News

University College of Syracuse University has announced the newly named Talent and Education Development Center (TEDCenter) and the appointment of Karen DeJarnette as the center’s director.

Formerly the WorkKeys Center, the TEDCenter will provide programming to support the workforce needs of businesses and the career development opportunities for individuals in Central New York and across the state. The TEDCenter will use a variety of delivery methods to provide both credit and noncredit programs and certifications. Working closely with employers and regional organizations to understand their critical business requirements, the center will create customized and onsite programs and certificate offerings in order to bring skilled workers into closer alignment with the needs of public and private sectors.

DeJarnette’s role will include evaluating program needs, determining the strategic fit for new programs, identifying and sourcing needed resources, delivering programming and ascertaining its effectiveness.

The CNY Regional Economic Development Council Strategic Plan reports that talent shortages in areas such as engineering, information technologies and medical care compel businesses to expand outside of the region. This trend has negatively impacted economic growth and employment, a trend the TEDCenter hopes to have a role in reversing.

“We have long heard employers say they are unable to find employees with the skills the business needs to be competitive,” says DeJarnette. “University College’s investment in the TEDCenter will help us close that gap.”

DeJarnette brings a collaborative approach to her work at University College, having gained a broad perspective on the diversity of both national and global markets and customers throughout her career. She was the director of Workforce Development for Empire State Development Corp. prior to joining the TEDCenter team. DeJarnette also worked at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), serving as the vice president of training and corporate development, and before that, worked at Carrier Corp. She was also an adjunct professor at SU’s School of Information Studies.

DeJarnette earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois and master’s degrees in business administration and information management from SU.

At the Feb. 2 session of the Institute for Retired People (IRP), Pam Hyland, CEO of Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, Inc., will provide an overview of the first 100 years of Girl Scouts from a Central New York perspective, as well as a glimpse of the next 100 years. The Girl Scouts of America was established in March 1912.

Prior to her position as CEO of Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, Inc., Hyland served as vice president of direct services at Girl Scouts in South Carolina for nine years; in mainland Japan, Okinawa and Korea for three years, and at other locations throughout the U.S. She holds a bachelor’s degree in recreation from the University of Northern Colorado and a master’s degree in adult education from Virginia Tech University.

The IRP program runs from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and is free and open to the public. IRP sessions are held at the First Baptist Church of Syracuse, 5833 East Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville. For more information, call 315-443-4846 or email cmkarlho@syr.edu.

At the Jan. 19 session of the Institute for Retired People (IRP), Jeffrey Stonecash, a professor of political science at the Maxwell School, will provide his perspective on the 2012 election and the alternative realities of Democrats and Republicans.

Stonecash received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University. His specialty is American political parties and electoral behavior.

He is the author/contributor of several books and articles, including “Counter Realignment: Political Change in the Northeast” (with Howard L. Reiter: Cambridge, 2011); “New Directions in Party Politics, Editor” (Routledge, 2010); and “The Dynamics of the American Party System” (with Mark D. Brewer: Cambridge, 2009).

Stonecash’s research projects include: Party Pursuits and Connecting Presidential-House Elections, 1900-2008; The Battle Over Personal Responsibility and Political Polarization; Legislative Careers and Realignment; and The Role of Class in American Politics.

The IRP program runs from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and is free and open to the public. IRP sessions are held at the First Baptist Church of Syracuse, 5833 E. Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville.

Auditions for the Syracuse University Summer Dance Intensive, under the artistic direction of Danita Emma, will be conducted on Sunday, Jan. 8 at Syracuse Stage. Momchil Mladenov, a former principal dancer with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet and the National Ballet of Bulgaria, will act as assistant artistic director.

The 2012 program will take place on the SU campus this summer. Students will participate in dance classes with a stellar collection of dance legends and featured guest artists, including Gabriela Darvash. The world-renowned Kirov-trained teacher was artistic director and resident choreographer for the State Opera Ballet in Cluj, Romania.

Students will enjoy a comprehensive program consisting of classical ballet, exposure to a variety of other dance disciplines and a focus on health and personal growth. The classes are open to ballet students ages 12-20. Participation is by audition only, either through a live audition or video submission. Attendees may choose a two- or three-week program—July 8-28 or July 8-21—and may commute or reside on the SU campus.

Auditions will take place at Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St. in Syracuse. Registration will take place from 1-1:30 p.m. and auditions will be held from 1:30-3 p.m.

The program is administered by University College of Syracuse University. Visit the Summer Dance Intensive website at http://www.uc.syr.edu/ballet2 for audition sites and tuition information. For questions and program details, call 315-443-5000 or e-mail ballet@uc.syr.edu.

The Dec. 15 session of Thursday Morning Roundtable (TMR) will feature Joshua Dekaney, interim director of the Center for Live Music in the 21st Century in the Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music in Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Mark Nerenhausen, founding director of SU’s new Janklow Arts Leadership Program, the nation’s first comprehensive 15-month, 39-credit-hour master’s program.

Dekaney is currently establishing programming, procedures and staffing for the first initiatives of the Center for Live Music in the 21st Century, which is a combination of a research center and arts business incubator. He is also a part-time instructor of percussion at the Setnor School who teaches drumset, Latin percussion, Brazilian percussion and jazz improvisation; leads Samba Laranja, the SU Brazilian Ensemble; and directs the drumline of the SU Pride of the Orange Marching Band.

In addition to serving as founding director of the Janklow Arts Leadership Program, Nerenhausen is a professor of practice in The College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Art & Music Histories. Prior to his appointment in July 2011, he served as president and CEO of the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, where in 2009 he opened the $354 million AT&T Performing Arts Center.

TMR meets from 8:15-9:15 a.m. in the Nottingham Room at Drumlins, 800 Nottingham Rd. For further information, contact Sandra Barrett, director of community programs, (315) 443-4846 or visit http://www.uc.syr.edu/tmr. The TMR program is broadcast on WCNY-FM, 91.3 on Sundays at 8 p.m. and at http://www.wcny.org/radio/thursday-morning-roundtable.