LIU 2024 Spring/Summer Magazine

LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE

the reopening ofthe

ParamO unt B rooklyn

TheBrooklyn Paramount, a historic building owned by Long Island University, is back as a premier performance venue following a multi-million-dollar renovation thanks to a partnership with Live Nation Entertainment, which produces more concerts and sells more concert tickets than any other entity. The curtain went up on a new era and a new chapter for the building, Brooklyn, and the university on March 27 as the renovated, majestic building reopened as the “Brooklyn Paramount,” a music venue set to play a pivotal role in the cultural scene for New York City.

The 2,700-capacity music venue in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn offers more seating capacity than the largest Broadway theater. It is the latest example of the university’s growing presence as a force and key partner in the entertainment industry and Brooklyn. “The re-opening and restoration of the historic Paramount Theater strategically places Long Island University at the heart of economic growth in New York,” Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline said. “It demonstrates Long Island University’s commitment to the arts – and our role in the arts community.”

More than 45 artists have been booked for the inaugural year including PinkPantheress, Norah Jones, Mariah The Scientist, and Brooklyn native Busta Rhymes. It also will benefit students by offering internships and part-time jobs to students.

The Paramount was built as a “movie palace” in 1928 during Prohibition, which lasted from 1920 to 1933, the year that Mickey Mouse appeared in “Steamboat Willie,” his first sound film. Chicago-based Rapp & Rapp Architects designed the Paramount as “America’s first theater built for sound.” It seated 4,201, slightly more than the Fox Theater that had opened nearby, according to Cinematreasures.org. Eddie Cantor, Mae West, and Rudy Vallee in its early years graced its stages, which hosted a stellar procession of jazz, R&B, and rock ‘n roll musicians including Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Chuck Berry, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Domino, Johnny Mathis, Little Richard, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, and many more.

After television caught on, crowds dwindled and the last live show was “Easter Parade of Stars” in 1961. The last movie, “Hatari” starring John Wayne, attracted 300 in 1962, according to Cinematreasures.org. The building began a new chapter when Long Island University bought it in the 1950s as it built its Brooklyn campus, reopening in 1962 as the Harold and Maria Schwartz Athletic Center, later renamed Metcalfe Hall after the university’s first president, Tristram Walker. The university transformed it into a beautiful, high-ceilinged basketball arena where the university’s basketball teams played until 2006. The university’s men’s and women’s basketball, women’s swimming, women’s volleyball, and women’s fencing teams later moved to the Steinberg Wellness Center, a 140,000-square-foot facility.

Planning, design, and construction of this most recent multi-million-dollar project took five years and over 500 local tradespeople. Live Nation signed a lease with the university to convert it to a concert hall, as it became part of a growing, thriving Downtown Brooklyn entertainment scene near Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). (continued)

Photo Credit: Alive Coverage

“

“ IS OUR TOP PRIORITY Artist Fan Experience ELEVATING THE AND

View of the Grand Hall Bar

Photo Credit: Evan Joseph

(continued from page 3)

“The reopening of the historic Brooklyn Paramount is the latest sign that Brooklyn’s art scene is thriving,” Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said after the announcement. “This reopening demonstrates that New York City does not need to reinvent the wheel to bring entertainment and good-paying jobs to our city. I am glad to see the Brooklyn Paramount back.”

An original Mighty Wurlitzer organ is being maintained by the New York Theatre Organ Society. A grand entry hall makes a big first impression with a centerpiece bar and projections that mix the modern with the classic to create true Brooklyn magic. The backstage is equipped with amenities for artists, such as a workout room, game room, and art installation by Brooklyn artists. A new second-level balcony provides space for premium seating and enhanced service. The Brooklyn Paramount also can be used for corporate and private events, town halls, social gatherings, and holiday events. Ella’s VIP Lounge, named in honor of jazz great Ella Fitzgerald, offers an exclusive VIP experience. Paramount and Legends Memberships offer live music fans access to exclusive pre-sales, private venue entry, Ella’s Lounge admission, and more.

The Brooklyn Paramount will bring performers to Brooklyn, opportunity to students, and continue the expansion of the university as a major force in the entertainment industry and in New York City. And it’s a sign of the university’s ongoing ability to forge alliances with important companies in the entertainment industry. “Elevating the artist and fan experience is our top priority as we develop live music venues,” David Codiga, President of Blueprint Studio, Live Nation’s global design and development team, said. “And Brooklyn Paramount is a stunning space that will host many memorable shows.” $

View of Ella’s Lounge

Photo Credit: Evan Joseph

View of the Grand Hall

Photo Credit: Evan Joseph

Investigative Journalists Honored at the 75th George Polk Awards

For three quarters of a century, the world’s greatest journalists have taken the stage to accept a George Polk Award for outstanding investigative and enterprise reporting. This year, to mark the 75th anniversary of the premier investigative journalism awards program, 17 venerable journalists were recognized as George Polk Award Laureates for their career contributions to American journalism.

The Polk Laureates, along with the winners of 14 awards for outstanding reporting in 2023, were celebrated at a special milestone event in New York City.

Long Island University established the George Polk Awards in journalism in 1949 to honor George Polk, a CBS foreign correspondent who was assassinated while covering the Greek Civil War. In the spirit of George Polk, the awards place a premium on investigative and enterprising reporting that gains attention and achieves results.

The 17 Polk Laureates read like a who’s who of all-time investigative reporting greats, from Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the dauntless pair who uncovered the Watergate scandal that brought down the Nixon presidency, to trailblazing CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour, whose reporting has provided real-time context to conflicts around the world.

All previous Polk Award winners – about 600 people in all – were invited to the daylong celebration on Friday, April 12. Festivities kicked off with the awards luncheon at Cipriani 42nd Street, which was hosted by CNN Anchor and CBS News “60 Minutes” Correspondent Anderson Cooper. “As any newsperson knows, these awards are special – they’re different,” Cooper said. “They reward grit and determination; they reward cunning and courage. They’re kind of an insider’s prize. The concept is simple: by identifying and acclaiming work by intrepid reporters that bring results, they encourage more of it.”

Several esteemed presenters joined Cooper on stage, including Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, President of CBS News, which served as presenting sponsor of the awards luncheon.

The 2023 award winners were selected from 497 submissions of work that appeared in print, online, or on television or radio, as nominated by news organizations and individuals or recommended by a national panel of advisors. Representing the year’s pinnacle in investigative and enterprise reporting, 14 winners were chosen in 13 categories. Five recipients were honored for reporting on the Israel/Gaza or Russia/Ukraine wars. Revelatory reporting on the business practices of Elon Musk, the questionable ethics of U.S. Supreme Court justices, and an insidious approach to dealing with relatives of individuals killed by police were among the submissions recognized. Two of the winners exposed dangerously faulty medical devices, while others unearthed a lucrative trade in temporary license plates from phony car dealerships, laid bare Colorado’s dysfunctional family courts, and uncovered the illegal arrest and detention of hundreds of children in rural Tennessee. The Sydney H. Schanberg Prize for long-form journalism went to a veteran conflict reporter who embedded himself with rival gang lords to examine the total breakdown of civic life in Haiti.

“This is a grim time in our profession. Many newspapers and news outlets have closed, and those that are open are eerily vacant; they say you can hear your own footsteps in half-empty offices,” said Polk Awards Curator John Darnton, who served as an onstage presenter. “But from where I sit, when you read through 500 submissions for the prizes, from all across the country, you can’t help but be struck by the fact that there are plenty of good journalists out there doing great work. They are accosting and demanding accountability from regimes and nations and armies, corporations, government agencies, candidates, mayors, city councils, police, jails, courts, juvenile detention centers, old age homes, and countless other places.”

After the 2023 winners came on stage to accept their awards, the 17 Laureates were honored for “outstanding contributions to American journalism in the spirit of George Polk.” A moving video featuring interviews with each of the Laureates captured some of the daunting and dangerous circumstances and obstacles these intrepid reporters overcame to uncover and report the truth. Most of the Laureates attended in person, with one of them, The New Yorker Editor David Remnick, providing the keynote address.

The luncheon was followed by a symposium entitled “Journalism in an Age of Disinformation, Digital Media, and AI,” held at the Times Center and sponsored by The New York Times. Richard Tofel, founding General Manager of ProPublica, moderated a panel discussion featuring Amanpour, who is CNN’s Chief International Anchor; Dean Baquet, former New York Times Executive Editor; Martin Baron, former Executive Editor of the Boston Globe and Washington Post; and Julie Pace, Associated Press Executive Editor.

The four powerhouse journalists discussed the most significant positive and negative changes to the industry since the onset of their careers. Baron said the internet has transformed the industry the most, from both a positive and negative standpoint. On the plus side, the internet has provided a tremendous number of tools to help reporters do their jobs well, while allowing more people to have a voice who did not have one before. On the downside, it has facilitated the

proliferation of outlets spreading conspiracy theories, creating a situation where there is no longer a set of shared facts – a situation that is “potentially catastrophic to society and democracy,” he said. The creation and advancement of 24/7 news channels have had a huge, positive impact on the availability of information around the world, Amanpour said. On the downside, “it has divided us and forced us into political corners,” she said.

Another negative change is that today’s pressures on business models in local news outlets deprive emerging journalists from getting the same level of training as previous generations. “They don’t have the same opportunities to make mistakes on a small scale and learn from them,” Pace said.

The panel also discussed the impact of generative AI on journalism – and the need for the news industry to embrace the technology to ensure its constructive use. Baquet said it’s important that the industry not repeat its response the last time it was faced with a transformative technology. “When the internet came out, we panicked and got defensive, and waited for it to die,” he said. But, of course, it did not. The panel discussion was followed by a reception for all in attendance.

“Long Island University is proud to host the George Polk Awards, which over the last 75 years has given more than 900 awards in recognition of excellence in investigative journalism,” said Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, President of Long Island University. “We are a university that delivers a high-quality academic experience focused on engaged learning and life-changing research. Our ambitious research agenda has increased LIU’s ranking to the top 7% of universities nationwide for high research activity. Research, like journalism, must be exact, checked, and verified, and in this spirit, we celebrate the 75th anniversary in the name of George Polk honoring journalists who hold truth to power.” $

THE LEGACY OF GEORGE POLK

In May 1948, the body of CBS correspondent George Polk was found floating in Salonika Bay, Greece. His hands and feet were bound, and he had been shot in the back of the head. It is widely accepted that he was assassinated, but the mystery of who did it remains unsolved.

Polk, 34 years old, was a rising star at the network and was preparing to return to the United States to take up a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University.

He was a protégée of legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow, who eulogized him as follows: “George Polk was a reporter who had worked in half a dozen capitals and flown both fighters and bombers for the Navy during the war, was wounded in the Solomon (Islands) and decorated for bravery. George Polk had that honesty and integrity, the reverence for fact, and indifference to criticism which gave him the respect of the men of his trade.”

2023 george polk Award winners

FOREIGN REPORTING

The War in Israel and Gaza

Staff

The New York Times

NATIONAL REPORTING

Supreme Court Ethics

Joshua Kaplan

Justin Elliott

Alex Mierjeski

Brett Murphy

Staff

ProPublica

LOCAL REPORTING

“Ghost Tags”

Jesse Coburn

Streetsblog NYC

STATE REPORTING

Colorado’s Dysfunctional Family Court

Chris Osher

Julia Cardi

The Gazette

BUSINESS REPORTING

Elon Musk’s Business Practices

Staff

Reuters

MEDICAL REPORTING

“When Medical Devices Malfunction”

Anna Werner

CBS News and

Brett Kelman

Fred Schulte

Holly K. Hacker

Daniel Chang

KFF Health News

LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY | SPRING | 2024

MEDICAL REPORTING

“With Every Breath”

Michael D. Sallah

Michael Korsh

Evan Robinson-Johnson

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and

Debbie Cenziper

ProPublica

JUSTICE REPORTING

Deceptive Police Interrogations

Brian Howey

Los Angeles Times and Reveal

MAGAZINE REPORTING

“Two Weeks at the Front in Ukraine”

Luke Mogelson

The New Yorker

PHOTOJOURNALISM

Death and Destruction in Gaza

Samar Abu Elouf

Yousef Masoud

The New York Times

PODCAST

“The Kids of Rutherford County”

Meribah Knight, WPLN Nashville

Ken Armstrong, ProPublica

Daniel Guillemette, Serial Productions

TELEVISION REPORTING

“Inside Wagner”

Julia Steers

Amel Guettatfi

VICE News

COMMENTARY

“In the Shadow of the Holocaust”

Masha Gessen

The New Yorker

SYDNEY H. SCHANBERG PRIZE

“This Will End in Blood and Ashes”

Jason Motlagh

Rolling Stone

75th ANNIVERSARY GEORGE POLK AWARD

LAUREATES

Lynsey Addario

Christiane Amanpour

Donald L. Barlett

Martin Baron

Dean Baquet

Carl Bernstein

Alma Guillermoprieto

Laurie Garrett

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Seymour Hersh

Laura Poitras

David Remnick

Wilbert Rideau

Gene Roberts

James B. Steele

Paul Steiger

Bob Woodward

Lynsey Addario, fearless and resourceful combat photographer whose 2022 photo of a Ukrainian family slain by a Russian mortar was just one example of compelling work in war zones across the world.

Carl Bernstein, half of a reporting partnership that turned “Watergate” into an iconic word, brought down a president, and changed journalism and politics for the better.

Laura Poitras, documentarian whose “Citizen Four” on Edward Snowden and the NSA typified a career of such efforts, most recently “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” on the Sacklers’ Opioid empire.

75th anniversary george polk laureates

Christiane Amanpour, trailblazing TV correspondent whose reporting provided real-time context to conflicts in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and could spur world leaders to act.

Alma Guillermoprieto, for four decades a singularly authoritative and news-breaking source of information on the politics, culture, and criminality of Latin America, often at personal peril.

David Remnick, editor who has made The New Yorker a must-read for 25 years and author of “Lenin’s Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire,” winner of a 1993 Polk Award.

Donald L. Barlett, who teamed with fellow investigative reporter James Steele for more than four decades to systematically research, analyze, and write about complex issues and institutions profoundly impacting American life.

Laurie Garrett, prescient chronicler of global health threats whose well-researched warnings of the likelihood of deadly outbreaks of communicable diseases from Ebola to Covid proved fatally accurate.

Wilbert Rideau, a lifer in Louisiana who exposed prison inequity and brutality from the inside as co-editor of the Angolite and winner of a 1979 Polk Award that he accepted 32 years later after his release.

Paul Steiger, visionary founding editor of ProPublica following 16 years as managing editor of the Wall Street Journal who designed a model for the survival of investigative journalism in the internet era.

Martin Baron, transformative editor at newspapers in Miami, Boston, and Washington whose focus on thorough and principled investigative reporting produced stunning revelations and impactful results.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, guiding force behind The New York Times 1619 Project four years after her “This American Life” segment on the segregation in Michael Brown’s school district won the first of her two Polk Awards.

Gene Roberts, an admired reporter’s editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer and The New York Times after his own years of reporting on the Civil Rights Movement from the perspective of a native North Carolinian.

Bob Woodward, renowned for Watergate and also author of 21 books in a career that moved his erstwhile editor Ben Bradlee to call him “the best of his generation at investigative reporting.”

Dean Baquet, leader of The New York Times’ rise to preeminence, embracing new and rapidly changing methods of reporting and delivering the news to attract and engage a national audience.

investigative

James B. Steele, with collaborator Donald L. Barlett, is a six-time Polk Award winner whose deeply researched reports have exposed misguided government programs and served as a blueprint for a generation of investigative reporters.

Seymour Hersh, five-time Polk Award winner for

exposés starting with his 1969 account of an American massacre of hundreds of civilians a year earlier in the Vietnam village of My Lai.

Veterinary College graduates first class

Long Island University is ushering in a new era as its College of Veterinary Medicine graduates its first class of 101 veterinarians, administered a formal oath as they enter the profession.

The College is only the second veterinary school in New York State, in addition to Cornell University, and the fourth in the Northeast, including Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania.

The school received more than 1,400 complete applications for its most recent application cycle and winnowed them down to about 800 eligible based on admission criteria. The four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program has over 400 enrolled students.

“The graduation marks a milestone and a key moment in the lives of graduates, the University, New York State and the Northeast,” LIU President Kimberly R. Cline said. “There is an acute need for veterinarians and these graduates will go forward with training from world-class faculty and world-class facilities as they enter their profession.”

The school represents an evolution in veterinary medicine education, using modern methods to produce a pipeline of future veterinarians.

The LIU Board of Trustees in 2017 approved the College of Veterinary Medicine, starting the process that led to the graduation. Newly minted veterinarians are heading for jobs in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Minnesota, Texas and other states.

Veterinarian employment is projected to grow 20 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 5,000 openings for veterinarians are projected on average annually for the decade. The median annual wage for veterinarians was $103,260 in May, 2022. “To be in an inaugural class, you have to be pioneers and our graduates had the additional challenges of navigating the early stages of the pandemic,” said Dr. Carmen Fuentealba DVM, MSc, PhD, (F)AMEE, Professor and Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine. “There is a lot of interest in veterinary medicine and not many veterinary schools in the country. There is increased recognition of a need for additional veterinarians to serve all the needs of society.”

Dr. Fuentealba said “the passion for the profession” unites the graduates who pursued this degree including some with a lifelong dream and others who discovered it later in life. Graduates are heading into a wide range of fields and positions, such as small animal medicine, equine medicine, exotic animal medicine, rotating internships in medicine and surgery as well as residency programs in anatomic pathology and laboratory animal medicine.

The newest veterinarians entered the profession after the University recruited world-class faculty and built state-of-the-art facilities including an $8 million anatomy and pathology building and a $26 million, 33,100-square-foot, high-tech College of Veterinary Medicine Learning Center with the support of $12 million in state funding. The Veterinary Learning Center, the primary home and hub of the veterinary school, was designed with neoclassical architecture, by SBLM Architects, including three 150-seat lecture halls, classrooms and clinical laboratories.

The College provides cutting edge educational technology, hands-on training and extensive education based on initial use of models and simulations to assist

students progressively building competence and confidence. Students learned about a vast spectrum of species including dogs, cats, horses, small ruminants such as goats and sheep, cattle and chickens. The University has a long-term lease with a farm in Commack where students work with cattle, chickens, goats and sheep.

This is the third veterinary medical school launch in which Dr. Fuentealba has taken part, as founding faculty in the prior two, although this is the first that, as dean, she has led the process. While much of the world shut down and went remote during the pandemic, the veterinary school continued in-person training while keeping students, staff and faculty safe in classes and labs.

All the work led to one moving moment amid the administering of the veterinary oath by American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges CEO Dr. Andrew T. Maccabe. Thirty-five students applied and all were matched through a national matching system for internships similar to a system used with medical schools. “A hundred percent matching is pretty good for any vet school,” Dr. Fuentealba added. “Additionally, all of our graduates got offers and/or jobs at both private and corporate veterinary practices.”

Some veterinary schools train students primarily in teaching hospitals; the school uses a distributive model of clinical education and collaborates with more than

80 clinical partners where students receive high-quality experiential learning opportunities at primary case and specialty clinics.

“I have been teaching for so many years that I have always been very close to the students,” Dr. Fuentealba said of graduation. “When they graduate, I’m there crying. Behind every student is always a story.”

Amelia Riccio, from Houston, worked in biochemical research before a mid-life career change after deciding to become a veterinarian. “I feel like I fell in love with the autonomy you have in veterinary medicine,” Riccio said. “You can always find a path that fits your interests. It’s a unique field where you’re not boxed into any specialty. You have the ability to pick your path as you go.”

Ali Williams, Sr., who studied geology as an undergraduate before enrolling in veterinarian studies, sees a new world opening for her. “I became a vet for all of the opportunities to work with animals, science and medicine,” she said. “I’m ready to apply everything that I’ve learned.”

Jeremy Pember remembers embarking on his studies at the veterinary school, as he ends one step in a longer journey and begins the next at Guardian Veterinary Specialists in Brewster, New York, pursuing a career in emergency veterinary services. “A lot of us took pictures on our first day and now we’re done,” Pember said. “The learning never stops. I’m excited to see what I have and what I can apply and build upon that.” $

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE PRESIDENCY

In May of 2023, LIU established The Center for the Study of the Presidency, an academic offering housed at The Roosevelt School on the Post campus exclusively devoted to fostering historic passion and civic engagement about the most powerful office in the United States of America.

The Center offers a cross-section of leading voices – journalists, historians, and White House veterans – who promote scholarship and host programming related to current events and Presidential history, including conferences, high-profile lectures, seminars, book prizes and interactive online learning platforms.

The Center for the Study of the Presidency builds on the strong foundation of public service engagement at the Roosevelt School, which prepares students for careers in international relations, diplomacy, leadership, service, and policy making at multinational corporations, foundations, think-tanks, non-profit organizations, and governmental agencies.

The Roosevelt School is named in honor of the Roosevelt family and inspired by the legacies in diplomacy, conservation, and social justice of President Theodore Roosevelt, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. “Our freedoms come with responsibilities, and we all must live up to them,”

Professor Tweed Roosevelt, Chairman of the Roosevelt School and great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, said in the announcement of the Center.

“The Roosevelt School at Long Island University and the Center for the Study of Presidency are committed to doing everything we can to encourage all Americans to do their duty.”

The Center serves an international audience while serving as the leading educational resource for the university’s local constituencies in greater New York City and on Long Island. Those far and near benefited from the Center during the 2023-2024 school year.

In partnership with the Council on Foreign Relations Education, the White House Experience hosted 140 students from area high schools on National Civics Day, celebrated annually on October 27th. Civics Day, which recognizes the importance of civic education across America, was founded by the Roosevelt School and the Society of Presidential Descendants and formally approved by US Congress in 2021. Visiting students participate in governmental simulations and a virtual summit brought together national civic leaders for thought-provoking discussion.

In December, Uniondale and Oceanside high school students toured the replica of the White House Oval Office, Situation Room, and Press Briefing Room. The only White House replica in the Northeast, this experience has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fox, NBC, American History TV, The New York Times, and other national media outlets. $

JP MORGAN CHASE AUGMENTS ROC NATION HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS

The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment prepares students for careers in performance, entrepreneurship, and all aspects of music and sports business. This unique and historic collaboration between Long Island University and music superstar JAY-Z’s global entertainment company attracts students who are passionate about pursuing careers in music or sports. Often, the rising costs associated with a four-year college degree are a barrier for many talented students to earn degrees.

In an effort to break down barriers to make education more accessible, the university developed Roc Nation Hope Scholarships, which have been integral to the Roc Nation School since it began enrolling students in 2021. Support for the program has poured in from individuals and businesses such as JPMorgan Chase and PUMA, among others. The JPMorgan Chase partnership provided tuition support and established

the school’s first-ever financial health course. The innovative partnership provided 15 full-tuition scholarships and is helping students establish strong money management skills through the MoneySmart Financial Coaching Program developed by the National Council for Workforce Education.

The school also has provided full scholarships in the names of Roc Nation artists and athletes, such as DJ Khaled, Megan Thee Stallion, and NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball. Versace, the iconic fashion brand, recently announced a multi-year partnership with Roc Nation, which will include support for the school’s Hope Scholarships.

The scholarship program provides full-tuition scholarships to a full 25% of each incoming class. Beyond tuition support, Hope Scholars receive enhanced mentorship and support services.

The competitive scholarships are available to first-time freshmen with financial need. Students must complete a FAFSA and have a competitive academic profile to be considered, and, once accepted, they must take at least 24 credits per year and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher to retain the scholarship.

Since JAY-Z launched Roc Nation in 2008, the company has supported some of the music world’s biggest names through artist management, music publishing, touring, production, and more. Launching a sports division five years later, Roc Nation has collaborated with many top athletes in addition to serving as the NFL’s official live music entertainment strategist and co-producer of the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Academic programs include bachelor’s degrees in Applied Music; Vocal Performance; Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production;

Recipients of the JP Morgan Chase scholarship partnership

Sports Communication & Marketing; and Sports Management. There is also a master’s degree in Sports Management.

The Roc Nation School’s location in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn gives students access to New York City’s music and sports epicenters. Drawing on years of industry experience, the faculty create dynamic courses of study through experiential learning and connections to world-renowned

industry professionals. Students have the opportunity to engage with some of the greatest talents from the entertainment and sports worlds.

Visiting guests include renowned artists and executives from professional leagues, talent agencies, and network television stations. Students also participate in immersive internships and graduate with a network of

professional contacts along with hands-on experience.

This one-of-a-kind partnership gives students an insider’s view of the sports and entertainment industries and opens the door to a world of opportunity. $

FASHION STUDENTS PRESENT Marketing PLANS IN Italy

ashion Merchandising and Management students traveled to Florence and Milan in March as part of engaged learning and business consulting project. Students from the Fashion Merchandising and Management program’s Engaged Learning course had a once-in-a-lifetime experience touring the region’s iconic fashion houses, museums, leather schools, artisan shops, curators of fragrance, and concept stores. Over the course of their nine-day trip, the students met with artisans and ateliers of all kinds – many of whose families have been in the business for generations – and participated in workshops ranging from leather crafting to paper marbling to pizza making. All of these visits were designed to inform the students’ semester-long business consulting project with Zerolab, a space where sustainability and craftsmanship come together to support emerging designers.

An innovative lab serving designers and artisans, Zerolab is located in Scandicci, the heart of the leather production district on the outskirts of Florence, where luxury brands like Gucci, Fendi, and Ferragamo do much of their manufacturing. Repurposing discarded leather from the region’s finest luxury fashion houses, Zerolab promotes sustainable, circular design through courses and workshops and serves as a one-stop shop where emerging designers can make prototypes, receive training, and connect with local manufacturers to create their products.

The Fashion Merchandising and Management students visit a different fashion capital of the world. While last year’s excursion was centered in Paris, each has its own flavor. Unlike a typical tourist excursion, this itinerary is orchestrated to engage students in a learning experience beyond anything a textbook could provide. After five successful trips to different fashion capitals around the world, this experience has become a centerpiece of the program. “Through networking, we begin to identify a business or brand we can work with, in the city we plan to travel to, at least six months before the trip. Once this is solidified, we decide on the project scope,” said Professor Cherie Serota, Director of the Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Management program. During Zoom meetings with company principals early in the semester, students learn about the business and its challenges. “I encourage the students to take a deep dive on the company or brand, identify the challenges or pain points as they see them, and make suggestions. The client gives us feedback and we craft a strategy to execute their objectives,” Professor Serota said.

Most phases of the project are developed prior to travel; however, the final presentation is designed to be presented in person at the conclusion of the trip. Once on the ground in Florence, the students’ itinerary began with an in-person meet-and-greet, and a leather wallet-making workshop, at Zerolab. This gave the students a first-hand perspective of what their client does in real time.

“Zerolab targets three groups of customers,” said Ashley Olsen, a Fashion Merchandising and Management sophomore. “The first is individuals, such as tourists, who might participate in a workshop, like the wallet-making one, or who are part of a school that may want to introduce their students to circular fashion. The second is the artisans or designers who may want to use Zerolab as their workspace; and the third is a midsized corporation or brand who may be interested in partnering with Zerolab to manufacture leather goods.” The students developed actionable marketing strategies and tools that Zerolab, a small, entrepreneurial company, could put into action to increase business across these three market segments. The 18 students were divided into three groups of six, each concentrating on a different market segment.

Olsen’s group focused on the midsized corporate brands. “We researched several clothing and accessory brands that had similar values and could align with Zerolab’s sustainability goals,” she said. The students identified a host of new brands who Zerolab could potentially pitch. Their presentation detailed a well-researched profile on the scope of their current business, why they would be a good fit for Zerolab, and a plan for possible outreach.

Students also presented detailed marketing strategies that included creative content, social media platforms to explore, recommendations for potential influencers, and a QR code implementation plan. And the third group provided Zerolab with fully executed survey questions to administer to their current designers and artisans, with the goal of collecting feedback to help shape future programing and services for that target segment; as well as Facebook Group and Linkedin strategies ready for implementation.

To inform the project, the students spent the week immersed in the culture and surroundings of Florence with experiences such as a “History of Fashion” walking tour and a “Decade of Fashion” at the Pitti Palace Museum of Costume and Fashion. They visited the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo, where they explored the life and work of the celebrated designer Salvatore Ferragamo, who made shoes for Hollywood stars like Greta Garbo and Marilyn Monroe and secured hundreds of patents during his illustrious career. At the Scuola del Cuoio, the oldest leather school in Florence, the class witnessed artisans creating leather goods in the midst of century-old history, while learning about various types of leather

– from alligator to shark to hippo – and how to tell the difference, from a third-generation member of this family-owned business. They strolled through the Gucci Museum and Gucci Gardens and toured the Santa Maria Novella Perfumery. They visited Mazzanti Piume, a third-generation feather atelier whose feathers adorn runway creations from the likes of Prada and Dolce & Gabbana and have been worn by celebrities such as Harry Styles and Kim Kardashian. “Before this trip, I never thought about there being a specific company that made feathers for fashion pieces,” Olsen said.

At Sartoria Vanni, a high-end men’s suit maker, the atelier discussed the distinction between “made-to-measure” and “bespoke” suitings and how to recognize excellent craftsmanship in both. Other highlights of the trip included tours of the original Prada store and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele ll, both in Milan. “For some students, this was their first time out of the country, and for most, it was their first trip to Italy,” Professor Serota said. “They were truly enamored with all of our visits, the project, and the cultural beauty of Florence.”

The trip made an indelible impression that will undoubtedly shape the way the students view fashion and the world. “This trip was something I never thought I would get to experience,” said freshman Skyla Gotay. “I am so thankful that I got to be a part of something like this. It’s an experience that you can’t paint in your mind until you experience it firsthand.” $

the BAMBOO BRIDGE a tale of two countries

Bamboo has been used for myriad purposes worldwide from cooking to construction, carpentry to furniture, weaving to paper making, and clothing to woodwind instruments.

But to Professor of Art Seung Lee, bamboo is a bridge spanning countries, cultures and thousands of miles.

Lee is a widely exhibited painter who has created a body of work in the form of towering, bending, purple, yellow, green bamboo forest paintings, linking his life in the United States to his past in South Korea.

A Korean-American painter who exhibits art and lectures around the world, Lee’s work has been shown in France, Italy, the United States, China, Japan and South Korea – with more exhibits and lectures worldwide in the planning stages. He uses his art to connect countries and cultures, and his paintings are collected by museums, galleries and individuals.

“Now, bamboo is my main subject, sometimes realistic, sometimes semi-abstract,” Lee said. “One of

the nice things about being an international artist is you get to see that art can affect people in a similar way. The Internet helps to understand different cultures.”

Lee’s life and paintings have reached a global audience with art as a universal language, telling a story of immigration as well as imagination. “The bamboo, certainly beautiful in any environment, is also of course a symbol of the resilience of Asian culture,” art critic Jonathan Goodman wrote in Tussle Art Magazine. “The tall, slim poles become an unspoken argument in favor of the Korean mind and esthetics, the center of Seung Lee’s improvisatory efforts.”

Lee started drawing as a child, growing up with parents and four brothers, in a one-room dwelling in a small, farming village with around 20 houses an hour south of Seoul. “I had no material toys, so growing up I drew with what I could find,” Lee said. “I used to get a stick and draw in the dirt. That was

my beginning of art.” After his father passed away, his mother took him with her to Seoul, while she searched for work. “I was upset about why I had to watch my mom struggling,” he said. “Looking back, it was helpful that I saw the ugly side of society early. I saw my mom struggling to find a job.” His aunt, who married an American soldier stationed in South Korea and emigrated to the United States in 1965, helped them move to the United States in 1975. Lee soon found himself in tenth grade at Landsdowne High School in Baltimore County. Lee obtained an M.F.A. from the Pratt Institute, got married and had two daughters.

He began painting trees, focusing on that tree as a basic canvas for so many thoughts, as a kind of forest filled with feelings sprouted. “Trees became a symbol to represent different people. Some are sickly looking. Some look strong. It was symbolic.”

He moved from Brooklyn and Huntington to Aquebogue, New York, buying a house with storage and studio space on a half-acre lot covered with bamboo. “I was managing bamboo, because it spread so much, but I realized how beautiful it was, so skinny and strong. I started to say, ‘Wait a minute. This is like us. Bamboo is as fragile as human beings,’” Lee said. “In the winter, it was covered with snow, bent all the way down as if they were going to die. As soon as the snow melted, they sprang back, so strong. I said, ‘That’s what we’re going through.’ That’s when the bamboo became my subject matter.” He said most people relate bamboo to “Korean heritage,” though bamboo also provides a beautiful shape and structure. He thought about his connection.

“I guess unconsciously it snuck in, how Asian culture values bamboo,” he said. “But it started as a basic, beautiful thing that I was able to connect with.”

Lee received a personal grant from the Hua Quan Art Foundation to cover his expenses to create an outdoor art mural in the Hua Quan Art Village in Yingtan, China. He then received a $45,000 cultural exchange grant from the Hua Quan Art Foundation. Lee led a project with former and current Long Island University B.F.A. and M.F.A. students who learned traditional Chinese art forms including calligraphy, ceramics, and ink painting. The Chinese students learned some basic English and painted together. “They wanted to exchange culture. We did art projects together,” he said. “It was for our students and theirs.”

His work has been seen in dozens of solo and group shows, ranging from a 2023 exhibit called “Bamboo Forest” at Gallery 90, in Center Moriches, to a 2024 show titled “Tree to Bamboo” at the Jang Eun Sun Gallery, in Seoul, South Korea. “Some Korean organizations don’t include me because I’m not Korean and some American organizations consider me Korean,” he said. “Not being narrowed down to one culture, I can think and move freely. I use that to my advantage.”

Cezanne turned still life paintings into miniature landscapes, Monet turned water lilies into a whole new world. Lee uses bamboo as the basis for a bond across time and place. “I think innovation is something that comes to you. A lot of times, we think about something, and it never comes. But it’s always around you. You just have to grab it,” he said of how bamboo inspires his work. “It’s important to be in tune with yourself. Everything is around you.” $

Bamboo is as fragile as human beings.

A WorldDifference of

Ininterconnected world, LIU Global grows

While most students head to conventional classrooms on campuses, sitting in neatly arranged rows of chairs, those at LIU Global are part of a unique education where the world truly is their classroom. The nation’s only accredited four-year college program spanning eight nations in eight semesters, LIU Global is far more than an ordinary study abroad program. From working with organizations in Costa Rica to legislators in Australia, natives in Bali to business in Spain, history in Fiji to art in Florence and conferences in South Africa, students learn in a one-of-a-kind program positioning the university and themselves at the forefront of international studies.

Whether walking the narrow, winding streets of Italy or traveling through a Central American rain forest, LIU Global students learn not only to think outside the box, but to learn in and outside the classroom. Students do things like taking part in social entrepreneurship collaborations with Balinese university students in Indonesia, meeting with Viennese diplomats and U.N. officials and doing

semester-long internships in Costa Rica with an international child advocacy organization. Each student has a truly unique education.

While global studies is a growing field, LIU Global offers the only BA degree program in Global Studies in the world where students are immersed in different global locations for 7 out of 8 semesters- before finishing on the LIU campus. LIU Global has nearly 60 years of experience offering students transformative experiential learning journeys around the world. Based on four years of culturally immersed and academically rigorous hands-on learning in major regions, LIU Global College’s unique BA in Global Studies is a degree like no other.

The program offers experiential education as well as field opportunities and collaboration with local partners designed to foster future global leaders in diverse fields. Small cohorts provide personalized support and engagement. Students develop intense research, reading, and writing skills, while building

business and multimedia communications acumen through other applied courses and projects. At a time when so many endeavors are remote, LIU Global is about going and being there as well as studying topics relating to many of the world’s bigger problems.

“A Global College degree offers students a meaningful high-quality education, the opportunity to travel and expand their horizons, and the knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world,” Dr. Maryalice (Ali) Mazzara, Dean of the Global College and the Director of the Roosevelt School, said.

Dr. Mazzara, who designed global programs for many SUNY campuses as Founding Director of SUNY’s Global Affairs Leadership Program, leads LIU Global. The program is crafted to combine stimulating seminars, dynamic fieldwork, and professional internships, it immerses students in diverse cultures and languages. An innovative academic curriculum introduces students to key thinkers across diverse disciplines as well as cutting-edge solutions to the world’s most

pressing problems. Through transformative learning experiences and collaborations with local communities, students gain knowledge and skills.

“There’s so much to learn about how different communities have unique needs and how not all solutions can come from the same line of thought,” said Kaya Edwards, a senior in LIU Global who studied in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Costa Rica, Austria and Italy and interned at the Council on Foreign Relations. “Cross-cultural collaboration and understanding is one of the biggest highlights for me.”

While students learn skills and work on projects, the program helps shape character, creating leaders, thinkers and doers equipped with what they need not only to consume knowledge, but to use it. “Self-awareness, collaboration, resourcefulness, and initiative are all attributes that attending LIU Global cultivates,” said Madeline Mulick, a senior. “Every night I go to bed grateful for the day I had and excited about the following one.”

Adaptation

LIU Global fosters adaptability, allowing students to move from opportunity to opportunity and environment to environment with ease and success. Students learn to function in different organizations, interacting with government officials, business people and nonprofits. “There is a universal importance to having an open mind and a bit of courage that transcends all communities,” Mulick continued. “The only constant is change, whether that’s locale, language, culture, sights, environment, cuisine, which fiercely fosters adaptability, a skill that is helpful in every situation no matter the scenario.”

Students learn from international mentors, while also having time to enjoy nature’s wonders around the world. Students have gone scuba diving in Australia, kayaking on the Whanganui River in New Zealand, toured sustainable coffee plantations in Costa Rica, met with indigenous populations in Fiji and forged lasting friendships. “I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know people from many cultures and making friends from around the world,” Eliana Hamp, a senior, said. “We learn the local language of every non-English speaking country we go to. So far my class has studied Italian in Italy and German in Austria. We will learn Spanish in Costa Rica.”

Here, there, everywhere

Students enrolled in the B.A. in Global Studies program travel, live and learn at overseas centers and program sites in Central America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. During their senior year, they take part in two internships and conduct independent research in a global issue for their senior thesis.

The academic program integrates network building and career development in courses taught by faculty mentors who support students in finding their individual strengths and passions and identifying career paths that make an impact. Semester-long internships provide exceptional professional experience in the students’ chosen area of interest, often producing job offers and impressive recommendations. Current internship placements include the Council on Foreign Relations, Urban Justice Center, Red Dot Foundation Global, Sabin Vaccine Institute, Go Overseas and the New York League of Conservation Voters to name a few. LIU Global not only opens minds, but for many it opens doors. Graduates have gone on to work in law, business,

education, journalism, the arts, politics, government service, and social work. They have been employed at Doctors Without Borders, Goldman Sachs, the Associated Press, NBC, Oxfam International, Peace Corps, IBM, Red Cross International, National Geographic, the United Nations, and World Bank. Alumni jobs also include Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for a major company, Project Manager for non-profit, Assistant District Attorney, Disability Policy Advisor for a major city, Program Manager for a philanthropic organization, Chief Operating Officer at a media production company and New York City Councilperson.

Recent graduates have received awards such as Fulbrights; Alejandra Molina was recognized as one of New York City’s 40 under 40 Latinos for helping youth unlock opportunities through entrepreneurship and education. Those seeking to attend graduate schools and employment bring international experience and transferable workplace skills invaluable in the 21st century. The Fall 2024 enrollment is the highest in many years for the program that remains highly personalized.

“New living environment, new classroom setting, new people you interact with, and newfound independence,” Mulick said. “This is a school that is also your life. It’s special, magical, challenging.” $

1. Women’s Water Polo Completed Sweep of La Salle and Villanova, earning Two Seed in MAAC Tournament.

2. Syd Morris won the 2024 EAGL Conference All-Around Championship, becoming the first gymnast in LIU history to win the prestigious title. Morris, a native of Landenberg, PA, scored an impressive 39.475, securing a first-place finish.

3. Kelly Nash was voted NEWHA Coach of the Year, while Bri Eid was selected NEWHA Defender of the Year and Tindra Holm was named NEWHA Goaltender of the Year. Jeannie Wallner, Eid and Holm earned first-team All-NEWHA honors, and Mikayla Lantto was voted to the second team. Additionally, Grace Babington earned a spot on the NEWHA All-Rookie team and Sarah Rourke was voted to the NEWHA All-Sportsmanship team.

4. Anthony D’Alesio has secured his spot in the NCAA Wrestling Championships, becoming the first wrestler in LIU history to achieve this milestone since the school’s Division I inception. D’Alesio defeated nationally ranked Maximus Hale of UPenn with a score of 4-2 in the EIWA Championships, securing the final NCAA qualifying spot in the 184-pound weight class.

5. Men’s Ice Hockey had 8 players sign professional contracts, while also setting the record for program wins in a season. Jordan Di Cicco, Zachary Nazzarett, Brandon Perrone, and Adam Pitters are the latest Sharks to sign professional hockey contracts. Di Cicco, an alternate

captain for the Sharks during the past two seasons, signed an ECHL deal with the Adirondack Thunder, the minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils.

6. Faith Shaw was named Women’s Co-Most Outstanding Field Performer, earning gold in the weight throw with a distance of 16.44m. She also finished in fifth in the shot put with a throw of 12.51m.

LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY

OUTSTANDING STUDENT LEADERS

CHRISTOPHER KATI

Class of 2026

Major: Finance

Christopher Kati is a sophomore who was born in Gaeta, Italy, and raised across the world. Christopher is highly active and stays engaged with the LIU Brooklyn campus community. As a Dean’s Scholar for the School of Business, Christopher helps by volunteering in most school-sponsored outreach events. He is part of the LIU Investment Fund as a Senior Analyst, the LIU Marketing Society as the Vice President, the LIU Student Government Association as the Sophomore Governor, the National Society of Leadership and Success as a general member, the Promise Office Work Study Program, and is a Resident Assistant/Orientation Leader for Conolly Hall. Chris enjoys helping his peers and the community at LIU because of the warm, encouraging, and accepting environment he found LIU to be upon his arrival on campus. His goal is to be a positive role model to the students at LIU and to try and share the warmth he found during his early days on campus. All of Chris’s roles help in assisting his goal but being on the RA/OL team is what pushes him to be the best that he can be.

JAIDEN BAILEY

Class of 2025

Major: Computer Science

Jaiden Bailey is a Junior Undergraduate student born and raised in Brooklyn, NY currently Studying Computer Science. Jaiden is currently a Resident Assistant/Orientation Leader, Senator of Caribbean Student Association, co-captain of the Krosfyah Dance team, and a member of Black Student Union. Jaiden aspires to be an entrepreneur and would like to create a business that will provide an affordable safe learning environment for kids to go to after school. He also loves working with children, playing chess, fitness and interacting with different people throughout campus. Finally, Jaiden is extremely happy to be at LIU and have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the community and improve the LIU experience for others.

NICOLE NICOU

Class of 2024

Major: Business Administration, Management Nicole Nicou is a Senior at LIU Brooklyn studying Business Administration with a management concentration. Nicole serves as Executive President of Student Government Association. She has been part of SGA since her freshman year and loves actively contributing to shaping the campus environment, fostering positive changes, and representing the diverse voices and interests of students on campus. Outside of SGA, Nicole is also a member of LIU’s Division I Fencing Team. She is the team’s epee squad leader and manages all of their communications and media platforms. Outside of LIU, Nicole is passionate about hospital administration. She interned at Northwell Health in Finance & Operations and looks forward to continuing full time after graduation.

KALIYAH ROBINSON

Class of 2024

Major: Forensic Science BS

Kaliyah is a Forensic Science BS candidate at the College of Science. As a returning student leader to the Resident Assistant & Orientation Leader position, Kaliyah serves as an available resource for all students at the Post campus. Kaliyah is a member of the Pre-Medicine Club and also serves as the President of Forensic Science Club. In her free time, Kaliyah volunteers her time to Northwell Health’s Hospice Care Network to provide companionship to families.

REBECCA MARGOLIN

Class of 2024

Major: Business Administration, Management

Rebecca Margolin is a senior at LIU Post from Metuchen, New Jersey. Rebecca is finishing her degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. At LIU, Rebecca is the President of the Student Honors Council, the Head of Fundraising for the 2x National Champion Dance Team, and a member of the Deans Scholar Program for Business in addition to the Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies. During her time in college, Rebecca has had the opportunity to intern at Bloomberg Philanthropies, Long Island Cares, and State Theater New Jersey. She is excited to pursue a career in philanthropy following graduation in May.

SOFIA ESTRADA

Class of 2026

Major: Art

Sofia is a Sophomore at LIU Post majoring in Fine Arts to attain her bachelor’s in 2026. One day, she strives to become an art therapist and get her masters where she will be able to help those in need. Not only that, but Sofia is a part of SGA (Student Government Association), Latino Student Union, Psychology Club, Thirst Project, and yearns to be an active member in the upcoming Art Club that is starting up again. In particular, she is a part of the Events Committee and Academics Committee as well as a participating senator in SGA. Sofia currently works for The Sunshine Method, a tutoring company that is centered towards assisting children who have learning disabilities. As an arts major, she has worked hard in her classes and came in 3rd place in 2022 for a PostMortem Art Show. In the future, Sofia hopes to run for secretary and later president of the SGA club to serve the LIU community and school. All in all, she aspires to reach significant milestones in her life where she can empower her peers and serve as an example for her graduating class

LIU LAUNCHES Groundbreaking Digital Engineering Degree

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are fueling a fourth industrial revolution, creating a need for highly skilled digital engineers to work in the new economy. Long Island University is leading the charge to prepare tomorrow’s digital engineers by launching a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Digital Engineering – the first of its kind in the nation.

Enrolling its first student cohort this fall, the new program serves as a model across the globe to train the next generation of engineers to accelerate the impact of engineering and computing, said Department of Technology, Innovation and Computer Science Chair Mohammed Ghriga, Ph.D. Dr. Ghriga also directs the new B.E. degree program, a curriculum based on engineering principles, computing, and AI. The 128-credit degree within the College of Science is available on both the Brooklyn and Post campuses, and is slated to enroll 50 students – 25 for each campus – in its first year.

Securing approval from the New York State Education Department was a rigorous process that required a master plan amendment, an external review, site visits, and New York State Board of Regents approval. Final B.E. degree approval was granted in summer 2023.

According to Dr. Ghriga, the program grew out of LIU’s articulated research priorities and its commitment to preparing students for current and future engineering workforce demands. LIU’s partnership with Dassault Systèmes (DS), a global leader in digital engineering, and the university’s status as a DS 3DExperience Education Center of Excellence helped lay the foundation for the B.E. degree. The new degree, which Dr. Ghriga said is fully built on DS tools and technologies, will be supported by 3DEXPERIENCE learning and design centers as well as various labs and centers across the College of Science, College of Pharmacy, and College of Veterinary Medicine.

ISLAND UNIVERSITY | SPRING | 2024

Usually, engineering programs require massive investments in fixed assets, from buildings to machinery and tooling. But LIU is pioneering in that it has created a digital ecosystem to reconfigure resources and drive the multidisciplinary focus of the engineering program, thus enabling great success as evidenced by the external reviews and site visits.

B.E. students will be challenged to engineer solutions in digital health, personalized and regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, drug discovery, medical devices, additive manufacturing, robotics, and unmanned vehicles.

The novel B.E. degree is project-based, with a focus on immersive and experiential learning. This enables the university to bring a unique holistic view connecting concepts and applications to solving real-world challenges and applications. The students are able to be center stage in looking at the complexity of issues and systems and they can contribute to problem-solving in class or through enrichment experiences (i.e., thematic yearly challenges).

The first two years’ curriculum focuses on the foundations of engineering principles, computing, AI, and industry tools. Years three and four are dedicated to exploring specific areas and applications through coursework and projects. Students take courses in subjects such as tissue engineering for regenerative medicine, drug discovery, Internet of Things (IoTs) (including medical devices), and additive manufacturing. Over the course of the program, students will acquire the skills to advance the benefits of “digital twins” and their applications to various industry sectors. A digital twin refers to a virtual representation of a physical object, person, or process. Organizations can use digital twins to simulate real situations, to allow for better decision-making.

The degree program culminates with a capstone project that is tied to program outcomes and Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation. For example, students may be tasked with designing and building a patient-specific digital heart or digital liver to be used to study the function of the organ and impact of drug therapies.

All students will participate in the same project and capstone experience, according to Dr. Ghriga, who noted these experiences are intimately tied to the university’s research in life sciences. “We have an impressive number of postdocs and faculty, and several themes and models for the capstone experiences will be introduced,” he said. “The possibilities here are endless.”

An outside internship is not a required component of the major, but students will have opportunities to network and develop solid relationships with DS and intern with DS and its vast network of subsidiaries worldwide.

“Our pedagogy and digital strategy bring a new learning experience model to students through the collaborative DS platforms, where students can contribute to real-world problems and interact with DS experts in various fields,” Dr. Ghriga said. Students will be guided and mentored by a DS dedicated staff on the effective use of industry tools and these collaborative environments.

For program graduates, the future is limitless. “Through digital engineering, the potential for groundbreaking discoveries, sustainable solutions, and transformative impacts on society is boundless,” said Mohammed Cherkaoui, Ph.D., Vice President for Research. “As we push the boundaries of technological innovation, digital engineering will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of engineering, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in the digital age.” $

STUDENT RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP FOR DVM STUDENT

College of Veterinary Medicine student Wei Man Weng was one of 13 students worldwide selected for a notable fellowship opportunity.

A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine candidate, Weng was awarded the Veterinary Student Research Fellowship from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR). The three-month summer fellowship was created by FFAR in partnership with the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) to prepare future veterinarians for research and public service careers. The program provides unique research opportunities surrounding global food security and sustainable animal production. Weng’s research focuses on identifying safe, non-toxic bioactive compounds that can fight bacteria in respiratory disease in cows.

DEAN’S SCHOLAR SELECTED FOR JOHNS HOPKINS NANOBIO PROGRAM

College of Science biology major and pre-med Dean’s Scholar Simra Kahn took part in the prestigious Johns Hopkins Institute for Nanobiotechnology’s NanoBio Research Experience for Undergraduates, an intensive research program where biology, medicine, engineering and nanoscience meet. The program provides hands-on graduate-level laboratory research experience. She spent over two months delving into protein purification. “Over the course of the program, I had the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers on state-of-the-art equipment,” she said. Kahn also showcased her work through a presentation at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine CARES Symposium and a research talk at the Institute for NanoBioTechnology Symposium.

PROMINENT PARTICLE PHYSICS INTERNSHIP

College of Science student Felipe De Figueiredo was selected for an internship with the U.S. Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Program for Undergraduate Research Summer Experience (PURSUE).

De Figueiredo, who is double majoring in computer science and mathematics, collaborated with a researcher at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory specializing in high-energy particle physics. Students in the program learn about fundamental particles and their interactions by analyzing data obtained from the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) located at CERN, Switzerland. Outcomes from students’ physics research are shared with CERN. A Dean’s Scholar, De Figueiredo is also a recipient of the 2023 Department of Natural Sciences Mathematics Academic Excellence Award.

LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY

FACULTY RECOGNITION

Forbes Profiles Young Guru’s Work at Roc Nation School

Grammy Award-winning audio engineer and producer Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton was the subject of a feature profile in Forbes, highlighting his work teaching students in the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entrepreneurship. Keaton serves as Director of the Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production program. He works with the music industry’s top artists, spanning from JAY-Z to Rihanna to Mariah Carey.

Professor Joins Expert Panel on International Law in Qatar

Dr. Dalia Fahmy, Professor of Political Science and Director of International Relations and Diplomacy, shared her expert insights as a panelist at the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre’s (QICDRC) 21st annual Doha Forum. Panelists discussed the significance of international law in safeguarding peace, international relations, and security.

Award-Winning Professor Pens Feature for New York Magazine

Zaina Arafat authored a feature article for New York Magazine entitled “Witnessing Gaza Through Instagram” and a personal essay for The New Yorker entitled “Fasting for Ramadan While Gaza Goes Hungry.” Arafat is the author of the novel You Exist Too Much, which won a Lambda Literary Award in 2021. Her stories and essays have appeared in a number of national publications, including the NewYork Times, Washington Post, The Atlantic, Harper’s Bazaar, BuzzFeed, VICE and NPR.

Professor Awarded Salzburg Global Fellowship

Philosophy and education professor Dr. Shaireen Rasheed is the recipient of the Salzburg Global Seminar’s Reckmeyer Family Fellowship. Dr. Rasheed joins a prestigious list of Salzburg Global fellows, including Nobel laureate Saul Bellow, former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell, World Bank president Jim Yong Kim, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Broadway Star Showcased at National Theater Festival

LIU theater professor Eric Jordan Young presented three songs from his new production Vanishing Girl at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s 35th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Young has performed in Broadway productions of Chicago, Ragtime, The Book of Love and Seussical.

Forbes, Wall Street Journal Highlight Professor’s New Book

National media outlets are heaping praise on The Peer Effect, a new book co-authored by Dr. Syed Ali, Professor of Sociology. In interviews with the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, Dr. Ali unpacks the book’s insights on how peers can influence one another beyond school performance. Dr. Ali is the recipient of two Fulbright fellowships and former editor for Contexts Magazine, an official publication of the American Sociological Association.

Pharmacy Professor Presents Research at International Conference

Dr. Islam M. Ghazi, Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, presented his study on bacterial infections at Epidemics 9, International Conference on Infectious Disease Dynamics, in Bologna, Italy. Dr. Ghazi and his colleagues observed “a deficient cellular response in the patient group that clinicians should consider immunocompromised based on severity of the disease.”

National Organization Honors Faculty Member

Dr. Ali Mazzara was one of three women recognized by the National Organization of Italian American Women at the New York Region’s Epiphany Celebration. Dr. Mazzarra was recognized alongside Dr. Angela Christiano, a geneticist at Columbia University, and Lisa Veglia, Chief Executive Officer of QSAC (Quality Services for the Autism Community).

LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY NEWS

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

LIU Wins Multiple Honors in Bethpage Best of Long Island

Long Island University won four top honors in the Bethpage Best of Long Island Contest. LIU was recognized as Best College or University, the Sharks earned Best College Sports Program, President Cline was named Best College President and Head Coach Ron Cooper won Best College or University Sports Coach in Football.

Senate Majority Leader Secures Funding for LIU

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer generously secured nearly $2M for Long Island University’s Roosevelt Institute for the cataloguing of American Presidential Family Descendants oral histories and the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment early scholars program.

Major Gift Funds Abrams Communications Center Renovation

The Benjamin and Elizabeth Abrams Foundation’s recently committed $500,000 in transformative funds to ensure the Abrams Communication Center remains a premier facility for multimedia production, communications and broadcasting in the decades to come. The generous gift enables WCWP to rival or surpass the studio and technology of many commercial and non-commercial broadcasters on Long Island and New York City.

Investment Fund Students Ring the Nasdaq Bell

LIU-iF students visited Nasdaq headquarters in Times Square and participated in the iconic closing bell ceremonies. LIU-iF, the university’s student managed investment fund, provides students with the opportunity to manage a real investment portfolio of over $150,000 while also allowing them to network with advisors who have experience on Wall Street.

JPMorgan Chase Partnership Establishes Financial Health Course

JPMorgan Chase has partnered with the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment to provide tuition support and establish the School’s firstever financial health course. The innovative partnership provides 15 full-tuition scholarships and helps students establish strong money management skills through the MoneySmart Financial Coaching Program developed by the National Council for Workforce Education.

Roc Nation School Hosts MetaMoon Summit

The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment hosted music industry executives and thought leaders for a series of panel discussions focused on the rise of Asian artists, brand partnership opportunities, and the ability of live music to bridge cultural divides. Speakers at “The Summit: The Evolution of Asian Artists & The Connection to Global Audiences” included MetaMoon Music Festival founder Grace Chen, as well as executives from Ticketmaster, Spotify, Facebook, Electronic Arts, New Balance and Pandora.

Versace Partnership Funds Roc Nation Hope Scholarships

Iconic fashion brand Versace announced a multi-year partnership with Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment that will support Hope scholarships. The partnership with Roc Nation officially kicked off during Super Bowl LVIII and will feature cause-focused initiatives that aim to support the next generation of talent.

A SUMMER DAY OF MUSICAL BLISS AT LIU POST/TILLES CENTER CAMPUS

Twenty twenty four marks an exciting milestone for Tilles Center for the Performing Arts and LIU Post with the launch of the first ever Tilles Jazz Fest, which will spring to life July 20th across the LIU Post campus. Presented by Tilles Center in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, this day-long festival promises to be a groundbreaking celebration of jazz music, featuring an impressive lineup of artists across four stages both indoors at Tilles Center’s Concert Hall and LIU’s historic Winnick House, as well as outside on the Great Lawn and Rose Garden.

Tom Dunn, Executive and Artistic Director of Tilles Center has envisioned this event since he joined the organization two years ago. “We’re thrilled to unveil this first-ever and first-annual landmark event.

Together with our friends at Jazz at Lincoln Center, we’re set to transform the beautiful LIU Post campus into a vibrant hub of music and fun on July 20. It promises to be an unforgettable day for our entire community to celebrate summer with the joy of live jazz.”

Headlining the festival is the iconic saxophonist Branford Marsalis, renowned as one of the most influential figures in jazz. Marsalis, accompanied by his celebrated Quartet, will take center stage at 7:30 pm in Tilles Center’s Concert Hall for what promises to be a mesmerizing performance. With accolades such as NEA Jazz Master, Grammy Award winner, and Tony nominee under his belt, Marsalis’s presence adds an extra layer of prestige to the event.

Joining Marsalis is a lineup of exceptional artists that are a “who’s who” of established and upcoming talent, representing a diverse range of styles. From Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble, a special project comprised of a stellar team of jazz musicians featuring Tia Fuller, Dawn Clement, Mimi Jones and Jeff Lederer; innovative harpist Brandee Younger; rising star pianist Sean Mason and his Quartet; lyrical and swinging trombonist Mariel Bildsten; young jazz vibraphonist Jalen Baker leading his Duo; vocalist and composer Georgia Heers; as well as student ensembles selected from LIU’s first ever Summer Jazz Camp.

With gates opening at noon and performances beginning at 1 pm, attendees will have ample opportunity to explore the campus and enjoy the music in various settings. Throughout the day, a range of activities will complement the musical performances, making Tilles Jazz Fest a truly immersive experience for all. An instrument petting zoo will provide hands-on entertainment for aspiring musicians, while food trucks offering delectable treats and local artisans showcasing their crafts will add to the festive atmosphere.

Tickets are now on sale, with options available for daytime passes, evening passes, and individual concert tickets. Tilles Center Members and Subscribers enjoy a 10% discount on adult ticket prices, making it the perfect opportunity to secure seats for this historic event.

Mark your calendars for this summer’s day of musical bliss at LIU Post/Tilles Center campus on July 20. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz aficionado or simply looking for a memorable way to spend a summer day, the inaugural Tilles Jazz Fest promises an unforgettable experience for all. Don’t miss out—get your tickets today and be part of history in the making! $

LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY

CLASS NOTES

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

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

1960 s

1962

Howard Schwach ’62 is a former New York City teacher, community newspaper editor and published book author. He recently published his fifth historical novel To Die in Jerusalem.

1965

Joel Buckstein ’65 is the Chairman of the Board for Geneva Worldwide. Founded in 1903 as an employment and staffing firm, Buckstein helped transform Geneva from a staffing firm to a leader in the language services field. Prior to joining Geneva Worldwide, he held senior finance and operations positions at Mercedes Benz and Chase Manhattan Bank.

1970 s

1970

Ken Barat ’70 is an award-winning laser safety consultant and former Laser Safety Officer (LSO) for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and National Ignition Facility Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He is the author of 12 textbooks and an internationally recognized authority on laser safety.

Edward Pittarelli ’70 was elected President of the Board of the Alpine Learning Group. The Alpine Learning Group includes a school for children with autism from 3 to 21, an adult program for participants over 21 and in home and center-based autism services. As well as contributing to autism research and providing free webinars.

1974

Richard Last ’74 ranked #21 on the list of “Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Education” by Thinkers360, the world’s largest and premier marketplace for B2B thought leaders and influencers. Last has over 20 years of industry

experience in digital retailing and is one of the co-founders of Axcelora, a sales program that services major global chains.

1977

John Positano ’77 is a practicing attorney, journalist and co-author of Street Smart and Dinner with DiMaggio. He has written extensively on law, the military, and surfing for the New York Daily News, the Huffington Post, and the Long Island Pulse. His law practice centers on federal matters, specifically as a litigation attorney in the Federal Second District of New York. Positano has won several awards for journalism, including the George Polk Award, the Society of Professional Journalism Deadline Club Award, and the St. Bonaventure Award for Student Journalism.

1980 s

1980

Brett Spear ’80 is a professor at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, where he teaches in the areas of Molecular Biology and Genetics and performs research on liver disease and cancer. He earned his PhD in Immunology from the University of Pennsylvania with postdoctoral training at Princeton University.

1981

Tony Marcano ’81 currently serves as the managing editor of KPCC, the leading NPR affiliate in Los Angeles. Over his 30 years in journalism, he has worked for the New York Times, New York Daily News, Los Angeles Times and NPR.

1984

Hilda Kogut ’84 has been an adjunct instructor in criminal justice at Dominican College for 16 years and a former FBI Agent with 25 years of experience in law enforcement. She was honored with a New York State Assembly Women of Distinction Award by New York State Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee in 2019. Kogut also serves as the Foundation Chair for Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation, where she has helped raise over $1 million for the facility.

1990 s

1994

Gene Page ’94 is a still photographer who has worked on the sets of feature films and network television shows, including The Walking Dead, Dopesick, Father of the Bride, Monster and The Punisher and Fools Gold.

1995

Davinder Athwal ’95 is the Chief Financial Officer for Phenom, a global recruiting firm that uses artificial intelligence to help companies streamline their hiring processes. He was recently featured in Authority Magazine, a publication that has interviewed prominent authorities across industry, including Marc Cuban, Guy Kawasaki, Seth Godin, Jane Goodall, Jillian Michaels, Floyd Mayweather, Maria Shriver, Shaquille O’Neal, Jenny Craig and Venus Williams.

1999

Julie Sageer ’99, better known as Julie Taboulie, is an Emmy-nominated and Award-Winning Lebanese American chef, bestselling and award-winning cookbook author. She warmly welcomes one and all into a whole new wonderful world of the fresh, flavorful and fabulous famous foods from her beloved Lebanese heritage.

2000 s

2005

Kristin Dolan ’05 is the Chief Executive Officer of AMC Networks, which includes AMC, SundanceTV, WeTV, IFC and BBC America. She previously served as a senior executive at Cablevision when the company was a cable operator in the nation’s largest TV market.

2008

LaTayvia Brown ’08 is the founder and chief visionary officer of Stronger2ogether, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and uplifting youth and families. Stronger2ogether, Inc. has provided valuable resources, workshops, and community initiatives to countless youth and families, equipping them with the tools needed to break generational cycles.

2009

Alexander Monelli ’09 is an Emmy-winning filmmaker whose latest documentary is streaming on more than 200 PBS channels across the country. “ROAR: The Story of the Southern Columbia Football Tigers” follows Pennsylvania’s most decorated high school football program as they chase a record-breaking sixth consecutive state championship.

2010 s

2011

Conor Reeves ’11 was recognized among the nation’s top 1,000 next-generation wealth managers on Forbes’ Best-inState Next-Generation Wealth Advisors list. He serves as a Wealth Management Advisor, Senior Vice President Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President of Merrill Lynch

Wealth Management, offering financial strategies for high net-worth individuals and business owners.

2014

Michelle Primiano ’14 is a Certified Genetic Counselor for the Clinical Cancer Genetics Program in the Division of Gastroenterology in the Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. She currently serves as the Clinical Director of LIU’s Genetic Counseling Graduate Program, overseeing the clinical training of genetic counseling students. Primiano is recognized as a leader in clinical genetics and has been published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, the American Journal of Medical Genetics, Genetics in Medicine, and the Journal of Genetic Counseling.

2016

Anastasiya Shor ’16 is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Director of the Drug Information Center at Touro University’s College of Pharmacy. She began her pharmacy career at a health economics and outcomes research start-up and has since worked as a community pharmacist, investigational pharmacist, and a nutrition support pharmacist.

2017

Joneil James ’17, earned her MLIS degree from LIU, along with a post graduate certificate in archives and records management, and currently works as a librarian for the New York Public Library.

2019

Kirby Leggett ’19, graduated from LIU Global with a focus in economics and human rights. For his Independent Research and Internship Semester (IRIS), he lived in Vienna, Austria, interning for an international law firm. After graduating, Kirby attended Syracuse University College of Law and now serves as an Assistant District Attorney at the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office in Rochester, New York.

2020 s

2023

Jessica Dean ’23 was selected to receive a Canada Graduate Scholarship – master’s program (CGSM) award by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The highly competitive scholarship is awarded to high performing graduate students based on academic excellence, research potential, personal characteristics and interpersonal skills.

Jared Ebersole ’23 and Luke St. Armand ’22 are inspiring the next generation of engineers through interactive electric vehicle kits with their startup venture Lectec. Lectec’s first set of kits recently arrived at several schools and in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. St. Armand left his job at Amazon to commit to building the venture full-time.

CLASS NOTES SPOTLIGHT

Brian Kilmeade, ‘86 Brings Book Tour to Campus

Television news presenter, morning show co-host, and author Brian Kilmeade, ’86 capped off his national book tour for “Teddy and Booker T.: How Two American Icons Blazed a Path for Racial Equality” at the Roosevelt School. An audience of more than 100 gathered for a conversation between Kilmeade and Tweed Roosevelt, Roosevelt School Chairman and President Theodore Roosevelt’s great grandson.

The book tells the remarkable story of a relationship between Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt, or TR, as Kilmeade’s latest installment in an ongoing effort to tell fascinating, if sometimes forgotten, narratives. “I wanted to tell this story in a moving way,” Kilmeade said. “They were so dramatically different in some respects, but alike in others. They had a mutual respect for each other and a desire to make America better.”

While many history books languish on shelves, Kilmeade, who majored in communications with a minor in political science, at the event said his book on George Washington had topped 1 million

copies sold. USA Today said of the book about Teddy and Booker T. that “Kilmeade has transformed this nearly forgotten slice of history” into a dramatic story. “Both [Kilmeade and Tweed Roosevelt] are passionate historians who care deeply about our country,” Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline told the audience. “His (Kilmeade’s) books are extraordinarily rich with history and storytelling.”

Booker T. Washington, enslaved at birth, grew up with no shoes and slept on the floor, but went on to graduate from Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now Hampton University) and lead Tuskegee University. The Tuskegee President met the nation’s 26th President in April 1901 and, by October, became the first Black man to dine at the White House with the President of the United States. He didn’t endorse TR in a run against William Howard Taft, because he was afraid to lose influence if TR lost. Washington would later praise TR for his work toward equality.$

Honorable Sylvia Hinds-Radix, ’78 is dedicated to

public service and mentorship

Appointed to her current role in 2022, Hinds-Radix became the 81st Corporation Counsel in the city’s history and the first African American/Caribbean woman to hold the post. As head of the city’s Law Department, she proudly leads an office of dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to further the interests of the city and its residents. “Every day we are helping the city deliver on its key mission: protecting public safety, protecting taxpayer dollars, rebuilding our economy, and making this city more livable,” Hinds-Radix said.

Prior to her current role, Hinds-Radix served for two decades as a judge. The last 10 years were spent as an Associate Justice of the New York State Appellate Division, Second Department, which included being designated as a member of the New York State Constitutional Bench. Hinds-Radix began her public service career on the legal staff of District Council 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services, concentrating in civil practice, bankruptcy, and landlord/tenant matters and serving as General Counsel of the immigration program, which she had founded.

Hinds-Radix, earned her master’s degree in political science from Long Island University in 1978. “I chose political science as a major because it was the one concentration that offered pre-law courses,” she said.

“I was privileged to have professors who shed a light on what law and the legal profession would look like, which further fueled my desire to become a lawyer. It gave me the foundation on which I was able to build my career.” Throughout her career, Hinds-Radix has served as a mentor for young people, fellow attorneys, and many others. A career in the law is an important and noble pursuit, she believes. “The rule of law is the bedrock upon which our nation stands. A legal education can equip one with the skills to affect change, to improve the lives of people, and to help shape society for the better,” she said. Whether or not people choose a legal career or another path, she strongly encourages them to find a mentor.

“Mentorship has helped me to achieve my career dreams and I truly believe that I would not be where I am today if not for standing on the shoulders of the people who came before me,” she said. “I have been mentored by some of the greatest and brightest people in the legal community. They have given me not only a wealth of information from their experiences but also provided me with the support to take the next step. It is my objective to always reach back and help the next person achieve their goals in life.” $

CLASS NOTES SPOTLIGHT

Mary Cassai’s Journey to Chief Operating Officer at the Hospital for Special Surgery

Brooklyn native Mary Cassai, ’04, knew at a young age that she wanted to work in healthcare, but she wasn’t sure which direction she would pursue within the industry. In high school, Mary considered working in education and even pondered the possibility of going to law school. “It was hard to focus and say with certainty that this was what I was going to do.” “I knew I wanted to affect people and do something on a grander scale relative to patient care but I also wanted to explore my options in college.,” she said. After her uncle was diagnosed with a serious illness, she began to witness firsthand what it was like to care for people in critical circumstances, and ultimately came to the realization of what mattered and why pursuing a career and not a job was so important.

“As I was going through that experience, being close to what he was going through, I knew in that moment that I was doing exactly what I should be in my pursuit to becoming a nurse.”

The rigorous nursing program at LIU helped equip Cassai with the skills she needed to thrive in fast-paced, high stress environments. After graduating from LIU, she worked for three years in the emergency department at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. “I owe a lot to my experience at LIU,” Cassai said. “It was tough, it was hard, but it was a beautiful experience. It set me up for success where I was able to go into an environment like the emergency department and transition successfully.

Despite holding the top nursing role at one of the world’s largest hospital systems, Cassai’s remarkable ascent was far from slowing down. She was named VP of Clinical Applications in 2017, VP of Perioperative Services in 2018 and Senior Vice President (SVP) of Perioperative Services in 2021.

Notwithstanding her deep appreciation for the decade and a half she spent at New York Presbyterian, Cassai jumped at the opportunity to become COO at the Hospital for Special Surgery, the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. “I have known for some time that I wanted to be a Chief Operating Officer,” she said. “What drew me to Hospital for Special Surgery was its’ reputation for driving excellence. It’s quite an impressive institution anchored by its’ core mission and history. It has been an incredible experience so far and I feel fortunate to be part of its’ present and future.”

While she no longer personally delivers care to patients the way she did as a nurse, Cassai is still driven by the desire to serve and help others. “I get to affect change with purpose and in a way that impacts people and process at a global scale,” she said. “That is my north star.” $

LIU ALUMNI SHARE

Did you recently get married, have a baby, get a new pet, meet up with classmates, get promoted or have anything else wonderful happen in your life? Share it with your LIU family! Send a high-resolution photo to magazine@liu.edu to be included in an upcoming edition of LIU Magazine.

Class of 2024Congratulations

Over 3,000 students adorned in their caps and gowns received their diploma from Long Island University during the 2024 Commencement Ceremonies. The ceremony for students on the Post campus was held at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium, while the ceremony for students on the Brooklyn campus was held at Barclays Center.

The distinguished guest speaker at Post was Dr. Andrew Maccabe, CEO of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). The distinguished guest speaker in Brooklyn was Joseph Kaupp, co-founder and CEO of Bainbridge Health, a burgeoning enterprise software startup that serves over 100 adult and pediatric hospitals across the country.

A Historic Moment

The College of Veterinary Medicine graduated its inaugural class of 101 students. Accredited in 2019, the College filled an industry void as one of only four vet schools in the Northeast. The historic moment generated media coverage, with an article in Newsday quoting Valedictorian Frank Auletti and Dr. Carmen Fuentealba, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “It’s very rewarding and seeing how the whole thing started and when they arrived,” Dr. Fuentealba told the paper. “Our students have been very successful in finding jobs and it’s been a very good story.” $

Gary WinnickRemembering

Long Island University lost one of its finest alumni with the passing of Gary Winnick, who graduated from LIU in 1969. The University also awarded him with an Honorary Doctorate in 2004.

Winnick was best known as an American financier and philanthropist with a global investment career spanning more than three decades. He sourced in excess of 100 billion dollars to fund transformative technologies and corporate innovation, providing capital and counsel to dozens of companies in a wide range of industries, including Telecommunications, Healthcare, Construction and Building Materials, Real Estate, Technology and IT Services, Media and Financial Services. Through the two companies he founded, Global Crossing and Asia Global Crossing, Winnick built the first integrated global fiber optic network, a 130,000-mile IP-based system connecting continents and countries around the world.

Winnick was always grateful to his alma mater and frequently gave back to the university. In 2000, his generous gift funded a comprehensive renovation to Winnick House that serves as one of the most iconic landmarks on the Post campus, named in the family’s honor.

“I feel so privileged to be able to give back,” Winnick said about his gifts to LIU in 2008. “I firmly believe we need to make opportunities for as many people as we can.”

In addition to his philanthropic contributions to LIU, Winnick served as a member of the boards of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Simon Wiesenthal Center, National Advisory Board of JP Morgan Chase and the Board of Directors of Special Olympics. Additionally, he was a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Hillel’s International Board of Governors.

Winnick is survived by his wife Karen, his sons Adam (Jacqueline), Alexander (Lauren) and Matthew (Karen), as well as his eight grandchildren: Sophia, Jacob, Wesley, Myla, Benjamin, Sara, Teddy and Max.

In an interview with LIU Magazine in 2015, Mr. Winnick’s offered career advice to students, and his words serve as an appropriate summary of his legacy. “Success is not about you,” he said. “It’s about the good you can accomplish.” $