For many adolescent students with developmental disabilities, the pursuit of higher education is filled with roadblocks and can be a daunting task for both aspiring students and their families. But thanks to InclusiveU, an initiative from the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, students of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities are empowered to come to campus and experience college life in a fully inclusive setting, learning the necessary skills to thrive in the classroom and find a job after graduation. InclusiveU Director Brianna Shults G'20 travels across the country advocating on behalf of InclusiveU, meeting with policymakers, politicians and higher education leaders while pushing for policy change to make higher education accessible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Shults and current InclusiveU student Matthew Falanga '26 joined the podcast to discuss the life-changing opportunities InclusiveU affords its students, how InclusiveU has made a profound impact on campus and across the world, how InclusiveU has become the standard-bearer for how colleges run an inclusive higher education program, and how this program benefits not only the participating students but the greater campus community as well.

The Fran Brown era got off to a fantastic start when the Syracuse University football team defeated Ohio University 38-22 Saturday afternoon before a raucous crowd inside the JMA Wireless Dome. Since his hiring, Brown has been focusing on once again turning the Orange into national championship contenders. But this job is about more than football for Brown, who uses the life lessons the sport teaches to transform his players into men who are invested in their community and put the needs of the team above their own needs. With excitement building around the Orange football team, Brown stopped by the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast to discuss how he’s making his mark on the program, why he’s all-in on Syracuse University football and how his upbringing shaped and molded him into the leader he is today.

When the Goon Squad formed in 1944, its original purpose was to reinforce Syracuse University’s campuswide policy requiring all new students to wear beanie caps during their first semester on campus. Sue Weber ’68 fondly recalls wearing her beanie when she arrived in the fall of 1964, and her beanie and the straw Goon Squad hat she received when she joined as a sophomore are among her most precious Syracuse University mementos. While first-year students are no longer obligated to wear their class beanie, the Goon Squad is still one of the most impactful traditions on campus. Celebrating 80 years of making a difference in the lives of first-year students, the Goon Squad—featuring more than 550 student leaders—will greet new students and lend a hand during move-in at residence halls as part of Syracuse Welcome, the University’s new student orientation program. Weber and current Goon Squad member Jack Withee '26 reminisce about their own experiences moving into Syracuse University, share when they knew they wanted to join the Goon Squad and discuss the lasting impact and legacy of the Goon Squad.

Each summer, the College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University hosts the Fulbright pre-academic program⁠, which prepares international Fulbright students to embark on their graduate degrees and research opportunities. This year, 44 students from 20 countries around the world will spend four weeks on campus discovering American culture, learning about life as a graduate student in the U.S. and developing the necessary research skills. El-Baz Abdallah and Budoor Alsaadi discuss their beneficial experiences as International Fulbright students participating in the program, how they assimilated to life as students in the United States and how they plan on using their research to make a difference.

When the Summer Olympics begin later this month in Paris, France, one of Syracuse University’s best-known alums will be front and center. In many ways, it’s a role veteran sportscaster Mike Tirico ’88 knew he wanted at an early age. On this Olympic-themed episode of the "'Cuse Conversations" podcast, Tirico talks about getting ready for the games, his sleep schedule while in Paris (it’s rough), his commitment to helping our young broadcast students and, as a first-generation student who met and married his wife here, his love for Syracuse University.

Beginning in the fall, Syracuse University’s electronic sports, or esports, academic degree program will welcome admitted students to campus for classes. This past academic year served as “Year Zero” for the esports degree program, which employs a holistic, experiential learning-based approach that will prepare students for career success in various industries, leveraging the largest collection of faculty and staff members of any esports program on a college campus. It’s an all-encompassing venture, including both the academic degree program and the competitive teams that vie for national championships in their respective games. Joey Gawrysiak, executive director of the esports degree program, was hired last August to bring his visionary research and skills to campus. He discusses the evolution of the esports program on campus, the progress made in its first year, the expanded opportunities available to students and what’s planned for the future.

Attending college was not on Leondra Tyler’s ’24 mind when persistent bullying and harassment forced her to drop out of high school in the tenth grade. The same was true for Omnia Shedid L’24, who grew up chasing chickens and running through her grandparents’ corn fields on a small, rural village in Banha, Egypt. Yet when Syracuse University holds its 2024 Commencement exercises Sunday morning, both Tyler and Shedid will be honored and celebrated for their perseverance and resilience in the face of immense adversity. A non-traditional student, Tyler will graduate cum laude with dual degrees in neuroscience and psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Professional Studies through the Part-Time Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and plans on becoming a doctor. Shedid, the president of the College of Law’s Class of 2024, landed her “dream job” as an honors attorney with the government after graduation. Tyler and Shedid discuss their surreal paths to Commencement, how their time on campus reinforced their drive to make a difference once they graduate and how they plan on utilizing their degrees to help out those less fortunate.

What does it mean for Syracuse University to invent and demonstrate cutting-edge sustainability initiatives? It means reducing the University's environmental impact in a responsible manner by identifying, promoting, and implementing practices that will meet our current needs without compromising the needs of future generations. And it includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions through wisely managing energy efficiency projects. During April, the campus community is coming together to celebrate Earth Month. On this ''Cuse Conversation, Sustainability Project Manager Lydia Knox G'22 discusses the state of sustainability at Syracuse University, explores the sustainability efforts occurring on campus, describes how the University is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2032, shares how you can get involved with these initiatives and explains why she left her career as a television meteorologist to pursue her passion for sustainability and preserving the Earth.

When more than 5,500 international students begin their Syracuse University journeys, they face different challenges from their domestic counterparts. Besides leaving behind their families, their friends and everything they’ve ever known, for many international students, the first time they step foot on campus is often the day they arrive to embark on their Syracuse journeys. That was the case for Adya Parida ’25, who traveled nearly 7,700 miles from Ranchi, India to study computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science; Yajie (Lannie) Lan G’24, who ventured more than 7,300 miles from Chengdu, China to study architecture in the School of Architecture; and Angelica Molina G’25, who traveled more than 2,700 miles from Cali, Colombia to earn her master’s degree in public administration and international relations in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. These students discuss their respective journeys to Syracuse University, how they found success and a welcoming community on campus, their advice for fellow international students and how they plan on making a difference in their communities once they graduate.

Amir Durić knew he was meant to serve as a faith leader when he was a child and his grandfather called upon him to lead his family’s daily prayers during the holy month of Ramadan, a time when observant Muslims around the world come together in hopes of increasing their consciousness, self-awareness and empathy through fasting daily from dawn to sunset and worship that elevates their spirituality. Since 2017, Durić has led efforts to enhance and improve the Muslim student experience, both at Syracuse University and college campuses across the country, as the Imam with Hendricks Chapel. With Ramadan underway, Durić stopped by to discuss the role an Imam plays on campus, as well as the core tenets of Islam and the biggest misconceptions surrounding the religion. He also discusses his groundbreaking research on the Muslim student experience and explains how an interfaith collaboration with Rabbi Ethan Bair brought together Muslim and Jewish students to learn more about each other's beliefs and values.

Jon “JAG” Gay ’02 is the founder and owner of “JAG in Detroit,” a successful podcasting business that helps companies and non-profits share their stories through original audio content. He launched his podcasting business after a 15-year career in radio because he understands the compelling and intimate nature of audio storytelling. Gay talks about that, his experience as a Syracuse University student and graduate, and his podcasting passion project, “WJPZ at 50.” Gay created “WJPZ at 50,” a podcast featuring alumni of Syracuse University student radio station Z89, to celebrate the station’s 50th anniversary in 2023. More than a year and a half later, the podcast’s nearly 120 episodes serve as an oral history of the station and illustrate the strong bond shared by generations of alumni.