This annual, prestigious award is a measure of an institution’s individual programs and initiatives that significantly advance core values of student and employee mental health and well-being through programs, initiatives and other campus priorities deserving of this national recognition.

Adelphi will be featured, along with 37 other selected colleges, in the September 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.

“The culture of care we have built at Adelphi goes far beyond academic and professional development—it requires fostering a community that recognizes the mental health challenges students face and actively supports them at every level,” said Adelphi University President Michael Balboni ’81, JD. “This proud honor from Insight Into Academia reflects the ongoing work and dedication of our care teams to provide accessible mental health resources and wellness initiatives, which will continue to be a focus on our campus.”

Expanding Campus Mental Health and Student Wellness Services

Insight Into Academia magazine selected Adelphi because of its leadership in providing outlets for rest, well-being and self-care, including the University’s Mindfulness Center. Opened in 2022, the center not only provides a quiet refuge on campus for all community members, it also offers programming such as guided meditation, yoga classes and annual wellness retreats. The center also serves as a training ground for the Keys to Well-Being Certificate for employees.

Adelphi offers comprehensive counseling services for students navigating psychological, behavioral or learning challenges at all campus locations. Support is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with both scheduled appointments and walk-in crisis counseling. Offerings include individual and group therapy, substance education, wellness workshops and resource referrals.

The Achan Family Interfaith Center supports spiritual life at Adelphi by creating spaces for worship, fellowship and open dialogue across different traditions. The center fosters an inclusive campus community where students can explore their values, share their religious practices and connect with peers.

“We know that institutions are not always recognized for their dedication to and prioritizing mental health and well-being services and support for their students and employees,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “We are proud to honor the colleges and universities who are standouts as the need for these resources continues to grow substantially.”

For more information about the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award, visit .

����ֱ�� Adelphi: A modern metropolitan university with a personalized approach to higher learning

Adelphi University, New York, is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university dedicated to transforming students’ lives through small classes with world-class faculty, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support academic and career success. U.S. News & World Report named Adelphi a 2026 Best National University, Best College for Veterans and Top Performer in Social Mobility. In addition, Forbes has ranked Adelphi the top private university on Long Island for three past three years.

Adelphi serves more than 7,300 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, New York—just 23 miles from New York City’s cultural and internship opportunities—and at dynamic learning hubs in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, as well as online.

More than 125,000 alumni Adelphi graduates have gained the skills to thrive professionally as active, engaged citizens, making their mark on the University, their communities and the world.

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As an executive function coach in Adelphi University’s Learning Resource Program, with my colleague Erin Truesdell, a senior clinical educator and adjunct professor, I have a unique approach to helping first-year students navigate their initial steps on campus. Together, we guide them to find inspiration with the help of a canine professor named Echo.

For our newest students, I think walking onto campus for the first time causes the same uncertainty that a dog feels when it steps into an unfamiliar dog park. The environment is overwhelming, the social dynamics are entirely new, and everyone is trying to figure out exactly where they fit in. Finding your footing in this transition requires adaptability, resilience and, above all, a willingness to connect.

When you break it down, the skills required to understand a canine companion are identical to the executive functioning skills first-year students need to thrive on a college campus:

• Reading the Room (Nonverbal Cues): Dogs communicate almost entirely through posture, energy and subtle micro-expressions. Similarly, walking into a lecture hall, a bustling dorm lounge or a professor’s office requires new students to develop a keen sense of situational awareness and social attunement.
• Building Trust Over Time: A dog does not offer its trust overnight; earning it requires consistency, patience and clear boundaries. Navigating early college friendships and professional relationships with faculty follows this exact same trajectory.
• Co-Regulation and Stress Management: The human-canine bond is famous for its biological benefits—lowering cortisol levels while boosting oxytocin. We leverage this behavioral concept to teach students how to manage the intense anxiety of their first semester, using the grounding nature of the human-animal bond as a framework for active self-care.

Launching a First-Year Seminar on the Human-Canine Connection

The human-canine bond has real biological benefits; it lowers cortisol levels and boosts oxytocin.

Inspired by the many lessons Echo has taught us, we took our approach to a new academic level and launched a first-year seminar dedicated to the human-canine connection.

This course is one of 46 engaging first-year seminar options at Adelphi—ranging from Becoming Human and The Psychology of Happiness to The Politics of Immigration. These seminars offer a vital space for students to explore new ideas and engage in dialogue with professors and peers, and most students must complete one to graduate. The first-year seminar is part of Adelphi’s general education requirements, or PATH (Preparation, Awareness, Transformation, Hands-On Learning).

Bringing this particular course to life is Echo, a gentle and beautiful black Labrador retriever. Echo’s presence completely transforms the traditionally rigid college classroom into a warm, low-stress sanctuary. For an anxious first-year student, walking into a room and being greeted by a calm, accepting dog instantly lowers defenses. The dog acts as a living, breathing teaching assistant, offering students a real-time lesson in emotional co-regulation and providing a comforting touch of home just when the student needs it most.

Executive Functioning on Both Ends of the Leash

Echo is a welcome sight around campus; here she is at a fund-raising event for the Panther Pantry.

In our course, we teach students that training or understanding a dog demands working memory, emotional control, cognitive flexibility and sustained attention—the very definition of executive functioning in humans and canines alike.

The co-evolution of humans and dogs is a master class in behavioral adaptation. For thousands of years, two completely different species have learned to read each other’s body language, build trust from scratch and form mutually beneficial partnerships. By analyzing how dogs and humans successfully formed one of history’s greatest partnerships, and watching those dynamics play out with Echo in the classroom, students learn how to take active control of their own schedules, emotional health and social lives.

For New Students, a Lesson From Echo

According to executive function coach Tullo, “Echo’s presence completely transforms the traditionally rigid college classroom into a warm, low-stress sanctuary.”

Ultimately, this first-year seminar is a reminder to our newest students that the journey of higher education is not a path they have to walk alone. Success in college—much like building a bond with a trusted companion—does not happen overnight. It is built in the small, quiet moments of patience, open communication and the courage to reach out to someone new.

So as you navigate your own way through these unfamiliar hallways, remember the lesson Echo teaches us every single day: Hold your head high, stay calm, earn the trust of your new friends and never underestimate the power of a strong connection.

The post What Dogs Teach Us ����ֱ�� Navigating College: Meet Echo, a Canine Professor appeared first on Adelphi University.

A campus should feel like more than just a place to study—it should be a home away from home. By making our Garden City campus a safe and secure environment, Adelphi University has done just that.

Over the years, Adelphi has been consistently ranked as one of the safest colleges in both New York state and the country by reputable organizations such as and BackgroundCheck.org. But it’s not just these organizations reporting this. It’s the students, too. In past Adelphi Student Quality of Life surveys, 92 percent of students felt well-informed about how to respond to campus emergencies, while 94 percent reported feeling safe on the Garden City campus.

Safe Town, Safe Campus

Adelphi’s 75-acre campus is located in the suburb of Garden City, New York. According to local law enforcement statistics, violent crime is exceptionally rare in Garden City, falling well below both the New York state and national averages. Garden City is also ranked as one of the by several sources.

With Garden City as its backdrop, Adelphi has taken further action to ensure students’ safety at their home away from home. Adelphi maintains an emergency notification system that can quickly inform community members of any campus incidents. The University also offers an active safety and crime prevention program, including comprehensive safety training. Additionally, all entrance doors to University residence halls are permanently locked 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any access to dormitories requires an authorized electronic student ID card.

Hop on a Shuttle for Safety

Making regular runs around campus, the Panther Express provides free shuttle bus transportation to nearby train stations, supermarkets and shopping plazas—particularly during the nighttime.

Credit for security on campus goes to the Department of Public Safety and Transportation. The department is committed to transparency and regularly issues a fire and safety report which outlines practices, incidents that occurred on campus and responses to those incidents.

Adelphi’s officers also patrol the Garden City campus—often on bicycles —24/7, 365 days a year. But students don’t need to rely solely on patrolling officers. Students have direct, immediate access to campus security. In the event of an incident, they can dial “5” from any on-campus phone, use the blue light emergency call boxes scattered across the grounds or call the emergency line at 516.877.3511.

Not Just Safe. Safe From Pesticides, Too

Adelphi’s campus is more than just a safe space. It’s also a beautiful green space with prestigious accreditation. In October 2025, Adelphi renewed its Level I Arboretum Accreditation through , part of the esteemed Morton Arboretum registry. Valid until October 2030, this accreditation places Adelphi on the global registry of accredited arboreta and public gardens. And it’s not hard to see why.

For more than 20 years, Adelphi University has maintained a 100 percent pesticide-free campus that’s fostered a rich biodiversity. Its campus has since become a gorgeous landscape that’s home to more than 100 different plant species, some of them with unique backstories. The azaleas on the flagpole lawn were planted by the Class of 1935 and have thrived for nearly 100 years. The vibrant pink cherry trees and rose garden have become iconic visual landmarks on campus during the springtime.

Plans are currently underway to label plant species and weave the arboretum into academic programs. There’s also a plan to develop a dedicated arboretum campus map that shows key points of interest, allowing students and visitors to explore notable plant specimens across the grounds.

This prestigious arboretum accreditation underscores Adelphi’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. But the University’s biodiversity does more than just protect the planet.

It offers a vibrant, living oasis that provides students with moments of calm and reflection—proving that a truly safe campus is one that protects both the body and the mind.

The post A Safe Bet: Adelphi Is One of New York’s Safest College Campuses appeared first on Adelphi University.

For students pursuing a career in , working with a patient for the first time can be intimidating. The nerves, uncertainty, and pressure to perform can often make these early interactions overwhelming.

To address these challenges, Adelphi University has opened the Charna Caddy DiSanto Clinical Simulation Voice Lab, a lab designed to help students build their confidence and develop essential clinical skills before they work with patients with voice disorders.

Hands-On Learning for Speech-Language Pathology

The new voice lab employs a hands-on, experiential learning approach tailored for students in the graduate program in speech-language pathology, offered through the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education and Health Sciences. The lab was generously funded by the family of the late Charna Caddy DiSanto, a speech-language pathologist and clinical supervisor for Adelphi’s speech-language pathology students from 1986 to 2006. Her family’s gift represents a lasting investment in student success.

Steven Cox, PhD, CCC-SLP, associate professor and lab director, emphasized that “This clinical experience gives our graduate students specialized training in voice care that bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world patient care, equipping them with the skills they need for clinical placements focused on voice disorders.”

A Way to Develop Skills Before Treating Patients

Clinical simulation, as defined by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, allows students to gain valuable clinical experience through alternative methods rather than through direct patient interaction. Now, thanks to the Charna Caddy DiSanto Clinical Simulation Voice Lab, graduate students can work with manikins, virtual reality, and simulated patient scenarios before their clinical placements involving patients with voice concerns.

“Students also earn clinical hours toward graduation, certification, and licensing while developing their clinical skills in a structured and safe environment,” explained Dr. Cox.

A sense of safety is crucial, particularly for students encountering clinical work for the first time. Anne Marie Skvarla, clinic director of the Hy Weinberg Center for Communication Disorders, noted that many students report understandable feelings of anxiety and uncertainty in their initial interactions with patients.

Boosting Confidence for Real-World Experiences With Patients

Research indicates that simulated learning experiences can boost confidence, enhance interpersonal skills, and better prepare students for real-world clinical situations. Inside the lab, students participate in hands-on activities that replicate real clinical procedures and interactions. A standout experience involves using rigid and flexible endoscopes, which are thin, lighted instruments used to view the vocal folds on a manikin, a critical diagnostic skill for identifying voice disorders.

“This becomes a highlight for many students,” Dr. Cox noted, adding that the lab also integrates virtual reality and computerized analysis tools to enrich the student learning experience.

Promoting Teamwork and Problem-Solving Skills

In addition to individual skill-building, the lab emphasizes communication, teamwork, and collaborative problem-solving. At the beginning of each semester, students participate in an escape-room-style activity that challenges them to work together and uncover clues about a simulated patient’s condition. “It helps them learn to work collaboratively as part of a team as they try to uncover important background information about their patient,” said Dr. Cox.

Hands-On Learning for Communication Sciences

Very few universities across the country offer simulation labs for speech-language pathology students. The Charna Caddy DiSanto Clinical Simulation Voice Lab distinguishes itself by providing students access to advanced technology and immersive training experiences. The establishment of the lab underscores Adelphi’s commitment to experiential learning, a vital aspect of its academic strategy. By allowing students to practice clinical techniques in a controlled environment, the University ensures that they enter the field with greater confidence and competence.

Preparing Speech-Language Pathology Students for Success

Ultimately, the goal of the Charna Caddy DiSanto Clinical Simulation Voice Lab is to ensure that students are well-prepared when they work with patients with voice concerns. “By developing their skills using clinical simulation, students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to treat their first patient with voice concerns,” concluded Dr. Cox.

The post Finding Their Voice: Adelphi’s New Simulation Lab Prepares Future Speech-Language Pathologists appeared first on Adelphi University.

But how realistic is it really?

We asked two faculty members from the Adelphi University College of Nursing and Public Health with experience working in an ED—Associate Dean Jordan Yakoby, EdD, and Clinical Associate Professor Daniel McWeeney, DNP—to assess some key scenes in the show.

While the focus is often on the doctors, nurses are often depicted as critical members of the ED staff, especially tough-as-nails charge nurse Dana Evans. “By and large, a lot of the scenes are pretty realistic,” said Dr. Yakoby. “They are real scenarios you’d see in an emergency department.” If anything, he said, nurses are not depicted as prominently as they should be in an actual ED, where they handle some of the frontline cases doctors handle in the show. “There’s probably some artistic liberty, since many of the main characters are physicians and you need to show them in as many scenes as possible.”

Dr. McWeeney agreed that the show gets the intensity and pace of the ED right—even if it exaggerates a little. “The show truly reflects the chaos and volume of patients seen on a daily basis,” he said. “However, it does seem to depict more of the critical cases, which is not always the case in a given shift.” On the other hand, as an experienced ED nurse practitioner, he’s had shifts as intense as the ones that appear on the show, with multiple patients requiring lifesaving interventions.

Adelphi Theatre Grad Plays a Starring Role

Adelphi’s connection to The Pitt runs deeper than our faculty expertise. Lucas Iverson ’17, a BFA in theatre arts graduate, plays cocky medical student James Ogilvie in the show’s second season. In a recent interview, Iverson highlighted a pivotal scene from episode six where a nurse out-diagnoses a room full of MDs—a moment he feels reflects the vital importance of nurses in emergency rooms. “The nurses always know,” he noted.

Here are five scenes from the show, along with comments from Dr. Yakoby and Dr. McWeeney. (Spoilers ahead!)

Season 1, Episode 1—Nurses Perlah and Princess speak Tagalog

From the first episode, Filipina nurses Perlah and Princess switch into their native language while discussing cases or reacting to doctors’ decisions. Their tone is typically wry, offering a glimpse into the tight bonds among the nursing staff.

Dr. Yakoby: You probably have a lot more camaraderie between nurses and medical staff than you do in other places in the hospital, just because of the close proximity, so it definitely leads to more informality at times. Of course, there’s gossip that can occur, though I don’t know that people just switch into another language in front of the person they are talking about.

Dr. McWeeney: Multilingual nurses absolutely use language like this during shifts, but in my experience it’s more of a friendly conversation than patient-related. That said, nurses are always communicating, and especially experienced nurses may discuss and question providers’ assessments and orders placed based on a patient’s chief complaint.

Season 1, Episode 9—An aggressive patient assaults Dana

A patient’s frustrations boil over and he eventually assaults nurse Dana. She later returns to the floor, with colleagues noting how common such incidents can be.

Dr. McWeeney: Unfortunately, this is very common. On most of my shifts, security alerts are escalated due to an aggressive or threatening patient. Most of the time, it’s verbal, but I have had two or three colleagues who have been physically assaulted. Our ED has significantly increased security officer presence, and staff are trained for active shooters as well.

Dr. Yakoby: It’s a documented, well-known problem. I’ve been assaulted before—and more than one time. Usually it’s someone with a psychiatric condition or impaired by alcohol or an illicit substance. Larger hospitals and trauma centers have security in the ED at all times, and they can respond quickly, but they can’t be everywhere, and sometimes you just don’t know when someone is going to get aggressive.

Season 2, Episode 6—Perlah reacting to Louie’s death

It’s 12:07. Robby calls it. Louie is gone. (Warrick Page/HBOMAX)

After regular patient Louie dies from alcohol-related complications, nurse Perlah visibly struggles emotionally. Dana and other colleagues make adjustments to compensate for her.

Dr. Yakoby: A lot of times you don’t spend more than a few hours with a person, so you don’t develop a super-close relationship. But there are certain circumstances that are upsetting when a patient passes away. Many “frequent flyers” who come in regularly for substance abuse are difficult to get along with, but there are some who are more pleasant and easy to build a relationship with, and so there can be cases that hit home.

Dr. McWeeney: Grief is something everyone handles differently, and something you have to learn to cope with while working on a shift. In my experience, there have been a few shifts, especially during the pandemic, where I just needed to run to the bathroom and cry or shut the lights off and reset with a few deep breaths. Most hospitals now do have a team of employees that comes to support staff after a traumatic event. Ours is called Team Lavender, and they provide staff with lavender oils, teas and chocolates to help alleviate stress.

Season 2, Episode 6—Donnie teaching suturing to doctors

Adelphi theatre grad Lucas Iverson ’17, second from left, observes as Nurse Donnie steps in to guide physicians through proper subcutaneous (sub-Q) suturing technique during a challenging case. This scene highlights the depth of hands-on skill many nurses develop over time.

Dr. McWeeney: Nurses are always learning and training. While RNs do not suture, they are often precepting a new nurse on the many unique skills needed in the ED, such as placing an intravenous catheter. There is always the pressure to see more patients, and so I might not have the time to go through each step in depth in the moment, but I will always try and recap later in the shift as time allows.

Dr. Yakoby: Having a nurse actually do part of the procedure would not be typical. But if you have a very seasoned nurse and a junior resident, you might have a nurse guide them through a practice or get you the resources to help you do a procedure that you’re not doing in the correct way. Certainly, physicians-in-training would be smart to listen to experienced nurses if they want to be successful.

Season 2, Episode 7—Dana guides a sexual assault exam

As a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE), Dana takes the lead on guiding a sexual assault survivor through a forensic exam, displaying compassion throughout a highly technical procedure.

Dr. McWeeney: The portrayal of the scene is accurate. Time is of the essence when it comes to a complicated case such as sexual assault. It is extremely sensitive, and there is heightened concern for making a mistake or fear of litigation that requires extra training to become a SANE. Dana provided a sense of trust and comfort and a step-by-step approach which showed the patient what to expect.

Dr. Yakoby: This kind of trauma-informed care is really where nursing shines. There’s a lot of emotional support you may need to give the patient, ensuring their comfort and privacy, and I think this was a good depiction of that. Everyone usually tries to be intentional and thoughtful with these patients, as they are experiencing a very difficult moment in their lives.

Adelphi’s Nursing and Public Health Programs

Whether you want to be in an action-packed ED or provide care in settings from schools to clinics to physician’s offices—or you want to educate the next generation of healthcare workers—the Adelphi University College of Nursing and Public Health has a program for you.

Learn how to serve our aging population with our gerontology programs (Adult Gerontology Primary Care Advanced Certificate, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner doctoral or graduate on campus or ); get a broad understanding of healthcare with undergraduate Health Sciences; be on the cutting edge of technology with healthcare informatics studies ( or , both online); pursue a nursing degree (undergraduate, doctoral or —now offered in Garden City and at our ); or study Psychiatric Mental Health (graduate, doctoral or advanced certificate) or Public Health (minor and MPH on campus or ).

The post Examining The Pitt: Adelphi Nursing Faculty Weigh In on the Accuracy of the Hit Show Starring One of Adelphi’s Own appeared first on Adelphi University.

Improving Access to Healthy Foods

The Tower Garden project was born out of a real community need. In 2022, Clinical Assistant Professor Rachel Taniey, PhD, director of the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics program in the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences, surveyed users of Adelphi’s on-campus food pantry, Panther Pantry, to better understand what students needed. “We learned that students want to see fresh produce and an extended variety of items,” she said.

Armed with that insight, Dr. Taniey saw an opportunity to create a hands-on learning experience for graduate students. Through a , she received a to supply the fresh produce.

“The grant focuses on changing systems, policies and environment to improve access to affordable nourishing food, healthy food access and physical activity,” said Karyn Kirschbaum, PhD, Adelphi adjunct professor of nutrition, who has coordinated the CHSC grant through Western Suffolk BOCES for nearly 20 years.

At the center of the project is a novel piece of food technology: an aeroponic growing system that allows you to cultivate fruits, leafy vegetables and herbs in a single vertical column. Seedlings are placed into pods along the outside of the tower, with their roots exposed at the center. A reservoir at the base holds water and a mineral blend, which a submersible pump continuously pushes to the top of the structure. From there, the nutrient-rich water cascades downward, misting the exposed roots before returning to the reservoir below. The result is a full harvest in as little as five to six weeks—and because the system grows indoors, it produces continuously throughout the year.

A Hands-On Learning Experience

Growing fresh produce for the Panther Pantry is only one component of the project—education is the other. Every semester, graduate students can fulfill the required 130 hours of supervised community nutrition fieldwork through the Tower Garden.

That’s exactly the opportunity graduate students Alexis Provenz and Ellie Cohen were looking for. In addition to maintaining the garden, they assemble salad kits for Panther Pantry and organize educational events for the community.

The salad kits are a more recent innovation, born out of a simple realization. “We realized that maybe just bringing over bags of produce isn’t the most appetizing way to encourage college students to eat vegetables,” Dr. Taniey said. “So we put it all together in little to-go containers with a package of olive oil and a label that says ‘Just add protein from the pantry.’”

The food demonstrations take that mission a step farther. On March 10, Provenz and Cohen led a station at Adelphi’s Nutrition Fair, where they prepared dishes made entirely from Tower Garden and pantry ingredients. “We came up with two balanced and healthy recipes so students can replicate the recipes free of charge,” Cohen said.

The experience has already proven to be a valuable complement to classroom learning. “We learn what truly goes into planning and organizing events behind the scenes, how to troubleshoot problems creatively, and how to collaborate with professionals and peers in a real-world setting,” Provenz said. “It has given me a much deeper understanding of the work that goes into community nutrition programs and the impact they can have.”

What’s Next for “Keanu Leaves”

The Tower Garden project achieves two major goals of the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics program: increasing access to healthy food for Adelphi community members and preparing students for a career in nutrition.

“Our program is definitely rooted in community nutrition,” Dr. Taniey said. “We are increasing access for our community members, and we are also increasing knowledge of community nutrition for our dietetics students and really preparing them for a career in community nutrition.”

For Provenz, the project has shifted how she thinks about her field entirely. “This project has shown me that nutrition and dietetics is so much broader than simply ‘eating healthy,’” she said. “Dietetics is deeply connected to community health, food access, education and sustainability.”

And the project is still just getting started. Dr. Taniey recently submitted a research proposal for a case study of pantry users as they interact with the Tower Garden, food demonstrations and nutrition education materials. If approved, the study would bring a formal academic lens to an organic, hands-on initiative.

She also hopes to expand what the garden grows, adding more herbs and eventually vine plants like tomatoes. “We’re excited to explore what we do next,” Dr. Taniey says. “We’ll be thinking of new recipes and ways to get students involved.”

The post Growing Knowledge: How Adelphi’s “Keanu Leaves” Tower Garden Is Nourishing Students and Community appeared first on Adelphi University.

This free, one-hour Zoom gathering brings breast cancer community members together for conversation and connection with avid readers from Long Island and across New York State.

“Reading a book can be healing, restorative, and a window into diverse perspectives,” said book club participant Kathleen Glass. “To read alongside a community of fellow Warriors is a gift you can give yourself—an opportunity to connect, reflect, and share. The Warriors Book Club nurtures both the mind and the soul.”

Organizers say the program has become a meaningful source of connection for survivors.

“We’ve heard from many members of our community about how impactful the Warriors Book Club has been in their lives,” said Reyna Machado, MA, MBA, executive director of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program. “Because of that response, we’ve continued to grow and expand the book club over the years.”

This month’s selection, Daughters of Shandong, is a hopeful and powerful novel about the resilience of women, the enduring bonds between mothers, daughters, and sisters, and the sacrifices made to uplift future generations.

The Warriors Book Club is a welcoming reading community, open to all breast cancer survivors and caregivers. Participants are encouraged to read the book in advance in order to share in a meaningful conversation about the book and connect with a supportive community.

For more information and to register for the Warriors Book Club, please contact breastcancerhotline@adelphi.edu.

Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program

The Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program offers clinical support and resources to people with and/or concerned about breast cancer. To reach the Hotline, which is staffed by volunteers who are breast cancer survivors, call 800.877.8077 or online at . You are not alone.

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As phones go dark and eyes close, Michael Hoffner, the founding coordinator of the center, guides them to be here and in the moment. For half an hour, on a campus and in a culture built on constant doing, the only task is to stop.

Stress Relief From the Pressures of Student Life

College students arrive on campus carrying heavy loads: classes, jobs and family responsibilities. Add pressure to perform well, along with the sense that your future hinges on your actions, and daily life can feel like a pressure cooker.

To address that, many colleges are simply designating “quiet rooms.” But Adelphi has gone a step further by creating a dedicated sanctuary for stress relief. Located within the renovated University Center, the Mindfulness Center—which opened in 2022—is a true retreat featuring soaring ceilings, soft twinkling lights and the calming scent of essential oils. A licensed social worker ordained in the Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village Buddhist tradition, Hoffner was a natural choice to shape the new center.

“Integrating mindfulness into the college experience is something that is valuable on so many levels,” Hoffner said. It can transform “the energy of the campus as a whole” when more people show up calmer and more grounded.

The center’s weekly rhythm is simple: drop‑in mindfulness sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hoffner leads the meditations himself, inviting students to set down their to‑do lists, notice their breathing and rest.

For many, that’s an unfamiliar experience.

At Adelphi, Achieving Mindfulness Isn’t a Solitary Pursuit

Paloma Jose-Day, a senior majoring in psychology, first tried mindfulness on her own. Like many people, she quickly ran into frustration. Sitting alone with her thoughts didn’t feel calming. It felt impossible, even overwhelming.

Coming to the Mindfulness Center changed that. Practicing in a room with others, supported by Hoffner’s quiet guidance, finally helped her “get it.” The presence of other students made mindfulness feel less like a private test she was failing and more like a shared practice she could grow into over time.

Jose-Day has been going to weekly 30-minute guided sessions at the center since she transferred to Adelphi in Fall 2024. The experience has quietly reshaped her daily habits.

“I didn’t go to the Mindfulness Center to quit my phone, but that’s what happened,” she said. “I’m not reaching for it first thing in the morning anymore. I wake up, stretch, breathe and think about my day instead.” She has stopped doomscrolling while she eats lunch, too, she said. “When I’m eating now, I’m not looking at my phone. Instead, I’m actually enjoying my food.”

Achieving mindfulness can even be part of career preparation. Ryan Mijumbi, MA ’24, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Adelphi’s Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, says the techniques he’s learned at the center will help him in his career.

“The same mindfulness skills I practice here—being aware of myself, the space and the other person—are exactly what I’ll need in the therapy room with my clients,” he said.

It has also made his life better. “For me, the Mindfulness Center is a quiet place where I can step out of the chaos of grad school, breathe and remember that despite everything, it’s going to be okay,” he explained. “Mindfulness didn’t help me pass any tests, but it kept me going when grad school stress and burnout were at their worst.”

Weekend “Retreats”—Right on Campus

Recently, the Mindfulness Center mission has grown.

A weekend mindfulness retreat on campus has drawn about 125 participants over the past two years. Students practice sustained silence, meditation and mindful activities.

An alternative spring break retreat offers an even deeper dive. Hoffner and his team take a small group of students to a Buddhist monastery in the Plum Village tradition. Past trips have gone to retreats in upstate New York and Mississippi. This year, 12 students will spend a week at a monastery in California.

There, they join the daily rhythm of monastic life. Practices that feel strange or uncomfortable to students on the first day often become cherished by the end of the week, Hoffner said. “When it’s time to leave, many students ask the same question: How do I bring this back with me?” he explained.

Building a Mindfulness Community on Campus

Hoffner is now helping launch a mindfulness residential community at Adelphi, bringing together a handful of students to live together on campus. Next year, the program will expand into a full‑fledged community.

“Our mindfulness practice is not intended for us to escape the world,” Hoffner said. “It’s actually here to help us encounter the world more deeply so that we’re not running away from the world, we’re actually leaning in and showing up more fully.”

He hopes his students’ experiences will help build a new normal: a community where mindfulness isn’t an escape hatch, but a way of meeting the world with steadiness, courage and care.

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The initiative, The Hudson Valley Geriatric Mental Health Initiative, will be led by the Adelphi University School of Social Work and is scheduled to run from January 2026 through December 2026. The effort, which seeks to build capacity among behavioral health providers by enhancing competencies in geriatric mental health, is expected to lead to improved service outcomes and the education of new social workers residing and working in the Hudson Valley.

Adelphi Addresses Long Island and Hudson Valley Mental Health Disparities

Daniel B. Kaplan, PhD, associate professor in Adelphi’s School of Social Work, emphasized the project’s timely significance. “Because of the trend of population aging, it is expected that 35 percent of the population of the Hudson Valley will be 55 and older by the year 2030,” he said. “Mental health disparities in the region are high, and include limited access to specialized care and reliance on emergency rooms during crises. This project will allow us to work directly with leaders from diverse sectors to understand and share news of what is already working well and where to find opportunities for improved practices and policies.”

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation awarded $16 million to 32 organizations, including Adelphi University. The funding is part of more than $142 million for programs across 399 grants designed to support people in need in 2026.

“At a time when many families are being asked to do more with less, the foundation remains focused on showing up in tangible ways for people across New York,” Jennifer Balbach, finance committee chair of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation board, said in the organization’s news release. “These investments prioritize everyday stability—from access to nutritious food and safe housing to mental health care—and reflect our belief that long-term community well-being starts with practical, people-centered support.”

����ֱ�� the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children and the poor, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York state that either provide direct healthcare services or address the social determinants of health. For more information, visit .

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The workshop will be delivered entirely via Zoom and will meet weekly on Thursdays from 10–11:30 a.m. on March 5, March 12, March 19 and March 26.

Resilience Through Art: The Healing Journey will be facilitated by Angela M. Papalia, LMSW, Assistant Director of the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program, alongside Kimberly Newman, BFA, Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program. The workshop is open to individuals coping with a breast cancer diagnosis, survivors, and caregivers, and is free to attend.

“This workshop has become one of our most requested programs,” said Kimberly Newman, Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program. “Participants value the opportunity to come together, explore their creativity, and receive meaningful support from others within the breast cancer community.”

Whether participants are new to creative arts or have previous experience, the workshop encourages exploration of new perspectives, strengthens personal resilience, and builds community. Guided by experienced staff, participants will engage in relaxation and breathing exercises, learn creative techniques for stress relief, and develop problem-solving and coping skills.

“We know that art can be deeply therapeutic, but accessing those benefits isn’t always easy,” said Angela M. Papalia, LMSW, Assistant Director of the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program. “Through this workshop, our goal is to help participants reconnect with themselves while fostering authentic connections with others.”

For more information, please call 516.877.4329 or email apapalia@adelphi.edu. Space is limited to 20 participants, and registration is required. Participants must commit to attending all four sessions. Once registered, workshop materials will be provided free of charge.

Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program

The Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program offers clinical support and resources to people with and/or concerned about breast cancer. To reach the Hotline, which is staffed by volunteers who are breast cancer survivors, call 800.877.8077 or go to adelphi.edu/breast-cancer. You are not alone.

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