LIU Magazine Fall 2025

A Century of Innovation, A Future Without Limits

LIU at 100

As long island university marks its centennial, it honors a proud legacy shaped by world-class faculty, immersive learning, and a global network of over 285,000 alumni. A century strong—and just getting started. LIU celebrates 100 years of academic excellence, innovation, and impact. Founded in 1926 with a mission to expand access to quality education, LIU has grown into a nationally recognized institution—ranked in the top 7% of universities in the nation for research.

One hundred years have passed and LIU stands as a national leader in academic excellence, innovation, and opportunity – a university defined by the ability to anticipate change, lead with vision, and redefine what is possible.

The Centennial is both a celebration of what LIU has achieved and a bold statement of a vision for the decades

ahead. It is a moment to honor the transformative work of generations of trustees, dedicated faculty and administration, students, alumni, and partners who have shaped industries, elevated professions, and advanced discovery. But it is also a moment to set our eyes firmly on the horizon and ensure that LIU’s second century builds on a legacy of innovation without limits.

A Legacy of Firsts

LIU has blazed new trails in higher education from its earliest days. The University introduced programs that broke new ground long before “innovation” became a buzzword. New York State’s first College of Pharmacy, founded in 1886 as the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy, joined the LIU family in 1929 shortly after the

university was founded. This bold step expanded professional opportunities for students and helped set the standard for pharmacy education in the state and the nation.

LIU launched the nation’s first School of Professional Accountancy a few decades later, recognizing the need for rigorous, specialized education in a field critical to business and economic growth. This forwardthinking move placed LIU at the forefront of professional training and cemented its reputation for anticipating the evolving needs of the workforce.

The innovative tradition continued into the 21st century. LIU is among the first institutions in the nation to offer a

Bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, preparing students for leadership in a technology-driven world. LIU is the first university in the world to be named a Dassault Systèmes Center of Excellence, providing students unparalleled access to cutting-edge tools in virtual design, engineering, and simulation.

LIU’s AACSB-accredited School of Business—ranked among the top 5% of business schools worldwide and a Princeton Review “Best Business School” for 18 consecutive years— prepares graduates to lead industries worldwide, including billionaire hedge-fund manager Ray Dalio ’71. In the performing arts, LIU’s Musical Theatre program is ranked among the nation’s Top 30, with students earning

20 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Awards.

These milestones are not isolated moments. They form a consistent pattern: LIU does not wait for the future to arrive; we help invent it.

The Next Century Begins

LIU is once again redefining what a university can be as it enters its next century. This new chapter is marked by the launch of the nation’s first Bachelor of Engineering in Digital Engineering, a degree that combines systems thinking, digital design, and applied innovation. This program prepares students to operate at the intersection of the physical and virtual

Archictectural Rendering of the Future College of Science Facility at the Post Campus

Josh Groban at The Tilles Center

Digital Engineering Technology

worlds, a space where tomorrow’s industries are already taking shape.

The University broke ground on a new College of Science building, a state-of-the-art facility designed to foster interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and discovery. This investment underscores LIU’s commitment to advancing STEM fields, precision medicine, and the life sciences – areas that will define the next century of innovation.

2026: A Centennial Year to Remember

The Centennial year will celebrate moments that reflect LIU’s cultural, intellectual, and community impact celebrating what LIU represents: creativity, curiosity, and connection.

Eighteen months of celebration kicked off with an exciting Homecoming experience. The Tilles Center for the Performing Arts will host a gala performance headlined by Josh Groban, one of the most acclaimed voices of his generation, showcasing LIU’s enduring commitment to the arts and its role as a cultural hub.

Best-selling authors Andrew Sorkin and Malcolm Gladwell will visit campus for conversations about the forces shaping society and the future. These visits – along with a national conference on the Virtual Heart in December 2025 – will anchor a series of speakers and conferences focusing on thought leadership, public dialogue, and collaborative inquiry.

A Centennial Gala promises to bring together alumni, students, and partners from around the world. This event will honor a century of achievement and launch LIU’s next century with ambition and vision.

While these are signature moments, they are part of a much broader story – one in which LIU continues to serve as a catalyst for discovery, a platform for leadership, and a home for students from all walks of life.

Shaping EmpoweringIndustries, Lives

Across a century, LIU’s impact can be seen in every sector. Our alumni lead

in healthcare, business, education, the arts, government, and the sciences. They have founded companies, influenced policy, and brought their talents to communities across the globe. The University’s Division I athletics program has produced champions on the field and leaders beyond it. Our cultural centers and academic institutes have enriched public life through performance, scholarship, and engagement.

LIU’s influence is not measured only by high-profile achievements. It is found in the countless stories of graduates who were the first in their families to attend college, who discovered their passions in a lab, a studio, or a classroom, and who went on to build meaningful careers and give back to their communities. This commitment to access, excellence, and transformation has been at the heart of LIU since its founding and will remain central to its mission in the years ahead.

The Second Century: A Future Without Limits

LIU stepped into its second century with the same boldness that defined its first. The world ahead will demand adaptability, interdisciplinary thinking, cultural literacy, and technological fluency. LIU is prepared to meet that challenge, with programs that anticipate future needs and partnerships that expand opportunity on a global scale.

LIU is shaping the future that graduates will inherit from the laboratories of the new College of Science to the immersive environments of the Dassault Systèmes Center of Excellence, from the thought leadership of visiting scholars to the championship spirit of Shark athletics.

The Centennial is a declaration: LIU will continue to accelerate the exceptional, to lead in discovery, and to empower students to reimagine what is possible.

LIU has been a place where ambition meets opportunity for 100 years. The next 100 years of accelerating the exceptional begin now.

Ray Dalio, Class of 1971

Sharks Football defeats EMU in first FBS victory in program history

A Century of Excellence.

1926

long island university founded

1929

brooklyn college of pharmacy joins liu

1931

brooklyn campus moves to former brooklyn paramount executive offices

1960

brooklyn paramount theatre acquired by liu

1951

hillwood estate acquired from marjorie merriweather post

1963

honors college inaugurated at the post campus , one of the first in the nation

1970

tilles center for the performing arts founded

1974 liu opens the nation ’ s first school of prosessional accountancy

A Future Accelerated.

1987

liu wins first northeast conference commissioner ’ s cup

2019 athletics unifies as a division i program

2021 named center of excellence for life sciences by dassault systèmes

2025 endowment reaches record $500 million

2013 dr kimberly cline becomes 10 th president and first woman to lead the institution

2020 designated as a top 7% high - research university by carnegie classification

2021 the roosevelt school becomes home to the society of presidential descendants

2026 centennial year celebration begins

carnegie

LEGACY and LEADERSHIP

LIU GALA RAISES more than $2 MILLION for STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

“ Institutions such as LIU are charged not only with educating students, but with contributing to the broader intellectual and civic life of our country.”

–ERIC KRASNOFF, LIU Board of Trustees Chair

Long Island University celebrated philanthropy, history, and inspiration at its 2025 Scholarship Gala, raising more than $2 million to support student scholarships. The Gala gathered university leaders, alumni, benefactors, and special guests at the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York City for a night that underscored LIU’s commitment to access, opportunity, and academic excellence.

Highlighting the night’s celebration was a tribute to The Wright Family, long-time friends and supporters of LIU, whose philanthropic legacy has helped shape the University’s future. The Wrights were honored for their exceptional commitment to advancing

education, promoting civic dialogue, and supporting institutions that preserve American democracy.

Also recognized was the Museum of Democracy, an institution dedicated to chronicling and preserving the legacy of democratic ideals through history, education, and public engagement. The Museum shares a close relationship with LIU’s academic and public affairs programs. It was honored for its vital role in educating future generations about the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

In his remarks, LIU Board Chairman Eric Krasnoff reflected on the transformative impact of scholarship

support: “The gift of a college degree that is affordable, attainable, and valuable is life-changing for students and their families.”

Thanks to the generosity of donors and the energy surrounding the event, the $2 million raised will support hundreds of students in the coming year, helping them pursue degrees in fields ranging from business and veterinary medicine to digital engineering and global studies. The University, which is celebrating its centennial, continues to expand access to world-class education through ambitious fundraising, strategic partnerships, and the development of innovative academic programs.

President Kimberly R. Cline remarked, “As a university, we are shaped not only by what we teach, but by whom we honor. Our honorees tonight remind us that education, when supported with intention, becomes a generational force for innovation and for good.”

Dr. Cline continued, “The Wright Family has long understood that institutions endure because individuals make the decision to support them – not once, but over time. Their investment in education reflects a belief that knowledge is both a private good and a public necessity. Their impact is not simply measured in dollars and cents, but in the momentum they help create for others to follow.

A video honored the Wright Family and the Museum of Democray as well as a performance of “Presidential Suite” by its composer, Ted Nash, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. The Gala began and concluded with performances by the LIU Jazz Ensemble.

Thanks to the collective effort of the LIU community, that future is now within reach for more students than ever before.

To make a gift to the Annual Fund and support student success, scan the QR code or visit liu.edu/annual-fund

President Cline, the Wright Family, Board of Trustees Chair Eric Krasnoff

LIU Students Attend the 2025 Gala

LIU Students Attend the 2025 Gala

A LEGACY of GIVING:

STEVE and DEBBIE

HORNSTEIN

CELEBRATE GIVING BACK

Ambitious students and faculty eager to leave their mark on the world will first walk through the Hornstein Lobby as they enter the Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine, passing through the legacy of a family whose connection to Long Island University spans more than eight decades.

The Hornstein Lobby honors a proud LIU tradition that began with Steve’s father, a World War II veteran who graduated from LIU’s College of Pharmacy in 1944. Over the years, the Hornstein family has remained closely tied to the university, with an uncle and two cousins also among its alumni. Through their philanthropy and service, Steve ‘80 and Debbie Hornstein ‘79 are continuing this legacy – and investing in the university’s future.

“The Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine will exist for hundreds of years and will be tremendously impactful,” said Steve, who has served as a member of the LIU Board of Trustees since 2010 and on the Lewyt College Advisory Council since 2019.

Steve and Debbie met as undergraduates on LIU’s Brooklyn campus and have been married for over 40 years. Their enduring affection for LIU is matched by a shared love for animals. It is this passion that has fueled their support for the veterinary college, which opened in 2019 as one of only four veterinary schools in the Northeast and the only one in the New York metropolitan area.

The Hornsteins’ commitment to LIU began long before the Lewyt College. Steve established the Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis in 2016 – a university-based research center that conducts independent polling and empirical analysis on public policy issues. It has become a valuable resource for both the university and the wider community, providing real-time data and insight on political, social, and economic trends.

The Hornsteins have consistently supported LIU students in tangible ways, as well. Their philanthropy is rooted in empowering students to succeed –from funding Bloomberg Terminals on campus to supporting LIU-iF, the university’s student-managed investment fund, and providing scholarships.

“Whatever the initiative was, it was always very rewarding, particularly the connection to the students,” Steve said. “The more I got involved with the students, the more excited I was getting. My interaction with them has been wonderful.”

Steve began his career on Wall Street as a trading assistant at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, a firm later acquired by Credit Suisse. He spent nearly two decades there before launching his own credit fund in 2008, where he continues to work full-time.

“It was an extraordinary career path,” he said. “I became a corporate bond trader and I’m still a corporate bond trader. They say if you love what you do you never work a day in your life. I throw myself into that bucket.”

Whether offering an internship or supporting a scholarship, Hornstein’s motivation remains constant: “For me it’s always about giving back to the students,” he said. “That’s my passion.”

The Long Island University

Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis conducts independent polling, empirical research, and analysis on a wide range of public issues. Our studies inform the public and policy makers about critical issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the world. Faculty and scholars from all schools of study at Long Island University participate in data collection and analysis.

To learn more about the Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis at LIU, scan the QR code, or visit bit.ly/4mWUbli

AND THE BILLBOARD RECOGNITION:

National music outlet

Billboard named the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment a top music business school and the Brooklyn Paramount a top music venue for 2025. The prestigious rankings affirm the university’s ongoing commitment and investment in music education and performance.

The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment was ranked on Billboard’s international list of “Top

Music Business Schools” alongside renowned programs at Berklee College of Music, the Abbey Road Institute, UCLA, USC and NYU. The outlet praised Roc Nation School for its impressive array of partnerships with Wieden+Kennedy, Condé Nast, VFiles, and JPMorgan Chase, as well as the new 2,400 square-foot state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos pro studio equipped with cutting-edge technology.

“It has already become a magnet for leading creatives, legal experts,

A&R executives and digital and brand experts,” the Billboard article noted. “Speakers at the school have included Megan Thee Stallion, Fat Joe, Rapsody, Sony Music Publishing CEO Jon Platt, Roc Nation vice chairman Jay Brown and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez.”

The Brooklyn Paramount was named the “Top East Coast Club or Theater” on Billboard’s list of Top Music Venues for 2025. The historic venue, which has been part of the LIU campus since 1960, opened in 1928 and played host to dozens of iconic musicians, including Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Miles Davis and Chuck Berry.

The theater reopened to the public in 2024 following a comprehensive restoration.

“Stepping into the building is like walking into a time machine, with its intricate stone carvings, Art Deco flair and a marquee that evokes old-school charm,” the Billboard article stated.

A grand entry hall featuring a centerpiece bar mixes the modern with the classic to create true Brooklyn

THE DOLBY ATMOS STUDIO AT ROC NATION SCHOOL

THE BROOKLYN PARAMOUNT

magic. The theater’s original Mighty Wurlitzer organ is maintained by the New York Theatre Organ Society. With its 2,700-seating capacity, the Brooklyn Paramount is larger than any Broadway theater.

“It’s fantastic,” Larry Miller, founder of the Grammy Award winning record label Or Music, told The New York Post. “It’s absolutely remarkable what they were able to do with the restoration, the transformation, the guest experience, the quality of the sound, the sightlines, the quality of the bars, the presence of the history of the place.”

RECENT PERFORMERS AT THE BROOKLYN

PARAMOUNT

JACK WHITE

STING

SEAN PAUL

DAMIAN & STEPHEN MARLEY

NORAH JONES

the enduring legacy

- of the -

polk awards TRUTH TELLERS TRAILBLAZERS :

george

The most courageous voices in American journalism gather each year as LIU honors their profession’s highest calling: telling truth in the face of power. The George Polk Awards in Journalism were established in 1949 to commemorate CBS correspondent George Polk, who was murdered while covering the Greek civil war. They have become one of journalism’s most coveted honors.

LIU hosted the 76th annual awards ceremony this Spring in New York City. The event was made even more poignant and historic by a deeply personal moment: Lester Holt, the longtime anchor of NBC Nightly News, chose the Polk stage to deliver his first public remarks since stepping down from the broadcast desk earlier this year.

“In a career spanning 45 years, I have answered the bell for the big story far more times than I will ever be able to count,” Holt said, addressing a room filled with investigative reporters, foreign correspondents, and editors whose work has changed laws, freed the innocent, and exposed injustice. “I have traveled much of the country and much of the world, interviewing people of great power as well as people who are powerless. The job has been an all-access pass like no other, for which I am profoundly grateful.”

Holt’s remarks were a powerful reminder of the awards’ enduring mission. The Polk Awards have always been a tribute to those who risk their safety and careers to speak truth to power – as George Polk himself gave his life to

journalism. They have honored legendary work over the decades – from Seymour Hersh’s exposure of the My Lai Massacre to the New York Times and Washington Post for their reporting on the Pentagon Papers and Edward Snowden’s revelations and, more recently, global investigations into authoritarianism, climate catastrophe, and systemic injustice.

What sets the George Polk Awards apart is their focus on investigative courage, not celebrity or ratings. They are judged independently, with no entry fees, making them a pure reflection of journalism’s democratic role. At a time when trust in the media is under pressure and journalists face mounting threats worldwide, the Polk Awards remain a North Star for the profession.

Long Island University is proud to be the steward of this tradition. John Darnton – a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former New York Times editor himself –serves as curator. He has ensured that the awards continue to amplify the kind of work that upholds the First Amendment and holds power to account.

That recommitment to fearless truth-telling remains more vital than ever at LIU, where the spirit of George Polk lives on.

“By highlighting and honoring work of such high caliber, we are reminded that what we do matters,” Holt offered. “That our work remains relevant and impactful, and retains the power to transform lives.”

POLK AWARD WINNERS

The 2024 Polk Award winners were selected from 493 submissions of work that appeared in print, online or on television or radio, nominated by news organizations and individuals or recommended by a panel of former winners.

Foreign Reporting

Ronen Bergman & Mark Mazzetti

The New York Times Magazine

War Reporting

Declan Walsh & The New York Times Staff

National Reporting

Katherine Eban

Vanity Fair

Local Reporting

Alissa Zhu, Nick Thieme & Jessica Gallagher

The Baltimore Banner

State Reporting

Sara DiNatale

San Antonio Express-News

Health Care Reporting

Bob Herman, Tara Bannow, Casey Ross & Lizzy Lawrence

STAT

Technology Reporting

Olivia Carville & Cecilia D’Anastasio

Bloomberg Businessweek

Political Reporting

Jane Mayer

The New Yorker

Magazine Reporting

Rachel Aviv

The New Yorker

Foreign Television Reporting

Marcia Biggs, Eric O’Connor & André Paultre

PBS NewsHour

Podcast Reporting

Ben Austen & Bill Healy

Audible Original

Sydney Schanberg Prize for Long-Form Reporting

Sarah A. Topol

The New York Times Magazine

LIU BREAKS GROUND ON STATE-OF-THE-ART COLLEGE of SCIENCE FACILITY

Long Island University broke ground on the new College of Science building, a $30 million, 40,000-square-foot facility, on the Post campus that is set to further elevate the university’s research capabilities.

The facility, scheduled to open in 2027, will serve as the centerpiece of LIU’s growing research enterprise, providing advanced laboratories, collaborative spaces, and a home for interdisciplinary work in areas such as vaccine development, cancer therapies, and artificial intelligence in medicine.

“It’s a special day for LIU. In just a few years, we have raised our science and research profile to be in the top 7% of universities in the nation,” LIU President Dr. Kimberly R. Cline said at the ceremony. “We have implemented an aggressive strategic plan while focusing on research that can provide groundbreaking discoveries in the areas of biosciences, artificial intelligence, engineering, data analytics, computer science and health sciences.”

The ceremony drew state officials, university leadership, faculty, renowned researchers, and news reporters, who celebrated the beginning of what projects to be a game-changing investment in scientific education and innovation.

“This effort stands as proof that LIU’s deep commitment to accelerating scholarship and empowering faculty to drive research is intact and is growing,” added Eric Krasnoff, Chair of the LIU Board of Trustees. “Researchers will have AI frameworks and virtual twins. These powerful tools, when utilized by our outstanding faculty and students, will develop and engineer solutions for some of the world’s most pressing problems.”

A key feature of the new building will be its role as a Center of Excellence for Dassault Systèmes, a global leader in science and technology. This collaboration will support advanced medical research, including the development of digital organ “twins”— threedimensional, MRI-derived replicas of human organs that allow researchers to simulate surgeries and test drug toxicity.

Vice President for Research

Dr. Mohammed Cherkaoui explained that such technology will enable doctors to “design a surgery” in advance, reducing risks and improving outcomes.

“This new facility will be a hub for innovation. It’s about bringing together the best minds across disciplines and providing them the tools and environment they need to take research to the next level.”

Empire State Development, New York’s chief economic development agency, is investing $10 million in the project. ESD Chairman Kevin Law, appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul, said the facility reflects the remarkable recent growth in high-impact initiatives taking place at LIU. “It was only a few years ago I was here breaking ground and then cutting the ribbon on the [Lewyt] College of Veterinary Medicine,” Law said. “This administration has really taken LIU to new levels.”

The project marks another milestone in the university’s broader strategic vision to expand research funding, attract world-class faculty, and offer hands-on, experiential opportunities to students. It also complements other developments on campus, such as the creation of new doctoral programs and partnerships with global technology leaders.

LIU President Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, Board of Trustees and Vice President for Research Dr. Mohammed Cherkaoui Break Ground on State-of-the-Art College of Science

TO COS BUILDING EXTERIOR 3D VIEW

Ultimately, the College of Science aims to empower students and faculty facilitate major breakthroughs with real world impact.

WELCOME TO COS BUILDING

EXTERIOR 3D VIEW

“The LIU students who will study in this building will graduate with the ability to contribute to advancing knowledge, elevating technology, seeking cures and being prepared for the complicated jobs of the future that don’t even exist today,” Dr. Cline added. “We are preparing our students not just to learn about science, but to shape the future of it.”

WELCOME

Trustees Chair Eric Krasnoff, Cherkaoui and other Dignitaries Science Facility

Archictectural Renderings of the Future College of Science Facility at the Post Campus

School of Nursing Earns Prestigious Endorsement for Clinical Simulation Excellence

The School of Nursing on the Post campus earned a distinguished endorsement from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL). This recognition has been awarded to only 48 institutions worldwide, placing the School in an elite group recognized for excellence in simulation education.

The INACSL endorsement is awarded to institutions that demonstrate excellence in simulation-based education, aligning with the INACSL Standards of Best Practice™. Leading the initiative is Dr. Debra McWilliams, Director of the Interprofessional Simulation Center. As a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) and passionate advocate for experiential learning. “The support from LIU’s leadership, faculty, and students has been instrumental in achieving this milestone,” McWilliams said. “I am honored to be a part of an institution that values innovation, excellence, and collaboration.”

Simulation-based learning has been incorporated into a wide range of undergraduate and graduate nursing courses, enhancing students’ clinical reasoning, decision-making, and advocacy skills. The Anatomage table, a cutting-edge virtual dissection and visualization tool, has been integrated into both nursing and health professions curricula.

“This endorsement underscores LIU’s commitment to excellence in nursing and healthcare education,” LIU School of Nursing Dean Margaret Stroehlein said. “This recognition validates our efforts to provide immersive training that prepares our graduates for the complexities of modern healthcare.”

To learn more about the nursing program at LIU, scan the QR code, or visit LIU.EDU/NURSING

International Science Leaders

The annual Sciences Week event hosted internationally recognized biotech leaders and showcased advanced technology and groundbreaking research. The event, held across the Brooklyn and Post campuses, highlighted some of the latest innovations in health, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence.

The week began with tours of the School of Digital Engineering and Pharmacy Wet Labs, offering attendees a firsthand look at LIU’s cutting-edge research spaces. Dr. Reda Nacif El Alaoui, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and AI, presented on the Dassault 3-D Experience Platform, demonstrating how immersive digital tools are revolutionizing the biotech landscape.

Sciences Week at LIU featured several distinguished international scientists whose pioneering work is transforming healthcare, including Dr. Abdelilah Aboussekhra, Chair of Molecular Oncology at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Aboussekhra’s research has led to a newly patented molecule

Student Nursing Association President Reflects on Groundbreaking Election

was

of the Nursing Student Association of New York State (NSANYS), becoming the first LIU student to achieve the distinction. With over 50,000 members, the Association fosters professional development among nursing students across the country.

Tell us a little about your background and what inspired you to pursue nursing?

Growing up, I often accompanied my mom to her doctor’s appointments, acting as her translator from English to Spanish. This was my first real experience with advocacy and I saw how vital it was for patients to have someone by their side who could not only translate language but also provide support, clarity, and compassion. That experience helped me realize I wanted to be that person, not just for my mom, but for others too. Nursing became the perfect path: a blend of care, communication, and advocacy.

How would you describe your experience overall as a nursing student at LIU?

Incredibly fulfilling. The support from faculty has played a huge role in my growth, both academically and personally. The professors are always approachable, genuinely care about our success, and provide valuable guidance beyond just the coursework. The nursing students here have formed a close-knit group where we collaborate, share advice, and support one another. This sense of belonging has really made my experience feel more personal and fulfilling.

What’s next for you, both in your nursing career and in your involvement with the NYSNA?

As I get closer to graduating in May 2026, I’m excited to start my career in critical care. In the future, I plan to continue my education, aiming for a DNP or CRNA, so I can keep growing as a nurse and take on more leadership roles. While this is my last term with NSANYS, I’m committed to leaving a lasting impact and staying connected as an alum. I look forward to mentoring and helping guide the next generation of nursing leaders.

Leaders Showcase Groundbreaking Biotech Innovations

targeting triple-negative breast cancer, offering hope for more effective therapies.

Professor Adnane Remmal from Morocco discussed how innovations in pharmacology have produced commercial products like OLIPEN®, a boosted antibiotic, as well as natural alternatives to antibiotics in livestock farming.

A recipient of the European Inventor Award and Africa’s Innovation Prize, Professor Remmal’s presentation demonstrated how biotechnology can address global health and food challenges.

The week also hosted business leaders like Deepak Mittal, CEO of NextGen Invent Corporation,

a firm at the forefront of artificial intelligence, big data, and intelligent automation. Mittal’s insights into the future of AI in healthcare reveal the important intersection of data and medicine taking place around the world. Networking sessions with pre-med and veterinary students, along with tours of the Vet Labs led by Dr. Maged Hemida, provided invaluable career exposure and mentorship opportunities for students.

Dr. Ignacio Lugones, an internationally, renowned cardiac surgeon from Argentina, shared his advancements in congenital heart disease treatments, emphasizing the importance of clinical innovation, and global collaboration.

Jasmine Derbala Gonzalez

elected President

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY LAUNCHES

THE HOWARD MURAD INCLUSIVE WELLNESS INITIATIVE

The Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has established the Dr. Howard Murad Inclusive Wellness Initiative, a multi-generational wellness program to expand the role of pharmacists in delivering health and skin care to their patients.

Dr. Murad, Class of 1962, is an internationally recognized dermatologist, pharmacist, clinical professor, and founder of Murad Skincare Inc. For more than six decades, he has served as an innovator in the science of skin care and has been called the “Father of Modern Wellness.”

Through a donation from Dr. Murad, the ten-year initiative will provide students enrolled in the Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with interactive health care events and programs beginning in the Fall semester of 2025 and encourage pharmacy students to pursue cosmetic science careers.

Dr. Murad announced the Initiative at the Society of Cosmetic Chemists’ 78th Conference in Los Angeles, where he was given the Society’s Frontiers of Science Award, given annually to a person who has achieved exceptional national or international stature in the scientific community.

“It is my honor to provide the initial funding for this program on the campus where I completed my own pharmacy degree,” Dr. Murad said. “As my patients, friends, and followers know, I have spent decades working at the intersection of science and wellness, drawn by the idea that true beauty goes far beyond what we see on the surface.”

Pharmacy students and members of the Cosmetic Science Club will have the

opportunity to actively engage in the initiative through internships, projects, and research activities. LIU will provide academic incentives, scholarships –including the Howard Murad endowed scholarship – and leadership opportunities to encourage student participation. Programs will also engage with the beauty and skincare industries and LIU alumni.

“Dr. Howard Murad is known globally as a forward thinker, combining his wealth of experience as a board-certified dermatologist and his pharmacy training from Long Island University,” Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, LIU President, said. “We are excited that our students can be inspired by his commitment to Modern Wellness in their career paths.”

In founding his skincare company, Murad, in 1989, Dr. Murad, MD, FAAD, brought to the world his groundbreaking skincare formulas that produce measurable results without cosmetic surgery.

His more recent efforts have focused on Modern Wellness, incorporating cellular hydration and effective skincare with joyful exercise and stress management. He has authored “The Water Secret,” a breakthrough book which focuses on cellular hydration as a key for clearer skin, fewer wrinkles and more energy, as well as “The Cellulite Solution,” “The Murad Method,” and “Conquering Cultural Stress.”

SENIOR ADVISOR AT CVS HEALTH TO SERVE AS PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Tracey Hodurski was named Director of the Howard Murad Inclusive Wellness Program established by internationallyrenowned dermatologist and alumnus Howard Murad ’62. Hodurski, who spent the last two decades at CVS Health, most recently served as Senior Advisor of Enterprise Pharmacy Talent Strategy and has been a member of the LIU Pharmacy faculty since 2018.

Fashion Merchandising Students Consult business in Barcelona

Students in the Fashion Merchandising and Management program traveled to Barcelona for an engaged learning experience in one of the world’s most iconic fashion capitals this past March.

Starting in January, the students took on a global consulting project for Coleo, an innovative, completely circular company reshaping the fashion industry. Coleo is pushing the boundaries of circularity to implement a tech-driven, full-circle method of transforming post-consumer garments into new textiles and products. Throughout the course of the project, students embarked on a deep dive into circular sustainability from fiber to finished product. Exploring waste management, product design, and marketing, students identified and analyzed the competitive space surrounding Coleo across all facets of their business.

Over the course of nine days in Barcelona, led by the LIU Post and Brooklyn Fashion Merchandising Directors Cherie Serota and Jamie Ross, the students explored the rich cultural tapestry and unique fashion identity of the Catalan capital, through an array of hands-on experiences and on-site visits to industry leaders.

Each day blended cultural discovery with professional development. Students participated in a fashion history tour of the elegant Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona’s renowned fashion district and home to global brands like Zara and Mango, and visited all of Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces— including La Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, and Park Güell.

The trip included behind-the-scenes experiences with fashion houses and suppliers including Pronovias, Mango, and Pinatex, providing insights into the production and branding strategies that define “Made in Spain.”A private tour of a renowned fourth-generation luxury retailer Santa Eulalia and exploring vintage shops deepened students’ perception of Spanish fashion across all levels. A visit to the Museu Picasso allowed students to reflect on how art and culture intersect with fashion, while a hands-on workshop in traditional espadrille-making gave them a tangible connection to Spanish craftsmanship.

These experiences deepened students’ understanding of sustainability and circularity at scale, seeing firsthand what challenges and opportunities exist in the space. Fully immersed, the experiences influenced the direction of the student’s research and helped them to develop their insights on circularity. At the culmination of the trip, the students visited Coleo’s waste management facility to see firsthand where business-to-business (B2B) circularity starts with textile sorting, processing, and recycling. After the tour, the students presented their final briefs to Coleo’s executive team. They were extremely impressed and plan to use the students’ findings and marketing initiatives in their next phase of work.

Culinary Arts Program Builds on a Rich History of Success in hospitality industry

Students in the Culinary Arts program have access to some of the world’s most iconic restaurants, bars, hotels, and marketplaces. In fact, many of them are just minutes away.

Walk six blocks east on Dekalb Avenue and they can find Miss Ada, a restaurant with Michelin Bib-Gourmand distinction featuring some of the creamiest hummus and most pillowy pita bread in New York City. The same corner transforms into a bustling market every Saturday morning, with a rainbow of produce, organic dairy, and freshly baked bread sold by farmers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

About six blocks in the other direction is Gage and Tollner, a classic American restaurant founded in 1879, regularly praised by Bon Appetit and The New York Times for its perfectly seared steaks and indulgent seafood platters. If they look right across the street they will spot Junior’s, serving the most famous New York style cheesecake in the world.

These are just a taste of the renowned establishments near the Brooklyn campus, which will be the home of the Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Arts. The program will help students forge their own path, whether their goal is to be a restaurant chef, an entrepreneur, work in food media, non-profits, or hospitality.

Fortunately, the trail has already been blazed for them, as prominent alumni in the industry include global restauranteur Sarabeth Levine of Sarabeth’s, Ken Aretsky of Aretsky’s Patroon in Manhattan, Dr. Stephen Demczuk who founded RavenBeer in Baltimore, and Julie Sageer, the Emmy-nominated host of Julie Taboulie’s Lebanese Kitchen on PBS.

The Culinary Arts program is crafted to provide students with a strong foundation in culinary techniques, kitchen management, and the art of flavor composition. The extensive curriculum gives students with a passion for food an array of different in-demand career opportunities upon graduation.

Many classes will be held in a kitchen lab to provide a “back of house” restaurant experience where students will learn basic knife skills, then progress through topics such as meat and seafood preparation, baking and pastry foundations, contemporary cooking, and fine dining.

Lecture courses will help students’ “front of house” education—that is: what it takes operationally, managerially, and financially to thrive in the exciting world of food and hospitality. These courses explore topics such as restaurant and hospitality management, supervision of food service professionals, and menu design.

“The Culinary Arts program is a unique addition to the university because it serves such a dynamic and popular industry,” said program director Samantha Vitale. “Our location gives students access to the intangible benefit of endless inspiration and opportunity, because New York City is the most sought-after restaurant and hospitality destination in the world.”

Alumni IN THE INDUSTRY

SARABETH LEVINE a multi–award winning restaurateur, artisanal baker, jam maker, cookbook author, and winner of the prestigious James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year” award.

KEN ARETSKY prominent New York City restauranteur and founder of Aretsky’s Patroon in Midtown Manhattan.

JULIE ANN SAGEER award-winning chef, best-selling cookbook author, and Emmy-nominated TV Show host, best known as “Julie Taboulie.”

STEPHEN DEMCZUK founder of Baltimore-based brewery RavenBeer –named one of the Top 23 Craft Beer Tap Handles in America by Thrillist.com.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall Leaves Proud Legacy of Modernization

U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, LIU alumnus, leaves a legacy of sweeping modernization in the Air Force—embracing AI, autonomous systems, and space as key domains of future conflict. His work signals a new era in military preparedness, one driven by technological agility and a clear-eyed recognition of evolving global threats.

Kendall pushed for a fundamental shift in the structure, mission, and technological focus of the Air Force during his tenure as Secretary, particularly emphasizing the development of space-based weapons and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered fighter jets. His efforts prepared the U.S. for potential conflicts with global powers like China or Russia in a future where space and autonomous systems could potentially play a central role in warfare.

Kendall led the charge in recognizing space as an active combat zone. Under his leadership, the Air Force has begun developing low-debris space weapons to target or disable enemy satellites moving beyond passive observation and communications functions toward active engagement capabilities, reflecting a new military mindset that treats space like any other battlefield.

No less transformative was Kendall’s push to integrate AI into air combat. A key innovation is the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which pairs manned fighter jets with AI-powered drone wingmen. These drones are being designed to fly autonomously and make critical mission decisions without real-time human approval. This approach seeks to deliver faster, more adaptive combat strategies and a significant tactical edge in conflicts.

The New York Times published a lengthy profile, detailing Kendall’s life, career and impact on the Air Force. “If there were one thing I could accomplish as secretary, it would be to give the enterprise — the institution — a sense of urgency about

responding to the threat and being more prepared,” Kendall told the Times. “Conflict can happen. It’s not inevitable. It may not even be likely. But it can happen at any time. And we need to be ready.”

The approach represents a break from traditional defense procurement methods. The development of these systems is split between separate vendors for hardware and software—an unusual move that underscores the importance of advanced, decision-making software in modern combat systems.

The Times profile underscored how Kendall has redefined strategic priorities for the Air Force and Space Force, pushing them toward readiness for 21st-century warfare, and demonstrating that large-scale, rapid innovation is possible in large military institutions.

“He has proven that real change is possible, at scale,” Chris Brose, an Anduril executive and former Senate Armed Services Committee staff director, told the Times. “There are a handful of other people who played key roles. But if you removed him, this never would have happened.”

MODEL UN TEAM WINS 5 AWARDS AT NATIONAL COMPETITION

Preparation for the prestigious National Model United Nations conference in New York City began well in advance for the LIU Model UN team, who represented the Republic of Armenia. Efforts drew an enthusiastic response across our campuses and resulted in the largest delegation in LIU history—18 students.

This team was selected to represent Armenia in all nine committees assigned to them: General Assembly (GA) First, Second, and Third Committees; the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ); the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA); the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW); and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Students met every Sunday for rigorous training throughout the semester. These sessions went beyond policy and protocol. They included deep dives into Armenian history and culture, extensive research, and the crafting of detailed position papers. Students also honed their public speaking skills and practiced diplomacy through simulated debates and role-play, replicating the fast-paced environment of real-life international negotiations.

The conference, held from April 13–17, brought together nearly 2,000 students from academic institutions across the globe. Delegates came from countries as far-reaching as Great Britain, Japan, China, Mexico, Colombia, Egypt, and Australia—all representing 128 UN member states.

LIU Model UN Wins Top Honors in Competition at UN Headquarters

Competing at this level demands knowledge, poise, confidence, and an unwavering commitment to collaboration and problem-solving. LIU students met the challenge and triumphed. The Model UN team was awarded the Outstanding Delegation honor—the top award at National Model United Nations conference and the gold medal equivalent of Model UN competition.

LIU was awarded the Outstanding Delegation honor—the top award at NMUN and the gold medal equivalent of Model UN competition at the closing ceremony, held in the iconic UN General Assembly Hall. It was a moment they will never forget.

But the accolades didn’t stop there. LIU students also earned Outstanding Individual Delegation awards—determined by peer votes—in two separate committees: UNEA and UNECE. Additionally, the team’s position paper submitted for the UNHCR committee received the Outstanding Position Paper award, a recognition given for excellence in research, policy articulation, and writing.

These achievements speak volumes about the caliber of LIU students and the strength of their preparation. Beyond the awards, this experience reflects the heart of LIU’s mission: fostering global citizenship, academic excellence, and leadership on the world stage.

The team has much to celebrate – and even more to look forward to – as they prepare for the next competition.

TILLES JAZZ FEST BRINGS

MUSIC & COMMUNITY to LIFE

The Post campus came alive with the sights and sounds of jazz this summer as the Tilles Jazz Fest made its muchanticipated return. Presented by the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, the all-day festival transformed the campus into a vibrant celebration of music, community, and summer on Long Island.

Performances unfolded across four stages, both indoors and out, drawing crowds of jazz lovers of all ages. Attendees were treated to a full lineup of world-class talent, including ten-time Grammy-winning trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and acclaimed guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli with his Big Band, who each headlined evening concerts at the Tilles Center Concert Hall.

The daytime program featured a dynamic blend of established artists and rising stars, including the Pedrito Martinez Group, The Gotham Kings, the Summer Camargo Quintet, vocalist Vanisha Gould, and the young trio New Jazz Underground. The festival also proudly showcased performances by standout LIU student and alumni ensembles, as well as talented groups from local high schools.

“This is a festival where legends meet the future,” Tilles Center Executive and Artistic Director Tom Dunn said. “It’s a joyful celebration of jazz in all its forms on a campus built for discovery, creativity, and community.”

In addition to the music, attendees enjoyed a campus-wide New Orleansstyle second line parade, food trucks, artisan vendors, and family-friendly activities. The festive atmosphere brought together students, faculty, alumni, and other community members in a memorable tribute to the enduring beauty of jazz.

Now in its second year, the Tilles Jazz Fest continued to build on its vision of blending jazz tradition with fresh talent. One highlight from the festival’s inaugural year, Georgia Heers, has since gone on to appear on Broadway alongside George Clooney in Good Night and Good Luck, a testament to the festival’s growing reputation as a launchpad for the next generation of jazz greats. A proven cultural and economic driver, the arts generated $330 million for the Long Island economy in 2023, according to the Long Island Arts Alliance, further underscoring the festival’s value as both an artistic and regional asset.

Kristine Thomas, a local artist and photographer, called the event a “picture-perfect summer day.”

“The talent? Off the charts. The weather? Pure magic,” Thomas wrote in a social media post. “Tilles Jazz Fest, you outdid yourself — already counting down to next year!”

Photos courtesy of Jack Roman

Student-Run Businesses:

Unmatched Experiential Opportunities

Innovation and entrepreneurship are core values woven into the student experience at Long Island University.

Experiential learning isn’t a catchphrase at Long Island University - it’s a business model. Every semester, students step out of the classroom and into the real world, managing seven student-run enterprises that bring theory to life, build leadership, and deliver results. Together, these seven businesses form a living laboratory of innovation, collaboration, and professional development.

These ventures are more than shops and services. They are classrooms in action, where students apply what they learn in marketing, finance, management, fashion, and public service in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.

“It has been an amazing way to connect what I am learning in my classes in a practical setting,” said Junior Lindsey Pelletier, president of the fashion boutique The Student Body Collective. “I recommend it for anyone looking to gain hands-on experience in a retail environment through marketing, merchandising, retail management, or finance.”

Whether it’s pitching investment strategies in LIU-iF, the University’s student investment fund, or developing market insights through LIU-iQ, the student-run consulting network, students gain direct exposure

The Student Body Collective

to professional practices. In Browse, one of only a few certified student-run Apple Tech stores in the nation, students manage a full-service technology shop.

The model is equally transformative for students in creative fields. At Canteen, the official retail store of the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment, students blend branding, merchandising, and entertainment culture to build a retail experience from the ground up.

Experiential learning also teaches leadership, sustainability, and purpose. At The Student Body Collective, the University’s first student-run business and the first of its kind on Long Island, Fashion Merchandising and Management students manage a full retail operation—from design and sourcing to store management. The shop even features “RETHREAD,” a sustainable fashion line curated by students.

“This has offered me invaluable leadership experience and I truly get to dive deep into each part of the store and understand what it takes to make them function,” Pelletier continued.

Retail environments like the Roosevelt School Gift Shop and the Shark Nation Spirit Store offer students in a wide range of majors from political science to sports management opportunities to apply their skills in branding, event marketing, and customer service while strengthening campus identity and school pride.

“Each position helped me sharpen my communication, organization, and strategic thinking skills,” said Senior Queenie Barnes, who rose from sales ambassador to CEO of the Shark Nation Spirit Store. “My time at Shark Nation gave me a foundation in business leadership that I’ll carry far beyond LIU.”

Across all seven businesses, the results are clear: students are not only learning, they are leading, innovating, and building the kind of experience that sets them apart. Through mentorship, accountability, and collaboration, students gain a deeper understanding of their fields and the confidence to navigate them.

At Long Island University, experience isn’t just encouraged. It’s built in.

Canteen

Shark Nation Spirit Store

Shark Nation Spirit Store

Browse

The Student Body Collective

LIU honored 40 graduates under 40 at the 2025

HOMECOMING & family weekend

RECORD ATTENDANCE KICKS OFF

EIGHTEEN-MONTH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Homecoming and Family Weekend marked the official launch of Long Island University’s 18-month Centennial Celebration.

The festivities opened Friday evening with the inaugural Alumni Excellence Awards, recognizing 40 distinguished young alumni for their achievements and meaningful service to others. The “40 Under 40” honored rising stars in health care, technology, finance, government, media, and more. LIU President Dr. Kimberly R. Cline noted in her welcome remarks, “You are off to a great start, and I have no doubt that one day, your name will be mentioned among our most notable LIU alumni.”

The celebration continued the next morning as thousands of students, alumni, families, and faculty filled campus for a full slate of events.

Families gathered at the Parents Club Breakfast with senior leaders and academic deans; more than 400 student-athletes marched proudly into Shark Stadium during the first-ever Walk of Champions; and student broadcasters from WCWP and the Roc Nation School’s Sports Communication & Marketing program joined alumni sportscasters Alan Hahn ’93 and Travis Demers ’03 for a live pregame tailgate show in Nuti Park. They were joined by special guests Head Football Coach Ron Cooper, Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rod Strickland, Tom Rock ’96, and Ariel Johnson ’23.

At noon, the Homecoming game kicked off on Durrell “Bronko” Pearsall Field. Redshirt junior quarterback Luca Stanzani, reigning NEC Offensive Player of the Week, electrified the crowd on the opening play with an 87-yard touchdown run, giving the Sharks a 7-0

lead just 12 seconds into the game. Freshman defensive lineman Naquan Johnson later earned NEC Rookie of the Week and Prime Performer honors with eight tackles.

The atmosphere in Shark Stadium was spirited. The Marching Band kept energy high with the fight song, while the three-time national champion Dance Team delivered an electrifying halftime performance alongside Finley the Shark.

“This year’s Homecoming festivities showcased the very best of LIU and gave our community special moments to celebrate both current students and alumni,” said Elliott Charles, Director of Athletics. “As we approach our Centennial, the momentum generated by Homecoming offers a powerful outlook for the 2025–2026 year.”

SHARKS FOOTBALL STUNS EMU

AND NAMED FCS NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

Redshirt junior quarterbacks

Luca Stanzani and Ethan Greenwood each ran for two touchdowns to lead the Long Island University football team to a 28-23 victory over Eastern Michigan University at Rynearson Stadium. The victory was the program’s first ever win over a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team.

In early September, LIU Sharks Football traveled to Eastern Michigan University for its second game of the 2025 season. This marked the successful return of LIU head coach Ron Cooper to the scene of his first-ever head coaching job. Cooper guided Eastern Michigan for two seasons back in 1993 and 1994.

“This was a great win,” said Cooper. “We played an FBS program on the road and I feel good about our effort. We played hard, we played together, and we fought through adversity.”

The Sharks never trailed in the contest as they scored on their first possession of the game on a 65-yard scamper by Greenwood, who rushed for a game-high 91 yards.

In addition to his rushing heroics, Greenwood completed 3 of 5 passes for 105 yards, including a 74-yard connection with Stanzani early in the second quarter.

The longest offensive play of the night by either team set up Greenwood’s second rushing touchdown which put the Sharks up 14-3.

Stanzani completed 12 of 18 passes for 143 yards while rushing for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Both of Stanzani’s scores came in the fourth quarter as the Sharks, who led 14-10 at intermission, finished the evening with 479 yards of total offense.

Defensively, linebacker Rafael Fasolino and defensive back Trey Watkins led the Sharks with eight tackles each. Chase Davis added six tackles for LIU while Elijah Casey chipped in five stops, including two tackles for loss.

Senior punter Will Lynch, who is the reigning NEC Special Teams Co-Player of the Week, turned in another solid performance averaging 40.5 yards on four punts, including a long of 55-yards and two placed inside the 20-yard line.

This was an historic win for Sharks Football as their first-ever victory over a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team. They were named Stats Perform FCS National Team of the week and also received five votes in the FCS Top 25 Poll, securing votes in the Poll for the first time in history.

We played hard, we played together, and we fought through adversity.

-LIU Football Head Coach Ron Cooper

ELLIOTT CHARLES APPOINTED TO FCS NATIONAL SELECTION COMMITTEE

Director of Athletics Elliott Charles was appointed as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Selection Committee. Charles’ term of service on the committee began on September 1, 2025, and will continue through August 31, 2029. He is the first LIU Director of Athletics to receive an appointment with this committee.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY STANDOUTS SIGN WITH SWEDISH PRO TEAMS

Two former Sharks are taking their talents to the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL), one of the premiere professional women’s hockey leagues in Sweden. Alva Johnsson signed with Frölunda HC while Mikayla Lantto inked a deal with Skellefteå AIK.

SPORTS IN REVIEW

SIX GYMNASTS EARN EAGL ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS

Six LIU gymnasts earned first- and second-team All-Tournament honors as the Sharks concluded their season with a 194.000 performance at the 2025 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championships in Philadelphia. Ellorie Cane’s outstanding performance on the beam earned a 9.800 and secured her a spot on the EAGL All-Tournament first team. Ella Barrington, Kaira Cartwright, Haleigh Welch, Caroline Kliewer, and Danyella Holmes each earned a second-team All-Tournament selection.

LIU NAMES NEW SPIRIT COACHES

LIU Athletics named Elizabeth Kicklighter the Head Cheerleading Coach and Cassandra McMillan as the Head Dance Coach. Kicklighter joins LIU after four seasons on staff at her alma mater, Georgia Southern University. She helped the Eagles’ cheer team win back-to-back national championships at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College Nationals in 2021, as a student, and 2022, as a student assistant coach. Cassandra McMillan was named head coach after one season as an assistant coach with the program. In McMillan’s lone season on staff at LIU, the Sharks claimed their third consecutive national championship in Open Spirit Game Day at UCA and UDA Nationals.

TIARA STOKES NAMED HEAD ACROBATICS & TUMBLING COACH

Tiara Stokes won the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship in the 450 salto toss in 2022 as a student-athlete at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Since graduation, she has worked as an instructor for the Universal Cheerleaders Association.

SWIM TEAMS TAKE HOME 21 MEDALS AT NEC CHAMPIONSHIPS

The men’s and women’s swimming teams combined to win 21 medals at the Northeast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, including 9 gold medals. The men’s team won eight event championships and finished third in the final team standings, while the women’s team won 6 medals and finished in fifth place in the final team standings.

LIU ATHLETICS ADDS WOMEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL

Long Island University has added women’s flag football as an intercollegiate sport. Women’s flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country with more than 65 NCAA schools currently sponsoring teams.

BRENDAN RILEY NAMED HEAD MEN’S ICE HOCKEY COACH

Long Island University named Brendan Riley the head coach of the men’s ice hockey program. Riley, who joined LIU after four seasons on the coaching staff at American International College, is the second head coach in program history. He helped lead AIC to Atlantic Hockey Association regular season and tournament championships in 2022.

LIU WINS COMMISSIONER’S CUP FOR TOP ATHLETICS PROGRAM

LIU Athletics returned to the top of the Northeast Conference all-sports race, claiming the Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup for the fourth time in program history and the third time in five years. The Sharks claimed NEC tournament titles in men’s soccer and women’s lacrosse, also capturing regular season titles in women’s lacrosse, baseball, and softball. LIU has finished in the top five of the Cup standings in each of the last 10 seasons, cracking the top three five times in a row.

LUCAS HORNUNG NAMED NEC 2024-25 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Lucas Hornung of LIU men’s tennis was named an NEC 2024-25 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. One of just three male athletes in the conference to receive such an honor, the Computer Science major achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA last year. Hornung was also named Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the LIU Post campus earlier this spring. On the court, Hornung also helped the Sharks earn a second-place finish at the NEC Tournament.

Academic, Research and Scholarly Highlights

Novel Therapy Developed to Treat Multiple Sclerosis

Xiaolei Tang, Professor of Physiology and Immunology in the Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine, has developed an innovative therapeutic technology to treat multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. The technology has the potential to circumvent side effects due to broad immune suppression associated with currently available therapies, as well as possibly cure and stop the diseases.

“Living Liver” Digital Twin to Improve Cancer Detection and Treatment

Alon Malka-Markovitz, a research scientist at the Dassault Systèmes Center of Excellence, is leading the modeling for the Living Liver project, alongside research fellows Debarshi Ghosh and Stelian Camara Dit Pinto. This novel virtual organ technology combines engineering techniques and machine learning with clinical data to generate patient-specific liver models and help shape a new frontier in biomedical engineering. The platform paves the way for early disease detection, models drug and alcohol toxicity and efficacy, evaluates oncology treatment response, and supports personalized therapy.

$4 Million Grant to Address Opioid Use and Mental Health

Michael Pantalon, Dean of the School of Health Professions, and Laura Seinfeld, Dean of the College of Education, Information and Technology, have secured a total of over $4M in funding from Nassau County for two projects related to mental health and opioid use. The first project is aimed at offering and evaluating a wide range of training and educational programs for the mental health professionals and citizens of the county. The second focuses on implementing and evaluating a school-based screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment program around the risk for opioid use.

$4 Million Grant Supports Mental Health Expansion Project

Dr. Kathleen Feeley and Dr. Dogukan Ulupinar from the College of Education, Information and Technology were awarded a $4 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for the implementation of the Long Island Mental Health Professional Expansion Project. The project is a collaboration between LIU’s Center for Community Inclusion and local school districts to increase the number of school based mental health service professionals in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York State.

Political Science Professor’s New Book

Ranks No. 1 on Amazon

The latest book from political science professor Simon Sheppard ranked as the No. 1 new release on Amazon.com in four categories: History of Renaissance Europe, Medieval Military History, Religious Intolerance, and Turkey History. The book, Crescent Dawn: The Rise of the Ottoman Empire and the Making of the Modern Age, arguing that the western struggle against the Ottomans constituted the first truly world war.

Veterinary Professor Examines Destructive Parasite’s Drug Resistance

Umer Chaudhry, Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine, co-authored research examining Diminazene, a drug frequently used to treat the parasite Trypanosoma Evansi. Resistance to the drug presents an emerging threat in grazing livestock, resulting in huge economic losses. The study, published in the journal Animals, aimed to develop a high-throughput strategy based on molecular approaches to improve the understanding of Diminazene resistance in Trypanosoma Evansi.

PBS Picks Up Film Professor’s New Documentary

PBS will be airing film professor Susan Zeig’s documentary “Rooted in Oakland: A Community School Takes Shape,” which tells the story of the transformation of Fremont High School in East Oakland, California. The film will also be screened at several national conferences, including the California Community Schools Convention in Los Angeles, the Institute for Educational Leadership Conference and the National Equity Project 30th Anniversary Conference.

university news

RESEARCH.COM RANKS

LIU AS “BEST COLLEGE”

Research.com, a leading academic platform, included LIU on its list of “Best Colleges.” The rankings feature colleges and universities across the country that provide their students with the most beneficial combination of affordability, quality of education, and projected alumni salary. The detailed analysis evaluates more than 400 metrics from credible sources such as Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and College Scorecard.

HUNDREDS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS VISIT WHITE HOUSE EXPERIENCE

Over 300 high school seniors visited the White House Experience and Museum of Democracy at The Roosevelt School. The White House Experience includes a life-size replica of the White House with an Oval Office, Situation Room, and Press Briefing Room. The Roosevelt School is home to over a million pieces of presidential history, including the largest collection of political campaign memorabilia in the U.S.

RECENT GRADS STAR ON REALITY TV SHOWS

Two almnuae have garnered national attention for their strong performances in reality shows this year.

Cece Keating ’25 appeared on Building the Band, a new Netflix reality series spotlighting rising musical talent competing to form the next big pop group.

Amaya Espinal ’21 made headlines as the winner of Love Island USA 2025 on Peacock, becoming part of the show’s first Latino couple to claim victory.

GLOBAL COLLEGE SENIORS PRESENT RESEARCH AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Seniors in the Global College presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh. As part of their fourth and final year in the program, students complete a capstone project that features research conducted during their previous three years spent traveling to different countries around the world. This was the seventh consecutive year that 100% of the seniors in the Global College have been accepted to the conference.

LIU’S BUSINESS SCHOOL CLASS INSPIRED BY BILLIONAIRE HEDGE FUND MANAGER

Students at the School of Business learned from one of the highest achieving alumni in the nearly 100-year history of LIU: Ray Dalio, founder and co-chief investment officer of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. Principles for Life, Work, and Impact, a course inspired by Dalio’s bestselling book Principles, taught the transformative power of principles-based decision making by giving students hands-on experience through real-world projects. Dalio, Class of 1971, was ranked on the Time 100 List of Most Influential People in the World.

BUSINESS INSIDER HIGHLIGHTS AI PROGRAM

Business Insider cited LIU’s Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence in an article featuring AI programs at universities across the U.S., including Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Penn, USC, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Columbia and Cornell. Launched in 2019, the program was among the first of its kind and LIU remains one of just 11 universities nationwide to offer an undergraduate degree in Artificial Intelligence.

LIU WINS BEST OF LONG ISLAND FOR RECORD 5TH STRAIGHT YEAR

Long Island University won three top honors in the annual Bethpage Best of Long Island Contest. LIU was recognized as Best College or University, the Sharks earned Best College Sports Program and President Cline was named Best College President. This is the fifth year in a row LIU has earned recognition in Best of Long Island, the highest number of consecutive years since the contest began.

TOP INDUSTRY OUTLET FEATURES FASHION MERCHANDISING PROGRAM

Fashionista, one of the largest independent fashion news sites, highlighted the B.S. in Fashion Merchandising & Management program. The article spotlighted programs at other top schools across the country, including Ohio State, USC, Syracuse, Baylor and the University of South Carolina. LIU is one of just 28 colleges and universities in the U.S. to offer a program in fashion merchandising.

BUSINESS SCHOOL HOSTS INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES

Brian Waterman ’86, Executive Vice Chairman at Newmark, Frank Mangano ’88, COO and CFO of Havas North America, and Rich Lacourciere ’87, Chief Revenue Officer at UNIVISION, participated in a panel discussion led by LIU’s Sean Collins. The three discussed their careers and gave students advice on how to be successful in business.

BROADWAY WORLD HIGHLIGHTS POST THEATRE

COMPANY’S NEW MUSICAL

Broadway World, the largest and most comprehensive online theater publication, highlighted the Post Theatre Company’s upcoming production of the new rock musical, Vincent. Set entirely in today’s world, the play is a modern reimagining of the inner life of Vincent Van Gogh, exploring the emotional and creative struggles of one of the world’s most famous painters.

TELL US YOUR STORY! SHARE YOUR PERSONAL MILESTONES AND PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH THE LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

AL u M ni News

Visit liu.edu/alumni/submit to send your story.

1950’s

Byron Lewis ’53 and his remarkable career were honored on the Brooklyn campus with the naming of the Pratt Building’s First Floor Hallway in honor of the UniWorld Group Founder and Chairman. Lewis, a former member of the LIU Board of Trustees, founded the advertising agency UniWorld Group in 1969 and went on to secure an array of high-profile clients, including Mars Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, AT&T and Ford Motor Company.

1960’s

Ted Schiffman ’64 has been a nature and wildlife photographer for more than 51 years. His photographs have been published by the National Geographic Society, the American Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Institution, the Sierra Club, the World Wildlife Fund, the United States Department of Interior, Encyclopedias Americana and Britannica, among many others.

1970’s

Irene Natividad ’71, served as the distinguished speaker at the Honors College Conference on the Brooklyn campus. Natividad is President of the Global Summit of Women and Chair of the Corporate Women Directors International.

Seymour Liebman ’73, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and General Counsel at Canon USA, was recognized for his five decades of service to the company. Over the course of his 50year tenure, Liebman has seen the company make significant strides technologically and has expanded into several new industries. Canon has ranked in the top-five overall companies in U.S. patents granted for 38 consecutive years.

Bob Strickland ’75 was the CEO and Executive Chairman of Puerto Rico-based InMediata Healthcare until his retirement in 2020. He gives back to his community through scholarships and mentorship for local high school entrepreneurs.

Alumni enjoy a cooking class

Byron Lewis, ‘53

1980’s

Marion M. Walsh ’86 is an attorney and partner at Littman Krooks LLP, where she has worked in education law and mental health since 2012. She worked as legal editor at a leading boutique publisher, Brownstone Publishers, from 1995 to 2006.

Steve Bandrowczak ’89, CEO of Xerox, returned to the Post Campus to speak with students in the School of Business. Bandrowczak joined Xerox in 2018 as president and chief operations officer and was named CEO in 2022. Xerox is a consistently ranked company on the Fortune 500 and has repeatedly been named among the magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies.” Steve was the Commencement speaker and Honorary Degree receipient at the LIU Post campus 2025 Commencement ceremony.

1990’s

Richard Hagen Jr. ’91 was named CEO of TSA Financial LLC, a fintech securities firm with the largest data-driven investment platform in South Korea. Hagen has over 30 years of leadership experience in the industry, most recently as the CEO of PayPal Invest. Prior to that he served as President of Ally Invest, where he led Ally’s digital investing and investment advisory services.

Marc Shapiro ’92 was named Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Radin Health, a leading provider of AI-powered, cloud-based radiology workflow solutions. Shapiro has over 30 years of proven healthcare sales, marketing, business development,

and leadership experience. He spent the last 7 years in radiology at Philips, leading the Southeast diagnostic imaging team cultivating relationships with radiologists, hospitals, and outpatient imaging center executives.

Chris Wozny ’96 served as the speaker for the Honors College Conference on the Post campus. Wozny, Director of Global Compensation at The Capital Group, has over 20 years of leadership experience including as Global Compensation Lead and CFO at JPMorgan and AIG.

Felicia Thomas-Williams ’96 was appointed by the New York State Legislature as Long Island’s representative on the New York State Board of Regents, the governing body responsible for the general supervision of all educational activities within the state. Thomas-Williams previously served for nine years as a special education teacher and 11 years as a principal in the largest school district on Long Island, the Brentwood School District, before retiring in 2024.

Neil J. Moore ’97, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals Queens, was recognized on the “Queens Power 100” list for 2025. The annual rankings highlight accomplished leaders across a range of industries who have shaped the lives of New Yorkers in Queens and beyond. Moore served as President and CEO of University of Maryland Capital Region Health and has also held leadership roles at NYC Health + Hospitals/ Harlem, Kings County, and other NYC Health + Hospitals facilities.

Jill Ozarski ’97 is the Program Officer for the Colorado River Program with The Walton Foundation where she oversees a $10 million grant portfolio. Since 2016, she has been part of a $500M family-led private foundation helping promote sustainable river and water management across the southwestern U.S., focused on Colorado.

Jason Menghi ’98 returned to the Post campus to deliver a lecture to the Accounting Society on success in the accounting field. Menghi’s remarkable career spans over 20 years as an Audit and Assurance Partner at Deloitte, where he has led audit and advisory services for some of the firm’s largest private equity clients and SEC registrants.

2000’s

Marina Rodina ’01 was named Senior Vice President of Business Development at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare (MBH), a leader in trauma, addiction, and

Silent auction items support scholarships

mental health treatment. Rodina has over two decades of experience in sales and behavioral healthcare leadership, most recently serving as Vice President of Business Development at Acadia Healthcare.

Vamshi Reddy ’04 was named a recipient of the 2024 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award, awarded annually by the Asian American Business Development Center. Reddy is the President and CEO of Tuple Tech, a managed services and security provider that offers a variety of information technology services. Prior to starting Tuple Tech in 2017, he held leadership roles at Mitsubishi, Barclay’s, NewCorp and Merrill Lynch.

Chris Henigan ’05 is a registered dietitian nutritionist and co-founder of Simple Start Nutrition. She has been featured by news outlets, including CBS, NBC, Good Day Philadelphia and Authority Magazine.

Gaurang Bhavsar ’09 is the Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs at Micro Labs USA. Under his leadership, Micro Labs USA has become a trusted name in generic drug approvals, surpassing Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) compliance deadlines well ahead of the FDA’s 2025 requirement.

Pascual Guerrero ’09 is Director of Rehabilitation and Assistant Athletic Trainer for the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. He first joined the team in 2020. Prior to that he was Assistant Athletic Trainer and Physical Therapist for the MLS’ New York City Football Club.

2010’s

Adonia Ayebare ’11 was appointed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as an ex officio member of the Cabinet. Ayebare has served as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the UN since March 2017. In his new role he will be tasked with strengthening Uganda’s diplomatic efforts and aligning its foreign policy with its domestic development goals.

Renee Hastick-Motes ’13 was named CEO of Joseph Addabbo Health Center, a nonprofit, federally qualified health center (FQHC) that serves more than 20,000 patients in Queens County. Prior to joining the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, HastickMotes served as senior vice president and chief external affairs officer for Episcopal Health Services (EHS) in Far Rockaway, New York.

Tapas Chandra ’13 is a vice president and product owner in wealth management at Morgan Stanley. He is also the founder and chief product officer at Code Infused Inc., a startup that connects advice seekers with experts worldwide who provide services and advice across a range of areas, including spiritual, astrological, legal and more.

Ronald Martin ’13 was named Fire Chief of the Delray Beach Fire Rescue. Prior to joining the department, Martin was chief of safety for the Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal. He previously served as fire chief and district manager at the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District, spending 13 years with the department.

Gabriel Ocasio-Cortez ’14 is an independent consultant specializing in public outreach efforts and community rehousing.

Scott Fiorini ’14 is a Physician Assistant practicing in Hewlett, New York. He received the New Jersey Preceptor of the Year Award in 2023 and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Cooking classes have kept alumni engaged – and fed

Gabe Amato, ’19, was named to the ensemble cast of Mamma Mia!, which ran at the Citizens Bank Opera House in Boston. Amato previously appeared in a national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Gypsy at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, West Side Story in St. Louis, Mo., and Cabaret at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida.

2020’s

Dylan Valic, ’21, is Head of Marketing at Spectrum Designs, a Port Washington, N.Y.-based nonprofit custom apparel company whose mission is to employ adults on the autism spectrum. In April 2024, Spectrum Designs released a commercial entitled “Out of the Box,” which Valic co-wrote and codirected. The message of the commercial was that society puts people in boxes, and for people on the autism spectrum, it can be difficult to get out of the box because people will assume things based solely on the fact that they are on the spectrum. The commercial went on to win three Telly Awards, which honor excellence in video and television. Valic holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications.

Lucas Salerno, ’22, is an Associate in PwC’s Advisory Department in Tampa, Fla. During his two years with PwC, he has spent his time with the Financial Services Transformation team in Capital Markets and Banking.

Brett Wolfe ’23 was selected as one of 16 fellows across the nation for the 2025 DreamWorks Animation LAUNCH Fellowship program. The program offers eight weeks of personal mentorship from DreamWorks professionals, workshops on the art and business of animation, and speaker series covering the TV and feature animation pipeline. Wolfe, who studied

screenwriting at LIU, has earned an award from the Kennedy Center and was recently recognized by the International Screenwriters’ Association.

Maria Daume ’24, the first female infantry solider in the marines, was profiled in PBS’ feature-length documentary “Journey to America” chronicling inspiring stories of U.S. immigrants. Born in a Russian prison and orphaned at 2 years old, Daume and her brother were adopted by an American family living in New York.

Michael De Francesco ’24 was published as a co-author in The Journal of Ambulatory Care Management. The study examined the underlining benefits pharmacists present in completing annual care visits. De Francesco serves as a member of LIU Pharmacy’s Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Members of the Ice Hockey team meet some of their youngest fans

LIU student athlete career panel

Golfers pause for a photo at the LIU Golf Outing

STUDENT STORIES OF IMPACT exceptional journeys in action

“I’VE FALLEN HEAD OVER HEELS FOR LIU”

ELLA YOUNGSTROM, CLASS OF 2028, MUSICAL THEATRE

Moving all the way from California to New York was definitely a leap of faith, but I’ve fallen head over heels for LIU and the incredible theatre community here. Every class brings something new—whether I’m crafting solo performances in Acting, diving into ancient and modern plays in Drama, or mastering ballet with industry pros. What I love about LIU is that it focuses not only on performance but also on developing well-rounded artists.

“I’VE BUILT LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS WITH MY TEAMMATES”

AUSTIN BRIMMER, CLASS OF 2026, FINANCE

I came to Long Island University for the chance to play Division I ice hockey in a program focused on competitive excellence. Competing against some of the best schools in college hockey has been an amazing experience. Being part of Shark Nation means working with incredible coaches and trainers who push me to become the best version of myself. I’ve built lifelong friendships with my teammates, who I proudly call family.

“I KNEW LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE”

JUSTINA DIDONATA, CLASS OF 2026, PHARMACY

When I discovered LIU’s College of Pharmacy, I knew Long Island University was the right choice. As one of the oldest pharmacy schools in New York, its prestige is matched by its cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships that places LIU at the forefront of the industry. Long Island University provides everything we need to succeed—academic excellence, hands-on learning, and a supportive community. As someone who’s passionate about making an impact in health care, I’m so glad I chose LIU.

Malcolm Gladwell

Bari Weiss

Adam Pascal

Isaac Mizrahi

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

ABT Studio Company

Dianne Reeves

Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens

TINA – The Tina Turner Musical

Josh Groban