Episode 14: lonely campus podcast with Alex Shaffer

Please note that all podcast episodes were recorded and produced prior to July 31, 2025. The Office and Diversity and Inclusion has since closed.

Episode 14 of the lonely campus podcast focuses on Alex Shaffer, a Renee Crown Honors Program scholar and sociology major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs with minors in political science and psychology.  As a high school student, she earned a Girl Scout Gold Award for founding the Purple Pantry, a food pantry in her local community of Cortland, NY.  While at SU, she's been active in the Food Recovery Network, which distributes leftover food from university dining halls to local communities in need.  She's also been president of the Disability Student Union and Syracuse Abroad Global Ambassador.  Alex talks about her extensive community activism and the importance of giving back.  She also speaks openly about being a college student living with a disability.  Finally, Alex shares insights on her experiences of college loneliness and provides helpful suggestions on how to find community on campus.