By Dara Harper
Syracuse University is seeking nominations for the Unsung Hero Awards, which will be presented at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the JMA Wireless Dome on January 25, 2026.
Continue ReadingNews
A Full-Circle Moment: David Aitken ’94, G’97 Named Inaugural Chair of Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board
By Dara Harper
When David Aitken ’94, G’97 first arrived at Syracuse University over 35 years ago, he couldn’t have imagined that Hendricks Chapel would shape his life.
Now, as the inaugural chair of the Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board, Aitken brings decades of engagement with the chapel as a student employee, building coordinator, parent, board member, and devoted alumnus to a role that will help shape its future as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2030.
Continue ReadingSyracuse University’s Hendricks Chapel Receives Additional $500,000 to Expand Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry
By Dara Harper
Hendricks Chapel of Syracuse University has received an additional $500,000 from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to support the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry (FELM), which offers a dynamic and distinctive setting to form area leaders who are empowered to thrive within challenging times. This new funding builds upon the initial $1 million grant awarded in 2019 and will allow the program to help leaders thrive and enhance the communities they serve.
Hendricks Chapel, the spiritual heart of Syracuse University, is the student-centered global home for religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical life. Established in 1930 as a home for all faiths and place for all people, the chapel hosts 15 chaplains, more than 25 religious and spiritual groups, and sponsors over 2,000 programs for more than one million annual attendees. As a central contributor to life and learning at Syracuse University, Hendricks Chapel helps to prepare engaged citizens, scholars, and leaders for participation in a changing global society.
Continue ReadingThe People’s (Place) Choice Awards: Vegan Pastries Ranked from Better to Best
By Georgia Hudson ’28
As a long-time vegan and brand-new Communications Associate at Hendricks Chapel, I was super excited to rank the People’s Place vegan pastries. Even though I love some more than others, they’re all amazing and great options! People’s Place receives their vegan pastry shipments from Fatcat Bakery on Tuesdays and Thursdays around 9:00 a.m. They usually sell out within the day, so make sure to head over quickly, especially for those seasonal pastries! Read the rankings below (#1 is my all-time fave) along with a drink pairing. Below the rankings, you’ll find more info about People’s Place and Fatcat Bakery.
10. Lemon Basil Scone
You can’t go wrong with any of the scones. In my opinion, this one is a little bit more geared toward an adventurous palate, like People’s Place barista Grace Stecher, who loves it! The basil is just a little too culinarily sophisticated for me in a sweet pastry, but it’s balanced out nicely with the lemon icing. This is Fatcat’s most popular flavor, though, so maybe I need to try it again!
Pairs best with: Earl Grey Tea
Continue ReadingFaith as a Bridge: Hendricks Chapel attends Interfaith America Leadership Summit
By Dara Harper
A dedicated group of chaplains, students and staff from Hendricks Chapel attended the Interfaith America Leadership Summit in Chicago from Aug. 8-10, 2025. The multifaith cohort from Syracuse University joined more than 700 participants to bridge divides and forge friendships across lines of religious and spiritual differences. Through the theme of “The Chords of Democracy,” the summit was the largest gathering of interfaith leaders in the world for 2025.
Interfaith America, which was founded as Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) in 2002, is “based on the idea that religious difference should serve as a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division.” Through a research-backed approach, Interfaith America works on college campuses, in the corporate field, and across civic spaces. The founder and president of Interfaith America, Eboo Patel, visited Syracuse University in February of 2025, where he met with campus leaders and participated in a public conversation in Hendricks Chapel with Dean Brian Konkol.
Continue ReadingHaudenosaunee Welcome Gathering: An Invitation to Celebrate on Sacred Land
Diane Schenandoah ’11, Honwadiyenawa’sek (“One who helps them”), will host a Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle on Monday, Aug. 25, from 4 to 5 p.m.
The Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering is an event held on campus to welcome all incoming and returning students, faculty and staff for the 2025-26 academic year, and for all to show respect for the Indigenous people on whose ancestral lands Syracuse University now stands. Schenandoah is a citizen of the Oneida Nation and a Wolf Clan Faithkeeper, as well as staff member in the Barnes Center. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is comprised of Six Nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora.
Continue ReadingPhoto Story: Chaplain and Staff Retreat 2025
That’s a wrap for the Hendricks Chapel staff and chaplain retreat! Thanks so much to all who attended and shared wise words and kindness. We’re ready to welcome all the Syracuse University students to campus starting this coming week!
Our team sought to reflect, renew, and grow together as we chart a shared course for the academic year and beyond. This year we offered special attention to our 2026-2030 strategic plan, which leads to the 100th anniversary of Hendricks Chapel in 2030!
Imam Hamza Gürsoy appointed as Muslim Chaplain at Hendricks Chapel
The University has appointed Imam Hamza Gürsoy as Muslim chaplain and advisor for the Muslim Student Association at Hendricks Chapel. In his role, Gürsoy will serve students by expanding the impact of Hendricks Chapel as “a home for all faiths and place for all people.”
“We at Hendricks Chapel are overjoyed to welcome Imam Hamza Gürsoy to the Syracuse University campus community,” says the Rev. Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel. “As a dynamic Islamic leader with meaningful interfaith experience, Chaplain Gürsoy will help to prepare our students for a changing global society. I am excited to witness all the ways he will support our Muslim students and many others, to inspire all to lead in service to our common good.”
Continue ReadingImam Amir Durić Appointed Assistant Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life at Hendricks Chapel
By Dara Harper
The University has appointed Imam Amir Durić as assistant dean for religious and spiritual life at Hendricks Chapel. Durić, who has served as Muslim chaplain at Hendricks Chapel since 2017, will provide visionary, inclusive and compassionate leadership to advance interfaith engagement, spiritual wellness and ethical development throughout the University community.
Continue ReadingRabbi Natan Levy Appointed Campus Rabbi for Syracuse Hillel and Jewish Chaplain at Hendricks Chapel
By Dara Harper
Syracuse Hillel has appointed Rabbi Natan Levy as campus rabbi. Levy, who most recently served as head of operations for the Faiths Forum for London and senior lecturer at Leo Baeck College in the United Kingdom, will also serve as Jewish chaplain at Hendricks Chapel.