News

Claire O’Boyle Downey Named Director of Catering

Syracuse University Food Services announced today that Claire O’Boyle Downey has joined the hospitality team as the department’s new Director of Catering. She began her tenure at the University on February 16, 2023. Claire brings advanced education and years of experience from all areas of the hospitality industry. She studied at the Dublin College of Catering in Dublin, Ireland and relocated to the United States in 1988. Locally, Claire owned and operated her own catering business, “The Secret Ingredient,” serving the greater Syracuse area from 2005-2015. Additionally, Claire has served as the Director of Advancement at Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School, the Director of Development at Most Holy Rosary School, and was most recently the Director of Catering for the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles.

“I am ecstatic that Claire has chosen to lead the Syracuse University catering department,” says Eamon Lee, Executive Director of Hospitality. “Her dedication to grow and develop the team, oversee the onboarding of new catering and customer relationship management software, and refine operational processes — all while bringing her ‘hospitality first’ philosophy to each campus partner relationship — will help her to elevate catering services to new heights in the years ahead.”

Claire will spend this semester familiarizing herself with catering stakeholders, facilities, events, operations, and production. Long term, Claire’s focus will be on building strong campus relationships while aligning every aspect of campus catering with Food Services’ goals for hospitality excellence.

Claire will report to Executive Director of Hospitality, Eamon Lee, and will be based at the Campus Catering office at 201 Ainsley Drive.

New Addition to Campus Skyline: JMA Wireless Dome Sign Installation to Begin

The campus and greater Syracuse communities will start to notice a new distinctive element being added to the campus skyline. Workers are beginning today to install the official JMA Wireless Dome signs on the facility’s crown truss and exterior.

In May, Syracuse University and JMA Wireless (JMA) announced a 10-year partnership for naming rights of the University’s iconic on-campus stadium. For the first time since the venue opened its doors in 1980, the stadium has a new name, only the second in its history—the JMA Wireless Dome, referred to as the JMA Dome.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Parking and Transportation Services Makes Updates to New Late-Night Euclid Loop to Include Warehouse Stop

In response to feedback provided by students and faculty members who commute to and from the Warehouse, Parking and Transportation Services will adjust its new late-night shuttle route to include a stop at the Warehouse.

Beginning today, the newly established late-night Euclid loop, which runs seven days a week from 7:45 p.m. to 3:15 a.m., will make stops at the Warehouse as part of its regular route. As before, shuttles will arrive at the Warehouse every 40-45 minutes and will transport students or faculty members back to Main Campus. Campus community members will only need their SU I.D. to board and ride for free, as with all other University shuttle routes.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

University Offering Free Homebuying Informational Sessions for All Employees

Buying a home can be a confusing process, but Syracuse University faculty and staff who are interested in purchasing a home can take advantage of three free upcoming informational sessions that will answer any questions you might have about the homebuying process in the City of Syracuse.

The Office of Community Engagement, in collaboration with the Office of Human Resources, the Real Estate Office and Home HeadQuarters, Inc., is pleased to invite all University employees to attend one of three sessions.

Read the full story on Syracuse University News.

Nationwide Search for New Director of Sponsored Accounting to Begin in February

This week, Syracuse University Comptroller Jean Gallipeau announced the retirement of Cathleen (Cathy) Hayduke, director of sponsored accounting. Cathy’s last day was Jan. 13, which marked the end of her nearly 30-year career at the University. Cathy’s first job at Syracuse was to assist with class registration. She eventually moved on to the Comptroller’s Office, where she held a few different roles before becoming director of sponsored accounting. In that role, she was instrumental in developing partnerships with the research community, including providing instruction and guidance regarding the financial management of sponsored awards to staff and colleagues.

A Key Role to Be Filled

The Office of Sponsored Accounting provides support to the Office of Research related to post-award compliance with sponsored agreements and federal regulations governing sponsored funds. The role of the director of sponsored accounting is essential to promoting an environment of timely and responsive customer service to the campus research community while meeting necessary compliance requirements.

A national search for Cathy’s replacement, led by the senior vice president and chief financial officer, the vice president for research and the comptroller, will begin in February. While the search occurs, Toni Besaw, the assistant director of the Office of Sponsored Accounting, will manage the office in the interim period.

University Begins 2023 Campus Race to Zero Waste Competition

From Jan. 29-March 25, the University will participate in the Campus Race to Zero Waste, a national competition of colleges and universities from across the United States and Canada. The competition’s goal is simple: increase campus recycling and composting and decrease waste while raising awareness, with just a little bit of competition and bragging rights at stake between campuses!

Each week, the University will report its amount of recycling, trash and compost. Campuses will be ranked based on who recycles the most on a per capita basis as well as which schools have the best recycling rate as a percentage of total waste and which schools generate the least trash and recycling.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Sidewalk Closure, One-Day Closure of Forestry Drive Expected in Preparation of Installation of New JMA Wireless Dome Signage

Work is underway on the west side of the JMA Wireless Dome to prepare for installation of new signage on the JMA Dome’s crown truss.

To allow for this continued work, which began in October, the upper sidewalk on the west side of the JMA Dome, between the two sets of stairs, will continue to be closed.

Additionally, the Irving Avenue pull-off (across from Dineen Hall) and the adjacent sidewalk will be closed. This will provide the contractors a safe location to unload and assemble the signage. All pedestrians will be required to use the sidewalk on the west side of Irving Avenue during this time. Accessible pathways to campus will not be affected.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Cynthia Carnahan Named Assistant Vice President, Budget & Planning

Cynthia (Cyn) Carnahan has been named Assistant Vice President, Budget & Planning, a role she took on in an interim capacity in September 2021.

She had previously served in the interim role from June 2016 to February 2017. As the head of the Office of Budget & Planning, Cyn and her team are responsible for managing the University’s resources, leading the annual budgeting process, and collaborating with campus leaders to set the University’s overall financial strategy.

Cyn’s career at Syracuse University began in 1999 in the Comptroller’s Office as the Manager of Financial Reporting. After three years, she moved to the Office of Budget & Planning, where she has now spent over 20 years in various roles. Prior to her appointment as Assistant Vice President, she had been named the department’s Executive Director.

Cyn earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from LeMoyne College.

John A. Papazoglou Named Chief Operations Officer

Chancellor Kent Syverud today announced the appointment of John A. Papazoglou to the position of chief operations officer (COO). In this role, Papazoglou will be responsible for multiple on- and off-campus operations, including dining, housing, hospitality and food services. Papazoglou comes to Syracuse from Pennsylvania State University and begins his tenure on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees will be asked to approve his appointment at its next meeting.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News

Internal Revenue Service Announces Standard Mileage Rate for 2023

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the optional standard mileage rate for 2023. Syracuse University employees may use this rate to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business purposes.

Effective Jan. 1, the standard mileage rate is 65.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, up three cents from the 2022 mid-year rate of 62.5 cents per mile. The rates apply to electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.

Employees who have questions about the mileage rate can contact the Comptroller’s Office at 314.443.3765.