Long Island University’s
Artificial Intelligence Center advances research and drives innovation.
Artificial Intelligence Education • Research • Innovation
“ Artificial intelligence is transforming every aspect of society, and LIU is committed to leading that transformation.
— DR. KIMBERLY R. CLINE President, Long Island University
Long Island University launched the AI² Center, a new university-wide initiative focused on expanding artificial intelligence education, research, and industry collaboration.
The Artificial Intelligence & Academic Innovation (AI²) Center brings together LIU’s expanding portfolio of academic programs, industry partnerships, advanced research initiatives, and next-generation facilities to prepare students for leadership in an increasingly AIdriven world. This initiative builds upon LIU’s growing national reputation in emerging technologies and its recognition among the top 7% of universities in the United States for research.
AI² serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration and experiential learning across the University’s more than 150 academic programs. LIU offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Artificial Intelligence, and the nation’s first Bachelor of Engineering in Digital Engineering. Through these
forward-focused academic programs, students gain the knowledge and applied experience needed for the future workforce.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming every aspect of society, and LIU is committed to leading that transformation through research and innovation,” LIU President Kimberly Cline said. “The AI² Center reflects our vision for the future of higher education, one that prepares students across every discipline to thrive in an AI-driven economy.”
As part of the initiative, LIU launched the Artificial Intelligence Competency Distinction, an interdisciplinary credential available to students across all majors. This credential equips students with foundational and applied AI skills that can be integrated into careers ranging from healthcare and business to education, communications, science, and the arts. Students have access to oneon-one mentorship with AI-expert postdoctoral fellows, as well as open studio hours in LIU’s state-of-the-art 3DS simulation and fabrication labs.
and Artificial Intelligence Advancement, the AI² Center advances LIU’s leadership in artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary research, workforce development, and emerging technologies.
Dr. Cherkaoui is recognized among the top 1% of scientists in the world.
“The AI² Center positions LIU as a national leader in preparing students with the skills, experiences, and research opportunities necessary to lead in this rapidly evolving technological era,” Cherkaoui said.
The initiative is strengthened through LIU’s strategic partnership with Dassault Systèmes, establishing the nation’s only 3DEXPERIENCE Education Center of Excellence at LIU. This partnership supports cutting-edge research and experiential learning in areas including precision medicine, healthcare innovation, digital engineering, and artificial intelligence applications.
LIU is also making significant investments in facilities designed for the future of AI and scientific discovery. At the Post Campus, the University recently broke ground on a new 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art science and innovation building that will support advanced teaching, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
At the Brooklyn Campus, newly constructed 3D design, simulation, and fabrication laboratories provide students and researchers with access to advanced technologies and experiential learning environments.
Led by Dr. Mohammed Cherkaoui, Senior
Vice President for Research
“Artificial intelligence is not limited to one industry or one discipline,” Cherkaoui said. “It is reshaping the future of how we live, work, research, and innovate.”
The AI² Center integrates artificial intelligence across all disciplines, equipping students with the skills, ethics, and confidence to lead in an AI-driven world.
The AI Competency Distinction is available to all LIU undergraduates. Complete three courses — two required, one tailored to each discipline.
Through the AI Innovation Challenge, students apply AI concepts in a collaborative environment designed to strengthen leadership, creativity, and problem-solving skills across industries.
Advancing Education Forward.
A new state-of-the-art 40,000-square-foot innovation facility is breaking ground at the Post Campus, while a newly constructed 20,000-square-foot center at the Brooklyn Campus advances AI, medicine, and scientific discovery.
A National Hub for Innovation.
Recognized by Dassault Systèmes as a Center of Excellence, LIU combines industry collaboration, advanced technologies, and leading researchers to shape the future of artificial intelligence.
Leading cardiovascular surgeons, engineers, and innovators convened for the Living Heart Conference, assembling with the shared mission to redefine how heart disease is understood and treated through technology. The gathering was a pivotal moment for medicine, as the field shifts toward faster, more human-relevant research methods that can directly impact patient care.
More than a technical milestone, it represents a fundamental shift in biomedical science—one that aligns with the National Institutes of Health’s growing emphasis on human-based, in-silico research as a more predictive and ethical alternative to traditional animal models.
As outlined in NIH guidance, researchers are increasingly encouraged to prioritize computational modeling, simulation, and patient-specific data to accelerate discovery and improve clinical relevance. Work emerging from LIU places the university at the forefront of this national movement.
“We are exploring new valve morphologies that will enhance surgical outcomes and, most importantly, save lives,” said Research Scientist Ignacio Lugones, a pediatric heart surgeon. “Our team at LIU plays a pivotal role in advancing this work, and the resulting innovations directly influence the daily practice of congenital cardiac surgery.”
The Living Heart Project has grown to be the largest in the world focused on creating a digital twin of the human heart. The conference serves as a focal point for innovation
in cardiovascular digital medicine, showcasing how simulation, artificial intelligence, and engineering are reshaping clinical practice.
The project involves close collaboration with LIU, Dassault Systèmes, and the Children’s Hospital of Buenos Aires, where Lugones pioneered a revolutionary method for reconstructing these valves that can accommodate the child’s growth.
This breakthrough underscores how simulation-driven design can replace slower, less precise trial-and-error approaches, especially critical in pediatric cases where every decision carries lifelong consequences.
The core concept is the “living” digital heart: a computational model that mirrors the dynamic behavior of real cardiac tissue. Unlike traditional research pipelines that rely heavily on animal testing or generalized models, this approach enables patient-specific simulation—allowing clinicians to test interventions and predict outcomes before entering the operating room.
Speakers highlighted advances in modeling blood flow, valve mechanics, and structural heart disease, demonstrating how these tools can improve device design and procedural planning. For clinicians, these insights translate into greater confidence and precision. For engineers, they present opportunities to refine models that directly impact patient outcomes.
“Each milestone reached by our team represents a step forward in the evolution of pediatric heart care,” Lugones added, “offering hope to children and families everywhere.”
Historian Derek Leebaert’s Unlikely Heroes: Franklin Roosevelt, His Four Lieutenants, and the World They Made (St. Martin’s Press) was named the 2025 winner for The Society of Presidential Descendants Book Award. The award recognizes the finest works on presidential leadership published over the last two years.
Leebaert received the award during The Society’s Biennial Presidential Leadership Book Award Dinner held at the University Club of New York. The special evening gathered distinguished guests, including Lynda Johnson Robb, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson; Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Harry S. Truman; and Tweed Roosevelt, great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, joined by his son Winthrop Roosevelt. They were accompanied by fellow descendants including Massee McKinley, Sarah Barry Garfield, Ulysses Grant Dietz, Austin and Edward “Teddy” Hayes, and Richard and Emory Gatchell of the Monroe family line and many others.
“As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, leadership remains both a privilege and a responsibility passed from generation to generation,” Tweed Roosevelt, President of The Society of Presidential Descendants and Chairman of the LIU Roosevelt School, told guests.
University and the Center for the Study of the Presidency are committed to doing everything we can to encourage all Americans to do their duty.”
Chosen from nearly 100 nominated titles, Unlikely Heroes reexamines the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt through the lives of four indispensable lieutenants—Harry Hopkins, Harold Ickes, Frances Perkins, and Henry Wallace. Drawing on newly uncovered archival material, he reveals how these figures, each marked by outsider status and personal hardship, helped construct the institutional backbone of modern America during the Great Depression and World War II. Their influence, Leebaert argues, continues to shape the presidency today.
Honorable Mentions reflected the enduring resonance of Abraham Lincoln’s leadership. James H. Read was recognized for Sovereign of a Free People: Abraham Lincoln, Majority Rule, and Slavery, a study of Lincoln’s defense of constitutionally checked majority rule during the nation’s gravest crisis. Acclaimed Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer earned distinction for Brought Forth on This Continent: Abraham Lincoln and American Immigration, which traces Lincoln’s evolving views on immigration and citizenship amid political upheaval.
“Our freedoms come with responsibilities, and we all must live up to them,” he added. “The Roosevelt School at Long Island
The Society also honored Mark K. Updegrove, President and CEO of the LBJ Foundation, as Distinguished Presidential Historian. His remarks underscored a unifying theme of the evening: leadership is not frozen in marble but renewed through dialogue and reflection.
That spirit extended beyond the ballroom as LIU unveiled a national Presidential Leadership Poll through its Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling & Analysis, inviting Americans to evaluate former presidents on integrity, judgment, communication, and crisis leadership. By pairing scholarly insight with public sentiment, the initiative seeks to deepen civic understanding as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
“The Presidential Leadership Series represents the heart of our commitment to advance scholarship and expand public understanding of the American presidency,” LIU President Kimberly R. Cline said. “Through these initiatives, we can educate and inspire the next generation of our nation’s leaders as they learn lessons from history to shape solutions for America’s future.”
As the nation celebrates 250 years since its founding in 1776, the LIU Roosevelt School is helping foster a deeper understanding of American history through its Presidential Speaker Series and related programming featuring distinguished historians, scholars, and presidential descendants.
The speaker series brought two acclaimed historians to the Post Campus’ Roosevelt House to examine the life, leadership, and enduring influence of George Washington. Alexander Rose, a fellow of the Guggenheim Foundation and the Royal Historical Society, discussed his acclaimed book Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring, offering insights into the intelligence network that helped secure victory in the Revolutionary War. Alexis Coe, New York Times bestselling author and American History columnist for The New York Times Book Review, shared perspectives from her groundbreaking biography, You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington, which reexamines the nation’s first president through a modern lens.
LIU’s engagement with presidential history also extended to Talks with Tweed, a new podcast hosted by Tweed Roosevelt, great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, President of The Society of Presidential Descendants, and Chairman of the LIU Roosevelt School. The series launched in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary and explores leadership, public service, and the lasting impact of America’s presidents through conversations with descendants and scholars. The inaugural episode featured Ulysses Grant Dietz, second great-grandson of President Ulysses S. Grant. Birchard M. Taylor, great-greatgrandson of President Rutherford B. Hayes, was later featured, reflecting on Hayes’ most significant accomplishments and the lessons his presidency offers contemporary Americans.
Historian and scholar James H. Read also joined the podcast to discuss his book, Sovereign of a Free People: Abraham Lincoln, Majority Rule, and Slavery. The work was named a finalist for the 2025 Biennial Presidential Leadership Book Award and examines Lincoln’s political leadership during one of the nation’s most consequential periods.
The series also featured Harold Holzer, one of the nation’s foremost Lincoln scholars and a leading authority on Abraham Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era. A recipient of the National Humanities Medal, awarded by President George W. Bush, Holzer has authored, co-authored, or edited more than 50 books and is the winner of the prestigious Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize. He served as co-chair of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, appointed by President Bill Clinton, and currently directs the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College.
The momentum will continue throughout fall 2026 with an ambitious lineup of America 250 and presidential history programs. Upcoming episodes of Talks with Tweed will explore the lives and legacies of Presidents James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and James Monroe, featuring descendants and distinguished guests including Sarah Berry, James Garfield, Massee McKinley, Karl Rove, and Richard Gatchell. The America 250 Presidential Speaker Series will also welcome presidential historian Douglas Brinkley and Kerry Kennedy for a special program examining the legacy of President John F. Kennedy.
Scan the QR code to visit www.liu.edu/roosevelt-school/events and subscribe to our mailing list, watch previous episodes, and register for upcoming events.
Long Island University marked its Centennial Commencement with addresses from two distinguished New York icons—billionaire investor and philanthropist Ray Dalio and basketball Hall of Famer Walt Frazier—during ceremonies held at Shark Stadium and Barclays Center celebrating the Class of 2026 and the University’s 100th anniversary. Both speakers also received honorary degrees in recognition of their achievements and impact.
Alumnus Ray Dalio ’71—founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, and New York Times bestselling author—returned to LIU as keynote speaker at Shark Stadium, where he addressed thousands of graduates, families, faculty, and alumni and received an Honorary Doctor of Business. His remarks focused on personal growth, wellbeing, and long-term success.
As part of his commencement gift to graduates, Dalio announced that every member of the Class of 2026 will receive a scholarship to learn the Transcendental Meditation (TM) Technique through support from Dalio Philanthropies in partnership with the David Lynch Foundation. Dalio, who first learned TM while attending LIU in 1969, shared how the practice has positively influenced his personal wellbeing, decision-making, and professional achievements throughout his career. Each graduate also received copies of Dalio’s bestselling books, Principles: Life and Work and Principles: Your Guided Journal, placed on their seats prior to the ceremony.
At Barclays Center, Frazier—Hall of Famer, two-time NBA champion, longtime New York Knicks broadcaster, and one of New York City’s most iconic sports figures— addressed graduates and received the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. Known to generations of fans as “the voice of the Knicks,” Frazier reflected on lessons from his legendary career on and off the court, encouraging graduates to “keep striving and thriving” and “never stop reaching for your dreams.”
Drafted by the Knicks in 1967, Frazier helped lead the franchise to two NBA championships and became one of the most decorated players in basketball history, earning induction into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Broadcasters Hall of Fame. His appearance also highlighted the University’s longstanding connection to New York basketball and capped a landmark year for LIU Men’s Basketball under Head Coach Rod Strickland, whose team captured the NEC Championship and earned an NCAA Tournament appearance. Earlier this year, Frazier and fellow Knicks legends Bernard King, Stephon Marbury, Allan Houston, and Strickland visited campus for a special panel discussion hosted by ESPN and Knicks broadcaster Monica McNutt.
AMC GLOBAL MEDIA CEO
Returns to Campus
Alumna Kristin Dolan ’15, Chief Executive Officer of AMC Global Media, returned to Long Island University as part of the Centennial CEO Speaker Series, offering students a candid look at the decisions and pivots that shaped her path from English major to media executive.
Dolan’s career is one defined by a willingness to adapt, listen, and lead through change. She studied English as an undergraduate and envisioned a career in books and magazines. An early role at Random House felt limiting and she quickly learned that the industry was not as strong a fit as she initially imagined.
“They didn’t like that I had an internship in television,” Dolan recalled of her time at Random House. “They said they didn’t like people from soft media.”
When another opportunity opened at AMC, she took it, setting in motion a career spanning more than three decades in media. Then, after rising through the ranks at Cablevision to Chief Operating Officer, she went on to found 605, an audience measurement and analytics firm, before returning to AMC as CEO during a period of significant industry disruption.
“It’s been an interesting ride, and all of it contributes to what I’m doing now,” she said.
Today, Dolan oversees a global portfolio of linear channels and streaming platforms, navigating a media landscape transformed by fragmentation, shifting consumer habits, and emerging technologies like
artificial intelligence. The Walking Dead, produced and aired by AMC, holds the distinction of being the most-watched television show in the history of cable TV.
Her approach blends operational discipline with a focus on intellectual property with the goal of producing content that can succeed across platforms in an increasingly competitive market. That willingness to pivot became a defining trait.
“Be open to anything,” Dolan told students, reflecting on how her own career evolved through unexpected opportunities.
When asked by a student what she considered the most important trait differentiating the top one percent of business leaders from their peers, Dolan answered: Humility.
“I’ve been on a lot of boards in this industry, I’ve been around a lot of people over the years that run very large companies,” she said. “The ones that really do continue to learn and to listen to people, regardless of rank or level, are the ones that I admire the most and the ones that I think are the most successful.”
Dolan strives to stay humble even as she operates with conviction and confidence, an endeavor that fuels her drive to keep growing and learning.
“The less I speak, and the more I listen, the better. Then, when I do speak, hopefully it adds value,” she said. “Even if you are in a top job, you can always learn something new. The best executives are the ones that are always continuing to learn.”
LTHE MAKING
ong Island University raised a record $3.6 million at its Centennial Scholarship Gala, marking the largest fundraising total in the university’s 100-year history.
Held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, the event brought together trustees, alumni, donors, community leaders, and friends of the university to commemorate LIU’s centennial and invest in the next generation of students.
“For a century, LIU has prepared generations of students to lead in business, healthcare, education, the arts, public service, science, and countless other fields,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Eric Krasnoff.
“Through periods of tremendous change and challenge, this institution has remained guided by a simple but powerful belief: that education can transform the trajectory of a life, a family, and a community.”
The evening highlighted LIU’s history, achievements, and vision for the future.
President Kimberly R. Cline reflected on the university’s century-long legacy of expanding access to higher education while emphasizing the role philanthropy plays in supporting students and advancing academic excellence.
“To all who support Long Island University: thank you for believing in the power of education to transform lives,” President Cline said. “As we celebrate 100 years of Long Island University, it is remarkable to reflect on what we have accomplished in just the last decade. And the exciting part is we are just getting started.”
A centerpiece of the program was the announcement of the AI² Center, LIU’s Artificial Intelligence and Academic Innovation Center. Introduced by Senior Vice President for Research and AI Advancement, Dr. Mohammed Cherkaoui, the center will unite the university’s artificial intelligence programs, research initiatives, industry partnerships, and innovation ecosystem under a single vision.
The evening featured both silent and live auctions, including exclusive experiences tied to sports, entertainment, travel, and New York City landmarks. During the scholarship challenge, donors pledged gifts at multiple levels to support future LIU students.
The Gala also showcased student talent through performances by Miguel Amell, a Class of 2026 vocal performance major in the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment, and Julia Cama, a Class of 2028 musical theatre major, who performed an excerpt from Feels Like the First Time , a new musical developed in collaboration with acclaimed Broadway performer Adam Pascal and LIU students.
The record-setting $3.6 million raised will support scholarship opportunities for students across the university, helping ensure that access to a transformative LIU education remains available for future generations as the institution enters its second century.
“The next century of LIU will be defined by AI, innovation, discovery, and global impact,” President Cline said. “LIU’s future has never been brighter.”
Cancer Research and Pharmacology
Professor Anait Levenson is advancing innovative strategies to confront one of the most pressing health challenges in the U.S.
Prostate cancer remains the second most common cancer among American men after skin cancer, with a lifetime risk of approximately 1 in 7. As the population ages, a growing number of men are diagnosed with localized, slow-growing tumors and placed under active surveillance. Levenson says this approach is essentially a “wait and see” strategy, with approximately 30–50 percent of patients progressing to cancer requiring active treatment.
“There is a critical need for proactive approaches in management of prostate cancer patients under active surveillance,” she said. “Our work advances precision medicine and mechanism-based nutritional targeted chemoprevention and interception for patients under active surveillance.”
Levenson’s research focuses on mechanism-based nutritional chemoprevention, that is, targeted dietary strategies designed to intercept cancer progression without toxicity. Her laboratory has identified natural compounds found in grapes and blueberries, known as stilbenes, that inhibit the oncogenic metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) signaling pathway, a key driver of prostate cancer progression.
What sets her approach apart is its depth and translational rigor. Levenson’s team employs prostate-specific transgenic mouse models that overexpress MTA1, allowing researchers to replicate distinct stages of disease progression, from early transformation to prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. “Most studies in this area use only in vitro approaches, namely cancer cell lines for their studies,” Levenson said. “Our work supports mechanism-based nutritional chemoprevention and interception strategies.”
Under carefully controlled, long-term dietary conditions, her team demonstrated that stilbene supplementation significantly reduced MTA1 expression and associated markers of tumor severity, inflammation and angiogenesis.
The implications are substantial. By integrating nutritional prevention strategies into precision medicine frameworks, Levenson aims to reduce unnecessary surgeries, radiation and hormone therapies for low-risk patients while improving outcomes for those at higher risk.
Looking ahead, her research will explore combining natural stilbenes with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors and mTOR pathway therapies for advanced, castration-resistant prostate cancer. Her team is also leveraging computer-aided drug design to optimize next-generation stilbene derivatives with enhanced efficacy and minimal toxicity.
Levenson understands the significant impact her research can have on improving the lives of patients around the world.
“These new strategies will minimize unnecessary surgeries and overtreatment for low-risk patients and achieve better outcomes for high-risk patients.”
Kathy Keefe-Cooperman, Counseling and Development professor at Long Island University, has been named a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), one of the highest honors in the field of psychology. She has also earned Fellow status with the New York State Psychological Association (NYSPA), a dual recognition that reflects decades of impactful teaching, research, and service to the profession.
APA Fellows represent those who have made “a top five percent contribution in the field of psychology,” according to Ronald Brown, former chair of the APA Fellows Committee. For KeefeCooperman, the honor is both professional and deeply personal. She has been an APA member since graduate school and vividly recalls volunteering at APA conferences, inspired by presenters and award recipients whose careers she admired. “Being awarded Fellow status means that I have become one of the people I so admired,” she said. “It humbles me to know that my work, dedication to the field, and teaching may now serve to motivate
younger professionals. I never would have thought these achievements were within my reach when starting out professionally.”
From 2023 to 2025, Keefe-Cooperman served as Chair of LIU’s Department of Counseling and Development, mentoring faculty and ensuring students received high-quality academic and clinical training. Her perspective also includes presenting early research on smart device use and preschool development in Austria and collaborating with international educators. Keefe-Cooperman’s career has been shaped by her ability to identify gaps in psychology and counseling education and to develop research and teaching approaches that address them. One of her key scholarly contributions focuses on preserving the history of psychology and counseling, an area she believes is at risk of being forgotten.
Another major area of impact is her research on how mental health professionals communicate difficult or life-changing information.
Keefe-Cooperman developed the “PEWTER” model, a structured approach designed to improve how bad news is delivered—an area she identified as largely absent from formal training.
The model has been widely adopted across professions, including counseling, medicine, and law enforcement, and applied to situations such as death notifications, suicide communication, and medical diagnoses. Its real-world reach surprised her, including discovering an online post by a high school student who used the PEWTER model to tell his parents about a minor car accident.
Keefe-Cooperman’s advice to students is reinforced by her own commitment to remaining studious and curious.
“The key is to realize that you have only just started to learn when you get your degree,” she said. “Striving to be a lifelong learner will result in gaining a higher skill level that will positively impact your place within the profession and help your clients to achieve maximum growth.”
Senior Vice President of Research & Artificial Intelligence Advancement, Mohammed Cherkaoui, Ph.D., presented on artificial intelligence at The Moroccan Order of Chartered Accountants’ (OEC) 10th Congress on “Sustainability, AI, Talent: The Winning Strategy.” Dr. Cherkaoui has been recognized as one of the world’s top 1% of scientists according to the Stanford Elsevier Report and received the Obama Award through the Material Genome Initiative.
Long Island University secured more than $4 million in Nassau County grant funding to support two initiatives focused on mental health and opioid use prevention. Led by Dr. Michael Pantalon, Dean of the School of Health Professions, and Dr. Laura Seinfeld, Dean of the College of Education, Information and Technology, the projects will expand mental health training and professional development while implementing early-intervention programs in local middle schools to promote emotional resiliency and prevent substance use disorders.
Research scientist and world-class surgeon Ignacio Lugones’ work on Aortic Valve Trileaflet Autologous Reconstruction (AVaTAR) features the first in-silico modeling of a semilunar valve designed to grow with pediatric patients. The innovation has the potential to transform treatment for children with life-threatening heart disease.
In partnership with biotech start-up Aneuryst, Long Island University is developing fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor with the potential to redefine care for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), one of the deadliest forms of stroke. The project’s application to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research program earned a perfect score, an almost unprecedented achievement in federal funding.
Infectious diseases research fellows Olivia Funk and Julian Azzouzi presented their latest research at the 2025 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Global Conference in Vienna, one of the world’s leading gatherings in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. Alongside faculty mentor Jaclyn Cusumano, they showcased new research examining biofilm formation in Enterococcus faecalis, a bacterium found in human gastrointestinal tracts.
Dr. Ching Yang, Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology, has received funding from the AKC Canine Health Foundation and the Westie Foundation of America to investigate how bacterial toxins contribute to canine pyoderma. The research has the potential to improve diagnostic and treatment strategies for skin infections in dogs.
Alumnus Ryan Herold ’18 was awarded the Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The competitive award is given to applicants who have the potential to become productive and successful independent cancer research investigators. Herold was awarded Oxford University’s prestigious Clarendon Scholarship in 2019 after earning his B.S. in Molecular Biology at Long Island University.
Long Island University, in partnership with The School House and American Emergent Curriculum Inc., received a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch a national initiative supporting American history and civics education during the nation’s Semiquincentennial. The three-year program will provide training and resources to more than 300 educators and student leaders, ultimately reaching 50,000 students and inspiring hundreds of student-led civic engagement projects nationwide.
Pharmacy faculty Briann Fischetti and Maria Longo Sorbera coauthored new research on treatment for patients living with Type 2 diabetes and HIV. Published in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice, the study examined different interactions that can result from combining antidiabetic medications and the antiretrovirals used to treat HIV patients.
Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at Long Island University hosted the world premiere of Feels Like the First Time:
The Foreigner Musical, a soldout production directed by Tonynominated Broadway star Adam Pascal, best known for originating the role of Roger in RENT.
Inspired by the music of legendary rock band Foreigner, the production featured a cast of 26 performers composed primarily of LIU students alongside professional actors.
The musical was developed through a groundbreaking collaboration between Tilles Center and LIU’s Post Theatre Company under the university’s newly launched New Works Initiative, an interdisciplinary program designed to incubate original artistic works while creating professional-caliber learning opportunities for students across the arts.
The production drew national attention even before opening night. Playbill spotlighted the musical’s premiere and Pascal’s involvement as director and role as LIU’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence. Pascal earned Tony, Drama League, and Obie Award recognition for his breakout Broadway performance in RENT and has starred in major productions including Aida, Cabaret, Chicago, Memphis, Something Rotten!, and Pretty Woman: The Musical.
“Feels Like the First Time: The Foreigner Musical represents exactly the kind of bold, collaborative artistic work we are proud to champion through the New Works Initiative,” said Tom Dunn, Executive and Artistic Director, Tilles Center for the Performing Arts and Dean of the College of Arts and Design.
“By bringing together world-class talent, emerging student artists, and the development of innovative new works, LIU and Tilles Center continue to strengthen our role as a leading destination for the performing arts and creative development on Long Island and beyond.”
The initiative is the latest transformative development for the university’s nationally recognized theatre program and Tilles Center’s reputation as a top performing arts venue in the region. LIU’s Post Theatre Company has won 20 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Awards and participated in the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The university’s theatre program has been recognized in the nation’s top 30 by OnStage and ranked on Backstage’s “Best Performing Arts Programs in the U.S.”
Pascal described the collaboration as uniquely meaningful because of the academic setting and student involvement.
“We wanted to create something that was fun and that had heart, that understood its purpose using Foreigner’s music,” Pascal told the Long Island Herald. “This new show represents everything I love about making theater: great music, fun storytelling, and meaningful collaboration.”
Foreigner founding keyboardist Al Greenwood attended the premiere after previously visiting rehearsals and praising the student cast and creative team.
“The songs of Foreigner and a Broadway-style musical fit well together,” Greenwood said. “Our songs tell stories, and they complement the story of this musical rather well. It’s beyond exciting for me to see the songs we created years ago come to life in another art form. I am thrilled with the show Adam and the LIU team created.”
For students, the opportunity carried unusual significance. Unlike traditional productions where performers step into established roles, students became the first actors ever to inhabit these characters and help shape the musical’s identity.
“They’ll forever be connected to this show as the first people that played these characters,” Pascal added. “They’ll always have this on their résumé.”
While theatre students worked alongside Broadway professionals, writers, orchestrators, and industry veterans, film students documented the entire creative process through a behind-the-scenes documentary they produced as a capstone project, capturing rehearsals, creative meetings, choreography sessions, and the evolution of the show from workshop to world premiere. The documentary component underscored the interdisciplinary vision behind the New Works Initiative, which connects students across theatre, film, music, and design disciplines in collaborative artistic production.
“Getting to be a part of something that will be history is really cool,” senior Anna Frost said. “There has to be new art that is relevant to what is happening now.”
Pascal called the collaboration “a rare and powerful environment where artists and students are building something together from the ground up,” adding praise for the university and Dunn’s creative vision.
“There’s no better place for it. They have the facilities, the desire and the proximity to the city,” he said of LIU. “The combination of this process, this particular show, and this university… it couldn’t have been a better melding of all things.”
LIU students secured internships at leading companies across entertainment, media, sports and law during the 2025–2026 academic year.
With campuses within commuting distance of office buildings in downtown Manhattan, LIU students have long earned internships at major companies while continuing their classes. This year was no different with students landing competitive positions at Disney, Paramount, Live Nation, BSE Global, Roc Nation, Fox Sports Radio, iHeartRadio, and ArentFox Schiff, an industry-leading law firm.
Journalism major Donovan Gibbs, a senior center on the football team, worked as an Editorial and Digital Intern at Fox Sports Radio’s “Listen In With KNN,” hosted by Kelsey Nicole Nelson. His role placed him directly inside media press conferences, where he interviewed legendary athletes like Kaká of Real Madrid, as well as Pittsburgh head football coach Pat Narduzzi and Eastern Carolina head coach Blake Harrell during the Military Bowl press conference.
“Having a chance to experience what only a small handful of members in the media get to do on a daily basis was a major privilege and huge confidence boost for my growing career,” Gibbs said.
Chad Lopez Jr., a junior studying entrepreneurship, also leveraged LIU’s access to the city through his internship with Red Apple Media at 77 WABC. At the iconic New York radio station, known for its history in talk radio and breaking news, Lopez
worked alongside the promotions and marketing team, helping bring campaigns to life and connect with listeners.
“This internship has given me real-world experience. I got to dive into the fast pace of New York radio,” Lopez Jr. said of his time at WABC. “It gave me a front-row seat to how strategy and creativity come together in media, and it sharpened the way I think about audience engagement and partnerships.”
For Jada Reeves, who graduated in 2024 with her bachelor’s degree and is now pursuing her Master’s in Sports Management at LIU, proximity and preparation made all the difference. While commuting to Brooklyn four days a week, she interned at iHeart, Roc Nation, and BSE Global—experiences she credits to the Roc Nation School’s resume workshops, guest speakers, and faculty mentorship.
Balancing 7 a.m. internship call times with classes that ended at 8 p.m., Reeves earned academic credit for her work, allowing her to fully commit both on set and in the classroom. That dedication paid off: after graduating in May, she transitioned seamlessly into a full-time role as an Audience Assistant for the Sherri Shepherd Show. Reeves says the key to her success has been taking initiative and being assertive.
“Be proactive and intentional,” she said. “When you combine access with consistency and preparation, the network becomes a real opportunity rather than just a name on paper.”
tudents from the Honors College took their scholarship to the national stage as they presented original research at the annual National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR), one of the country’s premier forums for undergraduate scholarship.
Shahreen Zaman, a sophomore in the Honors College, focused her research on digital integrity. Her project, “Benchmarking the Generalization and Robustness of AI Models for Fake News Detection Across Political, Business, and Health Domains,” evaluates how effectively advanced artificial intelligence systems can identify misinformation.
Working under the mentorship of Dr. Nicolas Gallo, Zaman constructed a balanced dataset of 20,000 to 30,000 fact-checked articles and tested multiple models, including DeBERTa, ELECTRA, and the large language model Falcon-7B, across political, business, and health domains.
By comparing in-domain and cross-domain performance, as well as testing how models respond to paraphrased or modified text, Zaman’s research probes a crucial question: Can AI reliably detect fake news when contexts shift? Her findings inform the development of more transparent and socially responsible AI systems capable of protecting the integrity of public discourse.
“In a time when misinformation spreads faster than ever, we need AI systems that are not only accurate, but adaptable and transparent,” Zaman said. “My goal is to identify which models can truly generalize across domains and remain robust when the content changes.”
While Zaman’s work examines information ecosystems, Joshua Ihke Ocampo Loresca, a senior in the Honors College, explores human ecosystems shaped by migration. Loresca’s project, “Belonging Beyond Borders: Interfaith Leadership in Contested Migration Landscapes,”
investigates how interfaith leaders in U.S. sanctuary cities respond to the needs of asylum-seekers, refugees, and undocumented individuals.
Through oral histories and documentary photography, Loresca captures how faith leaders cultivate solidarity, care, and advocacy in politically contested spaces. The research includes interviews with leaders connected to Interfaith America in Chicago and other organizations in Los Angeles and San Antonio. The project will culminate in a curated photo book and digital archive, preserving narratives of resilience while contributing to broader conversations about migrant justice and belonging.
“Interfaith leaders are reimagining what belonging can look like in spaces where migrants are often politicized or marginalized,” Loresca said. “By documenting their stories, I hope to preserve narratives of moral courage and show how empathy can reshape conversations on migration.”
The Model United Nations team has achieved a milestone year, earning back-to-back “Outstanding Delegation” honors at two of the nation’s most competitive conferences.
After months of preparation, LIU’s largest-ever delegation of 18 students traveled to New York City to compete against nearly 2,000 students representing 128 United Nations member states from universities across Europe, Asia, Latin America and beyond.
Assigned to represent the Republic of Armenia, the team participated in nine committees: General Assembly (GA) 1, 2 and 3; 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 Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW); and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
“Throughout the semester we met on Sundays to teambuild and train,” Si Sheppard, Model UN faculty advisor and Associate Professor of Political Science, said. “This meant immersion in Armenian history and culture, researching and writing our position papers
for each committee; and role-playing in simulated conference public speaking and debate.”
The team’s hard work paid off. Following four days of rigorous competition, LIU was awarded the conference’s highest honor: Outstanding Delegation, the gold medal of Model UN competition. In addition to the team award, LIU students earned Outstanding Individual Delegation honors in the UNEA and UNECE committees, as voted by their peers, and captured an Outstanding Position Paper award in the UNHCR committee.
The momentum continued into the fall semester, when LIU competed at the Washington, D.C. conference representing the Republic of Korea. Once again, the team claimed the Outstanding Delegation award, marking the second consecutive semester LIU brought home the top prize. Individual delegates also received recognition in the General Assembly 1 committee and the Security Council for excellence in diplomacy and research.
With its largest delegation to date and an unprecedented string of victories, LIU Model UN has demonstrated not only academic rigor and global awareness, but the collaborative leadership and strategic thinking that define effective diplomacy on the world stage.
Dr. Gregory Barton’s work on Vision for the Future reflects a conviction that higher education must do more than adapt to change. It must help lead it. As Dean of the Honors College and Global College, Barton has consistently advanced learning experiences that connect students to urgent global questions at the intersection of technology, ethics, and society.
Vision for the Future, a digital anthology examining the human impact of emerging technologies, stands as a defining expression of that vision. Now in its second volume, Vision for the Future brings together stories from more than 25 changemakers, innovators, and global thought leaders.
“Each contributor offers a deeply personal reflection on how technology shapes leadership, creativity, culture, and social responsibility,” Barton said. ”Rather than centering on technical innovation alone, the anthology foregrounds meaning and values. It asks readers to consider not just what technology enables, but how it influences human connection, equity, and the future we are collectively building.”
international framework aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and amplified its global reach. In recognition of this work, Barton was invited to speak during United Nations General Assembly Week at the SDG Media Zone and was honored at a luncheon hosted by SDG News.
A defining feature of Vision for the Future is Barton’s commitment to student-engaged research. Across both volumes, Honors College students served as members of the research and editorial team, working closely with Barton throughout the project’s development. Students conducted background research, assisted with editorial decisions, and contributed to the overall vision of the publication.
Barton served as Project Director for the anthology through a collaboration with Global Partnerships Forum, a United Nations-connected organization dedicated to advancing global cooperation and sustainable development. This partnership positioned the project within an
Vision for the Future exemplifies how LIU prepares students to think critically and act responsibly in complex, rapidly evolving environments. Barton’s leadership intentionally dissolves the boundaries between classroom learning, research, and professional practice.
“This model reflects the broader educational philosophy guiding the Honors College and Global College,” Barton said. “Students are not positioned as observers, but as active contributors to work with realworld relevance and public impact.”
LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY INDUCTED THE 2026 CLASS OF THE LIU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME.
Sportscaster Alan Hahn ’93 hosted the ceremony and was also among this year’s inductees. The class was headlined by Brendon Rodney ’16, one of the most accomplished track and field athletes in LIU history. A seven-time NCAA All-American, Rodney won multiple Northeast Conference championships and set several school records. Since earning a master’s degree in exercise science in 2016, he has achieved international success, winning three Olympic medals and a World Championships gold medal with Canada’s 4×100-meter relay team.
Bryan Collins was inducted posthumously after more than two decades of service to LIU as head football coach and director of athletics. From 1998 to 2021, Collins led the football program to a schoolrecord 162 victories, six postseason appearances, and eight conference championships, earning conference coach of the year honors seven times.
Richard Kahn ’74 was recognized for a broadcasting and public address
announcing career spanning more than four decades. Kahn served as the public address announcer for the New York Jets for 19 seasons—the longest tenure in franchise history—and announced games for the New York Islanders for 13 seasons.
Laura Fekete ’24 made history in 2021 by winning the NCAA Women’s Fencing Championship in épée, becoming the first LIU student-athlete to capture an NCAA national title across all sports. She earned multiple NCAA and NIWFA honors and helped lead LIU’s women’s épée team to a NIWFA silver medal in 2023.
Hahn, a former LIU men’s basketball student-athlete, built a national profile as a sports journalist, radio host, and television analyst. He covered the New York Knicks and Islanders for Newsday, has been an analyst for MSG Networks since 2010, and has hosted ESPN Radio programs since 2012 while appearing regularly on ESPN television and radio. Tony Bozzella was honored for his contributions to women’s basketball. He
coached at LIU’s Southampton College from 1992 to 2000 before leading the Division I program in Brooklyn from 2000 to 2002 and guiding the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
The 2010 LIU softball team finished 39–18, setting a Division I program record for wins while capturing the NEC Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
The 2013 LIU women’s lacrosse team completed a perfect 20–0 season and won the NCAA Championship, securing its second consecutive national title.
The 2022 LIU baseball team went 37–21, setting a Division I program record for wins while capturing the NEC Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 under head coach and LIU alumnus Dan Pirillo.
The LIU men’s basketball team delivered one of the most memorable seasons in program history, finishing with 24 wins, an NEC championship, and a return to the NCAA Tournament.
The Sharks secured the conference title with a 79–70 victory over Mercyhurst in a sold-out, winner-take-all championship game, earning the program’s eighth appearance in March Madness. LIU’s path to the NCAA Tournament was shaped by a nonconference schedule against ACC, Big Ten, and SEC opponents. That early-season experience prepared the Sharks for the demands of postseason play.
During March Madness, LIU’s run extended beyond the court. “FINS UP” emerged as one of the defining moments of the tournament, with ESPN’s SportsCenter calling it “the chant that’s sweeping the nation.” What began inside the arena quickly gained traction across ESPN, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, Bloomberg, and CBS Evening News, generating millions of views and placing LIU at the center of the national conversation.
LIU opened NCAA Tournament play against No. 1 seed Arizona in San Diego, California, marking the program’s return to the national stage.
The season was led by senior Greg Gordon, who earned NEC Defensive Player of the Year and NEC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. “We made history and we all did it together,” Gordon said. “We etched our names into the record books.”
Malachi Davis, a two-time First Team All-NEC selection, and Jamal Fuller, also a First Team All-NEC honoree, played key roles throughout the Sharks’ record-setting season.
Head coach Rod Strickland was named NEC Coach of the Year.
We believed and we came together. That’s what it’s all about. This team will be talked about for a long time. We have a special group of players.
– Rod Strickland
The women’s volleyball team capped off a historic season, claiming its second NEC title in three years. The 20-win season marked the most in program history and included a 15-3 record in NEC play and a 12-1 mark at home. The championship run earned LIU a spot in the NCAA Tournament against Big Ten opponent Nebraska.
“Our championship season was a statement,” said head coach Tony Trifonov. “It shows that the team didn’t just improve, it evolved. This kind of run reflects a group that learned how to win in different ways, handled adversity, and matured into a version of itself that could compete on the biggest stage.”
Sophomore Miabella Musignac was named NEC Defensive Player of the Year, while senior Karly Klaer earned NEC Setter of the Year.
Junior Sara van Gisteren and junior Yasmeen Muhammad were First Team All-NEC selections, and sophomore Bella Correia was named to the Second Team All-NEC.
The baseball team won its third NEC Championship in the last five years and earned a regular season NEC championship for the second straight season. The Sharks took home the conference title, the program’s fourth overall, after a dominant win over Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Joseph Durso led the way in the victory, going 1-for-2 with five RBI, four runs scored, and two walks. His one hit of the game proved to be the decisive blow—a grand slam in
the bottom of the sixth, putting the game out of reach with LIU leading 22–8 and going on to finish things off via mercy rule in the seventh. The championship victory clinched a berth in the 2026 NCAA Division I College Baseball Regionals, where the Sharks faced the University of Georgia and Boston College.
In recognition of his efforts, Durso was named MVP and made the 2026 NEC Baseball All-Tournament Team, alongside fellow Sharks Elijah Fairchild, Justin DeCastro, and
Nicholas Finarelli. DeCastro pitched a complete game in LIU’s earlier 10–3 NEC Tournament win over FDU, and Finarelli tossed eight innings in his team’s 11–5 opening tournament win over Le Moyne.
Finarelli was named NEC Pitcher of the Year and earned All-NEC First Team honors. Fairchild went on to grace the All-NEC Second Team, along with Ryan Rivera and Alex Jankowski. Head Coach Dan Pirillo completed his tenth season as the team’s head coach.
LIU men’s hockey made national headlines with a 6–2 victory over Minnesota, a landmark road win against one of college hockey’s most storied programs. Playing in front of nearly 10,000 fans in Minneapolis, the Sharks scored six goals against the Golden Gophers, with Brett Rylance, Brennan Nelson, Sixten Jennersjö, Cad Muller, Dylan Kinch, and Nick Bernardo each finding the net.
The win moved LIU to No. 12 in the nation in the NCAA Power Index and became one of the clearest indicators of the program’s progress at the Division I level.
“Our team showed an unbelievable ability to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country this year,” said head coach Brendon Riley. “Right from the start of the season, when our schedule was the hardest, we were in every game and highly competitive. The win over Minnesota on the road was a benchmark win for our program.”
LIU finished the season with 14 wins, including a shootout victory over Army West Point and two wins in the inaugural United Collegiate Hockey Cup in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The Sharks also finished the year ranked No. 11 nationally in power play, underscoring the team’s ability to generate offense against top competition.
Senior forward Brett Rylance and sophomore defenseman Nick Bernardo earned end-of-season All-Independent Team honors. Rylance, from Edmonton, Alberta, led the Sharks with 24 points on 11 goals and 13 assists, while Bernardo, from Hauppauge, New York, recorded eight goals and eight assists to lead all LIU defensemen in scoring.
The season coincided with continued investment in LIU’s Division I hockey programs. The University has launched a $3 million fundraising campaign to enhance the Northwell Health Ice Center, home of LIU men’s and women’s hockey since 2021. Planned upgrades include new seating, a jumbotron, and lighting and sound improvements, with a focus on elevating the game-day experience.
The 2,500-seat arena already features modern locker rooms, team lounges, coaches’ offices, a game-day fan shop, and Shark Nation branding throughout the facility, reflecting a sustained commitment to supporting the growth of LIU hockey.
“My experience at LIU this year has been amazing,” Rylance said. “I’m really grateful that I was able to finish my college career here. My coaches put me in a great position to perform on the ice, and I’m really proud of how our team competed and what we accomplished this season.”
by Sofia Passariello
When I first heard about LIU Global, it was hard to believe. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to earn your undergraduate degree while traveling the world? It seemed too good to be true, but it’s a risk I’m glad I took. I enrolled because I wanted to get a worldclass education through experiences rather than just sitting in a classroom listening to lectures. And it’s true: Global students go all over the planet, including a year in Costa Rica, a year traveling Europe, and a year hopping around Oceania. This all culminates with the chance to conduct independent research and an internship in a country of each student’s choice, making it an unbeatable opportunity.
Most Global students start their journey in Heredia, Costa Rica, in the tropical warmth of Central America. The town’s walkable and welcoming, and students get to study Latin American history, environmentalism, and Spanish in Global’s oldest international center. They also travel to Puerto Viejo, a town with vibrant Afro-Caribbean heritage, as well as Panama City and the Monteverde
Cloud Forests. For Adeline Kraus, a senior at Global, the most exciting part was staying in Guna Yala, a matriarchal Indigenous chain of Panamanian islands. There, she enjoyed fresh fish and stayed in thatched-roof homes with her classmates on sandy white beaches.
There’s never a dull moment in Global’s Europe program, either. Currently, second-year students are studying in London and Vienna, while taking field trips to Dublin, Paris, and Brussels. There, students are learning the foundations of international relations and governance, as well as about unique subjects such as the impact of corporate social responsibility on community development. According to Daniel Luna, who’s currently in the Europe program, experiencing the cosmopolitan, multilingual nature of beautiful Belgian cities like Bruges and Ghent has been one of the best highlights.
Last year I was a junior in Global’s Australia-Pacific program, based in Byron Bay, Australia. Though the picturesque beachside town and
stunning ocean views were unmatched, we also got to study Indigenous heritage, climate change, Pacific relations, and much more. We went on so many incredible trips, including Fiji, New Zealand, Indonesia, and camping in the Outback. My favorite part, however, was going to Heron Island, a research station on the Great Barrier Reef. While we stayed there, we got to study marine conservation up close by snorkeling, monitoring coral health, and watching wild newborn turtles swim out to sea.
What I love about Global is that it gives students the chance to explore so many areas of interest and hone their skills however they choose. Though it may seem like vacation at first glance, the classes are thought-provoking and each professor works hard to make the most out of every student’s individual experience. I’m so thankful for my internationally focused education, and I’m excited for whatever remaining adventures Global has in store.
Whether you are planning a trip of a lifetime, a return to a favorite destination, or looking for your next adventure, the LIU Alumni and Friends Travel Program is a great place to start your journey!
SCAN TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND LEARN MORE
The Carnegie Classification reaffirmed Long Island University as an R2 High Research Activity institution, recognizing significant growth in research expenditures, faculty scholarship, and national research impact—marking a pivotal moment in LIU’s ascent as a research-driven university entering its Centennial.
Long Island University earned Forbes’ highest ‘A’ rating in its 2026 Financial Report Card, placing the University among the top 16% of institutions nationwide. Supported by a $600 million endowment, LIU awards more than $100 million in scholarships and financial aid annually while maintaining a commitment to affordability. The University’s strong financial position has also earned ‘A’ ratings from Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings and continues to support investments in academic facilities, research, and student success.
DR. KIMBERLY R. CLINE, LIU PRESIDENT, APPOINTED AS A MIDDLE
Long Island University President Dr. Kimberly R. Cline was appointed a Commissioner of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, effective April 23, 2026. A recognized leader in higher education, Dr. Cline has guided LIU’s growth in academic programs, research, and student success, helping position the University among the top 7% of research institutions nationwide. She brings extensive experience in institutional leadership, accreditation, and strategic planning, having previously served as President of Mercy University and Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer of the State University of New York.
LIU ATHLETICS REPEATS AS NEC COMMISSIONER’S CUP CHAMPIONS
The NEC’s Commissioner’s Cup program rewards the allaround performance of an athletic department in NECsponsored sports. The Sharks captured their fifth Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup overall, adding to a recent run of success that now includes four Cup titles in six years. The NEC Men’s Commissioner’s Cup was the third for the program, all coming in the last five years.
Long Island University made history in the annual Best of Long Island contest, earning four top honors and achieving an unprecedented sixth consecutive year of recognition, including Best College or University and Best College Sports Program. With this achievement, LIU now holds more Best of Long Island awards than any other college or university in the contest’s history.
The 2025 George Polk Awards proudly honor exceptional reporting from leading outlets, including The New York Times, ProPublica, The Atlantic, and CBS 60 Minutes. Selected from 492 entries, this year’s winners showcase high-impact journalism spanning immigration, public health, executive power, war reporting, and more. Honorees were celebrated at a distinguished luncheon ceremony at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, bringing together the nation’s top journalists for one of the field’s most prestigious events.
LIU dedicated the Manuel & Claire Barron Veterinary Learning Center, made possible by a transformative gift of nearly $8 million from the Barron family. Alumnus Manuel Barron ’68, H’12, founder of Barron Educational Series—a nationally recognized organization in standardized test preparation, including the SAT, ACT, and Regents Exams— built a lasting legacy in education.
Long Island University, the New York Islanders, and UBS Arena have formed a five-year strategic partnership to grow hockey across Long Island and New York City. The collaboration includes the creation of the Empire State Holiday Invitational, an annual Division I men’s hockey tournament at UBS Arena, youth programs and student opportunities.
TELL US YOUR STORY! SHARE YOUR PERSONAL MILESTONES AND PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH THE LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
Visit liu.edu/alumni/submit to send your story.
Jeff Albies ’68, a former baseball star at LIU, served as Associate Director of Athletics and head baseball coach at William Paterson University (WPU) for 33 years, following a stint in the Atlanta Braves’ minor league system. He retired in 2007 as WPU’s all-time winningest coach with a record of 862-401-15, including two national championships, seven NCAA Division III World Series appearances, 11 New Jersey Athletic Conference championships, six NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional titles and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. Albies was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.
Marvin Blake ’75 recently published his second novel, Why. He published his first novel E. Pluribus Unum in 2018 after a long career as a Senior Hospital Administrator at several major medical centers in New York and later as an administrative officer for the VA Medical Centers in New York and Brooklyn. In 1957, he made history as one of the first Black students to graduate from the previously all-white Southern High School.
Mike Sweeney ’75 is Senior Vice President at QuickFi by Innovation Finance, an end-to-end loan and lease servicing platform. He previously served as a Senior Vice President at TIAA Bank and Chief Originations Officer at EverBank Commercial Finance.
Daniel D. Wasserman ’77 was recognized Marquis Who’s Who for his distinguished career as an editor and writer. Wasserman is currently an editor for The ARK in Chicago. He previously held editorial roles at the Brooklyn Daily Eagle Newspaper, the Court Reporters Agency, and the national tax & accounting law firm CBIZ Marks Paneth.
Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix ’78 was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul as a trustee to the New York State Interest on Lawyer Account Fund (IOLA), which helps low-income New Yorkers obtain civil legal services to protect their needs. Hinds-Radix was most recently the Corporate Counsel for the City of New York from 2022 to 2024. Previously, she was an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Second Department, from 2012 to 2022.
Ty Sagalow ’82 is a pioneer in the insurance industry, widely known as a founding member of Lemonade, the innovative digital insurer. Over his 40-year career, Sagalow has served as Chief Innovation Officer for major carriers including AIG, Zurich North America, and Tower Group. As Founder and CEO of Innovation Insurance Group, he consults with insurers, startups, and regulators on new product development and insurtech strategy. Sagalow is credited with creating dozens of insurance products, including Y2K Insurance and Cyber Insurance.
Pamela Agnone ’83 was named President and CEO of United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU). Agnone previously served as UNFCU Executive Vice President and joined the credit union in 1999 as Vice President of Lending. In 2015, she helped found and served as chair of the UNFCU Foundation. Prior to joining UNFCU, Agnone served as Vice President of Lending at Long Island Savings Bank.
Ray Goellner ’83 spent four decades in the healthcare management, most recently as Chief of Clinical Services and Pharmacy Director at Gila Regional Medical Center in Silver Springs, New Mexico. He previously served as Director of Pharmacy at Columbia Memorial Hospital, University Medical Center Tucson Arizona, El Dorado Hospital, and Benedictine Hospital. Prior to that he served as the Chief Pharmacy Officer for the U.S. Army Reserves.
Tony Dorazio ’86 was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Corning Energy, founded in 1904. Dorazio previously served as Managing Partner of Montgomery Group, an energy and utility consulting firm and held senior positions with global energy companies, including Duke Energy and BP.
Craig Brandwein ’87, an Emmy-nominated musician, released his latest work “Longing – A Love Across The Ages (An Opera In One Act).” With over five decades of experience, Brandwein has written, produced, and composed music for network television, corporate clients, recording artists, and musical theater. He is a voting member of the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), the organization that presents the Grammy awards.
Carla B. Boone ’89 is President and CEO of Holla’back Records, Entertainment & Management, LLC. Boone was selected as a finalist in an international screenplay competition for her debut script, Who Takes the (W)Rap. As a singer, actress, and performer, she has appeared in a variety of venues to critical acclaim and has managed artists whose credits include film, television, and music video appearances.
Valerie Kellogg ’90 is a senior copy editor at the real estate news service CoStar Group. Kellogg is part of an editorial team expanding national residential real estate news coverage at Homes.com. She previously spent more than 24 years at Newsday in a variety of roles, including news editor and op-ed editor.
Richard Mantell ’91 is the vice president for middle schools at the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), a role he has held since 2013. Mantell began his work at the UFT in 2004 and has received the union’s Albert Lee Smallheiser Award, the Backer/Scheintaub Award and the Vote COPE Award.
Paul Hennessey ’95, CEO of Shutterstock, was appointed to the Board of Directors at Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT). Hennessey has over 30 years of leadership experience in technology and marketplace businesses, including as CEO of Vroom Inc. (2016-2022), CEO of Priceline.com (2015-2016), and Chief Marketing Officer of Booking.com (2011-2015).
Andrew Monteleone ’96 was appointed as a councilman for the Town of Oyster Bay. He is a founding partner of the law firm Monteleone & Siegel, PLLC, which specializes in person injury litigation, and estate planning. He began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County, where he prosecuted criminal cases from arraignment to jury trials.
Corina Bartra ’97 is a popular jazz vocalist who is known for blending subtle and exciting instrumental textures in her compositions and her arrangements. She was the first vocalist to combine Afro Peruvian and Criolla music with Jazz.
David J. Yebra ’99 is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel currently serving as the Chief Veterans Officer for the Lone Star College System. He previously served as Division Director of the Training and Leader Development Division for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where he oversaw training initiatives for more than 32,000 employees. A West Point graduate, Yebra received four Bronze Star medals over his three years of combat in Iraq.
Bill Colonis ’99 is a renewable energy consultant and Associate Director, Homeowner Engagement at Connecticut Green Bank. Prior to joining Green Bank, Colonis worked as a project manager and environmental consultant for companies in Connecticut and New York.
Frank Friel ‘00, Global Executive Director R&D Formulation, Innovation, and Operations at the Estee Lauder Companies, Inc was recognized for his distinguished career in the field of cosmetic chemistry. Estee Lauder owns and operates an array of global brands including Clinique, Tom Ford, and Aveda.
Pietro “Peter” DiMaggio ’00 was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Glen Cove City Police Department. DiMaggio has served on the city’s police force since 2000. He was promoted to sergeant in 2007 and then again to lieutenant in 2015.
Ann-Maria Ewell ’00 is senior operations and revenue administrator for Weill Cornell Medicine Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. She has over 35 years of experience in healthcare administration.
Shauntee Burns-Simpson ’01 joined the American Library Association (ALA) Executive Board. BurnsSimpson is the Director of Youth & Family Services at the District of Columbia Public Library in Wahington, D.C. and serves on the Freedom to Read Foundation Board.
Shahida Choudhry, ’01 is a pharmacist and business owner. This year she celebrated nine years since first opening Palms Pharmacy in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa, Florida.
Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz ’01 is a State Representative for the 129th District of Pennsylvania. For over 10 years, she worked for Grand Street Settlement and held the position of Program Director for the Beacon Center, a school-based community center located in New York City. In addition to her role as Program Director, she worked part time as the College Counselor for Marta Valle Secondary School. In 2009, she received the James Hyson Entrepreneur Award from Community First Fund and in January 2011 she was awarded Businessperson of the Year by the Latino Chamber of Commerce.
Michael Masaracchio ’01, Director of the Physical Therapy program at LIU, was selected to be the Guest Editor for a Special Issue of the Journal of Clinical Medicine. The issue will focus on the clinical management of low back pain. In 2022, Masaracchio was elected as the vice president of the American Physical Therapy Association’s New York chapter.
Kevin Byrd ’03 is the President and CEO of Brown Byrd Foundation, Inc., a non-profit that seeks to increase awareness and prevention of prostate cancer through hands-on community service. Byrd previously served as CEO of the Long Island African American Chambers of Commerce and has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of public health.
Jason Miller ’03 is a partner at Otterbourg P.C., a century-old law firm in New York City that specializes in general corporate lending, leverage finance, structured finance, asset based lending and second
lien loans. Prior to joining Otterbourg, he was Of General Counsel at Blank Rome LLP, an Am Law 100 firm with 16 offices and more than 750 attorneys and principals across the U.S.
Leah Stillman ’04 is an administrator and educator in the visionary arts with more than 25 years of experience. She currently serves as the PreK-12 arts program coordinator for Greenwich Public Schools in Connecticut.
Amy Meyer ’05 was appointed as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at the Elwood School District. Meyer previously served as assistant superintendent for curriculum for the Center Moriches School District’s. Prior to that she worked as the director of science, technology, engineering and mathematics for the Shoreham-Wading River School District and as a professional developer and curriculum innovator for Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Murali Chand Ginjupalli ’05 is Chancellor of St. Martinus University’s Faculty of Medicine. He has over 15 years of experience in pharmacy, drug discovery, and education. In addition to his academic role, Ginjupalli is also the Chief Medical Officer of Immunocure Discovery Solutions, a company that provides cutting-edge solutions for drug discovery and development.
James C. Bock ’05 is an award-winning screenwriter and actor. His work has received extensive recognition and won numerous awards, including the Los Angeles Film Awards, Golden Cali Film and Art Awards, Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood, Vegas Movie Awards, Die Laughing Film Festival, Gold Star Movie
Awards, San Diego Movie Awards, and the Festigious International Film festival. His work has also been officially selected and recognized by an impressive roster of festivals including Marina Del Rey, Mesa International, San Pedro International, Fort Myers Beach, Block Island, New York Script Awards, and many more.
Alyssa Stepanova ’06 is an External Communications Manager at Eversource Energy, a Fortune 500 and Standard & Poor’s 500 energy company that operates New England’s largest energy delivery system. She previously served as a corporate communications manager for Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm. Prior to that she was a news anchor for NBC Universal.
Justin Grant ’06, a member of the LIU Board of Trustees, was named the Senior Vice President and Head of Content – Wealth Management Product Marketing at Bank of New York. Prior to joining Bank of New York, Grant served as Executive Director of JPMorgan Chase Advancing Black Pathways, where he developed strategies to enhance the economic foundations of Black communities globally. Grant is the author of Company Men—A Wellness Guide for Black Men in Corporate America. With over twenty years of experience, he has worked as a news reporter for Thomson Reuters and ABC News and as a corporate communications professional for top U.S. financial services firms like Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase.
Crystal Waterman ’06 is the assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and technology for the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District. Waterman was previously a principal in the Mount Vernon Central School District. Prior to that, she served as a middle school principal in Poughkeepsie and an assistant principal in New York City.
Christopher Nelson ’06 is President of Catholic Health’s St. Catherine of Siena Hospital. Nelson previously served as president of Catholic Health’s St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage. Prior to that he was Vice President of Operations for NYU Langone Hospital — Long Island (formerly Winthrop-University Hospital). Nelson began his career in health care in the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps, where he held several leadership positions and received the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
Chloe Carmichael ’07 is a licensed clinical psychologist, known as Dr. Chloe. She is a USA Today best-selling author of the book Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety, and authored a chapter in the recent book Game On: Leaders Who Last. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, as well as the National Register of Health Psychologists. She has been featured as an expert on VH1, Inside Edition, ABC Nightline, and has been quoted in the New York Times, Forbes, Vanity Fair, Shape, Cosmopolitan and Rolling Stone, along with numerous other media outlets. Her practice in New York City employs multiple therapists to serve highfunctioning business executives, people in the arts, and everyday people seeking support with personal or professional goals.
Dmitriy Boyko ’07 is Vice President for Underwriting at RenaissanceRe, one of the world’s leading reinsurance companies. Boyko joined AIG as a Financial Analyst after graduating in 2007 and went on to hold leadership roles at Chubb, Arch Insurance Group before returning to AIG as Chief Underwriting Officer Global Travel Insurance in 2023.
Jairo Borja ’07 is President of Borja Consulting Group, which serves small business owners and entrepreneurs. He is the international best-selling author of Networking Your Way to Success: 10 Steps to Building Relationships & Expanding Your Business for Entrepreneurs & Working Professionals and host of “The Dr. B Show” podcast, highlighting minority businesses and thought leaders. Borja also serves as the vice president of corporate and entrepreneurial programs for the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.
Maria Michta-Coffey ’08 is an Olympic athlete and physician assistant in Suffolk County. Michta-Coffey has won nearly 50 race walking national titles and competed for Team USA in both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 games. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class but missed her commencement speech in order to compete at the 2008 World Cup.
Daniel Napolitano ’10 is a Special Procedures Technologist and MRI Technologist at Prisma Health Richland Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. He has over 15 years of healthcare industry experience across advanced radiologic sciences, operational leadership, and clinical innovation.
Sarah Simms ’10 is the Undergraduate and Student Success Librarian at Louisiana State University (LSU). Simms won the 2025 Louisiana Library Association award for her leadership, collaboration and innovative teaching style.
Natalia M. Zimnoch ’12 is the founder and CEO of Crypto Consultants, a wealth management firm that delivers creative financial planning strategies for business owners, entrepreneurs and other professionals.
Jessica Rodrigues ’13 is an assistant professor in special education at the University of North Carolina’s School of Education. She focuses on high-incidence disabilities within the Applied Developmental Science and Special Education concentration of the School’s Ph.D. in Education program. She previously served as an associate professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Missouri. Rodrigues is the director of the Mathematics Potential Lab, a research lab supporting mathematics learning of K-12 students, and the principal investigator on two National Science Foundation grants.
Rebecca Megan Gibbons ’14 is a distinguished Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with advanced certifications in integrative mental health (CIMHP), emergency nursing (CEN), and NY-SAFE. She recently opened a private practice in Harrison, New York.
Maria Lopez ’15 has over eight years of experience at Diligent, where she currently serves as a Director in the Solutions Marketing group. During her time at Diligent, she has held several key positions, including Director of Customer Marketing & Experience and Senior Product Marketing Manager. Before joining Diligent, Lopez worked as a Media Planner at Ogilvy.
William Gustafson ’15 was appointed Dean of Mannes School of Music and Associate Dean of the College of Performing Arts at The New School. An award-winning stage director, teacher, and administrator, Gustafson’s work has garnered praise from numerous national publications including the Denver Post, New York Times, and Boston Globe.
Kenneth Gooding ’15 currently works at Insight Global, a global staffing company specializing in delivering talent and technical solutions to Fortune 1000 companies across the IT, Non-IT, Healthcare, and Engineering industries. Prior to that, he was an OutSystems Technical Lead at Resolution Life, a global life insurance company. He began his career at HewlettPackard as a software engineer.
Naina R. Farukh ’16 is Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at Institutional Investor. She joined the company upon graduating from LIU as a Junior Project Manager. Farukh has been promoted five times since joining the company in 2016. While at LIU, she was a member of LIU-iQ, the university’s client paid consulting program.
Lihi Elkayam ’16 is the Owner and Head Therapist at OneBody Physical Therapy. Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the boutique practice emphasizes individualized care and personal attention.
Brendon Rodney ’16 earned a silver medal in the 4x100 relay for Team Canada at the World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo. Rodney now holds six medals in international competition, including two gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze medal.
Anthony Montalbano ’17 was hired as an Associate at Burns White LLC, working from the firm’s Philadelphia office. His practice focuses in the area of healthcare and long-term care law. He defends doctors, hospitals, and long-term care health facilities in medical malpractice and liability matters.
Adetokunbo Kareem Agoro ’18 is Assistant Principal of Half Hollow Hills High School East. Agoro began his career at Elmont Memorial High School, teaching history and coaching varsity football, and most recently served as Assistant Principal for the Sewanhaka Central High School District’s Summer School Program. He has also led programs such as Men of Elmont and My Brother’s Keeper, supporting student leadership and mentorship.
Daniel McLaren ’19 is a physician assistant with orthopedics at Bassett Medical Center. McLaren is board-certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Gianni Fazio ’19 was elevated to Chief Accounting Officer at Chicago Atlantic, a private market investment firm. Prior to joining the company in 2023, Fazio was a Venture Associate at Adit Ventures, managing operations and financial reporting for venture funds. He began his career as an auditor at Forvis Mazars.
PJ Usak ’19 is an Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs in New York. Usak sits within the Cross Markets group executing M&A transactions across various different industry groups, primarily Consumer and Retail. Previously, he was an Analyst and Associate in the Consumer Retail group at Stephens. Prior to graduation, Usak held various summer internship positions across investment banking, hedge funds, consulting, and fixed income trading.
Ojas Prakashbhai Doshi ’20, Senior Formulation Scientist at PAI Pharma, co-authored a new study published in Nature’s Scientific Reports. Doshi has secured five fully-granted patents, with four additional patents pending approval.
Maggie Peikon ’21, Manager of Communications at the American Hiking Society, appeared on the national AccuWeather Network to discuss National Trails Day, an initiative to encourage people to get outdoors and featuring an array of public events aimed at advocacy, trail service and building community outdoors.
Amaya Espinal ’21 and Bryan Arenales won Love Island USA 2025 on Peacock, becoming the first Latino couple to win the show. Espinal is a first-generation Dominican-American cardiac nurse from New York City.
Amy He ’22 joined S&P Global as a credit analyst after graduating as valedictorian. She began her career in the Structured Finance Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) sector and now works in the Americas Public Finance group, specializing in Healthcare. He’s passion for finance began with her involvement in an investment fund and deepened through her experience with Girls Who Invest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing women’s representation and impact in the banking and asset management industries.
MonaLesa Diamond Brackett ’22 is the founder of The Real Estate Fairy, a nonprofit that assists people in need of safe housing. She represented New Hampshire in the 74th edition of Miss USA, a national beauty pageant that selects the country’s Miss Universe 2025 candidate.
Olivia Lucia ’25 was appointed as Assistant Coach for the Colgate University Volleyball Team. In 2023, Lucia contributed to the Sharks’ Northeast Conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance.
“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 place 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.
