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

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

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

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

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

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

A Voice for the Silenced

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

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

A Campus Leader, a Global Scholar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Looking Ahead to a Career Helping Others

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

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

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

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We live in an era of unprecedented access to information and in these moments of extraordinary change, reading books or diving into history seem at best, quaintly out of date, or at worst, an indulgence that cannot create the same opportunity that we see in other growing fields like computer science or marketing. As someone who works in higher education, I can tell you that there is always talk about the demise of the humanities. In moments of technological innovation, these conversations intensify, and yet, these are the points in history that need the humanities the most.

The humanities—the study of literature, language, history or philosophy—offer opportunities to think about why our world is the way it is, and give its students the tools to meet the changes we face. , but not always obvious, even as humanities students find their paths in education, law, business, management and the not-for-profit sector. The humanities invest in processes—developing critical thinking skills, intellectual creativity and flexibility. Put simply, humanities students know how to learn. At Adelphi, we have seen our graduates go on to become published authors, teachers, lawyers and technological innovators, finding jobs and building careers in unexpected and thrillingly varied fields. To follow the humanities is to pursue a passion, but that doesn’t mean that those of us who do so have to choose between that and a satisfying and lucrative career. We consider ourselves the lucky ones—more often than not, we can have both.

Here’s the thing about the humanities: The path ahead isn’t always clear. We take a road map, and set out on a path, perhaps stopping to listen to the stories or histories that will guide us on our path, and keep moving forward. As we study the humanities, building vast reserves of intellectual curiosity, empathy and problem-solving skills, we are moving toward jobs that we haven’t yet realized exist—or perhaps even jobs that don’t yet exist. We move with creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit that will serve us well in the world—not only as an employee, or (better yet) a boss, but as a human being, navigating the rapidly changing world with a sense of history, a sense of compassion and a sense of purpose. We understand how history and culture have brought us to this point in time, and we have the ability to imagine what comes next. We are, as Shakespeare put it, makers of manners.

In a world where technology insists that answers can be given instantly, and the world can feel increasingly unsettled, it can be hard to invest in a long-term strategy that can only promise to take you to places you are willing to go. But the outcomes are always worth it.

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The is the brainchild of Peyton DeRouen, an Adelphi criminal justice major and political science minor. Like many students considering law school who seek career assistance, she visited the Office of Pre-Professional Advising and Fellowships for guidance when she first started at Adelphi. “The director gave me the outline of the law school admissions process as well as what Adelphi had that was pre‑law-oriented in terms of clubs and other initiatives,” she recalled, referring to David Oroza, director of pre‑professional advising and fellowships. “I immediately saw an opportunity.”

Oroza emphasized his office’s mission. “The Office of Pre-Professional Advising and Fellowships is devoted to the success of our students,” he said. “Our goal is to help them get into graduate school. Students contemplating careers in healthcare and law professions receive individualized guidance.”

The AULR Origin Story

A transfer student, DeRouen approached the only other student, at the time, who she knew was interested in pre-law—Samina Radia, who would become AULR’s managing editor—to help spread the word to others and gauge interest in a law review for undergrads. She researched how to form a club on campus, drafted a constitution and filled out the required paperwork. In August 2024, she put out a call for e-board applications, leading her to meet now co-editor in chief Sophia Sewpersad, a business management and English double major. The rest of the team was set by September and the first law review was published in the Spring of 2025, only a year after its formation.

Article topics in the first volume range from divorce and domestic violence to abortion and birth control rights, and international humanitarian law during armed conflict to the balance of power between federal and state in the United States.

The Benefits of Law Reviews

Law reviews allow undergraduates to develop critical legal writing and research skills, gain experience with the publication process and contribute to the broader legal academic conversation on contemporary issues. Adelphi’s student-run publication dives into timely topics, from landmark law cases to emerging debates, providing the reader with well-thought-out and researched arguments while benefiting the writer by providing an opportunity to hone their critical thinking and writing skills.

“At the law school level, law review articles shape legal academia—and are often cited in Supreme Court decisions,” DeRouen explained. “In today’s climate, law and policy affect our daily lives. Writing about them is a way for undergrad students to use their voice and engage beyond social media.” It is also a good way to “build your résumé and professional network,” Sewpersad added.

AULR is not just for pre‑law students; it offers tangible benefits to any student who writes, researches or thinks critically, including, but not limited to, English, , history and environmental studies majors. All are welcome and encouraged to submit.

“Law lies at the intersection of so many different fields,” said Sung Hoon Kim, JD, AULR faculty adviser and assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science who earned his juris doctorate from NYU School of Law. “In law school, you meet people who majored in various subjects, and the discourse of legal academia benefits from having this diversity of perspective. Having an undergraduate law review is a great opportunity for students to explore and advocate for a topic they care about and to have that work published. Who knows, this experience might even convince you to consider attending law school.”

The Process to Get Published

The AULR team is dedicated to helping those interested in submitting an article easily navigate the process, hosting informational workshops as well as those on best citation practices. After students submit their abstract and article through the , the submissions go through a peer review process and a round of editing before being returned to the author for two cycles of revisions. “Peer review is essential,” Sewpersad said. “We require legitimate sources, with information drawn from scholarly or official sources. We emphasize that truth is grounded in sources that are double-, triple- and quadruple-checked.”

Adelphi’s Support System

No student‐run enterprise thrives in isolation—between assistance from the Office of Pre‑Professional Advising and Fellowships and faculty advisers and other supporters, the AULR has benefited from a strong network of guidance and encouragement. By offering events, workshops and mentorship, Adelphi creates the conditions for students to translate interest into action—with AULR as a vivid example where student initiative, infrastructure, faculty support and a mission to amplify legal voices all intersect.

“The faculty response has been overwhelmingly supportive, and already this semester, new students are showing interest in the Law Review,” Sewpersad said. “It’s a really good opportunity, and I’m happy to be part of it.”

Looking Ahead

Submissions for the Spring 2026 journal are now and are being accepted on a rolling basis with a deadline of March 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Articles, research papers, essays and commentaries are welcome from all students and faculty at any university in any program of study as long as the submission relates to legal issues.

AULR, though new, already demonstrates that when students work together with support and rigor, learning goes beyond grades—it becomes contribution. “I’d love to see the AULR grow to be recognized beyond campus, with the goal to grow it into a nationally heralded law publication,” DeRouen said.

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Sarah Eltabib, associate teaching professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, presented the workshop “Global Human Rights Defenders in Action.”

This collaboration began in 2007 with the ������Ƶ College of Education and Health Sciences and was held every year until it was discontinued due to the pandemic. After five years, the conference has returned, with the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) stepping up, in partnership with the (NCCHR), the first conference the College has co-sponsored. In addition to attending the conference, students could explore the Garden City campus and learn about Adelphi programs, such as Levermore Global Scholars and Artivism.

“Adelphi has been a staple in the community for a long time,” said Rodney McRae, executive director of the NCCHR. He explained that the conference gives students a place to get off their phones and meet in person to discuss important issues.

The conference attracted about 300 students from about 20 high schools, along with their teachers.

Maria Rivera, human relations representative of the NCCHR, said the conference “exposes the children to college life, and we share the same vision to try to help the community.”

Argie Agelarakis, adjunct faculty, introduced attendees to the Artivism initiative.

The conference began with a continental breakfast and a welcome speech by Susan Briziarelli, PhD, associate provost for faculty support and global affairs and interim director of Levermore Global Scholars. Her remarks were followed by Artivism: The Power of Art for Social Transformation, presented by Stephanie Lake, PhD, associate teaching professor and interim chair of sociology, Argie Agelarakis, MA ’00, adjunct faculty member, and student leader River Gorman.

Artivism is about activism through art, and how art can be used for self-expression or to fight for human rights. “I think that high school students are at an age where they can start thinking about human rights and fighting for injustices in the world, and that can be a good starting point for their activism through the rest of their lives,” said Gorman.

High School Students Speak

The students were able to attend three out of the nine workshops offered, so every student had the opportunity to learn something different and share with their fellow classmates. During the LGS workshop “Global Human Rights Defenders in Action,” presented by Sarah Eltabib, associate teaching professor, high school students gave examples of important qualities that leaders should have. “LGS creates those leaders of change to be the human rights defenders at the University and beyond the University,” Professor Eltabib said. And while it is extremely important for high school students to be learning the roots of human rights, she believes that it should be taught to kids even younger.

Through this workshop and others like it, high school students connected with students from other schools and shared ideas.

Ariel Boodhram, an 11th-grader from Mepham High School, said, “I think it’s important that everybody learns inclusivity because it’s taught in high schools, but to learn about it in this big group atmosphere, and learning about (inclusivity) from different perspectives, it helps us to relate to it more and be more aware of what’s going on in the world.”

Danya Zaidi, another 11th-grader from Mepham High School, said that some schools may be less diverse than others, and the conference gave students the opportunity to share perspectives. She said, “I think it’s important [for high school students to attend] because although past generations have built the platform for us, we need to grow that platform more and be able to have more diversity and inclusivity in our schools and in our own community.”

The day ended with a special performance by two students, ninth-grader Liam O’Farrell and 10th-grader Sierra McDaniel, as Walt Whitman and Bell Boyd meeting in the afterlife. Maria Cristina Zaccarini, PhD, professor of history, said, “The performance shows the way that Adelphi helps students make their course content — in this case, the life of Walt Whitman — meaningful to their own lives. The character of the student expresses frustration with thinking that there is no value in studying a person who lived over 100 years ago, but the dialogue suggests that there is a human connection that persists despite the passage of time.”

Due to the success of this year’s conference, the College of Arts and Sciences is looking forward to co-sponsoring the conference next year as well.

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She gathered information on a dozen vendors. Her plan was to include one student in her fieldwork during the Summer of 2023 who would help her expand this sample. Thanks to an Adelphi Faculty Development Grant, she was able to offer four students, from various majors, invaluable social science research experience. These students expanded the group to about 40 tamal vendors. The additional field researchers also allowed Dr. Olvera to grow the geographic area covered and the times of day: She focused on Central Harlem and Upper Manhattan; the students expanded it to East Harlem and the Upper West Side. Mornings were her primary time for fieldwork; students covered into the afternoon.

“There’s something about getting students out of the controlled environment—it’s an opportunity for them to understand that the social world is a lab and one can do research outside the typical STEM lab,” said Dr. Olvera. “It’s also a chance for us to have more mentor/mentee relationships between professors and students.”

Student Researchers Gain Valuable Experience in Social Science

A tamal vendor’s table on a Manhattan street

Every week, the student researchers—Erica Criollo, Katherine Huerta Ruiz, Anna Varveris and Izzy Villa—took photos, wrote field notes or recorded voice memos, contributed to the building of a database on tamal vending, interviewed women and “hung out” to understand these practically invisible members of New York City, the intricacies of tamal vending and the ways in which Mexican women cobble together their economic futures, Dr. Olvera explained.

Varveris, a junior, is an international relations major, a member of both the Honors College and Levermore Global Scholars program and vice president of the Latino Student Association. After her summer fieldwork, she decided to add a sociology minor.

She said she learned about street vending, cultural adaptations, familial relationships, field research, collecting qualitative/quantitative data, cultural retention, immigration, economics, politics and urban sociology, and “about a subculture that not many people know about or pay attention to,” she said. “The experience allowed me to reflect on my own experiences as a Dominican American and has prepared me better for my future academic and career prospects in working with nonprofit organizations and addressing public policy gaps.”

Villa, a criminal justice and languages and cultures major who’s now completed her degree, had been thinking about going on to a master’s as well as doctoral program—but had never done this sort of research.

“I learned so much in six weeks, such as building a rapport with the women I would sit with every morning or afternoon,” she said. “Many of them are wary about speaking to strangers about their lives, so making a connection with them and building an honest relationship is super important and helpful.

“Selling tamals, or really any food vending, is a science,” Villa added. “One must decide the price of everything, what exactly they are selling, at what time, in what location, who their demographic will be, and when everything will get made. They’ve earned much of my respect, and as a Latina, I am very proud to see how my people have worked so their generations can thrive higher.”

Focusing on Hispanic Cultures and Populations

Dr. Olvera plans to continue the research and share results at professional conferences soon. She also will be using some of what she’s learned so far with her classes, including a sociology class on immigration this fall. She also notes that the work gives more grounding to Adelphi’s Latin American and Latinx Studies program—and further illustrates how students and professors can use the proximity to New York City to further knowledge and education.

“For our students who are Latinx, it’s a way to better understand their own cultures and language. For those who are not, it’s a way to learn about other cultures and put their language study to use,” said Dr. Olvera, who herself has been studying the Mixteco language of Mexico’s Oaxaca and Guerrero states, particularly the mountainous areas where many of the tamal vendors are from.

Dr. Olvera’s research and its involvement of students also help make the case for Adelphi becoming an officially designated , as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

Varveris added, “There is so much to learn from everyday life that we may not be aware of, but that could inspire research like Professor Olvera’s, just by pausing and looking at things more closely or talking to people.”

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As of late 2022, the program is now called Latin American and Latinx Studies (LAS), reflecting more inclusion of the American experience of those with Latin American roots.

“We’ll continue to study Latin America but bring in the U.S. population, the diaspora,” Dr. Olvera said. “We’ll remain global but also focus on the domestic side of migration, education and culture.”

A New Core Course: Latinidad

In Fall 2022, the first offering of a new foundational course, Latinidad, was designed by Dr. Olvera and taught by Sandra Castro, PhD, associate dean of the College of Professional and Continuing Studies and adviser for the Latino Student Association since 2016.

“Something like 24 out of the 26 students in the course were Latinx, most of them born in the U.S., many first-generation college students, with diverse majors,” said Dr. Castro. “We had faculty as guest lecturers from history, social work, art, English, philosophy, and African, Black and Caribbean Studies.”

The Latinidad course is cross-disciplinary and provides historical context and nuance to the diversity of Latinx stories and voices. There will be other courses connected to the program that will help students understand the connection between Latin American and Latinx cultures, and also connections with the rest of the world.

For Spring 2023, the Latinidad course is being taught by Marcos Gonsalez, PhD, assistant professor of English, whose teaching and research areas include Latinx and queer/trans literature.

LAS program goals include creating and cultivating connections to the Latino community outside of Adelphi in the region, most particularly in Hempstead, New York, solidifying connections among Adelphi programs—such as African, Black and Caribbean Studies—and developing study abroad programs.

Exploring Identity and Celebrating Music With a February 28 Event

Dr. Olvera plans for the program to sponsor more events, the first of which is Eddie’s Perejil: A Latinx Story of Confronting History and Love of Homeland on February 28.

�ʱ�����ᾱ��—“parsley” in Spanish—refers to what is known as the Parsley Massacre, in which Dominican soldiers killed thousands of Haitians. Edward Paulino, PhD, author, playwright and assistant professor of history at John Jay College (CUNY), wrote and performs this production in which he plays a New York Dominican college student who reflects on this tragic event as well as the history of genocide, race, border relations, nation building and the African diaspora.

Before the February 28 event, there will be a reception for new Adelphi admitted students. There will also be performances by Micah Oelze, PhD, assistant professor of history, who is also an accomplished guitarist.

Enriching Their Academic Experiences With a Minor in Latin American and Latinx Studies

Fiorella Albines, a senior political science major, and fellow senior and criminal justice major Savannah Mendez are minoring in Latin American and Latinx Studies.

“I am proud of my Latino heritage and wanted to dive into the different topics surrounding the community,” Albines said. “I found myself discussing topics that are otherwise overlooked and have been normalized within the older Latino generation. Minoring in Latin American and Latinx Studies has equipped me to have difficult conversations by expanding my knowledge about the long-standing history of the Latino community.”

Mendez noted, “I wanted to take classes that would allow me to diversify my education, especially about individuals whose stories are often not represented in the curriculum of higher education. This was particularly important to me as a Latina, since I wanted to expand my knowledge about the history of my ancestors. The Latinidad course helped to provide a baseline to explore the concept of Latinidad through an interdisciplinary lens—discovering its origins, impacts, and so much more.”

Program Director’s Research Focuses on Latinx Women

An associate professor of sociology, Dr. Olvera is conducting research on Mexican migrants in the New York City area who make and sell tamales and atole (a warm beverage made of grain—in this case, corn). One student who was in the fall Latinidad course will be a summer research assistant for Dr. Olvera, who explained that students will have opportunities to explore their own research interests.

“I think one of the most important things Latin American and Latinx Studies will do is provide ways for students to find in coursework and research an interest in their own culture and own history,” she said, adding, “There are many students who can benefit from this program, and they don’t all have to be Latino students. Even taking just one course can be useful. I see us as taking well-thought-out steps to ensure the program’s continued success.”

See more about Latin American and Latinx Studies as well as Dr. Olvera’s plans for the next several years.

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Dr. Bush was recently named a , a prestigious honor that connects U.S. academic professionals with institutions worldwide. During a tenure of three years, Dr. Bush will be invited to engage in two- to six-week projects across 24 disciplines and 160 participating countries.

“It’s a phenomenal opportunity to apply and expand upon work that I’ve done in the past, but in a different setting,” Dr. Bush said. “To be able to contribute, share and pass on what I’ve been lucky to gain from my experiences—that’s exciting.”

A life dedicated to social justice

Growing up in New York City in the 1960s, Dr. Bush remembers going door-to-door with her father, a schoolteacher, to speak with neighbors about U.S. involvement in Vietnam. She went on to study racial inequality at McGill University, lead grassroots activism efforts and organize “tax the corporations” initiatives in San Francisco and across the United States before transitioning to education.

At Adelphi, Dr. Bush has developed a first-year seminar on Community, Love and Justice and published articles such as “” about the evolution and purpose of this concept. She also works as a senior research associate for the University of Johannesburg Centre for Sociological Research and Practice.

“Though I am engaged in multiple realms, they’re all connected,” Dr. Bush said. “They all come from a devotion to ameliorating misery and systemic violence—historic and contemporary—and the belief that we can live in a world that’s caring and loving for all.”

Building bridges through the Fulbright Program

Dr. Bush looks forward to selecting her first of two Fulbright initiatives this summer. Fulbright Specialists, for example, might work with host institutions to deliver training and workshops, develop academic courses, and engage in strategic planning.

“I’m looking forward to building bridges between the U.S. and people in places around the world,” she said. “I feel that every opportunity presented is also a responsibility to give what we can.”

Dr. Bush is also eager to further expand her horizons and meet challenges she will face. “Thinking about racial and economic structures within the context of the U.S. is one thing, but what does it look like when institutions in Australia develop programs to challenge structures founded in white supremacist presumptions?” she said. “What can I offer that would be meaningful to them?”

Dr. Bush will also gain experiences that can complement and inform her other research. Next school year, she’ll be taking a sabbatical to be guest editor for a special issue of the International Journal of Critical Diversity Studies called Freedom Conversations: To Imagine and Build. This volume will focus on “decolonizing diversity” and related structures of power and will be based on discussions with scholars from South Africa, Mexico, Zimbabwe, India, the United States and elsewhere.

Fostering global connections at Adelphi

In 2018, Dr. Bush developed a course, The Reshaping of Social Relations in the Modern World, in collaboration with Associate Professor Nokuthula Hlabangane, PhD, at the University of South Africa. As part of the curriculum, Adelphi students engaged in weekly Skype conversations with South African students about social hierarchies and ways to decolonize power.

“At the end of the semester, our students developed plans to decolonize institutions of society like education, healthcare and architecture,” Dr. Bush said. “It was pretty extraordinary.”

The course culminated in presentations at the University of Pretoria by students in the class and at the International Studies Association meeting at the University of Ghana in 2019. Dr. Bush and Dr. Hlabangane also published “,” a chapter about the collaborative project that appeared in the book Psychology of Inequity: Global Issues and Perspectives (Praeger, 2022).

It’s these kinds of connections that Dr. Bush will continue to foster in her work and explore through her Fulbright Specialist experience.

“There’s an interconnectedness to all of my scholarship, my service, my teaching, my life,” Dr. Bush said. “It’s a belief that we will and we must see a better day—and that people are building it all over the world today.”

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