Campus Champion

Each day, Chris Pecone, assistant director of dining services, supports his staff and ensures that thousands of people on campus enjoy delicious meals in a timely manner. Since 2012, Chris has contributed to Moonlight Breakfast, a free late-night meal to kick off finals. More than 20 volunteers will help make the May 11 event a success, with Chris leading it again and likely arriving home as late as 3 a.m. The extra effort is worth it, he says, because it offers a chance to support students in the semester’s final week. 

Four SUNY Cortland seniors received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE) — the highest student honor presented by New York’s public university system — at a ceremony held April 27, in Albany, N.Y. 

The awards are given annually to students from SUNY’s 64 campuses, which provide nominations to the SUNY CASE Selection Committee. Candidates are recognized for exceptional academic performance and leadership. 

This year, 205 students were honored. 

“The students who have earned this recognition have inspired their classmates, their educators, their campuses and me with their inspiring work, tenacious drive, and dedication to their academic success,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “I commend each of the awardees and thank them for being examples for others to follow.” 

Cortland’s recipients are: 

Mamadou “Saliou” Diallo, a biomedical sciences major from Brooklyn, N.Y. 

Nadiya Grossman, a political science major from Rhinebeck, N.Y. 

Joshua Osae, an exercise science major from Valley Stream, N.Y. 

Jared Simmons, a biomedical sciences major from Skaneateles, N.Y. 

Including those honored this year, 117 SUNY Cortland students have earned the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence since the program began in 1997. 

———

 Mamadou “Saliou” Diallo 

Diallo’s achievements span academic excellence, military service, leadership and advocacy for diversity, equity and inclusion. With a 3.5 GPA and more than 148 credits earned, he has shown intellectual curiosity and academic drive throughout his time at Cortland. Diallo serves as a combat medic in the New York National Guard, participates in Cornell’s ROTC program and works as a resident assistant and building manager on campus. He co-founded the Cortland Islamic Student Association, participated in undergraduate research activities and earned a reputation on campus for his service, community building and inclusive excellence.  

Why you chose to attend Cortland: Because of the EOP program and it’s a small school, which meant I had access to the professors and research, and plenty of mentorship time with faculty, which was my priority. I also loved the campus during my visit, and most importantly the people — EOP staff, professors, friends and faculty in general. Also, I was encouraged to work and stay healthy. 

Activities you’re involved with on campus: ROTC cadet; president and co-founder of Cortland Islamic Student Association; resident assistant; researcher in (Biological Sciences Professor Christa Chatfield’s) lab; and Student Life Center building manager. Those are the big ones. 

Advice for new students: Prioritize what makes you happy and your career, build and think of your career from day zero. Be nice and absorb as much knowledge as you can. Don’t hesitate to jump into opportunities. Also, sometimes you will have to create your own. 

Favorite class: Evolutionary Biology 

Proudest Cortland accomplishment: SUNY Chancellor’s Award 

Future plans: Biomedical sciences research

———

Nadiya Grossman 

Founder and treasurer of the Law and Politics Club on campus, Grossman is a transfer student who came to Cortland her sophomore year and helped establish a bipartisan outlet for students interested in political science, criminology, psychology and other disciplines. Her work has earned her an award through SUNY Cortland’s Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship Program that included hands-on experience with data and statistical results to assess New York state’s COVID-19 social support measures. Grossman also participated in an independent study that taught her how to write and structure a policy report. In pursuit of her career goals, she interned with a defense attorney to learn about criminal law and worked with the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Columbia. 

Why you chose to attend Cortland: I transferred to Cortland for the small class sizes and active campus community.  

Activities you’re involved with on campus:: The Law and Politics club. It's a great way to meet new friends and any major is welcome to join. You don't have to be involved or interested in politics to enjoy it.

Advice for new students: Get involved in campus life! 

Favorite class: Constitutional Law

Proudest Cortland accomplishment: Applying for the SUNY Washington Internship Semester and interning with the Federal Public Defender for the District of Columbia. I have loved my time in D.C. and cannot recommend it enough. Any major can apply. 

Future plans: Attending law school and becoming a criminal defense attorney. 

———

Joshua Osae 

Osae is the president of SUNY Cortland’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, vice president of communications for the the SUNYAC SAAC, and a representative on behalf of SUNYAC  for the DIII National SAAC. He is also a four-year member of the men’s cross country and track and field teams and initiated or led many community service events, from Special Olympics track meets and National Girls and Women in Sports Day to packing and distributing survivor resource bags through Students Active for Ending Rape and writing holiday cards for the military. Osae will begin a graduate physical therapy program after Commencement. 

Why you chose to attend Cortland: I chose to attend Cortland due to its strong academic presence in the field of kinesiology and exercise science, its strong athletic prowess within NCAA Division III and its reputation among former students and current professionals as a quality institution within the SUNY system.  

Activities you’re involved with on campus: Cross country and track and field student-athlete; Cortland Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president; Cortland Stars Special Olympics Club; campus tour guide; COR 101 student facilitator, volunteer research assistant for project related to Parkinson’s disease; NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member; SUNYAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee vice president of communications.

Advice for new students: Take advantage of the many opportunities to get involved on campus and in the greater Cortland community. These opportunities have the potential to provide you with meaningful experiences and relationships that can change your life. Also, do not be afraid to engage with the faculty and staff on campus. In my experience, they are incredibly caring and are invested in your success. I will always be appreciative of their support, and it has taught me the importance of mentorship and uplifting others around you.  

Favorite class: Nutrition and Sport Performance with Associate Professor Jacqueline Augustine

Proudest Cortland accomplishment: Representing our 700-plus student-athletes at the national level as a member of the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and planning the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Walk at Cortland. 

Future plans: Beginning this June, I will be attending SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse to pursue my Doctor of Physical Therapy.

———

Jared Simmons 

Simmons excelled as a transfer student at Cortland after graduating summa cum laude from SUNY Onondaga Community College, where he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. He earned SUNY Cortland’s Outstanding Academic Achievement in Biological Sciences Award and has made the Dean’s or President’s lists every semester with a cumulative 3.97 GPA. Simmons also served as a supplemental instruction leader, participated in a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program and presented at at a science symposium at Cornell University and at Cortland's Michael J. Bond ’75, M.D. Alumni/Undergraduate Science Symposium. Outside the classroom, he manages livestock on his family farm, preparing for a career in veterinary medicine. 

Why you chose to attend Cortland: Because it was close to my hometown, and my sister had attended before me. I loved the campus, and the Biological Sciences Department had amazing professors I knew I wanted to take classes with. 

Activities you’re involved with on campus: Undergraduate research; Biology Club; Supplemental Instruction (SI) leader. 

Advice for new students: Ask as many questions as you can and never leave a class or exam wishing you had tried harder. For any biology majors, don’t be afraid of the professors. They are here to help you in every way they can. 

Favorite class: Anatomy and Physiology II with Professor Theresa Curtis

Proudest Cortland accomplishment: Having the highest GPA in the Biological Sciences Department in both junior and senior year.

Future plans: I will be applying to veterinary school in September. 

Xiaoping “Ping” Fan, an assistant professor in SUNY Cortland’s Physical Education Department, is among a select few faculty members recognized by SUNY recently for achieving significant scholarship early in her career.

Fan is among only a handful of faculty members across the university system to be chosen for the 2025-26 Chancellor’s Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship.

Only 10 winners across the 64-campus SUNY system are selected for the honor, which is open to early career faculty from all disciplines. It’s the second year the recognition has been offered.

“Throughout the SUNY system, our faculty are conducting extraordinary research and scholarship that is having a remarkable impact across all fields of study,” said SUNY Chancellor King.

“Our Horizon awardees have positioned themselves as leaders in their disciplines early in their careers, while also demonstrating the depth of SUNY’s excellence and expertise. I applaud this year’s awardees for their hard work and look forward to seeing how they continue to lead innovation and scholarship in their fields.”

Fan’s scholarship focuses on physical education teacher education (PETE), including the promotion of community-based physical activity for children, teacher preparation, school-based physical activity promotion and quality physical education.

Less than five years after receiving her doctorate in sport pedagogy at University of Northern Colorado, she has had a substantial impact on her field, including authorship of multiple peer-reviewed articles in the discipline’s top-tier journals and numerous presentations at professional conferences.

Fan joined SUNY Cortland in 2022. She has served as an associate editor, journal reviewer and as the president of higher education at the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

“Dr. Fan’s research is innovative due to its highly synergistic nature,” a nominator wrote. “She relentlessly connects her scholarship with practice through community partnerships.”

Currently, Fan leads a collaboration with the Cortland YWCA examining the impact of social-emotional learning-infused after-school programs on children’s physical activity and social skills.

“Such initiatives represent applied scholarship at its finest, advancing knowledge while producing tangible benefits for schools, communities and future teachers,” the nominator wrote.

“Her integrated approach — linking teacher preparation with community health outcomes — addresses a critical gap in how our field conceptualizes the relationship between professional practice and public health,” wrote another nominator, Jennifer Walton-Fisette, professor and interim associate dean in Kent State University’s College of Education, Health and Human Services.

“As schools and communities increasingly recognize the importance of physical activity for children’s holistic development, Dr. Fan’s scholarship provides the evidence base for designing effective interventions and preparing educators to lead them.”

Since 2024, Fan has received the “trifecta” of major awards from the field’s most respected organizations, Walton-Fisette noted.

That includes the 2026 Hally Beth Poindexter Young Scholar Award from the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education — the premier recognition for emerging scholars in kinesiology— the 2025 Thomas L. McKenzie Research Award from the Society of Health and Physical Educators (known as SHAPE America), and the 2024 Early Career Scholar Award from AIESEP, an international organization of scholars in the field of physical education and sport to share knowledge and engage in quality research.

Fan previously served as a visiting assistant professor at Texas A&M International University, and before that as a research assistant in the Active Schools Institute at University of Northern Colorado.

She also has an M.A. in physical education pedagogy from California State University, Chico, and a B.Ed. in physical education from Central China Normal University.

The Chancellor’s Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship honors early career faculty whose scholarly or creative activities have already achieved significant recognition and, crucially, hold strong promise for field-defining impact in the future. 

The second class of Horizon Award winners were nominated in the 2025-26 academic year via a campus-level process that allows each SUNY campus to nominate only one faculty member. Candidates’ nomination portfolios were reviewed by SUNY's Distinguished Academy faculty who made recommendations to the SUNY Provost.

SUNY Cortland undergraduate Chloe Wirth will immerse herself in the cultural and natural environment of the remote Caribbean island of Dominica this summer, a study abroad opportunity enabled through a prestigious 2026 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

Established by the U.S. Congress and funded by the U.S. Department of State, the merit-based scholarship aims to help students with high financial need study or intern abroad, opening doors to transformative international experiences. Each year, applicants undergo a rigorous and selective review process, making this award especially notable.

Wirth of Endwell, N.Y., a junior childhood and early childhood education major with a political science minor, is the university’s 16th recipient of the $5,000 scholarship since the program was created in 2000 to help prepare college students to thrive in the global economy and to expand the number of Americans studying and interning abroad.

“It’s a significant achievement that recognizes both her academic dedication and her commitment to global learning,” said Daniela Baban Hurrle, director of international programs. “Her selection highlights the strength of SUNY Cortland students and the impact of study abroad opportunities.”

Wirth is only in her second year at Cortland but she will graduate in Spring 2027 due to advanced placement coursework from high school. She will join the class cohort of eight students visiting the small Caribbean island state in the Lesser Antilles from Wednesday, May 20, to Saturday, May 30.

She and her classmates from across SUNY are enrolled in “Development and Resilience in Dominica,” a course led by Jeremy Jiménez, a SUNY Cortland associate professor of foundations and social advocacy.

Jiménez’s 10-day foray assigns the class to view topics in their international experience through the primary lens of sustainability, including early childhood education and teaching; education; environmental studies; international relations and affairs; and sociology.

“I’m really excited to learn about the culture in Dominica,” Wirth said. “With teaching, you’re always going to get kids from different cultures and different backgrounds, and I think being able to be immersed in another culture for 10 whole days is wonderful. It’s not really something a lot of people get to do.”

Jiménez met Wirth last semester in his International Education class.

“It was readily apparent how much she enjoyed learning about other cultures around the world and the effort she put into her studies,” Jiménez said. “As such, it is quite fitting that Chloe was awarded a Gilman scholarship to join our inaugural trip to Dominica.”

Dominica is commonly referred to as the “Nature Isle of the Caribbean,” and due to its rugged topography it has largely avoided much of the over-tourism and development that commonly degrades the environment of many other Caribbean nations. However, in 2017 the island was completely devastated in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, ravaging farmers’ crops and destroying the habitats sustaining the island’s wildlife.

“Although they had a short period of receiving some international aid, the people of Dominica had to primarily rely on each other to first survive and then work together to rebuild their island,” Jiménez said.

Wirth also will learn about what local schoolteachers value in their education system and broader culture, how farmers build resilience to weather the future hurricanes of a global warming world and how artists communicate what lessons others can learn about Dominica’s resilience, he said.

“Every country is unique in its own way, but what makes Dominica such an amazing place to study sustainability is both how well it has preserved its natural beauty as well as what it can teach us about how to positively respond to natural disasters,” Jiménez said. “Chloe will even have an opportunity to visit some Kalinago elders, who represent one of the only remaining Indigenous communities in the Caribbean with territorial sovereignty.”

“This short program is perfect for education majors and students with an interest in community development and volunteer work,” Baban Hurrle said.

But for a youth who studied French throughout secondary school at the Maine-Endwell School District and always hungered to travel abroad, Wirth never has before, due partly to the cost and more recently the time conflict with her major’s educator practicum requirement. So, she focused on winter break and summer course offerings, applied for the Gilman scholarship and leaped at the opportunity to study under her faculty mentor, Jiménez.

“He’s very well-traveled,” she said. “And he had given me the rundown of the program in class, and I immediately was like, ‘I want to go.’”

Wirth will receive additional study abroad funding from the International Programs Office for the trip. And, she was one of the first participants in SUNY Cortland’s Red Dragons Global Passport Program, through which the International Programs Office covered the cost of her passport.

That helped remove another key barrier for Wirth to studying abroad and supported her journey from the very first step, Baban Hurrle said.

This year, 2,100 Gilman scholars were awarded the support needed for their international scholarship between May 2026 and May 2027, according to the organization’s website. The Gilman Program received over 12,200 applications, the highest number in the program’s 25-year history for any application cycle.

Many Cortland study abroad programs are eligible for Gilman funding. To foster greater numbers of future Gilman scholars, the International Programs Office will host a series of workshops this fall to guide students through the application process ahead of the program’s Oct. 1 deadline for the following academic year.

Students can inquire about study abroad options and the Gilman scholarship by contacting the International Programs Office at [email protected] or 607-753-2209.

It’s all business at SUNY Cortland’s Innovation Day, as more than 90 student entrepreneurs will present their ideas to alumni and the local community. 

Taking place Wednesday, May 6, in the Corey Union Function Room, it was once an internal function of the Economics Department. Now, it will be the second year of a new format that connects participants more closely with area businesses. 

“While this event is a celebration of our students’ work, the applied learning experiences within these courses help students develop skills that our employers are seeking,” said Kathleen Burke, SUNY distinguished teaching professor of economics. 

Those skills directly relate to the NACE Career Readiness Competencies, she added, with particular focus on leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, communication, professionalism and technology.  

Six student teams in the Entrepreneurship I class taught by lecturer Jamie Wilson were chosen to pitch their ideas to a panel. Judges include President Erik J. Bitterbaum; Diana Lawson ’76, dean of the Seidman College of Business, Grand Valley State University, and Cortland College Foundation board member; and Adam Weitsman, owner and chief executive officer of Upstate Shredding - Weitsman Recycling, the largest privately held scrap metal processing and recycling company on the East Coast. 

Those judges will select a winner that receives the Red Dragon Innovation Cup. 

The student teams competing are: 

• Throwing Shade: Jayden Lont. 

• ShredAir: Bryan Sredniawski, Esteban Mitchell, Morgan Shevlin, Nick Bliss and Lindsey Hillenbrandt. 

• Motion: Johnathon Finewood and Michael Burke. 

• NextLife: Ryan Craig 

• Rockwood by Vinci: Dominic Vinci. 

• Scrap Fit: Chris Youngs, Justin Womeldorph, Thomas Wheeler and Luka Kvizhinadze. 

Scrap Fit, an idea for gym equipment created from scrap metal, and NextLife, an idea for a service that sorts collected junk for donation, recycling or scrap, each earned distinction in the first round of the recent New York Business Plan Competition, advancing to compete at the state level. 

Other students from the class will discuss their business plans during a Student Business Showcase in the morning and afternoon. 

In addition to the presentations, five projects worked on by students in Burke’s ECO 365 Community Innovation Lab will be delivered to their local community partners. 

• Cortland Police Department: Website update and redesign. 

• Cortland Historical Society: A business model for their new building. 

• Cornell Cooperative Extension 

• • Camp Owahta: A business model for facility use during non-summer months. 

• • 4-H Animal Sale: Marketing materials for youth to promote the sale of their animals. 

• Kleen Korner, Paddy’s Pub, The Green Arch: Strategies to promote non-Main Street businesses to SUNY Cortland students. 

Burke also noted that students from a Technical Writing course taught by Professor Laura Davies consulted with the student teams, elevating all public-facing documents by implementing their technical writing skills. 

In between the other activities, 11 SUNY Cortland students will become the university’s founding members in the national Sigma Nu Tau Entrepreneurship Honor Society. The United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship recently approved the new chapter and Bitterbaum will present its charter during a ceremony for the group. 

Major League Baseball is going global, with a sharp focus on expanding to new markets. Thankfully, it has Javier Román M ’14 to help connect the MLB with the world. 

Román, a native of Puerto Rico, is the league’s senior manager of Spanish social editorial. In that role, he shares the highlights of the game with Spanish-language fans in the Americas and beyond. 

That experience is something the graduate in international sport management was excited to bring back to SUNY Cortland when he spoke with students in a recent Sport Revenue Generation class and was the keynote speaker for an end-of-year ceremony hosted by the Sport Management Department and its student club. 

“It means a lot to get an alum like Javier back to campus to share his experience with students,” said junior Claire Engel, who is president of the Sport Management Club that organizes the annual event.  

“Typically, we often hear about undergraduate students who went on to success, so it was really great to hear from someone who got their graduate degree here.” 

 Román’s keynote focused on career lessons that he has found important, including those that emphasize resilience, openness and building relationships. 

He said he was honored for the invitation, and enjoyed the chance to go in depth with students on current social media and business developments in his field as well as strategies for finding jobs and internships. 

“I think the best way to give back to the university is to talk to the students, tell them this is achievable, and be an example for them,” Román said. 

Tracy Trachsler, associate professor and interim chair of the Sport Management Department, believes that when alumni like Román return to Cortland, it shows the impact that an education at the university can have. 

“We create strong bonds and relationships from day one, and those extend beyond the time our students leave campus,” she added. “It is a point of pride to have so many alumni willing to give of their time, energy and talents in this way.” 

Rather than baseball, it was professional soccer that Román first envisioned as a career. But while at Cortland, he was offered an internship in Australia for the Perth Heat Baseball Club. 

He cited professors like Genevieve Birren, Tara Sidey and other sport management faculty for their help, as well as Daniela Baban Hurrle, director of international programs. 

With encouragement, he headed to the southern hemisphere and found a new path. 

Román’s current position puts him in touch with a large fanbase. He counts a homecoming to Puerto Rico among his favorite career moments so far. He returned to the U.S. territory this year when San Juan hosted games for the World Baseball Classic. 

“One of the best, iconic highlights of my career — to be able to go to the stadium that my dad brought me to for the first time when I was a kid,” Román said. 

And while he witnesses high-level highlights every day, what Román says he enjoys most is finding new stories to tell and delivering that coverage to Spanish-language fans who once lacked access to the Major League game. 

“We provide the voice for many players that didn’t have the voice before,” he said. “Their story, where they’re from, who helped them to get there. Many of these players had interesting stories that nobody knew.” 

To Román, many of those stories show the audience that they can overcome adversity in the same way the pro players chased their own dreams. It’s a universal message that he says inspires and connects households across Latin America and the rest of the world. 

“The majority of (players) come from different backgrounds,” he explained. “But the main goal is to be there in the professional world. ... Showcasing the work of sport is global.” 

SUNY Cortland’s seniors and graduate students will advance to the next stage in their lives during Commencement weekend in Park Center Alumni Arena.

The university’s graduate Commencement ceremony will take place Friday, May 15. Three undergraduate Commencement ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 16.

The graduate ceremony starts at 7 p.m. on Friday. The undergraduate ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday. A reception immediately following the graduate ceremony will take place in Park Center Corey Gymnasium.

A total of 1,531 seniors applied to graduate during the 2025-26 academic year and most of them plan to don cap and gown to receive bachelor’s degrees during the three undergraduate ceremonies. More than 5,000 of their guests are anticipated.

The university also will award 384 master’s degrees and 37 Certificates of Advanced Study.

“All of our students have worked hard to achieve this goal, and we are extremely proud of them,” said SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum, who has served as the university’s president since 2003. “We know they will go on to accomplish great things in their lives as they build on the foundation they created at SUNY Cortland.”

This year, the 10 most popular majors among graduates are:

• physical education (223)
• early childhood and childhood education (182)
• exercise science (141)
• business economics (128)
• sport management (118)
• psychology (98)
• inclusive childhood education (69)
• criminology (57)
• communication studies (50)
• social studies (41)

This year’s undergraduate Commencement speakers are Stacey Bohne Hengsterman ’93, president and chief executive officer of Special Olympics New York and a recipient of this year’s SUNY honorary doctor of humane letters, at Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony A; Greg Sankey ’87, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and a recipient of this year’s SUNY honorary doctor of humane letters, at Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony B; and Peter McGinnis, a SUNY distinguished service professor in SUNY Cortland’s Kinesiology Department, who has long been considered an authoritative voice on the biomechanics of pole vaulting, at Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony C.

Juan Carlos “J.C.” Polanco, of Bronx, N.Y., who will graduate with a Master of Arts in History, will deliver the Graduate Commencement speech.

Offering student remarks at Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies will be Parker Arenas of Brewster, N.Y., the 2025-26 president of the university’s Student Government Association (SGA) and a criminology major minoring in forensic psychology and communication studies.

SUNY Cortland has graduated more than 90,000 students, and this year’s class will join the ranks of alumni who reside in all 50 states, three U.S. territories and 55 other countries. Flossie Bell Lomax ’86, M ’90, C.A.S. ’96, Ed.D., president of the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association, will address the university’s newest alumni after all Commencement ceremonies.

More information about each speaker is provided below.

Stacey Bohne Hengsterman ’93

A trusted advocate for people with disabilities, Hengsterman has directed one of the largest and most prominent Special Olympics organizations in the world since 2018. Special Olympics New York has earned the highest rankings from both Charity Navigator and Candid. Hengsterman was named to the 2021 Upstate Power 100 list by City & State and was one of 30 recipients to receive the 2020 City & State Above and Beyond Award, which recognizes women leaders in New York. Prior to her current role, she held various senior leadership positions with SUNY System Administration, serving as assistant vice chancellor for government relations from 2000 to 2015 before rising to the system’s chief of staff. For nearly two decades, she helped inform state higher education policy as a top advisor to the SUNY chancellor, the Board of Trustees and the leadership at its 64 public campuses. The SUNY Cortland Alumni Association presented her with its 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Greg Sankey ’87

Sankey has earned a reputation as a visionary in college athletics for guiding the NCAA’s most successful Division I conference. A native of nearby Auburn, N.Y., the former physical education major has strengthened the conference’s visibility and reputation — introducing a historic broadcast rights deal in 2020 and expanding conference membership from 14 to 16 institutions, including some of the most respected universities in the nation. The SEC has captured 66 national championships since Sankey’s tenure as commissioner began in 2015. Nationally, he has helped navigate turbulent and changing times for Division I institutions, from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to the questions surrounding name, image and likeness benefits for student-athletes. In 2021, he was named co-chair of the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee, a group tasked with leading efforts to reimagine the future of college sports. He also has served on several of the NCAA’s most important committees addressing academic performance and governance.

Peter McGinnis

McGinnis, who joined SUNY Cortland in 1990 and retires in August as SUNY distinguished service professor emeritus of kinesiology and the pole vault coach for the university’s track and field teams, is an internationally respected scholar who has worked extensively with U.S.A. Track and Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee. Local and Olympic pole vaulters have depended on his analysis since the early 1980s. So have organizations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials and legal representatives requiring expert testimony in pole vault accident litigations. In 2012, the U.S.A. Track and Field awarded him the Harmon Brown Sports Medicine and Science Award. In 2013, McGinnis was promoted by SUNY to distinguished service professor in recognition of his extraordinary service on campus and in the community and systemwide levels. His scholarship includes the highly regarded book, Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise, plus numerous peer-reviewed articles and technical reports. He has chaired committees responsible for establishing important safety standards in the sport.

Juan Carlos “J.C.” Polanco M ’26

Polanco has risen from being the child of Dominican immigrants to his most recent project as podcast host for “Centered with J.C. Polanco,” getting some of the biggest names in New York City politics. An attorney, educator and public affairs commentator with a career spanning higher education, law, government and nonprofit leadership, Polanco currently serves as an assistant professor at the University of Mount Saint Vincent School of Business and adjunct assistant professor at Borough of Manhattan Community College (CUNY). He was president and Bronx commissioner of the New York City Board of Elections. As president and CEO of the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO), he led one of the nation’s leading pipeline organizations dedicated to expanding access to legal education. A frequent political and legal analyst who appears on news outlets, Polanco provides commentary on law, government and public affairs. He earned his Juris Doctor and M.B.A. from Fordham University and his Bachelor of Arts from the University at Albany.

Parker Arenas ’26

A former transfer student, Arenas has served SUNY Cortland’s student government in several capacities: previously as its secretary and chief financial officer before being elected president for the 2025-26 academic year. He earned a reputation on campus for committing to the needs and interests of his peers. Arenas also worked as an Orientation assistant across multiple summers and a COR 101 facilitator, becoming a trusted source of knowledge for new students. A criminology major, he served as a research assistant in the Sociology/Anthropology Department and also pursued an internship with the City of Cortland Police Department.

Details on all 2026 Commencement ceremonies, including links to live video streams of the events, are available on SUNY Cortland’s Commencement website.

Red Dragon Reuse, the annual donation collection program, is back for its fourth year.

Through a partnership with the SUNY Cortland Sustainability Office and Cortland ReUse, donation totes have been on campus since May 1. While packing up to move out for the summer, students are encouraged to donate their leftover things to be used by others and kept out of Cortland’s landfill. 

During the Red Dragon Reuse collection, industrial laundry bins placed in residence halls welcome almost all items that students may leave behind when the school year ends, even if they don’t fit into the nonprofit’s normal operations, including:

• Nonperishable food. ReUse uses the food to first help restock the SUNY Cortland Cupboard food pantry, then gives the remainder to Seven Valleys Food Rescue and Cortland County Mutual Aid
• Clothing, linen and textiles. Through the donations, Cortland ReUse will start regularly selling clothes. Linens, bedding and pillows will go to Thrifty Shopper, Mutual Aid and other groups that help serve the local homeless population
• Foam bed toppers. This item is a uniquely common one at SUNY Cortland compared to other places where ReUse collects
• Other items including, but not limited to, kitchenware, office and school supplies, lamps, small furniture and other household items, electronics and sporting equipment

“This has become a wonderful tradition on campus,” said Megan Swing, Cortland’s energy and sustainability engagement coordinator. “I love seeing campus transform into a more circular economy. We have some ideas in the works to have a year-round donation and reuse program that I hope we can have live in the fall.”

In the various donation totes and bins located in residence hall lounges or lobbies, students can donate any gently used items and unopened and unperishable food to benefit the SUNY Cortland Cupboard. 

Students living off campus can drop off items to Cortland ReUse at their new location at 113 Port Watson St. in Cortland. 

All the items collected will be part of the Red Dragon Reuse sale. The community sale will start after Memorial Day at the new Cortland ReUse store. The on-campus sale of college specific items will take place in the Outdoor Pursuits garage during move-in weekend, Aug. 27 and 28. Students will be able to shop for low-price items to get them ready for the academic year. 

To help reduce emissions and costs associated with the donation collection, a trailer will be on campus for the collection week. Donations will be unloaded into the trailer and then taken to be sorted at the Cortland ReUse store, decreasing the number of trips that will need to be taken across town. 

“We are super excited about this continued partnership with Cortland ReUse, and glad we are working out ways to make it more efficient,” said Matthew Brubaker, the university’s chief sustainability officer and energy manager. 

Graduating seniors have another opportunity to donate items to help future Red Dragons. After Commencement ceremonies, there will be donation bins in Park Center and the Lusk Field House for newly minted alumni to donate their gowns to the SUNY Cortland Cupboard if they’d like.   

Those who aren’t quite ready to part with their gown right after the ceremony can mail their gown to Megan Swing at Facilities Management, SUNY Cortland, P.O. Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045.

The graduation gowns donation program got its start last year.  

“Through generous donations from our alums and Cortland Auxiliary Services, we are able to help over 20 graduating seniors this semester,” said Lauren Scagnelli, health and wellness program coordinator and chair of the SUNY Cortland Cupboard. “We encourage the Class of 2026 to keep this new tradition going.

“The idea for this program came last year when an alum reached out who had benefited from the cupboard in the past and wanted to give back,” said Scagnelli. “They wanted to donate their cap and gown to a student in need. It was so thoughtful and sparked further conversation around sustainability and circularity.”

SUNY Cortland undergraduates are eager to present their own academic research, if their participation at the 2026 13th SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC) is any indication.

Each spring semester, SURC attracts undergraduates and faculty mentors from across the SUNY system to different campuses, this year at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., for a full day of activities.

Some 25 SUNY Cortland students and their faculty mentors seized a vibrant opportunity to network with peers in many disciplines from other campuses during the academic showcase on April 24.

“This is the fourth conference experience I’ve had presenting my undergraduate research, and I must say this one was definitely different from the rest,” in its focus on medical research, said Nicolette Carluccio, a senior conservation biology major from East Northport, N.Y.

She and classmate Catherine Crowley, working with Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Laura Eierman as faculty mentor, showcased their investigation on the application of environmental DNA techniques to assess the abundance of a species called Diadema antillarum (Long-Spined Sea Urchin) on the Belizean coral reefs.

“I really enjoyed learning about the projects others are conducting in different fields,” Carluccio said. “It was a great experience, and it provided me with a new realm of conference experiences that will definitely help me in my future career.”

More than a dozen faculty mentors also attended to advise the students. They included Theresa Curtis and Elizabeth McCarthy in biological sciences; Kent Johnson, sociology/anthropology; Jeongkyu Kim, physical education; Keshab Raj Dahal, mathematics; and Benjamin Wilson, economics. Peter Ducey, biological sciences, had students present but did not attend.

Two Kinesiology Department mentors, Professor Jim Hokanson and Associate Professor Erik Lind, advised three Cortland undergraduates who gave presentations this year. Many Kinesiology Club members attended as well. Professor Kevin Dames was a third kinesiology mentor.

“Being at SURC showed myself and other SUNY students alike why research is so important,” said Alexandra Mackenzie, a junior exercise science major from Long Beach, N.Y., who presented on the impact of lower body positive pressure support on cardiovascular loaf and vertical oscillation during treadmill exercise.

“I got a lot out of this conference,” Mackenzie said. “It showed me how to network and what possible career ideas I can pursue.”

“I had a great time meeting people from all over the state, and I had an amazing time overall,” said Raymond Meng, a junior exercise science major from Cortland, N.Y., whose presentation explored the relationship between the two variables of cadence and power when someone is running on a treadmill. “I would do it again next year for sure.”

Ben Wasser, a sophomore exercise science major from Dumont, N.J., presented his team’s poster on evaluating the effects of running in place, called form power, at different speeds. They used a Stryd foot pod, Garmin heart rate monitor and manual RPE chart to compare heart rate and perceived effort at different speeds.

“We found that there is a positive correlation between form power, metabolic cost and perceived effort,” Wasser said.

“We are so proud of their work,” Hokanson said. “Their presentations drew excellent questions and earned well-deserved praise. Moments like these remind us why undergraduate research matters.”

The kinesiology contingent also flocked to sessions on the requirements and processes for getting into SUNY Upstate Medical University’s graduate programs in physical therapy, public health and medicine.

Michael Levy, a senior dual biology and economics major from Beacon, N.Y., joined the research project of Economics Professor Benjamin Wilson to explore the UNI — one form of complementary currency floated by the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity — to demonstrate the relationship between government spending and taxation.

Wilson issued the ‘UNI’ to students for performing volunteer activities, making Title II documents accessible for SUNY Cortland or attending on-campus lectures, Levy explained. In turn students would need to pay their “UNI tax” at the end of the semester for 10% of their grade.

“The project was designed to demonstrate government can spend money without the limitation of taxation dollars, the main teaching point of the project,” he said. “The private sector — us, firms, etc. — gain money via government expenditure.

“Overall, the UNI mobilized over 250+ volunteer hours for non-profits in the Cortland area,” Levy said.

“Michael is not only assisting in data collection, but he is actively helping me to think through different designs of the system that will allow us to develop new hypotheses about money design and how these micro classroom models might scale to larger institutions,” Wilson said. “He is really helping me think about this project from a new creative perspective.”

Hokanson suggested that this year brought the largest Cortland campus contingent in the roughly 15 years the Kinesiology Department has participated in SURC.

“This year, there were probably the most students presenting of any years I have gone,” Hokanson said.

Moreover, at least 16 of the SUNY Cortland students enrolled in a wide variety of majors presented their own work that day.

Maria Timberlake, associate professor of foundations and social advocacy and director of the university’s Undergraduate Research Council, credited Zach Braman in the Research and Sponsored Programs Office for organizing the university’s registrations. Andrea Dávalos, associate professor of biological sciences, will soon assume the role of URC director and help lead Cortland’s participation in the annual SURC gatherings.

This year’s SURC again featured sessions devoted to student presentations — oral, performance, artistic displays and poster. Participants also networked during a luncheon, explored a graduate school and career fair and engaged in professional development workshops for students and faculty.

SURC is supported by the offices of the SUNY Chancellor, Provost and Research Foundation, as well as the university system’s student and faculty governance organizations.

For more information, visit the SURC webpage or email [email protected].

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The 2026 Cortland Challenge once again made history, raising $913,954 from 4,720 generous donors.

Both of those numbers set new records for the Cortland College Foundation’s annual giving day fundraiser.

The impressive fundraising result was led by more than $300,000 in matching gifts, unlocked every time a new fundraising benchmark was hit. Last year, more than $230,000 in matching gifts inspired previous high totals of $663,713 dollars raised by 4,104 generous university supporters.

Generous SUNY Cortland supporters could specify what they wanted their gift used for. Athletic programs once again led the way with $371,062 in designated gifts. A total of $167,764 was raised for scholarships and awards. That was followed by The Cortland Fund with $154,888 raised; campus areas and initiatives with $131,892 received; and academic departments with $88,348 donated.

More details are available online at give.cortland.edu/2026-cortland-challenge.

Seven new members will be inducted into the SUNY Cortland C-Club Hall of Fame during its annual ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19. The 2026 honorees are:

• James Grady ’50, M ’61 (Football/Men’s Lacrosse/Men’s Track and Field)
  
  
• Judy Sparks Arlington ’89, M ’90 (Women’s Cross Country/Women’s Track and Field)
  
  
• Patrick Lalley ’98 (Football)
  
  
• Julian Heyward ’02 (Men’s Swimming and Diving)
  
  
• Becky Gillette ’02, M ’04 (Field Hockey)
  
  
• James Dougher ’07 (Baseball)
  
  
• Jessica Lavelle ’14 (Women’s Lacrosse)

In addition to Saturday night’s official ceremony, the inductees will be introduced at halftime of the Cortland football game versus Hartwick College earlier that afternoon.

More information about the induction ceremony or other weekend events will be available online.

Established in 1969, the C-Club Hall of Fame recognizes Cortland alumni who competed as athletes at the university and went on to distinguish themselves in their professions and within their communities. Honorary members are recognized for their long and significant contributions to SUNY Cortland athletics. New C-Club members have been added annually and this year's ceremony will bring the Hall of Fame roster to 311 alumni and 33 honorary members. A person must be nominated to be considered for induction.

SUNY Cortland senior Kendall Arcuri, senior Isaiah Brunache, junior Joleen Lusk, junior Katie Mahoney and senior Reilly Quinn have been honored as State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Winter Scholar Athletes of the Year, while Arcuri, Brunache, Lusk, Mahoney and senior Angelo Centrone and junior Kathryn McSweeney have been honored as State University of New York (SUNY) Winter Scholar Athletes of the Year.

SUNYAC Scholar Athlete Award winners are selected from each of the SUNYAC’s sponsored sports. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.30, be a starter or significant reserve on his or her team and have an academic class standing of sophomore or higher.

The SUNY Scholar Athlete Awards recognizes student-athletes from SUNY colleges and universities sponsoring intercollegiate athletics at the four-year and two-year levels who were nominated and voted upon by representatives of their respective institutions. Nominating information includes cumulative grade point average, current and career statistics, and athletic and academic honors. 

Arcuri repeats as both the SUNYAC and SUNY winner for men’s basketball. A physical education major with a 3.48 overall GPA entering the spring, he earned NABC second team all-district and D3hoops.com third team all-region honors, and was a first team All-SUNYAC selection, after averaging 13.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 25 games. He finished his Cortland career with 1,249 points.

Brunache is an exercise science major with a 3.92 overall GPA prior to the spring semester. He earned both SUNYAC and SUNY indoor track and field honors for the second straight year, and he also was the SUNY honoree as a sophomore two years ago. He earned first team All-America honors in both the weight throw, with a fifth-place finish, and the shot put, with a seventh-place showing, at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. Brunache was also chosen as the SUNYAC Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year.

Centrone is a repeat winner of the SUNY award for men’s wrestling. A physical education major with a 3.35 overall GPA prior to the spring, Centrone earned All-America honors with a seventh-place finish a 149 pounds at the NCAA Division III Championships. He also claimed the NCAA Region 2 and SUNYAC titles. Centrone finished the season with a 20-3 record and his Cortland career with a 98-12 record.

Lusk is an exercise science major who entered the spring semester with a 3.98 overall GPA. The women’s basketball forward earned first team All-SUNYAC and third team D3hoops.com all-region honors after leading Cortland with 11.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game in 27 games.

Mahoney is an exercise science major with a 3.93 overall grade point average entering the spring semester. Cortland’s first-ever women's ice hockey All-American, Mahoney finished the season with 11 goals and 20 assists in 28 games and was named the SUNYAC Player of the Year.

McSweeney, a member of the Cortland women’s gymnastics team, is the SUNY “women’s at-large” honoree. Pursuing an individualized degree program, McSweeney has a 3.94 overall GPA prior to the spring. She earned All-National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) East Region honors on uneven bars with second-place regional finish and tied for 18th place of 48 on uneven bars at NCGA National Championship.

Quinn is a sport management major with a 3.95 overall GPA prior to the spring semester. The women’s indoor track and field honoree was named the SUNYAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Year after winning conference titles in both the long jump and the high jump and earning All-Niagara Region honors in both events.

More than 14,000 student-athletes compete at SUNY institutions representing 53 different colleges and universities at the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III/USCAA and NJCAA levels and are eligible for the awards.

The 19 Division III institutions in the SUNY system are: Alfred State, Brockport, Buffalo State, Canton, Cobleskill, Cortland, Delhi, Farmingdale, Fredonia, Geneseo, Maritime, Morrisville, New Paltz, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam and SUNY Poly. SUNY-ESF, a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), participates in the program with the 19 NCAA Division III members for a total of 20 colleges and universities.