Jeff Stoecker
Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
Jeff Stoecker joined Syracuse University in April 2020 as vice president and chief communications officer. Stoecker oversees all day-to-day operations of all communications functions at the University, including executive and internal communications and media relations. He also serves as the University’s primary spokesperson. Jeff leads the development of the University’s communications platform around issues facing Syracuse University, and higher education as a whole, and is focused on building on the momentum and success of the communications team.
Sarah Scalese
Senior Associate Vice President for Communications, Division of Communications
As senior associate vice president for communications, Sarah oversees internal communications and media relations in the Division of Communications. In collaboration with University leadership, Sarah develops plans and technologies that broaden the University’s internal and external communications, while improving its overall public relations effectiveness.
Prior to joining Syracuse University in 2014, Sarah held leadership positions at Racepoint Global and Schneider Associates, both of which are Boston-based integrated marketing communications firms. She formerly served as director of communications for the Massachusetts House Minority Leader. Before transitioning into public relations, she produced and wrote newscasts for network affiliates in Boston; Albany, New York; and Jacksonville, Florida.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Jacksonville University. Sarah and her husband, Justin Gravius ’04, reside in Marcellus and are avid Orange sports fans.
Wendy Loughlin
Executive Director for Academic Communications
Wendy leads strategic communications efforts to advance the academic enterprise at Syracuse University, with a particular focus on research and creative activity and the Academic Strategic Plan. She is the primary communications contact for the Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer and members of the Academic Affairs leadership team.
Wendy began her Syracuse University career as a news coordinator in the Office of News Services. She later served as the first director of communications and media relations for both the Falk College and the Newhouse School.
Away from the office, Wendy enjoys genealogy, vacations on Cape Cod and spending time with her husband and daughters.
John Boccacino
Senior Internal Communications Specialist
A multimedia content creator, John writes stories that highlight the amazing accomplishments and accolades of Syracuse University's talented students, faculty and staff across all platforms, including as host of the ’Cuse Conversations podcast. John has more than 18 years of experience as a print and multimedia reporter, sports information director and, most recently, a content creator in the University’s Office of Alumni Engagement. John earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the Newhouse School and an executive master’s in public administration from the Maxwell School. A diehard fan of the Orange, Buffalo Bills and Chicago Cubs, he lives in Farmington with his wife, Sam, their two pugs, Wrigley and Ernie, and their cat, Toby.
Christine Grabowski
Senior Internal Communications Specialist
Christine is no stranger to the communications field bringing to the team experience working for a marketing firm, health care center, high-tech manufacturer and most recently, the University’s Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services team. Christine is a jack of all trades when it comes to different forms of communication; her favorite though is storytelling. A native of Syracuse, who is known to bleed orange, the only other place she has lived in Rochester, NY, where she developed a love for the garbage plate during her time at St. John Fisher University, which she is a proud alum. Raised as a diehard Buffalo Bills fan, she is instilling the same love for the Bills in her four-year-old daughter who on gameday is always chanting “Go Bills!” In her free time, you can find her sipping a coffee while wandering the aisles of Target, spending time with family and friends or burning calories on her Peloton.
Kathleen Haley
Director of Internal Communications
Kathleen manages the editorial content of the Syracuse University News site and creates content and communication strategies for special projects, events and programs. She enjoys finding those hidden gems among the many compelling stories on campus. A Syracuse University graduate with degrees in newspaper journalism and political science, she worked at a couple of daily newspapers as a beat reporter for many years before returning to the University.
Keith Kobland
Associate Director, Media Relations
As associate director of media relations, Keith facilitates media requests involving the Syracuse University community assists with production of multimedia content for SU News. Keith graduated from SUNY Geneseo and spent three decades as a Syracuse broadcast reporter before arriving on the SU Hill, bringing a journalist’s perspective to the position along with extensive knowledge of local media. During his career, he’s covered some of the biggest stories to involve the University. Keith and his wife, Marybeth, are the proud parents of a son and daughter. Along with his media relations duties, Keith is a proud adjunct faculty member at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Daryl Lovell
Associate Director, Media Relations
As associate director of media relations, Daryl oversees national media outreach for Syracuse University, with a special focus on STEM subjects, retail and supply chain industry topics, and news and research connected to the University’s mission to serve veterans and military families. She previously worked as a media relations specialist at Cornell University before joining the Syracuse University media relations team in 2018. She started her career in the broadcast journalism industry, working at TV news stations in Elmira, New York, Syracuse and Toledo, Ohio. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the Syracuse Press Club. As a proud native Detroiter, she is now happy to call Central New York home with her family.
Vanessa Marquette
Media Relations Specialist
As media relations specialist, Vanessa assists with national and local media outreach for Syracuse University with a special focus on veterans and war, law, national security, government relations, geography and climate change, animal welfare, and religion. She previously worked at the University’s National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building doing social media and public relations for six years. Vanessa began her career in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as a marketing specialist for a local credit union and then moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, where she worked in the Fort Benning public affairs office. She is a native of Rome, New York, where her parents began their military careers in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, and grew up an Orange fan with her dad being a Syracuse alum. Vanessa is a proud alum of both St. Bonaventure University and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and lives in Syracuse with her husband and their three dogs. Outside of work, Vanessa serves as a social media and public relations volunteer for Best Friends Animal Society, is a member of the St. Bonaventure alumni committee and loves to travel.
Ellen James Mbuqe
Executive Director, Media Relations
A passionate communicator, Ellen oversees national media relations outreach for Syracuse University. She earned her journalism degree from Penn State University and recently completed an MBA from Ohio University. She started out as a crime reporter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before transitioning into nonprofit, arts and higher education media relations. A recent transplant to Central New York, Ellen enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her husband and children, rooting for the Steelers, and visiting museums when she gets the chance.
Jen Plummer
Associate Director of Internal Communications
Jen is an enthusiastic storyteller who loves uncovering and writing about the people, places and things that make Syracuse University a special place for so many. Prior to working in higher education, she managed internal and external communications in numerous industries, including health care, architecture/design and the nonprofit realm. Jen earned a bachelor’s degree in communications studies from SUNY College at Brockport and lives in Seneca Falls with her husband and a mutt named Jersey. In her free time she enjoys hiking, live music, camping, yoga, reading spiritual texts and cheering for the Buffalo Bills.
Kelly Rodoski
Senior Communications Manager
Kelly focuses on public relations activities for Hendricks Chapel and such University initiatives as the University Lectures, Connective Corridor and Near Westside Initiative, Pan Am 103, and the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Kelly has been a member of SU News since 1999 and previously was editor of the Syracuse Record. A native of Rome, N.Y., Kelly is a 1992 graduate of SU’s College of Arts and Sciences who has traveled to 40 of the 50 states and abroad but has only ever lived in Central New York. She loves to spend time with her family, travel and watch SU sports.
Diane Stirling
Academic Research Writer
Diane has worked as a daily newspaper reporter, marketing account manager and for many years, managing public and media relations, government affairs, issues advocacy and publications for the Oneida Indian Nation. She also developed content for an industry trade magazine, was a news and magazine writer for Cazenovia College and for six years, wrote about student and faculty achievements and information-field research for Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies (iSchool). She earned a journalism degree from SUNY Morrisville, and much later, a B.P.S. from Syracuse University's College of Professional Studies and an M.S. in information management from the iSchool. She lives in Oneida with her husband and their Plott hound mix, Brindy.
