Thursday Morning Roundtable Returns on October 15 with Chancellor Haynie
Thursday Morning Roundtable is returning on Thursday, October 15, and we are so excited to share that Syracuse University Chancellor and President J. Michael Haynie will join us as our opening guest speaker!
During this TMR kick-off event, the Chancellor will discuss the value of a university. With the rising cost of higher education, families across the country are weighing whether a degree still delivers what it promises. Universities are increasingly being asked to make that case in plain terms. Here in Syracuse, the question reaches further still into the jobs the University supports, the school districts and nonprofits it partners with, and the neighborhoods that surround it.
We are looking forward to a rich conversation moderated by Melanie Littlejohn, President and CEO of Central New York Community Foundation and host of Sincerely CNY, about what universities offer the students who enroll and how they enrich the communities around them.
About Thursday Morning Roundtable
For more than 60 years, Thursday Morning Roundtable (TMR) has brought Syracuse together to talk about the issues that matter most. Today, we continue that tradition with a renewed commitment: creating an inclusive, judgment-free space where community voices, decision-makers and experts meet at the same table.
Our promise
Each month, TMR convenes voices across Syracuse to share information, exchange perspectives and spark ideas for action. We believe everyone’s voice matters in shaping the future of our community.
Shaped by you
This season’s topics come directly from you. Drawing on feedback from our June session and our end-of-season survey, the 2026–2027 season explores the environment and our community, the challenges facing families across generations, the evolving workforce, and the role of a university in the city it calls home.
How a session works
Doors open at 8 a.m. with coffee and a light breakfast. Guests spend the first part of the morning in conversation at their tables alongside panelists and experts discussing session topics. This is followed by a panel discussion and an open audience Q&A.
When and where
- Third Thursday of the month, 8–10 a.m.
- Sessions are held at the Central New York Community Foundation, whose generous sponsorship provides our home for the season. One consistent location at your request, making sessions easier to plan around and easier to find. (Our October 15 season opener will be held at an alternative location.)
- Check our season event calendar for upcoming topics, dates and locations.
Stay up-to-date
- Join the TMR mailing list to get reminders and recaps.
- Revisit conversations through recorded TMR session videos.