Pride Month
      • Empire State University Launches New Colleges, Welcomes Deans
    • June
      • Tzvi Simchon ’24: Keeping History Alive on Film
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025
      • Empowering New York: Empire State University’s Bold Academic Expansion
      • Empire State University Set to Launch Nine New Academic Programs This Fall 
      • In Spanish, Online, and On Your Time: Ronnie Rivera’s Trajectory as Spanish BBA Specialist
      • Empire State University Student Wins Best of SUNY Art Award 
      • Associate Professor Jim Robinson Reflects on 50 Years at Empire State University
      • Support and Advocacy: How Employee Affinity Groups Enrich Our University Community
      • Introducing the 2025-2026 Scholars Across the University 
      • ODEI Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with Stories from Empire State University Community
      • Empire State University Student Named Director of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
      • Love of Language: Perla Zamitiz on Being a Linguist and the Spanish BBA
    • May
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony 
      • Nominate an Outstanding Empire State University Graduate for an Alumni Award
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025
      • President Vollendorf Named Trailblazer in Higher Education For Second Consecutive Year
      • Finding Balance: Brittany Leibenguth’s Path to Graduation at Empire State University
      • Charting a New Course: A Graduate Student Discovers His Niche in Higher Ed
      • Perspective Shift: One Graduate’s Journey Through the ABA Program
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Kasie Roach: Navy Veteran and Victim Advocate Graduates from Empire State University
      • Seizing Opportunities: An Addiction Studies Grad Brings Her Skills to State Government
      • Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program
      • Clinic and Classroom: Meet Libby Miranda, ABA Program Graduate
      • ODEI Celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day with New Reason & Respect Format
      • Where Care and Career Intersect: Sara Luna’s Journey at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s New VP of HR Works to Uplift Employees
      • Five Empire State University Employees Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
      • Kamelyn Báez Peña on Empire State University’s Dual Degree Program and Keeping Your Culture Close
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Albany Ceremony 
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact
      • “New Inspiration”: A Transfer Student Finds Her Footing at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Graduates its First Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Committed to Care: Khavel Smith-Martin’s Journey in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
      • Alka Merlin ’08: Helping Others Find Their Way After Finding Her Own
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025
      • Empire’s Zeeva Bukai Explores Identity, Displacement, and Compassion in Debut Novel
      • Meet Zachary Madding, Empire’s New Capital Program and Sustainability Manager 
      • Meet Empire State University’s Inaugural AI Fellows 
      • Office for Advancement Hosts Earth Day Walk
      • Building Relationships: A Look at CAARES’ Peer2Peer Student Connection Program 
      • Empire State University Dual Degree Program Hosts Residency in the Dominican Republic
      • Breaking Language Barriers with Machine Translation at Empire State University
      • Phylisha Villanueva ’23: A Poet With Purpose
      • Empire’s Textbook Affordability Initiative Boosts Student Success
      • Empire’s Civil and Revolutionary War Residencies Bring History to Life 
      • Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning
      • CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community 
      • Four Empire State University Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Liv Thygesen on Equitable Education at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Named a School of National Service
      • Alumni Demonstrate SUNY Empire Pride at Annual Meeting
      • SUNY Empire Alumna Raises Awareness of Huntington’s Disease
    • March
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025
      • Professor Emeritus Dorothy Burnham Celebrates 110th Birthday
      • Claire Ziamandanis on Loving Linguistics and Empire State University’s Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University Student Wins 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 
      • VMRC Intern Stephen Szczurko-Walton Creates Community for Military-Affiliated Students
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda
      • ODEI Launches Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program
      • Paul Muccigrosso ’12: A Lifetime of Helping Veterans
      • International Women’s Day Event Celebrates Empire’s Zülal Balpinar
      • Meaningful Marketing: Get To Know Empire State University’s Brenda Manra
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Receives Women of Excellence Award 
      • Raul Manzano Honored at College of the Sequoias Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • A Deep Dive with Raul Manzano: Featured Artist Honored at Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • Empire State University’s Associate Degree Initiative Uplifts Student Goals
    • February
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025
      • Gedro Receives R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award 
      • President Vollendorf Named to Board of Directors for Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
      • Culture and Community: Meet Bilingual IT Specialist Lyanne Garcia-Boswell
      • ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse
      • SUNY Empire Partners with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to Empower Emerging Managers and Leaders 
      • María Vega on Language as a Launchpad for Connection
      • OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access
    • January
      • Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement
      • Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs Named College of Education Dean 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025
      • Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 
      • 1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion
      • Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  
      • Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 
      • Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University
      • Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 
      • Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  
      • Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish
  • 2024

    • December
      • Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review
      • Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights
      • SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America
      • Center for International Education Hosts Residency for Students in Turkey and Lebanon
      • Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing Completes Pilot of Management and Leadership Training Program
      • Empire State University starts NeuroDiverse Collective support group  
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2024 in Winter Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Michele Paterson explores a career of helping others through applied behavior analysis program
      • SUNY Empire graduate works as disability advocate and volunteer
      • Meet Htein Naing: Graduate Balancing Space Force Service, Studies, and Family 
      • SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students
      • SUNY Empire grad combines education with work experience to make most of degree
      • Empire State University graduate finds new purpose in military service  
      • Side by Side to Success: Twin sisters achieve bachelor’s degrees at 19 
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction 
      • Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  
      • Empire State University launches new merch site  
      • Empowering Future Educators: Teacher Opportunity Corps Strengthens Pathways for Teacher Recruitment  
    • November
      • Vollendorf Named to Presidents Forum Governing Board
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Nov. 2024
      • Meet Lorraine Williams: Empire State University’s 100,000th alum  
      • Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni 
      • SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center marks one year at SUNY Empire 
      • Panel highlights international connection through virtual programming  
      • Graduate Student published in Confluence for hiking research 
      • SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs see largest enrollment on record 
      • SUNY Empire student premiered docuseries on breast cancer and healthcare inequity  
      • Empire State University Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Veterans Tuition Awards Program
      • 76-year-old student embraces military and veteran opportunity program to earn degree
      • Empire State University welcomes students at Fall Student Conference  
      • Ed.D. student invited to White House, highlighting National Partnership for Student Success  
      • Empire State University honors heroes in Veteran’s Month event 
    • October
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024
      • President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast
      • Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  
      • SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  
      • Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  
      • Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 
      • Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 
      • Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 
      • Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  
      • President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum
      • Regalia provided to students through Student Activity Fund  
      • Fall Academic Conference focuses on artificial intelligence in education 
      • Labor Professor named external faculty associate of Global Labor Research Center
      • Second Blue Mascot available to SUNY Empire Community
      • AI Awareness Week brings artificial intelligence to forefront of higher education
      • President Lisa Vollendorf featured on Look Media This Week
      • Associate Professor publishes book on Indigenous dispossession in US history
      • Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 
      • Empire State University to host talk with Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
    • September
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Sept. 2024
      • Professor, students team up for study on Cameo and fan-celebrity relationships
      • Blue Bird Award nominations now open
      • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado speaks to university community ahead of election 
      • School of Nursing Dean to deliver keynote speech for New York Community College Trustees Conference
      • Empire State University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Professor Tom Mackey to keynote XI Simposio Internacional
      • Chief Diversity Officer named to board of National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
      • 88-year-old student embraces love for filmmaking in pursuit of college degree
      • Charles Biasiny-Riviera ’90: Remembering a Photographer Who Documented Latino Life
      • Alumnus, adjunct professor’s academic journey puts justice, equity, and inclusion at the forefront
      • President Vollendorf featured on Presidents Forum
      • Assistant Professor to partner with Strong Museum for Dungeons & Dragons exhibit opening
      • CAARES holds Neurodivergent in College series
      • Assistant Professor teaches AI risks, scam awareness to Malta seniors
      • SUNY Empire Dean offers insight in new book with “Vanderpump Rules” star
      • SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018
      • Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon
      • Empire State University’s Center for International Education awarded grant for DEI Education in Lebanon
      • Labor Professor publishes new book on U.S. labor and foreign policy
    • August
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Aug. 2024
      • Professor featured in Billboard, discusses fan-artist relationships
      • An Era of Service and Scholarship: Alan Mandell retires after 50-year career at SUNY Empire
      • SUNY Empire President highlights university’s bright future in State of the University
      • SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
      • Melissa Wells featured in The Academic Minute
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
      • Edwin Lee Gibson ’12: Finding fame on “The Bear”
      • Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange
      • Assistant Professor of addiction studies featured on Academic Minute
      • Charles Infurna named Empire State University’s 2024-25 PRODiG+ Fellow
      • Educational Studies Department Chair awarded SUNY/New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development Grant
      • “Fandoms in the Classroom:” Transforming education through student interests
      • Professor publishes book on immigrants and refugees in German universities
      • Herbert Covington Co-Authors Study Unveiling the Epigenetic Impact of Stress on Antidepressant Response
    • July
      • Empire State University recognized by SUNY for promoting student success
      • 15-year-old SUNY Empire student aims to shape education for next generation
      • Textbooks for Students Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
      • Ed.D. student researches what contributes to Latinx student experience
      • School of Business professor honored with award from International Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce U.S.
      • SUNY Empire mourns alumnus who founded feminist arts school
      • Meet the 2024-2025 Scholars Across the University
      • Empire State University students graduate from international programs
      • Maureen Kroning named interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health
      • Empire State University launches new SUNY Empire News website
      • SUNY Empire’s innovative nursing partnership featured on News10 ABC, Hudson Valley Press
      • 2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research
      • Empire State University launches 2+2 Nursing Program with Rockland Community College
      • Empire State University to host 9th annual Learning with Innovative Technology Conference
      • Labor professor interviewed on Business Insider
      • Empire State University closes Hartsdale location, moves to Westchester Community College
      • Unlocking history: Inside the Empire State University archives
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Prague
      • Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in higher education
    • June
      • Breaking the mold: Meet SUNY Empire’s 77-year-old graduate
      • Assistant Professor receives National Science Foundation award for SUNY Empire-led research initiative
      • President Lisa Vollendorf recognized by City & State, named Trailblazer in Higher Education 
      • Empire State University’s annual Juneteenth event is a success
      • School of Human Services holds DEIBSJ retreat in Albany
      • In the News: Labor professor interviewed on Marketplace about university strikes
      • Unions support Communities Across New York through Empire State University
      • Professor’s research sheds light on missing LGBTQ+ people across Europe
      • Empire State University students graduate at Fort Drum
      • Nursing professor to be published in Nursing Research
    • May
      • Behind the ink: Inside the Empire State University print shop
      • Empire State University announces SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients
      • First cohort of Applied Behavior Analysis program graduates
      • Meet Julianna Merendino: Criminal justice graduate at Empire State University
      • Empire State University President featured on EdUp Xcelerated Excellence Podcast
      • Empire State University honors Class of 2024 in Manhattan ceremony
      • A Dedication to Public Service: Rhon Glasgow’s Journey At Empire State University
      • “Sometimes later is greater:” Jawana Carter-Richardson’s Decade of “Mastery”
      • In the News: Dean of School of Labor Studies featured in Non Profit Quarterly
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Manhattan Commencement Platform Party
      • Empire State University graduate recognized at Best of SUNY Art Exhibition
      • Director of Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning featured on Higher Ed Podcast
      • NYC Corrections Captain Graduates While Continuing to Serve and Inspire
      • Students from Dominican Republic to graduate in Manhattan
      • Empire State University honors class of 2024 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Taking experience to heart: Ashley Simms’ SUNY Empire story
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Rochester Commencement Platform Party
      • Following in her footsteps: Mace bearer and alumna to lead the way as daughter crosses the stage
      • “You don’t need sight to take flight:” Turning adversity into opportunity at Empire State University
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Albany
      • Meet Melissa Massari: Firefighter, EMT, and graduate at Empire State University
    • April
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Albany Commencement Platform Party
      • In the News: Veteran and Military Resource Center featured on CBS6
      • Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub
      • Inaugural Empire State University student awarded Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Empire State University’s Neurodiversity Club expands with teen group
      • Ask5: Opening career paths and changing the conversation
      • SUNY Empire alumnus killed in weekend shooting near Syracuse
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hosts eclipse viewing and presentation
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda induction
      • Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students
      • Four Empire State University students receive Bluebird Award
      • Raising Hope: Supporting children with autism through Bluepath
    • March
      • In the News: Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship featured on News10 ABC
      • Empire State University hires Hitesh Rai Kathuria as provost
      • Four Empire State University students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award
      • Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving
      • SUNY Empire announces Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship
    • February
      • Empire State University Announces Day of Giving, GO HIGHER FOR EMPIRE, On MARCH 21
      • Empire State University Hosts 47th Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
      • Empire State University Launches Innovative Virtual Food Pantry
      • SUNY Empire’s Xiomara Giordano Named To National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education
      • SUNY touts Empire State University’s success in interview
    • January
      • Empire State University awards prestigious Richard Porter Leach fellowships
      • SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term
      • Bessie Walker celebrates 50 years at Empire State University
      • Long Island Business Institute to cease operations; SUNY Empire offers teach-out

Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 

September 23, 2025 by Catalina Irigoyen

Smiling woman in glasses looking at a black mask sculpture on a bookshelf, next to SUNY Empire 5 Minute Feature logo.

Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now!

What led you to teach the subject you’re teaching?

Destiny! The Spanish language and the many cultures that speak it have been in my path from the beginning of my career in education, some 45 years ago, and I have loved every day of it!

What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire? 

I agree with how the university fosters the development of good communication skills in Spanish as a Second Language.

What’s one moment in your career you’re especially proud of? 

I was proud to have been a recipient of the 1995 National Endowment for the Humanities Project Pluma Awards. This scholarship identified Spanish teacher leaders throughout New York state who sought in-depth studies and immersion in a Hispanic culture other than their own. Recipients were required to share this information with other foreign language teachers, which led me to present at many professional conferences. The sponsor of this opportunity was The Institute for Urban and Minority Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. This program led a group of educators to study the Spanish language and ancient cultures in Mexico during the summer months. First, at Columbia University, and later the group traveled to different locations throughout Mexico. While in Mexico, we studied with local cultural experts. It was a life-changing experience impacting my teaching career.

What’s the most random hobby or interest you’ve ever had? 

I enjoy searching for and finding Picasso paintings in all the art museums around the world. Now, this hobby has extended to finding works by Diego Rivera and Botero.

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? 

Uruguay! I briefly visited Colonia and the surrounding areas, and very much enjoyed the rural and slower pace of their lifestyle and sense of community life.

  • 2026

    • September
      • Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
      • A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both
      • Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy
      • ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 
      • Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2026
    • August
      • Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 
      • How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy
      • Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month
      • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education
      • Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost
    • July
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2026
      • Scholars Across the University Look Back on 2025-2026 Term
      • Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
      • Empire State University Partners with Premier Medical Group 
    • June
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May/June 2026
      • Five-Minute Feature: Michele Lee, Program Aide 
      • Alexander Yin to Join Empire State University as Vice President for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tara Clark, Admissions Advisor 
      • Prepared for the Future: Meet Public Health Student Ritzy Kisel 
      • Empire State University Honors Trailblazing Journalist Melba Tolliver With Honorary Degree 
      • Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students 
      • Albany Commencement Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma on Dispelling Self-Doubt
    • May
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony 
      • Spring Graduate Joseph Caroselli Is Building a Career on His Own Terms
      • Empire State University and TAVS USA Launch Skilling Partnership for Veterans and First Responders 
      • Three Empire State University Employees Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Empire State University Graduates Second Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Celebrating Spring 2026 Dual-Degree Graduates and Partnership Renewal with UNAPEC
      • Roadmap to Success: Meet Spring 2026 Graduate and Employee Gabby Damis
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
      • Commencement Corner: Elahni Ocean, Spring 2026 Graduate 
      • Student Speaker Robyn Guzman: Sowing, Growing, and Flowing at Empire State University
      • Rochester Student Speaker Jakeith Mosley: “What I’m Building Isn’t Just for Me Anymore”
      • Meet Tatiana Spikes, ABA Program Graduate 
      • Commencement Corner: Mizuho Johnson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: LaRoy Nelson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Director of CAARES and Associate Professor Noor Syed Shares Her Personal Journey to Advocacy
      • A Deep Dive with Noor Syed, Director of CAARES and Associate Professor
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Commencement Corner: Stephen Bernhardt, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: Brittany Stansfield, Spring 2026 Graduate 
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2026
      • CAARES and SSPL Partner to Create Welcoming Spaces in Local Community
      • Behind the Scenes with SUNY Empire’s Online Library
      • A Passion for the Planet: John L. Turner ’85
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor
      • Four Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Human Resources
      • Mother Works 84 Hours a Week While Earning Degree (in Spanish): “At SUNY Empire, It’s Possible”
      • Five-Minute Feature: Aley O’Mara, Program Associate and Training Coordinator for CAARES
      • Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Empire State University 
      • CAARES Helps Launch New Training to Support Neurodivergent SUNY Students 
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kristina Papa, Academic Learning Coach and Opportunity Programs Academic Support Specialist
      • Empire State University Student and Professor Co-Publish Article 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Five-Minute Feature: Griffin Fuetsch, Office Assistant 2 for the Office of Opportunity Programs
    • March
      • Laughing Matters: Professor Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams on Funny Women Inciting Change
      • Empire State University Announces Partnership with National Institute of Public Safety 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams, Professor of English and Author
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2 for the Office of Communications 
      • Cindy Bradley’s Chihuahua Inspired Research That Could Change Treatment for Epileptic Dogs
      • Empire State University Alum Wins Norman R. McConney Jr. Award 
      • Empire State University Educator Spotlights Multilingual Learners in New Children’s Book
      • Empire State University Student Leads Dancing Club for Older Adults 
      • Ginger Alvarez’s “Suitcase Full of Dreams”
      • Empire State University Partners with AMAT Healthcare Institute to Support Healthcare Workforce Development 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cherrelle Hall, Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
    • February
      • Behind the Scenes with the B.S. in Biology
      • Five-Minute Feature: Derrick Siler, President of the Black Male Initiative
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • The Public Affairs Playlist: Meet Professor Nadine Wedderburn
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Nadine Wedderburn, Professor of Public Affairs and Policy
      • Dentist Goes Back to School to Learn the Business Side: Angélica Farfan on Finding the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Winnie Yu, Director of Communications for Advancement and Community Engagement
      • SUNY Chancellor King Visits Empire State University to Highlight SUNY Military Tuition Rate Program  
      • Two Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Building Bridges Grant
      • Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
      • Get to Know Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Dean of the College of Education
      • A Deep Dive With Doug Gruse, Chief Marketing Officer
      • Behind the Scenes with Special Events 
    • January
      • Chief Marketing Officer Doug Gruse Talks Creativity Culture
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2026
      • Vjosa Musliu ’08: Growing Up in War
      • Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
      • Behind the Scenes with the Center for International Education
      • New Associate Provost Is Dedicated to Student Success
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
      • Empire State University Joins FutureReadyNYC Healthcare Pathway Accelerator to Create New Career Pathways for NYC Students 
      • Get to Know Julie Gedro, Dean of the College of Business
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Rumpf, Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education
      • Spanish BBA: One Year In
      • Empire State University Prioritizes Student Health Through Partnership with TimelyCare 
      • Get to Know Gina Torino, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Five-Minute Feature: Laurie Stanley, Assessment Specialist for the Office of International Education
  • 2025

    • December
      • Emmy-Winning Journalist Earns Degree at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s Most Notable Moments of 2025 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Jeremy Qvick ’22, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff
      • How University Photographer Joe O’Dea’s Calling Came Into Focus
      • A Deep Dive with Joe O’Dea, University Photographer
      • Five-Minute Feature: Taylor Allen, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • SUNY Empire and SUNY Orange Receive High-Needs Nursing Grant
      • Creating Positive Change: Grad Student Earns Degree in Social and Public Policy 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: December 2025
      • Empire State University Community Commemorates Wreaths Across America 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Joanna Succi, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Lauren Gaskins ’18, ’22: A Grandmother’s Inspiration
      • Learn More About College of Health and Human Services Dean Carol DeNysschen
      • Five-Minute Feature: Darryl Dangerfield, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Empire State University Foundation Acquires Historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs 
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 Winter Graduates in Albany Ceremonies 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of the Registrar
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Johanna Correa-Berry, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Meet Empire State University’s Winter 2025 Student Commencement Speakers 
    • November
      • A Deep Dive with Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: November 2025
      • Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center Honors Student Veterans During Veteran and Military Families Month 
      • Empire State University to Offer Scholarship for Firefighters 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Anne Sweet, Associate Director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto
      • Empire State University Announces Bluebird Award Recipients 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tom Wiese, Assistant Professor of Analytics
      • Empire State University’s Basic Needs Program Supports Students During SNAP Benefit Shortage  
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Veterans Business Council Scholarships 
      • Adam Grinvalsky ’21: Honoring New York’s Capital Region Veterans
      • Leading the Way in AI Literacy: Associate Professor Diane Shichtman
      • Five-Minute Feature: Matt Quinn, Veteran and Military Resource Center Manager
      • Golden Opportunity: Meet Bilingual Communications Specialist Catalina Irigoyen
    • October
      • Behind the Scenes with Information Technology Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025
      • Building Blocks: Libby Tsibulsky Talks Health and Wellness at SUNY Empire 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kevin Bane, Lead Digital Media Specialist
      • Adjunct Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cortés Pérez Reflects on the Spanish BBA
      • Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Andrew Hurd: From the Field to the Classroom
      • A Deep Dive with Andrew Hurd, Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity
      • SUNY Empire Honors 4 Outstanding Alumni  
      • Empire State University’s April Simmons Launches Text Campaign, Workshops to Motivate Students
      • Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cathy Coffinger, Technical Support Coordinator
      • Some Streams Connect Us All: Meet Adjunct Professor for the Spanish BBA Cristian Salazar
      • Empire State University Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Panel Discussions
      • Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer
      • A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes
      • Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology
      • Behind the Scenes: Digital Accessibility at SUNY Empire 
      • Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 
      • SUNY Empire Expands Military Grant to Include Veteran Spouses, Leads SUNY System in Military Support 
      • SUNY Empire Announces 2025 Alumni Award Winners 
    • September
      • Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach
      • SUNY Empire Alumni Gather for Second Lectures on Tap Event
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 
      • Faculty Expertise: Assistant Professor Njoki Mwarumba Shares Insights on Disaster Preparedness 
      • SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs
      • Behind the Scenes with Empire Online
      • Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 
      • Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths
      • ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Daniel Fogarty, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
      • Mindy Kronenberg Talks Writing, Brooklyn, and Taking Risks
      • A Deep Dive with Mindy Kronenberg: Poet, Editor, and Professor
      • Meet Luis Camacho, Academic Coordinator of the New Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 
      • Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain
      • Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Monaghan, Assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources
    • August
      • Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Mateo Carrera, Graphic Designer
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025
      • Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 
      • Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 
      • “Practicing What We Preach”: Empire State University professor launches free social justice textbook
      • Andrea Piazza and Pam Doran Talk NeuroDiverse Collective Employee Affinity Group
      • Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language
      • Behind the Screen: Bilingual Multimedia Technologist Irene Oramas Sosa
      • Reason & Respect Unplugged: National Civility Month 
      • Eight Empire State University Students Receive Inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship 
    • July
      • National Intern Day: The Latest on Career Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
      • Empire State University Hosts Alumni Day at the Races
      • Travel as a Cultural Gateway: Meet Kendra Elie, Bilingual Financial Aid Advisor
      • University Communications: Your Guide to Existing Platforms and Recent Changes
      • Empire State University and Brentwood High School Launch Groundbreaking Spanish-Language Initiative for High School Students
      • Empire State University Honors International Students in Series of Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Outgoing Scholars Across the University Look Back on a Year of Community Engagement 
      • Bridging Culture: Bilingual Student Support with Armando Flores
      • Ann Marie Scheidegger to Join SUNY Empire as Vice President for Administration and Finance
      • Discipline and Dedication: Carlos Aleman on Bilingual Empowerment
      • Veterans Tuition Award Opens Up New Possibilities for Veteran Students 
      • ODEI Explores Universal Design in Honor of Disability Pride Month
      • Empire State University Launches New Colleges, Welcomes Deans
    • June
      • Tzvi Simchon ’24: Keeping History Alive on Film
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025
      • Empowering New York: Empire State University’s Bold Academic Expansion
      • Empire State University Set to Launch Nine New Academic Programs This Fall 
      • In Spanish, Online, and On Your Time: Ronnie Rivera’s Trajectory as Spanish BBA Specialist
      • Empire State University Student Wins Best of SUNY Art Award 
      • Associate Professor Jim Robinson Reflects on 50 Years at Empire State University
      • Support and Advocacy: How Employee Affinity Groups Enrich Our University Community
      • Introducing the 2025-2026 Scholars Across the University 
      • ODEI Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with Stories from Empire State University Community
      • Empire State University Student Named Director of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
      • Love of Language: Perla Zamitiz on Being a Linguist and the Spanish BBA
    • May
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony 
      • Nominate an Outstanding Empire State University Graduate for an Alumni Award
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025
      • President Vollendorf Named Trailblazer in Higher Education For Second Consecutive Year
      • Finding Balance: Brittany Leibenguth’s Path to Graduation at Empire State University
      • Charting a New Course: A Graduate Student Discovers His Niche in Higher Ed
      • Perspective Shift: One Graduate’s Journey Through the ABA Program
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Kasie Roach: Navy Veteran and Victim Advocate Graduates from Empire State University
      • Seizing Opportunities: An Addiction Studies Grad Brings Her Skills to State Government
      • Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program
      • Clinic and Classroom: Meet Libby Miranda, ABA Program Graduate
      • ODEI Celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day with New Reason & Respect Format
      • Where Care and Career Intersect: Sara Luna’s Journey at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s New VP of HR Works to Uplift Employees
      • Five Empire State University Employees Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
      • Kamelyn Báez Peña on Empire State University’s Dual Degree Program and Keeping Your Culture Close
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Albany Ceremony 
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact
      • “New Inspiration”: A Transfer Student Finds Her Footing at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Graduates its First Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Committed to Care: Khavel Smith-Martin’s Journey in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
      • Alka Merlin ’08: Helping Others Find Their Way After Finding Her Own
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025
      • Empire’s Zeeva Bukai Explores Identity, Displacement, and Compassion in Debut Novel
      • Meet Zachary Madding, Empire’s New Capital Program and Sustainability Manager 
      • Meet Empire State University’s Inaugural AI Fellows 
      • Office for Advancement Hosts Earth Day Walk
      • Building Relationships: A Look at CAARES’ Peer2Peer Student Connection Program 
      • Empire State University Dual Degree Program Hosts Residency in the Dominican Republic
      • Breaking Language Barriers with Machine Translation at Empire State University
      • Phylisha Villanueva ’23: A Poet With Purpose
      • Empire’s Textbook Affordability Initiative Boosts Student Success
      • Empire’s Civil and Revolutionary War Residencies Bring History to Life 
      • Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning
      • CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community 
      • Four Empire State University Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Liv Thygesen on Equitable Education at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Named a School of National Service
      • Alumni Demonstrate SUNY Empire Pride at Annual Meeting
      • SUNY Empire Alumna Raises Awareness of Huntington’s Disease
    • March
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025
      • Professor Emeritus Dorothy Burnham Celebrates 110th Birthday
      • Claire Ziamandanis on Loving Linguistics and Empire State University’s Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University Student Wins 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 
      • VMRC Intern Stephen Szczurko-Walton Creates Community for Military-Affiliated Students
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda
      • ODEI Launches Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program
      • Paul Muccigrosso ’12: A Lifetime of Helping Veterans
      • International Women’s Day Event Celebrates Empire’s Zülal Balpinar
      • Meaningful Marketing: Get To Know Empire State University’s Brenda Manra
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Receives Women of Excellence Award 
      • Raul Manzano Honored at College of the Sequoias Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • A Deep Dive with Raul Manzano: Featured Artist Honored at Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • Empire State University’s Associate Degree Initiative Uplifts Student Goals
    • February
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025
      • Gedro Receives R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award 
      • President Vollendorf Named to Board of Directors for Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
      • Culture and Community: Meet Bilingual IT Specialist Lyanne Garcia-Boswell
      • ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse
      • SUNY Empire Partners with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to Empower Emerging Managers and Leaders 
      • María Vega on Language as a Launchpad for Connection
      • OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access
    • January
      • Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement
      • Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs Named College of Education Dean 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025
      • Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 
      • 1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion
      • Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  
      • Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 
      • Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University
      • Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 
      • Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  
      • Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish
  • 2024

    • December
      • Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review
      • Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights
      • SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America
      • Center for International Education Hosts Residency for Students in Turkey and Lebanon
      • Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing Completes Pilot of Management and Leadership Training Program
      • Empire State University starts NeuroDiverse Collective support group  
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2024 in Winter Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Michele Paterson explores a career of helping others through applied behavior analysis program
      • SUNY Empire graduate works as disability advocate and volunteer
      • Meet Htein Naing: Graduate Balancing Space Force Service, Studies, and Family 
      • SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students
      • SUNY Empire grad combines education with work experience to make most of degree
      • Empire State University graduate finds new purpose in military service  
      • Side by Side to Success: Twin sisters achieve bachelor’s degrees at 19 
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction 
      • Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  
      • Empire State University launches new merch site  
      • Empowering Future Educators: Teacher Opportunity Corps Strengthens Pathways for Teacher Recruitment  
    • November
      • Vollendorf Named to Presidents Forum Governing Board
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Nov. 2024
      • Meet Lorraine Williams: Empire State University’s 100,000th alum  
      • Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni 
      • SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center marks one year at SUNY Empire 
      • Panel highlights international connection through virtual programming  
      • Graduate Student published in Confluence for hiking research 
      • SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs see largest enrollment on record 
      • SUNY Empire student premiered docuseries on breast cancer and healthcare inequity  
      • Empire State University Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Veterans Tuition Awards Program
      • 76-year-old student embraces military and veteran opportunity program to earn degree
      • Empire State University welcomes students at Fall Student Conference  
      • Ed.D. student invited to White House, highlighting National Partnership for Student Success  
      • Empire State University honors heroes in Veteran’s Month event 
    • October
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024
      • President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast
      • Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  
      • SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  
      • Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  
      • Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 
      • Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 
      • Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 
      • Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  
      • President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum
      • Regalia provided to students through Student Activity Fund  
      • Fall Academic Conference focuses on artificial intelligence in education 
      • Labor Professor named external faculty associate of Global Labor Research Center
      • Second Blue Mascot available to SUNY Empire Community
      • AI Awareness Week brings artificial intelligence to forefront of higher education
      • President Lisa Vollendorf featured on Look Media This Week
      • Associate Professor publishes book on Indigenous dispossession in US history
      • Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 
      • Empire State University to host talk with Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
    • September
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Sept. 2024
      • Professor, students team up for study on Cameo and fan-celebrity relationships
      • Blue Bird Award nominations now open
      • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado speaks to university community ahead of election 
      • School of Nursing Dean to deliver keynote speech for New York Community College Trustees Conference
      • Empire State University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Professor Tom Mackey to keynote XI Simposio Internacional
      • Chief Diversity Officer named to board of National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
      • 88-year-old student embraces love for filmmaking in pursuit of college degree
      • Charles Biasiny-Riviera ’90: Remembering a Photographer Who Documented Latino Life
      • Alumnus, adjunct professor’s academic journey puts justice, equity, and inclusion at the forefront
      • President Vollendorf featured on Presidents Forum
      • Assistant Professor to partner with Strong Museum for Dungeons & Dragons exhibit opening
      • CAARES holds Neurodivergent in College series
      • Assistant Professor teaches AI risks, scam awareness to Malta seniors
      • SUNY Empire Dean offers insight in new book with “Vanderpump Rules” star
      • SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018
      • Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon
      • Empire State University’s Center for International Education awarded grant for DEI Education in Lebanon
      • Labor Professor publishes new book on U.S. labor and foreign policy
    • August
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Aug. 2024
      • Professor featured in Billboard, discusses fan-artist relationships
      • An Era of Service and Scholarship: Alan Mandell retires after 50-year career at SUNY Empire
      • SUNY Empire President highlights university’s bright future in State of the University
      • SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
      • Melissa Wells featured in The Academic Minute
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
      • Edwin Lee Gibson ’12: Finding fame on “The Bear”
      • Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange
      • Assistant Professor of addiction studies featured on Academic Minute
      • Charles Infurna named Empire State University’s 2024-25 PRODiG+ Fellow
      • Educational Studies Department Chair awarded SUNY/New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development Grant
      • “Fandoms in the Classroom:” Transforming education through student interests
      • Professor publishes book on immigrants and refugees in German universities
      • Herbert Covington Co-Authors Study Unveiling the Epigenetic Impact of Stress on Antidepressant Response
    • July
      • Empire State University recognized by SUNY for promoting student success
      • 15-year-old SUNY Empire student aims to shape education for next generation
      • Textbooks for Students Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
      • Ed.D. student researches what contributes to Latinx student experience
      • School of Business professor honored with award from International Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce U.S.
      • SUNY Empire mourns alumnus who founded feminist arts school
      • Meet the 2024-2025 Scholars Across the University
      • Empire State University students graduate from international programs
      • Maureen Kroning named interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health
      • Empire State University launches new SUNY Empire News website
      • SUNY Empire’s innovative nursing partnership featured on News10 ABC, Hudson Valley Press
      • 2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research
      • Empire State University launches 2+2 Nursing Program with Rockland Community College
      • Empire State University to host 9th annual Learning with Innovative Technology Conference
      • Labor professor interviewed on Business Insider
      • Empire State University closes Hartsdale location, moves to Westchester Community College
      • Unlocking history: Inside the Empire State University archives
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Prague
      • Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in higher education
    • June
      • Breaking the mold: Meet SUNY Empire’s 77-year-old graduate
      • Assistant Professor receives National Science Foundation award for SUNY Empire-led research initiative
      • President Lisa Vollendorf recognized by City & State, named Trailblazer in Higher Education 
      • Empire State University’s annual Juneteenth event is a success
      • School of Human Services holds DEIBSJ retreat in Albany
      • In the News: Labor professor interviewed on Marketplace about university strikes
      • Unions support Communities Across New York through Empire State University
      • Professor’s research sheds light on missing LGBTQ+ people across Europe
      • Empire State University students graduate at Fort Drum
      • Nursing professor to be published in Nursing Research
    • May
      • Behind the ink: Inside the Empire State University print shop
      • Empire State University announces SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients
      • First cohort of Applied Behavior Analysis program graduates
      • Meet Julianna Merendino: Criminal justice graduate at Empire State University
      • Empire State University President featured on EdUp Xcelerated Excellence Podcast
      • Empire State University honors Class of 2024 in Manhattan ceremony
      • A Dedication to Public Service: Rhon Glasgow’s Journey At Empire State University
      • “Sometimes later is greater:” Jawana Carter-Richardson’s Decade of “Mastery”
      • In the News: Dean of School of Labor Studies featured in Non Profit Quarterly
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Manhattan Commencement Platform Party
      • Empire State University graduate recognized at Best of SUNY Art Exhibition
      • Director of Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning featured on Higher Ed Podcast
      • NYC Corrections Captain Graduates While Continuing to Serve and Inspire
      • Students from Dominican Republic to graduate in Manhattan
      • Empire State University honors class of 2024 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Taking experience to heart: Ashley Simms’ SUNY Empire story
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Rochester Commencement Platform Party
      • Following in her footsteps: Mace bearer and alumna to lead the way as daughter crosses the stage
      • “You don’t need sight to take flight:” Turning adversity into opportunity at Empire State University
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Albany
      • Meet Melissa Massari: Firefighter, EMT, and graduate at Empire State University
    • April
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Albany Commencement Platform Party
      • In the News: Veteran and Military Resource Center featured on CBS6
      • Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub
      • Inaugural Empire State University student awarded Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Empire State University’s Neurodiversity Club expands with teen group
      • Ask5: Opening career paths and changing the conversation
      • SUNY Empire alumnus killed in weekend shooting near Syracuse
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hosts eclipse viewing and presentation
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda induction
      • Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students
      • Four Empire State University students receive Bluebird Award
      • Raising Hope: Supporting children with autism through Bluepath
    • March
      • In the News: Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship featured on News10 ABC
      • Empire State University hires Hitesh Rai Kathuria as provost
      • Four Empire State University students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award
      • Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving
      • SUNY Empire announces Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship
    • February
      • Empire State University Announces Day of Giving, GO HIGHER FOR EMPIRE, On MARCH 21
      • Empire State University Hosts 47th Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
      • Empire State University Launches Innovative Virtual Food Pantry
      • SUNY Empire’s Xiomara Giordano Named To National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education
      • SUNY touts Empire State University’s success in interview
    • January
      • Empire State University awards prestigious Richard Porter Leach fellowships
      • SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term
      • Bessie Walker celebrates 50 years at Empire State University
      • Long Island Business Institute to cease operations; SUNY Empire offers teach-out

Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs

September 16, 2025 by Catalina Irigoyen

Smiling man with short hair and beard wearing a red plaid shirt and black sweater, next to SUNY Empire 5 Minute Feature logo.

Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now!

What led you to your career path?

I have always said that higher education was something I fell into. I didn’t even know this was something I could have a career in until I began working as an admissions ambassador (tour guide) for my alma mater as an undergraduate student. I enjoyed meeting and telling prospective students and their families about the institution, my experiences there, and advice on what to consider as they visit other colleges/universities and decide where to go. As I got closer to graduation, I knew I wanted to continue in my work in higher education and pursue [it] professionally. It was a natural progression.

What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire?

My favorite thing about SUNY Empire is how collaborative my colleagues are. Everyone I know at the institution is always willing to share their knowledge and ideas. I enjoy being a resource provider for staff, faculty, and students, and it’s rewarding to pay forward what I have learned from my colleagues along the way.   

What’s one moment in your career you’re especially proud of?

One moment I am especially proud of in my career has been joining the Opportunity Programs (OP) team at SUNY Empire. After completing my master’s in higher education and nearly a decade in recruitment, I was ready to take a more direct role in supporting students. While I enjoyed recruitment, I wanted to build ongoing relationships with students beyond the admissions process — another natural progression in my career.  I remember talking to my supervisor at the time, Andrea Hennessey (now our VP of Enrollment Management and Marketing), about my career goals. That conversation led me to take on the role of the Empire State Opportunity Program (ESOP) advisor part-time, while continuing in recruitment, shortly after earning my master’s degree. Andrea supported my growth even beyond her department—something I will forever be grateful for. It demonstrated that SUNY Empire has fostered a culture where leaders recognize potential development across the institution—not just within teams or departments.

Being in OP is also meaningful to me on a personal level too. Having participated in TRiO programs, similar to OP, in high school and undergrad, I know firsthand the impact these supports can have.  Being able to support our students and contribute to OP’s growth, almost since its inception at SUNY Empire, continues to be incredibly rewarding.

If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be? 

If I could master any skill, it would be fluency in any language—being able to communicate effortlessly with anyone in the world. I am bilingual (English and Spanish) and love picking up new words or phrases when traveling. It would be nice to take that passion even further. More importantly, having fluency in every language would help break down communication barriers and create a sense of belonging for people who might otherwise feel unseen.

Who’s someone at the university who inspires you?

Malongze Foma, our coordinator of regional operations – downstate, is an inspiration to me. She continues to be an incredible resource and has played a big role in my personal and professional growth at the institution. I am privileged to call her a colleague, friend, and mentor.

  • 2026

    • September
      • Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
      • A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both
      • Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy
      • ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 
      • Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2026
    • August
      • Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 
      • How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy
      • Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month
      • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education
      • Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost
    • July
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2026
      • Scholars Across the University Look Back on 2025-2026 Term
      • Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
      • Empire State University Partners with Premier Medical Group 
    • June
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May/June 2026
      • Five-Minute Feature: Michele Lee, Program Aide 
      • Alexander Yin to Join Empire State University as Vice President for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tara Clark, Admissions Advisor 
      • Prepared for the Future: Meet Public Health Student Ritzy Kisel 
      • Empire State University Honors Trailblazing Journalist Melba Tolliver With Honorary Degree 
      • Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students 
      • Albany Commencement Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma on Dispelling Self-Doubt
    • May
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony 
      • Spring Graduate Joseph Caroselli Is Building a Career on His Own Terms
      • Empire State University and TAVS USA Launch Skilling Partnership for Veterans and First Responders 
      • Three Empire State University Employees Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Empire State University Graduates Second Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Celebrating Spring 2026 Dual-Degree Graduates and Partnership Renewal with UNAPEC
      • Roadmap to Success: Meet Spring 2026 Graduate and Employee Gabby Damis
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
      • Commencement Corner: Elahni Ocean, Spring 2026 Graduate 
      • Student Speaker Robyn Guzman: Sowing, Growing, and Flowing at Empire State University
      • Rochester Student Speaker Jakeith Mosley: “What I’m Building Isn’t Just for Me Anymore”
      • Meet Tatiana Spikes, ABA Program Graduate 
      • Commencement Corner: Mizuho Johnson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: LaRoy Nelson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Director of CAARES and Associate Professor Noor Syed Shares Her Personal Journey to Advocacy
      • A Deep Dive with Noor Syed, Director of CAARES and Associate Professor
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Commencement Corner: Stephen Bernhardt, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: Brittany Stansfield, Spring 2026 Graduate 
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2026
      • CAARES and SSPL Partner to Create Welcoming Spaces in Local Community
      • Behind the Scenes with SUNY Empire’s Online Library
      • A Passion for the Planet: John L. Turner ’85
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor
      • Four Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Human Resources
      • Mother Works 84 Hours a Week While Earning Degree (in Spanish): “At SUNY Empire, It’s Possible”
      • Five-Minute Feature: Aley O’Mara, Program Associate and Training Coordinator for CAARES
      • Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Empire State University 
      • CAARES Helps Launch New Training to Support Neurodivergent SUNY Students 
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kristina Papa, Academic Learning Coach and Opportunity Programs Academic Support Specialist
      • Empire State University Student and Professor Co-Publish Article 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Five-Minute Feature: Griffin Fuetsch, Office Assistant 2 for the Office of Opportunity Programs
    • March
      • Laughing Matters: Professor Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams on Funny Women Inciting Change
      • Empire State University Announces Partnership with National Institute of Public Safety 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams, Professor of English and Author
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2 for the Office of Communications 
      • Cindy Bradley’s Chihuahua Inspired Research That Could Change Treatment for Epileptic Dogs
      • Empire State University Alum Wins Norman R. McConney Jr. Award 
      • Empire State University Educator Spotlights Multilingual Learners in New Children’s Book
      • Empire State University Student Leads Dancing Club for Older Adults 
      • Ginger Alvarez’s “Suitcase Full of Dreams”
      • Empire State University Partners with AMAT Healthcare Institute to Support Healthcare Workforce Development 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cherrelle Hall, Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
    • February
      • Behind the Scenes with the B.S. in Biology
      • Five-Minute Feature: Derrick Siler, President of the Black Male Initiative
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • The Public Affairs Playlist: Meet Professor Nadine Wedderburn
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Nadine Wedderburn, Professor of Public Affairs and Policy
      • Dentist Goes Back to School to Learn the Business Side: Angélica Farfan on Finding the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Winnie Yu, Director of Communications for Advancement and Community Engagement
      • SUNY Chancellor King Visits Empire State University to Highlight SUNY Military Tuition Rate Program  
      • Two Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Building Bridges Grant
      • Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
      • Get to Know Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Dean of the College of Education
      • A Deep Dive With Doug Gruse, Chief Marketing Officer
      • Behind the Scenes with Special Events 
    • January
      • Chief Marketing Officer Doug Gruse Talks Creativity Culture
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2026
      • Vjosa Musliu ’08: Growing Up in War
      • Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
      • Behind the Scenes with the Center for International Education
      • New Associate Provost Is Dedicated to Student Success
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
      • Empire State University Joins FutureReadyNYC Healthcare Pathway Accelerator to Create New Career Pathways for NYC Students 
      • Get to Know Julie Gedro, Dean of the College of Business
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Rumpf, Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education
      • Spanish BBA: One Year In
      • Empire State University Prioritizes Student Health Through Partnership with TimelyCare 
      • Get to Know Gina Torino, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Five-Minute Feature: Laurie Stanley, Assessment Specialist for the Office of International Education
  • 2025

    • December
      • Emmy-Winning Journalist Earns Degree at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s Most Notable Moments of 2025 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Jeremy Qvick ’22, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff
      • How University Photographer Joe O’Dea’s Calling Came Into Focus
      • A Deep Dive with Joe O’Dea, University Photographer
      • Five-Minute Feature: Taylor Allen, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • SUNY Empire and SUNY Orange Receive High-Needs Nursing Grant
      • Creating Positive Change: Grad Student Earns Degree in Social and Public Policy 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: December 2025
      • Empire State University Community Commemorates Wreaths Across America 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Joanna Succi, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Lauren Gaskins ’18, ’22: A Grandmother’s Inspiration
      • Learn More About College of Health and Human Services Dean Carol DeNysschen
      • Five-Minute Feature: Darryl Dangerfield, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Empire State University Foundation Acquires Historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs 
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 Winter Graduates in Albany Ceremonies 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of the Registrar
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Johanna Correa-Berry, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Meet Empire State University’s Winter 2025 Student Commencement Speakers 
    • November
      • A Deep Dive with Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: November 2025
      • Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center Honors Student Veterans During Veteran and Military Families Month 
      • Empire State University to Offer Scholarship for Firefighters 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Anne Sweet, Associate Director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto
      • Empire State University Announces Bluebird Award Recipients 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tom Wiese, Assistant Professor of Analytics
      • Empire State University’s Basic Needs Program Supports Students During SNAP Benefit Shortage  
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Veterans Business Council Scholarships 
      • Adam Grinvalsky ’21: Honoring New York’s Capital Region Veterans
      • Leading the Way in AI Literacy: Associate Professor Diane Shichtman
      • Five-Minute Feature: Matt Quinn, Veteran and Military Resource Center Manager
      • Golden Opportunity: Meet Bilingual Communications Specialist Catalina Irigoyen
    • October
      • Behind the Scenes with Information Technology Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025
      • Building Blocks: Libby Tsibulsky Talks Health and Wellness at SUNY Empire 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kevin Bane, Lead Digital Media Specialist
      • Adjunct Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cortés Pérez Reflects on the Spanish BBA
      • Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Andrew Hurd: From the Field to the Classroom
      • A Deep Dive with Andrew Hurd, Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity
      • SUNY Empire Honors 4 Outstanding Alumni  
      • Empire State University’s April Simmons Launches Text Campaign, Workshops to Motivate Students
      • Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cathy Coffinger, Technical Support Coordinator
      • Some Streams Connect Us All: Meet Adjunct Professor for the Spanish BBA Cristian Salazar
      • Empire State University Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Panel Discussions
      • Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer
      • A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes
      • Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology
      • Behind the Scenes: Digital Accessibility at SUNY Empire 
      • Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 
      • SUNY Empire Expands Military Grant to Include Veteran Spouses, Leads SUNY System in Military Support 
      • SUNY Empire Announces 2025 Alumni Award Winners 
    • September
      • Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach
      • SUNY Empire Alumni Gather for Second Lectures on Tap Event
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 
      • Faculty Expertise: Assistant Professor Njoki Mwarumba Shares Insights on Disaster Preparedness 
      • SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs
      • Behind the Scenes with Empire Online
      • Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 
      • Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths
      • ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Daniel Fogarty, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
      • Mindy Kronenberg Talks Writing, Brooklyn, and Taking Risks
      • A Deep Dive with Mindy Kronenberg: Poet, Editor, and Professor
      • Meet Luis Camacho, Academic Coordinator of the New Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 
      • Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain
      • Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Monaghan, Assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources
    • August
      • Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Mateo Carrera, Graphic Designer
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025
      • Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 
      • Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 
      • “Practicing What We Preach”: Empire State University professor launches free social justice textbook
      • Andrea Piazza and Pam Doran Talk NeuroDiverse Collective Employee Affinity Group
      • Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language
      • Behind the Screen: Bilingual Multimedia Technologist Irene Oramas Sosa
      • Reason & Respect Unplugged: National Civility Month 
      • Eight Empire State University Students Receive Inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship 
    • July
      • National Intern Day: The Latest on Career Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
      • Empire State University Hosts Alumni Day at the Races
      • Travel as a Cultural Gateway: Meet Kendra Elie, Bilingual Financial Aid Advisor
      • University Communications: Your Guide to Existing Platforms and Recent Changes
      • Empire State University and Brentwood High School Launch Groundbreaking Spanish-Language Initiative for High School Students
      • Empire State University Honors International Students in Series of Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Outgoing Scholars Across the University Look Back on a Year of Community Engagement 
      • Bridging Culture: Bilingual Student Support with Armando Flores
      • Ann Marie Scheidegger to Join SUNY Empire as Vice President for Administration and Finance
      • Discipline and Dedication: Carlos Aleman on Bilingual Empowerment
      • Veterans Tuition Award Opens Up New Possibilities for Veteran Students 
      • ODEI Explores Universal Design in Honor of Disability Pride Month
      • Empire State University Launches New Colleges, Welcomes Deans
    • June
      • Tzvi Simchon ’24: Keeping History Alive on Film
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025
      • Empowering New York: Empire State University’s Bold Academic Expansion
      • Empire State University Set to Launch Nine New Academic Programs This Fall 
      • In Spanish, Online, and On Your Time: Ronnie Rivera’s Trajectory as Spanish BBA Specialist
      • Empire State University Student Wins Best of SUNY Art Award 
      • Associate Professor Jim Robinson Reflects on 50 Years at Empire State University
      • Support and Advocacy: How Employee Affinity Groups Enrich Our University Community
      • Introducing the 2025-2026 Scholars Across the University 
      • ODEI Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with Stories from Empire State University Community
      • Empire State University Student Named Director of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
      • Love of Language: Perla Zamitiz on Being a Linguist and the Spanish BBA
    • May
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony 
      • Nominate an Outstanding Empire State University Graduate for an Alumni Award
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025
      • President Vollendorf Named Trailblazer in Higher Education For Second Consecutive Year
      • Finding Balance: Brittany Leibenguth’s Path to Graduation at Empire State University
      • Charting a New Course: A Graduate Student Discovers His Niche in Higher Ed
      • Perspective Shift: One Graduate’s Journey Through the ABA Program
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Kasie Roach: Navy Veteran and Victim Advocate Graduates from Empire State University
      • Seizing Opportunities: An Addiction Studies Grad Brings Her Skills to State Government
      • Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program
      • Clinic and Classroom: Meet Libby Miranda, ABA Program Graduate
      • ODEI Celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day with New Reason & Respect Format
      • Where Care and Career Intersect: Sara Luna’s Journey at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s New VP of HR Works to Uplift Employees
      • Five Empire State University Employees Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
      • Kamelyn Báez Peña on Empire State University’s Dual Degree Program and Keeping Your Culture Close
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Albany Ceremony 
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact
      • “New Inspiration”: A Transfer Student Finds Her Footing at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Graduates its First Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Committed to Care: Khavel Smith-Martin’s Journey in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
      • Alka Merlin ’08: Helping Others Find Their Way After Finding Her Own
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025
      • Empire’s Zeeva Bukai Explores Identity, Displacement, and Compassion in Debut Novel
      • Meet Zachary Madding, Empire’s New Capital Program and Sustainability Manager 
      • Meet Empire State University’s Inaugural AI Fellows 
      • Office for Advancement Hosts Earth Day Walk
      • Building Relationships: A Look at CAARES’ Peer2Peer Student Connection Program 
      • Empire State University Dual Degree Program Hosts Residency in the Dominican Republic
      • Breaking Language Barriers with Machine Translation at Empire State University
      • Phylisha Villanueva ’23: A Poet With Purpose
      • Empire’s Textbook Affordability Initiative Boosts Student Success
      • Empire’s Civil and Revolutionary War Residencies Bring History to Life 
      • Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning
      • CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community 
      • Four Empire State University Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Liv Thygesen on Equitable Education at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Named a School of National Service
      • Alumni Demonstrate SUNY Empire Pride at Annual Meeting
      • SUNY Empire Alumna Raises Awareness of Huntington’s Disease
    • March
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025
      • Professor Emeritus Dorothy Burnham Celebrates 110th Birthday
      • Claire Ziamandanis on Loving Linguistics and Empire State University’s Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University Student Wins 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 
      • VMRC Intern Stephen Szczurko-Walton Creates Community for Military-Affiliated Students
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda
      • ODEI Launches Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program
      • Paul Muccigrosso ’12: A Lifetime of Helping Veterans
      • International Women’s Day Event Celebrates Empire’s Zülal Balpinar
      • Meaningful Marketing: Get To Know Empire State University’s Brenda Manra
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Receives Women of Excellence Award 
      • Raul Manzano Honored at College of the Sequoias Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • A Deep Dive with Raul Manzano: Featured Artist Honored at Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • Empire State University’s Associate Degree Initiative Uplifts Student Goals
    • February
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025
      • Gedro Receives R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award 
      • President Vollendorf Named to Board of Directors for Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
      • Culture and Community: Meet Bilingual IT Specialist Lyanne Garcia-Boswell
      • ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse
      • SUNY Empire Partners with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to Empower Emerging Managers and Leaders 
      • María Vega on Language as a Launchpad for Connection
      • OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access
    • January
      • Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement
      • Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs Named College of Education Dean 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025
      • Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 
      • 1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion
      • Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  
      • Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 
      • Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University
      • Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 
      • Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  
      • Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish
  • 2024

    • December
      • Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review
      • Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights
      • SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America
      • Center for International Education Hosts Residency for Students in Turkey and Lebanon
      • Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing Completes Pilot of Management and Leadership Training Program
      • Empire State University starts NeuroDiverse Collective support group  
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2024 in Winter Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Michele Paterson explores a career of helping others through applied behavior analysis program
      • SUNY Empire graduate works as disability advocate and volunteer
      • Meet Htein Naing: Graduate Balancing Space Force Service, Studies, and Family 
      • SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students
      • SUNY Empire grad combines education with work experience to make most of degree
      • Empire State University graduate finds new purpose in military service  
      • Side by Side to Success: Twin sisters achieve bachelor’s degrees at 19 
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction 
      • Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  
      • Empire State University launches new merch site  
      • Empowering Future Educators: Teacher Opportunity Corps Strengthens Pathways for Teacher Recruitment  
    • November
      • Vollendorf Named to Presidents Forum Governing Board
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Nov. 2024
      • Meet Lorraine Williams: Empire State University’s 100,000th alum  
      • Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni 
      • SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center marks one year at SUNY Empire 
      • Panel highlights international connection through virtual programming  
      • Graduate Student published in Confluence for hiking research 
      • SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs see largest enrollment on record 
      • SUNY Empire student premiered docuseries on breast cancer and healthcare inequity  
      • Empire State University Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Veterans Tuition Awards Program
      • 76-year-old student embraces military and veteran opportunity program to earn degree
      • Empire State University welcomes students at Fall Student Conference  
      • Ed.D. student invited to White House, highlighting National Partnership for Student Success  
      • Empire State University honors heroes in Veteran’s Month event 
    • October
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024
      • President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast
      • Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  
      • SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  
      • Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  
      • Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 
      • Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 
      • Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 
      • Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  
      • President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum
      • Regalia provided to students through Student Activity Fund  
      • Fall Academic Conference focuses on artificial intelligence in education 
      • Labor Professor named external faculty associate of Global Labor Research Center
      • Second Blue Mascot available to SUNY Empire Community
      • AI Awareness Week brings artificial intelligence to forefront of higher education
      • President Lisa Vollendorf featured on Look Media This Week
      • Associate Professor publishes book on Indigenous dispossession in US history
      • Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 
      • Empire State University to host talk with Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
    • September
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Sept. 2024
      • Professor, students team up for study on Cameo and fan-celebrity relationships
      • Blue Bird Award nominations now open
      • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado speaks to university community ahead of election 
      • School of Nursing Dean to deliver keynote speech for New York Community College Trustees Conference
      • Empire State University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Professor Tom Mackey to keynote XI Simposio Internacional
      • Chief Diversity Officer named to board of National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
      • 88-year-old student embraces love for filmmaking in pursuit of college degree
      • Charles Biasiny-Riviera ’90: Remembering a Photographer Who Documented Latino Life
      • Alumnus, adjunct professor’s academic journey puts justice, equity, and inclusion at the forefront
      • President Vollendorf featured on Presidents Forum
      • Assistant Professor to partner with Strong Museum for Dungeons & Dragons exhibit opening
      • CAARES holds Neurodivergent in College series
      • Assistant Professor teaches AI risks, scam awareness to Malta seniors
      • SUNY Empire Dean offers insight in new book with “Vanderpump Rules” star
      • SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018
      • Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon
      • Empire State University’s Center for International Education awarded grant for DEI Education in Lebanon
      • Labor Professor publishes new book on U.S. labor and foreign policy
    • August
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Aug. 2024
      • Professor featured in Billboard, discusses fan-artist relationships
      • An Era of Service and Scholarship: Alan Mandell retires after 50-year career at SUNY Empire
      • SUNY Empire President highlights university’s bright future in State of the University
      • SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
      • Melissa Wells featured in The Academic Minute
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
      • Edwin Lee Gibson ’12: Finding fame on “The Bear”
      • Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange
      • Assistant Professor of addiction studies featured on Academic Minute
      • Charles Infurna named Empire State University’s 2024-25 PRODiG+ Fellow
      • Educational Studies Department Chair awarded SUNY/New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development Grant
      • “Fandoms in the Classroom:” Transforming education through student interests
      • Professor publishes book on immigrants and refugees in German universities
      • Herbert Covington Co-Authors Study Unveiling the Epigenetic Impact of Stress on Antidepressant Response
    • July
      • Empire State University recognized by SUNY for promoting student success
      • 15-year-old SUNY Empire student aims to shape education for next generation
      • Textbooks for Students Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
      • Ed.D. student researches what contributes to Latinx student experience
      • School of Business professor honored with award from International Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce U.S.
      • SUNY Empire mourns alumnus who founded feminist arts school
      • Meet the 2024-2025 Scholars Across the University
      • Empire State University students graduate from international programs
      • Maureen Kroning named interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health
      • Empire State University launches new SUNY Empire News website
      • SUNY Empire’s innovative nursing partnership featured on News10 ABC, Hudson Valley Press
      • 2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research
      • Empire State University launches 2+2 Nursing Program with Rockland Community College
      • Empire State University to host 9th annual Learning with Innovative Technology Conference
      • Labor professor interviewed on Business Insider
      • Empire State University closes Hartsdale location, moves to Westchester Community College
      • Unlocking history: Inside the Empire State University archives
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Prague
      • Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in higher education
    • June
      • Breaking the mold: Meet SUNY Empire’s 77-year-old graduate
      • Assistant Professor receives National Science Foundation award for SUNY Empire-led research initiative
      • President Lisa Vollendorf recognized by City & State, named Trailblazer in Higher Education 
      • Empire State University’s annual Juneteenth event is a success
      • School of Human Services holds DEIBSJ retreat in Albany
      • In the News: Labor professor interviewed on Marketplace about university strikes
      • Unions support Communities Across New York through Empire State University
      • Professor’s research sheds light on missing LGBTQ+ people across Europe
      • Empire State University students graduate at Fort Drum
      • Nursing professor to be published in Nursing Research
    • May
      • Behind the ink: Inside the Empire State University print shop
      • Empire State University announces SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients
      • First cohort of Applied Behavior Analysis program graduates
      • Meet Julianna Merendino: Criminal justice graduate at Empire State University
      • Empire State University President featured on EdUp Xcelerated Excellence Podcast
      • Empire State University honors Class of 2024 in Manhattan ceremony
      • A Dedication to Public Service: Rhon Glasgow’s Journey At Empire State University
      • “Sometimes later is greater:” Jawana Carter-Richardson’s Decade of “Mastery”
      • In the News: Dean of School of Labor Studies featured in Non Profit Quarterly
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Manhattan Commencement Platform Party
      • Empire State University graduate recognized at Best of SUNY Art Exhibition
      • Director of Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning featured on Higher Ed Podcast
      • NYC Corrections Captain Graduates While Continuing to Serve and Inspire
      • Students from Dominican Republic to graduate in Manhattan
      • Empire State University honors class of 2024 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Taking experience to heart: Ashley Simms’ SUNY Empire story
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Rochester Commencement Platform Party
      • Following in her footsteps: Mace bearer and alumna to lead the way as daughter crosses the stage
      • “You don’t need sight to take flight:” Turning adversity into opportunity at Empire State University
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Albany
      • Meet Melissa Massari: Firefighter, EMT, and graduate at Empire State University
    • April
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Albany Commencement Platform Party
      • In the News: Veteran and Military Resource Center featured on CBS6
      • Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub
      • Inaugural Empire State University student awarded Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Empire State University’s Neurodiversity Club expands with teen group
      • Ask5: Opening career paths and changing the conversation
      • SUNY Empire alumnus killed in weekend shooting near Syracuse
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hosts eclipse viewing and presentation
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda induction
      • Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students
      • Four Empire State University students receive Bluebird Award
      • Raising Hope: Supporting children with autism through Bluepath
    • March
      • In the News: Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship featured on News10 ABC
      • Empire State University hires Hitesh Rai Kathuria as provost
      • Four Empire State University students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award
      • Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving
      • SUNY Empire announces Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship
    • February
      • Empire State University Announces Day of Giving, GO HIGHER FOR EMPIRE, On MARCH 21
      • Empire State University Hosts 47th Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
      • Empire State University Launches Innovative Virtual Food Pantry
      • SUNY Empire’s Xiomara Giordano Named To National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education
      • SUNY touts Empire State University’s success in interview
    • January
      • Empire State University awards prestigious Richard Porter Leach fellowships
      • SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term
      • Bessie Walker celebrates 50 years at Empire State University
      • Long Island Business Institute to cease operations; SUNY Empire offers teach-out

Behind the Scenes with Empire Online

September 15, 2025 by Catalina Irigoyen

Three smiling women in individual portraits above the Empire State University Empire Online logo with the text Behind the Scenes.

Ever wonder how Empire State University upholds excellence in online learning and sustains its virtual campus? Thanks to the work of the Empire Online team, which spans instructional design to multimedia technology, online courses run seamlessly, empowering students to take their education into their own hands.

“At SUNY Empire, online learning isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are,” says Christine Paige, executive director of Empire Online. “Our students rely on us to deliver a high-quality, flexible, and accessible education. With expertise spanning instructional design, multimedia production, accessibility, and technology, our 36-member Empire Online team ensures that our virtual campus runs seamlessly.”

In this feature, you’ll hear directly from Alena Rodick, director of learning design and solutions, Kylen Clark, associate director of instructional design, and Mariah Lamb, multimedia designer, about their roles, challenges, and inspiration. Their perspectives highlight the creativity, collaboration, and care that go into making SUNY Empire’s online learning experience a model of possibility, inclusivity, and innovation.

Empire Online Functions and Services with five icons: Instructional Design, Instructional Technology, Digital Accessibility, DLE Administration, and Visual Design & Production.

What does Empire Online contribute to the university?

Rodick: We are the backbone of our online course offerings. Our team includes instructional designers, instructional technologists, multimedia designers, accessibility coordinators, and Digital Learning Environment (DLE) administrators. It encompasses the comprehensive support of everything from designing our online courses, to revising them, and supporting them while they run. Through that, supporting our students and our faculty, [as well as] the technical aspects of the learning management system (LMS), which is our campus because we don’t have a physical campus. Another big part of our office is also making sure that everything we offer is accessible.

Clark: Accessibility is a key piece in our review of courses and ensuring that they’re universally designed for learning, and that every student has equitable access to courses. Our support is extensive, and we take pride in our work and make sure everyone on our team is on the same page as far as standards and best practices.

Rodick: One other part [is supporting] a lot of other university-wide projects. Everything from presenting at the Learning with Innovative Technology Conference (LIT) to supporting the Fall Academic Conference. We are there to do whatever is needed to advance the mission of this university.

What does a day in your life look like?

Lamb: Right now, I’m the sole multimedia designer on the team. I’m hopping from a couple different projects during the day. Right now, I’m working on editing video and audio for a tax course that explains to students how to use tax software.

I’ve also been working on a project for an artificial intelligence (AI) course that launched this fall. We’ve been experimenting with AI software, building videos, and doing voiceovers with AI audio.

Clark: I’m supervising instructional designers. [They] are handling multiple projects at any given time, especially the start of the fall term. We’re wrapping up course revision and development projects … looking at tickets, just trying to make sure everything is wrapped up and prepared for the term. We have working groups, like a ChatGPT working group looking at AI and course design, and a lot of different projects any given day that we try to spend some time working on.

Rodick: It’s different every day. A lot of meetings on various topics, because we’ve truly made our department more inclusive, making sure that we stay in touch with each other and we don’t operate in silos. We’ve built a lot of strong connections and collaborations with everyone from Student Support and Outreach, the library, and Decision Support. We participate in a lot of committees so we can better serve the whole university.

I’m a co-chair of the Pedagogy and Practice committee. This committee undertook important tasks such as creating a syllabus framework and developing our approach to meeting the Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) requirement, an approach that was later adopted and used by many other institutions. That committee continues to provide strong support for Empire Online in terms of best practices for pedagogy and communication.

We just received good news: we always make sure to submit presentation proposals for national conferences in our field, and one of the largest, most important organizations is the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). This fall is their biggest conference in Orlando, Florida. Our team members submitted five presentations, and we recently learned that all were accepted. This reflects the expertise and initiative across the team and showcases how we are conducting research, staying current, and contributing alongside other leaders in online education nationwide.

What is something you wish people knew about the work that you do?

Clark: The work, time, and research necessary to revise, develop, and support online courses. We consider feedback as well as data and research on best practices in instructional design as we work on courses. We work with faculty course developers and subject matter experts, academic coordinators, instructors, and other departments across the university.

It is good for everyone to have awareness of all the work and effort that goes into having these really great courses.

Lamb: Multimedia is underutilized. People don’t always realize how much it adds to a course. It helps diversify the content a bit, so you’re not just looking at blocks of text and reading. It changes up the content and makes it a little more interesting.

Rodick: I would say a lot! It makes it a lot more engaging.

Lamb: Sometimes, people think I’m a magic fairy godmother, just wave my wand and it’s done. It takes a lot of time—it’s not just uploading it. It’s doing a video, recording audio, editing it, then probably editing it again, doing the graphics and visuals for the video, placing the audio, exporting it… There are a lot more steps behind the scenes.

Rodick: One part that would be great is if people remember that true collaboration in this work is what we do. It’s the best thing we can do, because it improves the quality of the courses, supports for students … collaborating and being open to other perspectives always gives us a better result.

What is your favorite thing about online learning?

Rodick: When I had my first job at SUNY, I was exposed to online learning through collaborative online international learning (COIL) projects. That inspired me—just seeing what kind of possibilities and options online [learning] offers to students who are in different places, different countries, or they may have different responsibilities.

Many of our students have other, more important priorities, and we’re there to support them. That’s what, for me, “online” means. It means you still get the same quality, the same opportunities, education—and you can do it while living a life.

Clark: Knowing that we have well-designed courses, grounded in research, best practices, and feedback, I feel like it’s an opportunity for students as a whole.

Anyone can take an online course or program, but it’s also a great opportunity for us all because we’re able to bring all our research into these courses. We’re able to pack it full of these well-designed, wonderful things, and still reach everyone at that magnitude. It’s really rewarding.

Lamb: I really love that it’s accessible to everyone. It doesn’t matter where you are, if you have access to the internet, it’s accessible.

Rodick: Quite a few of us teach, too. When I’m in touch with my students, and I know they have families or other things, I’m able to connect with them at nighttime, on Sunday … I can respond and support them no matter when they have time to finally log in and do their homework.

What is a challenge you frequently face in your work, and how do you overcome it?

Rodick: Lack of time. There are always more meaningful projects than hours in the day. In our day-to-day work, the bigger hurdle has been the changes in our digital learning environments, especially during the years we were in the multi-tenant Brightspace system. Since moving into our own single tenant, many of those issues have been resolved. We’ve completed our first full term in this environment and are back on track. For example, we now have direct access to our data whenever we need it, which has helped us build our own capacity in analytics. That shift has been exciting, and now that things are stable, we can spend our time on the kinds of projects that really help our faculty teach and students learn.

Clark: The lack of time is the same for me, too. We have so many ideas and new technologies or new things that we want to test or try. When there are course needs that come in, they take priority. We make sure things are ready for the term.

Lamb: There’s always something new I want to learn, and projects keep rolling in. It’s just scheduling everything, making sure they’re done the best I can do them.

What is one way that you support universal design for learning (UDL) in your work?

Clark: We follow accessibility standards and ensure alternative text for graphics, captioned videos, etc. We go through the standards on our course-quality review checklist. Our biggest section is on accessibility and making sure things are universally designed.

Rodick: We just finished a process called priority accessibility reviews, and we received an award for excellence for this process. We are proactive in our work in terms of accessibility; we develop videos and images, paying attention to accessibility, color, contrast, and providing alternative options.

Some courses may ask students to observe something. If the student has a visual disability, that may present difficulties. Then, we need to work with the faculty member and find an alternative assessment or revise that one to work for everyone—make it a true UDL assessment.

Lamb: Ensuring everything is consistent and using alt text on images. I also make sure that there is sufficient color contrast and that text size is large enough to be usable to anyone using the content. It’s a lot of cross-checking minute details to make sure that it is UDL.

What is the most fulfilling part of your work at the Empire Online office?

Clark: Knowing that we are making such a big difference for students in the courses that we work on. We’re supportive, always helping and looking to train each other.

And every day there’s something new … all toward that ultimate goal of student success.

Lamb: I came from a background of agencies and big corporations, so I didn’t really love what I was doing because I wasn’t making an impact on anyone, just helping big companies make money. At Empire [State University], it’s incredible how many lives we’re able to touch with the work we’re doing. It was important to me to find a position like this where I can help students grow and improve their lives.

Rodick: I second that. I remember one student saying that faculty members and the university made him believe in himself, helped him complete the program, and opened doors and opportunities in his life.

If anyone wants to remind themselves of what we do as a university and how important it is, volunteer at one of the graduations. It’s really inspiring.

What is your secret weapon when online?

Lamb: Color checker and Deque University I utilize both anytime I have an accessibility question. They are both great accessibility resources.

Clark: I think accessibility resources are helpful for students, especially with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Empire Online Course Design Toolkit is good for anybody looking to design a course or training.

Rodick: I keep an eye on the Chronicle of Higher Education because they have a lot of good resources. We have a few members on different listservs through Educause.

University community members can reach out to the Empire Online team here, at the Empire Online Support Portal.

  • 2026

    • September
      • Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
      • A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both
      • Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy
      • ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 
      • Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2026
    • August
      • Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 
      • How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy
      • Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month
      • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education
      • Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost
    • July
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2026
      • Scholars Across the University Look Back on 2025-2026 Term
      • Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
      • Empire State University Partners with Premier Medical Group 
    • June
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May/June 2026
      • Five-Minute Feature: Michele Lee, Program Aide 
      • Alexander Yin to Join Empire State University as Vice President for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tara Clark, Admissions Advisor 
      • Prepared for the Future: Meet Public Health Student Ritzy Kisel 
      • Empire State University Honors Trailblazing Journalist Melba Tolliver With Honorary Degree 
      • Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students 
      • Albany Commencement Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma on Dispelling Self-Doubt
    • May
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony 
      • Spring Graduate Joseph Caroselli Is Building a Career on His Own Terms
      • Empire State University and TAVS USA Launch Skilling Partnership for Veterans and First Responders 
      • Three Empire State University Employees Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Empire State University Graduates Second Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Celebrating Spring 2026 Dual-Degree Graduates and Partnership Renewal with UNAPEC
      • Roadmap to Success: Meet Spring 2026 Graduate and Employee Gabby Damis
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
      • Commencement Corner: Elahni Ocean, Spring 2026 Graduate 
      • Student Speaker Robyn Guzman: Sowing, Growing, and Flowing at Empire State University
      • Rochester Student Speaker Jakeith Mosley: “What I’m Building Isn’t Just for Me Anymore”
      • Meet Tatiana Spikes, ABA Program Graduate 
      • Commencement Corner: Mizuho Johnson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: LaRoy Nelson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Director of CAARES and Associate Professor Noor Syed Shares Her Personal Journey to Advocacy
      • A Deep Dive with Noor Syed, Director of CAARES and Associate Professor
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Commencement Corner: Stephen Bernhardt, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: Brittany Stansfield, Spring 2026 Graduate 
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2026
      • CAARES and SSPL Partner to Create Welcoming Spaces in Local Community
      • Behind the Scenes with SUNY Empire’s Online Library
      • A Passion for the Planet: John L. Turner ’85
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor
      • Four Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Human Resources
      • Mother Works 84 Hours a Week While Earning Degree (in Spanish): “At SUNY Empire, It’s Possible”
      • Five-Minute Feature: Aley O’Mara, Program Associate and Training Coordinator for CAARES
      • Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Empire State University 
      • CAARES Helps Launch New Training to Support Neurodivergent SUNY Students 
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kristina Papa, Academic Learning Coach and Opportunity Programs Academic Support Specialist
      • Empire State University Student and Professor Co-Publish Article 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Five-Minute Feature: Griffin Fuetsch, Office Assistant 2 for the Office of Opportunity Programs
    • March
      • Laughing Matters: Professor Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams on Funny Women Inciting Change
      • Empire State University Announces Partnership with National Institute of Public Safety 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams, Professor of English and Author
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2 for the Office of Communications 
      • Cindy Bradley’s Chihuahua Inspired Research That Could Change Treatment for Epileptic Dogs
      • Empire State University Alum Wins Norman R. McConney Jr. Award 
      • Empire State University Educator Spotlights Multilingual Learners in New Children’s Book
      • Empire State University Student Leads Dancing Club for Older Adults 
      • Ginger Alvarez’s “Suitcase Full of Dreams”
      • Empire State University Partners with AMAT Healthcare Institute to Support Healthcare Workforce Development 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cherrelle Hall, Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
    • February
      • Behind the Scenes with the B.S. in Biology
      • Five-Minute Feature: Derrick Siler, President of the Black Male Initiative
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • The Public Affairs Playlist: Meet Professor Nadine Wedderburn
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Nadine Wedderburn, Professor of Public Affairs and Policy
      • Dentist Goes Back to School to Learn the Business Side: Angélica Farfan on Finding the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Winnie Yu, Director of Communications for Advancement and Community Engagement
      • SUNY Chancellor King Visits Empire State University to Highlight SUNY Military Tuition Rate Program  
      • Two Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Building Bridges Grant
      • Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
      • Get to Know Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Dean of the College of Education
      • A Deep Dive With Doug Gruse, Chief Marketing Officer
      • Behind the Scenes with Special Events 
    • January
      • Chief Marketing Officer Doug Gruse Talks Creativity Culture
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2026
      • Vjosa Musliu ’08: Growing Up in War
      • Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
      • Behind the Scenes with the Center for International Education
      • New Associate Provost Is Dedicated to Student Success
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
      • Empire State University Joins FutureReadyNYC Healthcare Pathway Accelerator to Create New Career Pathways for NYC Students 
      • Get to Know Julie Gedro, Dean of the College of Business
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Rumpf, Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education
      • Spanish BBA: One Year In
      • Empire State University Prioritizes Student Health Through Partnership with TimelyCare 
      • Get to Know Gina Torino, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Five-Minute Feature: Laurie Stanley, Assessment Specialist for the Office of International Education
  • 2025

    • December
      • Emmy-Winning Journalist Earns Degree at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s Most Notable Moments of 2025 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Jeremy Qvick ’22, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff
      • How University Photographer Joe O’Dea’s Calling Came Into Focus
      • A Deep Dive with Joe O’Dea, University Photographer
      • Five-Minute Feature: Taylor Allen, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • SUNY Empire and SUNY Orange Receive High-Needs Nursing Grant
      • Creating Positive Change: Grad Student Earns Degree in Social and Public Policy 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: December 2025
      • Empire State University Community Commemorates Wreaths Across America 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Joanna Succi, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Lauren Gaskins ’18, ’22: A Grandmother’s Inspiration
      • Learn More About College of Health and Human Services Dean Carol DeNysschen
      • Five-Minute Feature: Darryl Dangerfield, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Empire State University Foundation Acquires Historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs 
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 Winter Graduates in Albany Ceremonies 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of the Registrar
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Johanna Correa-Berry, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Meet Empire State University’s Winter 2025 Student Commencement Speakers 
    • November
      • A Deep Dive with Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: November 2025
      • Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center Honors Student Veterans During Veteran and Military Families Month 
      • Empire State University to Offer Scholarship for Firefighters 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Anne Sweet, Associate Director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto
      • Empire State University Announces Bluebird Award Recipients 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tom Wiese, Assistant Professor of Analytics
      • Empire State University’s Basic Needs Program Supports Students During SNAP Benefit Shortage  
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Veterans Business Council Scholarships 
      • Adam Grinvalsky ’21: Honoring New York’s Capital Region Veterans
      • Leading the Way in AI Literacy: Associate Professor Diane Shichtman
      • Five-Minute Feature: Matt Quinn, Veteran and Military Resource Center Manager
      • Golden Opportunity: Meet Bilingual Communications Specialist Catalina Irigoyen
    • October
      • Behind the Scenes with Information Technology Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025
      • Building Blocks: Libby Tsibulsky Talks Health and Wellness at SUNY Empire 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kevin Bane, Lead Digital Media Specialist
      • Adjunct Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cortés Pérez Reflects on the Spanish BBA
      • Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Andrew Hurd: From the Field to the Classroom
      • A Deep Dive with Andrew Hurd, Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity
      • SUNY Empire Honors 4 Outstanding Alumni  
      • Empire State University’s April Simmons Launches Text Campaign, Workshops to Motivate Students
      • Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cathy Coffinger, Technical Support Coordinator
      • Some Streams Connect Us All: Meet Adjunct Professor for the Spanish BBA Cristian Salazar
      • Empire State University Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Panel Discussions
      • Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer
      • A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes
      • Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology
      • Behind the Scenes: Digital Accessibility at SUNY Empire 
      • Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 
      • SUNY Empire Expands Military Grant to Include Veteran Spouses, Leads SUNY System in Military Support 
      • SUNY Empire Announces 2025 Alumni Award Winners 
    • September
      • Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach
      • SUNY Empire Alumni Gather for Second Lectures on Tap Event
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 
      • Faculty Expertise: Assistant Professor Njoki Mwarumba Shares Insights on Disaster Preparedness 
      • SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs
      • Behind the Scenes with Empire Online
      • Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 
      • Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths
      • ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Daniel Fogarty, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
      • Mindy Kronenberg Talks Writing, Brooklyn, and Taking Risks
      • A Deep Dive with Mindy Kronenberg: Poet, Editor, and Professor
      • Meet Luis Camacho, Academic Coordinator of the New Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 
      • Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain
      • Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Monaghan, Assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources
    • August
      • Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Mateo Carrera, Graphic Designer
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025
      • Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 
      • Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 
      • “Practicing What We Preach”: Empire State University professor launches free social justice textbook
      • Andrea Piazza and Pam Doran Talk NeuroDiverse Collective Employee Affinity Group
      • Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language
      • Behind the Screen: Bilingual Multimedia Technologist Irene Oramas Sosa
      • Reason & Respect Unplugged: National Civility Month 
      • Eight Empire State University Students Receive Inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship 
    • July
      • National Intern Day: The Latest on Career Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
      • Empire State University Hosts Alumni Day at the Races
      • Travel as a Cultural Gateway: Meet Kendra Elie, Bilingual Financial Aid Advisor
      • University Communications: Your Guide to Existing Platforms and Recent Changes
      • Empire State University and Brentwood High School Launch Groundbreaking Spanish-Language Initiative for High School Students
      • Empire State University Honors International Students in Series of Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Outgoing Scholars Across the University Look Back on a Year of Community Engagement 
      • Bridging Culture: Bilingual Student Support with Armando Flores
      • Ann Marie Scheidegger to Join SUNY Empire as Vice President for Administration and Finance
      • Discipline and Dedication: Carlos Aleman on Bilingual Empowerment
      • Veterans Tuition Award Opens Up New Possibilities for Veteran Students 
      • ODEI Explores Universal Design in Honor of Disability Pride Month
      • Empire State University Launches New Colleges, Welcomes Deans
    • June
      • Tzvi Simchon ’24: Keeping History Alive on Film
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025
      • Empowering New York: Empire State University’s Bold Academic Expansion
      • Empire State University Set to Launch Nine New Academic Programs This Fall 
      • In Spanish, Online, and On Your Time: Ronnie Rivera’s Trajectory as Spanish BBA Specialist
      • Empire State University Student Wins Best of SUNY Art Award 
      • Associate Professor Jim Robinson Reflects on 50 Years at Empire State University
      • Support and Advocacy: How Employee Affinity Groups Enrich Our University Community
      • Introducing the 2025-2026 Scholars Across the University 
      • ODEI Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with Stories from Empire State University Community
      • Empire State University Student Named Director of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
      • Love of Language: Perla Zamitiz on Being a Linguist and the Spanish BBA
    • May
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony 
      • Nominate an Outstanding Empire State University Graduate for an Alumni Award
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025
      • President Vollendorf Named Trailblazer in Higher Education For Second Consecutive Year
      • Finding Balance: Brittany Leibenguth’s Path to Graduation at Empire State University
      • Charting a New Course: A Graduate Student Discovers His Niche in Higher Ed
      • Perspective Shift: One Graduate’s Journey Through the ABA Program
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Kasie Roach: Navy Veteran and Victim Advocate Graduates from Empire State University
      • Seizing Opportunities: An Addiction Studies Grad Brings Her Skills to State Government
      • Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program
      • Clinic and Classroom: Meet Libby Miranda, ABA Program Graduate
      • ODEI Celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day with New Reason & Respect Format
      • Where Care and Career Intersect: Sara Luna’s Journey at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s New VP of HR Works to Uplift Employees
      • Five Empire State University Employees Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
      • Kamelyn Báez Peña on Empire State University’s Dual Degree Program and Keeping Your Culture Close
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Albany Ceremony 
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact
      • “New Inspiration”: A Transfer Student Finds Her Footing at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Graduates its First Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Committed to Care: Khavel Smith-Martin’s Journey in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
      • Alka Merlin ’08: Helping Others Find Their Way After Finding Her Own
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025
      • Empire’s Zeeva Bukai Explores Identity, Displacement, and Compassion in Debut Novel
      • Meet Zachary Madding, Empire’s New Capital Program and Sustainability Manager 
      • Meet Empire State University’s Inaugural AI Fellows 
      • Office for Advancement Hosts Earth Day Walk
      • Building Relationships: A Look at CAARES’ Peer2Peer Student Connection Program 
      • Empire State University Dual Degree Program Hosts Residency in the Dominican Republic
      • Breaking Language Barriers with Machine Translation at Empire State University
      • Phylisha Villanueva ’23: A Poet With Purpose
      • Empire’s Textbook Affordability Initiative Boosts Student Success
      • Empire’s Civil and Revolutionary War Residencies Bring History to Life 
      • Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning
      • CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community 
      • Four Empire State University Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Liv Thygesen on Equitable Education at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Named a School of National Service
      • Alumni Demonstrate SUNY Empire Pride at Annual Meeting
      • SUNY Empire Alumna Raises Awareness of Huntington’s Disease
    • March
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025
      • Professor Emeritus Dorothy Burnham Celebrates 110th Birthday
      • Claire Ziamandanis on Loving Linguistics and Empire State University’s Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University Student Wins 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 
      • VMRC Intern Stephen Szczurko-Walton Creates Community for Military-Affiliated Students
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda
      • ODEI Launches Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program
      • Paul Muccigrosso ’12: A Lifetime of Helping Veterans
      • International Women’s Day Event Celebrates Empire’s Zülal Balpinar
      • Meaningful Marketing: Get To Know Empire State University’s Brenda Manra
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Receives Women of Excellence Award 
      • Raul Manzano Honored at College of the Sequoias Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • A Deep Dive with Raul Manzano: Featured Artist Honored at Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • Empire State University’s Associate Degree Initiative Uplifts Student Goals
    • February
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025
      • Gedro Receives R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award 
      • President Vollendorf Named to Board of Directors for Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
      • Culture and Community: Meet Bilingual IT Specialist Lyanne Garcia-Boswell
      • ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse
      • SUNY Empire Partners with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to Empower Emerging Managers and Leaders 
      • María Vega on Language as a Launchpad for Connection
      • OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access
    • January
      • Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement
      • Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs Named College of Education Dean 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025
      • Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 
      • 1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion
      • Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  
      • Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 
      • Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University
      • Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 
      • Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  
      • Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish
  • 2024

    • December
      • Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review
      • Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights
      • SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America
      • Center for International Education Hosts Residency for Students in Turkey and Lebanon
      • Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing Completes Pilot of Management and Leadership Training Program
      • Empire State University starts NeuroDiverse Collective support group  
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2024 in Winter Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Michele Paterson explores a career of helping others through applied behavior analysis program
      • SUNY Empire graduate works as disability advocate and volunteer
      • Meet Htein Naing: Graduate Balancing Space Force Service, Studies, and Family 
      • SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students
      • SUNY Empire grad combines education with work experience to make most of degree
      • Empire State University graduate finds new purpose in military service  
      • Side by Side to Success: Twin sisters achieve bachelor’s degrees at 19 
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction 
      • Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  
      • Empire State University launches new merch site  
      • Empowering Future Educators: Teacher Opportunity Corps Strengthens Pathways for Teacher Recruitment  
    • November
      • Vollendorf Named to Presidents Forum Governing Board
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Nov. 2024
      • Meet Lorraine Williams: Empire State University’s 100,000th alum  
      • Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni 
      • SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center marks one year at SUNY Empire 
      • Panel highlights international connection through virtual programming  
      • Graduate Student published in Confluence for hiking research 
      • SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs see largest enrollment on record 
      • SUNY Empire student premiered docuseries on breast cancer and healthcare inequity  
      • Empire State University Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Veterans Tuition Awards Program
      • 76-year-old student embraces military and veteran opportunity program to earn degree
      • Empire State University welcomes students at Fall Student Conference  
      • Ed.D. student invited to White House, highlighting National Partnership for Student Success  
      • Empire State University honors heroes in Veteran’s Month event 
    • October
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024
      • President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast
      • Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  
      • SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  
      • Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  
      • Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 
      • Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 
      • Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 
      • Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  
      • President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum
      • Regalia provided to students through Student Activity Fund  
      • Fall Academic Conference focuses on artificial intelligence in education 
      • Labor Professor named external faculty associate of Global Labor Research Center
      • Second Blue Mascot available to SUNY Empire Community
      • AI Awareness Week brings artificial intelligence to forefront of higher education
      • President Lisa Vollendorf featured on Look Media This Week
      • Associate Professor publishes book on Indigenous dispossession in US history
      • Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 
      • Empire State University to host talk with Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
    • September
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Sept. 2024
      • Professor, students team up for study on Cameo and fan-celebrity relationships
      • Blue Bird Award nominations now open
      • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado speaks to university community ahead of election 
      • School of Nursing Dean to deliver keynote speech for New York Community College Trustees Conference
      • Empire State University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Professor Tom Mackey to keynote XI Simposio Internacional
      • Chief Diversity Officer named to board of National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
      • 88-year-old student embraces love for filmmaking in pursuit of college degree
      • Charles Biasiny-Riviera ’90: Remembering a Photographer Who Documented Latino Life
      • Alumnus, adjunct professor’s academic journey puts justice, equity, and inclusion at the forefront
      • President Vollendorf featured on Presidents Forum
      • Assistant Professor to partner with Strong Museum for Dungeons & Dragons exhibit opening
      • CAARES holds Neurodivergent in College series
      • Assistant Professor teaches AI risks, scam awareness to Malta seniors
      • SUNY Empire Dean offers insight in new book with “Vanderpump Rules” star
      • SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018
      • Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon
      • Empire State University’s Center for International Education awarded grant for DEI Education in Lebanon
      • Labor Professor publishes new book on U.S. labor and foreign policy
    • August
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Aug. 2024
      • Professor featured in Billboard, discusses fan-artist relationships
      • An Era of Service and Scholarship: Alan Mandell retires after 50-year career at SUNY Empire
      • SUNY Empire President highlights university’s bright future in State of the University
      • SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
      • Melissa Wells featured in The Academic Minute
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
      • Edwin Lee Gibson ’12: Finding fame on “The Bear”
      • Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange
      • Assistant Professor of addiction studies featured on Academic Minute
      • Charles Infurna named Empire State University’s 2024-25 PRODiG+ Fellow
      • Educational Studies Department Chair awarded SUNY/New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development Grant
      • “Fandoms in the Classroom:” Transforming education through student interests
      • Professor publishes book on immigrants and refugees in German universities
      • Herbert Covington Co-Authors Study Unveiling the Epigenetic Impact of Stress on Antidepressant Response
    • July
      • Empire State University recognized by SUNY for promoting student success
      • 15-year-old SUNY Empire student aims to shape education for next generation
      • Textbooks for Students Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
      • Ed.D. student researches what contributes to Latinx student experience
      • School of Business professor honored with award from International Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce U.S.
      • SUNY Empire mourns alumnus who founded feminist arts school
      • Meet the 2024-2025 Scholars Across the University
      • Empire State University students graduate from international programs
      • Maureen Kroning named interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health
      • Empire State University launches new SUNY Empire News website
      • SUNY Empire’s innovative nursing partnership featured on News10 ABC, Hudson Valley Press
      • 2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research
      • Empire State University launches 2+2 Nursing Program with Rockland Community College
      • Empire State University to host 9th annual Learning with Innovative Technology Conference
      • Labor professor interviewed on Business Insider
      • Empire State University closes Hartsdale location, moves to Westchester Community College
      • Unlocking history: Inside the Empire State University archives
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Prague
      • Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in higher education
    • June
      • Breaking the mold: Meet SUNY Empire’s 77-year-old graduate
      • Assistant Professor receives National Science Foundation award for SUNY Empire-led research initiative
      • President Lisa Vollendorf recognized by City & State, named Trailblazer in Higher Education 
      • Empire State University’s annual Juneteenth event is a success
      • School of Human Services holds DEIBSJ retreat in Albany
      • In the News: Labor professor interviewed on Marketplace about university strikes
      • Unions support Communities Across New York through Empire State University
      • Professor’s research sheds light on missing LGBTQ+ people across Europe
      • Empire State University students graduate at Fort Drum
      • Nursing professor to be published in Nursing Research
    • May
      • Behind the ink: Inside the Empire State University print shop
      • Empire State University announces SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients
      • First cohort of Applied Behavior Analysis program graduates
      • Meet Julianna Merendino: Criminal justice graduate at Empire State University
      • Empire State University President featured on EdUp Xcelerated Excellence Podcast
      • Empire State University honors Class of 2024 in Manhattan ceremony
      • A Dedication to Public Service: Rhon Glasgow’s Journey At Empire State University
      • “Sometimes later is greater:” Jawana Carter-Richardson’s Decade of “Mastery”
      • In the News: Dean of School of Labor Studies featured in Non Profit Quarterly
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Manhattan Commencement Platform Party
      • Empire State University graduate recognized at Best of SUNY Art Exhibition
      • Director of Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning featured on Higher Ed Podcast
      • NYC Corrections Captain Graduates While Continuing to Serve and Inspire
      • Students from Dominican Republic to graduate in Manhattan
      • Empire State University honors class of 2024 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Taking experience to heart: Ashley Simms’ SUNY Empire story
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Rochester Commencement Platform Party
      • Following in her footsteps: Mace bearer and alumna to lead the way as daughter crosses the stage
      • “You don’t need sight to take flight:” Turning adversity into opportunity at Empire State University
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Albany
      • Meet Melissa Massari: Firefighter, EMT, and graduate at Empire State University
    • April
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Albany Commencement Platform Party
      • In the News: Veteran and Military Resource Center featured on CBS6
      • Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub
      • Inaugural Empire State University student awarded Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Empire State University’s Neurodiversity Club expands with teen group
      • Ask5: Opening career paths and changing the conversation
      • SUNY Empire alumnus killed in weekend shooting near Syracuse
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hosts eclipse viewing and presentation
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda induction
      • Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students
      • Four Empire State University students receive Bluebird Award
      • Raising Hope: Supporting children with autism through Bluepath
    • March
      • In the News: Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship featured on News10 ABC
      • Empire State University hires Hitesh Rai Kathuria as provost
      • Four Empire State University students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award
      • Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving
      • SUNY Empire announces Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship
    • February
      • Empire State University Announces Day of Giving, GO HIGHER FOR EMPIRE, On MARCH 21
      • Empire State University Hosts 47th Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
      • Empire State University Launches Innovative Virtual Food Pantry
      • SUNY Empire’s Xiomara Giordano Named To National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education
      • SUNY touts Empire State University’s success in interview
    • January
      • Empire State University awards prestigious Richard Porter Leach fellowships
      • SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term
      • Bessie Walker celebrates 50 years at Empire State University
      • Long Island Business Institute to cease operations; SUNY Empire offers teach-out

Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths

September 12, 2025 by Catalina Irigoyen

Smiling woman in glasses and pink blazer next to SUNY Empire News logo.

In early 2025, Claudia Lovegrove joined Empire State University as an assistant professor of business for the new Spanish Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program. Drawn in by the university’s commitment to flexible and accessible higher education, particularly for adult learners and diverse communities, she saw an opportunity for her work to reflect her values while teaching in her native language.

Lovegrove’s academic trajectory includes a bachelor’s degree in communications and advertising, a master’s degree in marketing with a specialization in communications, and a doctorate in marketing. Her time in academia founded her interest in studying consumer behaviors and intercultural dynamics, which set her on the path to her current role at SUNY Empire.

“My approach integrates practical experience with a strong foundation in academic theory. I can prepare my students for today’s global business challenges,” she says. With over a decade of marketing and market research experience focusing on Latin America, the United States, and Europe, her style in the classroom draws from both books and concrete experiences.

“Being in different cultures … gave me the experience to teach in this field. Teaching became an extension of my passion for knowledge.” Her focus on diverse locations created a nuanced understanding of how marketing operates across contexts, which provides her students with a more global understanding of the field.

Lovegrove was born in Manta, Ecuador, which is a coastal city, and is currently based in Seattle. She holds her culture close, making sure there is no shortage of Ecuadorian cooking on the days in which she feels homesick. She welcomes the opportunity to teach in Spanish, saying: “Being bilingual is not just a linguistic ability—it allows me to teach and learn across cultures, to listen deeply and communicate with authenticity.”

The value in having a Spanish-language business program lies in its ability to reach more learners, particularly those who may have felt unable to make the most of a learning experience had it not been in their native language. “Teaching in Spanish helps reach that gap and fosters academic participation,” comments Lovegrove.

The Spanish BBA is an initiative that Lovegrove strongly believes in—the first program taught entirely in Spanish within the SUNY system, which blends business fundamentals with cultural nuances that prepare its students for relevant, real-life scenarios. “Languages should not be a barrier to success—this program opens opportunities [for its graduates] to contribute to their communities,” Lovegrove notes, highlighting the program’s aim to promote upward mobility for Spanish speakers by removing the language barrier. “This is something groundbreaking, an opportunity and a hope for people who want to advance in their careers,” she says.

To current and future students of the Spanish BBA, Lovegrove says: “Sometimes learning in our first language doesn’t mean we are limiting ourselves, it means we are building on a strong foundation.” She encourages learners to embrace their strengths, and to lean on the resources that the program offers, such as multicultural and multilingual education, international faculty experts, and wraparound bilingual services such as financial aid guidance and tutoring. “This program fosters critical thinking and a deeper understanding of business systems. It will open doors in corporate and academic settings,” Lovegrove explains.

She is honored to be at the vanguard of bilingual higher education in the state of New York, and will continue to champion inclusive, empowering education. Lovegrove remains “committed to supporting the students who may not always feel represented in traditional educational spaces.”

  • 2026

    • September
      • Meet Alex Yin, Empire’s New VP for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
      • A-Side Corporate; B-Side Community: Empire Alumna Tayrin Tapia, Founder of Latinas Evolving, Mixes Both
      • Uniting Through Our Mission: New Provost Matthew Liao-Troth’s Leadership Philosophy
      • ODEI Launches New Skill-Building Series 
      • Introducing the 2026-2027 Scholars Across the University 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2026
    • August
      • Graduate Student Slated to Present at Upcoming Conference 
      • How Empire Helps Alumni and Employees Leave a Lasting Legacy
      • Reason & Respect: Celebrating National Civility Month
      • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein Appointed Empire’s Inaugural Director of General Education
      • Empire State University Announces Matthew Liao-Troth as Provost
    • July
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2026
      • Scholars Across the University Look Back on 2025-2026 Term
      • Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarships
      • Empire State University Partners with Premier Medical Group 
    • June
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May/June 2026
      • Five-Minute Feature: Michele Lee, Program Aide 
      • Alexander Yin to Join Empire State University as Vice President for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tara Clark, Admissions Advisor 
      • Prepared for the Future: Meet Public Health Student Ritzy Kisel 
      • Empire State University Honors Trailblazing Journalist Melba Tolliver With Honorary Degree 
      • Dean’s Medal Awarded to Nine Empire State University Students 
      • Albany Commencement Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma on Dispelling Self-Doubt
    • May
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony 
      • Spring Graduate Joseph Caroselli Is Building a Career on His Own Terms
      • Empire State University and TAVS USA Launch Skilling Partnership for Veterans and First Responders 
      • Three Empire State University Employees Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Empire State University Graduates Second Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Celebrating Spring 2026 Dual-Degree Graduates and Partnership Renewal with UNAPEC
      • Roadmap to Success: Meet Spring 2026 Graduate and Employee Gabby Damis
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
      • Commencement Corner: Elahni Ocean, Spring 2026 Graduate 
      • Student Speaker Robyn Guzman: Sowing, Growing, and Flowing at Empire State University
      • Rochester Student Speaker Jakeith Mosley: “What I’m Building Isn’t Just for Me Anymore”
      • Meet Tatiana Spikes, ABA Program Graduate 
      • Commencement Corner: Mizuho Johnson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: LaRoy Nelson, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Director of CAARES and Associate Professor Noor Syed Shares Her Personal Journey to Advocacy
      • A Deep Dive with Noor Syed, Director of CAARES and Associate Professor
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Commencement Corner: Stephen Bernhardt, Spring 2026 Graduate
      • Commencement Corner: Brittany Stansfield, Spring 2026 Graduate 
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2026
      • CAARES and SSPL Partner to Create Welcoming Spaces in Local Community
      • Behind the Scenes with SUNY Empire’s Online Library
      • A Passion for the Planet: John L. Turner ’85
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lauren Allen, Assistant Director for CAARES & Assistant Professor
      • Four Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Human Resources
      • Mother Works 84 Hours a Week While Earning Degree (in Spanish): “At SUNY Empire, It’s Possible”
      • Five-Minute Feature: Aley O’Mara, Program Associate and Training Coordinator for CAARES
      • Charles R. Wood Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Empire State University 
      • CAARES Helps Launch New Training to Support Neurodivergent SUNY Students 
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kristina Papa, Academic Learning Coach and Opportunity Programs Academic Support Specialist
      • Empire State University Student and Professor Co-Publish Article 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Five-Minute Feature: Griffin Fuetsch, Office Assistant 2 for the Office of Opportunity Programs
    • March
      • Laughing Matters: Professor Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams on Funny Women Inciting Change
      • Empire State University Announces Partnership with National Institute of Public Safety 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Sabrina Fuchs-Abrams, Professor of English and Author
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2 for the Office of Communications 
      • Cindy Bradley’s Chihuahua Inspired Research That Could Change Treatment for Epileptic Dogs
      • Empire State University Alum Wins Norman R. McConney Jr. Award 
      • Empire State University Educator Spotlights Multilingual Learners in New Children’s Book
      • Empire State University Student Leads Dancing Club for Older Adults 
      • Ginger Alvarez’s “Suitcase Full of Dreams”
      • Empire State University Partners with AMAT Healthcare Institute to Support Healthcare Workforce Development 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cherrelle Hall, Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
    • February
      • Behind the Scenes with the B.S. in Biology
      • Five-Minute Feature: Derrick Siler, President of the Black Male Initiative
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • The Public Affairs Playlist: Meet Professor Nadine Wedderburn
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2026
      • A Deep Dive with Nadine Wedderburn, Professor of Public Affairs and Policy
      • Dentist Goes Back to School to Learn the Business Side: Angélica Farfan on Finding the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Winnie Yu, Director of Communications for Advancement and Community Engagement
      • SUNY Chancellor King Visits Empire State University to Highlight SUNY Military Tuition Rate Program  
      • Two Empire State University Students Receive SUNY Building Bridges Grant
      • Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
      • Get to Know Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs, Dean of the College of Education
      • A Deep Dive With Doug Gruse, Chief Marketing Officer
      • Behind the Scenes with Special Events 
    • January
      • Chief Marketing Officer Doug Gruse Talks Creativity Culture
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2026
      • Vjosa Musliu ’08: Growing Up in War
      • Five-Minute Feature: Katie Meyers, Office Assistant for Accounting Services
      • Behind the Scenes with the Center for International Education
      • New Associate Provost Is Dedicated to Student Success
      • Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
      • Empire State University Joins FutureReadyNYC Healthcare Pathway Accelerator to Create New Career Pathways for NYC Students 
      • Get to Know Julie Gedro, Dean of the College of Business
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Rumpf, Administrative Assistant for the Office of International Education
      • Spanish BBA: One Year In
      • Empire State University Prioritizes Student Health Through Partnership with TimelyCare 
      • Get to Know Gina Torino, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Five-Minute Feature: Laurie Stanley, Assessment Specialist for the Office of International Education
  • 2025

    • December
      • Emmy-Winning Journalist Earns Degree at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s Most Notable Moments of 2025 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Jeremy Qvick ’22, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • VMRC Launches New Professional Development Series for Faculty, Staff
      • How University Photographer Joe O’Dea’s Calling Came Into Focus
      • A Deep Dive with Joe O’Dea, University Photographer
      • Five-Minute Feature: Taylor Allen, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • SUNY Empire and SUNY Orange Receive High-Needs Nursing Grant
      • Creating Positive Change: Grad Student Earns Degree in Social and Public Policy 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: December 2025
      • Empire State University Community Commemorates Wreaths Across America 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Joanna Succi, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Lauren Gaskins ’18, ’22: A Grandmother’s Inspiration
      • Learn More About College of Health and Human Services Dean Carol DeNysschen
      • Five-Minute Feature: Darryl Dangerfield, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Empire State University Foundation Acquires Historic Clarke House in Saratoga Springs 
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 Winter Graduates in Albany Ceremonies 
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of the Registrar
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Johanna Correa-Berry, Winter 2025 Graduate
      • Meet Empire State University’s Winter 2025 Student Commencement Speakers 
    • November
      • A Deep Dive with Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: November 2025
      • Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center Honors Student Veterans During Veteran and Military Families Month 
      • Empire State University to Offer Scholarship for Firefighters 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Anne Sweet, Associate Director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center
      • Investing in Education with Adjunct Professor of Macroeconomics Karla Soria Barreto
      • Empire State University Announces Bluebird Award Recipients 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Tom Wiese, Assistant Professor of Analytics
      • Empire State University’s Basic Needs Program Supports Students During SNAP Benefit Shortage  
      • Empire State University Students Awarded Veterans Business Council Scholarships 
      • Adam Grinvalsky ’21: Honoring New York’s Capital Region Veterans
      • Leading the Way in AI Literacy: Associate Professor Diane Shichtman
      • Five-Minute Feature: Matt Quinn, Veteran and Military Resource Center Manager
      • Golden Opportunity: Meet Bilingual Communications Specialist Catalina Irigoyen
    • October
      • Behind the Scenes with Information Technology Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025
      • Building Blocks: Libby Tsibulsky Talks Health and Wellness at SUNY Empire 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Kevin Bane, Lead Digital Media Specialist
      • Adjunct Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cortés Pérez Reflects on the Spanish BBA
      • Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Andrew Hurd: From the Field to the Classroom
      • A Deep Dive with Andrew Hurd, Assistant Professor of Information Technology and Cybersecurity
      • SUNY Empire Honors 4 Outstanding Alumni  
      • Empire State University’s April Simmons Launches Text Campaign, Workshops to Motivate Students
      • Adjunct Professor Jorge Martín Diez on Full-Circle Moments, Sharing, and the Spanish BBA
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cathy Coffinger, Technical Support Coordinator
      • Some Streams Connect Us All: Meet Adjunct Professor for the Spanish BBA Cristian Salazar
      • Empire State University Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through Panel Discussions
      • Five-Minute Feature: Todd Myles, Information Security Officer
      • A Recipe for Memory: Hispanic Heritage as Told Through Cultural Dishes
      • Five-Minute Feature: Audeliz Matias, Professor of Geology
      • Behind the Scenes: Digital Accessibility at SUNY Empire 
      • Empire State University Receives $90,000 Grant from Dyson Foundation 
      • SUNY Empire Expands Military Grant to Include Veteran Spouses, Leads SUNY System in Military Support 
      • SUNY Empire Announces 2025 Alumni Award Winners 
    • September
      • Five-Minute Feature: Alejandro Galindo, Assistant Director for Corporate Partnerships
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
      • Behind the Scenes with the Office of Student Support and Outreach
      • SUNY Empire Alumni Gather for Second Lectures on Tap Event
      • Five-Minute Feature: Cynthia Flax, Adjunct Lecturer for Spanish 
      • Faculty Expertise: Assistant Professor Njoki Mwarumba Shares Insights on Disaster Preparedness 
      • SEDC President Greg Connors Joins University Council  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Nicholas Mendez, Assistant Director of the Empire Promise Program, Presidential Scholars, and Military Veteran Opportunity Programs
      • Behind the Scenes with Empire Online
      • Empire State University Kicks off Regional Event Series in Rochester 
      • Assistant Professor for the Spanish BBA Claudia Lovegrove on Playing to One’s Strengths
      • ECMC Foundation Awards Grant to Empire State University  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Daniel Fogarty, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing
      • Mindy Kronenberg Talks Writing, Brooklyn, and Taking Risks
      • A Deep Dive with Mindy Kronenberg: Poet, Editor, and Professor
      • Meet Luis Camacho, Academic Coordinator of the New Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University’s Enrollment Increases for Fourth Year in a Row 
      • Mark Maio ’92: Going Against the Grain
      • Empire State University Kicks off Month-Long Student Parent Celebration  
      • Five-Minute Feature: Rebecca Monaghan, Assistant to the Vice President of Human Resources
    • August
      • Empire State University Welcomes First Dean of Students 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Mateo Carrera, Graphic Designer
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025
      • Empire State University Partners with Sophia Learning to Expand Access to Higher Education 
      • Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 
      • Special Project Fund Awardees Announced 
      • “Practicing What We Preach”: Empire State University professor launches free social justice textbook
      • Andrea Piazza and Pam Doran Talk NeuroDiverse Collective Employee Affinity Group
      • Melissa Fiori on Creating an Inclusive Culture Through Language
      • Behind the Screen: Bilingual Multimedia Technologist Irene Oramas Sosa
      • Reason & Respect Unplugged: National Civility Month 
      • Eight Empire State University Students Receive Inaugural SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship 
    • July
      • National Intern Day: The Latest on Career Services
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
      • Empire State University Hosts Alumni Day at the Races
      • Travel as a Cultural Gateway: Meet Kendra Elie, Bilingual Financial Aid Advisor
      • University Communications: Your Guide to Existing Platforms and Recent Changes
      • Empire State University and Brentwood High School Launch Groundbreaking Spanish-Language Initiative for High School Students
      • Empire State University Honors International Students in Series of Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Outgoing Scholars Across the University Look Back on a Year of Community Engagement 
      • Bridging Culture: Bilingual Student Support with Armando Flores
      • Ann Marie Scheidegger to Join SUNY Empire as Vice President for Administration and Finance
      • Discipline and Dedication: Carlos Aleman on Bilingual Empowerment
      • Veterans Tuition Award Opens Up New Possibilities for Veteran Students 
      • ODEI Explores Universal Design in Honor of Disability Pride Month
      • Empire State University Launches New Colleges, Welcomes Deans
    • June
      • Tzvi Simchon ’24: Keeping History Alive on Film
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025
      • Empowering New York: Empire State University’s Bold Academic Expansion
      • Empire State University Set to Launch Nine New Academic Programs This Fall 
      • In Spanish, Online, and On Your Time: Ronnie Rivera’s Trajectory as Spanish BBA Specialist
      • Empire State University Student Wins Best of SUNY Art Award 
      • Associate Professor Jim Robinson Reflects on 50 Years at Empire State University
      • Support and Advocacy: How Employee Affinity Groups Enrich Our University Community
      • Introducing the 2025-2026 Scholars Across the University 
      • ODEI Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with Stories from Empire State University Community
      • Empire State University Student Named Director of Veteran and Military Services at SUNY New Paltz
      • Love of Language: Perla Zamitiz on Being a Linguist and the Spanish BBA
    • May
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony 
      • Nominate an Outstanding Empire State University Graduate for an Alumni Award
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025
      • President Vollendorf Named Trailblazer in Higher Education For Second Consecutive Year
      • Finding Balance: Brittany Leibenguth’s Path to Graduation at Empire State University
      • Charting a New Course: A Graduate Student Discovers His Niche in Higher Ed
      • Perspective Shift: One Graduate’s Journey Through the ABA Program
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Manhattan Ceremonies 
      • Kasie Roach: Navy Veteran and Victim Advocate Graduates from Empire State University
      • Seizing Opportunities: An Addiction Studies Grad Brings Her Skills to State Government
      • Empire State University Graduates First Cohort in New Sonography Program
      • Clinic and Classroom: Meet Libby Miranda, ABA Program Graduate
      • ODEI Celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation Day with New Reason & Respect Format
      • Where Care and Career Intersect: Sara Luna’s Journey at Empire State University
      • Empire State University’s New VP of HR Works to Uplift Employees
      • Five Empire State University Employees Receive Prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Awards
      • Kamelyn Báez Peña on Empire State University’s Dual Degree Program and Keeping Your Culture Close
      • Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Albany Ceremony 
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact
      • “New Inspiration”: A Transfer Student Finds Her Footing at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Graduates its First Ed.D. Cohort 
      • Committed to Care: Khavel Smith-Martin’s Journey in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • The Bravery of Beginning: Spring 2025 Commencement Student Voices
      • Alka Merlin ’08: Helping Others Find Their Way After Finding Her Own
    • April
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025
      • Empire’s Zeeva Bukai Explores Identity, Displacement, and Compassion in Debut Novel
      • Meet Zachary Madding, Empire’s New Capital Program and Sustainability Manager 
      • Meet Empire State University’s Inaugural AI Fellows 
      • Office for Advancement Hosts Earth Day Walk
      • Building Relationships: A Look at CAARES’ Peer2Peer Student Connection Program 
      • Empire State University Dual Degree Program Hosts Residency in the Dominican Republic
      • Breaking Language Barriers with Machine Translation at Empire State University
      • Phylisha Villanueva ’23: A Poet With Purpose
      • Empire’s Textbook Affordability Initiative Boosts Student Success
      • Empire’s Civil and Revolutionary War Residencies Bring History to Life 
      • Taking Education Outside with Professor Dan Nyaronga: The Importance of Experiential Learning
      • CAARES Celebrates Neurodiversity with April Events for University Community 
      • Four Empire State University Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award 
      • Liv Thygesen on Equitable Education at Empire State University
      • Empire State University Named a School of National Service
      • Alumni Demonstrate SUNY Empire Pride at Annual Meeting
      • SUNY Empire Alumna Raises Awareness of Huntington’s Disease
    • March
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025
      • Professor Emeritus Dorothy Burnham Celebrates 110th Birthday
      • Claire Ziamandanis on Loving Linguistics and Empire State University’s Spanish BBA
      • Empire State University Student Wins 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Western New York Scholarship Helps More Students Complete Their Degree 
      • VMRC Intern Stephen Szczurko-Walton Creates Community for Military-Affiliated Students
      • Empire State University Students Inducted Into Alpha Sigma Lambda
      • ODEI Launches Duolingo Spanish Language Learning Pilot Program
      • Paul Muccigrosso ’12: A Lifetime of Helping Veterans
      • International Women’s Day Event Celebrates Empire’s Zülal Balpinar
      • Meaningful Marketing: Get To Know Empire State University’s Brenda Manra
      • President Lisa Vollendorf Receives Women of Excellence Award 
      • Raul Manzano Honored at College of the Sequoias Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • A Deep Dive with Raul Manzano: Featured Artist Honored at Human Rights Art Exhibition
      • Empire State University’s Associate Degree Initiative Uplifts Student Goals
    • February
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025
      • Gedro Receives R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award 
      • President Vollendorf Named to Board of Directors for Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
      • Culture and Community: Meet Bilingual IT Specialist Lyanne Garcia-Boswell
      • ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse
      • SUNY Empire Partners with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce to Empower Emerging Managers and Leaders 
      • María Vega on Language as a Launchpad for Connection
      • OAA and ITS Launch Student Chromebook Pilot Initiative to Increase Tech Access
    • January
      • Veronica Fitzgerald Appointed VP for Advancement
      • Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs Named College of Education Dean 
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025
      • Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 
      • 1Stop’s Allwyn Avalos on Language as a Tool for Inclusion
      • Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  
      • Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 
      • Stephanie Santos-Nieves on Building Bridges at Empire State University
      • Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 
      • Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  
      • Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish
  • 2024

    • December
      • Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review
      • Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights
      • SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America
      • Center for International Education Hosts Residency for Students in Turkey and Lebanon
      • Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing Completes Pilot of Management and Leadership Training Program
      • Empire State University starts NeuroDiverse Collective support group  
      • Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2024 in Winter Commencement Ceremonies 
      • Michele Paterson explores a career of helping others through applied behavior analysis program
      • SUNY Empire graduate works as disability advocate and volunteer
      • Meet Htein Naing: Graduate Balancing Space Force Service, Studies, and Family 
      • SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students
      • SUNY Empire grad combines education with work experience to make most of degree
      • Empire State University graduate finds new purpose in military service  
      • Side by Side to Success: Twin sisters achieve bachelor’s degrees at 19 
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda Induction 
      • Virtual Food Pantry works to serve students facing food insecurity  
      • Empire State University launches new merch site  
      • Empowering Future Educators: Teacher Opportunity Corps Strengthens Pathways for Teacher Recruitment  
    • November
      • Vollendorf Named to Presidents Forum Governing Board
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Nov. 2024
      • Meet Lorraine Williams: Empire State University’s 100,000th alum  
      • Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni 
      • SUNY Empire’s Director of Spanish Language Programs is Featured Panelist at International Multilingual Creative Writing Conference 2024
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center marks one year at SUNY Empire 
      • Panel highlights international connection through virtual programming  
      • Graduate Student published in Confluence for hiking research 
      • SUNY Empire’s opportunity programs see largest enrollment on record 
      • SUNY Empire student premiered docuseries on breast cancer and healthcare inequity  
      • Empire State University Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Veterans Tuition Awards Program
      • 76-year-old student embraces military and veteran opportunity program to earn degree
      • Empire State University welcomes students at Fall Student Conference  
      • Ed.D. student invited to White House, highlighting National Partnership for Student Success  
      • Empire State University honors heroes in Veteran’s Month event 
    • October
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024
      • President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast
      • Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  
      • SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  
      • Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  
      • Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 
      • Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 
      • Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 
      • Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  
      • President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum
      • Regalia provided to students through Student Activity Fund  
      • Fall Academic Conference focuses on artificial intelligence in education 
      • Labor Professor named external faculty associate of Global Labor Research Center
      • Second Blue Mascot available to SUNY Empire Community
      • AI Awareness Week brings artificial intelligence to forefront of higher education
      • President Lisa Vollendorf featured on Look Media This Week
      • Associate Professor publishes book on Indigenous dispossession in US history
      • Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 
      • Empire State University to host talk with Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
    • September
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Sept. 2024
      • Professor, students team up for study on Cameo and fan-celebrity relationships
      • Blue Bird Award nominations now open
      • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado speaks to university community ahead of election 
      • School of Nursing Dean to deliver keynote speech for New York Community College Trustees Conference
      • Empire State University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Professor Tom Mackey to keynote XI Simposio Internacional
      • Chief Diversity Officer named to board of National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
      • 88-year-old student embraces love for filmmaking in pursuit of college degree
      • Charles Biasiny-Riviera ’90: Remembering a Photographer Who Documented Latino Life
      • Alumnus, adjunct professor’s academic journey puts justice, equity, and inclusion at the forefront
      • President Vollendorf featured on Presidents Forum
      • Assistant Professor to partner with Strong Museum for Dungeons & Dragons exhibit opening
      • CAARES holds Neurodivergent in College series
      • Assistant Professor teaches AI risks, scam awareness to Malta seniors
      • SUNY Empire Dean offers insight in new book with “Vanderpump Rules” star
      • SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018
      • Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon
      • Empire State University’s Center for International Education awarded grant for DEI Education in Lebanon
      • Labor Professor publishes new book on U.S. labor and foreign policy
    • August
      • SUNY Empire Spotlight: Aug. 2024
      • Professor featured in Billboard, discusses fan-artist relationships
      • An Era of Service and Scholarship: Alan Mandell retires after 50-year career at SUNY Empire
      • SUNY Empire President highlights university’s bright future in State of the University
      • SUNY Chancellor participates in Veteran and Military Resource Center Panel
      • Melissa Wells featured in The Academic Minute
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
      • Edwin Lee Gibson ’12: Finding fame on “The Bear”
      • Students Embrace Global Perspectives in AI-Era Literacy Through Virtual Exchange
      • Assistant Professor of addiction studies featured on Academic Minute
      • Charles Infurna named Empire State University’s 2024-25 PRODiG+ Fellow
      • Educational Studies Department Chair awarded SUNY/New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development Grant
      • “Fandoms in the Classroom:” Transforming education through student interests
      • Professor publishes book on immigrants and refugees in German universities
      • Herbert Covington Co-Authors Study Unveiling the Epigenetic Impact of Stress on Antidepressant Response
    • July
      • Empire State University recognized by SUNY for promoting student success
      • 15-year-old SUNY Empire student aims to shape education for next generation
      • Textbooks for Students Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
      • Ed.D. student researches what contributes to Latinx student experience
      • School of Business professor honored with award from International Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce U.S.
      • SUNY Empire mourns alumnus who founded feminist arts school
      • Meet the 2024-2025 Scholars Across the University
      • Empire State University students graduate from international programs
      • Maureen Kroning named interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health
      • Empire State University launches new SUNY Empire News website
      • SUNY Empire’s innovative nursing partnership featured on News10 ABC, Hudson Valley Press
      • 2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research
      • Empire State University launches 2+2 Nursing Program with Rockland Community College
      • Empire State University to host 9th annual Learning with Innovative Technology Conference
      • Labor professor interviewed on Business Insider
      • Empire State University closes Hartsdale location, moves to Westchester Community College
      • Unlocking history: Inside the Empire State University archives
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Prague
      • Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in higher education
    • June
      • Breaking the mold: Meet SUNY Empire’s 77-year-old graduate
      • Assistant Professor receives National Science Foundation award for SUNY Empire-led research initiative
      • President Lisa Vollendorf recognized by City & State, named Trailblazer in Higher Education 
      • Empire State University’s annual Juneteenth event is a success
      • School of Human Services holds DEIBSJ retreat in Albany
      • In the News: Labor professor interviewed on Marketplace about university strikes
      • Unions support Communities Across New York through Empire State University
      • Professor’s research sheds light on missing LGBTQ+ people across Europe
      • Empire State University students graduate at Fort Drum
      • Nursing professor to be published in Nursing Research
    • May
      • Behind the ink: Inside the Empire State University print shop
      • Empire State University announces SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Recipients
      • First cohort of Applied Behavior Analysis program graduates
      • Meet Julianna Merendino: Criminal justice graduate at Empire State University
      • Empire State University President featured on EdUp Xcelerated Excellence Podcast
      • Empire State University honors Class of 2024 in Manhattan ceremony
      • A Dedication to Public Service: Rhon Glasgow’s Journey At Empire State University
      • “Sometimes later is greater:” Jawana Carter-Richardson’s Decade of “Mastery”
      • In the News: Dean of School of Labor Studies featured in Non Profit Quarterly
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Manhattan Commencement Platform Party
      • Empire State University graduate recognized at Best of SUNY Art Exhibition
      • Director of Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning featured on Higher Ed Podcast
      • NYC Corrections Captain Graduates While Continuing to Serve and Inspire
      • Students from Dominican Republic to graduate in Manhattan
      • Empire State University honors class of 2024 in Rochester Ceremony
      • Taking experience to heart: Ashley Simms’ SUNY Empire story
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Rochester Commencement Platform Party
      • Following in her footsteps: Mace bearer and alumna to lead the way as daughter crosses the stage
      • “You don’t need sight to take flight:” Turning adversity into opportunity at Empire State University
      • Empire State University celebrates Class of 2024 in Albany
      • Meet Melissa Massari: Firefighter, EMT, and graduate at Empire State University
    • April
      • Meet the Spring 2024 Albany Commencement Platform Party
      • In the News: Veteran and Military Resource Center featured on CBS6
      • Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub
      • Inaugural Empire State University student awarded Norman R. McConney Jr. Award
      • Empire State University’s Neurodiversity Club expands with teen group
      • Ask5: Opening career paths and changing the conversation
      • SUNY Empire alumnus killed in weekend shooting near Syracuse
      • Veteran and Military Resource Center hosts eclipse viewing and presentation
      • Empire State University holds Alpha Sigma Lambda induction
      • Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students
      • Four Empire State University students receive Bluebird Award
      • Raising Hope: Supporting children with autism through Bluepath
    • March
      • In the News: Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship featured on News10 ABC
      • Empire State University hires Hitesh Rai Kathuria as provost
      • Four Empire State University students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award
      • Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving
      • SUNY Empire announces Dr. Bridget Nettleton Memorial Scholarship
    • February
      • Empire State University Announces Day of Giving, GO HIGHER FOR EMPIRE, On MARCH 21
      • Empire State University Hosts 47th Blood Drive with the American Red Cross
      • Empire State University Launches Innovative Virtual Food Pantry
      • SUNY Empire’s Xiomara Giordano Named To National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education
      • SUNY touts Empire State University’s success in interview
    • January
      • Empire State University awards prestigious Richard Porter Leach fellowships
      • SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term
      • Bessie Walker celebrates 50 years at Empire State University
      • Long Island Business Institute to cease operations; SUNY Empire offers teach-out
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