Engaged Scholars
Stephen Klimek – Engagement Fellow, Near Westside Initiative
Stephen Klimek is an Engagement Fellow and a MArch II candidate at the Syracuse University School of Architecture. From his childhood in Buffalo, NY, he developed a lifelong passion for community development and urban revitalization. As an Engagement Fellow, Stephen works with the Connective Corridor and the Near Westside Initiative, completing project proposals and communicating with project stakeholders. Outside of work and school, Stephen is co-director of Storefront: Syracuse, a design center that hosts public exhibitions, lectures and workshops about architectural and urban issues in Syracuse. He hopes to continue working with community-based urban revitalization projects after graduation.
Francesca Merwin – Engagement Fellow, Connective Corridor
Francesca received her B.S. in Communication & Rhetorical Studies and Writing & Rhetoric from Syracuse University in May 2011. Post graduation, she began life as a SU Engagement Fellow. She has supplemented work as the communications coordinator for the Connective Corridor work with courses in web design/management and digital journalism. A native of Bethlehem, CT, she hopes to move to the west coast at the conclusion of her “Engagement Year” and pursue her passion for writing/community engagement in a different climate. For now, she will continue to write gut-wrenching stories for the Corridor’s newsletter and send the weekly construction updates, which have been described anywhere from “riotous” to “mildly offensive.”
Joyce Lee
Joyce is currently a junior studying Advertising at Syracuse University and hails from Queens, NY. She feels blessed to have stumbled upon a work-study opportunity with the Connective Corridor. She wanted to work here because she is interested in the arts and wanted to improve her writing skills. Joyce says that this job has opened her eyes to what downtown Syracuse has to offer, especially through updating the events page on a weekly basis. She also has learned the important role art plays in revitalizing cities, and now has a greater appreciation for the arts. Upon graduation, she hopes to find a job at an ad agency as a strategic analyst or somewhere in account management.
Whitney Marsland
Whitney is a senior Political Science and Policy Studies student at Syracuse University from Ware, MA. Whitney began working with the Connective Corridor this spring through an independent study program. After graduation, Whitney plans to work in government or with non-profit agencies focusing on education.
Rose Picón
Rose was born and raised in Columbus, OH. She is a sophomore at Syracuse University, pursuing a double major in Art History and Advertising. She got involved with the Connective Corridor during spring of 2011 when she was looking for work-study jobs. She saw that the Connective Corridor was looking for a staff writer to write about art and culture in Syracuse and was thrilled, as it was perfect for her. After graduation, she plans to join an advertising agency. Rose hopes to eventually become either a copywriter or an art director. Her spare time is gym time, and she can run about 4-5 miles daily.
Christine Zivica
Christine is originally from Lake George, NY and is a junior at Syracuse University, majoring in Policy Studies in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and minoring in Business Management in the Whitman School of Management. She got involved in working with the Connective Corridor through an independent study this semester. She is also currently doing an internship at Home HeadQuarters, a non-profit housing organization. Her experiences working with the Connective Corridor and Home HeadQuarters have inspired her to pursue a career in the non-profit sector after graduation.
