Spring 2022 LIU Magazine by Long Island University

SPRING 2022

LEADING THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION

COVER STORY

Center of Excellence in Life Sciences and Research LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY AND DASSAULT SYSTÈMES LEVERAGE CUTTING-EDGE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO CREATE BREAKTHROUGHS IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE

FIRST IN THE WORLD LIU's Center of Excellence in Life Sciences and Research is the first Center of Excellence to specialize in life sciences. The Center will focus on research with high societal impact in the fields of precision medicine, pharmaceutical sciences and health care in the digital age.

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

ong Island University and Fortune Future 50 digital engineering company Dassault Systèmes will revolutionize health care, establishing the world’s first Center of Excellence in Life Sciences and Research. The University joins an elite group of five Centers of Excellence around the world that specialize in the aerospace, energy, electronics and manufacturing sectors. As the first center to specialize in life sciences, LIU and Dassault Systèmes are focused on research with high societal impact in the fields of precision medicine, pharmaceutical sciences and health care in the digital age. Research at the Center of Excellence in Life Sciences will include the development of “Virtual Twins,” or virtual-reality models that allow doctors to closely analyze challenging medical conditions. The Center of Excellence will explore pandemic preparedness and data analytics with Medidata, the company largely responsible for bringing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to the public in record time thanks to its vaccine trial analysis software. “The Center of Life Sciences and Research recognizes Long Island University’s standing as a preeminent research institution,” said Long Island University Board of Trustees Chair Eric Krasnoff. In addition to its research and academic applications, the Center of Excellence is a platform for technology transfer, sharing and transformation of inventions and scientific outcomes into commercialized products or services that benefit society. Research priorities include innovation in medical devices, and telemedicine through the “Internet of Things,” or the exchange and analysis of data between physical objects that are connected digitally. The University’s designation as a Dassault Center of Excellence supports degrees in health professions, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in artificial intelligence, the Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn school of Nursing, the Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy, and the College of Veterinary Medicine, one of four veterinary schools in the Northeast with the University of Pennsylvania, Tufts University and Cornell University. Long Island University is ranked in the top 7% of research institutions in the United States by the Carnegie

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The University's strategic location near the burgeoning pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, biotech companies and elite health care institutions provides opportunities for collaborative research through the Center of Excellence as well as internship and job opportunities for students in the life sciences. The Center of Excellence in Life Sciences provides the foundation for continuing education programs and professional certifications in digital health. The University partners with local high schools to train educators and administrators on Dassault Systèmes’ technology and provide on-site research projects for their students.

Photos: Researchers utilize virtual reality technology to analyze human anatomy in three dimensions and gain a deeper understanding of how medical conditions affect the body in real time, allowing for improved treatment and maintenance recommendations for patients.

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“At Dassault Systèmes, we have the profound belief that the virtual world extends and improves the real world helping to address today’s social and environmental challenges,” said Dr. Rama Kondru, CEO of Medidata, a Dassault Systèmes company. “This strategic initiative with LIU brings enormous opportunities since it is helping to prepare the next generation

of life science experts to innovate in tomorrow’s more sustainable economy, transform healthcare, and solve some of the biggest medical challenges in areas such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.” The University’s partnership with Dassault Systèmes, a world leader in 3D design and engineering software, is in line with its vision to advance academic excellence through innovation, provide extraordinary and distinctive experiences to students, and create solutions for a sustainable global future. The partnership provides students with hands-on experience using cutting-edge artificial intelligence and digital engineering technologies, and to collaborate on multidisciplinary research in the life sciences. “The LIU-Dassault Systèmes research partnership is centered on solving real-world problems through an integrated approach to education while simultaneously developing the future workforce for precision medicine, healthcare and pharmacy,” said Dr. Randy Burd, senior vice president for academic affairs at LIU. “We look forward to using Dassault Systèmes’ incredible technology to expand and

Leaders from Long Island University and Dassault Systèmes meet on stage to celebrate the launch of the Center of Excellence in Life Sciences on March 18.

enhance life sciences, liberal arts, humanities and performing arts degree programs throughout the University.” In 2021, the University opened a state-of-the-art simulation laboratory that allows students to use Dassault Systèmes’ patented 3D, augmented reality and virtual reality software to conduct experiential research, education and training. The laboratory is used in several areas of study, including artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality gaming, cybersecurity, data analytics, and drug discovery and development. The University employs Dassault Systèmes’ cloudbased 3DEXPERIENCE platform in classrooms throughout the University. “LIU has entered a truly transformative niche in higher education by aligning with a digital healthcare industry that is on the rise,” said Dr. Mohammed Cherkaoui, vice president for academic affairs at Long Island University. “We are honored to work with Dassault Systèmes, combining its content expertise and research tools to become a global leader in the innovation of healthcare.”

An LIU student uses Dassault Systèmes’ virtual reality technology during the inaugural event.

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

THE SOCIETY OF PRESIDENTIAL DESCENDANTS

GALA EVENT JUNE 11, 2022 Long Island University | Brookville, New York

featuring Gala Dinner with Doris Kearns Goodwin Panel of Presidential Descendants “Living in the White House”

Learn more and register at: thesocietyofpresidentialdescendants.org HOSTED BY Long Island University’s Roosevelt School, The Society of Presidential Descendants, The Roosevelt Family, and Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

IN this ISSUE

IN this ISSUE Read LIU Magazine online at: liu.edu/magazine PG 26

Amazon Prime's The College Tour to Feature LIU

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PG 08

Center of Excellence in Life Sciences and Research Long Island University and Dassault Systèmes leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence to create breakthroughs in health and medicine

Inside the Lives of U.S. Presidents LIU’s White House Experience and Society of Presidential Descendants Gala provide unique view of presidential leadership

Long Island University is the star of an upcoming episode of The College Tour, an Emmynominated series streaming on Amazon Prime

DEPARTMENTS

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PG 16

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2021 George Polk Awards Honoring journalists for their reporting in 2021 that provided critical insight into some of the most profound events of our time

60 Years of LIU Radio LIU's radio station, WCWP, celebrates 60 years of launching prominent media careers

LIU in the Olympics Three Sharks use their LIU experience to achieve their athletic dreams

Alumni Spotlights

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Faculty Spotlights

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Program Spotlights

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Student Spotlights

PG 28

Athletics

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University News

PG 34

On the Shelf

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Class Notes

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FEATURE STORY

Inside the Lives of U.S. Presidents

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he Roosevelt School at Long Island University is creating one-of-a-kind experiences to inspire global leaders of the future with an emphasis on international relations and diplomacy, leadership, civic education and presidential studies. The historic E.F. Hutton mansion on the LIU Post campus has been transformed into a stunning replica of the White House Experience. It will host the inaugural Society of Presidential Descendants Gala in June featuring members of presidential families who walked the halls of the White House. The Gala will honor Doris Kearns Goodwin, a leading presidential historian, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times #1 best-selling author. Events include a symposium on the personal life and legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt hosted by his great-grandson Tweed Roosevelt, chairman and professor at The Roosevelt School, and president and co-founder of The Society of Presidential Descendants; and a

panel discussion led by the Society of Presidential Descendants entitled “Living in the White House,” featuring personal stories of the Descendants’ ancestors and a reflection on their leadership. “The gathering highlights the work of The Society of Presidential Descendants and The Roosevelt School to recognize the importance of American history and democracy,” Tweed Roosevelt said. “Participants will also have a chance to hear personal stories direct from our presidents’ family members about their experiences living in the White House.” When guests enter LIU’s White House replica, they will be transported to the familiar rooms where presidents signed executive orders, delivered presidential addresses to the American people, and managed global crises with national security advisors. The Oval Office is complete with a replica of the Resolute Desk – the original constructed from the oak timbers of the H.M.S Resolute and gifted to President Rutherford B. Hayes by Queen Victoria in 1880 has been used by nearly every president since. The Regency Room for dining converts into a Situation Room complete with a long table where students of the Roosevelt School and high school groups will soon participate in model Situation Room scenarios and deliberate over the best courses of action to protect democracy. The Presidential Library is filled with historic books and documents such as the declaration of independence and volumes of Messages and Papers of the Presidents. The Library will provide educational access through a central, virtual archive for all U.S. Presidents while highlighting the first 30 presidents from George Washington through Calvin Coolidge that do not have a formal presidential library through the National Archives. The White House Experience also includes a Green Room, Red Room and Blue Room, the three parlors where small

gatherings are typically held. The White House Experience will serve as a national center of research and experiential learning opportunities in global relations, diplomacy, leadership and service. “The Society of Presidential Descendants and the Roosevelt School at Long Island University serve to preserve and provide access to presidential histories that will offer fresh opportunities for new critical views and interpretations,” said Roosevelt School Director Andy Person. “The Roosevelt School will expand the study of presidential leadership beyond higher education, offering professional development programs for K-12 teachers around the nation to enrich understanding of our country’s leaders.”

F or tickets and more information on the Society of Presidential Descendants Gala, contact Roosevelt School Director Andy Person at: Andy.Person@liu.edu

1. Replica of the Resolute Desk inside the recreated Oval Office 2. Presidential Library filled with historic books and documents 3. Situation Room will give students an inside look at how crises are solved by government leaders 4. Red Room is filled with historic presidential photos and antique furniture fit for hosting intimate events 5. Replica bust of President John F. Kennedy

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

FEATURE STORY

Hope Scholars Highlight a Commitment to Affordability

ong Island University’s commitment to college affordability is helping the University attract highly academically qualified students and a rising number of applicants during a challenging time in higher education. Led by its cap on tuition rate increases and significant endowment growth, the University is widening the affordability gap between its regional peers.

U N D E R G R A D U AT E F L AT- R AT E T U I T I O N T R E N D S F Y 2010– F Y 2021 $55

$56,500 (+49%) $54,730 (+44%) $50,265 (+33%) $44,450 (+17%) $40,860 (+8%) $37,926 (LIU)

$50 Thousands

$45 $40 $35 $30 $25 $20 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 Fiscal Year Long Island University

Adelphi University

St John's University

Hofstra University

Fordham University

New York University

Students are directly benefitting from these efforts through additional student scholarships and affordability initiatives such as the Hope Scholars program. One-hundred thirty-nine Hope Scholars joined LIU in fall 2021—a 316 percent increase over the previous year. The Hope Scholars program provides an affordable, value-driven education to all qualifying students. First-time freshmen from New York state with the highest need, and strong academic performance are eligible for the program. LIU and committed donors cover the gap between tuition cost and the recipient’s federal and state financial aid, allowing Hope Scholars to attend LIU tuition-free.

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The growth of the University’s endowment is a driving force behind this increase in scholarships. In fiscal year 2021, the endowment increased by 51.8 percent to $365.8 million, an increase of 368 percent since 2011. Already in fiscal year 2022 the endowment has eclipsed $400 million. The University’s commitment to affordable tuition since 2014 played a role in the affordability of an LIU education. For fiscal year 2022, the tuition rate increase is again capped at two percent.

F I R S T- T I M E F R E S H M A N R E T E N T I O N R AT E S A N D AV E R A G E S AT S C O R E S 100%

1,250

90% 80%

74%

72%

70%

74%

73%

80%

1,200

60%

1,150

50% 40%

1,100

30% 20%

1,050

10% 0%

1,000 Fall 2017

Fall 2018

Fall 2019

Retention Rate University

Fall 2020

Fall 2021

SAT Scores University

The University’s commitment to affordability has yielded direct improvements to the academic quality of students and key metrics of success such as first-year student retention, four-year and six-year graduation rates. Coupled with strong academic and career coaching programs through LIU Promise, the University is ensuring that student outcomes continue to expand and excel.

E N D O W M E N T VA L U E : F Y 2 0 1 0 – F Y 2 0 2 1 A C T U A L S 420.0

365.8

370.0

$ Millions

320.0 270.0

197.0

220.0 170.0 120.0

78.2

78.6

FY 11

FY 12

86.9

99.6

FY 13

FY 14

117.0

230.0

237.0

FY 18

FY 19

241.0

138.5

70.0 20.0 FY 15

FY 16

FY 17

FY 20

FY 21

Fiscal Year

Over the past two years the COVID-19 pandemic applied pressure as students and their families struggled with health and job loss issues, affecting their ability to continue their studies and afford a quality education. LIU has actively participated in all phases of the U.S. Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to provide even more aid to students. Through February 2022, the University issued over 10,000 financial aid grants to LIU students totaling more than $17 million.

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

FEATURE STORY

Photo: Shutterstock

2021 in journalism

ong Island University is proud to announce the winners of the George Polk Awards in Journalism, honoring journalists in 15 categories for their reporting in 2021. This prestigious honor focuses on the bold and influential work of reporters across the globe whose thought-provoking investigations hold truth to power and inspire positive changes in society. Established in 1949 by LIU, the awards commemorate the life and legacy of CBS Correspondent George Polk, who was murdered in 1948 while covering the Greek civil war. The 2021 award winners span a wide range of revelatory news coverage, including the plot behind a Haitian assassination, the impact of a Madagascar climate disaster, the depth of American political upheaval, the consequences of corporate subterfuge, the victimization of braindamaged children and factory workers in Florida, and the exploitation of migrants here and abroad. They were selected from a record total of 610 submissions that appeared in print, online, on television or radio, and were nominated by news organizations and individuals or recommended by a national panel of advisors. These reporters represent the best across all news platforms, and their work builds upon the legacy of the many George Polk Award winners before them. The join journalism icons such as Bob Woodard and Carl Bernstein, Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, Christiane Amanpour, Peter Jennings, Norman Mailer, Diane Sawyer, Seymour Hersh and Glenn Greenwald, who are all Polk laureates.

Learn more at: liu.edu/polk 12

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

SYDNEY H. SCHANBERG PRIZE

FOREIGN REPORTING AWARD

Luke Mogelson of The New Yorker for “Among the Insurrectionists,” his 12,000-word account of events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 including video footage he took that day.

Maria Abi-Habib, Frances Robles and the staff of The New York Times for detailing the murder of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse.

FOREIGN TELEVISION REPORTING AWARD CNN Chief Foreign Correspondent Clarissa Ward and her crew for coverage of the rapid rise of the Taliban as U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan.

POLITICAL REPORTING AWARD Linda So, Jason Szep and the staff of Reuters for a series of reports of widespread voter intimidation efforts. STATE REPORTING AWARD

LOCAL TELEVISION REPORTING AWARD Dave Biscobing of KNXV, a Phoenix affiliate of ABC, for “Politically Charged."

NATIONAL TELEVISION REPORTING AWARD A.C. Thompson of PBS Frontline and two collaborators, ProPublica and the UC Berkeley Investigative Journalism Program, for “American Insurrection."

Carol Marbin Miller and Daniel Chang of the Miami Herald in partnership with ProPublica for exposing consequences of a law designed to shelter medical providers from lawsuits. LOCAL REPORTING AWARD Corey G. Johnson, Rebecca Woolington, Eli Murray and the Tampa Bay Times for revealing perilous working conditions at a lead-smelting factory.

MAGAZINE REPORTING AWARD Sarah Stillman of The New Yorker for “The Migrant Workers Who Follow Climate Disasters."

INTERNATIONAL REPORTING AWARD Ian Urbina of The New Yorker for “The Secretive Prisons That Keep Migrants Out of Europe,” reported in collaboration with The Outlaw Ocean Project.

MEDICAL REPORTING AWARD Adam Feuerstein, Matthew Herper and Damian Garde of STAT for revealing Biogen’s secret lobbying efforts for a questionable medication.

BUSINESS REPORTING AWARD Reporter Jeff Horwitz and the staff of The Wall Street Journal for “Facebook Files."

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING AWARD ABC news anchor David Muir and his crew for “The Children of Climate Change,” a series that aired on ABC World News Tonight and Nightline.

TECHNOLOGY REPORTING AWARD The Forbidden Stories Network and two of its members, The Washington Post and Guardian U.S., for ”The Pegasus Project."

MILITARY REPORTING AWARD Freelancer Azmat Khan, reporters Dave Philipps and Eric Schmitt and the staff of The New York Times for uncovering air strike failures during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

NATIONAL REPORTING AWARD The staff of The Washington Post for “The Attack,” a three-part series detailing the January 6, 2021 attack on the U. S. Capitol.

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

FEATURE STORY

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

Esports Expands to Brooklyn With High-Tech Arena

sports have officially arrived on the LIU Brooklyn campus with the grand opening of a state-of-the-art arena that serves as a hub for continued growth of the sport in the New York region.

Located in Connolly Hall, the arena features 50 custom-built Alienware Tower computers, 32 television screens with streaming and smart-TV capabilities, and six console stations that are outfitted with PlayStations, Xboxes, and Nintendo Switches. The powerful custombuilt computers have 1660 SUPA GPUs, 32 GB of RAM, and 2 TB of space on each of the hard drives. Esports Director and Head Coach John McDermott, who has led the program since it was launched at the LIU Post campus in 2019, said he is thrilled for the chance to expand the University’s influence in the esports universe. “It is a great opportunity to grow the program, and to expand LIU’s global footprint in esports,” McDermott said. “With a new incoming class of 35 LIU Brooklyn students in the esports program, LIU is primed to take advantage of the new arena and continue its success for years to come.” The esports industry has exploded in popularity in recent years, with most projections putting the sport on track to earn nearly $2 billion in global revenue in 2022. Major investments and sponsorships from top corporations and celebrities have driven this rise, and universities around the world are adopting it as a revolutionary avenue for students to build successful careers. The LIU Sharks have seen immediate success since founding the esports team. As members of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, LIU students won the Rocket League championship in 2019 and have received athlete-of-the-week and all-academic honors from the conference every year. The program’s expansion also includes the hiring of Assistant Coach Matthew Taylor, who previously led Maryville University of St. Louis to wins in the Midwest Campus Clash and the North Conference Finals. Taylor expressed his excitement that LIU is becoming the center of the next great collegiate esports cluster, similar to what has been seen in California, Missouri and Michigan. “The space we have built is incredible, and the students have been ecstatic when even thinking about the opportunity to grow,” Taylor said. “Building together with nearby universities and local high schools, and being the hub of it all, has me incredibly hopeful for both LIU and New York as a whole. We will start to see just how big this is, as our University becomes a powerhouse in the ECAC and the national level.” Junior sports management major, esports athlete and club Vice President Julian Vega echoed his new assistant coach’s sentiment, adding “This has been coming for a long time, and it makes me happy that it’s finally here for us to use whenever we have time.”

The brand-new esports arena in Connolly Hall is equipped with high-power gaming computers, dozens of TVs and game consoles.

In addition to the Brooklyn arena, the LIU Post esports arena in Hillwood Commons has been renovated and outfitted with brand new equipment, solidifying the University’s longterm commitment to the future of gaming.

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

FEATURE STORY

60 years 1961–2021

he flagship radio station of Long Island University, WCWP, celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2021 with a special broadcast recognizing the long list of alumni whose experience with the station propelled them toward thriving careers in media. Art Beltrone ’63, Hank Neimark ’64, Jeff Kroll ’75 and Pat Kroll ’79 host the WCWP 60th Anniversary broadcast on October 18, 2021.

LIU's Radio Station Celebrates 60 Years of Launching Prominent Media Careers

The anniversary show was hosted by Hank Neimark ’64 and Art Beltrone ’63, members of the founding staff who were key contributors to the station’s inaugural broadcast on October 18, 1961. The festivities also included a citation from County Executive Laura Curran, a visit from LIU President Kimberly Cline, and the renaming of the radio station’s annual award given to a graduating senior—now known as the Art Beltrone Award for Exceptional Service to WCWP. Beyond the special recognition, Neimark and Beltrone recounted the early days of the radio station, from the construction of the building to the first broadcasts that could only be heard on campus. The students, led by Neimark, spent nearly four years trying to improve the station’s signal until they finally landed on 88.1 FM on March 16, 1965. WCWP has been broadcasting to the general public ever since, and it has created a unique family within the LIU alumni community. Neimark and Beltrone invited dozens of alumni to join them in sharing stories about the radio station’s influence on their groundbreaking professional success. To put a bow on the anniversary broadcast, the show ended with alumni taking turns thanking Bill Mozer, the longtime director of the radio station who mentored countless students during his tenure.

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

REFLECTIONS

“It was the center of my college life, it gave me purpose and a place to go, and friends and excitement. We were professionals. We had an obligation and a schedule to keep. We operated things with engineering, announcing and programming every day and night, we didn't miss.”

“I’m grateful to WCWP, and my heart and hopes are now with all those who follow. Look to the sky and take some chances and believe in yourself, this is a great place.”

ands Rita S

— R ITA SAND S ’66, the first female broadcaster in the history of WCBS 880, and a reporter for ABC News on World News Tonight, Nightline and Good Morning America

Broadway, — J OHN KORK ES ’64, actor and director on in "The roles his for known best s, TV shows and movie "Catch-22" Double" (2013), "The Front Page" (1974) and (1970)

"It was 1968 that I started at the station, and by ’69 I had a commercial job. That was thanks to the great equipment and great management at the station. We’ve all been back over the years for homecoming and so on, and I’m most grateful for the start I got there.” ial — T ED DAVID ’72, ’74, award-winning financ r, journalist, ABC News and NBC News radio ancho and founding anchor of CNBC

“I created an atmosphere where bright people could learn the art and the science of radio. That was my mission, not to be the ‘professor’ to be looked up to, but creating a whole team effort of synergy among the people who worked together.”

Ted and B ill

“When I called the football games, you had to learn the depth chart of both teams and be able to access it without looking down. That’s no different than what I do now. I learned about organization and running a department, and studio director Bill Mozer treated us like we were going to be treated when we got a real job, so there wasn’t any shock factor.” — F RED GAUDELLI ’82, Emmy award-winning executive producer of Sunday Night Football and six Super Bowl broadcasts on NBC

— B ILL MOZER, audio engineer for WABC radio, NBC, FOX and ABC television, and director of programming at WCWP

Ted David

“The station was one of the reasons why I chose LIU, high because I started listening to WCWP when I was in thing every ed learn I and school. I spent all my time here, I ever here. WCWP prepared me for every single job that had in radio.” radio shows around the — M AURA “BERN IE” BERN ARD ’73, host of ca, and professor of Ameri of Voice ing includ years 30 country for media arts at LIU for 11 years

“It gave me the push that got me going, it gave me the confidence that I could do this for a living. At WCWP, I never said no to anything, and when I got to NBC that’s exactly how I approached my whole career.” Fred Guadelli

— J OHN LIBRETTO ’68, director at NBC News for nearly 50 years overseeing Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Dateline, Good Morning America, the Olympics, and presidential election coverage

Maura “Bernie” Bernard

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

PA S S ION F OR PUB L IC S ERVI CE DINA SIMON ‘01 RETURNS TO HER ROOTS TO ENACT CHANGE IN NYC GOVERNMENT

hen Dina Simon ’01 immigrated to the United States from Haiti at 9 years old, she faced a common set of challenges for immigrant children. She tagged along at doctor’s appointments and their first real estate closing so she could be her parent's English translator. She was forced to spend several years away from her parents when she had challenges obtaining a visa. She felt the pressure to create a better life as a firstgeneration college student and eventually become a doctor or lawyer. Simon’s true passion for public administration emerged with help from Long Island University, and her career in the public sector has come full circle. As the Chief of Staff for the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Simon used her personal experiences to enact positive policy changes for the city’s immigrant community. “It’s been really interesting to live through that but also be able to affect policies that will help immigrant communities, and establish support systems that did not exist when I was growing up,” Simon said. Simon’s decision to earn her master of public administration degree at LIU dictated her career path from the very first class. Her first professor brought real-life examples of government and policy work to the classroom through his consulting with the City of New York. Simon was also surrounded by classmates who were working professionals and willingly shared their experience and knowledge. This experience inspired Simon to apply for a job with a city agency, and she landed her first position with the Administration for Children Services. From there, Simon went on to hold roles in human resources and labor

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

relations in the New York State Education Department, New York City Comptroller’s Office, Department of Correction, Department of Veterans Services, and the Government of the United States Virgin Islands. While at the Department of Correction, Simon made history as the first woman to hold the position of First Deputy Commissioner. “My classes gave me the opportunity to think beyond traditional career paths, and Dina Simon to use work experience as credits in the program,” said Simon. “The master in public administration tied it all together for me and provided those core disciplines that I needed to be successful.” During her most recent appointment with Immigrant Affairs, Simon focused with the new mayoral administration on developing a new initiative to expand language services access to immigrant communities. She also served as Executive Director of the Pay Equity Cabinet, a new cabinet focused on improving wage equity and the pay gap among women and minorities in the workforce. Looking back on her impressive resume, Simon is most proud of her ability to mentor individuals who have become leaders in their field. She enjoys keeping a roster of three active mentees to develop and coach, and she encourages LIU students to connect with her on LinkedIn and seek mentorship as they build their careers. “Look for someone who is doing what you want to do, look at that person’s path and see how to connect with them or mirror that path,” said Simon. “Mentorship is important, but also give yourself grace and accept that everything won’t be clear at first, sometimes it’s about taking risks.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

G OOD ME D IC INE IS GOOD BUSINESS DIETER WEINAND ’87 USED HIS LIU EDUCATION TO CHANGE LIVES AT THE TOP OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

he story of one of the most successful pharmaceutical executives in modern history began in an orphanage in Germany. Dieter Weinand ’87 was raised there until age 16. He ran away to the airport and bought himself a ticket, landed in New York City, and slept in Grand Central Station until he managed to land a job as a roofer. He graduated high school and college and started his own roofing business, a success story in itself. But one old mentor convinced him to challenge himself, apply to graduate school, and pursue his true passion. Fast forward more than 40 years, and Weinand is the chairman or executive chairman of the board of directors for eight different pharmaceutical companies, and is a board member for a ninth company. Most recently, he was named chairman of the board for Inspirna, a leading biopharmaceutical company developing cancer therapeutics. He does all of this in retirement after a stellar career that saw him hold leadership positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, and other Big Pharma giants. Weinand finished his full-time career as the CEO of Bayer Pharma AG, coming back full-circle to the company where he landed his first job straight out of LIU Pharmacy after earning a master’s degree in pharmacology. “People from MIT, from UMass, from Harvard, they did not understand the basic pharmacology behind things, the basic chemistry behind things,” Weinand said. “They memorized to pass the test and they did very well and came from these pedigree

“I was always focused on good medicine because that translates into good business,” Weinand added. “The translation of the data into what that could mean in clinical terms, that is where I have to thank my LIU professors. It was really practical; it was hands-on.”

Dieter Weinand

schools, but I always felt that I got a much better basic education that allowed me to understand the logic behind it and apply it more broadly and knowledgeably.” For the duration of his career, Weinand applied the knowledge he gained at LIU to give him an advantage over his peers. His understanding of the science allowed him to recognize minor nuances in data that could translate into significant clinical differences for patients. The primary example is Lipitor, the cholesterol medication that has become a household name. Weinand recognized that it lowered patients’ cholesterol levels far below the accepted target level, which affected its marketability. He then commissioned a study that proved the target level could be safely lowered, making Lipitor the preferred choice among doctors and a $16 billion blockbuster drug. Weinand was also a driving force behind the success of other multi-billion-dollar medications such as Abilify, Eliquis, Xarelto and Eylea.

For the man who had $394 in his pocket when he arrived in the United States, Weinand said his determination was also essential to his achievements. He emphasized the value of “keeping your eyes on the prize,” which for him was the opportunity to change lives through medicine. He recalled the most rewarding moment of his career when he met parents crying tears of joy and their child living cancer-free thanks to a drug for which Weinand fought to get research funding.

If you want to make a contribution to good medicine, to overall health care to benefit the society in which you live, whatever is that higher motivation for you than money, stay true to that." – Dieter Weinand

“If you want to contribute to good medicine, to overall health care to benefit the society in which you live, whatever is that higher motivation for you than money, stay true to that,” Weinand said. “Then you will be stimulated, you will do well, and the rewards are just a side effect of that.”

LIUMAGAZINE | Spring 2022

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

N ATI ONAL L E A DE RSH I P IN L AW E NFO R C E M E NT JACQUELINE MAGUIRE ’99 TURNED HER LIU EDUCATION AND HARD WORK INTO A THRIVING FBI CAREER

fter more than 20 years of service in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jacqueline Maguire ’99 has become a national figure in law enforcement. She was recently appointed as the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, another accomplishment on an award-winning résumé that includes expertise in everything from counterterrorism to public affairs. Her very first job with the Bureau, however, had the most lasting impact on her career. She was assigned to the New York Field Office in 2000 as a special agent and was assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force in 2001, just months before the largest terrorist attack in American history. “Being from New York, being in New York that day and the weeks after, everyone who was there knows that feeling,” Maguire said. “We saw evil on September 11, and we saw goodwill on September 12.” Maguire was on duty inside the Federal Building in lower Manhattan when the Twin Towers were struck, and she witnessed the awe-inspiring mobilization power of the FBI in action. For the next several months she investigated American Airlines Flight 77, and for the next 10 years she continued to investigate different aspects of the tragedy. Born and raised on Long Island, Maguire’s interest in criminal justice

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Just as valuable were the instructors; we had people who were still active in, or had retired from significant law enforcement careers.”

Jacqueline Maguire

began with an internship at the Office of the Medical Examiner. She studied pre-medicine in her undergraduate years, and forensic science became the perfect marriage between her science background and her desire to work in law enforcement. The internship turned into a full-time job offer and Maguire had the opportunity to interact with FBI agents that came to the morgue. To make herself a more competitive candidate for the FBI, Maguire enrolled in Long Island University’s criminal justice master’s degree program. The ability to work full time while studying alongside police and probation officers was extremely valuable. “We were living the real-world experience at the same time as we were learning the academic side of criminal justice.

Maguire’s LIU experience further stimulated her interest in the field. She sought mentorship from respected professors whom she is still in touch with today, and their guidance helped propel her career. Among her many roles, Maguire went on to serve as unit chief of the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters, and special agent in charge of the Criminal Division of the New York Field Office. She was given the 2006 Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security and the 2009 Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service. While recognizing the support she has received along the way from her family—which includes two of her siblings who are fellow LIU alumni— her LIU professors and classmates, and her colleagues, Maguire said that hard work is the most important asset for students who hope to follow in her footsteps. “It is a job that has meaning and impact, and we need good people in the FBI who are bringing different perspectives from different backgrounds. That makes us stronger to be able to uphold our mission to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

CATA L YS T O F G E N E R O S I TY INSPIRED BY THE LOSS OF HIS 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, GARY MATOREN ’59 GIVES BACK TO LIU

nspiration often manifests itself in the most challenging moments of life. For Gary Matoren ’59, his philanthropic goals are intimately linked to the life and death of his youngest daughter, Debbie Lynn. Born with a rare heart defect that required an 18-hour surgery to save her life, Debbie Lynn brought joy to her family through her spunk and intellect until she passed away at 9 years old. Gary dedicated the next 50 years to building a successful career in pharmacy, clinical research, hospital administration, planning in the health care field and the pharmaceutical industry, academia, and government. He is now committed to giving back to the University that gave him his start. Gary is donating his entire estate to Long Island University in the form of endowed scholarships and funds to support specific schools, with many of the donations named in memory of Debbie Lynn Matoren. “Debbie would have been 44 in April, she could have been a wife, mother, college graduate, she could have even attended LIU,” Gary said. “She is the definitive catalyst in my life.” As a graduate and adjunct professor at LIU Pharmacy, he took a special interest in drug toxicity and the etiology of disease after learning Debbie’s condition was caused by a medication his wife took during pregnancy. His mother also died from liver cancer that was tied to a medication that was later taken off the market. Gary’s studies led him to develop the text The Clinical Research Process in the Pharmaceutical Industry, and later he founded the

joined the Remington House Plan and attended school dances. He went on to develop the master’s in pharmacy administration at LIU and a number of courses based on his book during his 15 years as a faculty member at several colleges.

Gary Matoren (left) is donating his entire estate to Long Island University in the form of endowed scholarships and funds to support specific schools, with many of the donations named in memory of his daughter, Debbie Lynn Matoren (right). journal Clinical Research Practices and Drug Regulatory Affairs. The text, published in 1983, is still considered the definitive text on clinical research methodology, and was recently made available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback and eBook. Gary is a New York City native and his love for the University is unmistakable when he discusses his time as a student. He was on the editorial board of the school newspaper, The Apothecary, served as editor-in-chief of the school yearbook, The Pharmacon,

Today he is motivated by the University’s transformation and focus on health care in the digital age, the arts, and historical studies. His gifts will provide support to LIU Pharmacy, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the School of Health Professions and Nursing, the Roosevelt School, the Palmer School of Library and Information Science, the School of Performing Arts, Tilles Center and the George Polk Awards in Journalism. “I live a frugal lifestyle, and I want to give back to underserved students at Brooklyn and Post,” Gary said. “You have two campuses that are working together with a great president, vice presidents and deans, and they are all great leaders.” Gary has networked with undergraduates for more than 60 years, and he said his contributions to LIU are rooted in his desire to encourage diversity. He considers Julius Rosenwald one of his biggest inspirations, a renowned businessman and philanthropist who is known for generously supporting education initiatives for Black communities in the South in the early 1900s. Like Rosenwald, Gary wants his contributions to help bring equal opportunities to students in his home town, at his home University, and prepare them for a brighter future.

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS

White House Welcomes LIU Faculty for Equity Presentation Professor Philip Wong, director of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program, spoke in front of more than 100 White House and government staff members about the psychology of equity. The Office of Management and Budget organized his presentation after President Joe Biden’s January 2021 executive order to advance racial equity and support for underserved communities.

Professor Marshall is Keynote Speaker at International Education Tech Conference Dr. Helaine W. Marshall, professor of education, presented a keynote address about her innovative Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach at the DisCo 2021 educational technology conference in Prague. Dr. Marshall joined educators from 16 nations to discuss how instructional technology will shape the future of education.

Pharmacy Faculty Ranked Among Top Experts in the World Dr. Jeffrey R. Idle and Dr. Diren Beyoglu are ranked in the top 0.21% of published authors worldwide on the topic of metabolomics, according to Expertscape. Their most recently published research focuses on the metabolomic insights related to premalignant liver disease diagnosis and therapy, and the effect of natural products in the treatment of liver disease.

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Hope for Alzheimer’s Patients and Families With NIH Grant LIU professor of pharmaceutical sciences Dr. Bhaskar Das and his team are conducting groundbreaking research that could lead to an eventual treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease. His findings thus far earned him a federal grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue testing his hypothesis.

Professor Serves as Lead Advocate for Cyberbullying Legislation New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation designed to eradicate cyberbullying thanks to lead advocacy from Lisa-Michelle Kucharz, professor of communications. Kucharz’s efforts inspired numerous elected officials to sponsor the legislation creating a nine-member task force that will study the impact of cyberbullying and identify actions to address the problem.

Researchers Develop Virtual Reality Training Tools for Counselors Assistant Professor Dogukan Ulupinar and his graduate school colleagues developed an immersive and interactive video series called “Moments of Excellence in Counseling” for Mindscape Commons, the world’s first and the largest database of virtual reality content for teaching and learning in the field of mental health.

College of Veterinary Medicine Professor Awarded Prestigious National Recognition For his more than three decades of groundbreaking research, Dr. Thomas J. Inzana, a nationally-recognized leader in the field of veterinary medicine, has been awarded the 2021 Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Inzana is the chief of research at Long Island University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, which welcomed its first class in 2020 as one of just four veterinary colleges in the Northeast. Dr. Inzana is a clinical biologist passionate about making discoveries that lead to improved vaccines and diagnostic tests for infectious agents. But his appreciation for the essential steps in the scientific process has allowed him to make so many vital breakthroughs during his award-winning career. “Basic research is often overlooked but is essential to future work leading to products that improve human, animal, and environmental health,” said Dr. Inzana. “My group spent over 10 years in basic research on molecular bacterial pathogenesis and host immunity before developing a successful, commercialized vaccine.” Dr. Inzana has earned three U.S. patents for vaccines he developed to fight swine pleuropneumonia and encapsulated toxigenic bacteria. In addition, he was awarded more than $10 million in industry grants and competitive federal grant funding from agencies including the USDA, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and U.S. Department of Defense. Dr. Inzana is a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the

American Association for the Advancement of Science, a diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology, and an honorary diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiology. He has received the Pfizer and Beecham Awards for research excellence and has served as a reviewer for multiple USDA and NIH grant review proposals. On his long list of achievements, Dr. Inzana is most proud of his published work that serves to advance the field of veterinary medicine. He has authored 126 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 28 book chapters and edited three books. His current research focuses on biofilm formation by bovine respiratory disease pathogens, including the study of exopolysaccharide production, polymicrobial infections in bovine respiratory disease, and regulation of genes responsible for bacterial virulence factors. Including his students and faculty in his ongoing studies at the College of Veterinary Medicine allows them to join him in impacting the future of the field through hands-on laboratory research under his leadership. “I share my relevant research results with my students, and I think showing them actual data improves their concept and understanding of disease pathogenesis and how to prevent and treat an infectious disease,” said Dr. Inzana. “As a research administrator, I am more capable of addressing the problems and needs of the research faculty because my research group is facing the same issues, and I am fully engaged in the laboratory.”

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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS

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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS Fashion-Forward Students Give Back to Community Thrift Shop

tudents enrolled in Long Island University's Fashion Merchandising & Management Program are volunteering to design attractive thematic and seasonal displays to maximize sales in The Community Thrift Shop in Huntington. The unique and collaborative venture reflects the University’s tradition of service to the community as well as a current focus on sustainability in fashion. Inside the thrift shop, the students work on signage, messaging, photography and social media to broaden the customer base and stimulate purchases. Those with a keen eye for desirable vintage fashion also price, display and sell clothing and accessories in the Student Body Boutique at LIU Post.

then offer at the ‘Vintage Corner’ in our very own Student Body Boutique at affordable prices. It's a win-win." The Student Body is an oncampus boutique that features trends and styles curated by LIU's fashion students. The students select all the merchandise as well as manage and staff the boutique, giving them valuable experience to launch their careers in fashion. It is a shining example of the program’s focus on business fundamentals and entrepreneurship while fostering creativity in marketing and branding. The program also features networking and internship opportunities with

fashion leaders, participation in New York Fashion Week events, opportunities to study abroad, and a capstone project to create a fashion start-up company. By showcasing The Community Thrift Shop’s items in the Student Body Boutique, students are promoting sustainability, adding vintage flair to the boutique's selection, and giving back to their community. "It's inspiring to have the fashionforward input of the students who bring a fresh, Gen-Z look to the merchandise in the shop,” said Linda Taylor, CEO of VNSHS. “This helps to increase sales which extends Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk's ability to provide crucial services to patients and their families throughout our county."

Net sales from the thrift shop directly benefit the Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, which serves local families who are facing health care crises. The University’s share of the proceeds supports scholarships for fashion merchandising students. Cherie Serota, director of LIU's Fashion Merchandising & Management program, explained, "Another highly advantageous aspect of this partnership is that it promotes circularity and sustainability in fashion, which is of pressing concern to our students and the industry worldwide. Thrifting reduces impact on the environment by upcycling and reusing clothing. At the same time, it enables a larger population to access luxury brands. Our students not only use their merchandising and visual display skills, but also their buying expertise to identify merchandise that they can

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Fashion Merchandising & Management students organize clothing displays inside the Community Thrift Shop in Huntington.

New Pharmacy Scholarship Extends 100+ Year Family Legacy

Honors Students Win Top Prize at National Model United Nations Conference

he Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy at Long Island University announced the Aurelio M. Sideli Scholarship to support the continued advancement of pharmaceutical science and student success. The $50,000 scholarship is named after World War II veteran and alumnus Aurelio “Leo” M. Sideli, who graduated from the College in 1939 and spent much of his life working in the pharmaceutical field. While enrolled at the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy, now part of Long Island University, Sideli worked three days a week at a bookbinder company, sold newspapers at night and logged weekend shifts at his Uncle Nino’s drugstore. Sideli earned a job at national pharmaceutical company Liggett’s and went on to work in managerial roles at prominent hotel drugstores in Manhattan, including the Commodore and McAlpin Hotel, before he was drafted into military service in 1941. After returning from the war, his familial and educational pedigree helped him secure a job at Winthrop, a subsidiary of former global leader Sterling Drugs. The company had no vacancies when Sideli was looking, but he secured an offer nonetheless through the referral of a Winthrop employee who was a fellow Brooklyn College of Pharmacy alumnus and knew of his family background in pharmacy. Sideli spent his entire career with Winthrop, initially covering territories in Brooklyn and Queens and later Long Island, until his retirement in 1982.

he Long Island University Model United Nations Team brought home the top prize of “Outstanding Delegation” at the National Model United Nations Conference in Washington, D.C., outperforming more than 50 universities from around the country. LIU Global and Honors College students competed against peers from Georgia Tech, U.S. Air Force Academy, Clemson University, Wake Forest University, Pepperdine University, Baylor University, Syracuse University, and many more.

Representing Australia, LIU students researched, drafted and submitted pre-written position papers addressing the topics of discussion at the conference, and then competed in five UN committees. Over three days of competition, including formal speeches to the delegations and hours of negotiations with peers, the students were recognized by the National Model United Nations for the dedication and professionalism they displayed at all levels of the conference. Members of the winning team from the Post and Brooklyn campuses include Abdullah Akl, Gracie Carpenter, Valerie Chateau, Ellen Hernandez, Hannah Kleinman, Barbara Knipe, Shania Libert, Elizabeth Rafailova, Vladimir Tobar. Together they expertly addressed topics such as information and telecommunications in international security, emergency humanitarian service, eliminating human trafficking, the right to privacy in the digital age, climate action and sustainable development, and international COVID-19 recovery.

“Leo was a caring son, husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin and grandfather,” said his daughter Kathleen A. Sideli. “We are proud to have our father’s legacy remembered with this scholarship so that his dedication to pharmacy will continue into the future.”

Leo Sideli at the Liggett Drug Store McAlpin Hotel in 1940.

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FEATURE STORY

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Amazon Prime’s The College Tour to Feature LIU

ong Island University is the star of an upcoming episode of The College Tour, an Emmynominated series streaming on Amazon Prime that showcases college campuses around the country. Each episode features real students, alumni and faculty who share an exclusive look at their school’s campus life, academics, career opportunities, athletics, facilities and more. The LIU episode, which airs on streaming services and Amazon Prime on May 10, 2022, highlights the defining features of the Post and Brooklyn campuses and their most prestigious programs, including the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment, the School of Business, Honors College, LIU Global, the School of Performing Arts, the School of Health Professions and Nursing, and Division I Athletics. “Joining The College Tour was a fantastic opportunity to reach a wider audience of prospective students and show them how Long Island University can shape their future,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Berthel. “Our current students were thrilled to show off their Shark Nation pride and share their stories of success. Everyone involved in the making of the show helped perfectly capture the identity of LIU.” The series is created, produced and hosted by Alex Boylan, who won CBS’s Amazing Race and launched an award-winning career hosting travel, food and wildlife shows for CBS, PBS and Travel Channel. Boylan’s inspiration for the show came when his niece began to search for the college of her dreams. Her

family found it difficult to visit many of her favorite schools due to travel expenses. Boylan’s vision was to give every prospective student an equal opportunity to tour the best schools in America through high-quality, accessible virtual tours. "The College Tour is the show you wished you had when applying for colleges in high school," said Boylan. "College visits can cost upwards of $3,000 per school, which puts them out of reach for many students and families. We are leveling the playing field and providing a free, easy and fun way to tour some of the best schools across the country." The LIU cast includes Roc Nation School student Tyler Boylorn and Program Director Tressa Cunningham, junior finance major Shivani Vaidya, junior nursing major Matthew Young, senior LIU Global student Tiago Silva, women’s basketball senior Brandy

Thomas, football junior Camden Orth, senior business administration major Alina Chen, senior education major Kaitlyn Sottung, senior Honors College forensic science and chemistry major Samantha Olsen, senior musical theatre and psychology major Francesco DiFlora, and senior finance major Vikas Dalal.

Watch LIU's episode on The College Tour online!

1. Alex Boylan, host of The College Tour, films a segment in front of the Interfaith Chapel. 2. Members of The College Tour production crew on stage at Tilles Center. 3. LIU student Tyler Boylorn and Roc Nation School Director Tressa Cunningham film a segment of The College Tour. 4. Students of the Roc Nation School film a College Tour segment inside a recording studio on campus.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

Meet LIU Student Stars

K A I T LY N S OT T U N G

T Y L E R B OY LO R N

Class of 2022 | LIU Post | Education

Class of 2025 | Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment | Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production

It was important for Kaitlyn to find a college campus that felt like home, and she knew LIU Post was the answer. With the Gold Coast beaches near campus and New York City a short train ride away, Kaitlyn loves that she has access to the best of both worlds. It’s the perfect location to earn jobs and internships, connect with a powerful alumni network, and enjoy front row seats to some of the best entertainment around. She’s an entertainer herself and traveled to Spain with her classmates in the Vocal Jazz Ensemble to perform in front of international audiences.

ALINA CHEN

F R A N C E S C O D I F LO R A

Class of 2022 | Campus Life | Business Administration and Fashion Merchandising

Class of 2022 | School of Performing Arts | Musical Theatre

Alina has always looked for every opportunity to excel professionally and surround herself with like-minded people. She is a Dean’s Scholar, a member of the fencing team, the leader of a national sorority, and CEO of the Student Body Boutique. She is learning first-hand the skills needed to run a business and has volunteered at New York Fashion Week every year of her college career. Her sorority has allowed her to give back to her community and make lifelong connections, and as a student-athlete she contributed to a national championship-winning team.

As an aspiring music producer, Tyler is thrilled to be learning from the best in the business at the Roc Nation School, such as legendary hip-hop producer 9th Wonder. This year he engaged with over 15 other innovators in the industry including the NBA commissioner, executives from Netflix, and Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion. He also works at Canteen, the official Roc Nation store on campus, with all proceeds supporting his fellow classmates. The Roc Nation School is helping him truly experience music and culture, not just learn about it.

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Francesco always knew his passion was for the arts and theatre, and LIU helped him take the leap of faith. The BFA program taught him independence and initiative, while learning acting methods such as Suzuki, Stanislovsky, Shakespeare, Chekov, Meisner and others. He will graduate as a physically trained actor and has taken part in many contemporary and naturalistic acting in plays and musicals. And studying so close to Broadway allows him the opportunity to easily travel to performances and auditions to launch his career on stage.

S H I VA N I VA I D YA

T I A G O S I LVA

M AT T H E W Y O U N G

Class of 2022 | LIU Brooklyn | Finance

Class of 2022 | LIU Global | Global Studies

It was always Shivani’s dream to move to New York City and explore the world, and LIU Brooklyn allowed her to do just that. She loves living a short walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan, and a few steps away from the Barclays Center, hundreds of restaurants and shops. She takes advantage of high-tech offerings such as Bloomberg terminals that have allowed her to manage the University’s $150,000 portfolio of stocks in the LIU Student Investment Fund, and secure an internship at Wells Fargo’s Wealth and Investment Management program.

Tiago knew the moment he learned about LIU Global that it was meant to be. He loves that the program gives him the true definition of experiential learning, following up classroom lessons with unique field experiences. The classroom is filled with thoughtful debate and exchange of ideas that has widened his view of the world, and he has traveled to new countries in every semester. Through his travels he discovered his true passion for education and plans to pursue a career in academia.

Class of 2022 | School of Health Professions and Nursing | Nursing

BRANDY THOMAS

VIKAS DALAL

SAMANTHA OLSEN

Class of 2022 | LIU Athletics | Psychology

Class of 2022 | School of Business | Finance

Competing in Division I basketball was a lifelong dream that Brandy fulfilled at LIU. She loves the connections she has made with teammates, coaches and professors, and enjoys giving back to her community through the LIU Cares initiative. Brandy saw plenty of success on the court too. She was named first-team All-NEC during her senior season, becoming just the seventh player in league history to earn four straight all-conference honors. She led the conference in three-point shooting percentage and finished third in scoring during her final year.

Vikas first learned about LIU when he was selected as a scholar in the Summer Honors Institute after his junior year of high school. Now on the verge of graduating college, he already has a full-time job offer from a global investment bank. He took advantage of the University’s student-led consulting firm and student investment fund to gain hands-on experience that prepared him for the job market. He never imagined that he would be advising real businesses and allocating real stocks and funds as a student.

Class of 2022 | Honors College | Chemistry and Forensic Science

Matthew was inspired to become a nurse by watching health care professionals in action when his dad needed it the most. From the moment he arrived on campus to when he started his professional nursing classes, he has loved his LIU experience. The hands-on learning conducted by health care leaders and the stateof-the-art simulation lab are some of Matthew’s favorite aspects of the program. Being so close to New York City has given him access to learn in some of the world’s best hospitals.

The Honors College has allowed Samantha to join smaller classes with like-minded students and make meaningful connections with her professors. Her passion for science led her to add chemistry as a double major and she is writing her honors thesis on probabilistic genotyping. She enjoys spending time and collaborating with friends in the Honors College Village, a space reserved for Honors students to study and socialize. She also took advantage of a faculty-led trip to Iceland for 10 days to learn about the Icelandic culture.

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ATHLETICS 01. MEN’S SOCCER WINS CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

The top-ranked Sharks were crowned Northeast Conference Champions on their home field, beating second-ranked St. Francis Brooklyn in penalty kicks. Goalkeeper Demetri Skoumbakis made the title-clinching save in round six and was named the NEC Tournament MVP, while also honored as the NEC Goalkeeper of the Year. The Sharks beat Maryland in the first round of the NCAA College Cup.

02. SHARKS WIN FIVE GOLD MEDALS AT NEC CHAMPIONSHIPS Men’s indoor track and field athletes shined at the 2022 Northeast Conference Championship meet. Freshman Elyas Ayyoub was named the meet’s Most Valuable Performer after winning gold in the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs; sophomore Momodou Sey won gold in the 60-meter dash; senior Kimorie Shearman won the 200-meter dash; and junior Lucas Fernandez won the 800-meter run. 2

03. RON COOPER NAMED SHARKS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Coach Ron Cooper joins Shark Nation directly from #1 ranked University of Alabama. Cooper previously served as head coach at Eastern Michigan University, University of Louisville and Alabama A&M. He was also on staff at Texas A&M, LSU, University of Arkansas, University of Notre Dame, South Carolina, and Mississippi State.

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CROSS COUNTRY COACH OF THE YEAR MAKES HISTORY

VOLLEYBALL SENIOR NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Women’s Head Coach Chris Sauer is the first cross country coach in University history to be named the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year. Sauer led the Sharks to a second-place overall finish in the conference championship meet, the program’s best finish since winning the NEC Championship in 1988.

Senior Anastasia Scott was named the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in volleyball for the second consecutive year. She led the conference by a wide margin with 5.38 digs per set, finishing ninth in the nation in the category. Scott was also named first-team All-NEC alongside senior Jovana Stekovic, while junior Karolina Nova earned second-team All-NEC honors.

Sharks Showcase Excellence in the Classroom • Men’s and women’s swimming both received Scholar All-America honors from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America. • Men’s lacrosse senior Alex Russell was one of just 70 athletes nationwide to earn an academic award from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, while his team also won the USILA Team Academic Award. • Women’s volleyball received a Team Academic Award and Team Academic Honor Roll award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association for landing in the top 20% nationally in team GPA.

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HOCKEY STAR NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

FIELD HOCKEY STARS EARN ALLCONFERENCE HONORS

Men’s ice hockey forward Billy Jerry was nominated for the 2022 Hobey Baker Award, the nation’s top award given to the best player in college hockey. Jerry is the first Shark in program history to be nominated for the award. In 32 games this season, Jerry tallied 13 goals and 15 assists to lead the Sharks with 28 total points.

Seniors Sammy Bell and Rachel Vellis, along with junior Felicia King, were recognized by the Northeast Conference as second-team All-NEC honorees. It is the third All-NEC honor for Bell, who led the Sharks with seven goals on their way to a second consecutive appearance in the NEC Championship game.

• Bowling earned the National Tenpin Coaches Association’s All-Academic Team Award, and 12 Sharks received an individual AllAcademic Award. • Gymnastics was ranked in the top 50 in the country in overall team GPA by the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association, and 12 LIU gymnasts were recognized as WCGA Academic All-America Award winners.

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ATHLETICS

THREE SHARKS USE THEIR LIU EXPERIENCE TO ACHIEVE THEIR ATHLETIC DREAMS

he Long Island University Sharks are making a splash on the world’s biggest athletic stage, with current student-athletes and alumni competing and winning medals in the most recent Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Brendon Rodney ’16, one of the most decorated track and field athletes in University history, competed for Canada in the 4×100-meter relay at the 2016 Rio Di Janiero and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Making their Olympic debuts at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing were Andre Marcano ’09, ’12 for the Trinidad & Tobago bobsled team, and current student Paula Bergström for the Sweden women’s hockey team. Marcano’s story stood out as he helped Trinidad & Tobago field a bobsled team for the first time in 20 years despite never pushing an actual sled until he arrived in Beijing. The former LIU sprinter tried for years to qualify in the 100-meter dash but nearly fell short of his Olympic dream. However, bobsled proved to be a natural fit for the explosive runner, and he served as the flag bearer for his country during the opening ceremony. “It was so surreal! There were so many emotions, but proud mostly,” Marcano said. “The moment they called team Trinidad and Tobago, all nervousness

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left my body, and I walked across the stage, waving the flag with so much pride for my country.” Joining Marcano in Beijing—and fulfilling a lifelong Olympic dream— Bergström has been an integral member of the LIU women’s hockey team. She was on the inaugural roster as a freshman when the team was formed in 2020 and helped lead the Sharks to two straight conference championships in 2020 and 2021. She echoed the sense of pride she felt when putting on her country’s uniform. “The Olympics is as big as it gets in Women’s hockey,” Bergström said. “Sweden is a big hockey nation, and I come from a small town up north that is all about hockey as well, which makes it even more special.” Rodney has quickly become LIU’s most successful Olympian, setting a high bar for Marcano, Bergström, and other Sharks that follow. Rodney and his teammates earned the 4×100meter bronze medal in both of his Olympic appearances, and standing on the podium is a feeling he will cherish forever. “Even if I hear our national anthem play today, just the joy of that moment is great, it’s incredible,” Rodney said. All of the LIU Olympians acknowledged the role the University played in their

preparation for the moment. Whether it was a specific coach or mentor, the structure and competition of the NCAA, or the dedication it takes to stick to a Division I schedule, the three agree that their time at LIU was pivotal. Rodney, who still keeps in touch with track and field Head Coach Simon Hodnett, added that “he was always keeping me mentally prepared for big moments because he said it was going to come.” Marcano was also recruited and coached by Hodnett beginning in 2005, and he praised the program for teaching him the hard work and discipline that ultimately built his confidence. “From waking up at 5 a.m. and training with limited resources, it was no easy feat, but coach Simon always found a way to ensure that we were competition ready. I have applied all these lessons in every aspect of my life since graduating,” Marcano said. For Bergström, it is Head Coach Rob Morgan who has always believed in her and given her the opportunity to compete at the highest level, which all of LIU’s Olympians appreciate. “D1 hockey, in general, is such a great environment, providing conditions to take young athletes to the next level,” Bergström said. “LIU taught me to believe in myself and that the goals I had for myself were never too big.”

ATHLETICS

Paula Bergström

Brendon Rodney ’16

Andre Marcano ’09, ’12

Paula Bergström (left) plays for the Sweden women’s hockey team in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Photo: Gabriel Bouys/Getty Images

Andre Marcano (left) carries the Trinidad & Tobago flag during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

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UNIVERSITY NEWS R ead more Long Island University news at: headlines.liu.edu

The Sydney H. Schanberg Prize for Long-Form Journalism

Tilles Center, School of Performing Arts Create SensoryFriendly Immersive Performance

Luke Mogelson

Sydney H. Schanberg The George Polk Awards and Long Island University announced the creation of the Sydney H. Schanberg Prize and selected its first recipient, Luke Mogelson of The New Yorker. The prize is to be awarded annually for exceptional and passionate long-form investigative or enterprise journalism embodying qualities reflected in the late Schanberg’s legendary career. Mogelson is recognized for “Among the Insurrectionists,” his 12,000-word account of events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 including video footage he took that day. He followed violent protestors as they advanced on the Capitol, using his phone’s camera as a reporter’s notebook. For much of the day, he was the only reporter in the chamber producing videos that were viewed by millions, presented as evidence during President Trump’s second impeachment trial and, along with his highly evocative written account, remain a definitive source of what transpired inside the Capitol and motivated the insurrectionists.

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Sydney Schanberg was a two-time George Polk Award winner among many other honors during his 25 years as a foreign correspondent, bureau chief, editor and columnist at the New York Times. The story for which Schanberg is most remembered came when Cambodia fell to the Khmer Rouge in 1975. Schanberg was the Southeast Asia correspondent for the Times, and he refused to leave Cambodia against his editors’ orders. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his Cambodia coverage, and his work became the basis for the 1984 movie “The Killing Fields.” Winners of the Schanberg Prize receive a $25,000 honorarium funded by Schanberg’s widow, the journalist Jane Freiman Schanberg, who stipulated that the Schanberg Prize honor “highly distinguished, deep coverage of armed conflicts; local, state or federal government corruption; military injustice; war crimes, genocide or sedition; or authoritarian government abuses” of at least 5,000 words “that results from staying with a story, sometimes at great risk or sacrifice.”

Theatre students, faculty and alumni in partnership with Tilles Center for the Performing Arts created Branching Out, a sensory-immersive performance designed for individuals on the autism spectrum and those with limited movement or complex communication needs. The multi-sensory experience, which debuted to school audiences and the public, is about a journey through the four seasons and celebrating change.

George Polk School Receives Rare Historic Documents on Journalist’s Life A unique collection of papers and books related to the life of famed CBS Correspondent George Polk will be housed at the George Polk School of Communication at LIU. Donated by Polk’s niece, Milbry Polk, the collection was curated by her father William Polk and is the basis for his last book about his brother George.

Veterinary Students Win Prestigious National Contest

NBA's LaMelo Ball Donates Roc Nation Scholarship LaMelo Ball announced a four-year scholarship for a student majoring in sports management or sports communication & marketing at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment. The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year’s scholarship was awarded to one lucky student who meets academic qualifications and submits a written essay about how the LaMelo Scholarship will help their 10-year vision come to life.

Tannaz Zafarnia and Magnus Yoshimura came in first and second place respectively in the veterinary division at the 21st Annual American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Animal Welfare Assessment Contest (AWJAC). The College of Veterinary Medicine also placed first in the veterinary division team event ahead of Ohio State and Michigan State.

University Joins Nationwide Pharmaceutical Study LIU Pharmacy joined top pharmacy schools around the country in the RAPID Alliance Medications 360 Study. The goal is to transform how medications and vaccines are delivered in the U.S. Participating institutions will lead an effort to create strategies and a nationally prioritized research agenda from 2022 to 2031.

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College of Veterinary Medicine Partners With Mobile Clinics Students and faculty contribute to the 95,000 spay and neuter procedures conducted by the Fido Fixers mobile clinics. The College of Veterinary Medicine’s partnership with Fido Fixers is one of more than 70 clinical affiliations that provide students with hands-on experience in their chosen careers.

Princeton Review Names LIU ‘Best in the Northeast’ for 5th Straight Year Long Island University is again recognized as one of the Best Northeastern Colleges in the Princeton Review’s annual rankings of the 2022 Best Colleges for the fifth consecutive year. The Review cited the “numerous ways to develop career experience,” commending the University for displaying strong values, diversity, and individualized instruction.

Long Island University Named ‘Best of Long Island’ For Second Straight Year Long Island University won five top honors in the Bethpage Best of Long Island Contest, including Best College or University, Best College President, and Best College Sports Program for the second straight year. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts was also recognized as the Best Theatre Arts Center for the second year in a row, and women’s hockey Head Coach Rob Morgan won Best College or University Sports Coach.

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ON THE SHELF Let's Create Writers: Writing Lessons for Grades Seven and Eight

A Century of Repression: The Espionage Act and Freedom of the Press

By Timothy Horan

By Ralph Engelman and Carey Shenkman

Dr. Timothy Horan ’06, ’13 presents an original and highly effective writing program whose major goal is to transform middle school students into competent and confident writers. The book includes 20 writing assignments that are innovative, rigorous, engaging, and designed with the students in mind. Dr. Horan is the school library media specialist for the Hauppauge School District and has published two previous books about creating school library writing centers along with more than 25 scholarly articles.

Douglaston-Little Neck (Images of America)

Senior Professor Emeritus Ralph Engelman and co-author Carey Shenkman offer an unprecedented and panoramic history of the use of the Espionage Act of 1917 as the most important yet least understood law threatening freedom of the press in modern American history. Engelman is the LIU faculty coordinator for the George Polk Awards in Journalism, professor of journalism and communication studies, and author of three books on journalism history.

The President and the Freedom Fighter By Brian Kilmeade

Brian Kilmeade ’86 tells the little-known story of how President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass moved from strong disagreement to friendship, and in the process changed the entire course of history. Sharing little more than the conviction that slavery was wrong, the two men’s paths converged as they endured the Civil War and a growing firestorm of unrest. Kilmeade is the New York Times bestselling author of George Washington’s Secret Six and Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates, and is a host on FOX News.

Ferne: A Detroit Story

Clinical Resource Manual for Graduate Speech Language Pathology Students: Transition from Theory to Practice

By Barbara Henning

By Jason Antos

By George Pagano and Mayya Teytel Cocozza

Jason Antos ’03 explores the illustrious history of Douglaston and Little Neck as the gateway to the North Shore of Long Island. While Douglaston emerged as a destination for artists and yachting enthusiasts, Little Neck evolved from farmland and quaint yet rustic country stores to a newly developed area of communities and hamlets that exemplified the American dream. Antos serves as the executive director of the Queens Historical Society and has previously published local history books on Shea Stadium and several neighborhoods in the borough.

Professor Emerita Barbara Henning provides an intimate portrait of her mother, Ferne, whose tragic young life in the city of Detroit she describes in loving detail. The memoir deftly analyzes the social contours of the mid-century culture through a series of vignettes, news clippings, photographs, and biographical details. Henning is a poet and novelist who served as chair of the English department and has written five novels, seven collections of poetry, four chapbooks and a series of photo-poem pamphlets.

Professors George Pagano and Mayya Teytel Cocozza offer a guide for speech language pathology graduate students as they enter their off-site pediatric and adult externship placements. The resource manual enhances the development of clinical decision-making and problem solving, goal writing and implementation, and clinical writing skills for aspiring speech language pathologists. Pagano and Cocozza are both professors in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at LIU.

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 | Spring 2022

CLASS NOTES

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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.

History Makers

1970s 1975 HIPOLITO ROLDAN ’75, chief executive officer of the Illinois Hispanic Housing Development Corporation, was appointed by Governor JB Pritzker as a member of the Illinois Capital Development Board.

1976 MICHAEL PIRRONE ’76 was elected as the town supervisor of Athens, New York.

1930s

1940s

1932

1941

DR. BERNICE WALTERS NORDSTROM ’32 was the US Navy’s first female doctor to serve at sea when she was assigned to the USS Consolation in 1950. The Maritime Executive posthumously honored her decorated career as the ship’s only anesthesiologist and recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for her service, bravery and intelligence. Her historic assignment aboard the Consolation was covered critically by the press at the time, and Nordstrom famously rejected her achievement: “Why should I be written up just because I’m a woman?” she said. “I want to be accepted as a doctor, and that means, without the ‘woman’ always in front of it.”

The National Basketball Association celebrated the 75th anniversary of its inaugural game on November 1, 1946, when New York Knicks point guard OSSIE SCHECTMAN ’41 scored the first points in league history. Schectman is a member of the Long Island University Athletics Hall of Fame and helped lead LIU to national championships in 1939 and 1941. He was named a firstteam Converse All-American in his final season, and went on to be inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.

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1978 Mayor Eric Adams nominated JUSTICE SYLVIA HINDSRADIX ’78 as New York City’s Corporation Counsel, making her the first Caribbean-born woman to serve in the position.

1979 DR. PHYLLIS M. YEZZO ’79 was named senior vice president and chief nurse executive of Westchester Medical Center Health Network, where she oversees nursing operations at all WMCHealth hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and provider practices.

1980s 1980 THE HONORABLE ROBERT S. BOWERS ’80 will be the

new presiding judge for Solano County Superior Court in California, overseeing the executive management of the court serving more than 450,000 county residents.

1981 ROY ANDERSON ’81 was named chief financial officer of Allied Esports Entertainment Inc., a global network of esports properties and content production facilities. He brings more than 30 years of accounting expertise to the role, most recently as a partner with the international firm Mazars.

1982 DONALD APGAR ’82 was appointed director of merchant services by Mercator Advisory Group, the leading independent research and advisory services firm exclusively focused on the payments industry.

1983 RICHARD KATZENSTEIN ’83 was named head of strategic partnerships for Ready Capital Corporation, where he is charged with increasing commercial real estate lending volume and strengthening loan sourcing channels. MICHAEL MATHIAS ’83 joined the board of directors for CopperPoint Insurance Company, a leading provider of workers’ compensation, commercial property and casualty insurance solutions.

CLASS NOTES

1991 VALERIE ANDERSON CAMPBELL ’91 received a certificate from the The United States Marine Corps to serve as a 2021 National Charity Ambassador for Toys For Tots. Campbell is the president of her consulting firm Anderson Campbell Enterprises, and the Nassau County director for the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce. She is a recipient of the Long Island Top 50 Women in Business 2020 by the Long Island Business News (LIBN), the Top Influential Long Island Women by Long Island Weekly, and a Diversity in Business Award from LIBN.

1984

1988

HENRY ESTRADA ’84 was appointed as the chief financial officer of The Betty Griffin Center, a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Florida.

MICHAEL BAEZ ’88, ’91 was selected as the vice president of professional services and customer strategy for Leasepath, a cloud-based intelligent workplace finance organization and customer engagement platform.

1985 DR. GARY D. SCHWARTZ ’85 was recognized among Jersey’s Best magazine’s Top Doctors of 2021 in New Jersey for the third time, and has also been named by Jersey’s Best as a Top Doctor in the New York Metro Area for three consecutive years. BARRY SCHANKER ‘85 joined FS Investments, a leading alternative asset manager, as head of wealth management to grow the company’s presence in the private wealth management channel.

1986 SUSAN MCKEON ’86, ‘96 was named chief financial officer for the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Her 30-year tenure at the Brookhaven lab includes senior leadership roles overseeing a $700 million-plus annual budget and as the laboratory’s business operations officer. FOX News announced that BRIAN KILMEADE ‘86 will host a brand-new show on Saturdays at 8 p.m. aiming to provide perspective and context to major stories with power players throughout the news landscape.

1990s 1991 SUZANNE WOLLMAN, CPA, ’91 joined Common Energy— one of the country’s leading community solar providers—as its senior controller to oversee corporate finance and accounting for the business.

1992 RICHARD KING ‘92 was named vice president of commercial, institutional and government sales for Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products. JAMES DETOMMASO ’92 was appointed assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the East Rockaway School District with 28 years of education experience.

1995 JOHN A. COSENZA ’95 was appointed COO of Iconic Brands Inc., a distributor of celebrity-

branded alcoholic beverages, after serving in management at Anheuser-Busch for 30 years. LILIANA RUIZ ’95 was chosen by Rochester Mayor Malik Evans to serve as director of special projects. Her impressive background in government and communications includes positions at Hearst Magazines and Rochester City Hall.

1996 CHARLIE STONE ’96 was announced as the new vice president of sales in North America for Cobwebs Technologies, a worldwide leader in web intelligence. THOMAS J. FARLEY ’96 was named chief financial officer of Aditxt Inc., a leading biotech innovation company aimed at improving the health of the immune system, after holding leadership roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and BlackRock Capital Investment Corporation among others. PAUL SEVERINO ’96 was promoted to president of Intelligent Product Solutions, an award-winning product design and development firm that he co-founded in 2007 and has expanded across North America and international markets.

1997 MICHAEL PETROUTSAS ’97, vice president of the US Oncology

Business Unit of GSK, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, joined the Washington Post’s “Chasing Cancer” speaker series to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on cancer care.

1998 GIOVANNI SAVARESE ’98, head coach of Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers, led his team to its second Western Conference Championship and MLS Cup berth in the past four seasons. Savarese scored 50 goals as an All-American striker for LIU.

2000s 2001 DR. ROBIN SMALL ‘01 was named the principal of Valley Stream North High School by the Central District Board of Education.

2002 CHRIS D’ORSO ’02 was appointed to the board of directors for the Higher Education Web Professionals Association as liaison to the annual Accessibility Summit and to the volunteer committee. BRIAN LOCKE ’02 was selected to the board of directors for the Friends of Mississippi Veterans, a non-profit dedicated to caring for the more than 200,000 veterans from the state.

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CLASS NOTES

2003 LYNN COYLE ’03 accepted an associate principal position in the Deer Park School District at May Moore Primary School after serving as curriculum and instructional coordinator in the Northport-East Northport School District. ANGELIQUE JOHNSONDINGLE ’03, ’05 was appointed as the New York State Education Department’s deputy commissioner for P-12 instructional support.

2004 PAIGE FOURNIER ’04 was named a finalist for the 2022 Maine Teacher of the Year Award with a decorated career in special education that includes being named co-chair of the Regional School Unit 5 Wellness Committee and a semifinalist for the 2012 Maine Teacher of the Year Award. JILL GUZZARDO ’04 was appointed to the administration at Nassau BOCES Children’s Readiness Center. Her wealth of experience includes roles as a special education teacher, unit coordinator, and administrator of New York State Alternative Assessments.

2005 SHARON MUNAJJ ’05 started a new division for IST Management Services called the Virtual Support Center, offering legal and administrative management solutions to law firms and corporations.

2007 ROBERT BLOUNT ’07, head football coach at Oceanside High School, was named a New York Jets High School Coach of the Week. As a star quarterback for LIU, he finished his college career as the University’s all-time leader in passing yards, total offense, and touchdown passes.

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DETECTIVE RYAN DURHAM ’07 was assigned to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey, where he will serve as a member of the agency’s Grand Jury Unit. JESSICA ROMANO ’07 was elected as a partner of Schulte Roth & Zabel, a leading international law firm serving the financial services industry.

2008 MATTHEW COMISKEY ’08 accepted an associate principal position in the Deer Park School district at John Quincy Adams Primary School after 19 years as a classroom teacher in the Islip School District. MICHELL WRIGHT JUMPP ’08, ’18, the library media specialist at Horizons-Onthe-Hudson Magnet School in Newburgh, was named the New York Library Association’s Librarian of the Year.

2009 ORISANMI BURTON ’09, a renowned scholar of social anthropology, Black studies, and prisons and policing, was named a 2021 Freedom Scholar by the Marguerite Casey Foundation and Group Health Foundation.

2010s 2010 DESIREE M. GARGANO ’10, associate in employment law and litigation at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, was recognized on the “Ones to Watch” list for the second consecutive year by Best Lawyers, the most respected peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession. VALENTINO SMITH ’10, ’13, adjunct professor of marketing, was announced as vice president of marketing for Todos Medical Ltd., a comprehensive medical diagnostics and related solutions company.

2009 Suffolk County Sheriff DR. ERROL TOULON JR. ’09 has become a national figure in law enforcement as a member of the Major County Sheriffs of America’s Intelligence Commanders Committee. Sheriff Toulon will help provide sheriff departments around the country with timely and accurate intelligence, focusing on foreign and domestic terrorism, human and narcotics trafficking, and cyberattacks. Before being elected sheriff in 2017, he spent 22 years in the Corrections Department and twice beat cancer diagnoses in 1996 and 2003.

2011 Ugandan Diplomat ADONIA AYEBARE ’11 was appointed as special envoy to the United Nations in addition to his role as permanent representative of Uganda.

2012 JAMES MCCABE ’12 was appointed by the Copiague Central School District to serve as the assistant superintendent for student services after previously serving as a guidance counselor and assistant dean in higher education. NICOLAS DESTINVILLE ’12 was named the administrator of

St. Johnland Nursing Center, a 250-bed facility in Kings Park.

2014 DEIRDRE FARABAUGH ’14 was named as the new director of the Desmond-Fish Public Library by the Board of Trustees due to her commitment to create opportunities for lifelong learning through new programming, collections and services including a dialogue about race and a “Coffee With a Cop” program.

2015 PAOLA OCHOA ’15 was selected by Stamford Public Schools as the assistant principal of Dolan Middle School, where

CLASS NOTES

Photo: Good Morning America

2011

2015

MADLYN MOSKOWITZ ’11 hosted a Walt Disney Family Museum presentation about her role for the past five years as the collections & exhibitions archivist for Lucasfilm Ltd. Moskowitz preserves props, costumes, creatures, and droids from Lucasfilm and Star Wars projects for Walt Disney Studios, and prepares displays for red carpet events, theatrical installations, and Disney Parks. She also facilitates the reference use of production objects for teams throughout The Walt Disney Company, and contributes historical research to online content and print publications.

NAKETA YOUNGE ’15 was interviewed on Good Morning America by Robin Roberts about her inspiring journey from homeless at 18 to becoming an at-risk youth counselor. Naketa found shelter at Covenant House, a non-profit service provider for homeless youth, and went on to earn her master’s degree in mental health counseling from LIU so she could give back to teens and young adults in need.

she previously taught Spanish to seventh and eighth grade students.

Scotland, representing the Episcopal Church of the USA, and she focused on Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, which set carbon emissions targets per country. Chelsea De Jesus ’20 was appointed as an Empire State Fellow by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and she will support projects across the Executive Chamber’s Constituency department with a concentration on women’s affairs.

NIGERIA EALEY ’15, ’18 is the co-founder of up-and-coming fashion brand TIER, which announced a partnership with the Brooklyn Nets to launch a limited capsule collection that includes three exclusively curated pieces that pay homage to the borough of Brooklyn.

2016 SEREN JONES ’16, a six-time All-American swimmer who led LIU to the NCAA Championships during her senior year, was featured by BBC News for her efforts to inspire more Black and

Asian children to get involved in swimming.

2020s 2020 KAYLEIGH FERGUSON ’20 received the Hume Scholarship at Maynooth University in Ireland, where she will research and promote improved access and preservation of cultural heritage sources by digitizing a collection of music in the university’s Russell Library. SUSIE FARIA ’20 was a delegate for the United Nations Climate Conference in Glasgow,

which provides funding and research support for recent graduates who plan to pursue an MD or PhD. El Gendi graduated early from the Honors College, was the winner of the University’s 2021 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and served as president of the Alpha Chi Honors Society.

2021 MONA EL GENDI ’21 received the National Institute of Health’s Postbaccalaureate Research Training Award,

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JOHN CATSIMATIDIS Chairman and CEO of Red Apple Group and

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Wednesday, May 25, 2022 The Plaza Hotel | New York City For more information, visit liu.edu/gala

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