Syracuse University will honor the achievements of seven impressive alumni during the 2022 Alumni Awards Celebration on Friday, September 30. The celebration is one of the signature events of Orange Central, the University's annual homecoming and reunion weekend.
Four alumni will be presented with the 2022 George Arents Award, Syracuse University’s highest alumni honor recognizing graduates who have excelled in their fields. This year's honorees are cartoonist Robb Armstrong '85, JetBlue President and COO Joanna Geraghty G'97, L'97, theatrical producer Stacey Mindich '86 and retired cable executive Robert Miron '59. Dr. Carole A. Leland '56 will receive the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award, recognizing alumni who have graduated more than 50 years ago and have demonstrated loyalty and service to the University. The 2022 Generation Orange Award, which recognizes graduates of the last 10 years, will be given to Jamal Salmon '12. Melvin Stith G'73, Ph.D.'78 will be the recipient of the 2022 Military-Veteran Alumni Award.
Robb Armstrong '85 | 2022 Arents Award for Excellence in Visual Arts
- Graduate of the College of Visual and Performing Arts
- Created "Hector,” an original comic strip in The Daily Orange
- Jumped into syndication in 1989 with “JumpStart,” which was launched in 40 newspapers across the country
- "Jumpstart" now appears in more than 400 newspapers and CBS is working to develop it into a sitcom
- Developed a friendship with his idol, "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz
- Working with Peanuts Worldwide to support up-and-coming Black animators and cartoonists through The Armstrong Project
Joanna Geraghty L'97, G'97 |2022 Arents Award for Excellence in Business Leadership
- Earned her master’s in international relations from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law
- JetBlue President and Chief Operating Officer
- Responsible for all aspects of JetBlue’s operations and commercial performance including airports, customer support, flight operations, inflight service, system operations and technical operations; safety and security; network and airline partnerships; advertising, brand and marketing; and revenue management and sales
- Has been with the airline since 2005, serving Executive Vice President, Customer Experience, and Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer
- Serves on boards of Directors of L3Harris Technologies, the JetBlue Foundation and Concern Worldwide
Stacey Mindich '86 | 2022 Arents Award for Excellence in Theatrical Production
- Lead producer of the award-winning global hit Dear Evan Hansen, which won six Tony Awards, three Olivier Awards and a Grammy
- Dear Evan Hanson has had productions on Broadway, across the country and around the world
- Her company has produced more than 20 plays and musicals
- Committed to developing new musical works and nurturing new voices
- Big supporter of not-for-profit theatres
- Founding board member of the Lilly Award Foundation, has served on the Broadway League’s Board of Governors and is a trustee of New York City Center
- Appointed by President Joe Biden to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships
- Prior to her career in theater, Mindich was a successful journalist and editor
Robert J. Miron '59 | 2022 Arents Award for Excellence in Cable Television
- Retired non-executive chairman of Discovery and former chairman and chief executive officer of Advance/Newhouse Communications
- Former chairman of the board of directors of C-Span and former two-time chairman of the board of directors of the Internet & Television Association (formerly the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, or NCTA)
- Member of the Cable and Broadcasting & Cable Halls of Fame
- Member of the Syracuse University rowing team and honored with a Letter Winner of Distinction Award in 1987
- Life Trustee, serving on Advancement and External Affairs, Athletics and Finance Committees
- With wife Diane, provided the lead gift for the Diane and Bob Miron Fund for Academic Success in the Libraries
- Digital News Studio in Newhouse II is also named in their honor
Dr. Carole A. Leland '56 | 2022 Eggers Award
- Principal at Leadership Enterprises, Inc.
- Served as student government president at Syracuse University
- Teacher, researcher, executive coach and leadership consultant across the globe
- Spent more than a decade with the Center for Creative Leadership, participating in the organization's establishment on the west coast
- Work has taken her to Africa, Southeast Asia, Haiti and beyond
- Was awarded the Athena International Foundation’s Global Leadership Award in 2020
- Served for more than a decade on the College of Arts and Sciences’ Board of Visitors/Advisory Board and was awarded the College’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
- Earned master’s degree from Harvard University and doctorate from Stanford University.
- With Helen S. Astin, co-authored “Women of Influence, Women of Vision” a highly acclaimed analysis of women’s leadership in a changing society.
Jamal Salmon '12 | 2022 Generation Orange Award
- Senior Vice President of Global Data Analytics at Paramount Pictures
- Uses data to inform key decisions in marketing and production.
- Played a key role in the marketing tactics/strategies on blockbusters, including:
- A Quiet Place ($630M global box office)
- Sonic the Hedgehog ($720M)
- Mission: Impossible - Fallout ($790M)
- Transformers spinoff Bumblebee ($460M)
- Top Gun: Maverick (<$1B)
- Founding member of Syracuse University’s Multicultural Advancement Advisory Council
- Lecturer at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management
- Has worked at Bloomberg LP, ESPN, Google and Netflix.
Melvin Stith G'73, Ph.D.'78 | 2022 Military/Veteran Award
- Earned MBA in 1973 and Ph.D. in marketing in 1978 from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management
- Named dean of the Whitman School in 2005
- Served in the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Command from 1968 to 1972, achieving the rank of captain
- Assistant professor of business and an associate dean at the University of South Florida College of Business
- Held teaching and administrative positions at the Florida A&M University School of Business and Industry and Florida State University, where he would be named dean of the business school and Jim Moran Professor of Business Administration
- Appointed interim president of Norfolk State University in 2018
- Has served on several boards, including Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families Advisory Board
The 2022 Alumni Awards Celebration will be held in the National Veterans Resource Center's K.G. Tan Auditorium inside the Daniel and Gayle D'Anello Building. 2009 Arents Award winner and former Syracuse University QB Don McPherson '87 will serve as the master of ceremonies. The evening begins with a cocktail hour, where you can enjoy food, drinks and conversation and the ceremony will be followed by an after-party with desserts and drinks.
Register to attend the 2022 Syracuse University Alumni Awards Celebration when you sign up for Orange Central.