Syracuse Sun

The opening of a new Syracuse University center in Washington, D.C., was celebrated by members of the university community at a special event on September 24.

“This city is a place our students want to be. It’s a place they want to live. And it’s a place they want to build their futures and careers after they graduate,” said Chancellor Kent Syverud. “Our students studying away here benefit from Syracuse’s academic strength and deep connections in policy, government, media and law.”

The center, located at 1333 New Hampshire Ave. in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, will serve students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Building on an already thriving presence in the nation’s capital, the center aims to enhance the university’s global influence and impact.

Mike Tirico ’88, host and play-by-play commentator with NBC Sports, hosted the event. Speakers included Chancellor Syverud, Interim Vice Chancellor Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew, and Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation J. Michael Haynie.

The centerpiece of the event was a panel discussion examining the changing landscape of collegiate sports and public policy. Margaret Talev, Kramer Director of the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy Journalism and Citizenship moderated the discussion. Panelists were James Phillips commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference Felisha Legette-Jack ’89 Syracuse University women’s basketball coach and Tirico.

The Washington D.C., center houses the Institute for Democracy Journalism and Citizenship and serves as a home base for study away programs offered by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Newhouse School of Public Communications College of Law through which hundreds of students live learn work in the city every year. Washington is home to more than 15 000 alumni many who connect with students as teachers mentors internship supervisors.

“We now begin a new chapter in that already successful story,” Provost Agnew said. “This space is more than just a building. It is Syracuse University’s academic home in one of the most important cities in the world. It will serve as a hub for students faculty staff positioning them as change makers thought leaders on some most important issues our time.”

The center will also enhance work D’Aniello Institute Veterans Military Families (IVMF) which has satellite office building Haynie noted IVMF contributed more than 1 750 research publications engagements products public benefit much work focused federal level.

“I am confident that with a permanent presence in Washington institute's impact grow considerably accrue benefit those worn nation cloth families,” he said.

The center includes classrooms student lounges conference interview rooms multipurpose space well satellite offices Office Government Community Relations Division Advancement External Affairs features Greenberg Welcome Center named alumnus Life Trustee Paul Greenberg ’65 whose philanthropy supported 1990 opening Greenberg House university first outpost Washington.