Following recent changes in leadership in Hendricks Chapel and the Division of
Student Affairs, Syracuse University's Critical Incident Response Committee has
named new co-chairs and added new members.
Terra Peckskamp, interim director of the Office of Residence Life, and the Rev. Kelly
Sprinkle, interim dean of Hendricks Chapel, are the newly appointed co-chairs of the
CIRC. The group convenes on behalf of the Chancellor's Office in times of serious
personal crisis, such as a death or serious injury, in the SU or SUNY College of
Environmental Science and Forestry communities. The CIRC is authorized by the
Chancellor to coordinate pastoral support, mental health counseling, family support
and other human response and services for people affected by the event.
"Kelly Sprinkle and Terra Peckskamp have proven themselves to be empathetic
leaders, with a keen sense of how to help students, faculty and staff come together in
healthy ways during some of the difficult events that arise at a large, diverse
institution such as Syracuse," says Thomas V. Wolfe, senior vice president and dean
of student affairs. "Under their leadership, I am confident that the CIRC will continue
its proud tradition of connecting with people in difficult times."
The current members of the CIRC are: Tanya Bowen, interim director of the
Counseling Center; Drew Buske, deputy director of public safety; Anthony Callisto
Jr., director of public safety; Patricia Demyan, director of the Faculty Staff Assistance
Program; Jack Matson, director of staff relations and recruitment in the Office of
Human Resources; Trudy Morritz, assistant chancellor; Kevin Morrow, executive
director of news services and University spokesman; Judy O'Rourke, director of
undergraduate studies; David Pajak, director of risk management and chief
emergency management officer; Susan Peck, senior administrator in the dean's office
of the College of Visual and Performing Arts; Peckskamp; Cynthia Sedgwick, dean
of student life at the SUNY-ESF; Sprinkle; and Seth Tucker, director of student
assistance in the Division of Student Affairs.
Sprinkle was the University's protestant chaplain before succeeding Wolfe as dean of
Hendricks Chapel in June, as Wolfe transitioned into the senior role in Student
Affairs. An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Sprinkle joined the
University in 2004.
Peckskamp was director of learning communities for student affairs before moving to
the role of interim director of residence life in September, when the previous director
of residence life, Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, was named associate vice president for
student affairs-inclusion, community and citizenship. Peckskamp's leadership of
learning communities began in 1999.
The CIRC works closely with the University's Emergency Preparedness Committee,
the body that coordinates overall emergency preparation, response, recovery and
business continuity. The EPC is chaired by Louis G. Marcoccia, executive vice
president and chief financial officer, with David Pajak, director of risk management
and chief emergency management officer, serving as vice chair.
For more information on the University's emergency preparedness systems, visit
http://logistics.syr.edu/.
