Sarah Scalese
Associate Vice President of University Communications
As associate vice president for University Communications, Sarah Scalese, oversees the Office of News Services, the Office of Publications and the Office of Communications in the College of Arts and Sciences. 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, N.Y.; and Jacksonville, Fla.
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.
Carol Boll
Public Affairs Writer/Researcher
A Public Affairs writer, Carol Boll drafts talking points and other strategic communications for Syracuse University leaders, Academic Affairs-related communications and news stories, honorary degree and other institutional awards citations, and research-related news. She also has provided writing/editorial support for institution-wide initiatives, including the Academic Strategic Plan. Before moving into higher education communications, she spent two decades as a newspaper journalist, much of it at the Syracuse Post-Standard. Her husband, Tom, teaches newswriting and news literacy at the Newhouse School, and two of their three children are SU graduates. Carol has a long-time passion for politics and public affairs and is currently pursuing an Executive Master of Public Administration degree at the Maxwell School.
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.
Jaclyn Donati Grosso
Executive Director for Communications and Public Relations
Jaclyn Donati Grosso is executive director for communications and public relations at Syracuse University. Grosso guides the strategy for communications related to University initiatives and develops a comprehensive, multimedia plan designed to consistently inform and educate the Syracuse community. Grosso served as the director of communications and media relations at the College of Law for nine years, where she provided strategic direction for marketing, digital and social media initiatives. She served as executive editor of the award-winning Syracuse Law magazine, partnered with faculty and students to promote their scholarship and events, and worked with development staff to advance the building of Dineen Hall. Before joining the University, Grosso was the manager of public relations and internal communications at Welch Allyn where she managed global public relations initiatives, advertising campaigns and helped open the company’s first manufacturing facility in Singapore.
Grosso earned a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and an master’s of business administration from LeMoyne College.
Maren Guse Powell
Assistant Director of Digital and Social Media
Maren leads Syracuse University’s digital and social media strategy and the daily activity on SU’s social media platforms. She graduated from SU’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 2009 with a degree in photojournalism and earned her master’s degree in information management with a certificate of advanced study in information innovation from SU’s School of Information Studies in 2013. Prior to joining the SU News team, Maren was a social media and digital content manager at a local television station. A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Maren is a self-proclaimed news junkie and enjoys photography, coffee and cheering for the Orange.
Kathleen Haley
News Writer
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. An SU 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 cross-country skiing and hiking.
Keith Kobland
Media Manager
As media manager, Keith facilitates media requests involving the Syracuse University community and produces 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. In his spare time, Keith enjoys coaching his daughter’s softball team and rooting for SU sports.
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 her MBA from Ohio University. She started out as a crime reporter in Pittsburgh, PA 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.
Scott McDowell
Executive Director of Regional Strategic Communcations, New York
Scott McDowell works with Syracuse University’s regional offices to develop and implement an overall strategic communications plan that is consistent with the University’s priorities promoting its brand. These areas include New York City; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Los Angeles; and Dubai. Scott also handles PR for the Cold Case Justice Initiative at SU’s College of Law, as well as for the Tepper Semester program, now based at the Fisher Center. Prior to joining the University, McDowell worked in broadcast journalism for several years, including for TV stations in Buffalo and Rochester, New York, and Northern New Jersey.
Cyndi Moritz
News Editor
Cyndi edits all news stories, puts together SU Today and manages the SU News website here at the Office of News Services. A native of Springville, N.Y., Cyndi is a graduate of SUNY Oswego, where she studied psychology. She later earned master’s degrees in journalism and counseling at SU. Cyndi likes to read, slowly rehab her old, rundown house, and visit her children in Washington, D.C., Denver and Los Angeles.
Kevin Morrow
Executive Director of Public Affairs Strategic 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
News and 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.
