by Cheryl Abrams
The College of Professional Studies is rolling out the proverbial red carpet for acclaimed actor Jay Harrington VPA ‘93, during an exclusive reception and program in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 19.
That evening, the College is also putting down the Forever Orange carpet to welcome post-traditional, online and executive education students and alumni attending this special Syracuse University event.
The College provides access to and support for post-traditional students from across the world to obtain their college degrees either through on-campus class attendance or online course offerings. More than 360,000 post-traditional alumni have been identified and Syracuse University is working to connect with these former students in more personal ways.
“The Syracuse Orange spirit is strong, and cultivating meaningful relationships with College of Professional Studies alumni are vital to our ongoing success and that of our current and prospective students,” says College of Professional Studies Dean Michael Frasciello. “We need to learn from their experiences and expertise as we continue to expand our position as a global university.”
In recent months, the University has held well-attended networking receptions in New York City and Washington, D.C., and is planning another event on May 22 in Albany. Over 2,000 SU post-traditional alumni reside in the Los Angeles area, working in many fields, including entertainment.
A familiar face on the SU campus in the early1990s, Jay Harrington has become widely known for his role as the title character in the ABC sitcom “Better Off Ted” and has just finished filming his sixth season as Sgt. David “Deacon” Kay in “S.W.A.T.” on CBS, for which he also directed his first episode in the series. Previous credits include starring alongside Eliza Coupe in the USA Network’s “Benched.”
During the program, the College of Visual and Performing Arts graduate will invoke memories from his student days and talk about why he’s stayed so connected with his alma mater. Jay returns to campus for events and routinely meets with current students in the Syracuse University Los Angeles programs. He’ll also provide an inside look at what it’s like to work in Hollywood and the acting industry.
In addition to Dean Frasciello, greeting guests will be Jeffry Comanici, ‘88, executive director of post-traditional advancement for the College of Professional Studies, and Joan Adler, assistant vice president for regional programs in Los Angeles.
The reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by the program at 7:30, at Craft, 10100 Constellation Blvd., in Los Angeles.
Registration is requested by April 12 and can be made at cc.syr.edu/LAPost-Traditionalreception. Contact Maureen Downes in the College of Professional Studies at 315.443.3510 or madownes@syr.edu with any questions.