SUNY Empire Spotlight: July 2025
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.