Campus Champion

Grounds Facilities Operations Assistant Mikel Withers works behind the scenes, plowing snow, mowing lawns and doing all the other necessary things that people only notice when they’re not done. But in January he was thrown into the spotlight due to an unexpected storm. Heavy snow made the Graham Avenue hill slick enough that cars stalled while making the climb. Mikel, plowing the sidewalk when he saw the vehicles, exited his tractor and helped push them up the hill. He did it because, as Mikel said, “It needed to be done.” With several students helping, he got traffic safely underway again. 

One Fulbright fellowship is the chance of a lifetime. Winning two Fulbrights to send recent Red Dragon grads to the same country is one for the SUNY Cortland record book. 

That’s the unexpected situation that Emma Efing ’24 and Kayla Melita ’24 found themselves in when both headed to Spain after earning the prestigious travel grants. 

Efing, who dual majored in adolescence education in social studies and history, received her Fulbright to teach English in Spain during the 2024-25 academic year. Melita, with a bachelor’s in adolescence education: English, is creating a school newspaper at one of the secondary schools where she works as an English teaching assistant. 

“In previous years, two SUNY Cortland students have been awarded Fulbright grants, though their assignments took them to different countries,” said Daniela Baban Hurrle, director of international programs. “This year is particularly exciting, as for the first time, we have two SUNY Cortland students receiving this prestigious award to complete their projects in the same country.” 

They are among a total of 8,000 people on average from the United States and more than 160 other countries to receive the honor. Only about 1,600 of those are granted to U.S. students. 

Efing said she enjoyed teaching and saw the Fulbright program as a chance to grow as an educator while experiencing a culture in Spain that she already had some familiarity with after three visits with her family. 

“So far, this experience has been absolutely amazing in so many ways,” Efing said. 

As part of the program, she is an English teaching assistant in a secondary school in A Coruña, Spain, also helping teach English, art, technology, religion, biology and chemistry classes.  

 “I love the school and the students that I am with and love being able to form connections even with a language barrier. This experience has definitely solidified for me my love of teaching and so for me, even the ‘work’ aspect is fun. Aside from the teaching, I have a lot of free time to travel around Spain and Europe and to get to know my city better. It has been so much fun to explore.” 

Melita began her application in April of 2023, working on it through the summer and fall semester. She thought teaching English as a second language would be an exceptional chance to expand her knowledge of culture and education.  She finally found out she’d been chosen in between classes her last semester at Cortland.  

“You never actually think you’re going to get it, so when I did, I was incredibly surprised and honestly really proud of myself,” Melita said. 

“I was drawn to Spain not only because of its beautiful culture and landscape, but I had a Spanish teacher in high school who showed me compassion at a time when I really needed it. I chose Spain to give back the compassion he had given me.” 

She currently is living in Oviedo, Spain, teaching at two secondary schools in Mieres, a nearby town. 

“I have met the most amazing people whom I have been able to share this experience with,” Melita said. “I try to travel and see more parts of the world on my days off. In the short time I have been here, I have made wonderful friends and created so many memories.” 

Fulbright grants, established in 1946 through federal legislation, are chosen through a merit-based process. Among the ranks of Fulbright alums are 62 Nobel Prize recipients, 80 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 42 current or former heads of state or government. 

Since 2018, Hurrle said the university has actively featured and promoted its Fulbright award recipients who have been awarded grants in Germany, India, Russia and Spain.  

“This continued success underlines the outstanding academic and professional achievements of our students,” she said. 

Applicants interested in the university’s endorsement for the program should contact the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences during the Spring term. The application is typically due the second Tuesday in October. 

Women’s History Month kicked off at SUNY Cortland with an event highlighting the legacy of a woman whose activism has inspired sources as varied as a Supreme Court justice and the U.S. Mint. 

“Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations: Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray” was held March 4 in Brockway Hall’s Jacobus Lounge, presented by the civil rights icon’s niece, Distinguished SUNY Cortland Alum Rosita Stevens-Holsey ’65.  

Stevens-Holsey discussed the decades Murray spent as a teacher, lawyer, priest and advocate for social justice in her talk, sponsored by SUNY Cortland’s Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies (CGIS). 

“Pauli is such an inspiring figure in the history of our country when it relates to the intersections of race, gender and class that everyone ought to know about them,” said Bekeh Ukelina a professor in the History and Africana Studies departments and director of the CGIS.  “They were an advocate of gender equality and used their legal career to dismantle systems of oppression.” 

Among their many accomplishments, Murray was one of the founders of the National Organization of Women, served on President John F. Kennedy’s Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, and was the author of “States’ Laws on Race and Color,” a 746-page book that then-counsel for the N.A.A.C.P and eventual Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall referred to as “the Bible” for the Brown v. Board of Education case. 

To Stevens-Holsey, her aunt was always an inspiration. People who knew Steven-Holsey's family likened her to Murray because of their fearlessness when working for causes they believed in. 

“She was a great influence on me, and I always say maybe some of it was osmosis,” she said. “She was such a presence in her talking, and with other people, she was always interested in who they were and what they were about.” 

In a recent nod to Murray's influence, quarters were released by the United States Mint in 2024 that feature Murray as part of the mint’s American Women Quarters program, which honored notable American women. 

“Pauli articulated the concept of “Jane Crow” long before the term intersectionality became a buzzword in academia,” Ukelina said. “Their legal scholarship provided a framework to challenge racial and gender discrimination. The work they did as their Yale Law thesis, “States’ Law on Race and Color” was an important tool that was used by civil rights lawyers.” 

During last year’s Alumni Reunion, Stevens-Holsey got to talk with President Erik J. Bitterbaum and Provost Ann McClellan, starting the process that led to Tuesday’s presentation. 

“She has brought her lived experiences to connect with students in ways that are deeper than just attending a lecture,” Ukelina said. “We are so humbled by her willingness to go to any classroom she is invited to, to speak with the students and to share her story.” 

He added that events like this one show students that they’re getting more than an education at the university — they’re becoming part of a legacy. 

“It is really empowering for us both, the faculty and students, to have her here on campus and be able to share both her own life and that of Pauli with us.” 

Stevens-Holsey said she was pleased with the campus interest in Murray.  Many participants in the presentation returned the next day for a showing of a 2021 documentary, “My Name is Pauli Murray.” 

"After it was over, there were probably a dozen of us who sat around and just talked some more about her influence and who she was and things that they had learned about her,” Stevens-Holsey said. “That's always good when there was something about what I said or something about her life that caused them to want to know more and to want to to engage more in conversation.” 

Stevens-Holsey has had her own storied career, graduating with a bachelor’s in education from Cortland, earning a master’s in education from Boston University and teaching in New York state. She then became a systems engineer for IBM, one of the first Black professionals hired by the organization. 

Later, she founded a management consulting and executive search firm in Atlanta, Georgia, becoming director of the Regional Minority Purchasing Council in partnership with the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Savannah Chamber of Commerce. 

Along the way she founded Preserving Pauli Murray, LLC. Since retiring in 2022, Stevens-Holsey has dedicated herself to promoting the memory of Murray.  

“We want the audience to be inspired to take action,” Ukelina said. “We are living in very unsettling times, and many people are confused and not sure what tomorrow holds. Pauli navigated very difficult situations and changed our country for good. We can take inspiration from their story and that of Rosita, and work to bring about change.” 

SUNY Cortland will continue to celebrate Women’s History Month (WHM) through April 9 with a series of events that includes historical and cultural lectures, sandwich seminars, panel presentations and a musical theatre performance.

For the remainder of February, WHM campus events will be posted online on the news website, in campus Bulletin, on the campus calendar and message screens. Events are free and open to the public.

This year’s theme, “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” is based on the National Women’s History Alliance and spotlights the contributions women have made to the American educational system, the free marketplace of ideas and the very fabric of our democracy. 

“This theme celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership,” said Jessica Carrick-Hagenbarth, associate professor of economics, who organized the WHM events with Bekeh Ukelina, professor of history and Africana studies and director of the Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies; and Anisha Saxena, assistant professor of history.

From classrooms to boardrooms, and from grassroots movements to global initiatives, women educators and leaders have played a pivotal role in nurturing minds and inspiring transformative action.

“Through their efforts, they have served as an inspiration for all generations — both past and present,” Carrick-Hagenbarth said. “Throughout history, the process of information sharing has been a powerful catalyst for change. An honest, open examination of new insights and knowledge can create a framework for collaboration. This, in turn, promotes the well-being of groups, businesses, communities and society as a whole.”

Still to come include:

Sunday, March 9

Musical Performance: “Voices of HerStory: The Legacy of Women Composers and Playwrights in Musical Theatre”

Lynn Craver, a lecturer II in the Performing Arts Department, will give an original and dynamic performance of powerful song, spoken word and dramatic readings celebrating the contributions of women composers, lyricists and playwrights in the realm of musical theatre. In line with the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” this event will honor the artistic legacies of women who have shaped and continue to shape the theatre arts. Craver will celebrate the women whose voices have uplifted stories, bridged communities and inspired generations — showing the impact they have had in the fields of theatre arts. The event is at 2 p.m. in Dowd Performing Arts Center, Room 110.

Monday, March 10

Tabling Events: “International Women’s Day Flower Giveaway”

Join the International Programs Office from 11 a.m. to noon in Old Main, Room 219 as they celebrate International Women’s Day by giving away flowers and feminist stickers and sharing information regarding an event that’s been happening internationally for more than 100 years. The event was organized by Kayla DeCoste, assistant director of study abroad. 

Wednesday, March 12

Sandwich Seminar: “Communicate, Agitate, Motivate: The Role of PR in the Fight for Women’s Rights”

Arien Rozelle, assistant teaching professor in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, will make the case that not only was Susan B. Anthony a leader in the fight for women’s rights. She was also a noteworthy communicator with a keen understanding of the media. The event is co-sponsored by the Geography Department. Contact Professor Chris Badurek. The talk is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Old Main Colloquium.

 Lecture: “Bessie Park and the Making of Cortland”

University archivist and instructional services librarian Brian Jirout will discuss the contributions of the Bessie L. Park Class of 1901, a memorable and influential faculty member, alum and the author of the historical text Cortland — Our Alma Mater/A History of Cortland Normal School and State University of New York Teachers College at Cortland 1869-1959.

Venue and Time: TBD

Tuesday, March 25

Roundtable: “Girls Online:  An Investigation of the Creepypasta Phenomenon from Slenderman to ‘We’re All Going to the World’s Fair,’ and ‘Host’”

Moderator Caroline K. Kaltefleiter will join a panel of communication, media and cinema studies students to discuss how the digital age ushered in a new era of cultural phenomena, with the internet serving as a breeding ground for the proliferation of viral content and the emergence of unique subcultures. That includes the “creepypasta” culture, which refers to the online phenomenon of user-generated, horror-themed short stories or urban legends that are shared and spread across the internet (Brennan, 2015). Panelists will give short presentations to give context to a historical trajectory of the creepypasta phenomenon as grounded in the films “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” and “Host.” Both films explore the incorporation of new media into digital livelihoods that illuminate a (re)structuring of socialization, particularly among teen girls. The panel will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Sperry Center Hobson Lecture Hall (Room 105).

Wednesday, March 26

Sandwich Seminar: “Devadasi Reform Movement in India”

In India, a devadasi is a female artist who is dedicated to the worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. The dedication ceremony is somewhat similar to a marriage. In addition to taking care of the temple and performing rituals, these women also learn and practice classical Indian dances. Professor R. Mahalakshmi will give the presentation on this important movement in India. She serves at the Centre for Historical Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India, and is the sectional president of ancient India with the Indian History Congress. The seminar runs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Old Main Colloquium.

Thursday, March 27

Sandwich Seminar/Roundtable: “Women Leaders in Higher Education”

SUNY Cortland assistant registrars Lisa Kennedy and Kristen Dushko will offer their stories, thoughts and suggestions regarding women trying to scale the ivory tower, from noon to 1 p.m. in Old Main Colloquium.

Wednesday, April  9

Tabling Events: “Period.”

Health and Wellness Promotion, Sustainability Office and Conley Wellness peer educators will be on hand from 1 to 3 p.m. in Neubig Hall lobby to inform campus community members about menstrual health and sustainability. We will explore eco-friendly period products, break stigmas and promote well-being for a healthier planet and body. Free period cups will be given away. Contact is Lauren Scagnelli.

Red Dragon nation, Blaze needs your vote. And he needs it now.

Mascot Madness is back. Once again, the 64-campus SUNY system is hosting a competition to determine its most popular college mascot.

And online voting began at noon TODAY.

In the first round of the tournament-style mascot battle, set up in brackets like those used in the NCAA basketball championships, Blaze is trying to rein in SUNY Morrisville’s Mo the Mustang. If more people vote for him than the green horsey by 2 p.m. Friday, March 14, Blaze wins and moves on to the second round.

Students, faculty, staff, family, friends and strangers on the street can vote for Blaze on the official website.

SUNY Cortland voters are encouraged to cast ballots early and often, although they are limited to one vote per day.

Assuming everyone’s favorite Red Dragon is victorious in the first round — and keeps winning — he will advance through the schedule below.

• Round 2: Tuesday, March 18 to Thursday, March 20
• Round 3: Friday, March 21 to Monday, March 24
• Semifinals: Wednesday, March 26 to Friday, March 28
• Finals: Tuesday, April 1 to Thursday, April 3

All voting rounds begin at noon and end at 2 p.m.

To help people get to know the mascots, SUNY asked each a series of questions. The responses of Cortland’s Red Dragon are below:

Q. Who are you, where are you originally from, and where do you do your mascot thing?

A. I am Blaze, the mighty Red Dragon; promoter of SUNY Cortland spirit, defender of Cortland pride and symbol of overall university greatness. I was born on the barren plain of Mordor and ruled in the Great Hall of Thrain in the dark bowels of the Lonely Mountain. Kidding. I’m from Staten Island.

Q. What’s the most unique thing about your campus? 

A. The Student Life Center: 156,000-square-feet of athletics courts, workout areas, swimming pools, combat rooms, climbing walls and active, happy students. No other campus has anything quite like it. 

Q. Why will you win the Mascot Madness Championship?

 A. Because I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.

Q. Best class you’ve taken lately?

A. Ecotourism in Hawaii was definitely worth the 4,700-mile commute. Of course, Ecotourism in Nepal was pretty awesome too, as was Nicaragua, Thailand and Zanzibar. The hands-on classroom changes every year. It’s part of our exciting new major in tourism and recreation.

Q. If you could swap places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why? 

A. I would pass. No university mascot has it better than me. I’m on a beautiful, modern campus with amazing athletic facilities and faculty and staff who genuinely care about me and my success. Plus, the Hilltop chicken tender wraps are amazing!

Art — as seen through the eyes of schoolchildren and their art teachers — is being presented at an exhibition at SUNY Cortland’s Dowd Gallery that started on Monday, March 24.

Selected by 20 dedicated educators of fine art, student works representing high achievement in the various techniques of drawing, painting, ceramics, collages, sculpture, digital media and creative arts will be displayed throughout the gallery.

Curated in a partnership with regional art teachers, the exhibition, titled “Imagination Celebration,” will run through Saturday, April 5.

Two opening receptions, first for elementary students and later for secondary students, will be held on Thursday, March 27, in the gallery, located in the Dowd Fine Arts Center at the corner of Prospect Terrace and Graham Avenue. The elementary student reception will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. The secondary student reception will run from 6:30 to 7 p.m.

Both receptions will feature music by the Cortland High School Modern Rock Band and other high schools.

A First Friday event on Friday, April 4, will extend gallery hours until 8 p.m. The exhibition and related events are free and open to the public.

Showcasing the work of both student artists and their mentors, “Imagination Celebration” will include students and teachers from area school districts.

Logo designed by Jesse Bender, a Cortland High School teacher

This year, Elizabeth Moshkowski of the Cortland District and Brookley Abbate of Homer Schools are the key organizers with Dowd Gallery. The exhibition will feature student artwork alongside a piece by each student’s educator-mentor.

“Dowd Gallery is excited to collaborate with regional teachers for the 2025 exhibition of elementary and secondary student work in an explosion of color, texture and talent,” said gallery director Scott Oldfield.

The exhibition, with its long tradition of being hosted at the Homer Center for the Arts for many years and then utilizing Homer’s HTEC building in more recent years, came to Dowd Gallery last year for the first time.

“We encourage all to join us in the celebration of fine art and education in the recognition and promotion of creativity in the scholarly pursuit of young artists,” Oldfield said.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. Walk-ins are welcome. Visit the Dowd Gallery website for details about exhibiting artists, other programs, safety protocols and online booking. To schedule a visit or arrange group tours, contact Dowd Gallery.