Fall 2021 LIU Magazine

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE

FUTURE

Your gifttotothe the Your gift Annual Fund Annual Fund helps make helps make your LIU your LIUdegree degree more valuable! more valuable!

YOU ARE OUR LEGACY

YOU ARE OUR LEGACY

Long Island University has earned more national recognition

Long Island University has earned more national recognition than ever before because of YOU.

than ever before because of YOU.

Alumni leaders and friends—like YOU—advance the mission of the

Alumni leaders YOU—advance University through and your friends—like successes, honors, and awards.the Wemission are proud through your successes, honors, and ofof allthe youUniversity have achieved. awards. We are proud of all you have achieved.

YOUR GIFT HAS POWER

Your support crucial to help LIU students achieve their dreams.

YOUR GIFTisHAS POWER FUYour ND Asupport FUTUREis crucual to help LIU students achieve their

dreams. funds play a critical role in recruitment, retention, and Scholarship graduation. YOU can make a dream come true with your gift to the

FUNDFund A FUTURE Annual for LIU.

Scholarship funds play a critical role in recruitment, retention, and graduation. YOU can make a dream come true with your gift to the Annual Fund for LIU.

Please visit liu.edu/donate.

Please visit: liu.edu/donate 2

LIU MAGAZINE | SPRING 2018

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES

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LIU: A Study in Transformation

08

Roc Nation ROCKS LIU

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Reshaping Education: The Importance of Civics and Presidential Leadership Lessons

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The Society of Presidential Descendants Bestows First Book Award

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Groundbreaking 3D Simulation Laboratory Advances LifeSaving Discoveries

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Iconic Mansion Turns 100

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Stay connected!

Visit LIUalumni.com or email liualumni@liu.edu to share News and Notes or update your alumni profile, address, and/or contact information.

Winnie Mack: Living the Good Life

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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COVER STORY

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LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

LIU: A Study in Transformation

U N I V E R S I TY O F TH E F U TU R E Long Island University continues to climb higher through strategic vision and innovative practices.

L

ong Island University’s vision is grounded in innovation and transformation. The University is accelerating exceptional outcomes for students.

The University’s first strategic plan strengthened LIU’s academic, student life, and financial metrics. LIU 2020: Education Beyond Boundaries was launched in 2014 with bold and measurable goals: achieve prominence in academic excellence for students and faculty; gain recognition as a ‘best value’ institution; secure and sustain a strong financial position; expand a culture of community engagement; and create a vibrant student experience.

By 2015, the University was well on its way to gaining recognition as a national teaching and research institution. LIU secured millions in federal grants that led to groundbreaking awards. Prestigious faculty earned international recognition for their studies. The aspirational strategy infused both the LIU Brooklyn and Post campuses with renewed energy and spirit. In 2018, LIU was certified by the National Collegiate Athletic Association as Division I, unifying sports across campuses. Today, there are 36 Division I men’s and women’s athletic teams.

Between 2015 and 2020, academic quality increased and the University’s four-year graduation rate nearly doubled. Student average SAT scores rose to record highs, and the core curriculum was redesigned to reflect current educational needs. By 2020, the endowment soared to an all-time high of $325 million, far exceeding the $200 million goal. The University also committed to an annual tuition cap increase of 2% to address and sustain affordability.

LIU's Musical Theatre department was recognized as a top-30 performing arts program in the nation with 20 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Awards. The School of Business was honored by The Princeton Review

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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COVER STORY

as one of the nation's best business schools for the 15th consecutive year.

LIU’s mission became clear: provide excellence and access in private higher education to those who seek to expand their knowledge and prepare themselves for meaningful, educated lives and for service to their communities and the world.

LIU’s vision to become a nationally recognized, globally engaged, teaching and research university was in sight, and the second strategic plan came into focus: LIU 2030: University of the Future.

Advancing academic excellence through innovation LIU’s College of Veterinary Medicine joined Cornell, Tufts and the University of Pennsylvania as one of four veterinary schools in the Northeast.

The College of Veterinary Medicine emphasizes teaching and research, providing students and faculty access to federal grants and distinguished fellowships. Partnerships with more than 70 offices open doors for clinical rotations.

To meet the growing demand for fair and balanced journalism, LIU established the George Polk School of Communications in honor of the legendary CBS correspondent, George Polk. With a focus on emerging media platforms in the news industry, the Polk School’s curriculum offers indemand skills such as podcasting, video production and online reporting to train the next generation of journalists. The School is led by awardwinning writer Robin Hemley, director and Polk Professor in Residence.

Advancing solutions for a sustainable global future The rapid evolution of technology and its applications in every industry led

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LIU leverages virtual and augmented reality to advance experiential learning.

Advancing excellence through innovation, extraordinary and distinctive experiences, and a sustainable global future.

LIU to form a revolutionary partnership with Fortune Future 50 company Dassault Systèmes. A state-of-the-art, on-campus laboratory that deploys Dassault’s virtual reality and 3D engineering software was created where students can enter a digital world to design video games, simulate autopsies, and streamline economic processes.

The Roosevelt School is a timely initiative with a focus on civic education, servant leadership and presidential studies. Inspired by the legacies of President Theodore Roosevelt and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it includes the Society of Presidential Descendants formed by Americans with direct lineage to United States presidents; the Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling and Analysis which conducts empirical research and polls to inform the public and policy makers; the Theodore Roosevelt Institute for public

seminars and presidential research; and the Global Service Institute, led

by Emmy award-winning broadcaster Rita Cosby, and inspiring community service and social entrepreneurship.

Advancing student engagement through extraordinary and distinctive experiences Making national headlines, the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment was launched in fall 2020. This dynamic partnership with JAY-Z’s entertainment empire offers students unprecedented opportunities to engage with music, sports and entertainment industry greats. The Roc Nation School attracts legendary producer 9th Wonder, Grammywinning artist Megan Thee Stallion, and renowned global advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy to educate a new generation of professionals.

as a Division I contender, representing the ‘One LIU’ unified athletics program. LIU won the 2021 Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup as the best athletic program in the Northeast Conference for the first time in 34 years after winning the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup in 1987. Freshman fencer Laura Fekete won the national fencing title over fencing powerhouse Notre Dame to bring home the Sharks’ first Division I National Championship.

Over the next decade, this transformational vision will continue to elevate the University to achieve its strategic goals. Long Island University is creating the University of the Future that inspires extraordinary students to change the world.

Accelerating exceptional outcomes and impactful careers for every student.

Along with these inventive academic programs, the Sharks are emerging

Roc Nation, who works with famed musicians including the Jonas Brothers (above), provides students with a complete understanding of the entertainment industry.

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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FEATURE STORY

ROC NATION ROCKS LIU T

he highly anticipated launch of the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment debuted with hip-hop producer 9th Wonder leading the way, and world-class brand strategist Wieden+Kennedy lending their support for the JAY-Z and Long Island University partnership.

9th Wonder has lectured at Harvard and Duke, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Virginia. At the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment, he is teaching courses in hip-hop history and the making of an album. He is widely known in the music industry for his work with legendary hip-hop and R&B artists Destiny’s Child, Mary J. Blige, Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

PRESTIGIOUS ROSTER of educators includes legendary producer 9th Wonder (above) who is widely known in the music industry for his work with hip-hop and R&B artists Destiny’s Child, Mary J. Blige, Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

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MUSIC CHANGED MY LIFE AND OPENED DOORS FOR ME IN WAYS THAT I NEVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED, SO IT’S ONLY RIGHT THAT WE IMPART OUR KNOWLEDGE TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMBITIOUS LEADERS." — 9TH WONDER

“I’m truly honored to teach at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment and I look forward to equipping students with the tools they will need to break barriers in their own lives and careers,” 9th Wonder said.

advertising and marketing with a versatile array of subjects, including “How to Be a Good Troublemaker” and “Nothing is an Accident.”

Students learn to discern the difference between creative impact and traditional creative work, while drawing knowledge from some of today’s most unconventional creative practitioners.

“The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment is providing unique insight, knowledge and experiences for students, giving them unprecedented educational entrée into the world of entertainment and sports,” added Long Island University President Dr. Kimberly Cline.

One of Roc Nation’s most high-profile artists, Megan Thee Stallion, shared her passion for education by giving back. Fresh off her three Grammy Awards in 2021—she provided a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to a Roc Nation student. Megan is also participating in LIU’s "Industry Expert Speaker Series," where she will speak directly to students about her personal industry expertise.

"Getting an education is incredibly important to me," Megan said. "I still have academic goals that I want to achieve, so if I can use my resources to open doors and create opportunities for at least one student, then it's a victory. It's important that we encourage our students to pursue their passions and put them in positions to become the next game changer in whichever fields they choose."

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“How culture gets made is mostly a mystery,” said Michael Hagos, Creative Director at Wieden+Kennedy.

“We want to show more people how to get in the room, how to claim a seat at the table, and how to channel their unique voice and creativity to solve business problems.”

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Wieden+Kennedy is best known for creating Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign, but the agency has also collaborated with several of the world’s pre-eminent brands, including Anheuser-Busch InBev, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Ford, KFC, KraftHeinz, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble and Samsung.

These dynamic partnerships create an electric atmosphere where students of the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment engage with the most influential minds in the industry.

In addition to juggling her responsibilities as one of the world's pre-eminent musicians, Megan is graduating in December with a degree in health care administration and plans to use her degree to open and manage assisted living facilities in her hometown of Houston, Texas.

The Roc Nation School is partnering with global, award-winning advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy on new Creative Promotion in Media courses. The courses help students understand the impact and cultural relevance of a creative career in

The faculty at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment breaks down the barriers of entry into the creative industry and brings in unique perspectives from all corners of the world.

Learn more at: liu.edu/rocnation 1. Grammy award-winning hip-hop artist, Megan Thee Stallion. 2. Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment students enjoying the welcome event at LIU Brooklyn in September.

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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FEATURE STORY

The legacies of President Theodore Roosevelt, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (left to right) are the inspiration for LIU's Roosevelt School.

RESHAPING EDUCATION: The Importance of Civics and Presidential Leadership Lessons

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any young students dream of becoming president of the United States one day, but few have the opportunity to sit down with a former president to fully understand what it means to actually be president. Long Island University’s Roosevelt School and The Society of Presidential Descendants are bringing that experience to life through innovative programs that emphasize civics and provide students unique opportunities to walk in a president’s footsteps.

This singular partnership has created a scope of work to advance civic education in America through the historical lens of American presidencies. The designation of

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National Civics Day to the official national calendar is an initiative that invites communities across America to rally to create generations of informed global leaders.

Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of the 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman and First Lady Bess Truman, stated that “civics education is an engine driving this country forward.

As my grandfather said, ‘Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.’”

The mission is to emphasize the importance of teaching civics at all levels of education on a national scale and increase programs

about the workings of government, history and civil debate. The annual National Civics Day on October 27 encouraged communities to participate in civic-minded actions and programs.

"It is my sincere hope that the Society of Presidential Descendants becomes the authority in educating America about each president, their leadership styles and how civics can play a vital role in this educational endeavor. I am encouraged about the future of America and its potential for leadership," said Massee McKinley, great-great nephew of the 25th U.S. President William McKinley, and great-great grandson of the 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland.

If Americans don’t understand how their government works, they will not understand their responsibilities. If Americans don’t live up to their responsibilities, then their government will not work."

— Tweed Roosevelt, great-grandson of Theodore Roosevelt, LIU professor, and chairman of the Theodore Roosevelt Institute at LIU

The Society of Presidential Descendants is comprised of direct descendants of United States presidents who have come together to inspire civic engagement and education.

Lynda Johnson Robb, the daughter of the 36th U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and his First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, commented, “In this time of polarization, I hope that this Society can encourage the study of our country's history and how its Presidents have influenced it. We look forward to having an impact on the dialogue of what unites us as a country.”

Congressman Tom Suozzi

Along with the Roosevelt School, the Presidential Descendants are reinvigorating civic awareness to shape the future of education.

“We established the Roosevelt School as a preeminent institution for education and practice in global relations, diplomacy, leadership and service,” said Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline. “We are looking for students determined to make a difference in the world and become model global citizens and leaders.”

Congressman Tom Suozzi introduced Resolution 756 in the House of Representatives to support the designation of October 27 as National Civics Day. This day encourages schools, businesses, community organizations, and all people of the United States to celebrate and promote civic education.

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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FEATURE STORY

The Society of Presidential Descendants Bestows First Presidential Leadership Book Award

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restigious leaders, intellectuals, and descendants of United States presidents gathered together to celebrate renowned author Ted Widmer, winner of the first Biennial Presidential Leadership Book Award awarded by the Society of Presidential Descendants at Long Island University.

Widmer’s book, Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington, was selected for the prestigious award, which recognizes works that display literary excellence and preeminent scholarship on the topic of presidential leadership. Lincoln on the Verge details the dramatic story of how President Abraham Lincoln discovered his own strength to save the Republic as a divided nation plunged into its deepest crisis in history.

Members of the Society of Presidential Descendants in attendance for the book award celebration, including direct descendants of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William McKinley, Harry S. Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and more.

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chronicled the eight-day meeting in Yalta with “The Big Three” world leaders as they negotiated the endgame of World War II. 1

“Writing this book was a labor of love for me,” said Widmer. “I think Lincoln was our greatest president faced with one of our nation’s most difficult challenges, and winning this award from the Society of Presidential Descendants is a true honor.”

The award ceremony was hosted

by Dr. Douglas Brinkley, a nationally acclaimed presidential historian, New York Times bestselling author, contributing editor at Vanity Fair, and the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities and professor of history at Rice University.

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1. From left: James Reston, David Greenberg, Ted Widmer, and Tweed Roosevelt acknowledge Widmer as the prestigious book award winner. 2. Dr. Douglas Brinkley serves as master of ceremonies during the book award celebration.

Two other finalists also received recognition as runners up for the award. Susan Berfield wrote The Hour of Fate: Theodore Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, and the Battle to Transform American Capitalism, which centers around Roosevelt and Morgan’s simultaneous struggle for mastery in an era of social upheaval and rampant inequality.

Diana Preston, author of Eight Days at Yalta: How Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin Shaped the Post-War World,

"The Society of Presidential Descendant’s prestigious book award was judged by a board of renowned historians and journalists,” shared Tweed Roosevelt, great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, university professor and chairman of the Roosevelt School at Long Island University. “The 2021 Biennial Presidential Leadership Book Award recognized three outstanding books published in the previous two years about our nation’s highest office and the strategies that have shaped United States history and policies.”

The book award is a cornerstone of the Society of Presidential Descendants’ mission to enable the public to better understand the leaders who have built the nation and encourage all Americans to exercise their civic rights.

“This biennial book award reflects the best works published about our country’s leaders—from George Washington to Joseph Biden—and how our nation has advanced as a result of their leadership,” said Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline.

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FEATURE STORY

Groundbreaking 3D Simulation Laboratory Advances Life-Saving Discoveries PARTNERSHIP WITH FORTUNE FUTURE 50 COMPANY DASSAULT SYSTÈMES PROVIDES 3DEXPERIENCE PLATFORM FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LEARNING

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nside a state-of-the-art laboratory nursing students are performing a digital autopsy to determine their patient’s cause of death, and pharmacy students are synthesizing and testing new drugs that could save future patients’ lives—virtually.

The new facility created in partnership with Fortune Future 50 company Dassault Systèmes, makes these scenarios possible with virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Its capabilities stretch far beyond the medical field to create an environment that encourages students to experiment and innovate.

“We offer our students new skills and emerging technology,” said Long Island University Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Randy Burd. “Our 3DS lab gives our students hands on experience that successfully prepares them for a cutting-edge career in a wide range of industries.”

The lab is complete with high-speed computers, ultra-wide monitors equipped with VR goggles and hand controls, and automated robots. Students can engineer products and control features in real time with the VR tools. For example, they can hold a virtual heart in the palm of their hands to get a 360degree look at every moving part.

Students interact with Anatomage digital anatomy tables with data from real patients to perform detailed autopsies, with the ability to filter through every system of the human body, from cardiovascular to skeletal. The same features can be applied to animal studies for students of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

"The goal is to give students an opportunity to experiment with the design and actually accelerate the process of developing a product or performing a procedure," said Mohammed Ghriga, chair of the Department of Technology, Innovation and Computer Science.

LIU has partnered with local high schools to arrange field trips to the new lab to showcase the capabilities of this technology. The 3DExperience platform is a staple of the university’s Bachelor of Science in AI, preparing students with the knowledge they need to advance in their career— with nearly unlimited potentials. Students can learn how to apply AI in business logistics, sales, manufacturing, self-driving vehicles, robotics, automated shipping, cybersecurity, software engineering, advanced VR/AR gaming and more.

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Photo: Long Island University

A guest in the 3DS lab uses VR goggles and hand controls to study human anatomy through the Dassault Systèmes platform.

3D SIMULATION LAB

Photo: Long Island University

Students can digitally engineer products and manipulate features in real time with the virtual reality tools in LIU's 3D Simulation Laboratory.

From left: LIU President Kimberly Cline, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Randy Burd, and Dassault Systèmes Senior Vice President Al Bunshaft cut the ribbon to open the 3DS lab inside the B. Davis Schwartz Library.

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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FEATURE STORY

2021 THEN AND NOW Winnick House circa 1955 in comparison to 2021.

Iconic Mansion Turns 100

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he Tudor-revival mansion atop the sprawling Great Lawn of the LIU Post campus is a 59-room country house and a symbol of elegance on Long Island. The 17th century British style home was owned by Post Cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and Wall Street tycoon E.F. Hutton.

The estate was transformed from 1921 to 1929, from a Spanish villa into a sprawling 176-acre Elizabethan village, farm and equestrian center.

Mrs. Post and Mr. Hutton christened the estate Hillwood to reflect the land’s hilly terrain and natural forests. During the spring and summer, Marjorie and E.F. would entertain society elite, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, sculptress Gertrude Vanderbilt, business mogul Harry Payne Whitney, American publisher Conde Nast, August Belmont (financier of the NYC subway system), and Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg.

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The Hutton and Post Dynasty They were the original power couple.

Marjorie Merriweather Post and Edward F. Hutton married on July 7, 1920. She was the sole heir to her father’s (C.W. Post) multi-million dollar breakfast manufacturing company, and he was a world-famous investor and founder of the brokerage firm E.F. Hutton & Co. The pair commissioned architect Charles Mansfield Hart and landscape architect Marion Crugger Coffin to design an estate with a 59-room manor home, a farm and dog kennel, horse stables, a putting green, tennis courts, and a brick arbor in the Roslyn section of Wheatley Hills on the north shore of Long Island.

Downton Abbey-like staff from chefs to chauffeurs would keep the estate in working order year round.

Because society did not allow women in leadership positions in the early 20th century, Marjorie could not serve in an executive capacity for the

company that she inherited. Therefore, E.F. Hutton was named chairman of the board of the Postum Cereal Company in 1923 to handle the dayto-day operations. Behind the scenes, Marjorie was fulfilling her father’s plan to build the world’s largest food conglomerate called General Foods Corporation. Many of the products are in American cupboards and supermarkets today, including Birds Eye frozen vegetables, Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O, Honey Bunches of Oats, and Log Cabin Syrup, all a result of Marjorie and E.F.’s strategic vision.

LIU Post Inaugural Class In 1951, Long Island University obtained the 176-acre Brookville estate from Mrs. Post to create C.W. Post College, serving Long Island and the thousands of returning veterans from World War II. The first class of 121 students in September 1955 attended classes in

1 1. The Great Hall inside the Winnick House in 2021 vs. the 1920s.

2. The entrance to the Student Union in the 1950s is now the entrance to the Great Hall today.

former bedrooms, fancy dining halls, and the Great Hall which resembled a medieval hunting lodge. One professor, Newton Meiselman, a biologist, recalls that a classroom in a former servant’s dining room had an electric call board, with signals keyed to respond to the family’s summonses.

(No one answered the summonses occasionally rung by his students.)

In addition to the main house and two guest cottages (Kumble Hall and Mullarkey Hall), students attended classes in converted chicken coups, barns and a nine-car garage (Crafts Center). LIU’s early students remember chicken feathers floating around the chemistry lab while some students rode their horse to class. “The entire experience was something out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel,” remembered John Capra ’59, senior class president and a member of C.W. Post's first fouryear graduating class.

In 2004, LIU alumnus Gary Winnick ’69 made a generous multi-million dollar donation to restore the Post mansion where he took classes as a student. The gift allowed for a complete renovation of the mansion including upgraded air conditioning and bathrooms, refurbished wood, and Tudor brown exterior paint.

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In honor of the 100th birthday of the historic residence, LIU is establishing the Marjorie Merriweather Post Scholarship Fund to benefit the next generation of LIU Post students.

Contact Dr. Rita Langdon at 516.299.2580 or rita.langdon@liu.edu for details.

Research and story by Dr. Rita Langdon, graduate of LIU (’91, ’95, ’17, ’19) and co-author of the book, Hillwood: The Long Island Estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post.

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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FEATURE STORY

Winnie Mack: Living The Good Life

tending to her, listening as Mack asked question after question about the appendix, what it did, what the surgery was like, and what she should expect for recovery. It was obvious to Nurse Lee that Mack would never be a gym teacher. “’No,’ Nurse Lee said. ‘You’re going to be a nurse.’” Mack recalled. “I asked her how she knew that and she told me words I will never forget: ‘Because you care. You care about the entire process for the patient, even though the patient this time is you. You’re a natural.’”

Winifred B. Mack

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ew women realize they are pioneering a path until they look back at the winding road they traveled. Winnie Mack is one of those women; part of a generation who decided to work when choices were limited.

“You could be a secretary, teacher, or a nurse—and that was it,” said Mack, who was appointed executive dean of health professions and nursing at Long Island University in September.

In high school Mack was an avid athlete, cheerleader, and good student with plans to become a gym teacher.

But at 16, she was hospitalized for appendicitis. She recalls Nurse Lee

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Mack went on to study nursing at Nassau Community College and graduated with an associate’s degree.

Early in her career, Mack took a position close to home at Syosset Hospital so she could provide care after her mother fell ill. There she gained valuable experience in medical surgery, and became one of the first nurses to specialize in dialysis nursing. This would prove to be a watershed moment for Mack; it was the beginning of organ procurement and transplant work, and she would be leading it forward for the remainder of her career.

In 1976, Mack obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Long Island University. By 1978, Stony Brook Hospital asked Winnie to run its new unit for kidney transplant and procurement. She received her master’s degree in nursing in 1985 – also from Long Island University.

“I have been very blessed in my career,” says Mack. “I do believe in the power of prayer, and I have seen my share of miracles over the years. There is

nothing like being part of giving the gift of life through organ donation.”

Mack applied to Nassau County Medical Center to be the assistant director of nursing in 1985. Her mother passed a year later, and her father was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy – also known as “broken heart syndrome”.

He was given 3-5 years to live unless he received a heart transplant. Mack said most people embraced the idea of their loved one living on through a transplant, but, she recalled, “the world gets a little smaller when it’s your own loved one.”

Near the 5-year mark for her father’s heart transplant, they got the call: a heart was waiting for him. But Mack’s father refused the heart and said that it should go to a young person who had much more life to live. She respected his wishes, and he died a week later.

“My parents were hard-working, salt of the earth people. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we learned that love and altruism were the cornerstone of a happy life,” Mack said. “My father demonstrated that up until the very end, with that last unselfish act for an unknown stranger who received the heart.”

By 2002, she was recruited by Northwell Health to be the deputy executive director of ancillary services. Mack’s impressive career led her to the 2011 post as regional executive director, managing operations for seven hospitals on Long Island. By 2017, she was named senior vice president of operations for Northwell Health.

Did you know?

165M

Photo: Long Island University

As of 2019, there are 165 million people registered as organ donors.

10 min.

Below: Winnie Mack cuts the ribbon at the opening ceremony in 2017 for the Interprofessional Simulation Center at LIU Post.

She was an advisory board member and trustee for several health professions boards, and the founding member of both the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NACTO) and the New York Transplantation Society. In 2018, she was named an honoree for Irish Americans in Government and the YMCA. Mack said she will never forget the awe-inspiring first kidney transplant she witnessed in 1970. Years later, the patient found her on social media, and they connected. She is married, and a mother of two children. They remain in touch to this day.

“That’s the thing about this work,” Mack said. “There’s ineffable tragedy, but the lives that have been saved, those moments of life reasserting itself, that’s what keeps giving back. I could not have chosen a better path for myself.”

Every ten minutes another person is added to the national transplant wait list

The lives that have been saved, those moments of life reasserting itself, that’s what keeps giving back.

I could not have chosen a better path for myself.”

– Winnie Mack

1984

In 1984, the National Organ Transplant Act passed. In 2004, Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act (PL 108-216) passed allowing NOTA to reimburse travel and living expenses for living organ donors and provided for grants to states and public entities.

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

NEW YO RK LI F E ’S TE C HNOL OGY E XPER T BILL CASSIDY ’92 APPLIED LIFELONG LEARNING SKILLS TO BECOME CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

the lens of computers, and Cassidy became hooked on computer programming.

He blended his newfound passion for computers with a minor in economics that positioned him well for the rapid growth of technology in the financial services industry. Cassidy’s indemand skillset landed him a position at Goldman Sachs as a software developer, his first inroad to what would be a stellar career.

Bill Cassidy

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rior to building a successful career in the technology sector that led him to the top of the corporate ladder, Bill Cassidy ’92 began his journey like any other New Yorker: in an apartment so small that he could open his refrigerator while lying in bed.

“We had very small class sizes, which afforded a community-like feel,” Cassidy said. “As the coursework became more challenging, it required all of us to work together to solve the problem, so we figured out how to work together as a team.”

Today, he is the chief information officer for New York Life, the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States, but he credits his humble beginnings and LIU education for many of his biggest achievements.

Born and raised on Long Island, Cassidy studied computer mathematics at LIU thanks to the inspiration of his high school basketball coach and math teacher.

The curriculum was delivered through

You’re not going to get too far without hard work, commitment, humility, and the ability to use trial and error to learn.”

– Bill Cassidy

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Cassidy would rise to vice president of information technology at Goldman Sachs before moving on to other highlevel leadership positions at Western Asset Management, BlackRock, Oz Management and New York Life. One of the common threads for Cassidy is the ability to help his business partners and clients understand how technology can expand their business.

In his new role as CIO at New York Life, Cassidy is responsible for all of the technology that the company uses to manage its policy holders’ accounts.

His priorities are to ensure the stability of all production systems, deliver strategic business value projects, and protect the company from cyber security threats. He expressed his pride in the fact that technology is working alongside business partners to meet the company’s objectives together.

He has witnessed an incredible amount of change in the technology sector in nearly 30 years — from the onset of the World Wide Web to the proliferation of iPhones in every hand.

Cassidy believes that always being willing to learn new things, continually developing new skills in business and technology has helped him keep pace with the industry. Cassidy says this mindset is crucial for students who aspire to join the corporate ranks.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

P A S S I O N for F A S H I O N

Mercedes studied school counseling at LIU, and attributes much of her success to the skills she learned here.

“Counseling is such a huge part of fashion, or at least what I do because when I get a woman who is insecure, or she’s not confident, I use all the tools that I learned at LIU to help show compassion and help build her up,” said Mercedes.

Her lifelong passion for fashion stems from her grandmother and great aunt, who were both fashion designers. Mercedes drew her first dress on a piece of construction paper when she was seven years old, and her grandmother took her straight to the fabric store. Mercedes created the dress and wore it to her seventh birthday party.

At LIU, Mercedes discovered that her love of fashion and her desire to help others could work together. While pursuing her master’s degree and working as a counselor to children and youth with behavioral issues, she taught them job readiness and how to dress for success, fitting them for suits provided by her employer.

“I remember seeing the kids light up and change once they put on a suit – there was a noticeable difference in their attitude and confidence,” she recalls. “Once I saw how I was able to

empower people through fashion, that became my love.”

As a company, Melissa Mercedes is thriving in the fashion industry by empowering women to develop their own sense of self and break free from current body image stigmas. As a designer, Mercedes hopes to grow her brand and expand into menswear with the same philosophy. Despite her early accomplishments, she measures success based on the follow-yourdreams message she promotes.

I remember seeing the kids light up and change once they put on a suit – there was a noticeable difference in their attitude and confidence.

Once I saw how I was able to empower people through fashion, that became my love.”

– Melissa Mercedes

“The fact that people have caught onto what I’m doing is a bonus, but that’s not why I do it,” Mercedes said. “For me, it’s about doing what I love.”

Below: Tyra Banks on the stage of Dancing With the Stars wearing the “Twilight” gown designed

by Melissa Mercedes.

Photo: Eric McCandless/Getty Images

T

yra Banks glided onto the stage to host an episode of Dancing With The Stars wearing a stunning black gown embroidered with black crystals that she described as “an absolute dream to wear.” It was a surreal moment for the up-andcoming designer of the dress, Melissa Mercedes ’11, who is recognized for luxury plus-size fashion with a mission of promoting self-confidence and self-love.

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

LEA D I N G DI V E R SI TY A T V I SA

TR U ST E E

MICHELLE GETHERS-CLARK ’83 CHAMPIONS FINANCIAL INCLUSION THROUGH GIVING BACK

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nrolling at Long Island University as a first-generation college student was more than a milestone for Michelle GethersClark ’83. She was giving back to her parents, who both tragically passed away before reaching their dream of seeing their children receive a formal education.

Today, as the chief diversity officer and head of corporate responsibility for Visa, she is a member of the Long Island University Board of Trustees.

She continues to personify the value of giving back.

“I have been on the front lines with one mission: to end poverty and create economic mobility for all,” said Gethers-Clark. “It brings me up close to what my parents had to face.”

LIU caught Gethers-Clark’s attention because she wanted to become an accountant, and since the University founded the first school of professional accountancy in the nation, she applied. She was accepted through the New York State Higher Education Opportunity Program— designed to provide opportunity, access and support for students in underserved communities— and received a scholarship. The community service opportunities and personal mentorship from professors helped her navigate her college life and subsequent career.

Gethers-Clark started as an accountant but quickly broadened her interests and built a 20-year tenure with American Express, rising to senior vice president and general manager

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of card operations. Her leadership in the company’s philanthropic initiatives paved the way for her to pursue roles as president of The Center for Service and Leadership and The United Way of Greater Greensboro in North Carolina. At the United Way, she spearheaded innovative fundraising campaigns that delivered $90 million to address poverty for children and families directly.

“It’s really special because it’s about having a world where there is financial inclusion and where education is still the foundation of all of our success,” Gethers-Clark said.

It’s really special because it’s about having a world where there is financial inclusion, and where education is still the foundation of all of our success."

– Michelle Gethers-Clark

Gethers-Clark joined the LIU Board of Trustees in 2020 in part because she wants to inspire other alumni to give back and because she admires the leadership of President Dr. Kimberly R. Cline. She hopes to continue opening pathways for first-generation college students to earn degrees and further build the University’s culture with diverse and inclusive programming.

“It’s more than compassion, it’s more than empathy, it is my purpose,” said Gethers-Clark. “With the analytical and critical thinking ability that I gained at LIU, it is foundational.”

Michelle Gethers-Clark

Gethers-Clark intends to create new partnerships, guide internal and external diversity strategy, leverage data to make informed decisions, implement programs at the community level, identify opportunities to invest in small businesses, and above all, be a voice on behalf of people who feel silenced.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

TRAI L B L A Z I N G T E C H N OLO G Y

TR U ST E E

GREG GALDI ’76 HOPES TO GUIDE HIS ALMA MATER TOWARD THE FUTURE BY GIVING BACK

G

reg Galdi ’76 once analyzed the contents of a radioactive waste barrel retrieved by a three-person submarine from the depths of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Francisco. Despite exciting expeditions like this, Galdi feared his job as a chemist would lead to a lifetime of slow-moving work for the government, so he decided to make a change.

He traded the submarine to launch his own technology services company that has been thriving for more than 40 years. As the President and CEO of Custom Computer Specialists Inc., Galdi and his team are recognized as one of the top tech solution providers in North America, and he recently joined the Long Island University Board of Trustees to give back to the University that gave him his start.

“Here’s my chemistry background talking – giving back is a way of putting energy back into the system to make the system stronger and more capable,” Galdi said. “I can’t put energy in the system in Washington, but I can put it into Long Island, and I can put it into the people who work for me, and I can put it into my alma mater.”

He excelled in chemistry, physics and math, and he went on to complete an internship at Brookhaven National Laboratory, which became a full-time job offer upon graduation. Here Galdi became fascinated with learning how to write code and started doing it in his spare time. He founded his company in 1979.

His first project was to create a computerized bus scheduling system for the Hampton Jitney, which led to contracts with Wall Street firms and more. Today his company employs 400 people who work with government agencies, school districts, healthcare facilities, accounting and law firms, and Fortune 500 companies.

“I run alongside my people, so I can be there when they need me and be invisible when they don’t. You have to work as a team and not a hierarchy.”

As a member of the Board of Trustees, Galdi hopes to apply his extensive knowledge to help Long Island University accomplish its goals through the use of technology. He also looks to inspire future entrepreneurs to make valuable changes in the world and lead by example.

We started putting engineers on site to support our clients and nobody had done that. The thread of that service component stays with us today.”

– Greg Galdi

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

F RO M L IU T O T H E F BI BRIAN C. TURNER ’98 APPLIES LEADERSHIP SKILLS GAINED AT LIU TO LEAD THE BUREAU’S LARGEST BRANCH

I

t was his first day on a new job in the private sector after a decade of service in the Army, and although Brian C. Turner ’98 accepted the position, he was planning to join one of the three-letter agencies as soon as possible. The day was September 11, 2001, and Brian witnessed the largest terrorist attack in American history from his office.

Determined to work as an agent of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, Turner was able to begin what would be a decorated career in law enforcement when the FBI lifted its hiring freeze shortly after the attack. Twenty years later, Turner is now fourth in command at the Bureau as the executive assistant director of the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch.

“When the attack happened, it validated my choice, I definitely didn’t want to go into corporate America,” Turner said. “It reinvigorated me, and I needed to be doing something to protect our country.”

Challenging himself to go beyond his comfort zone is what Turner regards as the trait that has carried him to success. He grew up in Chicago’s inner city and often changed schools while his single mother supported him and

his brother. He was studious and often bullied. One day while avoiding a bully, he fled to the school office where he met a West Point recruiter. Turner was hooked by the Army’s honor code and the possibility of a free education.

Brian C. Turner

My LIU degree has been instrumental to me being where I am today in the FBI. In every assignment that I’ve been in since joining management, I’ve used the topics and concepts and thought processes from what I learned at LIU.” – Brian C. Turner

Turner admitted he struggled as a cadet at West Point, but it helped him learn the importance of time management and achievement. After graduation, he joined the infantry and served at military bases around the country, and eventually returned to West Point as a tactical officer.

There he earned a master’s degree from LIU through a joint program designed to train officers in leadership development.

Turner’s ability to assess an organization’s strengths and weaknesses made him a valuable asset to the FBI, and he moved through the ranks easily. In his current role, he oversees the largest branch of the FBI—and it is the busiest assignment of his career.

“As human beings, we constantly try to avoid that unenviable feeling of failure,” Turner said. “I embrace it because I know on the backside of that are lessons learned, and you’re going to be all the wiser.”

As human beings, we constantly try to avoid that unenviable feeling of faiture. I embrace it because I know on the back side of that are lessons learned, and you're going to be all the wiser."

– Brian C. Turner

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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

LIU Pharmacy Is Leading Revolutionary Learning for Students

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he Leonardi Institute for Health Analytics and Artificial Intelligence at the LIU Pharmacy campus in Brooklyn is revolutionizing learning for Long Island University students. The College of Pharmacy is partnering with Agilum Healthcare Intelligence, an industryleading healthcare analytics company, is hosting an innovative post-doctoral fellowship program using Agilum’s proprietary analytics platform.

Photo: Long Island University

Nine fellows will spend two years working alongside LIU faculty and staff at the Institute and the experts at Agilum to identify and assess pharmaceutical drugs' efficacy, costs, and outcomes. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Agilum platform allowed clinicians to identify the rapid increase in the use of hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine,

midazolam, propofol, ketamine, cisatracurium, and fentanyl, yielding a clear understanding of the impact of current and future pandemics on the drug supply chain.

“Long Island University is a leader in educating health care professionals and providing cutting-edge technology to offer students unmatched hands-on learning experiences,” said Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline. “Agilum’s revolutionary platform will enhance our vision of preparing students for the future of medicine.”

Fellows will have full access to Comparative Rapid Cycle Analytics® (CRCA) P&T, Aglium’s longitudinal database that contains records from tens of millions of de-identified patients from across the country to generate real-world evidence. The database includes US Census population details on patients' clinical, financial, demographic, and drug information.

The platform compares the drug use and cost data of specific target populations and filters them by age, gender, disease status, comorbidities, hospital type (urban, rural, academic, medical center, etc.), and objective and statistical similarities.

Using the database will enable fellows to pinpoint areas to lower the total cost of care and improve quality by comparing large groups of patients who received different treatments for the same ailments. In addition, treatment outcomes allow clinicians and health systems to determine treatment options, patient compliance with treatment, and monitor interventions' safety.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Agilum and excited to launch this new

From left: Dr. Arash Dabestani, dean of LIU Pharmacy, and Agilum CEO Travis Leonardi cut a ribbon to celebrate the opening of the Leonardi Institute at LIU Brooklyn.

chapter for LIU Pharmacy,” said Arash T. Dabestani, PharmD, MHA, FASHP, FABC, Dean of LIU Pharmacy. “CRCA is an exceptionally promising new platform, and we are confident that the opportunity provided to our students and fellows to develop expertise in data analytics will identify novel and innovative opportunities for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.”

“We believe this revolutionary approach to evidence-based care delivery, backed by comprehensive real-world data, represents the future of healthcare. As Agilum demonstrated during the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, arming clinicians with real-world data helps them save patients’ lives.” said Travis Leonardi, RPh, CEO of Agilum.

The Leonardi Institute is named for Agilum CEO Travis Leonardi, who has helped healthcare organizations realize billions of dollars in savings during his 30-year career.

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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Changing the Face of Veterinary Medicine Through Research Excellence

V

eterinary medicine is evolving thanks to the researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Long Island University, who are uncovering emerging pathogens, analyzing potentially harmful compounds in pet food, and addressing the changing climate with support from competitive federal grants and fellowships.

Dr. Maria Forzan, assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, earned the National Science Foundation’s prestigious Faculty Early Career Development Program grant, which supports faculty with the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. The grant will fund Dr. Forzan’s continued investigation of host response in the pathogenesis of Ranavirus in amphibian species.

From top: Dr. Maria Forzan, Anna Schaubeck, Dr. Jonathan Stockman

Dr. Forzan’s work has helped scientists worldwide gain a better understanding of how the changing climate can affect an amphibian’s immune system and lead to the unprecedented population losses observed in recent years. LIU students are now playing an active role in assisting her, as well as earning additional research opportunities of their own.

Anna Schaubeck, a second-year student at the College of Veterinary Medicine, was selected as one of the most promising veterinary students for her pursuit of wide-ranging research across agricultural and veterinary sciences. As one of the 2021 Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Vet Fellows, Schaubeck uses computational tools to identify microbiota changes in American lobsters associated with Epizootic shell disease (ESD), an infection on the shell which can lead to secondary infections or death. By identifying genes associated with protection against ESD, Shaubeck is working to protect a valuable commodity of the US shellfish industry from changing climate impacts.

Other researchers at LIU are taking a clinical look at the food that your pets eat. Dr. Jonathan Stockman, assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, analyzed the phosphorus content in dog and cat foods and the lack of regulatory guidelines in the pet food market. Dr. Stockman found that many commercial feline diets are high in dietary phosphorus content and can cause chronic kidney disease if phosphorus intake is not restricted. His findings were published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Stockman’s expertise in animal nutrition and clinical veterinary nutrition has led to several published research papers in international scientific journals. He is also the assistant editor of two veterinary journals and served on the American College of Veterinary Nutrition board between 2017 and 2020.

American lobsters suffer from Epizootic shell disease as a result of climate change, and LIU Vet Med student, Anna Schaubeck, is working to identify microbiota changes associated with the disease to protect this valuable commodity of the shellfish industry.

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The College of Veterinary Medicine, one of just 34 veterinary schools in the United States, and one of four veterinary schools in the Northeast was founded in 2020 and enrolled its second doctoral class in fall 2021.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

County Executive Laura Curran Awards Nursing and Pharmacy Students for Vaccination Efforts

N

Curran presented students with a citation of recognition and appreciation from the County Executive’s Office for administering vaccines to their fellow students, faculty and surrounding community at the LIU Post campus vaccination center operated by the Nassau County Department of Health.

“I would like to thank LIU Post for partnering with Nassau County in our vaccination efforts to protect residents from the COVID-19 virus,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein, who delivered the citation to the students. “Nassau County continues to be a State leader in the high percentage of eligible residents who have been vaccinated against this virus—this is a testament to the dedication of our partners across the County.”

The exclusive partnership between LIU and Nassau County created a campus vaccine center that was staffed entirely by volunteer nursing and pharmacy students and faculty who underwent special training to administer the vaccine. With supervision from Nassau County health officials, pharmacy students and nursing students worked together to administer the shots to 2,289 members of the community between February and May. Thanks in large part to these brave students, Nassau County reported in July that 80% of adults had received at least one dose of the vaccine – the highest percentage among all New York counties with a population of at least 200,000. Nassau County has become a national model for COVID-19

Photo: Long Island University

ursing and Pharmacy students at Long Island University received special recognition from Nassau County Executive Laura Curran for their courageous volunteer contributions to the vaccination effort during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Image: LIU Nursing and Pharmacy students receive a citation of recognition from Nassau County Executive Laura Curran’s office on April 16, 2021, for their volunteer efforts at the LIU campus vaccination center at Bush-Brown Hall.

vaccination, and LIU community members who contributed to the effort were proud to assume this historic responsibility.

“When I meet with the students before they come, the first thing I tell them is when you are older, and your family or children or grandchildren say ‘what did you do during the pandemic?’ You can say, ‘I worked in a POD, I gave the vaccine out,’” said Dr. Denise Walsh, dean of the LIU Post School of Health Professions and Nursing.

2,289

members of the community received their COVID-19 vaccination at LIU between February and May.

Students who worked in the vaccine center echoed that pride, especially after a special event where they vaccinated more than 300 of their LIU classmates. Junior nursing student Annalyse Potter always knew she wanted to be a nurse, but serving on the frontlines during the pandemic confirmed her decision.

“In my heart, I know that this just pushed me to want to help people even more, and just help fight this awful virus,” Potter said.

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Alexander More, Honors College Director, Elected to Royal Geographical Society Dr. Alexander More conducting field research off Sao Miguel Island in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores.

R

ecently honored as a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Dr. Alexander More can now be mentioned in the same breath as Charles Darwin, who discovered the evolution of species, and Ernst Shackleton, the first person to reach the South Pole. Joining these legendary intellectuals as a member of the Royal Society allows Dr. More to connect with an eminent network of researchers and field scientists to design new projects and bring experts to his research team.

1

As the United Kingdom’s learned society and professional body for geographers, the Royal Geographical Society has sponsored the world’s most relevant scientific expeditions since its founding in 1830. Dr. More’s fellowship is the result of independent nominations by two other fellows and approval by the governors of the Society, led by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

1. Dr. More delivering a keynote address at the Global Exploration Summit. 2. A map created by Dr. More showing the impact of the climate on the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918.

“I’m delighted and honored to be part of the Royal Society, and I look forward to contributing to their journal,” said Dr. More. “As someone who was raised in Europe, it has a special meaning because we look to the British learned societies as among the top professional associations in Europe.”

Recognized mostly for his published works about climate change and public health, Dr. More has gained added notoriety for bringing high-impact data to the eyes of the public

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and media by creating maps and other visual representations that are easy to understand. Most recently, he created a map of the oil spill in California to show where and how much oil had been spilled from more than 100 incidents in the United States in 2021.

Dr. More’s current interests lie in the impact of climate change on people’s health, as well as the relationship between pandemics and air pollution.

As observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, air quality greatly improved as daily activities slowed around the world. Dr. More is tracing that phenomenon across pandemics of the past 1000 years to identify actions we can take today to reduce pollution.

He is also working to determine what clean air actually looks like to then set standards for pollution that improve the overall health of our population.

Becoming a member of the Royal Society also provides new avenues for publishing his research and giving his students the opportunity to be published as well. It adds another impressive title to his resume, but he prefers to be known simply as Alex to his students and colleagues, and he hopes that this honor can further advance the mission of the LIU Honors College.

“I trust that such recognition from the Royal Society will cement the prestige of the Honors College at Long Island University, which is now a 60-year-old program that is ranked as one of the best and most diverse honors campuses in the country,” said Dr. More.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

T R AN S FO R M ATION A L LEA D ERSHIP

I N E D U C A TI O N

DR. LAURA SEINFELD PROJECTS THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AS NEW YORK’S TOP CHOICE FOR ASPIRING TEACHERS

M

entors play a crucial role in aspiring teachers' lives as they navigate student teaching, certification exams, and professional development courses. For Dr. Laura Seinfeld, dean of the School of Education, her most memorable experience with a mentor came in the middle of her career when she was deciding whether or not to become an administrator. She never wanted to leave the classroom, but her mentor gave her a piece of advice that stuck with her: “You’re always a teacher, it’s just a different student.”

Dean Seinfeld enjoyed a fulfilling career as a district leader for several Long Island school districts and the leader of professional organizations throughout New York State. Her work came full circle when she joined LIU in January 2021 to oversee the education programs at LIU Post and LIU Brooklyn, and continue her own mentorship of future educators.

“As an administrator, you teach teachers, you teach support staff, you work collaboratively with other administrators,” said Dean Seinfeld. “I want everyone to be their absolute best, research-based, innovative selves because it’s all about the students we serve.”

Dean Seinfeld's teaching career began as a high school English teacher in the New York City Department of Education before rising to dean of students and assistant principal. She then served as a chairperson in the HewlettWoodmere Public Schools and as the director of curriculum in the Smithtown

Central School District. Next, she held positions as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District and Hewlett-Woodmere and as the proud superintendent of schools until 2020 in Oyster Bay-East Norwich. Most recently, she became a member of the Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundation’s board of directors.

Dr. Laura Seinfeld

Teachers need to continue to adapt, not just to use the best technology in their classrooms, but to help students become true purveyors of knowledge and critical thinkers about the information that they have.”

– Dr. Laura Seinfeld

At LIU, Dean Seinfeld is excited to strengthen the pipeline of future educators by creating rich and relevant pre-service experiences. She has worked with colleagues within the University and the New York City Department of Education to provide holistic and sustainable student teacher preparation as part of the Gates Foundation grantfunded NYC Coalition for Teacher Preparation. She is also eager to expand programs in teaching, leadership, counseling and school psychology as the need for educators and mental health professionals grows. The Ed.D. program in transformational leadership utilizes an inter-disciplinary approach to equip graduates with the economic, political and social knowledge to become impactful leaders who recognize the diverse and changing needs of the education field.

“I want LIU to be the premier School of Education that is the top choice for aspiring educators by continuing to assess and build programs based on needs in the field and continuing to evolve as a learning organization,” said Dean Seinfeld.

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Long Island University Salutes Faculty Who Continue to Accelerate the Exceptional

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION APPOINTED AS SPECIAL DEPUTY Two-time Super Bowl Champion Perry Williams (former New York Giants cornerback) is currently director of the sports management program at LIU. In addition, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office appointed Perry as a special deputy to mentor the department’s youth initiatives. Williams is well known for dedicating his post-football career to community service and education, inspiring his students as a highly successful collegiate and professional athlete.

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RENOWNED AUTHOR WINS LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD Zaina Arafat, professor of journalism, recently won the coveted Lambda Literary Award for the best Bisexual Fiction author for her book You Exist Too Much. The Lambda Literary Awards advocates for LGBTQ writers, elevating the impact of their words to create community, preserve their legacies, and affirm the value of their stories. Arafat’s book was chosen from more than 1,000 submissions.

RESEARCHERS MAKE I M P O R TA N T D I S C O V E R Y I N CHRONIC DISEASE A groundbreaking study by LIU professors serves to advance the treatment of cirrhosis, a liver disease that kills over 1.3 million people per year. Published in Nature Journal Scientific Reports, Dr. Jeffrey Idle, director and endowed professor of Arthur G. Zupko’s Institute for Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, and Dr. Diren Beyoglu, associate director, found that fetal bile acids, normally absent in adults, reach increasingly high levels in plasma as liver cirrhosis progresses, adding an important biomarker for evaluating the stages of cirrhosis.

X- R AY E X P E R T J O I N S CUTTING-EDGE O R G A N I Z AT I O N

ESTEEMED RESEARCH GRANT AWARDED TO P H A R M A C Y FA C U LT Y

Dr. Simon Bates, adjunct professor at LIU Pharmacy, joined the X-ray analysis team at Rigaku Americas Corporation, a global leader in X-ray spectrometry, diffraction, and optics, as well as small molecule and protein crystallography and semiconductor metrology. Rigaku will utilize Dr. Bates’ expertise in X-ray analysis to tailor its systems to clients’ needs and push Rigaku technologies into new markets.

Jaclyn Cusumano, PharmD, BCIDP, and assistant professor of pharmacy practice, was awarded a highly competitive grant by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s New Investigator Award. The grant is given to early-career pharmacy faculty intended to provide a foundation for future scholarly endeavors and continued extramural funding success.

NSF GRANT AWARDED TO LIU COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSOR

DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR FOUNDS BRAIN INJURY CLINIC

Dr. Christopher League, associate professor of computer science, was awarded a grant to collaborate with researchers at the University of New Mexico. The National Science Foundation’s Office of Advance Cyberinfrastructure grant will improve tools to help astronomers and other scientists build and test software pipelines that run on CPU/GPU clusters and analyze high-throughput data from scientific instruments. The grant will support Dr. League and up to two students over three years of research.

Mayya Teytel-Cocozza, adjunct professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, founded the Leading Innovative Multicultural Brain Injury Clinic, providing therapy for adults and adolescents who have sustained head trauma. As a brain injury specialist and speech-language pathologist, Teytel-Cocozza focuses on diagnostic and therapeutic services for bilingual and monolingual patients with communication and/or swallowing disorders.

MICHAEL J. FOX F O U N D AT I O N A W A R D S GRANT TO LIU Dr. Gemma Moya-Gale, assistant professor in the Communication Sciences & Disorders Department, will use this prestigious grant to continue groundbreaking research on Parkinson’s Disease. It will also fund the development of an app to help Parkinson’s disease patients monitor their speech intelligibility over time, improving their ability to effectively communicate.

FA S H I O N M E R C H A N D I S I N G DIRECTOR DISCUSSES G E N Z I N N O VAT O R S Fashion Merchandising Program Director Cherie Serota offered expert advice to brands that appeal to Gen Z consumers. In an interview with Sourcing Journal, Serota said that the new Gen Z customer is more concerned than ever with recycling and repurposing garments to reduce carbon footprints, and that brands need to engage with Gen Z consumers-turned-social-mediainfluencers who are driving modern fashion trends.

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES

ZACKARY HILL

S H I VA N I VA I D YA

Class of 2022 LIU Global Global Studies

Class of 2023 LIU Brooklyn Business Administration, Finance

A senior at LIU Global, Zackary Hill has studied in five countries over the past three years. He is currently conducting research in Vienna, Austria, on how smaller nations navigate asymmetrical power dynamics in international relations. Zackary’s current internship with the Innovations in Politics Institute in Vienna incorporates many interesting duties, including helping to write a speech for former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. After graduation, Zackary plans to continue to get a Master's degree in International Relations.​

ROBERT L A P O L LO

MARK MARANAN

Class of 2022 LIU Post Business Administration

Class of 2023 LIU Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Robert LaPollo began attending LIU Post in the fall of 2018 and is currently pursuing a degree in business administration with plans to attend law school. He has served in several leadership roles around campus, including IFC vice president of new member development, Student Government Association (SGA) parliamentarian, Phi Sigma Kappa, and SGA president. As president of the SGA, Robert prioritizes student representation and encourages his peers to work together to advocate for positive changes on campus. He is also committed to increasing student involvement in campus organizations to allow students to make the most of their LIU experience.

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Shivani Vaidya is a junior studying for a BBA in finance. She is currently the executive vice president of the Student Government Association, sector head at the LIU Investment Fund, and former founder/president of LIU W.O.M.E.N. She was also a resident assistant and orientation leader on campus, selected to be a mentor of the Emerging Leaders Society, and selected for the Dean’s Scholars Program in the School of Business. Shivani works a part-time job at Wells Fargo and will also be interning in the company’s Wealth & Investment Management Program in Summer 2022.

Mark Maranan is a pharmacy student in his third professional year. He currently serves as the president of the Pharmacy Student Leadership Council, the student-led governing body of the College of Pharmacy, and the president of LIU’s chapter of Rho Chi, the national pharmacy honor society. Between these organizations, he has been involved in planning the annual pharmacy club fair, organizing class representative elections, and tutoring other pharmacy students. “It’s been a great experience so far, and I’m looking forward to what the rest of the academic year will bring,” Mark said.

STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES

ALEXIS PIETERS

IFRAH ANSARI

Class of 2022 LIU Post Political Science

Class of 2022 LIU Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Alexis Pieters is a political science major with a criminal justice minor. As a resident assistant, president of the Black Student Union, and member of the Dean’s Council for Diversity and Inclusion, Alexis is a key member of the Post community who strives to make all students feel welcome.

According to Alexis, “Being a part of the council makes me feel as though I am helping every minority student feel great about calling LIU home.” In June 2021, Alexis began interning with the Kennedy’s Children Center in New York City as a Legislative Action Intern.

F R E S H TA H SARWARI Class of 2023 LIU Post Biology

Freshtah Sarwari is a biology major and undergraduate research assistant aspiring to become an optometrist. According to Freshtah, “I love being in an environment where there are so many hard-working and motivated students in the field of STEM.” Freshtah founded two student organizations at LIU—the Smile Train and the Muslim Student Association (MSA). Under Freshtah’s direction, the MSA raised over $10,000 to create sustainable solutions for individuals in third-world countries who lack access to education, healthcare, and medical needs. Freshtah was named the 2021 President of the Year on the Post Campus for her outstanding leadership.

Ifrah Ansari is a sixth-year pharmacy student at the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy.

Ifrah has served as president and national liaison of the Pakistani American Pharmacist Association, director of Journal Club for American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and student volunteer director for the Mount Sinai East Harlem Health Outreach Partnership. Ifrah enjoys coordinating direct patient outreach events to use her student pharmacist skills and help educate patients. In her free time, she likes to read, go on runs, learn new recipes and hang out with her family.

K H A L I L LOV I C K Class of 2023 LIU Brooklyn Health Science

Justina knewisgoing intoscience pharmacy that shethe goal Khalil Lovick a health major with ultimately want towithin practice oncology of building would relationships the in LIU Community. and work with the underserved Born and raised in Brooklyn, he iscommunity. right at home Moving from a small town ruralare Pennsylvania and wants others to feel likeinthey at home too. to Brooklyn exposed her to a wide range leader Khalil is currently a second-year orientation of opportunities to do so.

HerConolly most recent and resident assistant for the Residence experience was a COVID-19 Hall, treasurer ofcreating the Student Activities‘Myths Board, and Facts’ presentation forthe anStudent adult college junior council governor for Government class. Her advisors and the of American of Association, and a member the BlackSociety Student Health-System Pharmacists-StudentSociety.

Societies of Union and Pre-Med/Pre-Professional Khalil has strong aspirations and is driven to become the first pediatrician in his family.

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ATHLETICS L I U S H A R K S A W A R D E D B E S T AT H L E T I C P R O G R A M IN NORTHEAST CONFERENCE Long Island University is the best all-around athletic program in the Northeast Conference for the first time in 34 years. LIU brought home the 2021 Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup after winning the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup in 1987. The Sharks also earned the Joan Martin Women’s Commissioner’s Cup for the best women’s athletic program in 2021. In addition to winning the NEC women’s tennis and men’s golf crowns, LIU qualified for the NEC Tournament in a league-best nine sports and posted top-four finishes in the NEC standings in 14 different sports.

W AT E R P O L O E A R N S N AT I O N A L RANKING

L A C R O S S E S TA R C O N T E N D S F O R P L AY E R O F THE YEAR HONORS

For the first time in the program’s two-year history, the LIU women’s water polo team earned a spot in the national rankings. The Sharks broke into the rankings at #24 in the nation and climbed to #23 after defeating Villanova, La Salle and Iona to finish the regular season 7-0 and claim the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season championship.

Men’s lacrosse goalie Will Mark was added to the watch list for the Tewaaraton Award, given annually to the top male and female studentathletes in NCAA Division I lacrosse. The award is viewed as the preeminent honor in college lacrosse, and Mark has been a force in the net for the Sharks. Mark led the nation in saves per game, ranked in the top 10 in save percentage, was named Northeast Conference defensive player of the week for four consecutive weeks, and was named an AllAmerica honorable mention by Inside Lacrosse.

MEN’S GOLF CAPTURES CONFERENCE TITLE The men’s golf team earned the 2021 Northeast Conference title with a 295 team score in the final round of the championship match to hold on to a two-stroke lead. It is the first conference title since 2004 for the Sharks, who finished the event at 33-over par. Freshman Jan Rybczynski led LIU with a second-place finish individually at four-over par.

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THREE SHARKS CROWNED TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONS

W O M E N ’ S T E N N I S D O M I N AT E S CONFERENCE

The men’s and women’s track and field teams ended their 2021 season on a high note by bringing home three gold medals at the Northeast Conference Championship meet.

Senior Stephanie Esogenwune won the gold medal in triple jump and was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Performer. Freshman Sherene Williams also earned the gold medal in shotput, and freshman Momodu Sey won gold in the 100-meter dash.

The women’s tennis team continued its dominance in the Northeast Conference by earning its fourth straight conference championship. The Sharks defeated Bryant University in the title meet to cap off an undefeated season and clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Junior Sofiya Kuzina was crowned NEC Tournament MVP and named to the All-Tournament team along with her teammates Valentina Dancenco and Victoria Erechtchenko.

A L L - A M E R I C A N F E N C E R W I N S N AT I O N A L C H A M P I O N S H I P — B E AT S O U T N OT R E D A M E

LACROSSE COACH REACHES HISTORIC CAREER MILESTONE

LIU freshman fencer Laura Fekete became the first Shark ever to win an NCAA Division I National Championship in the epeé discipline, defeating the top-seeded fencer from the University of Notre Dame in the title bout. Fekete earned first-team All-America honors in the process, while her teammates Anna Szántay and Chejsa-Kaili Seck earned third-team All-America honors, also becoming the first All-Americans in program history.

Women’s lacrosse head coach Meghan McNamara earned her 200th career win when the Sharks defeated Central Connecticut State on March 13. Now in her 14th season as head coach, McNamara previously led LIU to two NCAA Division II National Championships in 2012 and 2013, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and five East Coast Conference titles.

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

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History of Long Island Preserved for Future Generations Thanks to Palmer School Project

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tudents at the Palmer School of Library and Information Science – ranked among the “Best Archival Science Programs” in the country by U.S. News & World Report— published a comprehensive and groundbreaking digital database of documents that will preserve the history of Long Island for generations.

The five-year project, “Digitizing Local History Sources,” involved 105 master’s and doctoral students at the Palmer School and resulted in more than 65,000 images and documents from 45 participating non-profit organizations across Long Island that are now digitally available to the public for the first time.

“Students of the Palmer School have become world-renowned archivists, historians and librarians,” said Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline. “I am proud that Long Island University can offer our students a unique experiential learning opportunity that will preserve the history of Long Island.”

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The collection documents the breadth of life on Long Island: from the diary of a 1920s schoolgirl to the daily calendar of a school superintendent during World War II; the daily account book of an 18th century blacksmith to advertising scrapbooks from the quintessential Long Island department store; 17th century deeds to 20th century real estate agent records; photos of early 1900s automobile races to scrapbooks documenting the destruction caused by the Hurricane of 1938; the daily life of wealthy Gold Coast residents to the treasured photo albums of Fire Island community members.

“Long Island’s historical societies’ archival collections are among their most valuable assets.

RDLGF’s partnership with the LIU Palmer School of Library and Information Science offers students hands-on archival training while introducing our historic stewards to the best practices in handling and accessing their incredible resources. Having these collections available online will now easily expand research capabilities into Long Island’s rich heritage,” said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, established in 1987, funded the study of Long Island history and its role in the American experience with a $1.5 million grant. Robert David Lion Gardiner was the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner’s Island, NY. The Gardiner family and their descendants have owned Gardiner’s Island since 1639, obtained as part of a royal grant from King Charles I of England.

The “Digitizing Local History Sources” project can be accessed online by visiting https://liu.access.preservica.com. Suggested search terms for beginning to explore this rich collection include “Whaling,” which reveals three journals from whaling ships; “Hurricane,” which shows photo albums and scrapbooks from hurricanes from 1938 to 2012; and much more.

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The “Digitizing Local History Sources” project can be accessed by visiting: https://liu.access.preservica.com.

Suggested search terms for beginning to explore the collection include:

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1. Aerial view of Long Beach Estates via the Long Beach Historical Society 2. Davidson Family Photo via the Rockville Centre Historical Society 3. A young girl holds a goat via the Rockville Centre Historical Society. 4. A Fire Island lighthouse keeper with his wife and dog in 1915, via the Ocean Beach Historical Society.

5. A racing automobile in New Foundland in 1902, via the Vanderbilt Meuseum.

6. A postcard depicting Old Country Road in Mineola, via the Mineola Historical Society.

SEARCH TERM

RESULT

Whaling

3 journals from whaling ships

Girl

Multi-volume handwritten diary of a high school girl, 1923-1927

Automobile racing

Photo albums of races by William K. Vanderbilt II

Hurricane

Photo album and scrapbook of hurricanes from 1938 to 2012

Blacksmith

Blacksmith shop ledgers, 1900-1924

Land

18th century deeds and other items

Postcard

Hundreds of images of postcards from across Long Island

Club

Over 1,800 images relating to clubs of various kinds

Family

Over 4,000 images related to families

Glass Plate

Over 1,100 glass plate negatives

Landscape

Over 1,000 images of landscapes, sketches, and notes

House

Over 1,600 images related to houses and housing

Dog

46 images with dogs

For additional information, please contact Project Director Dr. Gregory S. Hunter at Long Island University’s Palmer School of Library and Information Science: greg.hunter@liu.edu

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Apple + LIU Partnership Launches Digital IDs for Campus Community two-factor authentication to ensure only the user can access their account, even if someone else knows their password. Through a partnership with Transact, a leading campus credential solution provider, users can also suspend their campus ID if needed through the app or website.

A myLIU Mobile Card user taps their mobile device to a digital reader to make a purchase at a campus store.

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ong Island University, in partnership with Apple, launches the first-ever digital ID app for campus students, faculty and staff. The myLIU Mobile Card grants unprecedented access to campus amenities with just a tap on iPhones, Apple Watches or Android phones.

This new mobile solution can be used for any action that previously required a physical ID card, such as buying lunch, making purchases at campus stores, and entering dorms and fitness centers. Further, it provides data for frequently used areas, increased security measures, and it’s environmentally friendly. Students, faculty and staff can use their digital ID with Apple Wallet or Google Pay. “Long Island University is a leader in technological innovation, and

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we offer our community members this new tool to create a seamless campus experience,” said Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline.

“The myLIU Mobile Card is an exciting opportunity to further enhance our strong campus safety protocols.”

The move from physical cards to a contactless, digital ID bolsters the University’s thorough health and safety protocols by helping LIU community members avoid touching card readers or handing their ID cards to someone else. The system also creates a more cost-effective and ecologically friendly process by eliminating the need to print and mail physical ID cards.

One key priority for the University was the privacy and security of the data collected by the digital ID system. The myLIU Mobile Card is protected by a

LIU’s relationship with Apple has grown since the launch in 2015 of Browse, an Apple-authorized campus store that serves as an all-purpose tech center. Browse showcases a range of high-end technology devices to enhance the student experience including hands-on learning opportunities in retail, customer service, business management, entrepreneurship, small business operations, supply chain management, and technology support, all while working alongside Apple-certified technologists.

LIU continues to be an architect for the future of higher education through its use of technology, and members of the community are gaining a more valuable campus experience with every innovation.

“The students love it, and the rest of the LIU community is quickly making the switch from physical to digital IDs,” said Vice President for Information Technology George Baroudi. “Their physical wallets are much thinner, and particularly the use of Apple Watch to open gates and doors, or make transactions at a dining hall or campus store, has been remarkably liked.”

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Hornstein Center Polls Show America’s Support for Economic, Environmental, Health Policies

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mericans are showing increased confidence in the country’s economic recovery and response to the coronavirus pandemic, but growing concern over the effects of climate change around the world, according to recent national polls conducted by the Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling and Analysis at Long Island University.

Results of the polls were published by news outlets across the nation, including the Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Yahoo! News, Business Insider and Newsday, providing valuable data to policymakers and the public.

Half of the respondents said they believed the federal government’s stimulus aid package would boost economic regrowth during the pandemic. Political views made a difference: 65% of Democrats said yes; 40% of Republicans said yes, and; 41% of independents said yes.

The poll also revealed that 34% of Americans said they would spend their $1,400 stimulus check on necessities such as bills and food; 23% said they were saving their check. Asked about the amount of the stimulus, 47% of Americans believe it should have been higher, and 38% said it was just right.

vaccinated, 45% said they would feel safe working out in gyms, and 33% said they would feel safe attending a full capacity stadium event.

The majority of respondents (65%) also agreed that the United States is not doing enough to combat climate change. When asked how the country should improve its efforts, 69% of Americans said they support subsidies for renewable energy technologies, 61% support subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles, and 60% support the country’s net-zero emissions target for 2050.

Support for environmental initiatives waned, however, in a recent Hornstein Center poll regarding the federal government’s infrastructure bill. Respondents were asked which components of the bill they agreed with. The majority said clean drinking water (70%); roads, bridges and major projects was 62%. Environmental remediation was supported by 55% of Americans, and electric vehicle infrastructure was supported by 49%.

As America moves forward, Hornstein Center polls will continue to provide in-depth analysis and empirical research that offers a deeper understanding of the concerns that are influencing public opinion and policy.

Americans were more cautious to resume indoor activities, with 50% stating they would feel safe using air travel when

73%

of respondents believe global warming is a serious and pressing issue

61%

of respondents would feel safe socializing at a beach, park or pool if vaccinated for COVID-19

58%

of respondents would feel safe dining out in restaurants if vaccinated for COVID-19

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Midnight Madness Celebration WELCOMES SHARKS TO THE HARDWOOD

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he second annual Midnight Madness celebration kicked off the 2021-22 LIU basketball season with a night full of games, food, dancing, giveaways, and Shark Nation pride.

Nearly 1,000 students enjoyed the festivities as the men’s and women’s basketball teams introduced themselves to their classmates by competing in three-point shooting and dunk contests inside the Shark Arena.

Fans had the opportunity to cheer on the LIU dance and cheerleading teams, meet their homecoming king and queen, indulge at food trucks and dessert stations, and win free Shark memorabilia.

Both the men's and women's basketball teams tipped off their seasons on November 9 and Shark Nation is ready to support their classmates as they compete for the Northeast Conference championship.

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Homecoming H SHARK NATION CELEBRATES

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omecoming weekend made its highly anticipated return to LIU Post campus this fall with thousands of students, parents, faculty, alumni and friends in attendance to enjoy all of the festivities.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium served as center stage surrounded by carnival rides and games, food trucks, tailgating, and the Sharks’ first home football game of the season against Merrimack College.

The athletic fields also turned into a nostalgic scene for former studentathletes as they competed in men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and baseball alumni games. Alumni of the prestigious Honors College reminisced about their college days during the traditional Honors Breakfast.

Throughout the weekend, guests were also treated to performances from the Dave Parsons Dance Company and jazz vocalist Kurt Elling inside the award-winning Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. Indoor and outdoor movie screenings of Disney’s Cruella, as well as the LIU Golf 2021 Charity Tournament, capped off the weekendlong celebration.

Shark Nation pride was on full display as the University expressed its gratitude for the 285,000-plus alumni network that continues to elevate LIU to new heights through their professional accomplishments.

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Long Island University Awarded Competitive Grant for Drug Discovery Platform

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ong Island University received a competitive $378,000 grant from the New York State Higher Education Capital (HECap) Matching Grant Program, to be used for the construction of an open-access Drug Discovery Platform housed in LIU Pharmacy.

The Drug Discovery Platform will enable students to develop new drug designs and spin-off companies, as well as provide a local resource for critical research for companies to move products from design to market.

Construction of the platform, which includes new laboratories on the Brooklyn campus, began in spring 2021.

Long Island University continues to invest in cutting-edge initiatives to expand our degree offerings and training for careers in the fourth industrial revolution-inspired job market and contribute to our region’s growing life sciences corridor.

With HECap support, the Drug Design Platform creates opportunities for new academic programs at LIU such as BSE and MS degrees in digital health and engineering for up to 500 new students. The platform will attract additional students to the University for its artificial intelligence and digital engineering-enhanced health curricula.

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The Drug Discovery Platform includes two laboratory components: The 3DEXPERIENCE® platform (3DS) from Dassault Systèmes for learning, certification and professional training; and the FabLab digital fabrication laboratory equipped with an array of cutting-edge tools to convert ideas into 3D digital prototypes.

The 3DS technology is the Drug Discovery Platform’s training arm, relying on new, collaborative teaching and learning paradigms that equip students with the digital and artificial intelligence skills required to be successful global leaders in the 21st century.

Long Island University awarded competitive New York State HECap Grant

$378,000 This prestigious grant will be used for the construction of an open-access Drug Discovery Platform

Activities in the FabLab focus on generating innovative biological products for use in preclinical studies and Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, including generic drug manufacturing, therapeutic antibodies, diagnostic kits, immunotherapies, veterinary vaccines, and neuromicrobiology. The goal of LIU’s state-of-the-art FabLab manufacturing facility is to meet all FDA Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards when it reaches a steady state. The FabLab will also offer testing in—specifically COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

“The Drug Discovery Platform continues to keep LIU at the leading edge of research and innovation,” said Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy (LIU Pharmacy) Dean Dr. Arash Dabestani. “We are grateful for the HECap grant which supports LIU’s continued efforts to meet the demand for high technology readiness for our students and our region’s growing pharma and nutraceutical sectors.”

Prior HECap awards for LIU include a $618,250 grant in 2019 for the construction of a confocal microscopy core laboratory and a $500,000 grant in 2018 to build a medicinal chemistry laboratory.

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ON THE SHELF An Alaskan Adventure: A Travelogue and Environmental Treatise

Pump: A Natural History of the Heart

Next Move, Best Move: Transitioning Into A Career You’ll Love

By Bill Schutt

By Kimberly B. Cummings

By Alan R. Adaschik

Alan Adaschik ’73 travels to breathtaking locations in Alaska and advocates for the preservation of our planet’s environment.

Adaschik’s third book chronicle’s his motorhome journey through the remote Alaskan landscape with his wife and two dogs while stressing the importance of conservation for future generations. Before becoming an author, Adaschik served as a fighter pilot in the Navy, a flight test conductor for the Grumman Aerospace Corporation, and a financial analyst.

9/11 Remembered: 20 Years Later

By Bob Martin

Emeritus professor of biology and accomplished author Bill Schutt ’78 explores the fascinating history of the human body’s most vital organ. Schutt’s previous works include the widely acclaimed New York Times Editor’s Choice, "Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History." He taught biology at LIU Post for 22 years and his research has been featured in Natural History magazine as well as in the New York Times, Newsday, the Economist, and Discover.

Kimberly B. Cummings ’08, ’13, a career and leadership speaker, coach and consultant, published her highly anticipated debut book focused on finding success and happiness in the professional world. Since founding her leadership development company Manifest Yourself LLC in 2011, Cummings has provided organizations and universities with solutions to hire, develop, engage and retain women and people of color. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Blavity, MONEY Magazine, TeenVogue, Glassdoor, and Fox 5.

The Publishers Dilemma: A Big City Tale of Privilege, Power & Murder

Living the Truth: A Yaqui Journey

By Richard Walsh

By Darius Myers

Retired NYPD Inspector Bob Martin highlights the heroic efforts of his fellow first responders at ground zero during the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The book features stories from Martin’s colleagues who miraculously survived that day and sacrificed everything while trying to save as many lives as possible. All proceeds from the book go toward the Sgt. Mike Curtin NYPD/USMC 3256 Foundation.

Former Time Inc., Gannett, Hachette, NY Post, and Tribune Media executive turned fiction writer Darius Myers ’82 tells a thrilling tale of a murdered CEO and the dark secrets that emerge after his death. Through his personal experience, Myers shares his perspective on how people with power use it and how privilege used improperly can be dangerous and lead to acts of derangement.

Adjunct professor and historian Richard Walsh tells the semi-biographical story of his greatgreat-grandfather, Henry Serine, a full-blooded Yaqui Indian in Mexico's Northwest Sonora province. The novel, set during the most tumultuous period in the history of the tribe, chronicles the bitter wars against the Mexican government that tore Henry and his family apart. He was forced to make the life-altering decision between staying oppressed in Sonora or risk a new beginning north of the border in the United States.

Have you recently written a book?

Let us know about it and we’ll gladly include it “On the Shelf!”

We’re proud to promote work by our talented University alumni and faculty.

Contact: liu.edu/alumni/submit LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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NEWSROOM I N N O VAT I V E P R O G R A M S E A R N N AT I O N A L R A N K I N G S Best Value Schools ranked Long Island University among the best colleges in the nation in two categories. The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment is ranked seventh on the list of the country’s best entertainment management programs, and LIU is ranked 12th among the top 30 business schools in New York. Best Value Schools researches thousands of colleges and universities to find the very best schools that meet the most important needs of prospective students for the best possible price.

LIU NAMED A BEST C O L L E G E F O R P O S TG R A D U AT E S A L A R Y GradReports announced that Long Island University is among the best colleges in New York, based on alumni's salary after graduating. LIU ranked in the top 25 overall for postgraduate salary potential, while four specific programs ranked in the top 10: educational leadership master’s degrees, speech pathology master’s degrees, library science master’s degrees, and special education master’s degrees.

C A M P U S N E W S PA P E R W I N S B E S T O N LO N G I S L A N D The Press Club of Long Island recognized The Tide of LIU Post as the “Best College Newspaper” on Long Island in its 2021 PCLI Media Awards. The prestigious club specifically recognized LIU students Dylan Valic, Ashley Bowden, Shannon Miller, Ida Ynner Lagerqvist, Emma Robinson, Jillian Mehta and Andrew Scarpaci for their outstanding work.

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LIU EARNS HIGHEST S TA N D A R D O F ACHIEVEMENT FOR BUSINESS SCHOOL The Long Island University School of Business is among less than 5% of the more than 16,000 schools worldwide to have earned the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation.

AACSB-accredited schools consistently have the highest quality faculty, deliver relevant and challenging curriculum and provide educational and career opportunities that are not found at other business schools.

Read more Long Island University news at: headlines.liu.edu

SCIENCE DIRECT PUBLISHES SPORTS MEDICINE EXPERT’S RESEARCH Science Direct published the work of Bill Schwarz, founder of The Schwarz Institute and head of sports medicine at LIU. The study co-authored by Schwarz, “An Analysis of In Vivo Hip Kinematics in Elite Baseball Batters Using a Markerless Motion-Capture System,” concludes that significant differences in active range of motion between the lead and trail hips in elite baseball players’ batting stances could lead to injuries over time.

L E A D I N G V E T E R I N A R Y P U B L I C AT I O N NAMES STUDENT AMBASSADORS Zaida Gomez, a student at the Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine, joined the inaugural Student Ambassador Program from dvm360, a leading publication in the veterinary community. Gomez is one of 55 students from around the world chosen to participate in the competitive program designed to elevate student voices and foster networking opportunities. Ambassadors will be contributing to dvm360 through articles, video, and networking with other students and key opinion leaders.

PRESIDENT BIDEN APPOINTS LIU ALUMNA AS D E D I C AT E D P U B L I C S E R V I C E W O M A N President Joe Biden appointed Patricia “Patty” Barron ’92 as deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy. Her broad portfolio includes policy, advocacy, and oversight of all community support to service members and their families. Her decorated career includes service as the director of the Family Readiness Directorate at the Association of the United States Army, the director of outreach, military family projects at Zero to Three, and the director of youth initiatives at the National Military Family Association.

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CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES TELL US YOUR STORY! SHARE YOUR PERSONAL MILESTONES AND PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH THE LIU COMMUNITY Visit liu.edu/alumni/submit to send your story.

1970 s

1980 s

ROBERT MARTIN ’72 was appointed to the board of directors for The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest nongovernment funder of childhood cancer research grants in America. Martin is the founder of the Bridge To A Cure Foundation dedicated to ending childhood cancer. He has published several children’s books focused on cancer, ADHD, and cultural/socialization issues, and he previously served as a division president of Colgate Palmolive for nearly 20 years.

TONY MERCANO ‘81 was appointed managing editor of KPCC, the leading NPR affiliate in Los Angeles, where he oversees day-to-day operations of the newsroom and works in collaboration with other newsroom leaders to shape the distinctive coverage for the region. He began his career as a copy boy for the New York Daily News and has worked in a wide range of jobs at news outlets across the country including the L.A. Times, New York Times and NPR. WILLIAM DRESNACK ’81 was elected as a director-at-large on the Board of Directors of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Dresnack formerly worked for Big-4 firms Deloitte and KPMG before entering academia, where he has taught at SUNY Brockport and currently the Rochester Institute of Technology. He has served on several other boards and has authored 15 research papers on such topics as accounting education, investment accounting, and derivatives policy management.

Robert Martin

JACKEE HARRY ’75 announced that she is continuing her role as Paulina on the cast of NBC’s Days of Our Lives, one of the longest running shows in television history. Harry first joined the cast in March, and her storied career includes roles on Another World, 227, and The Women of Brewster Place. She won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Lisa Landry on the hit show Sister Sister.

JUSTICE SYLVIA O. HINDS-RADIX ’78 is a recipient of the Hon. Theodore “Ted” Jones Lifetime Achievement Award.

Justice Hinds-Radix is the first president of the newly formed Caribbean American Lawyers Association, and she currently serves as associate justice of the New York State Appellate Division, Second Department. Her prestigious career includes numerous other awards such as the 2019 New York State Bar Association’s Diversity Trailblazer Award, and she is a member of dozens of judicial organizations.

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Dr. Angela White

DR. ANGELA WHITE ’81 was honored by the Westchester County Board of Legislators for her work as an educational leader and advocate for children with disabilities by designating Wednesday, March 24, 2021, as “Dr. Angela White Day” in Westchester County. Dr. White is the superintendent of schools and executive vice president for education services at Rising Ground, an award-winning human services organization. She previously served as an assistant superintendent and school principal in the Ossining

School District, and held various positions in District 75 in New York City for 15 years.

MARIAN TSUJI ’82 was appointed by the Hawaii Department of Health to serve as deputy director of behavioral health administration. Tsuji previously served as the Oahu Branch administrator of the state’s Department of Human Sevices, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. She also spent 12 years as president and CEO of Lanakila Pacific, a social services organization that includes programs for adults with disabilities.

SHARI L. CAMHI ’90 superintendent of the Baldwin Union Free School District in Baldwin, New York, was elected as the 2021-22 president of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, representing the more than 13,000 public school superintendents nationwide. Under her leadership, the graduation rate at Baldwin Schools has climbed to 98%, ranking the high school among U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best High Schools for the first time. She was also selected as a prestigious “Leader to Learn From” by Education Week, and is a recipient of the ISTE Sylvia Charp Award.

Marian Tsuji

Shari L. Camhi

THOMAS MURPHY ’85 was hired as the director of channel and strategic relationships for Velocity, a Managed Services Company, which provides telecommunications services and digital media solutions. Murphy will lead the company’s indirect channel sales division and the indirect channel strategy and execution to meet Velocity’s growing demand for its product offerings. Before joining Velocity, Murphy was the co-founder and managing partner at Resourcive, where he led the sales engagement team and sales consulting effort.

RITA ADEMU-JOHN ‘92, payroll director for Pfizer, was recognized in a profile by PAYTECH Magazine for the crucial role her department has played during the pandemic. While dedicated scientists at Pfizer worked to develop a vaccine that would save countless lives, Ademu-John and her payroll team supported their work and allowed them to focus on their crucial tasks. Ademu-John has worked in the payroll department at Pfizer since 1980 and is praised for her unsurpassed expertise in the field.

DEBBIE DE LOUISE ’89 published her 10th book, Time’s Relative, in April 2021. She also wrote the Cobble Cove mystery series and other standalone mysteries with Solstice Publishing and Next Chapter Publishing. Two of her stories have been accepted for upcoming anthologies and an article for Catster Magazine, and she was featured in the spring issue of Mystery Scene Magazine in May.

1990 s JEAN CASTELLI ’90 was hired as director of operations and training at Beautiful Gate Center, a developmental learning center for children and youth with developmental disabilities and autism, where she will oversee center operations, human resources and community outreach for the organization’s South Carolina-based location. Castelli previously served as a teacher in the Long Beach City School District for 12 years, and as an administrator for Massapequa Public Schools for nearly 20 years.

Rita Ademu-John

JOHN WEBER ’92 was appointed as the new Marine Spatial Planning Director of The Waitt Institute, a leading non-profit ocean conservation organization. With more than 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions to further ocean conservation and spatial planning for communities, Weber

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is seen as a global expert in the field and will help develop spatial planning processes for the nine Waitt Institute sites across the world.

TIM TYLER ’93 and his company PRO Sports Physical Therapy of Westchester was acquired by Professional Physical Therapy, a leading provider of outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation services. Tyler is an established pillar within the physical therapy industry, named to the Sports Physical Therapy Hall of Fame in 2010, and he will serve as the clinical director with Professional Physical Therapy.

2000 s BIREN AMIN ’00 was appointed as chief financial officer of Immuneering Corporation, a leader in drug discovery fueled by bioinformatics. Amin joins Immuneering from Jefferies Financial Group Inc. after having spent nearly two decades on Wall Street building an impeccable track record as an equity research analyst covering small and mid-cap biotechnology companies focused on oncology, central nervous system disorders, ophthalmology and rare diseases.

WILLIAM PAGE ’94, an accomplished television photographer, is working on the upcoming Hulu television series, Dopesick, based on the book about the opioid epidemic. He will also photograph the last season of The Walking Dead, having shot on seasons two through 10.

While not on set, he is an avid underwater photographer in his home state of Florida’s fresh water caves and offshore shipwrecks.

PETER GIARRIZZO ’96 was appointed as the next superintendent of the Mount Pleasant School District.

Giarrizzo joins Mount Pleasant after previously serving as superintendent of North Shore Public Schools and Pelham Public Schools during the past decade, and holding various leadership positions in special education and instructional services in school districts throughout New York.

Peter Giarrizzo

DR. VILICIA CADE ’97 ’99 was appointed as the next superintendent of the Capital School District in Delaware. Dr. Cade most recently served as the chief academic officer/ assistant superintendent for Sandusky City Schools in Ohio.

Her educational experience also includes serving as a high school teacher, curriculum specialist and assistant principal of East New York High School of Transit Technology; and a K-8 principal and director of program development for the Brooklyn High Schools’ superintendent office.

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LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

Biren Amin

JEFFREY T. WHITE ’02 was named as the next superintendent for the award-winning Tuxedo Union Free School District in Orange County, New York. White served as an assistant superintendent in varying capacities for the Copiague School District, the City School District of New Rochelle, and for the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District.

MARY COLLINS ’07 will serve as library director for the Town of Ulster, New York, overseeing operations of the Town of Ulster Library and working with the board of trustees to better understand the needs of the community. Collins’ career accomplishments include library work, research, copy-editing, archival work, and/or genealogical work for The New York Public Library, The Jacob Leister Institute for the Study of Early New York History, The Mercantile Library, and The Holland Society of New York.

WILLIAM MCDERMOTT ’07, former Worcester County (Maryland) prosecutor and Wicomico County Deputy State’s Attorney, was appointed as a federal immigration judge assigned to the New York City Court. McDermott served as lead prosecutor on a number of important cases in Maryland over the past three years, assisted in the creation of a new Prosecution Integrity Unit, and led the first annual Wicomico County State’s Attorney Summer Camp for youth.

KARLA WURZEL MARCO ’11 was appointed as chief program officer of The Hispanic Health Council, responsible for overseeing and managing all services and programs in the organization. Marco most recently served in various director roles for NYC Health + Hospitals and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and previously taught elementary special education in the New York City Department of Education.

William McDermott

ALEX JACKSON ’08 is the new executive director of the Brodhead Watershed Association, one of the most wellrenowned watershed associations in Pennsylvania, where he leads its educational mission to protect and improve water quality. Dr. Jackson is an organismal biologist who has conducted expeditions to Mount Whitney, Sequoia National Forest, the Mojave Desert, and rainforest ecosystems in Gabon and Suriname.

CHERYL-LYN BENTLEY ’08 was named deputy director of operations and human resources at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. Her exceptional legal career includes serving as an attorney at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, an associate at the Outten and Golden law firm in New York City, a judicial law clerk to Chief Judge Petrese B. Tucker in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and a fellow and staff attorney at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

2010 s CHRISTOPHER HARTIGAN ’10, assistant principal of Stratford Elementary School in Garden City, was promoted to assume the role of principal after a Board of Education vote. Hartigan joined the school district in 2017 in an administrative position after serving as a model teacher, leader and administrative intern at PS253Q in Far Rockaway, Queens. He previously taught grade levels from kindergarten through fifth grade, and was a special education teacher for the New York City Department of Education and in the Lynbrook School District.

JULIE VIRGIN ’11 joined the women’s health department at Cheshire Medical Center, part of New Hampshire’s awardwinning Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health network. Virgin most recently served as a certified nurse midwife at Blackfeet Community Hospital Indian Health Service in Browning, Montana. She also worked as a registered nurse at the Childbirth and Women’s Center in Danbury, Connecticut, and founded and directed the Community Doula Birth Program in Southern Maine.

DR. TIA KNIGHT-FORBES ’14 opened her own private practice, ITAV-NP Family Health, in Amityville, New York after working for local providers for several years. In a Newsday feature story, Knight-Forbes explained the importance of mentorship in her career and her desire to pay it forward by giving back to her community. She previously served as a family nurse practitioner for Long Island Federally Qualified Health Centers, and as a registered nurse at Northshore Manhasset Hospital and Northwell Health.

Dr. Tia Knicht-Forbes

ALYSSA SEIDMAN ’17 was hired as the new editor of The Ridgefield Press, one of the oldest community newspapers in Connecticut. Seidman brings with her several years of hyperlocal journalism experience as a former editor and reporter for the Herald Community Newspapers and a co-editor-in-chief of the LIU Post campus newspaper, The Pioneer.

SANDY ENRIQUEZ ’19, special collections public services, outreach & community engagement librarian at the University of California, Riverside, was selected as one of the 15 RBS-Mellon Cultural Heritage Fellows by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship in Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Heritage at Rare Book School. The six-year program aims to advance multicultural collections through innovative and inclusive curatorial practice and leadership.

LIUMAGAZINE | Fall 2021

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