Advocacy and Impact in Action

Syracuse University Trustee Sharon Barner ’79 remembers how she found a supportive community as an African American woman on campus during the ’70s. “As I looked to give back, it was about both giving back to Syracuse and to people who had experiences like myself,” says Barner, vice president and chief administrative officer at Cummins Inc., an Indiana-based multinational that’s a global leader in power technology. “I wanted to help make sure they had the foundations they needed, both through finding community and scholarship.”

Through a transformative gift of $1 million to the Forever Orange campaign, Barner will help build a community of support for students by ensuring the future of the Barner-McDuffie House, a space that celebrates the Black student experience and honors their contributions to the Syracuse University community. The gift will also enhance scholarship opportunities for first-generation and underrepresented students through the Our Time Has Come Scholarship Program and strengthen cultural, academic and social student-led activities that promote Black culture. In recognition of the gift, the building will be renamed the Barner-McDuffie House—in honor of Barner and her husband, Haywood McDuffie. This is the first on North Campus named by an African American family through philanthropic support.

“Sharon and Haywood are passionate benefactors, ambassadors and supporters of Syracuse University, and especially our students,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “This gift allows the University to continue expanding meaningful opportunities for students to build a sense of belonging and community here at Syracuse. I am grateful to Sharon and Haywood for their generosity and vision and look forward to celebrating their philanthropy later this year during Coming Back Together.”