Campus Champion

Ryan Morales is described as “the strength behind the Cupboard” by his supervisor. During his part-time work as support assistant at the SUNY Cortland Cupboard, the exercise science graduate student does the heavy lifting associated with donation delivery, in addition to cleaning, inventory and maintenance. For Ryan, it’s the perfect way to help students who face food insecurity. He also tables for Swipe Out Hunger and serves on the SUNY Cortland Cupboard Committee — filling a vital role that promotes health and equity for students in need. 

For some SUNY Cortland students, this year’s Cortaca Jug weekend brings more than a famous football rivalry at Yankee Stadium. 

That’s because sport management and musical theatre majors will benefit from career-based experiences at two events leading up to the 67th Cortaca Jug game presented by Visions Federal Credit Union.  

The first-ever SUNY Cortland Sport Industry Summit will be hosted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the SUNY Global Center in Manhattan on Friday, Nov. 13. That evening, four musical theatre majors will perform at a special event hosted at the Empire State Building. 

The summit will help sport management students network and learn from alumni succeeding in the field, while the Empire State Building event will showcase student vocal talents for longtime supporters of SUNY Cortland. 

Selma Fabregas, Sidney Humes-James, Ezzie Rudenko and Jenevieve Young will perform a 20-minute musical program for guests as they arrive. The next day at Yankee Stadium, Young will perform the national anthem ahead of the Cortaca Jug’s kickoff. 

 All four students have earned scholarships made possible through the generosity of SUNY Cortland donors and were chosen for the event based on their artistic achievement, academic success and leadership. 

Lynn Craver, instructor in the Performing Arts Department, coordinated the performance’s planning and rehearsals. She noted that the experience offers students a chance to serve as ambassadors for both the musical theatre program and the university as a whole. 

“This event is a wonderful opportunity for our students to represent SUNY Cortland while sharing their talents with alumni and supporters,” Craver said. “We are excited to celebrate their accomplishments and the many opportunities made possible through donor generosity.” 

The SUNY Cortland Sport Industry Summit is organized by the university’s Sport Management Advisory Board Committee and the students enrolled in Cortland’s Mega-Event Practicum class. Primarily alumni panelists will explore key topics in the sport management field, sharing authentic insight and networking opportunities for graduate, undergraduate, and alumni students to take into their future careers. 

Following the summit, 20 sport management majors will work at Yankee Stadium in various roles providing hands-on experience in event management. 

Funding for the summit comes from The Haines Fund, The Provost’s Foundation Fund, and the Sport Management Department. Registration is discounted for Cortland students and alumni. 

Panel sessions at the summit include: 

• “Behind the Action — The Future of Sport and Event Operations” with Shane Beardsley ’97, industry executive; and Paige Hammond ’13, senior event manager at Legends Global. 

• “Women’s Sports – From Growth Story to Big Business” with Ameena Dye ’15, senior manager, WNBA partnerships and Sport Management Advisory Board member; and Gabriella Cuevas, pro soccer player, Dominican Republic National Team and founder of The Players Network. 

• “Influencer Workshop” with Corin Chesterson ’10, influencer marketing associate; and Layton Lassiter, co-founder at Gray Wolf Agency. 

• “Sports Without Borders: Delivering a Global Experience” with Debbie Fales ’99, CEO at Event Transport Solutions; and Katie Keenan ’06, M ’10, executive vice president and general manager of Olympic and Paralympic hospitality for On Location. 

• “From Intern to Indispensable: Your First Five Years in Sport” with Joshua Kun ’17, director of communications of PrizePicks; and Owen Lyons '24, head of business development for Out2Win. 

• “Managing Up” with Rob Rademacher ’92, executive senior associate athletic director and chief operating officer at the University of Michigan and Sport Management Advisory Board member; and Keith Quarta ’15, senior manager, premium sales for the New York Giants. 

“I’m looking forward to participating in a summit that brings together industry professionals and the next generation of leaders,” Beardsley said.  

“Opportunities like this allow students to connect what they’re learning in the classroom with real-world experiences, hear different perspectives from industry leaders, and begin building the relationships that can help shape their careers,” he added. “I’m excited to share some of the lessons I’ve learned throughout my career in sports, entertainment and venue management, while also learning from the students and fellow panelists.”  

One of SUNY Cortland’s most unique outdoor education facilities will receive upgrades thanks to a SUNY-wide initiative to make nature more accessible.

Hoxie Gorge, an expansive nature preserve located seven miles south of campus, will benefit from a grant through SUNY’s Outdoors for All program. The university is one of 14 across the system to receive funding that aims to increase year-round educational opportunities highlighting New York state’s natural beauty.

Part of SUNY Cortland’s William H. Parks Family Center for Environmental and Outdoor Education, Hoxie Gorge covers more than 165 acres and includes the one-mile McDermott Nature Trail, offering precious space for students to enjoy the outdoors and conduct fieldwork across several academic disciplines.

Funds from the grant will add a portable toilet and permanent sanitation station to a cleared campsite along with updated trail signage and improvements to the arboretum trail loop. Work will be led by the university’s Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies Department.

“Outdoor education provides transformative learning experiences and it highlights the importance of protecting our environment,” said SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum. “On a local level, SUNY’s support will help us improve Hoxie Gorge, a natural gem that affords many opportunities for our community, from recreation to undergraduate research.

“We are very pleased to make the outdoors more accessible for all.”

SUNY Cortland has maintained Hoxie Gorge for more than 50 years and uses it as a unique outdoor classroom in academic departments such as Biological Sciences, Geology and Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies. In addition to the McDermott Nature Trail, the nature preserve includes a connection to the 1,000-mile Finger Lakes Trail, cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, three tent sites and a base camp area.

During the 2025-26 academic year, more than 40 students and community volunteers helped prepare that campsite area and update interpretive trail signage to educate visitors. The grant will continue those efforts and look to improve the existing trailhead and parking lot area near the southern portion of the McDermott Nature Trail, which now welcomes through-hikers of the Finger Lakes Trail.

Leisure studies research suggests that outdoor participation can differ by race and income, with underrepresented populations often citing barriers that include a lack of basic comfort infrastructure such as public restrooms.

An ADA-accessible portable toilet will be added at the trailhead for the duration of the grant, providing reliable restroom access at a high-traffic site for people of all abilities. A permanent, volunteer-built privy also will be added to the cleared campsite area for an additional sanitation outlet.

Updated directional and interpretive trail signage will assist wayfinding by accurately reflecting the Finger Lakes Trail’s rerouting on the McDermott Nature Trail. A current interpretive trail pamphlet and numbered post signage for the trail will utilize resources available in SUNY Cortland’s Makerspace. And a newly cleared, marked and stabilized arboretum trail loop will provide a second accessible route to explore.

Research conducted at Hoxie Gorge has attracted more than $500,000 in grants and produced roughly 30 journal publications. Those research topics include insect chemical ecology and behavior, taxonomy of mushrooms, conservation biology of amphibians, pollination biology of flowering plants and nutrient cycling in streams.

In addition to the hundreds of students who access Hoxie Gorge each year for coursework, the improvements also will directly support the university’s Outdoor Pursuits program, which uses the facility for introductory, low-barrier camping and overnight trips.

The university’s Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies Department will work with several campus partners on the improvements, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of the 2026-27 academic year.

Assemblymember Anna Kelles visited SUNY Cortland recently for several conversations focused on the health of the environment, culminating with a talk on the value of reusing construction materials as part of a circular economy. 

A knowledgeable and trusted voice on environmental topics within state government, Kelles spent an afternoon at the university on Oct. 22 to engage with members of the campus community, take a tour focused on sustainability infrastructure and deliver a presentation titled “Advancing the Circular Economy: Textiles and Construction Materials.” 

Kelles represents New York state’s 125th Assembly District that includes Tompkins County and the southwest portion of Cortland County. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies from Binghamton University and a Ph.D. in nutritional epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

“We were honored that Assemblymember Kelles spent so much time here learning about sustainability at SUNY Cortland,” said Megan Swing, the university’s energy and sustainability engagement coordinator. “She wanted to hear from her constituents — especially our students — about the environmental topics that matter most to them, and she also wanted to share her own important work to promote more sustainable construction practices. Dr. Kelles has a deep and abiding care for our natural environment, and it showed during her visit.” 

Kelles has helped craft and pass notable environmental legislation in the State Assembly to promote native plants, prohibit CO2 fracking and restrict high-energy use cryptocurrency mining. Her committee leadership roles include chairing the Assembly’s Planning, Development and Environmental Quality Committee co-chairing the New York State Legislature’s Commission on Rural Resources. She also served as a director for the Green Resource Hub, a regional nonprofit organization with the mission of supporting environmentally friendly businesses, organizations and entrepreneurs. 

As part of her visit, Kelles offered a public talk to make the case for reusing construction materials through deconstruction rather than demolition, discussing three recent bills she has written and introduced to promote a deconstruction initiative. She urged a shift from demolishing buildings outright to carefully taking them apart and reusing their materials to reduce waste and potentially build a new industry.   

Kelles said that New York state has limited landfill capacity and pointed to construction and demolition debris as a major part of the waste stream. In her presentation, she cited an estimate of 42.2 million tons of total waste annually, with 46% coming from construction and demolition.

Her proposed alternative is deconstruction — removing materials such as bricks, wood and drywall so they can be used again. She cited a Cornell University study estimating that a statewide deconstruction system could support an industry worth upwards of $4 billion and create more than 150,000 jobs. She also suggested that salvaging materials could ease supply shortages and avoid some of the emissions associated with producing new materials.  

According to Kelles, New York is well-suited to build the needed infrastructure to spearhead the establishment of a circular economy for construction materials.   

The sustainability-focused visit also included a meeting to gather student input with SUNY Cortland’s Green Reps and green ambassadors. Those students are entrusted to lead peer-to-peer environmental education programs at the university. 

SUNY Cortland sustainability highlights throughout the past year include: 

• Being named to the Princeton Review’s annual “Guide to Green Colleges.” 

• SUNY Cortland’s Red Dragon Reuse program, a collaboration with Cortland ReUse, which won a nonprofit sector award from the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling. The effort helped rehome roughly 18,000 pounds of dorm supplies and clothing donations at the end of the academic year. 

• Earning a Second Nature Catalyst Grant to strengthen campus climate action projects—one of eight campuses from across the country to receive the award.

Learn more online about SUNY Cortland’s sustainability resources and initiatives. 

Andrea Lachance, dean of SUNY Cortland’s School of Education, was honored last week by the New York Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NYACTE)’s Charles C. Mackey, Jr. Excellence in Service Leadership Award. 

The statewide award recognizes an educator who demonstrates personal and professional qualities that exemplify the highest standards of service leadership in teacher education. 

Kimberly Rombach ’88, associate dean of the School of Education, nominated Lachance. 

“The criteria calls for exceptional service, distinguished leadership and a deep commitment to strengthening teacher education across New York state,” Rombach wrote in her nomination letter. 

“In every way, Dr. Lachance portrays sustained leadership that includes a strong vision for our work today, and for our future as well.” 

It was a humbling honor, according to Lachance, who has served as vice president, president, immediate past president and secretary of NYACTE.  

The award was also a pleasant surprise, with Lachance unaware she’d been nominated until she learned she won. 

“In my work with NYACTE and with the SUNY deans and directors of education, I have been privileged to learn from so many other teacher education leaders and colleagues from across the state,” she said. “I consider many of them mentors and have been shaped by both their advice and the models of thoughtful leadership they provide.” 

Lachance began her career at Cortland in 1998 as an assistant professor of education, while still completing a dissertation in mathematics education at Cornell University. 

After the Education Department was divided into smaller, more specialized departments in 2003, she joined Childhood/Early Childhood Education, which she chaired from 2008 to 2011. Shortly after she was appointed interim dean before earning the position permanently in 2012. 

As an administrator, she is responsible for three academic departments and several service units, including Childhood/Early Childhood Education, Foundations and Social Advocacy, and Literacy. 

“By far the most rewarding part of my role is working with truly amazing people,” Lachance said. “The faculty and staff in the School of Education inspire me daily. Their dedication to serving our students and local school partners is evident in nearly all that they do.  

“There is a real commitment to a shared mission of preparing the next generation of teachers who put the needs of students first and understand how teachers can change a child’s life.”     

Rombach described Lachance’s tenure as dean as a substantial contribution to teacher preparation at Cortland, including supported grants like the NYSED Migrant Education Program, the Liberty Partnerships Program, the SUNY Performance Improvement Fund and the Teacher Leader Quality Program. 

“(Lachance) has expanded opportunities for students and strengthened university and school and community partnerships,” Rombach wrote. “She has worked to create new pipelines to diversify the teaching profession, including purposefully creating pathways for those historically underserved and underrepresented in teacher education.” 

Among Lachance’s proudest accomplishments is Cortland’s status as a model of teacher preparation across the state, Lachance said. 

“Our innovative work with school partnerships, early childhood education, inclusive practices, online teacher education, and the long-standing, successful (Cortland’s Urban Recruitment of Educators) program has been recognized widely for the positive impact it has had on the teaching profession in our state and beyond,” she said.

Through its theme of “Many Sparks, One Flame,” the 15th annual Student Conference on Diversity, Equity and Social Justice will bring voices from across the state together at SUNY Cortland. 

The student-led conference will be hosted Saturday, Nov. 7, at Corey Union from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  

The daylong event “seeks to ignite a sense of community by celebrating our differences, recognizing passion for change and encouraging collaboration in a world on fire,” said sophomore Jake Niederbuhl, student chair of the conference, who noted the theme is inspired by this year’s SUNY Cortland common read focus of “Fire.” 

Registration is free for SUNY Cortland students, faculty and staff. Separate registration is available with a $25 to $30 fee for Cortland alumni and attendees from other institutions. 

Yusuf Muhammad ’99, M ’01, an award-winning educational leader with more than two decades of experience transforming urban schools, serves as the event’s keynote speaker. 

Faculty and students are asked to work together on their proposals for the conference, allowing a collaborative environment and a mix of perspectives. Throughout the day, attendees experience research presentations, panel sessions, interactive workshops, visual arts, poster presentations and performance art. 

“I believe this conference is important as it creates a space for students specifically to speak to a larger crowd about diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice,” Niederbuhl said.  

“For a day, this conference allows us to bring together a diverse community to discuss the changes we see, or want to see, in the world and puts the power in the next generation of leaders to inspire that change." 

The event was created in 2009 to provide undergraduate and graduate students with an opportunity and a venue to share their academic research and creative initiatives, build their resumes, and network with other students across New York state. 

Participants from close to 20 institutions have visited throughout its history to share their research and expertise. 

Muhammad will deliver a keynote talk at 9:45 a.m. titled, “Seen. Known. Loved. Then Taught. Building Communities Where Every Student Belongs.” As principal of Phoenix Academy, a public school in Atlanta, he leads with philosophy rooted in authentic relationships and a core belief in every student’s potential.  

Muhammad holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree from Cornell University and is currently pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership at Clark Atlanta University. 

He has been named the 2025 Atlanta Public Schools Principal of the Year, the 2026 SUNY Cortland Distinguished Educator of the Year and, most recently, the Georgia Association for Alternative Education Administrator of the Year. A sought-after voice on school transformation, Muhammad also has delivered a TEDx Talk, presented before the U.S. Department of Justice and facilitated workshops for the Wallace Foundation, a philanthropic organization with the goal of advancing the arts, education leadership and youth development. 

This year's student keynote speaker will be Ikenna Okoye, a junior physical education major from Uniondale, N.Y., who will speak on “The Audacity to Start a Fire” at 1:15 p.m. 

Okoye has been active in the university’s Educational Opportunity Program, SUNY Cortland NAACP and Men of Value and Excellence, as well as the Cortland Urban Recruitment of Educators. 

Earlier this year, he was the central focus of a Feb. 6 social media post from former U.S. president Barack Obama that highlighted the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Alliance. He’s one of 18 young ambassadors from across the country in the program working to improve their home communities through service and mentorship. 

“Carrie: The Musical” will bring the suspense of Stephen King’s best-selling debut novel to the SUNY Cortland stage just in time for Halloween. 

Featuring the talents of the university’s Performing Arts Department, the show follows teen Carrie White trapped between cruel classmates and a controlling, fanatically religious mother. When Carrie discovers she has telekinetic powers, a cruel prank at her senior prom pushes her past her breaking point. 

Seven performances run from Friday, Oct. 30, to Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Dowd Fine Arts Center Lab Theatre. 

• Friday, Oct. 30: 7 p.m. (Sold out)*

• Saturday, Oct. 31: 7 p.m. (Sold out)*

• Sunday, Nov. 1: 2 p.m. (Sold out)*

• Thursday, Nov. 5: 7 p.m. (Sold out)*

• Friday, Nov. 6: 7 p.m. (Sold out)*

• Saturday, Nov. 7: 7 p.m. (Sold out)*

• Sunday, Nov. 8: 2 p.m. (Sold out)*

* Any additional tickets will be made available the morning of each performance.

Tickets are on sale at SUNY Cortland’s online Box Office. This production contains depictions of bullying, religious extremism, self-harm and graphic violence, including a climactic scene involving blood and the death. Audience discretion is advised. 

Already remade into a classic 1976 movie, a theatrical version of “Carrie” opened on Broadway in 1988, before finding new life in a remade 2012 revival that proved popular with audiences. The story is accompanied by a rock score by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford. 

Fans continue to find the horror tale relevant, with a miniseries based on the book premiering this month on Amazon Prime Video. 

“Nearly everyone has a story where they felt like an outcast and to have a character represent that feeling onstage is so important,” said senior Jenevieve Young, who plays abusive mother Margaret White. 

“I also think ‘Carrie’ will teach audiences about the importance of kindness, and how we often forget what others might be going through, or how a simple act of kindness can change someone’s life.” 

Cortland’s production is directed by Deena Conley, associate professor of performing arts, with choreography by Maya Dwyer and music direction by Ben Kapilow, assistant professor of performing arts. 

“Although the book was published in 1974, the topics of bullying, fanaticism and school violence are, unfortunately, still prevalent today,” Conley said. 

Cortland junior Madison Knoppel takes the role of the title character. 

“Working on this show has been an amazing opportunity filled with so much joy and light, even though the show itself can be very dark,” Knoppel said. “Playing Carrie has been a dream come true. I was nervous going into rehearsals, but everyone has been so supportive. From my fellow actors in the cast to our incredible production team, there has always been an energy in the rehearsal room that made this show feel like a home for me.”  

Also featured are Selma Fabregas as Chris Hargensen, John Malagrida as Billy Nolan, Ann Marie Thorell as Sue Snell and Everett Zellmer as Tommy Ross. 

The remaining cast and crew include Dom Bierman, Taylor Brooks, Paul Daniszewski, Erin DeGraw, Molly Donovan, Jordan Oliver-Bueno, Lucia Rissi, Ezra Rudenko, Allison Wallinger and Rowen Willis. 

“Audiences should come to see ‘Carrie’ because it mixes the movie’s scare-factor with some small but important details from the book, while also creating a sweet and heartbreaking story of its own,” Knoppel said.  

“I know that I can speak for the entire cast when I say that we are so excited to share this story with everyone.”