Thanks to all alumni of the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) who came back to visit during Orange Central, our homecoming and reunion weekend, Sept. 12-15. We hope you enjoyed our special programming and reliving this slice of college life. If you were part of Orange Central 2019, we invite you to share your favorite memory or photo by emailing asnews@syr.edu. If you were not able to attend this year, we hope to see you in 2020. Planning is already underway.

Syracuse University Alumni Awards

We are delighted to report that, of the eight Syracuse alumni honored at this gala event, four had ties to A&S.

They are:

Alicia Carroll '88 (Biology), an ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon. George Arents Award recipient. The Arents Award is Syracuse University's highest alumni honor and recognizes alumni who have excelled in their fields.

Joshua Aviv '15 (Economics), G'17, an entrepreneur and founder and CEO of SparkCharge. Generation Orange Award recipient. The Generation Orange Award recognizes graduates of the last 10 years for their continued commitment to Syracuse University.

Ronald Goldfarb '54 (English), L'56. Attorney, author and literary agent. Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award recipient, along with his wife, Joanne Goldfarb ’57. This award is presented to those alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago and have demonstrated loyalty and service to Syracuse University.

Don Waful '37 (Political Science), G'39. On the eve of having Syracuse’s inaugural Military/Veteran Award conferred on him, Don Waful died after 103 noteworthy years. An Army veteran and a prisoner of war during World War II, Waful maintained a strong connection to the University throughout his life. Indeed, he attended most of SU's home football games after 1945. Along with the rest of the campus community, A&S will miss Don’s presence.

Career Conversation

George Arents winner and noted ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Alicia Carroll ’88 visited with students during a career conversation in the Tolley Humanities Building. The students- part of the SUSTAIN program, which supports the success of underrepresented students in the STEM disciplines- enjoyed a lively discussion including her explanation of why statistics and calculus really matter. She also offered practical advice on career paths and staying focused. Thank you, Dr. Carroll, for sharing your time and expertise with our students. Your insights were the perfect complement to their classroom learning and their meetings with advisors.

Readers: Interested in participating in a Career Conversation? You can request more information.

Rubye Torrey Recognition

2019 is the 50th anniversary of Dr. Rubye Torrey G’69 earning a Ph.D. from A&S. Torrey, who died in 2017 at the age of 91, was the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Syracuse. A&S Dean Karin Ruhlandt commemorated Torrey’s pioneering accomplishments with a plaque dedication attended by Torrey’s son, Michael, and many members of the current chemistry department. See related story.

The Science of Ice Cream

Back by popular demand, this cool event was certainly welcome on a warm September day. Students, staff, and alumni were treated to a fascinating display—complete with super-chilled liquid nitrogen—as Dean Ruhlandt and representatives of the physics and chemistry departments explained the molecular changes transforming milk and sugar into a tasty treat.

Stargazing at Holden Observatory

Despite cloudy skies, amateur alumni astronomers climbed into Holden for their chance to behold the heavens. Jupiter and Saturn were intermittently visible through the haze. Guests also heard a brief history of Holden and how its telescope works.

Watch a student-guided tour on our Instagram page. Look for the story titled "Observatory" under our bio. 

Breakfast Panel Discussion with the Maxwell School

After breakfast and updates from Dean Ruhlandt and Maxwell Dean Van Slyke, a panel of faculty members led an engaging discussion of the practical and policy implications of the rise of autonomous systems. Guests also participated in this lively, timely discussion, asking many questions of the panel and the deans.