SUNY Empire Spotlight: September 2025
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.