Sarah Scalese
Senior Associate Vice President for Communications, Division of Marketing and Communications
As senior associate vice president for communications, Sarah oversees internal communications and media relations in the Division of Marketing and 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.
Roxanna Carpenter
Communications Assistant
A lifelong artist, Roxanna is a 1973 graduate of SU's College of Visual and Performing Arts with a bachelor of fine arts in illustration. She grew up in north central Pennsylvania in the small burg of Montoursville, more than two hours from everything. After college and for nearly 30 years, she worked as a graphic artist and typographer, first in Seattle then Syracuse, before joining SU. She now works with people, words and images through News Services, providing administrative support and visual creativity. Her art finds expression in gingerbread and in paint. Roxanna’s creative passions also include quilting, t'ai chi and haiku.
Josh Grossman
Director of Media Relations, Washington, D.C.
Josh is a fifth generation graduate of Syracuse University. His family has a long history locally, as they have been residents of the city of Syracuse for over 100 years. Prior to his role at the University, he was vice president of Meridian Hill Strategies, a public affairs and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. In that role, Josh was charged with leading public relations, communications, marketing and advocacy efforts for the firms clientele base. The focus of that work centered around homeland security, transportation, technology, clean-energy and health care policy. In addition, Josh has worked for local television affiliates in New York, Maryland and California, as both a reporter and producer, as well as a freelancer for national and local magazines and newspapers. He has also served as a consultant for production companies and educational non-profits in the areas of media consulting and strategic communications.
Kathleen Haley
Senior Internal Communications Specialist
Kathleen writes stories about University life for the Syracuse University News site and other outlets across campus. 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. Kathleen has read Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” too many times to count and enjoys biking and hiking.
Keith Kobland
Media Relations Manager
As media relations manager, 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.
Joyce LaLonde
Internal Communications Specialist
As an internal communications specialist, Joyce works with campus partners on best practices of communicating to students, faculty and staff. Along with supporting strategies, Joyce creates content and writes stories to support these efforts. A recent graduate with professional experience in the student experience, Joyce adapts a student-centric approach to all projects. She’s also an avid soccer player, shower singer and animal petter.
Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
As media relations manager, Daryl oversees national media outreach for Syracuse University, with a special focus on STEM subjects, retail industry topics and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA). She previously worked as a media relations specialist at Cornell University from 2015 to 2018. She started her career in the broadcast journalism industry, working at TV stations in Elmira, New York; Syracuse and Toledo, Ohio. She has held active roles in the National Association of Black Journalists, is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. As a proud native Detroiter, she is now happy to call Central New York home with her family.
Jen Maser
Senior Internal Communications Specialist
Jen is a recent addition to the SU News team as a senior internal communications specialist focused on telling stories of the people, places, and things that make Syracuse University a special place for so many. Her previous experience includes managing 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 partner and a mutt named Jersey. In her free time she enjoys hiking, camping, yoga and curling up with a good book.
Ellen James Mbuqe
Director of News and Public Relations
Ellen came to News Services in 2015 from Duke University College of Nursing. 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 daughter, rooting for the Steelers, and visiting museums when she gets the chance.
Matt Michael
Media Relations Specialist
As media relations specialist, Matt works with the media relations team to facilitate student, local, regional and national outreach for Syracuse University. Matt graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and spent nearly two decades as an award-winning journalist for the Syracuse Post-Standard. After leaving the newspaper to pursue a career in media relations/public relations, Matt worked for three Syracuse-area non-profit organizations, including the American Red Cross, before arriving at SU. Born in Pennsylvania, Matt has lived in the Syracuse area since 1989 and he and his wife, Robin, are proud parents of four children.
Kevin Morrow
Director of Internal Communications
Kevin Morrow works with campus clients on communications strategy, project management and publicity efforts. He has been a staff member at Syracuse University since 1988. His prior responsibilities at SU have included serving as the University’s principal spokesman, executive director of the Office of News Services, and editor and executive editor of the administration newspaper. Kevin’s area of proficiency include crisis communications, media relations, social media, communications strategy, project management, event planning, photography, promotions, editing and writing.
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.
