We are exposed to a handful of American Dreams - usually dreams have come true, spectacularly true - but this limited exposure to American Dreams allows for the phrase “American Dream” to be deployed without context. The only way to understand the American Dream is to engage with multiple dreams.
This collection of 1-minute dreams allows you to explore different dreams from a wide array of people.
Since 2020, students at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University have been conversing with and synthesizing American Dreams. Students were required to converse with someone who was demographically different from them in at least four of the following categories: race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, ability, and age (≥20 years). They then condensed their interviewee’s experiences into 1-minute media artifacts, or dreams.
Read More about Conversing Across Categories
To date, over 240 people have been interviewed, ranging from 18-82 years of age and from all walks of life. More than one-third (38%) were born outside the United States, more than 30% identified as LGBTQ, and one in eight identified as living with a disability; socioeconomic class and racial/ethnic diversity are available in below.
*Interviewees could identify with more than one racial/ethnic group, resulting in a total greater than 100%.
About Charisse L’Pree
Charisse L’Pree Corsbie-Massay is an Associate Professor of Communications at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She holds BS degrees in Brain and Cognitive Science and Comparative Media Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an MA degree from the School of Cinematic Arts and a PhD in Social Psychology from University of Southern California.
https://video.syr.edu/media/t/1_jl2nst42
Drawing from critical media studies, brain and cognitive science, and social psychology, L’Pree’s work investigates how media affects the way we think about ourselves and others, as well as how we use media to construct and affirm identities, resulting in a broad array of theoretical and applied research. Her work includes articles in Psychological Inquiry, AIDS and Behavior, and Journal of Applied Communication Research, as well as book chapters addressing serious games, race and gender methodology, and media use among marginalized populations.
L’Pree has also authored two books. Twentieth Century Media and the American Psyche (2021, Routledge) describes how our relationships with media emulate interpersonal relationships through their ability to replicate intimacy, regularity, and reciprocity. Diversity and Satire: Laughing at Processes of Marginalization (2023, Wiley) turns this process inward to encourage students to think critically about their own rhetorical strategies with respect to disrupting discourse through satire. She also co-hosts two educational podcasts: Critical and Curious, a pop trash podcast with Robert Thompson, and SNL101 with Luvell Anderson for educators who want to use Saturday Night Live sketches in the classroom.
About the Team
Armita Hooman
Armita Hooman, an Iranian-born dual Master of Public Administration/M.A. International Relations student at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, brought her own perspective to the 'Make America Dream' project. Growing up under a gender apartheid regime, she was driven by the ideals of freedom and opportunity in the American Dream, which ultimately led her to the U.S. and eventually, as a research assistant on the project. Armita worked on diverse perspectives on this dream through interviews across lines of race, gender, sexuality, age, and their intersectionality. Her own journey informs her work, highlighting the dream’s pressures, its challenges for minorities, and the deeply personal ways each person defines it.
Liz Burr
Liz Burr is a seasoned digital media professional with a proven record in content development, product management, and analytics in tech and entertainment. She has helped grow brands like Bossip, Very Smart Brothas, and MadameNoire and has held leadership roles at Twitter, Elite Daily, and Daily Mail. Liz also served as a startup operator for an OTT platform and currently advises startups on audience development, SEO, and SEM. A Black and Indigenous (Diné) professional, she holds degrees from MIT and USC and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Chief, based in NYC.
Brian Tibbens
Brian Tibbens is the director of IT and facilities operations at the Newhouse School, overseeing IT aspects of construction and renovations across school and satellite locations. He represents Newhouse in university IT meetings to ensure its tech needs are met and coordinates support for major events, ensuring smooth service delivery. Brian also leads hiring and training for student workers in Newhouse labs, building a skilled team for diverse IT tasks. Additionally, he manages IT contract reviews to align with campus policies. Committed to innovation, Brian focuses on advancing technology that enhances the Newhouse learning environment.
Carrie Walsh
Carrie Welsh is an Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, where she shares her 20+ years of communications expertise. With a master’s in Media Studies, she brings a rich background in public relations and marketing, having previously co-founded a PR agency and Portland's renowned Feast festival. Carrie’s career includes a decade as VP of Public Relations at Food Network, where she launched shows, handled talent relations, and co-created impactful initiatives like "Good Food Gardens" to support underserved communities. Now in Syracuse, Carrie is exploring local culture, mentoring students, and developing a new creative venture with her family.
Emily Steinberger
Emily Steinberger (she/her) is a visual storyteller based out of San Francisco. She graduated with a degree in photojournalism and management from Syracuse University, where she led the student-run paper, The Daily Orange, first as photo editor and then as editor-in-chief. Her photos have been published in Reuters, CNN, Fox News, CalMatters and more, and she has interned at the San Mateo Daily Journal and The San Francisco Standard. Her American Dream is to be a lifelong learner and to make a career out of doing what she loves: visual storytelling.
Riley Pratt
Surya Vaidy
Driven visual storyteller whose work focuses on stories of human interaction, emotion, community, and mental health. Skilled both in the studio and out, he believes that good photography requires both good communication and a willingness to understand other people.
He has a B.A. in Geography, where he focused on human and cultural geography. Currently he is a Master's candidate in the Newhouse School's Multimedia, Photography, and Deign program. Surya's work has been recognized by in international competitions like College Photographer of the Year. Currently, he works as Classroom Facilitator in Newhouse and as Lead Visual's Producer for The NewsHouse digital publication.
Link(LinkedIn)
Link(Personal Website)
Christina Kinsey
Christina Kinsey has always had a passion for working with high school students and providing them with access and exposure to opportunities. Prior to joining the Newhouse staff, she was director of operations for a nonprofit that supported high school students in the Syracuse and Binghamton, New York, areas. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Columbia College. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family (which includes a lot of football and basketball), running, reading, DIY projects and outdoor activities.
Jordan Rose Daglio
Jordan is a passionate senior majoring in public relations at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and minoring in sport management at the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University. Her love for writing, conducting research, and creating content fuels her career aspirations in this field. She aims to use her communication skills and design abilities to bring value to their future team.
Genaro Armas
Genaro Armas leads communications for the Newhouse School, managing publications, web, social media, recruitment marketing, and special event publicity. Prior to Newhouse, he held marketing and communications roles at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he worked on publications, enrollment efforts, DEIA initiatives, and a university podcast. Before moving to higher education, Armas spent over two decades as a journalist with The Associated Press, covering major events from political conventions to the Rio Olympics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in magazine, news, and digital journalism from Newhouse and a master’s in political science from the Maxwell School.