I am thrilled to share some exciting news about one of our distinguished alumni who is making an incredible impact in our community. The Adelphi University Board of Trustees appointed Leonard C. Achan ‘99, MA, RN, ANP, as our new board chair following a special meeting in July, taking over from Trustee William Fuessler ’79, who stepped up as acting chair for the past five months.

Chair Achan’s story truly embodies the Adelphi spirit. A proud first-generation American born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, he began his professional journey right here on our campus, earning his bachelor’s degree in nursing. Like so many of his fellow nursing alumni, Chair Achan started his career at the bedside as a medical ICU nurse and adult acute care nurse practitioner—an experience that deeply informed his compassionate approach to leadership as he became an accomplished healthcare executive and community and business leader.

Today, Chair Achan serves as president and CEO of LiveOnNY. He previously served as the inaugural president of the Innovation Institute at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) after serving as their chief innovation officer. Prior to that, he led major executive initiatives across several roles at the Mount Sinai Health System and served as senior associate dean for global communications, branding, and reputation at the Icahn School of Medicine. As co-founder and chairman of Quality Reviews Inc., he built a digital health platform deployed in more than 150 hospitals, elevating the care experience for more than 30 million patients nationwide.

Throughout his career, Chair Achan’s devotion to Adelphi has never wavered. While serving for more than a decade as a trustee, including five years as a board officer, he has consistently invested back into our campus—returning to lecture, establishing two endowed scholarships, and founding the Achan Family Interfaith Center.

Having worked with him during my time on the board and in our recent conversations, I have seen his razor-sharp mind, energy, and deep passion for our university firsthand. He is a shining example of our strength in producing leaders in nursing, health care and business. I have the utmost confidence that his ambition and commitment to higher education will continue to drive Adelphi forward.

I also want to thank Trustee Fuessler for his steady leadership of the board. His partnership with our senior leaders helped maintain our standard of excellence during an important time of transition at Adelphi. As one of our longest-tenured trustees and someone who has built a family legacy here, it came as no surprise that he approached this responsibility with great care. His ongoing service on the board will continue to benefit our University and serve as a trusted resource for our new chair.

Please join me in celebrating Chair Achan and thanking Trustee Fuessler for their outstanding service to the University.

Warm regards,

Michael Balboni ’81, JD
President

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Led by founder Dr. David Machlis and Program Director Professor Joseph Celentano, the program brought students to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Through museum experiences, expert-led discussions, and survivor testimony, participants explored the Holocaust, antisemitism, the Civil Rights Movement, and other historical examples of prejudice and discrimination.

A highlight of the program was hearing from 97-year-old Holocaust survivor Peter Feigl, whose personal story reinforced the importance of preserving memory and confronting hatred in all its forms. Students also examined the historical connections between Black and Jewish communities and reflected on the role of leadership in building understanding across differences.

“This is not a one-and-done event,” Dr. Machlis told participants. “You will be the boots on the ground at your university, in your community, and wherever you might go to combat hatred, intolerance, racism, and antisemitism.”

Upon completion, participants received a Certificate in Ethical Leadership from the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. According to Professor Celentano, the program’s impact is evident in the way students engage with difficult histories and develop the skills needed to lead with empathy, integrity, and purpose. “The Two Museums Program Empowers Students to Lead Against Hatred and Intolerance.

Originally launched in 2023 At Adelphi and expanded nationally in 2026, the Two Museums Program has become a model for experiential learning, combining academic rigor, civic engagement, and leadership development. As students return to their campuses and communities, they carry forward the program’s mission: to transform historical understanding into meaningful action and become leaders who build bridges across divides.

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These recognitions highlight Adelphi’s ongoing dedication to student success, transformative academic programs and exceptional institutional value.

Adelphi joins just 392 higher education institutions among nearly 6,000 in the United States recognized nationwide in recently published annual guide. The Princeton Review evaluates colleges based on academic offerings, campus life, student experiences and overall educational outcomes.

In addition to this ranking, Adelphi’s Robert B. Willumstad School of Business was featured on The Princeton Review’s 2026 list of Best Business Schools, and the University has been consistently included in its regional rankings.

Adelphi also earned a spot on of 500 top colleges and universities across the nation. Created in collaboration with global data firm , the ranking measures higher education institutions based on key metrics surrounding student achievement, postgraduation trajectory and institutional distinction.

“These rankings affirm what’s at the heart of Adelphi: a faculty deeply committed to student success and academic programs designed to prepare students for meaningful careers and lives,” said Christopher Storm, PhD, provost and senior executive vice president of academic affairs. “Our recognition by both The Princeton Review and Time reflects the strength of an Adelphi education—grounded in real outcomes. We remain focused on ensuring every student receives an exceptional education and the support they need to succeed, both in the classroom and beyond.”

Learn more about Adelphi University’s prestigious academic programs and global, national and programmatic rankings and recognitions.

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Research is a foundation of the undergraduate experience at Adelphi. It is promoted by the University’s SPARK Center and Innovation Center, the annual Scholarship and Creative Works Conference (known as Research Day) as well as numerous summer internship programs. To further facilitate research, Adelphi has also developed partnerships with businesses and organizations that offer research opportunities and internships at various facilities, allowing students to advance their skills, discover potential careers and enhance their résumés.

One of Adelphi’s premier partners is . Located on Long Island, Brookhaven’s 5,300-acre campus contains several large facilities devoted to research in nuclear and high-energy physics, environmental and bioscience, and energy science and technology. The lab has racked up numerous achievements over the years, including seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries and 37 R&D 100 Awards.

As a science partner of the University, Brookhaven has welcomed many Adelphi students as interns over the years. This summer, two Adelphi physics majors—current seniors Michael Ishal and Carolina Guekjian—earned internships to conduct scientific research there. Both explored new frontiers in imaging.

Doing Research in AI and Computational Imaging

Michael Ishal, who is majoring in physics, still remembers what drew him to Adelphi. “There was a day dedicated to students who were considering Adelphi physics, where we could talk with physics professors and learn from them,” he recalled. “Additionally, we were able to sit in on classes as well. The physics professors were full of energy, and they were truly excited to teach. They encouraged curiosity and challenged students to think critically.”

One of those professors was Kevin Liang, PhD, an associate professor in the department, who had been discussing a concept that day known as Rayleigh’s criterion. Little did Ishal know, three years into his Adelphi career, he and Dr. Liang would work together on research related to Rayleigh’s criterion and would prepare a publication based on that very research.

Ishal tackled other research opportunities at Brookhaven National Laboratory when he enrolled last academic year in a (WDSE) mini-semester program. There, he and his fellow students toured the scientific facilities and observed research projects while interacting with world-class scientists and engineers. One of those research projects, conducted by David Park, PhD, attracted Ishal’s interest. “After asking him if he was accepting interns, Dr. Park asked me to check out some of his publications,” he explained, “and then send him an email discussing my research more in depth.” Ishal sent an email that night. The day after, when the mini-semester ended, Ishal received an internship offer .

Ishal’s internship experience was related to research he had done at Adelphi on flaws in lenses or mirrors that distort images, also known as optical aberrations. Working in Brookhaven’s Computing and Data Sciences department, he focused on AI and computational imaging, testing neural network-based methods to detect whether images are degraded by optical aberrations. Dr. Park assisted him in this research, serving as his mentor.

“The experience taught me the importance of both collaboration and independence, expanding your domain of knowledge through literature searches, and how research can lead to valuable, unexpected results,” Ishal said. “Working with talented researchers strengthened my skills in machine learning, data analysis and AI research, which gave me a strong foundation as I continue my education and pursue future career opportunities.”

Doing Research That May Help Transform Medicine

Heading into college, Carolina Guekjian knew that she wanted to major in physics. “I saw all the possibilities of how physics can make incredible impacts on our future,” she said. “I wanted to be one of the ones that contribute to it.” The challenge now was figuring out where to pursue this field of study. “I spoke to previous Adelphi students who praised the professors and how they truly care about their students,” Guekjian said. “As I toured the physics department, I learned about all the interesting things that I would be learning.”

As a physics major, Guekjian has been involved in academic research since her first year. She worked closely with Sean Bentley, PhD, an associate professor in the department, researching a strange physical phenomenon known as quantum entanglement. She later had the opportunity to tour Brookhaven, where she learned about the lab’s research in that area. Intrigued, Guekjian decided to pursue an internship opportunity related to that research. She was accepted.

As an intern, Guekjian was able to observe experiments in quantum entanglement conducted through the , which allows researchers to study materials with nanoscale resolution. She also had the opportunity to see the inside of the detectors used at the , as Brookhaven began dismantling equipment and preparing for the transition to the .

Guekjian also, of course, continued her own research at Brookhaven, investigating quantum entanglement’s ability to produce images at a spectacularly high level of resolution. The technology has the potential to transform medical imaging, enabling it to discover diseases at their earliest stages.

Her research has been going well—so well, in fact, that she was offered the opportunity to extend her internship into the school year and continue her work at Brookhaven.

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• Weekend Service Resumes: Saturday, August 22, 2026
• Fall Weekday Schedule Begins: Monday, August 24, 2026
• Mondays to Thursdays: Runs nightly until 10:15 p.m.
• Fridays: Runs until 9:00 p.m.
• Labor Day Closure: The Panther Express Shuttle will not operate on Monday, September 7, 2026, when the University is closed in observance of the holiday.

Mineola LIRR – Adelphi Shuttle Stop Relocation

Starting Monday, August 24, 2026, the Adelphi shuttle pick-up and drop-off location at the Mineola Train Station will change due to ongoing construction:

• Current Location (Ending August 23, 2026): 3rd Avenue and Station Road (by the south eastbound railroad tracks / “LIRR Pick-ups” sign)
• New Location (Starting August 24, 2026): 4th Avenue and Station Road (next to the south platform eastbound railroad tracks)

See the Panther Express Shuttle Schedules for the most current schedule, which is regularly reviewed and updated.

If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Safety and Transportation directly at 516.877.3500 or by email at askpublicsafety@adelphi.edu.

We wish our Adelphi community a great fall semester!

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Attendees will join Jodi Ekberg, dog trainer and administrator for The Empire State Snow Dog Club, along with her certified therapy dogs, for an engaging program focused on the unique comfort and support that canine companions can provide. Angela Papalia, LMSW, Assistant Director of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program, will join Jodi in discussing how therapy and social workers can assist people who are navigating a breast cancer diagnosis.

“A breast cancer diagnosis can bring uncertainty, stress, and a wide range of emotions, and sometimes comfort can come from the most unexpected places,” said Angela M. Papalia, LMSW, Assistant Director of the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program. “This special program provides participants an opportunity to interact with two certified therapy dogs, while learning more about supportive services available from the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program.”

“Comfort and Connection with Canines” will offer participants an opportunity to interact one-on-one with the onsite therapy dogs while learning how they can reduce stress and provide comfort throughout the breast cancer experience.

For any questions, please contact the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program at breastcancerhotline@adelphi.edu or Angela Papalia at 516.877.4329.

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“I want to inspire people to take charge of their own lives and make the world a better place.”

That’s how Afra Masud describes her purpose. It’s a purpose that has guided her experience as a student leader at Adelphi, a podcaster and writer, and as a successful nominee for a prestigious from Campus Compact.

As one of this year’s fellows, she will be able to connect with other student leaders from colleges and universities across the country. She’ll attend an in-person Convening of Fellows, take part in virtual events and work with a mentor to further develop her leadership skills. She’ll also have opportunities to present or publish work through Campus Compact.

For Masud, the fellowship is “an opportunity to learn more about the world and connect with like-minded individuals who want to change the world for the better. I’m looking forward to the many leadership opportunities that come with the program.”

Masud gets around campus in an electric wheelchair, undeterred by the rare genetic disorder osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, which causes her bones to deform and break easily. “My disability has never been a problem for me academically,” she said. “But socially, physically and emotionally, it has always been a struggle. Despite all of this, I’ve never seen my disability as a burden or an obstacle. It’s one of my many superpowers.

“It motivates me to make the world a better place, and reminds me to take care of myself and others,” she added. “Ultimately, my disability is the reason I’m able to do so much. It gives me perspective, hope, courage and a lot of empathy.”

A Voice for the Silenced

The Queens native’s journey as a Panther is fueled by her inherent understanding of others that she has gained through her own experience as a Muslim woman in a wheelchair. She started her podcast drama, The Ugly Princess, in order to be a “voice for those of us who have been silenced and to speak for the voiceless,” she has said.

Masud’s short story “Our Fallen Stars” was published this year in issue. “I wrote about a girl who was named after a star [because] her parents wanted a child who would illuminate the world,” she explained. “This is what a voice can do. Armed with education and love, I aspire to do just that.”

A Campus Leader, a Global Scholar

Masud also met the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult at the Writers & Readers Festival.

From the start at Adelphi, she has exhibited a commitment to leadership, community engagement and service, and academic excellence as a sociology major and psychology minor.

“Sociology and psychology are fields about people—how our world works and who we become as individuals are explained in many ways through both fields of study,” she explained.

“One thing that fascinates me the most is what makes a human being so complex and multifaceted,” she added. “This combination has allowed me to get more answers and find more questions about this topic.”

While she has presented the results of a research project on societal reactions to people with antisocial personality disorders and psychopathy at Adelphi’s Scholarship and Creative Works Conference, she also explores arts such as filmmaking, sculpture and storytelling.

A student leader, Masud is the secretary of Adelphi’s Levermore Global Scholars (LGS) program, which prepares students for leadership roles as global thinkers.

“The thing I value most about LGS is the way it has enriched my college experience,” she said. “The classes that I took for the program have truly changed my life and the way I think about the world. It’s a great experience and a big key to why I love my journey as a Panther so far.”

She has also worked at Adelphi’s Innovation Center as an ambassador supporting fellow students’ academic success, and has served as an Office of University Admissions event assistant.

Looking Ahead to a Career Helping Others

“Adelphi has taught me a lot about independence and what it means to act on your own values and morals,” Masud said. “I’ve done many things that I never thought I would do before, and I’ve learned how to do many things by myself that I didn’t know how to do two years ago. I believe that I have become more grounded and more able to appreciate the world that I live in.”

It’s a world full of possibilities. “I want to do many things after I graduate,” she said. “I want to go to grad school and become a psychologist. I want to give TED talks. I want to write books about humans and how we make our own world without really realizing it.”

As a Newman Civic Fellow, Masud will be well on her way to honing the leadership skills that will help her meet those goals—now and in the years ahead.

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Moving Beyond “Check-the-Box” Corporate Responsibility

Both Ledecky and McCarthy have witnessed the role of corporate responsibility change dramatically in recent years. What was once often treated as philanthropy—or worse, a public relations exercise—has become a test of an organization’s values and leadership. McCarthy cautioned against companies that simply “check the box,” recalling one organization that touted a $1 million charitable initiative to plant saplings in the Amazon rainforest, then spent a whopping $25 million promoting the effort. The imbalance, he suggested, illustrates the difference between meaningful action and marketing.

Ledecky sees an even greater responsibility for sports organizations, whose growing visibility gives them a powerful platform. A team can strengthen its community while also building a profitable organization. As McCarthy put it, “Doing well and doing good are not mutually exclusive.”

The distinction, both men argued, lies in whether social responsibility sits on the sidelines or becomes part of how an organization operates every day. For the Islanders, that commitment is built into the rhythm of the season. Take “” as an example. At each home game, a nonprofit organization is given the opportunity to raise funds and share its mission.

Sustaining this commitment is essential. Ledecky rejected a “one-and-done” approach to community engagement, sharing the story of Colin Moon, the son of a fallen firefighter. The Islanders have taken Moon under their wing, welcoming him back each year to the owners’ box for his birthday. Relationships like these, Ledecky suggested, are what make ownership meaningful. “It’s satisfying to have the resources, venue and platform to do good in the community,” he said.

Why Ethical Leadership Matters

Embedding the values of corporate social responsibility into an organization requires leaders willing to protect them—particularly when short-term pressures pull in another direction. McCarthy framed leadership in simple terms: “When you’re a CEO or you’re a leader, you have the power to serve.” Ledecky described that responsibility as stewardship, noting that team owners are temporary caretakers of institutions that belong, in a larger sense, to their communities. He recalled how former Islanders owner Charles Wang carefully considered who would be the right steward of the franchise when selecting its next ownership group—a responsibility Ledecky hopes to carry forward one day.

The Future of Corporate Social Responsibility

Looking ahead, both speakers pointed toward a model of corporate responsibility that is more authentic and more deeply integrated into organizational strategy. One-time gestures and well-publicized donations will carry less weight than measurable impact and long-term relationships. For organizations with significant visibility, that also means using their platforms more intentionally, creating opportunities to turn awareness into action.

Ledecky also sees service becoming increasingly valuable at the individual level. His advice to students was straightforward: Find an organization “near and dear to your heart” and get involved. In a stack of 50 résumés, he said, the candidate who has stepped outside of themselves to serve others stands apart.

Adelphi University’s Legacy of Social Responsibility

Adelphi University has long turned out graduates with the skills needed to thrive professionally. Notably, these students place high value on being active, engaged citizens—making their mark within their organizations, their communities and the world at large. This is the result of a deliberate commitment to social responsibility and ethical leadership that is organically woven into the very fabric of how the University teaches, leads and serves.

At the Adelphi University Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, the conversation around ethics is hardly new. Since the school’s founding in 1964, ethical practices have been a cornerstone of its approach to business education. In recent years, expectations of corporations have shifted, and so, too, has the conversation—expanding into a broader, more intentional focus on corporate social responsibility and the role organizations play in strengthening communities.

In 2003, a gift from the late Amy Hagedorn ’05 (Hon.) and the late Horace Hagedorn ’01 (Hon.), founder of Miracle-Gro, was used to establish the annual Hagedorn Lecture Series on Corporate Social Responsibility. Since then, the series has brought prominent leaders to Adelphi University to examine how businesses can balance the push and pull of profit and purpose.

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Key Takeaways

• Adelphi’s Willumstad School of Business placed 120 students in internships in the 2025-2026 academic year.
• ����ֱ�� 85% of internship positions are paid—ranging from minimum wage up to $30/hour for accounting students.
• Willumstad students have interned at major employers including KPMG, PwC, Morgan Stanley, NBC, and Universal.
• Beyond technical skills, internships build critical thinking and interpersonal skills—and teach students how to use AI responsibly in professional settings.

Why Internships Matter More Than Ever

“Gaining that hands-on experience separates a student from everyone else, and really sets them up for success,” said John Marimuthu, internship director for the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. “You become more marketable when you have the ability to showcase what you’ve done somewhere else.” In his position, Marimuthu serves as a matchmaker between employers and students, curating a database of companies with a positive track record of employing Adelphi students, and coaching students through every step of the application process.

By the Numbers: Internship Outcomes at Willumstad

Marimuthu helped to place 120 students in internships in just the most recent academic year. Accounting students have worked for the likes of KPMG and PwC; finance students have interned at Morgan Stanley; and management majors have worked at Leviton and JP Morgan Chase—to name just a few of the dozens of companies employing Willumstad undergrads. In a unique partnership, some students have even gone to Croatia to work with marketing firm Atlantic Grupa, conducting market research for major hotel and restaurant brands across Europe. Closer to home, interns have worked with Long Island hair salon chain Willows Cove, helping design and execute a social media strategy.

Some 85 percent of the positions are paid, Marimuthu says, many for minimum wage, but some for significantly higher—starting at $17/hour for management students and up to $30/hour for accounting students. In their positions, students are often getting their hands dirty, working on projects directly related to company priorities. “Working on projects in the classroom is totally different than applying those skills in the real world,” says Raghida Abdallah Yassine, PhD, assistant professor of management at Willumstad. “We give them basics, but it’s not customized specifically to a company’s needs.” In addition to practical techniques, they are also learning critical thinking and how to interact personally with colleagues, Dr. Yassine said. “When you do an internship, it’s not just technical skills, but also softer skills that get enhanced.”

Importantly, she said, they also learn how to use—and not use—AI in the workplace. “We keep telling them, don’t over-rely on AI, you still have to use your thinking skills,” said Dr. Yassine. “In an internship, you realize the effect of that, when you are in a meeting and you can’t say, ‘Wait a minute, let me see what AI can tell me.’ You have to interact and come up with a solution in real time.”

Real Student Success Stories

Those interpersonal dynamics have been the biggest takeaway for senior finance major Matias Hoyos, who interned at an infrastructure company in Colombia after his first year and at Quantum Strategy Partners, a small private credit firm on Wall Street, for the last two summers. “Working directly with clients has taught me how to communicate clearly, ask the right questions and adjust my approach depending on a person or situation,” said Hoyos, who has already secured an internship this fall with Flynn Zito Capital Management.

Recent graduate Kyle Stephenson ’26 worked last spring as a marketing intern for The Garden City Hotel in Garden City, New York, helping create and schedule social media content for hotel and on-site restaurants. “The value of an internship cannot be overstated,” he said. “It provides real-world experience that prepares students for the workplace in the way the classroom cannot.” He should know—after graduation, the hotel offered him a full-time job.

Expert Tips for Landing an Internship

For students interested in internships during their time at Adelphi, Marimuthu offers the following advice:

Start Early

The time to prepare your résumé and cover letter is well in advance of applying for your first internship. Marimuthu’s office introduces students to the Willumstad Winning Edge program as early as their first year to create a standardized résumé and cover letter that can be adapted to different positions.

Take Assistance From AI

Marimuthu encourages students to run their résumés and cover letter through ChatGPT or Gemini to help polish them. He also helps them tailor their approaches to positions based on what AI applicant screening software is looking for. “If the job description has the word ‘professionalism’ three times, then the résumé needs to say that as well,” he said. “Through little tips and tricks like this, we’ve been able to show students how to leverage AI to their advantage.”

Interview Prep Is Key

Oftentimes, said Marimuthu, it’s the intangible qualities that come out in an interview that tip the balance in an applicant’s favor. The internship office offers students mock interviews to practice how to present themselves both professionally and personably. “So many times I’ve heard from hiring managers that the reason they went with someone is because of their personality,” Marimuthu said. “They want to know that the student is going to fit in.”

In addition to that practical advice, Marimuthu and his colleagues—alongside Adelphi’s Center for Career and Professional Development—offer students career guidance and coaching, helping them discover the kind of jobs they can get with their degree. “Those are some of the best conversations we have, because it goes beyond just ‘I need to get my résumé done,’ to looking at ‘This is what I’m interested in, share with me what I’m not seeing yet.’”

Through this variety of approaches, the internship office has developed a solid track record of placing students with companies during their time at Adelphi, which in turn has helped them after graduation get one step closer to their dream job.

If you are interested in offering an internship to Adelphi students, please send an email to John Marimuthu at jmarimuthu@adelphi.edu to set up a conversation.

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