Addressing about 100 on-campus and virtual attendees on November 12 as the keynoter for the two-hour inaugural forum, Edmund J.Y. Pajarillo, PhD, professor of nursing, focused on the topic “The Essence of Connections for Lifelong Professional Success.”

Dr. Pajarillo—whom Dean Hunt lauded as “a visionary education leader and scholar” with 40 years’ experience—told of his journey from the Philippines to New York and of relying on key connections he made along the way. Seemingly making up for a lack of experience with considerable self-confidence, he began his career rise as a member of the Filipino Nurses Association in New York, transforming their magazine into a scholarly journal.

Later relationships “opened up doors for me” as well, Dr. Pajarillo continued.

One of Dr. Pajarillo’s recent successes is the , formed last year with 25 members to research solutions to the nursing educator shortage. It has since grown to 150, he noted.

Besides knowledge gained from academic learning and experience, he told the nursing student contingent in his audience that “socialization” is important in the nursing profession, for instance, through networking, mentorships and developing social skills. Membership in nursing associations is paramount in achieving those aims, he said. “Being a member of professional organizations offers an array of options,” including “the large social network that one can nurture.” Belonging can lead to “lifetime relationships.”

“Every nurse needs a mentor”

Dean Hunt believes finding a mentor is a critical step to a successful nursing career. Networking is a first step in that direction, and to encourage it, the Forum included a panel of associations that connect nursing students to practicing nurses. The panel include:

• Matthew Zender, vice president of the , which hosts three yearly conferences, is great for networking, and awards scholarships.

• Kattiria Rosario-Gonzalez, PhD, president of Sigma Theta Tau International’s Alpha Omega Chapter at Adelphi, an honor society helps develop nursing leaders and offers networking and scholarship opportunities. Because it is international, Sigma offers global networking opportunities.

• Dan Suarez, president-elect of the , who said, “We love to mentor and advocate for nurses” and that NAHN has done so for two decades. Despite its name, he emphasized “anyone can join [NAHN].” He observed, “That’s the mosaic of nursing.” NAHN presented six scholarships in November alone, he said.

• Donna Willenbrock ’82, ’01, DNP, past president of the , who said that group is “all about supporting NPs for education, advocacy and networking” and offering NP and DNP student scholarships. She and fellow panelist Brenda Janotha, EdD, president-elect, said they are just starting an NP mentorship program.

• Kimberly Velez, secretary of the and a past president of the (NACLI), said ANA promotes nurses’ education advancement, and NACLI is “there to help you and welcome you into the profession, and then give you mentorships.” Student scholarships also are available.

CNPH students, alumni and faculty are invited to join the Advocacy Forum. For more information, email cnphsaaf@gmail.com.

The post New Student-Alum Advocacy Forum Focuses on Mentoring, Networking and Scholarships appeared first on ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.

No matter what your career path may be, approach it with humanity and rigor. Character matters.”

Tizzio’s commitment to positive impact extends well beyond his career achievements. Now president and CEO of , a multibillion-dollar global specialty insurance firm, Tizzio traces his deep engagement in interpersonal relationships to his coursework and early friendships at ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.

“I had a great experience, especially with Salvatore Primeggia, PhD, and George Russell, PhD, two inspiring professors who I stayed in contact with for decades,” he says. “I lived in a dorm next to the nursing school, and I learned from them, and from my own studies, about this notion of care. It stuck with me through my travels and my life.”

An expert in predicting and managing risk, Tizzio might not have foreseen how his classes in sociology and finance would form his foundational skills in improving workplace culture and building successful organizations. He credits his father, an insurance executive at AIG, for encouraging him to pursue an education at Adelphi rather than accept a football scholarship at a large state university.

Tizzio, who learned from and was inspired by his father’s mentorship, joined the insurance business after law school. “I was so lucky I had such a great role model, and a great friend. My father was an incredible person in terms of integrity, commitment to his community and work ethic,” he notes. “It was unique because we were friends as much as we were father and son. He left an indelible impression on me, and safe to say, on this industry, as well.”

Tizzio laughs that he is “homegrown” in the insurance industry, and has witnessed not only his father’s successful career but also the evolution of an industry in transition. Careful attention to employee well-being and satisfaction is more important than ever, as he notes that “half of the current workforce is likely to retire in the next 10 years. We know that attracting a diversity of employees, supporting them and training them is key.”

He strongly believes that this support for employee well-being includes attention to mental health, a personal passion he has carried for decades. This is reflected in the recently refreshed AXIS values that Tizzio created in partnership with the firm’s leadership team, with input from colleagues from around the world: People, Excellence, Decisiveness and Stronger Together. “This initiative,” he explains, “embodies our unwavering commitment to being a high-performing company and a great place to work.” And it’s not just talk: AXIS incentivizes its people to live these values with rewards that include company stock grant awards for eligible employees.

One of Tizzio’s proudest accomplishments in this area is AXIS’s partnership with , a Gen-Z-driven nonprofit that helps users navigate the challenging landscape of mental health support. And he is proud of the recent partnership between AXIS and the Harris Poll for research that revealed the urgent need for the enhanced employee support he has long championed.

Tizzio lives these values in his current role at AXIS, where he has led a remarkable turnaround of the company, delivering record financial performance with total shareholder returns growing more than 100 percent over a two-year period. Prior to joining AXIS, he was the executive vice president and head of Global Specialty at The Hartford, and before that, he served as president and CEO of Navigators Management until its acquisition by The Hartford. Tizzio’s entrepreneurial leadership role at Zurich Financial Services, followed by his 18 years at AIG, were marked by a steady ascent into executive leadership.

Tizzio consistently pays it forward, volunteering as an executive leadership fellow to mentor and advise Adelphi students. “I hope they maintain a sense of curiosity, be bold and be fearless,” he says. Being open to learning in college and throughout one’s career can help build character and resilience, two qualities he calls out in particular as essential for success in life and work.

“We live in an age where we have instant access to answers, but it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them,” Tizzio says, urging students to follow their own journey like he did. “No matter what your career path may be, approach it with humanity and rigor. Character matters.” he says. As evidenced by his commitment to building healthy communities, it is a principle he practices every day.

The post Rooted in Values, Driven by Purpose appeared first on ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.

The Fellows Program: Giving Back, Paying Forward

Demitrieus’ desire to share the lessons he’s learned along the way inspired his next big idea: the ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝ Leadership Fellows Program. He wanted to connect with current students and offer leadership and career advice to future executives. Partnering with Adelphi’s Office of Advancement and External Relations, Demitrieus helped lay the foundation for the Fellows Program, which launched in Fall 2024. A select group of students, known as Student Leadership Fellows, enjoy opportunities to interact with prominent alumni, or Executive Fellows. This collaboration has already made a lasting impact on the students and alumni involved.

Student Leadership Fellows got the chance to listen to the lessons Demitrieus shared over a meal he cooked for them in his New York City apartment. “I love working with students,” Demitrieus said, and his enthusiasm for listening to their stories is contagious. It is the conversations shared and relationships formed that have allowed the Fellows Program to take shape.

The first in his family to graduate high school, Demitrieus recalls the challenges he faced as he connects with other first-generation students who aspire to their own business success. Bridging what can be a “gap between book smarts and street smarts,” he notices that the students he’s met in the Fellows Program remind him of himself at that age. They are “hardworking and driven,” and he encourages them to learn from any experience life might throw at them.

Meaningful Mentor Relationships

Demitrieus arrived at Adelphi as a transfer student from SUNY Cortland in the late 1960s on a lacrosse scholarship, and soon discovered that teamwork, an entrepreneurial spirit and a game-winning attitude could take him to the highest levels of corporate success. He’s eager to share the credit for his success with mentors he was lucky enough to connect with during his career. Those relationships helped him build effective strategic teams—teams he is also quick to credit for contributing to his success. “Making myself available as a mentor and perhaps a role model to aspiring students was an easy and a quite natural extension of my everyday endeavors,” Demitrieus explained.

Roller Coaster Ride to Success

His career path didn’t exactly follow a straight line and, he said, was more like “sitting in the front seat of a roller coaster.” Demitrieus’ journey was never boring: from working at a Big Five accounting firm, to exploring the oil and gas industry, to heading up commodities trading at a major investment banking firm. He was tapped for management positions in Asia, which he recalls as a “transformational” time in his life—an opportunity he used not only to lead, but also to listen and learn. He worked to restructure the multinational SK Group and, soon after, his management career accelerated in the American high-tech and telecom sector at Ixnet, Frontier Communications and in industrial services engineering, where he served as CEO of Toronto-based Alumna Systems. After serving as president of Sherwood Valves and Harsco, Demitrieus diversified his corporate experience into biometrics and was eventually named CEO at EyeLock. Now, as managing director of Jameson Associates, an investment management and financial advisory firm, he leverages his extensive operating experience—and his listening skills—to provide clients with strategic and funding guidance.

At every turn of his journey, Demitrieus cultivated relationships and focused on “people-driven leadership,” which are the lessons he imparts to business and finance students in Adelphi’s Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. His own experience in college centered on the connections he made as an and as a student, and the relationships that sustained him—most importantly, his marriage to high school sweetheart and Adelphi alumna Lynn, MA ’72, and his long friendship with lacrosse teammate Tom “MoTown” Motamed ’71. The Adelphi community , and Demitrieus’ latest involvement with Adelphi is a tribute to their unique fellowship.

Demitrieus is a true coach and a mentor to Adelphi students, as he encourages them to think deeply about engaging and collaborating in “people-to-people environments.”Ěý “There’s a difference,” he notes, “between someone who’s really smart and someone who’s really effective,” and, often, it’s a willingness to truly listen and learn. His openness to lifelong learning reflects an important goal not only for the newest Adelphi Leadership Fellows, but for everyone: “to go home smarter than you were when you started the day.”

The post Profiles in Success: From Wall Street Intern to Global CEO appeared first on ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.

“Mentors help us bridge the gap between where we are now and where we want to be.”

That description of mentoring, from keynote speaker Valencia Saint-Louis ’20, set the tone forĚýAdelphi’s celebration of theĚýJovia Mentoring: Guiding and Inspiring Student SuccessĚýprogram on January 29.

For Adelphi’s mentoring program, held during , proof of success is in the data. One hundred percent of students who have joined and remained in the mentoring program made it through to graduation. And their cumulative GPA is higher compared to all other undergraduates.

The founder and leader of Adelphi’sĚýmentoring program is Chotsani Williams West ’07, EdD, assistant vice president of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and adjunct professor in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences.Ěý

Dr. WestĚýhas an impressive background in mentoring, including earning professional certifications from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City Center for Training and Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service: Skills to Mentor Youth and Mentoring Supervision. She has worked with organizations includingĚý, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.’s Leadership Development Institute, the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, and the Southern Scholars Initiative, guiding their mentoring efforts.

For Dr. West, the evening is an opportunity to celebrate mentor and mentee pairs. “I will always invite current participants in the program and past participants to talk about their experiences and what mentoring meant to them, and how they have impacted each other,” she said.

Jovia Financial Credit Union Joins the Mentoring Mission

Jovia Financial Credit Union beganĚýunderwriting the Adelphi mentoring program in 2023. “Jovia was very pleased with the evidence-based practices and culturally responsive approach to our mentoring work and the structure of the program, and they became the sponsors of it to ensure that this work could continue into the future,” Dr. West said.

Peter Purpura ’08, vice president of business development at Jovia, welcomed participants to the celebration, and shared his own belief in the power of mentoring. In his remarks, he challenged everyone in the audience to bringĚýmore mentoring into their lives—both to mentor and to be mentored by others.

Representatives from alsoĚýjoined the celebration, to recognize the Long Island chapter of Girls Inc. executive director’s award.

How Dr. West Pairs Mentors with Mentees

Program mentors and mentees were central to the celebration. Melinda Neus, senior assistant director of events at Adelphi, introduced her mentee, neuroscience major Wensha Noel. Both are first-generation Haitian and connected culturally as a mentoring pair.

Dr. West noted that pairing a student with someone who would invest in their future, identify with their career choices and could help them understand how to move forward—even through times when theyĚýwere dealing with uncertainty—is critical to mentoring success. A basic connection, such as a cultural bond shared by Neus and Noel, can start a successful mentor and mentee relationship.

Keynote Speech from a Mentee Who Became a Mentor

The National Mentoring Month Celebration keynote speech came from Valencia Saint-Louis ’20, an Adelphi graduate and past program mentee. She pointed out that, in 2019, she participated in the Mentoring Month Celebration as a mentee.

Saint-Louis, now a strategic communications specialist and advocate for women’s wellness and empowerment, noted that “mentors help mentees see blind spots that may stand in the way of their success, which can turn into self-doubt.” She has also discovered that mentors can have a lasting impact, as mentors become career colleagues through the years.

Showcasing the Success of Mentoring at Adelphi

ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝’s Mentoring Month Celebration, as an annual event, has an additional benefit that comes along with saluting the Adelphi program. It brings the program’s success in front of the University community, including students and even potential mentors who can see the opportunity the program offers.

“I think the attendees who were listening to the testimonials of the mentoring pairs felt the enthusiasm and sincerity among the mentoring pairs,” Dr. West said. “They were very moved to know that the impact was felt so greatly, and you can see it in the room. You saw the smiles. You saw the heads nodding. It was such a welcomed evening of celebration.”

Dr. West added, “This event is an excellent place for people to learn about the importance of mentoring, the power of mentoring. It is a testament to this good work—my life’s work.”

2025 Honorees

Renee Flagler, Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Long Island

• Spirit Award (2025) for Remarkable Contributions to the NonprofitĚýSector and Beyond
• Collaboration Award (2020) for RemarkableĚýMentoringĚýas a Community Leader

Brooks Frederick, Adjunct Professor, Studio Art, ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝

• Appreciation Award for Contributions toĚýMentoringĚýFuture Generations of Artists in Social Justice

Anne M.ĚýMungai, PhD, Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Graduate Studies, Professor of Education, ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝

• Trailblazer Award for Exemplary Leadership of the Faculty of Color Network

Melinda Neus, Senior Assistant Director of Events, ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝

• Certificate of Appreciation for the TestimonialĚýKeynote Address

Joanna Templeton, Lead Editor and Senior Director of Content, ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝

• Mentoring Champion Award

Wensha Noel, Student Mentee, Senior, Neuroscience Major, ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝

• Certificate of Appreciation for the TestimonialĚýKeynote Address

Valencia Saint-Louis ’20, Keynote Speaker, Strategic Communications Specialist, Advocate for Women’s Wellness and Empowerment

• Certificate of RecognitionĚýfor Keynote Address

The post ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝ National Mentoring Month Celebration Showcases the Strength of Working Together for Success appeared first on ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.

Bringing Freud Into the 21^st Century

Published in 2021, offers a persuasive framework for clinicians seeking to understand the continuing relevance of Sigmund Freud, MD’s legacy as the father of talk therapy.

“It offers a different view of him by asking readers to walk a mile in his shoes and putting themselves in his position. Talk therapy was Dr. Freud’s greatest contribution, as he helped people give voice to struggles that they had either kept to themselves or which had led to emotional turmoil,” Dr. Mendelsohn said. “We can see how revolutionary his work was by recognizing his ability to see the unsaid.”

It’s currently a volume that is on display at , as a surprising photo sent to him by a former student attests. “I grew up in Queens. When I saw the picture, I said, But ‘I’m from Queens,’” he recalled with typically disparaging humor.

A Prestigious Nomination

Nominated for a 2024 Gradiva Award, Dr. Mendelsohn’s is essential reading for mental health professionals and would-be clinicians alike.

Dr. Mendelsohn offers a fresh approach to conceptualizing and understanding clinical cases, including by applying the principles of talk therapy to cases when needed. To him, the role of the psychotherapist is to listen closely to help patients correlate their present problems with their past histories. It is by this shift in perspective, he insists, that healing can begin.

From Rock-and-Roll Drummer to Adelphi Professor

Dr. Mendelsohn’s path to Adelphi was surprisingly indirect. As a teen in Queens, he was expected to work in Key Food, the family run co-op, on weekends. Instead, he learned to play the drums, becoming involved withĚýlegendary musician Al Kooper, known for his workĚýwith everyone from Bob Dylan to the music group Blood, Sweat & Tears, and who set the young aspiring drummer up with a band. “I’m a performer and a shrink. I played with The Ronettes for two years and as a teacher I get up in front of the class and perform,” he said. “And I still keep a set of drums in my basement.”

Even as he was successfully drumming in Greenwich Village, his Aunt Mildred—a protégée of celebrated psychoanalyst Theodore Reich, MD—took him aside and asked him what he was doing with his life.

“I subsequently buried my head in books and got my doctorate from the University of Massachusetts,” Dr. Mendelsohn recollected. “As an extern in a western Massachusetts hospital, I went to hear Gordon Derner talk. A few years later, while visiting Adelphi, I ran into Derner. He remembered me—and by 1974 I had joined the faculty.”

Making Lasting Connections

For Dr. Mendelsohn, teaching gives him meaning and purpose, and keeps him young. “I’ve taught for so many years and am supposed to be an expert,” he confessed. “Yet I continue to learn from my students.

“My whole family is Derner: My wife, Robin, is a psychologist; my daughter went to Emory University and then to Derner for her PhD. When my wife and mother-in-law stood when she was hooded as she received her degree, it was very moving.”

In addition to Freudian Thought for the Contemporary Clinician and Case Formulation in Contemporary Psychotherapy, Dr. Mendelsohn is the author of . Yet his Adelphi students aren’t the only ones reading his books: Many of his former doctoral students are themselves teaching with them.

“A doctoral graduate who is practicing in a Black North Philadelphia neighborhood called to tell me that he had thought of something I’d said 15 years ago in class,” he reported. “If I can make that kind of connection to others, from my teaching and mentoring, it feels like I have the kind of influence that will make a difference and be around after I’m gone.”

The post Walking a Mile in Freud’s Shoes: Psychology Professor Continues to Make a Case for Freud’s Enduring Relevance appeared first on ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.

Each has her own area of expertise. Dr. Cowan focuses on cognitive neuroscience of memory. Dr. Freetly Porter emphasizes cultural ruptures, cultural humility and reducing racial/ethnic disparities in psychotherapy outcomes, as well as gender-based violence and institutional violence prevention. And the focus for Dr. Gershy Tsahor is the cognitive and emotional processes underlying parenting and the parents’ role in the digital media world.

Here they describe their research specializations, why they came to Derner, what they’re teaching and what they’re looking forward to.

Emily Cowan, PhD, Assistant Professor

Dr. Cowan received her BA from Skidmore College, her doctorate from New York University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Temple University. She said her research is focused on the cognitive neuroscience of memory.

“More specifically, I study how our everyday experiences are translated into memories we can hold onto for days, months and years,” she said. “We rely on our ability to remember the past to adaptively guide our behaviors in the present; yet we can’t possibly remember everything we experience in a day.”

Dr. Cowan said she studies how aspects of learning—the timing and repetition of our experiences and our motivations and goals—impact what we remember, as well as how the brain stabilizes and transforms these new memories to be retained for the long term.

She said that every aspect of her time in the “vibrant community in Derner and at Adelphi has so far been a joy, from teaching students in the classroom, to setting up my research program and getting to know everyone in the department.”

She added: “I am also mentoring a student through the Emerging Scholars Program, as well as two undergraduate research assistants who already joined my lab. I feel so lucky to have a job where I get to think about and share my love for scientific ideas every day, and I’m so excited for everything to come.”

Emma Freetly Porter, PhD, Assistant Professor

Dr. Freetly Porter, who received her doctorate from the University of Denver, said her research interests include cultural ruptures, cultural humility and reducing racial/ethnic disparities in psychotherapy outcomes, as well as gender-based violence and institutional violence prevention. She also has past clinical experiences working in a variety of high-acuity settings, including with incarcerated individuals. Currently, she is teaching courses related to trauma, mental health counseling and research methods.

Dr. Freetly Porter said she was thrilled to join the Derner school.

“Specifically, I am looking forward to working with students who have diverse professional interests ranging from clinical practice and organizational practice to teaching and research,” she said. “I am also enthusiastic about joining a faculty with a rich tradition of psychotherapy research and a commitment to integrating research and practice. I am hopeful to learn from my colleagues, and I am eager for opportunities to collaborate.”

Naama Gershy Tsahor, PhD, Associate Professor

After completing her Master of Arts degree, Dr. Gershy Tsahor, a resident of Israel, was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue doctoral studies in the United States. She landed at Long Island University, Brooklyn, where she said she fell in love with relational theory and mentalization. Following her doctorate, she completed her postdoctoral training at the Yale Child Study Center where she learned about the immense power of systemic work. She returned to Israel for an academic position at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and this year came back to the United States where she said she had the privilege of joining the Derner faculty.

“I was seeking a new academic home where I could work with students who are curious, engaged and interested in both science and theory, and be part of a department that values theoretical thinking and writing alongside scientific work,” Dr. Gershy Tsahor said. “Although I have only been here for a few months, I already feel welcomed and at home in the PhD and PsyD programs. I enjoy every moment of teaching and interacting with my students—even when it’s 8:00 a.m. on a Monday.”

She said she looks forward to recruiting students to her lab, which will focus on the cognitive and emotional processes underlying parenting and the role of parents in the digital media world.

The post New Faculty Members Bring Different Perspectives to Derner appeared first on ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.

According to Dr. Brumariu, by adding hands-on, guided mentoring to the process, students can best present themselves and their strengths in their graduate school applications. “Our students make us better mentors,” she noted.

That’s precisely why—with funding from an Office of the Provost Fund the Gap grant—she and Katherine Fiori, PhD, professor and associate dean for foundational psychology and faculty involvement, have launched the new Graduate Programs at a Glance, or GOAL, program, an innovative, comprehensive, two-part mentoring program designed to help students from historically underrepresented groups—racial, ethnic and LGBTQIA+—navigate the process of applying to graduate programs in psychology and increase their odds of success.

“The GOAL program is geared primarily toward students entering their senior year,” Dr. Fiori explained. “Although the priority of this initiative is contributing to closing the gap in educational disparities and opportunities for Black and Hispanic and/or LGBTQ+ students, other students at disadvantage—including all students identifying as BIPOC, first-generation college and [students from low-income groups]—were offered the same opportunity based on availability of funding and student interest.”

A Faculty-Led Summer Workshop

This summer, 17 psychology students from underrepresented groups attended a comprehensive three-day summer program led by faculty that focused on specific topics and skills and included breakout sessions with hands-on experiences.

According to Dr. Fiori, day one included an initial overview of different graduate psychology program options and discussions on identifying and navigating the challenges of graduate applications. Day two featured a hands-on workshop where students received real-time feedback from faculty and graduate students as they worked on their CVs andĚý personal statements. And day three’s topics covered everything from recommendation letters and volunteer opportunities to GRE scheduling and mock interviews.

Dr. Brumariu noted that they received rave reviews from summer workshop attendees, who said that learning how to personalize their applications while getting feedback in real time has already enriched their graduate school preparedness.

Supporting the Success of Students From Underrepresented Groups

The second part of the GOAL program will continue in the fall, when students will work with faculty mentors to finalize and complete their applications.

The professors hope that some of the GOAL participants will continue their education at Derner. “Our undergraduate students are terrific,” said Dr. Brumariu, “and probably many of those participating would find that our programs provide outstanding training. “

Both she and Dr. Fiori believe in the potential of GOAL to increase the success of graduate school applicants from underrepresented groups—who would ultimately earn degrees and embark on meaningful careers.

“The field of psychology grapples with the issue of diverse representation, and psychology as a discipline does not necessarily reflect the diversity of the individuals that psychologists serve,” said Dr. Fiori. “We hope this program can start to change that.”

The post Scoring a GOAL Toward Earning an Advanced Degree: Pilot Program Offers a Crash Course in Crafting Winning Applications appeared first on ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.

In 2022, Dr. Jackson officially stepped down from his official roles, but today he remains an active member of the Adelphi community by serving each year as an adjunct clinical supervisor of a doctoral student in clinical work. He’s also scheduled to take part in a convocation panel in the fall, where he said he will discuss the emergent trend of hospital-owned medical groups buying up group psychology practices to capitalize on their profit potential.

And perhaps most significant, in December 2023, the was created by Adelphi to honor his many contributions to the training of clinical psychologists. The workshop series is supported by student, faculty and alumni donors intent on making a lasting and transformative impact on clinical psychology education at Adelphi.

Exploring New Directions in Clinical Psychology

“The impetus for the workshop series comes from the desire to supplement and complement the broad and general curricular requirements, which do not permit a breadth of student interest and input into training,” Dr. Jackson explained, “hence, a meaningfully student-instigated offering of various topics and trainings in emerging and new directions in the field.”

The new series will welcome distinguished presenters—from leading scholars and professionals to alumni practitioners—who will share new perspectives and up-to-date innovations and approaches with Adelphi students, faculty and alumni.

“We’re so lucky to have so many graduates doing interesting, viable and prominent things in the field,” he noted.

A Broad Range of Current Topics

According to Dr. Jackson, the workshops will complement the curriculum by addressing timely and specific topics, such as the use of ketamine and other mind-altering medicines to treat mental conditions, new approaches to substance use disorders, the role of mindfulness and spirituality in mental health, the role of psychologists in advocacy for marginalized groups, and new models of professional service delivery such as group practices.

“It will also put a spotlight on how many pathways there are to specialized careers in clinical psychology,” he said. “More than we ever imagined are emerging every day.”

The first workshops, which are slated to begin in the Spring 2025 semester, will include lectures and discussions, as well as topic-related activities and training.

Dr. Jackson stressed that many graduates who have become prominent in the field of clinical psychology have provided training opportunities for current students. The workshops are certain to offer ample—and fruitful—opportunities for students and alumni alike to network with scholar and practitioner presenters.

Help enrich Derner clinical psychology students’ educational experience by adding your support to the .

The post Honoring a Legacy, Looking Forward: Introducing the Jonathan Jackson Endowed Clinical Psychology Workshop Series appeared first on ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.

Celentano, who was one of the first in his family to attend college, decided to take action. He created the College Rise program, a new mentoring initiative that helps high school students from underrepresented communities prepare for college. Attracting dozens of Adelphi students and faculty members as volunteers, the program is subsidized by a private grant.

College Rise is only Celentano’s most recent effort to increase access to college education and promote diversity, both of which are central to Adelphi’s Momentum 2 strategic plan.

The chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Council at the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business since 2020, he notably teamed with associate professor of finance and economics David Machlis, PhD, to launch the Two Museums Program, designed to increase understanding between Black and Jewish students at Adelphi. His commitment to bringing about change won him a 2024 Diversity in Business Award from Long Island Business News.

Supporting the next generation of scholars

College Rise launched in February 2023 in partnership with Long Island’s Uniondale High School, where 15 to 20 students participated in a weekly mentorship program run by Adelphi volunteers certified in mentoring by New York state.

Danaid Sinani, a sophomore majoring in computer science, was one of the mentors whose own experience drew him to the program.

“I joined the College Rise program as a mentor primarily because of my challenges as a high school senior evaluating college options,” Sinani said. “Understanding the complexity and significance of this decision, I was inspired to assist students in navigating their choices, drawing on my own personal journey.”

“Our mentors would answer students’ questions about the college application process and college culture,’” Celentano said. “They’d also join in on their after-school programs, where students were learning about things like goal setting and mental health. We’d give the students encouragement and participate in any way we could.”

The high school students were also invited to take a 1-credit college business course, Financial Literacy for Life.

“Essentially, we helped them get started on their college career while they’re still in high school,” Celentano said. “We taught them about everything from opening bank accounts and borrowing money for college to leasing a car and saving for retirement.”

College Rise participants even spent a day of the five-week course touring the Adelphi campus and attending a few educational sessions with professors.

“The students were just awed by what they saw,” Celentano said. “When they saw the Performing Arts Center, the gymnasium and the pool, the labs—everything that a college campus has—they were just flabbergasted. Many of them don’t know that this world exists because they don’t have anyone in their life who is talking to them about it.”

After completing its first year in April 2024, College Rise has already made an impact on students’ lives.

“The first time I went to Adelphi, I heard Mr. Gupta talking about finance,” one student said, referring to Rakesh C. Gupta, associate professor of decision sciences and marketing. “I really liked the course and how everyone welcomed us at the University. I’m getting more knowledge and I would definitely recommend the program to any other student.”

Creating a national model for other universities

Going forward, Celentano hopes to promote College Rise nationwide at educational conferences, providing a model for other universities to mentor and recruit students from underrepresented populations. As for the coming year, he looks forward to continuing the program with Uniondale High School and expanding to partner with other schools in the Long Island area.

“We’ll bring new Adelphi faculty and students to these schools and, ideally, do this on an annual basis,” Celentano said. “We’re there to show students that they have a support system outside of their high school, and that it resides at ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.”

The post Helping High School Students Rise to the Next Level appeared first on ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.

“I loved it,” she said. “The students were terrific—their engagement, their curiosity, their questions. They were always hanging around after my lectures, asking questions or seeking career advice. I offered my LinkedIn information, and many took me up on that. Several faculty members sat in, and they had questions, too. They said I promoted their thinking in a different way—that I was bringing the real world into the classroom.”

As executive in residence, Zawisza was a lecturer in the School’s Insights from Experts program, spoke in graduate and undergraduate classes, provided research advice to faculty, mentored students in career planning, and assisted with the Elizabeth and Allen Don Center for Innovative Technology and Decision Sciences.

Paying Adelphi Back for Her Career Growth and Success

“My education at Adelphi was instrumental in my career growth and success,” she said. “I really enjoyed giving back to the students and the Willumstad School of Business. Dean MaryAnne Hyland [PhD] has been very helpful. She strongly encouraged me to share my knowledge of data analytics, so I did a lecture series on how data analytics has reshaped business. I have also spoken about ethics, career planning, leadership and other topics.”

Following her graduation from Adelphi with a degree in management, Zawisza spent the first 18 years of her career on Aetna’s technology leadership team before moving to PwC Consulting. After two years at PwC, she transitioned back into the insurance field as senior vice president and chief information officer with The Phoenix Companies, then at The Travelers Indemnity Company, where she was senior vice president and chief information officer for its claims services division.

For the past four years, Zawisza has been a leadership team member at Datos Insights, where she currently serves as a senior principal for the firm’s insurance practice. At Datos, she advises insurance and technology C-suite executives on trends and opportunities.

A data-driven career seemed like a natural for Zawisza—her father was an accountant for the federal government, and her mother was a supervisor at an insurance company—but Adelphi offered more than academics to prepare her to be the confident business leader she is today.

Bonding and Connecting at Adelphi Built Self-Confidence

“I was a very shy person and terrified of speaking in public,” she said. “Adelphi was so inclusive that it broke down those barriers. Bonding with my professors and connecting with other students was very important to me. It built my self-confidence and helped me explore new areas, such as technology, where there were very few women at the time.”

The connections Zawisza made at Adelphi have remained strong throughout her career.

“I became president of the Adelphi chapter of Delta Mu Delta, the international business honor society, because the previous president (William Fuessler ’79) who was one year ahead of me, suggested that I succeed him. I never would have had that opportunity at a bigger school. Our paths crossed again during our careers, and today he is on Adelphi’s board of trustees.”

As she prepared to graduate from Adelphi, Zawisza was offered a job in finance, but in her last semester she had taken a programming class and really liked it. As a result, she took a job as a programmer at Aetna. Always a hard worker, she did well and kept doing well.Ěý

How Hard Work and Mentoring Paid Off

“I worked there for nine years before being given my first management role; from there on, my responsibilities grew,” she said. “Insurance then was still heavily male dominated. It’s very different now, although it’s still a struggle for women in STEM leadership—we’re not graduating at nearly the rate of our male counterparts.”

Zawisza said one of the most important lessons she has learned is strengthening teams with a shared vision.

“One of the leaders I worked for—and I think about this often—told me that I see things that other people don’t see,” she said. “That’s very good, but as a leader, you must think about what others don’t see so you can help them move in a certain direction. Understanding that has had a tremendous impact on my career, so I try to pass it along. Lessons liked that from the great people I have worked for have helped me grow and develop and become a better person and better leader myself.”

The post Executive in Residence for the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business Shares Her Journey appeared first on ĚěĂŔ´ŤĂ˝.