Peckskamp, Sprinkle named to co-chair Critical Incident Response Committee

Matthew R. Snyder
(315) 443-7082

Following recent changes in leadership in Hendricks Chapel and the Division of Student Affairs, Syracuse University’s Critical Incident Response Committee has named new co-chairs and added new members.

Terra Peckskamp, interim director of the Office of Residence Life, and the Rev. Kelly Sprinkle, interim dean of Hendricks Chapel, are the newly appointed co-chairs of the CIRC. The group convenes on behalf of the Chancellor’s Office in times of serious personal crisis, such as a death or serious injury, in the SU or SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry communities. The CIRC is authorized by the Chancellor to coordinate pastoral support, mental health counseling, family support and other human response and services for people affected by the event.

“Kelly Sprinkle and Terra Peckskamp have proven themselves to be empathetic leaders, with a keen sense of how to help students, faculty and staff come together in healthy ways during some of the difficult events that arise at a large, diverse institution such as Syracuse,” says Thomas V. Wolfe, senior vice president and dean of student affairs. “Under their leadership, I am confident that the CIRC will continue its proud tradition of connecting with people in difficult times.”

The current members of the CIRC are: Tanya Bowen, interim director of the Counseling Center; Drew Buske, deputy director of public safety; Anthony Callisto Jr., director of public safety; Patricia Demyan, director of the Faculty Staff Assistance Program; Jack Matson, director of staff relations and recruitment in the Office of Human Resources; Trudy Morritz, assistant chancellor; Kevin Morrow, executive director of news services and University spokesman; Judy O’Rourke, director of undergraduate studies; David Pajak, director of risk management and chief emergency management officer; Susan Peck, senior administrator in the dean’s office of the College of Visual and Performing Arts; Peckskamp; Cynthia Sedgwick, dean of student life at the SUNY-ESF; Sprinkle; and Seth Tucker, director of student assistance in the Division of Student Affairs.

Sprinkle was the University’s protestant chaplain before succeeding Wolfe as dean of Hendricks Chapel in June, as Wolfe transitioned into the senior role in Student Affairs. An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Sprinkle joined the University in 2004.

Peckskamp was director of learning communities for student affairs before moving to the role of interim director of residence life in September, when the previous director of residence life, Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, was named associate vice president for student affairs-inclusion, community and citizenship. Peckskamp’s leadership of learning communities began in 1999.

The CIRC works closely with the University’s Emergency Preparedness Committee, the body that coordinates overall emergency preparation, response, recovery and business continuity. The EPC is chaired by Louis G. Marcoccia, executive vice president and chief financial officer, with David Pajak, director of risk management and chief emergency management officer, serving as vice chair.

For more information on the University’s emergency preparedness systems, visit http://logistics.syr.edu/.