Syracuse professor’s global mindfulness work builds new ties for CNY
A Syracuse University professor’s Fulbright Specialist trip to Brazil is opening new doors for mental health research and international partnerships that benefit Central New York. The three-week exchange highlights how local expertise is making a difference far beyond Onondaga County, while bringing new ideas and connections back home.
Three weeks of teaching and research in São Paulo, Brazil, are putting Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, and Central New York, on the global map for innovative mental health work. Dessa Bergen-Cico, a professor of public health at Maxwell, is spending her Fulbright Specialist award collaborating with the Federal University of São Paulo, according to Syracuse University News.
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Bergen-Cico’s trip is more than an academic milestone. It’s a bridge between CNY and international partners, with the goal of building ongoing faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and new approaches to community well-being that can be shared back in Syracuse and surrounding towns like DeWitt and Salina.
By The Numbers
- Three weeks: Length of Professor Bergen-Cico’s Fulbright Specialist visit to São Paulo, per Syracuse University News.
- More than 15 years: Bergen-Cico’s experience using mindfulness-based interventions for mental health and addictions, according to Syracuse University News.
- Third Fulbright award: This is Bergen-Cico’s third time receiving a Fulbright, per Syracuse University News.
Why this matters for Central New York
For residents of Syracuse and nearby towns, Bergen-Cico’s work is a reminder that local expertise can have a global reach, and that international partnerships can bring new resources and ideas back to CNY. Her research on mindfulness, stress management, and community health is rooted in experience with the Syracuse VA Medical Center and with Indigenous communities in the United States, Syracuse University News reports.
These connections matter for local veterans, families, and anyone interested in mental health. Bergen-Cico’s work with the Syracuse VA Medical Center has focused on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, while her research with Native American communities brings culturally sensitive approaches to the table. The lessons learned abroad could help inform programs and services right here in Onondaga County.
For students at Syracuse University and the Maxwell School, the partnership with the Federal University of São Paulo opens up new opportunities for exchange, research, and learning. Bergen-Cico is teaching a weeklong graduate course, mentoring master’s and doctoral students, and giving public presentations during her time in Brazil, according to Syracuse University News.
What makes this work notable
Bergen-Cico’s research stands out for its focus on mindfulness-based interventions, such as guided meditation, breathing exercises, and body scans, to help people manage stress and improve mental health. She is working with Marcelo Demarzo of the postgraduate program in public health at the University of São Paulo to adapt these programs for Brazil’s diverse communities, including Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian groups with their own contemplative traditions, Syracuse University News reports.
One key innovation is the use of biomarkers to measure the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions. By looking at changes in the body’s stress response, Bergen-Cico’s team can compare results across cultures without relying solely on self-reported surveys, which may be limited by cultural context. This approach could help make mindfulness programs more equitable and effective, both abroad and back in Central New York.
Bergen-Cico’s previous Fulbright work has taken her to the Republic of Georgia in 2015-16 and to Thailand in 2020, where she studied public health responses to COVID-19. Her experience spans substance abuse, addictive behaviors, drug trafficking, and the geopolitics of drugs, according to Syracuse University News.
Building international partnerships from Syracuse
The Fulbright Specialist trip is designed to spark ongoing collaboration between Syracuse University and the Federal University of São Paulo. Bergen-Cico’s goals include sharing research protocols, developing co-authored papers, and laying the groundwork for reciprocal visits and student exchanges. These efforts are expected to benefit both faculty and students in CNY, as well as their counterparts in Brazil.
According to Syracuse University News, the partnership will also support joint grant applications and shared research projects. For Maxwell School students interested in public health, international affairs, or community engagement, these new connections offer a chance to learn from global peers and bring fresh perspectives back to Syracuse.
Local context: CNY’s tradition of community engagement
Central New York has a long tradition of community-focused initiatives, from health programs at the Syracuse VA Medical Center to local events and volunteer drives. Bergen-Cico’s work fits into this tradition, showing how research and service can go hand in hand. Her focus on non-clinical ways of addressing addiction, crime, and violence is especially relevant for Syracuse’s diverse neighborhoods, including Eastwood, Tipp Hill, and the North Side.
For those interested in local happenings, CNY Signal regularly covers community events and Syracuse restaurants that make this region a great place to live. Bergen-Cico’s international work is another example of how CNY’s people are making a difference, both at home and abroad.
Looking ahead: What’s next for CNY and global research
Bergen-Cico’s Fulbright Specialist trip is just the beginning of a deeper partnership between Syracuse and São Paulo. The hope is that future exchanges, joint publications, and shared research will continue to benefit students, faculty, and the wider community in Central New York. As public health challenges evolve, these global connections will help keep CNY leading of new ideas and solutions.
Where to check for updates
For more on Professor Bergen-Cico’s work and other Maxwell School initiatives, visit the Syracuse University News site. For ongoing coverage of community events and local happenings, check the CNY Signal community events page.
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Sources
- Syracuse University News, Maxwell Professor Shares Mindfulness Research as a Fulbright in Brazil
