The Shared Competencies are six University-wide learning goals for undergraduate students to accomplish while at Syracuse University. The Shared Competencies are:
- Ethics, Integrity, and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
- Critical and Creative Thinking
- Scientific Inquiry and Research Skills
- Civic and Global Responsibility
- Communication Skills
- Information Literacy and Technological Agility
Students gain the Shared Competencies through classes, campus jobs and co-circular learning experiences. Starting Spring 2023, students will be able to search classes by competency to inform their class selection. To support this initiative, the University enlisted a diverse group of students to represent different schools and colleges on campus. The Shared Competencies Ambassadors will bring a better understanding about the Shared Competencies to undergraduate students. Read on to get to know the Ambassadors a bit better!
Mary Catherine Aylward
Mary Catherine Aylward is a sophomore from Nashville, Tennessee, studying environment sustainability and policy in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. On campus, Mary Catherine is involved as a Shared Competency Ambassador. She is looking to improve her Communication Skills while also maintaining her knowledge in Civic and Global Responsibility.
Tashakee Ledgister
Tashakee Ledgister is a junior from Queens, New York, studying political science and political philosophy in the Maxwell School. On campus, Tashakee is a Dimensions and Orange Success peer mentor. She is also a Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Scholar, Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) Scholar, Our Time Has Come (OTHC) Scholar and community ambassador for South Campus. She anticipates developing her Scientific Inquiry and Research Skills while remaining skilled in Civic and Global Responsibility.
Morgan Meddings
Morgan Meddings is a sophomore from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, studying inclusive elementary and special education in the School of Education. She is involved with First Year Players, as well as being a peer mentor for the School of Education. Morgan is skilled in Ethics, Integrity, and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion and wishes to improve her Scientific Inquiry and Research Skills.
Cheryl Olanga
Cheryl Olanga is a sophomore from Nairobi, Kenya, studying computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Cheryl is involved with organizations catered to her degree, such as the National Society of Black Engineers, Engineering Ambassadors, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Engineering Accelerators. She is well-versed in Information Literacy and Technological Agility and wishes to improve on her Civic and Global Responsibility.
Sara Park
Sara Park is a sophomore from Easton, Maryland, studying geography and environment, sustainability and policy in the Maxwell School. On campus, Sara is an academic tutor and assistant through the Stevenson Educational Center for the Student-Athlete Academic Development program. In addition to this, she is an honors peer mentor and in Gamma Theta Upsilon, the geography honors society. Sara wishes to develop her skills in Information Literacy and Technological Agility while remaining well-versed in Civic and Global Responsibility.
Naimah Rahman
Naimah Rahman is a sophomore from Brooklyn, New York, studying broadcast and digital journalism in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Naimah serves as the lead Shared Competencies Ambassador and is involved with other organizations on campus such as CitrusTV and University Union. Naimah is also a first-year resident advisor. She wishes to develop Civic and Global Responsibility while using her knowledge with Communication Skills to help others.
Rebecca Su
Rebecca Su is a sophomore from Jiangsu, China, studying applied data analytics in the School of Information Studies. On campus, Rebecca is involved with the Chinese Union. Rebecca hopes to expand her knowledge in Civic and Global Responsibility while maintaining her abundant skills in Information Literacy and Technological Agility.
Leigh Vo
Leigh Vo is a junior from Houston, Texas, studying advertising in the Newhouse School and entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. On campus, Leigh is in both the honors and business professional fraternities, as well as a photographer for University Union and Newhouse. She works closely with TNH Ad Agency and the University’s Fashion and Design Society (FADS). She looks forward to strengthening her Civic and Global Responsibility while keeping her Communication Skills strong.
Viola Wai
Viola Wai is a sophomore from Hong Kong, China, studying public relations in the Newhouse School and communication and rhetorical studies in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. On campus, Viola is involved as a peer leader, resident advisor and part of the Chinese Student Think Tank. She wants to increase her skills in Ethics, Integrity, and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion, while using her skills in Civil and Global Responsibility to help others.
Interested in joining the Shared Competencies Ambassador team? Please reach out to competencies@syr.edu.
Written By Naimah Rahman ’25, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Photos By Leigh Vo ’24, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Martin J. Whitman School of Management