Oslo, Norway
Major: Finance

“I’m looking forward to developing my interests within finance and exploring where that may take me professionally, while continuing to develop as a tennis player. I’m proud of the results I’ve achieved in tennis over the years, including winning the Norwegian U19 National Championship in mixed doubles, but especially of the consistency and hard work behind them. I chose Adelphi because it was important to me to find a university where I could get a great education while also being a part of a strong tennis team. I also really liked the welcoming atmosphere at Adelphi, and it felt like the right fit for me both academically and athletically.”

Jackson Clark

Matthews, North Carolina
Major: Business, Three-Year Track
Honors College

“I hope to become a lawyer, but I chose my major because of my interest in business and the opportunity to earn that degree in the accelerated three-year track. I came to Adelphi because of its amazing location, strong faculty and opportunities like the Alternative Summer Break, which I was able to attend in August. I wanted to go to a school in or near a big city like New York, and the three-year program and other grants made that financially possible for me.”

Rebecca Golin

Brooklyn, New York
Major: Biochemistry with a minor in mathematics

“I am planning on a medical career, so I chose Adelphi for its supportive community, strong scientific opportunities and Early Assurance pathway to medical school that will allow me to grow as both a researcher and future physician. I have already conducted cancer research, where I discovered how mathematics and genomic data can help answer complex questions about disease and ultimately improve patient care.”

Zion Hines

Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Major: Dance

“I want to be able to dance professionally, and my ultimate goal is to own a dance studio so that I can teach choreography, inspiring dancers of all ages. I am grateful to have accomplished as much as I have so far in my dance career. I received a 2025 New Jersey Governor’s Award for Arts Education, an honor given to high school students, and I have had the opportunity to choreograph and perform a solo titled Inner Thoughts along with five other talented recipients. I am excited to be at Adelphi. When I auditioned for the dance program last winter, it felt like such a genuine and supportive community. I like the small classes, too, which will allow me to get to know my professors and be able to get any help or advice whenever I need it.”

Ashlyn Ho

La Crescenta, California
Major: Biology

“I want to become a dentist, and I chose Adelphi because of its Early Assurance 4+4 program, which gives me a direct path to the LECOM School of Dental Medicine. Adelphi also gives me the chance to work closely with my professors. I really enjoy playing the piano, too, and performed at Carnegie Hall as a first-prize winner in the Elite International Music Competition.”

Arina Kamenetska

Kharkiv, Ukraine
Major: Theatre
Honors College/Levermore Global Scholars Program

“My goal is to build a career as an actress in both theater and film. I also hope to create international theater projects that bring together actors and artists from different countries and cultures. I am especially proud to have received a Jonathan Larson Scholarship from Adelphi. I chose Adelphi because of the people. During my audition with Professor Margaret Lally and Professor Thomas Schrider, I immediately felt that I had found my community and my people. They made me feel that Adelphi was a place where I would truly belong, and I could see how much the professors genuinely care about their students and want to help them grow.”

Karina Kumar

South Richmond Hills, Queens, New York
Major: English, Scholar Teacher Education Program (STEP) – Adolescent Education
Levermore Global Scholars Program

“My goal is to become a teacher who can truly make an impact in students’ lives. I will strive to shape young minds in the lens of today’s society and always fight against injustices in education, making my classroom truly accessible to all students. I am particularly interested in finding ways to reach students beyond the textbooks. Adelphi’s commitment to diversity, equity and global learning reflects the educator I aspire to become.”

Mia Leggio

Seaford, New York
Major: Sport Management
Honors College/

“Sports are really important to me, and I am proud to be following in the footsteps of my sister, Alexandra, who played lacrosse for Adelphi. I chose Adelphi because of its strong academics, women’s soccer program and close-knit community. I am also proud to be a certified EMT because that allows me to make a difference by helping others during very tough times.”

Anya Patel

New Hyde Park, New York
Major: Biology
Levermore Global Scholars Program

“My goal is to pursue a career in orthodontics and provide compassionate, culturally aware care to diverse communities. Majoring in biology and participating in the Levermore Global Scholars program will help me reach that goal, allowing me to combine my passion for science with my interest in people, cultures and global perspectives. As someone with both Indian and Kenyan heritage, I believe that understanding and respecting different backgrounds is essential to connecting with others and providing compassionate healthcare. I chose Adelphi because of its close-knit community and the opportunity to pursue my goals in the healthcare field in an environment where I feel supported and encouraged to grow.”

Michael Secko

Centerport, New York
Majors: Environmental Science and History with Certificate in Museum Studies
Honors College

“By majoring in two fields while earning a certificate in another, I am hoping to build a career that brings all of those worlds together. Whether it is working at a museum, a national park or an environmental agency, my goal is to find ways to connect our natural environment with human history. I have always been fascinated by how the past and the environment shape each other. I want to find innovative ways to preserve both our history and our planet. Choosing Adelphi was an easy decision for me. From the moment I stepped on campus, it just felt right. It is also extra special because my grandparents earned both their undergraduate and master’s degrees here, so it feels like home in more ways than one.”

Justin Smiley-Carter

Jamaica, Queens, New York
Major: Ethics and Public Policy
Honors College/Levermore Global Scholars Program

“I served as secretary-general at a Model UN conference that created a welcoming outlet for students across South Queens and Long Island to explore diplomacy. I plan to attend law school, with the goal of eventually using my experience to create opportunities for younger students in marginalized communities and inspire them to pursue a career in law. I chose Adelphi because it’s where I can really challenge myself academically, and because the Honors College and Levermore Global Scholars program allow me to explore my interests beyond the classroom while preparing me to reach my goals.”

Louis Spillane

Auckland, New Zealand
Major: Finance

“My goal is to build a career in finance while continuing to pursue my passion for football. Football has been a huge part of my life. I was honored to represent New Zealand as a member of the U17 National Team that qualified for the U17 World Cup. Wearing the New Zealand fern, singing the national anthem and seeing my family in the stands made it an experience I’ll never forget. It was a moment where years of hard work and sacrifice came together. I look forward to competing at Adelphi while building a strong foundation for my future in finance. I hope to combine the discipline, leadership and competitive mindset I have developed through football with my passion for finance and create a successful career that allows me to pursue both interests.”

Wyatt Yim

Fresh Meadows, Queens, New York
Major: Nursing

“I want to be working as a traveling nurse to explore the world more, then later on become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. I would like to visit all 50 states and, as a proud Eagle Scout, all the national parks. I chose Adelphi for its small and beautiful campus, and I began my Adelphi experience by joining the First-Year Community Action Program (FCAP). It gave me the opportunity to do some volunteer work before the start of classes while meeting new people and helping the community.”

The post Meet the Class of 2030! appeared first on ������Ƶ.

When arts patron and friend of the University Lee Steinberg made her generous bequest to Adelphi, it not only strengthened the future of the ������Ƶ Performing Arts Center—it shone a spotlight on the vibrancy of the arts at Adelphi.

“Lee Steinberg’s legacy gift reflects a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts,” said Thomas Kline, EdD, vice president of University advancement and external relations. “Her generosity strengthens not only our facilities, but the student experiences and creative opportunities that define Adelphi’s performing arts community.”

The $1.77 million gift supports immediate physical improvements at the Center as well as permanent, flexible funding for its ongoing capital, programming and operational needs. In recognition of her extraordinary generosity, the University has named the center’s Recital Hall in her honor—the Lee Steinberg Recital Hall.

The hall is one of the five state-of-the-art venues at the Center, along with the 500-seat Westermann Stage at the Concert Hall, the Olmsted Theatre, the Dance Theatre and the Black Box Theatre.

Adelphi’s Rich History in Theatre

Adelphi’s theatre, dance and music programs have produced generations of artists, none more illustrious than Jonathan Larson ’82, the late Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and composer of the iconic Broadway musical Rent. Larson majored in acting at Adelphi and began composing music for small student productions and cabarets, often writing about topics like AIDS, addiction and homophobia, which would later inform his renowned works.

“He came in like a spark plug,” said Nicholas Petron, MA ’70, retired professor and chair of the Department of Theatre. “My first impression was: ’Who is this guy?’ He was a firecracker.”

Larson’s legacy lives on at Adelphi through the $2 million Jonathan Larson Scholarship endowment, established by a bequest from the Larson Family Trust and a matching grant from the University. The endowment supports four annual scholarships for theatre students.

In 2015, Adelphi also launched the annual Larson Legacy Concert Series at Center to celebrate the next generation of musical theatre creators. It has featured performances by recipients of Jonathan Larson Grants from the American Theatre Wing and artists who’ve gone on to Broadway stardom, like Michael R. Jackson, who won a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award in 2021 for A Strange Loop.

Adelphi also hosts The Poole Family Broadway Series, generously sponsored by Mary Jane ’62 and Thomas Poole, which brings Broadway legends, cabaret stars and musical theater revues to the center.

Empowering the Next Generation of Excellence in Music and Dance

Theater isn’t alone at Adelphi as a pacesetter for university arts departments. The University’s dance department became one of the first established at a college in the United States when it was founded in 1938 by one of the leading lights of modern dance, Ruth St. Denis. Since then, it has been home to many prominent faculty members, including , Paul Taylor, Norman Walker, Carmen de Lavallade, Jack Cole and Hanya Holm.

In the music department, Pulitzer Prize-winning and Grammy-nominated composer , has been a professor since the early 2000s, nurturing new generations of musical talent while continuing to produce critically acclaimed oratorios. He was honored as one of only five University Professors at Adelphi in 2004.

“One of the great things about Adelphi is that it supports its faculty in its research—in my case, its creativity,” Dr. Moravec said. “I’m eternally indebted to Adelphi for facilitating all of the work that I’ve done in the 25 years that I’ve been here at Adelphi.”

A Donor’s Lifelong Commitment to the Arts in New York

Lee Steinberg’s gift, which was received from her estate in July 2025, reflected her wish to support arts programming and performance centers on Long Island as well as her lifetime commitment to cultural institutions throughout the greater New York region. Steinberg, who briefly served on Adelphi’s Performing Arts Council, died in 2021 at the age of 106 and was posthumously added as a member of Adelphi’s Million Dollar Roundtable, which recognizes our most generous donors, whose cumulative giving exceeds $1 million.

In accordance with Steinberg’s intent, the University has established two funds to support the ������Ƶ Performing Arts Center—the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Capital Fund, for immediate physical improvements, and the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Excellence Endowed Fund, to provide permanent, flexible support for the center’s ongoing capital, programming and operational needs. This generous gift reinforces Adelphi’s reputation as a preeminent leader in arts education and performance in our region.

Enhancements to Center will elevate the experience of student performers, faculty directors, guest artists and audience members. Several capital improvements have already been funded through an initial $500,000 allocation, including:

• A comprehensive refresh of the Olmsted Theatre, featuring new lighting, audience seating, carpeting, acoustic panels and painting, as well as the installation of a new digital sound mixing console
• Brighter lighting in the Center’s second-floor dance studios
• New house lights and work lights in the Concert Hall

Beginning in 2027, annual distributions from the endowment will ensure that the spotlight never fades—empowering generations of future artists to push creative boundaries and inspire the world from Adelphi’s stages.

The post Leading the Arts: Landmark Donation Secures Adelphi’s Performing Arts Spotlight appeared first on ������Ƶ.

In recognition of her extraordinary generosity, the University has named the Center’s recital hall in her honor—the Lee Steinberg Recital Hall.

“Lee Steinberg’s legacy gift reflects a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts,” said Tom Kline, EdD, vice president of University advancement and external relations. “Her generosity strengthens not only our facilities, but the student experiences and creative opportunities that define Adelphi’s performing arts community.”

“The Lee Steinberg Recital Hall honors Lee’s commitment to a legacy of inspiring student performers and audiences for generations,” said Blyth Daylong, executive director of ������Ƶ’s Performing Arts Center.

A Lifelong Commitment to the Arts in New York

The gift, received in July 2025 from Ms. Steinberg’s estate, places her among the members of Adelphi’s Million Dollar Roundtable, which recognizes our most generous donors with cumulative giving exceeding $1 million. Steinberg died in 2021 at the age of 106. Through her bequest, she expressed her wish to support arts programming and performance centers on Long Island, continuing a lifetime commitment to cultural institutions throughout the greater New York region.

Planned giving has flourished at Adelphi in recent years. In Fiscal Year 2024–2025, the University’s pipeline of documented future support exceeded $40 million. All levels of leadership giving at Adelphi are shaping the long-term strength of academic programs, student opportunities and institutional excellence.

In accordance with Steinberg’s intent, the University has established two funds to support the Performing Arts Center—the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Capital Fund for immediate physical improvements and the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Excellence Endowed Fund to provide permanent, flexible support for the Center’s ongoing capital, programming and operational needs. This generous gift reinforces Adelphi’s reputation as a preeminent leader in arts education and performance in our region.

Applause for Improved Lighting, Seating, Flooring and Acoustics at Adelphi’s Performing Arts Center

Enhancements to the Center will elevate the experience of student performers, faculty directors, guest artists and audience members. Several capital improvements have already been funded through an initial $500,000 allocation, including:

• A comprehensive refresh of the Olmsted Theatre, featuring new lighting, audience seating, carpeting, acoustic panels and painting, as well as the installation of a new digital sound mixing console
• Brighter lighting in the Center’s second-floor dance studios
• New house lights and work lights in the Concert Hall

Beginning in 2027, annual distributions from the endowment will provide sustained support for artistic programming and facility excellence.

Steinberg briefly served on Adelphi’s Performing Arts Council and remained committed to supporting the arts throughout her life. Her bequest ensures that generations of Adelphi students will continue to learn, perform and thrive in spaces designed for excellence in the arts.

Advancing The Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact

This seven-figure investment advances Adelphi’s Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact, demonstrating how philanthropic leadership translates into visible improvements, strengthened programs and lasting institutional growth. Through leadership gifts like Steinberg’s, Adelphi continues its mission to transform students’ lives and reinforces its role as a cultural anchor on Long Island.

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Those grainy hallway videos were the first steps on a path that would eventually lead Molina to ������Ƶ’s dance program, gigs with Lil’ Kim, Yailin la Más Viral and other artists, appearances in multiple music videos, and a coveted spot as a featured dancer in a Bad Bunny music video—all while building a career as a teacher, choreographer and mentor for the next generation.

Building a Dance Career From Scratch

Molina’s earliest training didn’t come from studios or competitions. It came from family parties—festive Dominican gatherings that included fun, informal dance competitions for the kids—and from whatever dance videos she could find online. “My parents didn’t have enough money to take me to dance,” she said. “I started learning through YouTube videos.”

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

Then she realized she didn’t want to choose between fine art and commercial work. She wanted to do all kinds of dance.

Finding Her Place in Adelphi’s Dance Program

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

She enrolled in Adelphi’s dance program in 2019, focusing on ballet and modern—what is called “concert dance.” Teachers like Orion Duckstein, associate professor and chair of the dance department, and adjunct professor Jennifer Kreichman, saw something different in Molina—a student determined to keep one foot in the concert world and the other in the commercial dance scene.

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

Balancing Graduation With Dance Performances With Lil’ Kim

By the time Molina neared graduation in 2023, her résumé was already growing.

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

Then came a turn toward the Latin music world. She joined the team for Yailin la Más Viral, a Dominican artist gaining international attention. “We did our first mini tour that took us to Baltimore and Virginia.”

A Featured Dancer for Bad Bunny

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

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

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

“I was like, ‘Oh my God. Like, this is Bad Bunny in front of my face right now,’” Molina said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

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

Inspiring New Directions in Adelphi’s Dance Program

Molina’s career isn’t limited to performing. Thanks in part to relationships forged at Adelphi—especially with Kreichman, who invited her to co-choreograph a piece for a concert at Adelphi—; works as a dance educator/teaching artist in New York public schools through the 92nd Street Y; choreographs for emerging artists; casts dancers; and does movement coaching to help performers develop stage presence and personal style.

She’s also watched Adelphi’s program evolve. “Because of people like Orion, now there’s more space for commercial dance at Adelphi,” Molina said. “I see jazz, I see hip-hop there.”

Using Her Adelphi Dance Degree as a Launch Pad

For students dreaming of a life in dance—or parents wondering if it’s a realistic career path—Molina points to three things that helped her succeed: versatility, authenticity and consistency.

“Never put yourself in a box,” she said. “Whatever you want to try, go for it. As long as you’re determined, remain a good person, remain true to yourself and are consistent, you can make it.”

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

“Social media is the biggest form of networking,” Molina said. “I think the biggest reason I’ve been blessed to be booked by these people is because I’ve been able to show people my personality through my social media.”

The post From Dancing in Bronx Hallways to Performing with Bad Bunny: Frida Molina ’23 appeared first on ������Ƶ.

This summer, undergraduate research is heating up on and off campus, thanks to support from the Scholars Pursuing Arts, Research and Knowledge (SPARK) Center, the Honors College and other funding sources. These program offerings ensure that every undergraduate has the tools to spark their curiosity—and immerse themselves in the University’s culture of research, creativity and innovation.

Honors College Students Explore the Past, the Future and Everything in Between

Vincent Calvagno, a history major and rising senior in the Honors College, is spending the summer doing research supported by two fellowships—an Honors College Summer Research Fellowship and a . Remarkably, he is the lone undergraduate in the group of 48 scholars from around the nation who received MHS fellowships this year.

History major Vincent Calvagno is researching water and property in the colonial era for his Honors thesis. He is one of just 48 research scholars selected by the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Calvagno is using the fellowships to comb through the archives of MHS, the , and for his Honors thesis project, “Aquatic Appropriation: Water and Property in Colonial New England.” Much of what he’s paging through hasn’t been unearthed in decades, sometimes even centuries. “It’s made me more thoughtful about how I bring the distant past to life,” he said.

With guidance from his research adviser, associate professor of history Michael Lacombe, PhD, Calvagno is working to discover the role that access to fresh water played in relations between colonists and the Indigenous population and to place it in the context of larger geopolitical trends of the colonial era. His findings may even shed light on current issues. “Our world is experiencing a rising water scarcity crisis right now,” he explained, “so in looking back into the history of water possession, I hope to potentially gain insight into some of the root causes of this problem.”

Calvagno isn’t the only Honors College student to receive two fellowships. Troy Cofie, a rising senior majoring in economics and minoring in mathematics and political science, won an award to do research with the University of Pittsburgh’s National Science Foundation-funded Mobilization and Political Economy Summer Research Program. He was one of only eight students chosen nationwide for this program.

Cofie is using the National Science Foundation and Honors College fellowships to conduct research for his Honors thesis, “Social Embeddedness and Legal Institutionalism: Alternative Frameworks for Economic Policymaking.” Mariano Torras, PhD, professor and chair of the finance and economics department, is the adviser for Cofie’s Honors College summer research project.

“A Diverse Group of Thinkers” Tackles Research Topics from Energy to Neuroscience

Honors College students Aruzhan Bissenbay, Nadirah Peakes and Mickeylia Walker are working with Professor Brian Stockman, PhD, who last year won a $311,000 National Science Foundation grant to explore the origins of life on Earth. Now, Dr. Stockman is supervising the three students as they tackle separate pieces of his . The impact of their findings could reach well beyond the scholarly community, generating real-world value for projects such as .

Much like other research partnerships at the University, Dr. Stockman’s student team exemplifies the richness of the Adelphi community. “I wanted a diverse group of thinkers,” he told Adelphi in 2024. Since then, he’s staffed his lab with students who bring a variety of disciplinary perspectives to their work. Bissenbay, an international student from Kazakhstan, is a mathematics major. Peakes is a computer science major, while Walker is majoring in biology and minoring in African, Black and Caribbean studies.

Elias Nauth, a junior psychology major and political science minor, is working with Michael Moore, PhD, associate professor of psychology, on “Trauma in the First Responder Population,” a project inspired by his work as an EMT on a volunteer ambulance squad. By identifying where trauma comes from and how it manifests, Nauth hopes to provide data that can guide future therapeutic treatments for first responders.

The other Honors College summer fellows are drawing on their studies in neuroscience, public health, physics and other fields to produce equally impactful work. Read more about their projects on the Undergraduate Summer Research and Fellowships page.

SPARKing Students’ Passion for Research

The SPARK Center is foundational to the Adelphi undergraduate experience. SPARK Summer Research Fellowships are designed to encourage important inquiry in fields outside the lab sciences, empowering Adelphi students to follow their passions wherever they lead—from the archives to the rehearsal room to the community center.

This summer, SPARK fellows are unlocking the brain’s secrets with projects focused on the relationship between socio-cognitive impairment and mental illness and how gaming can help older adults maintain cognition. They’re also exploring theme development in dance choreography, examining the role of AI in employee retention strategies, translating their coming of age into a story collection, and more.

There are many other fellowships available for Adelphi students interested in specific areas of research: the Landesberg Family Summer Research Fellowship for chemistry students, the Mary Klement Fellowship for physics students, and a Bhisé Center Field Research Travel Grant for global research. The 2025 Bhisé grant was awarded to Clara Ossandón Melo, a dual dance and psychology major, who is exploring dance and women’s empowerment in Butoh, a form of Japanese dance theater.

Maintaining Adelphi’s Global Reach Throughout the Summer

Adelphi’s commitment to global engagement is also evident in a Poland-based summer research program led by Justyna Widera-Kalinowska, PhD, professor of chemistry. Every year since 2014, Dr. Widera-Kalinowska has taken a group of Adelphi students to Poland to conduct research on nanotechnologies with top scientists at the University of Warsaw. The program is funded by International Research Experiences for Students grants from the

This summer’s participants are posting about their experiences in and outside the lab—including seminars, educational workshops, and trips around Europe, along with cutting-edge projects on green energy and sustainability—on the . Visit that page for more direct reports from Adelphi students on their research efforts.

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The professors collaborated on the design of a software program that analyzes live video of dancers’ movements and generates music. Based on their discussions, Stemkoski created a series of prototypes that Duckstein tested in the studio. Using an iterative design process, Stemkoski incorporated his colleague’s feedback and suggestions to continuously update and improve the software.

“It was really fun watching the dancers interact with material in a new way,” Duckstein said. “The dance is called, ‘It Happens This Way Once,’ and it’s really just like life. It’s the same and different every day, and the choices we make affect things in small and beautiful ways.”

Adelphi dancers’ movements are analyzed by a software program that generates music.

Generative Music

The collaboration took off during a rehearsal for the Mad Professors Band, which Duckstein and Stemkoski are in with two other Adelphi faculty members.

“I had this idea kicking around for a long time and mentioned it to Lee after a band rehearsal,” Duckstein said. “I told him that I wasn’t sure how to set something up that would react the way I had in mind, and two days later Lee had worked something up. I was stunned at how fast.”

Stemkoski explained that their inspiration was a mutual interest in Brian Eno, an experimental musician and visual artist who coined the term “generative music.”

“Eno created the iOS smartphone apps Bloom and Trope, where the user taps and swipes the screen to create a randomly generated musical composition, which we were both familiar with,” he said. “We tossed around some ideas about, instead, using the movement of dancers to generate music, and thus the concept was born.”

Stemkoski said he and Duckstein implemented the music-generating program as a web app for ease of use. Anyone can open the app’s webpage in their browser.

“It uses the video feed from your camera and scans for clusters of pixels within a specified color range—shades of reds, blues, etcetera. As these clusters enter or exit different regions across the screen, different preselected tones are played,” he said.

Duckstein said the tones were recorded and provided by composer Carson Moody, who also had great ideas for tones and how to adjust the musical dynamics for future versions of the software.

Choreographing in Real Time

While the students were excited to be part of the piece, knowing that their movements would impact the music, Duckstein said that starting the choreography without music was challenging.

“It was definitely work getting 12 individual students to think as a group and develop a dance in real time together,” he said. “But in both instances, it was rewarding to come out on top. Every dancer in the piece was seen, every dancer contributed and came to the stage alive and in the moment.”

Duckstein added that it was also a challenge—yet exhilarating—to let go, trusting the dancers to produce something interesting in the moment. “The cast and I were really excited to see what was going to happen every night. In fact, that’s how we came up with the title of the piece,” he said.

Potential for More Interaction

For Dr. Stemkoski, who is also the director of the ������Ƶ Innovation Center, this interdisciplinary collaboration is just one example of how to use a collaborative and innovative mindset to support the University at large.

“The mission of the Innovation Center is to inspire, support and showcase innovative and interdisciplinary activities across the University,” he said. “This collaboration between dance and computer science is a perfect example of what we’re trying to accomplish. In fact, early versions of our music generation app were featured as the weekly tech exhibit in the Innovation Center. .”

Duckstein and Stemkoski are already thinking of their next dance collaboration. “While the November dance performance was my first time collaborating with Lee, it’s sparking a whole bunch of other ideas,” Duckstein said. “I think we’re going to come up with some bigger ideas for next time.”

Stemkoski added, “It would be really cool to also tie this in to dynamically adjusting the stage lighting or to project a dynamic art piece in the background, all driven by and synchronized with the movements of the dancers.”

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Today, our students continue to learn from talented faculty members with extensive experience, now under the direction of associate professor and chair Orion Duckstein, who performed for 11 years with the renowned Paul Taylor Dance Company before joining Adelphi, initially as an assistant professor. In addition to dance classes and performing, dance majors must also complete a solid academic course load and gain the ability to write well, communicate and think rationally.

Many students enter the program with their sights set on performing with a modern dance company, but some go on to dance on Broadway, in musical theater, or on tour as backup dancers for top artists. Others decide to teach, choreograph, move into costume or lighting design, or even leave the performing arts altogether, perhaps using their knowledge of how the human body works to go into such fields as nursing or physical therapy—careers their academic studies have prepared them to pursue.

Here, Duckstein talks about some of the career paths our alumni have taken.

Spotlight on Performing

Kenneth Michael Murray ’15

Many dance alumni have gone on to successful careers as performers. Within a year of graduation, went on to tour with the . He then did an international tour of Anastasia and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, at the Met Gala and in Cirque du Soleil’s PARAMOUR on Broadway. Murray is currently on the North American tour of Moulin Rouge, which also made a stop on Broadway.

Hana Delong ’12

has been one of the lead dancers at the since 2015 and now works as the company’s rehearsal director. She has also danced lead roles for noted downtown choreographers, including Doug Varone, Hope Boykin, and Christopher L. Huggins and Ulysses Dove, for whom she danced in Vespers, an opportunity that Duckstein likens to a ballet dancer performing in Swan Lake. Delong was also nominated for a Princess Grace Award in 2017, a huge honor in the dance community.

Frida Molina ’23

performed with rapper Lil’ Kim at Rock the Bells, opened for Janet Jackson’s Together Again tour in 2023 and has appeared in music videos by several hip-hop artists. She also teaches children and teenagers at Next Step Broadway in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The Business Side of Dance

Some dancers find their footing creating and running their own dance companies or dance schools.

Melissa Riker ’96, a dance major and graduate of Adelphi’s Honors College, is artistic director and choreographer of Kinesis Project dance theatre. teaches children and adults at in Montauk, New York, which she founded in 2015.

Laura Marciano ’12, named an Adelphi 10 Under 10 for 2022, majored in dance and minored in business to pursue her dream of opening a dance studio. She taught dance classes while a student, performed with Dance Visions NY after graduating, and made her dream a reality when she opened in Huntington, New York, in 2013.

Marlee Fleisher ’21

started her own dance company, , based in Dallas, Texas. She conceives the pieces and hires the dancers and musicians to bring those pieces to life. She works closely with her dancers on their choreography, helping them perfect their technique.

Turning to Healing

Nicholas Bartolotti ’15

Nicholas Bartolotti ’15 and Valerie Corpuz ’23 experienced being treated by physical therapists who they felt didn’t understand how to work with dancers; they are now pursuing careers in physical therapy themselves. Bartolotti is studying for his doctorate in physical therapy (DPT), while Corpuz has been working at a physical therapy practice and plans to pursue a DPT.

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College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Dance

Dance Director and Fine and Performing Arts Chairperson at Saint Dominic High School

This choice marked the start of a career characterized by dedication, growth and passion.

“There was no other program on Long Island with the same lineup of classes and level of experienced professors. The Performing Arts Center was absolutely beautiful, new and clean,” she recalled.

Pitaluga learned a lot from her professors in the dance program, and she noted Orion Duckstein, associate professor and chair, had the most influence on her. “Orion always had a way of incorporating every type of dancer, making us feel valued, challenging us and pushing us out of our comfort zones,” she said. His influence on her training was pivotal and taught her to appreciate the individuality and uniqueness of all dancers. Her experiences at Adelphi were instrumental in shaping her approach to dance and choreography.

As a youth, she trained and always assisted at her home studio, Just For Kicks School of Dance in Island Park, New York. While at Adelphi, Pitaluga expanded her professional horizons. She joined the Long Island Dance Project’s Company, teaching and performing several times a week. Her dedication and talent didn’t go unnoticed; while training at the Joffrey Ballet School Jazz and Contemporary Intensive, she was invited to join Sue Samuels’ Jazz Roots Dance Company.

“Even though I was only a junior in college, I knew that this was an opportunity I could not pass up,” Pitaluga reflected. After graduating in 2015, she joined Jazz Roots full time and performed across Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island. She also taught dance at numerous studios and had a demanding schedule with up to six classes a night. In 2016, she was accepted into a dance teacher position at St. Mary’s High School, where she also choreographed for musicals and revues. “It was one of the busiest times of my life, but I learned so much,” she said.

Since 2019, Pitaluga has served as the dance teacher and fine arts chairperson at Saint Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, New York. She has built the dance program from the ground up, organizing annual performances like The Nutcracker Suite and the Valentine’s Day Cabaret Night, which is her “pride and joy.” In addition to her full-time position, Pitaluga teaches at Dance Arts Centre in Port Washington and Just For Kicks School of Dance.

Reflecting on her career, Pitaluga notes that her biggest accomplishment was performing with a professional company right out of college. “One of the most exciting performances was when Jazz Roots was asked to perform at City Center,” she said. “It was an unreal experience that I had to keep pinching myself.” Additionally, acquiring the American Ballet Theatre Teacher Training certification in Pre-Primary through Level 5 enhanced her teaching credentials and benefited her students.

������Ƶ played a crucial role in Pitaluga’s development, instilling in her a quality of determination. “Although I was in the higher dance levels and performed in the Olmsted Theatre many times, getting that opportunity was never a given. I had to train and work extremely hard,” she said.

Her advice to current students or new graduates is to fully embrace their time at Adelphi. “Days are going to be difficult, work will become overwhelming, some days you will question whether or not the path you are on is where you are meant to be … and that is totally fine! Regardless, you are blessed to be a student in such a nurturing and beautiful environment. Enjoy the grounds, the location, the small and practical class sizes.”

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As Strelick began the process of mentoring her dance students who planned to create performances for Adelphi’s 21st Scholarship and Creative Works Conference, she encouraged them to think about current social issues and contemplate how they could express their feelings about them through dance.

“We take time to do research, question what is happening in the world and explore issues through movement investigation,” Strelick said. “Together we use the dance studio as a movement research lab seeking how to express our views and opinions on things such as human caused climate change; equity; belonging; community; standing up for rights and freedoms; and challenging dance and its gender norms.”

The result? Deeply personal, evocative performances that tell a story—whether the student’s own, or a greater societal issue they care about.

The Foundations of Professor Strelick’s Exploration Through Dance

Strelick’s approach to teaching is grounded in the layers of inspiration she gained while earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts in Germany.

“When I was a student, I had the opportunity to witness one of the most important contemporary dance choreographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, William Forsythe, create work,” Strelick said. “Watching his process and observing his performance pieces shaped my understanding of what dance could be—his approach to how the audience engages with dance and how he challenges dancers by stretching the norms of what can be done on stage like talking, acting and singing.”

She was greatly influenced by how Forsythe modified the lines and recomposed notions of ballet aesthetics, challenging the viewer and the art form. Strelick was also exposed to European choreographers and companies that broadened her notions of where dance and theater intersect. She says that dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch, one of the most prominent creators within Tanztheater (dance theater), also influenced her aesthetics and beliefs about how one can approach creating works.

“Pina Bausch’s company featured dancers of all sizes, ages and styles, widening the vocabulary and possibilities of exploring dance on stage,” she said. “Her approach to choreography and its sense of humanity, social awareness and humility is something to which I am drawn.”

Strelick’s training in Germany provided an important base for the dancer and teacher she would become. She cites how the German dance/theater world’s openness to pushing boundaries and the cultural permission to take risks helped further the art form, allowing those who influenced her most to explore and challenge norms.

At Adelphi, Strelick teaches Ballet Technique, Dance History and Criticism, and Dance Theory and Composition, impressing upon her students the importance of bringing something of themselves—something new—to dance.

Making Statements on the Dance Stage

Students mentored by Strelick took on topics from imposter syndrome and political expression to missing children. Their time onstage at the conference not only reflected their dance skills but also the depth of their research and the poise of their presentations.

Clara Ossandón’s project, “Dance as Political Expression: A Poetic Act That Links, Heals and Unites That Which Was Separated,” was inspired by the death of Joan Jara, a Chilean British dancer and activist. Ossandón was struck by one of Jara’s statements: “Dance is a form of communication that is impossible to censor; the only way to do so is by persecuting the groups that dance.” She delved into this censorship in the context of her country, Chile, during its period of dictatorship 50 years ago.

“Jara’s reflection has a powerful meaning, representing dance as an act of resistance to social division and restrictions—more than simply creating an assignment, I wanted to challenge myself and take this opportunity to learn more about my background and process my life experience,” Ossandón said. “Through this process, I gained a deeper understanding and connection to my family’s and nation’s past.”

Ossandón also notes the interdisciplinary nature of her project: “I tried to connect my two majors and passions, dance and psychology. Processing life’s experiences through dance has enabled me to conduct research within the social, clinical and psychological domains and make correlations to the performing arts.”

With her performance at the Scholarship and Creative Works Conference, student Sophia Minich explored the topic of missing children.

Sophia Minich explored the topic of missing children in her research and performance. “Code Adam: Finding a Voice in the Silence Through Movement,” originated from a Dance Theory and Composition course and is the first of many works she hopes to create to highlight injustices toward missing people, specifically children. Minich’s research follows stories of those who have been silenced, repetitive behaviors that society continuously allows, as well as various compositional tools. Her choreography expresses through movement her research into specific missing children’s cases, both famous and not.

“Professor Strelick continues to open my mind as to what choreography and performance can be,” Minich said. “She has guided my work both directly and indirectly, offering tools and constructive feedback to help me further develop this piece and teaching me how important research can be in the arts.

Minich hopes to someday orchestrate a performance with all of the proceeds going to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children or a similar organization. She said, “This piece is obviously only a start—there is so much more awareness to be raised and work to be done, but I would like to contribute through dance as it is such a powerful and emotional art form.”

Alena De Leon choreographed “Acknowledging Who I Am: Imposter Syndrome in Students” to take a deeper look at first-generation college students who share this persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of their efforts or skills. Inspired by her own life experiences as the child of a first-generation Mexican American, a key element of her performance is the gestural motif of taking off her shoes—representing the gratitude she feels toward her mother who she wishes could walk in her shoes.

“As a performer, I constantly embrace the responsibility of creating,” De Leon said. “The Scholarship and Creative Works Conference means a great deal to me because it is an opportunity to express why my compositions are important and to elaborate on my own narrative.”

De Leon’s study and choreography investigates the conflicting emotions of deep-seated gratitude coupled with a sense of unworthiness of opportunities. She says the importance of this study is in giving those who paved the way before her a voice. “As a Mexican American, I dance with two flags, and the weight of this is tremendous—it is my obligation to dig deeper and find a way to be recognized and achieve success.”

Research Brought to Life

Taking a break during the Scholarship and Creative Works Conference

The audience members gathered in the University Center ballroom for the Scholarship and Creative Works Conference were both moved and entertained while viewing the product of Strelick’s dance students’ research—as was she.

“I enjoy how students find their own voice and challenge themselves to go deeper into research to find their own unique way of being an artist in our contemporary moment,” Strelick added. “It is rewarding to see them grow through their artistry and discover themselves as part of a community, ultimately finding belonging.”

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