Messages for Chancellor Syverud

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Dear Chancellor Syverud,

Chancellor Haynie's message this week reminded me of something I already knew to be true: that this community is at its best when it is called to show up for one another. I felt compelled to write and let you know how much your leadership has meant to my family and myself.

Although we do not have a close personal relationship, I have always felt your presence and care in my work. During my time at the IVMF, it was clear that your investment in the university's mission extended to every corner of campus. I was especially proud the day you came to speak to our team and personally handed me my ten-year service certificate. It was a small gesture that carried real weight, and it spoke to exactly the kind of leader you have always been. You showed up, and you meant it.

There is a thread in my own family's story that runs directly through your tenure. In 2015, you signed my Syracuse University master's degree, an accomplishment I had long dreamed of and worked toward while building my career here. Ten years later, you signed my son's bachelor's degree, the product of four hard-fought years. In both moments, your signature on those documents meant more than a formality. It was a reminder that this university cares for its students, traditional and nontraditional alike, and that care has been the defining quality of your leadership. Those degrees set us both on a path of future success and service to the community.

You have made Syracuse more successful, more sound, and more itself. What has always struck me is the breadth of your attention, from the grounds to the students, from the budget to faculty. No detail was beneath your notice, and no decision was made without care. That is no small thing, and it does not go unnoticed. My continued service to this university is, in no small part, a reflection of the culture of excellence and commitment you built. That is your legacy, and it lives on in the people you inspired.

I have had the privilege of seeing you and Dr. Chen together at campus events over the years. What always struck me was how genuinely engaged you both were, ready to meet anyone, learn their story, and make them feel seen. The strength behind a great leader is often found in the person beside them, and Dr. Chen's warmth and presence have been a gift to this community as well.

My family holds you and Dr. Chen in our prayers and wishes you strength, courage, and the clearest possible path through this time. We are cheering for a full recovery.

With gratitude and warm regards,

Tina

Tina Kapral G’15, P’24

Executive Director, Corporate Philanthropy

Advancement and External Affairs

Dear Chancellor Syverud and Dr. Chen,

I know this is an incredibly difficult time, and I want you both to know that you are in my thoughts. Since 2021, it has been my genuine pleasure to work on the teams that directly support you, and I have truly enjoyed the time we have spent together over these years. Your leadership, warmth, and dedication to Syracuse University have left a lasting impression on me personally and professionally. Chancellor, your optimism and determination come as no surprise to those of us who have seen your commitment to this university up close. Please know the entire Syracuse University family is behind you both.

With heartfelt support,

Peter Pflanz

Associate IT Director, Syracuse University

Dear Chancellor Syverud,

I’m so sad to hear this news, but glad you are getting excellent care and in good spirits. My best wishes for a smooth and complete recovery. Sincerely,

Can

I am so sorry to hear this and will be thinking of you and praying for you and your family .

Hope you get well soon !!!

Kent, I was so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I hope you feel, and continue to feel, the well wishes and support that surrounds you near and far. You are in my prayers and I'm sending you strength and positivity for the fight ahead.

Thank you for your leadership and friendship to me and the entire Orange community. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Stay strong.

Dear Chancellor,

I wanted to take a moment to extend my heartfelt well wishes to you. As both a full-time staff member and a temporary employee at the Dome, I’ve had the opportunity to experience your leadership from different perspectives. In every encounter, you have consistently shown nothing less than respect.

In my full-time role, I’ve always felt your kindness and professionalism, and in my temporary position, I’ve truly appreciated not only your kindness but also your genuine gratitude for the efforts of those working across campus in all capacities. It means a great deal to be seen and recognized.

Please know that my thoughts are with you, Dr. Chen and your family during this time. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers.

With sincere respect and well wishes,

JoAnn L Rhoades

Dear Chancellor Syverud and Dr. Chen,

My thoughts are with you both during this challenging time. Thank you for all you have done for Syracuse University and our community.

With Orange pride,

Lisa L. Ladew G'15

Chancellor Syverud,

I know you only from afar, as my husband has worked at Syracuse for the past 10 years and our son now attends. I have worked at another institution for the past 20 years, so I know higher ed well. The leadership and compassion you've consistently shown in times of crisis and uncertainty rivals the response I've seen from my own institution in those same times. I have often found more comfort in your words than those I would read from my own leaders. You wear your heart on your sleeve and I think your students grasp onto that vulnerablility as something that is so rarely shown in society today. Thank you for being the type of leader my son can look up to (he thinks he wants to go into higher ed too!) - holding you close in our prayers and thoughts during your treatment and recovery. Wishing you all the best.

Sending positivity and strength to you and your family in the coming weeks. Remember when the wind does fill your sails as planned you adjust your sails and find the wind that will. You got this.....

Sending prayers and good karma to you! Hoping that you will completely recover and continue your good work.

Sylvia

Chancellor Syverud, thinking of you and your family during this difficult time and sending many healing thoughts and prayers your way. Thank you for all you have done for Syracuse University.

Chancellor Syverud, I have shared this with you before: I once heard a college president say there are three best bosses you'll ever have: 1) the boss who took a chance on you, 2) the boss who held you to a higher standard, and 3) the boss who taught you how to be a boss. You have been all three to me. I am deeply grateful for your guidance, generosity, and steady leadership throughout my time at SU. Serving alongside you has been one of the greatest honors of my career. You are so brilliant, kind, and funny. I have learned more from you than I can accurately express in words. You are also incredibly strong and resilient. I know you have the fighting spirit, and you are surrounded by so many people who love you and care about you. My family and I are among them. The support you and Dr. Chen have shown to my family and me is something we will always carry with us. We will be forever Orange because of you. We continue to pray for you and keep you close to our hearts.

I have not been with University for very long; however in the time that I have been here, the incredible impact that Chancellor Syverud has had has been incredibly apparent. I am in the ITS organization and Chancellor Syverud's full throated support for modernizing our technology while maintaining our focus on the student experience has been our north star. That is what its all about; making sure our students have a positive experience while at Syracuse University and ensuring their needs are met as they work through their educational experience. ITS has benefited from Chancellor Syverud's clear guidance, unwavering commitment to the institution, and his ability to cut through the noise and get to what matters: our students.

I am so grateful that my career path has brought me to Syracuse University and that I had the pleasure of serving this community in Chancellor Syverud's final year of service here. Our goal is to keep the legacy going and continue to serve our students as best as we possibly can. Our many thanks, thoughts, and prayers go out to the Chancellor and his family.

Go 'Cuse!

All our thoughts and positive vibes are coming to you! Your strength and courage are unwavering! Fight that good fight and your Orange family is here for you always!

The entire IVMF/O2O team is thinking about you. We couldn't do what we do for the military connected community without you. The impact that you have had on Syracuse University and for veterans is like no other. Please take the time to focus on yourself and get better. And never hesitate to ask for support and help. Praying for both you and your family.

I've been with the O2O/IVMF team since 2017 and my husband's cousin is about to begin at Syracuse University in August. Thank you for inspiring myself along with so many others.

I know that this message was not the typical "get better" message, although I certainly cannot express to you how much I want you to get better. I just felt like there were better, more impactful, more life changing and necessary words that I had the opportunity to tell you. And why keep the hope, peace, joy, and truth from you when the Lord has blessed me with a life to tell others about Him. Pushing Jesus onto anyone is the last thing I want to do. But I am telling you, if you do the things of which I told you in this message, even though you may not feel His presence during that day, week month, or year, I promise you the Lord will freely give you His Holy Spirit and will make sure that you get to heaven.

Stay strong, stay hopeful, and stay joyful. We are all praying for a speedy recovery!

I hope this message finds you well,

Kind regards,

Ethan W.

(next part) With that being said, I do not know if you know the Lord personally and have made Him your Lord and Savior. However, if you have not, all you need to do is repent of your sins and declare, with your heart and with your mouth, that Jesus is your Lord and Saviour. When you are by yourself in the room you are in (no one else in the room), just talk to Him. Verbally. Lay all of your secret struggles, desires of the world, excuses for sin, and other things you would like to talk to someone about and talk directly to Him. And know this: If you are interested in doing this, meaning you desire to want to live a better life for Christ, and you want to invite Someone into your life who will never forsake you, ever, then you are on a path to living the best life one could possibly live. You might not realize or feel it in the moment, the next week, the next month, or even the next year, but if you continuously read the Bible (His word), seek to live a life anchored by the Bible, and desire to be guided by the Holy Spirit in every action and thought you have, you will undoubtedly experience the most loving, peaceful, joyful, and truthful presence (I would not be saying all of this if I knew it weren't true). And you should also know (more so be reminded) of this: He made you in your mother's womb, and you were one in 4 trillion. He crafted every single strand of DNA, even atom, in you. He knows you that well. That isn't a mistake or a coincidence. That was, and still is, God's magnificent plan. I'm saying this to remind you that He knows everyone on this earth, but not everybody knows Him. He desires everyone to know Him (not just go to church, pray, read the Bible, but actively seek who He is every single day and hunger for being more like Christ, the Saviour of the world, every single day). He loves you, but He is just waiting for you to love Him back, and He gave us free will, so He forces absolutely no one to follow Him, regardless of how much we sin.

I am writing this message not only as a desire for you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, but for you to do so in this time in your life right now. I believe that everything happens for a reason (just like you and I were born for fulfilling God's plan in our lives). I wasn't interested in this university by accident. I wasn't accepted into this university by accident. I didn't meet the incredible people who positively influence my life by accident. And I didn't receive your message to the university by accident. It is all a part of God's plan, and I strongly believe that God put it on my heart today to write this letter of hope, peace, joy, and truth to you today so that you can walk in assurance and not in fear as your uncertain future continues to unfold. So that you know where you will be going in case you do not get to live to be the age you once thought you were going to live. (another part next)

Dear Chancellor Syverud and Dr. Chen,

I wanted to take a moment to reach out personally and let you know that my thoughts are with you both and your family as you navigate this challenge together.

Your announcement was delivered with the same grace, transparency, and quiet strength that have defined your leadership of this University for more than a decade. It was characteristically you, and it reminded all of us why we are so fortunate to have had you at the helm of Syracuse.

I am deeply grateful for everything you have done for this institution and for me personally. Your leadership has shaped the culture of this University in ways that will endure long beyond your chancellorship, and I carry that with me every day in the work I do.

Fight hard. We are all behind you.

With sincere gratitude and warmest regards,

Joe

Dear Kent,

I'm a student here at SU, and I have just read your message to the university. I just want to start this letter off by saying how sorry I am that you're facing this immense struggle in your life. I cannot imagine what you and your family are dealing with right now. I couldn't help myself from reaching out to you, however, because I would love to send a message of hope, a message of peace, a message of love, and a message of truth. If you don't mind, I'd like to share with you my faith in Jesus Christ and how He has dramatically changed my life for the better (I would not be writing this letter if it weren't for Him in my life).

Before I share, I thought it'd be great for you to know that I've heard you speak this past September at the Catholic Center's annual Lake Retreat. I'm not sure you remember me, but your talk about your love for Syracuse University, the community, and the people within it showed me how caring of a person you are. I also loved how you tied your faith into your talk as well, which is why I think this message will reach you appropriately.

A little bit about my faith walk, just so you know where I come from and who it is who is writing this letter to you: Growing up, I had a religious family. We would always go to church and Sunday School, read the Bible, and do family prayers. However, the name "Jesus" always went in one ear and out the other, and none of His teachings, wisdom, or presence was something I was seeking in my life. To make a long story short, I went through a really rough period in my life about one year ago (February 1st, 2025) that pushed me over the edge and forced me to think about why I was born into the world. With no one I felt like I could talk to and with emotions suppressed as if I were at the depths of the ocean, I just whispered "God." At this exact moment, a physical but supernatural warm feeling filled me from the inside out, and later I would come to know that this was the Holy Spirit entering me. Ever since that day, I haven't just been going to church or reading the Bible, but I have been actively pursuing the Lord with all of my heart and mind, giving up even the littlest of sins through obedience and faith so that I can draw closer to the One who saved me. The results of this for me doing this were life changing: I felt a presence in my life that can only be described as the most loving, joyful, peaceful, and truthful one I have ever experienced, and I know it's here to stay. Of course, I'm not on a spiritual high 24/7, and there are definitely moments where I feel farther apart from Jesus than I want to. But to tell you that He changed my life for the better is an understatement, and if there's one thing that I wish people could know in this world, it's to make Jesus their Lord and Savior. (another part to this message next)

Chancellor Syverud,

I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis; however, I am happy that you are approaching this with "optimism, with determination..." as your attitude during this will play a big role. I know this first hand as I was diagnosed with cancer last summer and continue to be in active treatment. A cancer diagnosis brings a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges but I truly feel with the right support system and attitude, you can come out with a new appreciation for everything around you.

Thank you for all your service to this university and I wish you strength, support and prayers for a full recovery.

Take care and God bless.

Kind regards,

Tina M. Orlando

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Tina M. Orlando ‘94

Graduate Academic Coordinator

Biology Department

(pronouns: she, her, hers)

T 315.443.3722

tiorland@syr.edu | thecollege.syr.edu/biology

107 College Place LSC 114, Syracuse, NY 13244

Syracuse University

Chancellor Syverud,

Wishing you all the best and strength as you navigate the road ahead. I will never forget receiving a personal phone call from you out of the blue in the spring of 2020 — just to chat and thank me for everything I was doing to support the University as we worked through the pandemic. I was young and new to my career, and that call meant the world to me. It is one of the reasons I have stayed committed to serving this University for the last eight years: knowing that the leader at the top cared enough to reach out to a new staff member he had never met.

Thank you for the kind of leadership that stays with people. Sending strength to you and Dr. Chen.

Be well,

Peter Skomsky

I just wanted to take a moment to let you know that I’m praying for you during this time. I’ve been thinking about you, and I truly wish you strength and peace as you navigate everything.

I also want to thank you for something that meant a great deal to me. You were the only one who asked about my mom by her first name, and that stayed with me. The way you reached out and let me know you were praying for her meant more than I can fully express.

In the same way, please know that you are not alone—I am keeping you in my prayers as well. I deeply appreciate all that you have done, not just in your role, but in the way you show care and character. It speaks volumes.

With respect and gratitude, I’m wishing you continued strength and encouragement in the days ahead.

Lizy, CHH Welcome desk attendant

Dear Chancellor,

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

K. Joanne Reid

I’m sorry to learn about your news. I had breast cancer 9 years ago. I had a year of treatments. It was difficult but I kept a positive attitude and kept my mind on the mission of healing and the love I received from my family and our community. I had wonderful doctors. You do too. Keeps the faith.

Wishing you the best possible outcome while you are battling this disease. This is just another bump in the road that you can overcome. Stay strong and positive. Best of luck to you and your wife.

Sending prayers from Zimbabwe. I was at Syracuse last year as a Mandela Scholar at the Maxwell School.

I have heard stories of people beating cancer, and with prayers, this will be another one.

Thank you for letting me be part of Syracuse’s story. I pray for your strength during this time.

Dear Chancellor Syverud and Dr. Chen,

I was very sorry to hear this news. There aren’t really words that feel quite right, but I wanted to reach out and let you know you’re in my thoughts and prayers.

Syracuse University misses you, and so many people are hoping for your steady recovery and keeping you in their hearts during this time.

Wishing you peace, hope, love, and faith in the days ahead.

Warmly,

Halyna Rudych

Chancellor Syverud, You are our Hero. My prayers for a full recovery and improved health outcomes, and protection has been continuous for you, Dr Chen, your family & all of us who care so deeply for you. It has been my honor to work with you through my service on the SUMA Advisory Council. Thank you so much for all you have done to protect and support our entire Syracuse Community and we will continue to pray for a quick recovery. 🙏🏽 🙏🏽 🙏🏽