SUNY Empire Spotlight: January 2025

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — January 30, 2025) The latest news on research efforts, awards, grants, and media appearances from Empire State University faculty and staff.    

Anita DeCianni Brown, Melissa Zgliczynski, Noor Syed, and Lauren Allen will participate in the Pathways to Inclusion project, which is sponsored by the Office of Disability Resources at SUNY System Administration, in collaboration with the SUNY Career Development Organization (CDO) and John Robinson, president and CEO of Our Ability. SUNY Empire was one of six SUNY schools chosen to participate in the program, which runs from January-August 2025. Together, Robinson and the teams at SUNY Empire will create and implement a strategic plan focused on empowering students with disabilities. 

Alison Brust, assistant director of virtual student services in 1Stop Student Services, will be featured in Ocelot’s Automatic Content Generation Masterclass series on January 30, 2025. 

Nadine Fernandez, professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Science, authored the opening chapter of “Intersections of Tourism, Migration, and Exile”, which won the Edward M. Bruner Prize for best book published in 2022-2024 by the Council on Heritage and the Anthropology of Tourism at the American Anthropological Association.   

Cherrelle Hall, assistant to the vice president of Enrollment Management and Marketing, will be presenting at the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education’s Annual Conference March 29-April 1 in Washington, DC.  Her proposal is “Authenticity, Empathy, and Leadership: Perspectives of Black Women Administrators in Academia.” 

Tom Mackey, professor in the School of Arts and Humanities, was featured in a discussion “Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, and Civic Discourse: SUNY Core Competencies in the FIT Classroom” on January 24.  

Njoki Mwarumba, assistant professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Science, was featured in WXXI’s segment “Dialogue on Disability: Disaster preparedness often excludes people with disabilities; how do we prevent tragedies?”  

Ian Reifowitz, distinguished professor in the School of Arts and Humanities, was featured in France 24 for political commentary on Jimmy Carter’s funeral.  

Shaun Richman, program director, spoke about Trump and the labor movement in MSN. 

Gayle Stever, professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Science, published an article in The Amplifier Magazine titled “Understanding Cameo: Research on a new social media service”. Stever was also featured in an article by The Washington Post about Hope Walz’s videos and their effect on Democrats, and in the New York Times about a Tik Tok star with a terminal illness. Stever also spoke on The Ringer NFL Show, “There’s Something About Josh”. 

Libby Tsibulsky, director of health and wellness programs, was featured in the Daily Gazette and WXXI on her work with Empire State University’s virtual food pantry. 

Victoria Vernon, associate professor in the School of Business, coauthored two papers that were mentioned in the 2025 Economic Report of the President. 

Empire State University’s 1Stop to Be Featured in Ocelot LABS Automatic Content Generation (Generative AI) Masterclass 

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — January 23, 2025) Assistant Director Virtual Student Services in 1Stop Student Services Alison Brust will be featured in Ocelot’s Automatic Content Generation Masterclass series on January 30, 2025. The webinar, titled “Generative AI for Student Engagement Success” will feature experts from both Empire State University and Purdue University Northwest.  

The webinar will focus on how both universities used Ocelot’s Automatic Content Generation feature to transform student engagement strategies. Brust will focus on how this has improved and elevated the communication abilities of 1Stop’s virtual assistant, Blue. 

“Empire State University was invited to participate in this masterclass to help encourage other client schools to adopt the use of generative AI,” Brust said. “Ocelot has been impressed with the strategic approach Empire has taken for continual improvement of our virtual assistant Blue’s knowledge sources which improve her ability to answer questions accurately.” 

1Stop’s virtual assistant, Blue, is available 24/7 to answer questions from prospective and current students. By using generative AI through Ocelot, the responses have improved and become more robust. Brust said this has led to less escalations, as students are able to get their questions answered immediately by the chatbot.  

“I’m most excited to share best practices with peer institutions to help them take the big leap of faith and start using generative AI,” said Brust. 

Sign up to attend the webinar. 

Ed.D. student literature review published on First Monday  

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — January 21, 2025) A literature review by Denise Russo, an Ed.D. candidate at Empire State University, was published in First Monday, a peer-reviewed journal. Russo’s work, titled “Under the lens: Learning management system (LMS) platforms and DEIA components” examines accessibility and diversity initiatives in higher education and the need for accessible learning management systems.  

“Seeing what I view as my magnum opus, to date, published in a peer-reviewed journal gives me a thrilling validation that my doctoral research endeavors are worthy, genuine, and beneficial to not just higher educational institutions, but all educational entities that use an LMS for online teaching and learning,” Russo said.  

Russo is an Ed.D. candidate in leadership and change at Empire State University. She holds a master of science degree in information science from SUNY Albany and a master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from St. John’s University. She has a background in information technology and information services, instructional design, leadership, entrepreneurial ventures, and health care. She currently works as a Manager of the Adult Therapies Division and Business Development Analyst at TalkPath Live, a telemedicine company.  

As an Ed.D. candidate at SUNY Empire, Russo said her focus is directed towards educational technology and DEIA elements within learning management system platforms.  

“Many global higher education institutions emphasize accessibility, diversity, and inclusivity in areas like assignments, documents, syllabi, and assessments,” Russo said. “However, the critical need for genuine accessibility within learning management systems has yet to be fully addressed by academia. An ideal LMS should effectively present course content in ways that all students, including multilingual learners and those with learning differences, can access and understand. Yet, current LMS platforms often lack these capabilities.”  

Russo said her research shows faculty and academic leaders do not receive universal training on the best practices for LMS use and content cannot be automatically translated into other languages, generate alternative text for images, or be generally accessible without extensive customization.  

“My scholarly exploration will cover the balance of using alternative text, scripting, translation, and other accessibility tools within LMS platforms, highlight the need for global LMS best practices training, and address barriers to student success in online learning environments,” Russo said.  

Russo hopes her published work will open up a dialogue amongst stakeholders in higher education to see how educators can better adapt accessibility, diversity, and inclusion into content presented within learning management systems.  

“It is important to me that students with disabilities and those who speak English as a foreign language have the podium to express their DEIA LMS wants and needs, so that they become successful in degree completion within their respective chosen careers,” Russo said.  

Once she completes the Ed.D. program, Russo said she hopes to work at a higher education institution with international programming and conduct research on promoting inclusivity for all students who use LMS to enact lasting change.  

Empire State University Selected for SUNY Pathways to Inclusion Project 

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – January 16, 2025) The Office of Career and Experiential Learning Services, The Office of Accessibility Resources and Services, and CAARES (Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports) at Empire State University are collaborating on a project to create inclusive career development pathways for students with disabilities.  

The offices submitted a joint application to the Pathways to Inclusion project, which is sponsored by the Office of Disability Resources at SUNY System Administration, in collaboration with the SUNY Career Development Organization (CDO) and John Robinson, president and CEO of Our Ability. SUNY Empire was one of six SUNY schools chosen to participate in the program, which runs from January-August 2025. Together, Robinson and the teams at SUNY Empire will create and implement a strategic plan focused on empowering students with disabilities. 

Their goals are to develop regional connections and partnerships, establish an advisory board, expand programming to support students with disabilities, and create career development learning modules. The program allows them to evaluate current services, evaluate and create resources using a universal design approach, expand and tailor support, enhance staff training, and strengthen employee partnerships. 

“I am honored that we were selected as one of the SUNY schools to be included in the SUNY Pathways to Inclusion project,” said Anita DeCianni Brown, director of Career and Experiential Learning Services. “This opportunity comes at a perfect time, as the career team and career resources have grown. It will allow us to assess the work we are currently doing, have invaluable insights and feedback from a leader in the field on how we can better serve our students with disabilities, and incorporate training and resources to help the SUNY Empire community understand the challenges that our students face in the job market.” 

“I am excited for the opportunity to collaborate on this project,” said Melissa Zgliczynski, director of Accessibility Resources and Services. “The Office of Accessibility Resources and Services is committed to embracing disability as diversity, and we look forward to learning ways to improve upon our support of students with disabilities as it relates to the job market and career preparation.”  

“CAARES continues to be overjoyed with our university community’s commitment to promoting inclusion and belonging,” said Noor Syed, director of CAARES and Lauren Allen, assistant director. “Through the Pathways to Inclusion Project, we are eager to advance our university’s capacity to support Neurodivergent students to transition into successful careers.” 

Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — January 13, 2024) Empire State University is home to the largest number of military-affiliated students within the State University of New York system. Whether they are veteran, active-duty, or military-spouses, the university works to support these students through peer and community support and the military and veteran opportunity program. Beyond that, SUNY Empire is home to many veteran faculty and staff who use their experience in service as a driving force to give back and help others who served their country. Meet two veterans behind the important work at Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center.  

William Yaeger, Military Outreach Coordinator at the Veteran and Military Resource Center 

Describe your military background and service. 

Yaeger: I enlisted in the USAF in January 1983, commissioned in the Air Force in September 1995, and retired in January 2006 (after 23 years of service). I was a dog handler when I enlisted and became a Security Forces Officer upon commissioning.  As an officer, I did a career broadening tour as Commandant of Cadets/Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Michigan State University AFROTC Program from 2001-2004. Before I joined, I did one year at Loyola University in Chicago (where I am from) but could no longer afford it. Thus, the reason I joined (to obtain my education). While in the service, I completed my associates degree with Community College of the Air Force, my bachelor’s degree with Northwestern Oklahoma State University and my graduate degree (MA Adult Learning) with University of Oklahoma. All degrees were completed using my USAF Tuition Assistance benefit. While in, I really enjoyed training and education, which set me up to assume my role at the university (which I have been doing since 2006, the year I retired from the service).    

Describe your role at SUNY Empire & the VMRC. How do you help students? 

Yaeger: In my role as a Military Outreach Coordinator, I primarily conduct pre-enrollment advising and complete preliminary review of potential transfer credits for our military-affiliated prospects and students (active duty, reserves, national guard, veterans and their family members). I do this from home (Colorado Springs, CO), but occasionally travel to attend military education fairs and conferences throughout the country. Additionally, I work with Registrar in evaluating Joint Services Transcripts for our military and veteran students to help them maximize their transfer credit with the university. Finally, I am the VMRC’s Policy Director for the USAF Academic Institution Portal. This is our client resource management system for Air Force students (and now also includes Army students). 

As a veteran, what does it mean to you to be able to help military-affiliated students here at Empire State University? Why is that work important?  

Yaeger: It’s greatly satisfying to help military-affiliated students navigate systems in their pursuit of higher education. As previously noted, I entered the Air Force to help fund my education, but at the same time, I fell in love with USAF between various duty positions, assignments (many of them overseas) and the camaraderie of the military. I feel I’m able to help other service members and veterans do the same thing. Bottom line, I can “walk the talk” and help build SUNY Empire’s reputation as reliable and a great option of higher education for our military-affiliated students. To do this, I focus on being transparent, promising less and delivering more, and standing by what I commit to. 

Bethany Hicks, Military Academic and Student Services Coordinator at the Veteran and Military Resource Center 

Describe your military background and service. 

Hicks: I enlisted in the Army in February 2000 after I graduated with my master’s degree. Joining the Army isn’t something that I always dreamed I would do. In graduate school I was encouraged by one of my counseling psychology professors to surround myself with people who were not like me in order to really understand people. Also, a good friend who’d been in the military told me about the college loan repayment program which would allow my college debt to be paid off after 3 years of service. I was also exploring different careers at the time, and thought I might want to work in law, so I joined as a paralegal. It didn’t take me long to realize that working as a paralegal wasn’t challenging to me, so I applied for a special duty position working for the Morale Welfare and Recreation department, where I planned events for single soldiers, and organized volunteer opportunities for soldiers in the community. 

Describe your role at SUNY Empire & the VMRC. How do you help students? 

Hicks: At SUNY Empire, I oversee military affiliated students’ experiences by ensuring they utilize military credits and understand the opportunities and resources available to them. I am also the Staff Advisor for the SUNY Empire Student Veterans and Military club, a chapter of the Student Veterans of America. 

As a veteran, what does it mean to you to be able to help military-affiliated students here at Empire State University? Why is that work important? 

Hicks: There’s a certain language, culture and experience shared by those who’ve served in the military. Veterans naturally connect with each other and feel a sense of belonging because of that shared experience. Creating a sense of belonging by relating to other Veterans in my role is very important to me because I know that it contributes to their success and progression toward their degree. 

Save the Date for Empire State University’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies  

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — January 7, 2025) Empire State University is excited to announce the dates for Spring Commencement, with ceremonies planned across New York State. SUNY Empire will also honor the first cohort of Ed.D. students with a hooding ceremony in Albany.  

The ceremony dates include:  

  • Friday, May 9, 2025 at 3 p.m. – Ed.D. Hooding Ceremony in Albany, Empire State Plaza Convention Center  
  • Friday, May 9, 2025 at 6 p.m. – Albany, Empire State Plaza Convention Center  
  • Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 6 p.m. – Manhattan, New York City Center  
    • Harry Van Arsdale School of Labor, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing and Allied Health, School of Graduate Studies 
  • Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 6 p.m. – Manhattan, New York City Center  
    • School of Arts and Humanities, School of Business, School of Science, Math, and Technology, School of Human Services  
  • Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 6 p.m. – Rochester, Kodak Center 

Empire State University Launches First Online Degree in Business Offered Fully in Spanish

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Empire’s Spanish BBA will be the first of its kind in the SUNY system.

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — January 6, 2025) — Empire State University announces the launch of SUNY’s first Spanish-language online degree program—a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)—a groundbreaking initiative designed to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking students. The university will welcome its first cohort of students in this program in Fall 2025.

Developed in partnership with SUNY, Empire State University’s Spanish BBA program will be taught fully online and entirely in Spanish, with wraparound student supports, such as financial aid, accessibility, and tutoring, offered by faculty and staff who are native or near-native Spanish speakers. Empire State University is building the infrastructure to provide the full student experience in Spanish, including investments in technology, academic support, and staffing. The university has hired new faculty and staff to support this innovative program.

The Spanish BBA, a 120-credit program, will mirror its English-language counterpart, covering a range of courses including marketing, financial accounting, management principles, and resource management. The program will also offer a selection of general education courses in Spanish, including courses in science, math, humanities, the arts, and history. The program has been reviewed and approved by SUNY and the New York State Education Department.

SUNY Empire offers in-state tuition for all online undergraduate and graduate programs to students who are residents of Puerto Rico. To be eligible for in-state tuition, students must be a resident of Puerto Rico at time of enrollment.

The U.S. is projected to have the second-largest Spanish-speaking population in the world by 2060. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 41.2 million people currently live in Spanish-speaking homes throughout the nation, with 2.7 million residing in New York state.

According to the Anuario del Instituto Cervantes de 2024, nearly 500 million people speak Spanish as their mother tongue. It is the second most-spoken language in the world by number of native speakers. 

SUNY Chancellor John B. King said, “Empire State University’s first Spanish-language online degree program will open a door to an excellent business degree for Spanish-speakers. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the students and the university, and an apt illustration of the ways SUNY’s campuses are leaning into their strengths and providing the academic programs students desire and the quality they demand.”

Empire State University President Lisa Vollendorf said, “I am deeply committed to expanding access to as many students as possible. Our Spanish language bachelor’s in business administration signals to students throughout New York, across the country, and around the globe that Empire State University stands ready to help learners of all ages and all backgrounds achieve their educational dreams.”

Empire State University Provost Rai Kathuria said, “As someone who moved to the United States in search of educational and economic opportunity, I take great pride in seeing Empire State University embrace diversity by launching our first degree program fully offered in Spanish. As New York’s only public online university, we are uniquely positioned to serve Spanish-speaking students regardless of where they live.”

Empire State University School of Business Dean Julie Gedro said, “In an increasingly globalized economy, proficiency in languages other than English is more valuable than ever. Our Spanish-language business degree equips students with the skills necessary to navigate today’s multicultural and multinational business world.”

Empire State University Director of Spanish Language Programs Silvia Mejía said, “Access has been an integral element of Empire State University’s mission since its founding in 1971. The Spanish BBA, its first online degree taught entirely in Spanish, is designed to expand access to higher education by breaking down the language barrier.”

For more information, visit https://sunyempire.edu/about/office_of_the_president/spanish-bba-english.html.

EMPIRE STATE UNIVERSITY LANZA EL PRIMER TÍTULO EN NEGOCIOS EN LÍNEA OFRECIDO COMPLETAMENTE EN ESPAÑOL

La Licenciatura en Administración de Empresas de Empire State University, impartida cien por ciento en español y en línea, será un programa pionero en el sistema SUNY.

Empire State University anuncia el lanzamiento del primer título en línea en español de SUNY—la Licenciatura en Administración de Empresas (BBA), una iniciativa innovadora diseñada para cubrir las necesidades de los estudiantes hispanohablantes. La universidad le dará la bienvenida al primer grupo de estudiantes del programa en el otoño de 2025.

Desarrollada con el apoyo de SUNY, la Licenciatura en Administración de Empresas (BBA) de Empire State University contará con instrucción totalmente en línea y en español. Además, ofrecerá a sus estudiantes apoyos integrales e individualizados, como ayuda financiera, accesibilidad y tutorías ofrecidas por profesores y personal con un dominio nativo o casi nativo del español. Con inversiones en tecnología, reclutamiento y apoyo académico, Empire State University está construyendo la base para proveer una experiencia estudiantil completa en español. La universidad ha contratado a profesores y empleados bilingües que están a cargo apoyar a este programa de vanguardia.

La Licenciatura en Administración de Empresas en español, un programa de 120 créditos, reflejará a su contraparte en inglés. Ofrecerá una variedad de cursos, incluyendo marketing, contabilidad financiera, principios de gestión y manejo de recursos. El programa también incluirá una selección de cursos de educación general en español que abarcan asignaturas en ciencias, matemáticas, humanidades, artes e historia. Tanto SUNY como el Departamento de Educación del estado de Nueva York han revisado y aprobado el programa.

SUNY Empire ofrece la matrícula estatal para todos los programas en línea de pregrado y posgrado a estudiantes que son residentes de Puerto Rico. Los estudiantes deben ser residentes de Puerto Rico al momento de inscribirse para acceder a la matrícula estatal.

Se proyecta que los EE. UU. tendrán la segunda población hispanohablante más grande del mundo para el año 2060. Según la Oficina del Censo de los EE. UU., más de 41.2 millones de personas habitan actualmente hogares hispanohablantes en el país, de las cuales 2.7 millones residen en el estado de Nueva York.

El Anuario del Instituto Cervantes de 2024 indica que, para casi 500 millones de personas, el español es su lengua materna. Es el segundo idioma más hablado en el mundo por cantidad de hablantes nativos.

El canciller de SUNY, John B. King, dijo: “El primer programa en español en línea de Empire State University abrirá las puertas de una excelente licenciatura en negocios a los hispanohablantes. Para los estudiantes y la universidad, es una oportunidad maravillosa y una muestra acertada de cómo los campus de SUNY se apoyan en sus fortalezas para proveer los programas académicos que sus estudiantes desean, con la calidad que exigen.”

Lisa Vollendorf, la rectora de Empire State University, comentó: “Estoy profundamente comprometida a extender el acceso a la educación superior a todos los estudiantes posibles. Nuestra Licenciatura en Administración de Empresas en español señala a los estudiantes del estado de Nueva York, del país y del mundo que Empire State University está lista para ayudar a estudiantes de todas las edades y orígenes a lograr sus sueños educativos.”

Rai Kathuria, el vicerrector de Empire State University, expresó: “Siendo alguien que se mudó a los EE. UU. en búsqueda de oportunidades educativas y económicas, siento un gran orgullo al ver cómo Empire State University fomenta la diversidad con el lanzamiento de nuestra primera licenciatura impartida totalmente en español. Al ser la única universidad pública en línea del estado de Nueva York, nos encontramos en una posición única para servir a los estudiantes hispanohablantes sin importar dónde residan.”

La decana de la Escuela de Negocios de Empire State University, Julie Gedro, explicó: “En una economía cada vez más globalizada, el dominio de idiomas aparte del inglés es más valioso que nunca. Nuestro título de negocios en español prepara a los estudiantes con las habilidades necesarias para navegar el mundo multicultural y multinacional de los negocios de hoy en día.

La directora de Programas en español de Empire State University, Silvia Mejía, observó: “El acceso a la educación universitaria ha sido un elemento integral de la misión de Empire State University desde su fundación en 1971. La Licenciatura en Administración de Empresas, su primer programa de estudio ofrecido completamente en español, está diseñada para derribar la barrera lingüística y ampliar así el acceso a la educación superior.”

Para más información, acceda a https://sunyempire.edu/academics/undergraduate-academics/spanish-bba.html.

Empire State University’s MBA Program Ranked First in Area by Albany Business Review

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — December 31, 2024) SUNY Empire’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program was ranked first among seven other Capital Region MBA programs by Albany Business Review for the fourth consecutive year.   

SUNY Empire offers an MBA in health care leadership as well as business management. 

See the full rankings.

Empire State University’s 2024 Highlights

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — December 31, 2024) In 2024, Empire State University saw notable enrollment increases, celebrated and supported incredible students on their academic journeys, and launched several new programs and initiatives. Read more of our year-end highlights below.

January 

SUNY Empire reports significant enrollment increase for Spring 2024 term 

February 

Empire State University launches innovative virtual food pantry 

March 

Empire State University raises $121,000 for Day of Giving 

April 

Empire State University has highest number of military-affiliated students 

May 

Empire State University announces Chancellor’s Award Winners

June 

Breaking the mold: Meet Empire State University’s 77-year-old graduate 

July

Empire State University to launch Master of Arts in HIgher Education 

August 

Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program 

September 

SUNY Empire sees largest enrollment since 2018 

October 

Veteran student, community leader awarded Association of Council Members and College Trustees Scholarship 

November 

Empire State University celebrates milestone 100,000 alumni

December 

SUNY Empire Awards A.S. Degrees to Bachelor’s-Seeking Students 

SUNY Empire Alumni and Staff Join National Wreaths Across America

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — December 30, 2024) Members of the SUNY Empire community, including alumni and staff, participated in this year’s annual Wreaths Across America event on December 14.

The wreath-laying event has a three-prong mission: remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom. The wreath-laying ceremonies are held at participating locations in December in all 50 states and beyond.