SUNY Empire Spotlight: October 2025

by

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

Alan Belasen, professor, published “Clutch Leadership: Harnessing the Qualities of a Gamechanger,” with Routledge.

Luis Camacho, assistant professor andacademic coordinator of the Spanish BBA, was interviewed by Telemundo 47 about Hispanic entrepreneurship in New York and the Spanish BBA program.

Empire State University’s Spanish BBA Program was featured on Univision with an interview by SUNY Chancellor John B. King on October 18.

Gloria Kramer, assistant professor and TESOL coordinator, published “It’s Raining Fish,” a children’s book, a culturally responsive resource for educators and families focused on teaching compassion and kindness.

Mindy Kronenberg, visiting assistant professor, was featured in a poetry anthology about books and censorship, published by Moonstone Arts Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She will participate in a virtual reading on October 5.

Joseph Lawless, adjunctprofessor, was featured in WalletHub’s piece about Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit.

Ian Reifowitz, SUNY distinguished professor, appeared on The New Republic’s “The Daily Blast” podcast to provide insights into recent topics surrounding President Trump including crime and the military, as well as his early life in Queens. He was interviewed on Anthony Scaramucci’s podcast, “Open Book,” regarding his recently published book, “Riling up the Base.”  

Noor Syed, assistant professor anddirector of CAARES, has been named a trustee at Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies.

Liv Thygesen, bilingual disability specialist, was selected for and attended the SVA Leadership Conference in Washington D.C.

Melissa Wells, assistant professor, appeared on the EdUp Experience podcast to discuss online learning, AI practices, and more.

Huiting Qi, assistant professor, was selected for “Examining the Usability and Efficacy of GenAI Tools,” a project sponsored by the SUNY Innovative Instruction Technology Grants (IITG) program.The project looksacross six SUNY campuses to explore how pro versions of ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Claude can be used to design meaningful learning experiences, and to examine their impact on teaching and learning outcomes.  

SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025

by

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.

SUNY Empire Spotlight: August 2025

by

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

Alan Belasen, professor, published “With the Game on the (Betting) Line: NBA Referee Performance in the Last Two Minutes,” coauthored by Ari Belasen and Alex Olbrecht, in the Journal of Sports Economics.

Pam Doran, digital accessibility coordinator and multimedia technology coordinator, has been appointed student ambassador at SUNY Empire for Hispanic Educational Technology Services (HETS).

Cailyn Green, assistant professor of Addiction Studies, published a free, peer-reviewed social justice textbook, “Social Justice & Advocacy in Human Services.”

Rodlyn Hines, assistant professor, published “Gendered Dynamics of Transnational Living: A Narrative Inquiry of Ghanaian Couples” in the African Journal of Gender and Woman’s Studies on August 13.

Raul Manzano, visiting assistant professor, held an art residency teaching older adults to draw in conjunction with SU-CASA and the New York City Department for the Aging, among other agencies.

Shannon Pritting, executive director for the Office of Graduate Studies & Scholarly Supports, Alena Rodick, director of Learning Design and Solutions, and Jennifer Collins, open educational resources and scholarly communications librarian published an article, “Using Teamwork and Collaboration to Design Better Affordable Learning Experiences,” in the Journal of Continuing Higher Education.

Ian Reifowitz, SUNY distinguished professor, published a new book, “Riling Up the Base: Examining Trump’s Use of Stereotypes through an Interdisciplinary Lens,” coauthored with Dr. Anastacia Kurylo. He also appeared on Rochester ARC TV News program, the Political Pulse, on August 26.

Nan Travers, director of the Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning, was cited as “the fairy godmother of all credentialing” in Inside Higher Ed’s podcast, “Voices of Student Success: Encouraging Innovation in Credit for Prior Learning,” about the challenges and opportunities in expanding credit for prior learning assessment at Utah Valley University on August 7. 

Melissa Wells, associate professor and director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, published “Effectiveness of Federal Education Funding on Rural Schools: A Quantitative Study” in the journal Educational Futures in June. On July 22, she presented “Enhancing Faculty Integration: The Role of Structured Onboarding, Peer Mentorship, and Belonging” at UPCEA‘s 2025 Summit for Online Leadership and Administration (SOLAR) in Portland, Oregon. She also published  “Supporting students with disabilities: discrepancies in educational outcomes and the need for comprehensive postsecondary support” in the open access journal Discover Education on August 20.

SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025

by

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

Brian Frederick, assistant professor, was quoted in a CBS 6 story about the impact policy changes are having on the availability of resources for the LGBTQ+ community. 

Xiomara Giordano, assistant vice president for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and chief diversity officer, was featured in a podcast episode of EDUP Xcelerated Excellence titled “Leaving No Community Member Behind at SUNY Empire State University Through DEI.” 

Cailyn Green, assistant professor, was interviewed by SUNY Fredonia’s communications department about her experience with creating Open Education Resources (OERs). Green has published a group counseling workbook, supported by the Joyce McKnight OER Scholarship grant, that is available to counselors and students for free. 

Brendan Griffith, adjunct professor, was elected as president of the New York City Labor Council.  

Pamela Gustafson, specialist for Academic Support, has had two pieces—a poem titled “Love Story,” and a photograph titled “World Turned Upside Two”—accepted into ‘Double Exposure: A Survey of Works by New York Art Educators,’ which will be shown at Farmingdale State College’s Memorial Art Gallery through August 15.  

Cherrelle Hall, assistant to the vice president of Enrollment Management and Marketing and current Ed.D. candidate, has been appointed as a board member for the NASPA Center for Women. 

Mindy Kronenberg, assistant visiting professor and mentor, was published in the 27th anniversary edition of Shabdaguchha, an English and Bengali bilingual literary publication featuring international contributors. She has also been invited to join the editorial board for a forthcoming poetry anthology, “Saving Ourselves: An Anthology Advocating for Women and Girls.” Submissions from SUNY Empire faculty, staff, and students are welcome. Please email them to tammynuzzomorgan@gmail.com by September 30. She also has two poems featured in the 29th volume of Korean Expatriate Literature (KEL), a bilingual journal. 

Seana Logsdon, associate provost for Student Success, and Libby Tsibulsky, director of Health and Wellness Programs, have been selected as 2025 Outstanding Program award recipients by the SUNY Council of Senior Student Affairs Officers (CSSAO). They will be presenting at the organization’s annual conference held in Schenectady on October 26-28. 

Duncan RyanMann, professor, provided expert commentary on the impacts of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” on health care. He was featured on ARC Rochester, News 10 Rochester, and CBS 6 Albany. 

Silvia Mejía, director of Spanish language programs, and Assistant Professor Luis Camacho attended the Hispanic Educational Technology Services (HETS) Board of Directors meeting held at Borough of Manhattan Community College on June 23-24. A recent session of the organization’s Student Passport initiative hosted at SUNY Empire’s Manhattan location was highlighted for its success and student participation.   

Njoki Mwarumba, assistant professor, shared insights on the role of disaster management for events like the floods in Texas for a CBS 6 article on July 6. She was also featured in WNYT’s coverage, which talked about how the Capital Region uses emergency management to plan for future disasters.  

Andrea Piazza, assistant director of Accessibility Resources and Services, and Gabriel Cruz-Allen, disability specialist, attended the 35th anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  

Ian Reifowitz, distinguished professor, authored an essay titled “How Democrats Lost Sight of Obama’s Vision of National Identity,” which was published by the Progressive Policy Institute. 

Kim Stote, associate professor and program director of Nutrition and Dietetics, published findings “New Study Suggests Replacing Common Fruits in USDA’s Dietary Patterns with Berries May Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk” in Annals of Medicine.  

Noor Syed, associate professor and program coordinator of Applied Behavior Analysis, presented findings on sustainable inclusive science and evidence-based solutions for autistic individuals at the United Nations on July 21.  

Marketing Staff received the Silver Circle of Excellence award for “El Imperio Bodega,” an immersive pop-up installation celebrating Hispanic culture during the 2024 fall academic conference.  

Gayle Stever, professor, was quoted in an Observer article about the public’s fascination with a suspected relationship between two professional athletes. She was also a guest on the podcast “Mind the Force” to discuss the psychology of fandom.  

SUNY Empire Spotlight: June 2025

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — June 25, 2025) The latest news on research efforts, awards, grants, and media appearances from Empire State University faculty, staff, and leadership.  

Elizabeth Bradley, professor, edited and co-authored a book titled “Navigating Academic Motherhood: The Possibilities of Effective Mentorship for Tenured Faculty Mothers.” Assistant Professor Lauren Allen, Professor Diane Gal, Assistant Professor Blair Izard, Distinguished Teaching Professor Peggy Tally, Distinguished Teaching Professor Tina Wagle, and Assistant Professor Melissa Wells also served as co-authors.

Shantih Clemans and Debra Kram-Fernandez, both associate professors, presented at the International Association of Social Work with Groups annual symposium. Shantih presented “Joys, Frustrations, and Moments of Learning: Virtual Study Groups for Online Adult Learners.” Debra presented “The Women’s Therapy Center Institute Historical Project: The History of a Grass Roots Training Institute through a Social Work Group Work Lens” and “Engaging Aging: Using a Group Work Model to Promote Critical Thinking About Aging in America” (with co-presenter Lela Zaphiropoulos from the Women’s Therapy Centre Institute). 

Anita DeCianni-Brown, director of career and experiential learning services, presented “Scaling Career Supports for Nontraditional Students in an Online Environment” at the 2025 NACE Conference on June 10.  

Xiomara Giordano—assistant vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion and chief diversity officer—served as a panelist for the “Progress Under Pressure: Can We Still Deliver on the American Dream?” discussion hosted by the SUNY Global Center on June 18. Giordano also coordinated an event in collaboration with Hispanic Education Technology Services (HETS) held at 4 Park Avenue that day. The event, titled “Student Passport: Connect, Learn, and Lead,” promoted international connection and academic engagement, with five student presentations on subjects ranging from interior décor to health sciences. President Vollendorf addressed attendees and Digital Accessibility Coordinator Pam Doran presented on machine translation—a powerful resource built into the software used by the university community that facilitates multilingual communication in the landscape of higher education.    

Douglas Gruse, chief marketing officer, and members of the Marketing and Creative Services team attended SUNYCUAD’s 2025 Awards for Excellence ceremony, where they received Judges’ Citation awards in the Excellence in Creativity and Excellence in Strategy categories.  

Lynn Lubecki, assistant professor, has been named a consulting editor for the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) journal, Young Children, and NAEYC publications. 

Alan Mandell, professor emeritus, was the invited keynote speaker for the “President’s Dialogue Series” at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Vancouver, BC, on May 6. 

Njoki Mwarumba, assistant professor, spoke with Spectrum News 1 about how Canadian wildfires are impacting air quality in New York.  

Renee O’Brien, adjunct instructor, was featured in the National Association of Women Artists’ 136th Annual Exhibition, on display at New York’s Leonovich Gallery from June 6-21. The show highlighted one of O’Brien’s photographs.  

Shannon Pritting, executive director of the Office of Graduate Studies and Scholarly Support; Pam Doran, digital accessibility coordinator; Herbert Covington, assistant professor; Jolie Kennedy, assistant professor; and Hope Sun, associate professor, co-published an article, “AI-integrated Literature Discovery Tools: A Guide to Reviewing for Institution-wide Use,” in the Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship. 

Ian Reifowitz, distinguished professor, appeared on France 24 and ARC Rochester to comment on the protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles and President Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard and the Marines. In separate interviews with ARC Rochester this month, he discussed war and diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran, as well as the cease-fire and the constitutionality of President Trump’s actions.  

Kim Stote, associate professor, co-authored an article that was recently published in the Annals of Medicine.  

Betty Wilde-Biasiny, professor of visual arts, is featured in “New Drawings,” a juried group exhibition curated by Samantha Friedman of the Museum of Modern Art. On view at the Kentler International Drawing Space in Brooklyn, the exhibition runs through July 20.  

SUNY Empire Spotlight: May 2025

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — May 28, 2025) The latest news on research efforts, awards, grants, and media appearances from Empire State University faculty, staff, and leadership. 

Lauren Allen and Noor Syed—both assistant professors and the assistant director and director of CAARES, respectively—received mini-grants from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 

Nidal Daou, assistant professor, co-authored an article discussing positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) as related to neurodiversity-affirming practices. The article was published in the spring 2025 edition of the International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support. 

Pamela Doran, digital accessibility coordinator, received an Innovative Instruction Technology Grant (IITG) for her proposal titled “Custom Machine Translation to Support Spanish-Language Higher Education Programs.” 

Desiree Drindak, director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Foreverly House by the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition. The Foreverly House is a transitional home for veteran mothers and their children who are experiencing homelessness. 

Cailyn Green, assistant professor, and Thalia MacMillan, associate professor and department chair for Health & Human Services, recently published a textbook titled “Evidence-Based Substance Use Treatment.”  

Himanee Gupta, professor, was featured on an episode of Radio Catskill, which focused on community sustainability.  

Thomas Mackey, professor and program coordinator for the digital media arts program, organized a presentation by Michele Zizza on “Disinformation, Digitization, and Destabilization,” which provided a glimpse into the contents of Zizza’s new book. Zizza’s presentation, hosted by the Center for International Education, analyzed the effects of fake news on international politics in today’s global digital era, as well as strategies for strengthening the integrity of information. 
 
Pamela Malone, strategic improvement lead and UUP Empire State chapter president, received the Judith Wishnia Award at last month’s United University Professions’ Delegate Assembly. According to UUP, the award “recognizes UUP members who have rendered exceptional service (beyond standard union work) and who have advocated tirelessly for UUP, labor, equity, and humanity.” Malone was also selected to join the statewide team for the next round of UUP’s contract negotiations with New York state. 

Aley O’Mara, CAARES program associate and training coordinator, was quoted in a WHAM article about an interactive theater game hosted by CAARES. 

Shaun Richman, program director for the School of Arts & Humanities, appeared on an episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his new book, “We Always Had a Union: The New York Hotel Workers’ Union, 1912-1953.” 
 
Jason Russell, professor, spoke about President Trump’s impact on Canada’s election results and tariffs on Talk of the Town. 

Heather Shalhoub—librarian and coordinator for web services, user experience, and systems—was the keynote speaker at the 2025 Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by the Office of the State Comptroller’s Division of Diversity Management. “This was the first time the office celebrated Arab American Heritage Month, and it was an honor to be invited and to represent my heritage, culture, and family,” she says. 

Gayle Stever, professor, has co-authored a second-edition textbook titled “Understanding Media Psychology,” which will be published in July. Her co-authors include J. David Cohen, an adjunct instructor. Stever was also recently quoted in articles about celebrities by Cosmopolitan and Yahoo Entertainment.  

Victoria Vernon, associate professor, contributed as one of eight experts to a recently published U.S. Government Accountability report titled “Telework: Private Sector Stakeholders and Expert Views.”  

President Lisa Vollendorf was honored as one of six recipients of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce’s Women of Excellence Award in a May 9 ceremony. She was also named to City & State’s annual Trailblazers in Higher Education list for the second consecutive year. 

Melissa Wells—assistant professor and director of teaching, learning, and faculty development—had her article, “Enhancing Faculty Integration: The Role of Structured Onboarding, Peer Mentorship, and Belonging,” accepted for publication by The Journal of Continuing Higher Education. 

President Lisa Vollendorf Named Among Women of Excellence for Leadership and Community Impact

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — May 9, 2025) The Capital Region Chamber of Commerce Women of Excellence Awards, celebrating 34 years of honoring outstanding women in the region, will recognize six distinguished recipients on Friday, May 9. Among them is Dr. Lisa Vollendorf, the sixth president of Empire State University and a dedicated advocate for expanding access to higher education. 

Vollendorf, who will receive the chamber’s Excellence in Management award, was selected based on criteria that include initiative, innovation, and the ability to drive organizational growth.  

“I am committed to authentic and inclusive leadership. For me, that means showing up as being true to the person you are. Leadership requires a lot of self-reflection, insight, empathy, and compassion for those around you,” Vollendorf said.  

With over 30 years of experience as an educator, scholar, and university leader, Dr. Vollendorf has demonstrated exceptional management and leadership skills. Since joining SUNY Empire in July 2022, she has rapidly positioned the university as one of the fastest-growing public institutions in the state by emphasizing high-quality online education. Under her leadership, SUNY Empire has experienced record enrollment in Fall 2024, reversing previous declines and serving 17,000 students of all ages and backgrounds through over 125 flexible academic programs. 

Vollendorf said, “I find this award to be very humbling. I look at the past recipients and think how fortunate I am to be considered excellent alongside so many incredibly empowering women.” 

To learn more about President Vollendorf’s management style, view her Women of Excellence video here.  

SUNY Empire Spotlight: April 2025

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — April 29, 2025) The latest news on research efforts, awards, grants, and media appearances from Empire State University faculty, staff, and leadership. 

Frances Boyce, lecturer in the School of Business; John Lawless, professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences; and Dianne Ramdeholl, professor in the School for Graduate Studies, collaborated with Mike Klein from the University of St. Thomas on “Decentering Whiteness: Democratizing Adult Education to Transform Academia.” The article was published in the spring 2025 issue of Dialogues in Social Justice.  

Michael R. DiNicola, graduate academic advisor, recently appeared on the NACADA Presents podcast, where he spoke about his work and SUNY Empire’s programs for students.  

Daniel Fogarty, assistant vice president for the Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing, was quoted in a Business Wire release about cybersecurity education and SUNY Empire’s participation in IBM’s Cyber Campus initiative.  

Janay Jackson, administrative assistant for the Center for Teaching and Learning, attended Lens & Light: 2025 New England Photography Summit: Knowledge & Networking for Photographers in late February. 

MaryBeth Litz, business analyst; Ashley Mason, executive director of New Student Experience & Persistence Initiatives; Michelle Paine, director of Enterprise Architecture and Applications; and Van White, CRM Advise systems administrator, attended Ellucian’s E-Live conference in Orlando, Florida. There, Mason and White presented “Leveraging CRM Advise for Effective Engagement and Student Success.” 

Alan Mandell, professor emeritus, published a book review, “Critical Faith: What It Is, What It Isn’t & Why It Matters,” in the spring 2025 issue of Dialogues in Social Justice.  

Aley O’Mara, CAARES program associate and training coordinator, was quoted in a WNYT article about SUNY Empire’s work to support neurodivergent students.  

Ian Reifowitz, distinguished professor, has collaborated with Brookyln College adjunct assistant professor Anastacia Kurylo a new book, “Riling Up the Base: Examining Trump’s Use of Stereotypes through an Interdisciplinary Lens,” which is due out in July. He recently also received SUNY Empire’s Scholars Across the University Award. 

Shaun Richman, program director for the School of Arts & Humanities, published a new book titled “We Always Had a Union: The New York Hotel Workers’ Union, 1912-1953” on April 8. 

Jason Russell, professor, spoke about the trade conflict between the U.S. and Canada on Talk of the Town. He was also featured in an episode of Look This Week by Look Media Resource. 
 
Jeff Schuhrke, assistant professor, received an International Labor History Association Honorable Mention award for his 2024 book, “Blue Collar Empire.” 

Gayle Stever, professor, was quoted in an article by The Sydney Morning Herald about celebrities sending personalized videos to fans. 

Noor Syed, assistant professor and the founding director of CAARES, participated in a United Nations roundtable discussion about the impact of technology on people with Autism.  

President Lisa Vollendorf was featured in two Presidents Forum podcasts, where she spoke about emerging technologies in personalized learning and expanding Pell Grant access. She also appeared on an episode of the Chat with Pat podcast titled “Federal Impacts on Veteran Students, Students with Disabilities, and Diversity.” 

Melissa Wells, assistant professor and director of teaching, learning, and faculty development, had her article, “A National Universal Design for Learning Curriculum: Advancing Access and Equity for Students with Disabilities,” accepted for publication in the May 30, 2025, edition of NASET’s The Practical Teacher. She recently also received SUNY Empire’s Scholars Across the University Award. 

Rachel Zielinski, adjunct instructor, presented “SEL Detectives: Unpacking Social-Emotional Literacy through Play, Exploration, & Observation” during SUNY Empire’s annual early childhood residency at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester. Twenty-one students and faculty—including lecturer Kim Avery, professor Tracy Galuski, assistant professor Lynn Lubecki, and assistant professor Terri Ward—attended the residency, held on March 29. 
 

SUNY Empire Spotlight: March 2025

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — MARCH 31, 2025) The latest news on research efforts, awards, grants, and media appearances from Empire State University faculty and staff.     

Mindy Boenning, active duty program coordinator for the Veteran and Military Resource Center, recently presented at the Council of College and Military Educators symposium in Maryland, offering insights on best practices for Army Tuition Assistance schools.  

Luis Camacho, assistant professor and academic coordinator of the Spanish Language BBA, received a continuing education certificate from the HETS Learning Technologies Leadership Academy.  

Tracy Galuski, professor and chair of the department of educational studies, was named a 2025 Champion for Children Honoree by New York Association for the Education of Young Children, which recognizes contributions to the field of early childhood education. 

Cailyn Green, assistant professor of addiction studies, gave a poster presentation titled “Developing a Sustainable Open Education Resource on Social Justice” at the Washington Oregon Cascadia Higher Education Sustainability Conference in Oregon. Along with assistant professor Bernadet DeJonge, Green also published “Resources to Support Addiction Counselors: A Qualitative Investigation” in the Journal of Substance Use.  

Bethany Hicks, assistant director for military academic and student services at the Veteran and Military Resource Center, was elected to the executive board of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Veterans Business Council. 

Sewon Kim, professor of management in the School for Graduate Studies, co-edited a collection of articles on workplace coaching for Frontiers in Psychology. 

Mindy Kronenberg, visiting assistant professor of writing, literature, and the arts, will have a poem published in an upcoming anthology for World Poetry Day. On March 23, she participated in a virtual reading hosted by Moonstone Arts Center in Philadelphia.  

Jenny Mincin, associate professor in the School for Graduate Studies, presented “Trauma and Crisis Intervention: Supporting Refugee Communities” at Dublin City Community Co-op in Dublin, Ireland on March 14. 

Leah Perry, associate professor of literature, communication, and cultural studies in the School of Arts and Humanities, was invited to be a guest speaker at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in late February. Perry’s presentation was based on her recently published book, “Indigenous Dispossession, Anti-Immigration, and the Public Pedagogy of US Empire.” 

Gayle Stever, professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, will have her book “Parasocial Experiences” recommended in the May 2025 volume of CHOICE magazine. 

SUNY Empire Spotlight: February 2025

by

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

Zeeva Bukai, assistant director of academic support, had her first novel, “The Anatomy of Exile”, published on January 14 by Delphinium Books. 

Julie Gedro, dean of the School of Business, received the prestigious R. Wayne Pace HRD Book of the Year Award by the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD). This accolade recognizes her outstanding contribution to the field of Human Resource Development through her latest publication, co-edited with Dr. Tonette Rocco of Florida International University, The Routledge Handbook of LGBTQ Identity in Organizations and Society.   

Sewon Kim, professor in the School for Graduate Studies, has been reappointed as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Human Resource Development Quarterly (HRDQ) for a second term (2025–2027). HRDQ is a top-tier, peer-reviewed journal recognized for its scholarly impact in human resource and organization development. 

Mindy Kronenberg, visiting assistant professor, had a book review of “Rupture” by Adrie Rose published by Mom Egg Literary Journal.  

Alexandra Rush, assistant professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Science, had a manuscript accepted for publication. “Navigating The Tides of Change: Girls’ Experiences in Scouts BSA” will be published in the Journal of Youth Development.   

President Lisa Vollendorf was named to the 2025 Board of Directors of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce for a one-year appointment.