From launching a new trilogy set in the 1950s, to bringing Practical Magic to Broadway with help from a musical icon, Hoffman is proving that her storytelling is as potent as ever.

A Return to Her Roots

Founded by Hoffman herself two years ago, the Writers & Readers Festival returns to Adelphi鈥檚 Garden City campus from April 15鈥�17. The event has become a staple of the New York literary scene, and this year鈥檚 lineup is no exception.

Hoffman will headline a keynote conversation with fellow No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult, focusing on the resilience of storytelling in an era of increasing book bans. She is also set to appear in a discussion of the writer-editor relationship alongside novelist Jessica Knoll and Scribner Books publisher Marysue Rucci.

Practical Magic 2, the Movie Sequel 27 Years in the Making

The phrase “midnight margaritas” is trending once again. Production has officially moved into the final stages for Practical Magic 2, scheduled to hit theaters nationwide on September 11. The film serves as a generational bridge, reuniting the iconic “aunts”鈥擲tockard Channing and Dianne Wiest鈥攚ith stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. While the plot remains largely under wraps, it is confirmed to be inspired by Hoffman鈥檚 2021 novel, The Book of Magic. Newcomers like Joey King, Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams and The Hobbit trilogy star Lee Pace join the coven, promising a sequel that explores the legacy of the Owens curse for a new era.

Published in 1995, Practical Magic was the basis for the 1998 film adaptation starring Kidman and Bullock as sisters descended from a long line of witches. The film became a cult classic, a supernatural drama blending romance with a story of sisterly bonds. The book went on to spawn a media franchise of the same name, which in addition to the film includes a 2004 television pilot (Sudbury), two prequels鈥�2017鈥檚 The Rules of Magic and 2020鈥檚 Magic Lessons鈥攁nd a sequel, 2021鈥檚 The Book of Magic.

From Page to Stage: The Practical Magic Musical

The most surprising development in the Hoffman universe is the leap to the theater. A stage musical adaptation of Practical Magic is currently in development. In a powerhouse collaboration, Hoffman is writing a book/script for the stage with playwright Peter Duchan (Dogfight), while 10-time Grammy winner Norah Jones will provide the music and lyrics in a collaboration with Grammy-nominated record producer Gregg Wattenberg. The project marks the first stage musical by Jones.

鈥淭his story of love and sisterhood is meant for the theater. Music is the heart and soul of Practical Magic,” Hoffman said of the project. “You can hear it as you read the book, even though it isn鈥檛 there. Now you will finally hear the story as I always imagined it. You will hear magic.鈥�

Celebrating a Different Kind of Magic

Amid the witches and Broadway lights, Hoffman has also found time for a more personal project. She recently edited a new anthology titled The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love.

The collection features 14 celebrated authors鈥攊ncluding Isabel Allende, Amy Tan, Roxane Gay and Bonnie Garmus鈥攕haring stories of the canine companions that changed their lives. Hoffman will discuss the collection at the April festival, offering a “love letter” to the loyal animal friends who teach us about empathy and unconditional love.

A New Era of Witchcraft

Hoffman is already inviting readers back into the world of the supernatural. Her latest novel, The Witches of Cambridge, is slated for release on September 8.

The book, which kick-starts a new trilogy, was inspired by Hoffman鈥檚 own recent academic pursuits. Set on a college campus in the 1950s, the story follows two students, Ava and Lauren, who find refuge from the shadows of McCarthyism within a secret society of witches. Early praise from authors like Leigh Bardugo describes the work as “rich with history, heartbreak, and magic.”

鈥淚 went back to school and what began as my term paper ended up as a novel about witches, love, magic, sorrow, betrayal, sisterhood and best friends,鈥� Hoffman said.

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As a liberal arts student, Jordan developed the analytical discipline and critical thinking skills that prepared him for law school and a successful legal career that spanned decades, including 35 years in the healthcare industry. He retired in 2009 and has always credited Adelphi with providing the foundation for his success.

Mark W. Jordan 鈥�63 shares a quiet moment with his granddaughter, reflecting the family values and future generations his philanthropy at Adelphi helps support.

Establishing a Scholarship for Honors College Students

In 2013, Jordan established the Mark W. Jordan Scholarship to support Honors College students with strong academic promise and demonstrated financial need. His goal was simple: to help students experience the same transformative opportunity he received鈥攁n Adelphi education supported by scholarship assistance that allows them to focus on learning, growth, and possibility.

Reflecting on his commitment, Jordan said, 鈥淭he education I received at Adelphi shaped my career, my path, and my leadership. Giving back each year is one way I can help ensure students today have that same foundation for opportunity.鈥�

Growing Impact Through the Momentum 2 Endowment Match Campaign

Jordan deepened that commitment in 2022 when he became the first donor to participate in Adelphi鈥檚 Momentum 2 Endowment Match Campaign. With a $25,000 pledge to grow his scholarship, his gift was matched by the University鈥攊mmediately doubling its long-term impact for students. His early participation helped set the stage for more to follow.

As part of the University鈥檚 Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact, the endowment match initiative has helped expand scholarship support and strengthen Adelphi鈥檚 long-term investment in student success. By the end of the campaign鈥檚 third year in 2025, it had generated $6.4 million, created 56 new endowed funds, and strengthened 38 existing ones.

Today, Jordan remains deeply engaged as a lifelong learner and educator, delivering lectures on subjects as varied as Shakespeare, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Sir Ernest Shackleton and the Mutiny on the Bounty at institutions including the University of California, Berkeley; Santa Clara University; the University of South Carolina; and California State University, East Bay, as well as the Walnut Creek Library Foundation, which he and his wife, Cindy, also support. They spend much of their free time traveling and have visited all seven continents.

Leadership Giving

Because his giving reflects the many ways philanthropy can take shape in support of Adelphi鈥檚 mission, Jordan is recognized in all four of 天美传媒鈥檚 Leadership Recognition and Giving Societies (LEAD):

• the Levermore Leadership Society, recognizing annual giving of $1,000 or more,
• our Eighteen-Ninety-Six Roundtable Society, honoring lifetime giving totaling $100,000 or more,
• 天美传媒鈥檚 Forever Gold Society, thanking alumni and friends whose estate plans or planned gifts include the University,
• and the Dedicated Panther Society, celebrating donors who give every year.

Across his endowed scholarship, annual giving, and planned gift, Jordan’s generosity will advance the priorities that shape our University鈥檚 future: scholarships, academic excellence, life-changing student experiences, a modern and beautiful campus, and a diverse and vibrant community. His story reflects the powerful cycle of philanthropy鈥攕tudents supported by Adelphi who later return to create opportunity for those who follow.

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Art students not only learn how to paint, draw and sculpt鈥攖hey also learn to think. 鈥淭he art department prepares students to be creative problem solvers, and we give our art students a wide range of skills based in the studio arts as well as in design, digital art and technology,鈥� said Kellyann Monaghan, professor and chair of the Department of Art and Art History.

天美传媒 offers degrees to appeal to different areas of interest, including Studio Art, Graphic Design, Art and Design Education, and Art History. Students benefit from small classes led by successful artists, branding experts and seasoned educators, along with real-world experiences like internships, collaborative mural projects and career preparation courses. 鈥淲e function like a small art and design school within the larger University,鈥� Monaghan said. Students can develop skills in complementary fields like psychology, business and communications. This flexibility helps them tailor their career paths to their interests.

Those paths are broader than many people assume. Adelphi art alumni work as photographers, art directors, school educators, art therapists, and in many other fields. 鈥淪tudents don鈥檛 have to be starving artists,鈥� Monaghan said. 鈥淭here are lots of different ways for them to make a living in the world.鈥�

Case in point: Meet several Adelphi alums who built a thriving career with their art degree.

Turn a Creative Vision Into a Thriving Agency

Carl Timpone ’08, Portrait, Editorial and Commercial Photographer and Partner at Visual Natives

Photographer graduated at the start of an economic recession. Jobs were scarce, but the creativity and independence Adelphi fostered helped prepare him to think outside the box. He began sneaking backstage at concerts to take photos of musicians, which quickly led to creating album artwork. 鈥淢y job was just to listen to the music, listen to their lyrics and translate that into a visual form,” Timpone said.

As he gained experience and became more successful, he partnered with a graphic design graduate he met through the music scene and launched an agency鈥斺�攖hat is still in operation today. Their clients span record labels, the fashion industry, enterprise companies, and legacy artists like Stevie Nicks and Def Leppard. “What I enjoy most about my career at this point is the ability to think quickly and creatively and the human connections that I make with the subjects, even if it’s brief,” he said. And those subjects happen to be Hollywood鈥檚 biggest stars, from Cynthia Erivo to Timoth茅e Chalamet, and music industry icons like Post Malone and Chappell Roan.

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The Role of the New Board of Advisors

The newly formed Board of Advisors brings together alumni from a wide range of professional fields, creating a direct bridge between the College and today鈥檚 workforce. The board members will serve as advisors鈥攕haring real-world insight into industry trends, new and evolving career opportunities, and how the College can better prepare and assist students鈥攅ffectively positioning them for professional success. Through their experience and networks, the board will help advance the college鈥檚 academic mission, while opening doors to experiential learning, mentorship and philanthropic support.

鈥淭his board reflects the breadth, talent and impact of our alumni community,鈥� said Dean Wang. 鈥淭heir perspectives and experiences will help us ensure our programs remain relevant, inclusive and forward-looking, while keeping student success at the center of everything we do.鈥�

Meet the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors

The board of advisors was purposefully constituted to reflect the disciplinary, demographic and experiential diversity of 天美传媒. The board currently consists of six professionals whose careers span STEM, education, law, medicine, the arts, public service and cybersecurity.

Katie Aragon 鈥�09, MA 鈥�22, earned a BFA in studio art and an MA in Art Education from 天美传媒 and is an art teacher at While at Adelphi, she was a member of the Honors College and served as a University tour guide. She later earned a master鈥檚 degree in museum education from the Bank Street College of Education and spent several years teaching in museum settings. Her work reflects a deep commitment to arts education and student engagement.

, a three-time 天美传媒 graduate, with a BS in computer science and mathematics, a master鈥檚 degree in mathematics, and a doctorate in mathematics, is a professor of computer science at Hunter College of the City University of New York. He was previously a senior member of the technical staff at the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute and CERT Research. He is an expert in computer and network security, cryptography, privacy and anonymity. He previously served as a senior security architect at NASA鈥檚 Goddard Space Flight Center, has been published widely and has mentored students for more than 20 years.

, holds a BS in physics from 天美传媒 and a doctorate in engineering from Cornell University and is currently a technical program manager at Northrop Grumman. She is the co-founder of Career Factory 360, a career consulting and development company. A 10 Under 10 honoree, Dr. Grayson is a strategic engineering leader with more than a decade of experience managing cross-functional teams. She is also a global keynote speaker, bestselling author, and a passionate advocate for mentorship and representation in STEM fields.

Barry Gross 鈥�68, JD, earned a BA in history from 天美传媒 and a JD from Albany Law School. He has practiced law for more than four decades, handling more than 1,250 cases during his career. Gross is a founding partner of and serves as a member of the 天美传媒 Panther Club Executive Board. His experience offers the college a perspective on legal practice, ethics and alumni engagement.

Joseph Lombardo 鈥�75, MD-PhD, a retired physician with more than 30 years of experience in anatomic and clinical pathology, earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology from 天美传媒 and a MD-PhD from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Board-certified, Dr. Lombardo served as chairman and laboratory director at several hospital-university medical centers. Among his many accomplishments, he established a full-service virology and STD laboratory at UMDNJ-NJ Medical Center (now the Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences) and identified the first case of HIV-2 in North America. Dr. Lombardo has numerous publications and has taught in medical schools both in the US and abroad.

, serves as dean of social sciences and humanities at De Anza College in Cupertino, California. He earned a bachelor of arts in political science in 2006 and master鈥檚 degree in the Scholars Teacher Education Program in 2007 at 天美传媒. Dr. Ramos then furthered his education, obtaining a Doctor of Arts in history and education from St. John鈥檚 University. He will complete his second doctorate, a PhD in sustainability, from Prescott College in May 2026. A member of Adelphi鈥檚 10 Under 10 young alumni recognition program, his research focuses on world poverty and sustainable development. Dr. Ramos鈥� leadership experience brings valuable insight into academic innovation and student-centered learning.

What鈥檚 Ahead

The board of advisors will meet twice annually and will work closely with Dean Wang to advance strategic priorities outlined in the College鈥檚 strategic plan. In the short term, the board will partner and support student research and experiential learning and career opportunities, as well as faculty interdisciplinary teaching and research. Looking ahead, the College plans to strategically grow the board, while maintaining its cohesiveness, to continue building a future-focused and preeminent institution of liberal arts and sciences where every student is promised a high-impact college education.

鈥淭his is just the beginning,鈥� Dr. Wang said. 鈥淥ur board of advisors represents a powerful partnership between alumni and the College鈥攐ne that will help us prepare students not just for their first job, but for lifelong impact.鈥�

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The Legacy of Bad Company

Recently, Bad Company returned to their old stomping grounds for a walk down memory lane. At the baseball diamond where Bergelt once played varsity, they admired the renovated clubhouse bearing a plaque in his honor and recalled watching games from their Linen Hall windows. They got to catch up with Danny McCabe, director of and the new head baseball coach Mike Gaffney, whose father, Bill, was Bergelt鈥檚 teammate in the 鈥�70s.

Stories, laughs and jokes were traded among the friends鈥攐ne about a 鈥渂orrowed鈥� bathrobe, another proudly claiming to be 鈥�31鈥�1鈥� over their four-year intramural basketball career. They marveled at the changes to campus, like the 76,000-square-foot Center for Recreation and Sports (CRS), which expanded and modernized the amenities of their cherished Woodruff Hall era.

Inside the CRS, Dennis, Neil, Tony and Steve posed by the and a plaque in honor of Bad Company. Made possible in 2018 through a generous gift from McDonagh, the fueling station is an essential stop for Adelphi鈥檚 23 varsity teams, providing free recovery shakes and snacks to the student-athletes. Two graduate student-athlete leaders, (men鈥檚 basketball) and (volleyball), took a moment to personally thank McDonagh for his support of their success on the court and in the classroom.

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Those grainy hallway videos were the first steps on a path that would eventually lead Molina to 天美传媒鈥檚 dance program, gigs with Lil鈥� Kim, Yailin la M谩s Viral and other artists, appearances in multiple music videos, and a coveted spot as a featured dancer in a Bad Bunny music video鈥攁ll while building a career as a teacher, choreographer and mentor for the next generation.

Building a Dance Career From Scratch

Molina鈥檚 earliest training didn鈥檛 come from studios or competitions. It came from family parties鈥攆estive Dominican gatherings that included fun, informal dance competitions for the kids鈥攁nd from whatever dance videos she could find online. 鈥淢y parents didn鈥檛 have enough money to take me to dance,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 started learning through YouTube videos.鈥�

Formal training followed in middle and high school at the Bronx Dance Academy and then the Talent Unlimited High School in Manhattan. After school, she headed to the Martha Graham School鈥檚 Teens at Graham program, where she discovered modern dance and even performed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. For a while, she thought her future might be with a modern company like Martha Graham or on a Broadway stage.

Then she realized she didn鈥檛 want to choose between fine art and commercial work. She wanted to do all kinds of dance.

Finding Her Place in Adelphi鈥檚 Dance Program

When it came time for college, she chose Adelphi. 鈥淭his is not only a school for dance, but it has so many different career paths and so many different majors and minors,鈥� Molina said. 鈥淚 wanted to be in a broader community and have friends who majored in other things.鈥�

She enrolled in Adelphi鈥檚 dance program in 2019, focusing on ballet and modern鈥攚hat is called 鈥渃oncert dance.鈥� Teachers like Orion Duckstein, associate professor and chair of the dance department, and adjunct professor Jennifer Kreichman, saw something different in Molina鈥攁 student determined to keep one foot in the concert world and the other in the commercial dance scene.

While many classmates stayed on the traditional track, Molina commuted to Midtown Manhattan after her Adelphi classes to take hip-hop and urban dance classes. Her days were stacked: academic classes, technique, rehearsals, then the train ride into the city for more class鈥攁long with time to record and post on social media. 鈥淚 was juggling everything at the same time,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut teachers like Orion and Jen gave me that space to embrace both my commercial side and concert side.鈥�

Balancing Graduation With Dance Performances With Lil鈥� Kim

By the time Molina neared graduation in 2023, her r茅sum茅 was already growing.

The first big-name artist she got to dance with was Lil鈥� Kim. Through connections she鈥檇 made in New York classes, a choreographer recommended her for a gig. Soon she was appearing in Lil鈥� Kim shows in Pennsylvania, Las Vegas and New York, 鈥淚 was balancing graduating and then being on a flight the next day to perform with her in Vegas,鈥� Molina said.

Then came a turn toward the Latin music world. She joined the team for Yailin la M谩s Viral, a Dominican artist gaining international attention. 鈥淲e did our first mini tour that took us to Baltimore and Virginia.鈥�

A Featured Dancer for Bad Bunny

For many dancers, performing with Bad Bunny is a dream. Molina鈥檚 chance came in late 2023, but it arrived wrapped in mystery. A friend who had performed with big names helped her get a job as a featured dancer/extra for a big club-scene video. The call sheet didn’t include the star’s name. 鈥淭hey just said, 鈥業t鈥檚 for this major artist. We can鈥檛 say who.鈥�

Even when she got to the set鈥攁n abandoned warehouse in New York transformed into a huge, pulsing nightclub鈥攏o one said who the star was. The music she rehearsed to gave no clue, either.

After hours of practicing moves, the moment finally arrived. The star walked out.

鈥淚 was like, 鈥極h my God. Like, this is Bad Bunny in front of my face right now,鈥欌�� Molina said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 believe it.鈥�

It was an experience of a lifetime鈥攁nd experience built on a lifetime of hallway practice, packed schedules and saying yes to every opportunity.

Inspiring New Directions in Adelphi’s Dance Program

Molina鈥檚 career isn鈥檛 limited to performing. Thanks in part to relationships forged at Adelphi鈥攅specially with Kreichman, who invited her to co-choreograph a piece for a concert at Adelphi鈥�; works as a dance educator/teaching artist in New York public schools through the 92nd Street Y; choreographs for emerging artists; casts dancers; and does movement coaching to help performers develop stage presence and personal style.

She鈥檚 also watched Adelphi鈥檚 program evolve. 鈥淏ecause of people like Orion, now there鈥檚 more space for commercial dance at Adelphi,鈥� Molina said. 鈥淚 see jazz, I see hip-hop there.鈥�

Using Her Adelphi Dance Degree as a Launch Pad

For students dreaming of a life in dance鈥攐r parents wondering if it鈥檚 a realistic career path鈥擬olina points to three things that helped her succeed: versatility, authenticity and consistency.

鈥淣ever put yourself in a box,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hatever you want to try, go for it. As long as you鈥檙e determined, remain a good person, remain true to yourself and are consistent, you can make it.鈥�

She also stresses the importance of social media as both a portfolio and networking tool.

鈥淪ocial media is the biggest form of networking,鈥� Molina said. 鈥淚 think the biggest reason I鈥檝e been blessed to be booked by these people is because I鈥檝e been able to show people my personality through my social media.鈥�

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A true architect of progress, Dr. Coonan envisioned nursing education as interdisciplinary and forward-looking. During his tenure, the School expanded beyond nursing to include programs in public health, healthcare informatics, nutrition and emergency management, culminating in its renaming as the College of Nursing and Public Health on June 1, 2013. This evolution positioned Adelphi at the forefront of preparing healthcare professionals to meet the complex needs of communities locally and globally.

One of Dr. Coonan鈥檚 most enduring legacies is the Clinical Education and Simulation Lab (CESiL), a state-of-the-art facility located in the Nexus Building on Adelphi鈥檚 Garden City campus that he helped conceptualize and design. The center has transformed clinical education at Adelphi, providing students with innovative, hands-on learning experiences that emphasize safety, competence and confidence鈥攅xperiences that continue to benefit graduates entering the nursing profession today.

Amy Coonan Coen 鈥�16 and Chris Coen 鈥�16 celebrated their wedding at Adelphi with family. Photo credit: Shelby Phillips

鈥淧atrick was dean of the College when I was a doctoral student, and I experienced firsthand his unwavering support for students and faculty alike,鈥� said Deborah Hunt, PhD 鈥�12, current dean of the College of Nursing and Public Health. 鈥淎fter I graduated, I continued to see him at University events, where his genuine interest in people and enduring commitment to Adelphi were always evident. Patrick鈥檚 leadership, kindness and belief in others left a lasting impression on me and on this institution.鈥�

A proud Adelphi alumnus, Dr. Coonan embodied Panther pride throughout his life. His devotion to service and social justice was widely recognized, including being named a recipient of the , honoring his lifelong commitment to equity, compassion and leadership.

Beyond his impressive professional achievements, Dr. Coonan will be remembered as a mentor, advocate and trusted leader whose warmth, integrity and belief in Adelphi鈥檚 mission left an indelible mark on the University.

Dr. Coonan鈥檚 devotion to Adelphi was shared deeply with his family, whose own lives and milestones are closely intertwined with the University. He was the proud father of Amy Coonan 鈥�16, 鈥�22, whose Adelphi journey reflects the values of service, compassion and resilience that defined her father鈥檚 life and work. Amy is the daughter of Dr. Coonan and Anita Coonan 鈥�75, MS 鈥�79, MA 鈥�09, an educator and reading specialist, making Adelphi a multigenerational home for the Coonan family.

After Dr. Coonan suffered a heart attack in 2017 that resulted in a brain injury, Amy returned home to care for her father. The experience inspired her to pursue nursing, and she returned to Adelphi in 2020 to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, continuing her father鈥檚 lifelong commitment to healthcare, service and the Adelphi mission.

Patrick is survived by his wife Anita of 48 years, his son David, daughter Lauren, MA 鈥�10, MBA 鈥�17, son Phillip 鈥�10 and daughter Amy.

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An endowed gift from Georgiana Baker 鈥�69 celebrates her late husband, Bill (framed photo).

With her planned $250,000 gift to Adelphi, she鈥檚 making that opportunity a reality for current and future Adelphi swimmers. The ripple effects of Georgiana鈥檚 philanthropy ensure that talented and motivated student-athletes will be supported throughout their college experience.

In 2007, a loyal group of Adelphi alumni known affectionately as 鈥淭eam Irwin,鈥� established the to honor Georgiana鈥檚 husband, Bill, the popular coach of the Adelphi men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 varsity swim teams from 1966 to 1978. The launch of this scholarship coincided with Bill鈥檚 induction into the 天美传媒 Athletic Hall of Fame, and it is awarded annually to a member of the swim team. The scholarship has benefited 13 students, and donor contributions currently exceed $111,000.

Before Bill died in 2017, he and Georgiana sat down to make decisions about their estate plan. Georgiana suggested a bequest to the University that brought them together and provided them with a lifelong network of friends and community. Supporting the scholarship endowment in Bill鈥檚 name was an easy decision for her.

鈥淏ill loved coaching, and he loved swimming, and Adelphi was such a big part of our lives,鈥� Georgiana said. 鈥淗e made a life around swimming, and I think he would be very pleased about all of this.鈥�

A love for the sport provided a shared foundation for the couple. 鈥淏ill was a very good swimmer,鈥� Georgiana recalled, noting that he was an Eastern States Champion and was scheduled to compete in Olympic swimming trials. Instead, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where, naturally, he ran a swim program. After that, Bill competed with the New York Athletic Club for years, serving as chairman of swimming, and coached three NCAA All-American swimmers during his tenure at Adelphi.

When Georgiana arrived at Adelphi as an undergraduate, she joined two other trailblazing women comprising the original women鈥檚 swim team. Georgiana explained, 鈥淲hat drove me was that I wanted to meet people. And I could swim; I knew I was good at that. I looked for a swim team, which for women didn鈥檛 really exist at the time. I wanted to do something outside of going to class. I found people who shared that interest鈥擨 found my group!鈥� Teammate Sue Tendy 鈥�70, PhD, who became a fast friend, went on to be one of the first women in America to compete in women鈥檚 intercollegiate swim meets and was the first women鈥檚 swim coach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Georgiana鈥檚 academic passions for math and science intersected with her interests in teaching and learning. After graduation, an education professor encouraged her to teach math and science at West Hempstead (New York) Middle School. Before long, she made a career switch to the international business department of Chase Bank in New York City, where she climbed the corporate ladder from administrative assistant to vice president.

Georgiana leaned into her strengths in STEM and developed an early automation process for the regular reports she was charged with running. She not only taught herself Fortran and other programming languages, but also created a new leadership lane for women in corporate operations. 鈥淚 worked as a programmer and came up through the ranks, and then I ended up running the department!鈥� she said.

Georgiana was one of four inaugural women vice presidents at Chase, and this intrepid and fearless cohort, now living all over the country, still enjoy regular Zoom sessions to catch up and often travel together, even as far as Africa. Georgiana鈥檚 career in financial operations continued to accelerate, and as a vice president at Goldman Sachs, she worked to automate systems and coordinate computer operations on the trading floor.

Georgiana and Bill鈥檚 life together brought them from New York to Virginia to South Carolina, and 鈥渆verywhere he coached, he formed a swim team.鈥� Bill created several master鈥檚 swim teams鈥攚here postcollegiate swimmers compete within appropriate age brackets鈥攚hich continue to flourish today. 鈥淲e competed at the national level several times,鈥� Georgiana recalled, noting that the team environment and camaraderie strengthened the bonds of friendship among members of 鈥淭eam Irwin.鈥�

Following her career in finance, Georgiana earned a master鈥檚 degree in statistics and returned to her first occupation, teaching, but this time at the college level. She taught first at Radford University in Virginia and later, from 1999 to 2013, at the University of South Carolina.

Her generosity toward student-athletes is not surprising, and paying it forward is a natural extension of her own personal and professional success. Now swimming remains a key part of Georgiana鈥檚 life in retirement. 鈥淚 love exercise, and I really believe that you have to use it or lose it. Swimming keeps me moving,鈥� she said.

Thanks to her generosity, the Adelphi swim program continues to make waves, and in 2025 enjoyed its most successful season in 15 years, coming in as runner-up at the NE10 Championship.

With her $250,000 planned estate gift to the William J. Irwin Swimming Scholarship, Georgiana is an inspiration as she honors her husband鈥檚 legacy and champions the program that meant so much to their family.

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