ADELPHI UNIVERSITY ISSUE NO 451 | FALL 2014 Protecting the Pangolin and the Planet Operation Homecoming Teaching in the City Randee Heller 69 ON SHOW BUSINESS 2O14 UNIVERSITY NEWS 4 A Populist Approach to Public Health 5 Winter Wonders EVERYONE Editor’s Letter 6 President Scott's “My Adelphi” WHO COMES 8 The Mortarboard Meets Project Runway BACK FROM 1O Remembering Jonathan Larson ’82 WAR IS 12 The New York Theatre Workshop 13 Swirbul Library, Back to the Future CHANGED. A Lasting Tribute PAGE – Alice Psirakis Diascosavvas ’98 ATHLETICS on coming home 38 Adelphi Gave Her Roots and Wings 4O A Season to Remember 4O They Can Play FEATURE STORIES FACULTY FOCUS 14 Protecting the Pangolin 32 Picture This 18 Teaching in the City 34 Ultracold Molecules are Cool (in Physics) reuni24 onOperation Homecoming PAGE “There’s no secret. I go. I do the best I can, and if I get [the role], that’s great, and if I don’t, well, that’s the way it goes. That’s show business.” – Randee Heller ’69 PAGE AUVU, the Magazine of Adelphi University is published twice a year by the Adelphi University Office of Public Affairs. We welcome your thoughts and comments. Please address letters to: Bonnie Eissner, editor-in-chief AUVU, the Magazine of Adelphi University Adelphi University, Levermore Hall, Room 205, One South Avenue, P.O. Box 701, Garden City, NY 11530 or email THE MAGAZINE OF ADELPHI UNIVERSITY [email protected] Letters may be edited for publication. MAGAZINE STAFF Willson Lee Patrick R. Coonan ’78 Chantal N. Hamlin ’07 Keith Lucas College of Nursing and Public Health Noreen Harrington ’81 MANAGING EDITOR Sarah McCay Richard K. Garner Osbert Hood ’86 Lori Duggan Gold, M.S. ’12 Cindy Maguire Honors College N. Gerry House Vice President for Communications Mary Ann Mearini ’05 Sam L Grogg Angela M. Jaggar ’62, M.A. ’65 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michigan Athletics College of Arts and Sciences Laurence Kessler ’65 Bonnie Eissner Chris Nicholson Jeffrey A. Kessler Lindsey Kupferman, M.A. ’02, Ph.D. ’06 Kathleen O’Donnell Student Affairs Ronald B. Lee ’67 SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Claudio Papapietro Susan H. Murphy Kali Chan Anthony F. Libertella Scott Pursner ’05 Robert B. Willumstad School of Business Grace C. Pilcer, M.A. ’79, Ph.D. ’84 EDITORIAL TEAM Bobby Quillard Brian Lym Peter Principato ’87 Flavio Bollag Robert A. Scott, Ph.D. University Libraries Gary Rosenberg, M.S.W. ’63 Jordan Chapman DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Shawn O’Riley Paul J. Salerno ’76 Erin Donohue Anthony Bagliani University College Lois C. Schlissel Maggie Yoon Grafer ’98, M.A. ’08 Solid Design, Inc. Andrew W. Safyer Patrick S. Smalley ’86 Cecil Harris School of Social Work Helene Sullivan ’79 Louise Krudis OFFICERS William Tenet ’75 Andrea Maneri BOARD OF TRUSTEES Adaeze Udoji ’08 Ela Schwartz Robert A. Scott President Robert B. Willumstad ’05 (Hon.) A full list of emeritus Trustees is online. Chairman CONTRIBUTORS Gayle D. Insler Sophia Conti ’15 Provost and Senior Vice President Thomas F. Motamed ’71 SPECIAL THANKS TO Lara Hnizdo ’14 for Academic Affairs Vice-Chair Joan Sarfin ’79 Charity Shumway Timothy P. Burton Frank Angello ’77 Samantha Stainburn Senior Vice President and Treasurer Secretary Debbi Smith Clementine Tousey ’14 Lori Duggan Gold, M.S. ’12 Steven N. Fischer Adelphi Archives and Special Collections Jeffrey Weisbord ’15 Vice President for Communications Chairman Emeritus The Offices of Alumni Relations, ART/PHOTOGRAPHY Lauren Mounty Steven L. Isenberg ’00 (Hon.) Vice President for Enrollment Management Chairman Emeritus Intercollegiate Athletics, Marketing AMC/Lionsgate and Student Success and Creative Services and University Brian Ballweg Robert A. Scott Christian P. Vaupel ’96, M.S. ’03 President of the University Advancement Chris Bergmann Photography Vice President for University Advancement Cover photo by Bobby Quillard Jennifer Boglioli, G.C. ’09 Z. Paul Akian ’64 Angela Datre ’08 DEANS Jeffrey Bolton ’61 Bob Giglione Loretta V. Cangialosi ’80 Jane Ashdown Zachary Gold Ruth S. Ammon School of Education Philip DiSanto ’12 Paul B. Goode Joan S. Girgus FOLLOW US Jacques P. Barber Statia Grossman ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Jeffrey R. Greene Jerome Hart Psychological Studies John J. Gutleber ’68, M.B.A. ’70 Kathy Kmonicek 2O14 UNIVERSITY NEWS 4 A Populist Approach to Public Health 5 Scene on Campus EVERYONE Editor’s Letter 6 President Scott's “My Adelphi” WHO COMES 8 The Mortarboard Meets Project Runway BACK FROM 1O Remembering Jonathan Larson ’82 WAR IS 12 The New York Theatre Workshop 13 Swirbul Library, Back to the Future CHANGED. A Lasting Tribute PAGE – Alice Psirakis Diascosavvas ’98 ATHLETICS on coming home 38 Adelphi Gave Her Roots and Wings 4O A Season to Remember 4O They Can Play FEATURE STORIES FACULTY FOCUS 14 Protecting the Pangolin 32 Picture This 18 Teaching in the City 34 Ultracold Molecules are Cool (in Physics) reuni24 onOperation Homecoming PAGE FOLLOW US CONTENTS ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER ALUMNI PROFILES 3O Randee Heller ‘69 36 Lisa Armentano, M.S. ’06 52 Zachary Brandt ’14 56 Nicole Chere’ Wood ’97 6O Stanislav Bogdanov ’09, M.B.A. ’12, M.A. ’14 ALUMNI EVENTS 42 REUNION 2014 ALUMNI AND FRIENDS GIVING 44 Much has Changed Since 1979 46 President’s Gala 2014 47 Who Gives CLASS NOTES 5O Class Notes and Alumni Events A LOOK BACK PAGE “I am very glad that in a time of war we can dedicate a building which will continue to be of service to this college and this community after the war is over.” – First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt at the dedication of Adelphi's East Hall and West Halls in 1944 4 FALL 2O14 UNIVERSITY NEWS Elizabeth Gross Cohn, Ph.D., has been appointed director of Adelphi’s Center for Health Innovation. A POPULIST APPROACH TO PUBLIC HEALTH As its name implies, the County Health A former member of the faculty of Already, under Dr. Cohn’s leadership, Rankings & Roadmaps initiative—spon- Adelphi’s College of Nursing and Public CHI has taken the initiative to promote sored by the Robert Wood Johnson Health, Dr. Cohn has returned to the health research on campus by sponsor- Foundation—is a comprehensive, com- University with a diverse research ing 15 faculty members as CHI schol- parative assessment of the health of every portfolio, which she developed during ars. CHI also launched its Long Island county in our country. The report makes her time at Columbia University, where Resilient Communities Grant program, a strong case that various factors beyond she was an assistant professor of nurs- which provides emergency prepared- those we typically associate with health— ing. In 2012, the Robert Wood Johnson ness training and consultation for smoking, air quality, access to care, etc.— Foundation named Dr. Cohn a Nurse municipal leaders and first responders impact well-being. In fact, the rankings Faculty Scholar for her work to alleviate in the region. give twice as much weight to a county’s bias in genetic and genomic research. Having seen the impact of public health social and economic factors—education, While at Columbia, she partnered with research and outreach in an urban envi- employment, community safety—than the Abyssinian Baptist Church to address ronment, Dr. Cohn is interested in identi- to the caliber of clinical care. health disparities in cardiovascular dis- fying the specific needs of Long Island’s ease among women of color, and she This broad view of public health is em- diverse cities and towns. was named a co-investigator on a grant braced by Elizabeth Gross Cohn, Ph.D., from the Centers for Disease Control and BY BONNIE EISSNER who, in July 2014, was appointed the Prevention to promote a diverse work- director of Adelphi’s Center for Health force across the health professions. Dr. Innovation (CHI). CHI was launched in Cohn was also the associate chair of re- 2010 to foster collaborative and innova- search of Hip Hop Public Health, which, tive research and connect Adelphi’s among other initiatives, involved hip-hop expertise in health and healthcare with artists promoting greater health literacy. the needs of Long Island communities. UNIVERSITY N E WS We also are fortunate to have faculty who engage students turned to compliments. We have worked hard to be good in their research, such as Beth Christensen, Ph.D., and citizens, and we want our neighbors to be enthusiastic about Anagnostis Agelarakis, Ph.D. We have faculty who are world- all aspects of Adelphi. renowned yet care about each undergraduate student, such A college president’s job can be the best there is. He or she as Pulitzer Prize–winner Paul Moravec, and others who go out has the opportunity to connect ideas based on a purpose, of their way to advise student clubs, such as K.C. Rondello, people willing to be engaged and serve, and resources which M.D., the faculty adviser of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and winner can advance teaching and learning. I have been fortunate to of the 2014 Faculty Excellence Award for Service. These and be able to combine these three variables in numerous ways, many more make Adelphi a challenging but caring place. bringing together students and faculty with those I have met “People” also include the community. I recall moments— in the local and larger community and creating opportunities when appearing before the Garden City Village board of to serve citizens beyond our campus. trustees, at Property Owners Association meetings and This is My Adelphi. at teas I have hosted for neighbors—when I have heard plaudits and complaints, but eventually the complaints ROBERT A. SCOTT, PH.D. 6 FALL 2O14 MY ADELPHI AS I REFLECT ON MY YEARS AT ADELPHI—FOURTEEN AND ONE-HALF AS OF THIS PRINTING—I THINK IN TERMS OF PURPOSE, PEOPLE AND PROGRESS.