Attention to detail has always been a priority for Dr. Marc Fineberg ’89. As a biology major in A&S, he recalls meticulously scheduling every 15-minute block of his week on graph paper—balancing intense coursework, lab time and social life. Developing this time management skill became a critical habit that helped him navigate the rigors of academics and personal life, from Syracuse through medical school and beyond.

Fineberg credits Syracuse University as the launchpad for both his personal and professional success. Syracuse not only provided a solid scientific foundation but also helped Fineberg become a more well-rounded scholar through its liberal arts curriculum. Courses like poetry and art have paid surprising dividends throughout his orthopedic career.

“One of the things that attracts me to medicine and surgery, and orthopedic surgery in particular, is the artistry of it,” he says. “Poetry helped me articulate things, and still to this day, I draw a picture of every surgery over 10,000 surgeries later. The liberal arts definitely broadened my perspectives.”

After graduating with a medical degree from Northwestern, he completed his residency at NYU and a sports medicine fellowship at Harvard. Along the way, he built a reputation for excellence, ultimately realizing his dream as team physician for his hometown Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres.

“I just had to follow the template I created when I was 18 years old,” he says. “And in hindsight, it seems effortless—even though it was thousands of hours of hard work.”

Building Community Through Sport and Service

Adrienne Scherenzel ’98 has always believed in the power of connection, whether on the track, in the classroom, or across the neighborhoods of Chicago. As a psychology major and standout student-athlete on campus, she balanced academics with a record-setting track career, earning All-BIG EAST honors and multiple relay records alongside her twin sister, Melanie. Her time at Syracuse laid the foundation for a career rooted in public service, health equity and community leadership.

Originally from the suburbs of Toronto, Scherenzel was recruited to Syracuse after a coach spotted her and her sister at a track meet in Ottawa. That moment, she says, changed the trajectory of her life. “I feel like I’m living the American dream every day,” she says. “And that started at Syracuse University.”

After earning a doctorate in podiatric medicine in Chicago, Scherenzel took on roles in major school districts and nonprofits before her current role as Vice President of Community Engagement and Executive Director of Chicago Bulls Charities.

Today, she oversees a team of ten and leads initiatives that span player programs, alumni relations, philanthropy and grassroots outreach. From spotlighting small businesses to revitalizing public spaces with community murals, her work reflects a commitment to inclusivity and empowerment.

Scherenzel credits her liberal arts education for giving her the confidence to navigate a diverse career path. “It gave me the foundation to be transferable across so many fields,” she says. “I feel confident in my writing, in understanding society and in thinking critically about how to serve different communities.”

Crafting a Career in Sports Journalism

Jared Diamond ’10 has always known where he was headed. From his earliest days in high school, he was writing for his local paper and dreaming of covering Major League Baseball. That clarity of purpose led him to Syracuse University, where he pursued a dual major in English and textual studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and journalism in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, a combination that would prove essential to his success.

On his first day on campus, before even unpacking his bags, Diamond walked into The Daily Orange in search of a sports writing opportunity. That initiative landed him his first beat—cross-country—and launched a college career filled with reporting, writing and real-world experience.

Diamond’s decision to pair journalism with a liberal arts education was intentional. “No matter how great your journalism fundamentals are… to really make it as a journalist, you have to have a wide breadth of knowledge,” he says. His English and textual studies coursework gave him the opportunity to read and write extensively, helping him develop a strong voice and deep appreciation for storytelling. “The best way to become a better writer is to read good writing. There’s no substitute for that.”

Diamond’s proactive approach was a launchpad for his professional success. He secured internships every summer, culminating in a pivotal opportunity with MLB.com and eventually The Wall Street Journal, where he’s worked since 2011. His advice to aspiring journalists is simple but powerful: take advantage of every opportunity. “What employers really want to see is not just what you’ve studied… They want to know what you’ve done with that knowledge. When I was at Syracuse, I spent so much time at the Daily Orange and came out of school with binders and binders full of published clips,” Diamond says.

Read the full story on the Arts and Sciences website.