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As a member of our alumni community, I want you to know that you are very much in our thoughts. Your twelve years of leadership at Syracuse have left a lasting mark — not just on the University, but on all of us connected to this community.
Your courage and openness in sharing this journey with the Orange community is a reflection of the same integrity that defined your time at SU. Please know that you have an entire alumni family rooting for you.
Wishing you strength, healing, and every good thing ahead. My thoughts are with you and your family at this time.
With deep admiration and warm regards,
Liz
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Chancellor Syverud and Dr. Chen,
Relentless. I have seen both in person and from afar your relentless support of our students and our Syracuse community. And while you will be relentless in fighting this battle, we will be relentless in our support of you both. Perhaps not always in ways you can readily see- our thoughts, our prayers, our spirit, our gratitude- demonstrating all the ways one can "Be Orange." I am so grateful for all you both have done and all that you are and I look forward to affirming that in person someday soon.
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Chancellor Syverud,
Sending prayers of healing to you. May you be blessed with a full recovery!
Sincerely,
The Harris Twins
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Wishing you all the best Chancellor Kent. Take care and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
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Your leadership shines in this moment. Even while facing a deeply personal challenge, you turned outward to the Syracuse University community with openness, honesty, and strength. That speaks volumes about your character and the way you have led with steadiness and care.
Please know that so many stand with you now, just as you have stood for others over the years. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your years of service, and for the example you continue to set.
This is a time to turn some of that generosity inward, and to allow the community you have supported to lift you in return.
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Dear Chancellor Syverud,
The news of your diagnosis has touched us all, but your characteristic spirit of optimism and determination resonates clearly in your message. For over twelve years, you have led this community with a steady hand and a dedicated heart; now, it is our turn to offer that same strength back to you. Thinking of you and your family during this time. Thank you for your courage.
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Chancellor Seyverud,
May God provide you and Dr. Ruth Chen the resilience and grace to weather this storm, and cement the belief within that you will be stronger on the other side of this diagnosis.
With all my best wishes for your health and wellness,
Jessica Kershaw ‘07
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Chancellor Kent Seyverud and Dr. Ruth Chen, thank you for reviewing the Dixit & Pindyke book with me and confirming the corrections that I made in the key proof and extensions across six chapters. Please know that you are in my prayers.
Thomas Murphy, Ph.D.,JD, MBA, Chemical Engineer.
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Dear Chancellor Syverud, Syracuse University has always been a deeply caring community. Pulling together in good times and rough times runs deep. As you undergo this aggressive treatment, you are in my prayers. More importantly, you are in SU's collective prayers that wishes you a full recovery. You have truly made a difference during your time at SU. So, it only follows that our hopes and prayers and best wishes will make a difference to you as we support you through this challenging time. We are a better community because of you and we hope that our spirit will champion you through these difficult days ahead. Take good care.
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In 2016, I had the pleasure of being invited to the Chancellor's house as a part of a reception for members of campus organization E-boards (I was with the Kumquat, Syracuse's premiere satirical publication). I got to meet Chancellor Syverud, his wife Dr. Ruth Chen, and their late dog Lucky. Chancellor Syverud took me and a couple of my friends into the kitchen to meet Lucky, who was both blind and deaf at the time, and I still think about that sweet dog regularly. He also took us to the dining room and showed us how there's a hidden wall that opens and closes and I remember that moment as being so sweet and silly, there was such an element of both his humor and playfulness and his genuine attentiveness to get to know us as individual students of the school. Dr. Ruth Chen was similarly attentive to me and my friends and gave us interesting historical information about the house. It's one of my favorite memories from undergrad, to have been invited into the Chancellor's home and have had such heartwarmingly silly but genuine interactions with him and his family. I was very sad to hear the news and I am sending truly all my well wishes and thoughts to Chancellor Syverud and his family at this time!
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Wishing you well, you got this!
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You are in my prayers.
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Dear Chancellor Syverud-
Sending our best wishes to you, Ruth and your family. We are so happy that we got to know you during your reign at SU. You are a wonderful, thoughtful, brilliant and dynamic leader and person. I have no doubt you will dazzle and impress your doctors with how fast you conquer this health challenge. Hang in there. Take care of yourself. Support is all around you- tap into it. Once orange, forever orange: “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle”. Felicia and Jeff Saferstein
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Dear Chancellor,
I’m wishing you strength and peace in this season. As I think about what you are walking through, I cannot help but reflect on the path God used you to open for me. Like Joseph, you became an instrument of His purpose in my life, and because of your obedience, I now stand in a place where my work impacts hundreds of Guatemalan lives. That fruit is part of your legacy—and a reminder that God’s hand has always been upon you.
The same God who worked through you to bring life and opportunity to others is the One who walks with you now through this trial. As it is written: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” (Isaiah 43:2, NKJV)
I am praying deeply for your life and your healing. In the name of Jesus, may His restoring power sustain you and renew you. Even in this process—through every moment of uncertainty and every step forward—we will continue to lift our voices and sing hallelujah, trusting in His faithfulness.
With deep faith and gratitude,
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Chancellor Kent Syverud, sending you incredible strength and support as you navigate your treatment journey. While research protocols and novel therapeutics will continue to dictate your clinical course of treatment, I'm sending a gentle reminder to nourish your mind and body in holistic and complimentary ways.
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It has been my absolute honor to be a small part of the amazing magic that you brought to our beloved Orange family. From your support to our Hillel, to your students and faculty in all parts of the SU world, to your vision for advancement and engagement- you have catalyzed us all to be better, reach higher and strive. I wish you a speedy recovery, and a long life to share with your beloved family both biologic and Orange !! I cherish knowing you-Barbara Kurman
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Thanks for all you did when I was in inclusive u for letting me stay in the dorm being the 1st one to stay in the dorm and it was a pleasure to meet you in person.
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You got this! Sending positive healing vibes your way from Los Angeles. Here’s to a SUccessful treatment and recovery! See what I did there? LOL! Forever Orange!
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I want to send you all my best wishes. I’m an alum from Newhouse and Whitman, dual major, and met you close to a decade ago at, if I recall correctly, an event at Lubin House. I remember I was impressed by you and you went on to steward SU so well through some difficult times. My daughter attended SU, too, and I enjoyed showing her around campus and helping her move in. Though she did not finish at SU- two concussions 3 weeks apart kind of literally knocked her out of school- she enjoyed her time there and even stayed near campus an additional year before moving to Florida, now just 2+ hours away from where we are in South Florida. The friends both of us made while at SU are still good friends and we both were so glad we went there (in spite of the abominable winter weather).
I remember most of my professors fondly, too.
Kudos to you for continuing to provide such a meaningful experience for so many thousands of people like my daughter and myself.
I send you my prayers and hope you know you are in my prayers and my heart.
Best wishes,
Ed Katz ‘81
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I was a student at Syracuse University from 2017 to 2021, and while those years were filled with great memories, they also came with their share of challenges for the university. Throughout it all, I always appreciated how Chancellor Kent Syverud made an effort to engage directly with the student body, addressing concerns openly and making his presence known on campus each semester. Even when I didn’t agree with every decision, I respected his leadership and believed he acted with integrity and the best interests of students in mind. I’m proud to be an Orange alumnus and wish him a speedy recovery.
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Sending you well wishes and strength!
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Dear Chancellor Syverud -
Thank you for your gracious note as always. I have never met you but it seems in character. My wife Pam and I received graduate degrees in 1981 and have followed your incredible leadership over the years. We pray for your recovery and return to health. We deeply thank you for all you have done for Syracuse University. Peace be with you.
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Thank you for leading Syracuse University through some rough times and doing it with such grace. You are a great leader. I wish you well in the coming months. Sincerely Lola Goldring
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I am sending along my family’s positive thoughts and a virtual hug to the Syverud family as you face this next chapter. We are with you Chancellor!
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Sending my prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery from Hawaii.
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I remember waking up at 6am as a freshman for the "I Ran With The Chancellor" event in both of our first years at Syracuse. Afterwards you mingled and spoke with everyone at the event. It was inspiring as a new college student to have a conversation with the chancellor of my new school. Thank you for always making time for students and being such a kind, thoughtful leader. Sending well wishes from New Jersey Chancellor Syverud - Go Orange!
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Chancellor Syverud: Sending you and your family positive thoughts, prayers for great care, full and quick recovery, and strength 💪 in your healing journey. Meanwhile, thank you for all you've done to keep SU strong in these challenging times for higher ed. May great things come back to you in return. Take care. Mark Harf, Whitman MBA '93.
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Kent,
From the moment you arrived on campus, you have been an asset to the University. Your early efforts to live in the dorms and truly get to know students set the tone for thoughtful, community-centered leadership that has benefited Syracuse in so many ways.
I was honored to attend your installation when Sandra Day O’Connor spoke, and I always appreciated the opportunity to connect more personally during my time on the VPA Council, especially the visit to your home. It was also a pleasure getting to meet Ruth.
Wishing you all the very best as you focus on your health.
Terry Skuse ’75
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Dear Chancellor Syverud,
Sending you and your family strength, light, and a speedy recovery. Thank you for your impact on the Orange community! Wishing the best on your future endeavors!
#foreverorange 🧡
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Dear Chancellor Syverud --
Andy, Teddy, Mack and I were so sorry to hear of your diagnosis and just wanted to reach out to let you know we're all thinking of you.
As a member of the Parents Council, a parent, and an alumna, I’ve had the privilege of seeing your leadership up close — and your work truly does not go unnoticed. From creating the Parents Council, which I've been fortunate enough to be on and as a result get a truly meaningful window into the university, to your deep commitment to the faith program, veterans and ROTC students, club sports, and the opening of the DC center (the list really does go on!) — you’ve built something that feels incredibly thoughtful and connected here at SU.
On a personal note, I’m especially grateful for the way you exposed Mack to the world of law, which led to his role as a TA in your class. That experience meant so much to him.
Thank you, too, for always taking the time to listen. You’ve made what could feel like a large, overwhelming university into a small, beautiful, wonderful, caring community, and that’s a reflection of you and the amazing people you brought to your team at SU.
Above all, please know our hearts and thoughts are with you. Wishing you strength, support, and all the best as you move through the days ahead. We are and always will be #foreverorange.
All the best,
Colleen( '93), Andy, Teddy and Mack ('28) Fisher