For the Media

OCC's Media Relations

We're happy to work with local and media outlets to promote our students and faculty, encourage community engagement, and answer questions

Media Contact

OCC's Executive Director of Communications, Roger Mirabito, researches, writes, and distributes stories for all campus publications. He's also the media contact for press releases, TV and radio stations, and print media.

Roger is always happy to facilitate media relations for inquiries, schedule interviews, and help with live event coverage.

To reach him, email r.h.mirabito@sunyocc.edu or call (315) 498-2054.

Roger Mirabito

Onondaga Community College at a Glance

Onondaga Community College is a two-year college located on a 280-acre campus in Syracuse, NY. OCC operates under the State University of New York (SUNY) system and is locally sponsored by Onondaga County. OCC is an Achieving the Dream college and has been named both “Military Friendly” and “Best For Vets” for its service to student veterans. OCC’s chapter of international honor society Phi Theta Kappa has been ranked Top Ten in the world for each of the last 4 years out of nearly 1,300 chapters.. The College’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility has earned it recognition as one of “The 10 Best Green Schools in America” by The Knowledge Review, a “Green College” by the Princeton Review, a “Cool School” by the Sierra Club and a “Sustainable Campus” by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. A report titled “The Economic Value of Onondaga Community College” shows students enjoy an attractive 21.7% rate of return on their educational investment. For every dollar of support from state and local governments, taxpayers see a return of $3.90 on their investments. The annual average rate of return for taxpayers is 9.3%.  OCC’s 16 athletics teams have won 16 national championships. 

President: Dr. Warren Hilton

Location: Main Campus – 4585 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse    OCC @ Liverpool – Route 57, Liverpool. 

Enrollment: More than 7,600 full-time and part-time students.

Degree and Coursework: Our degree and certificate programs are organized into 8 schools, each with their own support staff to assist students, giving them a home on campus. Our diverse programs include Mathematics & Science, Business Administration, Humanities and Social Sciences, Nursing, Criminal Justice, Computer Science, Mechanical Technology, and Electrical Technology. 

Our Students by the Numbers: 90% come from the five-county service area, 80% work 30 hours a week or more, 60% are first generation college students, 72% are age 21 or younger, and 28% are non-traditional. We are truly "the community's college" as 85% of our alumni live and work within 25 miles of campus.

Student Services: Student Central (incorporating admissions, registration, advisement, counseling, financial aid and other core enrollment and student services in one location), career and transfer counseling, nationally accredited Children’s Learning Center, Career Center, Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), Education Opportunity Program (EOP), Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), Office of Accessibility Resources, Office of Veterans and Military Services, the Learning Center tutoring facility, and Community Care Hub which assists students with challenging life situations. 

Student Life: Four state-of-the-art residence halls, more than 25 student clubs and organizations include an award-winning chapter of international honor society Phi Theta Kappa, and Student Government. The on-campus Southwest YMCA provides student memberships at no additional cost with a valid LAZERCARD ID. 

Athletics: OCC is a member of the National Junior College Athletics Association. The Lazers have won 16 national championships in Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Tennis, and Men’s Basketball. The College’s 16 athletic teams include: Baseball, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track & Field, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, and E-Sports which is new in the 2022-2023 academic year.

2022-23 Tuition (Onondaga County Residents): 

  • Full-time: $2,595 per semester    
  • Part-time: $216 per credit hour 

Financial Aid: More than 85% of Onondaga students receive financial aid in the form of grants, loans or scholarships through the OCC Foundation. Aid may be available for students who carry at least six credit hours and are matriculated in a program of study.

Accreditation: OCC is accredited by the Middle State Commission of Higher Education and approved and registered with the New York State Department of Education.

Our Experts are available for interviews by Zoom or phone!


Climate & Weather - Martin M. Martino 

(315) 498- 2476 I martinom@sunyocc.edu

Professor Martino has taught Meteorology at Onondaga Community College since 2004. He holds a Master of Science in Meteorology from St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO. He spent 20 years in the United States Air Force where he worked as a Weather Officer, providing valuable weather information to service men and women in the field. He also taught meteorology to West Point Cadets at the United States Military Academy before coming to OCC. 

 

Computers & Internet Security - Sheila Sicilia 

(315) 498- 7218 I sicilias@sunyocc.edu

Sheila Sicilia began teaching at Onondaga Community College in 2002. She is a Professor of Computer Studies whose areas of expertise includes computers and internet security. Sicilia holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music and a master’s from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She has worked as a Computer Programmer, Web Developer, Systems Analyst, Tech Support and R&D analyst. She has interests in teaching Computer Literacy, Computer Concepts, IT Support, Computer Programming, Web Development and MIDI Applications. She has credentials as a Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD); CompTIA A+ (tech support) Certification. 

 

Food Safety - Nancy Rissler 

risslerm@sunyocc.edu 

Professor Rissler has taught food safety classes at OCC since 2016. She is a ServSafe Certified Instructor and Registered Proctor with Allergen Certificate. She is also an expert in Restaurant OSHA Safety and is a Security Certified Instructor. She teaches food safety procedures to clients through her consulting business, Make Fresh Food. She earned a bachelor’s from SUNY Geneseo, a master’s from the University of Vermont and has done graduate coursework in nutrition and hospitality management at Syracuse University. Previously she instructed food science in the Nutrition and Hospitality Department at Syracuse University. After a decade of teaching, she retired from S.U. and worked on developing new products for New Hope Mills and their nationally-recognized ‘private label’ customers. 

 

Health Information Security - Karen Fabrizio 

(315) 498- 2176 I fabrizik@sunyocc.edu

Karen Fabrizio has taught Health Information Technology and related courses at Onondaga Community College since 1988 and also serves as the Dean of Health & Community Service. She has industry experience as a Medical Record Administrator and HIPAA Privacy and Security Officer at Van Duyn Home and Hospital, and as a Medical Data Services Manager at Community General Hospital. She continues to serve as a medical consultant for facilities across the country and has published related books. Fabrizio earned a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and a master’s degree from the SUNY Institute of Technology. 

 

Nuclear Industry - Woody Everett 

(315) 498- 2770 I everettw@sunyocc.edu

Woody Everett began teaching students at Onondaga Community College in 2004. He is a Professor of Applied Engineering Technology and coordinator of the college’s Nuclear Technology degree program. Everett holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and a master’s from the University of Kentucky. Classes he has taught includes Introduction to Alternative Residential Energy Systems, Circuits, Digital Electronics, Introduction to Microprocessors, Mathematics for Technical Disciplines, Intermediate Algebra with Applications and Automotive Electronics. 

 

Nutrition, Health, and Wellness - Lindsey Reider

(315) 498 - 2487 I reiderl@sunyocc.edu

Lindsey Reider has been educating OCC students about fitness and wellness fields since 1999. He has led seminars and workshops in weight loss, strength training, nutrition, stress management, smoking cessation, and goal setting. As a personal fitness trainer, he has created fitness and/or weight loss prescriptions for over 2,700 individuals ranging from 14 to 84 years old. He also has conducted physical fitness testing and educational seminars for firefighters, police officers, and collegiate and professional athletes. Reider has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of South Carolina.

 

Odds of Winning the Lottery - Mike Oppedisano 

(315) 498- 2648 I oppedism@sunyocc.edu

Professor Oppedisano has taught Mathematics at Onondaga Community College since 2004. He teaches all levels of Mathematics. His primary focus is Calculus and Differential Equations. In 2012 he received the prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Rochester. Before coming to OCC he taught Mathematics at Morrisville State College for 12 years. 

 

 

Politics & Government - Nina Tamrowski 

(315) 498- 2022 I tamrowsn@sunyocc.edu

Professor Tamrowski has taught Political Science at Onondaga Community College since 1993. She holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish from SUNY Brockport. She has completed Ph.D. comprehensive exams at Syracuse University. She is active in the Faculty Council of Community Colleges (FCCC), which represents SUNY’s community college faculty to the SUNY system. She served as president of the FCCC from 2015-19 and served as a SUNY Trustee during that same period. 

 

Sustainability - Sean Vormwald 

(315) 498- 2847 I vormwals@sunyocc.edu

Sean Vormwald is the Director of Sustainability and Environmental Health & Safety at Onondaga Community College, where he works on regulatory compliance and implementing sustainability-related programs throughout the College. Prior to coming to OCC in 2010 Sean provided sustainability consulting services for municipal, non-profit, and business clients through his company, Sustainable Transitions. He has also worked for several non-profit organizations where he managed environmentally-focused public outreach campaigns. Sean earned his Ph.D. from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry where he studied environmental communication. His research focused on engaging students and employees with achieving campus sustainability goals. He earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a master’s degree in communications at Ithaca College.