Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Health & Society
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Health & Society

State Sen. David Valesky visits InclusiveU at Syracuse University

Monday, December 5, 2016, By News Staff
Share
School of Education

The School of Education’s Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education welcomed State Sen. David Valesky to campus recently, where he attended an InclusiveU/Peer-2-Peer Pizza Party in Schine Student Center. Valesky secured support in the 2016 New York State Budget for the program, which provides an opportunity for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to attend the University. The funding is helping to supply academic and mentoring support to students enrolled in the program.

InclusiveU student Matt Sardino (left), School of Education Dean Joanna Masingila (second to left), and Taishoff Center Executive Director Beth Myers (second to right) greet Senator Valesky (right), at Peer-2-Peer pizza party hosted on campus at the end of November.

InclusiveU student Matt Sardino, left, School of Education Dean Joanna Masingila and Taishoff Center Executive Director Beth Myers greet State Sen. David Valesky at a  Peer-2-Peer pizza party hosted recently on campus.

Valesky used the occasion to meet InclusiveU students on campus. Over 30 SU and InclusiveU students attended the event, and Valesky took time to chat with them as he posed for numerous selfies and ate pizza. When asked for his reaction to meeting the students and staff who make InclusiveU possible, Valesky said that “Getting to connect with students, to see what amazing supportive community exists on the Syracuse University campus, was priceless. I truly feel that inclusive college campuses will be key in building more experienced, diverse and thriving communities.”

School of Education Dean Joanna Masingila helped welcome the senator to campus, thanking him and the Taishoff Center for helping InclusiveU thrive. Masingila agrees that “Students with disabilities on campus are a true representation of the outside world, and we understand that providing opportunity for them to access higher education is a fundamental right.”

Others in attendance included representatives from partner organizations, including the Kelberman Center, Onondaga Community Living and the Syracuse City School District. Two parents of current students, Matthew Dydo, owner of Matthew’s Salon, and Joe Canestrare, an employee of Syracuse University, also stopped by to personally tell the senator how much the program has meant for their families.

The event was hosted by Peer-2-Peer, the social initiative of InclusiveU that matches matriculated SU students up with non-matriculated InclusiveU students to learn from and support each other as they experience college life. Pizza parties are common for the group, and this event was another way for everyone to get together and celebrate the diverse SU community.

When asked about the event, Tori Cedar, student and InclusiveU Peer Trainer, said: “It was really incredible that he got to see first hand what we do here, and for our students to experience someone important in the community wanting to see what we do. It hits home that we are really doing something big, more than ever.”

InclusiveU student and School of Education/Center For Human Policy employee Jonathan Rushmore added, “It was great meeting Senator Valesky, he is very nice, and it is great that he secured funds for InclusiveU to help us grow and improve.”

  • Author
  • Faculty Experts

News Staff

  • Joanna O. Masingila

  • Recent
  • Most Read
  • Related
  • Message from Chancellor Syverud: Actions Now Underway
    Thursday, April 19, 2018, By Daryl Lovell
  • University Lectures Focuses on Healthy, Green Building with Alumnus Rick Fedrizzi
    Thursday, April 19, 2018, By Kevin Morrow
  • Professors Honored with Prestigious Meredith and Teaching Recognition Awards
    Thursday, April 19, 2018, By Kelly Homan Rodoski
  • Location of Rededication of Shaw Quad Moved Due Inclement Weather
    Thursday, April 19, 2018, By News Staff
  • Community Gathering at Hendricks Chapel, 7 p.m. Tonight
    Wednesday, April 18, 2018, By Daryl Lovell
  • Seven Syracuse Alumni Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Lists
    Thursday, January 5, 2017, By John Boccacino
  • First Woman from Syracuse University Heads to Infantry Officer Course, Combat Training
    Monday, February 13, 2017, By Sean Kirst
  • Actor-singer Taye Diggs ’93 Returns to Campus for Coming Back Together Book Signing
    Tuesday, September 12, 2017, By Rob Enslin
  • Vice President Biden Honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction
    Friday, January 13, 2017, By News Staff
  • Syracuse Views Spring 2017
    Monday, July 3, 2017, By Kathleen Haley
  • Weast to Kick Off Landscape of Urban Education Lecture Series Sept. 3
    Wednesday, August 28, 2013, By Jennifer Russo
  • Summer Leadership Institute for education professionals will study equity, inclusion, excellence in schools
    Tuesday, June 22, 2010, By Jennifer Russo
  • Nearly 250 college students begin training to work in Say Yes summer camps
    Wednesday, June 9, 2010, By News Staff
  • Democratizing Knowledge Awarded Campus Dialogue Grant
    Monday, February 27, 2017, By Rob Enslin
  • Judith Kafka to Speak on ‘Zero Tolerance’ Oct. 23
    Wednesday, October 22, 2014, By Jennifer Russo

More In Health & Society

University Lectures Focuses on Healthy, Green Building with Alumnus Rick Fedrizzi

Healthy-building advocate and SU alumnus Rick Fedrizzi G’87 concludes the 2017-18 University Lectures series on Tuesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel. Fedrizzi will give a short presentation and then engage in an on-stage conversation with School of…

Eighth Annual Health and Wellness Expo on April 20

Recreation Services will be hosting the Health and Wellness Expo on Friday, April 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Women’s Building. The event is free and open to all faculty, staff and students with a valid SU/ESF…

School of Design, SUNY ESF Project Named Finalist in Department of Energy Race to Zero Competition

A design for a zero energy-ready elementary school created by students in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Design and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) has been named a finalist…

Trans Support Day Benefits Transgender Community

More than 50 attended Trans Support Day on April 12, including individuals, couples, parents and kids. Hosted by the Syracuse University Trans Team, the event included clothing and makeup giveaways, makeup tutorials and legal advice for I.D. changes. The clothing…

New CPR Training Course Announced

The partnership between Syracuse University Ambulance (SUA) and Fire Safety continues with an additional CPR training course scheduled for April 23 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Class will take place in 020 Lyman. Students, faculty and staff can expect to be CPR-certified…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2018 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.